Episode 663
Episode 663
"Pr... Professor Bagrak!"
Palga screamed in a shrill voice while sprawled on the ground.
It was an undignified sight, hard to believe this was the same senior who had been seriously burning with competitive spirit just moments ago while recalling his duel opponent's strategies.
Lee Han was also taken aback.
"Senior. I said Professor Bagrak, not Gonadaltes."
It wasn't the Skeleton Principal or anything—there was no reason to be so shocked just by Professor Voladi's name.
"Lee Han. I don't think this is helping much."
As Durgyu said, it didn't seem to be getting through to Palga. Palga looked around frantically before curling up into himself.
His movements resembled those of a herbivorous animal hearing a predator's roar.
"Y-you were walking around with Pr... Professor Bagrak? Why on earth?"
"As I said, we happened to meet by chance."
"Don't spout nonsense. Even if you met by chance, there's no way Professor Bagrak would just casually stroll around with you. There must be another reason."
'Wow. This guy's sharp.'
Lee Han was reminded once again that he was dealing with an Einrogard senior.
Those who had spent over a year at Einrogard naturally developed a keen sense for danger.
"We ended up helping the professor with some work. In return, he treated us to a meal."
"I... I see. But why the Duel Club?"
"During the meal, the topic came up, and the professor offered to let us observe for a bit."
"!"
Palga was startled.
He never imagined Professor Voladi could be so approachable and sociable.
He had thought the professor was just another vampiric monster created by the Skeleton Principal to torment students...
"Th-that's... astonishing. I never thought Professor Bagrak would say something like that."
"Senior. Did something happen between you and Professor Bagrak?"
Durgyu asked, sounding genuinely puzzled.
As far as Durgyu knew, Professor Voladi wasn't someone who took on many students.
He didn't teach a wide variety of lectures, nor was he the type who enjoyed tormenting students like the Skeleton Principal. There was no reason for such an extreme reaction.
"Most of my other friends are just a little wary of Professor Bagrak. I don't really understand why you're reacting like this, Senior."
"...I suppose that makes sense. Have you ever taken <Repetitive Training in Basic Magic Combat>?"
"We... tried to attend once, but..."
"Of course you did. You're both White Tiger Tower students—we all did."
Palga gave a bitter smile as he spoke.
While freshmen could freely choose which lectures to attend, each tower traditionally had its own popular courses.
For example, in the White Tiger Tower, combat-related lectures like swordsmanship were particularly favored.
Especially in the case of <Repetitive Training in Basic Magic Combat>, many freshmen would excitedly enter the classroom, drawn in by the words "magic combat" in the title.
And every single one of them would later flee the classroom in tears, never to return.
"I understand now."
"Of course you do. When I asked the seniors, they said the same thing happened to them. There was even a rumor that someone died—though I still don't know if that was an exaggeration or not."
"......"
While Lee Han was at a loss for words, Durgyu answered instead.
"We ran away too. Except for Lee H—... ugh."
Durgyu groaned as his friend stepped on his foot. Lee Han shot him a look telling him to shut up.
There was no benefit in revealing that Lee Han was actually the professor's disciple in front of a senior who collapsed just from hearing Voladi's name.
'He might have a heart attack.'
"If it had ended there, Professor Bagrak might have just remained a terrifying rumor floating around Einrogard. You know how it is—like the stories about an invincible creature living deep beneath Einrogard..."
'It does live there.'
Lee Han bit back his words.
The senior seemed rather fragile. If he found out the invincible creature was real, he might actually faint.
"But that didn't happen."
Palga's face resembled that of a veteran soldier reminiscing about wars long past. Driven by curiosity, Durgyu asked:
"What exactly happened back then?"
"As I mentioned earlier, I belong to the <Einrogard Duel Club>. And the club has a supervising professor."
"Oh no. Was Professor Bagrak in charge of the club?"
At Lee Han's words, Palga shook his head in denial.
Professor Voladi wasn't the sociable type to oversee a club.
"The supervising professor was Professor Kirmin Ku."
"??"
"Hah. This is somewhat of an internal club matter, so it's awkward to share... but since I've come this far, I might as well tell you. You're from White Tiger Tower too, after all."
Durgyu glanced at Lee Han, who pretended not to notice and ignored him.
"There was a time when our Duel Club suffered consecutive defeats. Without income, it was absolutely maddening. Research and food became hard to come by, and the club members' morale plummeted..."
"Wait a minute, senior."
Lee Han, who had been listening quietly, couldn't hold back his question.
"You said you don't gamble, didn't you?"
"Ah, you misunderstood. The 'income' I'm referring to here is duel proxy fees. Compensation as substitute warriors."
While thrill-seekers and honor-chasers might engage in duels themselves, not everyone in the Empire wanted to duel personally.
There were duelists who fought on others' behalf for compensation. One of the main income sources for Einrogard Duel Club members was these proxy duels.
'Does this really make money?' Lee Han wondered skeptically.
"Sorry to interrupt, but duels aren't that common these days, and duel trials are even rarer. Does this really pay well?"
"Outside the school, everyone follows Imperial law for trials, but within Einrogard, duels are generally preferred."
"......"
Upon hearing who their main clients were, Lee Han and Durgyu were rendered speechless.
