Episode 7
Episode 7
'It looks like a mix of a morel mushroom and ginseng.'
That was Lee Han's thought when he saw the herb they were supposed to find.
It was called the <Poisonous Crow Herb>, and according to the notes, it was used in making antidotes.
"Have you handled it before?"
"Yeah."
"That's a relief."
Hearing Yoner say he had experience with it, Lee Han felt reassured.
Distinguishing one plant from another among the countless grasses and herbs scattered across hills, fields, and near forests was an incredibly difficult task.
Even with illustrations of the herbs, beginners were prone to confusion.
In that regard, having someone with prior experience was reassuring.
"But... it's a bit iffy for just the two of us to move around."
"Is it really that dangerous?"
"Right? It's best to have at least three when exploring. Guess they didn't assign Gainando for nothing."
"Even if they hadn't assigned him, he wouldn't have followed us anyway, so it doesn't matter."
At Lee Han's words, Yoner smirked.
"Then should we just go around with just the two of us?"
"No. I don't want my name on the deceased list."
Einrogard lived up to its reputation with plenty of gruesome rumors.
Magic was inherently a dangerous field of study, so it wasn't uncommon for students to die while learning.
Before coming here, Lee Han had thought it unavoidable.
No matter how much the professors tried to prevent accidents, they still happened.
But now that he was here...
'Isn't this just a complete lack of safety awareness?'
From the professors down to the students, it seemed like no one at Einrogard valued their lives. By modern standards, they all seemed a bit insane.
"Deceased list... Don't make such creepy jokes with that face. It doesn't suit you."
"I wasn't joking."
"If you weren't joking, that's even scarier? Yeah. I'd rather have someone from the same tower."
Yoner glanced around.
He had been thinking of inviting one of the Blue Dragon Tower students to join them.
But there was no one nearby.
"Uh... Are we screwed?"
"Can't we just talk to the Princess?"
"You seriously want to approach that Princess? She seemed like she had a really prickly personality."
"We're just looking for herbs, not throwing a ball, right?"
At Lee Han's words, Yoner nodded. He had a point.
"But it looks like we're already too late."
A few students had already gathered around Adenart.
The Princess must have also felt the need to move in a group, as she had already formed a party.
"Wait. Are those freshmen from the Black Turtle Tower over there?"
Lee Han felt a bit indignant.
If they were going to avoid him out of fear just because he was from the Wardanaz family, shouldn't they avoid the Princess too?
But surprisingly, among the students gathered around the Princess, some were from the Black Turtle Tower.
"Well, that Princess was already famous in many ways even before enrolling..."
Famous people were famous for a reason.
Adenart had been renowned among the imperial family for her exceptional intellect and astonishing talent.
It was only natural that nobles and commoners alike would flock to her as soon as she enrolled.
"Was she?"
"...Even for the Wardanaz family, did you really live without reading the news?"
"I usually only read the <Empire's New Ventures> section. <Imperial Family News> never really interested me."
"Ah. That was fun. Did you see the one where adventurers were told to bring back empty potion bottles instead of dumping them in dungeons for coin refunds? Not a bad idea, right?"
"It was a decent idea."
"...No. This isn't the time for that."
Yoner snapped back to reality. The conversation had veered off track.
"Anyway, even just reading <Imperial Family News> would've told you Adenart was famous in many ways. So it's only natural people gather around her like that."
"Was Gainando not famous or something?"
"Nope."
"I see. Gainando's nothing special."
"Really nothing special."
Gainando, lying in the infirmary sipping potions, was unjustly attacked.
"Then let's give up on the Princess and find someone else."
"Do you think that'll work? At this point, it seems like only students from the Tower of the Black Turtle are left."
At Yornell's words, Lee Han frowned.
'Hmm.'
It was true—only students from the Tower of the Black Turtle seemed to remain now.
Of course, if he grabbed just anyone and asked them to team up, some might agree.
But since they'd be moving together, they shouldn't end up hindering each other, right?
Above all...
'It'd be good if they were competent.'
Wasn't the most important thing in group work each other's abilities?
Lee Han glanced around and soon spotted a suitable candidate.
Nilia, a freshman from the Tower of the Black Turtle, was a dark elf from the <Shadow Patrol> of the Empire's northern region.
The <Shadow Patrol> was a group of exceptional hunters and scouts who traversed the northern mountain ranges as if they were their own backyard.
Having been born in such a place, Nilia was naturally skilled at navigating forests and mountains.
'What's this? It's not even that hard.'
Though she had never seen Poisonous Crow Herb before, once she knew what it looked like, finding it was a breeze.
It wasn't even comparable to those bookish greenhorns who had never set foot in a mountain or forest in their lives.
Truth be told, ever since entering Einrogard, Nilia had been feeling inferior.
Not only were there outstanding freshmen from other towers, but even within the Tower of the Black Turtle, there were too many exceptional newcomers.
There were those from rising noble families, from merchant households famous across the Empire, and even freshmen whose parents were renowned adventurers.
Among such people, Nilia—who had spent her entire life running through mountains and forests before being invited to the academy—couldn't help but feel inadequate.
The magic classes she had never heard of before were utterly overwhelming...
But now that she had encountered a class like this, it was only natural for her motivation to surge.
'Hmph. Just watch. I'll find it several times faster than those other guys.'
