Episode 1087

Even if Uman said he would assist Joulin, it didn’t seem like it would help much. If Joulin insisted or threw a fit, he seemed likely to give in immediately.

Probably, that burden would fall to Student War Mo instead.

‘Thinking like that makes me feel a little better.’

Having a young dragon nagging for a whole semester would be annoying, but such things could become nourishment for a student.

Of course, the student himself would hate it, but magic was something you grew through by doing things you didn’t want to do.

“Alright. Hang in there. I’ll watch how much you manage to improve Einrogard this semester.”

“Hmph. Even if you sneer at me, I’ll not waver.”

Uman’s attitude was as solid as rock.

It was clear he was determined not to let anything the skull headmaster said or did shake him.

“I’ve been preparing for this day all along. I’m sure Einrogard’s magicians will be pleased with my ways.”

“Let’s hear it. What did you prepare? Piles of gold coins?”

If he brought mountain loads of gold coins, that would actually be a very threatening strategy.

The students of Einrogard would be happy to sell out the headmaster for just a pile of gold coins.

And some would try to sell him out even without the gold…

Considering Uman’s status as a magic card official and the fortune he’d amassed, it was entirely plausible he’d try a gold-bribery strategy.

“What nonsense! I respect Einrogard’s magicians too much to buy them with gold!”

“You still have a lot to learn.”

The skull headmaster looked at the young dragon with pity.

This dragon still didn’t know what Einrogard magicians really liked.

Buying them off with gold is the real form of respect!

“I plan to guide Einrogard’s magicians toward righteous customs through pure justice, not threats or bribes. Professors are no exception—especially professors like Verdus! I’ll never leave them be!”

“Oh…”

For the first time today, the headmaster relaxed into a satisfied expression after hearing something agreeable.

Now that was more like it.

“That was good. If you just keep at it like that, some magicians might actually come to like your way.”

“…Pretending like you don’t care is pointless. I know you’re fond of Professor Verdus!”

The headmaster immediately put on a stern face, a chilling coldness flowing over his stone-like features.

“Absolutely not. Don’t ever say that nonsense again.”

“S-sorry…”

“No… never mind. It’s my fault for getting mad at a kid. Give it your best. And don’t push Wardanaz too hard. It’s fun, but I do pity the kid a little.”

“I have no intention of bothering students at all!”

Uman stormed out, still under the mistaken impression that the headmaster was teasing him.

As the dragon left, the knights spoke up, worried.

-Master. Will you be alright?

“What if I’m not? Want me to kick him out or something?”

-That’s not what I meant…

“It’s only a month or two. With his personality, letters of complaint will pile up long before then.”

The headmaster was unconcerned.

He was sure there was no way someone like Uman could last long at Einrogard.

Within two months, there would be a flood of student complaints to the emperor begging for mercy.

“Until then, make sure the storeroom is tightly locked and don’t do anything weird. It’ll be annoying if he starts snooping around.”

-What about the professors and students?

If the inspector poked around, it might be even more trouble for professors or students than the headmaster himself.

“What else? They’ve got to handle it themselves. Good opportunity, actually. Let them struggle a bit.”

Usually, professors or students (especially certain professors) grumbled that the headmaster was too stingy and heartless.

Mostly it was about not getting more time for their magical research or assignments, which the headmaster thought was ridiculous.

They had physical bodies and yet no conscience?

Maybe Uman’s arrival would serve as some discipline for the spoiled magicians of Einrogard.

“Still, I should send out a warning. Have letters delivered to the professors.”

-To Professor Bible Verdus too?

“No. Not that one.”

-How wise, sir!

Even loyal knights needed the occasional reward.

Seeing Bible Verdus completely wrung out at the start of term would be reward enough.

• * *

‘Is it just my imagination, or does he bring back a new guest every time he goes out?’

Yoner thought to himself.

He knew his Wardanaz friend had broad connections, but still—bringing a new guest home every outing?

And the guests themselves were quite remarkable.

Professors, the headmaster, magicians who ranked among the empire’s top five in cuteness, dragons…

“What do you think?”

“Huh? Isn’t it normal?”

Suddenly questioned, Nillia replied without much thought.

At a great noble family’s level, wasn’t a wide network normal?

“I see.”

Yoner nodded.

Come to think of it, if Nillia’s connections were as wide as Lee Han’s, maybe he wouldn’t find this strange either.

‘…Did I give the wrong answer?’

Nillia became nervous when his friend dropped the subject.

It had just been a casual answer…!

“So. This is the junior’s villa.”

Direte explained on behalf of the junior—who had a double identity—to the Black Magic School students.

There was no way Stedal Nago’s identity could enter all the way into the mansion.

“Where did Nago go?”

Koholti, admiring the villa, suddenly remembered Stedal Nago.

He’d disappeared somewhere—where was he?

“He left earlier. Said he had business.”

“What?! Why mention it now?! What business?!”

“I dunno. Said he was off to catch a villain.”

Bored, Direte brushed it off. Koholti looked both disappointed and impressed.

