Episode 01

Episode 001

I will never go to graduate school again.

From now on, I will live for myself!

…As he graduated from the grueling graduate school, Lee Han, a Korean, made this resolution.

He swore he wouldn’t even go near any place with the word ‘academic’ in it.

But the world didn’t go as he wished.

After Lee Han died in an unfortunate accident, the place he was reborn in happened to be the Wardanaz Family, a wizard family in another world.

And then, 15 years passed.

Today was the day Lee Han entered Einrogard, the best magic school in the empire.

• * *

Lee Han, reborn in the Wardanaz Family.

At first, he was bewildered, then amazed, and then he accepted it.

Fortunately, the Wardanaz Family was a very powerful wizard family even within the empire.

Lee Han’s father, the patriarch of the family, was such a great figure that he was close with the emperor, and anyone could see the family’s mansion was the very embodiment of wealth.

At this point, Lee Han couldn’t help but think this:

-Am I being rewarded for attending graduate school in my past life?

A life where he could live comfortably and idly for the rest of his life without any hardship.

…Of course, that was just a delusion.

The Wardanaz Family was not as easy as he thought.

-Lee Han Wardanaz.

-Yes, Patriarch.

-What is your goal?

-……

‘Can I answer that I want a life of leisure forever?’

Lee Han hesitated a bit.

It didn’t seem like a very good answer.

-Was that a pointless question? Well, the answer is probably already decided.

-Excuse me?

-You must be feeling your own talent as well.

-Excuse me?

-You know the rules of the Wardanaz Family. The first inherits everything in the family.

-Excuse me?????

The last statement was quite a shock.

Inherit everything?

Then does that mean everyone except the first gets nothing??

-Patriarch. Does that mean I get nothing?

-No, Lee Han Wardanaz.

‘Thank goodness.’

-The family will give you every opportunity. If you want to become a knight, we will find you the best knight. If you want to be an official, we’ll give you the chance to learn from the chancellor of the empire. If you want to be a merchant, we’ll get you the opportunity to work under the empire’s top merchant lord. As long as you’re in the family, we’ll give you every opportunity you want!

‘…Can’t you just give me the money instead?’

Just what he had mentioned would be worth an astronomical amount if converted to money…

The family’s rules were very unfair.

‘Damn. If I’d been born earlier, I could’ve just lived an easy life.’

Lee Han regretted his laziness for being born as the third child of the family.

The first inherited everything.

The rest had to figure out how to make a living on their own.

Thanks to this, Lee Han had to seriously consider from a young age what he needed to do to live well.

Official, merchant, knight, adventurer…

The only relief was that the family didn’t just hand down wealth, but gave all sorts of support.

The patriarch’s children could learn and gain whatever they wanted.

In the end, Lee Han chose to become a wizard.

-I knew you would.

Lee Han’s father, the patriarch, was very pleased.

-You must have felt your own talent too, right?

-…??

‘I only chose it because it seemed the most stable…?’

In fact, being a wizard was truly a safe profession.

In the empire, it was respected by all, and it was a career that even nobles could be proud of.

And as long as you had the skill, there was no place that wouldn’t want you.

The knight order needed wizards, the adventurer guild needed wizards, even the emperor’s officials needed wizards…

-Go to Einrogard. Grow by clashing with countless seeds of wizards there. That experience will complete you.

Einrogard was the top magic school among the empire’s magic schools.

Being the most traditional and powerful magic school, the name carried great weight.

Just entering Einrogard and graduating safely guaranteed at least some fame.

Of course, no one was satisfied with just that.

They’d set outstanding achievements at school, get a recommendation from a professor, or build connections with other students…

As the top magic school in the empire, Einrogard was also the best place to build networks.

Even Lee Han, who shuddered at the thought of ever going to any place like graduate school again, had no choice but to quietly enter.

-Yes. I will do so.

‘Right. If I just endure and graduate… let’s think of it as an investment for the future.’

• * *

The old knight, Allarlong, saluted Lee Han politely.

“Lee Han Wardanaz.”

“Thank you for escorting me all the way here.”

“It was nothing.”

Allarlong was a knight of the Wardanaz Family.

