Episode 866
Episode 866
"Stop right there! This person is of imperial lineage. I won't forgive anyone who dares lay a hand on them!"
"?"
When the junior suddenly drew his staff and shouted, Yukveltire looked around in surprise, thinking someone might be attacking him.
But there was no one.
"Who exactly are you talking to?"
"...You, Senior?"
"Why?"
"...Because you summoned His Highness Jowurin?"
"Dragons possess racially superior intellect and demonstrate remarkable abilities in algebra and geometry. Given that, I thought it wouldn't hurt for our second-year students here to listen in."
Lee Han nodded at Yukveltire's flawless logic.
When his friend had previously said, 'Senior Yukveltire conducts lectures perfectly fine,' he hadn't understood what they meant. But now, it was clear the lectures were indeed conducted properly.
"I see. In that case, please forget what I just shouted."
Lee Han said this and sat back down.
Of course, Yukveltire wasn't about to let it go.
"Wait a moment."
'Tch.'
Lee Han realized his mistake and lifted his head.
Maybe he should have claimed he shouted out of concern for Yukveltire, since they were both of imperial lineage?
"Junior of the Wardanaz family."
"Yes, Senior."
"What's with that staff?"
"......"
Lee Han desperately tried to explain. Though, to be honest, it felt more like he was cursing Professor Verdus than actually explaining. But either way, it counted as an excuse.
Diret, who had been hiding behind him, also stepped forward to fervently support his junior.
"Professor Verdus forced him to...!"
"Professor Verdus really...!"
"Anyway, Professor Verdus is...!"
"Professor Verdus is truly...!"
Not only the students in the lecture hall but even Jowurin nodded in agreement.
Professor Verdus really was a terrible person!
"Yes."
If Professor Garcia had been there, she might have offered some defense, but unfortunately, only Professor Voladi stood beside them.
Professor Voladi wasn't particularly lenient toward mages who had a history of tormenting their students repeatedly.
After cursing Professor Verdus hundreds of times, Diret subtly glanced at his friend's expression.
With his usual cold, expressionless face, it was hard to tell what he was really thinking.
"...You're not angry, are you, Yukveltire?"
"Diret. You've always had this bad habit of irrationally accusing me of things. Such emotional turbulence has nothing to do with me. Understand?"
'Just because I refused to help with research once, you're holding a grudge like this.'
Diret grumbled internally.
Once, when Yukveltire had asked for help with research, saying, "It's fine if you don't help," Diret had taken it at face value and replied, "Ah, sorry, I'm busy right now—I'll help next time," and refused.
After that, when Yukveltire disappeared, Diret went looking for him only to find him on a hunger strike in his workshop.
Yukveltire insisted, "I just forgot to eat because I was busy," but from Diret's perspective, it was 100% a tantrum over not getting help with research.
'But I have to endure this now.'
He could sulk if it were just him, but he couldn't let his junior suffer for it. That would be too petty.
"Of course, I did shape the staff's form to match the unique properties of black magnetite as a material. I also prepared several spells and essences in advance. The fact that Professor Verdus completed it midway instead of me doing it myself doesn't unsettle me in the slightest. Understand?"
"...Yes..."
Lee Han felt slightly guilty.
In any other situation, he wouldn't have cared if Yukveltire had thrown himself on the ground and rolled around like Professor Verdus. But this time, he really did owe him for the staff.
"Lee Han. I think Senior is angry."
"I thought so too."
His friends all shared similar opinions.
Anyone could see that Yukveltire was clearly furious. Even his younger sister, Adenart, agreed.
"It does seem like he's angry..."
"What makes you say that? I can't believe it. Adenart, are you even a mage with that kind of judgment? What evidence do you have, down to the minute, hour, and second?"
"Eek!"
Adenart flinched at her sister's unprecedented fury.
She wasn't usually like this—whatever Wardanaz had done must have truly shocked her.
"...Would you like help with your artificial dimension artifact research?"
Yukveltire's hand, which had been clenched with worldly fury until now, loosened slightly.
"Why? Didn't you say you had no interest?"
"Upon deeper reflection, it seems like truly remarkable research. When I think about it, it's an incredible project. While some waste their lives building nonsensical airships, I must say—people should learn from this instead."
Yukveltire's grip loosened a bit more.
"If your opinion has changed that much, perhaps I could consider letting you participate."
"Ah, Senior."
"What is it?"
"I think I'll be quite busy during the semester... Would it be alright if I helped during the break instead?"
"......"
Yukveltire's fingertips trembled faintly again.
But in the end, Yukveltire couldn't bring herself to scold and chase away her cheeky junior.
He was simply too valuable a talent to lose.
"Let's begin the lecture. Adenart. You can see the positions of the two dark planets drawn on the coordinate plane, correct? Express the distance between them in coordinates and prove the equation."
"......"
Adenart was flustered by the immediate retaliation.
"I... I don't quite know."
"I see. Next. Gainando, you too. On the current coordinate plane—"
"I don't know either!"
"Let me finish. On the current coordinate plane—"
Yukveltire relentlessly bombarded the juniors who had claimed she was angry with questions.
His pettiness was so blatant that even the other students began whispering among themselves.
Diret covered his face with his wings in embarrassment. He didn't think he could admit to being friends with him in public anymore.
'Incredible!'
Lee Han marveled.
The most astonishing part was that Yukveltire herself seemed completely unaware that she was sulking and retaliating.
It just so happened that the juniors he picked were the ones who had called him angry earlier!
