Episode 290

The students’ mood darkened rapidly.

Lee Han clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘Isn’t it because of the Skull Principal?’

With a principal who enjoyed tormenting others, it was no wonder the seniors’ personalities were…

“Let’s just eat some cake.”

“Yeah! Cake!”

“Call the others from the other towers too.”

“…Uh. Do we really need to?”

“Yes. Go call them properly. Don’t cause trouble.”

“W-what do you mean, Wardanaz? Of course I wouldn’t do anything.”

The Blue Dragon Tower student, whose true intentions were read, stammered out a reply.

• * *

The students from the other towers arrived sooner than expected.

The last to show up were the White Tiger Tower students, who came cautiously, armed with wooden swords and shields, looking around the area. But upon spotting the cake, they sheepishly set down their weapons.

“See, what did I say!”

“S-sorry, Deorgyu.”

“Wait a sec. There might be poison in the cake…”

“Shh. Quiet. Even if it’s poisoned, cake is still cake. We can think about it after eating.”

The White Tiger Tower students cut themselves slices from the cake on the plates.

The cake was delicious.

“See? Wardanaz never messes around when it comes to food.”

“True…”

‘Next time I set a trap, I’ll have to put it in the food.’

Lee Han thought as he passed by.

Sure enough, people seem to become happy when eating something sweet, as the students all chatted with satisfied expressions.

Give me a piece too.

“Here you are.”

Even as two students shrieked and rolled around nearby, Lee Han calmly cut and handed over a slice without surprise.

The Skull Principal used telekinesis to toss the cake into his mouth and spoke to the students.

You’re all having a happy and pleasant time.

“Yes!”

“We’re really happy!”

I wonder if you’ll be as happy after seeing your grades.

“……”

The Skull Principal successfully froze the students’ festive mood without using a single spell.

The only student unaffected by threats about grades spoke up.

“Isn’t everyone happy because the semester is over? Everyone worked hard to get through, grades don’t matter.”

…Says the top student. Everyone, take note. You have to be that good to be able to say grades don’t matter. Understand?

‘Oops.’

Lee Han had to admit he’d let his guard down in front of the Skull Principal.

With over a thousand years’ experience in sowing discord, he was on another level.

“It really is annoying that Wardanaz, being the top student, says something like that…”

“Wanna spit out your cake?”

“N-no. Now that I think about it, he’s actually got a point.”

But the White Tiger Tower student who tried to grumble was shut down immediately.

The Skull Principal’s attempts at sowing discord didn’t work—Lee Han had done too much for his peers.

“I don’t accept that! I, too, always say grades don’t matter!”

When Gainando protested, even the Skull Principal seemed a bit flustered.

W-well, I guess you have confidence.

“Thank you?”

It wasn’t a compliment. You’re headed to the punishment room soon.

“What?? What did I do wrong!?”

Gainando asked in shock. The Skull Principal responded by summoning a bony white hand in the air and spreading the fingers.

Know what this is?

“Bone… hand… fingers?”

It’s the number of subjects you failed.

“……”

“……”

The students all bowed their heads and tried to avoid the Skull Principal’s gaze.

Looking away doesn’t make your failed classes disappear. You’ll be in the punishment room all weekend.

“No! Principal!!”

“It’s vacation!”

Technically, vacation starts next week. Why didn’t you study harder for the test? I trust you didn’t slack off just because it’s the finals. No self-respecting mage would do that, right?

The students, who thought they could leave right after finals, looked as if they’d been punched.

They had planned to enjoy the weekend with friends, leisurely pack, and leave smiling on Monday morning…

The Skull Principal folded down one of the bony fingers and asked again.

Know what this is?

“I… don’t know.”

At that, the Skull Principal folded another finger.

Then another, and another.

When all the fingers were folded, the Skull Principal grinned.

Failures, to the punishment room!

“Principal! I haven’t eaten my cake yet!!”

“No, please! Can’t we go tomorrow morning!?”

Suddenly, Death Knights ran in from all sides and dragged away the failing students.

The Skull Principal nodded in satisfaction.

The less hopeless students can get some rest this weekend before leaving. Well done surviving the semester. See you next term.

Lee Han hadn’t often agreed with the Skull Principal, but this time he couldn’t help it.

‘We really did work hard.’

Looking at his friends’ faces, it seemed everyone felt the same.

“Where are you going to stay for the break?”

“Granden City.”

The Empire was vast. Most students, rather than returning to their hometowns over break, opted to stay in a nearby big city.

‘Looks like everyone’s staying in Granden City.’

Of course, the way they stayed differed a bit.

“My family arranged a house.”

“You too? That’s good. So did mine.”

“I’m staying at the house of a family we’re close with.”

“……”

Hearing the Blue Dragon Tower students’ conversation, Lee Han fell silent.

‘Hm. No wonder the other tower kids hate us.’

Mansions in a metropolis like Granden City were unimaginably expensive.

And every Blue Dragon Tower student was from a noble family of the Empire.

Even among mansions, those in the noble district and those elsewhere had big price differences.

But to buy such places just as vacation villas for break…

No wonder the other tower students resented them.

“Where will you be staying, Wardanaz?”

“…Me too, in Granden City.”

Lee Han answered Ratford’s question, embarrassed.

