Episode 903

“Maybe we’ve been too hard on Priest Carre.”

“Maybe. Even if the priest did steal all that wheat, rice, rye, dried fish, pickled sardines, round cheese, sausage, salted meat, and oil from the sack last time…”

“B-but, there’s no actual proof it was the priest. It could’ve been those blue worm guys.”

“You’re still not getting it.”

Professor Lightningstep clicked her tongue as she passed by.

Even Professor Verdus was proof that if you let your guard down just because a beastkin looks cute, you’re in trouble. They could be even more dangerous.

Those first-years will realize it eventually, after a few more times getting tricked.

‘Right, the more dearly you pay, the deeper the lesson.’

So thinking, Lightningstep moved on.

Clutched at her side were several thick books.

On the battered covers, titles like -How to Soothe a Disobedient Griffin- and -Unicorn Training Even Villains Can Do- could be seen.

Having heard that a student was seeking her out over an issue with a large rare animal, Lightningstep had checked out extra library books to offer advice.

‘But seriously, does Wardanaz think it’s okay to worry about griffins and unicorns during exam week?’

Professors could get away with doing other things during exam season, but students were in a different boat.

No matter how much he was the top of his year, this felt like overconfidence.

“…Eugh!”

Lightningstep was a veteran explorer who’d been through thick and thin.

But the sight before her made even such a veteran recoil.

To see Professors Bendozol and Voladi sitting there wordlessly side by side.

‘Is this a trap?’

She didn’t know what kind of trap, but that was her first thought.

“…What are you doing there?”

“What?”

Bendozol replied curtly.

“You know what I mean. Why are you sitting here in front of the student dorms?”

The poor Blue Dragon Tower students were whispering and taking a wide detour.

“We’re guarding His Highness.”

“I…see… Waiting for him to come out?”

Only then did Lightningstep remember Joulin’s visit. But Bendozol shook his head.

“His Highness is grounded.”

“Grounded?”

“Sigh. You know what grounded means?”

“No, you lunatic. I mean, who the hell grounded His Highness?”

Lightningstep snapped, annoyed.

Even among professors she tried to remain respectful, but Bendozol just had a way of getting on people’s nerves.

“Who else? That impious Wardanaz brat.”

“…I…see.”

It was utter nonsense, yet Lightningstep was surprised to find she half-accepted it.

Somehow, if you said the Wardanaz boy had done it, it made sense.

“And you? I thought you’d rush in and rescue him.”

“I tried.”

“…And?”

Bendozol gestured gloomily with his chin—towards Professor Voladi, who sat there stony-faced.

“……”

Looking closer, Bendozol was a mess. She hadn’t noticed since he usually looked scruffy, but his coat and pants were even more battered than usual.

Almost like someone had forcibly subdued him.

Lightningstep pretended not to notice and called out.

“I have no idea who did that!”

“……”

“Well, I’ll be off.”

“Take care.”

Not wanting to get involved, Lightningstep hurried away and thought to herself,

‘Never thought I’d find myself missing the headmaster!’

The cranky mage who only bothered the professors—his absence really left a void.

If only the skeletal headmaster were here, at least, no professor would assault Bendozol…

‘…Actually, maybe they would. But at least he would have mediated.’

—Release the spell on me.

—No.

—…Let’s have a fair rematch. No ambush!

—No.

‘I didn’t hear anything.’

Lightningstep quickened her pace, blocking out the conversation behind her.

• * *

“Professor!”

Lee Han was moved to see Professor Lightningstep come all the way to the tower to help him.

Lightningstep waved her hand as if annoyed.

“Alright. Is it about griffins? Unicorns? Or some other animal I don’t know about?”

“Excuse me?”

“I hear you’ve been stressed lately over large, rare creatures.”

……

Joulin, sitting by the fireplace, looked devastated, sneaking glances. Lee Han set down tea for the professor and spoke.

“It seems there’s a misunderstanding. I haven’t been stressed at all.”

Joulin’s face brightened.

“What nonsense? I heard you’ve been walking around sighing all the time.”

Joulin’s face darkened again. Lightningstep was suspicious.

“Wait, it’s not griffins or unicorns…?”

Seeing the odd grounding and how they were acting edgy, Lightningstep felt the puzzle pieces click into place.

But Lee Han feigned ignorance.

“I’m not sure what you mean. I did have a minor squabble with His Highness, but we already made up.”

That is true!

Joulin excitedly agreed.

The way Lee Han spoke, it really seemed his anger had faded.

Actually, before Lightningstep arrived, Lee Han had come back first and apologized.

—Your Highness, I’m sorry. I got too angry…

—Uwaaaaaahh! Joulin was wrong!!!

—…You promise you really won’t do it again…

—I never will!!!

—Alright. Then let’s make up.

—Does that mean the grounding is over?

—No, not that part.

—…Are you sure you’re not still mad…?

Since the grounding wasn’t lifted, Joulin genuinely wondered if Lee Han was still angry.

