Episode 864

Episode 864

‘Did I do something wrong to my junior?’

Direte wondered for a moment.

Of course, last week, because of a small misunderstanding, his junior had been forced to learn -Skeleton Golem Summoning-.

But wasn’t that done out of goodwill? Someone with a kind heart like his junior should have considered it extenuating circumstances.

…Or not?

“Sorry, Senior.”

Lee Han quickly approached and whispered softly.

He could guess how shocked Direte must have been.

After all, he’d brought two professors into the classroom…

“You must have been surprised to see professors in the classroom.”

“Uh. But actually, I was even more surprised by the dragon.”

Direte was shocked that his junior took the presence of a dragon for granted. Lee Han, feeling awkward, tried to explain.

“Sorry. I thought the professors would be more shocking.”

“Is that His Highness?”

“Yes.”

Watching his senior’s reaction, Lee Han explained why Joulin was there and why the professors were with him.

Direte, unexpectedly, accepted it readily.

It’s not exactly easy for a dragon to wander around Einrogard.

“Well, maybe it’s better to have professors accompany you.”

“I wondered if I was overreacting a bit.”

“Huh? Absolutely not. There are so many crazies around, it’s safer to stick together.”

“……”

Lee Han was momentarily speechless at Direte’s absolute distrust of underclassmen.

In the meantime, a conversation was going on behind them.

A black magic class! Joulin is so looking forward to this!

“That’s right, Your Highness. Contrary to popular misunderstanding, black magic is an ancient and legitimate line of magic, passed down for a very long time. And Direte here is one of the top talents among Einrogard students.”

Professor Garcia fueled the excitement. Joulin’s large eyes sparkled like stars.

Wow! Like Gonadaltes?

“That’s right.”

“……”

Direte was sweating at the conversation behind him.

Professor Garcia was one thing, but what was Professor Voladi doing, joining in?

‘What do you mean, just like the headmaster…’

“Hang in there, Senior. I’ll help you.”

“Thanks. But, Junior…”

“Yes?”

“Go take your seat.”

Seeing Lee Han preparing to help by standing at the teacher’s desk, Direte spoke with exasperation.

A junior was supposed to be a learner, not the teacher.

Why was he standing at the front, preparing to help?

‘Oops.’

Realizing his mistake, Lee Han went back to his seat. Joulin scooped Lee Han up like a doll with his front paw.

Direte silently apologized as he watched his junior suffer in frustration.

‘Sorry, junior. I’m just a student.’

Direte lacked the courage to boldly protest to professors and high-ranking royalty not to torment his junior.

“Well, then. The -Poison, Bone, Blood- class… is an advanced lecture about several elements frequently used in black magic whose importance is often forgotten.”

“Direte, please proceed comfortably and don’t mind us.”

“Pretend we’re not here.”

“……”

Direte got choked up.

If they really wanted him to ignore them, shouldn’t the three of them wait outside!?

“…Last week, we learned Skeleton Golem Summoning, right? Junior?”

“Skeleton Golem Summoning?”

Professor Voladi looked at Lee Han. Wedged between Joulin’s front paws, Lee Han nodded awkwardly.

“Yes.”

“I see.”

‘What does he mean, I see?’

Lee Han flinched at Professor Voladi’s scribbling with his quill.

Had he not been trapped between Joulin’s paws, Lee Han would have checked what he was writing.

“They taught Skeleton Golem Summoning in the first semester? Direte, that’s a bit much for a junior, even if it’s Lee Han.”

“No, I…”

Direte felt wronged.

He hadn’t taught it; he’d given his junior a break and, as a joke, tossed the assignment out, but his junior somehow managed to finish it during class…!

“…You’re right… I may have been a bit hard on my junior…”

What does “even if it’s Lee Han” mean?

Joulin asked, puzzled. Professor Voladi kindly answered.

“A gifted student requires instruction to match their abilities.”

Aha! Like how Professor Baegrek always beat up Lee Han because they were close?

“That never happened.”

“……”

Professor Garcia looked at Professor Voladi as if he couldn’t believe it.

More than that, it was hard to believe Joulin knew about that. There were already so many wild rumors about Einrogard, thinking they might spread further was suddenly worrisome.

“Ahem. So, Direte, next week is midterms… How is the -Poison, Bone, Blood- class coming along?”

“Ah, well…”

Direte hesitated.

In fact, for the -Poison, Bone, Blood- midterm, students were going to pick a topic of their choice and learn a reasonably challenging spell.

The problem was, -Skeleton Golem Summoning- was more than enough for a midterm topic.

Since his junior was already taking many classes, he had planned to just have him re-summon the golem and be done with the exam…

…But with two professors and a dragon in front of him, it was intimidating.

‘But surely Professor Garcia would understand?’

If not the others, Professor Garcia would certainly be on his side. After all, he had once been a cross-discipline student himself.

“I was planning this, actually.”

Professor Garcia listened to Direte’s explanation with a thoughtful expression.

Surprisingly, Professor Garcia didn’t accept readily. He knew how hard Lee Han had it, but regardless, Direte might be held responsible later.

The skull headmaster could nit-pick and send him to the punishment room, so it required careful judgment.

Just thinking of Direte next door to Professor Verdus was unthinkable.

“That sounds good.”

“……”

Professor Garcia once again stared at Professor Voladi in disbelief.

