Episode 895
by CristaeSensing something was wrong, Joulin instinctively folded his wings.
But he didn’t understand.
He had unleashed an awesome breath and a mighty strike to defeat an evil monster, so why was he getting scolded?
‘This is unfair!’
“The professor would have finished it off, so why did you breathe fire there?! Because of you, the enemy targeted Your Highness first!”
But… we won…
“What did you say!”
N-nothing. Joulin said nothing at all.
Lee Han’s voice, unlike usual, was exceedingly strict.
Joulin, thinking to protest that they won, sensed from his innate draconic instincts and hurriedly shut his mouth. His ability to evade was on a whole other level from Gainando, who would always get hit for talking back just once more.
“Let’s say you did breathe fire. Then you should have finished it from a distance—why did you go in for close combat?”
That… it just looked cool…
“……”
…I’m sorry…
Seeing that no excuse would work, Joulin whimpered and reflected.
But the furious Lee Han would not let it go. He tapped his staff on the ground repeatedly, scolding him.
“Repeat after me. When you see a strong enemy!”
When you see a strong enemy…
“Hand it off to a Death Knight!”
Hand it off to a Death Knight…
“And then!”
When you see a strong enemy, call the professors!
Repeating after him, Joulin regretted deeply.
So this is what happens when you get excited and breathe fire!
Reality was nothing like the fairy tales.
In the stories, Azirmo broke down the walls and smashed the enemies into them, but in reality, Azirmo would’ve spent his days apologizing to the townsfolk for breaking the walls after the battle.
“Truly amazing. I never thought I’d witness such a sight in my life.”
The -Order of the Watchers of Flame- knight approached, voice trembling with awe.
‘Oops.’
Lee Han snapped out of it after scolding Joulin so harshly.
On reflection, this was no time to scold Joulin for dangerous conduct.
‘Should I have just covered my face and slipped away?’
Although, that wouldn’t have salvaged things much either…
“A student chosen by a dragon! Truly moving. Professor Ingeldel, honestly, I thought you were worrying too much over one student.”
“……”
“……”
Both Lee Han and Professor Ingeldel looked dumbfounded at the knight’s words.
Of course, for slightly different reasons.
“But seeing this, I realize I underestimated the situation. I knew the Einrogard sorcerers were impressive, but to be chosen by a dragon—that’s something out of legend!”
“I agree as well, Professor. Did you call us here to show us this?”
“No. I didn’t know either.”
“Is that denial out of modesty?”
“Can’t you hear me say no?”
The usually polite Professor Ingeldel grew stern.
So shocked, courtesy flew out the window. The knights cleared their throats at their friend’s reaction.
“Uh, right. So even Ingeldel didn’t know.”
“That makes it all the more surprising…”
“Excuse me.”
His mind swirling with dozens of thoughts, Lee Han finally reached a decision and spoke up.
There was much he wanted to ask, but he decided to handle the most urgent matters first.
“Ask anything. Young sorcerer chosen by the dragon.”
“What exactly does it mean to be chosen by a dragon?”
“?”
“??”
The knights looked at each other.
Why would a sorcerer chosen by a dragon ask that?
He must know better than anyone…
But the knights were kind. Explaining such things to one who had just, with a dragon, struck down a mighty demon was hardly an imposition.
“A great race like theirs doesn’t let just anyone ride on their back.”
“Wait. I have a question.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“Does it count if it’s for a play or performance?”
“Uh…”
The knights became flustered at this question, more baffling than dueling a demon duke.
They were devotees of sword and honor, not folklore scholars.
“M-maybe?”
“Hmm. Probably not… It’s like a game. It’s not just about getting on a dragon’s back. Just because you throw a ball while on a dragon doesn’t make you a true companion…”
“You’re quite clever!”
After sorting their opinions, the knights replied again.
“That probably doesn’t count.”
“I see… Thank you. Please continue.”
Lee Han listened with utmost focus, trying to find any loophole he could.
Dragons didn’t let just anyone ride on their back.
Letting someone ride itself was a sign of acknowledgment and support.
When a noble family of the Empire backed even a minor prince, it caused quite a stir; how much weightier would the approval of a rare race like dragons be?
People would inevitably expect great things of one who won a dragon’s support.
‘…It’s a burden, but not the worst outcome I imagined.’
Lee Han felt slightly relieved.
Of course, “Look! He’s a contract partner chosen by a dragon!” was a heavy title.
If he had truly been chosen for his abilities and merit, maybe, but this was just Joulin forcibly giving him a ride.
Even Joulin didn’t recall the meaning or importance…
But after attending Einrogard, Lee Han’s mind had matured—no, grown numb.
Rumors were already circulating he’d faced the Ghoul King, a basilisk, a sea serpent, anti-magic cultists, a magical criminal, the King of Frost Giants, and the Skull Headmaster, so this was relatively easy to accept.
