Episode 853
Episode 853
"To whom?"
"..."
"To Baldrogard student."
"..."
"Ah."
Gainando nodded his head and explained to his friends instead.
"He's writing a threatening letter, it seems."
"...No, I'm not."
But his friends had already found Gainando's hypothesis quite persuasive.
"Gainando. Don't say stupid things. If anyone asks later, you should say it's a letter."
"Right. Everyone, remember. That's definitely a letter."
"......"
Lee Han covered his ears and quickly wrote his reply.
Thank you for your letter. I appreciate the invitation. The weather in Einrogard is nice... (omitted)... The students are happy... (omitted)... I'm glad you found psychokinesis magic interesting last time. In that case, I'd like to recommend the following books... (omitted)... Don't just glance at them and think, 'Oh, these books exist.' You must read them. I'll check when we meet next time.
Yoner, sitting beside him, thought to herself, 'Does Gainando have a younger sibling I don't know about?' Unless there was a secret younger sibling of Gainando that even Yoner wasn't aware of, there was no reason for Lee Han to send such a letter...
* * *
"Everyone, thank you for your hospitality!"
"Wow! Please come again!"
"Hahaha! Of course!"
As the storm-like week came to an end and the weekend arrived, the visiting guests began to leave one by one.
Honorable guests who had visited honorably, stayed honorably, and left honorably—such as Goladek, the master artisan from the Capital Bakers' Guild—were satisfied as they were seen off by the students.
But not all guests were like that.
Those who had wandered around the school looking for something to gain, whether intentionally or accidentally, and ended up in trouble, spewed curses.
"Damn this magic academy! I'll file a complaint to His Majesty the Emperor and get this place shut down!"
"Wow! Thank you!"
"Do I sound like I'm bluffing!? I swear I'll do it!"
"We're genuinely grateful too!"
"Guest! Please, really send that complaint!"
A noble guest, clutching his newly tailored purple leather coat that had been torn to shreds, was taken aback by the students' reactions.
No matter how you looked at it, how could they remain so calm in the face of threats?
"Damn it. Just wait! I know quite a few nobles in the capital!"
"—Apologies, guest. Disclosing information about the magic academy or filing complaints is prohibited."
"What? That's insane nonsense!"
"—You signed it when you arrived..."
The Death Knights awkwardly pulled out the contract.
There were clearly additional clauses that hadn't been visible when signing, but the furious noble guest didn't notice.
"Wh—when was this... Do you think I'll stay quiet because of this!?"
"—Guest. You're magically bound by the contract anyway, so you won't be able to speak of it..."
"..."
"Damn this insane magic academy! Curse you! I'm never coming back!"
Lee Han, who had finished packing his belongings, gathered with his friends on the 7th-floor village to watch the departing guests.
The teahouse Hot Water and Cold Water was popular among second-year students lately, as it offered affordable white tea leaves.
Placing their cups on the table, his friends clicked their tongues and criticized the guests.
"Making such a fuss after just a few days."
"Right. What's the big deal about a torn coat? There are plenty of students who live without coats."
"Honestly, once you get used to Einrogard, it's not that hard."
'Are these really the same friends who whined so much last year?' Lee Han thought to himself.
Of course, he didn't want his friends to suffer, but thinking of the first-year juniors who had to pawn their staves due to food shortages made him feel a little spiteful...
"Ah! A magic criminal!"
"What?"
Lee Han turned his head in shock.
With external guests still around, a magic criminal was showing themselves? 'What kind of lunatic is this? Could it be Antagondals?' No matter how he thought about it, the only magic criminal who would show up at Einrogard in this situation and practically say, "Kill me," had to be Antagondals.
"Maybe they escaped after being tormented by the Crazy Doppelganger... or perhaps they came under orders from the Crazy Doppelganger..."
"They're Baldrogard students..."
Lee Han was speechless.
But his friends were unfazed.
"They're practically half Magic Criminals anyway."
"Right, right."
-Get lost! And don't come back!
-You bastards must think this place is a tourist spot! Go back and say crap like, 'Einrogard students eat cake when there's no bread—how weird!'
The seniors also hurled fierce jeers at them.
The Death Knights sternly warned them.
-Everyone, quiet!
-Get lost! Get lost now...
One oblivious third-year student, guilty of adding one more remark, was immediately seized and dragged away by a Death Knight.
-To the Punishment Room!
-Aaaargh! This is so unfair! Damn Baldrogard bastards! You see this?! This is all your fault!
"......"
"Ugh... I feel bad for the senior."
Gainando was on the verge of tears. The other friends grew solemn. Only Lee Han was bewildered.
'Wasn't that the senior's own fault?'
Meanwhile, Zandanni, passing by in a carriage, spotted Lee Han and waved.
"Wardanaz! Don't forget the gift I gave you!"
"......"
Seniors from other buildings or the roadside were startled.
"That guy... Did he threaten a Baldrogard student to take something from them??"
"How did he manage that?! There shouldn't have been any openings!"
Given how often Einrogard students ambushed them in anger, Baldrogard students naturally came prepared when visiting the school.
As evident from this visit alone, they either hired escorts or stayed exclusively in the <Visitor Lodging> village.
There should have been no openings—so how and when did he do it?
"Is that Wardanaz? The one taking the previous curriculum?"
"The rumors are true..."
"How did he threaten them so well that Baldrogard guy doesn't even realize he was extorted?"
As the misunderstanding spread, Lee Han urgently shouted at the seniors.
