Episode 867

Dragons were generally considered a greedy race.

It was no wonder old tales spoke of people sneaking into dragon nests to steal treasures, only to meet dire consequences.

But this was nothing more than the impression of those who didn’t know them well.

More accurately, dragons were not so much greedy as they were exceptionally clear about the concept of ownership.

‘Saying dragons are greedy just because people were punished for entering their nests is a stretch.’

The greedy ones were those who trespassed and stole from another’s nest, not the dragons. Even if a dragon enjoyed collecting gold and jewels as a hobby, thieves had no right to steal it.

If Lee Han had been a dragon, he would undoubtedly have flown into a rage as well.

‘To simply defend one’s own property rights, but end up being labeled as greedy—so it all comes down to population size, huh?’

With the dragon race being so few and most living in seclusion, there was no way to stop the rest of the continent’s races from spreading baseless rumors.

Lee Han lamented the Empire’s rumor-driven society, which ran by the logic of the majority.

“Dragons are simply protecting their treasures but get misjudged as greedy. It’s quite a pity.”

Hehe.

Joulin scratched his cheek with his forepaw and smiled when Lee Han sided with him.

Yukveltire answered the rumors about dragons as if she couldn’t care less.

“The nonsense of people who know nothing means little. What matters is that dragons never give away their property to anyone.”

Sniff.

Joulin looked dejected again. He then whispered to Lee Han.

Lee Han. Last time, make sure it’s a secret…

“What’s a secret?”

Yukveltire, having caught the whisper, turned and asked curiously. Lee Han quickly covered.

“It’s nothing. He’s just asking me to keep it secret that we badmouthed Professor Verdus.”

“There’s no need to keep that a secret.”

Having perfectly deceived Yukveltire, Lee Han comforted Joulin again.

“Your Highness, don’t be too swayed by what senior said. People all have different personalities. You don’t have to care about ‘what dragons should be like.’ Please just be yourself.”

Lee Han!

Moved, Joulin’s eyes opened wide.

So next time can I give you another present?

“Absolutely not. Don’t say such ridiculous things.”

……

Joulin puffed out his cheeks in dissatisfaction.

Wasn’t that completely contrary to what you just said!

• * *

After leaving the classroom, Lee Han, Direte, Yukveltire, Professor Voladi, and Joulin stood in the middle of the corridor.

Lee Han thought inwardly.

‘This is really the combination I’d least want to approach.’

If Lee Han were another student, he would’ve cast an invisibility spell and thrown himself out the window the moment he saw them—anything to get away.

Who could guess what would go wrong with that terrifying lineup?

“Next class is -Staff Materials and Magic Amplification-?”

“Yes.”

As it was Professor Verdus’s class, Yukveltire already knew Lee Han’s schedule.

“No need to go, right?”

“Yes…”

Lee Han replied, glancing around.

Normally, having finished a semester’s class early would be something to brag about, but right in front of him was the victim whose anticipated staff-making was stolen by the professor.

Joulin said he’d scold him.

Joulin swung his forepaws as if to threaten.

“Your Highness, but…”

No need to worry, Lee Han. Joulin is a dignified royal and won’t attack recklessly!

“No, I was going to say, if you wanted to, you could hit him once.”

…?!

Yukveltire continued coolly.

“Then we have free time. I have a recommendation.”

“?”

Lee Han and Direte tilted their heads at the same time.

Something Yukveltire recommended?

“What might that be?”

“No idea. Yukveltire doesn’t ever give juniors advice…?”

Direte was also flustered. This was so unlike Yukveltire’s usual attitude.

“Magic drafting tool. Since you take -Magical Algebra & Arcane Geometry-, you’d do well to get a good drafting tool.”

‘Oh.’

A drafting tool included not only a ruler or protractor, but also things like compasses and dividers—in short, the set of tools used to draw diagrams.

No matter how perfectly a magician constructed an immortal magic circle or built structures in his head, investors in the Empire wanted at least a picture.

With ordinary drafting tools, a magician would be groaning as he’d have to draw and calculate everything himself, but a quality magic drafting tool spared him all that tedious process.

Truly excellent magic drafting tools could rival intelligent spirits, or even have an intelligent spirit within them.

Knowing Yukveltire was one of the top enchanter magicians even in talent-filled Einrogard, Lee Han’s eyes shone with expectation.

“Are you perhaps going to give one as a gift, senior?”

“No. I don’t have one.”

“……”

Cheaper than Joulin…

Even Joulin mumbled in disappointment. After saying so much, she couldn’t even give him a treasure.

Even Professor Voladi made a comment.

“If you don’t have the materials, I will help.”

At the group’s reaction, Yukveltire’s eyelashes trembled minutely.

She didn’t know it herself, but the trauma from Professor Verdus stealing her staff commission still lingered.

“…No need. Keep listening. Wardanaz junior. I don’t have one, but I do know how to get one. I know where they are.”

“Aha.”

