Episode 821
Episode 821
Still, since they were juniors from the same tower (though honestly, it was mostly because Diret was his friend), Lee Han attempted to offer a brief defense.
"He's not a bad person."
"What? He's Bible's prized disciple. How can you say he's not a bad person?"
'Damn. She's being logical in a very pirate-like way.' Lee Han felt overwhelmed from the very start of his defense.
How was he supposed to defend someone when the first thing brought up was that they were Professor Verdus's disciple?!
"...I'm also Professor Verdus's disciple, you know."
"You brat. Are you defending him just because he's your senior from the same school? I'll tell you this—that arrogant 'Little Verdus' probably doesn't even consider you his junior."
"Well... I don't really consider him my senior either..."
"Lagesa couldn't help but wonder if the Enchantment Magic school at Einrogard was really okay being like this."
It seemed even less cohesive than a pirate crew.
"Then why are you defending him?"
"I happened to see that bronze golem."
"Ah. That thing. It was well-made, I'll give him that."
"What exactly did Senior 'Little Verdus' say to make you so angry?"
"He came to see me carrying that bronze golem."
"And then?"
"That's it."
"Perhaps sensing Lee Han's bewildered expression, Lagesa elaborated further."
You brat. You know about that chest of gold coins Torgerd's daughter threw at Bible, yet you really can't guess what it means for his prized disciple to boldly come see me carrying a bronze golem?
"Maybe he genuinely just wanted to settle things purely through magic."
"Hmph!"
Lagesa briefly recounted their conversation:
-Greetings, Lagesa. I am Yukveltire, a fifth-year at Einrogard.
-I know who you are. Bible's disciple, aren't you?
-That's correct.
-You're aware of the bad blood between me and Bible, yet you still came to see me like this. Do you understand what that means?
-Lagesa. A mage should only be judged by their magic. There's no reason to drag past grudges or wrongdoings along forever.
-So your master's affairs are your master's affairs, and his disciple has nothing to do with it?
-That's correct.
-Hmph. I suppose I do share some blame for being fooled by that bastard Bible... And because of that, even his disciple...
-That's correct.
-...
-Get lost!
'Hmm. Senior Yukveltire was definitely in the wrong here.' Lee Han immediately regretted trying to defend his senior.
Why did I even try to defend someone like this?
If it had been Lee Han, he would've put on a show, saying, "The one who deceived you was wrong! I'll go catch him right away!"
"To be fair, Senior 'Little Evil Verdus' has always been rather tactless."
"He certainly seemed that way. That's why he's Verdus's disciple, I suppose."
"Couldn't you give him one more chance? That bronze golem really is a well-crafted piece."
"...Ugh! Fine. If only because I pity you playing babysitter to these brats, I'll give him one more chance. Bring it by later."
"I'm not Yukveltire senior's babysitter, though."
"I wasn't talking about Little Verdus—I meant you being the babysitter for your whole grade!"
"??"
"
'Come to think of it, I'm worried.' Even as he headed toward the Healing Magic classroom, Lee Han couldn't shake his anxiety.
He'd unavoidably missed the previous lecture.
While being kidnapped by a deranged ancient mage was certainly a justifiable excuse... 'The Healing Magic school might not accept even that as an excuse.' Plagued by severe manpower shortages, the Healing Magic school couldn't afford to lose a single student.
How bad must it be for the Skeleton Principal to have authorized forcibly enrolling all first-years?
Yet despite this, by second year, the Healing Magic school had the highest dropout rate.
Just looking at his friends, very few remained in the Healing Magic track.
"Ah! Senior Phil!"
At times like these, the only reliable person was a senior.
Unlike other fifth-year students, Phil from the Healing Magic school had never been seen participating in external activities, presentations, or research.
Lee Han already knew the reason without even asking. 'He must have been following the professor around doing work...'
"You...!"
"......"
"Nice to see you."
"I was relieved thinking you'd finally given up on the Healing Magic department!"
"......"
Beside them, Lagesa was already getting excited by the interesting conversation and pulled out her nasal snuff from her pouch. 'This is Einrogard for you!'
"Why would you think that? I'm still a former department student."
"Honestly, don't you think you could be recognized as a former student even without joining the Healing Magic department...?"
Phil made an awkward expression. Lee Han cautiously asked,
"Did I get expelled from the department because I was absent last time due to Mudan?"
"What kind of nonsense is that? Our department doesn't do expulsions. Even if you get thrown into an Imperial prison, we'd drag you out to put you to work."
"Senior. Uh... We have an external guest here, so could you lower your voice...?"
"Ah. My apologies. That was just a joke."
"Kihihi. Go on. Keep going."
Phil was too exhausted and weary to ask who Lagesa was, and his junior was more urgent.
"It wasn't expulsion—I just thought you'd finally realized the importance of focus and specialization since you stopped coming..."
"......"
"I was just kidnapped."
"Oh my. Really? What happened to the other party?"
From his senior's reaction, Lee Han realized this person truly hadn't heard any outside rumors. Someone locked in the Punishment Room would probably have faster news.
"It's a long story. Anyway, Senior, I'm worried about missing the last lecture. Can I still catch up?"
"You studied the second-year curriculum on your own last year, so of course you can keep up."
"Hey. Tell me more about that story."
