Episode 1052
by CristaeEpisode 1052
“No, I mean, what he said actually makes sense.”
The Skull Headmaster was dumbfounded at his student’s way of siding with the dragon’s contractor.
“‘Makes sense’? There must be over a hundred safe places in the Empire, so why Einrogard specifically?”
“Because there are a lot of mages, the Demon Commander is there, and it starts with ‘Ei’.”
“Then I suppose you can send him to the Erin Darbel estate.”
“But you’re not there, Headmaster.”
The Skull Headmaster tried to swat his cheeky student with his staff, but Lee Han had already anticipated this and widened the distance.
Teaching an outstanding student is a teacher’s pride, but sometimes, if they’re too outstanding, it can spur anger.
The Skull Headmaster composed himself and spoke.
“Enough. It doesn’t matter if he insists anyway.”
“?”
“His Majesty will not permit it.”
Originally, the Emperor did not want to send Joulin to Einrogard. He judged it would interfere with the education of Einrogard students.
“Somehow it doesn’t seem like that…”
“Quiet.”
Indeed, Joulin, who was not only a dragon but also of royal blood, could disturb the diligent and earnest atmosphere of Einrogard.
Moreover, last term, Joulin had used a trick that would go down in the history of the Empire.
“If His Majesty refuses, we’ll just have to move him somewhere else. The Imperial Palace would be good. You go convince him.”
“Is it that he doesn’t want to go to the Imperial Palace?”
Lee Han was puzzled.
If the trip to Einrogard were refused, the Imperial Palace seemed like the best option.
It was in the same capital, so it was close, had powerful allies and support troops, and above all, had family.
“Of course he doesn’t want to go. All he’ll have to do there is study.”
The Emperor would never permit even his own children to act freely or cause trouble.
The Imperial Palace was the heart of the Empire’s administration, where countless bureaucrats came and went.
If someone just barged into any room there going, ‘Let’s play with Joulin!’, they’d certainly get a severe scolding.
The only books you could read were old texts and reports, and the only fun to be had was analyzing documents with the bureaucrats…
‘No wonder he wouldn’t want to go.’
“If I send him there, he’ll probably resent me later. Isn’t there a more entertaining place?”
“You’re talking nonsense. There’s nothing good in exposing His Highness to the Empire’s ambitious types.”
The Skull Headmaster spoke seriously.
Even children not of the Emperor’s pure blood drew ambitious people like moths to a flame, let alone someone like Joulin.
“And consider this advice for you as well. If His Highness becomes well known, who do you think people will target?”
“You, Headmaster?”
“…Did you sign the contract or did I?”
The Skull Headmaster barely suppressed the urge to smack his student and explained. Only then did Lee Han realize.
‘Ah. That’s true.’
He’d thought all that fame would bring trouble to the Skull Headmaster, but on second thought, Lee Han was the one who’d signed the contract.
If someone wanted to win over Joulin to their faction, they’d likely approach Lee Han, not the Headmaster.
“Hmm. But still, sending him to a dull place by force seems a bit…”
While speaking, a paper bird flew in. It was a response to the message sent to the Emperor.
The Skull Headmaster opened the letter to show Joulin.
“See here, Your Highness. His Majesty says no…”
?
“?”
-?
Everyone standing nearby looked puzzled. Joulin blinked and asked.
It says yes, though?
Amazingly, the letter was inscribed in elegant handwriting with permission granted. The Skull Headmaster’s handsome face crumpled as if it were a piece of paper.
“…His Majesty must have gone mad.”
“Headmaster. You said that out loud.”
“That wasn’t an inner thought.”
“……”
Generally, the Skull Headmaster had always shown respect proportional to how much he’d drawn the Emperor in, but this time was different.
Why on earth was he allowing Joulin to go to Einrogard?
“Maybe it’s because of Lee Han Student?”
Professor Garcia carefully offered an opinion.
Recently, Joulin had been rapidly maturing mentally.
Now that there was even a contractor, perhaps he wouldn’t disturb the other Einrogard students all that much?
“No. His Majesty would’ve definitely considered Wardanaz as well.”
The Skull Headmaster disagreed.
Of course, the Headmaster admitted Joulin had gotten smarter.
With a contractor, he probably wouldn’t cause any major incidents.
But taking care of Joulin was quite a burden on the contractor.
The Emperor wasn’t someone to sacrifice a student for his child’s happiness. Not even if it was only one.
“Perhaps he thinks this wouldn’t be much of a burden on Lee Han Student’s abilities?”
“…Professor…”
Lee Han was dumbfounded.
How could he make such an absurd assumption?
“It’s plausible, but I can’t see His Majesty doing that. Strange. There’s something I don’t know…”
The Skull Headmaster wore a serious expression. He looked far more troubled than when discussing the evil god cult’s appearance.
‘Really? Is Joulin going to Einrogard something to fret over that much?’
Regardless, Joulin gleefully beat his wings.
Excited! I’m going to Einrogard!
“It’s not over yet. Your Highness. I’ll visit His Majesty personally and confirm this.”
The Skull Headmaster stubbornly insisted.
He wondered if the letter contained some kind of trick, as last time.
Of course, Joulin didn’t care at all.
Einrogard!! Lee Han, aren’t you excited too?!
“Y-yes.”
Wow! Einrogard!
“Your Highness. Please don’t pull the chain. Your Highness?”
