Episode 710

But Lee Han couldn’t help it.

Currently, his artifact notebook, -Whispers of Einrogard-, was linked to three parties: Direte, his own classmates, and this person.

Unlike the first two, he had absolutely no reason to be polite to this last one.

‘This first-year seems to have talent for enchanting magic. If he takes enchanting, I’ll make him help me next year.’
‘The fact that he gets along with Illendil and is close with the black magic students makes it likely this Wardanaz first-year is a loner with poor social skills.’

If Lee Han had known who it was, he’d have blasted the offender’s face with magic for such insults.

He’d initially thought if any senior would be first to invite him to a club, it would be this person.

Now there were so many invitations coming he couldn’t even use that to guess.

‘No need to sugarcoat things.’

Sometimes, the only way to deal with someone is with cold, hard truths—especially if they’re a senior set on bossing juniors around.

He was used to the rudeness, but today’s tone seemed especially harsh. Why the change?

-What, are you messaging just to talk about your junior again? No matter how weird that kid is for taking all those disciplines, it’s hardly right for a senior to badger him into helping you.

Playing the part of a hot-blooded Black Turtle Tower student, Lee Han scrawled with his quill.

On the other side, the “mirror senior” shook their head slowly at this aggressive rebuke.

‘Still emotional as always.’

Since last year, their back-and-forths had shown this Black Turtle (or possibly White Tiger) Tower student was quick-tempered and stubborn.

Still, despite that flaw, they seemed like a valuable prospect, so the senior reached out with their proposal. Such reactions were routine.

Deciding it was time for a calm approach, the “mirror senior” resolved to soothe this less intelligent student—something they’d done countless times at Einrogard.

That’s not the reason.

-Not the reason?

Right. The offer to that junior is on hold for personal reasons.

“!”

Lee Han was startled.

The “mirror senior” had, for once, backed down!

‘Can people actually change…?’

At first he felt moved, but quickly sobered.

‘No, it must be because of the club situation.’

With the official clubs openly feuding over Lee Han, no one in their right mind was going to drag him off for private research—except perhaps Professor Verdus.

-I see. Good decision. Pressuring juniors is really…

No, you’re misunderstanding something. That Wardanaz kid loves learning. Not just two or three disciplines, but all of them. He’s aiming to learn every kind of magic, like Professor Garcia Kim. You care about your juniors, that’s fine, but don’t overprotect them—it’ll just annoy them.

WHAP!

In a fury, Lee Han hurled his notebook at the wall.

After a moment, he calmed down and picked it back up.

‘That bastard.’

He couldn’t shake the feeling that the other party was needling him on purpose.

The most annoying part: he had no rebuttal—the facts, logically laid out, were true.

‘Damn it. Even I think anyone who tries to learn all the schools is nuts.’

Lee Han gave up the argument and contented himself that the “mirror senior” would back off for now thanks to the club wars.

-Just shut up and get to the point. What do you want to say?

Join my club.

“…?”

Lee Han paused, not following.

-You mean an unofficial club?

Correct.

-Not interested. I’m not joining any.

Not like you think. Actually, you’re already in it.

Lee Han grabbed his staff and checked his surroundings.

No curses or spells—nothing unusual.

‘Who the hell is this guy?’

Claiming Lee Han was already a member—it was nonsense.

-I have no idea what you mean.

Just having this artifact is the requirement. Here, I’ll show you.

Even as the words appeared, the handwriting in Lee Han’s notebook jumbled, collapsed, and began to rewrite itself.

Within the artifact, Lee Han felt a rush of magical change, and gasped.

‘Remotely… he’s rewriting the artifact?!’

Unbelievable.

He must have embedded spells in the creation itself, but controlling an artifact from a distance…!

Lee Han couldn’t conceive how much magic and planning went into that level of craftsmanship.

It would have to be disguised so no one could recognize it as magic…

As Lee Han reeled, the transformation ended and new text appeared.

Iactus: Word is the Mason Club wants him because he helped the principal repair things last year, and during the break, house Tutanta praised him… Wait, who’s the new member?

