Episode 386

‘…It must just be my imagination.’

Lee Han didn’t want to believe it.

These were the priests of Phoenix Tower who, until just now, made him think there was still hope even in this hellish place through their mutual care and trust.

Surely such priests wouldn’t fight over which order Lee Han believed in.

“I am currently interested in several different orders.”

“!”

“Does that mean… you have yet to find your true faith?”

“How do you even come to that conclusion?”

He’d clearly said “I’m interested in several orders,” but to the priest beside him, it sounded like “I’m wandering, unable to find true faith.”

“I’m not wandering, unable to find faith. Like most Imperial nobles, I simply support various temples.”

To convince the priests, Lee Han even did something out of character.

He claimed he was a typical Imperial noble.

Of course, at this point, it didn’t help much.

“But Lee Han of the Wardanaz family, many nobles support temples with donations, but not many personally visit and participate in prayers. Your devotion is clearly different from that of other nobles.”

Nigisor of the Afha Order spoke, looking curious.

Lee Han gritted his teeth and replied.

“Thanks for the kind explanation.”

“I’m humbled.”

Upon hearing that Lee Han had attended events at Afha and Prisinga Order temples, the other priests’ eyes sparkled even brighter.

At this point, the priests saw Lee Han as nothing but a wandering lamb.

“Please visit our order as well. I am sure you will discover the true faith you’ve been looking for.”

“No, really, it’s just pure-hearted sponsorship… Wait, doesn’t your order ban polytheism in the first place?”

Some Imperial orders allowed multiple simultaneous faiths, but some insisted on exclusive worship.

Since Lee Han mainly sought out the former for his own benefit, he had no interest in the latter.

“That doesn’t matter now. Once you find your true faith, you’ll forget all the others.”

“Wait. I can’t accept that. Are you saying Lee Han should forget the Afha Order? There are few in the Empire as devout to Afha as Lee Han of the Wardanaz family.”

‘You’re just interested because of my mana.’

Lee Han cursed Nigisor inwardly.

This guy thought of him as nothing but a huge fuel tank of fire!

“You seem to have an interest in other orders too, but it must be the Fleming Order, right? Look at your alchemy grades.”

“If we go by that, all his grades in other subjects are good…”

Siana feigned ignorance and changed the subject.

“Since you consistently worked in the alchemy workshop during the break, you must be satisfied if you visit the Fleming Order.”

“Not all alchemists worship the Fleming Order. By my observations, Lee Han of the Wardanaz family is most interested in swordsmanship. Therefore, our order which venerates the sword…”

“You’re all wrong! Gainando told me Lee Han most likes magic cards. He worships luck…”

The priests began to argue fiercely at the table.

Their tone remained polite, but the force within was unwavering and uncompromising.

They raised their voices with an unyielding resolve. Even passing students stared, wondering what was going on.

“Wait, everyone calm down!”

Priest Tijilling’s cry made the Phoenix Tower students flinch.

This moved Lee Han.

‘So Priest Tijilling is still sane.’

Even if the other priests’ religious zeal had blinded them, at least Priest Tijilling hadn’t lost his mind.

Priest Tijilling quickly spoke.

“Let’s draw lots and decide the order. If we consider each other, we’ll surely make a schedule everyone’s satisfied with.”

“Indeed!”

“As expected…”

“……”

Suddenly, Lee Han wanted to go back to the Blue Dragon Tower.

• * *

“Hey. Did your Wardanaz come back…”

“If you talk to me, I’ll kill you.”

The Blue Dragon Tower students growled menacingly.

The White Tiger Tower students were taken aback, having only tried to make small talk.

“Wh-what…? Uh, no. I just wanted to know if Wardanaz came back!”

The Blue Dragon Tower students clutched their staffs with fierce looks.

Their determination was obvious—they’d brawl if provoked further.

It was the sort of spirit you’d expect from knights returning from a forsaken place, abandoned by their lord.

The White Tiger Tower students were overwhelmed.

“What… what’s with those guys? Are they nuts?”

“Wait. Are you just going to leave them alone?”

Other than Phoenix Tower, the three towers didn’t get along.

Normally, it was just a few sharp words, but if someone was openly picking a fight like this, the other side was ready to respond in kind.

No matter who won, having a fight was a matter of pride.

But…

“Let’s leave them alone today.”

“Why!?”

“In my opinion, Wardanaz must be badly hurt.”

“!”

The White Tiger Tower students were shocked.

Somehow…!

“That makes sense. That explains their reaction…”

“The Blue Dragons are arrogant and rude, but it’d be dishonorable to provoke them when they’re grieving over their friend. Let’s overlook it today.”

“You’re right. We’re knights, after all.”

The White Tiger Tower students wiped their upper lips and looked at each other with pride.

They were so proud to be each other’s friends.

“But Wardanaz, hurt? How did that happen?”

“Didn’t he challenge the Principal to a duel or something?”

“A Black Turtle Tower guy said yesterday that the Principal flew around with Wardanaz, so was that…?”

“Wardanaz… I knew he was fearless, but I never expected this much.”

The White Tiger Tower students suddenly fell silent.

“…He’ll be okay, right?”

