Episode 878
Episode 878
"Hmm."
As his friend ran away, Lee Han wondered if he had been too harsh in his words.
'He's actually a decent person if you ignore his ambition to become the next headmaster of Einrogard... No. That one flaw is just too significant.' Upon reflection, Lee Han understood why his friend had been frightened.
Meanwhile, Professor Zorjik, who had proven he wouldn't kidnap Lee Han or exploit him like Professor Verdus, entered the lounge.
His eyes lit up when he saw Jowurin.
"Oh! The great His Highness Jowurin! Your golden radiance shines as bright as the sun!"
Eek.
With a dragon's instincts, Jowurin immediately sensed something off about this person. After releasing the baby basilisk, he quickly hid behind Lee Han and Eandurde.
Eandurde gave Jowurin a look of utter disbelief. Where exactly did he think he could hide with that massive frame?
"Your Highness! Has this humble Zorjik of the Benmalpa Family somehow offended you?"
"N-no, not at all. It's just that His Highness is... rather shy around strangers."
"?"
"??"
Lee Han and Eandurde stared at Jowurin as if to ask what nonsense he was spouting, but the dragon prince could only shake his head pleadingly.
Eventually, Lee Han stepped in to mediate.
"Professor, what brings you here?"
"An excellent question, young Wardanaz—scion of the Wardanaz Family, inheritor of the former school's legacy, and the Skeleton Principal's prized disciple!"
'Did he really have to include that last part?' Lee Han felt slightly irritated.
"Naturally, I've come to guard His Highness. Of course, all Einrogard students are gems of impeccable character, but..."
"?"
"??"
"Who's to say one might not accidentally harm His Highness in a moment of carelessness?"
"If the seniors are such gems, shouldn't we just trust them?"
Gainando, who had been gathering his Wizard Cards, asked in confusion. Professor Zorjik pretended not to hear.
'Truly impressive. To go this far just to become headmaster...' Lee Han marveled inwardly.
Having received the Skeleton Principal's permission—"Do it if you can"—Professor Zorjik aimed to stage a legitimate coup by gaining support from students, faculty, and even the Emperor.
Hence his exaggerated praise of Einrogard's "beastly" students as paragons of virtue—something Lee Han could never bring himself to do.
"So you're here as a guard, then?"
"Precisely!"
"Well, thank you. We appreciate your assistance."
Lee Han saw right through Zorjik's motives. He clearly wanted to impress Jowurin to gain the Emperor's favor.
Still, this was far better than those who came to steal Jowurin's scales or claws.
"Ah, Wardanaz. I heard you've been visiting professors to pass exams early. Know that Zorjik is always prepared."
"..."
That's a misunderstanding."
* * *
The professors who helped Lee Han protect Jowurin from the "villainous" Einrogard students shared certain traits.
First, they had to be professors whose lectures Lee Han attended—which essentially meant any Einrogard professor, making this criterion meaningless.
Second, they needed some free time. One couldn't guard while teaching a class.
Though exceptions existed—like Professor Benmalpa, who abandoned his lectures despite knowing he'd be sent to the Punishment Room—these were rare.
Given these traits, it wasn't surprising that Professor Voladi appeared frequently.
"Hmm."
When the newly arrived Professor Voladi frowned slightly at Zorjik, Lee Han asked curiously,
"Do you have some issue with Professor Benmalpa?"
"No."
"Then why...?"
"I recall Professor Zorjik's teaching methods being rather extreme."
"??"
Lee Han wondered if Voladi had confused "Zorjik" with "Voladi," but the professor was dead serious.
'Ah. Professor Benmalpa did set me on fire once...' During his <Elemental Magic and Its Applications> class, Professor Zorjik had taken drastic measures when Lee Han failed to control the fire element properly—by casting <Bagni's Flame Bull> directly at him.
Though "Bagni's Flame Bull" sounded dignified, in reality, it was closer to simply setting Lee Han on fire and telling him to endure it.
