Episode 696
Episode 696
"What about the senior?!"
Yoner was startled to see Lee Han return alone and asked.
"He got caught."
"That's actually a relief! At least Lord Wardanaz wasn't caught."
"A silver lining, I suppose. Let's go!"
"......"
Lee Han stared at his friends with a look of utter disbelief.
Did his friends perhaps lack human emotions?
* * *
The three who had safely escaped hurriedly erased the carriage insignia and detached the cargo compartment before moving to the spot where they'd parted ways with their other friends.
"!"
"Gone..."
"Lee Han. We need to move."
"I know. Let's go."
Just because their other friends weren't there didn't mean they could go searching for them.
Hadn't this been one of the scenarios they'd anticipated when making their plans?
They'd agreed that if anyone had to leave their position due to circumstances, they'd regroup at the school's main gate.
As Lee Han drove the carriage while visibly worried, Yoner tried to console him from the side.
"They'll all be fine. Maybe the merchant caravan left a bit earlier than expected?"
"Right? They wouldn't have run into the Death Knight patrol, would they?"
"Uh, is that... a possibility?"
"No idea. But it could happen."
"......"
Yoner found this ridiculous, but Lee Han was deadly serious.
Having experienced the school's interior firsthand, he'd realized one thing:
It wouldn't be strange at all if there were Death Knight patrols!
"Lord Wardanaz. I hear something strange."
Ratford pricked up his ears and signaled.
From somewhere, eerie wailing sounds could be heard.
-Ugh... ugh...
"Wh-what is that? A monster...?"
Yoner panicked.
Dawn had already broken and most of the darkness had dissipated—what kind of ghost-type monster would appear now?
-I don't wanna go back to school...
-Ugh... ugh...
"......"
"......"
Lee Han and his friends made bitter faces when they discovered their other friends sobbing uncontrollably beyond the hill.
It wasn't monsters—it was their friends returning to school.
"Hey, kids."
"Wardanaz!"
"Stop crying and let's go."
"Wardanaz, no one fits into Einrogard as well as you do!"
"...You little shits."
Furious, Lee Han drew his staff.
Under normal circumstances, he might have laughed it off, but the mental exhaustion accumulated during the smuggling operation had worn away his patience.
There are things you can say and things you can't—how could they say something like that?
"If you don't stop crying and start running right now, I'll give you more reasons to cry here."
"Y-you bastard!"
Cursing Lee Han, the friends quickly fled toward the school.
Lee Han glared at their retreating backs and muttered,
"How dare they spout such nonsense."
"......"
"......"
Yoner and Ratford quietly kept their mouths shut. Lee Han turned to them and asked,
"You think they were talking nonsense too, right?"
"Huh? Uh. Of course."
"N-nonsense, absolutely."
As they got closer to the school, familiar faces began appearing.
Lee Han spotted Princess Adenart and her entourage and greeted them.
"Ah. Your Highness."
"Wardanaz. I received your letter."
"Yes. I received yours too..."
Lee Han trailed off as he replied.
Even if he had received Adenart's letter, he felt somewhat hesitant about admitting it. 'Would it be rude to ask her to write less next time? Would that be impolite?'
One of the entourage members nearby looked at Lee Han enviously and said,
"You got a letter from Her Highness? I'm jealous!"
"You could send one too."
"Wardanaz, it's presumptuous to act so familiar without permission!" 'Not sending group letters seems even ruder, though...'
At best, it was deference—but honestly, it felt more like exclusion.
Lee Han thought so but decided to put it nicely.
"Well. You guys spent the break together anyway, so there was no need to send letters."
Adenart nodded with a pleased expression on her usually impassive face.
After reuniting with their families, the entourage had gathered around Adenart to spend the winter break together.
It had been a truly fulfilling and loyal winter break.
Hunting, snow mountain expeditions, magic guild visits, workshop participation, banquets, and more.
"We also had a pleasant time together."
