Episode 718
Episode 718
"Sleep can wait until later."
Despite his senior's concerns, Lee Han's eyes burned with passion for club activities.
Sebius unconsciously took a step back and said,
"...We've found all the books for today. And it's important not to overexert yourself. Pushing too hard leads to mistakes."
"This much isn't overexertion, though."
Lee Han was about to bring up his personal record for longest sleepless streak, but Sebius waved his hand dismissively, as if unwilling to hear it.
"And if you're only doing this for the reward, don't be too greedy. Someone like you will have plenty of bigger opportunities to earn in the future. This is just something I'm personally covering. I don't have much money to begin with."
'What nonsense is he spouting?' Lee Han scoffed internally.
In Lee Han's estimation, Sebius was the second-richest person he knew, right after Gainando's mother.
How could someone just casually toss gold coins at a junior like this?
"If you really need gold coins, I'd recommend putting more effort into the Kitchen Club or Stonemason Club activities. Those are far more stable. And the income is better too."
Fearing that his junior might get addicted to the thrill of his first successful request and fall into relocation obsession, Sebius spoke firmly.
Most relocation jobs ended up yielding little to no profit.
Since you had to cover expenses after one big score, it was dangerous to get delusional about it.
The Teleportation Club had the advantage of acquiring rare items or materials more easily than others, but it wasn't a club where you could reliably accumulate gold coins.
For that, the Kitchen Club or Stonemason Club were far better options.
Listening to this, Lee Han suddenly grew curious and asked,
"But Senior, even if the Kitchen Club is stable, I doubt they make that much money."
"It's the power of volume. Even if you earn just one coin at a time, it adds up."
"If you save up one silver coin..."
"What are you talking about?"
When Lee Han tried to do the mental math, Sebius stared at him as if he'd said something absurd.
"?"
"One gold coin. Whether in the past or now, one meal costs one gold coin."
"......"
Lee Han felt horror at Einrogard's ludicrous prices.
It was even more terrifying than when the Skeleton Principal had appeared using ancient magic.
"Th-th-th-that makes no sense! How can they charge such exorbitant prices? Don't they get attacked?"
Sebius looked even more bewildered by Lee Han's question.
"Hey. Calm down, calm down. I forgot you're just a second-year. One gold coin is actually considered cheap in Einrogard. The Kitchen Club members have their own principles, so they sell at that price."
"What principles? The principle of hoarding all of Einrogard's gold coins in one place?"
"Do you have some grudge against the Kitchen Club?"
Fundamentally, Einrogard was a place where resources were scarce, and the materials students used for magical research were often extremely expensive.
On top of that, Einrogard-trained mages were among the most sought-after talents in the empire, so they received generous rewards for external commissions.
When all these factors combined, the following scenarios became commonplace:
-Please! My artificially bred Hell Sulfur Bull is starving! I need two units of Soul Frost Iron-tail!
-Of course I can give you some. Just hand over twenty gold coins.
-Are you insane!? Outside, this would cost three imperial silver coins!?
-Oh really? The Noon Mistletoe you sold me earlier would've cost one and a half imperial silver coins outside too. So now it's twenty-five gold coins.
-...
Grrk! Fine, fine!
Since most transactions operated on a "name your price" basis, everything in Einrogard's student market was priced exorbitantly.
Naturally, the Kitchen Club—which had to fund research costs through club activities—had no choice but to adjust their prices accordingly.
Some Kitchen Club members even grumbled that they should raise prices further...
'My entire fortune would melt away like snow in just two or three months at Einrogard's prices!'
Lee Han felt a stronger urge to escape than ever before.
"This is hard to believe."
"Of course you'll adapt. You'll earn more and spend more."
"Perhaps we could arrange credit? I could pay you back outside..."
Sebastian looked at him as if he'd just asked the dumbest question in the world.
Any Einrogard student who'd spent at least two years here knew there was no reason to keep promises made inside when outside.
"...That was a foolish question. My apologies."
"Right. You startled me too."
With mixed emotions, Lee Han walked toward the Blue Dragon Tower.
He never imagined Einrogard's clubs would engage in such insane profiteering.
'It's terrifying to the point of being unlivable.'
Just imagining selling meals he once sold for one silver coin now going for one gold coin sent shivers down his spine.
Even the Demon Duke probably wouldn't have thought of something this ruthless.
"Ni... Nice to meet you!"
"Yeah. Nice to—"
As he absentmindedly raised his hand to wave at the unfamiliar Blue Dragon Tower student greeting him in front of the forest, Lee Han suddenly felt a chill.
Something felt off.
'He doesn't seem like an upperclassman. If he were a fellow first-year, I'd definitely recognize him. So then...?'
Lee Han quickly scrutinized the other's uniform. Then he gritted his teeth.
The other student was a first-year.
'Damn it!'
The shock from the club activities and Einrogard's prices had made him careless.
"...Nice to meet you. I'm... uh... Gainando, a student from the Black Turtle Tower. Also a first-year."
But Lee Han had spent too much time and gained too much experience to panic like an amateur.
In that brief moment, he resolved to disguise himself as a new student.
If this kid didn't notice, maybe even the Skeleton Principal wouldn't catch on.
"The Black Turtle Tower!"
"What? Why? Looking down on me because of my status?"
"N-no! I don't think like that!"
The Blue Dragon Tower junior flinched and waved his hands in protest. Satisfied that he'd successfully disguised himself as a Black Turtle Tower student, Lee Han nodded.
