Episode 478

Episode 478

“Oh. Sorry. What was that?”

Lee Han, realizing belatedly that Tanjuo was calling from behind, spoke to him.

Maybe it was just his imagination, but Tanjuo’s voice wasn’t full of complaints as usual; it was polite and respectful.

It’s nothing…

“More importantly, thank you for all your hard work. For helping us during the flood.”

Lee Han expressed his gratitude sincerely.

Students had been able to come and go from Einrogard even amidst storms and rain, largely thanks to Tanjuo’s hard work.

If it hadn’t been for Tanjuo, some of the students would have gone missing.

And since Lee Han was human too, he did feel some guilt for having overworked Tanjuo.

“I’ll release you from the contract now.”

Uh… I could work for a bit longer… I didn’t even do much during the flood…

Tanjuo hesitated as he spoke.

Lee Han was a little flustered by this unexpected response.

‘What’s this? Did he eat something wrong?’

Tanjuo used to beg tearfully, “Let me go back,” all the time, and now this.

“You did enough work. You can go.”

Are you… really sure…?

Tanjuo hesitated, watching Lee Han for a reaction.

He knew Lee Han wasn’t an ordinary mage, but to the point of threatening spirits involved in this flood to force a reverse summoning…

That took more than just guts—it required overwhelming power to dominate spirits.

Especially when you considered how much more powerful the spirits had grown during the flood…

He really was a top student in this region for a reason.

“Of course it’s fine. You may go.”

Thank… thank you.

After one last glance at Lee Han, Tanjuo slowly began to dissolve.

“I hope we can meet again.”

……

Lee Han had only said it as a courtesy, but to Tanjuo, who was reverse-summoning, it sounded like a nightmare.

Tanjuo shuddered.

‘Did he not hear me?’

When the other side disappeared without answering, Lee Han tilted his head.

• * *

“The school…!”

“It’s returning to normal!”

So quickly it was visible to the eye, the water that had filled Einrogard began to recede.

The students sat at the library dock, watching Einrogard’s woods and paths, buildings, and facilities.

Normally, they didn’t think about it, but seeing it all again made them weirdly emotional and moved.

‘Even after such a flood, most of it’s fine.’

Lee Han nodded, noticing the paved roads connecting the buildings were unscathed.

Having done repair work following the skull principal around, he knew how powerfully protected the school was by magic.

Still, seeing firsthand that the school survived such a flood without a scratch inspired awe.

‘The garden will need to be rebuilt, though…’

Given everything, they’d managed better than expected.

All the really important items were stored in the dorm’s private rooms, and while they’d lost some food, some had already been replenished from outside…

‘I have an outing pass, too. Next time, I’ll just use my outing pass.’

Given how the skull principal was eyeing Lee Han with suspicion about how he’d gotten out recently, sneaking out without permission now would be a rookie mistake.

Lost in thought, Lee Han noticed smoke rising from a pipe in the distance.

Professor Thunderstep was approaching, pipe in mouth, marching over.

“Professor!”

“Hello!”

“Yes, hello, you all. You worked hard because of the flood. Still, I guess this time the seniors helped out, eh?”

“Huh?”

“Well…”

The first-years realized Professor Thunderstep had misunderstood and looked flustered.

It wasn’t the upperclassmen…

But Professor Thunderstep didn’t notice and continued speaking.

“I have something to say to the students taking Alchemy. Gather round.”

“…What now?!”

“……”

After midterms and a flood, the students had become very hardened and edgy.

They looked at Professor Thunderstep with eyes full of suspicion.

“Is it an extra test?”

“Hey. Say I’m not here, all right? Pretend I never heard a thing.”

Professor Thunderstep exhaled a puff of smoke and said,

“Do I really seem so cold-hearted?”

“Professor, you’re just a normal professor at Einrogard.”

“Right? Look at Wardanaz.”

Professor Thunderstep stroked his beard and smiled at Lee Han’s supportive words.

‘Huh?’

But thinking about it, something felt off.

Was calling someone an ‘ordinary professor at Einrogard’ really a compliment?

“Anyway, everyone hiding—come out. I’m busy too; I only came because I had to. The flood blew away the cabins… Last time, the flood didn’t do this, but I wonder where those cabins went. I searched everywhere.”

“Maybe the spirits destroyed them because they were angry?”

“Could be. Anyway, is everyone here?”

“Yes.”

Once the alchemy students had gathered, Professor Thunderstep got to the point.

“Starting tomorrow, students taking Alchemy will be going out for four days and three nights. The external Meikin family sent a request… Do you know the sangoria flower? Anyone who’s studied hard would. There’s a shortage on the southern coast of the empire, causing various issues. Serving the empire when problems like this arise is one of a mage’s duties. Take note.”

With that, Professor Thunderstep exhaled again and muttered softly.

“Damn, I really don’t want to go…”

“……”

“……”

The students pretended not to hear.

“You’ll all be coming too. Opportunities to watch and learn from cases like this are rare. This is the kind of thing you only do together as first-years—after that, you’re expected to solve it yourself. Make sure you learn all you can.”

