Episode 158

“Hoo…”

Lee Han let out a sigh.

Then he spoke with a serious expression.

“I can’t tell you the details.”

“……”

Professor Thunderstep cursed his student inwardly.

‘What’s this kid saying with such a serious face…’

If it had been another student, say, someone like Gainando, he would have shouted, “Stop talking nonsense and prepare for your exams!”

But Professor Thunderstep didn’t do that to Lee Han.

The student in front of him was too diligent, and had too many responsibilities to scold.

“All right. Drink this.”

If barley potion didn’t work, there was grape potion and rice potion.

Professor Thunderstep took out a grape—no, grape potion and rice potion from under the table and offered them to Lee Han.

Lee Han shook his head.

“It’s dangerous if I get drunk.”

‘Is this kid really a freshman?’

To refuse alcohol… no, potion, at such a festive time.

Truly, it was ironclad self-control.

“If you have to break through an ambush… you should increase your allies.”

“Hm.”

Lee Han thought about Professor Thunderstep’s words.

He wasn’t the only one with an outing pass. Judging by the current trend, it wouldn’t be strange if students from other towers had three or four each.

If he formed a formation with them and broke through the ambush together?

‘Hmm. They probably won’t listen to me.’

Maybe the Blue Dragon Tower or Phoenix Tower students would, but the Black Turtle Tower or White Tiger Tower students were unlikely to listen to Lee Han no matter what.

Should he subdue his friends in advance and threaten them?

‘Maybe that’s not such a bad idea.’

When all other impossible methods were ruled out, the remaining method, no matter how absurd, might be the answer.

He’d have to attack his friends first, but…

“Thank you, Professor.”

Not knowing Lee Han was having such crazy thoughts, Professor Thunderstep smiled slightly, pleased.

Receiving sincere thanks from a student—especially one like Lee Han—was a joy for a teacher.

“I’m glad I could help. So you really won’t drink?”

“I’m fine. But, for a magic school festival, are these potions really enough?”

At Lee Han’s words, Professor Thunderstep shrugged.

“What do people know about alchemy? Even if you show them potions made through all sorts of transformations, only other alchemists will appreciate their value. People just think, ‘Oh, it’s a potion.’ But if you make something like this…”

“Everyone’s happy.”

“Exactly.”

A great alchemist is also good at making alcohol.

Lee Han listened with interest to Professor Thunderstep’s lecture, “How an Alchemist Manages Connections.”

Since alchemists who hole up making potions tend to be unsociable, making good drinks is essential for maintaining relationships—such was the gist of the lecture.

‘He’s definitely right.’

Lee Han resolved to watch Professor Thunderstep make alcohol closely in the future.

Bribery isn’t something just anyone can do well.

“I’m impressed, Professor.”

“Oh, good.”

“Then, may I take some of this potion with me?”

“…Are you planning to sell it later instead of drinking it now?”

• * *

The Skull Principal looked at the assembled gu—no, guests with a bored gaze.

Then he cleared his throat.

To the honored dignitaries of the Empire gathered here… and our proud students who will be responsible for the Empire’s future!

‘So fake.’

‘Once I graduate, I’ll never get involved with a lich again.’

While the guests clapped in admiration, the freshmen glared at the Skull Principal.

What’s he up to now!

The festival is almost over. To take a short break, I’d like to pose some simple riddles to those gathered here.

Exchanging riddles while resting was a favorite pastime of both nobles and commoners.

And since the Skull Principal, one of the Empire’s most renowned sages, was posing the riddles, the guests looked on with interest.

What kind of riddles would he give?

Oh, and if any guests from outside answer correctly, I’ll give you an outing pass as a gift.

“Principal, really… What would we use that for?”

“You’re so witty!”

“……”

Unlike the lively mood among the guests, the students who hadn’t yet gotten an outing pass were burning with determination.

And there were some who still hadn’t grasped the situation.

They were the guests from Baldrogard.

“This is our chance.”

“Right. It’s a chance to show the Einrogard wizards our abilities.”

‘Are they clueless?’

Lee Han looked at the Baldrogard students with pity.

If anyone here managed to get an outing pass by answering a riddle, the first-year students of Einrogard would see the Baldrogard students as mortal enemies until graduation.

And yet, they were so fired up without realizing this.

Now then… everyone, try to guess my age.

“?”

“??”

Everyone present was dumbfounded by the nonsensical riddle.

That’s…

That’s not even a riddle!

‘He’s inventing a new concept of riddles.’

-Grrr.

“What’s wrong?” Lee Han asked as Sharkan tugged at his sleeve.

Sharkan signaled anxiously for him to follow.

‘…No way?’

Lee Han wasn’t stupid enough to ignore the warning of his loyal undead summon.

He lowered his posture and moved, and Sharkan led the way. Lee Han and his summon headed to the back of the main building, where there were no people.

A huge pile of goods covered with cloth came into view.

Even though it was covered, Lee Han could guess what it was.

“…Fireworks.”

Through a gap, he saw the very familiar magic fireworks.