"I knew I had a good read on you. Yeah, you definitely seem different from the other Blue Dragon Tower students."
"R-really? You seem really composed though. It's nighttime now..."
'Oh no.'
Lee Han belatedly realized another mistake.
Apparently, today's price shock had really gotten to him.
"I'm trembling inside, I just don't show it. In the Black Turtle Tower, showing weakness means death."
"What?! That's...!"
"Which family are you from?"
"I'm Arman of the Dalkard Family."
"!"
Shockingly, the first-year before him was a relative of Ashan. Lee Han cautiously asked,
"Do you know Ashan of the Dalkard Family?"
"Ah! Yes! He's my cousin...But why didn't he tell me Einrogard was like this?"
Arman muttered with a gloomy, betrayed expression.
"...Probably because of the Skeleton Principal's prohibition. You've seen the Headmaster use magic, right?"
"Ah, yeah. Saw it during enrollment. He ate someone, didn't he?"
"...?"
Internally shuddering at the Skeleton Principal's new annual performance for freshmen, Lee Han kept a straight face and said,
"Do you think someone like that would just let seniors graduate without conditions?"
"Well... maybe he makes them swear an oath or something."
"Exactly."
"Then was it also because of the Headmaster that Ashan brother sang me this song about Einrogard being great? 'Einrogard. Einrogard. So wonderful. A place with warm meals and soft beds. Einrogard.'?"
"...Y-yeah, pretty much."
Lee Han made a mental note to tell Ashan to stop tormenting his relatives when he saw him next.
He'd protect his friend's reputation, but this was going too far.
"Gainando, do you know where the Blue Dragon Tower is? I snuck out and got lost."
"I'll guide you. But why did you sneak out?"
"I was hungry. Wanted to see if I could find something to eat."
"...Rumor has it Einrogard students boil leather boots to eat."
"I already tried that."
Lee Han, who had made the joke to lighten the mood, was shocked.
What on earth were they doing when they hadn't even been here a week?
"They said it wasn't very filling. The Alhies told me to spend that time studying instead—that if I didn't study, I'd be held back in first year."
"It's rare to be held back in first year... Wait. Who? The Alhies? The Alhies from the Pengerin Family?"
"You know them well?"
"Memorizing noble family names is a hobby of mine."
Lee Han recalled the prodigy from the Pengerin Family he had met during winter break.
Though the despicable Archmage had used Lee Han to crush their pride, the Alhies were undoubtedly outstanding juniors. 'I feel oddly guilty.' "What are the Alhies like? Are they rude by any chance?"
"Huh? The Alhies are actually really humble. Ah. Did you fall for the rumors too? I also heard before that the Alhies were rude and arrogant, but when I met them, they weren't like that at all. Someone must've spread false rumors."
"?"
Lee Han was puzzled by the claim that the Alhies were humble. 'Are they different people?' "Aside from being a bit obsessive about studying, the Alhies are good friends."
As he spoke, a growling sound came from Arman's stomach. Unable to bear it, Lee Han took out some bread, cheese, and ham and handed them over.
"Here, take this."
"Wh-what, how...?!"
"I raided the kitchen in the Black Turtle Tower a little. You guys should consider doing the same."
"Gainando... You... You're an angel! No priest could be as kind and generous as you!"
Arman sniffled as he clutched the food. The thought of sharing it with his friends when he got back gave him strength.
Lee Han looked at his junior with overwhelming pity.
"But, uh... was it Eandurde who raided it?"
"Huh?"
"Eandurde. Your tower's leader."
"......"
Lee Han was inwardly shocked that his junior had already become the leader of the Black Turtle Tower in such a short time.
"I can't talk about that."
"Yeah. I guess you're scared of Eandurde too. I was shocked when I saw that. The White Tiger Tower guy and our tower's friend completely..." 'What on earth did they do?' "Gainando. If Eandurde ever tries to kill you too, run to the Blue Dragon Tower anytime. I'll let you in."
"...Oh. Okay. Thanks, Arman. But you should be careful about letting in students from other towers."
Upon arriving at the Blue Dragon Tower, Lee Han let his junior in and sighed. 'What a shame.' How many more juniors would have to inherit this suffering?
But regardless, Lee Han had to live his own life at Einrogard.
When morning came, Lee Han entered the classroom where Professor Voladi was waiting and shouted:
"Professor! There's something I want to learn!"
"!"
Professor Voladi looked at Lee Han in surprise as soon as he burst in with those words.
Though he had always been eager to learn combat magic techniques, who would've thought he'd show even more enthusiasm now?
In all his years, he couldn't recall ever having a student so ravenous for knowledge.
"What is it?"
"I want to avoid my juniors!"
"I see."
Professor Voladi understood immediately.
Because the Skeleton Principal had already excitedly informed the faculty.
—Wardanaz must be punished if he contacts first-year juniors! Wardanaz must be punished if he contacts first-year juniors!
—Headmaster. Enough already.
"That does seem necessary."
"Thank you for understanding, Professor."
Lee Han thought it was a perfect plan. He could prepare a way to avoid first-year juniors and also skip about a week of Professor Voladi's lectures...
"The grand spell the Headmaster uses to make the target forget the caster's existence..."
"Professor, isn't there something a little easier than the Headmaster's magic?"
"Hmm."
As Professor Voladi sank into thought, Lee Han felt a slight sense of foreboding. '...
Should I have just asked another professor?'