Episode 183

Episode 183

It was absurd, but Lee Han decided to solve the problem at hand first.

If he left things as they were, all three groups of students could end up going to the punishment room together.

Sure enough, the students from the White Tiger Tower and Black Turtle Tower had already discovered each other and were growling.

• Who are you guys! We got here first!
• What does it matter who came first or last in something like this!

Lee Han sighed inwardly.

‘Such unprofessional guys.’

If you came to steal, you should lower your voices and act calmly like professionals, not get emotional and fight with each other.

“Everyone, calm down.”

Lee Han stepped forward to stop them.

“Ugh!”

“A… a thief!”

The students from the White Tiger Tower and Black Turtle Tower reacted violently when they saw Lee Han.

‘Do they think they’re not thieves themselves?’

Lee Han was dumbfounded, but there was a reason the other tower students were surprised.

Lee Han and his friends’ outfits were truly thoroughly thief-like.

The students from the White Tiger Tower and Black Turtle Tower had only roughly cut pieces of cloth tied around their faces as masks, so at a glance you might not notice, but if you stared, it was easy to tell who was who.

In contrast, Lee Han and his friends wore thoroughly face-covering masks and cloaks, made with knowledge gained from several experiences, Ratford’s advice, and fabrics bought from outside.

…Even if they were real thieves from outside, it wouldn’t have seemed strange.

“Calm down. We came here for the same purpose as you.”

“Wa… Wardanaz?”

‘Wait. How did they know?’

Lee Han had changed his voice, but was surprised when the other recognized him.

“The only one who would steal this thoroughly is Wardanaz…”

“There seems to be a misunderstanding. I’m not Wardanaz.”

He feigned ignorance, but the other tower students didn’t seem to believe him. They already looked half-convinced. Lee Han felt unfairly accused.

“Listen. All the students gathered here have the same goal: to get inside this Dissection Hall. If we fight, we’ll only attract attention.”

The other tower students nodded at Lee Han’s words.

Certainly, since they hadn’t even gotten inside the Dissection Hall, there was nothing to gain by fighting.

“So let’s cooperate.”

“…Alright.”

“Fine.”

Everyone agreed, but not all problems were solved.

The journey of the three groups together was just beginning.

“Who’s going to take the lead?”

“…We’ll stay in the back.”

“Don’t talk nonsense! Who said you could just take the back for yourself!”

The students from the White Tiger Tower and Black Turtle Tower immediately clashed.

Since they were entering a professor’s workshop, it was advantageous to go in last.

“Be quiet. I’ll decide.”

Lee Han spoke, but the other tower students didn’t accept it easily.

“Who are you to decide, Wardanaz?”

“Why should we take your orders? We said we’d cooperate, not become your subordinates…”

Lee Han raised his staff and pointed it.

A cold silence filled the students.

“I’ll decide.”

“…F… fine.”

“Just so you know, Wardanaz. We’re agreeing not because of your threats, but because there’s nothing to gain by fighting here.”

When the fight stopped, Lee Han spoke.

“We’ll take the lead.”

“!?”

Of course, the other tower students couldn’t help but be surprised.

Why?

“A… are you sure?”

“Yes. We’re the only ones who know the way.”

“……”

The other tower students stared in shock.

When did these guys…?!

“You decide who goes in the middle and the back.”

As soon as Lee Han finished speaking, the students from the White Tiger Tower and Black Turtle Tower started arguing again.

Lee Han frowned and pointed his staff.

“…Let’s decide with rock-paper-scissors.”

“Rock-paper-scissors, sounds good. Let’s do it.”

• * *

The place Lee Han and his friends were aiming for was the greenhouse on the second floor of the Dissection Hall.

There was a flowerbed where thistle flowers grew.

‘The advantage is that we don’t have to go up to the third floor.’

The third floor of the Dissection Hall was like a maze to those without qualifications.

Lee Han had come today because he was confident they could finish quietly on the second floor.

“Eyes, pierce the darkness.”

The first-floor hallway of the Dissection Hall, shrouded in darkness, turned green and revealed its hidden appearance to Lee Han.

“……”

The White Tiger Tower student didn’t ask Lee Han, who was casting the dark vision spell, ‘When, where, and how did you learn that magic?’

If it was Wardanaz, it was entirely possible.

He was someone who had mastered all sorts of evil secret arts even before entering school…!

“Wait. But where is the potion you’re looking for?”

Lee Han stopped and asked.

Come to think of it, he had to account for the movements of the White Tiger Tower and Black Turtle Tower students as well.

“I heard it’s somewhere on the first floor…”

“It’s probably somewhere on the first floor…”

“……”

Lee Han and Ratford looked at them simultaneously as if they were pathetic.

To come here with such poor preparation.

“Well. If you lacked information, it can’t be helped.”

‘They just looked at us like we were really pathetic.’

“Then search the first floor. We’ll go up to the second floor.”

“Alright. We’ll do that.”

Lee Han and his friends nodded and distanced themselves from the students who had entered.

As they climbed the stairs, a familiar, vast botanical garden greeted the group.

Perhaps because there wasn’t a rampaging mad bull like last time, the nighttime botanical garden was much quieter and more peaceful.

“It’s almost unsettling that nothing’s happening…”

“Hey. Don’t say ominous things.”

Lee Han warned Nillia.

It was supposed to end this quietly and peacefully.

“There’s the flowerbed.”

The students rushed over and began carefully digging up thistle flowers.

Lee Han looked around, preparing for any unexpected situation.

