Episode 234

Episode 234

“Sp… Spare me, ple…”

Did I say I was going to kill you?

The other resurrected adventurers shouted urgently, but the skeleton principal swallowed them up without hesitation.

It would have been less frightening if he had just said he was going to kill them.

“…Thank you. Sharkan.”

Lee Han turned his gaze and expressed his gratitude to Sharkan.

In fact, it was Sharkan who had made the greatest contribution in this fight.

As soon as the fight began, he followed Lee Han’s command and brought the skeleton principal.

If Sharkan had been any later, Lee Han could have been in danger too.

-Grrr.

“You did well too, Gonadaltes.”

-■■■■…

The skeleton warrior bowed his head humbly.

……

The skeleton principal looked at Lee Han as if he were seeing a madman.

Whose family name did you just attach to whom?

‘What’s with this guy…’

The skeleton principal almost smacked him on the back of the head but stopped.

Considering the merit he had shown this time, any amount of praise would not be enough.

If it was said that a first-year student blocked adventurers from the -Snake of the Maple Tree-, no one would believe it.

Even His Majesty the Emperor would have said, ‘Gonadaltes. No matter how much you want the subsidy, stop lying. Why are you like this?’ and scolded him.

He had achieved such a feat, so this kind of minor rebellion could be overlooked.

“No, Gonadaltes. Thanks to you stalling for time…”

……

Should I really hit him once?

• * *

-An intruder has been detected from outside. Students, please refrain from going out at times other than the designated hours. I will say it again. From outside…

After a simple health checkup, Lee Han returned to the tower and witnessed firsthand how the school’s security operated when an outsider broke in.

‘So up until now, they really let me go.’

Lee Han looked down below the window.

Just now, a student from the Blue Dragon Tower who didn’t read the atmosphere and opened the lounge door was instantly teleported.

It seemed highly likely that they had gone to the underground punishment room.

-It’s best for the intruder to come out right now. The longer you wait, the longer your soul will suffer. I’ll warn you again. Intruder, come out immediately…

Undead were thoroughly stationed all over the school grounds, delivering chilling warnings.

No one knew where the intruder who got in first was, but by now, they probably wished they were dead.

‘No. They can’t even die recklessly.’

If they died and were discovered, they would be forcibly resurrected and sent to the torture chamber.

Ironheads. Line up.

“Uwahhh!”

Gainando, who was standing by the window, was startled when the skeleton principal suddenly appeared and threw his pewter mug filled with hot cocoa out the window.

The skeleton principal nonchalantly caught the mug and sipped the cocoa as he spoke.

Since an intruder has appeared from outside, you should be careful.

Pop!

With his words, a flashing light burst out. Gainando tilted his head.

“What kind of magic is that?”

It’s a kind of detection magic. When you Ironheads encounter an enemy, I’ll know.

“Uh…”

No need for thanks.

“No, it’s not that, I have a right to some personal freedom too, but you’re invading it too much… mmph.”

The skeleton principal covered Gainando’s mouth and left marks on the other students.

If any of them happened to encounter the intruder, he would know right away.

All done.

“Huh. Principal?”

Lee Han was flustered.

He had marked all his friends, but the skeleton principal was about to skip Lee Han.

What is this?

‘Does he mean I should handle it myself because I fought well?’

Ah… you.

“It’s possible you just forgot. You’re so busy with all your work.”

It’s not that I forgot, it’s that your constitution makes it not work on you.

“…No way…”

Lee Han was at a loss for words.

Because he had so much magical power, he ended up having to fend for himself in this situation.

Here, take this.

The skeleton principal threw a copper ring to Lee Han.

If anything happens, throw the ring right away.

“Uh… but if the opponent ambushes me, I won’t have time to throw it, will I?”

With your skills, you’ll definitely have time to throw the ring. Trust yourself.

“……”

Lee Han was about to get angry, but held back, remembering the skeleton principal had saved him.

• * *

“…Thank you. Wardanaz.”

Salko spoke with genuine gratitude.

The Black Turtle Tower students were lying in the healing ward.

Unlike Lee Han, who was unscathed after all the commotion, the Black Turtle Tower students who were hit by the -Storm of Magic Power Destruction- needed to recover.

“If it hadn’t been for you…”

“That’s enough, Salko. Just focus on getting better.”

As Lee Han said this, he scooped beef porridge into a bowl.

Salko, in the midst of being thankful, hesitated. The other Black Turtle Tower students also paused.

For a moment, they wondered, ‘Is it okay to cook so freely in a sacred healing room?’ But in a situation where they owed Lee Han a favor, no one could complain.

“Tha… thank you. It’s delicious.”

When Salko gave thanks first, Imirg hesitated.

It felt insincere to just say it was delicious.

“The seasoning is just right and it’s so soft, it’s delicious.”

“Really? That’s good.”

Then the next Black Turtle Tower student was in trouble.

‘What should I do?’

“The… the grains of rice are so glossy… uh… and the beef is so chewy, like it was just butchered…”

“Don’t say nonsense. It’s canned beef.”

Lee Han scolded the exaggerating Black Turtle Tower student and stood up.

‘…Come to think of it, this situation isn’t my fault, is it?’

Thinking about it, if Lee Han hadn’t been there, the Black Turtle Tower students probably wouldn’t have gone to that area.

They only went because they had reliable power with them. If not…

…Is it really my fault?

“……”

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. Salko. Have another bowl.”

