Episode 672

“But taming the two wasn’t really my idea—it was just the, uh, unique environment of Einrogard… And there are even stranger students than me…”

Lee Han was about to make an implausible excuse when the nameless hunter reached out, gesturing quietly for silence.

“Wailing Boars are heading this way. Lower your voice.”

“!”

Wailing Boars, monsters that appeared in the Bitong Mountains, were extremely dangerous creatures.

Why else would poachers use them as an excuse to approach the camp?

They looked like enormous wild boars, and their reckless charge was notorious, but their deadliest weapon wasn’t their size or tusks—it was their cry.

Like a banshee or mandrake, its howl could strike at a listener’s very soul.

The nameless hunter, ear to the ground, grew grave.

“Strange… Wailing Boars aren’t herd creatures. But today they’re running together. Like they’re being chased by something.”

When monsters acted against their nature, there was always a reason.

But why now?

“Maybe it’s because of Professor Vendosol?”

“…No, no. He may be fierce, but he can’t scare every monster here. Mage or not, he’s not a monster.”

‘Hmm. Meet the principal and you might think differently.’

“One’s coming this way. We’ll have to face it. Plug your ears.”

“Yes.”

Lee Han stuffed cotton in his ears on the hunter’s orders. The hunter nodded, then murmured,

“Spirit of the mountains, I now dedicate my oath.”

“…You’re a mage?!”

Sensing the surge of magic, Lee Han was surprised.

The hunter shook his head.

“Blessing of tradition.”

Nameless hunters drew their strength from dozens of traditions and superstitions.

The stricter the tradition, the more powerful their hunting could become.

‘Primal magic!’

Lee Han realized the logic on hearing the explanation.

Just as some Imperial subjects had supernatural powers without intentionally learning magic, these hunters must be the same sort.

A bit like divine magic.

‘Amazing. To handle that much, without even learning magic…’

The hunter gripped his spear and waited in silence.

Soon enough—hoofbeats rattled the ground and the Wailing Boar appeared. It charged at the hunter, tusks ready to gore.

Pop!

Using magically enhanced reflexes, the hunter dodged and cut a deep wound into its side with his spear.

The Wailing Boar gave a murderous look.

-■■■■■!

Its first wail rang out. Thankfully, neither Lee Han nor the hunter was affected.

The Wailing Boar, angered, lunged again. But again, the hunter nimbly dodged and slashed.

Realizing this opponent couldn’t be caught so easily, the boar hesitated, huffing.

-■■■■■…

This time the cry was not for attack; the hunter realized in horror that the boar was calling other monsters.

Normally, Wailing Boars weren’t communal!

“We have to pull back!”

“Understood!”

Sensing the urgency, Lee Han stepped back and cast magic as soon as they were out of sight.

“Gather, and spin!”

Ready for this, Lee Han had several spells at hand to strike the Wailing Boar.

Water Orb could crack bone and shake up even such tough monsters’ insides.

Boom!

A powerful impact tumbled the Wailing Boar.

It tried to recover, furious, intent on shredding this insolent mage.

But a prepared mage was far stronger than a monster.

“Shadow—sweep through!”

A wave of dark energy briefly dulled the monster’s life force and made it sluggish.

“Ice, become arrows and fly!”

A dozen ice arrows tore into the beast. Even if its hide wasn’t pierced, it was enough to freeze the battered boar.

“Attack!”

Skeleton warriors made from shadow element burst forth, hurling spears down on the boar.

Realizing he’d pinned the creature, Lee Han readied another Water Orb.

The spinning, ever-more-powerful water missile ripped through the air and struck the boar’s vital spot.

Wham!

With a barrage of spells overwhelming it, the final hit finished off the Wailing Boar.

The nameless hunter was impressed.

“Impressive! Now I see where Einrogard’s reputation comes from!”

So yet another wild rumor about Einrogard grew, but Lee Han had no time to correct it.

“We should check where the others are coming from, right?”

“Don’t take the cotton out! That’s what they want!”

The hunter cried, adamant.

The moment you removed your earplugs to figure out where the other boars were, they’d unleash their deadly howl.

But Lee Han, undeterred, slipped his cotton out for a moment and, copying the hunter, put his ear to the ground, listening.

“They’re coming from that way!”

-■■■■■■!

The other Wailing Boars howled.

It was a vicious cry—dictating that every living thing near them would die.

The hunter squeezed his eyes shut, not wanting to witness this young mage pay for his mistake.

“Let’s go!”

“…?!”

Lee Han was perfectly fine.

The nameless hunter followed, looking as if he’d seen a ghost.

• * *

“What you just did was exceptional. But that howling…”

“I have strong natural resistance, so I thought I could handle distant cries.”

“Einrogard students truly are amazing!”

“No, it’s just me, actually.”

