Episode 771
Episode 771
"You don't actually think I'm the one spreading poison, do you?"
First of all, Lee Han hadn't triggered the toxic swamp on the 6th floor...
And even if the toxic swamp hadn't been triggered, Lee Han was certain that this Gonadaltes' Black Magic Cloak—no, this Black Magic School's Defensive Cloak—would sell well.
No matter how he thought about it, it was bound to be a hot item.
"Of course not, Wardanaz."
Ogoldos agreed while winking.
"...You're not just saying 'no' outwardly while secretly thinking 'yes,' are you?"
"Huh? Wasn't I?"
"No."
Lee Han answered with a stern face.
What kind of person did they take him for?!
"Who would even do such a thing?"
"Last year, Senior Diret and Senior Coholti sprayed poison together to block off an area, didn't they?"
"......"
Now that he thought about it, the Black Magic School seniors had once spread poison in the hallway to help Lee Han hide the giants underground.
Lee Han reflected on what he had just said.
'Hmm. You never know what people are capable of.'
"Anyway, it wasn't me this time."
Despite Lee Han's words, the other Black Magic School students were about to start a debate on whether he was really telling the truth.
Annoyed, Lee Han gathered his peers.
"That's not the important issue right now."
"Ah, right. We need to make more cloaks. It'd be easier if the professor helped."
"The professor disappeared. I think he ran away."
"Should we call Senior Diret?"
Lee Han struck the floor with his staff. The Black Magic School students turned their heads in confusion.
"First of all, don't call Senior Diret."
"Huh? Why?"
"If I say don't call him, then don't call him, you brat."
Gainando flinched and backed off when Lee Han flared up.
'I was just asking...!'
"The cloak production is already soaking in dye, so we can continue working as soon as the base process is done. That's not what I meant."
"Then what?"
"We need to sell something else in the meantime! Senior, do you really not get it?"
"N-no, I don't. What is it?"
Ogoldos was slightly overwhelmed by Lee Han's intensity.
When it came to Imperial gold coins, this junior had a presence that could overwhelm not just seniors but even professors.
"Anti-poison items! If we sell them at a cheaper price than the cloaks, they'll be competitive enough."
It would be foolish to only sell cloaks just because they were making them and they sold well.
He didn't know who had triggered the toxic swamp, but now that the opportunity had come, they had to make the most of it.
"What? So you mean selling antidote potions or Anti-Poison Liquor?"
"Exactly."
Items like antidote potions that temporarily prevent poisoning or Anti-Poison Liquor that blocks the approach of toxins.
For dungeon-exploring adventurers, these were essential items, but for Einrogard students, they weren't that necessary.
As mentioned, unless the performance was truly exceptional, students had no reason to spend money on them.
They could just find and learn the spells themselves!
"Would they really buy such mediocre stuff? I'd think they'd either do it themselves or buy something better."
"Senior!"
"??"
"Students from other schools don't know much about Black Magic!"
"......"
"So don't assume they'll think deeply about Black Magic items. If we just advertise them as good, they'll believe it."
Hit with the harsh truth, Ogoldos' face darkened.
Now that he thought about it, students from other schools probably didn't have the ability to distinguish between easy and difficult Black Magic spells.
They weren't even interested in the first place...
"Wardanaz. One more thing."
Agdung cut into the conversation.
"What is it, Senior?"
"Listening to this, it seems like a toxic swamp did appear on the 6th floor, but there are multiple swamps with weak toxicity, and there are also many empty spaces. If you know the trick, it should be easy to deal with. Do you really think disposable items like that will sell?"
"Hmm."
Lee Han fell deep into thought after hearing the advice from the senior from Kallarogard.
Then he opened his mouth.
"I think we'll need your help with that, Senior."
"Me? I can help with anything, but what exactly...?"
"Everyone! Please listen! I've come from Kallarogard!"
"Kallarogard? That's the black magic school, right?"
"Thank goodness. If it were Baldrogard, I would've thrown a rock at you."
The students passing through the 7th floor stopped in their tracks and pricked up their ears at the sight of the Kallarogard student.
What was he about to say?
"Right now, a poisonous swamp has erupted on the 6th floor—and it's extremely dangerous!"
"How is it dangerous?"
"...It's really dangerous!"
"So specifically how? Does it restrict certain elemental magic? Or interfere with mana control...?"
"It's even worse than that!"
"???"
Agdung avoided giving a direct answer and instead exaggeratedly waved his arms.
"Avoid the 6th floor for now! But if you absolutely must go down, purchase antidote potions from the black magic students over there! We also have Anti-Poison Liquor and protective cloaks!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than a golden-haired boy came running over and collapsed with a thud.
"Ugh... P-poison...!"
"Oh no! Here, drink this antidote potion!"
Black magic students rushed over, supporting the fallen Gainando and forcing the potion down his throat.
"Everyone! Did you see that?!"
Agdung thought to himself that it was fortunate he was in skeleton form.
Otherwise, his awkward expression would have been plain as day on his fleshy face!
"Going down to the 6th floor unprepared is dangerous!"
The students buzzed with chatter as they discussed the information they'd just heard.
-Is the poisonous swamp really that severe?
-Who even caused it? Was it the black magic students?