‘No Professor Thunderstep, no Professor Willow. Looks like nothing will happen.’

“Is everyone done? Let’s get out!”

Lee Han and his friends clenched their fists and quietly savored their joy.

Despite their tension, they had finished the job almost perfectly.

Ratford nodded knowingly.

The thrill of a perfect theft could only be understood by those who had experienced it.

Ratford felt nothing but pride watching his friends, who had started as novice thieves, gradually grow.

Bang!

“……”

But that joy disappeared as soon as they came down to the first floor.

With an ear-splitting roar, all sorts of commotion were happening in the hallways on both sides.

‘Are they crazy?’

“Th… these amateurs!”

Even Ratford stammered in surprise. Lee Han quickly moved to check the situation.

“What are you doing? Get a hold of yourselves!”

Despite Lee Han’s shout, the students didn’t listen.

They staggered around as if drunk, throwing classroom chairs.

Crash!

“Did they drink something wrong??”

“They can’t be that stupid!”

No matter how amateurish the other tower students were at stealing, they wouldn’t just drink anything recklessly.

Lee Han sensed a sweet scent wafting from inside the open classroom door.

It wasn’t an ordinary scent. It was a scent with magical power.

At that moment, a bolt of lightning struck Lee Han’s mind.

“Everyone, hold your breath!”

“!”

Come to think of it, it was strange that potions to make you dance well or play music well were just lying around, easy to take.

Especially on the first floor of the Dissection Hall!

‘Professor Thunderstep might have teamed up with another professor to set a trap!’

It sounded ridiculous, but Lee Han’s intuition signaled that it was highly likely.

This magic school was a place where such things were entirely possible.

Yoner, having heard the explanation, whispered as if he didn’t understand.

“But… there was no trap for the thistle flowers?”

“…Maybe Professor Thunderstep forgot…”

Lee Han spoke in a voice lacking confidence.

In fact, Lee Han found that the most puzzling.

Why did they set traps for potions needed for other classes, but not for the one needed for their own class?

Did they really just leave it for students to take?

The answer was that they let their guard down, thinking no one would try to solve it by stealing when time was so tight, but Lee Han didn’t know that.

“Alright. Wardanaz. Anyway, let’s get out of here.”

Nillia said urgently.

Whether it was a trap or a mistake by the other tower students, one thing was certain.

There was nothing good about staying here long.

If they made such a commotion, who knew what might happen…

“No. We have to take them with us.”

“Why, Wardanaz?”

Ahsan asked in surprise.

Then, as if he understood, he clapped his hands.

“I asked a pointless question. Honor…”

“If we leave them, they’ll call out our names.”

“…But there’s a bit of honor, right?”

Lee Han pretended not to hear Ahsan’s words.

“First, we need to quiet them down.”

“How are you going to do that?”

Yoner wondered.

The students must have smelled the scent of frenzy or rampage. They were running wild as if drunk.

In that situation, no words would get through…

Thud! Thud-thud! Thud-thud-thud-thud!

“Done.”

“……”

“But… how do you plan to get them out?”

Ratford asked with a worried look.

The rule among professional thieves was to abandon even comrades without mercy if they fell into a trap.

If Lee Han went in to get them out in this situation, he could get hurt too.

“I’ll do my best. Just a moment.”

Lee Han tied himself with a rope. Then he prepared to hold his breath as long as possible.

“If I look like I’m in bad shape, I’ll knock myself out, so pull the rope and drag me out.”

“Lee Han. Here’s a curse-removal potion. I don’t know how effective it’ll be, but…”

Yoner took out a potion from his pocket and handed it over. Lee Han nodded in thanks and drank it.

“Alright. I’m going in.”

Lee Han held his breath and opened the classroom door.

Then he went inside.

“…!”

The moment he saw it, he knew what had happened.

A magic circle set up in the middle of the classroom was continuously emitting smoke mixed with magical power.

‘It really was a trap.’

Lee Han walked over slowly. Then he used force to damage the magic circle. Fortunately, the magic circle was easily destroyed.

‘The smoke stopped!’

Now all he had to do was ventilate and get them out…

At that moment, a magical reaction occurred on the wall. A new magic circle, which had been hidden, revealed itself.

Lee Han cursed Professor Thunderstep.

‘This crazy…!’

Whoosh!

Blue smoke enveloped Lee Han. Even holding his breath, the acrid smoke penetrated his whole body.

Lee Han gripped his staff. If he felt anything was wrong, he planned to knock himself out immediately.

“…?”

But nothing happened.

Lee Han looked around. Just in case, he inhaled some of the remaining original smoke.

Still, nothing happened.

It felt like something was about to change inside, but then it just ended?

“……”

With a sour expression, Lee Han dragged the students out one by one.

It was a relief, but…

…Why did it feel so empty?

“The antidote potion worked!”

Ahsan, watching from behind, brightened his eyes.

“We should go help. Meikin! Please!”

“Wait, it’s not certain yet…”

Ahsan took a swig of potion and rushed into the classroom where Lee Han was.

Then his eyes started spinning.

“…Sorry, Ahsan.”

Lee Han knocked Ahsan out.

• * *

Thud!

Lee Han and his friends barely managed to throw the last student into the bushes.

They were all drenched in sweat, but for some reason, they felt proud.

“…Everyone, good job.”

“Yeah. Really…”

‘Would it sound too bad if I said we should search our friends’ pockets for a reward?’

“We just wasted time because of these guys. Would it be so wrong to search their pockets for a reward?”

At Lee Han’s words, Ratford looked at him with respect.