Vakantalana: That’s right. We needed someone to fill the gap after a graduation, so I invited him.

‘A group chat artifact!’

Just like the one he’d shared with friends, this was clearly a multi-user student network.

“Iactus,” self-identified, was a new upperclassman, and “Vakantalana,” based on handwriting, was evidently the “mirror senior.”

‘A legendary enchanter’s name. Fits an enchanting magic expert.’

He remembered his “mirror senior” specialized in enchanting.

Vakantalana: We’re the secret club, -Wardens of Einrogard-. We don’t gather or socialize like other clubs. We have only two rules.

…What are they?

Vakantalana: Keep secrets. Share information.

“…!”

Lee Han instantly understood what kind of society this was.

At Einrogard, even closest friends might betray you.

No telling when someone would snitch your principal’s office bombing plot.

But at Einrogard, information could be more valuable than anything—know something first, and it could save your life.

The -Wardens of Einrogard- must have evolved from things like Lee Han or Direte talking to anonymous students for tips: an entire group organized to share unseen info.

Iactus: Sharp!

Vakantalana: Correct.

Vakantalana elaborated.

To join the Wardens, an existing member had to invite you and a majority had to agree.

They required some ability—just lurkers were of no use.

So I was voted in?

Iactus: No, you’re an exception. Someone graduated, so you fill their spot. Vakantalana invited you. Vakantalana is special—manages and controls artifacts.

Iactus explained more.

If Vakantalana got hold of one end of a seemingly ordinary comm artifact, they could backtrack and pull someone into the Wardens. They could also banish anyone, if say the skeleton principal seized the artifact—crucial for club survival.

‘What the…!!!’

Lee Han was genuinely shaken to realize the artifact reconfiguration wasn’t planned, just a spontaneous hack via the comm line.

No wonder he hadn’t noticed—there was no sign until now.

‘…Truly amazing. There’s a reason they’re a senior.’

For all his mastery of every school, there was magic built by those who’d spent time forging skills Lee Han couldn’t yet rival.

Vakantalana: Don’t say things that might be misunderstood. I’m just a member, too.

Iactus: Just explaining. The admin role is real. And we all respect you, Vakantalana. Anyway, welcome to the club. Expect to participate! The others are probably recharging their mana now… good thing we stocked up on mana stones…

These comm artifacts only work if near a magic supply, or if the caster keeps them charged.

With the term just started, most hadn’t recharged yet.

Iactus: What kind of artifact are you using? Mine’s a chalkboard, lucky me; one guy has a crystal orb, his handwriting is wild.

Mine’s a notebook.

Iactus: Ha! Really? You can’t join our club with just a notebook artifact. It needs a lot of mana.

Lee Han realized he’d slipped—he ought to have disguised the kind of artifact, too.

Can’t fool them… It’s a mirror artifact.

Iactus: Ah, a mirror. That’s better. Not round, at least. Don’t forget about the mana requirement—it’ll take a lot more than usual. Every summer, a few members can’t keep up.

Iactus explained how the club’s defenses and secret spells drew heavy energy.

Lee Han laid down the notebook and checked his magic.

‘Hm. No change at all.’

Not even a dent in his mana. Guess the artifact drew only a trickle.

Iactus: By the way, pick a name, will you? It’s awkward without one.

You mean, a pseudonym?

Iactus: Sure. If you don’t like fake names, use your real one.

Vakantalana: I don’t recommend it. Giving your real name is dangerous.

Iactus: Either way, I can probably guess who you are!

Vakantalana: Bragging like that only puts people on guard. It helps no one, Iactus.

Iactus: Bragging? I know who some of you are for sure!

While they bantered, Lee Han pondered his name.

He wasn’t about to use his real one, but picking a plausible pseudonym was a challenge.

It couldn’t be anything as obvious as Gainando or Moradi—

That would just offer a clue.

‘It’s got to be neutral, impossible to trace.’

As Lee Han wavered, a prompt came.

In the end, he decided quickly.

Gonadaltes: Pleased to make your acquaintance.

Vakantalana:……

Iactus: …You madman?