Episode 960
by CristaeFortunately, Professor Garcia didn’t subdue his students with force.
It wasn’t because there were too many watching eyes nearby, but simply because Professor Garcia himself didn’t like violence.
Crrrack!
“……”
Angrago was horrified as he saw Professor Garcia crush the metal railing of the bleachers in his hand.
True, Professor Garcia wasn’t fond of violence—but there were always exceptions.
What if today was the day he decided to make an exception?
“I-I’m sorry! Please, spare me, Professor!”
“Well, at least you know you were wrong. Hurry, go fetch Student Salko.”
“Yes! Yes!”
Angrago dashed over, elbowed through the onlookers, and grabbed Salko by the collar as he directed his crowd.
-This punk! Are you some Granden City baguk club goon!?
-Stomp him!
Getting punched a few times by random people, Angrago shouted,
“Hah, cough! Tutanta, you idiot! Professor Garcia’s here! Professor Garcia’s here!”
“…!!!”
The reality hit Salko like a bucket of ice water.
“Don’t lie.”
“Look behind you!”
“……”
When Salko made eye contact with the familiar professor, he immediately lowered his staff.
“Everyone stop! Stop fighting!”
“What are you doing?! We’ve got to stomp those Granden City baguk club bastards!”
“No! Stop! I said stop!”
Even Salko’s desperate pleas didn’t move the drunken crowd.
Thud!
Professor Garcia shook his head and struck his staff on the ground.
Dozens of shadowy tendrils descended from the air above, covering the faces of the rioting crowd.
“Ugh!”
“Gack!”
No matter how hard they resisted, the crowd was subdued and collapsed. It was a surprisingly refined spell.
“Now, you two.”
“…Yes…”
“…We’re sorry, Professor. We forgot ourselves as students and got carried away.”
They reflected deeply. Surely not only because they could feel Professor Garcia’s iron grip on their shoulders.
Once they came to their senses, what they’d done felt all the more embarrassing.
“Long as you really mean that. Just don’t do it again.”
Professor Garcia now sounded considerably softer.
Compared with what other Seniors had pulled, what these two did today was nothing much at all.
Skipping out and causing a fit at the arena, whatever…
“Let’s go look for Student Lee Han.”
“Why Wardanaz?”
Angrago was puzzled.
Lee Han, unlike them, was still out with legitimate permission as a Baguk Club member playing in the match.
“It’s because Lee Han fought for his life against evil god cultists in the Granden City palace.”
Professor Garcia stared at the two. They felt cold sweat run down their backs.
“T-this is the first I’ve heard of it…”
“M-me too…”
“……”
Even though these theater club students brazenly claimed not to know what happened in the palace, Professor Garcia didn’t get angry.
Every student makes trouble at some point.
…Though, Lee Han’s “trouble” tended to be rather more grand-scale…
“Fine, let’s leave it at that. Lee Han’s not hurt, right?”
“Haha. You know how tough Wardanaz is, Professor. Even after clashing with outerworld beings, he just needed a day’s rest to bounce back.”
“……”
“……”
Angrago stared at Salko in horror, as if to say, ‘Are you crazy?’
This was not the time to exaggerate—if anything, they should have insisted nothing happened, that Lee Han just had a minor support role.
Feeling the chill in the air, Salko seemed to realize his mistake too.
‘Crap… I blew it…! I must still be hyped from the match…!’
“…I’m glad he’s fine.”
“Yes…”
“……”
After that, the three mages walked down the hallway in silence.
At the Baguk Club’s section on the far side of the stadium, excited spectators had already gathered.
-Long live Einrogard! Long live silver coins!
-Let us see the players! Let us see them!
“Excuse us, coming through.”
-Get lost!
“……”
Dozens of shadowy tentacles dropped down from thin air again.
At the sight, one Baguk Club student shouted in surprise.
“Professor Garcia?!”
Seeing someone recognize him from magic alone, Professor Garcia reflexively explained,
“It’s not the spell; people knew it was me because everyone else was down.”
“I recognized the magic! What brings you here? Did something happen…?”
The student tensed up.
With a regular professor, it would be one thing, but if Professor Garcia had come in person, how big a mess had been made…?
“Nothing like that. I just heard and dropped by. Oh, and congratulations on your victory.”
“Thank you!”
The club students were still elated over their victory.
It was their first win in ages, and all the sweeter for it. Congratulatory gifts were everywhere.
But one person was missing.
“Where’s Student Lee Han?”