“What? Are you worried about him or something?”

“M–Me? Pfft. No way. Are you the one who’s worried?”

“I–I’m not, either!”

While bantering, the White Tiger Tower students arrived at Professor Garcia’s -Basic Practical Magic- classroom.

Clatter!

“Everyone, go ah—Wardanaz!!”

“??”

Lee Han was puzzled at the White Tiger Tower students’ surprised reaction.

“Didn’t you know I came back over the weekend?”

“W–weren’t you hurt?!”

“No? What nonsense… Did you hear some weird rumor?”

Lee Han looked at the White Tiger Tower students as if they were hopeless.

How could knights be so gullible?

“…So why were those Blue Dragon Tower guys so mad?”

“No idea. Guess they’re crazy.”

The White Tiger Tower students sat down, grinding their teeth.

Just wait!

Meanwhile, the Blue Dragon Tower students also began entering in groups.

They glanced at Lee Han with gloomy faces.

Then, realizing the Phoenix Tower students weren’t present, they opened their eyes wide.

“Wardanaz! Where are the prie— I mean, the priests?”

“They’re sitting right over there.”

Lee Han pointed to the section with the Phoenix Tower students, who all waved back.

“Y-You’re sitting with us…? Instead of them?”

“You’re not sitting with Phoenix Tower?”

“…Did you guys eat something weird?”

Lee Han was startled, thinking his Blue Dragon Tower friends had gone mad.

But their craziness was just beginning.

“Waaah! Wardanaz!”

“We thought you’d abandoned us!”

“We’re friends even if you’re in another tower!!”

The Blue Dragon Tower students clung to Lee Han’s limbs, bursting into tears.

Lee Han seriously considered hitting them with his staff.

‘These guys, embarrassing me in front of everyone from the other towers.’

“We’ll behave! Please don’t leave again!”

“We’ll even clean the lounge regularly now!”

“They didn’t clean the lounge?!”

Nearby, a Black Turtle Tower student was dismayed.

What a bunch of trash…

“Alright, ever— Oh. Lee Han, do you want a bit more time?”

“It’s fine, Professor.”

Lee Han pried off his clingy friends one by one. Gainando, who clung to the end, was pushed away with a smack on the head.

“I’m glad you’re back, Lee Han. But everyone knows, right…”

“He was late recovering from a duel with the Principal, right?”

A White Tiger Tower student spoke knowingly.

Lee Han thought to himself.

‘These guys will believe any rumor, huh?’

Would saying, ‘If you bury your entire fortune in the yard, a wish-granting spirit will appear,’ work on them?

“Nope.”

“Oh. Really?”

The White Tiger Tower students stirred. A Black Turtle Tower student next to them commented dryly.

“Told you so. Idiots. A dragon, right.”

“Tch.”

“…He’s not a dragon. I just got trapped while exploring, so stop imagining weird stuff.”

The students buzzed at Professor Garcia’s words.

To get trapped while exploring…

Was that even possible?

“Are you hiding something?”

“Shh. Let’s just accept it. If we keep pressing, he might get angry.”

Professor Garcia gave up explaining and sighed.

“Today’s lesson is in the next classroom. Everyone, follow me.”

The students followed Professor Garcia.

Lee Han asked Yoner,

“Did you use another classroom last time too?”

“Yeah. She made the classroom into a cave.”

To convert the classroom into a cave for dark vision magic—Lee Han was impressed by Professor Garcia’s scale.

‘It would have been nice to see in person.’

…Until he saw the giant lake before his eyes.

“…?!”

Gainando, about to open the wrong door, almost fell into the lake and staggered as he tried to grab Ahsan’s clothes.

Ahsan dodged, as if asking what he was doing. Gainando cursed.

Lee Han grabbed Gainando by the scruff before he could fall, then asked,

“Professor, are we learning…”

“You figured it out, Lee Han.”

“…Is it Yumidihus’ Water Prison Bullet or evaporation?”

“…Take another look at the lesson title.”

• * *

Naturally, -Basic Practical Magic- wouldn’t be teaching Water Prison Bullet or evaporation.

Today’s magic was underwater breathing.

“Ah… I see.”

Lee Han visibly relaxed.

He’d been worried about what monsters might be in that lake.

“Pair up in twos. First, cast the spell on yourself, and once you’re used to it, try casting it on your partner.”

No sooner had the professor finished speaking than the Blue Dragon Tower students started pushing and shoving.

“Move it, you jerk.”

“You move. If you make Wardanaz disappointed and switch allegiance to Phoenix Tower, can you take responsibility?”

“Should we do it by grades? Who scored best on enchantments?”

“This should be water element magic!”

“I’m closest to him, so I—”

“If you move another step, I’ll toss you in the lake, Gainando!”

The Blue Dragon Tower students squabbled fiercely over who would win Lee Han’s heart back for the Blue Dragon Tower.

Meanwhile, a shark beastman priest from Phoenix Tower cheerfully spoke up.

“Lee Han of the Wardanaz family. Would you partner with me?”

“Alright.”

With no reason to refuse, Lee Han nodded.

“But why? There are other priests, too.”

“Oh. I drew first in the order draw.”

“……”