Episode 500

Episode 500

“Ahsan. In my opinion, that song…”

Lee Han was about to tell his friend, ‘Shouldn’t that song be banned?’

“If it’s that song, it’s definitely worth showing.”

“Ugh. How vexing. If only I’d written a good song, I’d show him. My -A Day in the Punishment Room- was harshly criticized by the professor.”

“Cheer up. You can just write a good one next time.”

“……”

Lee Han decided to just keep his mouth shut.

‘He really must be a lot more famous than I thought.’

He looked around, but unfortunately Yoner was nowhere among the idle guys hanging around here.

‘If Yoner was here, we could’ve shared the feeling of being left out.’

It’s better to be two unsociable people together than just one.

Lee Han had a very inconsiderate thought toward Yoner.

Creeeeeeak—

“!”

At the sound of the door opening, all the students lowered their bodies. In the eyes of everyone except Lee Han, there was a twinkle of expectation.

‘Oh? Did he really come?’

To be honest, Lee Han didn’t believe his friends that much.

There were just so many silly rumors at Einrogard.

-Kids! Next week, His Majesty the Emperor’s army will defeat the principal and liberate the school!

-Kids! Next week, there’ll be a new principal and the school rules will change!

-Kids! Starting next week, there’ll be meat added to the menu!

…Usually, none of these rumors turned out to be true. And when asked, no one even remembered who started them.

But, surprisingly, the person who walked through the open door was an unfamiliar outsider.

An elderly tortoise beastkin, wrapped in a slightly worn but thick coat, set down an instrument case and looked around the main building as if carefully taking it in.

In his demeanor was the leisure and dignity that only someone who had been a bard for a long time could possess.

Though Lee Han had never seen Ipadur’s face, he was sure it was Ipadur.

‘Famous people really do have a different aura.’

“What a beautiful place this is. Lord Gonadaltes.”

Ha ha. It seems Sir Ipadur, renowned throughout the Empire, is being too generous. One who has seen all the splendors of spring and autumn across the land.

“No, the history embedded in this building overwhelms me.”

“……”

“……”

The students not only lowered themselves, but laid flat on the floor. Lee Han looked at them with a hint of scorn.

‘You idiots don’t even try to figure out where the Skull Principal is before doing something like this.’

Come to think of it, when a famous person visited from outside, there was a high chance the Skull Principal would show up.

The basics were either tracking down the Skull Principal’s location, or if that was too hard, setting a fire near the principal’s office to lure him in that direction.

‘We’ve been caught.’

When the Skull Principal turned his gaze, Lee Han immediately knew they were caught.

Of course, given the number of his friends, it’d be hard not to get caught.

‘Trying to force my way into hiding is the move of an amateur. I have to trust the outsider and push boldly.’

“Principal! Good evening!”

“!?!”

“????”

His friends who were lying on the floor thought Lee Han had lost his mind.

The Skull Principal also looked at Lee Han with a sour expression, not having expected him to pop out like this.

Y-yes. Good evening. What are you doing over there?

“We happened to pass by and felt sad that the honorable Einrogard’s floor was so dirty, so we were cleaning it.”

“…Y-yes, that’s right.”

“We were the ones.”

The friends lying on the floor wiped the floor with their whole bodies, trying to make it look like they had been cleaning.

The Skull Principal clicked his tongue when he saw first-year students who had snuck out from their duties making such an absurd excuse.

It’s hard to believe you were so thoughtful. Does that mean Professor Verdus will have to clean tomorrow?

“Thank you. If it wouldn’t be rude, may we greet the guest as well?”

“It would be my honor. I am Ipadur.”

“Gasp!” “Eek!” “Keh!”

“?”

Lee Han was startled as his friends, who were about to get up, screamed and collapsed.

‘Is it magic?’

But the friends hadn’t been hit by magic. They were just trembling, unable to contain their excitement.

Lee Han was just dumbfounded, but the Skull Principal was looking at them with eyes full of contempt, as if thinking, ‘Are these Ironheads really students of Einrogard?’

Instead of doing magic, all they care about is circus tricks.

“I’m sorry, Lord Gonadaltes.”

Ipadur, apparently used to his followers behaving like this, apologized with a slight smile.

There is nothing to apologize for, sir. You all ought to take after that Wardanaz over there. Except for the bad habit of cooking for you, he’s focused only on magic.

‘How is that a bad habit…’

‘If everyone focused like Wardanaz, wouldn’t people just die?’

Let’s go, sir.

“W-wait!”

Usually, except for Lee Han, first-years couldn’t bring themselves to speak up in front of the Skull Principal.

Apart from the tremendous status the Skull Principal had, the aura he gave off as a great wizard overwhelmed the first-years.

But sometimes love can overcome fear.

Thanks to fierce affection for Ipadur, the first-years brushed aside their fear.

“S-Sir Ipadur! C-could you possibly listen to a song I wrote?”

Hey…

The Skull Principal felt embarrassed for the first time in a while.

He’d invited Ipadur all for the sake of magic research.

In ancient or primitive, or even divine magic, music had a significant place, but not so in modern imperial magic.

Magic with music was considered quite fringe.

