Episode 798
Episode 798
"You just said we had boarded the ship."
"When you drift around the sea, you sometimes board and sometimes disembark. No matter how urgent it is, you don't set sail before the ship is repaired."
'That feels like a forced analogy.'
Though he had admired the analogy earlier, now it felt contrived.
Lee Han voiced his complaint.
"We finally learned it, so we should find a safe way to use it. It's disappointing to postpone it just because it's difficult..."
-Wh-who destroyed this place?
A startled voice came from the lower floor. It seemed the seniors downstairs had witnessed the destruction while walking through the hallway.
"Oh dear."
Lagesa also seemed taken aback, as if she hadn't expected this.
"How should we fix this?"
"Huh?"
"This broken part here."
Though Einrogard's Main Building was like a living thing that would restore itself over time even if broken or burned, that didn't mean it was okay to smash it and just leave.
What crime did the people passing by during the restoration commit?
The pirate crone chuckled and said,
"What do you think my profession is?"
"Uh... You're a pirate?"
"Exactly. I'm not a carpenter, a stonemason, or a blacksmith, am I?"
"No."
"Then let's scram!"
Lagesa swiftly turned around and started running off with her chain-clad pirates.
Lee Han, momentarily stunned, belatedly realized what was happening and chased after them.
'...'
I really shouldn't associate with pirates after this is over.'
No matter how he thought about it, pirates didn't seem like good company.
Lafadell, who had joined Einrogard's Duel Club this year, always had one question on his mind.
'Why does this even exist?'
[Professor Bagrak - Entry Forbidden (Report to Professor Ku if seen entering)]
An additional note beside the old bronze club rules.
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't figure out why that line had been added.
Did Professor Voladi do something outrageous?
-Excuse me, Senior.
-Oh, Gral. Ask me anything.
-About Professor Bagrak...
-Sh-shut up! You insolent, rude brat! How dare you ask about that!
-???
Even the senior who had been friendly just because they were from the same tower showed near-seizure-like symptoms when asked about Professor Voladi.
Thanks to that, Lafadell and the other second-years had no choice but to let their imaginations run wild.
"Did he borrow money from Professor Bagrak and not pay it back?"
"Professor Bagrak doesn't seem like that kind of person. Wasn't he just a blunt, boring lecturer?"
"When I heard it from Wardanaz, it sounded a bit different..."
Unfortunately, none of the students knew much about Professor Voladi.
There was one who did, but that one wasn't present.
"What did Wardanaz say?"
"Did he say the professor was tough? Probably."
"...That's just normal, isn't it?"
"He also said the professor assigns too much homework."
"That's normal too, isn't it?"
The second-years could only imagine Professor Voladi like blind men describing an elephant.
Meanwhile, another senior arrived—Palga of the Ukim Family. Lafadell, delighted to see a fellow White Tiger Tower senior, bowed his head respectfully.
"Senior."
"Ah, Gral. Good to see you. Here for practice?"
"Yes."
"Perfect timing. Next week is Club Week, isn't it? I heard we're getting guests at our club too."
"!"
The second-years' eyes sparkled.
Fundamentally, Einrogard students got excited just hearing about outsiders.
By the time they became upperclassmen, they'd get excited even if the outsider was someone who had sneaked into the school illegally.
After spending enough time at Einrogard, outsiders started looking like walking treasure troves carrying news and goods from the outside world.
And even setting that aside, guests who came to teach the club were always welcome.
"That's wonderful!"
"Who is it, may I ask?"
"But Professor Ku, you've been incredibly busy lately, haven't you? How did you manage to send an invitation?"
Palga responded to his juniors' questions one by one.
"A fortunate turn of events indeed. I don't know who it is yet either, but I heard they're an outstanding duel mage. And hmm... is that so?"
Palga himself seemed puzzled by the last question.
It was certain that Professor Kirmin had been swamped beyond measure recently.
-Professor. About inviting guests for this Club Week...
-Sorry, sorry! Ukim. I've been so preoccupied lately because of the tasks Headmaster entrusted to me. But don't worry. I'll definitely invite external guests for you.
-If you're busy, we can manage without.
-No! As a professor, I can't neglect this. I'll make sure to invite someone. Understood?
Though Club Week appeared to be a joyous festival and event on the surface, it was actually fueled by the fierce sweat and tears of Einrogard's mages.
Some 'glamorous' clubs received visits from interested outsiders without lifting a finger, while others had to painstakingly prepare and distribute invitations just to save face.
It was quite similar to magical schools of thought.
While one school had students lining up despite their professor being a beaver beastman, another struggled to attract new students even with the kindest fifth-year in Einrogard...
Thus, it was only natural for Professor Kirmin to make such promises to the Duel Club members.
After all, the Duel Club wasn't one that typically received many external visitors.
"Professor Ku probably sent the invitations during his spare time, given how many connections he has."
"Indeed... Professor Ku is truly remarkable. Sending invitations is no ordinary task, especially during free time!"
The new Duel Club members gazed at him with admiration.
Having a professor take interest in their club was considered considerable luck even within Einrogard.
"...Palga. To be honest, I was worried it might be Professor Bagrak."
After finishing his conversation with the juniors, a classmate whispered to Palga upon his return.