'It is excessive, but coming from Professor Bagrak, that criticism holds absolutely no weight!'
Indeed, the same words could sound different depending on who spoke them.
Professor Voladi had often criticized other extreme educators, including the Crazy Doppelganger, and every time he did, Lee Han felt slightly dazed.
"It was a bit excessive to cast <Bagni's Flame Bull> on me, but thanks to that, I did manage to somehow control the fire element..."
"Professor Zorjik declared that he would make you master the Blue Flame within this semester. That's just too..."
"Excuse me?"
Lee Han paused.
Huh?
"Weren't we talking about <Bagni's Flame Bull>?"
"It was about the Blue Flame. Professor Zorjik set it as the semester's goal."
Once one learned to control and wield the fire element to some extent, the next step was to alter its fundamental nature through an Advanced Attribute.
The method of strengthening or transforming the very essence of the fire element—burning and consuming—was particularly well-suited for the fire element's nature.
-Even if it's the Wardanaz student, altering and imposing entirely new properties from the start might be difficult...
-That's incorrect, Professor. Wardanaz can already summon the White Flame through Divine Magic.
Lee Han recalled how, during the last lecture, Princess Adenart had flared up in his defense, which had visibly excited Professor Zorjik.
Lee Han thought to himself,
'Should've just slipped a rock into his sandwich.'
Regardless of Adenart's slip of the tongue, Professor Zorjik was truly something else.
To push Lee Han into mastering an Advanced Attribute transformation of the fire element within a single semester...
"That's really too much!"
"I agree."
Professor Voladi gave a small nod.
Normally, Lee Han should have been pleased when a professor agreed with him, but for some reason, he felt slightly wronged.
'Why do I feel aggrieved even though he agreed with me?'
"The number of spells you're currently learning is excessive."
"Professor, please give him a stern warning!"
"Hmm."
Professor Voladi pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement.
Normally, professors respected each other's teaching methods, but Voladi was the type to speak his mind if he had something to say.
"Professor Zorjik."
"Ah! Professor Bagrak! Welcome!"
Upon spotting Professor Voladi, Professor Zorjik spread his arms wide in greeting.
If he was to take over Einrogard after the Skeleton Principal, he would need outstanding Combat Magic professors by his side.
Professors Kirmin, Ku, Garcia, and Kim were all excellent Combat Mages, but the most reliable one was undoubtedly the vampire professor standing before him.
"I was truly disappointed you didn't attend the last gathering."
"Gathering? What gathering?"
Lee Han, who had been listening nearby, couldn't help but ask curiously.
A gathering among Einrogard professors?
Just what kind of gathering could it be?
'If it's <Expose the Skeleton Principal! Petition Gathering>, that'd be great.'
"<Make Zorjik of the Benmalpa Family the Headmaster of Einrogard> gathering, of course."
"...Wait, that was a real gathering?"
"What do you mean, 'was it real'? What kind of question is that?"
"Never mind."
Lee Han quickly backtracked.
Who would've imagined that the gathering he had imagined in his head actually existed?
And to think Professor Zorjik himself was running it! It was unbelievable.
"Which professors attended?"
"Haha. None of the professors came. They must've been busy."
"......"
"But students did."
"!"
Lee Han was shocked.
Of course, Lee Han had initially entertained the thought that it'd be nice if Professor Zorjik replaced the Skeleton Principal, and he had even imagined the <Make Zorjik of the Benmalpa Family the Headmaster of Einrogard> gathering in his mind.
But that imaginary gathering had long since disbanded the moment Professor Zorjik tried to force him to master the Blue Flame.
He had realized that all Einrogard professors were cut from the same cloth.
But students had actually attended?
"And the Giants too."
"WHAT!?"
"Aren't they splendid allies?"
"...Professor, by any chance... was there plenty of food served at the gathering?"
Caught by a sudden possibility, Lee Han cautiously asked.
"Oh? Wardanaz, you've heard about it too? We specially hired an outside chef. We couldn't possibly neglect hospitality at such a gathering!"
