Episode 901
Episode 901
The Blue Dragon Tower students looked on with such pity at the heartbreaking sobbing that it was almost unbearable.
"Wait. Stop the crying!"
"Dalkard. How can you call yourself an honorable Blue Dragon Tower student? Trying to stop someone crying so pitifully like that?"
"No... you idiots! It's a basilisk! If we can't control it, we're all dead!"
Though the baby basilisk had grown considerably since then and didn't recklessly scatter its Petrifying Evil Eye or poison around, that was only when it was in its usual, stable state.
If it kept wailing miserably like this, it wouldn't be strange if poison started flowing instead of tears.
Understanding Ashan's words, the faces of his friends turned pale.
"Your Highness, Your Highness! You must calm down!"
"While you're at it, could you also soothe the basilisk a little?!"
"Waaaaaah! Jowurin can't calm down!"
"Please! Your Highness can do it!"
"We believe in Your Highness!"
Jowurin, who had been sniffling, stopped crying at the students' encouragement.
Then, with sorrow-filled eyes, she looked at them and spoke.
"Instead... Jowurin has a request too."
"We'll do anything!"
"Could you go up and persuade Lee Han for me...?"
"......"
"......"
The moment her words ended, the students turned away. Jowurin was taken aback by their merciless reaction.
"Why, why?!"
"Just as Your Highness is afraid, we're afraid too!"
At their pathetic answer, Jowurin, even in her sadness, was dumbfounded.
'Are we even friends?'
But the Blue Dragon Tower students were wise. (Pathetic as they were.)
They knew very well that when a friend of the Wardanaz family reached Stage 5 Anger, it was always better to stay quiet rather than recklessly approach them.
-Why do those people even attend Einrogard?
The baby basilisk grumbled as it watched the students hastily flee.
Though the students hadn't been much comfort, the baby basilisk's tears had stopped, at least.
'Jowurin... Jowurin just wanted to be praised...'
"Your Highness..!..."
All she had wanted was praise for being a genius dragon, Lee Han admitting he was wrong, a promise to do as the wise Jowurin wished from now on, and maybe an invitation for next semester too...
"Your Highness...?"
At desires far greedier than expected, the baby basilisk was slightly taken aback.
'She was hoping for that much?'
Still, seeing Jowurin so depressed, the baby basilisk tried to console her.
-"W-well! There's still a good side to this!"
"What is it?"
Jowurin tilted her head in confusion.
The baby basilisk, who hadn't actually thought of any positives, floundered while wagging its tail.
-"I mean... um... uh... Master spoke casually to Your Highness!"
"WAAAAAAAAAAH!"
As the dragon burst into full-blown tears, the lounge began to flood.
"And that's why we had to repair the flooded lounge at dawn."
"Wait. Dragon tears are precious reagents. Did you just throw them away?"
"......"
Lee Han shot a look mixed with contempt, disgust, pity, disappointment, and more.
It was more effective than any spell or threat. Professor Thunderstep coughed awkwardly.
"I was just asking out of academic curiosity."
"I didn't expect you to ask questions like Professor Verdus."
"'You heartless brat.'"
Professor Thunderstep inwardly cursed his student.
To insult him by comparing him to Professor Verdus just for one mistake—that was beyond cruel.
"I'm already stressed enough about the Dragon Stone, and now this kind of question..."
"Sorry. I'm sorry. But isn't that too harsh? His Highness may not have listened to you, but she still thought of you..."
"You call that an excuse?!"
Lee Han was furious.
"Uh, wh-what? Did I make some mistake?"
"You specifically promised not to let him take out the Dragon Stone, yet you went ahead and let him do it anyway! If this continues, His Highness might pull out his bones next week to give to someone else, and by next month, he might rip out his heart to hand it over! How can you not be worried about that?!"
Professor Thunderstep was both flustered and baffled by his student's extreme hypothesis.
"That's... a bit of a stretch, isn't it...?"
"Hmph. You didn't expect the Dragon Stone either, did you, Professor?"
"......"
Struck where it hurt, Professor Thunderstep hesitated.
It was true—he hadn't anticipated the Dragon Stone either.
Who could've predicted that a dragon would casually pull out something so precious for such a trivial reason?!
'But this is truly unfair...!'
Not only had his carefully prepared exam been ruined, but now he had to endure this criticism too. No one could've seen this coming.
There was a reason the old saying called dragons the ultimate unpredictable troublemakers.
"...Fine. I admit it—I didn't foresee the Dragon Stone. But that was only because His Highness holds you in high regard! He wouldn't just hand over his bones or heart to some random person."
Young dragons might lack social experience and judgment, but they made up for it with overwhelming instinct.
The only reason Jowurin had taken out the Dragon Stone was because he liked and cared for Lee Han. There was no way he'd do the same for some shady figure like Verdus.
"Professor Verdus?"
"What? I said 'some shady mage.' Don't fixate on minor details."
"...Honestly, I'm more worried about my own case than others'."
"Hm?"
Despite his words, Lee Han did have some faith in Jowurin's discretion.
It wasn't like the prince would recklessly carve out his own flesh for just anyone—certainly not for Verdus or some random evil outsider.
But...
"What if he decides I need a bone for my next exam and just pulls one out? Or if he thinks I need his heart for a duel against the Headmaster?"
