Episode 339

“Ah. Lord Gonadaltes.”

“Look here! This Wardanaz is just about to master -Ogonin’s Thin Mist-! He’s only a first-year student!”

“……”

The Skull Principal mustered all his patience to keep from cursing at the innocent faces of the illusionists, who were speaking so brightly.

“That’s really quite an amazing thing.”

“Isn’t it? I knew you’d agree!”

“Of course, as the one responsible for Einrogard, you must be happy! Hahaha!”

The illusionists burst out laughing, but Lee Han thought differently.

‘He looks absolutely furious.’

The human form of the Skull Principal looked not just icy, but as if he wanted to strike down the illusionists at any moment.

But the illusionists, so delighted that a mere first-year might master -Ogonin’s Thin Mist-, didn’t notice the principal’s expression at all.

“Lord Gonadaltes, why don’t you give some advice as well?”

“What an excellent idea!”

At that purehearted suggestion, Lee Han thought privately:

Maybe the rumor that illusionists are good at reading others’ emotions is nonsense.

“By the way, there’s something I’m curious about…”

“What is it?”

“Didn’t I ask you all for a favor?”

The Skull Principal asked as kindly and gently as possible.

If he revealed his true intent, the magicians might all run away.

“What was it?”

“Was it to help fully master -Ogonin’s Thin Mist-?”

As the illusionists murmured, the Skull Principal’s anger grew.

“In the ballroom… with… the students…”

“Ah, that’s right. I remember now, Lord Gonadaltes.”

“You asked us to surprise the students, right?”

“Not just surprise… I said make them all so terrified they run away…”

“Huh? Why do you need to terrify them and make them run away?”

The Skull Principal regretted bringing these illusionists at all.

He thought he’d recruited some real talents from Granden City, but he hadn’t expected they’d be this oblivious.

“…Never mind. All of you, get ready.”

“Ah, wait a moment, Lord Gonadaltes.”

“What is it?”

“We’d like to finish watching Wardanaz master -Ogonin’s Thin Mist- before we get ready.”

“……”

The Skull Principal wished this was Einrogard.

If it were, he could throw all these magicians straight into the punishment room.

But this was Granden City, and if he pulled something like that with the illusionists, there would be reports and complaints sent straight to the imperial capital.

Einrogard’s reputation in the city, built over time, would be marred by stories of brutality and fear.

He had to endure.

“Now… the ball is more than half over, isn’t it time to get ready…?”

The Skull Principal tried to sound as pleasant as possible.

But the illusionists were even more oblivious and persistent than he expected.

“Please, Lord Gonadaltes.”

“He’s so close! If we miss this chance to master -Ogonin’s Thin Mist-, who knows how much longer it will take.”

“It’s fine. I can practice again next time…”

Lee Han, reading the room, tried to intervene, but the illusionists wouldn’t back down.

“Lord Gonadaltes! Please!”

“You know how important opportunities like this are, Lord Gonadaltes…”

“…Do as you wish.”

The Skull Principal let out a long, dark sigh.

It was so deep and dark, it seemed it might break through the floor and reach the ghosts deep underground.

“As fast as possible.”

“We’ll do our very best to hurry.”

Lee Han, understanding the Skull Principal’s sentiments, answered sincerely.

Just then, the illusionists offered advice from the side.

“No need to rush.”

“That’s right. Impatience is the true enemy when mastering magic.”

“……”

The Skull Principal glared at the illusionists as if he could kill.

• * *

By the time Lee Han finally mastered -Ogonin’s Thin Mist- and returned to the banquet hall, the ball was already at its end.

The Skull Principal shot Lee Han a suspicious look, wondering if he had purposely taken his time mastering the spell, but didn’t press the issue.

Honestly, the Skull Principal himself had to admit Lee Han had actually mastered it quickly, so he couldn’t complain in good conscience.

‘Thank goodness I didn’t get caught.’

Lee Han sighed inwardly in relief.

He had learned -Ogonin’s Thin Mist- at the last moment, but twisted the flow of his mana several times to pretend he’d failed.

It looked like the ball was about to end anyway, and he wasn’t particularly eager to return quickly.

“Gainando… did you go for a swim or something?”

Lee Han was startled at how Gainando looked as if he’d taken a bath in sweat.

Gainando sat on a chair, gasping for air like someone whose heart could stop at any moment, so out of breath he couldn’t even speak.

“Hah… shoes… crazy professor, hah…”

“So don’t trust shoes given by a crazy professor. Understood.”

Gainando nodded repeatedly. Lee Han noticed Gainando was barefoot.

Apparently, there was a problem with the artifact, and he’d barely managed to destroy it and escape.

‘Told you not to wear them.’

While Lee Han was feeling sorry for him, a few city nobles walked by and admired Gainando.

“That was truly amazing dancing.”

“Dancers of that level are rare in the capital, even. If His Highness the Prince makes an appearance in the social world, everyone will be amazed.”

“!”

Lee Han was shocked.

Who knew the cursed artifact from Professor Verdus would turn out to bring good fortune.

He didn’t know how Gainando had danced, but it was obvious he’d done something so impressive that even long-experienced city nobles were complimenting him.

“But, of course, His Highness has one major flaw.”

“Ah, true… If he doesn’t fix that, he won’t be truly welcomed in the social world.”

“!?”

Lee Han was startled for a different reason.

‘What on earth? Did Gainando mess up somehow?’