In truth, he had no right to talk about others.

Being a member of the Wardanaz Family himself, a mansion was already prepared for Lee Han in Granden City.

Normally, it would have been Pillone Village, but the family must have moved everything to Granden City…

“Is something wrong?”

“Nothing at all.”

Lee Han overcame his embarrassment and asked,

“Where will you be staying over break, Ratford?”

“I’ll stay in Granden City as well. Planning to board somewhere.”

“If you’d like, you’re welcome at my family’s mansion.”

“Oh. Is that really okay?”

“Of course. It may be a bit smaller compared to other family houses, but it won’t be so cramped that a few guests couldn’t stay.”

The Wardanaz Family, among the Empire’s great noble houses, had little greed for wealth or power and focused on magic—but that was only in comparison to other great houses.

As one of the Empire’s prominent families, there was a limit to how frugal they could be.

The mansion the Wardanaz Family obtained could likely fit all the first-year students.

“Deorgyu. Are you thinking of staying too?”

“Thanks for the offer, Lee Han. But I’m set on staying at the knights’ quarters with my tower friends.”

Black Turtle Tower students used their connections to board at guild inns or nice lodges.

White Tiger Tower students stayed at knights’ lodgings, as most were from knightly families.

Phoenix Tower students, being clerics, used the city’s temple accommodations.

‘Wait. Is it just the Blue Dragon Tower guys who are trash?’

All the other tower students made their own arrangements, but the Blue Dragon Tower guys just used family influence to take it easy.

“Lee Han. Lee Han.”

Yoner tapped Lee Han and whispered.

Lee Han, who’d just offered Tijilling and Nigisor to stay at his family’s place (both priests declined politely), was confused.

“What?”

Yoner gestured subtly with his finger. At the end of it stood their friend Nillia.

Even while chatting with the Black Turtle Tower students about which inn or guild lodging would be best, Nillia glanced at the two of them with a sullen face.

‘Oops.’

Lee Han realized his mistake.

He’d figured Yoner would handle it, so he’d spoken to Ratford first…

“Let’s go.”

“Yeah.”

The two quickly walked over.

“Nillia! Would you like to stay at the Wardanaz Family mansion over break?”

“What are you saying, Lee Han! Nillia’s going to stay at the Meikin Family mansion!”

The Black Turtle Tower students, discussing their plans, now looked at the noble kids as if to say, ‘What’s wrong with these spoiled brats now?’

“Wardanaz Family!”

“Meikin Family!”

As the two did their best to persuade her, Nillia’s expression brightened.

“U-um. I’m grateful to you both, but choosing like this is…”

“Then let us help you.”

“Right, Nillia.”

The Black Turtle Tower students stepped in. Nillia was flustered at the unexpected development.

Salko took out a map of Granden City and frowned.

“Where exactly is the Wardanaz mansion located?”

“I’ll have to check.”

“I see. Too bad, but I’ll have to mark you down for that, Wardanaz.”

“R-right. Too bad.”

“And the Meikin Family mansion?”

“Up here, on the Crescent Hill of the central noble district.”

“Convenient transport, and nearby there’s an alchemy workshop specializing in clients from noble families. Very nice location.”

“Th-thanks?”

Salko and the Black Turtle Tower students earnestly compared the two mansions.

Naturally, Yoner—whose family had always maintained a mansion in the city—was at an advantage over Lee Han, who hadn’t even checked his family’s mansion yet.

“Nillia. You’d better stay at the Meikin Family mansion.”

“R-really? But I feel bad for Wardanaz…”

“If it’s that hard, want to stay at Gainando’s mansion? That’s likely the biggest of all.”

“No! I’ll stay at the Meikin mansion! Thank you!”

Nillia answered instantly.

All right, it’s nice to chat, but there’s still one thing to do.

“What’s that?”

As you know, Einrogard is full of mysteries and knowledge from ages past.

The students nodded.

But it was a problem that not only mysteries and knowledge, but also ancient monsters, had survived to the present day.

And such treasures must never be leaked outside.

“Right.”

So, before you leave, let’s all swear. Swear not to leak any of Einrogard’s mysteries or knowledge to the outside world.

Lee Han, feeling that something was off, asked,

“Wait. If we swear, won’t that mean we also can’t talk about school rules or education?”

The Skull Principal pretended not to hear.

Alright, one by one!

“……”

The freshmen, with sour faces, recited the oath with the Skull Principal.

“I swear on my pride and honor to keep the secrets of Einrogard.”

Spirit, guard the secrets of the mage.

With a complex surge of magical power, a binding spell was created.

It was a powerful curse that locked away Einrogard’s crucial information deep within each student’s soul, making it impossible to take with them.

Like the others, Lee Han stepped forward with a reluctant expression.

But instead of casting the spell, the Skull Principal spoke.

Wardanaz, you keep your mouth shut on your own.

“…Excuse me?”

Think about it. How much magic do you think it would take to put a binding like that on you?

Considering Lee Han’s mana capacity, the amount required to bind his soul with such a spell was unimaginable.

The Skull Principal had no intention of wasting that much effort.

“Ah!”

If some oddly detailed rumors about Einrogard get around, think carefully about who people will suspect first.

“Would I ever do something like that?”