"Who are you dueling?!"
"It's just an example. Don't fixate on minor details."
"How can I not?!"
Grumbling internally, Professor Thunderstep had to admit Lee Han's concerns weren't unfounded.
Jowurin probably wouldn't hand over bones or his heart to just anyone—but if it involved the Wardanaz heir, things might be different.
Hadn't he already ignored their warnings and taken out the Dragon Stone?
Jowurin was still a young, mentally developing dragon—stubborn and prone to acting on impulse.
Maybe not his heart, but a bone...?
"...You have a point."
"Right?"
"Fine. If he ignored our warnings about the Dragon Stone, I can see why you'd be worried."
"So what should I do?"
At Lee Han's question, Professor Thunderstep met his gaze with a solemn expression.
"Wardanaz."
"Yes?"
"I'm an alchemy professor."
"And?"
"I don't know how to educate dragons. Good luck."
"......"
Lee Han shot him a look filled with disappointment, disdain, and a dozen other emotions. Unfazed, Thunderstep shrugged.
Honestly, who would know?
This was a problem even the Empire's greatest minds couldn't solve.
"Ask Professor Lightning Step or Ben... No, never mind. Just ask Professor Lightning Step. He might know something."
"Thanks for the advice."
"So, are you still mad at His Highness? Haven't made up yet?"
"I'm not mad. Just worried... If I make up too quickly, he might do it again. I'm keeping my distance for now."
"Other than crying, did he do anything else? I just hope he didn't destroy too many of Einrogard's buildings."
"Since he's under confinement, it should be fine. Oh, right. In the morning, he even tried to help prepare meals for the students."
Professor Thunderstep was genuinely surprised by Lee Han's words.
'Who would have thought a dragon would go so far as to do such things?'
It must mean he truly likes Lee Han, but even considering that, it was something only a kind and gentle-hearted dragon would do.
If he had been wicked and violent, he would have smashed the dormitory in a fit of rage.
"Even if you haven't made up, you must have at least praised him, right? If he went to such lengths, he deserves at least a word of praise."
At the professor's words, Lee Han replied with a slightly embarrassed expression.
"I woke up early and prepared everything myself, so His Highness didn't have anything left to do."
"...Right..."
Professor Thunderstep couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for Jowurin.
'How did he end up getting close to such a guy?!'
"Then I'll take my leave now, Professor. Oh, by the way, the seniors said Nefertem would appear in the exam—is that incorrect?"
"...That's right. Don't trust the seniors too much."
Annoyed by his clever student, Professor Thunderstep had to clench his fists.
"Indeed. Anyway, if the midterms are already this difficult, I'm worried about how the finals will be."
"The finals... won't be that hard."
Professor Thunderstep spoke with a bitter expression, his voice filled with defeat.
He had designed the exam to target one person, but now it had all fallen apart like this.
At this rate, even if he raised the difficulty for the finals, it would only end up making things harder for himself and the other students.
"Haha. Even if you say that, I know you'll make it just as difficult."
"......"
'Why is he angry?' Lee Han wondered as he walked away, bewildered.
Professor Thunderstep had exploded in fury and chased him out, leaving Lee Han utterly confused.
When he returned to the dormitory, he saw Professors Voladi and Bendozol sitting silently in front of the tower, keeping watch since Jowurin was confined indoors.
'Guess I should head back.'
Not just Lee Han, but other students also chose to take a detour rather than pass between them. The atmosphere was that suffocating.
"Lee Han. Where are you headed?"
"I have something to ask Professor Lightning Step."
"Ah, the exams."
"No, I wanted to consult him about His Highness Jowurin."
"......"
Even though it was midterm week, Lee Han's relaxed demeanor—focusing on other matters—made his friends shudder.
'Is this the dignity of the top student in the year?'
Moreover, Wardanaz was taking several times more classes than anyone else...
"Ah, Lee Han!"
Professor Garcia, spotting Lee Han walking down the hallway, greeted him warmly.
"Are you on your way to the Time Magic exam?"
"No, I was planning to visit Professor Lightning Step before the exam."
"...?"
Professor Garcia was puzzled.
She couldn't see any connection between her exam and Professor Lightning Step.
"Wait. Where is His Highness right now?"
"Actually, I'm going to see Professor Lightning Step because of His Highness."
"???"
Finally meeting a professor he could trust, Lee Han let out deep sighs and poured out his heartfelt concerns.
So, despite stern warnings not to remove the Dragon Stone, Jowurin had secretly taken it out and inserted it back in, and now Lee Han feared he might even try to remove his heart next...
'Th-That probably won't happen...'
"I-I see. So that's why you're going to see Professor Lightning Step."
"Yes."
"Ah, wait a minute. Lee Han, our exam is in an hour, isn't it?"
Professor Garcia's lecture—officially titled Understanding Extremely Difficult and Obscure Arcane Magic (Do Not Attend If You Lack Confidence)—had its exam in one hour.
While others were nervously preparing or meditating to calm their nerves, Lee Han was casually planning to visit another professor.
"Yes, but an hour is enough time to go, talk, and come back."
"Lee Han, just go after the exam. I'll let you start early."
Being too smart was also a problem.
Professor Garcia didn't wish suffering upon a good student like Lee Han, but seeing him so composed compared to the others made her feel slightly annoyed.