Lagesa urged, pressing an Imperial gold coin into Phil's hand. Phil looked bewildered but pocketed the coin.
"That's not difficult, but... we should head to the lecture hall first. This week is also the mini-exam week."
"......"
Only then did Lee Han realize that the fourth week was usually when pop quizzes were held. 'What? Even during Club Week, they're giving exams... How foolish of me. Of course they would.' Chastising himself for almost asking such a stupid question, Lee Han asked his senior,
"Is there an exam?"
"Sorry, but I don't know either. We'll have to see."
"??"
For a moment, Lee Han suspected his senior was lying, but Phil's expression showed no hesitation. 'What's going on?' Usually, fifth-year students assisting professors inevitably learned about exam content.
Just last year, one unfortunate first-year student had even heard about the exam from the professor while helping their peers prepare...
"More importantly, since you missed the last lecture, let's quickly go over the key points you might have missed."
"Ah. Yes."
As his senior began discussing Healing Magic, Lee Han focused intently.
"First, now that you're a second-year and a proper Healing Magic department student..."
"Yes."
"You need an alias."
"......"
"Ah—wait. Not an alias, a nickname. Calling it an alias makes it seem suspicious, so remember to say it's a nickname."
Lee Han had already learned about the necessity of concealing a Healing Mage's identity—nothing good came from being too well-known. On rest days, it was best to use a common, forgettable nickname to avoid being dragged out.
"What alias do you want to use?"
"Uh, Gainando also—"
"No. Too long and easy to remember. Stick to one or two characters."
"I'll think about it later. Anything else?"
"Nothing else, really."
"Really?"
"Like I said, you already studied the second-year curriculum on your own last year."
Treating wounds like stab or slash injuries usually started in the second year. First-years only practiced the most basic fundamentals.
"Ah. Look, the 'Demon' and 'Goat' juniors are here too."
"?"
Lee Han turned his head to see who on earth would choose such ridiculous nicknames.
It was Dijiling and Angrago.
'Gonadaltes would have been a better name than this.'
-What about Basilisk?
When the baby basilisk asked with sparkling eyes, Lee Han deftly changed the subject.
"We'll think about it later. Guys, over here!"
Upon spotting Lee Han, the two looked startled.
Then they said:
"I thought you quit the Healing Magic department?"
"We heard you dropped out?!"
"......"
As Lee Han glared at Phil, the senior scratched his head awkwardly.
"I might've gotten too excited and told too many underclassmen."
The Healing Magic department's <Practical Healing Magic> class had several unique aspects.
First, unlike other courses, it mixed students from all years - second, third, and fourth - together in one class.
Second was the classroom location.
Unlike most professors who preferred teaching in their own towers, Professor Alkasis conducted her lectures in her personal tower - the Hall of Medicine.
While part of it was her dislike for finding separate lecture spaces, the Hall's facilities also played a role.
"!!!"
Lee Han and his friends gaped skyward in shock.
Dozens of wyverns were rapidly coming and going.
To an outsider, it might have looked like an attack.
But these wyverns weren't here for assault - each carried banners declaring their origin and purpose. They'd pause midair, drop off patients, then immediately depart.
The Hall of Medicine's magic would then swiftly suction the falling patients inside before they hit the ground.
From this perimeter outward, patients requiring healing magic throughout the Empire were being rushed to Einrogard as quickly as possible.
The Death Knights diligently managing aerial traffic brightened upon seeing Lee Han.
"Eh? Lee Han? Didn't you quit Healing Magic?"
"......"
"My bad. Really..."
Phil couldn't lift his head from shame.
"More importantly, is this many patients normal?"
"During peak times, yes. Pray they're not too injured - easier exams that way."
Only then did Lee Han understand what the Healing Magic pop quizzes were - these sudden patient surges were the tests.
"Pfft, everyone here? Oh! Senior Phil too!"
The enormous Falkrius, priest of the Kitchen Club, distributed handmade sandwiches at the Hall's entrance before startling at Lee Han's presence.
"You didn't drop Healing Magic?!"
"...Senior Phil spread fake rumors."
"That rascal! Anyway, good news. Or is it bad for you, Wardanaz? Hahaha! Everyone upstairs! Now!"
Pushed along by Falkrius, they ascended to find a hall wider than banquet halls. Healing Magic students were already divided by year, treating patients.
"Where does this patient go?"
"Second years."
"This one?"
"Third years."
"This patie—"
"Ask one more time and I'll make you a patient!"
"S-sorry Professor!"
Amid the chaos, Lee Han's group moved toward the second-year section—until Phil and Falkrius simultaneously grabbed his shoulders.
"Eh?"
"Well, you see—"
"Pfft. Senior Phil and I were taking you to the fourth-year section."
"No way, you idiot!"
"...Not?"
Falkrius faltered at Phil's outburst.
"Third-year at most! Why rush to fourth? Even third's pushing it!"
"But with his mana reserves and 4th-circle capability, he could assist fine! Assistant roles barely differ between years..."
"Well... true..."
As Phil hesitated under this logic, Dijiling and Angrago swiftly whisked Lee Han away to the second-year section.
"H-hey! You cowards! Bring Wardanaz back!"
"Falkrius! Quiet!"
"Sorry Professor!"
Lagesa watched this all fondly before quietly slipping away. Lingering risked Alkasis assigning her work too!