Episode 539
Episode 539
After the celebratory tossing ended, Lee Han, now back on the ground, asked the giants:
"So, what do you need my help with today? Did the sheep escape again?"
Though he called it a "sheep," when prefixed with "Mountain-Destroying," it was closer to a monster than any ordinary sheep.
Having seen a Mountain-Destroying Sheep firsthand, Lee Han suspected that even a fully grown basilisk would lose to one.
'First of all, the sheer size difference is just too much.'
-No, the sheep didn't escape.
-We caught a wyvern and put it in there, and they've been playing excitedly among themselves. They must've been bored.
Though he heard the giants boast about having "captured the ruler of the mountains and the embodiment of terror," Lee Han pretended not to hear it.
If he were to ask, "A wyvern?" he feared the giants might drag him along to show him, so he kept quiet.
"I see. Then, if there's nothing else to do—"
-Follow us! We want to show the mage something!
-Woo! I'll carry you on my shoulder!
-No! I'll carry you on mine!
"Haha. Everyone, I don't mind you arguing, but could you please not fight over me?"
As the giants quarreled and tried to pull Lee Han in different directions, his voice grew slightly frantic.
The winner of the giants' version of rock-paper-scissors (a game where they slapped each other's faces depending on what they threw) grinned broadly and lifted Lee Han onto their shoulder.
-You lot. Getting along like this... Have a safe trip.
"And don't forget about your upcoming final exams."
Hearing Professors Ikurusha and Voladi's words from behind, Lee Han pretended not to hear and covered his ears.
The giant carrying him asked curiously:
-Why are you covering your ears?
"Well, when you hear something you don't like, covering your ears helps."
-Ooh. Next time Ikurusha talks, I'll cover my ears too!
* * *
Third-year student Balpatan of the Moradi family was regretting his choices.
Looking back, no matter how necessary the task was, accompanying someone from the Enchantment Magic faction had been a mistake.
'You're still too careless, Balpatan! After nearly losing your sword last time, how can you still be this lax? And you're already a third-year!'
Balpatan berated himself, pounding his chest in frustration.
Seeing this, his fellow third-year student Anpagon asked bluntly:
"Have you finally lost your mind?"
"Shut up. Seriously. Why does everyone in the Enchantment Magic faction have no manners? Don't the seniors say anything?"
"What are you talking about? I'm the most polite one here."
"......"
Balpatan shuddered at those words.
The fact that Anpagon didn't seem to be lying made it even more unsettling.
'Thank goodness I didn't specialize in Enchantment Magic. Really.'
In truth, the White Tiger Tower was technically the dorm that produced the most Enchantment Magic specialists.
After all, Enhancement Magic—which adjusted the physical bodies of the caster or others—also fell under Enchantment Magic.
But even as students advanced in years, few in the White Tiger Tower delved deeply into pure Enchantment Magic itself.
Most White Tiger Tower students gravitated toward applied Enhancement Magic, while pure Enchantment Magic was mainly pursued by students from other dorms.
It might have been because the magic itself was difficult, or because pursuing pure Enchantment Magic meant walking a path halfway to becoming an Artifact craftsman...
But a significant number of White Tiger Tower students held the firm belief:
"I'd rather die than associate with Enchantment Magic faction professors and students."
Balpatan was one of them.
'Is it the mad professor driving his students mad, or are the mad students naturally drawn to the mad professor?'
Honestly, whether it was Professor Verdus or the Enchantment Magic students crafting artifacts under him, they all seemed equally insane to Balpatan.
"Fine. Fine... Let's just say it was my fault for talking to you."
"Of course it's your fault."
Balpatan instinctively glanced around.
'Should I draw my sword?'
No matter how polite and kind Balpatan was considered among White Tiger Tower students, his talent for provoking Enchantment Magic students surpassed even that.
'Restrain yourself.'
Yet, Balpatan held back.
There was something he wanted to ask.
In fact, that was precisely why he'd gone out of his way to bring along a guy like Anpagon on this mountain range expedition...
"Let's take a break. As long as we reach the summit before the sun is directly overhead, we've got plenty of time."
"I don't trust your calculations."
'Should I just stab him right now?'
Anpagon swung his staff to determine their bearings before nodding.
"A break would be acceptable."
"......"
"......"
The two students sat down in silence to eat and drink.
Anpagon sipped a recovery potion from a transparent glass vial, while Balpatan drank fresh Red-headed Lion blood from a leather flask. Both were beneficial for recovery.
Balpatan glanced toward their destination—the summit.
Among the countless peaks of the Einrogard mountain range, their goal today was the Giant's Stone-Throw Summit.
Anpagon needed the Yin Stone Essence from the peak for his research, while Balpatan required the bark of the Frost Stone Tree to tan the new hide he'd acquired.
Under normal circumstances, they wouldn't have had any reason to travel together—but Balpatan had questions, and Anpagon needed a capable vanguard. After all, this was an area where giants were known to appear.
"Hmm... Speaking of which."
Balpatan cleared his throat before getting to the point.
Since he'd endured that insufferable Enchantment Magic bastard's ramblings, it was now his turn to ask questions.
"I heard there's an unusual first-year among the Enchantment Magic students. Right? During the festival..."
Anpagon nodded.
"Right? But why is it that none of the other Enchantment Magic students know anything when I ask them?"
"Because I didn't tell them."
"......"
'Is this guy actually trash...?'
Balpatan was stunned.
It was only natural to spread the word among your peers if you found a promising junior—not just for your own sake, but for theirs as well.
The difference in treatment between a junior whose reputation preceded them and one who was completely unknown was stark.
