Episode 500
Episode 500
"Ashan. I think that song..."
Lee Han was about to tell his friend, 'Shouldn't that song be banned?'
"If it's that song, it's definitely worth showing."
"Ugh. Frustrating. If I had composed a decent song, I would've shown it too. But my got harsh criticism from the professor."
"Cheer up. You can always compose a better song next time."
"......"
Lee Han decided to just keep his mouth shut.
'Seems like he really is as famous as they say.'
He glanced around, but unfortunately, among the idle students gathered here, Yoner wasn't present.
'If Yoner were here, we could've shared the sense of alienation together.'
Being socially awkward alone is worse than being awkward together, isn't it?
Lee Han entertained a rather rude thought about Yoner.
Creaaak—
"!"
At the sound of the door opening, all the students lowered their postures. Everyone except Lee Han had eyes sparkling with anticipation.
'Huh? Did he really come?'
Truthfully, Lee Han didn't fully believe his friends' words.
Einrogard was always rife with baseless rumors.
—Hey guys! Next week, His Majesty the Emperor's army will defeat the Headmaster and liberate the school!
—Hey guys! Next week, a new Headmaster will arrive, and the school rules will change!
—Hey guys! Starting next week, meat will be added to the menu!
...None of these rumors ever turned out to be true. And if you asked who started them, no one could remember.
But surprisingly, what entered through the open door was an unfamiliar outsider they'd never seen before.
An elderly turtle beastman, wrapped in a slightly worn but thick coat, set down his instrument bag and slowly surveyed the main hall with a scrutinizing gaze.
His demeanor carried the grace and composure of someone who had spent years as a wandering minstrel.
Even though Lee Han had never seen Ifadur's face before, he was certain this was Ifadur.
'Famous people really do have a different aura.'
"Truly a beautiful place. Gonadaltes Hall."
"Haha. You're too generous, Lord Ifadur of the world. A man who has witnessed all the Spring Flowers and Autumn Moon across the Empire."
"Not at all. The history embedded in this building overwhelms me."
"......"
"......"
The students lowered their postures so much that they practically flattened themselves against the floor. Lee Han looked at them with disdain.
'These idiots are doing this without even checking the Headmaster's location?'
Come to think of it, when a famous outsider visited, the chances of the Skeleton Principal appearing weren't that high either.
The basics were to either track the Headmaster's location or, if that was too difficult, set a fire near the Headmaster's office to divert his path.
'We've been caught.'
When the Skeleton Principal turned his gaze, Lee Han instinctively knew they'd been found out.
Well, given the number of his friends, it was hard not to get caught.
'Forcing myself to hide here would be amateurish. I should trust the outsider and take a bold approach.'
"Headmaster! Good evening!"
"!?!"
"????"
The friends lying flat on the floor thought Lee Han had lost his mind.
Even the Skeleton Principal seemed taken aback by Lee Han's blatant emergence, giving him a bemused look.
Well, well. Good evening. What are you doing there?
"We were passing by and felt sorry that the honorable floors of Einrogard were dirty, so we were cleaning them."
"...Y-yes, that's right."
"That's what we were doing."
The friends lying on the floor began vigorously scrubbing the floor with their entire bodies to prove they were cleaning.
The Skeleton Principal clicked his tongue disapprovingly at the first-year students who had sneaked out during their duty shift and were now making absurd excuses.
How remarkably dutiful of you. Will Professor Verdus be coming out to clean tomorrow?
"Thank you. If it's not too presumptuous, may I greet the guest as well?"
"The honor is mine. I am Ifadur."
"Gasp!" "Eek!" "Cough!"
"?"
Lee Han was bewildered when his friends, who had been trying to stand up, screamed and collapsed.
'Was it magic?'
But his friends hadn't been struck by magic. They were trembling uncontrollably, overwhelmed with joy.
While Lee Han was merely flustered, the Skeleton Principal was glaring at them with contempt in his eyes, thinking, 'To think such iron-skulled fools are students of Einrogard.'
All they cared about were acrobatics instead of focusing on magic as they should.
"My apologies, Lord Gonadaltes."
Ifadur, seemingly accustomed to his followers behaving this way, offered a slight smile as he apologized.
'There is no need for you to apologize, my lord. You lot should take after that Wardanaz boy over there. Aside from his deplorable habit of serving you meals, does he not devote himself solely to magic?'
'Why is that a deplorable habit...'
'Wouldn't people die if they obsessed like Wardanaz?'
Let us proceed, my lord.
"W-wait a moment!"
Normally, first-year students other than Lee Han wouldn't dare speak in front of the Skeleton Principal.
Even disregarding the Headmaster's immense status, the overwhelming aura he exuded as a Grand Mage was enough to intimidate first-years.
But sometimes, love conquers fear.
Driven by their deep affection for Ifadur, the first-years pushed aside their fear.
"L-Lord Ifadur! C-could you... listen to a song I composed?"
Good grief...
The Skeleton Principal felt secondhand embarrassment for the first time in a while.
He had summoned Ifadur solely for magical research.
While music held significant importance in ancient, primitive, and divine magic, it no longer did in the current imperial magic system.
Magic that incorporated music was considered highly unconventional.
Though mages projected an image of being detached from reality, they couldn't truly be so. Naturally, they were influenced by practical concerns.
Music-based magic was notoriously difficult to theorize due to its variability—changing depending on the caster and their emotions that day.