But now it seemed he really was forgiven.

—Only I lost out this time.

The baby basilisk coiled around Joulin’s neck grumbled.

He was banned from crawling up Lee Han’s sleeve again until the grounding ended, even though they’d “made up”.

But Joulin, being the rational dragon, pretended not to hear.

He knew if he asked Lee Han to ease up, Lee Han might get angry again, so he’d lose even more.

“It’s a relief to hear you’ve made up. But the griffin or unicorn never gave you any trouble?”

“No…”

At Lee Han’s answer, Joulin’s face drooped again.

The griffin and unicorn never caused trouble, but Joulin…

“…isn’t that right? They’re quite a handful.”

“Hey. Are you…?”

Lee Han’s gaze pleaded, ‘Please play along.’ Lightningstep was dumbfounded.

She’d come to help, and he was trying to rope her into a skit.

But next to her, the young dragon was looking up with so much anticipation, she felt like if she told the truth, he’d burst into tears.

“…I-I see! Actually, I always thought they’d mess up sooner or later.”

“Exactly, that’s my point.”

What trouble did they cause?

“……”

“……”

Joulin’s eyes sparkled so much, Lee Han was forced to improvise.

Luckily, he remembered some stories from Professor Garcia and reused them.

“There was a rampage that left all the room’s furniture broken.”

Oh no!

Joulin looked upset at the story, but secretly seemed pleased. Lightningstep hesitated.

‘Is it really okay for a dragon to be happy about animals causing more trouble than him?’

She questioned whether this was good education.

Any others?

“Uh… They once ate all my research.”

—Did Fongrif really do that?

the baby basilisk asked doubtfully.

No matter how he looked at it, the griffon was too old for that sort of prank.

He’d already been fully grown when Lightningstep brought him.

“You never really know a griffon’s heart. You also snuck off and stole the reagent pouch.”

-……

Regretting getting involved, the baby basilisk shrank into Joulin’s arms.

Still, the basilisk was way better than that griffin. We’re much better!

“I’m glad you’re back in good spirits. Hahaha.”

“Yes. That’s good…”

Lightningstep sipped her tea.

Even if an innocent griffin got blamed, being more mature than these two, it would understand.

“Seems solved, then. Before I go, one thing.”

She beckoned. Lee Han leaned in curiously.

“Is it true His Highness is grounded?”

“Yes.”

“If you do it too long, it could backfire.”

A dragon is not the kind of creature suited to grounding.

Actually, no species in the Empire really is, but dragons especially.

They’re arrogant, proud, and exceptionally gifted.

Regular students might stay locked up for lack of power, but it wouldn’t take much for a dragon to realize he could just break out.

Keep him restricted too long and you might just push him into acting up.

“His Highness won’t do that. Besides, I plan to stick close to him.”

“Yeah, surveillance—wait, isn’t it your exam week?”

Lightningstep almost agreed, then paused.

How could a student stick by a dragon all day during exam week?

“I intend to finish early and come right back.”

“Look, don’t take this the wrong way, but sometimes I wonder if you’re crazy.”

• * *

“Isn’t it rude to call someone crazy just for being a little off track?”

Lee Han grumbled about Lightningstep’s rudeness as he moved off.

Naturally, he circled around—Professors Bendozol and Voladi still sat by the dorm.

Today, Professor Jorzik, who was sporting a particularly impressive seagull mustache, greeted Lee Han warmly at the laboratory.

“Wardanaz! Good to see you! Come in!”

“Hello, Professor.”

“First one here, as expected—students like you are always ahead!”

As the professor in charge of -Elemental Magic and Its Applications-, Professor Jorzik had high hopes for the Wardanaz boy.

He’d even set mastering blue flame—the advanced attribute of fire— as the semester’s goal.

That might have been too hard for most second-years, but given the elements and skill Lee Han was working with, Jorzik figured he could do it.

If Wardanaz could handle blue flame within the semester, Jorzik planned to brag about their master-apprentice achievement at every wizarding meet over the break.

“What’s the midterm? Blue flame?”

“You remembered! That’s right! It may seem difficult, but a student like you can do it.”

“Alright. For this exam…”

With no time to lose, Lee Han focused at once.

Even though diving deep into yet another elemental attribute on top of everything else sounded crazy, at least the shock was lessened since he’d heard about it before.

Having practiced steadily alone, he moved quickly. The flame rising in the air began to change color.

The intensely blue fire appeared. The first test of blue flame was perfect color change.

“Wardanaz! Well done! Full ma—”

“Professor, please wait!”

Interrupted, Lee Han stopped the professor as his focus wavered.

Interrupting someone preparing such a tough spell could totally break their concentration.

Jorzik had been about to proclaim a perfect score but was touched instead.

‘All the way to the final exam in one go?!’

He’d wondered why Lee Han hadn’t come to take the exam early like with other courses—turns out he’d been preparing a spectacular surprise.

Proud of his top student’s spirit, Jorzik stroked his mustache happily.