"Why didn't you tell them?"
"Because he wasn't worth mentioning."
"What kind of—never mind."
Balpatan nearly dove deeper into Enchantment Magic faction politics before catching himself.
Come to think of it, the more entangled he got with these bastards, the worse his headaches became.
"Anyway, that junior. Right? The one who went berserk with a sword during the festival. Was he using Enhancement Magic?"
"Don't know."
Anpagon genuinely didn't.
He suspected the junior had used something closer to Black Magic rather than Enhancement Magic, but even that wasn't certain.
After all, they'd both ended up in the Punishment Hall together after the festival...
"Tch. You stingy bastard. Hiding it again? Just tell me."
"How can I tell you what I don't know? Did you leave your head back at the tower?"
Balpatan held himself back—again.
He still had more questions.
"Fine. That junior—I asked the Black Magic faction guys about him, but they kept dodging the question. Seems like he's studying Black Magic too..."
"Correct."
"What? Black Magic? That's really unusual."
At first, he'd assumed Lee Han had displayed such prowess because he excelled in swordsmanship and Enchantment Magic. But now, hearing about the Black Magic on top of that, Balpatan was astonished.
"There's something else I'm curious about—rumors are going around that he's from the Wardanaz family. No? Wait, is he from Gainando? I looked into it, and some said he's a prince?"
"......"
Anpagon stared at Balpatan as if he were looking at a bug crawling on the ground.
No matter how ignorant someone was, how could they possibly confuse the Wardanaz family with royalty?
"Sigh... Listen. First of all, the Wardanaz family is a high noble house of the Empire. A high noble house famous for magic, but they're not—"
"...You bastard, seriously! Who wouldn't know that?! I'm asking what the junior's name is!"
Finally exploding, Balpatan drew his sword.
No matter how politely he tried to ask, this bastard's attitude was simply unbearable.
"Just bury him first and ask questions later!"
"Just as I expected. I was prepared for this."
Anpagon immediately activated an artifact as he spoke. A thick barrier formed around him, shielding him from harm.
Balpatan exploded with even greater fury.
"Let's see if you're prepared for this too! Transform! Strike Down!"
As the incantation erupted, Balpatan's hand suddenly morphed into the massive forepaw of a monstrous bird.
But that wasn't all. A sinister sharpness coated the claws, frosting over with deadly intent before being swung with such speed that even an experienced swordsman would struggle to evade.
Swish!
The thick barrier was torn apart like paper as the massive forepaw came crashing through.
Yet Anpagon calmly retrieved another artifact.
By the time one reaches their third year at Einrogard, even non-Combat Magic majors must learn to protect themselves if they want to survive.
Blurred afterimages flickered into existence before scattering in all directions. Though the quality wasn't high enough to fool anyone who focused, in this situation, even that brief moment of confusion was enough.
Balpatan roared again.
"Fist of the Giant, strike down my enemy!"
An invisible force coalesced into a massive fist that came crashing down where Anpagon's afterimages had been.
It was a White Tiger Tower student's signature combat style—why bother identifying each afterimage when you could just sweep them all away?
Crash!
Anpagon grimaced at the sheer barbarity of it, dodging the falling branches as the surrounding trees collapsed from the massive shockwave.
"Finger of the Giant—"
"...Wait, behind you! Look behind you, you idiot!"
"Filthy bastard! What are you babbling about? Just take your beating like a man!"
"You brain-dead moron! I said LOOK BEHIND YOU!"
Balpatan, still preparing his next attack, whipped his head around.
And there, lumbering toward them with massive clubs in hand, were towering giants.
"...!!!"
"!!!"
The two third-year students froze on the spot.
No matter how much magic they'd honed at Einrogard, no matter how much respect they'd command as mages outside—none of that mattered in the face of giants.
As third-years, they knew all too well just how troublesome giants could be.
Magic barely worked on them, and communication was near impossible. If they made too much noise and angered the giants, things would get really annoying.
"Quiet... quiet. Invisibility potion! Now!"
"Happy now? You should be! You're the one who destroyed all the trees—they'll hear us for sure!"
"Shut up. Giants or not, I'm finishing you off first."
As they bickered, the giants drew closer.
One of them looked at Lee Han and asked:
-Who broke these trees? Looks like mages.
"They're very bad people. Probably professors, don't you think?"
-Want to plant new trees.
"Understood."
Lee Han nodded.
Planting trees was on the easier side of things.
Compared to tracking down escaped sheep and dragging them back, replanting trees was...
-Want to catch tree-breakers.
"Hmm. You want to catch the professors? That might be difficult."
Lee Han gave a vague reply as he surveyed the wreckage.
But the giants were more serious than he expected.
-Trees broken recently.
-Can find them! Mage helps. We find!
'...Huh?'
Lee Han, who had been pondering how to replant the trees, was caught off guard by the giants' reaction.
'Recently broken?'
Who in their right mind would come all the way up this mountain at dawn just to destroy trees?
It made no sense.
'They didn't even take the wood... Was it just venting anger?'
For a brief moment, Lee Han imagined the Skeleton Principal spinning wildly while smashing trees to splinters.
Amusing as the image was, neither the Headmaster nor any professor seemed the type.
'This one... was cleanly severed. Enchantment Magic? And this one looks like it was smashed by brute force...'
A quick scan of the area told Lee Han all he needed to know—there had been a magical battle here.
"I think that—"
Rustle.
"?"
Lee Han flinched as a note fluttered silently onto his palm.
-Help me, junior. Balpatan, Moradi.
"......"
What in the world had they been doing here?