Episode 81

Episode 81

“Forget the misunderstandings between us, and do you have any thoughts about cooperating for a better future?”

“It would be faster to dream of the school collapsing.”

One of the students from the White Tiger Tower replied like that.

Ihan thought that might not be so bad.

“Of all things, for Wardhanaz to talk about cooperation!”

To some students of the White Tiger Tower, Ihan was already an evil archmage.

“Because you took the flag, we lost the chance to get good grades in this class!”

“I think that’s a misunderstanding. An F hasn’t been confirmed yet, has it?”

Ihan tried to persuade the White Tiger Tower students logically.

If he could logically convince them ‘why cooperating is good for both sides,’ even those stubborn knights might listen.

“Of course, there’s a 95% chance it’s an F!”

“Haha! Haha! F! F!”

“……”

Of course, there was no guarantee that friends from the Blue Dragon Tower would necessarily be helpful.

Asan and Gainando tried to intervene to help Ihan, but after receiving a glare full of murderous intent from him, they shriveled up right away.

‘Uh… did we do something wrong?’

‘We were just trying to help…’

“Think about it carefully. The principal is giving this class for the students’ sake. Do you really think you’d get an F just for making one mistake on an assignment?”

Of course, Ihan thought that might happen, but he never let it show as he spoke.

“Rather, if you give up just because you made a mistake on one assignment, isn’t that what actually deserves an F? If you all put in enough effort from now on, I’m sure everyone can get an A by the end of the semester. And then, an off-campus pass? Do you know how attractive it is outside? I’ve been out once, so I know. Outside is like heaven.”

‘If you discount the principal’s traps, anyway.’

“You don’t have to get up early on a hard bed, and you can eat whatever you want. Think about it carefully.”

The White Tiger Tower students wanted to ignore him but couldn’t deny how drawn in they were.

Already, some students were considering, ‘Should we cooperate just this once?’

But things didn’t go that smoothly.

Giselle stepped up and opened her mouth.

“Well. Do you really think so?”

“Moradi. I know you hold a grudge against me, but my sincerity…”

Ihan tried to sow discord, but it wasn’t easy.

It seemed the influence she had on the White Tiger Tower students was on a different level.

When Giselle, with her neutral and sharp atmosphere, spoke up, the attention of the White Tiger Tower students focused in one spot.

“Has anything ever gone well when you got involved with Wardhanaz?”

“Moradi, you had your underlings attack me. Don’t be fooled, everyone. Moradi…”

“What about the friends who ended up in the punishment room after getting involved with Wardhanaz?”

“That’s a misunderstanding. It was the principal who took them away.”

“And who attacked the lounge last time?”

“That was also on the principal’s orders…”

Ihan did his best to defend himself, but the atmosphere had already turned.

Tap-

Yoner grabbed Ihan’s shoulder and shook her head firmly.

She meant there was no more way.

‘Damn.’

There was a limit to pretending to be virtuous because of all the things Ihan had done. He sighed.

Is this the only way?

“Derregyu. Come here.”

“?”

The honored orc friend of the Choi Family, Derregyu, tried to approach when Ihan called.

“Derregyu. Don’t go.”

“Yeah, something’s weird about this.”

Despite his friends’ words, Derregyu replied as if he didn’t know what they were talking about.

“Ihan isn’t that kind of friend.”

“……”

Isn’t he that kind of friend?

Despite their attempts to dissuade him, Derregyu walked over.

“I’m here, Ihan. What’s up?”

When Derregyu came close, Ihan grabbed him and shouted viciously.

“If you don’t cooperate, I can’t guarantee Derregyu’s life. I’ll drag him to the lake, use him, and toss him to the bottom afterward!”

“…That jerk is really!!!”

The White Tiger Tower students were appalled.

That Wardhanaz guy finally showed his true colors!

Derregyu looked embarrassed but soon realized the situation.

‘Ihan is doing this to mediate between the two towers.’

“S-save me.”

“Derregyu!!”

Hearing Derregyu speak with a miserable and sorrowful expression, some students from the White Tiger Tower felt like their hearts were tearing apart.

Rafadel ran out and shouted.

“Stop it, you Wardhanaz bastard! We’ll cooperate! So just let go of Derregyu!!”

“Yeah. We’ll cooperate, so let go of Derregyu!!”

The White Tiger Tower students shouted at Ihan in unison.

“On your honor?”

“On our honor!”

“Good. I’ll let him go. But be careful from now on.”

Ihan released Derregyu.

Giselle stared at Ihan with a shocked expression, as if looking at a madman.

“If you’d just agreed to cooperate earlier, it would have been easier for us all.”

“You… You’re more evil than I am, Wardhanaz. Be proud. I’ve never seen anyone like you before.”

“I’m sure you’re the only one who thinks so.”

Ihan replied curtly to Giselle and turned his head.

Gainando was nodding, then stopped when he made eye contact with Ihan.

“Don’t tell me you…”

“Ah, no! I was just exercising my neck!”

• * *

A tough assignment came out in , but Ihan and his friends couldn’t focus on it.

It wasn’t because of the cooperation with the White Tiger Tower students…

“So, when will you do it, Lord Ihan of the Wardhanaz family?”

“I’m still thinking about it.”

At Ihan’s words, Yoner whispered beside him, sounding puzzled.

“By the way, why are you speaking formally to Priestess Siana? You usually don’t.”

“…Did I?”

Ihan only realized at that moment. He was unconsciously overwhelmed by Priestess Siana’s madness.

Honestly, it wasn’t Ihan’s fault.

