Episode 1120
by Cristae‘…This is more fun than I thought.’
As he gave various bits of advice beside Wuman, Lee Han felt the thrill of power for the first time in his life.
So this is the power of authority?
He couldn’t even imagine what would be possible with this kind of strength.
He could make Gainando study all day, force Professor Verdus to only lecture instead of research, maybe even overturn the Empire from its very foundation. It was an overwhelming power beyond belief.
‘Oops. I’m getting a little drunk on power.’
Lee Han shook his head.
As a mage, one must always be wary of power. History was full of mages who ruined themselves after overindulging in sudden gains of authority.
For now, focus on monitoring Professor Verdus!
“Let’s go, Your Highness!”
“Yes! Professor Verdus… Hm. Is this really okay?”
“Just trust me.”
Although Wuman followed behind Lee Han, a heavy indecision remained in his heart.
The third-year students in the “Dangerous Artifacts in the Empire and Safety Management” class yawned. Some even nodded off.
But Professor Verdus did not change his ways. He tossed a huge crate into the middle of the students and repeated the same line.
“Disarm this safely. Figure it out yourselves.”
“…Can’t you give us a hint?”
“No! Have you ever seen a dangerous artifact give hints?”
The students cursed the professor inwardly. Some did it out loud.
“Who’s going to finally break that dam?”
“Why even bother teaching at all?”
“More than that, why is he crawling around on all fours?”
If this were a class for just the Enchantment School, the complaints wouldn’t be as widespread.
Students already used to Professor Verdus either ignored his negligence or made do while he rambled, focusing on their own work.
But “Dangerous Artifacts in the Empire and Safety Management” was attended by students from other schools too.
The way Professor Verdus would toss out a dangerous artifact and say they should just safely deactivate it by themselves drove them mad.
He was blatantly coasting through his duties!
“Can’t we just chuck it back at the professor after opening it?”
“Brilliant move. I’ll hold his left arm, who wants to take the right?”
“Am I the only one bothered by the fact Professor Verdus crawls on all fours? Why does nobody else care?”
Bang!
As the third-years whispered their rebellious schemes, the door crashed open.
Wuman looked flustered and whispered,
“Was it necessary to break the door…?”
“You must show the majesty of the Inspector, Your Highness.”
-Though I don’t know much about Inspectors, I agree: you should display some majesty.
The Death Knights who had followed Lee Han chimed in support.
Of everything an Inspector could do at Einrogard, monitoring Professor Verdus surely topped the list.
Still, as Wuman hesitated, Lee Han quickly called out.
“Professor Verdus! By the sacred authority of the Inspector granted by His Majesty the Emperor, I will now monitor your lectures and work!”
“What?! Why?!”
Professor Verdus was deeply shocked.
Why him, a faultless professor, instead of a wicked mage like the Skull Headmaster?!
Lee Han, instead of answering, gave a command to the Death Knights.
“Take him away! Lock him up and have him do Professor Garcia’s pile of paperwork!”
-We already planned to do that. Heh heh.
“No! Take Gonadaltes instead!”
Profesor Verdus wailed as he was dragged away. Wuman, still worried, asked,
“If we lock him up so suddenly, who will teach the students?”
“Oh. Don’t worry. Senior Yukveltire will lecture in his place.”
A thunderbolt for Yukveltire, who’d been quietly focusing on his own research, but Lee Han didn’t care.
It was only right for fifth-years to make some sacrifices for their juniors. Just look at Senior Direte.
“I…I see…”
“Now, as Inspector, I’ll send a letter to Senior for the substitution. Everyone, have a nice day!”
Like a whirlwind, the Inspector and his right hand departed.
The students, struck dumb with shock, couldn’t speak until Yukveltire came storming in.
“Professor! Passing off your lecture like this—I’ll never accept i— Wait, where’d the professor go?”
“He was… dragged off.”
“?!!”
Word of the Inspector’s new attitude spread fast.
Iactus: What a conniving Inspector!
Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Isn’t this a good thing?
Iactus: Good?! This appeasement is weakening and dividing the students!
Even in the Watchman Club, it was a topic of debate.
Ipheldrem: I don’t really understand what’s so bad about the Inspector who came to Einrogard…
Iactus: Shut up!
Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Shut up!
Ipheldrem: S-sorry.
Iactus: It’s obvious Wardanaz is counseling the Inspector, isn’t it? This punk. Calling in foreign influence as an Einrogard student.
Ipheldrem: Wardanaz?!
“……”
Lee Han quickly sent a private message to Senior Ellendil.
Gonadaltes: Senior. Senior. Please make some excuses for me.
Beaver-Penguin-Fox: …Are you overusing me a bit?
But since they were in the same boat, Ellendil started defending him.
Beaver-Penguin-Fox: The Inspector must have been blackmailed.
Iactus: Hah! If you gave in one time to threats, would you sell Einrogard to Baldrogard on the second?
Ipheldrem: Wow. Is it for sale?
Bulgasari: Uh, um, Ipheldrem. That might not be the best thing to say…
Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Instead of getting angry, why not find a way to use it? If the Inspector listens to your junior, that means you can control the junior and, by extension, control the Inspector.
“……”
Lee Han was speechless and immediately sent another private message.
Gonadaltes: Senior. What are you doing right now.
Beaver-Penguin-Fox: S-sorry. My hands just moved while I was making excuses.
