Episode 713
Episode 713
Lee Han thought to himself about the unusual club name.
<Location Shift> Club. He wondered if it might be related to spatial magic research.
"The club name is decent."
"Is that so?"
Ratford beamed with delight.
"As expected of a Wardanaz. I knew you'd like it."
"I need to practice spatial magic this year."
While other schools of magic would mostly be continuations of what he learned last year, space-time magic was something he'd have to start almost from scratch, which worried Lee Han.
If there were seniors researching spatial magic, it would be a huge help.
"Spatial magic, you say?"
Ratford briefly wondered why Lee Han suddenly brought up a new type of magic but quickly dismissed the thought.
After all, this friend of his was the type to randomly pick up and study new magic whenever he got bored.
Even if Lee Han announced he was starting yet another new magic next week, Ratford wouldn't be surprised in the slightest.
"This way."
Ratford led them down a narrow alley beside the tightly packed buildings of the 7th-floor Exile Village, advancing deeper into the winding backstreets.
Lee Han asked curiously,
"It's quite far, isn't it?"
"Well, securing a proper building is difficult, you see."
Given the club's nature—where secrecy and security were paramount—it couldn't be located on a main street like other clubs.
Lee Han interpreted Ratford's words differently.
'Come to think of it, finding an intact building in this Exile Village is tough.'
Though it appeared prosperous like a city at first glance, most buildings were actually off-limits and dangerous.
It wasn't strange that Ratford's <Location Shift> Club was tucked away deep in the alley.
"From here, we have to go underground."
"Underground too? Ratford, if it weren't you, I'd think I was being kidnapped."
"Haha. What fool would dare kidnap a Wardanaz?"
"The seniors."
"Good joke."
"It's not a joke, it's the truth."
Though Lee Han insisted it wasn't a lie, Ratford didn't believe him.
Even if they were seniors, they were still people—there was no way they'd try to kidnap Lee Han.
Even if a few seniors were foolish enough to misunderstand, a few punches would bring them back to their senses.
"We're here. This is the place."
After descending the basement stairs and walking down a dim sewer passage, Ratford lightly knocked on the wall.
Then, with the sound of bricks rolling aside, a door opened, revealing the entrance to the club.
'Feels way more secretive than the Library Club.'
Lee Han wondered why they were in such a secluded and hidden place but chalked it up to the difference between official and unofficial clubs.
Official clubs, with their large memberships and financial backing, could afford well-lit, spacious buildings, but unofficial clubs had no choice but to settle for remote, tucked-away locations.
'What a sad reality, showing the financial disparity between clubs.'
"Everyone. Are you here?"
-Oh, Ratford's here!
-What? Who's here? Don't tell me it's a tracker sent by the Skeleton Principal...
-No, no. It's Ratford.
-Ah. What a relief.
'?'
The seniors' conversation drifting from inside sounded unnecessarily tense.
'Did the Skeleton Principal attack them recently or something?'
"I brought a friend interested in the club."
-A friend? How's their skill?
"Their skill is solid. I stake my honor on it."
-If Ratford vouches for them, they must be good. Welcome.
Clank
Hearing the sound of a bolt being lifted inside, Lee Han thought the club's security was quite thorough.
Clatter-clank-bang-thud!
But as the sounds of locks being undone, chains being loosened, and more followed in rapid succession, Lee Han's expression stiffened slightly.
"Did you guys lock up a demon in there or something?"
"Haha. What lunatic would keep a demon in a social gathering place?"
"The Wardanaz family... No, never mind."
Finally, the door opened.
The <Location Shift> Club's building had a warm, cozy atmosphere, much like a year-round lounge.
Near the crackling fireplace, a senior could be seen skewering several plucked and gutted birds onto a spit to roast them to perfection.
Beside him, other seniors were tinkering with reagents. They were trying to alter the patterns on a wooden crate, but judging by their furrowed brows, it wasn't going well.
"Done. Eat while you work."
"What's this? What kind of meat?"
"Meat from the Soup Club. Borrowed some traps. Not going well?"
"The Stonemason Club's emblem won't come off cleanly."
'...?'
Lee Han felt something was off.
While the atmosphere was warm and cozy, there was something oddly familiar about it in a different sense.
Specifically, it reminded him of when he'd gone out at night with friends to procure supplies...?
"AAAH! IT'S A TOWER OF THE BLUE DRAGON STUDENT?!"
Only then did the seniors notice Lee Han and scream in shock.
Since Ratford had invited him, they'd naturally assumed he was from the Black Turtle Tower, but no matter how they looked, he was clearly from the Blue Dragon Tower.
Flustered, Lee Han asked,
"Uh, are Blue Dragon Tower students not allowed to join this club?"
"Th-there's no such rule."
"Though Blue Dragon Tower students usually don't join. Neither do other towers."
"??"
Lee Han couldn't understand why Blue Dragon Tower students wouldn't join.
If Black Turtle Tower students were interested in spatial magic, why weren't Blue Dragon Tower students?
"Why not? Is there a reason Blue Dragon Tower students aren't interested in spatial magic?"
"Spatial magic?"
Now it was the seniors' turn to be flustered.
"What spatial magic?"
"Isn't this the Teleportation Club? I thought it was something like a spatial magic research group."
"......"
"...Uh, Lord Wardanaz. That's not what this is."
Ratford whispered in embarrassment.
"...Then what kind of club is it?"
"W-well... it's a club for permanently relocating... items."