Lee Han recovered and looked expectant again.

In Einrogard, knowing where something was was practically the same as owning it.

‘Knowledge is power, after all.’

If you were the one doing the “borrowing,” it was even better.

“Let’s head out.”

Even Professor Voladi signaled his agreement. Lee Han hesitated.

“…Um, professor, is it all right to bring His Highness Joulin to a teleportation site?”

“You won’t be the one getting robbed, you’ll be the one doing the robbing, so it’s fine.”

‘Damn it, is my greed winning me over?’

Lee Han grew wary at how easily Professor Voladi’s logic persuaded him.

Was he persuading himself just because he wanted treasure?

Lee Han. Joulin really wants to come along…

“No… well… um… yes. Let’s go.”

Unable to bring himself to say “we’re going to steal,” Lee Han simply nodded.

While that was happening, Direte asked his friend,

“You say it’s an artifact worth using, and it’s elsewhere in the school? That’s weird. Where?”

“Hall of Sacred Engravings.”

“……”

Hall of Sacred Engravings.

That was Professor Verdus’s mage tower.

‘So you are mad…!’

Direte cried out inwardly.

No matter what, if it wasn’t anger at Professor Verdus, there was no reason for this sudden show of kindness to a junior she’d never cared for.

• * *

Yet the group forged ahead toward the Hall of Sacred Engravings. None of them had the slightest qualm about robbing Professor Verdus.

‘…Maybe Professor Garcia should’ve come…?’

Direte wondered to himself.

Of course, if asked “If you could take however much you want from Professor Verdus’s tower, would you?” he’d hesitate, but still pick up some things.

But seeing Professor Voladi so actively destroy the tower’s defenses, he wondered if maybe this was wrong.

Is this really okay?

Crash!

The core of the defense golem was struck precisely and shattered, scattering everywhere. Powerful restoration magic instantly tried to rebuild the golem, but Professor Voladi’s additional disruption spell interfered.

The fallen defense golem wasn’t an ordinary one. Made with pure moonstone and lodestone, each one was enormously expensive to construct.

Since Professor Verdus never gave a penny to his students, he could run these golems for his own research.

Professor Voladi brought down the pricey golems in the most efficient way. It was like watching a giant toppled by a shepherd’s stone.

Wow!

“Professor’s magic is the epitome of efficiency.”

‘…Is this really okay?!’

Seeing Joulin and Lee Han in awe brought internal conflict to Direte once again.

Raiding his lab was one thing, but should the professor really be doing this…?

“Yukveltire. What do you think?”

“The defenses have gotten stronger.”

Professor Verdus had recently had a rough time, so he’d increased the Hall of Sacred Engravings’ defenses.

He’d been grabbed by the collar by one professor, and his most precious belongings had been robbed by a student.

Such a reaction was only natural.

…Of course, that wasn’t what Direte meant to ask.

“I see. It’s my fault for asking.”

“??”

Rumble—

In the meantime, Professor Voladi finished off all the floor B1 defense golems. Joulin and Lee Han clapped in admiration.

‘This is a real professor!’

If it were Lee Han, he’d have tried anything to bust through that defense, but Professor Voladi just struck the weak points and disrupted the restoration spells right away.

This was the kind of power you needed to break into another professor’s laboratory.

“Ah.”

Professor Voladi suddenly paused and looked around, as if checking for something. Lee Han asked, puzzled,

“Is something wrong?”

“I should have left one standing, but made a mistake.”

With such high-powered golems, even Professor Voladi couldn’t afford to relax. If they operated at full power, they’d grind you like gears.

“Why leave one?”

“Didn’t you want to try fighting it?”

Wow!

“No, Your Highness, please.”

Lee Han quickly calmed Joulin down.

Joulin might expect Lee Han to fight like Professor Voladi, but that was out of the question.

“I’m not at that level yet.”

But Lee Han is still an outstanding magician…

“Hm.”

Hearing Joulin, Professor Voladi looked thoughtful for a moment, which made Lee Han’s heart sink.

‘I should have left Professor Baegrek out, too!’

Regretting it deeply, Lee Han tried to calm Joulin again.

“I’m not on that level. I’m a lower year, I can barely protect myself in Einrogard.”

“That’s not true.”

“That doesn’t seem so.”

“……”

With Professor Voladi and even Yukveltire piping up, Lee Han felt a headache coming on.

What a terrifying combination it truly was.

“Senior, just tell me the way. I want to finish before Professor Verdus gets here.”

“This way.”

Yukveltire led the way nonchalantly through the devastated floor B1.

When she kept stopping, Lee Han asked just in case,

“Is there a problem?”

“No. Let’s keep going.”

“…If you want to admire the scene, please take your time.”

Lee Han offered quietly.

If he were Yukveltire, he’d probably want to stand here and appreciate the wreckage for an hour or so.

“No need.”

“Shall we make a sketch?”

Direte nodded at Lee Han’s whisper. Direte also thought this was worth recording.