Wanting to avoid more false rumors, Lee Han explained.

“Hmm. Not like your classmates tamed griffons and basilisks, after all.”

“…”

When Lee Han gave him a lukewarm look, the hunter just laughed.

“Don’t look at me like that. I can tell you’re not some evil mage. If you really were the king of monsters, would you have fought beside me against that Wailing Boar?”

“I knew you’d see it my way!”

Now that the hunter finally let his guard down, Lee Han was delighted.

Proof that sincerity works, even on the most stubborn.

-You poacher bastards! Didn’t I tell you not to come any closer? Want to see the hostage fed to the unicorn?

“!”

Both looked up in surprise.

They’d fled the wild boar mob, only to stumble into Professor Vendosol’s territory.

“I’ll signal them.”

“Then I’ll threaten the professor!”

“…Eh?”

The hunter kind of thought he misheard that last bit.

“Go ahead and try feeding Gainando to the unicorn, Professor! I’ll tell the principal myself! If you think the principal won’t eat a unicorn alive, you don’t know her!”

-You sly brat, you’ll never be loved by horses and will walk on foot forever!

Lee Han’s threat must have hit home; Professor Vendosol shot back curses.

But, unwilling to lose to a student, he yelled,

-Hmph! It’s not like Gonadaltes even knows about this. You’re bluffing!

“My friend’s already gone down to send word to Einrogard. Just try anything now!”

-You’ll be hated by ponies and donkeys for life, you little…!!

“…”

The nameless hunter’s gaze grew a bit more wary—less friendly than before.

But Lee Han was so focused on arguing with the professor, he didn’t notice.

“Professor, we already know the unicorn’s in trouble!”

-You nosy little poachers! Did Lightningstep tell you?

“Let us help! We’re fellow Einrogard mages, aren’t we?”

-Hah! If you’re from Einrogard, I should be even warier. What year are you?

“…”

Lee Han nearly conceded the argument on the spot.

-I don’t trust poachers! Only I can protect the unicorn. Get lost!

“This boy is more beloved by monsters than you are, Vendosol!”

Unable to take it any more, the hunter jumped in on Lee Han’s behalf.

That cocky remark must have stung Professor Vendosol’s pride—worse curses flew.

-%&dog#die%#! $@^%donkey#$bastard#%!

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“No need to translate!”

After venting, Professor Vendosol seemed to regain his senses and spoke normally.

–What kind of blind idiot comes here, that some little poacher brat is better than me? Do you know all the monsters I’ve tamed? From the Empire’s tiniest fae to the greatest of dragonkin!

“You probably just minded them. Bet you never earned true love from any of them!”

“Um, I’m not sure about all this ‘love’…”

Lee Han hesitated, worried people would get the wrong idea about his griffon and basilisk. The baby basilisk, insulted, thumped Lee Han with its tail in his sleeve.

You dare doubt my love?

“You see, this boy tamed a griffon and is actually loved by a basilisk. Can you say the same?”

-Don’t talk nonsense! If you’re really loved by a griffon and a basilisk, I swear on a unicorn’s name, I’ll crawl and greet you on all fours!

• * *

Prof. Vendosol was now crawling on all fours, glaring bitterly at the students.

At last, Nillia addressed Professor Lightningstep.

“Maybe we should help him up…”

“No, let him be for a bit. Good for his back after the punches, and he needs a proper posture now anyway.”

“…”

The students looked on, unsure what to feel about seeing a professor on his hands and knees.

Sure, every Einrogard student wanted to make a professor kneel—but now that they’d seen it, it felt…

“So, Professor Vendosol. What’s wrong with the unicorn?”

“I met that creature some years ago. It was raining gently, a crescent moon in the sky. I saw the shining air and, among the most beautiful beings…”

“Let’s just get to the point, professor.”

Cursing and muttering, Professor Vendosol finally started to explain.

“The unicorn’s been injured and hasn’t healed yet, but she’s looking after her foal.”

“!”

Professor Lightningstep was stunned.

A hurt unicorn with a foal? Both were rare enough, but together?

“Now I get the rampage!”

“In that case, you can go now?”

Lightningstep almost kicked Vendosol, but stopped. Not a good example for the students.

Professor Vendosol glared up at Lee Han.

“Sly little swindler.”

“…Professor, I didn’t propose the bet—the hunter did…”

“Hmph!”

Professor Vendosol turned away, feigning annoyance.

At that, Fongrif lashed him across the face with his tail.

“Fongrif!”

“You… you…”

As Vendosol trembled, Lee Han tried to apologize.

“Professor, I’m sorry—”

“I’ve never felt so alive! Good one, boy!”

“…”

“Give me another! Ha!”

Fongrif shrank away from the human mage’s enthusiasm and edged away in disgust.