Episode 960
Episode 960
Fortunately, Professor Garcia did not subdue her students with force.
Not because there were too many eyes watching, but because Professor Garcia herself did not enjoy violence.
Crunch!
"......"
Angrago was horrified as he watched Professor Garcia grab the metal railing installed in the spectator stands and crush it with her bare hands.
Of course, Professor Garcia wasn't the type to enjoy violence, but exceptions always existed, didn't they?
What if today was the day Professor Garcia had decided to wield violence for the first time?
"I-I'm sorry! Please spare me, Professor!"
"I doubt you're actually sorry. Go fetch Student Salko quickly."
"Yes! Yes!"
Angrago scrambled away, shoving through the crowd and grabbing Salko by the collar as he was directing the chaos.
-You bastard! Are you one of those Granden City Polo Club bastards?!
-Crush him!
Taking a few hits from the people around him, Angrago shouted.
"Ghk, ghk! Tutanta, you idiot! The Professor is here! Professor Garcia is here!"
"...!!!"
Salko, who had been firing mud pellets wildly, snapped back to his senses as if doused with cold water.
"D-don't lie to me."
"Look behind you!"
"......"
When Salko locked eyes with the familiar professor, he immediately lowered his staff.
"Everyone, stop! Stop fighting!"
"What are you doing?! We have to crush those Granden City Polo Club bastards!"
"No! Stop! I said stop!"
The drunken spectators ignored Salko's desperate pleas.
Thud!
Professor Garcia shook her head disapprovingly and slammed her staff against the ground.
Then, dozens of shadowy tentacles descended from the air above the stands and smothered the faces of the rampaging spectators.
"Ghk!"
"Kghk!"
The unruly spectators, who hadn't listened no matter how much they were restrained, slumped over and collapsed. It was an astonishingly refined spell.
"Everyone."
Professor Garcia spoke sternly to the two of them. They gulped.
"Run!"
"?!"
Instead of scolding them, the professor took the lead and fled down the stairs.
For a mage of Einrogard, the most important thing wasn't staying behind to flaunt their reputation or reprimanding their students.
The most crucial thing was making a quick escape after causing trouble.
"P-Professor, wait for us!!"
The three mages barely managed to get far enough away from the scene.
-Who the hell was that mage just now?
-With magic like that, they must be from Einrogard, right?
-Yeah. Come to think of it, maybe those spells earlier were from Einrogard mages too.
-Actually, the brawl at the city gates this morning might've been caused by Einrogard mages too.
'That last one wasn't us!'
Professor Garcia seethed.
Sure, statistically, Einrogard mages caused a lot of trouble, but it was still unfair to be blamed for things they hadn't even done.
Why did people in the Empire always blame Einrogard whenever something inexplicably magical happened?
"Now, you two."
"...Yes..."
"...I'm sorry, Professor. I forgot my place as a student and got carried away."
The two of them reflected deeply. It wasn't just because Professor Garcia's grip was hovering over their shoulders.
Now that they had regained their senses, they were ashamed of the chaos they had caused.
"If you're truly remorseful, that's enough. Just don't do it again."
Professor Garcia's tone was noticeably gentler than before.
Honestly, compared to the trouble other seniors had caused, what these two had done today was nothing.
A prison break and a stadium riot? That was nothing...
"Let's go find Student Lee Han."
"What about Wardanaz?"
Angrago was puzzled.
Unlike the two of them, Lee Han was still legally present. Wasn't he currently playing as a member of the Polo Club?
"Because Student Lee Han fought for his life against Evil God Worshippers in the Granden City Palace."
Professor Garcia stared intently at the two of them. They could feel cold sweat running down their backs.
"I... I've never heard of that before."
"M-me neither..."
"......"
Despite the audacity of the Theater Club members pretending not to know about what had happened at the palace, Professor Garcia didn't get angry.
'Well, everyone makes mistakes when they're students...'
Though of course, Lee Han's "mistakes" tended to be on a much larger scale...
"Alright, let's go with that. Lee Han didn't get hurt, did he?"
"Haha. You know how strong Wardanaz is. Even after facing an otherworldly being head-on, he just needed one day's rest to bounce right back."
"......"
"......"
Angrago looked at Salko in horror with an expression that clearly said, 'Are you insane?'
When they could've just insisted nothing had happened at the palace and that Wardanaz had only played a supporting role, why say something like that?
In the chilling atmosphere, Salko seemed to realize his mistake belatedly. 'Oh no...! How could I make such a blunder...!' The excitement from the polo match must still be affecting him.
"...Well, it's good to hear he wasn't hurt."
"Yes..."
"......"
After that, the three mages walked silently down the corridor without another word.
On the opposite side of the stadium, the Einrogard Polo Club area was already crowded with excited spectators.
-"Long live Einrogard! Long live the Silver Flower!"
-"Let us see the players! Let us see the players!"
"Excuse me. Coming through."
-"Get lost!"
"......"
Dozens of shadowy tentacles descended from the air once more.
A polo club student who saw this cried out in surprise.
"Professor Garcia?!"
Recognizing her instantly just from the magic, Professor Garcia found herself making an excuse without thinking.
"I didn't recognize you from the magic. I figured it out because all the spectators were knocked out."
"I recognized you from the magic! What brings you here? Did someone cause an incident..."
