Episode 694
Episode 694
Lee Han's group rode their carriage through the underground passageway.
Each time the sturdy stone floor clashed with the carriage wheels, echoes spread across the high ceiling of the tunnel.
Elde clicked his tongue inwardly as he saw the lights illuminating the long, winding underground path.
It was no exaggeration to say that beneath Einrogard lay so many passageways that even the headmaster couldn't possibly know them all.
Who would've thought such a path existed here?
"This reminds me of the passageway we found last year."
"A passageway, you say?"
Lee Han asked eagerly, his face brightening.
Seeing his junior's expression free from pain and hatred, Elde answered with slight relief.
"Yeah. Do you remember last year's flood?"
"Yes."
How could he forget?
Lee Han and the first-years had suffered so much.
In fact, Lee Han had even needed to directly confront an enraged spirit to resolve the issue.
"Einrogard's natural disasters are painful, but they also bring opportunities for students."
'Now he sounds just like the headmaster.'
Lee Han imagined the other person bursting into bitter tears if they heard this.
"When the school's rigid order is shaken, hidden paths are revealed. It was the same back then."
"You were lucky."
"Well..."
Elde made a bitter expression.
"It was a path, alright—but of all things, it turned out to be a sewer for magic waste. And even that ended in failure when we got caught."
Escaping Einrogard always came with countless failures and dangers.
Just because a path appeared didn't mean glory was guaranteed.
"Junior. With your abilities, you'll probably manage fine, but never let your guard down. Einrogard is like a swamp. If you relax, you'll find yourself sinking before you know it."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Hopefully nothing goes wrong."
Elde glanced back with a worried expression.
The path ahead was concerning, but the rear was just as troubling.
Since this plan was made under tight time constraints, any unexpected variable could spiral things out of control.
He wasn't entirely confident that the first-years covering their rear would perform as well as the first-year beside him.
"It'll be fine. My friends are all as exceptional as I am."
"I suppose. Judging by that potion, they're definitely not ordinary. Professor Thunderstep would be delighted."
"Priest Siana, who made it, is backing us up."
"That's reassuring. What about your other friends?"
"Durgyu is an excellent knight. We're evenly matched in swordsmanship."
"Really... huh?"
Elde paused.
He couldn't help but wonder if being evenly matched in swordsmanship with a Blue Dragon Tower student was really that impressive.
"Ah, I see. And?"
"Nilia is a hunter from the Shadow Patrol."
"The Shadow Patrol? What's that?"
"What? How can you not know about the Empire's finest patrol unit guarding the northern mountain ranges?"
Elde was taken aback when his usually composed junior suddenly flared up.
"S-sorry. I'm from the southern regions."
"Even if you're from the south, this is basic knowledge!"
"I-I'll remember that. Any other friends?"
"Hmm. I think I've mentioned them all..."
Yoner, driving the carriage behind them, muttered quietly.
"Gainando too."
"Ah, Gainando. Gainando is also a good friend."
"Did you just forget—"
"I made a mistake because I was nervous."
"So what's so great about that friend?"
"Senior. Your voice is too loud. Please keep it down."
"......"
This little—
"Will they be okay?"
"They'll be fine."
"Will they be okay?"
"They'll be fine."
"Will they be okay?"
"They'll be fine."
"Will they be—"
Nilia, Durgyu, and Siana exchanged glances.
Then, swiftly, they grabbed Gainando's arms and covered his mouth.
"Mmph! Mmph mmph!"
No matter how patient they tried to be, hearing their friend fret every five seconds was a bit much.
When the real Gainando signaled to be released, Durgyu carefully removed the gag.
"Gainando. If you keep this up, we'll have to tie you up again."
"Sniff... I'm just worried."
"I'm worried too, Gainando. But they'll be fine. Lee Han went with them."
"I don't care if Yoner gets caught, but I hope Lee Han makes it out."
At Gainando's muttering, Nilia and Siana shot him looks full of contempt.
"That bastard piece of trash!"
"Honestly, it'd be better if the senior got caught instead."