"I didn't threaten him! We became friends, and he gave it to me!"
"Sure, sure. Wardanaz. We get it."
"Of course you didn't 'threaten' him. We know!"
The seniors laughed and nodded at Lee Han's protest, though their expressions made it clear they hadn't believed a word.
Lee Han cursed inwardly.
'These narrow-minded, uptight mages.'
Mages, who should have the most open and free-thinking minds, acting like this!
Tap tap
"Huh?"
A Paper Bird tapped his shoulder. Puzzled, Lee Han unfolded it.
'Please don't tell me someone sent a threatening letter about being friends with a Baldrogard student.'
Come help me with something.
—Vible Verdus
'A threatening letter would've been better.'
The moment he received Professor Verdus's Paper Bird, Lee Han immediately felt his mood sour.
If a single line could manipulate a person's emotions, wasn't that real magic?
"I'll go meet a professor for a bit."
"Professor Bagrak?"
"No."
"Professor Garcia?"
"No."
"Professor Thunderstep? Professor Lightning Step?"
His friends listed every professor they could think of—even the Skeleton Principal's name came up.
"Huh, is it a professor we don't know?"
"I'm going to meet Professor Verdus."
"...Why???"
'That's actually a fair question.'
Lee Han understood why his friends asked better than anyone.
If they'd said they were going to help Professor Verdus, he'd have asked, "Why?" too.
Or checked if they were under some illusion magic...
But since he'd received Black Magnetite and help with his staff last time, his conscience pricked him a little about outright refusing now.
'I'll help just this once and ignore him next time...'
Following the same route he'd taken with Professor Garcia before, Lee Han headed not to Professor Verdus's usual workshop but to the attic of the magic tower.
Due to grudges held by outside guests, Professor Verdus had been hiding in the attic.
"Professor! I'm here!"
Clank clank clank!
Just like last time, the loud sound of chains being undone echoed through the room. Professor Verdus was dismantling the defensive magic he'd set up.
"Come in!"
As Lee Han climbed up through the ceiling hatch, he was puzzled to see Professor Verdus standing far away.
"Why are you standing all the way over there?"
"Last time I got betrayed by Professor Garcia, remember?"
Professor Verdus, who had naively trusted Professor Garcia and gotten close only to be physically subdued, had become even more cautious now.
Lee Han gave a bitter smile and said:
"Professor. Look at me. I'm human, aren't I? I don't have close-combat abilities like Professor Garcia."
"That... might be true..."
Seeming to find his student's argument plausible, Professor Verdus nodded his head and cautiously approached again.
Unseen by the professor, Lee Han's eyes gleamed darkly. This moment of carelessness would someday be Professor Verdus's downfall. 'Heh heh heh.'
"So what did you call me here for?"
"Ah. There's something I urgently need to finish, and I need your help."
"Professor, you say everything needs to be urgently finished every time."
From Lee Han's perspective, Professor Verdus was the type who just claimed things needed urgent completion whenever he found them interesting.
Meanwhile, artifacts that actually needed to be completed and submitted to the Skeleton Principal by tomorrow were postponed with excuses like "they're boring"!
"This one really does need to be urgently finished!"
"What is it?"
Lee Han's gaze shifted to the back of the attic.
There sat a small sailboat of peculiar design. Its streamlined hull was sleekly crafted, and instead of sails, artifacts were attached to the protruding mast...?
"It's an airship. A small one, though."
"!"
Now that he looked closely, the hull wasn't made of wood but metal—not ordinary metal, but magically treated metal.
Lee Han exclaimed in surprise:
"Professor, is this what you scammed Lagesa with?"
"No! What kind of scam are you talking about?!"
Professor Verdus jumped up and down as if deeply wronged.
"I've never scammed anyone!"
"Yes, yes. That's what all scammers say."
"That's also what non-scammers say!"
"Honestly, I'm surprised, Professor. You never bother completing things like this to show sincerity to your other investors."
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Professor Verdus looked exasperated at his student's misunderstanding and began explaining.
One of the widely spread but mistaken rumors in the Empire's magical circles was that "Einrogard's Professor Verdus shamelessly takes investments and sponsorships before absconding with the money."
But Professor Verdus himself stood tall with a clear conscience.
He had never embezzled a single penny.
"It's just that the projects are running a bit behind schedule."
"While you're working on other research projects too?"
"If something's fun, you can't just not do it. Right?"
Professor Verdus asked with full confidence, as if he were completely in the right and Lee Han was wrong.
Fortunately, Lee Han wasn't swayed at all.
"Anyway, Professor. Are you trying to at least complete this before Lagesa leaves to somewhat appease her anger? Maybe reduce the bounty on your head a little?"
"More or less."
"In that case, I'll help you."
Having debts to both Lagesa and Professor Verdus, Lee Han readily agreed.
Professor Verdus, who had expected Lee Han to exploit his weakness and demand several times the usual payment, brightened up.
"See, you find this interesting too!"
"No. If you keep talking nonsense, I'm leaving."
"Ah, no. But it is fun..."
"Because of you, Senior Yukveltire keeps getting strange misconceptions too. She thinks all imperial mages love and enjoy their research like you do."
"???"
Professor Verdus tilted his head in confusion at this incomprehensible criticism.
How in the world was that his fault?
"And my research is something everyone loves and enjoys... Why are you putting your hand on my shoulder?"
"Haha. It's nothing. Just thought I saw some dust."