Episode 717
by Cristae“Where’d you get that?”
“Professor Verdus gave it to me.”
“What?!?!”
Sevios’s reaction was even more intense than before.
He looked at Lee Han as if he were some sort of spy, prompting Lee Han to quickly explain.
“I can explain everything.”
“I don’t usually stop for chit-chat on a job, but this I need to hear.”
Sevios folded his arms, determined to get the story.
How on earth could anyone get that from Verdus? Verdus wouldn’t hand a handful of reagents to his own direct disciples.
A student who was just a first-year last year? No chance.
“Well…”
Lee Han gave a brief version of what happened last year.
He’d been worked to death by Verdus, and an outraged graduate in the punishment room had secured some rights for him…
‘Am I really hearing this?’
Sevios pushed through the dizziness and focused.
Was this the story of a first-year, or some ancient wandering legend?
“…That’s how it happened. I got the key as payment for last year’s labor.”
“Huh. Amazing.”
Sevios realized that when there are too many things to ask, you might as well give up.
There just wasn’t time to address all the questions.
“Guess you got lucky. Never thought someone would have that key.”
‘Is his tone getting weird?’
Lee Han wondered, hearing his senior sound almost as if he’d been hit by a paralysis curse.
“Sorry, if we’d started here, this would have been way easier.”
“No, that’s not it. Even if you’d started here, you’d have only found some of the books, you’d have to go all over anyway. The difference is just which door you start from.”
“Thanks for saying so. Shall we go in?”
Sevios checked the time and decided to ask only the main question he was curious about.
“…By the way, what did you do to get thrown in the deep punishment room?”
The door opened, and Verdus’s main underground storage appeared.
Unlike the chaotic others, it seemed…
…Well, it looked like any other, with junk and reagents heaped everywhere.
But there was something different.
‘Yeah, this is a real professor’s storeroom.’
The forgotten storerooms’ stuff was all trash—broken and useless.
But the stuff here, in the real underground near the Vault, was organized and ready for immediate use.
Sevios glanced at Lee Han.
“Take what you want, if you want.”
“!”
“I usually don’t let people pilfer during a job… but we wouldn’t have gotten in if not for you. You want anything, grab it.”
“No, I’m good.”
“…Now I see why Ratford thinks so highly of you. Resisting temptation, that’s a real talent.”
“Honestly, I only didn’t take more because I can always come back with friends and sweep the place later.”
“…”
Sevios grumbled internally.
He’d thought he was used to Einrogard, but this junior proved him wrong.
Einrogard was always astonishing. He’d never really get used to it.
“Almost worried my clubmates will get spoiled because of you.”
“?”
“People who always get stuff handed to them forget how to scrounge for themselves. How are things with your Blue Dragon friends?”
“Don’t worry. I help, but only as much as needed.”
There was no way Sevios could know how freely Han actually distributed his loot.
If he had, he’d probably grab Han by the collar—”This is your idea of moderation?!”
“Know why I only go for books?”
“Because any other valuables would be rigged with special alarms or heavy defenses, and disarming those takes time, mana, and focus—and ups your risk.”
Sevios’s jaw dropped at the ready, expert answer.
‘Isn’t this kid from a thieves’ guild or something?’
“…That’s true, but there’s another reason. Ilreg.”
Hearing the library club leader’s name, Han was surprised.
“Did he threaten to kill you if you stole?”
“Hey, what kind of guy do you think he is?”
Sevios seemed miffed.
Ilreg’s got that reputation, but he doesn’t just beat anyone up… Well, okay, maybe sometimes. But not everyone.
“Sorry. Then why?”
“Back in my wild days of thieving at Einrogard, I once wandered into a room Ilreg was using.”
Sevios spoke, reminiscing.
Ilreg caught him, but instead of beating him, just gave him a book.
“He gave you a book?”
“Yup.”
“Was it a cursed book, to track your location and round up your whole crew?”
“No, you little punk. It was just a novel. Ilreg said, it was fine to take treasure, but don’t forget the real value. I thought at first, what a strange fellow, even for a saintly priest, giving a thief a book.”
Curious, Sevios had read it.
What could a senior go to all that trouble to give away?
“What was it? A classic? An allegory?”
“Just a pulp novel. It was about a wrongly accused thief, stuck on a lonely island at sea, who escapes and takes revenge on those who framed him. For some reason, it made me tear up.”
‘I think I know exactly why.’
