Episode 800
Episode 800
All the members of the <Watchers of Einrogard> who were watching the conversation had the same thought at that moment...
Is this bastard really not the Skeleton Principal?
However, Lee Han didn't panic. Hadn't he already faced this kind of suspicion several times before?
Gonadaltes: "How do I know? It's because I'm more interested in and active about school matters than you guys."
Iactus: "For example, like sending students to the Punishment Room?"
Gonadaltes: "Iactus. Stop talking nonsense. If I were really the Principal, why would I keep doing this here? I'd just capture you all if I wanted to. Have I ever asked to meet with you guys?"
Bakwantalana: "A valid point. We have to admit we're being overly suspicious because of Gonadaltes' alias."
The members honestly conceded.
If the new member's alias had been something like <Cool Fourth-Year> instead of Gonadaltes, they probably would've been less suspicious.
But with the alias Gonadaltes, even ordinary words inevitably sounded suspicious.
'Damn. This is annoying me too.'
'Is he really not the Skeleton Principal?'
'What kind of crazy student is this?'
Rationally, they all knew the Skeleton Principal wouldn't bother with this kind of tedious approach.
There were also several contradictory circumstances if they assumed the Skeleton Principal had infiltrated them.
But...
Every student of Einrogard had learned this lesson painfully well.
The Skeleton Principal's madness was something utterly beyond their comprehension!
What if all this was part of some grand scheme the Skeleton Principal had devised, and they were just being played?
Who could say for certain that such a possibility didn't exist?
Gonadaltes: "Members of the Honorable Watchmen! As mages, shouldn't we remain calm and rational rather than being frightened by extremely low probabilities? If we keep pushing each other like this, only distrust will circulate in the club, and we won't share quality information."
Iactus: "You're right... Sorry. I spoke out of turn."
Bulgasari: "True. I agree. And there's no way the Principal would be here. That's just absurd."
As everyone seemed to calm down, Lee Han drove the final nail in.
Gonadaltes: "I happened to witness Duke Icaldoren this year. I heard he was caught trying to steal Einrogard's treasures."
Bakwantalana: "Could it be someone else? No matter what, imprisoning a Grand Duke of the Empire in Einrogard seems..."
Bulgasari: "If it's the Principal... it's possible... just possible."
Iactus: "I agree too. Hard to believe, but that's exactly why it's more credible. So Duke Icaldoren is participating as a guest? Why?"
Bulgasari: "From what I've heard, he's spending gold coins as atonement."
'No. Who is this senior?'
Lee Han was quite surprised by Bulgasari's information.
While the other seniors didn't notice, Lee Han knew well that information about Duke Icaldoren was highly confidential even within Einrogard.
Even if this senior had coincidentally seen the Duke imprisoned, as Lee Han had claimed...
How could they know the reason for his guest participation?
'Could this senior... be in continuous contact with Duke Icaldoren? Not impossible.'
After all, hadn't Lee Han himself built a friendship with the Punishment Room's managing spirit and secretly obtained free passes?
Though Einrogard's rules were strict, exceptions existed if you became friends with the guards.
If this senior had located where Duke Icaldoren was imprisoned and found a way to approach him...
'What an impressive person. With someone of the Duke's status, the Skeleton Principal must have implemented formidable security. How did they manage to approach him?'
Iactus: "If it's for atonement..."
Bakwantalana: "It probably means reducing his sentence in exchange for spending money on students. Very Principal-like."
Gonadaltes: "Thanks for the compliment."
Iactus:......
Bakwantalana:......
Gonadaltes: That was a joke. Sorry.
Iactus: Never make that goddamn dogshit joke again.
'These seniors have absolutely no sense of humor.' Lee Han grumbled internally.
To react so violently to such a lighthearted joke meant to lighten the mood...
Bakwantalana: Thanks for the good intel. So the Duke is participating.
Bulgasari: Everyone, since we're Honorable Watchmen members, you promise not to resort to kidnapping or violent persuasion, right? Give me your word.
Iactus: Bulgasari. Even if you hadn't said that, we were planning to kidnap him anyway, so you didn't need to tell us.
Bulgasari: Hey!
Gonadaltes: Are we really allowed to kidnap him?
Iactus: What do you think the Headmaster meant by temporarily releasing him?
Einrogard students had an exceptional talent for deciphering the Skeleton Principal's true intentions.
The moment they heard Duke Icaldoren was participating as a form of atonement, the members immediately understood: 'Aha, the Headmaster is giving us permission to thoroughly fleece the Duke.'
Of course, there was no way to confirm if that was truly his intention...
'In that case, I can't just sit this out.' Lee Han made a mental note that he shouldn't forget to kidnap Duke Icaldoren too.
No reason to let the seniors have all the fun, right?
"Senior. Is it true the Kitchen Club invited people from the Capital Bakers' Guild and Butchers' Guild this week?"
"Pfft! How did you know that?!"
The portly senior Falkrius looked around in shock, his large belly jiggling.
"It's a secret! If other bastards find out, they'll try to intercept them before they even reach the 7th floor!"
"By any chance... could I get some research support too?"
"Hmm."
Falkrius, who had been cheerfully boiling bland soup while chuckling, grew serious at his junior's question.
"That's... hard for me to answer. Extorting— no, receiving gifts of gold coins from others is always tricky business."
Even when throwing punches and brandishing kitchen knives at seniors from other clubs, Falkrius had been jovial. But the moment gold coins and funding were mentioned, he became deadly serious.
