Episode 903
Episode 903
'Maybe we've been thinking too poorly of the priest.'
'Perhaps. Though the priest did steal all the wheat, rice, rye, dried fish, pickled herring, round cheese, sausages, salted meat, and oil from the supply sacks last time...'
'W-well, there's no definite proof that the priest did it. It could've been those Blue Earthworm bastards.'
'Still have a long way to go.'
Professor Lightning Step clicked his tongue disapprovingly as he passed by.
Though it was obvious just by looking at Professor Verdus, one shouldn't let their guard down just because a beastman had a cute appearance. In fact, they could be even more dangerous.
'Those first-years will realize it soon enough after getting tricked a few more times. Yes, the more expensive the price, the deeper the lesson gets engraved.'
With that thought, Professor Lightning Step walked on. Several thick books were tightly tucked under his arm.
The worn-out covers displayed titles like How to Calm a Disobedient Griffin and Unicorn Rearing Even a Villain Can Do.
Having heard that his student was dealing with a large rare creature problem, Professor Lightning Step had gone to the library to borrow additional books for consultation.
'Still, should Wardanaz really be worrying about griffins or unicorns during exam season?'
As a professor, he could afford to do other things during exams, but students were in a different position. Even for the top student of the year, this seemed like excessive confidence.
"...Ugh!"
Professor Lightning Step was a seasoned explorer who had been through all sorts of trials.
But the sight before him was enough to startle even such an experienced adventurer.
Professors Bendozol and Voladi were sitting there in complete silence.
'Is this a trap?'
He didn't know what kind of trap it could be, but that was his first thought.
"...What are you two doing there?"
"What do you mean?"
Professor Bendozol answered the question with an air of innocence.
"You know exactly what I'm asking. Why are you sitting in front of the student dormitory like this?"
The poor students of the Blue Dragon Tower were whispering among themselves as they detoured around the scene.
"We're guarding His Highness."
"O-oh... So you're waiting for him to come out?"
Only then did Professor Lightning Step recall Prince Jowurin's visit. But Professor Bendozol shook his head.
"His Highness is under confinement."
"Confinement?!"
"Hmph. Confinement means—"
"No, you lunatic! Who confined His Highness?!"
Professor Lightning Step scolded him in an irritated voice.
No matter how much he tried to respect a fellow professor, Bendozol had an uncanny talent for getting on people's nerves.
"Who else? That disrespectful Wardanaz brat."
"...I see."
Though it was clearly absurd, Professor Lightning Step was surprised to find himself somewhat convinced.
Strangely enough, if it was the Wardanaz boy, it somehow made sense.
"You actually held back despite your temper? I would've expected you to barge in and rescue him."
"That was the plan."
"...And?"
Professor Bendozol gestured with his chin, his expression gloomy. At the end of his gesture sat Professor Voladi, his face completely blank.
"......"
Upon closer inspection, Bendozol was in complete disarray. Normally, he already looked like a beggar, so it was hard to notice, but now his coat and pants were even more of a mess.
It was as if someone had ambushed and subdued him.
Professor Lightning Step deliberately pretended not to see and exclaimed,
"I have absolutely no idea who could've done this!"
"......"
"Well, I'll be going then."
"Take care."
Not wanting to get caught between the two, Professor Lightning Step hurriedly walked away.
And as he did, he thought to himself:
'I never imagined I'd actually miss the Headmaster!'
Though the eccentric skeleton mage usually only tormented the professors, it was true that his absence left a void.
Still, if the Skeleton Principal had been here, would Professor Voladi have attacked Bendozol...?
'...'
"Then I'll take my leave."
"Take care."
Professor Lightning-Step, who didn't want to get caught between the two, quickly stepped away. And then he thought to himself:
'Who would've thought I'd miss the headmaster!'
Though the headmaster had always been an eccentric mage who tormented the professors, it was true that absence made the heart grow fonder.