'Sorry, but even I'm a little scared now.'
Though Lee Han had always boldly stood his ground against Yukveltire, this time was different.
Even among seniors, the authority of one standing behind the lectern was unmatched.
He had no choice but to endure, lest he provoke something worse.
"Jowurin! Jowurin will answer! First, we need an absolute inequality—"
Unable to hold back any longer, Jowurin finally raised a forepaw and shouted.
Knowing the answer made it impossible to stay silent.
Fortunately, Yukveltire didn't stop him and gave him the chance to speak.
"Please explain, Your Highness."
Jowurin wagged his wings and tail excitedly as he explained.
Of course, just because Jowurin was enthusiastic didn't mean the students' intelligence suddenly rose. Most of them just dozed off or stared blankly.
"Hey, servant! Servant! You understood Jowurin's explanation, right?"
"...Huh? Me?"
Gainando, who had been wondering who was being addressed, finally realized belatedly.
From the back, whispers from the White Tiger Tower students reached his ears.
—Servant?
—That prince bastard...
Gainando's face flushed red.
What humiliation, all because of his wicked half-sister!
—I'm jealous. That guy gets to do stuff like that on his own.
—Must be because of his bloodline. Hmph! Not jealous at all.
"?"
Gainando doubted his ears.
'Wait, the White Tiger Tower guys are jealous of a servant? Why?'
True to their temperamental and strange nature, they seemed to envy the oddest things. Gainando was baffled.
Poke poke
—"Gainando! Gainando!"
"Huh, what?"
As his friends poked and called him, Gainando turned his head.
"I got it all figured out!"
"What? How? I didn't understand anything!"
"Ask Wardanaz for the answer!"
It wasn't just about Jowurin being disappointed—there was a risk that the entire second-year class at Einrogard might be deemed incompetent.
In a way, this was a matter of pride for Einrogard's second-years.
"I understand! ...Lee Han! Lee Han!"
Ah, wait a second!
Jowurin scurried over, scooped Lee Han up with his front claws, and carried him back to the lectern, cradling him there.
Then he turned back to Gainando and asked.
Good! Now tell me what Jowurin just explained!
"...!"
Lee Han was stunned.
Given the lecture content, it truly seemed like Jowurin was born with innate intelligence by virtue of his species.
Of course, Lee Han's surprise was nothing compared to Gainando's.
'Th-that wicked dragon... he actually...!'
Gainando trembled violently.
Once he got back, he'd make sure that dragon never set foot in Einrogard again!
"But, Senior."
Still restrained by Jowurin, Lee Han called out to Yukveltire, who was standing nearby.
"?"
"What's going on with Professor Knighton?"
Professors at Einrogard were either diligent or like Verdus. Professor Alpen, being from the Empire's high-ranking bureaucracy, naturally fell into the diligent category.
For someone like him to skip class—Lee Han couldn't help but worry about some catastrophic event.
'Like being kidnapped by a deranged Ancient Doppelganger or something.'
"The Headmaster summoned him, apparently."
"...The Headmaster? Why?"
Yukveltire gave a small shrug and shook her head, indicating she didn't know beyond that.
Honestly, if Professor Alpen hadn't mentioned it before leaving, she wouldn't have known either. Yukveltire had about as much interest in others as Professor Verdus did.
Hmm! Gonadaltes is currently busy working in the capital! Professor Knighton must be assisting him!
Jowurin, excited to share what he knew, eagerly explained to Lee Han.
Of course, Lee Han wasn't excited at all. The mere fact that the Skeleton Principal wasn't at school felt ominous and dangerous.
"...What exactly are they working on?"
Huh?
Jowurin hesitated. He didn't know the details.
Um... this and that... getting approvals... getting annoyed...?
"??"
...
Jowurin apologizes...
"No, that was plenty helpful. Thank you, Your Highness."
Lee Han soothed Jowurin while inwardly wondering,
'What kind of approvals would make him so annoyed? Expanding the school? Or acquiring Baldrogard?'
The only person the Skeleton Principal would seek approvals from was the Emperor, and it definitely wouldn't be for something trivial.
He'd even summoned Professor Alpen to the capital.
Lee Han couldn't even begin to guess what kind of matter would warrant that.
Expanding Einrogard's buildings and securing more budget? Increasing their territory and securing more budget? Or getting approval to annihilate Baldrogard...
"Senior, what do you think the Headmaster is trying to get approved?"
"Expanding fifth-year research funding?"
'I shouldn't have asked.'
Lee Han regretted asking Yukveltire. Meanwhile, she called out to Diret and said,
"I think we'll need help escorting His Highness Jowurin. I'll assist too."
"Ah. Uh. Well. Yeah. Hmm."
"?"
"It's just... um..."
When Diret hesitated out of camaraderie, Lee Han stepped in.
After all, dirty work like this was a junior's duty.
"Senior, His Highness Jowurin carries around powerful reagents like trinkets—aren't you tempted by them?"
"Only a fool would covet a dragon's flesh just because of powerful reagents. I don't know what you're implying, Wardanaz junior."
Though often misunderstood as a "mini Verdus" by outsiders, Yukveltire was fundamentally far more socially adept than Professor Verdus.
Even if one were tempted to lay hands on a dragon's body, the inevitable, brutal retaliation would follow. No mere mage could withstand a dragon's vengeance.
"...Exactly! I don't understand why people don't get that!"
"Right. A dragon never gives any part of itself to others. Remember that well."
Huh?
Jowurin, listening nearby, was taken aback.
Was that how it worked?