Such was the lifelong burden of being a mage.
"There were times I thought I was 100% certain but got no gold, and times I thought I'd completely failed yet received coins. The psychology of those holding gold is too complex. Harder than grand magic."
"I completely agree, Senior."
Lee Han nodded emphatically.
As a researcher, securing external funding was genuinely difficult.
With limited money and overflowing researchers, fierce competition was inevitable.
"Pfft. Only one piece of advice I can give you. If you sincerely prepare your research..."
"..."
"The visitors will surely understand, right?"
"Huh? No. If you sincerely prepare your research, people won't care—you'll need flashy tricks to deceive them."
"..."
"Thank you. I've learned something valuable today."
"Pffhaha! Glad to hear it!"
Falkrius's words snapped Lee Han back to reality.
Upon reflection, trying to take the honest approach with money-holders was among the dumbest strategies possible.
'He's right. I need to sell spectacle.' Lee Han fell deep into thought.
How could Lee Han, who still hadn't completed a single proper research project and was learning magic through brute experience, possibly stage such flashy deception?
Seeing Lee Han scribbling with a quill at the Kitchen Club dining table, his classmates grew puzzled.
"Why's Lee Han like that?"
"He's preparing for next week, apparently."
"Ah. Club Week!"
Gainando's face momentarily brightened before darkening again.
While external visitors were exciting, the club Gainando belonged to wasn't his preferred choice.
"Gainando, who's visiting your club?"
"Some famous collector, I heard... Dunno. Don't care."
"Why aren't you interested? It'd be good to get close and receive support for your magic research."
"Ugh... I don't want dirty money earned through Wizard Cards..."
"......"
"......"
The Blue Dragon Tower friends exchanged glances. One of them tapped their temple with a finger. 'Is he crazy?' 'Just leave him be. Wardanaz will scold him properly later.' Ignoring Gainando, the friends approached Lee Han.
"Wardanaz. What are you doing now? Need any help?"
"Ah. I was preparing a self-introduction to use when greeting external guests next week. It's roughly done—want to hear it?"
"Ooh...!"
"Self-introductions are important."
The friends nodded.
When meeting someone for the first time, a mage needed to introduce who they were. This was especially true if there were gold coins to be extracted from that person.
Which school they belonged to, under whom they studied, what achievements they had...
In the end, people of the Empire loved numbers. 'I've been researching skin color changes during month-long Troll Transformation Magic casts!' didn't land as well as 'I'm the second-ranked in Transmutation Magic studies!'
True to his reputation as a Wardanaz, he'd already started preparing before the weekend even began.
"I am Lee Han of the Wardanaz Family..."
-First, bonus points for that.
-But wouldn't the Wardanaz Family feel a bit dangerous?
-Dangerous, but worth revealing. There are surely people who'd be drawn by the name of a prestigious magic lineage.
The friends coldly assigned points. Yoner thought to herself, 'He never even used his family name normally.' It pained her to see her usually family-name-indifferent friend immediately pulling it out when gold coins were involved.
He really seemed determined to spare no means or methods.
"I am the top-ranked second-year student at Einrogard."
-A bit irritating, but additional points for this.
-No one can deny this one.
The Blue Dragon Tower friends added points with slight jealousy.
"Moreover, I've taken courses in all academic disciplines at Einrogard."
-Doesn't this feel slightly unrealistic?
-But there's plenty of evidence for this, so it's fine. It might seem unrealistic to mages, but it'll work on ordinary people.
-Indeed.
"I've also ranked first in all academic disciplines..."
- ......
- ......
"Last year, I assisted at Master Puyo's staff workshop, Lady Yoanen Maykin's alchemy workshop, and so on..."
- ...
Maykin. What did you make your friend do? If it's Lady Yoanen Maykin, isn't that the one who drove thirteen alchemists insane...?
-There seems to be a misunderstanding. First, it was fourteen, not thirteen, and Lee Han...
Lee Han frowned as his friends needlessly chattered.
"Could you focus, please?"
-S-sorry.
-We'll focus. Go on.
"Last year, I faced the following adversaries: a Rock Drake, the King of Frost Giants, the Ghoul King, a Basilisk, a Sea Serpent, and so on..."
- ......
- Wait. Hold on.
"Huh?"
When his friends stopped him, Lee Han looked puzzled.
"Is there a problem?"
"That was a bit too..."
"...Unbelievable? Sounds like a lie? Exaggerated?"
"Y-yeah. It might sound a bit strange."
"But it's all true."
Lee Han felt slightly wronged.
He hadn't even started exaggerating yet, and he was already getting this reaction.
"W-we believe you, Wardanaz. We do!"
"Honestly, hearing it summarized makes it hard to believe... But anyway, it might be too shocking for outsiders."
Seeing his friends speak earnestly without backing down, Lee Han wavered.
"Really? Then which parts should I change?"
"Rock Drake, Ghoul King, Basilisk, Sea Serpent."
"Keep just those?"
"No. Let's remove all of them. Just the King of Frost Giants alone would be shocking enough."
"......"
Lee Han made a displeased face but followed his friends' advice for now.
"Last year, I faced the King of Frost Giants and overcame the trial. This is the proof."
-Good!
-Clean and impressive!
"And this year, I encountered the magic criminal Antagondals and the mad doppelganger of an ancient archmage..."
- ......
- ......