Episode 470

“Is that not allowed?”

“Of course not.”

Yoner, who usually agreed with Lee Han on almost everything, had a different reaction this time.

Dance and social lectures were one of the few classes at Einrogard where you didn’t have to focus on studying.

‘Even for Lee Han, this is a no-go.’

Lee Han grumbled about “potential lack of selectivity” and “good lectures needing clear evaluation criteria” as he prepared food for the banquet.

Although many ingredients had been lost in the flood, there were new ones as well. Lee Han put the fish and shellfish his friends had caught over the charcoal.

He also got ready to grill vegetables like green onions and asparagus taken from a hut whose owner he wasn’t quite sure of.

“Yoner. Did you mix it all?”

“Here.”

Yoner handed over a bowl he’d been mixing with egg yolk, milk, and flour. Lee Han checked it and put it next to the cookies. Custard cream went well with any dessert.

‘Grill more fish… How much flour and rice are left? There’s soup left over from yesterday, so just add some ingredients to that, and plenty of pudding and cake should be good. Maybe do apple and sponge cake. For the food the skull principal spiked with sleeping pills, just let those who want to eat it eat. Grill the other fish and chicken as skewers to make it easy. Oh, how much paste is left? I’ll have to make more. Should I make it with chili powder and garlic? The White Tiger Tower kids eat pretty spicy… Nah. Do I really need to give them special treatment? Eh. Might as well.’

Renjid, who was from a famous imperial chef family, grew worried seeing Lee Han cooking several dishes at once and said,

“Wardanaz. Your friends will eat anything since they’re hungry, and even if you put this much effort in, they probably won’t even know what’s what, so maybe you shouldn’t overdo it and take it easy…”

“What are you saying!!!”

“Renjid, you jerk! Who are you to tell Wardanaz what to do?”

The Blue Dragon Tower students cried out in fury.

Normally, the once-dignified Blue Dragon Tower friends were now flying off the handle like White Tiger Tower kids, making Renjid flustered.

“N-no, I’m from a chef family too…”

“So, does being from a chef family mean you can say anything? Is that it?”

“Even if you’re from a chef family, Wardanaz has been cooking with real experience in Einrogard for a whole year! Can you match that with just your background?”

The Blue Dragon Tower students were extremely sensitive at the possibility they might lose their rare chance at a feast prepared by Lee Han.

Even some of the Black Turtle Tower students voiced agreement.

“Renjid. We respect your family and skills, but let’s not interfere when someone else is cooking.”

“Yeah. Besides, Wardanaz enjoys taking on tough challenges this way.”

“……”

Renjid looked at his friends with suspicious eyes.

They were all in the same tower, but in this case, Renjid was actually on Wardanaz’s side.

As a chef, seeing someone go this far was something he could relate to.

‘Are these guys just sucking up to get an extra dish?’

• * *

Saturday morning.

Krinnbal, the spider beastkin professor who taught dance and social lessons, greeted the students pleasantly as always.

“Alright! Great job, everyone. Step your way inside! All the exams are over! Huh? Where’s Gainando?”

“He’s eating and sleeping.”

Despite being warned, the students who’d picked the skull principal’s snacks at last night’s banquet were still sound asleep.

Professor Krinnbal spoke in regret.

“They must have been so exhausted by exams that they gave up dancing just to sleep!”

“I doubt it was the exam’s fault… not really.”

“Now that the testing is over, today’s a perfect day to dance, don’t you all think?”

“Yes!”

“Forget every single exam!”

“Yes!!”

‘Is this okay?’

When Professor Krinnbal called out cheerfully, the students responded enthusiastically.

“Everyone, how should you feel? Joyful!”

Lee Han absently turned his head to look out the classroom window.

The water, risen all the way up, rippled below and haze drifted under the overcast sky.

‘Yeah. Best not to look out the window.’

“Then, continuing from before, let’s dance again! Whenever I ring the bell, change your partner clockwise. Meeting many partners is how you become a good dancer!”

Ding-

“Wardanaz.”

“Angrago. …Why are you staring at my feet?”

“N-no? The dance is just hard for me?”

“Were you just wondering if you could step on me, calculating it in your head? Do you want to die?”

“N-no?? That never crossed my mind?? Not at all??”

Ding-

“Nillia.”

“Wardanaz. Weren’t you really too harsh back at the picnic?”

Nillia, with a lot pent up, poured out her grievance as soon as she took Lee Han’s hand.

‘Hmm. She must really have felt wronged.’

He could feel the sense of injustice in her eyes and voice.

“The principal always was a bit crazy.”

“That too, but I also summoned a spirit for the talent show, but everyone only admired the princess’s spirit!”

“…Ah, right. You meant that. Well, you…”

Lee Han stopped himself from saying, ‘You had your spirit perform through-the-fish shooting, but the princess had her spirit put on an illumination parade.’

Apparently, Nillia hadn’t been able to tell this to the other Black Turtle Tower friends and was only able to talk to Lee Han about it now.

After all, Lee Han and Yoner both had been busy lately, so Nillia wouldn’t have had anyone to vent to…

“And you?”

“Well, since I’m from the Shadow Patrol, ordinary imperial people around here just don’t notice exceptional things. Only people who know, know.”

“…Oh, it’s not that much.”

Nillia denied it shyly, but it was clear she was in a very good mood. The very angle of her ears had shifted.

Lee Han exchanged a glance with Yoner, who was stepping beside him. Yoner gave a look as if to say, “Leave it to me.”

