Episode 307

As a Wardanaz, he was supposed to be from a famous magic and grand noble family—so why were the knight family students so confident in vouching for his combat ability?

He couldn’t possibly be superior in swordsmanship, nor would a first-year be that skilled at magical combat…

“…I’ve clearly explained this. Please keep it in mind.”

“Understood.”

“Is there anything else you’d like to add to your record?”

“I received a fire magic permit from the Afha Order.”

“Did you? I’ll record that.”

The clerk looked slightly surprised.

He saw several Einrogard students every vacation, but this was the first time he’d seen a first-year come this prepared.

And, needless to say, he’d never encountered a first-year from a grand noble house here!

Lee Han considered asking to add that he had also received magical combat training from a mad professor, but bit his tongue instead.

He feared it might have unforeseen negative consequences.

“Fire magic permit? When did you get that?”

“You fools. There’s a chance a commission might require you to work within the city—haven’t you even prepared for that?”

At Lee Han’s scolding, the White Tiger Tower students looked aggrieved.

How were they supposed to know that on their first day?

“Never mind. It’s your first time, so mistakes happen. So, who here has already found their party members?”

About two-thirds of the gathered White Tiger Tower students raised their hands.

They had either decided to stick together or been introduced to a party through connections.

“I see. The rest of you will work with me, right? Let’s get along.”

“……”

“……”

“Huh???”

The White Tiger Tower students were momentarily unable to process reality, then asked in confusion:

“Uh… Uh??”

“What is it?”

“S-So, Wardanaz… are we really moving together?”

“That’s right. Do you have a problem with that?”

“Uh, well. Isn’t that risky?”

One of the White Tiger Tower students thought inwardly:

‘Especially for us!’

“Risky?”

“Y-Yeah.”

“Thank you for your concern, but I have the ability to protect myself. I’m ready for this. So don’t worry.”

A White Tiger Tower student wanted to say, “We’re the ones who are not fine.”

But he couldn’t, and glanced around at his friends.

—Help me!

But no one came forward as much as he’d hoped.

“Uh… Well, Wardanaz, I’ll just work hard and pay you back once I earn some silver.”

“Yeah, that’s right. Wardanaz, see you later.”

The lucky students who had raised their hands quickly slipped away.

Only the unlucky ones who didn’t raise their hands remained.

“Then let’s think about what commission to take together.”

“Uh, Wardanaz, by any chance…”

“By the way, how much silver do you owe me?”

“…I’ll work hard…”

The gathered students accepted their fate with gloomy faces.

They had felt a thrill of excitement about what assignments they might get when donning their gear, but already felt like they were back at Einrogard.

• * *

‘This is great.’

Lee Han sipped green tea at an outdoor table of a teahouse, planning with the White Tiger Tower students.

He was pleased to have recruited unexpected arrow-fodder—no, the vanguard of the party.

The standard party structure has a solid front-liner to block at the front, mid-position fighters attacking from behind, and mages or clerics at the rear for flexibility.

Of course, this is just the ideal case—things rarely go as ideally in real life.

In the first place, high-level personnel like mages or priests aren’t easy to get even if you want them.

“In that respect, we’re in a very advantageous position. Don’t you think?”

Not all adventurers or mercenaries were skilled.

The best veterans had built up their skills through close brushes with death while working at the bottom, but those who hadn’t experienced it were often just patchy amateurs.

Compared to that, the White Tiger Tower students here were prepared talents who had trained for over a decade in swordsmanship and as knights.

That alone made them more capable than most run-of-the-mill adventurers.

“Solid vanguard and even a mage.”

“……”

“No response?”

“Y-Yeah, sounds good!”

While exchanging looks as if to say, “Is there a way to escape?” the White Tiger Tower students quickly responded.

“But Wardanaz, aren’t we a bit short on people?”

Angrago spoke cautiously.

Deorgyu, Angrago, Raphadael, and Lee Han.

It wasn’t too few, but it did feel a bit lacking.

And they also lacked experience.

Ideally, they’d want to add two or three veteran adventurers.

“That’s nothing to worry about.”

Deorgyu answered instead.

He had done thorough research with senior knights before bringing the others.

“I’ve heard that Einrogard students like us are really popular. We can easily recruit other adventurers.”

Which made sense.

White Tiger Tower students were all thoroughly trained and could also use magic.

No wonder other adventurers would want to work with them.

“Then that works out? Should we just ask the guild to find us people?”

“Right. But first, let’s plan what kind of commissions to take.”

Lee Han pulled out a map.

“I heard ghouls have been appearing in caves near Fireblue Hill. We’ll handle these undead first.”

His friends nodded.

They felt confident enough to handle ghouls.

Since it was a bit of a distance, this would be an overnight expedition with camping nearby.

“Then, behind the cave, we’ll gather Geranium Flowers, Seorlak Herbs, and Sleeping Wormwood. There are commissions for gathering all three.”

“…Uh? Wait a second.”

“What is it?”

