Episode 865
by CristaeEpisode 865
‘I want to believe I misheard.’
If Lee Han had heard correctly just now, then what Joulin offered was…
I just pulled it out! Here!
Joulin innocently opened his mouth and pointed to the gap where the tooth had been.
For a moment, Lee Han had a vision of his name printed in the Imperial and Einrogard newspapers.
-The boy of the Wardanaz family, excommunicated for enticing royalty and harvesting flesh… Is it a legitimate transaction, or a deception through evil magic?
Rumors had long persisted that the boy from the Wardanaz family has always captivated and dominated royalty. According to one royal, ‘Life without Wardanaz is unthinkable for food, clothing, shelter, all things’…
The head of the Wardanaz family ignored requests for a statement on this issue. Citizens of the Empire should beware the Wardanaz family. What could be their intent in trying to control the royal family?
Thud!
-An anonymous Wardanaz junior developed an innovative method of extracting reagent from a dragon’s body.
While most think only brute force is possible, this junior brainwashed the dragon into willingly offering the reagent!
This sounds an alarm to current Einrogard magicians, who depend only on magic and not wisdom.
From now on, wise Einrogard magicians, even if you meet a dragon, don’t attack rashly—instead, try to brainwash it like this junior and have the dragon on your side!
‘Horrifying.’
The worst part was that he couldn’t deny that fantasy.
Honestly, if Lee Han were an outsider, he might have thought the same.
Blocking everyone else but himself, and then collecting so diligently…
…Is it not good?
Seeing Lee Han standing speechless and pale, Joulin nervously asked.
He’d thought it was a good material, so he pulled it out; but confronted with such a reaction, the dragon grew very dejected.
“I was so happy I couldn’t speak, Your Highness.”
Really? Then here’s another one…
“If I receive another, I might collapse from happiness. Ack! My heart’s already about halfway—”
Ah, stop! Lee Han! I order you not to be so happy!
Joulin began to frantically stomp his feet in distress, while Lee Han turned to the professors for help.
‘Help me, professors!’
On second thought, there was no point asking Professor Voladi for help. Lee Han just asked Professor Garcia.
“…Um, Your Highness. Isn’t a dragon’s tooth a bit too much?”
Barely breaking out of his shock, Professor Garcia managed to speak.
A dragon’s tooth was a traditionally powerful magic reagent. Especially for summoning magic, it was so famous that summoned creatures of the ‘dragon fang soldier’ type had a special designation.
The problem was this reagent was far, far too rare.
Even for dragon fang soldiers, a truly 100% pure dragon’s tooth was extremely rare. Its scarcity meant that people mixed in even the smallest amount of ancient dragon’s tooth along with other ingredients.
To have given such a rare thing to a second-year student… Professor Garcia understood why Lee Han was so pressured.
Moreover, Lee Han was acting as Joulin’s guardian within Einrogard.
Sniff…
Joulin looked pitiful.
He’d worked hard to think of the perfect gift, only to learn it was too much.
He was having so much fun at Einrogard, but to think he couldn’t even give a proper present—his eyes filled with tears.
Professor Garcia, flustered, hastily corrected himself.
“Two! Two would be overkill. One is just perfect!”
‘Professor…!’
Lee Han, collapsed to the side, let out a sigh inwardly.
Even Professor Garcia!
Ah. Just one is okay?
“One is totally fine. For Lee Han, it’s okay to carry one dragon’s tooth around.”
“……”
The phrase ‘even if it’s Lee Han’ or ‘for Lee Han’ was being thrown around recklessly.
Lee Han gave up and sighed as he stood up.
“Thank you. I’ll use it well, Your Highness. …But please don’t pull out parts of your body on your own again.”
B-but Lee Han. It’ll grow back soon…
“Don’t pull it even if I say so.”
Understood!
When Lee Han sternly said not to argue further, Joulin answered immediately.
Watching that, Professor Garcia was impressed.
A not-yet-grown dragon was unpredictable and capricious.
For Joulin to obey so well!
He obeyed so well he even offered up his teeth—but that was the problem…
“Professor Garcia.”
Professor Voladi tilted his head toward Professor Garcia. Thinking he might say something, Professor Garcia looked curious.
“What is it, Professor?”
“It would be good to quickly use the dragon’s tooth.”
“……”
Professor Voladi’s suggestion to have Lee Han quickly practice a summoning using the dragon’s tooth before class ended left Professor Garcia speechless.
So this is how you end up with zero students!
Here he was, trying not to worsen his student’s reputation or burden him, while Professor Voladi was thinking, ‘Heh, I’ll have my student summon a dragon fang golem.’
“Professor. Aren’t you worried about Lee Han?”
“?”
“…He’s only a second-year, and not only is he wandering around with a dragon, now he’s received a dragon’s tooth from it. What’s going to happen if this rumor gets out?”
At Professor Garcia’s earnest words, Professor Voladi thought for a moment.
Then he replied sincerely.
“I doubt it will be any different from now.”
“……”
Oh?
Really?
Professor Garcia was about to get angry, but found himself a bit convinced.
Now that he thought about it, considering the current rumors, adding some like ‘Dragon King’ or ‘Dragon Plunderer’ wouldn’t make much of a difference…
‘…It really doesn’t feel any different!’