‘Two people complimenting in a row should completely console her.’

“Try to understand. Most students here just don’t have an eye for…”

Ding-

“Deorgyu.”

“Lee Han. Is your arm okay?”

“My arm? Why?”

“You quickly grabbed the cauldron the prince knocked over earlier. Must’ve been heavy.”

“Oh, I caught that using magic, so it’s fine. You said prince, so for a second I was like, who?”

“……”

Deorgyu hesitated, unsure whether to be impressed by his friend’s magical control or to be shocked that Lee Han didn’t even know which prince was being spoken about.

“Did you do well on the exam?”

“Thanks to your help, I did well. Thanks again, Lee Han.”

Seeing Deorgyu’s big smile, Lee Han nodded in satisfaction.

“About those other White Tiger Tower kids who studied with us…”

“……”

“Deorgyu? Why no answer?”

“……”

Ding-

“Deorgyu? Deorgyu? Are you ignoring me right now…?”

“Oh. Did you two fight?”

Giselle, uncharacteristically expectant, stared at Lee Han.

“No. I asked if the White Tiger Tower kids did well on their exams, and he suddenly went mute.”

“……”

Giselle was silent for a moment, then abruptly tried to step on Lee Han’s foot. He withdrew, as if he’d expected it.

“Angrago already tried that, Moradi. Too late.”

“That guy is never useful for anything.”

“I mean, surely he’s good for at least one thing.”

“Why don’t you say that to the prince of your own tower.”

“Gainando? Gainando is good for…”

Lee Han hesitated mid-sentence. Giselle smirked as if she’d been waiting for it.

“What’s so good about him? Tell me.”

“Gainando… um…”

“What is it?”

Lee Han chose the same strategy Deorgyu had used.

Silence.

“……”

“…Hey.”

“……”

“Hey, just because you’re losing now…!”

Ding-

“Ah. Ahsan, thanks for helping me last time.”

“It was nothing. But Wardanaz. Why is Moradi cursing next to me?”

“Probably cursing Angrago, not me. Don’t worry about it.”

“I think it’s directed at you… Eh, it’s probably not important. Oh. On another note, I got a letter—my brother mentioned you.”

“What did he say?”

Ahsan’s older brother, Daihal of House Dalkard.

Since he worked as an Imperial Administrator in Granden City, Lee Han had met him during break.

“He told me to try to be like you.”

“…Sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing? I liked the letter.”

“You… liked that…?”

Ahsan was genuinely happy with the letter.

Unlike the usual letters full of disappointment, this time he was told he’d earned some recognition and should keep working hard, so he was quite pleased.

“If he’d said to be like Gainando, I’d have been 100% angry. But for you, well…”

“Oh—right. As long as you’re happy, it’s fine. But Ahsan, shouldn’t we have a real talk about your family sometime?”

“Oh, speaking of family—my sister mentioned you too. She’s been asking to invite you this break and record how you live.”

“…Why?”

“My guess is, so it can be used as a textbook for those working at the Bronze Dwarf Bank.”

“Ahsan, let’s just have a serious talk about your family tonight.”

Lee Han wondered how to politely say, “Your family is a bit strange.”

Ding-

“Imperial Princess.”

Adenart bowed her head with the most dignified movement among the students.

Even compared to the Blue Dragon Tower students from great noble families, it was hard to match the princess’s experience at royal balls.

Gainando was an exception…

“Wardanaz.”

The imperial princess cleared her throat, then got ready to praise Lee Han’s dedication and self-sacrifice this school year, apologize for misunderstanding him at first, and move on to contemporary Imperial aristocratic politics and the current political landscape everyone liked.

“Did you enjoy breakfast?”

“Erk, yes.”

‘Did I just say erk?’

The princess, who was about to lead the conversation, held back a cough and nodded.

It was an acquired skill honed from harsh training.

“Which fish did you like most?”

“…Ghoul…?”

“Ah. The meat was just right. I think grilling it over charcoal brought out the best. How was the apple pudding?”

The princess’s face brightened at the memory of the taste. Lee Han nodded, as if he’d expected it.

“W—, I mean, the apples I got from the hut were really fragrant. The first sponge cake I made didn’t look great, but after a few trials it improved…”

Lee Han enthusiastically explained how he’d prepared the dishes.

The imperial princess, who listened with great interest, suddenly wondered why she was hearing all this.

‘Why is he telling me this?’

People like Wardanaz never did anything for no reason. Every action had meaning.

“By the way, I’m a bit concerned that my friends might go hungry in the second semester. Once the flood ends and everyone returns to their towers, I wonder if they’ll be eating properly.”

“They should be able to overcome it…?”

Even after answering, the princess cocked her head, feeling she hadn’t figured out Lee Han’s true intent.

Of course, after Lee Han moved to the Phoenix Tower, the Blue Dragon Tower students screamed, “Our food standards have dropped! It’s the end of the tower!” but the princess didn’t consider it a major issue.

Yes—being hungry, losing your appetite, and having a hard time was tough, but as an Einrogard student, shouldn’t you stand strong?

She herself had endured hunger, lost appetite, and hardships, but had faced them with stoicism.

“Oh, if you’re asking for help to take care of the other students while you’re gone…”

The imperial princess was about to eagerly accept, thinking Lee Han was making such an honorable request.

“No. That’s not it. More than that, are you alright, princess? Will you be able to take care of yourself when you go back?”

“…!”

At last, the princess was shocked.

Surely…

Was Wardanaz thinking of her as someone obsessed with food?