Episode 1069
by CristaeJust before Lee Han called his friends:
Gainando and the Blue Dragon Tower students were hiding in the mansion’s secret nook, avoiding Alhidle.
‘How the heck did Gainando find this place?’
The friends were amazed.
Who knew there was a hidden space behind the second-floor west-end closet?
Actually, secret storage or rooms weren’t rare in a place like this.
But finding one that was magically concealed was another story.
It was a testament to Gainando’s sheer determination.
‘To find this just because he wanted to slack off…’
“Gainando, sometimes I’m really impressed by you.”
“Shh. Keep your voices down! Pengerine will hear.”
Gainando put his finger to his lips, hushing them.
He pressed his ear to the wall; thankfully, it didn’t sound like anyone was chasing them.
“There’s an undead standing guard in the armor outside. If we’re found, we jump out the window. Got it?”
Behind a pile of messy crates was a window disguised as a wall.
It looked like just a wall outside but from inside they could open it if needed.
“Got it, got it.”
“Man, all this misery just because of a first-year.”
“Their questions are actually pretty sharp, aren’t they? For a second, I thought I couldn’t answer.”
The friends grumbled and unpacked.
Of course, not study gear. If they planned to study, no need to hide.
The Blue Dragon Tower students were scattered, absorbed in wizard cards, yutnori, and chess.
“Three silver coins? Hey, I know how much you pocketed last time—three coins? Have you no shame?!”
“You talk about shame—then you use Wardanaz credit to buy supplies and still come up short on your tab!”
“Both of you shut it. I want to bet on mucking out the stables next semester. Whoever loses takes it all.”
“You’re on. I was going to suggest that myself.”
‘God, these degenerates.’
Gainando looked at them disapprovingly.
Back in year one, they played purely, freezing and hungry. As they got comfortable, they grew decadent.
“What’s up, Prince? Pick already.”
“Hmph. I am.”
He couldn’t help it.
Wizard cards are not a solo game. No matter how degenerate they got, you needed opponents.
“Gainando, play me next.”
“Then me. For next semester’s Wardanaz snacks. I want custard creampuffs.”
“…Don’t tell me you all think you absolutely can beat me?”
As Gainando glared, the others looked away.
Unlike normal wizard cards, when stakes were involved, Gainando was hugely popular.
Everyone knew his deck — only high-cost cards he liked, easy to counter.
“W-what are you saying, Gainando?”
“Hmph. This time will be different.”
“…Hey, it’s not that weird curse deck again, right? I’m out if it is.”
“It’s not! And that’s a legit strategy!”
“O-okay. It’s just… unsettling, that’s all…”
Angry at the prejudice against black-magic curse decks, Gainando began unfolding the cards.
3 minutes later.
Amazingly, Gainando took the advantage and pressed hard.
“?!?!”
“!!!”
“P-Prince, you…”
“That’s not the real Gainando, is it?!”
They gawked at the cheap but efficient cards — -Nacala Jaws-, -Baldrogard Mage- — littering the field.
These were ugly cards Gainando would never use!
Taking them by surprise, he shredded their confidence.
“Gainando, how could you…?!”
“I’ve changed my mind. From now on, I’m playing solely to win!”
The humiliation at the Skeleton Headmaster’s hands had kindled Gainando’s resolve.
Still, the other Blue Dragon Tower students were simply baffled.
My snacks!
“Damn, I was sure I’d win.”
“It is time for Gainando to change tactics, I guess.”
The observers in the back weren’t too affected, but those with something on the line were feeling the heat.
They tried rattling Gainando to break the flow.
“Gainando! Are you actually going to play cards like Baldrogard Mage? That’s not the real you!”
“Wow. So low.”
“Who’s falling for that?”
“Shut up! Are you volunteering to do the chores instead?!”
At that moment, a magic-amplified shout rang through the mansion.
-Who wants to see Professor Verdus crawl on all fours!!
“…!!!”
The students looked at each other in shock.
That was Wardanaz’s voice.
“F-finally…!”
“He finally attacked and kidnapped Professor Verdus! I knew it’d happen!”
“Let’s go!”
In an instant, everyone sprinted for the window—those on the brink of defeat bolted even faster.
“Hey!”
Gainando brandished his staff and followed the cowards outside.
Thud!
He landed lightly in the courtyard and found familiar faces staring back at him.
Lee Han, Alsicle, Alhidle, and the penguin beastkin magicians.
“L-Lee Han! Is all the magic done?”
“Why are you all hopping out the wall together?”
“We… uh… were practicing wall-making magic…”
“All of you, go line up over there.”
Lee Han ordered in a frigid tone. The just-arrived White Tiger Tower students, catching the vibe, smirked.
“What idiots. We did everything and still had time for fun.”
“So foolish!”
“…?”
Alhidle tilted her head.
How could they be so proud about goofing off after finishing everything?
Are all White Tiger Tower seniors like that?
Sensing the first-year’s confusion, Giselle punished her friends’ shins and calves with furious kicks.