Excited, Joulin grabbed the chain still attached to Lee Han’s unlocked handcuffs and walked forward.
Professor Garcia, shuddering at the gruesome sight, firmly resolved inwardly to confiscate the cuffs as soon as they came off.
- * *
The strange villa in the capital, recently transferred to the possession of the Wardanaz family’s boy.
Once, there hadn’t been a hint of life here, only the sounds of ghosts and evil spirits—but now it was different.
The whole villa bustled with lively noises from the work of various mages.
“Is the end room on the second floor finished?”
“There’s no water. Looks like something’s wrong with the connection.”
“Can’t you just conjure water every time you need it with magic?”
“Are you nuts? Hanging out with Wardanaz must’ve made you crazy. Want to collapse from exhaustion making water all day?”
“…Just hook it up. Just hook it up!”
As the White Tiger Tower student grumbled and went downstairs, Salko looked around the exterior of the villa with a satisfied expression.
The once-bizarre building was steadily regaining a decent appearance.
‘Finish the end room on the second floor, repaint by the chimney… is that magic contamination? Should I make a new potion…’
“Tutanta. Have you heard of this metallurgical workshop? Should we take the commission?”
“The pay’s not that good. The woodworking guild nearby is better.”
“Oh, too bad. If it was all right, I was going to take commissions there in the second semester too…”
“Granden City is better. Being close is always advantageous.”
Commissions coming into Einrogard largely fell into two categories.
One, outside groups would visit and leave commissions with students to be completed and picked up—usually manufacturing or analysis fell into this group.
The other, Einrogard students had to go out themselves for commissions—these were mostly search or subjugation jobs.
Of course, the first type was far more numerous. The shrewd students were already working to secure such commissions in advance.
“True. Since Granden City guilds are close, they might rely on us more often?”
“Exactly.”
“But don’t the Granden City guilds mostly go to Wardanaz?”
“……”
Salko flinched at this unexpected point.
And it did seem plausible.
‘…Is that so?!’
The rumor about Lee Han was already widespread in Granden, the city closest to Einrogard.
“What are you talking about? Does Wardanaz have a hundred bodies? He can’t take them all.”
Ahsan, passing by, spoke dismissively.
Salko’s head cleared after hearing that. Yeah, that didn’t make sense.
‘How could I get fooled by that White Tiger Tower guy?’
“But Wardanaz attends every school, so couldn’t he just take all the commissions too…?”
“……”
“……”
Neither Salko nor Ahsan could accept that they had been rendered speechless by a simple White Tiger Tower student.
How could this be?
“I’m back.”
Thankfully, Lee Han saved them.
Having returned from an outing, Lee Han opened the front door and entered.
“Wardanaz!”
“Wow. You fixed all this? Impressive.”
Lee Han was amazed at the villa’s appearance, transformed once again during his absence.
He hadn’t expected repairs to go so quickly.
‘…Wait. Should I pay them?’
He wondered if he should just gloss over it while his friends worked so hard.
‘How much should I pay? The standard fair price would be…’
“…Agh!!!”
Ahsan screamed, and Lee Han flinched.
Did he somehow expose his unsightly inner thoughts of trying to save money on payment?
“T-there…! Over there! Wardanaz!”
“Oh.”
Lee Han realized why his friend had screamed.
The human-shaped Joulin, who had followed in with Professor Garcia, had revealed himself.
“I get why you’re surprised. He visited the villa and wanted to hang out.”
“Not that! Behind him!”
Ahsan shouted in frustration.
It wasn’t Joulin who had made him scream.
Sure, he was startled, but after meeting him last term, it wasn’t that shocking.
What startled Ahsan was right behind him.
The headmaster of Einrogard, now returned to skeletal form, was floating in and flying through the entrance.
“Oh, the Headmaster? We met at the villa and came together.”
“…There are limits to what you should bring with you…!”
Ahsan shuddered.
To see his friend talk so casually as if picking up a stone on the roadside made him want to grab him by the collar.
‘No matter how much of a Wardanaz he is, is he insane?!’
“Agh!”
“Gyaa!”
“Kyahh!”
Late to notice the skull, friends around the villa screamed from every corner.
The very worst person you could run into at this villa.
He thought the day would have no joys, but he was wrong. All the fools of the Empire seemed to have gathered here.
The Skull Headmaster mused sarcastically, thinking there were quite a lot gathered.
Einrogard students were like grains of sand—gathering so many in one place was a rare sight indeed.
Where is Professor Voladi?
“He’s out for a bit.”
Where to?
“Um… Apparently he ran out of bounty posters and went to get new ones.”
……
Seeing his absent professor, the Skull Headmaster sighed inwardly.
What an annoyingly diligent student.
Follow him, Wardanaz.
“Me? Really?”
…Have you already forgotten what I just said? Who else would follow him, Ironhead over there?
When the Headmaster gestured to himself, Gainando grumbled.
“I’m not Iron anymore, you know.”
“If I follow now, even Professor Baegrek would find it suspicious…”
?
“?”
The Skull Headmaster and Gainando both looked puzzled.
What could possibly seem suspicious?
“What’s supposed to seem suspicious, Lee Han?”
“…Um, if I suddenly show interest in bounty hunting, he might find it suspicious…”
The Skull Headmaster and Gainando burst into laughter at the same time. Lee Han glared at Gainando with a betrayed look.