Episode 1045

Episode 1045

“Come to think of it, there was no way Eandurde would have acted that stupidly.”

“Of course.”

“…You knew!?”

Lee Han was flustered at the professor’s response.

Well, as the master of the school, Professor Voladi had watched Eandurde for longer than Lee Han, so it wasn’t surprising that he could judge her so accurately.

‘But then, why didn’t you stop me??’

“Then, why did you come looking for her?”

“?”

Professor Voladi slightly raised his eyebrow as he looked at his disciple.

He wasn’t someone who was especially expressive, but with experience built up, Lee Han could figure out what he meant.

That was a question mark. To be more precise, it practically said, ‘What are you talking about?’

-You were the one making a huge fuss and running around desperately because Eandurde had disappeared, right?

‘Ah.’

Lee Han felt very embarrassed.

Come to think of it, he was the one who’d made a fuss after hearing only Alhidle’s words—“Eandurde went to the underground arena! We have to rescue her!!”

Even if Professor Voladi was doubtful, with a senior going bananas like that, he’d have no choice but to tag along just in case.

“…I’m sorry. I should have made a more careful judgment.”

“No. Loyalty between tower members is something to be praised.”

‘There’s only two of us, though.’

If there were only two in a school, even Gainando and Angrago might become friends.

Walking out of the slum district with his professor, Lee Han reflected once more.

From now on, he’d make a habit of fact-checking before barging in and attacking.

…If the guild members—half sprawled out, the rest hauled off by the city guard—could have heard this, their insides would have turned over.

• * *

“I see.”

Professor Garcia looked at his student with an ambiguous expression, unsure whether to praise or not.

Eandurde shook her old coin pouch with a proud face.

She’d heard from a slave merchant that one of them had hidden gold coins in a closed-down arena, remembered it, and finally got to use that information.

Truly, the saying “knowledge is power” was right.

“That’s not exactly what that saying means… Anyway, I’m glad you’re safe…”

“Shouldn’t we tell Lee Han that you’re back?”

“Shush. He might feel bad for no reason, so keep it quiet.”

The second year students who’d gathered at the news whispered in the back. Alhidle curiously asked,

“What are you all talking about?”

“Oh? Uh… we were discussing how much the ratio of Bromelia reagent affects the potency when casting black magic.”

Gainando stammered out an excuse.

At that, Alhidle looked at them with renewed respect. Dedicating themselves to magic like this, even during vacation.

The second-year seniors were truly on another level.

‘You just can’t compare us.’

It was a diligence incomparable to friends who, as soon as vacation came, were lost in gourmet food and pulp magazines.

“Hey, how’d you come up with that?”

“Shush. I just repeated the subject our senior was researching.”

“……”

While Gainando’s friend looked at him pitifully, Lee Han and Professor Voladi returned.

Seeing the magicians gathered in front of the main hall, Lee Han breathed a sigh of relief.

“Sorry we’re late, Professor.”

“No. I’m just glad both of you returned safely. Nothing happened, right?”

“Yes, nothing happened.”

Friends nodded as if this was only natural in response to Lee Han’s answer.

But Giselle cocked her head suspiciously. There was a bloodstain she hadn’t seen before on top of Wardanaz’s left shoulder.

‘Isn’t that blood?’

Though she sensed something wrong, before she could ask, Lee Han called everyone over.

“Gather up, everyone. A senior graduate left presents for you.”

“What? Really?”

Friends showed confusion at the unexpected words.

So the pile of presents left over there was for them?

“I thought Wardanaz bought those with his own money.”

“What if Wardanaz just made up a fictional senior and bought them himself?”

Without much faith in their Einrogard seniors, the friends whispered.

Going by the seniors they’d met so far, it was clear none of them would have left gifts like these.

“Why would I do that? Just get over here and line up.”

‘He’s not denying it strongly—a bit suspicious.’

The second-year students felt a twinge of suspicion.

Given that Wardanaz came from a great noble house, and continued to take on commissions without rest even during the semester, it wasn’t surprising he’d have this much money.

“True, Wardanaz isn’t greedy for gold coins.”

“…What?!”

Yoner was shocked by the voice of another tower student nearby.

How on earth did they get that idea?

“Why do you think that?”

“What, Meikin. Got a problem with Wardanaz?”

“No, it’s not that. I’m just curious?”

“He cooks for us without payment.”

“……”

Yoner was at a loss for words.

It was too hard to argue against, so all they could come up with was,

“He… does get paid.”

“Huh? Oh, silver coins? Compared to other seniors, that doesn’t even count.”

“That’s… well… No, never mind…”

Yoner thought about correcting the misunderstanding, sighed, and gave up.

He doubted anyone would believe Lee Han cared more about gold coins than they thought.

“Yoner. Here’s the triangulated flask from Tree Horse Mountain Range Tower.”

Lee Han handed an enchanted flask to his alchemy school friend. Yoner’s eyes widened as he read the description.

“Ingredient analysis, duplication, purification, and even transmutation? Doesn’t this have way too many functions?”

