Episode 986

Even though he’d given encouragement, Lee Han thought to himself after hearing his friend’s retort.

‘The White Tiger Tower guys must really be stressing her out.’

Though, he couldn’t help but understand Moradi’s feelings.

Statistically, the White Tiger Tower caused the most trouble out of the four towers.

Blue Dragon Tower, being mostly from noble families, at least cared about their image when causing incidents (even though, for all that, they still ate dropped food off the floor), and Black Turtle Tower members preferred to quietly resolve things behind the scenes, rarely getting caught.

But White Tiger Tower students were unnecessarily bold in strange ways.

Just look at Angrago—he brazenly broke out to attend a polo match and now sits, just as brazenly, in the punishment room.

No Blue Dragon Tower student would ever have done such a thing.

‘Given all that, I guess Blue Dragon Tower really is better.’

Filled with a slight pride, Lee Han nodded, and Giselle glanced at him suspiciously.

‘Why do I feel oddly annoyed… what is it?’

“Moradi. Don’t be too upset about Angrago going to the punishment room. Salko went too.”

“So that’s what you were thinking? That’s not it?”

“It’s not? Then… Ah. I get it. It’s because of the exams. Don’t worry, Blue Dragon Tower guys don’t want to prep for them either.”

It wasn’t exactly comforting.

And when White Tiger Tower students slacked, they did it with far more boldness than Blue Dragon Tower students. Never fall for words like that.

‘It just bugs me that the guy who awakened Aura first is encouraging me, that bastard…’

Still, saying that would only hurt her pride.

Giselle just gave up and changed the subject.

“…So are you ready for finals?”

“When this week’s over, I’ll have to get started in earnest.”

As he spoke, Lee Han glanced at the mad clone.

The mad clone preferred Lee Han to tackle dangerous high-level magic rather than focus on Einrogard exams.

To be precise, she thought spending time on “garbage” like that was a waste.

“…Is that alright?”

“What are you talking about?”

“About preparing for the exams. I mean, it might not meet your standards, Teacher…”

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll teach you.”

“?”

Lee Han couldn’t believe his ears.

Not only did she allow him to focus on exams, but she also offered to teach him?

He had never even planned to ask the mad clone for help. That just seemed absurd.

Not only did she grant permission, but she volunteered—without even being asked.

“You’ll help me prepare for finals??”

“Are you refusing to listen to your royal?”

“N-no, not at all. I’m just so honored…”

Lee Han hesitated, and Giselle asked curiously,

“Isn’t that a good thing for you?”

As mad as that clone might be, nobody could doubt her magical skill.

If such an archmage helped prep, it would be more effective than any other aid.

There was some danger.

The mad clone had kidnapped Wardanaz at the start of term, and other students had been worried.

But…

‘Knowing Wardanaz, he doesn’t care about danger at all.’

The Wardanaz she knew always chased high risk, high reward—a true magic addict.

Someone like that wouldn’t hesitate just because the mad clone was dangerous. Besides, the two seemed to get along now.

‘Why do I feel so annoyed? Is he talking trash about me in his head?’

Lee Han grew suspicious.

Giselle stared at him, making him feel uneasy for some reason.

“It’s good… it’s just surprising, that’s all. Like if the headmaster suddenly started being nice.”

“…Creepy.”

“Right? It’s almost the same.”

Still, creeped out or not, neither Lee Han nor Giselle had much choice in the matter.

Refusing the mad clone got you nowhere.

“Oh. Then helping my other friends would be hard, huh.”

Lee Han realized.

If the mad clone was with him, it would be hard to also teach his friends—

“It doesn’t matter. Bring them too. The royal will grant her wisdom.”

“!?!”

This time, even Giselle was shocked by the even more unexpected words.

“W-what? Why?”

“I… I don’t know either. Even making us tag along earlier was unexpected.”

Lee Han had nothing to tell his friend.

He himself had no clue!

‘Forget it. I need to ask.’

Though Giselle had warned against it, Lee Han’s curiosity won out.

He checked his defensive magic and asked,

“Teacher. Why did you make my other friends come with us?”

“No fledgling wizard can deny the need for companions. With your friends, you can be rounded out to fill the ranks.”

“…!”

“!!!”

Lee Han—and even Giselle—were surprised by such a thoughtful, sane-sounding answer.

She was recognizing his friends as companions and mercifully offering to cultivate them.

Catten looked at her with eyes full of respect.

‘As expected of the headmaster’s clone—her care and love for students can’t be hidden!’

But the two cool-headed students weren’t fooled.

‘That’s weird. Is this madness coming out a different way? Did a hamster fumble with magic? Should I interrogate her?’

‘I always knew Wardanaz drew mad archmages to him like carnivorous plants, but this is beyond belief. He’s a true lunatic.’

…Strictly speaking, only one of the cool-headed students wasn’t fooled.

Lee Han tilted his head, but accepted it anyway.

If the mad clone could show this kind of care, then even if it was madness, it could be a good kind of madness.

If such a thing as positive madness even existed…

“So was it the same with the White Tiger Tower friends in the back? Because they’re my companions?”

The mad clone stopped walking.