“No… I’m full… Um. Alright.”

“Lee Han, you got here first?”

With the sound of the door opening, Professor Garcia came in carrying a basket of fruit.

“I thought your mouths would get bored lying down, so I brought this…”

“As expected of you, Professor.”

Lee Han was slightly moved.

How many professors would take care of students who are bedridden?

It was, as expected, Professor Garcia.

“You all seem to be doing well. There’s some porridge left, have some more.”

“We’ve already eaten enou…”

“You have to eat well even if you have no appetite. That’s how you recover quickly. And your friend even made it for you himself, right?”

“……”

The Black Turtle Tower students couldn’t refuse, so they picked up their bowls again.

…I’m so full!

“Ah. I should cut up some fruit too.”

“Wa… Wardanaz…”

Did we ever do something wrong to you?

• * *

Lee Han left the healing room with Professor Garcia.

As they came out into the corridor, a Death Knight walked by and bowed its head.

-Greetings, Professor.

“Hello, Death Knight.”

‘What a surreal scene.’

Seeing Professor Garcia greet so calmly without any surprise, Lee Han realized the professor was used to situations like this.

“Does the school get intruders often?”

“It’s not rare, is it? About three or four times a year? Usually they get caught coming in, but this time they were a bit unlucky.”

Einrogard’s history was even longer than that of the skeleton principal, a sacred land of wizards whose end couldn’t be seen even when tracing back to ancient times.

The countless layers of accumulated mysteries couldn’t be fully understood even by the greatest archmages.

“We know almost all the external intrusion routes, but the thing is, the paths in a magic school are half-alive, so sometimes the barrier spells get lifted. Sometimes new paths open up too.”

“Still, it’s amazing anyone manages to get in.”

“Most don’t really know and come in without fear. Blinded by gold coins. It’s really foolish. One mistake and they’ll suffer for life.”

‘I can’t say I don’t understand.’

No matter how many threatening rumors there are, if no one tried to turn their life around with a single theft, that would be even stranger.

There’s a reason people say ‘life changes in one shot.’

“This intruder seemed quite skilled… but now that he’s been discovered, it’s over. If the principal is serious and raises the alert, you really can’t move around.”

Lee Han nodded.

The weekend was over and a new week had begun, but the undead were tirelessly tightening security around the school.

Looking at that, it didn’t seem possible for an intruder to move around.

Unless the intrusion went undetected, there was no chance of escape; once discovered, it was over.

“So the intruder is probably hiding?”

“Probably, yes? The main building too, and there are actually quite a few places to hide in the magic school. We can’t check every single one… Of course, you can’t hide there forever, so eventually he’ll come out. So Lee Han, don’t worry and just focus on your studies. You wanted to focus on magic, but this was bothering you, right?”

“Ah, not at all.”

Even if Lee Han was a dedicated student, he wasn’t crazy enough to think, ‘Ugh, I want to study magic but the intruder is so annoying’ in a situation like this.

‘Sometimes Professor Garcia is scarier.’

“By the way, I need to stop by the office before going to the classroom. Go ahead first.”

“Understood.”

Before leaving, Professor Garcia praised Lee Han once more for his achievements over the weekend and walked away.

Left alone, Lee Han headed to the classroom for his first Monday lecture.

-So you’re that Wardanaz.

“…Ah. Yes.”

-You’re really something!

“……”

-How did you subdue them?

-My master praised you.

-Can we talk for a bit? I’m curious how you fought?

-I heard you deal in dark magic. Maybe someday you’ll command a Death Knight like me. What do you think?

“…I’m not Wardanaz!”

Lee Han had thought it might be a hassle to have Death Knights roaming the halls more than usual.

…But he never expected it would be like this.

‘Why are they so chatty?!’

-Wait! Let’s talk…

-You’re from the Wardanaz Family, aren’t you! The first-year student with a ridiculous amount of magic power!

“……”

Lee Han cursed the skeleton principal and ran.

Just then, he spotted a familiar face up ahead.

“Gainando!”

“Wardanaz! Giving a lecture on a Monday in this tense situation. Isn’t Professor Garcia too much?”

“…Right.”

Lee Han hardened his expression and approached Gainando.

Then, like lightning, he threw a punch.

Thud!

“Gack!?”

Without giving a chance, Lee Han unleashed his magic and threw another punch. Gainando fell over and was beaten.

“Wa, wait! Wait! Why?!”

Smack!

Instead of answering, Lee Han caught the ring and threw it right away.

Poof!

Then the skeleton principal appeared in midair.

Intruder, you lasted a long time! I was wondering how many pieces to shred your soul into… Wait… What are you doing?

The fake Gainando choked out a cry.

Because he was suddenly hit, his voice was full of tears.

“Principal. Please get this student off me.”

…What are you going to do if the person teaching transformation magic gets caught?

“My apologies…”

“……”

Lee Han’s face stiffened like lead as he realized the situation.

He thought it was an intruder disguised as fake Gainando, but it was actually a professor.

“Professor. I’m sorry. I deserve to die!”

No need to go that far… The idiot is the one who gets caught by a student.

“No! I’m really sorry!”

Lee Han apologized in an even more polite manner than he had ever shown to any professor before.

As if his forehead was about to touch the floor.

The only way to reverse this situation was with a heartfelt apology.

“Ah, no. It’s fine. It’s fine.”

He seems more polite to him than to me…?

The skeleton principal muttered, sounding a bit dissatisfied.