Professor Garcia was confused whether he’d been tricked by Professor Voladi or not.
“Professor Garcia. Could you watch over me as I use the dragon’s tooth?”
“Ah. Yes. But wait. What about Direte?”
“He’s taking a break.”
Lee Han pointed at Direte nearby.
Apparently still not over the shock of seeing a dragon’s tooth, Direte was sitting in his chair, his wings trembling.
While Lee Han was lost in a vision of the Imperial Times, Direte had collapsed in real life.
“Ah. No… I’ll help.”
“…You should rest, Direte!”
- * *
Joulin gleefully sparred with the skeleton golem summoned with the dragon’s tooth.
It was so much fun that on the third round he actually got hit and tumbled away (Direte nearly fainted again).
Wow! That was so much fun!
“I’m glad too.”
“Me too… Urgh.”
Direte was as pale as someone who’d been stuck in the punishment room for a month.
Lee Han, feeling guilty, apologized.
“Sorry, Senior.”
“It wasn’t… your fault…”
“Please stop talking and rest.”
Direte gestured instead of replying. Lee Han immediately understood and asked.
“You mean the dragon’s tooth?”
Nod.
“Here it is. Ah, do you want this, Senior?”
Direte ruffled his wing feathers and shook his head fiercely. Then he glared at his junior.
“Sorry…”
“Means… keep it safe… It’s valuable…”
“You worked hard, Direte. Drink this.”
Professor Garcia produced a potion. It invigorated him and protected his mind.
After a few sips, Direte got his strength back and finally spoke.
“…This may be the most memorable class of the year.”
“I’m sorry…”
“Sorry…”
“It’s all right. Can’t be helped, really. But didn’t you say you have to look after His Highness?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll take a shift. Professor Garcia, you have other things, right?”
Seeing her student step up for his junior, Professor Garcia’s eyes grew moist.
Even in the desolate hell that was Einrogard, sometimes a magician with such a good heart appeared.
The true miracle of Einrogard might not be magic but these kinds of students.
“Thank you, Direte.”
“When do you have your next class, Professor Baegrek?”
At Direte’s question, Professor Voladi answered.
“Next…”
“Is your next class soon?”
“…Week.”
“……”
“……”
An awkward silence fell. Everyone except Professor Voladi felt the tension—even Joulin fidgeted, noticing it.
“…I’m so glad Professor Baegrek is joining us!”
“Senior, you can drop out now. With just me and Professor Baegrek, it’ll work out somehow.”
“…Hey, hush.”
Direte regained his composure and shut Lee Han’s mouth.
Of course, he wanted to drop out badly, but ditching now would make him another Professor Verdus, not Direte.
“What’s the next class?”
“-Magical Algebra & Arcane Geometry-. It’s Professor Knighten’s class.”
“At least that one’s easy…”
Direte felt relieved when a second-year lecture came up.
Then he was shocked.
‘…Since when does a second-year feel relieved listening to a second-year class!?’
Algebra? Geometry?
“If Your Highness isn’t interested, would you prefer to rest in the lounge?”
Lee Han asked Joulin.
If Joulin wasn’t interested, he’d have him nap in the lounge for a while.
That way, Lee Han’s group could get some rest too.
No! Joulin loves geometry. Especially analytical geometry and the magic power emission plane!
“……”
“……”
Lee Han and Direte exchanged looks of shock and fear.
…Surely he isn’t smarter than the two of us?
- * *
“Lee Han. You’re going through a lot.”
“Wardanaz. Hang in there.”
When Lee Han walked in with the dragon, his friends offered comforting words.
To them, Lee Han seemed so devoted, protecting the dragon from greedy and evil seniors.
“…I don’t deserve that kind of talk.”
“Wardanaz…!”
“How could you…!”
Not only the Black Turtle Tower but even the White Tiger Tower seemed touched by those words.
“Grr. That Wardanaz brat, saying something so cool.”
“I should’ve said it!”
Regardless of his friends’ responses, Lee Han was tormented inside. The dragon’s tooth in his reagent pouch felt even heavier.
“…Wait. Why is the professor here?”
“Wait a minute, isn’t that a 5th-year senior??”
Direte, his face burning, covered it with both hands and sat in the far back corner of the classroom.
By contrast, Professor Voladi’s expression didn’t change at all. The two sat quietly across Joulin.
Creak—
At the sound of the door opening, someone entered the front of the classroom.
Professor Alpen…
…no, it was Yukveltire. Direte instinctively ducked under the desk.
Joulin tilted his head and asked,
Why are you acting like a caterpillar?
“…I dropped my quill pen, Your Highness.”
Joulin nodded, filing away ‘Lee Han’s senior often makes mistakes’ in his mind.
Meanwhile, Yukveltire began to speak.
“Professor Knighten had an urgent matter and is absent. I will be taking over this lecture. Questions?”
No one raised their hand. Yukveltire, as if expecting that, gave a slight nod.
Then she raised her eyebrows upon noticing the large dragon sitting demurely in the back.
“…Your Highness Joulin?”
Yes?
“Could you please come to the front for a moment?”
At Yukveltire’s summons, Lee Han quickly drew his staff.
How dare you!