Episode 519
Episode 519
Having reached a conclusion, Lee Han sent his reply.
-"I'm already listening."
Listening?
Though he couldn't see the other's face, he could sense their surprise.
Lee Han decisively wrote out his next words.
-"I don't know where you heard it from, but you should double-check."
I see. I'll make sure to check.
The fact that they ended it there without further questioning suggested the other party was either very composed or didn't particularly trust their source. 'Or maybe both.' Lee Han cautiously countered with a question of his own.
-"But why do you ask?"
Asking for a reason? 'Oops.' Lee Han realized he'd made a mistake.
Since they didn't know each other's identities, he shouldn't have asked unnecessary questions.
To salvage the situation, Lee Han quickly fabricated an excuse.
-"I recently received the same question. Considering the value of the information I provided, I think I'm entitled to ask that much, don't you?"
I see.
In negotiations, the one who raises their voice first holds the advantage.
He'd taken a gamble, but fortunately, the other party agreed without objection.
That first-year seems talented in Enchantment Magic.
-"I suppose so."
If he takes Enchantment Magic, I plan to have him assist with my work next year.
"......"
Lee Han was appalled. 'Are there nothing but bastards in this school?' He couldn't tell if bastards were the only ones who got admitted or if Einrogard turned its students into bastards.
Shouldn't the normal reaction be to feel sorry for seeing juniors suffer in that barbaric festival?
Yet here they were thinking, "That kid's talented, I should make him help with my work."
No wonder they were Professor Verdus's students. 'Birds of a feather flock together,' as the saying goes. Lee Han resolved to maintain emotional distance from the Enchantment Magic seniors even next year.
Getting too friendly might lead to who knows what additional tasks.
The person beyond the mirror wasn't surprised even when no reply came for a while. 'Was my offer too unconventional?' The unnamed Black Turtle Tower student probably at least guessed that they weren't a lowerclassman.
At Einrogard, no matter how much lowerclassmen tried to hide it, their speech inevitably gave them away.
Given that, it was only natural to be surprised upon hearing that a Wardanaz family freshman was being invited to an upperclassman's project immediately upon becoming a sophomore.
It was an extraordinary privilege, after all.
A mere second-year student getting the opportunity to participate in an upperclassman's personal project!
Any Einrogard student would be astonished.
But the person beyond the mirror wasn't some ordinary person bound by common sense and regulations.
They were the most wizard-like of wizards, capable of leaping over any rule when necessary.
Having seen several students who utilized freshmen's power during this festival, they believed freshmen were fully qualified to receive such summons.
Whoosh—
-"While I was lost in thought, another reply came through the mirror."
-"What if that junior refuses your offer?"
That wouldn't happen. There's no reason to. 'Picking faults now.' The person beyond the mirror let out a faint sigh at the Black Turtle Tower student's nitpicking.
For wizards with exceptional abilities, witnessing jealousy was inevitable.
Clearly, this Black Turtle Tower student was showing envy over this tremendous privilege.
Any Einrogard student would understand what it meant to receive such an honor immediately upon becoming a sophomore.
-...
I'm saying this as a favor. As I mentioned, it's a junior taking multiple magic tracks. Another senior might extend an invitation first, you know.
"!"
The person beyond the mirror was startled.
Honestly, they'd been looking down on this Black Turtle Tower student, who had now pointed out something they hadn't even considered.
It was undeniably true.
To make excuses, the concept of taking multiple magic tracks was so unfamiliar that they'd overlooked this aspect...
Good point.
-"Right?"
I'll need to negotiate in advance to secure time slots.
Their plan was to contact and either recruit or pressure those upperclassmen likely to make such moves, thereby advantageously securing time slots.
This was helpful. I'll consider it a debt owed.
-...
"Right..."
Somehow, the other party's handwriting seemed slightly shaky.
Lee Han wondered if something had happened to the person beyond the mirror.
* * *
'Guess I should just stop talking.'
Lee Han let out a deep sigh and set down his quill.