Still, if the skeletal headmaster had been here, would Professor Moon have attacked Professor Bendozol...?
'...Probably not, but he would've at least mediated.'
"—Undo the magic, will you?"
"—No."
"—...Then let's fight fair and square this time! No ambushes!"
"—No."
'I heard nothing.'
Professor Lightning-Step quickened his pace. He had no desire to listen to the conversation behind him.
* * *
"Professor!"
Lee Han was moved to see Professor Lightning-Step, who had come all the way to the tower to help him.
The professor waved his hand dismissively, as if annoyed, and said:
"Well? Is it a griffin, a unicorn, or some other creature I don't know about?"
"Huh?"
"You've been sighing nonstop lately because of some large, rare creature, haven't you?"
"......"
Jowurin, who had been sitting by the fireplace, looked crestfallen and glanced at them nervously. Lee Han poured tea and set it before the professor before speaking.
"I think there's been a misunderstanding. I've never had my insides rotting."
Jowurin's expression brightened.
"What nonsense is this? I heard you've been sighing deeply all over the place."
Jowurin's expression darkened again. Professor Lightning-Step felt a creeping suspicion.
"Wait, so it's not a griffin or a unicorn...?"
From the strange ban on going out to the oddly cautious behavior, the professor felt the pieces of the puzzle clicking together in his mind—and shuddered.
But Lee Han feigned ignorance.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Though I did have a minor argument with His Highness, we made up right away."
"That's right!"
Jowurin exclaimed, beaming.
Seeing him speak like that, it seemed Lee Han really had let go of his anger.
In truth, before the professor arrived, Lee Han had returned first and apologized.
"—Your Highness. I'm sorry. I lost my temper too much..."
—"Waaaaaah! Jowurin was wrong!!!"
—"I swear I'll never do it again..."
—"I absolutely won't!!!"
—"Understood. Then let's make up."
—"Ah! So does that mean the ban on going out is lifted too?"
—"No. That's not happening."
—"...R-really, you're not still mad...?"
Because the ban on going out hadn't been lifted, Jowurin had been unsure whether Lee Han had truly forgiven him.
But seeing him speak like this, it really did seem like the anger had dissipated.
—"I'm the only one suffering a total loss here."
The baby basilisk coiled around Jowurin's neck grumbled.
Even though they'd made up, it was forbidden from returning to Lee Han's sleeve until the ban was lifted.
But Jowurin, ever the cold and rational dragon, pretended not to hear.
If he carelessly asked Lee Han to take the baby basilisk back now and risked angering him again, the loss would be catastrophic.
"Well, I'm glad you made up. By any chance, did a griffin or unicorn cause any trouble?"
"None..."
At Lee Han's words, Jowurin sulked again.
While griffins and unicorns caused no trouble and lived quietly, Jowurin...
"...That can't be possible. They're absolute nuisances."
"Hey, are you forcing this...?"
Lee Han's eyes pleaded, 'Please just play along.'
Professor Lightning-Step was speechless.
He'd come to help, and now they were pulling this nonsense?
But when he glanced to the side, the young dragon was staring at him with hopeful eyes—as if he'd burst into tears if told the truth that griffins and unicorns had never caused any trouble.
"...W-well! Now that I think about it, I did suspect those creatures would cause trouble!"
"Exactly."
"What kind of trouble did they cause? I'm curious!"
"......"
"......"
Under the dazzling glow of Jowurin's expectant eyes, Lee Han had no choice but to fabricate an incident on the spot.
Fortunately, he could recycle something he'd heard from Professor Garcia.
"They wrecked a private room and destroyed all the furniture."
"How awful!"
Jowurin feigned sympathy, but his expression was brimming with pride.
Professor Lightning-Step hesitated slightly.
'But... is it right for a dragon to be happy about creatures causing more trouble than himself? Is this proper character education?'
He couldn't help but feel skeptical.
"More! What else?"
"Uh... they also devoured all my research once."