Have you no shame at all?!
“Everyone here?”
“Wardanaz. What about Professor Verdus?”
“We’re heading to meet her now.”
“You didn’t attack and kidnap her?”
“…No.”
The friends were slightly let down.
They’d hoped to see Professor Verdus hanging upside down, bawling.
‘What did these people expect…?’
Lee Han explained.
Professor Verdus made a careless bet; with the spell success, they’d come to see her…
“…She also happens to be visiting the capital, so we’re going to meet up. No weird misunderstandings.”
‘But you’re still going to make her crawl. Is that really so different?’
Yoner thought to himself.
Honestly, it didn’t seem that different.
“Can I ask you a few things, Wardanaz?”
“Go ahead.”
“Why is Senior like that?”
Salko pointed toward Yukveltire in the back.
Yukveltire stood slumped, as if half her soul had left.
“She’s tired from casting magic. Next.”
“What about Professor Baegrek? Is she coming to subdue Professor Verdus?”
“No, she’s just escorting.”
The reason for Professor Voladi’s presence was actually because of the evil god cultists.
With all the chaos around the evil cult lately, she was coming as a bodyguard.
But the clueless students just saw it as her coming along to beat up Verdus.
“Shh. Don’t ask.”
“Yeah. I kind of get why the professor would want to.”
They all nodded with sympathetic understanding.
If a professor wanted to deck her colleague, who could blame her.
“Uh, Senior, can I ask one last thing?”
It was Alhidle’s turn. Lee Han nodded.
“Go ahead.”
“…Why is Alsicle standing all the way over there?”
Alsicle, separated by a wide gap from Professor Voladi, was obviously keeping his distance.
No one could miss what he was doing.
“Don’t mind me.”
“Right. Don’t mind Alsicle. Maybe he’s just heat-sensitive.”
“……”
Alhidle only grew more confused.
The way the Einrogard seniors thought was just too complex for a first-year like her.
- * *
-Check the front.
-Yes.
The Death Knights spurred their skeletal steeds, checking behind the hill by the roadside.
-No ambush up here.
-Underground?
-Nothing below, either.
“I said it’s fine!”
Professor Verdus grumbled inside the carriage.
She just wanted to finish things up in the capital, but the Death Knights were moving so slowly.
-Professor Verdus. Please keep your voice down.
“You’re just slow.”
As the beaver beastkin complained, blue light flickered in the knights’ eye sockets.
Someone’s gauntlet twitched, moving toward a sword hilt.
If not for the Skeleton Headmaster’s strict order to guard her, she’d be buried beneath the hill already!
-How much further?
-We’ll arrive in half a day.
-I’d rather fight an evil dragon.
-Agreed.
Guarding Professor Verdus was a terrible burden even for battle-tested Death Knights.
Assassins lured by the hefty bounty on her head were bad enough, but the job was even worse thanks to Verdus herself.
Grumbling that they were slow—when they were only being careful because she had so many enemies!
If these knights had still had flesh and blood, there’d have been a massacre already.
-Remember, Professor. Under no circumstances are you to get out of the carriage. Once you’re in the capital, finish your business and leave quickly.
“I know. I don’t want to hang around, either.”
On that, both sides were in agreement.
The reason for Professor Verdus’s capital trip was to meet several skilled enchanters.
She could’ve handled it by letter or invited them to Einrogard, but not always. So, reluctantly, she had gone out herself.
-There’s no risk of leaked information?
-These wizards aren’t the type… probably.
The knights prayed the other wizards hadn’t sold Verdus’s details.
But even if they had, it wouldn’t shock anyone.
-Isn’t that a bunch of Einrogard students up ahead?
-What? No… but… it really is!
The knights driving the carriage were taken aback at the sight of a crowd of students far off.
They were gathered on both sides of the road, as if expecting someone.
-Do you think they’re planning an ambush?
-Hmm. They totally could be.
Strong Einrogard students ambushing professors during break was perfectly normal.
-Still, everyone act calm. Professor Verdus might not know she’s here.
“Excuse me, is Professor Verdus in there?”
-……
The knights were caught off-guard.
A leading question?
But even so, suspecting Professor Verdus right away—was that…
-How do they know Professor Verdus is en route to the capital?
“Huh? Uh… nobody, except Gonadaltes.”
-…What about students in the same department?
A Death Knight’s question made Verdus pause.
She’d written her travel plans in the workshop and often had students handle things for her…
“Oh! They might know.”
-Hold! Hold on!
One of the less patient knights tried to lunge forward, but the others quickly stopped him.
-Well, at least if it’s her own students, it isn’t an assassination.
-Or is it…?
In the end, the knights addressed the students.
-Yes, she’s here. Wizards, what’s your business here?
“We’re here about a bet with Professor Verdus.”
-A bet…?
“She said we could never complete a certain spell. We did. Now she has to crawl on all fours.”
“Tell them I’m not here!!”
Professor Verdus hurriedly whispered. The knights stared in disbelief at the beaver beastkin wizard.