Episode 697
Episode 697
Lee Han was momentarily stunned by the utterly absurd statement.
"Wait, are you seriously saying that right now...?!"
Unless words could actively dodge on their own—and without the Skeleton Principal's magic—avoiding contact with first-year students would be no easy task.
Not only would he have to detect and evade first-years in the crowded halls of Einrogard, but if there were too many of them, he might even have to maintain constant invisibility.
Even Lee Han, who usually adapted to reality with thoughts like, 'Damn it, Professor, isn't that too much? Well, I'll try anyway. You're the professor, and I'm just a student, so I'll respect your authority,' found this challenge daunting.
Boom!
But just as he was about to protest the unreasonable difficulty, the Skeleton Principal, having finished his spell, vanished without another word.
'He's gotten even more concise compared to last year.'
'Senior, what did he say to you?'
'He said that those who fail to graduate will be imprisoned forever in the Punishment Room.'
'...'
'Haha... That's a joke, right?'
In the space where the second-years had been gathered, students from other grades suddenly appeared all at once.
The Skeleton Principal had split the space like a kaleidoscope, layering multiple dimensions in the same location to simultaneously deliver his admonitions to each grade.
Then, he created duplicates of himself to deliver tailored lectures to each year.
'He really wastes magic on the most pointless things!'
Lee Han was so dumbfounded by the absurd waste of magic that he forgot his anger entirely.
"Lee Han! The seniors are here!"
"Look at their eyes. They're trying to trick us!"
"Gainando, isn't that a bit too—"
"You guys came late during winter break, so you don't know! The seniors are all thieves!"
The second-years, suddenly face-to-face with the third and fourth-years, erupted into murmurs.
While Lee Han and his friends, who had witnessed the seniors' true villainy during the smuggling incident, eyed them warily, the rest of the second-years acted as friendly as baby birds meeting their mother.
"Seniors! We're in your care!"
"Haha. Sure. By the way, do you know anything about smuggling?"
"Huh? What's that?"
"We can still do it now! Here—"
"......"
Lee Han shook his head in disbelief at their determination to set up traps on the spot, even after entering Einrogard.
"Blue Dragon Tower, this way!"
"White Tiger Tower, over here! No need to talk to seniors from other towers. Gather here!"
"Even if they're from the same tower, don't fall for their offers! No deals today—I'm warning you! No deals today!"
Still, not all the seniors were without conscience.
Those who knew exactly how third and fourth-years exploited second-years moved among the crowd, separating the students by tower and issuing stern warnings.
Angrago turned to Lee Han.
"Wardanaz. What do you think that warning means?"
"Angrago, that warning is—"
"Right. Those seniors have already been turned in to the Headmaster."
"......"
Lee Han looked at Angrago with the same expression he usually reserved for Gainando and the others.
But surprisingly, Angrago wasn't the only one thinking that way.
"Hey, they're saying smuggling is possible?"
"Huh? I've got some food I brought—can we take it in?"
"This feather-pen control artifact seems useful...!"
The rumor that smuggling was possible spread like wildfire among the second-years.
Human greed was always hard to suppress.
Lee Han and his friends rushed between towers, desperately trying to persuade their peers.
"Listen to me, guys. The seniors are just trying to use you."
"Everyone, don't fall for it! You can't trust the seniors!"
"Hear me out! The seniors are—!"
But the response was weaker than expected. If half believed Lee Han's words, the other half didn't.
That was how strong the pull of desire was.
"Isn't Wardanaz the one deceiving us?"
"Wardanaz is the headmaster's direct disciple, you know. He might be spreading false rumors on the headmaster's orders to stop us from smuggling..."
"...Hey. What kind of bastard are you? Step forward if you've got something to say!"
This punk has things he should and shouldn't say!
As the enraged Lee Han called out, the White Tiger Tower student quickly lowered his stance.
-Everyone quiet! Each year, return to your designated positions!
-Silence! Those who make noise will be attacked!
"Hey, are you interested in smugglin—"
Even as Death Knights appeared, one senior who had approached the second-year area to whisper was sent flying backward.
Over ten arrows condensed with dark energy were embedded in his body.
"Ghk!"
The Death Knight who had fired the dark element arrows roared menacingly.
-No loud noises or movements until the inspection is complete!
"Tsk tsk. What an idiot."
"Should've read the room. Should've read the room."
"......"
As the atmosphere grew icy, the Death Knights formed an encirclement around the students gathered before the main gate.
It was preparation against potential attacks, riots, rebellions, ambushes, terrorism, and other unforeseen incidents.
-For those unaware, let me explain. Einrogard is a sacred magic school protected by ancient, rigorous traditions! As such, its rules must be upheld with greater solemnity than any holy law!
"They're really spouting nonsense."
"Has that undead bastard lost his mind?" Harsh curses flowed from among the third and fourth-years.
What kind of "ancient, rigorous tradition" is it to confiscate sugar and butter?!
-Therefore, external items cannot be brought in without special permission. If discovered, they will be confiscated, and you may even face the Punishment Hall—so take heed!
"We get it, so hurry up and start already!"
"Feels good stealing from younger students as a knight, huh?! Is that why you became one?!"
"Was looting part of the knightly oath or something?!"
-Silence! No disturbances!
