Episode 1061

Episode 1061

“As a professor of Einrogard, I have no intention of acting on my own accord.”

“Professor!!”

When Professor Voladi made his moving declaration with finality, Professor Garcia, who had been skeptical, simply accepted it.

It was clear that Professor Voladi finally felt a sense of responsibility as an Einrogard professor.

People really do need to have disciples…

All the more suspicious…

“……”

However, the Skeleton Headmaster was not so easily swayed by the old disciple’s declaration.

Was this statement a ruse to deceive him, or did he truly, sincerely feel responsible as an Einrogard professor?

This is exactly why one shouldn’t reveal the truth in the first place. It just makes everyone uncomfortable.

‘Isn’t the fundamental issue just a lack of trust between each other?’

Professor Garcia thought to himself.

This wasn’t a matter of truth but rather an issue of camaraderie between the Skeleton Headmaster and the professors.

No matter what was said, if there was no trust, things would end up like this.

“Please trust Professor Baegrek a little.”

Trust him. This is what happens because I trust him.

The Skeleton Headmaster trusted Professor Voladi greatly.

He firmly believed that Professor Voladi was the type who would secretly start hunting the Evil God cult even if it meant deceiving him.

“That’s not trust at all!”

That’s trust, too. Hmph. Do you think blindly doting like you do is what trust means?

As the two bickered, Professor Voladi, who had been quietly waiting, opened his mouth.

“If you hadn’t deployed Wardanaz for surveillance in the first place, I think none of this would have happened.”

“!”

Oh?

Is that so?

For a moment, Professor Garcia was convinced.

If he had just trusted Professor Voladi and hadn’t needlessly deployed his disciple, the professor wouldn’t have found things suspicious…

I keep telling you not to fall for the enemy.

“The enemy… Who exactly is the enemy?”

Already halfway convinced. So gullible. If Wardanaz wasn’t watching, who would be? There’s only one disciple.

“There are two.”

“There are two.”

…Right. Two. I forgot. But freshmen don’t count in matters like this. Are you really that ruthless? Hm?

“So, seriously, the fundamental problem is trust—”

Noisy. Anyway, Professor Voladi. I’ll be watching you from now on.

‘Why is the one caught acting more confidently?’

Professor Garcia was flabbergasted by the Skeleton Headmaster’s threatening attitude.

If he kept acting like this, even those with no intention of acting out might turn rebellious.

Surely he wasn’t going to end up saying, “See, I was right!” afterward?

“Uh. Professor?”

Lee Han and Giselle, who had been searching the fortress with Ivinta, were surprised by the sight of new arrivals.

Professor Voladi and Gainando were one thing, but even the Skeleton Headmaster and Professor Garcia were there?

“What brings you here?”

“Well. Isn’t it because some student contacted us saying he’d attack the bandits’ underground fortress alone?”

At the barbed words of the professor, Lee Han looked at Giselle. It meant ‘Help me out.’

But Giselle slowly shook her head.

‘How could I help with that? You’re on your own.’

‘What a conniving bastard. Typical White Tiger Tower.’

While Lee Han nursed his absurd grudge, Professor Garcia continued.

“By the way, didn’t you join the expedition that searched for the dimensional void monster last time?”

“…!”

At those words, Lee Han looked at the Skeleton Headmaster with a mix of shock and fear.

What a traitor!

“The Headmaster ordered it!”

…Quick responses are good, but you already said that.

“Wait. Why are you even bringing that up?”

It’s a long story. Why did you take him with you, anyway?

“Oh. He’s the boss of the bandit gang here, and he was cooperating in the search. You know…”

Lee Han gestured, glancing at Professor Voladi. The Skeleton Headmaster nodded and spoke.

He has already mentioned the Saintguros cult.

“What the hell?!”

Lee Han exploded in exasperation.

Claiming to be worried about Professor Voladi and secretly assigning him duties, only to spill everything?

