Episode 713
by CristaeThe club name was so unusual, Lee Han pondered it.
-Teleportation- Club? Sounded like spatial magic research.
“Interesting club name.”
“Really?”
Ratford brightened.
“Knew you’d like it, Wardanaz.”
“I need practice with spatial magic this year.”
His other magic disciplines would be extensions of what he’d learned last year, but time-space magic was almost a fresh start—which worried him.
If there were upperclassmen researching spatial magic, it would be a huge help.
“Spatial magic?”
Ratford wondered why Lee Han was suddenly bringing up a new sort of magic, but he just accepted it.
After all, his friend was the sort of guy who’d start studying any new field on a whim.
If Lee Han started a new magic the next week, Ratford wouldn’t even blink.
“This way.”
In the cluster of buildings on the seventh floor’s Exile Village, Ratford slipped down a side alley.
Lee Han asked, puzzled,
“It’s pretty far.”
“Well, decent buildings are hard to find.”
Given the club’s need for secrecy and security, they couldn’t set up on a main street like other clubs.
But Lee Han had another interpretation.
‘It’s true—not many usable buildings here in Exile Village.’
From afar, the place was a city, but most buildings were off-limits and dangerous inside.
No wonder -Teleportation- Club was tucked away.
“This goes underground.”
“Underground? Ratford, if it wasn’t you, I’d think you were luring me off to be kidnapped.”
“Haha. Who on earth would dare try that with Wardanaz?”
“Seniors.”
“You and your jokes.”
“It’s not a joke.”
No way seniors would try that, Ratford thought. If one did, a few knocks would set them straight.
“Here we are. This way.”
Ratford led him down basement steps, through a gloomy tunnel, and tapped on the wall.
Inside, a sound of rolling bricks was followed by a door opening: the way into the club.
‘Feels much more secretive than the library club.’
Lee Han wondered why a club would set up in such a hidden spot, but attributed it to the difference between official and unofficial clubs.
More members and cash meant official clubs could afford big, sunny buildings. Unofficial ones had to take what they could get, off the beaten path.
‘Club power inequality—the sad reality.’
“Everyone, someone’s here.”
-Ratford’s back!
-Who’s here? A tracker from the principal…?
-No, just Ratford.
-Oh, thank goodness.
‘?’
There was a tense edge to the voices inside.
‘Did the skeleton principal raid them lately?’
“I brought a friend interested in the club.”
-A friend? Are they worth anything?
“Absolutely. I guarantee it.”
-If Ratford says so, we’ll trust him. Welcome.
Clunk—
As a bar was lifted inside, Lee Han reflected on their commitment to security.
Clack-clatter-tap!
But then, with all the unlocking and unchaining, he started to feel uneasy.
“Are you keeping a demon in there?”
“Haha, what kind of lunatic would trap a demon in a hangout?”
“Wardanaz house—um, never mind.”
At last, the door opened.
Inside, the -Teleportation- Club felt as warm and homey as a dorm lounge.
A fire crackled, and a senior was plucking, gutting, and roasting birds on a spit. Others were prepping reagents, trying to scrape a symbol off a wooden crate, frowning.
“All set. Eat while we talk.”
“What is this, rabbit?”
“Soup club meat. Borrowed their snare. Not going so well?”
“Can’t scrub off the mason club’s marking.”
‘…?’
Lee Han felt something off.
It was cozy, sure, but in a way that was oddly familiar.
Like the team meals he’d made with friends after a midnight supply run…
“AAAH! Blue Dragon Tower student?!”
At last, the seniors realized Lee Han wasn’t Black Turtle—but Blue Dragon.
He looked embarrassed.
“Uh, can’t Blue Dragon Tower students join?”
“Not against any rule…”
“Not that they do. Not from any tower, really.”
“??”
Why wouldn’t Blue Dragon Tower join? Black Turtles cared about spatial magic—didn’t Blue Dragons?
“Why not? Is there a reason Blue Dragon students don’t care about spatial magic?”
“Spatial magic?”
Now the seniors looked confused.
“What spatial magic?”
“Isn’t this the Teleportation Club? Like, spatial magic research?”
“…”
“…Uh, Wardanaz, it’s not really that.”
Ratford whispered in embarrassment.
“So what is it?”
“Well, it’s… a club for permanently moving items.”
Finally, Lee Han realized what that odd feeling was.
No wonder…!
The Teleportation Club.
A club with tradition: it selected only the most skilled ‘movers’ among Black Turtle Tower students.