Ratford, perhaps wanting to boast a little, spoke up after a long silence.
It had been a winter break with little material gain but abundant in friendship.
"Oh? What did you do?"
"We visited the Wardanaz family estate and toured their domain."
"!"
At Ratford's words, Adenart was surprised and felt a slight twinge of envy.
The Wardanaz family's domain was something any serious magic researcher would naturally be curious about.
"Curious, aren't you? The Wardanaz family's domain, of all places."
"Right. Is it like Einrogard or something?"
"You guys are exaggerating too much. Haha."
Adenart was secretly pleased when her followers unexpectedly responded positively.
If everyone was interested, perhaps next winter break...
"Couldn't you have visited too?"
"Ah, that's not possible. If Her Highness the Princess were to visit another noble family's domain, unnecessary rumors might spread."
"It's a matter requiring very careful consideration of Imperial politics. If she visits a Loyalist Faction domain, she must next visit a Noble Faction domain."
"Our family is part of the Neutral Faction."
"Still, it's not allowed. Her Highness is very strict."
Adenart's expression soured as her own words came back to bite him.
"What else?"
"We went to Plaha City and visited Lord Gainando's residence."
"That doesn't sound very enviable."
"Seems boring."
"Her Highness the Princess's residence would've been better."
Immediately, the followers' indifferent reactions popped out.
Adenart also didn't seem particularly envious, shrugging her shoulders.
Then, remembering something, he poked his followers teasingly.
"I think we can do it now."
"Do what, exactly?"
"...What we talked about last time. Don't you remember?"
"What are you... Ah! Aah!"
The followers shouted as it came back to them.
"Wardanaz!"
"Huh?"
"We heard you've got a huge misunderstanding. That Her Highness the Princess stole bread from the White Tiger Tower students."
"It wasn't to that extent..."
"That's a misunderstanding! Her Highness merely retrieved the bread after we had it stolen from us first."
"Exactly. Her Highness would never steal anything first."
"......"
"......"
Yoner and Ratford exchanged pitying glances at the proud followers and Adenart. If nothing else, they weren't very skilled at clearing up misunderstandings.
Being that blatant would only create false accusations where there were none.
"Well, I did think something was off."
Lee Han answered while looking at the two. Yoner immediately chimed in.
"I said it was weird from the start!"
"True. I also recall saying that not just anyone can be a bread thief. Haha!"
At the trio's responses, Adenart and her followers left, looking thoroughly satisfied.
Then, a new friend appeared.
It was Ashan of the Dalkard family.
"Ashan. Have you been well? Did you get my letters?"
"I've been good. Had a great break. My elder brother and sister were happy to receive your letters."
"That's a relief."
"They said they wished you were their younger brother?"
"Haha. Even as a joke, that's flattering."
"Seemed serious to me? They asked when Wardanaz would visit next."
"......"
Lee Han resolved to be a bit more cautious when visiting the Dalkard family from now on.
He already had enough eccentric families to deal with and didn't want to add more.
"Lee Han. Over there!"
Yoner whispered, barely containing his joy. In the distance, Nilia's group was approaching.
"Everyone's safe!"
"Thank goodness!"
"...Why does Gainando look like that?"
Lee Han muttered in puzzlement.
Unlike the other friends, Gainando's complexion was as pale as a half-undead.
"Wasn't he always like that?"
"I think he was."
At their responses, Lee Han wondered if he'd imagined it.
But no.
"He's definitely pale!"
"Maybe it's from learning Black Magic?"
"That doesn't have such an effect. Is everyone alright?"
As the friends approached, Lee Han checked their conditions first. Fortunately, aside from Gainando's pallor, there were no other issues.
"Gainando. Why is your face..."
When Lee Han asked, Gainando grinned as if he'd been waiting for the question.
Even while staggering from the poison's effects, he had been waiting for this exact opportunity to boast.
"That's..."