It’s not like I wanted to reveal it, either. This guy just wouldn’t shut up.

“!”

Only then did Lee Han realize the situation.

There was only one person who would have noticed something odd and blabbed to Professor Voladi.

“…Aha. It was Gainando…!”

“What? What do you mean by that?”

Next to him, Giselle didn’t understand and asked. Lee Han explained with a resigned face.

“Gainando must have found it suspicious after all. So he told Professor Baegrek.”

“…He figured it out without any explanation?!”

Giselle was appalled.

Even she had made a misstep, yet the prince nailed it with no explanation.

That was humiliating beyond just the facts.

“Wait. Lee Han. You only didn’t tell me??”

Having listened quietly, Gainando protested.

Even White Tiger Tower students heard!

‘How is he going to clean this up?’

Giselle suddenly felt interested.

Wardanaz did a good job controlling the Blue Dragon Tower students (and sometimes others), but this time the prince’s sense of betrayal seemed different.

If cracks developed in the internal order of the tower…

“You’re so honest, Gainando. If I’d told you, you would have blown it.”

“Right? That’s true.”

“……”

Giselle looked at Gainando as if at a hopeless fool.

What the…?

‘You fall for that line?!’

Even White Tiger Tower students weren’t like that. She just couldn’t believe it.

But why did that guy look so scared?

“With the fortress in this state, is there anyone who isn’t scared?”

This is fear beyond fear.

The Skeleton Headmaster was puzzled.

Ivinta’s eyes held an unusually intense fear.

“He says he had an incident with Hyerdan.”

“I, It’s not that I was attacked… Please, be clear. He just witnessed it. He didn’t do anything to me.”

Ivinta hurriedly corrected himself.

He was afraid that if he said he’d been attacked when he hadn’t, he’d be punished.

The Skeleton Headmaster was immediately convinced.

Seeing how scared he was, he must have really met Wardanaz.

“Isn’t Sir Hyerdan not that frightening?”

At Professor Garcia’s question, the Skeleton Headmaster shook his head as if deeply displeased.

What nonsense. Do you know how sinister and treacherous he is? Always trying to manipulate people whenever he gets a chance.

“……”

“……”

“……”

Professor Garcia, Lee Han, and even Professor Voladi stared silently at the Skeleton Headmaster.

Despite their wordless protest, the Skeleton Headmaster was completely unbothered.

He was always blameless, after all.

Professor Garcia, thinking it was just the usual slander, spoke up.

“While we’re at it, can’t we ask for Sir Hyerdan’s help?”

Of all the empire’s archmages, if it was the eldest son of the Wardanaz family, he would surely be helpful.

But the Skeleton Headmaster was skeptical.

He wouldn’t answer over mere troublemakers who hadn’t even begun to act yet. He takes after the patriarch… Rather, let’s make good use of who we have here.

The Skeleton Headmaster stared at Ivinta with glowing blue eyes.

For a bandit, he was quite well-connected, and might be useful as a ‘horse’ until the evil god cult was rooted out.

“I… I’ll give you my utmost loyalty.”

Good. Being obedient is good. I hope you keep it up.

“Do… do I just move on the wizard’s orders?”

Ivinta subtly hinted that he wanted to serve under Lee Han.

The Skeleton Headmaster found this odd.

A guy who got so scared by Hyerdan wants to serve under a Wardanaz family wizard?

Of course, Professor Garcia might seem a bit scary, but wasn’t Professor Voladi right there, too?

Wardanaz, what did you do to him? Did you promise him you’d spare him if Hyerdan came to kill him?

“No. I just listened to him talk about managing the fortress, that’s all.”

……

The Skeleton Headmaster looked as if he’d seen everything now.

In a way, instilling fear like Hyerdan was more conventional.

To have such a seasoned bandit wrapped around his finger just by talking…

How did such a strange one come out of the Wardanaz family?

“Professor. Professor.”