“Ah. Wardanaz stepped out briefly for a prior engagement. Professor, Wardanaz did amazing today, so maybe you could be generous about a little outing…”
The Senior faltered.
Around Professor Garcia’s fist, space itself was warping.
“…Not happening, right? Rules are rules. Do as you must!”
“No, it’s fine. After such a win, he deserves a little break.”
But seeing his student already gone, Professor Garcia sighed.
Having a student too clever was trouble at times like this.
- * *
“Fongrif, you did amazingly.”
-Pfrrrr!
Transformed back into a horse, Fongrif nodded with joy.
Those who’d bet on Einrogard Baguk Club’s victory might have thought they were happiest, but that was wrong.
The real winner was the griffon.
It felt like having years of pent-up frustration washed away.
‘I never knew you liked baguk so much.’
Lee Han thought as he brushed Fongrif’s mane.
Whatever Fongrif’s preferences, thanks to him, Lee Han had won. The Seniors’ tears were just a bonus.
“Here, eat some more.”
Watching Fongrif munch snacks, the baby basilisk pouted in Lee Han’s sleeve.
So you get all that love if you play baguk!
“Anyway… I’m really not sure where to go now.”
Lee Han hesitated for a moment.
The merchant warehouse lodgings were now a risk. Professor Garcia might come chasing after him.
But going back to the field to stay with the Baguk Club members would be like hanging a sign saying, “Catch me, please.”
“?!”
As he mulled it over, Lee Han was startled at an unexpected face walking down the boulevard at the end of the alley.
Senior Falkrius the Priest, from the cooking club, was hoisting massive sacks on both shoulders.
“Senior!”
“…Who’s there?”
“Oh, it’s me, Wardanaz.”
“???”
Falkrius eyed Lee Han’s disguised appearance curiously, but soon nodded.
Truthfully, Einrogard mages going incognito outside was so common he wasn’t even surprised.
“Pfhuh. No wonder you headed out first. I figured, since you’re part of so many clubs, you’d leave early.”
“Yes. What about you, Senior?”
The cooking club’s off-campus activities were usually charity.
They received support from temples or patrons for food aid, and leftover ingredients would feed hungry Einrogard students.
But there were still a few days left on the schedule.
Why was Falkrius out alone already?
“Pwahaha. Gotta collect as many ingredients as I can, of course.”
He gave a hardy laugh and explained.
No matter how much support they had from temples or backers, there were always more hungry people.
The more prepared in advance, the more they could share a warm meal.
Falkrius, not wanting to get in his Juniors’ way, had put in a solo request and gone ahead alone.
“…You should have told me. I’d have helped.”
“Pfuh. Of all the club, only you are busier than me, Wardanaz. And anyway, I do this because I enjoy it. No reason to drag the others in.”
Falkrius patted his robust belly, often mistaken for an ogre’s, with a laugh.
“And the more we have left, the better for us too, right?”
“That’s true. I should hel— Wait, Senior. Have you run into Professor Garcia?”
“No, why?”
“It’s nothing. I’ll give you a hand.”
“Pfuh. Reliable indeed. Thanks, Wardanaz.”
Falkrius beamed.
Considering his Junior’s talents, it was like having ten students’ help.
“Wait. Wardanaz, now that I think about it, wouldn’t it be better to drop your disguise?”
“Huh? Why?”
“Well…”
To gather enough ingredients, they’d have to talk their way into lots of places.
Among them were always those susceptible to aristocratic dignity or authority.
Falkrius looked every inch the priest, so he commanded a sort of authority…
“?”
…but his Junior was the picture of noble lineage.
Dropping the disguise and visiting people openly would help win them over.
“Hmm, but…uhh…”
“What’s wrong?”
“Worried someone might recognize me.”
“Pfhuh, don’t worry. Granden’s a huge city—tons of mages around. Even if you made some trouble, no one will recognize you.”
Einrogard students going in disguise outside was pretty common.
Either you’d already made a mess, or you were planning to make one.
Usually it was one or the other.
“That’s not really what I meant, but…all right.”
Lee Han dropped his disguise.
He had to admit it’d be too hard to help Falkrius otherwise.
“Then let’s—”
“Excuse me, are you Student Wardanaz? From the Einrogard Baguk Club, right?!”
“What!? THAT Wardanaz is here?”
“Wardanaz! Please sign my pocketwatch!”
At someone’s shout, people instantly gathered in a crowd. Everyone wanted an autograph on their cloak, brooch, or watch as a souvenir of today’s match.
Falkrius was aghast at the sight.
‘W-what is this!?’