Episode 172

‘I’ve caused an unnecessary misunderstanding.’

Contrary to his friends’ misunderstanding, Lee Han wasn’t someone who was crazy about studying.

He only studied what was necessary.

He was someone who only studied what he needed.

“Nillia. You’re not misunderstanding too, are you?”

“What’s there to misunderstand?”

“I know what you’re thinking right now, but… wait.”

Lee Han paused mid-sentence.

‘Is this it?’

The paper that was inside the treasure chest the skull principal handed out during the festival.

There was a spell written on it, but of course, it wasn’t something you could just obtain.

Even if it was written kindly and in detail, trial and error was still necessary, and if it was written in codes and metaphors only the wizard himself knew, the time required multiplied several times over.

Thanks to that, Lee Han had spent quite a bit of time on it…

Suddenly, enlightenment struck.

Lee Han put down the paper and began scribbling furiously with his quill.

The various codes he had jotted down began to fit together organically, and the overall context of the spell finally became clear.

“……”

“……”

Of course, to his friends, Lee Han just looked like someone who suddenly glared at a piece of paper and scribbled like a madman with his quill.

Gainando muttered.

“Learning magic is important, but Lee Han seems to be going too far.”

• * *

A dark night with only the moonlight remaining.

Lee Han sat in the lounge with a hollow expression.

‘No…’

It wasn’t because the other students were worse at memorizing than he thought.

Of course, the other students were worse at memorizing than he thought, but that wasn’t Lee Han’s problem.

‘…It was an invisibility spell.’

2nd circle spell, .

Actually, this wasn’t the skull principal’s fault.

How could he have known that the student who would take that spell already had a belt enchanted with invisibility?

But from Lee Han’s perspective, it was disappointing.

‘Well. It’s not a bad thing.’

If a situation ever arose where he couldn’t use the belt, that spell would come in handy.

…Though if such a situation came, invisibility magic wouldn’t be the problem.

Pararararak!

“?”

With the faint sound of pages turning, an unfamiliar scene unfolded before his eyes.

Lee Han immediately grasped the situation.

“You again?”

The book given by the skull principal floated in the air, pages exposed.

‘What’s the standard?’

He knew it was calling him to learn magic, but he couldn’t figure out the criteria for when the black book summoned him.

When did it call him?

“Can you tell me when you summon me?”

The black book showed only its pages in response.

He could feel it telling him not to ask useless questions and just learn the magic.

‘Well, it’s not like a book given by the skull principal would be kind.’

Lee Han muttered.

“You’re not purposely calling me when I’m busy or tired, are you?”

Parak!

“…?”

Lee Han looked up. He thought the black book had just moved a little.

No way?

The black book ignored Lee Han’s gaze and shook the page with the spell written on it.

Fortunately, the magic in the black book wasn’t as convoluted as the spell he got during the festival.

2nd circle spell, .

A spell that allowed you to maintain vision even in pitch-black darkness.

‘Not bad.’

Lee Han was pleased.

For someone like him who often had to move around at night, this kind of enhancement spell was useful.

He could conjure light, but that wasn’t always possible…

‘But… all the skull principal’s spells are kind of…?’

Recalling the spells he’d learned from the black book, Lee Han felt a sense of incongruity.

, , (though not learned from the black book), .

Spells named after a wizard were usually ones that the wizard had felt a need for and developed personally.

‘What on earth did he do in his youth to need these kinds of spells?’

Pararararak!

“Alright. I’ll focus.”

Lee Han spoke to the black book and closed his eyes.

Since it had come to this, he couldn’t leave until he learned the spell.

There was no harm in learning it, so he’d do his best.

But Lee Han didn’t realize.

If he didn’t learn the spell the black book gave him and just dragged out the time, he could buy as much time as he wanted until the next spell came.

There was no need to focus and learn them all at once like this…

• * *

By the time Monday passed, most students had fortunately recovered from their hangovers.

Lee Han stacked a mountain of egg sandwiches on the lounge table as a substitute for breakfast.

The eggs from the garden weren’t enough, so he borrowed a few from Professor Thunderstep’s hut, but he figured the professor would understand.

‘Not bad.’

It was a simple sandwich with mashed eggs between soft white bread, but it tasted good.

‘I can save on ingredients again.’

He felt he was getting more skilled at satisfying his friends while saving more and more ingredients. Lee Han felt a bit proud.

“Wardanaz. You’re a genius.”

“You made this menu even though you’re busy with exams…”

His friends, unaware of Lee Han’s wicked intentions, each picked up an egg sandwich and thanked him.

“But Wardanaz. Did you deliver one to Her Highness?”

“…Ah.”

Lee Han paused.

He’d forgotten because he’d been tormented by the black book while sleeping and got up early to boil and mash eggs.

“Why don’t you guys take it to her?”

Lee Han looked at the Blue Dragon Tower students who followed the princess.

“W-we’re a bit…”

“??”

“It’s just… because of her lineage, it feels a bit intimidating to approach her first and speak carelessly…”

“????”

Gainando, who was munching on an egg sandwich next to them, glared in shock.

Annoyed, Lee Han encouraged the followers.

“We’re all in the same tower, and one of the rules of Einrogard is equality.”