Gainando could be a bit scatterbrained, but he hadn’t really had much opportunity to cause trouble.

He’d spent almost the whole year at the magic school and rarely attended social events before that, so how?

‘Did he say something wrong? Insult someone?’

“To win at a magician card game using a dark magic curse—honestly…”

“Who would have thought he’d pull out such a disgraceful card in a friendly game meant to honor each other’s reputation.”

“……”

Lee Han was at a loss for words.

What in the…?

‘Isn’t it a bit much to say that over a few cards?’

“Wardanaz.”

As Lee Han was marveling at this, two White Tiger Tower friends approached him.

Having heard so much honorific talk from the illusionists today, Lee Han momentarily flinched without realizing.

“Rowena. Cltran. Good to see you.”

Rowena was a knight from the east and one of the crown princess’s followers, and Cltran was the knight whose ankle Lee Han had healed after a polo accident.

Cltran asked, looking puzzled.

“So, Wardanaz. Where were you in the middle of the ball? I didn’t see you anywhere.”

“I spoke with the city’s magicians for a bit.”

Lee Han improvised. It wasn’t even a lie.

“Oh… impressive as always.”

Cltran took it as something else entirely.

Wardanaz was so famous that the city’s magicians must have approached him for intense conversation—at least, that’s what he thought.

Not exactly what happened, but not totally off either.

“Wardanaz, this is a bit unfair.”

Rowena grumbled. Lee Han didn’t know what his elf friend was talking about.

“What do you mean?”

“The Princess is your friend too, but you only gave Gainando those shoes.”

“……”

Listening to Rowena, it sounded like Gainando had stirred up the ball so much that Princess Adenart, despite her great dancing ability, never got to show off her skills.

Cltran, listening beside them, said as if he didn’t get it,

“But if Gainando outshone her, maybe it’s because her dancing wasn’t as good…”

“How dare you?! That was just a flashy, attention-grabbing dance! Real dancing holds elegance and meaning in silence…”

“A-ah. I don’t really know much about dancing.”

Cltran looked at Lee Han as if asking for help.

“Rowena, I didn’t give those shoes. Professor Verdus…”

“I heard from the professor that he originally meant to give them to you, but you refused and so he gave them to Gainando. Is that not true?”

“…It wasn’t given—Gainando just took them himself. And that artifact is cursed.”

Lee Han explained that Professor Verdus was crazy and the artifact was cursed, but Rowena, even as she accepted it, couldn’t let go of her regret.

“If I had worn them instead, it might have been better…”

Cltran looked between Rowena and Gainando, who was lying on the ground far off, and shook his head. Then he mouthed words to Lee Han.

—Why is she so loyal? She’s nuts.

—She’s your tower-mate.

—…Don’t act like it’s none of your business. Wardanaz, you’re like the nanny of all four towers.

“…What the hell?”

Lee Han blurted out, startled at Cltran’s ridiculous words.

Rowena, embarrassed, quickly apologized.

“S-sorry. Was it rude to say I should have worn them instead?”

“That’s not it… but Rowena, do the White Tiger Tower guys call me a nanny behind my back?”

Rowena seemed to sense a threatening tone in Lee Han’s voice and hesitated.

“I… I’m not sure… Ah! Your Highness! Your Highness! Over here!”

Rowena spotted Adenart and called out. Lee Han thought to himself,

‘Maybe her loyalty isn’t as strong as I thought.’

Unaware that her loyalty as a knight was being doubted, Rowena waved at the princess. Adenart, carrying a dish of snacks, was drawn over without knowing why.

“I’ll get it for you.”

“It’s not like I’m missing hands or feet, do you have to? I mean, she can get what she wants herself…”

Whether Lee Han protested or not, Rowena quickly took the plate and moved.

Cltran, beside them, grabbed a plate like lightning and stood up himself.

He cleverly realized if he just stood there, he’d be left alone to face Wardanaz’s wrath. He wasn’t a knight for nothing.

‘Hm. This is awkward.’

Lee Han thought about calling over Gainando, who was lying on the floor.

Even among friends, there were those he felt comfortable with, and some he hadn’t talked much with and felt awkward around.

The princess was the typical type of the latter.

“How have you been over the break?”

Nod.

The princess nodded lightly and then spoke.

“This time…”

‘Basilisk? Beller Family? King of Ghouls? Undead Chimera? Scarlet Lotus Forest knights?’

Lee Han anticipated what the princess might ask, falling into self-reproach.

“…I heard you dined with Prince Gainando.”

“Huh?”

The unexpected words made Lee Han freeze.

‘What? Trying to see if I’m in Gainando’s faction?’

If that was the case, Lee Han planned to say, ‘I’m not in Gainando’s faction, haha, fight all you want with Gainando, I don’t care.’

But Adenart didn’t say anything more. Instead, she gazed at him with blue eyes full of subtle emotion.

Lee Han felt he’d seen those eyes before.

To be exact, when assignments had piled up, and Gainando looked at him with pitiful eyes, unable to say anything…

‘No way.’

Lee Han was appalled at his own thoughts. The princess wasn’t someone who’d ask for help because she couldn’t finish assignments. Comparing her to Gainando was an insult.

“I brought it.”

Rowena came back with a dish full of snacks.

Seeing the plate overflowing with fresh green, Lee Han was puzzled.

“Uh… Is that for Your Highness?”

“This plate, yes.”

“……”

Lee Han could clearly see the princess’s momentarily sulky expression.