However, recently, some upperclassmen at Einrogard had taken an interest in this branch of magic and were actively researching it.
Moreover, as even second-year students began seriously considering this magic under their seniors' influence, the Skeleton Principal could no longer turn a blind eye.
It was the duty of Einrogard's lord to pave the way for mages with ambition.
That was why he had invited Ifadur.
To consult with the renowned bard and develop a curriculum for music-based magic.
Otherwise, the Skeleton Principal would have had no reason to invite a bard into Einrogard.
If the man composed some satirical song and spread it across the empire, the aftermath would be a nuisance...
In any case, here he was, enduring the hassle and irritation for his students' sake—only for them to pester him with trivial song evaluations. It was utterly infuriating.
'If I didn't have witnesses, I'd send them straight to the Punishment Room.'
Do you think I called him here to judge your songs? Step aside. Don't get in the way.
"Lord Gonadaltes. Since fate has brought us together, might I listen just once before leaving?"
......
The Skeleton Principal gritted his teeth internally and nodded.
Until he extracted what he needed from Ifadur (even if it meant securing a teaching contract), he couldn't reveal his true nature.
Until then, he had to remain the benevolent and great Grand Mage.
Go on. Sing. You brainless m—
"Headmaster. We have a guest."
At Lee Han's whisper, the Skeleton Principal snapped back to his senses.
His usual habits had nearly surfaced in the face of the iron-skulled fools' provocation.
Thank you.
"Not at all."
Then why are you even here? You probably don't even know who Lord Ifadur is.
Stung by the Headmaster's cutting remark, Lee Han felt hurt.
Sure, he didn't actually know who Ifadur was, but hearing it from the Skeleton Principal still put him in a bad mood.
"Of course not. How could I not know the empire's famous bard, Lord Ifadur? What do you take me for?"
"Name one song that Lord Ifadur has sung."
"...Ah. Ashan is singing a song."
When Lee Han tried to change the subject, the Skeleton Principal clicked his tongue as if he'd expected this.
'If all students were as obsessed with magic as this Wardanaz, running Einrogard would be so much easier.'
"Einrogard. Einrogard. It's so wonderful."
"......"
......
Lee Han could clearly feel the atmosphere turning as chilly as when Pengerin used his ice magic.
"A place with warm meals and fluffy beds. Einrogard."
'Why is that iron-headed fool singing such vulgar songs in front of outsiders? If anyone sees this, they'll think I ordered it!'
"That won't be the case."
But Ifadur was already looking back and forth between Ashan and the Skeleton Principal with a bewildered expression.
As an experienced bard, he immediately recognized how strange it was for a new member of an organization to be singing a praise song so blatantly.
"Could it be... by Lord Gonadaltes' order...?"
No! Why would I?!
"Ashan composed it purely out of genuine admiration."
Unable to stand it any longer, Lee Han stepped in.
If left unchecked, Ashan might be dragged to the Punishment Hall after the event for defaming the Headmaster's honor.
"A scion of a great noble house was moved... by warm meals and fluffy beds?"
Ifadur asked skeptically.
No matter how he thought about it, the song seemed suspiciously forced and coerced.
Gritting his teeth, Lee Han hastily fabricated a reason.
"...There's actually a backstory. You see, friends who enroll in Einrogard come in terrified by all sorts of rumors. Upon realizing the rumors were false, he composed that song."
"Ah-ha!"
"......"
"......"
The friends beside Lee Han wore extremely complicated expressions.
The words 'No, there are neither warm meals nor fluffy beds' had risen all the way to their throats.
"I misunderstood. My apologies, Lord Gonadaltes."
'It's fine. These things happen.'
"The melody is excellent, but the lyrics are a bit too... blatant in their praise, which could be misunderstood. Subtle metaphors might work better."
While Ifadur was critiquing Ashan's song, the Skeleton Principal said to Lee Han:
'Have I ever told you how much I truly cherish you?'
"Ah. Are you going to give me something?"
'...Just asking.'
Lee Han glared at the Skeleton Principal.
After listening to the first-years' song, offering corrections, and even giving autographs, Ifadur spoke to the Skeleton Principal.
"Lord Gonadaltes. I have a request."
'Speak freely.'
"Might I tour the school grounds? It would greatly aid my poetic inspiration."
'Are you planning to compose a song about Einrogard?'
The Skeleton Principal tried not to show his emotions, but Lee Han could sense the hidden discomfort.
Of course, having a song written about Einrogard wasn't a bad thing.
If Ifadur composed a song of praise, just imagine how generous the donations and investments would be that year.
But the Skeleton Principal knew full well that a bard's tongue couldn't be controlled as one pleased.
'If he just doesn't write the song, there'd be no worries...'
"That's right!"
'Very well. Let us tour together.'
"Terribly sorry to ask, but might one student accompany us? I believe their perspective would differ from yours, Lord..."
At Ifadur's words, the friends nearly looked like they were having heart attacks.
Silently screaming, grabbing each other's collars, stomping on feet—they all scrambled to volunteer.
'Wardanaz. You're coming.'
"Huh? Professor, I was planning to go back and sleep..."
The Skeleton Principal used extraordinary spatial magic to teleport an Outing Pass into Lee Han's coat pocket.
With an expression of awe at the beautiful magic, Lee Han nodded.
"Escorting a guest is an honor for us students as well."