"Where did the senior go?"
"He got caught."
Lee Han answered with a somber expression.
Fearing the other friends might react as coldly as Yoner or Ratford, Lee Han quickly explained what had happened—adding as much dramatic flair as possible!
"No way...!"
"Astounding! Who knew he was that kind of senior!"
Judging by their reactions, his embellishment worked. Unlike before, his friends now responded with shock and admiration.
Yoner and Ratford, looking somewhat embarrassed, whispered separately to Lee Han.
"I was just relieved that at least you made it out. You know that, right?"
"I honestly thought that senior had betrayed us and got caught."
Siana opened her mouth as if she could hardly believe it.
"To think he went so far as to use that kind of magic just to divert attention... That's truly incredible."
"I couldn't agree more. Even though he wasn't from a knightly family, that was a knightly sacrifice. I never would've guessed he was that kind of person when we first met."
"It was your actions, Wardanaz, that changed the senior's heart. Even among the Mountain Hunters, there are eccentric people who turn out to be good once you get to know them."
Lee Han and his friends nodded solemnly, honoring the senior's sacrifice.
After finishing the conversation, Lee Han turned back to Gainando and asked again.
"So, why does your face look like that?"
"...Wait. I'll tell you later. If I say it now, my story might seem a bit..."
"What do you mean 'later'? Tell me now."
"No! If I say it now, it'll pale in comparison and seem weak!"
Amid the chatter, Lee Han suddenly felt a strange dissonance. 'What was that?' It was as if a massive spell had deceived his senses and brushed past him unnoticed.
Snap!
"!"
Sure enough, that eerie feeling had been spot-on.
When he regained his focus, all the second-year students who had been waiting outside the gates had mysteriously moved inside.
Welcome!
"...Yes..."
"Nice to see you..." The second-year students, quickly assessing the situation, greeted the Skeleton Principal in lifeless voices.
Their year at Einrogard had trained them well.
Aren't you happy for the new semester?
"Happy..."
I thought so! You are no longer Ironheads! Having spent a precious year in this school, you've at least earned the rank of Bronzeheads!
"......"
"......"
The newly promoted Bronzeheads glared at the Skeleton Principal with eyes that looked ready to collapse from sheer joy.
And that's not all! Now you have the privilege of meeting your seniors—those who entered before you, studied before you, and will introduce you to far more ruthless and vicious predators than yourselves!
"Can we join clubs now?"
Of course! But the fact that you're only concerned about social activities instead of asking about magic research or new lectures speaks volumes about your future!
The White Tiger Tower student who had merely asked a question grumbled under his breath after being insulted for no reason.
It won't be me, but your seniors who will explain what lectures to take, what research to pursue, how to secure gold coins, and how to handle club activities. No need to rush—you'll witness your seniors' skills firsthand during the upcoming Inspection Period.
"Inspection Period?"
"What's that?"
A few clueless friends tilted their heads in confusion.
Lee Han's group kept their expressions neutral. There was no advantage in looking like they knew.
I'd love to say farewell now, but there's one last thing to do...
The Skeleton Principal summoned his mana like a cascading waterfall as he spoke.
Now that you are qualified to meet and speak with your seniors, you also bear the obligation not to interact with your juniors. This prohibition shall protect the innocent Ironheads from your wickedness!
With his declaration, a powerful spell rippled through the students in successive green waves, weaving through them like a tide.
The prohibition had now taken effect on all second-year students—rendering them invisible to first-years and unable to make direct contact with them!
Having already endured their first year, the students accepted this calmly, without panic. Prohibitions, restrictions, and secret vows were as natural as breathing in Einrogard.
Amid it all, Lee Han tilted his head in confusion.
No matter how he looked at it, he didn't feel like the spell had affected him.
"Uh, Headmaster? I think you might've missed me."
You have too much mana for it to stick properly. Avoid them on your own. Surely you can manage that much.
"......"