Episode 1096

“Isn’t that fair?”

Friends who had no interest in Wizard Cards commented as if it was nothing special.

It really was a fair point.

Unless it was polo, chess, or wizard’s yutnori, there was no real reason to be so obsessed with Wizard Cards…

“What nonsense are you spouting?!”

“This is why you ignorant fools—!”

Gainando and the other Wizard Card enthusiasts were, of course, furious.

How could they react like that just because it wasn’t their business? As Einrogard mages, it was truly shameful.

“You really should stop buying Wizard Cards this time.”

“I told you, you can liquidate them all later!”

“But Prince, you never sell any.”

“…That’s true, but… Would you all react the same way if someone criticized your hobbies?!”

Determined not to go down alone, Gainando called out to Uman, who was walking further away.

“Your Highness!”

“What is it?”

“What do you think about polo, chess, and other games?”

“Hm.”

Uman pondered briefly.

“If you’re an Einrogard student, you can’t afford to spend time on polo. Just like with Wizard Cards, it’s better to leave such things to others.”

“……”

“……”

The students (mostly from White Tiger Tower) all went pale. Giselle paused before she could clasp her hands in admiration.

‘Oops. That’s something only Wardanaz would do.’

“Other amusements are the same! If you’re an Einrogard student, your focus should be on magic.”

Only then did the friends teasing Gainando realize the gravity of the situation.

This dragon, royal and inspector, was, in a way, even more of a strict rule-enforcer than Wardanaz!

Deorgyu spoke up, a bit hesitantly.

“B-but, Your Highness. Don’t wizards need physical training, too? Polo is good for that.”

Students from White Tiger Tower looked at their orc friend with adoration.

It was a very good point.

“Mm! True, mages need physical training.”

“So polo is an exception…”

“But polo isn’t actually very efficient for physical training. There’s too much risk of injury, and since mounts have such an influence, you end up obsessed with them instead. Here, take this.”

Uman took out a booklet he’d written and handed it to the White Tiger Tower students.

On the cover, it read -Physical Training Exercises for Mages-.

A bit embarrassed, Uman continued to explain.

“I wrote this myself. I gave it a lot of thought for Einrogard’s mages. I trust it’ll keep everyone healthy instead of polo!”

“……”

The White Tiger Tower students’ faces soured as they skimmed the booklet.

If there’s a contest for the most boring sport in the Empire, its contents would definitely make the list.

Asan, watching from the side, swallowed and asked,

“Your Highness, doesn’t chess help rest a tired mind and develop thinking?”

“Mm! I agree.”

“So chess is an exception…?”

“But chess can lead to excessive immersion due to its competitive nature, and might even turn into gambling.”

The Black Turtle Tower students looked a bit guilty.

They’d been the ones to sweep the most silver coins through chess betting at the black market.

“Here, take this!”

Uman produced yet another booklet, also handwritten.

It was titled -Brain Puzzles for Mages-, and Asan and his friends’ faces fell even further.

“If you solve these puzzles instead of playing chess during breaks, Einrogard’s mages will be much healthier!”

“Wow… wow…”

“Shouldn’t someone call Wardanaz?”

The students had never tasted the stern discipline of an inspector before and couldn’t quite recover.

They wanted to call Lee Han to discuss what to do, but when they thought about it…

“But Wardanaz would probably like this stuff.”

“…No way. Actually… yeah, maybe he would.”

“That’s why I told you to stop with Wizard Cards.”

“I should say that! Last time, you skipped studying with us to play polo and I know it!”

Uman had left, but the students began arguing over whose fault all this was, and all their hidden wrongs started coming to light.

‘What a truly pathetic fight.’

Giselle thought to herself.

If an outsider walked into the villa right now, she’d say the students were from Baldrogard out of sheer embarrassment.

‘But where did Wardanaz go?’

Just moments ago, he’d been among their friends but now he was nowhere to be seen.

Did the skeleton headmaster call him again?

“……”

As she looked around, Giselle was shocked.

Her friend, who had just finished writing some notes, released his invisibility spell and appeared beside her.

“Oh. Moradi. Did you come to report someone too?”

“…Alpha and Dulak pretended to be sick last time and snuck off to play polo.”

“Thank you.”

Lee Han expressed his gratitude and added another note. Giselle nodded slightly.

Regardless of the petty fight, those who deserved punishment needed to be punished.

• * *

Dragons were among the rarest races in the Empire and most people only ever heard the name in fairy tales or folktales; few actually saw one.

It was said that when they spread their wings, they covered the sky like a giant cloud, or that a single flap could take them across the continent…

Lee Han had heard his share of such stories, but never really believed them. No matter how powerful a race, they still had limits.

Even after meeting Joulin, his opinion hadn’t changed much. Honestly, Joulin didn’t quite fit the image of a dragon with transcendent power.

But when they travelled to Einrogard on Uman’s back in an instant, Lee Han had to rethink dragon power.

That such an unreasonable feat was possible just on innate physical strength alone.

‘That means if Joulin grows stronger, she’ll someday be able to do this stuff, too.’

Lee Han suddenly felt a chill down his spine.

Now, since Joulin wasn’t so aware of her own strength, at most she’d dig traps and put on handcuffs; but who knows what she’d do once she realized her true power.