A place where everyone suffers equally.

That was Einrogard.

“But if you keep your distance and act so cautious, that’s not good.”

“Ugh… That’s true, but…”

Even with Lee Han’s words, the followers couldn’t easily change their minds.

They still felt uneasy about approaching the princess first and speaking to her.

‘Can’t they just think of her as Gainando in a wig?’

While Lee Han was having such a crazy thought, one of the followers spoke up.

“If we pay you more silver coins, can’t you deliver it this time, Wardanaz?”

“I don’t see why not.”

“?!”

Lee Han agreed immediately.

Well, it could be awkward!

• * *

class.

It was time to see how diligently you’d cared for your mount.

“……”

Lee Han looked at Fongrif with a complicated expression. Fongrif neighed as if to ask what was wrong.

‘It’s because you’re a griffon…’

While other friends led their horses, Lee Han had a creature that ate horses standing in front of him, so he couldn’t help but feel complicated.

Professor Lightningstep snapped his riding crop and spoke.

“Alright! I think I’ve said this many times, but the only way to get close to animals is through steady effort and sincerity. Maybe you can cram for other classes right before the test, but if you’re thinking that way in my class, you’d better give up.”

Gainando looked at his horse with pity at those words. The horse spat in Gainando’s face.

“Today’s test is to ride your mount and run. Go as far as you can and return within the set time. Any questions?”

Lee Han raised his hand.

“What is it?”

“Is there a dangerous river like last time?”

Professor Lightningstep thought Lee Han was a really petty guy.

And it wasn’t even something he’d set up!

“Of course. The land of Einrogard is vast and full of all kinds of obstacles. You’d better be careful and move accordingly. Then… begin!”

Professor Lightningstep didn’t give the students any time to prepare mentally.

He blew the whistle and started the test immediately.

‘Can’t we collude?’

As he mounted Fongrif, Lee Han thought for a moment.

If everyone agreed not to go too far, it would make the test easier for everyone…

‘Hmm. Definitely impossible.’

Seeing the other tower students already hurling insults at each other, collusion was definitely impossible.

“Get out of my way, Black Turtle bastards!”

“If you want, break through with your skills! Can you even call yourself a knight if you can’t do that much?”

Lee Han clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“I don’t know why they’re all so desperate to tear each other apart.”

“……”

Yoner looked at Lee Han in disbelief.

Probably about a third of those students wanted to keep Lee Han in check…

Since Lee Han was outstanding in other classes, jealousy naturally followed.

There were definitely quite a few students thinking, ‘At least in this class, I’ll beat that Wardanaz guy.’

And aside from that, Lee Han had just built up grudges. Among the White Tiger Tower students, there were fewer who hadn’t been hit by Lee Han.

Professor Lightningstep warned in a sharp voice.

“No attacking each other. Don’t use magic or weapons to attack.”

“What?!”

Lee Han was shocked.

He’d been planning to shoot water orbs to deal with anyone who came at him, so he was even more surprised.

Yoner was dumbfounded watching this.

He was pretending otherwise, but he was more prepared to fight than anyone.

“This is mount training, not magic combat training! I’ll allow bumping between mounts, but nothing more. Understood?”

“Yes!”

The students answered Professor Lightningstep.

But Professor Lightningstep didn’t know.

‘Alright. Then I’ll just deal with them by bumping mounts.’

That students like Lee Han would exploit any loophole if the rules weren’t strict enough!

• * *

Clop-clop-clop!

The sound of hooves pounding the ground echoed along the set course.

Not all the students had been lazy during the semester. Those who had steadily cared for their mounts were close enough to ride at speed.

Of course, Lee Han was one of them.

“Lee Han! Is it okay to keep speeding up like this?”

Yoner asked as he spurred his horse.

The goal of this test wasn’t just to go as fast and far as possible.

You had to go and come back.

If you went too far and couldn’t return within the time limit, that was a problem in itself.

But with the lead group pushing ahead like this, it took a lot of courage to slow down.

“Everyone has their own plan. Don’t worry.”

As Lee Han said, the students in the lead group started to slow down, watching each other.

They knew that if they kept sprinting, their mounts would get tired.

That wasn’t all.

The students started to form groups with their close friends.

‘Not good.’

Even in a race, it was much more advantageous to run in a group than alone.

It was easier to deal with any obstacles and to respond to collisions.

The problem was…

The students were glancing at Lee Han.

‘Wardanaz is the biggest threat.’

‘We have to get revenge on Wardanaz…’

‘We have to block Wardanaz from getting ahead.’

Lee Han tried to look as harmless as possible to ease their guard, but it had no effect.

If he were in their shoes, he’d be wary of a student like himself too.

The overwhelming favorite to win!

-Prrr.

Fongrif looked at Lee Han.

“What’s wrong?” -Neigh. Neigh-neigh.

“Alright. Good boy. Don’t go wild now.”

Fongrif let out a frustrated whinny. Then he glared fiercely ahead.

Bang!

Before Lee Han could stop him, Fongrif suddenly sped up like crazy.

The other students stared in shock.

‘Wardanaz…!?’

‘What is he thinking! If he runs like that, he’ll collapse in no time!’

‘Does he have some plan for this too?!’