Nilia planned to move swiftly on her own to locate the Poisonous Crow Herb.
While others might stick together because they weren't used to mountains and forests, Nilia was confident she could manage alone.
"Ahem."
"?"
Nilia was slightly startled when someone approached. It was a pretty girl with red hair.
"...Who are you?"
"I'm Yornell of the Maykin Family. And this is—"
"Lee Han. Nice to meet you."
From their introductions, Nilia guessed Yornell was a noble, while Lee Han wasn't.
Nobles usually introduced themselves by stating their family name first.
'But he's from the Blue Dragon Tower?'
"Why's he like that?"
"Because you didn't mention your family name..."
Yornell looked at Lee Han as if he were ridiculous.
Why would he say his name but not his family?
"Isn't it just bothersome to always mention your family name when introducing yourself? Next thing you know, you'll have to start with the head of the family, then list where your lands are, just to say hello."
"But that's how nobles do it at parties, isn't it?"
"......"
At Yornell's words, Lee Han looked genuinely disgusted.
Watching this, Nilia spoke up in a wary voice.
"If you two want to chatter, go somewhere else. Why are you doing this here?"
"Want to team up?"
"!"
Nilia was startled by Lee Han's words.
It was the last thing she expected.
"What's your angle?"
Nilia glared at Lee Han with hostility-filled eyes.
She didn't think highly of noble-born kids.
It had been the same back in the north.
The nobles who occasionally visited the mountains would scrunch up their faces in arrogance, muttering, "How can people live in a place like this?"
Even when the hunters served them the finest food and prepared the best bedding, the nobles would just complain—saying it tasted bad, was uncomfortable, or that they were being treated poorly.
Some scouts had even joked, "If we pretend to guide them and push them off a cliff, no one would know, right?"
Having grown up in such an environment, Nilia had no reason to view students from the Blue Dragon Tower favorably.
"Wandering alone in such a vast area is disadvantageous. If a monster appears, you'd need at least three people."
"Hmph. Not necessary."
Nilia snorted and refused. Unfazed, Lee Han asked,
"May I ask why?"
"Why do you need a reason?"
"Depending on why you refused, we can also figure out what kind of person you are. Hmm. Should I take a guess?"
After a brief moment of contemplation, Lee Han opened his mouth.
"By any chance, you didn't think we'd use you as bait or abandon you in danger, did you? That would be utterly disrespecting both our honors."
"...That's not it."
No one could hear such words from two noble-born students and still say, "You're right."
No matter how much Nilia disliked them, she couldn't say that.
"Then, did you think you were sufficient alone?"
"That's exactly—"
"You couldn't possibly think that, could you? No matter how skilled you are, you never know what might happen in the mountains and forests. Besides, finding herbs isn't the end—you have to carefully dig them up too. If you think you can do all that alone, you'd be truly foolish. I don't think you're that kind of person. Hmm. I really can't figure out the reason."
"...Shut up. Fine, we can go together!"
Nilia huffed and turned away.
Watching her, Lee Han nodded in satisfaction. Yoner stared at Lee Han with wide eyes.
'Just what do they teach in the Wardanaz family?'
Nilia's steps were light and quick.
Leading the way and swiftly carving a path, she truly moved like an experienced hunter.
Yoner, looking curious, asked Lee Han,
"She moves really well, but how did you recognize and approach her?"
"From what I saw, her legs and calves were well-developed, and her hands and fingers had calluses and bumps. Those come from gripping a bow. Only an experienced hunter would have those marks."
"!"
"...!"
Not only Yoner but even Nilia, walking ahead, shuddered upon hearing that.
To think he'd deduced her background from such details.
She had underestimated him as just another noble-born, but this boy, Lee Han, carried an oddly unsettling aura—one that couldn't be taken lightly.
It was as if he could see right through people...
"Just kidding. She had a <Shadow Patrol> insignia on her waist. If she's from there, she must be good in the mountains."
"......"
Nilia whipped her head around and glared at Lee Han.
Yoner asked with a laugh,
"You were listening?"
"I wasn't!"
"Let's walk together. Match your pace with ours."
"Why should I match yours? You match mine!"
Lee Han responded to Nilia's retort,
"Because Yoner here is the only one who can identify the herbs. If she collapses from exhaustion, the two of us will have to search for them."
"......"
Nilia was speechless again. Her pride wouldn't allow her to argue unreasonably.
"Fine. I'll slow down, then."
"Oh. As expected of the Shadow Patrol—wise and—"
"Are you mocking me?? Huh??"
"It's a compliment."
Perhaps frustrated at constantly being outmaneuvered by Lee Han, Nilia redirected her irritation.
"She can identify herbs, and I'll guide us. What about you? What's your role?"
'If I say freeloader, she'll get mad.'
Lee Han almost said it but hesitated. No need to provoke her unnecessarily.
"My role is to chase off any wild beasts or monsters that appear."
"......"
Nilia was left speechless again. Someone who could handle monsters in the mountains was undeniably important.
Judging by his tall, well-built frame, Lee Han seemed to come from a knightly family.
'...Wait, aren't knights in the White Tiger Tower?'
"I don't think I heard earlier. Which family did you say you're from?"
"Wardanaz. The Wardanaz family."
"......"
Nilia recoiled with a horrified expression. Lee Han felt slightly wounded.