Episode 717
Episode 717
"Where did you get this?"
"I received it from Professor Verdus."
"WHAT?!?!"
An even more intense reaction burst out than before.
As the senior stared at him as if suspecting him of being a spy, Lee Han hastily explained.
"I can explain."
"I don't usually indulge in idle chatter during Teleportation Club operations, but this I've got to hear."
Sebius crossed his arms stubbornly and fixed his gaze on his junior. He couldn't even begin to guess what possible reason could have led to Verdus handing over such a key.
Wasn't Professor Verdus the insane professor who wouldn't even spare a handful of reagents for his own direct disciples?
For a junior who had only been a first-year until last year to receive something like this was utterly impossible.
"Actually..."
Lee Han briefly recounted the events of the previous year.
Last year, he had been subjected to grueling labor under Professor Verdus, but a senior from the Punishment Squad who witnessed it had been so enraged that he secured some rights for him...
'What in the world am I hearing right now?'
Sebius struggled to maintain his focus as his mind reeled. He couldn't tell whether this was the story of a first-year student or some ancient legend circulating around Einrogard.
"...So that's how it happened. This key was given to me as compensation for the work I did last year."
"Hmm. I see. That's truly astonishing."
Sebius realized that when there were too many things to question, people just gave up.
There was no time, yet there were far too many things he wanted to ask.
"You got lucky. I never would've guessed you'd have this key."
'Did his tone just get a bit weird?'
When the senior responded stiffly, as if under some paralyzing curse, Lee Han grew suspicious.
"I'm sorry. If we had come straight here, things would've been much easier."
"No, that's not it. We'd have had to keep moving around anyway to secure all the books. The only difference would've been the entrance."
"Thank you for saying that. Shall we go in, then?"
Sebius checked the time briefly and resolved to ask just one thing—the thing he was most curious about.
"...But seriously, what did you do to end up in the Deep Punishment Squad?"
* * *
The door opened, revealing Professor Verdus's official underground storage.
Unlike the previous disorderly storerooms, this one was meticulously maintained—
—or so one would expect, but it looked just as messy as the others. Junk was scattered everywhere, and reagents were haphazardly mixed in crates.
Still, there was a clear difference.
'This is definitely the professor's workspace.'
The forgotten storerooms had been filled with broken or expired trash due to complete neglect, but this official underground storage, connected to the Sacred Pavilion Hall, contained only items ready for immediate use.
Sebius glanced at his junior and spoke.
"If you want to take something, go ahead."
"!"
"Normally, I don't condone stealing during operations... but the only reason we could enter here is entirely thanks to you. If you want to take something, take it."
"It's fine."
"...Now I see why Ratford thinks highly of you. Restraining greed is a remarkable talent. Don't you think so?"
"Actually, since I can come here anytime, I was planning to sweep everything up later with my friends when we need it."
"......"
Sebius grumbled inwardly.
He had thought he'd grown somewhat accustomed to Einrogard, but seeing this junior made that notion vanish completely.
Einrogard was always full of surprises. He doubted he'd ever fully adapt in his lifetime.
"I'm starting to worry the Teleportation Club members might grow complacent because of you."
"?"
"If you rely too much on others, you forget how to fend for yourself. How do you get along with the Blue Dragon Tower students?"
"Don't worry. I always help them within reasonable limits."
"Well, I suppose someone like you wouldn't just hand things out indiscriminately."
Unaware that Lee Han was indeed handing things out indiscriminately to the Blue Dragon Tower students, Sebius let the matter slide.
Had he known the truth, he would've grabbed him by the collar and shouted, "You call that helping within reasonable limits?!"
"Do you know why I only take books?"
"Because other valuable items are likely to have separate alarm or defensive spells, and attempting to disable those would consume time, mana, and concentration, thereby increasing the risk of getting caught—isn't that right?"
Sebastius's jaw dropped when such an unexpectedly professional reason immediately sprang forth.
'Is this bastard really not from a thieves' guild?'
"...That's true, but there's another reason. It's because of Senior Illeg."
At the mention of the Library Club president's name, Lee Han was startled.
"Did Senior Illeg threaten to kill you if you stole anything?!"
"Hey. What kind of person do you think Senior Illeg is?"
Sebastius bristled slightly.
Though Senior Illeg possessed formidable strength, he wasn't the type to just beat people up—
Well, he was the type to beat people up, but not just anyone.
"My apologies. Then why?"
"It was back when I was actively relocating items around Einrogard. By chance, I ended up in the place where Senior Illeg was staying."
Sebastius spoke while reminiscing.
Illeg had caught Sebastius raiding a storage room, but instead of subduing him with a punch, he gifted him the book he was holding.
"He gifted you a book?"
"Yeah."
"Ah... Was it a magic tome with a tracking spell? To wipe out your whole crew at once?"
"...It was just a book, you brat. Senior Illeg said something like this: 'Taking treasures is fine, but I think you've forgotten the real treasure here.'"
After leaving that place, Sebastius, true to his nature as a priest of the Phoenix Tower, initially thought Illeg was just weird.
No matter how kind-hearted someone was, gifting a book to a thief?
But then curiosity got the better of him, and Sebastius opened the book. He wanted to know what kind of book was worth giving away like that.
"What kind of book was it? A scripture? A fable?"
"Just a pulp novel. About a thief framed for a crime, stranded on a remote island in the vast sea, who escapes and takes revenge on those who set him up. Strangely, it made me cry."
