Episode 706
Episode 706
706th Episode: "How to Live as a Magic School Wizard"
"Excellent!"
The club seniors marveled at Lee Han's words.
Who would have thought that students who'd just entered their second year would react so acutely to the Skeleton Principal's attacks?
The virtues absolutely essential at Einrogard—this year's second-year students of the Blue Dragon Tower already possessed them.
"Good mindset. Just as well, since the Headmaster will be attacking several times this week."
"......"
Lee Han and his friends' faces twisted as they received information they'd never wanted to know.
Unaware of their juniors' inner turmoil, the club seniors continued chatting.
"This year's Blue Dragon Tower students are exceptional, aren't they? How does it feel, Perse?"
"Hmph. I won't deny it. Now, everyone, let's move."
Perse pointed toward the opposite side of the door connected to the common lounge.
Descending along the hillside slopes and the winding path led them to a massive village.
It was the <Exile Village>—the student-governed district serving as both the heart of the vast 7th floor and the foundation of daily life.
The second-years stared in fascination at the sprawling village crammed with bizarre structures of stone, wood, and materials beyond recognition.
No matter how accustomed they'd grown to Einrogard's abnormal lifestyle, the sight of such an enormous, thriving settlement occupying an entire floor was nothing short of astonishing.
"L-Look at that mansion! Lee Han! It's moving! It has legs!"
Gainando's eyes widened as he shouted.
A mansion spewing smoke from its chimney, walking on its own legs—compared to this, every grand villa he'd ever imagined now seemed utterly wrong.
A truly magnificent villa was one that clanked and moved like that...!
"Absolute lunatics!"
"Not this shit again!" The seniors guiding the second-years cursed aloud.
"Moving mansions were explicitly banned! Even after that last disaster, they're still at it?!"
-Those bastards are at it again! Can't they stop immediately?!
-You imbeciles rejecting progress! You're unworthy of being mages... Gahk!
The smoke-belching mansion suddenly lurched sideways before exploding.
As the blast caused nearby structures to collapse, students from surrounding buildings came pouring out, hurling curses.
-You damned bastard!
-I saw your face! This time I'm putting a bounty on you for real!
"......"
"......"
Sensing the darkening mood, Lee Han attempted to shift the topic.
"But why is it called Exile Village?"
"Hmm. From what I know, centuries ago, a senior who failed to graduate built the first structure here while evading the Headmaster's pursuit..."
'Should've asked something else.' The answer seemed poised to make the atmosphere even heavier.
"So... do seniors currently use this village?"
"Yes. You're free to use it too if you want. Though you'll need to secure a building first. Despite how many there seem, few are actually usable. Most require subduing or clearing out."
"...Subduing... and clearing out, you say?"
"Ah, forgot to explain. Given that this place has been used by seniors since... well, time immemorial, many buildings are hazardous. I'd advise against entering abandoned mansions carelessly."
Most structures in Einrogard's 7th-floor village harbored ancient magic, making it impossible to predict what might emerge when opening a door.
Even battle-hardened Einrogard students primarily used pre-inspected safe buildings.
As the mood grew darker still, Lee Han wondered if it could possibly get worse.
'At this point, no topic could make it gloomier.'
"Here we are. Take a seat first."
Having reached the village, Perse guided her juniors to an open area.
Behind it stood a massive tent and storage shed, beneath which over ten cauldrons bubbled furiously, belching steam.
Several students shouted and swung their wands. The piled-up vegetables shattered into pieces before plopping into the boiling pots.
For Lee Han, who had occasionally helped prepare meals for his entire grade with some friends, this was a rather familiar sight.
"This is the Kitchen Club—or to use its formal name, the <Iactus Soup Club>'s dining area. You'll all be frequenting this place starting this year."
During their first year, they were at least provided with rough, hard meals to keep them from starving, but from the second year onward, even that disappeared.
To fill their stomachs, they had to either procure food themselves or pay to buy it from elsewhere.
And the place in Einrogard with the most secured food supplies was none other than the <Iactus Soup Club>, commonly known as the Kitchen Club.
Like it or not, if they were hungry, every student from any tower had no choice but to buy food here.
Clatter!
Soup bowls flew in from a distance and stopped one by one in front of the students. The soup in the deep bowls gave off a delicious aroma.
The seniors gestured for them to eat, as if understanding their hesitation.
However, the students from the Blue Dragon Tower, who had already eaten a hearty breakfast, exchanged glances.
"We actually already had breakfast—"
"Hey. Shut up and eat."
Lee Han suppressed his friends with a glare.
It was common sense that if you acted oblivious when others showed you kindness, that kindness wouldn't come your way again.
Feeling the murderous intent radiating from Lee Han, his friends reluctantly started eating the soup. Fortunately, it tasted decent.
'There aren't many ingredients, and it's a bit bland, but it's not bad.'
While the juniors ate, Perse continued her explanation.
"The Kitchen Club doesn't usually give out food for free like this. Since you've just moved up to the second year, they're making an exception this once."
"Thank you."
Beside them, Gainando muttered, 'This tastes worse than what Lee Han made, and they're acting so smug about it,' before getting pinched on both sides.
"Listen while you eat... This Kitchen Club, as well as everyone here, are all official members of Einrogard's recognized clubs."
"??"
Lee Han inwardly questioned that.
Official clubs?