-Do not approach without permission, student! Further advances will be considered hostile!
"Tch. What a shame."
"......"
Lee Han realized that the gathered students were more varied than he'd expected.
Some were trying to deceive the Death Knights and slip past inspection, while others seemed ready to outright charge through the encirclement and flee.
There were even students inching closer while provoking the Death Knights...
Clearly, being Einrogard students, none were ordinary.
Even completing just the first year at Einrogard earned one recognition as a proper mage outside—so seniors who had spent even more time here were mages that even Death Knights had to take seriously.
'Indeed. With this setup, rebellion might actually be a viable option.'
If every student here rioted, stopping them all would be impossible.
Aside from the difficulty of handling the aftermath, it was worth considering.
-Inspection begins. Sixth and fifth-years, step forward!
Lee Han watched as some seniors he recognized and others he didn't stepped forward. Being past fourth-year, their numbers were drastically smaller compared to other grades.
-Is this all your belongings?
"Yes."
-You may pass.
The Death Knights didn't thoroughly search fifth or sixth-years either.
No warehouse spirits appeared, and they only went through the motions before letting them pass.
Witnessing this, one third-year shouted to provoke the Death Knights.
"Discriminating against students?! Investigate properly!"
-Quiet! Have you no human decency, student? Have you no pity for seniors who've reached fifth-year?
"That was too much. Even so, demanding stricter searches for fifth-years?!"
"Ugh! Trash!"
Surprisingly, this provocation backfired.
Everyone—Death Knights included—began condemning the one who had spoken.
"Even so, how could you try to torment someone who's made it to fifth year?!"
"......"
"......"
Of course, such consideration had little effect on the actual fifth and sixth-year students themselves.
Lee Han noticed that Diret, who had passed through inspection, was making a complicated expression. And it wasn't just Diret—most fifth-years looked similarly troubled.
-That concludes your inspection.
-Understood. Keep the perimeter secure. We'll now begin inspecting second through fourth years! Students who've passed inspection may proceed to their towers!
'Now the real battle begins.' With fifth and sixth years out of the picture, only the grades seriously attempting smuggling remained.
Under the watchful eyes of both Death Knights and other vigilant upperclassmen, they skillfully sent messages to second-year juniors.
Interested in smuggling? If you have anything to move, join now!
Along with the commonly used paper birds for message delivery, some employed telepathy spells. Others wrote messages in the sky or on the ground.
Those who wish to protect their rightful property—head northeast!
Lee Han exchanged glances with his friends.
"Everyone ready?"
"Yeah."
While the most crucial smuggling operation had already succeeded underground, the most important part of any Einrogard scheme was the cleanup.
Creating maximum confusion and making things impossible to trace.
For that purpose, Lee Han and his friends had each prepared a simple backpack.
A few magic books that wouldn't be a huge loss if confiscated, some coffee grounds, tea leaves, sugar or chocolate snacks—that sort of thing.
Even having these minor items confiscated would help lessen the Skeleton Principal's suspicion.
"Let's do this well. I'm going to meet with some seniors."
After shouldering his pack, Lee Han began making contact with the seniors he'd arranged to meet.
"...Understood. So this box..."
"...Right...if we hide the box among your luggage...with so many boxes, they won't search them all thoroughly. At least one should get through..."
After finishing their hushed conversation, Dhumcha watched Lee Han's retreating back with a satisfied expression.
Other unprepared students were now desperately trying to recruit second-year decoys, but in the current situation, it was surprisingly difficult.
With saboteurs watching and Death Knights monitoring, persuading juniors and coordinating necessary tasks proved unexpectedly hard.
This was exactly why preparations should've been made in advance back in the city. 'The early mage gets the most loot from the Headmaster's warehouse.'
"Then I'll be going."
"Right. Go ahead."
Dhumcha's plan was simple.
When commotion broke out at one inspection line, passing through other lines became relatively easier.
Of course, the juniors would be taking charge of that particular line!
-Step forward.
"Yes. Coming."
Dhumcha magically crammed several boxes into his bag before proceeding.
Ahead, one senior was already caught and pleading his case.
"No, why can't I bring my gold coins? I need them! Just look the other way this once! To test whether my plague transmutes gold completely into lead, I need an enormous amount of gold!"
-You may acquire gold coins yourself. Family-brought coins are prohibited.
"Why prohibited?! Bring out the Headmaster!"
-These coins will be confiscated as research funds for the entire grade.
"Thieves! Evil undead scum!"
'Tsk tsk.' Dhumcha clicked his tongue internally. He'd heard seniors did crazy things under graduation pressure in fourth year, but to make such an obvious mistake...
Sneaking in family gold only pleased the Skeleton Principal.
Last year, he'd clearly witnessed one senior who got caught bringing gold coins being mocked by the Headmaster every encounter: "Has our Einrogard donor arrived! When's the next contribution?"
-Skeleton Principal idiot! Skeleton Principal idiot!
'It's starting!' Hearing the bone-catching parrot's shrieks, Dhumcha straightened his collar and launched into his desperate performance.
"What?! What's happening?!"
He tried pushing forward while thrusting his backpack ahead.
But from Dhumcha's own backpack came an unexpected screech.
-Skeleton Principal idiot! Skeleton Principal idiot!
"......"
-What exactly are you doing?