Lee Han quickly approached Professor Voladi to whisper.

Even though the Skeleton Headmaster had ordered it, he felt a bit guilty.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

‘What kind of “it’s fine” is it?’

Lee Han hesitated at his teacher’s reply.

There was the “it’s fine” of the Skeleton Headmaster, and the “it’s fine” of Professor Garcia.

If the reply was the former, Lee Han needed to think of a way to appease Professor Voladi’s wrath.

Though he had no ideas…

‘Maybe I need to learn a few more 5th-circle spells.’

“A disciple always has things they hide from their master.”

Professor Voladi continued without hesitation.

A disciple receives teaching, shatters that teaching, and forges new lessons.

Naturally, it’s impossible to tell the master everything along the way.

Right? You’ve finally realized some modesty, have you? You know how much you…

“Please be quiet for a moment.”

Just as the Skeleton Headmaster tried to butt in triumphantly, Professor Garcia stopped him, exasperated.

Why did he always have to ruin other people’s master-disciple bonds?

“As long as it’s not excessively dangerous, I don’t care. Really, it’s fine.”

Usually hard to read, this time Lee Han could sense Professor Voladi’s sincerity.

It wasn’t the kind of trap where someone like the Skeleton Headmaster would say “It’s fine” and sharpen a knife for revenge behind one’s back.

“Professor…!”

Lee Han criticized the Skeleton Headmaster internally again.

How could he suspect someone with whom he could communicate like this?

“You’re really not angry at all, are you?”

“……”

When Professor Voladi paused, the room was gripped with horror. The Skeleton Headmaster, as if expecting this, shouted.

Ha! He’s finally showing his true colors! He’s planning to go take revenge now!

“No way. That can’t be, right? Professor? Please say it’s not.”

Professor Garcia asked anxiously.

“No. If he was going to take revenge, he wouldn’t announce it here.”

“Then… A-are you mad at me??”

Belatedly, Professor Garcia realized the possibility.

Come to think of it, wasn’t she the one who joined hands with the Skeleton Headmaster to push her disciple into danger?

But Professor Voladi shook his head. The Skeleton Headmaster grumbled.

He must be mad at me again. You’re so shameless.

“No, I’m not.”

…Not?

The Skeleton Headmaster faltered slightly. He was sure it would be him.

Confused, he looked around the room. Gainando gasped.

‘Is it me?!’

“It’s Alsicle Pengerine.”

Ah.

“Ah.”

Only then did they understand. The Skeleton Headmaster waved it off as needless worry.

A pointless conversation.

“N-no, but isn’t this dangerous for Sir Alsicle?”

Lee Han worried alone.

He had been concerned about Professor Voladi’s attack last time, and it turned out to be real?

You don’t see him, do you? He must be hiding well enough.

“……”

“……”

Lee Han and Professor Garcia exchanged glances.

If you wanted to be technical, you could call it hiding, but…

“Are you sure it’s all right?”

“Hmm. Judging by the fact that he hasn’t returned yet, I’d say it’s fine. As long as he doesn’t show up before the end of the break, he can just keep avoiding him during the semester, can’t he?”

• * *

“I’m back.”

“Ack!”

“Uwaaah!”

“…Isn’t it a bit much for someone who just left me behind?”

At Garcia and Lee Han’s reactions, Alsicle, standing in front of the villa, spoke in a slightly sulky voice.

“A student from Einrogard came to Petrogarde looking for someone, so I met up with her and came back together.”

Ssshh—

Behind Alsicle, a familiar 5th-year Einrogard student appeared.

With impressive silver hair, she was the elder sister of Adenart and the successor to the Einrogard Enchantment Magic School—Yukveltire.

Yukveltire gazed at the Skeleton Headmaster with a surprisingly innocent expression. Normally, this was rare to see.

…Ah!

The Skeleton Headmaster remembered belatedly.

Right—I once stole Wardanaz, who already had a prior engagement!