Anyone would be at least a little overwhelmed if someone said, ‘We need a potion, so let’s raid the professor’s lab.’

“What’s wrong with you two?”

“Ha ha. It’s nothing… ah, never mind.”

Maybe sensing Ihan’s inner thoughts, Yoner defended him.

“The Flemeng Order is known to do whatever it takes for alchemy sometimes.”

‘Yoner isn’t really good at promoting her order.’

But the important thing right now wasn’t Siana or the madness of the Flemeng Order.

The real issue was deciding when to break in.

If he opened the lab door and Professor Thunderstep was sitting inside, he might have a month’s worth of nightmares.

‘The time window will definitely be sometime in the evening or night. But which day? Should we do it on a weekday or the weekend?’

Ihan didn’t fully know Professor Thunderstep’s schedule.

He’d met her at the cabin, but other than that, he didn’t really have any idea what she was doing.

If he tried to casually ask Professor Thunderstep, he might become a suspect later…

“Wardhanaz. You don’t need to come to the cabin today.”

Professor Thunderstep, who had come down to give the lecture, spoke to Ihan.

After finishing chores at the cabin, Ihan had been receiving additional training on how to tame flying mounts.

“Is something the matter?”

“I plan to take my nephew to the market for a bit. There are things I need to buy.”

“Ah. I see.”

Ihan managed his expression with all his might, trying to make sure his voice didn’t sound unnatural.

“When are you leaving?”

“I’ll go after class this afternoon and be back tomorrow. Sorry it’s just my nephew and me going.”

Professor Thunderstep sincerely apologized.

Honestly, except for other students, she thought that at least the hardworking Wardhanaz boy should be brought along.

He really did work like an ox…

“It’s fine, Professor. School rules are equally applied to everyone.”

“Did Gonadalthes threaten you? Anyway, understood. I’ll bring you some beer candies when I get back.”

Dwarves had odd snack preferences, but Ihan didn’t bother to point it out.

If someone brings you something, you’re just grateful.

And then…

‘Tonight!’

The opportunity suddenly arrived. Ihan secretly called his friends.

“Tonight.”

“…!”

“Tonight…!”

His friends looked surprised at the sudden schedule but no one backed out.

“Even better. We can rest on the weekend.”

“So it’s tonight… I was waiting for this.”

With a determined look, Asan held out his hand and said,

“For a comfortable semester without assignments.”

“For a comfortable semester without assignments!”

“…?”

Ihan was puzzled.

When did you all come up with that slogan?

• * *

“Enough chatter, go to your positions. Come on. I hope everyone’s getting close with their horses. Some of you feed and groom your horses early in the morning, and some of you just get up late and briefly pet your horse.”

Gainando flinched.

“I’m not here to criticize. This school only brings students to the water; it doesn’t force-feed them. Everyone has to do their own work.”

‘It feels like we get thrown into the water from the start, though…’

“Are we riding horses today?”

One student asked, looking nervous.

Everyone still lacked the familiarity to show off complicated riding skills on horseback.

“No. To get that close, you’d need to put in effort for a whole semester. Today you’ll learn how to handle other monsters.”

Professor Thunderstep put her finger to her lips and blew a strong whistle.

Then, a blazing puppy bounded out from behind, jumping energetically.

Even the students, who’d seen all sorts of crazy things, couldn’t help but be awed.

But Ihan tensed up.

In this magic school, the cute ones might be even more dangerous.

Of course, that didn’t mean the ugly ones weren’t dangerous too…

“Anyone who just found it cute is immediately disqualified. You should’ve looked at these flames before admiring the cuteness. The moment this puppy charges, half of you will die.”

The burning puppy panted, rolling around on the ground. Professor Thunderstep scratched its belly as if praising it.

“Wizards are generally good at handling elements, but that’s if they’ve survived all sorts of accidents. Why do Imperials think wizards are skilled with elemental manipulation? Because dumb wizards die before anyone hears about them. Too many have died trying to tame fire-type monsters, so many that I can’t even list all their names.”

The students unconsciously took a few steps back. They felt like they’d moved several meters from where they started.

“Today, you’ll learn how to handle a monster with the fire attribute. Be grateful it’s just a puppy. If it were a horse, you’d have to worry about being trampled to death before burning. Wardhanaz.”

The top disciple was always called out first at times like this.

Ihan suppressed his sigh and stepped forward.

“You’ll demonstrate. Drink this.”

Professor Thunderstep tossed a fire resistance potion. Ihan felt a little relieved.

‘So it’s not bare skin contact.’

If the professor heard, she’d say, ‘What do you take me for?!’ and get angry, Ihan thought as he drank the fire resistance potion.

His throat felt hot, like he’d just drunk a strong alcohol. When he breathed, he caught a faint whiff of something burning.

“Finished? Good. Now, spend as much time as possible with that puppy.”

“How long does the potion last?”

“You’ll have to figure that out.”

“……”

Ihan hesitated.

‘So I’m supposed to notice when it becomes dangerous and get out on my own?’

Training that hones a wizard’s intuition for danger, without relying solely on resistance spells or potions.

…It wasn’t easy to convince himself of that.

‘Damn. I bet going last would’ve been the best.’

Maybe it would help to measure how long the potion lasted by watching the others!

Ihan focused.

He heightened his magic to a ready state in case he needed to cast a spell at any moment.

Putting on a gentle smile, he approached the puppy.

The burning puppy whimpered with a scared look.

“Don’t intimidate it!!”

“But I didn’t do anything…”