This professor, seriously!

“Professor!”

“?”

“What will you do if the headmaster finds fault with it later?”

“I doubt that will happen.”

“…I don’t think so either, but… Direte, it’ll probably be fine.”

Professor Garcia harbored a suspicion.

Maybe Direte wasn’t worried because he wasn’t Professor Voladi’s student?

‘Someone who never had a student is scarier when they finally do…’

So it’s decided? Lee Han, Lee Han! Show the skeleton golem!

Joulin squeezed the telekinesis defense field protecting Lee Han, urging him.

Lee Han thought again how glad he was to have learned telekinesis magic.

‘The mad clone has been quite helpful after all. …Wait. Isn’t this Stockholm syndrome?’

“Please wait. I’ll summon it.”

Lee Han, too, was glad to fill the midterm class ahead of time.

At first, he was worried about how he’d manage all his classes, but if he could check them off early like this, things would be much easier.

‘If the -Advanced Illusion Magic and Spirit Theory-, -Staff Materials and Magic Amplification-, -Terribly Beautiful Creatures- classes are all gone from the exams, along with -Poison, Bone, Blood-… Professor Garcia’s class, -Understanding Intermediate Combat Magic-, -Elemental Magic and Its Applications-, -Divination Magics to Go Mad Over-, -One Drop of Potion Instead of Complex Magic-, -Swords and Life-, -Flesh and Blood of the Empire’s Languages-, -Tragic History of Ancient Relics and Summoning Magic-, -From Caterpillar to Dragon-, -The Magician’s Life with Plants-, -Practical Healing Magic-, -Vital Energy, Will, Spirit-… Hmm. Better stop thinking about it.’

Lee Han quickly stopped listing the remaining classes.

He had a feeling that if he kept counting, it would inflict critical damage on his own soul.

“…Move!”

Drawing out the bones of a large monster and adding dark and blood elements, Lee Han chanted the incantation and issued the command.

The bone began to change shape, becoming a large summon. It was a mid-grade skeleton golem reinforced with dark and blood elements.

Joulin clapped in admiration.

Impressive!

“Well made.”

“Not bad.”

Thanks to the praise from the dragon and two professors, both Lee Han and Direte secretly sighed in relief.

Since there was only one student, that one student’s evaluation directly determined the evaluation of the class.

Lee Han! Lee Han! Make it move!

“Yes, yes.”

Ancient black magic summoning, where the magician gave direct commands instead of depending on contract or summoning rites, had the advantage that it could handle miscellaneous tasks without complaint.

Joulin, seeing the skeleton golem radiating a crimson energy, was jumping for joy.

After only seeing much smaller races, he finally had an opponent big enough to play with.

Lee Han! Joulin will defeat the bad guy!

“Oh my. I have faith in Your Highness.”

With flattery, Lee Han skillfully controlled the skeleton golem.

He needed to be careful not to harm Joulin, so the skeleton golem pretended to attack but took the hits delicately.

Whish-whish—

As the skeleton golem punched the air, Joulin quickly spread his wings and dodged.

Focused as he was, Lee Han didn’t notice Professor Voladi taking extra notes.

Reaction speed—top tier.

Dragons were an exceedingly rare race in the Empire, with great individual differences. They could change and grow greatly in just a day, so he had to keep close tabs on their condition.

That way, there’d be no accidents when his students fought dragons.

Joulin’s strike!

Joulin shouted the name of an impressive move and swung his front paw.

Sensing it was time, Lee Han let the golem’s chest get hit instead of defending or dodging.

Even though it was reinforced with dark and blood elements using the bones of a giant monster, it couldn’t withstand the mysterious, powerful magic of a dragon’s claw.

Crash!

With a loud boom, the skeleton golem collapsed. Joulin flapped his wings and shouted excitedly.

Lee Han! Joulin defeated the bad guy!

“Your Highness is truly the future of the Empire!”

‘He’s my junior, but he’s too good at flattery.’

Direte thought to himself.

It made sense to butter up professors, but even high-ranking royals? He couldn’t guess what Lee Han was aiming for.

Was he planning to become the headmaster of Einrogard or something?

Having enjoyed wrestling with the skeleton golem just now, Joulin looked at Lee Han, feeling out his reaction as he spoke cautiously.

Joulin would like to spar again…

“Shall I summon another? It’s not difficult.”

Really?!

As long as he had mana, it was no trouble to summon as many as he liked. When Lee Han nodded, Joulin let out a shriek of joy and tried to hug him.

‘Ugh. Looks like I’ll need even stronger telekinesis next time.’

Lee Han’s barrier screamed under the joyous, ever-strengthening grip of the dragon.

Oh! Can’t you make this bad guy even tougher?

“Hmm. With my current skill, that would be hard.”

The bones of the giant monster which Direte had given him were already at their practical limit, strengthened by Lee Han’s improvements with dark and blood elements.

That kind of enhancement wasn’t infinite; it was limited by the material itself.

To go further, he’d need to find a better reagent than the giant monster’s bone or learn to increase magical efficiency.

Hearing the explanation, Joulin’s eyes sparkled again.

Joulin has a good idea!

“What is it?”

Here!

Joulin stretched out his front paw. In it lay a material Lee Han had never seen before.

“What’s this?”

Joulin’s tooth!

“……”

Lee Han’s face turned pale.