"Right. The senior will be fine."
"Well... maybe the senior would actually be okay..."
While they were busy deciding their sacrificial lamb amongst themselves, a faint light began to appear in the distance.
At the sight of that light, Nilia felt her heart drop.
"A... a carriage!"
"What? No way. It's too early!"
Nilia leaped down lightly from the tree and whispered urgently.
"Three of them. Two lanterns per carriage. It's the merchant caravan."
"Dammit, Merchant Flemeng!"
"?"
Durgyu momentarily doubted his ears at Priest Siana's curse, but there was no time to question it now.
The merchant carriages arriving at this hour was the absolute worst-case scenario they had anticipated.
Lee Han had infiltrated the caravan earlier to forge signatures from the Headmaster and Professor Verdus, sending a fake message.
Part of that message included delaying the real carriage's arrival time by about three hours.
They had planned to use that extra time to make their escape quickly, but...
"Since it's a supply delivery to Einrogard, they must have come early to wait."
"Why does Einrogard have to be so pointlessly notorious?"
"No choice. Get the prepared items out! Gainando, can you do this?"
"W-well..."
Though they had prepared, Gainando grew nervous now that the moment had arrived.
Durgyu gripped Gainando's shoulders firmly and spoke with intensity.
"You have to do this, Gainando! If you fail, Lee Han might get caught!"
"O... okay. I'll do it! Let's go!"
"Good. Everyone to your positions!"
From afar, the merchant carriages rattled as they approached.
Normally, the workers would be humming tunes during such trips, but today, they were dead silent.
They only muttered very quietly under their breaths.
-Please let us drop this off and get out safely...
-Please let us drop this off and get out...
No matter how many times they did it, delivering supplies to Einrogard was always terrifying.
"H-help us!"
"?!"
"Our friend collapsed!"
Nilia rushed out and shouted at the workers.
The workers turned their heads in confusion. Inside the bushes was a blond boy foaming at the mouth, lying unconscious.
"What happened?"
"We came out to see the Great Moonlit Squirrels that only appear at night, but I think he accidentally ate a strange flower!"
"Why would you eat something like that?!"
The workers couldn't help but raise their voices in anger.
Even though the other party looked wealthy and high-ranking, the sheer absurdity of the situation made them lose their temper.
"I-I'm sorry. It just... looked pretty..."
"What kind of idiot eats something just because it looks pretty?!"
The workers hurried over to check Gainando's condition.
Gainando kept his eyes shut, focusing. 'I'm in pain. I'm in pain.' Recalling the times he had faked illness last year to avoid studying, he foamed at the mouth and trembled violently.
The workers grew serious at the sight.
"He seems to be in a lot of pain."
"If it's around here, maybe he ate a Kalaibi Flower or a Ranaton Flower?"
"Either way, we should get him to the village quickly."
After hearing the workers' report, the person in charge hesitated before making a decision.
"Bring him onto the carriage! It's a cargo cart, so it won't be comfortable, but we have no choice. At least we're leaving soon."
The students' faces brightened as they somehow succeeded.
They had managed to buy time!
Clip-clop, clip-clop
"?"
At the sound of hooves from another direction, both the workers and the students turned their heads.
An unfamiliar traveler on horseback was approaching them.
"Excuse me. Is someone injured? I was passing by the upper road when I thought I heard someone was hurt..."
"Are you a healing mage?"
"Yes. I'm Phil, a healing mage from Einrogard."
"Gasp!"
The workers lit up with joy, while the students despaired.
Of all the worst possible timing, why did their oblivious senior have to show up now?!
"A healing mage from Einrogard! What a relief! There's someone here who collapsed after eating a strange flower!"
"Why would they eat that?!"
"We don't know either!"
"Understood. I'll take a look!"
As Phil began approaching, the underclassmen exchanged despairing glances.
Then, Gainando whispered to Siana.
"Priestess Siana."
"Yes?"
"Give... give me that. Quickly."
"You can't mean..."
Siana was flustered.
Before they'd left, she'd prepared a real poison at Gainando's request.