The White Tiger Tower students were confused when herb gathering got added right after prepping to hunt undead.

“Weren’t we supposed to hunt undead?”

“Yeah. But the map suggests those three herbs are likely to be found in that terrain. Isn’t it good to accomplish multiple commissions at once?”

“…Y-Yeah!”

“Indeed!”

“I was also thinking that kind of terrain would have Seorpak Grass and Mugwort Cake.”

Not asking further, the White Tiger Tower students just nodded as if they knew it all along.

Asking “How did you tell there’d be herbs just from the map?” would make them seem too clueless.

“Right? I thought you’d know. It was in the book too.”

“……”

“……”

The White Tiger Tower students just sat, smiling meaningfully.

For now, just listening quietly might be good enough.

“And when the gathering’s done, we’ll capture a Rappela Field Mouse in the nearby forest. There’s a sighting record.”

“…No, hold on—”

When both undead hunting, herb collecting, and rare animal capture got added, the White Tiger Tower students couldn’t keep up the smiles.

“What is it?”

“Th… isn’t capturing a Rappela Field Mouse rather tough?”

“Right, Wardanaz. Those animal capture tasks are usually pretty hard. You need a seasoned hunter…”

“True. It’s not a guarantee we’ll catch it.”

“Exactly! Even now, our schedule is already—”

“But there’s a good chance we’ll manage. First, the creature likes -Dobruk’s Red Musk Tonic-. If we have Sharkan track its trail, and sprinkle tonic along its route, we’ll have a better chance than just searching blindly. Plus, with illusion magic on the path…”

The White Tiger Tower students’ jaws dropped at Lee Han’s explanation.

‘What the—’

‘Is he a ten-year veteran adventurer?’

‘He did register with us, right?’

“That’s enough of an explanation, right? You saw it in the books too.”

“……”

“…That’s what we were thinking all along, Wardanaz. Maximum efficiency from a single commission.”

The White Tiger Tower students tossed away all their complaints.

And while they were at it, decided to toss their brains too.

‘Let’s just do whatever Wardanaz says…’

• * *

“Einrogard! You mean an Einrogard student!”

The adventurer Gubon’s face brightened at the clerk’s words.

His party, together for three years, had disbanded due to the retirement of two vanguards and a quarrel between two attackers. He was in trouble, so this offer was very welcome.

“Yes. Mr. Gubon, you’ve been working steadily for a long time, and shown diligence and reliability on most commissions. That’s why we recommend this arrangement.”

“Thank you so much. I won’t disappoint you.”

Gubon knew just how valuable this offer was.

There were so many people drifting into the city claiming to be ‘adventurers’ without ever having held a sword. But an Einrogard student on vacation was an incredibly valuable asset.

And surely all of them were from knightly families—outstanding in both combat and magic: true talents in both fields.

There was only one reason to connect such valuable people with him.

‘They must be looking to me for veteran’s guidance.’

Random, no-name adventurers might die in a ditch and nobody’d care, but if something happened to an Einrogard student, many people would be in trouble.

Their skills were certain, but lack of experience was inevitable.

So, to fill that gap, they’d surely attached a trustworthy, experienced adventurer.

“I’ll work together and do my best.”

“That’s reassuring. We’re counting on you, Mr. Gubon.”

After finishing with the clerk, Gubon headed to the meeting place with his remaining party member.

“What do you think Einrogard students are like?”

“I’ve never met any myself. I heard most are mages from knightly families, though.”

“So are they knights?”

They imagined a powerful knight, pushing through like an immovable rock.

And magic, too.

“They must be great in a fight.”

“It’s not fighting that worries me, it’s the other stuff. They’re supposed to be inexperienced kids, right? Honestly, I’m a bit nervous.”

“So should we have refused? Such a golden opportunity?”

“Not that, but… I mean, I’d always wanted to work with mages too. I’m just worried what if they say something ridiculous.”

They walked along, half-expectant, half-anxious.

They didn’t doubt the students’ skills.

They just worried they might get overconfident and set their goals too high, or get careless in odd ways.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Lee Han of the Wardanaz Family.”

“I’m Gubon. This is Bijidek, here.”

Gubon shook hands with the statue-handsome boy. Tall and solidly built—surely a mage from a knightly family.

“Wardanaz?”

“What is it, Bijidek. Quiet. We’re in the middle of a discussion.”

“Oh… just sounded familiar. Sorry.”

After sitting down, Gubon cautiously asked Lee Han,

“Since our party is much smaller, we plan to support and take orders. But… do you already have a commission in mind?”

Gubon was nervous, wondering how he might talk the students out of a crazy plan.

Lee Han nodded and pulled out a map.

“Here. I heard there are ghouls in the caves near Fireblue Hill—”

30 minutes later.

After hearing a perfect, meticulous plan like nothing he’d ever seen, Gubon stared at Lee Han with shocked eyes and asked,

“Are all Einrogard students like this??”

“……”

The White Tiger Tower students averted their eyes.