Episode 600

Episode 600

The Skull Headmaster did not appeal to emotion like an amateur. He spoke like a professional.

“Just give me gold coins.”

“I will do my best.”

Lee Han also accepted immediately like a professional.

“But who are the people I need to meet in the capital?”

“They’re the ones who give lots of donations or support funds.”

“Is there something I should do when meeting those people?”

“You have to show off your brilliant eloquence.”

“Excuse me? I don’t have such abilities.”

“……”

“……”

-……

Including the Skull Headmaster, the nearby friends, even the Death Knights, all looked at Lee Han as if they were dumbfounded.

The Skull Headmaster ignored them and continued.

“For finding new first-year students to enroll, I’ll borrow some of your magic power.”

“Ah. Yes. That’s fine.”

‘The Master seems to be out of his mind sometimes.’

The Death Knight thought so to himself as he watched the Skull Headmaster confidently tell a first-year disciple he would borrow their magic power.

And the disciple who said it was fine was also…

“Then, how do you secure the troublesome students?”

“You have to go and use persuasion and violence.”

“Indeed.”

Lee Han imagined the Skull Headmaster visiting various mansions and guilds, gracefully handing out invitations and conversing elegantly.

If a first-year student like Lee Han stood by his side, the conversations would probably flow more smoothly.

• Even Wardanaz here was a first-year student until this year. Haha.
• Einrogard is the Empire’s best magic academy. We receive the best education. We’re not hungry. We are happy.
• Look! How admirable!

‘How cunning you are, really.’

Lee Han shivered at the Skull Headmaster’s wicked scheme.

The incoming students could never imagine it!

“Wait. Headmaster!”

Before he realized it, Gainando, who had returned, raised his hand and protested.

“Lee Han was supposed to come to my mansion during the break?”

“That never happened.”

Lee Han pointed out Gainando’s words, subtly turning the suggestion into fact.

“Haha. You rascal.”

The Skull Headmaster burst out in hearty laughter instead of getting angry at Gainando’s words.

He then snatched the chocolate Gainando was holding and ate it.

“?!!!”

“Where did your chocolate go?”

“You ate it, Headmaster!”

“Yes. You’ve learned something. Then now you see why Wardanaz can’t go to your mansion, right?”

With Gainando’s devastated face, the Skull Headmaster seemed delighted, chuckling as he stood up.

The other students quickly turned their attention to their plates and focused on finishing their food.

• * *

“Lee Han. Write a letter. Or just feel free to come visit.”

“Got it.”

“Lee Han. Skip the letter, just come over. Oh, and don’t go to Yoner’s house. It’s not that fun there. Mine is better.”

“……”

At the end of the semester, students preparing to head out the main gate were lively and sentimental.

Close friends made plans to meet up during vacation or prepared to write letters to each other.

Yoner seemed torn between enduring the joy of the day or just smacking the back of Gainando’s head to establish some order for the break.

“Wardanaz. Write me a letter.”

“Thanks, Ahsan. You head home safely too.”

Ahsan shook hands with Lee Han.

He was a truly admirable friend, always.

Friends that even older siblings at home nagged about emulating were truly rare…

“Oh, right. Ahsan. This is a letter for Daihal, could you deliver it for me?”

Lee Han handed Ahsan a quickly written letter from after the finals.

Ahsan’s older brother, Daihal, was a special administrator in Granden City and a promising talent in the Empire’s bureaucratic circles.

Now that he had finally built a connection with such a person, he couldn’t let winter break go to waste.

Even if they couldn’t meet, sending such a letter and making an impression would be advantageous.

“And this is a small gift for Daihal. I heard he likes books, so I prepared one.”

“…Wardanaz, you didn’t contact Daihal without me knowing, did you?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“O-Okay. Thanks… I’ll deliver it.”

Ahsan was surprised at Lee Han’s way of taking care of his family better than himself.

“And here’s a letter and gift for Haidan.”

Ahsan’s sister, who worked at an Eastern bronze dwarf bank, was renowned—even the picky dwarves admired her…

“…Wardanaz, you can be a bit scary at times.”

“?!”

Lee Han was bewildered by his friend’s blunt words.

Why?!

Even after Lee Han finished asking favors of Ahsan, more friends kept coming wanting to talk to him.

Watching them bicker over who would talk first, Ahsan frowned and said,

“You guys, does the end of the semester mean you have to act this stupid?”

“Dalkard, move aside if you’re done talking!”

“So, what do you want to do?”

To his friends’ reaction, Ahsan calmly replied as if he expected it.

“We need to line up and draw numbers. That way it’ll be over much faster.”

“……”

While talking to Nillia nearby, Lee Han gave Ahsan a shocked look.

“Ahsan really is weird sometimes.”

“…Einrogard students all have their own quirks.”

“Yeah. Except for me.”

“……”

Nillia pursed her lips but held back, remembering her friend would be running around with the Skull Headmaster all winter break.

“By the way, Nillia, Yoner said he wanted to invite you.”

“I have to go back to the mountains during winter break.”

With her ears drooped, Nillia looked like the saddest dark elf in the world.

“The Shadow Patrol is waiting for me…”

“What if you just show your face, then go back to the Meikin family mansion?”

“I can’t just visit for fun… Everyone has designated areas to fulfill their duties.”

“What if you say you have a winter break assignment?”

“…Uh, well, isn’t that wrong?”

Nillia said so, but looked tempted.