It was clear that the seniors at Einrogard were no easier opponents than the professors.
Trying to manipulate them with shallow tricks had only backfired, leaving him worse off than before.
'Guess I should ask for compensation...'
-"So, what's the price?"
Ah. Right. Almost forgot. Open the third hay bale in the Star-catcher's Barn on the fourth floor. The professors were preparing for the final exams there.
"...???"
There was no further response from the other side.
Lee Han's face twisted in confusion as he processed the information he'd just heard.
'The Star-catcher's Barn on the fourth floor... It's not impossible to get there.'
He'd had to go to the fourth floor for exams before, and even outside of that, Lee Han had visited the fourth floor a few times.
It wasn't completely out of reach.
But the idea that the professors were preparing final exams there didn't make sense.
'Most likely, it's an entrance connected to somewhere else.'
That was the only plausible explanation Lee Han could think of.
After all, even the <Spiderweb Lake> deep beneath the main building was frequently used by professors as a shortcut.
The Star-catcher's Barn on the fourth floor was probably another hidden shortcut connected to some other place.
'I should call my friends and check it out.'
Ratford set down the chest, dusted it off with a few firm pats, and let out a sigh.
Imirg, who had just thoroughly cleaned out a White Tiger Tower student's bread stash through a dice-and-cup matching game, tilted his head in confusion.
"Why... the long face?"
"Because Lord Wardanaz got seriously hurt."
"Wha... what? That's impossible! By who?"
If Lee Han had been there, he would've retorted, 'What, you think I can't get hurt? Am I the Skeleton Principal or something?' But Ratford could only nod sympathetically at his friend's reaction.
"Yeah. Hard to believe, right? I feel the same. Must've been one hell of a festival."
"Th-that can't be..."
As the two spoke, a White Tiger Tower student who had somehow procured a bar of chocolate shouted,
"Rematch!! Imirg! This time, a card game! I'll definitely find the Queen!"
"C-can't we just stop?"
"Ha! Scared, are you? But no way! What did you Black Turtle Tower guys write in the Black Market rules again? 'When a challenge is issued, you shall never flee'—wasn't that it?"
"Y-you should really quit while you're ahead..."
Imirg placed three cards face-up and began shuffling them with a swift, practiced motion.
The surrounding Black Turtle Tower students watched with smug expressions.
True to his gambling guild roots, Imirg had a knack for making opponents keep coming back for more, no matter how many times he won.
The skill of luring them into the trap of 'Just one more try!'
Ratford watched Imirg shuffle the cards and muttered under his breath,
"Keep this quiet. Lord Wardanaz has a lot of enemies."
"Huh? Wardanaz?"
The White Tiger Tower student, who had been so focused he looked ready to slam his head into the table, perked up at the familiar name.
His friends behind him screamed in horror.
"Don't fall for it!"
"N-no! This is invalid! It doesn't count!"
"Quit whining about 'invalid'—it's over!"
As the Black Turtle Tower and White Tiger Tower students swarmed into a heated argument, a paper bird came fluttering in from afar.
Ratford swiftly snatched it up.
'Does he need help!?'
-Ratford. There's something I need to check on the fourth floor. Can you gather some trustworthy friends?
"......"
For the briefest moment, Ratford considered whether he should gather 'trustworthy friends' to tie Wardanaz to his bed instead.
Ratford, Imirg (sent in Salko's stead due to prior commitments), Nilia, Ashan, Yoner, and Gainen gathered on the third floor.
"Huh? Where's Durgyu?"
"He's from White Tiger Tower. We can't tell him."
"Right. Wardanaz. You're being reckless right now. Think about your condition. If the White Tiger Tower bastards find out, there's a 100% chance they'll ambush you."
Ashan stated firmly.
"It's not 100% though..."
"From what I see, it's definitely 100%. No, more like 120%."
"Gainando, there's no such thing as 120..."
"Everyone, quiet."
Lee Han tapped his staff on the floor to silence his friends.
