Episode 146

Episode 146
Lee Han felt reluctant, but he was not surprised.
He had somewhat expected it.
If a professor simply let a student who hadn’t finished their quota rest, that wouldn’t be a professor.
“Understood.”
Haha. Don’t misunderstand and think I’m harassing you.
“Haha. Of course.”
The Skull Headmaster threw Lee Han a gaze filled with a subtle expectation, as if wanting him to protest, but Lee Han did not fall for it.
“By the way, is Professor Verdus always… like that?”
Yeah. Professor Verdus is… always kind of like that.
The two understood each other without needing to be specific.
Why didn’t you just take it easy, why did you work so hard to get noticed by Professor Verdus… tsk tsk.
“?”
Lee Han paused.
The Skull Headmaster’s words were oddly complex.
“Setting aside that I couldn’t take it easy, I didn’t particularly get into the professor’s good graces.”
From Lee Han’s perspective, Professor Verdus did not think that highly of him.
Even while doing the imbuement magic, he kept pointing out faults and complaining.
-Failed? Why is that? Oh dear. It’s not that hard…
-Is your talent really that lacking?
-If you keep failing like this… sigh… that’s unfortunate… I feel sorry…
-Compared to your passion, your talent…
It was fortunate that Lee Han was the type who could let professors’ words go in one ear and out the other; if it had been another freshman, it wouldn’t have been strange if they had seriously grabbed the professor by the collar.
That means he likes you a lot. Professor Verdus doesn’t even take care of his own disciples.
“That’s not how everyone is…”
What did you say?
“Nothing.”
Lee Han pondered the Skull Headmaster’s words.
Professor Bible Verdus was a bit eccentric, but unlike Voladi… no, unlike the other professors, he didn’t seem like someone who would forcibly drag Lee Han off to teach him.
Besides, he didn’t seem to have high expectations for Lee Han’s talent.
‘He probably just liked that I listened well earlier. If I said I wouldn’t, he’d probably understand.’
This festival week was going to be quite tough.
The Skull Headmaster spoke mischievously.
He still had to run Professor Voladi’s tent for several more days, and the Skull Headmaster’s magic fireworks hadn’t even been made yet…
‘Wait. Professor Alpen’s magic circle isn’t finished yet either.’
Lee Han counted on his fingers. No matter how he thought about it, it was too much.
Would he have enough time?
“But… I think it’s physically impossible for me to have enough time.”
Don’t exaggerate. Still, as a student, isn’t preparing for the festival more fun than attending classes?
“I’d actually rather just attend classes…”
As he was speaking, Lee Han suddenly felt something strange and paused.
“Are there no classes?”
I told you to rest during the festival. Aren’t you grateful?
“I’m grateful, but… uh… Professor Voladi gave a lecture, though?”
Did he?
The Skull Headmaster looked puzzled.
Then he spoke as if it was nothing.
Well, that can happen.
“……”
Lee Han didn’t know whether, after graduation, he should go find Professor Voladi first or the Skull Headmaster.

• * *
  Because of the spring festival, the Blue Dragon Tower lounge was full of spring energy.
  Friends hung nameless wildflowers picked from the fields here and there and wrote down fun events on the chalkboard.
  Gainando wore a cone hat made by a priest, and munched on thin biscuits with cream, a gift from a snack vendor who had come in from outside.
  “Gainando”
  “Hmph”
  When a friend who had just come in threw a clumsily made straw doll, Gainando quickly rolled to the side to dodge it.
  It was one of the common spring festival events, where you throw a doll said to contain misfortune.
  If someone else caught it, it was believed that your misfortune for the season would go to that person.
  “Too slow”
  “Ah, no”
  Another friend who had been waiting quickly threw the doll at Gainando. Gainando caught the doll and looked on the verge of tears.
  “Someone else”
  But the friends in the lounge had already prepared after seeing Gainando catch the doll.
  Seeing friends hiding behind furniture or waiting with their hands behind their backs, Gainando pointed at them in accusation.
  “Cowards”
  “Any means and methods are allowed during the spring festival, Gainando.”
  At that moment, the lounge door opened and someone entered.
  Gainando brightened and hid the straw doll behind his back. He was planning to throw it when the other let their guard down.
  Bang.
  Lee Han entered with the most tired face in the world.
  As the sun set, the deepening evening glow cast even darker shadows on Lee Han’s face.
  “……”
  “……”
  The Blue Dragon Tower friends, who had been excited just moments ago, suddenly felt unnecessarily sorry.
  Some students quietly pushed aside the toys they had been playing with.
  Assan, who had been doodling on the chalkboard, unconsciously flipped the board over.
  The princess, who had been playing chess with a follower, pulled a student over to sit in front of the chessboard and pretended to read a book herself.
  The tired face of the friend who always cooked meals for them had a powerful effect, making all the Blue Dragon Tower students feel ashamed and sorry.
  “Why is everyone like this? Is it because of me?”
  Lee Han was puzzled.
  “You don’t have to mind me, just keep playing as you were. I don’t know why you’re all acting so awkward.”
  “R-right?”
  “Haha. I don’t know either.”
  The friends quietly took out the toys they had put away. Assan flipped the chalkboard back. The princess put away her book and picked up the chess pieces again.
  Gainando approached Lee Han with shining eyes. The doll hidden behind his back wobbled.
  “Lee Han…”
  “Hey, you cowardly, despicable bastard”
  “How can you call yourself a person?”
  Two Blue Dragon Tower students rushed at Gainando, grabbed his arms, and dragged him away.
  No one with a conscience could give a straw doll to the exhausted Wardanaz.