Didn’t I ask you to put out the fire, and here you are pouring on oil?
Beaver-Penguin-Fox: But when I think about it, it’s a good opportunity… Could you use a bit of the Einrogard budget for the Spirit Forest?
Gonadaltes: I’ll be going now.
Lee Han promptly closed the book.
Power really was terrifying. To have someone trying to pull strings so quickly.
‘I’d better be careful for a while.’
Imagining not only seniors but friends trying to borrow the Inspector’s authority, he became alert.
Lee Han determined firmly:
To act without self-interest—or at least only a little self-interest, and otherwise just to help Joulin’s brother with a pure heart!
“Ah, Senior.”
Far from the main building, at the gloomy four-story Black Dark Hall.
This was the heart of Einrogard’s necromancy school and also of its tombstones, graves, cesspools, swamps, and more.
In front of that building, Lee Han met his fellow-school senior Ogoldos and grew wary.
‘He might covet the Inspector’s authority I have.’
“…Why are you looking at me like that? Did something happen?”
Ogoldos, seeing his junior’s gaze, started to grow more wary himself.
After all the intense combat training Lee Han had undergone, maybe it was safer to keep some distance.
“It’s nothing. Senior, if you intend to use the Inspector’s power, I absolutely won’t allow it.”
“What are you talking about?”
Ogoldos was even more flustered.
He knew the Inspector had arrived, but talk of wielding his power—what was that all about?
‘Huh?’
Lee Han paused.
His senior’s response was not what he’d expected.
“Senior, did you not hear that Professor Verdus was taken away?”
“Professor Verdus got taken away?! Knew it. That should be what an Inspector does first thing.”
Ogoldos was startled, but then immediately satisfied.
Frankly, it would have been stranger if the Inspector hadn’t started the banquet with ‘Professor Verdus, I arrest you!’
“…Senior, what did you do today?”
“Me? Checked the cesspool, looked after mushrooms, summoned undead and did a check.”
“And yesterday?”
“Checked mushrooms, checked the cesspool, summoned undead, and did a check. Ah, and there was a request to buy necromancy potion supplies. Heh. I bought ten barrels of hobble-poison from the southern farm. That should last us this semester.”
“……”
Lee Han felt his eyes grow misty.
Why did his heart hurt every time he came to the necromancy school?
“Why do you ask?”
“It’s nothing. sob.”
At the very top of his secret ‘personal desires’ list, Lee Han added a note.
-Support the necromancy school
While they chatted, Senior Dirimpa appeared above them.
Usually always down in the basement, Lee Han had only met him during the last vacation, so he greeted politely.
“Hello, Senior Dirimpa.”
“You are… Oh, you’re that Wardanaz junior?”
“Yes.”
“Wait, have we met?”
Dirimpa cocked his head.
He’d heard plenty about this junior, but didn’t recall ever meeting face to face.
‘Oh, right.’
Lee Han realized with a start.
They’d met during vacation, but he had been using the ‘Stedal Nago’ identity then.
“I’ve heard so much about you from Senior Direte, I recognized you immediately. He always speaks so highly of you.”
“…Hear that, Ogoldos? That’s respect.”
Dirimpa was extremely pleased.
Senior Koholti had called this junior a total nut, but in person, he seemed far more proper.
‘Definitely can’t trust Senior Koholti.’
“Senior, do you know anything about the Inspector’s authority?”
“I know the Inspector is here, but what about authority?”
“…What did you do today, and yesterday?”
The dwarf senior counted on his fingers.
“Today I dug up bones underground, and yesterday… I dug up bones underground.”
“……”
“You’re actually above ground today?”
Ogoldos asked, surprised.
This senior spent so much time underground, even Ogoldos barely saw him.
“I heard there’s a new demon in the necromancy school, so I came to have a look. Thought I’d ask if it knew anything about bones.”
“Ah.”
That demon obtained after vacation—the standard-bearer of the Duke of Pride’s duel and clown demon, Orlach.
He had escaped relentless pursuit by signing a contract to work at Einrogard’s necromancy school.
‘I had better warn him to pretend we’ve never met.’
Lee Han resolved.
That demon has zero tact; if not briefed ahead of time, who knows what nonsense he’d spew.
“What’s this? Everyone’s here?”
At last Direte arrived and, seeing the group, looked curious.
With such low numbers, and everyone busy with their own duties, it was rare for the necromancy students to gather like this.
For one final check, Lee Han asked,
“Senior Direte, do you know about the Inspector’s authority?”
“What’s that?”
“As expected. Nothing.”
Lee Han smiled.
He decided he could at least relax and be at ease, regardless of Inspector authority, among the necromancy school folks.
“You’re all here about the demon? I’ll just unlock the cell but I have stuff to do, so I’m leaving after.”
“What stuff?”
“They found an old necromancy in the east region, and the Headmaster told me to analyze it and write a report.”
Everyone nodded, but Lee Han felt something odd.
Huh?
“Headmaster gave you that, not Professor Mortum?”
“Yeah, the Headmaster asked Professor Mortum, but when he’s busy, I do it.”
Direte said like it was no big deal.
By fifth year, their skills were almost professor-level at Einrogard.
That meant if a professor was busy, you’d fill in as needed.
Lee Han nodded.
“I’ll be back in a bit. Go check out the demon first.”
“??”