Episode 705
Episode 705
As the basilisk struggled desperately as if refusing to let go, Diret glanced around cautiously and spoke.
"How about letting it stay a little longer?"
"Huh?"
"Well, you know. Even animals prefer staying close to their mothers when they're young."
"Senior. I'm not a basilisk."
When Lee Han looked at him with an expression of disbelief, Diret's face turned red.
In his haste to speak, he'd blurted out something ridiculous.
"It's a metaphor, a metaphor!"
"But basilisks are violent and arrogant monsters, aren't they? That's what Professor Lightning Step taught us."
By now, the tail sticking out of his sleeve was shaking pitifully. Without realizing it, Diret found himself defending the baby basilisk.
"Of course monsters share certain instincts. But each one has its own unique traits too, right? That basilisk might just be timid and affectionate..."
"Hmm."
Lee Han fell into thought upon hearing Diret's words.
"But even if that's the case, shouldn't it live separately once it grows bigger?"
"..."
That's true."-?!
Diret couldn't refute that.
No matter how timid and affectionate it was, if it physically grew any larger here, it couldn't possibly keep clinging like this.
If that happened, his junior's arm might just fall off...
Lee Han slowly peeled off the basilisk that was tightly wrapping around his arm like a sturdy rope and said:
"You don't need to worry, Senior. It might be like this now, but once it grows a bit more, this little one will find the sleeve too stuffy and want to roam outside."
"Well. It is a monster that shouldn't be roaming outside, but let's assume that for now."
Diret pretended not to see the baby basilisk's pleading tail wagging and changed the subject. 'Sorry. I did all I could.' "Junior. There's one last thing I need to tell you."
"I'm all ears."
"After finishing today's work and getting some rest, starting tomorrow, people will probably come from the Einrogard clubs."
"Aha."
Lee Han listened intently.
He'd heard much about Einrogard's clubs before.
Humans can't live alone, and wizards can't pursue truth in isolation either...
While this was the usual philosophy of ordinary social clubs, Einrogard's clubs had a slightly different vibe. 'They seemed a bit obsessed with gold coins.' According to a Duel Club senior he'd met during vacation, the main income source of Einrogard's Duel Club was proxy duels.
They'd intervene in disputes between Einrogard students, fight duels on their behalf, and receive gold coins in return.
And surprisingly, according to the senior, this Duel Club wasn't unique in that regard.
All proper clubs in Einrogard had a solid income source as an essential requirement.
At this point, it was hard to tell whether they were social clubs or Einrogard student guilds.
"There are so many clubs, and there's much I don't know about them either, but remember this one thing, Junior."
"Yes."
"Act as stupid and incompetent as possible."
"...???"
* * *
Morning.
Having worked all evening and late into the night transporting smuggled goods with his friends, some fatigue still lingered.
Lee Han yawned as he descended to the second-year lounge. Familiar faces waited with eager anticipation.
Seeing this, Lee Han grew puzzled.
"Did I promise to prepare breakfast this morning?"
"...Ah, no. Wardanaz. It's not like we're overjoyed at the prospect of a lavish breakfast!"
"Right. We're not pigs who only crave food!"
"Hmm. I see."
Lee Han wore a skeptical expression at his friends' unconvincing words as he opened the smuggled goods crate.
Though too busy to prepare a proper meal, he couldn't let them go hungry, so he took out some simple food.
As sliced bread, cheese, dipping oil, salted ham, and a few canned goods emerged, the students of the Blue Dragon Tower pounced with faces full of bliss. 'Wait. Aren't they curious about how I got these foods?' Lee Han wondered inwardly.
Normally, one would be surprised and ask, 'It's only the first day—how do you already have all this?'...
While lightly finishing his meal, Lee Han asked his friends,
"Then why were you all waiting in the lounge since this morning?"
"Because today's the day we can join Einrogard clubs!"
"Ah. That was it."
Lee Han had half-hoped there might be a festival or canceled lectures, but sadly, that wasn't the case.
"Clubs... don't seem like they'd be that fun or exciting."
Though he hadn't fully grasped Diret's words yet, Lee Han had long abandoned any romantic notions or illusions about Einrogard clubs.
Especially since they probably weren't the warm, enjoyable social clubs his friends seemed to imagine.
But his friends stared at him with looks that said, 'How can you say something so cold and heartless?'
"Th-that's absurd, Wardanaz. Social clubs are places any noble would love!"
"I never had much interest. And I don't think anyone in my family ever joined a social club either..."
"The Wardanaz family is an exception!"
"Why are we the exception?"
Flustered, the Blue Dragon Tower student quickly changed the subject.
"Clubs are truly wonderful places, Wardanaz. Of course, newly established clubs frequented by vulgar upstarts can be noisy and give off a tavern-like atmosphere. But traditional clubs are visited only by well-mannered nobles, and there's a certain joy in conversation."
"And we can play Wizard Cards."
Gainando, who had come down belatedly, nodded and added.
"Yeah. We can play Wizard Cards. But I prefer chess."
"Don't talk nonsense. How is chess better than Wizard Cards? Does chess have the thrill of collecting?"