Their seniors preferred settling matters through fiery duels rather than arguing over Imperial laws and regulations.
'Is this a magic school or a den of barbarians?' Lee Han was appalled.
"And we have clients outside Einrogard too. Mainly students from other magic schools frequently hire our club members as mercenaries. Our duel win rate is high, you see."
"Ah... I see..."
Durgyu tightly shut his eyes at the unsavory money-making schemes of their seniors that he'd rather not have known about.
'This is just mercenary work!'
"Returning to the main story, there was a time when our club suffered consecutive defeats. When club income decreases, the atmosphere turns toxic."
'Aren't clubs usually social gatherings for camaraderie...?'
"At that time, we were truly desperate. So we begged Professor Ku. We wanted to grow stronger. Professor Ku calmly advised us that it was just a streak of bad luck and that we'd recover once our condition improved, but we wouldn't back down."
Fear seeped into Palga's voice.
"Eventually, Professor Ku relented. He asked us: 'Do you really want to become stronger?'"
"Don't tell me..."
Beginning to sense where this was going, Lee Han felt a wave of foreboding.
"We said yes. And then Professor Ku summoned Professor Bagrak. And sealed the doors for three days."
"Oh no!"
Lee Han groaned. Durgyu, not understanding, asked:
"Why seal the doors...?"
"So we couldn't escape."
"That... that can't be right, can it?"
Palga slowly shook his head.
These naive, inexperienced juniors saying such things was simply laughable.
They only spoke like this because they'd never experienced it!
"My story ends here. I can't bring myself to tell you what happened inside. You should be careful too. All Einrogard professors are dangerous, but there are always some who are especially so. Just because I treated you to a meal and showed you around the club doesn't mean..."
Palga trembled at the mere thought. Durgyu tried to calm him down as if to say not to worry.
"I won't be taking it. And Lee Han here is already Professor Bagrak's disciple, so he's fine."
Thud!
Palga fell over again.
"Are you alright?!"
But Palga's eyes already held a mix of shock, fear, and the wariness of someone staring at a monster from another dimension.
"So...you're Professor Bagrak's disciple. Your...what was your name again?"
'Oh no.' Lee Han realized his mistake.
The senior's gaze was identical to how his friends looked at Gainando when he fell into a black magic sewage pit.
That icy stare screamed absolute determination to never get close!
"...Gainando..."
"Lee Han. I said Lee Han."
"Yes."
Lee Han inwardly vowed to be far more thorough with his alias from now on.
Palga desperately wanted to make an excuse and flee, but Lee Han wasn't making it easy.
Not wanting to leave a bad impression, he clung to the senior with desperate determination.
"...Ah, come to think of it, I should bring drinks..."
"Durgyu! The senior is thirsty. Hurry and bring something!"
"H-hey, Lee Han."
Lee Han shot Durgyu a look that screamed 'You're the one who blabbed about me being Professor Voladi's disciple!'
Durgyu opened his mouth to complain but shut it and quietly went to fetch drinks.
'Ugh. I spoke without thinking.'
"I...I can go get them myself."
"No need. Please stay seated. Senior, I think there's been a misunderstanding. I don't just attend Professor Bagrak's lectures."
"Anyone who only attends Professor Bagrak's lectures would be even more bizarre."
Ignoring Palga's muttering, Lee Han continued.
"Actually, I..."
He hesitated mid-sentence.
Upon reflection, admitting he attended lectures from every school didn't seem helpful in this situation.
"Somehow I ended up taking extra lectures, and by chance, one of them happened to be yours, so I just...sort of...ended up forced into it..."
"Here you are."
Professor Voladi arrived with the other students. Lee Han squeezed his eyes shut.
'So much for help!'
Palga's face had gone deathly pale, his fingers gripping the table like he was wringing it out.
"H-h-h-h-h-h-hello, Professor."
"Are you cold?"
"N-n-n-n-n-no, Professor."
"Good."
Lee Han's oblivious friends exchanged puzzled looks at Palga's chattering teeth, as if he'd caught the flu.
Why was the senior acting like that?
"Everyone, this way. The duel will start soon."
Professor Voladi pointed to seats with the closest view of the arena.
For comfort and decorum, distant seats would've been preferable—but to truly learn, one needed to see up close.
The students began moving toward the spectator seats when...
"Wardanaz."
Professor Voladi gestured for Lee Han to come to his side.
"What is it, Professor?"
"Number six."
"?"
Number six?
'Is he counting how many times he's ambushed me? It's way more than six.'
"Your duel slot."
The professor showed him the list. Lee Han was fifth.
"Left to your own devices, you'd have registered haphazardly. So I found you a suitable opponent."
Even while introducing the Duel Club to other students, Professor Voladi hadn't forgotten his considerate mentorship.
Worried his reckless disciple would challenge anyone, he'd secured an appropriate match.
"Professor..."
Lee Han clenched his teeth.
It happened completely naturally.
"Having a teacher like you...I'm truly blessed...!"
"Hm."
Professor Voladi patted Lee Han's shoulder and walked off.
From behind, Lee Han could feel the senior staring at him in utter disbelief.
That Professor Voladi participated in duels was shocking enough—but to so confidently enter a mere first-year?
That was clearly a personal disciple!
Lee Han sighed deeply.
'I should give up on befriending that senior.'