'Does that mean there are unofficial clubs too?'
"Einrogard's clubs are divided into official and unofficial ones. Official clubs are those that have received permission from the school by demonstrating honorable purposes and outstanding achievements. As for unofficial clubs..."
"They're trash."
One of the seniors cut in to explain instead.
"......"
The second-year students exchanged bewildered looks at the absurd explanation.
"Hey. Don't interrupt."
"How is that interrupting? I explained it properly."
"Unofficial clubs aren't exactly trash... Think of them as clubs that haven't received school approval. After all, becoming an official club requires honorable purposes and outstanding achievements."
"Which club are you in, Senior?"
"I'm a member of the Einrogard Polo Club."
Perse smiled as if it were a good question, her expression brimming with pride.
"But didn't the Einrogard Polo Club perform poorly last year? I heard the professors cursing about it..."
"......"
Perse's smile vanished, and her face darkened.
The other seniors nearby immediately scolded Gainando.
"It wasn't that bad, you insolent brat!"
"We just had bad luck in the finals! What do you know?!"
"Eek!"
Gainando quickly hid behind Lee Han. Perse calmed her friends down.
"Everyone, relax. It's true we lost in the finals."
"You little punk! I'll remember your face!"
Seizing the chance to save Gainando, Lee Han raised his hand and asked,
"But Senior, what are the benefits of being in an official club?"
From what he could see, official clubs seemed burdened with troublesome restrictions, from their purposes to their required achievements.
There had to be a reason why Einrogard students, who thrived without rules, would endure such constraints.
"Sharp question. You're right. There are a few privileges. Things like the headmaster's financial support or permission to leave campus under certain circumstances, but..."
"...The most important one is the invitation privilege."
"?"
The second-year students looked puzzled at the mention of "invitation privileges."
"What do you mean by invitation privileges?"
"Official clubs don't wait for students to apply—they can forcibly recruit students by sending invitations."
"...?!"
"!!!"
The unexpected explanation made the second-year students murmur in shock.
And among them, Lee Han was the most troubled.
'...'
So this is what they meant!'
Now he understood why Diret had told him to play dumb.
Of course, official clubs would only try to recruit outstanding students into their clubs...
In the worst-case scenario, Lee Han could end up being forcibly enrolled in multiple clubs at once.
Gainando seemed to sense this too and protested to the seniors.
"This can't be right!"
"Aren't you the one who just insulted Perse for not being good at polo?"
"That's not the point! Official clubs shouldn't just forcibly recruit students! If multiple clubs try to recruit the same student, how hard would that be for them?"
The second-year students nodded in agreement with Gainando's protest.
There was one person in everyone's mind.
Of course, to Perse and the seniors, this sounded utterly ridiculous.
"Junior, that's nonsense."
"Hey, hey... Are you seriously saying that? You're overestimating yourselves. Clubs have standards, you know."
The club-affiliated seniors stared at the juniors with disbelieving eyes.
It was extremely rare for a student to belong to more than one official club.
After all, people's abilities and interests were limited.
How likely was it that a student passionate about polo would also have the skills needed for the Kitchen Club?
The invitation privilege wasn't meant to torment a single junior—it existed to forcibly give a student who was a perfect fit for a club the opportunity to learn, whether they liked it or not.
"But what if a student is suited for both this club and that one? Wouldn't you recruit them?"
"That would mean... just how outstanding are they?"
"Hmm... How outstanding would they have to be?"
The club seniors fell into deep thought at Gainando's question.
If a student was truly exceptional, even if another club had already recruited them, they couldn't just back down.
"Hey! That junior is just messing with you. He's trying to stir up trouble!"
"Ah, oops."
"You little brat. You're not just any troublemaker, are you?"
The seniors turned wary eyes toward Gainando.
Every year, there was always a cunning, sharp-witted troublemaker who defied authority.
This year's second-year representative seemed to be that blond boy.
"I was genuinely curious!"
"Everyone, quiet. Anyway, I think that covers the general explanation about clubs. The rest, you can learn by either waiting for clubs to approach you or seeking them out yourselves. There are many clubs in Einrogard even I don't know about."
"Yes."
"Then... that's it! You may begin now."
—Oh?
As Perse spoke, a student from the back warehouse opened the door and stepped out. Likely a member of the Kitchen Club.
Thud, thud, thud.
—With each step the student took, the second-year students' faces turned pale.
Gainando muttered under his breath.
"O... Ogre hybrid?!"
The senior's massive frame was so enormous that one might suspect he had monster blood. His bulging belly, visible even under his loose priest robes, swayed as he stopped walking.
"Pfft. Nice to meet you all. I'm Falkrius, a fourth-year from the Phoenix Tower. A member of the Iactus Soup Club."
"Y-you're a priest from the Phoenix Tower?"
"That's right! Wahahaha! Surprised an ogre hybrid is a priest?"
"Yes!"
"Pfft! I'm actually human. People just mistake me for an ogre hybrid all the time. They always fall for it when I tell them!"
"......"
Gainando, who had fallen for the trap, turned deathly pale.
"P-please spare me! I was wrong!"
"Wahaha, I won't eat you, I won't eat you! What kind of senior would eat a junior like you?"
Falkrius burst into hearty laughter.
His friendly demeanor eased some of the tension among the second-year students.
Even though the massive kitchen knife and ladle in his hands were dripping with blood...