'I think I know why.'
Lee Han felt he understood why Senior Illeg had given him that novel.
It was undoubtedly given for practical reasons.
Probably as a reference for escaping Einrogard...
"I stayed up all night reading it, then went to find Senior Illeg. I returned the book and thanked him. Then he gave me another one. After reading that, he gave me yet another... And that's how I ended up joining the Library Club. From then on, I stopped relocating other things."
"That's incredible."
Lee Han looked at Sebastius with a hint of admiration.
If someone told Lee Han right now not to relocate items from the Skeleton Principal's storage, he'd grab them by the collar and snap, Who the hell are you to tell me that?
Yet the senior before him had risen above such greed.
"Incredible, my ass... Damn, I don't know why I'm telling this to a junior like you who just got here. Maybe it's because you seem like the type who'll stay active in either the Library Club or the Teleportation Club. I won't be here next year, but you will."
The way Sebastius kept emphasizing he wouldn't be around next year gave Lee Han an ominous feeling.
'Please don't tell me he'll still be here next year...'
"Relocating items is fine, but don't get so caught up in greed that you forget what's important. I've seen plenty of guys end up in the Punishment Room because they got too carried away with their 'work.'"
"I'll keep that in mind."
"There it is."
Sebastius pointed at General Gemology sitting on the shelf.
The thick, purple-bound book had multiple bookmarks sticking out. There wasn't a speck of dust on it, as if someone had read it recently.
"......"
"What's wrong?"
"Looks like Professor Verdus was reading it."
"Even better. Let's take it."
Lee Han considered it a small bonus if this operation could also cause Professor Verdus some grief.
"...No. If Professor Verdus was reading it, we can't."
"Senior. Don't you remember any other books? There was one trapped inside a slime too. Who knows when this one might end up the same way."
"I know. I know, damn it."
Despite his junior's logical persuasion, Sebius let out a series of deep sighs before shaking his head.
"Really sorry. But I can't take it."
"No... It's your operation, Senior. It's fine. It's your call."
When his junior consoled him, Sebius felt even guiltier.
To retreat after bringing him all the way here...
"Damn it. That guy never reads the books he takes—what wind blew to make him pick that one..."
"It makes sense to back off if taking that book could get us caught. Instead, Senior, take these."
Lee Han pointed to other books shelved elsewhere. They were thick with dust, untouched for a long time.
Sebius chuckled dryly at the sight.
"You're better than me. Yeah, we should take those."
The hamster beastkin senior deftly swept the remaining books into his bag.
They had entered through the back door, but with the key, they could just leave through the front.
The two headed toward the warehouse's main entrance...
"Who's there?"
With a rustling sound, a pile of junk collapsed behind them, and a single mage stood up.
Professor Verdus.
"......"
"......"
Lee Han could clearly see the color draining from his senior's face, turning pale.
"It's me, Professor."
"Huh? What's going on? How'd you get in here?"
Professor Verdus recognized Lee Han and looked puzzled.
"You gave me this key last year."
"How did you get that key?!"
At the shameless attempt to erase inconvenient memories, Lee Han straightened his expression and explained.
"I received it as payment for helping you last year, didn't I?"
"Can't you just return it?"
"Do I look insane to you?"
Professor Verdus grumbled at his student's attitude.
Even if it had been rightfully obtained, refusing to return his own warehouse key out of greed—what a miser.
"And who's that beside you?"
"My senior."
"Why are you together?"
"He came to help me carry reagents from the warehouse."
"...How much are you taking?"
Professor Verdus looked at Lee Han pleadingly.
Gone was his usual demeanor of squeezing Lee Han dry like a madman. The professor instinctively leveraged his beaver beastkin appearance to evoke sympathy.
Of course, Lee Han had long lost any sense of endearment toward beavers after meeting Professor Verdus.
"I'll take as much as I need."
"What spell are you working on? Tell me. I can help. A well-designed spell reduces reagent consumption."
"We're planning to attack the Headmaster..."
Lee Han gestured to Sebius. The signal was clear: get out while you can.
Trembling at the sight of his junior toying with Professor Verdus, Sebius headed for the exit. 'No one will believe what happened today.' That someone could talk Professor Verdus into compliance...
Not even the students who had cracked Einrogard's countless mysteries and challenges would believe this!
"Are you okay?!"
"Yes."
Sebius, who had been waiting outside, rushed over as soon as Lee Han emerged.
He had taken much longer than expected.
"What kept you..."
"Ah. Professor Verdus kept insisting on recommending cheaper spells. Nothing serious."
"...Here, take this."
Sebius pulled out a small pouch and handed it over. Lee Han accepted it curiously. It was heavy, and the moment he took it, a jingling sound rang out.
"Imperial Gold Coins. Twelve? Is that correct?"
"...How did you know that?!"
"Why are you giving me this?"
"Why? Because you worked for it. That's how it's done after a relocation job. If we'd taken something more valuable, I might've given you more... And don't dwell on what I said earlier. If you're not interested in the Library Club or the Teleportation Club, just say so. I can handle both clubs for you."
'At least I can do this much.'
Sebius felt even this compensation was inadequate compared to the dedication his junior had shown today.
He could have faced the Bookcase Punishment or been cornered by Teleportation Club members, but this was the least he could do.
Yet his junior straightened his expression and replied firmly.
"What are you talking about? Let's go retrieve the next book."
"Do you even sleep?"