"Chess is the true— Ugh, quiet down, Gainando! You're derailing the conversation! Anyway, Lee Han, in clubs, you can discuss today's events, debate the empire's political climate..."
"Isn't that just like the lounge?"
"It's different! Completely different!"
"R-right."
Seeing how desperate his friend looked, Lee Han conceded without argument.
As other students gradually woke up and came downstairs, Gainando, who had been munching on bread dipped in olive oil nearby, asked,
"Lee Han, which club are you joining?"
"Hmm. One with easy work and lots of gold coins."
'Shouldn't have asked.' Gainando grumbled inwardly at his friend's utterly unromantic answer as he finished his bread.
Once the morning sun had fully risen and all the second-year students had gathered in the lounge, a paper bird flew in through the window.
Then, with a crackling sound, it transformed into a voice.
"All second-year students, to the common lounge!"
"!"
"Let's go!"
Without hesitation, the students excitedly prepared to move.
A common lounge where they could meet all the upperclassmen, not just their own year—what kind of place would it be?
"Hey, everyone, get your spells ready before going."
"Drink this potion first."
"Anyone feeling brave enough to take the lead? For your friends' sake?"
"......"
But some remained calm—Lee Han and his friends.
Lee Han and his group grabbed the collars of the students about to rush out, cast spells on them, and made them move in combat formation.
After all, they could be ambushed the moment they entered the common lounge.
"Come on, they're just upperclassmen..."
"After what happened during smuggling, you're still saying that? Don't open any random doors in the common lounge. Don't go into rooms alone. If an upperclassman talks to you, be cautious."
The second-year students of the Blue Dragon Tower moved in a much calmer and more somber mood than before.
Creak
Perse, who had been waiting in the common lounge, was surprised to see the second-year students enter in such an orderly manner.
"You all are truly impressive. In our year, everyone was so excited they fought to rush in first... Yes. This is the dignity of nobility. I hope future classes can learn from you."
The second-year students awkwardly averted their gazes at Perse's praise, some even hastily lowering their wands and tucking potions back into their robes.
Lee Han and Yoner whispered from the back.
"Doesn't seem like a trap, right?"
"Nope."
The common lounge was vast and desolate—a stark contrast to the cozy comfort of their year-specific lounges.
If the year lounges were warm living rooms with fireplaces, the common lounge gave off the distinct atmosphere of an open campsite.
"Senior, why is this place so empty?"
"Hm? Ah. Well, it's the common lounge. If you leave anything here, students from other years will take it."
'Didn't you just talk about noble dignity?'
It seemed that by their third or fourth year in the Blue Dragon Tower, students no longer hesitated to steal, regardless of noble decorum.
"Normally, everyone rests in their own year lounges. No one comes to the common lounge just to relax. We only use this place now for Tower-wide business or discussions."
Perse pointed to a massive wooden noticeboard erected in the open space—a board covered in posted messages.
-Seeking mages to join the Marka Guild's current commission. Third-years and above, minimum three defensive spells, top 30 in academic rankings.
-Warning: Recent attacks by White Tiger Tower students.
↳ Recommend changing your tower emblem and using secret identification marks.
↳ Even White Tiger Tower students are wearing our emblems and asking if we're from the same tower...
-Wanted: <Secrets of Malevolent Transformation> magic tome.
↳ Just request it through the Library Club, no?
↳ Those guys charge way too much.
↳ I know. I'm a Library Club member.
Lee Han read the haphazardly pasted notes with interest.
Aside from the noticeboard, a few tents and canopies from last year's seniors were still visible. And then...
"What's that?"
"I was just about to explain. Today, we're heading there."
"!"
A massive door installed at one end of the common lounge.
At the mention of moving through that door, the second-years of the Blue Dragon Tower grew visibly tense.
Just as Wardanaz had warned—in Einrogard, you could never let your guard down.
Not even around seniors!
"Where does it lead?"
"Follow me."
Instead of answering, Perse opened the door and stepped through. The shimmering space beyond hinted at a dimensional portal enchanted with spatial magic.
Flash!
Emerging from the common lounge door onto Einrogard's 7th floor, Perse waited for her juniors to follow.
The 7th floor of Einrogard's main building—an already infinite space—boasted the largest and most complex area within the academy.
It was less of a floor and more of a village, if not an entire city.
As such, second-years and above spent much of their time here. While first-years lingered in the outer gardens or courtyards, their seniors occupied the 7th floor's expanse.
Since every tower's common lounge connected to the 7th floor via spatial transition doors, convenience was inevitable.
"Why aren't the Blue Dragon Tower students coming?"
Members of the Einrogard Club, waiting to give explanations, asked Perse.
"Give them a moment."
"Aren't they taking too long? Should we go check?"
"They're not children. No need to babysit—"
Before the words fully left their mouths, the door to the common lounge burst open, and the second-years came pouring out—
Fully armed with every spell at their disposal.
"......"
"......"
The waiting club members flinched at the murderous aura.
"Wh-what's going on?"
"What happened? Why are you like this?"
Lee Han, quickly assessing the mood, lied smoothly.
"...We just saw the Headmaster's minions in the common lounge. We had to run. Just being cautious."