Episode 898

“Everyone, calm down!”

Yoner calmed the friends who had fallen into panic.

“Let’s check the exam details first. It’s too early to despair. What’s on the test?”

The students in the lecture read out: – Each student must take a wooden box containing Thunderstep’s Purple Sandalwood Incense and dispel it by next week.

• Thunderstep

“Is he crazy!”

After checking the exam, Yoner grew infuriated and threw the paper into the air.

Students who didn’t know what Purple Sandalwood Incense was still didn’t understand the situation and asked.

“Meikin, what’s Purple Sandalwood Incense?”

“Do you remember the Flower Incense we covered in lecture before?”

“Yeah. Oh, if it’s something like that, a week should be enough for us to…”

“It’s dozens of times more complicated than that.”

“Is he crazy!”

The students collectively panicked and ran around in confusion.

Lee Han was also dumbfounded and troubled.

‘What is this? Why did the test change? Did the seniors just get it wrong from the start?’

No matter how much Lee Han was top of his class, he had not expected that a professor would deliberately target him.

Meanwhile, friends started blaming the professor’s wickedness and even criticizing the incompetence of club seniors.

“They told us to trust them! Didn’t they investigate properly?!”

“Shouldn’t have trusted the seniors after all!”

Uh… What is going on…?

Joulin, who had been sleeping soundly in front of the fireplace, opened his eyes at the students’ commotion.

The Blue Dragon Tower students were waving their staffs with a menacing aura.

Is there another intruder!?

“No, Your Highness. The professor just gave out the exam.”

Ah.

Joulin, still half asleep, blinked a few times and then asked cautiously.

All this fuss over that…?

“Shh. If the others hear, even you could become a target, Your Highness.”

Lee Han quickly pressed up and down on Joulin’s mouth.

His friends’ eyes were rolling back in rage at a test much too difficult for them. This was no time to provoke anyone.

Joulin lowered his voice and said,

All this fuss over that?

“It is pretty tough.”

As Lee Han spoke, Joulin was startled.

Others might complain, but if this boy of House Wardanaz said so, then it must truly be hard.

It must really be difficult!

“Yeah, that’s true… But why do you accept it so suddenly…?”

I want to see what the test content is!

Just as he had been active in “Magical Algebra & Arcane Geometry,” Joulin wanted to shine again and tapped the lounge’s wooden floor with his forepaw.

Lee Han looked at him suspiciously.

…What, why? Did Joulin do something wrong??

“No… Nothing, Your Highness. I just remembered when you suddenly rushed in and breathed at something…”

……

Joulin grumbled inwardly.

He felt like from now on, whatever he did, people would bring up that breath incident.

‘That was a mistake!’

It was a mistake, and Lee Han should forget it, too!

“I see. Speaking of which, it reminds me of Your Highness sneaking into the greenhouse to breathe fire.”

……

Joulin pouted, lips sticking out.

A sulking, large dragon often meant furniture near the tail would get broken. As Joulin’s tail swayed and smashed some chairs, Lee Han hurried to pacify him.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. You really meant well that time.”

That’s right!

“Then, if I show you the test this time, you won’t do anything rash?”

Of course not! Lee Han can trust Joulin!

Joulin declared, flapping his wings.

This time, he truly didn’t intend to ignore Lee Han’s words or do something reckless.

“Here. This is what the test is.”

…Oh…

Joulin was flustered by how difficult the test content was.

Arithmetic and geometry were his fields, but alchemy like this required experience and knowledge.

He tried sniffing the Purple Sandalwood Incense from the box, but it was so intricately made he couldn’t get a clue.

“Gasp. Hallucinations…”

“My skin is turning to stone!”

Joulin’s natural resistance put him at an even bigger disadvantage.

The other students, when inhaling the scent, immediately experienced the effects, which they could record and analyze in reverse.

But people with innate resistance, like Joulin or Lee Han, barely felt anything from the Purple Sandalwood Incense.

Usually an advantage, but in this situation, it was a disadvantage.

“Hmm. No effect, as expected.”

That’s unfair! Only Lee Han is getting shafted!

Joulin, upset about the unfairness toward Lee Han, complained loudly.

Students still hallucinating or whose skin was turning to stone looked at him in disbelief, but Joulin didn’t notice.

“If there’s an advantage, there’s got to be a disadvantage, too. Anyway, Your Highness, that’s what the exam is.”

Hmm… Hmmm..!

“Your Highness, you don’t have to help with every test. This is my exam, and I can handle it myself.”

Seeing Joulin worry so seriously, Lee Han commented with concern.

‘Maybe I look really tired to him?’

Maybe to Joulin, who came from outside, Lee Han’s schedule felt so grueling he wanted to step in.

Granted, it was grueling, but he didn’t want the young Joulin to worry about him.

No! Joulin wants to solve this grandly and show off to the other students. Especially to Lee Han!

“……”

Lee Han was speechless at the selfish reason. Nearby, as Gainando reassembled a broken chair, he muttered with some admiration.

“That guy. Annoying, but he does get it.”

“Hey, I’ll put the chair together, you go study instead.”

Lee Han chased out Gainando. Gainando grumbled about always being told to serve the tower, and left.

Joulin, who had been pondering, suddenly opened his eyes wide—a very clever idea had struck.

Lee Han!!

“…What is it?”

Why are you suspecting! Joulin hasn’t done anything yet!

