Episode 203

Episode 203

Imbuing a weapon with magic sounded like proof of an exceptional swordsman, but in truth, it was not that difficult.

Lee Han, Deorgyu, and Giselle could all imbue their weapons with a certain amount of magic right away.

Probably, even two or three students from the White Tiger Tower, who were less skilled than the three, could do it as well.

Having trained swordsmanship steadily in a knight family for over ten years and possessing the talent to enter Einrogard, it was, in a way, only natural.

What was difficult and important was maintaining the imbued magic stably, not just imbuing it for a moment, which was relatively easy.

However, if it was a throwing weapon, the story was different.

With a sword, one could continuously circulate magic as if it were a part of the body and stably maintain the imbued magic, but…

A throwing weapon, which left the fingertips the moment it was thrown, was much trickier.

Since magic could not be recovered through circulation, the consumption was greater, and the difficulty of control increased severalfold.

In other words…

“You used magic, didn’t you!?”

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

The White Tiger Tower students, who were bleeding from their noses, huffed and puffed.

No matter how much they tried not to misunderstand, this had crossed the line.

Imbuing a snowball with magic and throwing it?

If they were being very generous, that was possible.

But just how much magic did he have to keep throwing like this without getting tired!

But imbuing a snowball with cold-elemental magic and throwing it?

That was truly absurd.

Wardanaz was not even from a knight family specializing in throwing weapons, so how could he possibly know such a secret technique?

It was already difficult to imbue a throwing weapon with magic and throw it, but to add elemental imbuement on top of that was really…

Not only the White Tiger Tower students, but even the knights would not believe it.

“You used magic! The snowballs are coming at us frozen like this!”

“I imbued them with magic and threw them, and they froze on their own.”

“How does that make sense!?”

The White Tiger Tower students were dumbfounded.

If only he had insisted, ‘Actually, the Wardanaz Family has a secret technique for throwing weapons,’ it would have been better.

To say that cold was imbued in the magic without doing anything—what was that, waving your hand without a staff and shooting out a magic missile!

“Friends! Listen to me! Lee Han is telling the truth! He didn’t use any magic!”

“Deorgyu is getting fooled again!”

“Deorgyu, you shouldn’t be so gullible!”

“……”

Deorgyu, feeling dejected, sat back down. Giselle clicked her tongue and spoke.

“He didn’t use magic! I saw it.”

“Moradi!?”

“Don’t be fooled. Moradi is just siding with us because she’s on our side right now.”

‘These sons of bitches…’

Giselle cursed inwardly. Lee Han muttered as if he felt sorry.

“No one is trusted by their friends.”

“……”

“……”

For the first time, Deorgyu and Giselle were in agreement.

If only they would keep their mouths shut!

“What’s going on here?”

Professor Ingeldel came up, looking puzzled.

The students were not throwing the snowballs as instructed, but were arguing and bleeding from their noses.

“Professor! Wardanaz…”

A White Tiger Tower student, nose bleeding, tearfully explained what had happened.

At the pitiful sight, Giselle covered her face with her palm.

Just a moment ago, she thought it couldn’t get more embarrassing for the White Tiger Tower, but surprisingly, it could.

“I see.”

Professor Ingeldel was amazed.

The testimony of the White Tiger Tower students was surprising, and so was the current situation.

‘A student like Wardanaz wouldn’t do such a thing, would he?’

Rather than being so pure and good-natured, Lee Han was such an outstanding student that he wouldn’t use such an obvious trick and get caught.

Professor Ingeldel also trusted his student in his own way.

Sure enough, Lee Han spoke confidently.

“Professor. You’ll know if you check.”

A moment later.

After checking, Professor Ingeldel spoke to the students.

“It’s not magic.”

“!?”

“N-no, Professor! The snowballs really are frozen! They’re like rocks!”

“Hmm… I’m not deeply knowledgeable about magic theory, but perhaps the current environment is so full of cold that Wardanaz was affected. He may have unconsciously imbued his magic with the cold element.”

At Professor Ingeldel’s explanation, the students went “Oh,” and accepted it.

Certainly, the surrounding environment often affected a wizard.

In such an unnatural, extreme cold, it was possible that Wardanaz’s magic was temporarily influenced.

“Then how do we remove the cold element?”

“Should we light a fire or something?”

“What are you talking about?”

Professor Ingeldel looked at the White Tiger Tower students with a puzzled expression.

“Huh? Uh… shouldn’t we remove the cold element?”

“Because there’s a purity to snowball fights, shouldn’t we remove it…”

The White Tiger Tower students stammered under Professor Ingeldel’s gaze.

They felt an inexplicable unease.

Could it be?

“Imbuing a weapon with magic is a knight’s skill, so there’s no reason to remove it. Everyone, carry on.”

“……”

“……”

The mouths of the White Tiger Tower students dropped open.

It was easy to forget because Professor Ingeldel had banned magic, but he was not someone who pursued warm and friendly lectures.

He was someone who pursued lectures as close to real combat as possible!

Tap—

Lee Han, Deorgyu, and Giselle poked their bodies out from behind a rock.

In their hands were frozen snowballs.

“Wa…!”

• * *

“Lee Han. How should we divide the pig?”

“Hmm… Rather than dividing and taking it, I think it’s better to serve it to the friends who attended the lecture.”

Deorgyu was surprised by Lee Han’s words.

“Is that really okay?”

“Yes.”

“Lee Han. The other friends will be moved by your honor.”