Having “Dragon’s Chosen” tacked onto the void might be a heavy burden for some, but with all the other labels already piled on, Lee Han felt, “Eh, what’s one more…”
‘Wait. Am I looking at this too optimistically? Maybe I’m just too shocked to judge properly.’
Come to think of it, even the Skull Headmaster had made it onto that list. Lee Han hadn’t realized until now.
“Dragons are so few that they respect their own. When one dragon recognizes someone, the others will too.”
“That’s how powerful a dragon’s public support is. If a mage committed a serious crime, even the supporting dragon would be punished.”
The dragon race, small in number, was deeply and tightly bonded, even if they weren’t always close day-to-day.
If Lee Han became a villainous magical criminal and bathed the continent in blood, the other dragons would hold Joulin responsible too.
Joulin declares on his honor! He believes in Lee Han! Lee Han is not that kind of sorcerer!
Joulin declared resolutely.
He wasn’t one to be shaken by things like that. Believing in Lee Han, Joulin showed his resolve.
If Lee Han committed a crime, Joulin would take responsibility!
The knights, too, were moved anew. This was a true bond, like those seen in legends.
But Lee Han, cold as ever, was not swayed by such emotion.
“Wait. I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“You said if I commit a serious crime, Joulin is punished by the other dragons. What if Joulin commits a crime—am I also punished by the dragons?”
“I suppose so?”
“……”
Lee Han stared at Joulin. Joulin panicked.
J-Joulin would never commit a crime!
“Your Highness has already fired breath twice on your own this week…”
Th-that was exceptional circumstance…!
‘This is worrisome.’
Joulin, on the verge of tears, begged with emotion, but Lee Han remained calm.
‘Your Highness is growing fast. This is worrisome.’
After all, adolescence was called the stormy years for a reason. Anyone at that age was prone to impulsive mistakes.
He’d been at Einrogard for only a few months and was already getting into this kind of trouble. A year from now, burning down a castle wouldn’t even be surprising.
Lee Han imagined standing before a dragon tribunal:
“Do you, Lee Han Wardanaz, accept responsibility for the castle wall burned by Joulin?”
On reflection, this “bond” was a one-sided burden on Lee Han.
Lee Han was unlikely to cause trouble, so Joulin got off nearly free!
‘Wait, is this why the Headmaster discouraged His Highness from visiting?’
If he’d even foreseen this far, the Skull Headmaster was a true sage. Lee Han shivered in reverence for his absent master.
Heeiiing…
While Lee Han pondered alone, instead of just saying “of course I trust you,” Joulin nearly started crying.
He believed in Lee Han!
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I was only worried if I end up attacking a professor, you might be punished too.”
You weren’t worried about Joulin committing a crime?
“What are you saying? How could someone like Your Highness commit a crime? That’s so ridiculous I can’t even process it.”
…Lee Han! You can attack professors as much as you want! Joulin is ready for anything!
Joulin nodded cheerfully, then stopped, sensing something wrong.
Wait. Lee Han, didn’t you just grill me on firing two breaths?
“That was just a factual statement, Your Highness. I don’t lie.”
Heh heh.
“……”
“……”
The watching knights looked a bit taken aback.
Huh?
It seemed less like Lee Han was chosen by the dragon and more as if he was tricking the dragon…
‘W-wait, no. Dragons can’t be outsmarted. It must be a joke.’
“You two.”
“Yeah? What is it?”
“Is it just me, or is it a little odd he just casually mentioned attacking professors?”
“……”
The knights reflected.
How had they been so distracted by surprise that they missed such an obvious red flag!
- * *
After soothing Joulin, Lee Han explained to the knights.
“That was a joke. It’s an Einrogard-style joke—like expressing one’s resolve to surpass one’s master.”
“Of course!”
Impressed by the Wardanaz scion’s clever joke, the knights burned with passion to try joking themselves.
“May I tell a joke too?”
“I’d be honored to hear it.”
“Do you know the difference between riding a dragon to slay a monster from hell, and taking on all the knights here at once?”
“Uh… I suppose both sound difficult.”
“One is your upcoming test, and the other is what you just did today!”
The knights roared with laughter at their friend’s clever joke.
But Lee Han’s face turned pale.
“…So my midterm will be fighting all of you here at once??”
“Hm? No, no. Ah, you didn’t get the joke. The joke is, when I say it’s your test, you think of riding a dragon to slay a hellish monster, right? But actually the test would just be facing us—it’s much simpler, see? Isn’t that funny?”
“It’s not funny at all.”
“Let me explain again why that’s funny—”
Professor Ingeldel, unable to bear any more, stopped his friends.
“Wardanaz. Don’t worry. Defeating the monster is enough for the exam.”
“Professor!”
Lee Han was moved.
“The joint-attack suggestion was just something mentioned while discussing the exam. No need to be alarmed.”
“…Professor!”
Lee Han was aghast.
So that idea was really on the table?!