Episode 385

Despite the Skull Principal’s words, Lee Han began to worry about his Blue Dragon Tower friends.

It had been about two weeks. Would his friends have been eating properly?

‘Wait. If I go to the Phoenix Tower, I can’t run my business.’

Realizing that, Lee Han suddenly became angry at the King of Ghouls all over again.

Of course, he could sell food to students from other towers, but the most lucrative business was always with those from his own tower.

And now that had been cut off.

“That King of Ghouls is such a villain. For the peace of the Empire, he should be locked away forever!”

Why so suddenly…? Even if you hadn’t said it, I locked him away for good.

The Skull Principal was puzzled at Lee Han’s sudden outburst.

The King of Ghouls was already in the Skull Principal’s grasp.

Being a powerful undead, he was struggling to break free, but now that he was properly sealed, it was impossible.

Once he finally gave in after continually resisting, he’d be reborn as the Skull Principal’s minion.

“But if you think about it, wasn’t it Lee Han who captured the King of Ghouls? Shouldn’t he get a reward?”

“Gasp. Really? I didn’t realize. If you’re giving one, I’ll gladly accept it.”

……

The Skull Principal blinked irritably at the disciple and master.

• * *

‘An outing pass…’

Lee Han sat in the Skull Principal’s carriage, mulling over the outing pass.

The outing pass was a huge reward for most students—something you’d stake your life on—but it wasn’t that big a deal for Lee Han.

After all, he still had the escape—no, outing—route he’d established in the first semester.

The way out through the Spire Stable and into the sky.

This was a path the Skull Principal hadn’t even noticed yet. There was no way the Skull Principal would have guessed that, in that short time, Lee Han had gotten outside assistance and escaped.

‘But I’ll need to use the outing pass, too.’

Lee Han calculated coolly.

If the Skull Principal saw that Lee Han was never using the outing pass and still enjoying plenty of supplies…

He’d definitely catch on—‘That guy is sneaking out!’

A guy like Gainando might say, ‘Why do you even worry about that?’ but Lee Han was different.

The devil is in the details.

The moment you make a careless mistake, the devil—no, the Skull Principal—will send you to the punishment room.

What’s so amusing that you’re thinking so hard?

“Ah. Thinking about the courses I’m taking for the second semester makes me so excited, I can barely stand it.”

“Right? I felt the same.”

It’s that time when you feel happiest.

“……”

Lee Han was creeped out by the two professors who accepted his blatant nonsense as perfectly natural.

Was he the only normal person in this carriage?

We’re here.

As the carriage passed over the Einrogard castle wall, Ogoldos beside him turned transparent and disappeared from Lee Han’s eyes.

“……”

While Lee Han watched, feeling mixed emotions, the Skull Principal stopped the carriage in front of the tower.

Go inside and grab your remaining belongings. Or rather, I’d better come with you.

“Huh? Are there traps inside or something?”

The Blue Dragon Tower ironheads might grab you and not let you go.

“…They’re not that kind of friends. Probably.”

• * *

—That can’t be! It’s a lie! It must be a lie the White Tiger Tower guys are spreading!

Denial.

—Gainando, you jerk! You should have gone in instead!

—I tried to, but couldn’t! It was Professor Mortum’s fault!

—Maybe the White Tiger Tower ambushed us while hiding?

Anger.

—A-All right. If Lee Han comes back now, I’ll forgive the professor.

—Me… me too.

—If he comes back this week, I’ll donate to the Imperial necromancers. I swear…!

Bargaining.

—Why does this kind of thing only happen to us? Are the gods jealous of our bloodline?

—It’s the White Tiger Tower’s fault.

Depression.

Those stages kept repeating.

At the Skull Principal’s words, Lee Han made an indescribable expression.

‘What if you really can’t ever get out once you go in?’

Apparently the Skull Principal thought so too, because instead of letting Lee Han in, he cast a spell.

Through the tower window, Lee Han’s belongings came flying out, one by one.

That should be all, right?

“Ah, yes, pretty much…”

Good. Then… Ironheads!!!

The Skull Principal shouted in a voice that echoed everywhere.

The Blue Dragon Tower first-years ran to the window in surprise.

Seeing this, Lee Han clicked his tongue in pity.

‘To stick their faces out just because the Principal calls… after all they’ve been through.’

If it were Lee Han, he’d check for traps first before sticking his head out.

The Wardanaz family’s Lee Han has returned!

“!!!!”

“R-Really?!”

“Wardanaz! Wardanaz! Over here!!!”

His friends opened the windows and waved enthusiastically. Each looked haggard and gaunt.

“Thank you, Principal! I knew you’d save us!”

Of course. It took a bit longer than expected, but who am I?

For the first time in ages, the Blue Dragon Tower students began to chant the Skull Principal’s name in admiration.

One couldn’t even imagine how long it had been since the Skull Principal had received such voluntary, respectful praise.

But there was something even more shocking.

“Did Lee Han bring chocolate cake?”

Wardanaz needs to be treated until this evil energy disappears.

“Oh, no!”

“Honestly, necromancy is just…!”

Gainando grumbled and cursed necromancy.

So, for this semester, he’ll be staying in the Phoenix Tower. Well then! Everyone have a good evening!

The Skull Principal scooped Lee Han up and flew off.

“???”

“??????”

