Episode 705

As the basilisk thrashed about, refusing to let go, Direte glanced over and said,

“How about letting it stay with you a little longer?”

“Excuse me?”

“Well, you know, animals like to be with their mothers when they’re little, right?”

“Senior, I’m not a basilisk.”

Lee Han gave him an exasperated look, and Direte blushed.

He’d spoken hastily and said something that made no sense.

“I just meant as a metaphor!”

“But aren’t basilisks supposed to be violent and arrogant monsters? That’s what Professor Thunderstep taught us.”

Now the little tail poking out of Lee Han’s sleeve was twitching pathetically. Direte, almost unconsciously, defended the baby basilisk.

“Of course, monsters have shared instincts. But individual ones can have different personalities too, right? Maybe this basilisk is timid, or affectionate…”

“Hm.”

Lee Han pondered Direte’s words.

“But even so, once it gets bigger, it’ll have to live separately, won’t it?”

“…That’s true.”

-?!

Direte couldn’t argue.

No matter how timid and affectionate it was, physically, it just couldn’t hang around with Lee Han forever once it grew more.

Otherwise, his junior’s arm might fall right off…

Gently prying off the basilisk, Lee Han said,

“Don’t worry, senior. Even if it acts like this now, soon enough it’ll start finding my sleeve stuffy and want to wander outside.”

“Uh huh. Well, it’s a monster that shouldn’t really be out, but yeah, let’s go with that.”

Direte avoided the baby basilisk’s desperate tail-wagged plea and changed the subject.

‘Sorry. I did what I could.’

“Junior. One last thing before I go.”

“I’m listening.”

“After you rest tonight, from tomorrow, people from the Einrogard clubs will start to show up.”

“Ah.”

Lee Han focused intently.

He’d heard about Einrogard’s clubs for a long time.

People can’t live alone, nor can a wizard seek truth in isolation…

…was the typical club philosophy, but the clubs at Einrogard were a little different.

‘Seemed a bit obsessed with gold coins.’

According to a dueling club senior he met over break, the club’s main income was dueling for hire.

In other words, they’d step into students’ disputes, duel for them, and earn gold.

It turned out the dueling club wasn’t unique—every decent club at Einrogard had a real way to make money as a basic requirement.

At that point, it was more like a student guild than a club.

“There are a ton of clubs, and I don’t know about all of them, but remember just one thing.”

“Yes?”

“Act as dumb and useless as you can.”

“…???”

• * *

Morning.

After spending all night toting contraband with his friends, Lee Han was still a bit tired.

Yawning, he went down to the second-year lounge. His familiar friends were waiting with faces full of anticipation.

Lee Han looked at them, puzzled.

“Did I say I’d cook breakfast today?”

“…No, no. Wardanaz, we’re not excited just because there’ll be a big breakfast!”

“Right. We’re not just greedy pigs who only think about food!”

“Uh huh. I see.”

With a skeptical look at their unconvincing words, Lee Han opened a smuggled chest.

He couldn’t make a whole breakfast, but they couldn’t skip eating, so he pulled out some simple fare.

When hunks of bread, cheese, dipping oil, salted ham, and a few cans appeared, the Blue Dragon Tower students rushed over, joy on their faces.

‘Wait. Aren’t they the least bit curious how I have this food on the first day?’

Lee Han wondered.

Normally, “How do you have this already?” would be the natural reaction.

As they ate, Lee Han asked,

“Then what were you all waiting for this morning?”

“Because starting today, we can join the Einrogard clubs!”

“Oh, that was it.”

Lee Han had wondered if there’d be a festival, or if a class was canceled—but sadly, no.

“I don’t think clubs sound all that fun.”

He still didn’t truly get Direte’s caution, but Lee Han had long since dropped any romantic ideas about the clubs.

Especially the kind his friends imagined—uplifting, friendly social clubs—he doubted they’d be like that at all.

But his friends stared at him as if he’d just uttered a cruel, cold truth.

“W-what? No way, Wardanaz. Social clubs are every noble’s dream!”

“I was never that interested. No one in my family really joined one either…”

“The Wardanaz are exceptions!”

“Why?”

Unable to answer, the Blue Dragon Tower friend quickly changed the subject.

“Clubs are great, Wardanaz. Sure, with the newer, raucous clubs, you get a tavern vibe. But the old, traditional ones are for true nobles, full of camaraderie.”

“And wizard cards, too.”

Gainando, who had come down late, nodded.

“Yeah, wizard cards. But I prefer chess.”

“You’re nuts. Why would chess be better than wizard cards? Is there any collecting fun in chess?”