-No way. If they'd caused it, would they be handing out antidotes like this? They'd be spreading it further.
-Probably a mage from Kallarogard helped prepare. They don't usually do stuff like this.
"......"
Lee Han listened to the murmuring crowd with a complicated expression.
It was a relief they weren't suspected of staging this act—but at the same time, the fact that they weren't suspected at all left him feeling oddly hollow.
Just what kind of image had the black magic school cultivated that no one even considered they might be selling these potions?
'And they even assumed Senior Agdung prepared them?!'
"One potion, please."
"Ah, yes. Here you go. Thank you."
"I never thought the black magic school would do something like this. Good work. I support you."
"Thank you..."
"You're only doing this because of that guy from Kallarogard, right?"
"No, we just... wanted to do what we could..."
"What are you talking about? You guys were always the ones spreading poison before."
"...Actually, there was someone in our school named Coholti who led that kind of thing. But he graduated, so now we're trying to do better."
The students bought the potions, half-doubting but still willing.
The price wasn't too steep (by Einrogard standards), and given the situation on the 6th floor, it didn't hurt to be prepared.
"Gainando. Can you go over there and fake collapsing again in 30 minutes?"
"Hehe. Got it."
Gainando, standing beside Lee Han, worked on crafting fake poison while contemplating how to make it look more convincing.
Since they were all skilled mages, they had to convincingly simulate real poisoning symptoms.
"Senior Agdung, thank you. Without you, we wouldn't have achieved such results."
"Y-yeah."
He had always wanted to hear another school's student say, 'We couldn't have done this without you'...
'So why doesn't it feel satisfying?'
All weekend, Lee Han worked with the black magic students to fill the vault and reshape their image.
The change was so shocking that even the Watchers of Einrogard were talking about it.
Iactus: "Did you hear?! The Black Magic faction is selling antidote potions instead of poison! Why on earth would they do such a thing?!"
Beaver
- Penguin
- Fox: "Apparently there was a graduate named Coholti who banned antidote sales to maintain the poison's potency."
Iactus: "How vicious!"
"......"
Making a mental note to apologize to Senior Coholti later, Lee Han finished organizing the vault. Outside Black Rock Hall's window, the sun was gradually rising, heralding the start of a new week.
'At least this is fortunate. We need to maintain this income stream.'
The current profits were substantial enough to fill the vault even after dividing the proceeds among participating students.
The real question was whether they could sustain it.
'No point worrying yet. Another opportunity will come.'
If another curse outbreak or undead disturbance occurred...
Not that Lee Han had any intention of causing one himself. He was just... mildly anticipating it!
"What are you doing there?"
"!"
Lee Han jumped in surprise.
The door to Black Rock Hall opened, revealing the most pitiable fifth-year student from the Black Magic faction.
"Good morning, Senior Diret."
"Why are you... awake at this hour?"
"What about you, Senior?"
"Me? Well..."
"Same here..."
"......"
"......"
Both silently pitied each other in their hearts.
"I was organizing weekend work."
"What kind of work?"
"Creating and selling items with the professor and other students' help."
"...Did they sell?"
"Yes. Quite successfully."
"I see..."
Diret didn't quite believe his junior but chose not to press further.
What good would come from hearing sad details?
"Here's some coffee."
"Thanks."
"What's that?"
Lee Han eyed the cup Diret had brought with suspicion.
Why did it reek of... toxicity?
"Belgarun's Poison. The bitterness helps wake you up."
"...How about just drinking coffee??"
"Hey. Coffee beans are expensive."
Grumbling, Diret accepted the hot tin cup anyway.
Where else in Einrogard would you find a junior making coffee for their senior?
Usually seniors had their beans stolen rather than...
"Wait. If you enlisted the professor's help, why not call me?"
"The professor told me not to."
"...Had you told me before I drank this coffee, I might've let it slide. But now I'm awake. The professor would never say such a thing."
'Shouldn't have given him coffee.' Diret shook his head ruefully.
Better blame the wicked professor than this kind junior.
"What's your morning lecture?"
"There might not be one."
"Don't joke."
"Yes, actually. <Sword and Life>, which should be fine since it's Professor Ingoldel's—"
"Pretty sure that's not Professor Ingoldel."
"Huh?"
"Let me see."
Diret sipped his coffee while examining Lee Han's schedule, then nodded.
"Junior. This isn't Professor Ingoldel's class."
"Then who's teaching?"
Einrogard had many mages but surprisingly few skilled swordsmen.
"Jahan family's Catten. Fifth-year from White Tiger Tower."
"!"
At "White Tiger Tower fifth-year," Lee Han tensed slightly.
The longstanding rivalry between White Tiger and Blue Dragon Towers ran deep.
"What kind of person is he?"
"Jahan? That guy is..."
'Is he an Enhancement Magic expert? Or perhaps another type?'
"...the dumbest in Einrogard."
"???"
Lee Han wondered if he'd misheard.
"Excuse me?"
"Dumb."
"But he's a fifth-year— Oh, I see. You mean dumb by your standards?"
"No. Objectively dumb... Junior, you're an all-faction student, right?"
"Yes."
"Jahan's like this."
Diret made a circle with his finger.
"You mean Senior Catten is also an all-faction student?"
"No... Zero factions. He failed them all."
"......"