'So they were just there for the food...' Lee Han was impressed by his seniors.
To attend such a gathering just to stuff themselves with a lavish meal—truly, they were seniors for a reason.
"I had reasons for not attending."
"That's fine, that's fine. Einrogard professors are always busy, after all."
Listening to their conversation, Lee Han quietly asked Professor Voladi in a low voice:
"Professor, what was your reason for not attending? Was it because of His Highness Jowurin?"
"No. I just didn't want to go."
"...Ah."
The reason was simply 'I didn't feel like it.' Lee Han had no choice but to accept it.
If he didn't want to go, what could anyone do...?!
"Professor Zorjik. I have something to say."
"Anything! I'm all ears."
Professor Zorjik stroked his mustache, staring intently at the combat mage before him.
If this man later demanded the position of right-hand man after Zorjik became headmaster, he might actually consider it.
"You seem to be teaching Wardanaz something excessively difficult."
"Huh?"
At this unexpected remark, Professor Zorjik let out a foolish sound that clashed entirely with the dignified image he usually projected.
He was that shocked.
Lee Han smoothly interjected.
"Haha, Professor. It seems Professor Bagrak is worried about me. He's always been such a caring professor, looking out for his students."
Professor Zorjik didn't point out the absurdity of Lee Han's words just now. He had bigger concerns.
"No... what...?"
"You know... the Blue Flame. The advanced attribute of the Fire Element."
Like a sly opportunist, Lee Han casually slipped in the words from the side. At this, Professor Zorjik nodded.
"I'm aware. You're talking about the Blue Flame, Wardanaz."
"Yes. But why?"
"Well... Professor Bagrak, wasn't it your recommendation? I thought it was you..."
"???"
Lee Han turned to Professor Voladi with a thunderstruck expression. Jowurin, Eandurde, and the baby basilisk, who had been silently eavesdropping, also jolted in surprise and stared at Voladi.
Who would have thought this absurd twist was part of the story?
Professor Voladi, as expressionless as ever, slowly shook his head.
"I never did."
"Eh? Think carefully. We had this conversation in the faculty lounge."
Seeing that Voladi seemed to have forgotten, Professor Zorjik reminded him of what had transpired.
First anecdote.
-The Water Prison Bomb is complete.-
...Excuse me? What did you say was complete?
-Next...-
-What do you mean 'next,' Professor?!-
Second anecdote.
-He's mastered 5th Circle magic.-
-Professor...!-
-The Ancient Doppelganger's teachings are dangerous and harsh... We must be cautious.-
...It's a good thing it wasn't you who taught him, but do you really feel nothing saying that?
Third anecdote.
-Hmm. Professor Bagrak, I believe you've often spoken of Wardanaz's talent before. He truly is exceptional, isn't he?
-He is.
-Indeed! Teaching him this semester, I've come to think... Perhaps this student will bring even greater honor to Zorjik's name...
-An accurate assessment.
-Precisely! Professor Bagrak, I'd like to ask a few more things. Don't you think advanced elemental attributes might be too difficult for Wardanaz?
-Not at all.
-Is that so? Well, he can handle lightning, frost, even the Dark Element. Truly. What level is he at with those?
-That's...
"We had this conversation, didn't we?"
Now, even Lee Han was staring at Professor Voladi with eyes full of betrayal.
Yet, without the slightest waver, Professor Voladi calmly replied:
"I never recommended teaching him the advanced attribute of the Fire Element."
"That's what it was? Regardless, if he can handle advanced attributes of water or telekinesis, and even troublesome elements like lightning, frost, and darkness so well, shouldn't the Fire Element's advanced attribute be manageable too?"
"......"
Rarely at a loss for words, Professor Voladi hesitated. Lee Han inwardly lamented:
'You brought this on yourself!'
The only unfair part was—why was Lee Han suffering the consequences when it was Professor Voladi who had been running his mouth in the faculty lounge?