Then she turned and looked the White Tiger Tower students up and down.

“They were your companions?”

“Huh? Yes… they’re my classmates.”

“I thought they were servants.”

“……”

“……”

The White Tiger Tower students’ faces darkened. Lee Han hurried to explain, glancing at them.

“What are you saying! There’s no way they’re servants!”

“They seemed like it the way they acted.”

“……”

Now the White Tiger students’ faces turned red.

It was true, they did look a bit shabby from all the mining work.

“W-we’re usually much more refined…!”

“That was just this once, Wardanaz! Tell her!”

‘Tell her what, you idiots.’

Lee Han was exasperated, but they were friends.

“They just like physical work. They’re all excellent wizards. Besides, didn’t Teacher call them wizards earlier?”

“A wizard could still be a servant. A servant needs to do chores and provide security as well. What are you talking about?”

‘Annoying old-schoolers.’

Apparently even servants in ancient times were multi-talented.

Learning magic, doing chores, and even being called upon as bodyguards.

“Anyway, that’s not it.”

“Understood. I thought I was calling on the disciple’s bodyguards, but that was the royal’s mistake. They may go back.”

“?”

The White Tiger Tower students hesitated.

Then they looked back.

They’d already come a long way from the safe area marked on the map.

To go back alone at this point…

“Hm. Better to go than get yelled at by the teacher for nothing.”

Lee Han was ready to send the friends back.

No point in going further—the mad clone would only end up picking on them.

As much as they had pride, the White Tiger Tower didn’t need to tag along as bodyguard-servants…

“We’ll protect Wardanaz!”

“Leave it to us!”

“……”

Lee Han was at a loss at his friends’ quick response.

Giselle turned away, apparently mortified.

• * *

“Do you know about the Frost Giants, juniors?”

Arriving at the area marked on the map, Catten led Lee Han and Giselle away.

It was to approach and negotiate with the Frost Giants.

The mad clone did not follow.

An archmage wouldn’t bother with such minor negotiations—such chores always fell to the disciple.

“I’ve heard they have advanced civilization and wisdom, unlike other giants.”

“Right. The giants fell long ago, but this other-dimensional species avoided that fate.”

The Frost Giants had escaped the mainland giants’ downfall by borrowing distance from another world.

That’s how a scary and powerful presence like the Frost Giant King might sometimes be summoned to Einrogard and end up dueling Lee Han.

‘Tsk. Why wouldn’t the Frost Giants settle on the continent…’

Lee Han felt a renewed frustration, remembering the absurd history.

A direct audience with the Frost Giant King was rare for any Einrogard student.

And it didn’t end there.

Afterward, whenever you met a Frost Giant: “Oh, you’re the challenger who met the King? Then I’ll defeat you and steal your glory.” That’s what you had to hear!

For Lee Han, it was truly maddening.

‘But there’s a way.’

Lee Han checked the blue stone of the Frost Giant King embedded in his staff, hidden under magical disguise.

So long as he kept it concealed, the Frost Giants would have no way to know who he was.

He’d just look like any other human wizard.

“They’re a proud and powerful race. You’ll probably have to win their approval before negotiating.”

“How do you get that?”

“You’ll most likely have to pass a test. They respect the strong.”

Lee Han and Giselle nodded grimly.

Catten waved her hand as if to tell them not to worry.

“I’ll take the test, so you two don’t have to worry. If they try to make you take the test too, I’ll talk them out of it.”

“…?”

Giselle tilted her head.

Did Catten have a silver tongue for negotiating with Frost Giants, unlike Wardanaz?

“Do you have a way?”

“Sorry, juniors. I misspoke. If they try to make you take the test, I’ll cut them down.”

She corrected herself awkwardly.

She’d gotten carried away showing off.

Catten had no confidence in persuading the Frost Giants.

“……”

“……”

But to the juniors, “cut them down” left an even stronger impression. Lee Han and Giselle stood up straight.

“Senior, if I say anything about magic that bothers you, just tell me.”

“If our Tower juniors are rude, please say so.”

“???”

Catten was confused at their sudden, irrelevant comments.

Why now?

“This should be about right… Honorable Giants of the Frost! Hear me! Catten of the Jahan family comes to speak with you!”

-!

With a voice echoing through the cliffs, the Frost Giants responded quickly.

Boom!

A Frost Giant patrol leapt from beneath the glacier. Surveying the group, he asked,

-One warrior, two mages. The fact that you introduced yourselves first tells me you aren’t invaders.

“We are three mages. And we come for negotiation.”

-Negotiation? We don’t usually negotiate easily with outsiders—especially not those from another dimension.

“Your words suggest there is a way.”

The Frost Giant grinned.

From her posture and aura, he could tell this warrior knew a thing or two.

-That’s right. We’re searching for something.

“Your artifact?”

-Hah! As if we’d trust mere artifacts to the weaklings of another world.

The Frost Giant laughed dismissively.

Their sacred relics had to be found on their own, not with help from lesser races.

“Then what are you after?”

-We’re searching for the challenger recognized by the King! Supposedly from your dimension, too. If you can locate this person, we’ll treat you as guests.

“……”

Lee Han’s face paled slightly.