Wizards might give off a transcendental image, but in reality, they couldn’t live that way. Of course, they were affected by practical elements.

Magic using music was a representative field that was hard to theorize, due to irregularities like depending on the caster or that day’s emotions.

But lately, a few upperclassmen at Einrogard had shown interest and begun to research this magic.

And as even some second-year students, influenced by their seniors, started considering this magic seriously, the Skull Principal could no longer stand by and do nothing.

If there were determined wizards, it was the Lord of Einrogard’s duty to make a path for them.

That’s why Ipadur was invited.

To consult with an outstanding bard and create a curriculum for music-based magic.

Otherwise, there was no reason for the Skull Principal to have invited a bard into Einrogard.

If he wrote some satirical song and spread it throughout the Empire, the fallout would be troublesome…

Anyway, the master was enduring inconvenience and annoyance for the sake of his students, but now they were asking for a song critique—nothing could be more aggravating.

‘If only no one was watching, I’d have them all in the punishment room.’

Do you think I invited you here for a song critique? Move aside. Don’t disturb.

“Lord Gonadaltes. Since this is fate, could I just listen once before I go?”

……

The Skull Principal ground his teeth inwardly, but nodded.

He couldn’t show his true feelings until he got what he needed from Ipadur (even including a professor’s contract seal, if necessary).

Until then, he had to be the kind and great archmage.

Sing. Sing, you ido—

“Principal, you have a guest.”

At Lee Han’s whisper, the Skull Principal came to his senses.

Thanks.

“No problem.”

But what are you doing here, anyway? Feels like you don’t even know who Sir Ipadur is.

Lee Han was wounded by the Skull Principal’s pointed words.

It was true he didn’t know, but having the Skull Principal say it made him feel oddly offended.

“Of course not. How could I not know the famous imperial bard Sir Ipadur? What do you take me for?”

Name one song composed by Sir Ipadur.

“…Ah. Ahsan’s singing now.”

As Lee Han changed the subject, the Skull Principal clicked his tongue, as if he’d expected it.

If all the students here were magic-obsessed like this Wardanaz, managing Einrogard would be so much easier.

“Einrogard, Einrogard, it’s so great here.”

“……”

……

Lee Han could clearly feel the atmosphere getting colder, as if Pengerine had cast a frost spell.

“A place with warm meals and soft beds. Einrogard.”

Why is that Ironhead singing such a tasteless song in front of an outsider? People might think I told him to!

“I don’t think so.”

But Ipadur was already looking at Ahsan and the Skull Principal with a flustered face.

Being a seasoned bard, he immediately sensed that a new member singing a praise song for the group was rather odd.

“Surely, Lord Gonadaltes, you didn’t…?”

No! Why would I!

“Ahsan only wrote it out of being sincerely moved.”

Unable to bear it, Lee Han intervened.

If he left it alone, Ahsan might be dragged off for ‘defaming the principal’ after this was over.

“A member of a high noble family was deeply moved by warm meals and a soft bed?”

Ipadur asked, as if he found it hard to believe.

He still suspected it was a forced and coerced song.

Lee Han gritted his teeth and improvised a reason.

“…There’s actually a story behind it. Incoming students at Einrogard come here terrified due to all sorts of rumors. So when they found out the rumors were wrong, they made that song.”

“Aha!”

“……”

“……”

The friends beside Lee Han wore very complex expressions.

The words, ‘No, there aren’t warm meals or soft beds at all’ nearly came out of their mouths.

“I misunderstood. Sorry, Lord Gonadaltes.”

It’s all right. It happens.

“The tune is excellent, but the lyrics could be a bit… It might be mistaken for obvious praise. I think subtle metaphor would work better.”

While Ipadur was critiquing Ahsan’s song, the Skull Principal spoke to Lee Han.

Did I ever tell you I care deeply for you?

“Oh! What will you give me?”

…Just asking.

Lee Han glared at the Skull Principal.

• * *

After listening to, critiquing, and even signing for the first-years’ songs, Ipadur spoke to the Skull Principal.

“Lord Gonadaltes, may I make a request?”

Anything at all.

“Might I take a tour of the school? It would greatly help my poetic inspiration.”

Are you trying to write a song about Einrogard?

The Skull Principal tried not to show it, but Lee Han could sense his reluctance underneath.

Of course, having Ipadur write a song about Einrogard wasn’t a bad thing.

If he wrote a song of praise, imagine how much donations and investments would increase for the year.

But basically, the Skull Principal knew full well that a bard’s mouth was not something you could control as you wished.

If he’d just not write a song, there’d be nothing to worry about…

“Yes, exactly!”

All right. Let’s take a look around together.

“I’m truly sorry, but may I take a student along as well? I think it might show me a perspective different from your own…”

At Ipadur’s request, the friends showed expressions as if they’d nearly had a heart attack.

Without a sound, they shrieked, grabbed each other by the collars, stomped on feet, and tried to move forward.

Wardanaz. Step forward.

“Huh? Principal, I was just going to go back and get some sleep…”

The Skull Principal used extraordinary spatial magic to transfer an outing pass into the inside pocket of Lee Han’s coat.

Lee Han nodded, impressed by the beautiful magic.

“Escorting a guest is an honor for us students as well.”