Lee Han said confidently.

“I’ll forge the Headmaster’s signature for you. I faked an outing pass before, so I can do it.”

“Wardanaz…!”

Nillia was deeply moved.

Tears welled in her eyes and her fingertips trembled.

“I’m so glad you’re my friend! Really!”

“Haha. It’s nothing, really.”

Lee Han finished forging the friendship signature and gave it to Nillia.

With Yoner of the Meikin family cooperating, a fake assignment to bring back ten cases of Dobruk’s crimson potion was quickly completed.

“Be sure to write me. You must!”

“Alright. But just in case, don’t mention in your letter that I forged it for you.”

Feeling pleased, Lee Han nodded while watching Nillia’s happiness.

It truly was wonderful to make people happy with the magic he learned in Einrogard.

“Wardanaz. Write me, here’s my address.”

“Oh. Got it.”

“Write me, Wardanaz. Not just to others.”

“Why do you always suspect that? People will misunderstand if they hear.”

“Wardanaz. Letter…”

“Yeah, yeah. Got it.”

As Lee Han exchanged addresses with his friends, he started to feel pressured.

…Isn’t this too much??

‘No, this is harder than writing a reflection essay.’

Last semester, the Skull Headmaster had him write a reflection as magical training, but when Lee Han compared it to the number of letters he now had to send, this task far surpassed it.

‘No way. I’ll have to start skipping the letters.’

Lee Han resolved to tell friends he now parted with, “Let’s just grab a meal together,” instead of promising letters.

“Wardanaz.”

“Ah. Your Highness. Truth be told, when we next meet…”

“Thank you for your hard work this semester. Please write me. I’ll be waiting.”

‘Damn.’

From the very start, his resolve was crushed just by Adenart saying her piece and walking away.

“Ah. Lord Wardanaz, if you have too many letters to write, I’m okay with…”

“Nope? I have plenty of time?”

Lee Han reflexively answered Ratford, then regretted it.

‘Grr.’

“Did a bard show up or something??”

The Skull Headmaster looked baffled at the line formed in front of the main gate.

If the semester had ended, they should be happily passing through the gate, riding carriages, and leaving—so what were they doing here?

“We’re waiting to write letters to Wardanaz during break…”

“Forget letters and use that time to practice magic. You 41-pointer from Illusion Magic class.”

“……”

The Blue Dragon Tower student shrank immediately.

Calling out everyone’s exam scores, the Headmaster chased out all students and then turned to Lee Han.

“All done? Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Lee Han nodded and was about to head to the main gate.

Then the Headmaster grabbed Lee Han’s shoulder.

“Not that way.”

“??”

“There’s a place to stop by. Follow me.”

The Headmaster headed toward the punishment room, not the main gate.

Seeing this, Lee Han wondered if he was about to take out the intruder who had been caught recently.

‘He must mean to deal with the intruder as well.’

Chwarurururuk!

As soon as the Skull Headmaster stepped forward, all the paths of the punishment room changed for him.

That magic, creating the fastest route to the desired location in an instant, filled Lee Han with admiration.

“You are truly amazing!”

“…Why do you ignore all the other great magic and get so impressed with a shortcut-creating spell for jail cells?”

Even on purpose, he couldn’t make someone that irritated.

‘In ancient times, this guy would’ve been infamous for all the wrong reasons!’

The Skull Headmaster clicked his tongue and strode forward.

Inside the bars was not the recently captured intruder…

…but a familiar penguin beastman wizard.

“…?????”

“Have you repented, Pengerine?”

To the Headmaster’s question, Alsicle of the Pengerine family answered in a frail voice.

“I-I have repented. Lord Gonadaltes.”

“Did you repent for what you said last time, too? If you have, apologize properly.”

“I-I am not better at magic than Lord Gonadaltes. My saying that Lord Gonadaltes blocked my access out of envy for my magic was my mistake. I will never make such a mistake again in the future…”

“……”

Lee Han couldn’t look, so he covered his face with his hands.

It was only then that Alsicle seemed to realize Lee Han was standing next to the Headmaster.

“Ah, no! This isn’t right!”

“What do you mean not right, you intruder.”

The Skull Headmaster spoke with boredom in his voice.

He couldn’t see what was so shameful about being caught sneaking into a magic academy.

If you’re caught, you’re already embarrassed.

“I just tried to visit but didn’t get permission! Don’t misunderstand!”

Alsicle desperately explained to Lee Han.

“Ah, I see. Seems like there was a misunderstanding.”

“Who are you kidding, talking about misunderstanding.”

The Headmaster sneered and pulled Alsicle out of the punishment room.

“Pengerine. I’ll keep it quiet that you were caught sneaking into Einrogard, but you’ll help with work this winter.”

Slumped in despair, Alsicle nodded.

Lee Han asked curiously.

“Did His Majesty summon you too, Lord Pengerine?”

“…What?! Wardanaz, you got a summons from His Majesty??!”

The Headmaster let out a deep sigh.

“Why not go outside and shout about it. About being granted a private audience with His Majesty.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Forget it. Pengerine would’ve found out anyway. And he’s not being summoned because of the Emperor.”

“…?”

When Lee Han looked puzzled, the Headmaster sent a telepathy spell to explain.

• That fellow is very popular among the Imperial nobility.
• Ah. Is it because of the splendor of his ice magic?
• No. Because of his appearance. His penguin blood is strong, you see.

“……”