‘Isn’t that a bit shameless?’

“So…”

“It’s an outing, right?”

“Yes.”

The alchemy students cheered.

Even if it was a public mission, it meant going outside the school!

Professor Thunderstep grumbled.

“Don’t get too excited. All you’ll do is work. You won’t even have time to play. You’ll be persuading local guild members, calming residents, taking care of monsters, checking and sorting materials… Are you listening?”

Of course, the students didn’t worry about the chores. They just shouted excitedly.

Only the princess seemed to consider it seriously, pausing to ponder before asking a question.

“I have a question.”

“Go ahead.”

“As far as I know, the sangoria flower shortage on the southern coast is not something alchemists can solve alone.”

The sangoria flower shortage on the southern coast was not simply a materials shortage.

There were monsters, spirit rampages, local resident complaints, conflicts with the guild, and more—no matter how skilled Professor Thunderstep was, he couldn’t fix it alone.

Though first-years would go, what they could do would only be supplemental.

So what was Professor Thunderstep planning?

“Good point. While everyone’s going crazy, you were the only one thinking straight. From what I heard from the Meikin family, someone gave a great suggestion. Skip all the complicated procedures and mobilize the northern Shadow Patrols to sweep away the monsters first. I guess showing action is a way to win public sentiment.”

“S-such a thing!”

The princess was surprised.

It was an almost reckless, cut-the-Gordian-knot solution.

Ignoring all procedures and conflicting interests and just starting with the monsters.

But upon reviewing the plan, it was undeniably effective.

In a situation where everyone was hesitating to avoid losses, if someone went ahead and hunted monsters, not only would the locals be grateful, but the powerful intertwined interests in the area would be forced to back down.

“A surprise, right? I get it. It’s extreme but effective. For noble houses and guilds, which care about face and procedures, it’s an idea they’d never come up with, but someone managed it.”

Professor Thunderstep was starting to get worked up.

“But what’s to praise! Thanks to that, now I have to go down! If they had just negotiated as usual, why do something new now…”

“Hiccup.”

Next to him, Nillia suddenly started hiccuping. Lee Han and Yoner sympathetically offered her some hot tea.

“We’ll leave at dawn tomorrow, so be ready.”

“What about our lectures?”

“The professors will offer makeups.”

“……”

Lee Han suddenly frowned.

‘Can you really make up for all that with one makeup class?’

“Any more questions?”

“Professor, will we get any travel gear?”

“No. Prepare it yourselves. Did you expect me to pack for you?”

The students were moved by Professor Thunderstep’s kind words.

Lee Han sighed.

‘So the students go missing along with the professors after all.’

He’d thought only the professors would disappear for a while, but the students were going too.

Not that it was bad—any opportunity to go outside was valuable.

‘Even if the Skull Principal or Professor Voladi doesn’t leave, if I go outside, that amounts to the same thing, really.’

One student nearby raised their hand.

“Is Professor Thunderstep the only teacher going with us?”

“Professor Lightningstep will join us too. We’ll be flying on mounts.”

“I see.”

“Professor Baegrek will go as well. Since we’re going outside, we’ll need protection.”

“……”

Lee Han dropped the tea bottle he was holding.

• * *

Morning.

Gainando sobbed as he clung to Professor Thunderstep’s ankle, but the professor ruthlessly shook him off.

“You’re not an alchemy student.”

“Boohoo! I’ll study alchemy really hard from now on! Please take me with you!”

The alchemy students shook their heads.

‘Thank goodness he’s not coming.’

‘If he acts like that outside, I’ll have to say he’s from another school.’

Professor Lightningstep, mounted on the biggest, fiercest wyvern, shouted,

“Everyone, slowly climb onto the wyverns. They’ve been trained, so they won’t be wild, but if you act up, they won’t like it. Wait! Wardanaz, make eye contact with your wyvern first. Blink a few times to show you’re not hostile so it doesn’t misunderstand.”

“Why me…”

Grumbling, Lee Han made eye contact with the wyvern.

The wyvern watched him warily, as if suspicious he might be a predator.

“I’m not an enemy.”

-Grrrr…

“I’m not an enemy.”

-Grrrrr…

“…I’m really not an enemy, okay?”

-Grrrrrrrr!

Professor Lightningstep added from the side,

“This fellow is proud—he only allows those he recognizes to ride him, but the ones you’ll ride are all gentle. You won’t have any trouble traveling.”

“Uh, but Professor, why is this one’s nose bleeding?”

“I may have hit him a bit hard earlier.”

“……”

Lee Han wasn’t sure if he could really trust the wyvern.

‘It should be fine.’

Seeing Professor Voladi marching over in the distance, Lee Han suddenly felt reassured.

Normally so intimidating, but traveling together on wyverns, he’d never felt so glad to see him.

“Professor, I’m glad I’ll be riding a wyvern with you.”

“That’s too bad.”

“Sorry?”

“Wyverns are too safe as mounts.”

Professor Voladi arched his brow with regret and climbed onto the wyvern.

“……”

A wary sound emanated from the basilisk egg in Lee Han’s backpack.