Maybe that’s why the skeleton headmaster was so wary of dragonkin?

‘Didn’t the headmaster study magic under a dragon when he was young? Now that I think about it, how did he ever manage?’

Just two dragons like Joulin would make it hard to learn any magic at all.

“What’s that?! What is that?!”

“At last, the headmaster has angered the dragons! I knew this day would come!”

Gathered in front of the main gate, the students were horrified at the sight of a massive black dragon blocking out the sky.

They’d been wondering when Einrogard’s evil lord would be taken down, and now the day was here!

-Quiet! Quiet! Do not cause a disturbance! This is His Highness Uman, the new imperial inspector for this semester.

“Inspector?!”

“Hooray! Hooray! We’re free!!”

“Die, you mean undead bastard!”

As news spread quickly among the gathered students, some began to cause an uproar.

When they cast attack spells at the Death Knights, the knights dodged skillfully and countered.

“Ugh!”

Struck by several arrows of black energy, some students collapsed to their knees. Even with their strength gone, they kept babbling.

“H-hey, everyone… Now’s your chance. If you attack while the inspector’s here, you won’t get sent to the punishment room!”

-How naïve. Did you think we wouldn’t prepare for that?

The knights shook their heads at the amateurish students.

They’d already fortified the blockade in advance on the skeleton headmaster’s orders.

‘It’s just like last semester.’

As he dismounted from Uman’s back, Lee Han thought to himself.

Every new semester at Einrogard, there always seemed to be disorder at the main gate—almost like a tradition.

The students, thinking it was their chance, fought fiercely despite the blockade. The Death Knights skillfully used magic shields to herd them together.

Enough! Enough!

Uman watched this unbelievable scene with tears in his eyes and released a psionic wave.

What was called dragon fear, the dragon’s roar, wasn’t just a shout. It was a powerful AOE spell unleashed with pure dragon magic.

Except for people like Lee Han, who could take it with their pure magical power, or professor-level mages always prepared with defense spells, everyone else staggered and collapsed to their knees.

Why would the honorable students of Einrogard cause such a commotion!

“W-who is it?”

“They said he’s the new inspector.”

Everyone, wait in an orderly fashion! I, Uman, will personally inspect your entry!

“!”

The sharper students exchanged glances.

Wait a minute…

‘What? Does this mean we don’t have to smuggle stuff?’

Einrogard students should always adapt quickly to change.

Some veteran third-years immediately gave up on smuggling and brought their goods out into the open.

With the inspector here, they expected their supplies would just be let in.

“Is this just a free entry?”

“Quick, everyone get your stuff! If we don’t need to hide it, we should bring in as much as we can!”

The fifth and sixth years went in first. Lee Han made polite eye contact with Direte.

As for Senior Yukveltire, he just watched blankly as she went in or not.

“……”

Direte whispered to his friend.

“Did you notice something just now?”

“You mean the inspector’s magical power?”

“…No… the junior’s respect… never mind. Forget it if you didn’t notice.”

As always, the fifth and sixth years finished up quickly.

Next came the second through fourth years.

‘Ah. Senior Drhmcha.’

Lee Han was glad to see a familiar face.

This third-year from Black Turtle Tower, despite a trustworthy dwarven craftsman’s face, had a rather slimy heart constantly thinking up scams, especially about tricking juniors with smuggling bait.

Really, it was about the average for Einrogard seniors, but that didn’t make it any less slimy.

‘Wait… did he give up smuggling?’

Lee Han was surprised as Drhmcha boldly dragged a huge backpack right up.

He hadn’t been naïve about smuggling, not even last time, so to make such a mistake…

“Here it is!”

-Is he crazy?

The knights were bewildered.

Was this some protest for a trip to the punishment room?

“Hmph. Ask His Highness the inspector.”

When things got heated at the gate, Uman, in human form, approached and checked the bag.

“Sugar, tea leaves, canned food, wine, gold coins…”

“These are supplies needed to survive at Einrogard. Heh.”

“I can’t allow these!”

“?!”

Uman declared firmly, and Drhmcha was shocked.

He was the inspector, wasn’t he?!

“W-why not?!”

“If students prepare their own food, it can lead to unbalanced nutrition, or at worst, to food poisoning. Don’t worry. I’ve prepared a diet for Einrogard students myself.”

Uman pulled out another booklet. This one was titled -Healthy Meals for Mages-.

“What about the gold coins?! Gold isn’t a food ingredient!”

“Bringing excess funds into the school could lead to disorder. If you need gold, fill out an application and submit it. I, Uman, will read it myself and review your request!”

The students waiting behind turned pale.

Those who’d been hoping for support from imperial officials, outside investors, or patrons, knew how picky they could be!

The skeleton headmaster, at least, was still a fellow mage school head and would generally approve even strange requests wherever possible.

But would the inspector really provide funds for -A Survey of Jewel Preferences Among Metal Spirits-?

“G-get ready to smuggle again!”

He said everyone should wait in an orderly fashion!

Uman firmly quelled the murmurs starting up behind him. The students’ faces, realizing their smuggling efforts had all come to nothing, turned to despair.

Lee Han thought to himself.

This semester wouldn’t be easy either.