Yoner inspected the flask in awe.

One might think there’s nothing wrong with an artifact having lots of functions, but in reality, there was.

Every time you add a magical function, the difficulty and cost rise exponentially.

Issues like magical interference, arcane power supply, extra reagents for stability…

For that reason, it was simpler to just use multiple artifacts with distinct functions. There was no need to cram everything into one.

“Yep. I heard the magician who made it got disciplined. Another magician brought it to the auction on their behalf.”

“…T-thank you. I’ll put it to good use.”

Lee Han nodded. Judging by his friend’s reaction, he was sure he’d chosen the right gift.

Ahsan got a crystal astrolabe (after receiving it, Ahsan said he didn’t need an older brother or sister anymore, making Lee Han flustered), Deorgyu received leather gauntlets with a reverse-field shield, Ratford got a new lockpick and a magical bug for scouting inside locks, Nigisor got a lantern that reacts with fire elementals to produce various types of fire…

“Wait. Wardanaz, were you the one who bought up all the goods before the auction started?”

“It was a graduated senior, not me…”

“I see.”

‘Almost like that meant something else…’

Lee Han sensed a nuance but decided not to press. He didn’t have time to distribute all the usable items from today’s shopping anyway.

“Here, Nillia.”

“T-Thank you?”

Nillia was flustered to receive the Cursed Red Spear.

She didn’t understand why she got this as a present, but since it was from Wardanaz, there must be a reason.

“…No, why are you taking that?! The present is the quill pen next to it!”

Startled, Lee Han took back the spear and pointed to the quill pen.

This quill, which would help its owner write documents, was an artifact for Nillia, who would need to send out hundreds of invitations for social events.

‘…But the spear seems more useful…’

Nillia thought as she took the quill, certain that spear > quill.

Lee Han continued to hand out presents.

Raphadael got a thick book cataloging undead entities contractable by necromancers (he grumbled but eventually thanked Lee Han), Siana received the monocle of wisdom, Salko got a soot-black shovel enchanted for disintegration…

“Moradi. This sword…”

“I already have a sword I use.”

Giselle answered, a bit embarrassed.

She didn’t want to refuse a gift, but she already had a sword from her family.

“Hear me out. This sword looks like a sword, but it’s actually a magical artifact with a hidden throwing weapon inside. I heard a famous dueling magician favored it. If you draw the sword like this, a compressed air bullet fires from the hilt…”

“……”

Giselle was aghast at Lee Han’s excited explanation.

It was a much more underhanded gift than she’d thought.

‘It sounds so plausible, it makes it even worse!’

Giselle felt embarrassed at herself for being drawn in by that explanation.

When there was no reaction, Lee Han looked a bit deflated.

“Don’t you like it? I thought it was a really good weapon.”

“N-no, it’s not bad… might be good… Thank you…”

Giselle, having received the gift, strapped it to her belt. If anyone asked why she carried three swords, she was ready to smack them in the mouth.

He gave Tijilling the Cursed Red Spear (Nillia cast a slightly envious look), Adenart received a blessed picnic basket (and tilted her head in confusion), Sharkal got a conch imbued with water elemental magic, then Lee Han called Gainando over.

“Gainando. This ink bottle is an artifact for magicians who have trouble focusing. If you do anything else at your desk, it will squirt you in the face.”

“…Am I the only one getting weird gifts…”

“And here’s a bonus—magician cards from the auction.”

Lee Han held out a thick bundle of cards.

Gainando was moved to tears upon seeing the familiar card set.

“This is a miracle!!!”

“…Not really, though??”

• * *

Having returned to the villa with his friends, Lee Han called Eandurde aside.

He wanted to talk about when to go see Joulin.

“Shall we go after I buy your present?”

“That sounds good. But…”

For once, Eandurde hesitated. Lee Han was a little surprised at the sight.

‘What?’

Why was Eandurde acting this way?

‘Is she short on gold?’

“I have a question.”

Eandurde raised her hand and, after much hesitation, finally spoke.

She circled around and expressed it at length, but in short, here was the gist:

If your friendship with a friend clashes with respect for a senior, which should you choose?

‘This kid…!’

Lee Han was faintly moved and called Yoner over.

“Yoner. Yoner.”

“Huh? What?”

“Eandurde seems to have made a lot of friends already.”

Lee Han explained what he’d just heard.

From what he could gather, Eandurde was clearly wondering whether to spend the rest of her vacation with seniors or choose to play with friends.

“?”

Yoner tilted his head.

‘Something seems off, though?’

He strongly felt that wasn’t really it, but Lee Han was already talking.

“Of course, you should choose your friendship. Eandurde, you can use seniors comfortably and then discard them.”

“…Hey…”

Yoner looked at Lee Han with a very complicated expression.

We’re seniors, too!

“…Really?”

“Of course! Do you have a promise with a friend?”

Eandurde shook her head. With a determined face, she said,

“I will go see His Highness with you tomorrow!”

‘Is that something to declare so resolutely?’