Stringent entry standards meant Blue or White Tiger students were rarely accepted.
“No offense, but those two towers just aren’t up to it. What you people do is more like a raid.”
One senior explained.
Of course, every Einrogard student was well-acquainted with ‘borrowing’ goods—but there were differences in style.
Teleportation Club students frowned in distaste at the rowdy methods of others.
They believed real thievery was silent and subtle, not a constant brawl and scene.
“You’re the one juniors keep getting snatched by official clubs for, right?”
“Who’d be crazy enough to try that with Wardanaz?”
Ratford was aghast.
Didn’t they care about their health?
“Ratford, you do realize we were all snatched to be brought here in the first place. Why should club recruitment be any different?”
“Whatever. Wardanaz, we’re unlike the official clubs. We don’t just take anyone.”
‘The official clubs don’t either…’
Trying to keep a stern face, the senior seemed annoyed.
Lee Han himself had never even asked to join!
“Senior, Wardanaz is plenty talented.”
“Ratford, this isn’t about magic skill. Some can only cast a first-circle, but pull off great heists; others can cast fifth-circle and can’t sneak a thing.”
“I know, but he’s definitely talented.”
With Ratford holding his ground, the seniors discussed seriously.
“You know, we don’t let people in just because we like them. You need a feat—a real accomplishment.”
“A feat?”
Lee Han wasn’t sure.
“Yeah. Tell us the greatest heist you’ve ever pulled. Skill is what counts. If you’ve got it, you’re in. If not, even best friends can’t qualify. One bad mover can doom a lot of us.”
‘Wouldn’t it be easier to just call it “theft”?’
He felt like explaining social nuance to these seniors.
“Mine was cracking the kitchen on the sixth floor—sent eleven to punishment. What about you, Wardanaz?”
“I took the workshop on the fourth floor. Had research reagents for half a year after that.”
“Your turn. What have you done?”
“Uh… hmmm…”
Feeling pressured, Lee Han blurted out the first thing to mind.
“I robbed the principal’s villa?”
“……”
“……”
The mood froze. Lee Han immediately regretted it.
He should have talked about the smuggling instead!
“W-what do you mean, robbed the principal’s villa?”
They looked disbelieving, but with a spark of hope. They wanted it to be true!
“He’s right. Last year, we hit the principal’s villa.”
“No way…!”
“Madman! How are you still walking around free?!”
The Teleportation Club seniors shivered in awe.
Ratford was on a roll now.
“Not only that—faculty lounge, other dorm towers, smuggling runs—”
“Ratford, that’s enough.”
Lee Han quickly gagged his friend.
Any more, and they might be thrown out as too crazy even for the club.
“Wardanaz, never mind what you said. That’s credential enough.”
“Join us. It might not be an official club, but we lack for nothing!”
“It’s only unofficial because of the nature of the business—otherwise, food from the soup club, reagents from the mason club—you name it, you can get it if you can pull your weight.”
They had all the perks of supply, so long as you didn’t mind the risk of the punishment room.
But then, wasn’t that the reality of Einrogard for everyone?
“With the right skill, you can do well… Oh, the senior’s back. We’ve got a new talent, Ratford’s friend—his feats are legendary! Frankly, we might want him for this job, too!”
“So many talents these days?”
As someone appeared from outside, Lee Han recognized him.
A hamster beastkin.
“……”
“……”
He and Sevios exchanged a look of disbelief.
‘What’s he doing here?’
‘What the hell is he doing here?’
Lee Han recovered first.
“Senior, aren’t you in the library club?”
“Clubs can double up. I joined this one first. What are you doing here?”
“I was invited.”
Another senior spoke up, unable to contain himself.
“Senior, this guy claims to have robbed the principal’s villa. Can you believe it?”
“…!”
Sevios had been indifferent with Lee Han, but that news genuinely shocked him.
“…Impressive.”
“I was lucky.”
“Are you trying to join every unofficial club too?”
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
Lee Han protested—but Sevios was unimpressed.
“Kind of looks that way. Whatever. If you have the skill, go for it. I need to run a teleport today, myself.”
“What are you stealing?”
“A book.”
“Oh, going to the library?”
“What are you talking about? That’s not theft if you’re taking it from the library.”
He gave Lee Han a baffled look.
“Then…?”
“I’m stealing it from the guy who bought it from me.”
“…”
Watching the synergy of the two clubs at work, Lee Han realized just how resourceful Einrogard’s upperclassmen were.
‘They’re all crazy!’