Episode 845
Episode 845
An utterly unexpected reprimand left Lee Han bewildered.
He'd never even seen the second-year students because of himself, and as a result, couldn't collect staffs?
What on earth did that even mean?
'Is he insane?'
Well, Einrogard did have plenty of insane people to begin with.
Without showing surprise, Lee Han calmly attempted to continue the conversation.
"What do you mean I prevented you from seeing the second-years? And what's this about staff collection?"
"Do you know what my job is?"
"Isn't it guarding the kitchen?"
Unless the term 'Kitchen Keeper' had acquired some additional meaning he wasn't aware of, that was the only answer.
"Half right. The other half is exchanging food supplies with students."
"!!!"
"At this first mention of a humane role in Einrogard, Lee Han was genuinely shocked."
Wait. Does such a role even exist in Einrogard? Why have I never seen it before?
"The Kitchen Keeper's gaze grew far more hostile and curt than before."
Then he spat out:
"You never had any reason to see me, that's why."
"Excuse me?"
"To meet me, you must be truly desperate. So hungry your stomach sticks to your back, willing to sell even your staff for a single can. Ready to risk the Punishment Room if it means raiding the kitchen."
The more Lee Han listened, the more astonished he became.
He thought to himself, 'So he only appears before truly starving Einrogard students?' A being who manifests only when students are so famished they'd risk raiding the kitchen and getting caught.
While the conditions were eccentric and demanding, by Einrogard standards this was practically normal.
'If I'd known this, I wouldn't have stockpiled so much food!'
Lee Han spoke with visible regret:
"What a shame. Had I known, my friends and I could've gotten food supplies too."
"'Gotten'? What nonsense is that?"
"Aren't you giving out food?"
"I said exchanging."
"Only then did Lee Han come to his senses."
Now that he thought about it, it was obvious.
Why would the Skeleton Principal's underling appear before starving students just to give away free food?
"...Then what must we do to get food? Odd jobs? Chores?"
"You overestimate students terribly. What value could your chores possibly have? Only magic items are accepted."
The Kitchen Keeper absolutely never gave food for free. He demanded various magic-related equipment in exchange.
From the magic staffs collected from students to small alchemy cauldrons, pots, cloaks, hats—anything.
Starving students had to offer whatever they could, even stealing their friends' staffs if necessary.
'Don't tell me the first-years had no staffs because...!'
Lee Han gasped as the truth dawned on him.
At first, he'd assumed the Black Turtle Tower first-years collected staffs to celebrate and boast about their victory.
But Black Turtle Tower students were just as hungry and struggling—they'd never have that kind of leisure. Of course they'd gathered them because there was a source of food involved.
To think they'd driven already poor, possession-less students to steal from each other...
"Why only accept those specific items?"
"Because the Master ordered it."
"'Ah.'"
Lee Han's indignation instantly turned to understanding.
If the Skeleton Principal commanded it, there was nothing strange about it. It made perfect sense.
"Last year, the Master scolded me for poor performance. Because of you."
"Wait... So we're supposed to force ourselves to starve when we have food?"
"If you eat alone, fine—but why share with friends? This is your fault."
"So you wouldn't give food to starving friends?"
"Even if I concede a hundred times about friends, why distribute to the entire student body? However you look at it, this is undeniably your doing."
"......"
Lee Han was momentarily at a loss for words at the Kitchen Keeper's remark.
Strangely enough, now that he thought about it, feeding the entire student body did seem a bit excessive...?
"Wait a minute."
The Duke, who had been listening from behind, interjected as if he couldn't comprehend the situation.
"What, prisoner?"
"...Do you not know who I am?"
"Of course I do. You're the fool who got caught trying to steal my master's treasure."
The Kitchen Keeper retorted bluntly.
At those words, Duke Icaldoren's face flushed red, but he didn't raise his voice.
He had already learned the hard way that losing his temper with the Skeleton Principal's underling according to imperial customs was utterly meaningless.
"Enough. More importantly, isn't this the disciple of the Magic Tower? You're the Magic Tower's subordinate. Is it acceptable for a subordinate to act so insolently toward their master's disciple?"
The Duke sternly pointed out the breach of etiquette.
Lee Han, who had been listening beside them, couldn't help but interject in disbelief.
"What kind of nonsense... Your Highness, I'm not a disci—"
However, upon hearing this, the Kitchen Keeper hesitated, pondered for a moment, then bowed his head deeply.
"My apologies. Please forgive my rudeness."
"...No. Why are you apologizing?! I'm just a student!"
Seeing the Kitchen Keeper suddenly bow his head, Lee Han felt even more frustrated.
What kind of person was this?
But whether Lee Han was angry or not, the Kitchen Keeper seemed to have made up his mind. He maintained his respectful posture with his head bowed.
Upon reflection, no matter how spiteful he felt, being rude to the Magic Tower's disciple wasn't a wise choice.
Even if he felt better in the moment, retribution could come back a hundredfold, a thousandfold, before long.
Even as Lee Han flailed about angrily, demanding he stop, the Kitchen Keeper held his ground until the end.
"...Let's stop this. So, Kitchen Keeper, what brings you here? I'm neither hungry nor planning to exchange my staff."
"I didn't come because of Lord Wardanaz. I came because of that fool behind you."
"Because of His Highness the Duke?"
"Yes. He called for me."