—"Did Mr. Ponlig do that too?"
The baby basilisk asked in confusion.
No matter how you looked at it, the griffin was far past the age for such pranks.
From the moment Professor Lightning Step had brought it, it had already been fully grown...
"Griffins' hearts are inscrutable by nature. Didn't you also deceive me and steal my reagent pouch?"
"......"
The baby basilisk, having butted in only to come away empty-handed, shrunk down and burrowed into Jowurin's embrace.
'Still, this basilisk is far kinder than that griffin. Both of us are much nicer!'
"It's a relief to see your spirits returning. Haha."
"......"
"Yes... I suppose that's fortunate..."
Professor Lightning Step sipped his tea.
Though the innocent griffin—absent from the scene—was being framed, as a far more mature creature than these two, it would surely understand.
"Since it seems resolved, I'll take my leave. But before that—"
The professor wiggled his finger. Lee Han tilted his ear closer in curiosity.
"I heard His Highness has been placed under house arrest. Is that correct?"
"Yes."
"Keeping him confined too long might backfire."
Dragons weren't a species suited for house arrest to begin with.
Not that any species in the Empire was particularly suited for it, but dragons were especially ill-fitted.
Arrogant, prideful, and blessed with innate abilities—what more need be said?
Students might stay put because they lacked the means to leave, but a dragon would quickly realize it could escape with minimal effort.
Keeping one confined too long risked only breeding resentment.
"His Highness wouldn't do that. And you needn't worry—I intend to stay by his side."
"I see. Surveillance—wait, don't you have exams this week?"
Professor Lightning Step, about to commend the idea, paused in puzzlement.
How could a student with exams this week plan to stay long at the dormitory?
"I intend to return as quickly as possible after checking on him."
"......"
"Listen, and don't take this the wrong way. Sometimes I wonder if you've lost your mind."
* * *
"Even if you consider it a misstep, isn't that excessively rude?"
Lee Han grumbled at the professor's blunt words as he moved—though he took a detour, since Professors Bendozol and Voladi still lingered outside the dorm.
Upon arrival, he was greeted by Professor Zorjik, whose seagull mustache seemed particularly dashing today.
"Wardanaz! Delighted to see you. Come in, come in."
"Good day, Professor."
"You're the first to arrive. Though I'd expect nothing less from a student like you."
Professor Zorjik, who taught <Elemental Magic and Its Applications>, had high expectations for this scion of the Wardanaz family.
So much so that he'd set 'Blue Flame'—an advanced attribute of the Fire Element—as the semester's goal.
Ambitious for a second-year, but given Wardanaz's mastery over elements and their applications, Professor Zorjik deemed it wholly achievable.
If Wardanaz mastered Blue Flame this semester, the professor planned to flaunt their brilliant master-disciple synergy at the upcoming mages' gathering during break.
"What's the midterm? Blue Flame?"
"You remembered! Correct! It may seem daunting, but for you, Wardanaz, it's well within reach."
"Now, for this exam..."
Pressed for time, Lee Han focused immediately.
Juggling multiple elements at depth while advancing Fire Element to an advanced tier sounded absurd, but thankfully, the shock was mitigated—he'd heard it before.
Thanks to his solo practice, progress came swiftly. The flames hovering in the air began shifting hue.
A vivid, blue-tinged fire emerged—the first milestone of Blue Flame: complete chromatic transition.
"Wardanaz! Excellen—"
"Professor! Please wait a moment!"
Lee Han cut him off sharply as his concentration wavered.
It might have seemed impolite, but interruptions disrupted focus during such delicate spellwork.
Professor Zorjik, who'd been about to declare a perfect score for acing the prepared test, was moved.
'Already tackling finals in one go?!'
He'd wondered why Wardanaz hadn't come for exams like other lectures, only to be presented with this splendid reversal.
Stroking his mustache, the professor swelled with pride at his top-ranked student's audacity.