Finally realizing the source of his earlier unease, Lee Han shuddered.
No wonder...!
The Teleportation Club.
This long-standing club only accepted the most exceptional "relocators" among Black Turtle Tower students.
Given its strict membership criteria, Blue Dragon Tower and White Tiger Tower students rarely had reason to join.
"Not to insult your tower or White Tiger Tower, but honestly, those guys lack skill. What they do is closer to looting or raiding."
One of the senior members explained.
While every Einrogard student inevitably became familiar with "borrowing" supplies, their methods differed.
To the Teleportation Club members, the other towers' approaches were brutish and crude.
A sustainable theft required quiet, covert operations—yet those guys caused commotions and fights every time...
"You're that junior, right? The one the official clubs are trying to kidnap?"
"No, what kind of lunatics would dare try to kidnap Lord Wardanaz?!"
Ratford was horrified.
Did they not value their lives?
"Ratford. Half the students at Einrogard were practically kidnapped to get here. Clubs doing the same isn't unheard of."
"Anyway, Wardanaz. Unlike the official clubs, we don't just let anyone join."
'Not like official clubs just let anyone join either...'
Seeing the seniors trying to reject him with solemn expressions, Lee Han made a wry face.
He hadn't even asked to join yet!
"Seniors. Lord Wardanaz is more than qualified."
"Ratford. Being good at magic is completely unrelated. Some can only use 1st Circle Magic but excel at relocating, while others can cast 5th Circle Magic but are useless at it."
"I know. But even by that standard, he's qualified."
As Ratford stubbornly refused to back down, the seniors grew serious.
"You know this, right? Our club doesn't accept members based on connections alone. You need achievements."
"Achievements, you say?"
Lee Han was puzzled and asked,
"What do you mean?"
"That's right. Achievements. We're talking about the most impressive relocation you've ever pulled off. We only care about skill here. If you've got the skills, you're in. If not, no matter how close we are, it's a no-go. An incompetent relocator just gets their comrades caught."
'Why not just call it theft?'
Lee Han briefly considered giving these seniors a lecture on the social nuances of language.
"Wardanaz. The most impressive relocation I've ever pulled off was raiding the 6th-floor kitchen. A literal hellhole that sent eleven people straight to the detention room."
"I looted the 4th-floor workshop. Thanks to the reagents there, I didn't have to worry about research for half a year."
"So. What have you done?"
"Uh... um..."
Under the seniors' intense stares, Lee Han nervously blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
"I, uh... raided the Headmaster's villa?"
"......"
"......"
As the atmosphere turned icy, Lee Han realized his mistake.
'Oh no. I should've just mentioned the smuggling.'
That would've been enough!
"W-What did you just say? You raided the Headmaster's villa?"
The seniors repeated the question, as if they couldn't believe their ears.
Yet, there was a faint trace of hope in their voices—hope that the junior's words were true.
"It's true. Wardanaz really did raid the Headmaster's villa last year."
"That's... impossible...!"
"You crazy bastard! How the hell are you still walking around free?!"
The Teleportation Club seniors trembled with awe.
An excited Ratford continued,
"And that's not all! Starting from the professors' lounge to other dorm towers, not to mention smuggling—"
"Ratford. I think that's enough."
Lee Han quickly covered his friend's mouth.
If he kept talking, they might label him a complete lunatic and kick him out.
"Wardanaz. I take back what I said earlier. You're more than qualified to join."
"Join our club. We might not be an official club, but in terms of resources, we're second to none!"
"We get food from the Soup Club, reagents from the Stonemason Club. If you've got the skills, you can get anything you need!"
Since supplies were provided by other clubs and storerooms within Einrogard, Teleportation Club members lived quite comfortably.
Sure, there was always the risk of ending up in the detention room, but wasn't that a risk every Einrogard student faced?
"If you've got the skills, you can make a big— Oh, Senior! You're here! Senior, we've got a new recruit! Ratford's friend, and his achievements are anything but ordinary! Honestly, I'd even want him on our next relocation job!"
-"You've got that many talents?"
A bewildered voice came from outside as the newly arrived senior stepped in.
It was a hamster beastman Lee Han had seen somewhere before.
"......"
"......"
Lee Han and Sebius stared at each other in disbelief.
'What's he doing here?'
'What the hell is this kid doing here?'
Lee Han, regaining his composure first, asked,
"Senior. Weren't you a member of the Library Club?"
"Double club membership is fine. And I joined the Teleportation Club first, anyway. What are you doing here?"
"I was invited."
Another senior couldn't hold back and exclaimed,
"Senior, this guy raided the Headmaster's villa. Can you believe it?"
"...!"
Sebius, who had been indifferent toward his junior, now stared at Lee Han in shock.
"Impressive."
"I got lucky."
"Are you planning to join all the unofficial clubs or something?"
"Don't be ridiculous!"
Lee Han retorted indignantly. But Sebius remained unfazed.
"From the looks of it, that's exactly what you're doing. Suit yourself. If you've got the skills, go for it. I've got a relocation job today."
"What are you stealing?"
"Books."
"Oh, so you're going into the library?"
"What nonsense are you spouting? Taking books from the library isn't stealing."
Sebius gave Lee Han a look as if he'd lost his mind.
"Then...?"
"I'm stealing them from the guy who stole them first."
"......"
Witnessing the synergy between the two clubs, Lee Han felt the sheer potential of Einrogard's seniors.
'They're all insane!'