Normally, he wouldn’t have had to personally escort Lee Han, but he volunteered to accompany Lee Han all the way from the capital to Einrogard.

It was because of his friendship with Lee Han.

“I didn’t expect you to come all this way just because I learned swordsmanship from you…”

“It’s not because you learned swordsmanship from me, Lee Han. I stepped forward so that others would not dare to disregard the name of the Wardanaz Family.”

“Right. Whatever the reason.”

Allarlong spoke strictly, but Lee Han smiled. He knew Allarlong’s personality.

Strict and serious, but deep down, Allarlong cared. He volunteered because he was worried about Lee Han.

When Lee Han smiled, Allarlong coughed awkwardly.

“Ahem. To be honest, I was happy when you asked me to teach you swordsmanship.”

The Wardanaz Family was a wizard family.

There weren’t many who bothered to learn swordsmanship.

Still, Lee Han had two reasons for learning.

One was that it’s always good to learn things; you never know when you’ll need them.

Especially something like swordsmanship, which is essential for self-defense.

The second was…

Because he was insanely bored.

Surprisingly, the Wardanaz Family didn’t teach him any magic at all.

-You can’t learn magic before fifteen, it’s too dangerous!

In this world, you were considered an adult around fifteen.

Magic was the hardest and most dangerous of all studies.

You couldn’t handle it before adulthood, which made sense.

Of course, for Lee Han, who was mentally much older, it was quite unfair…

“Look. Other noble children have also brought their escorts so as not to bring shame to their families.”

“That’s… a bit much, isn’t it?”

Lee Han was dumbfounded at the sight of the carriages filling the imperial avenue.

No matter what, bringing a procession of ten carriages and dozens of cavalry was a bit much.

Noble pride was all about “who can be more extravagant,” so even a simple outing had to be done in grand style, but to bring all that just to drop off a kid at school?

And more than anything…

“Aren’t escorts, attendants, servants, and slaves all not allowed inside in the first place?”

“Yes.”

Einrogard was a magic school with long-standing tradition.

One of those traditions was ‘equality.’

Anyone could enter, whether royal or slave, but you had to come in with nothing but your own body.

So even if you brought all that, you had to go in alone at the entrance.

“Some of them will probably wait in the nearby villages.”

“…They go that far?”

Lee Han asked with a drained expression.

Even after 15 years in this world, there were still many parts of the noble mindset he couldn’t understand.

Once inside that huge magic school, you’d be lucky to come out once a month, yet they’d buy properties in nearby villages just to wait.

“I heard they’ve already bought several buildings. In the nearby villages, there are even buildings traditionally sold for this purpose.”

“I’m good, Sir.”

“We’ve already bought a modest residence ourselves…?”

“……”

Lee Han cursed inwardly.

If you have that much money, just save it and give it to me later…!

It was okay to waste money on useless luxury, but not to give Lee Han any directly.

The family’s law was unreasonable.

“The capital is far, Lee Han. As a noble, you must always be prepared for anything.”

“Right. That’s reassuring.”

Lee Han got on his horse.

Some came in by carriage, but Lee Han thought it would be easier to just ride a horse through the main gate.

‘If I wait for all these carriages to pass, the sun will set.’

“Well then, Sir. Thanks again for bringing me.”

“No, Lee Han. It was an honor to serve you.”

Allarlong was sincere.

Of all the family’s bloodline, Allarlong liked Lee Han the most.

Someone who knew seriousness and humility.

“The patriarch also praised your talent, Lee Han.”

“There’s no need to make things up to make me feel good. Anyway, thank you.”

“No, really…”

• * *

The magic school Einrogard was far from the capital where the imperial palace was.

According to rumors, it was located here because they sought a place filled with magical energy.

As if to match those rumors, the surrounding scenery gave a strong sense of nature.

Behind the school was an endless mountain range, and beside it, a wide and winding river flowed…

When he closed his eyes, the infinite mana of nature could be felt like the air itself.

“This… this is wrong.”

“??”

Lee Han looked curiously as a boy next to him spoke.

Here, you could tell someone’s status just by their clothes.