“To be moving so quickly right after slaying a demon…”

“It wasn’t really slaying a demon. There wasn’t a fight.”

“Be quiet. Don’t you know how impressive it is to negotiate with an angel and resolve things peacefully?”

Koholti grumbled as if personally offended.

The Black Magic School students murmured among themselves.

“Why does that graduate keep tagging along with us?”

“Let’s just tell him to go home.”

“…Okay. I’ll just stay quiet.”

Koholti fell silent in the face of junior rebellion.

‘What a bunch of blockheads who don’t know what’s impressive.’

It wasn’t that the Black Magic School students didn’t respect Stedal Nago—Koholti was just the strange one.

Even if they became friends with Stedal Nago, the juniors resolved never to introduce him through Koholti.

“Wait a minute. Yukveltire. Have you been here before?”

Direte paused when he noticed his friend acting all too familiar. Yukveltire nodded.

“When?”

“I’ve been staying here since the last project.”

“……”

Direte realized, a beat late, what this meant.

So Yukveltire hadn’t just chased the junior down to leech off his magic—she’d been staying at the villa the whole time!

“This won’t do. Where’s Stedal Nago? Bring him here.”

“Senior! You’re back!”

Lee Han dropped his disguise and appeared from inside, calling Direte.

And was startled to see his senior looking for Stedal Nago.

“Why are you doing this? This isn’t what we agreed on.”

“S-sorry. Yukveltire made me lose my senses for a moment… actually, wait. Why did you let Yukveltire stay here, anyway?”

“Well, she’s a senior, I couldn’t just kick her out…”

“From now on, just kick her out. If it’s too hard, just switch identities.”

‘Are you really my friend?’

Lee Han was flustered by Direte’s much harsher position.

And she was his friend!

“Think about it, junior. If you can’t kick a senior out, what are you going to do when a professor comes? Will you let them stay, too?”

“Oh! Professor, hello!”

Just then, Professor Voladi was seen walking by. Lee Han greeted him politely.

Their eyes met, and the professor nodded in return.

“……”

Direte blinked.

The professor’s here too?

“Why is the professor here?!”

“It’s a long story. Unlike with Yukveltire, there’s a good reason.”

Unlike Yukveltire, whom Lee Han was accommodating to avoid a fuss, there was a compelling reason related to cultists for Professor Baegrek to be there.

Direte listened with concern and then nodded, somewhat dissatisfied, but convinced.

“Fine… there’s a good reason for Professor Baegrek. But you really should get in the habit of saying no to Yukveltire. Otherwise…”

The front door opened and the skull headmaster, in human form, entered together with Professor Garcia.

“Professor Voladi, over here! We need a short meeting with Professor Garcia.”

“Ah. Would you care for a drink?”

Lee Han addressed Professor Garcia, acting completely natural despite the headmaster and professor barging into the villa.

“No, I’m fine.”

“I’m okay too, Lee Han.”

Unlike the others, Professor Voladi just gestured. He meant for Lee Han not to interfere.

As he took out a white teapot and cups, placing them on a tray and walking away, Direte stared after him, spellbound.

…Was this an Einrogard annex, or what??

“Wh-what was that just now?”

“Isn’t the headmaster a bit shameless? I wasn’t offering him a drink, I was asking Professor Garcia if he wanted one.”

“…Not that! Why is everyone gathering here like it’s nothing?!”

At Direte’s outburst, the nearby second-years paused.

Huh?

‘True.’

After so many shocks, they’d gotten used to it and forgotten, but now that they thought about it, it was really odd.

You didn’t usually see the headmaster or professors this often during vacation.

“I guess it just sort of happened.”

“I don’t think you can sum this up as ‘it just sort of happened’…”

As Direte muttered, Garcia’s shrill scream was heard.

Not only Direte but the other students were shocked.

“Professor!!”

“Headmaster, don’t attack Professor Garcia!”

The students ran inside, fearing that the skull headmaster was sending Garcia to the punishment room.

But the scene in the common room was different from what they expected. Professor Garcia was perfectly fine.

…His face was just pale.

“E-everyone, it’s nothing. Don’t worry.”

“Punishment room? Interrogation? Fired?”

“Einrogard bankruptcy? Magic plague? Evil god’s descent? End of the world?”

The students began guessing wildly as to what had made Professor Garcia scream.

Professor Garcia shook his head and shooed the students out.

“Really, don’t worry! So just pay it no mind.”

“How can we not—”

Bang!

The door shut, and confusion descended on the students. Even Direte, a fifth-year, was unsettled.

“Professor Garcia isn’t the type to scream…”

“Should we eavesdrop on the meeting?”

“……”

At Lee Han’s suggestion, Direte wondered if his junior had planned this all along, inviting the professors frequently just to do this.

Surely not…

Bang!

Suddenly, the common room door swung open. The skull headmaster shouted from inside.

“Wardanaz. Don’t bother breaking the soundproofing spell. If you break it, I’ll make you keep casting it until it’s flawless.”

Bang!

The door slammed shut again. Lee Han glared at the door resentfully.

How did he know?