The student speaking unconsciously tensed up.
If it was serious enough for Professor Garcia to come here personally, just how big was this...
"Nothing like that. I just happened to be passing by and heard the news, so I stopped in. Congratulations on your victory."
"Thank you!"
The club members were already drunk on the joy of victory.
Since it was their first win in a long time, the happiness was all the more precious. Congratulatory gifts were piled everywhere.
But one person was missing.
"Where's Lee Han?"
"Ah. Wardanaz said he had an appointment and stepped out for a bit. Professor, Wardanaz really played a huge role today, so if you could be lenient about this little outing..."
The senior speaking suddenly stopped.
The space around Professor Garcia's fist was distorting.
"...Probably not, right?? School rules are strict, after all. Do as you must!"
"No, no. After such a victory, a short outing is understandable."
Professor Garcia sighed as she watched her student's retreating figure.
When your student was too clever, it really made things difficult at times.
"Ponlig. You did really well."
-"Pffh-hng!"
Having transformed back into his speaking form, Ponlig nodded happily with a pleased expression.
Those who had bet money on the Einrogard Polo Club were certain they were the happiest about today's match, but they were wrong.
The one who was happiest about this match was none other than this griffin.
It felt like he'd finally avenged decades of pent-up resentment. 'I had no idea he loved polo this much,' Lee Han thought to himself as he groomed Ponlig's mane.
Regardless of Ponlig's personal tastes, his help had been instrumental in Lee Han's victory. The tears of the seniors were just a bonus.
"Here. Have some more."
As Ponlig gobbled up the treats, the baby basilisk in Lee Han's sleeve watched enviously.
'If I join the polo matches, I can get pampered like that too!'
"By the way... I'm not sure where to go now."
Lee Han fell into brief contemplation.
The upper warehouse dormitory where he'd originally stayed was slightly risky. Professor Garcia might track him down there.
But returning to the stadium to stay with the Polo Club members would be practically shouting 'Please arrest me'...
"?!"
While lost in thought, Lee Han was startled by an unexpected face walking down the main street ahead of the alley.
It was Senior Falkrius of the Kitchen Club, walking with enormous sacks slung over both shoulders.
"Senior!"
"...Who's there?"
"Ah! It's me, Wardanaz."
"???"
Falkrius looked puzzled at Lee Han's disguised appearance but soon nodded.
Honestly, it was such a common occurrence for Einrogard mages to wander around in disguise that it wasn't particularly surprising.
"Pfft. Wondered why you left so early. Though I suppose with your multiple club memberships, you'd naturally leave first?"
"Yes. But Senior, why are you...?"
The Kitchen Club's external activities usually involved charity.
They received substantial support from various temples and sponsors to distribute food, with leftover ingredients being shared among hungry Einrogard students.
But there were still several days left before the scheduled event.
Why had Falkrius come out alone so early?
"Uahaha. Well, we need to gather plenty of ingredients, don't we?"
The senior explained with a hearty laugh.
Even with support from temples and sponsors, there were always more hungry mouths to feed.
By preparing beyond the allocated provisions, they could offer warm meals to those extra people too.
Falkrius had applied separately to avoid unnecessarily disturbing other juniors, hence his early departure.
"...You should've told me. I would've helped."
"Pfft. You're probably the only club member busier than me, Wardanaz. And this is something I enjoy doing. No need to drag other juniors into it."
Falkrius laughed while patting his ample belly that often made people mistake him for an ogre hybrid.
"Besides, the more ingredients we have left over, the better for us too, right?"
"Quite right. I'll help... Wait. Senior, have you happened to meet Professor Garcia?"
"Nope? Why?"
"It's nothing. I'll help you."
"Pfft. That's reassuring. Thanks, Wardanaz."
Falkrius grinned broadly.
Considering his junior's capabilities, his support felt more substantial than that of ten ordinary students.
"Wait. Wardanaz. On second thought, shouldn't you remove your disguise?"
"Huh? Why's that?"
"Well..."
To gather more provisions, they'd need to persuade people while making rounds.
They'd be visiting various places, some of which were particularly susceptible to noble authority or prestige.
Falkrius naturally looked priestly enough to command respect, but...
"?"
...his junior had facial features that unmistakably screamed 'high nobility' to anyone who saw him.
Visiting places openly without disguise would make persuasion easier.
"Hmm. But... ugh..."
"What's the matter?"
"I'm worried someone might recognize me."
"Pfft. Don't worry. Don't worry, Wardanaz. Granden City is a metropolis—there are countless mages here. Even if you caused trouble, no one would recognize you."
Among Einrogard students, there were surprisingly many who disguised themselves when going outside.
Either they'd already caused trouble out there, or were planning to.
Usually, it was one or the other.
"That's not what I meant, but... very well."
Lee Han removed his disguise.
It was true that helping Falkrius would be difficult while disguised.
"Then let's g—"
"Excuse me, is that Student Wardanaz?! From Einrogard's Polo Club, right?!"
"What?! That Wardanaz student is here?!"
"Student Wardanaz! Please sign my pocket watch!"
As someone shouted, people swarmed over like clouds in an instant. Everyone wanted signatures on their cloaks, brooches, or pocket watches as mementos of today's match.
Falkrius was utterly flabbergasted by the sight. 'Wh-what in the world?!'