An outer garment luxuriously embroidered with silk and gold thread. Hands and face without a single callus.

Clearly from a noble family.

‘Should I call someone?’

His face had turned pale and he was trembling, as if there was a problem.

Was it something magic-related?

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“I… I…”

“Okay. What’s the problem?”

“I can’t sleep… without my servant…”

“……”

Lee Han almost punched him but held back.

‘This little brat…’

He felt bad for having worried for such a trivial reason.

But to the boy, it seemed like a very serious problem.

“How can they say not to bring servants? A servant is like my hands and feet. Isn’t it the same as telling me to come in after cutting off my hands and feet?”

“I see. Logical.”

Lee Han listened half-heartedly and let it go.

But the boy seemed to gain courage from Lee Han’s offhand response.

“Right? I’m going to complain.”

“…What are you going to say?”

“That they should let us bring our servants! I’ll use my family’s name, this is unfair!”

“Sure. Do your best.”

A tradition kept for thousands of years was unlikely to be broken by a single boy, but Lee Han encouraged him.

Firstly, because it wasn’t his problem, and secondly, because he was curious.

How would the wizards of Einrogard respond to this?

The boy ran off and soon returned with a dazed expression.

“?”

“I repent, I repent, I repent…”

“…!!!”

Lee Han was shocked.

‘Mental magic!’

Seeing the boy mutter in a daze, it was obvious he’d been hit with a magic like charm or domination.

The magic itself wasn’t surprising; Lee Han had heard of it.

What was surprising was that the school’s wizards would use such magic on a noble child without hesitation.

‘…Could it be true that they really bury anyone who dies in the back mountain?’

Because of the rumors he’d heard before coming, Lee Han felt uneasy.

-Welcome, everyone, to Einrogard.

A voice was heard, not loudly but as if it was being sent directly into everyone’s minds.

Bang!

At the same time, the main gate of Einrogard opened.

-Come in, ironheads!

The new students all frowned deeply.

It wasn’t because of the harsh words.

All of them, being talented in magic, could feel the immense pressure of magic cast over Einrogard.

Is this what it feels like to look at the sun with the naked eye?

Is this what it feels like to try to defeat a giant with bare hands?

Whinny!

A horse’s cry was heard.

Apparently, among those who had brought carriages, someone was trying to enter by carriage.

-And I said to come in with nothing….

With the voice, the carriage suddenly disappeared.

The noble girl who had been sitting inside the carriage screamed as she fell.

Over ten carriages disappeared and the screams of boys and girls echoed.

-It’s fine, ironheads! Even if you don’t want to follow the rules, this school will make you follow them.

“……”

A few sharp ones like Lee Han realized that this school was as fearsome as the rumors said, and their faces stiffened.

-Move your butts! Enter! Enter!! Enter!!!!

“……”

“……”

• * *

Lee Han originally had a habit of observing. That habit had become even stronger since coming to this world.

Everything was new and fascinating, so observing was bound to be fun.

And now, here were easily over a hundred boys and girls gathered.

Royalty, nobles, knights, priests, merchants, adventurers, beggars—their attire was all different.

And those boys and girls were already forming groups here and there.

Building networks was essential for the long school life ahead.

“Lee Han of the Wardanaz Family?”

“That’s right. You recognized me even though I don’t have the family crest.”

In keeping with the tradition of equality, wearing a family crest was forbidden.

Of course, there were ways to recognize each other.

Even now, Lee Han recognized a few royals and nobles he’d seen before.

“I’m Yoner. Yoner Meikin.”

A girl with slightly curly, shoulder-length bright red hair and gently curved eyes stood in front of him.

The Meikin Family.

The Meikin Family was also a fairly famous wizard family in the empire.

The difference was that the Meikin Family was more actively involved in imperial politics.

By contrast, the Wardanaz Family tended to keep to themselves.

The patriarch of the family often didn’t appear even at the emperor’s request, preferring to seclude himself for magic research…

“Nice to meet you, Yoner. What’s up?”

“The prince wants to see you.”

Meikin pointed behind her.

Among those here, the most extravagantly dressed boy was waving at Lee Han.