"What kind of ominous nonsense is that?"
Palga's expression turned stern.
Even among friends, there were lines that shouldn't be crossed in jest.
Why would Professor Bagrak's name come up here of all places?
"Think about it carefully. How busy has Professor Ku been lately? Preparing proper invitations takes considerable time... and Professor Ku has a history, you know."
Professor Kirmin Ku was one of the rare popular professors at Einrogard, and even the Duel Club members wouldn't deny that.
But Professor Kirmin also had a dreadful, ugly past—namely, the time he invited Professor Voladi to the Duel Club.
The members who'd merely said "I want to get stronger" had been forced to fight Professor Voladi in an enclosed space for three straight days.
"......"
Recalling that painful memory made Palga's breath quicken and his face turn pale.
He'd nearly relived that trauma when they met during winter break...
"...No. I checked—Professor Bagrak was in the underground lecture hall. Definitely not our guest. And they said it was an external visitor."
"Right? Phew. I must've gotten overly sensitive."
The friend apologized to Palga.
An external guest couldn't possibly be Professor Voladi, could they?
"No, I understand. We'll have to tell the juniors the truth someday."
"I'm... I'm afraid. Of how the juniors will look at us if they find out Professor Ku actually did such things."
"We can't keep hiding the truth forever..."
BANG!
Before the words could fully leave his mouth, the Duel Club's door burst open, and an elderly woman strode in.
Leading a group of pirates wrapped in clanking chains, the old woman rolled her eyes as she surveyed the students.
"This the Duel Club?"
"Yes? That's correct."
"Pleasure to meet you. I'm Lagesa, daughter of Torgerd. A pirate, a captain, and an admiral."
"?"
Palga tilted his head in confusion.
Captain, admiral... wasn't there something odd about the titles she listed?
"Did you just say pirate...?"
"I came here upon invitation. So you're the fools who pretend to duel, eh? Isn't that right?"
"That's not true! Pretending to duel?!"
Palga and several other students bristled at the remark.
The Einrogard Duel Club officially served as proxy warriors for duels and received compensation for their services.
Since they fought for others' gold coins, they battled far more fiercely and valiantly than ordinary duelists.
And yet, she called it 'pretending' to duel.
"If I say it's pretending, then it's pretending! Standing face-to-face, waiting for a signal before fighting—honestly! How can such a long, tedious fight be considered real?"
Rustle!
Lagesa pulled out a thick bundle of papers from her coat.
"Here, I've brought these request forms as a gift from those fools who enjoy such pretenses. I heard you lot like this sort of thing?"
"...!?"
The Duel Club students were stunned.
One of the Einrogard Duel Club's income sources was compensation received for acting as proxies in duels.
For such earnings to accumulate smoothly, duel requests had to keep coming in steadily.
But who would have expected someone to bring such a thick stack of requests like this?
"How did you manage to gather so many?"
"There are always ways!"
At the students' question, Lagesa cackled.
Naturally, when threatened by pirates, even those who had never considered duels would seek out proxy warriors.
"Anyway, I'd like to give these to you... but I can't just hand them over for free."
"We expected as much. What do we have to do?"
Some students stepped forward as if they had anticipated this.
After all, there was no way such an eccentric mage would simply hand over a gift without demanding something in return.
"There's a rookie pirate here. Fight this pirate and win."
"????"
Lee Han, who had been watching, was suddenly dragged into the fray and looked bewildered.
But his bewilderment was nothing compared to that of the second-year Duel Club students.
"Wardanaz, why are you there??"
"I'm helping guide a guest around the school at a professor's request."
"Professor Ku?"
"No. B—"
"Quiet! What's with all this chatter before a fight? Unless you're hurling insults at each other, shut up!"
Lagesa, seemingly annoyed, cut them off with a grumble.
"Lady Lagesa. I don't wish to fight the Duel Club members."
"Fair enough. Pirates don't fight without compensation, after all. For every one you defeat, I'll give you this much in gold coins."
Lagesa spread her fingers wide as she spoke. Still, Lee Han remained skeptical.
"There are third-year seniors here, so I..."
Lagesa spread the fingers of her other hand as well. Lee Han declared firmly,
"I'll give it a try."
"Kihihi. You know how to negotiate. Good! Teach those brats a lesson. Got it?"
While Lee Han conversed with Lagesa, the third-year students were exchanging glances.
Even if their opponent was a genius who had taken every course, he was still a junior.
They had no intention of backing down out of fear, not when the Duel Club's honor was at stake.
"If he's taken every course, he shouldn't have any weaknesses."
"We'll have to clash with our specialties, then. I'll go first. ...Palga, what's wrong?"
"Well... that guy. He's Professor Bagrak's disciple."
"......"
"......"
While the seniors whispered among themselves, Lafadell turned to Lee Han.
"Wardanaz. Did Professor Ku assign this to you?"
"No. Professor Bagrak did. He was asked by Professor Ku."
"I see. Senior, since we're on the topic, may I ask why Professor Bagrak is banned from—"
Lafadell turned to ask the question.
But the third-year seniors had already fled out the door and disappeared.
"......"
"......"
"Well, at least they learned something!"
Lagesa nodded in satisfaction.
Knowing when to abandon stubbornness and flee was also crucial wisdom for a mage.