  “Let go You said any means and methods are allowed”
  “Be quiet”
  Watching Gainando being dragged away, Lee Han collapsed onto the sofa.
  He was so exhausted that he didn’t even have the energy to ask why Gainando was acting like that.
  “Did everyone have fun at the festival?”
  “Of course, Wardanaz. What did you do?”
  “I ran Professor Voladi’s tent, and then I was locked in the workshop making magic fireworks at the Skull Headmaster’s request.”
  “…Hey. Put the toys away. Put them away.”
  Hearing Lee Han’s words, the friends hurriedly tried to put away the toys they had received during the festival.
  Lee Han waved his hand to stop them.
  “It’s fine… And everyone, be careful when the Headmaster sets off the magic fireworks. Don’t get too close.”
  “Why?”
  Gainando, who had had his straw doll confiscated by his friends, asked curiously.
  “Just do as you’re told, you bastard.”
  “What did I do wrong…”
  Gainando protested.
  Of course, he had tried to throw the straw doll at the exhausted Lee Han…
  A red-haired girl handed him a steaming tin cup.
  A small note was attached.
  -Free (If you ask the price, ask Gainando)
  “…Thanks, Yonere.”
  “It’s nothing.”
  “…Have I been too obsessed with prices?”
  Lee Han suddenly felt a bit self-conscious and asked Yonere. Yonere feigned ignorance.
  “Not really?”
  As the hot coffee, full of sugar, went in, he felt somewhat revived.
  Lee Han asked his friends.
  “What did everyone do at the festival today?”
  “I helped Professor Thunderstep. There was an event making and tasting various potions, and the guests from outside liked it too.”
  “I see… Maybe if I ever run a business, I should do events like this regularly…”
  “Lee Han. Maybe you were born for gold coins.”
  Even as Lee Han collapsed from exhaustion, Yonere was moved by his fiery business ideas.
  “I lined up earlier to get snacks. Someone who makes snacks came in from outside.”
  “Is that allowed?”
  “They said they got permission? Maybe the priests called them.”
  “As expected of the priests…”
  The students whispered, moved.
  In this land abandoned even by the professors, only the priests could be trusted.
  “And there were quite a few guests from outside, right? I saw people from other schools earlier.”
  “What? Really? Where?”
  “I couldn’t ask where… It wasn’t the right atmosphere. They were walking by with nosebleeds.”
  “Oh. Really? I saw some White Tiger Tower guys walking by with nosebleeds too. What’s up with that?”
  Lying down, Lee Han warned his friends.
  “Right. Don’t go near Professor Voladi’s tent either.”
  “Why?”
  Gainando asked absentmindedly.
  “Just do as you’re told, you bastard.”
  “Why do you keep harassing Wardanaz”
  “Ah… no”
  Gainando was doubly aggrieved by his friends’ scolding.
  Isn’t it natural to be curious
  “Speaking of magic fireworks, didn’t the Headmaster say he was going to do a magic fireworks event?”
  “I heard he was going to do something else besides magic fireworks… Now I’m getting a bad feeling.”
  “But everything the Headmaster does always gave me a bad feeling.”
  “True. Should we just avoid all the events?”
  Lee Han lay down and listened to his friends chatting.
  ‘I didn’t expect so many guests from outside to come in. What a shame.’
  If he had known, he would have tried to use this to attempt an escape…
  It was truly a shame.
  ‘But it’s not over yet.’
  Just as Lee Han’s business with Professor Voladi, the Skull Headmaster, and others was not yet over, the spring festival had only just begun today.
  He would try to contact as many guests from outside as possible during the remaining time to find a way to escape
  …Of course, he still had to run Professor Voladi’s tent, make the Skull Headmaster’s magic fireworks, finish Professor Alpen’s magic circle, and contact people in his spare time, but anyway…
  “Lee Han.”
  As Lee Han finished his coffee, Yonere whispered in a low voice. She seemed to be careful so the other friends wouldn’t hear.
  “What’s up? Are you going to beat up Gainando or something?”
  “No, it’s not that…”
  Yonere took out a potion bottle. Then, with a serious expression, she spoke.
  “Don’t be surprised by what I’m about to say.”
  “Okay.”
  “…That horse, it might really be a griffon.”
  “I see.”
  “You’re not surprised?”
  “I’m at the point where I wouldn’t be surprised if Gainando turned out to be a kraken. Let’s go, Yonere.”
  Lee Han stood up.
  Regardless of his exhaustion, this was something he had to check for himself.
• * *
  Half-believing Lee Han’s words, Yonere asked the priests of the Flemang Order for help.
  As a result, an amazing truth was revealed.
  …The potion that Fongrif in the stable drank was not a potion for animal transformation, but a potion for lifting a curse.
  “But Lee Han… even so, Professor Lightningstep? That doesn’t make sense.”
  “Yonere. Don’t trust the professors. No, don’t trust anyone at this school.”
  Lee Han spoke seriously. Yonere nodded.
  If that horse really was a griffon, Yonere felt she wouldn’t be able to trust any professor.
  -Woof.
  Sharkan, who had followed Lee Han out, barked beside him. Lee Han didn’t know how to speak leopard, but he felt like he understood what Sharkan was saying.
  ‘He’s probably saying something like, “See, I told you so.”‘
  Lee Han patted Sharkan apologetically. He felt even more sorry since he hadn’t been able to pay attention to him because of the festival.
  When they arrived at the stable, the door creaked open.
  And Lee Han and Yonere made eye contact with someone coming out of the stable.
  It was a person whose whole body and face were covered in black cloth.
  “…That’s not Ratford… Yonere”
  “”