“Chess is true… Hey, quiet, Gainando! You knocked us off track! Anyway, Lee Han. Clubs are places to share stories, debate imperial news…”

“Isn’t that just the same as the lounge?”

“It’s not! It’s not at all!”

“Okay, sure.”

Seeing his friend so desperate, Lee Han decided to just agree.

As more students woke and came down, Gainando, dipping bread in olive oil, asked,

“Lee Han, what club will you join?”

“Hmm. Whatever’s easy and pays the most.”

‘Shouldn’t have asked.’

Gainando grumbled inwardly at the friend who clearly had no sense of romance.

As the morning sun rose and all the second years gathered in the lounge, a paper bird flew in through the window.

Bursts into flame, turns into sound—

All second-year students, report to the common lounge!

“!”

“Let’s go!”

Everyone rushed excitedly.

It wasn’t the normal lounge—they’d finally get to see all the upperclassmen in the common lounge.

What would it be like?

“Hey. Everyone, take some protection spells.”

“Drink this potion.”

“Anyone brave enough to go first for the group?”

“……”

Still, some—mainly Lee Han and his friends—kept their cool.

Lee Han and friends grabbed the collars of would-be runners, cast spells, and moved into formation.

After all, an ambush as soon as they entered was possible.

“Oh, come on, they’re still seniors…”

“Have you already forgotten how you got taken during smuggling? Don’t open any doors in there, don’t go into any room alone, and if a senior talks to you, be on guard.”

With these warnings, the Blue Dragon Tower second-years moved over much more subdued and wary than before.

Creak—

Perse, waiting in the common lounge, was amazed at the second-years marching in so orderly.

“You’re all remarkable. Back in my day, everyone rushed to be first… Now this is noble composure. I hope next year’s class learns from you.”

The second-years looked embarrassed and a few quickly put their wands and potions away.

Lee Han and Yoner whispered from the back.

“No traps, right?”

“Yeah.”

The common lounge was wide and bare. Compared to the dorm lounge, warm and cozy, it was the opposite.

If the lounge was a living room with a fireplace, the common lounge felt more like a wide, barren camp clearing.

“Senior, why is it so empty here?”

“Hm? Oh, it’s the common lounge. If you leave stuff, other years will just take it.”

‘Didn’t you just lecture us about noble composure?’

Apparently by third or fourth year most nobles set aside their dignity when it came to stealing.

“Normally, you rest in your class’s lounge—you don’t just crash in the common lounge. We use this room for club business or meetings.”

Perse pointed to a huge wooden signboard installed in the square—a bulletin board.

—Seeking wizards to join the upcoming Marcka Guild job. Third years and up, three defensive spells or more, top thirty in grades.

—Be wary of recent White Tiger Tower raids.

↳It’s recommended you swap tower insignia and wear a secret mark for ID.

↳White Tiger Tower guys are wearing our tower’s insignia and asking if we’re the same tower…

—Seeking the grimoire -Secrets of Evil Transformation-.

↳Just ask at the Library Club?

↳Their prices are outrageous.

↳I know, I’m in the Library Club.

Lee Han read over the mess of papers the seniors had plastered up.

Aside from the bulletin, he saw a few tents and tarps—leftover from last year’s seniors. And…

“What’s that?”

“I was about to explain. Today, we’re going there.”

“!”

A huge door was set up on one side of the common lounge.

The thought of going through it made the Blue Dragon Tower second-years tense up.

Just as Wardanaz had warned, you could never let your guard down at Einrogard.

Not even around seniors.

“Where is it?”

“Follow me.”

Instead of answering, Perse opened the door and stepped through. The wavering space beyond was clearly a dimensionally-shifted magical door.

Flash!

After stepping through the door from the common lounge, Perse waited for the juniors to come out on the seventh floor of Einrogard.

Here, on the seventh floor—one of the main building’s vastest and most confusing levels—even the main building could be called a city more than a floor.

This is where second-years and up spent most of their time.

While first-years kill time in the gardens and courtyards, upperclassmen spend it here.

Every tower lounge had a magical door leading to this floor—hard to beat for convenience.

“Why aren’t the Blue Dragon Tower kids coming?”

Club students waiting to give their explanations asked Perse.

“Just wait a little.”

“Aren’t they taking too long? Should we go get them?”

“There’s no need to baby-sit every little thing…”

But as soon as he finished, the door from the common lounge swung open, and the second-years spilled out—

—every one of them with magic at the ready.

“……”

“……”

The waiting club members were taken aback.

“What the…?”

“What’s going on? Why are they like that?”

Lee Han, reading the room, quickly lied.

“…We saw one of the principal’s minions in the common lounge and made a quick escape. Just in case.”