Lee Han didn’t bother to ask why these were piled up behind the main building.

That was something only amateurs would do now.

‘Forget riddles, maybe I should just avoid this and go back to the tower?’

But before Lee Han could finish worrying, someone appeared from between the piles of fireworks with a rustling sound.

It was a wizard he had never seen before.

“…Damn it, I’ve been caught! Who the hell are you!”

“!”

As the stranger cursed and raised his staff, Lee Han instinctively responded.

“Sharkan, attack! Paralyze!”

What Lee Han had learned at the magic school was that if anyone tried to subdue him, he had to resist, no matter who it was.

Even if it was the Skull Principal’s subordinate!

‘I’m not in the punishment room yet! If I subdue him and leave…!’

Lee Han focused with the determination to subdue his opponent no matter what.

He’d defeat him and prove his innocence in this situation!

• * *

The wizard, Ogonin, was not a subordinate of the Skull Principal.

He was one of the more renowned wizards in the Empire.

…Of course, being renowned didn’t mean he wasn’t a thief.

This time, Ogonin was definitely a thief.

Wizards who didn’t know much about Einrogard tended to have fantasies.

Unfortunately, Ogonin, despite his fame and skill, didn’t know much about Einrogard.

So he fell into the same misconception as many before him.

That inside, there would be countless mysteries and secrets he sought!

It wasn’t wrong.

It was just that getting in and out safely was nearly impossible.

But wizards, no matter how impossible, are like moths to a flame if there’s something they want.

Ogonin was one of those.

During the festival, many thieves and adventurers had been caught sneaking in, but Ogonin didn’t care.

He didn’t care about his reputation or what would happen if he got caught.

-I’ll definitely get in and obtain the mysteries!

Ogonin’s skills matched his reputation.

Thanks to that, he succeeded in disguising his identity and sneaking in, and in moving around unnoticed once inside.

But his luck ran out when he found the pile of fireworks.

Ogonin (who at first didn’t realize what it was) was delighted at the powerful magic he sensed from the pile.

-Aha! They must be researching something here!

To investigate properly, Ogonin set up a barrier.

-May the will of the forgotten one block those who approach!

It was a high-level mental magic, much stronger than crude invisibility or vision-distorting barriers, that would break the will of anyone approaching and turn them away.

After setting up the barrier, Ogonin tried to examine the pile of fireworks.

…Until a freshman suddenly ignored the barrier and walked right in.

• * *

‘How did he get past the barrier!?’

Ogonin couldn’t imagine that a freshman had ignored the barrier with overwhelming magic.

He just thought he’d made a ridiculous mistake.

‘Am I so nervous because I’m not used to thievery…! What a blunder…’

Ogonin thought he had to get out of there somehow.

If a freshman caught him and word got out, how humiliating would that be?

“May the vision of another consume you!”

Ogonin cast a powerful illusion spell. It was a spell that directly interfered with the mind to show illusions.

With all sorts of unexpected illusions, the freshman wouldn’t even realize what he’d just witnessed.

“…?”

But Lee Han was unfazed even after being hit by the illusion spell.

He felt a wave of magic hit his body, but…

‘What?’

He didn’t understand why the opponent was acting this way, but Lee Han decided to gratefully accept his opponent’s mistake.

He had learned this from dealing with countless professors.

Don’t get complacent.

Subdue them when you can!

“Flash!”

A bolt of lightning flashed and shot at Ogonin. Ogonin rolled to the side in shock.

He was surprised by how fast the lightning magic was for a freshman, but even more shocked that his illusion magic had no effect.

‘What the hell is going on!?’

Ogonin wondered if he’d mistaken his opponent for a freshman when he wasn’t.

Maybe a fourth- or fifth-year student…

But even so, it didn’t make sense. Even a fourth- or fifth-year couldn’t shrug off his illusion magic like this.

“May the vision of another…!”

“Flash!”

‘Ugh!’

The magic the opponent fired was by no means weak. Its power was fierce, and the casting speed was incredible.

Normally, he should have recognized that his opponent was immune to illusion magic and changed tactics.

But Ogonin’s pride held him back.

After all, wasn’t he famous in the Empire for his illusion magic?

To be flustered by a mere student was too much humiliation.

“I will dominate your mind!”

‘No. He’s really good at fighting!’

Lee Han deflected another powerful illusion magic, but didn’t even realize it.

Instead, he admired the opponent’s dodging skills.

It seemed the opponent had quite a bit of experience in magical combat.

Every time Lee Han tried to cast a spell, the opponent rolled and dodged first.

But why did someone like that keep using useless magic?

‘Is he trying to subdue me?’

Well, if he was the Skull Principal’s subordinate, it wouldn’t be strange to try to subdue students without hurting them… No, it was a bit strange, but possible.

Lee Han decided to gratefully take advantage of the opponent’s consideration.

‘I can’t go to the punishment room!’

Lee Han swung his staff and drew out his magic power like crazy.

Dozens of water beads quickly formed in the air. Only then did Ogonin panic and shout.

“Wait, wait!”

“Forgive me, Professor!”

“No…!”