It wouldn't be life-threatening, but it would cause genuine agony!
She'd thought they might use a drop if their acting seemed unnatural, but now?
"Hurry!"
"H-Here you go."
"Give it to Lee Han. Tell him I drank it heroically...!"
"I will!"
Gainando uncorked the vial of real poison and downed it in one gulp.
Then he began foaming at the mouth and convulsing.
"Gwaaaaah!"
"Oh no! Please come quickly! The patient's condition is critical!"
Phil rushed over to check on Gainando.
Then he cried out in shock—the poison's composition was far from simple.
"How much of that flower did he... no, how many different flowers did he eat?!"
"W-We don't really know..."
"To the village! The reagents I have on hand might not be enough!"
"Understood!"
"Just hang on! I'll treat you soon!"
As Phil gripped Gainando's hand and shouted, the others watched with complicated expressions.
"Please organize the inside."
At the end of the underground passage, a warehouse came into view.
It was a warehouse Lee Han had seen before.
'There's no warehouse keeper!'
Lee Han and Elde exchanged glances.
Since the Death Knights showed no interest in warehouse organization, they wouldn't come inside.
Now, they just had to enter and move as quickly as possible.
Luck was on their side.
Thud!
Lee Han's group lifted the crates from the carriage and placed them inside the warehouse like seasoned workers.
"Yoner, Ratford. I'm counting on you. If we don't return..."
"Enough. Let's just get caught together."
"No. At least get the carriage moving. There's no point in all of us ending up in the Punishment Room."
Just in case, two had to stay behind to make excuses if needed.
Even if Death Knights were indifferent, an empty warehouse would raise questions.
"Arise, warriors of bone."
Lee Han summoned Skeleton Warriors reinforced with Dark Element and even called upon Gonadaltes to lead them.
They needed all the hands they could get for this heavy load.
Elde stared blankly at the undead summons before simply shutting his mouth.
"Let's go."
"Yeah, let's move!"
Lee Han and Elde grabbed their cargo and began running.
They sprinted through the deserted underground warehouse area, ascending the stairs to reveal the rear section of the central hall.
An empty banquet hall, a grand chamber, and several closed doors.
"This way!"
From here, even Elde knew the way, so they ran without hesitation.
They were supposed to cross into the front section of the central hall and take the stairs up to the second-floor warehouse of the main building.
That was the original plan...
"!"
"!!!!"
Both froze in shock.
Where there should have been a door leading to the front section, there was now only a wall.
"Damn Einrogard! The layout changed!"
Elde spat out a curse.
Though Einrogard's terrain often shifted, why now of all times?!
"We have to find the door!"
"Without clues, it's tough. In this situation..."
Despite his senior's words, Lee Han remained steady.
'Even if Einrogard's main building is ever-changing, the first floor—where outsiders frequently come and go—doesn't shift so easily. There must be a door nearby.'
Lee Han sharpened his senses, trying to detect the flow of mana around him.
Where there's magic, there's a way.
If he could find the dissonance...
"Senior. This wall—it's not a wall, it's a door!"
"What?"
Elde reacted belatedly, waving his staff.
To his astonishment, his junior was right.
It wasn't a wall—it was a door cleverly disguised as one!
As an Illusion Magic specialist, he should have noticed immediately, but his nerves had made him slip up.
Elde flushed with embarrassment.
"My apologies! I should've spotted it. I'll dispel it right away."
Dispelling the illusion would reveal the door. Elde knelt on one knee, pressed his staff against it, and began chanting.
"Senior, how long do you think it'll take?"
"Five to ten minutes!"
"That won't work. Let's break it by force!"
"How do you break this by force?!"
Elde's eyes widened at the brutish suggestion.
Lee Han pressed his staff against the illusion and swung with a Mana Hammer, shattering it.
Boom!
The wall vanished, revealing the door.
"Let's go!"
"You... what did you just..."
"Valdororn's Mana Hammer!"
"...You'd better explain this in detail later!"
Elde, bewildered by the unfamiliar name of an illusion mage, sprinted ahead.