“Ha ha. I’m not suspecting anything. I’m just asking. So what is it?”

Joulin is a dragon.

“That you are, indeed.”

A dragon’s body is a very powerful reagent.

“Wait.”

Lee Han stopped him right away.

Dealing with so many royals, Lee Han could sense the unique vibe of royal nonsense before it broke out.

“You’re not suggesting using one of Your Highness’s scales or claws to attempt the dispelling, are you?”

Uh… Well. Maybe a bit… What does Lee Han think?

“Well. Unlike other reagents, it would be so powerful the process would be a lot more simple and quick.”

That’s right! In fact, Joulin thought the same!

Lee Han laughed. Joulin chuckled along.

And then Joulin had to endure an hour of scolding.

• * *

‘It’s not over yet…!’

At night.

Joulin pretended to be asleep in the lounge, cracking one eyelid open.

Amid the students moving around, he tracked Lee Han’s movements exactly.

And also Lee Han’s reagent pouch.

‘I will prove it with Joulin’s strength!’

If this had been before coming to Einrogard, Joulin might have stayed put after being told not to do something.

But since arriving here, Joulin had grown rapidly in spirit. His stubbornness had grown just as much.

He’d been scolded for taking on demon monsters and for forcibly maturing a mandrake, but that was that—this was this.

This time, Joulin was in the right!

Had Lee Han known, he would have deeply regretted ever bringing Joulin to Einrogard, thinking, ‘I shouldn’t have given the dragon cub a tour.’

‘But opportunities are rare, so I must act carefully.’

Joulin used his sharp dragon mind to mull over the situation.

Normally, he would have tried an experiment with various dragon byproducts, but after Lee Han’s scolding, there was no such luxury.

He couldn’t analyze the Purple Sandalwood Incense or test reagents, so it seemed impossible.

But that was not the case.

-Meikin. Meikin. Joulin has a question. Among all reagents from a dragon’s body, which is the most powerful in this situation?

-…Uh, did someone ask Your Highness for something? And… is that professor a beaver beastkin?

Yoner was suspicious, but finally answered after Joulin kept pressing.

Most byproducts from a dragon’s body were powerful reagents, but the one most powerful in this case was Dragon Stone.

This small stone, generated within a dragon’s body, could apparently dispel any incense at once.

-Hohoho…

-…Your Highness. Really, no one asked for it, right? Not that Professor B—something, right??

Even though he couldn’t analyze the scent or test reagents, it didn’t matter.

Joulin intended to just use the Dragon Stone and solve it instantly.

-Uh, hey?

As the baby basilisk’s voice rang, Joulin snapped out of his reverie.

A wise dragon never does such things alone. Naturally, Joulin recruited his companions.

The baby basilisk and Eandurde. Both were loyal comrades in adversity.

-……

“……”

Dragged out against their will, the two looked very dissatisfied.

-Last time you breathed in the greenhouse, it exploded in our faces!

That was old Joulin! The new Joulin is grown and different!

“Seems reckless…”

Does Eandurde not trust Joulin!?

“Huh? Um.”

Eandurde just looked at Joulin as if he were saying nonsense. Joulin was deeply shocked.

Shouldn’t the answer right now be “I trust you”?

…If you don’t help, I’ll tell everyone you joined me in the greenhouse incident!

Now vengeful, Joulin switched tactics instantly.

Thanks to a great teacher, Joulin’s threats were now quite skillful. The baby basilisk was startled.

-Th-that’s not fair..! Waaah..!

Hmph. Decide whether to help before I rat you out.

In the end, the baby basilisk, tearful, agreed to join in.

Next was Eandurde. Joulin looked at Eandurde.

Joulin is disappointed in Eandurde.

“Okay.”

Eandurde replied with a listless face, unaffected by the disappointment.

Saying you want to get strong yet ducking out at times like this!

“…What?”

Think about it, Eandurde! Why is Lee Han so strong? He takes on reckless and tough challenges, not making excuses and dodging like you!

“……”

Eandurde’s face hardened.

Joulin’s speech had struck his pride. Almost growling, Eandurde snapped,

“…Fine! I’ll do it!”

I knew you would!

With his two friends finally getting involved for the sake of friendship, Joulin was overjoyed.

-So what’s the plan?

It’s very simple.

Joulin began to explain excitedly.

1. Steal Lee Han’s reagent pouch.
2. Put the Dragon Stone inside.
3. Put it back.
4. Lee Han, opening his reagent pouch to prepare for the alchemy test, realizes his error and repents.
5. Done! Hooray for Joulin!

Even if Lee Han tried to scold Joulin for this, he’d have no grounds to do so.

-Uh, why not?

“??”

Because there’s no evidence! There’s no proof it was Joulin!

The other two thought that if a super rare reagent like Dragon Stone spontaneously appeared in a pouch, anyone could see the culprit, but they kept that to themselves.

Otherwise, this dragon would probably come up with weirder plans.

-Works for me!

Great! Then go steal the pouch!

-Suddenly don’t like it anymore.

The baby basilisk grumbled.

Who’d have thought he would actually have to be the one to steal it?

Though, with his size, he was the best fit.

Eandurde, you have to catch Lee Han’s attention!

“……”

Eandurde considered telling a senior right now. Joulin, sensing danger with his species’ instincts, spoke up immediately.

If you back out now, Eandurde, you’ll look like a coward!

“Got it already.”

At last, Eandurde grumbled and took the role.