‘Probably not.’

‘I don’t think so.’

Lee Han and Giselle thought to themselves.

A few pieces of meat would not be enough to ease their hearts…

The White Tiger Tower students had been beaten up too much.

“You didn’t put enough ointment on your eye.”

“You’re bleeding from your nose again.”

The White Tiger Tower students who came down from the mountain looked a mess. As if they had been beaten up by someone.

With bloody noses, bruises, and clothes in tatters…

They sat in small groups in corners, applying ointment given by Professor Ingeldel, looking quite pitiful.

It was no wonder Lee Han gave up taking the meat and decided to serve it.

Deorgyu and Giselle drew their daggers and skillfully cut the meat.

Those from knight families generally had a lot of hunting experience, and even if not, after spending about a month in Einrogard, they would gain plenty of hunting experience.

The two gathered the small pieces of meat, except for large cuts like sirloin or tenderloin, in one place. These were good for making sausages later.

“???”

Deorgyu, who was cutting the meat, was surprised to see Lee Han take a spice jar out of his pocket.

…Why does he carry that around?

“What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing.”

Lee Han put the pot on and lit a fire. Thanks to the extreme cold, fire magic was relatively easy.

Then he cut the fat and put it in the pot. It was to make pork lard by melting it.

Even after putting the pot on the fire, Lee Han did not rest. He mixed the remaining meat and spices to make sausages right away.

Even Giselle, who usually refused to acknowledge Lee Han’s abilities, had to admit his skills now.

Lee Han was as good at chores as the most experienced camper in his family.

…Why a boy from a great noble family, not even a knight family, was so good at this, she had no idea!

“Come and eat.”

“Huh?? Really??”

‘These guys were just staring holes through me until now.’

At first, the White Tiger Tower students sat with sullen expressions, but as the work progressed, they stared more and more intently.

There was only one meaning in those gazes.

-Maybe we’ll get some…?

Giselle sighed lightly and shook her head.

Such transparent behavior.

Today, the White Tiger Tower students had suffered every possible embarrassment.

Showing the bottom beneath the bottom…

“Th-then, should we try just a little?”

“Because ignoring someone’s sincerity isn’t knightly?”

Unlike usual, Lee Han said nothing. It was because he had thrown too many snowballs earlier.

Let’s let it go today!

Lee Han squeezed the crispy bits that came out from rendering the fat onto the hard, stale black bread.

With a fair number of students, it was not good to fill up only on meat.

At times like this, bread served as a good meal.

Few students ate the rationed bread as it was. They tried to change the flavor somehow or used it as currency.

Naturally, Lee Han, who was active in bartering, had a considerable stock of this bread.

‘Slip it in to fill them up.’

Unaware of such wicked intentions, the White Tiger Tower students rejoiced at the bread and meat.

“Wardanaz. You really did a good deed.”

Professor Ingeldel spoke with a proud expression.

He had given it as a prize to the winning student, but to see it shared with the others.

Lee Han nodded, hiding his wicked thoughts.

“No, Professor. We’re all friends.”

“……”

Giselle was appalled inside.

To say such cringe-worthy words without batting an eye.

People like Deorgyu might be fooled, but not Giselle. Wardanaz was the same type as her.

There’s no way he meant that sincerely…

“Wardanaz…!”

“H-hmph. The smoke is making my eyes water. I’m definitely not moved by your words.”

‘…These idiots, seriously.’

Giselle felt like the meat she was chewing was stuck in her throat.

After being beaten up so much, to look so relieved just from eating some meat.

They were friends from the same tower, but at times like this, she really wanted to hit them.

“This is on me.”

Professor Ingeldel brought over a jar of fresh milk.

Lee Han thought the jar looked very much like the one he had seen at Professor Thunderstep’s hut.

‘…No way, right?’

Everyone ate and drank by the fire.

Even Lee Han relaxed a little, when suddenly, Professor Voladi appeared behind them like a ghost.

“Is the lecture over?”

“Yes. It’s over, Professor Baegrek.”

“May I take him?”

“You may.”

Lee Han shot a look full of betrayal at Professor Ingeldel.

Professor Ingeldel looked slightly flustered at that look.

Did I do something wrong?

“Uh… Professor Baegrek. Where is Lee Han going?”

“To the upper floors of the main building.”

“Why?”

“To solve the cold.”

“…!”

At those words, the White Tiger Tower students stirred.

There had been rumors that Wardanaz was going to personally solve this extreme cold, but to think it was true.

If he was going with a professor, it must be no ordinary resolve.

“Wardanaz…!”

“You really…”

‘Should’ve thrown the snowballs a bit harder earlier.’

The reverent gazes of the White Tiger Tower students were so annoying.

“Fine! Wardanaz. We’ll go with you too!”

Angrago shouted with a determined expression.

Lee Han, Giselle, and Professor Voladi all looked at him as if they didn’t understand.

‘Is he crazy?’

‘Has he lost his mind?’

‘?’

But the White Tiger Tower students, perhaps with blood not yet fully back in their heads from eating so much, all agreed.

“Alright! Us too!”

“We’ll join you, Professor Baegrek!”

“Please lead us!”

Professor Voladi responded sincerely to the passionate cries of the White Tiger Tower students.

“The riffraff…”

“Professor. You must be cold from coming such a long way, so let’s have a warm cup of coffee!”

Lee Han quickly grabbed Professor Voladi’s arm and led him to the campfire.