The Kitchen Keeper pulled out a small brass bell from his waist. The bell swayed outward, producing a clear chime.
"Right now, it's not ringing because that fool is full, but originally, it was ringing toward this direction."
The <Bell of Hunger> that the Kitchen Keeper possessed was an artifact that detected starving individuals within the Einrogard territory.
When someone starved to the point of screaming with their soul, the bell would sense their location and resonate in their direction.
Using this artifact, the Kitchen Keeper would extract students' staves and various magical equipment, and occasionally even find students starving to death in remote corners of the territory.
Upon hearing the explanation, Duke Icaldoren's face turned red again.
He hadn't imagined that the Kitchen Keeper had come here because of him.
"I... I wasn't that hungry."
"A mute bell wouldn't lie, you fool. Magic doesn't deceive."
"...This insolent wretch...!"
The Duke was indignant, but there was nothing he could do from behind the bars. The Kitchen Keeper hastily tucked the bell away again.
"If the Duke isn't hungry and has nothing to exchange, I should take my leave. Lord Wardanaz, please forget today's rudeness."
"No, I'm fine. If you think about it, isn't the Headmaster the real problem here?"
"!?"
The Duke, who had been listening from behind, was stunned.
He hadn't expected Lee Han to openly insult his master like that. 'Is that allowed?'
The Kitchen Keeper bowed his head gratefully at Lee Han's words, then turned to leave.
"Wait!"
"?"
"??"
It was the Duke who called the Kitchen Keeper to a halt. Lee Han and the Kitchen Keeper looked at the Duke in confusion.
"...Ah, no. You said you'd exchange food. So... what can I give you?"
"......"
Under Lee Han's pitying gaze, the Duke felt a shame so deep it seemed to strip his soul bare.
If only he had looked at me with contempt—it wouldn't have been this shameful.
"First, we need to see what you can offer."
"...Do you see this ring? With just this one ring, you could buy an entire fortress."
Duke Icaldoren extended his index finger and held the ring up to the light.
Eighteen meticulously cut gemstones gleamed brilliantly. Anyone could tell it was an exorbitant piece of art. However, the Kitchen Keeper shook his head.
"That won't do."
"What?! Why not?!"
"Like I said, we only accept magic items. That doesn't have any magic imbued in it."
"With this alone, you could buy dozens of magic items!"
"Take it up with the master, you fool."
No matter what he said, the Kitchen Keeper remained unmoved. The Duke pounded his chest in frustration before suddenly shouting at Lee Han.
"Fine, boy! You can make the exchange for me. Trade it for a magic item!"
"No. That's a bit..."
"Why not?!"
When even Lee Han refused, the Duke stared at him with bloodshot eyes, utterly unable to comprehend the rejection.
"This is just... too expensive. Trading it for a few cheap magic items I have would weigh on my conscience."
Even for Lee Han, who was obsessed with collecting imperial gold coins, this was too large-scale of a scam to stomach.
Sure, right now, he was hungry enough to trade such a ring for a single pair of enchanted leather boots, but what if the Duke changed his mind once they got out?
"I said it's fine! I insist!"
The Duke jumped around frantically inside the bars, begging to trade his family's heirloom for mere scraps.
The Kitchen Keeper placed a finger beside his temple and spun it in circles.
"Tsk. This fool's completely lost it."
"Please don't say that."
"My apologies."
"And stop using honorifics with me."
At that, the Kitchen Keeper shut his mouth entirely. Lee Han wanted to smack him.
"Your Grace, how about this? I'll just give you a few magic items for now."
After all, just last year, Lee Han had been trying to sell enchanted portable leather flasks.
He still had a few cheap magic items left in his bag—things he'd made either to assist Professor Verdus or as practice during lectures.
The Duke looked at him in confusion.
"You're just... giving them to me? Then... what do you get out of it?"
"You can repay me once we're outside."
"......"
For a moment, tears streamed down Duke Icaldoren's face.
It was the first kind words he'd heard since being dragged into Einrogard.
"... Sniff. Sob!"
"Y-Your Grace! Did I say something wrong?"
"N-no... Thank you. Thank you! I... I'll repay you. I swear it."
The Duke forgot all about his age and dignity, weeping openly as he made his promise.
He felt so guilty for having doubted and guarded against this boy simply because he was the Magic Tower's disciple.
How could he have ever insulted such a kind-hearted boy?
"I'll sponsor you once I get out."
'Hmm. Asking him to sign a few more contracts now would make me look like trash.'
Lee Han inwardly lamented. He couldn't bring himself to say, "Would you mind signing a few more research sponsorship contracts?" in front of someone sobbing so pitifully.
After securing a week's worth of provisions from the Kitchen Keeper, the Duke carefully hid them in a corner of his cell. He was so meticulous about concealing them that Lee Han even cast an Illusion Magic spell to help.
Yukveltire wasn't the type to steal such things, but the Duke had become someone who trusted no one—especially not royalty.
"Your Grace, Senior Yukveltire has no interest in cooking or meals, but she wouldn't steal your—"
"No! I don't trust her! Who knows what that Princess might do?!"
"...Understood. Still, don't worry too much. She's just busy right now. Once she returns, she'll check if you have any inconveniences."
"N-no! Please! Tell her not to come back!"
"But... she has to visit periodically. What if something's wrong?"
"You come instead! Please, please!!"
"...I-I'll do my best."