Lee Han felt he understood why Ilreg had gifted that book.
Practical reasons. For reference if you did have to escape Einrogard…
“I read it all night, then went to return it and thank him. He gave me another book, and then another… Before I knew it, I was in the library club, and that’s when I stopped thieving other stuff.”
“Impressive.”
Lee Han looked at his senior with a bit more respect.
If someone told him not to loot the skeleton principal’s storage, he’d grab them by the throat and demand, “Who do you think you are?”
But this senior had broken free of greed.
“Impressive? I don’t know… Can’t believe I’m telling this story to a new junior. I guess it’s because you seem like you’ll do great things in both the library and teleportation clubs. I won’t be around next year, but you will.”
Sevios kept returning to the subject of “not being around next year,” which made Lee Han feel uneasy.
‘He’s not planning on sticking around another year, is he?’
“Being a mover’s great, but don’t let greed make you forget what’s important. I’ve seen too many end up in punishment because they got greedy.”
“I’ll remember.”
“There it is.”
Sevios pointed to -Complete Gemology-, shelved and gleaming, with several bookmarks. Someone had read it recently—no dust.
“……”
“What’s wrong?”
“Verdus was reading this, looks like.”
“All the better—grab it.”
Han was happy if any theft would annoy Professor Verdus.
“…No. If Verdus was reading it, I can’t.”
“Remember the others? We took books buried in slime. That could happen to this one, too.”
“I know. But… dammit.”
Despite Han’s logical argument, Sevios shook his head with a sigh.
“I’m really sorry, but I can’t do it.”
“No… your call, senior. That’s your job.”
Lee Han’s supportive tone only made Sevios feel worse.
To come this far, only to walk away…
“Damn. I can’t believe the first book he actually reads…”
“Plausible reason to hold back, actually. Let’s just take these.”
Lee Han pointed at some dust-covered books. Clearly untouched for ages.
Sevios smiled.
“You’re smarter than I am. Yeah, those will do.”
Skilled, Sevios swept the books into a pack.
Since they’d entered through the back door, but had the key to the main entrance, they’d just exit up front.
As they headed for the exit—
“Who’s there?”
With a clatter and a heap of junk toppling over, a wizard sat up.
It was Professor Verdus.
“……”
“……”
Lee Han watched Sevios’s color drain away.
“It’s me, Professor.”
“Uh, what brings you? How’d you get in here?”
Verdus recognized Lee Han, surprised.
“You gave me this key last year, remember?”
“How’d you end up with that?!”
Feigning ignorance over his own blunder, Verdus got a flat look from Han.
“As payment, last year. Did you forget?”
“Can I have it back?”
“Am I crazy?”
Verdus muttered grumpily.
Fair enough, the kid earned it, but refusing to give it back, just for his own gain—such greed.
“And who’s he?”
“My senior. He came to help me collect reagents.”
“…How much are you taking?”
Verdus looked almost pleadingly at Lee Han.
The usual fiendish tormentor was gone; the professor’s beaverfolk face worked to dig up sympathy.
After meeting Verdus, Han had stopped finding beavers cute.
“As much as I need.”
“What spell for? Tell me. I’ll help. If the spell’s good, you’ll save on reagents—”
“I’m planning to attack the principal…”
Lee Han signaled to Sevios—use this chance to get out.
Shaken to his core, Sevios slipped away.
‘No one’ll ever believe today even happened.’
That anyone could negotiate with Verdus… Even among all Einrogard’s oddities, that was new.
“You alright?!”
“Yes.”
Sevios rushed over as Han exited late.
He’d worried—why had it taken so long?
“What happened—”
“Oh, Professor Verdus kept suggesting cheap spells. That’s all it was.”
“…Here. Take this.”
Sevios handed Han a small pouch. Lee Han took it; it was heavy, and it jingled.
“Imperial gold coins—twelve, right?”
“…How’d you know?”
“Why are you giving me this?”
“You did the work for it—normal after a teleport job. Could’ve been more with pricier loot, and… don’t mind what I said earlier. If you’re not into Library or Teleportation, just let me know. I’ll get you clear of both—”
‘That’s the least I can do, after today.’
Given all the junior’s work and loyalty, this was the least Sevios could offer.
He could have forced him into bookshelf punishment, or let clubmates mob him, but this was right.
But Lee Han flatly refused.
“What are you talking about? Let’s get the next book.”
“Don’t you ever sleep?”