"Where we're going today isn't that dangerous, but that doesn't mean we should let our guard down. None of us want to get lost and trapped in the school over the weekend, right?"
The friends nodded in agreement.
After barely making it to the weekend, nothing would be more nightmarish than getting lost in some maze and wasting it.
"Then... everyone to your positions. Let's move."
Having raided the school more than once or twice, Lee Han and his friends immediately moved to their assigned positions.
Ratford and Nilia took the very front and rear.
Ashan and Imirg followed after...
"But Imirg. I get that you came instead of Salko, but are you really okay with this?"
Lee Han was slightly puzzled by Imirg's presence.
Though easily misunderstood due to his giant hybrid physique, Imirg was actually one of the more moderate members of the Black Turtle Tower.
He wasn't the type to particularly enjoy school explorations like this...
"I, I got something."
"From Salko?"
Imirg fumbled through his pockets and pulled out a chick.
Seeing this, Lee Han nodded in understanding.
"Ah, planning to raise chickens to secure eggs."
"N-no... just, just raising it... it's cute."
"......"
Lee Han almost said 'Cuteness doesn't fill your stomach,' but swallowed his words upon seeing Imirg's fist.
Come to think of it, there was no need to provoke a friend like Imirg in his already weakened state.
"I see. Raising it because it's cute. That's reasonable."
"...?"
Gainando beside him stared pointedly at Lee Han.
He distinctly remembered getting smacked on the back when he'd suggested raising a pet pig in the dorm lounge...??
"But why did Tutanta send Imirg? He doesn't seem suited for covert operations like this."
"Ah... ah. Because of this."
Imirg lightly lifted Lee Han and sat him on his shoulder.
"Honestly, this is comfortable. Thanks, Imirg."
Though it looked somewhat ridiculous, it was indeed comfortable. Lee Han expressed his gratitude honestly.
"Can I get on the other shoulder too?"
"Huh? Uh... s-sure."
Thwack!
As Gainando excitedly tried to climb onto the other shoulder, Yoner hit the back of his head with a metal ladle.
"Star-catcher's Barn... Star-catcher's Barn... Here it is."
The first-year students carefully climbed the stairs and walked down the corridor.
Though it was still broad daylight, they couldn't let their guard down. In truth, Einrogard wasn't any less frightening just because it was bright.
Creak—
"There's nothing here?"
"Look for the haystack. There should be a passage underneath."
Ashan and Gainando summoned light orbs to examine their surroundings.
"Found it! There really is an entrance!!"
"!"
Lee Han was delighted at how smoothly things were progressing compared to his expectations.
"Good job! Let's go in!"
"If this really is the final exam material...! Maybe I'll be top of the year this time...!"
Rather than pointing anything out, the friends simply remained silent at Gainando's words.
They were getting tired of correcting him.
The passage beneath the haystack was long and dark, but it was a straight path without any noticeable traps.
After walking for some time...
When the end of the passage came into view, Lee Han instinctively knew they'd found the exit.
"Everyone, check your Invisibility Magic. Is it properly cast? Good. Let's go."
Creak—
The friends opened the door and peeked inside.
What awaited them was a dense jungle unlike anything they'd ever seen around Einrogard.
And at the center of that jungle was...
-That guy. Causing trouble again.
-I told you to hold off until the exam!...
A Hydra proudly displaying its massive majesty, completely disregarding the thick jungle.
Death Knights were running back and forth, desperately trying to pacify the Hydra.
Thud!
The friends quickly ducked back down.
Then they exchanged bewildered looks.
"...?"
"????"
Lee Han was just as shocked.
Seeing the Death Knights meant this was probably the Skeleton Principal's exam... 'Isn't a Hydra too much?'
"Lee Han. Lee Han."
Yoner whispered urgently.
"What?"
"You, you said the opponent was preparing for finals, right?"
"Yeah."
"...But you also said the opponent doesn't know you're a first-year, right?"
"Ah."