“??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?”

From the rear tower came a wail horrible enough to make even the demons of hell jealous.

• * *

“Please take care of me.”

When he entered the Phoenix Tower, Lee Han was surprised by the subdued atmosphere.

While locations in the Blue Dragon Tower felt somewhat luxurious and flamboyant, the Phoenix Tower exuded a feeling of quiet solemnity.

Even the students inside welcomed Lee Han, but spoke softly.

“Welcome, Lee Han of the Wardanaz family.”

“We were worried because you were late.”

Perhaps because they were from priestly families, the Phoenix Tower students welcomed Lee Han but didn’t ask any further questions.

Having heard the explanation, anything more might be an annoyance.

All sat in their places—reading books, praying, or discussing doctrine.

Lee Han was moved by the sight.

‘Now these are students.’

Playing chess or wizard card games isn’t what students are for. Seeing the Phoenix Tower’s studiousness made Lee Han feel strangely emotional.

“Priest Tijilling.”

“Yes, how can I help you?”

Priest Tijilling, who had been preparing for prayers beside him, turned his head.

“Could you tell me a bit about the rules of Phoenix Tower?”

He was pretty familiar with most of the priests here, and some were even quite close, but Lee Han was originally from another tower.

If he didn’t learn the rules beforehand, he was sure to slip up at some point.

“Of course. Though, the rules aren’t that strict…”

“Just tell me casually. I’d appreciate it.”

According to Priest Tijilling, the rules of Phoenix Tower basically focused on mutual respect and helping one another.

If someone faced a hardship, you helped. If someone struggled with an assignment, you helped. If someone was sick, you helped them find a solution…

Recalling the times his Blue Dragon Tower friends grabbed each other’s collars over a bad card play, Lee Han shook his head bitterly.

‘My friends should really learn from this.’

“…Prayer times are as follows, and dinner… Oh. It’s almost time for dinner.”

“We won’t have a lot of ingredients since I arrived in a hurry, but let’s do our best.”

“That’s not necessary, though?”

“Hm?”

“Here, everyone prepares together.”

Not just the priests in the common room, but even priests who’d been in their rooms came out and began to gather food ingredients.

There wasn’t much, but with serious faces, the priests washed vegetables and peeled them.

Lee Han took out the seasoning and spices he’d brought. Two priests came by to ask about recipes and insisted on taking over the cooking.

“Do you always prepare meals together? The… food stores everyone has must be different, right?”

“Yes, everyone’s a little different, but if you share, you’ll receive someday too.”

“……”

“Here, Lee Han of the Wardanaz family. I’ve peeled all the potatoes.”

“You must be tired after your long journey, why not rest a little?”

Suddenly the Phoenix Tower started to feel very comfortable to Lee Han.

‘What is this comfort?’

• * *

“Lee Han’s probably lonely by now.”

“…?”

The weekend passed and the new week dawned.

At Gainando’s words, Yoner tilted his head in confusion, but the other students reacted sympathetically and vigorously.

“Of course! He’s in another tower!”

“See? The Principal really is wicked. How could he do something so outrageous?”

Even the princess was nodding. Yoner couldn’t believe his eyes.

“Let’s go meet Wardanaz! He must be lonely in the Phoenix Tower.”

“Great idea!”

The Blue Dragon Tower students headed to Phoenix Tower to comfort Lee Han’s homesickness.

Even when you’re trapped in another tower and lonely, true friendship helps you overcome it.

If the Blue Dragon Tower friends could show Lee Han he wasn’t forgotten, maybe he’d feel a bit better.

“Wardanaz! Wardanaz!!”

“We’re here! Wardanaz!”

Climbing the hill up to the tower, the Blue Dragon Tower students called out loudly.

But what greeted them wasn’t what they expected.

Lee Han was sitting outside the Phoenix Tower sharing breakfast cheerfully with the priests.

“That’s amazing, truly. Lee Han of the Wardanaz family!”

“It’s nothing. It’s not that impressive.”

“Not at all. To make this soup with such simple ingredients…”

“Have more cheese, Lee Han of the Wardanaz family.”

“Want some more soup?”

“……”

“……”

The Blue Dragon Tower students stared at the breakfast scene, totally betrayed.

Tears welled up in some of their eyes.

“Ca… Can a priest even do that? Is it okay for a priest to be that sly??”

“Hey, don’t speak ill of the priests… Damn. That’s not what’s important. This is just too much.”

“We’ll remember this…!”

The Blue Dragon Tower students ground their teeth and turned away.

They decided they’d be sure to let the Phoenix Tower students know which tower Wardanaz belonged to.

Just wait!

“That was a great meal.”

“No, it’s us who owe you.”

In the first semester, the Blue Dragon Tower students had enjoyed luxury with food brought in from outside, and the White Tiger and Black Turtle Towers had gathered food from inside the school. The Phoenix Tower students had shown how to make the most of the food they received.

They made stale bread or cold rice balls into filling soups, stretching them as much as possible.

Seeing them try to share even more, Lee Han made a firm promise.

‘I’ll make sure they’re well fed.’

“But Lee Han of the Wardanaz family.”

“Hmm?”

“This may be impolite, but—do you have an Order you follow?”

It might have just been his imagination, but Lee Han felt the gentle, polite air among the priests turn into a heated sense of rivalry.