Chapter 1308

Ah! Senior! You contacted me! I just saw it now!

......

...I'm sorry.

Is this because of that nonsense about Valdrogard? If so, don't worry too much about it. Ridiculous rumors like that will disappear soon enough.

It's not a ridiculous rumor.

'Hm?'

Diret's hand holding the quill stopped for a moment, and they reread the sentence they had just seen.

'Am I so tired that my reading comprehension has gotten worse?'

I'm going to be working as a Valdrogard professor this semester.

“Coughcoughcoughcoughcough!”

The shocking sentence made Diret cough so violently that their wings flapped.

Startled by the sight, Gainando ran to the wall of the tower, opened a window, and aired the room out.

'Urgh! I should've cleaned and dusted three times a day...!'

If Lee Han had been there, he would have nagged, 'What did I tell you?'

Gainando desperately prayed that the upper-year student would not notice that he had only cleaned twice a day.

Why in the world!?

It's a very long story.

Of course it's a long story! How could you become a Valdrogard professor because of a short story?!

Diret felt completely awake now.

...It's not because you dislike Einroguard, is it? Upper-year students, friends, juniors, professors, the Principal, school rules...

As Diret listed the things the junior might dislike, a thought suddenly occurred.

'Wait. Aren't there too many?'

At this point, it almost seemed as though Einroguard had no advantages at all.

No. It's definitely nothing like that. Of course there are upper-year students, professors, and a Principal I don't like, but I wouldn't take a Valdrogard professor position because of that.

Then why?

...I was, in a sense... scammed.

By Valdrogard!? I'll kill them!

I wasn't scammed by Valdrogard... Anyway, I'll explain everything later. Oh, and please keep this secret from my friends!

“?!”

Diret was taken aback by the request to keep it secret from his friends.

Well, everyone would find out once the semester began anyway, so there was no real need to tell them in advance. And Diret had no reason to meet any other juniors during vacation.

But there was currently one junior right here in the mage tower...

'Did he forget?'

Don't tell your friend Gainando either?

If you tell him, he'll throw a fit or try to escape, and all that'll accomplish is getting him sent to the punishment room. Just keep it hidden until the semester starts.

'That makes sense.'

Diret had no choice but to admit that Lee Han had made a coldly rational judgment.

Given the personality of that Imperial junior, there was indeed a high chance that hearing such news would send him into a frenzy and leave him rolling around on the floor.

While Diret was thinking, another paper bird flew in. It was from Yukbeltire.

Fwoosh!

Without even opening it, Diret fired black flames and shot the paper bird down. Gainando asked in confusion,

“Why aren't you reading yours, Senior?”

“A lot of paper birds with strange nonsense in them have been flying in lately...”

“Gasp! Me too!”

* * *

Inside the flying carriage, Lee Han prepared separate messages for the newly acquainted Valdrogard administrators and the Valdrogard students he already knew.

The Skull Principal gave him a look that said he wanted to throw Lee Han out of the carriage.

“Aren't you going to study magic? Your microcosm, for example...”

“I'll do this first.”

“I'd rather sit in the driver's seat. I'd sooner drive the carriage myself than watch this.”

The Skull Principal chased the Death Knight inside the carriage and took the driver's seat instead.

The knight watched Lee Han from an extremely awkward posture.

Professor Nwalka. It was truly unfortunate that we weren't able to speak at greater length during the last banquet. I was deeply interested in your theater lectures... (omitted)... I was wondering how you gather students for your classes. I am also curious how you keep the students focused during lectures. And I would also like to know whether you have ever physically sealed a classroom door. If so, did the students attempt to escape? And did the students ever return to attend your lectures afterward...?

Principal Kraha. It was truly unfortunate that I wasn't able to hear about Valdrogard's grand and extensive history during the last banquet... (omitted)... I would like to know a little more about Valdrogard's school rules. Are there perhaps any rules concerning a professor attacking a student? Please don't worry, this is merely curiosity. I would also like to know whether there are rules concerning a professor physically sealing a classroom door, or a professor pursuing students and forcibly dragging them back into the classroom. This too is merely curiosity. I've always been rather curious by nature...

'Isn't the content a little strange?'

The Death Knight felt a sense of unease.

He had thought the Successor was seriously considering what to teach at Valdrogard, but this was somehow rather different from what he had imagined.

Instead of which magic to teach and how to teach it, this seemed more like how to gather certain students and make sure they could not escape.

“Whew. Done.” ℴ

Lee Han sent off the paper birds with a satisfied expression. The Death Knight started to say something, then shook his head.

'No. The Successor must have some plan of his own.'

And honestly, even if he caused a bit of trouble at Valdrogard, would that really be such a serious problem?

“Next...”

Lee Han thought about the Valdrogard students he knew.

First, there was Jandanni of House Aljadk.

'That lunatic who spent gemstones like water.'

Then there was Irendi of House Kraha. This student, one year above Lee Han, was a peculiar person who had even joined the <Einroguard's Watchers> club.

'That lunatic who spent gemstones like water.'

And if he stretched the definition a little, there was also Kitarenanum, a magical criminal among Valdrogard's graduates. Surprisingly, this mage had graduated from Valdrogard.

'They didn't spend gemstones like water, but they were a lunatic. Hmm. They probably would spend gemstones like water, though. They're a magical criminal, after all.'

After organizing his memories, Lee Han realized that his image of Valdrogard was vaguer than he had expected.

Hatred, after all, was an emotion that prevented a person from truly understanding the object of that hatred.

'...I should talk to them first.'

What did Valdrogard students think about as they lived their lives?

What did they like, and what did they dislike? How would they react if the classroom door were sealed and they were locked inside until they learned magic?

Lee Han needed to understand such things in advance if he wanted to win every battle once the semester began.

He attempted a private conversation with Irendi of House Kraha, the easiest person to contact.

Gonadaltes: Ipheldrem. Have you heard the news? There's something remarkable happening at Valdrogard.

Ipheldrem: If you're trying to trick me, stop it! You're looking down on me because I'm a Valdrogard student, aren't you?

“......”

This was genuinely unfair.

'I was the one who stopped them!'

Of course, it was true that whenever Lee Han saw Valdrogard students, he felt an impulse to strip them of all their wealth.

But at least within the Watchers club, he had never once done anything that went against his conscience.

If anything, he had stopped the other members whenever they tried to deceive this Valdrogard student for profit!

Perhaps because the manner in which he stopped them had been somewhat rough, Ipheldrem was still wary of Lee Han.

'Maybe it's because of the alias. Perhaps Gonadaltes is simply an inherently threatening name.'

>Gonadaltes: I helped you entertain an Einroguard student last time, and this is how suspicious you are of me? That's rather hurtful.

Ipheldrem: Ah, that... I-I'm sorry. You really did help back then. I apologize.

Lee Han shook his head sadly.

If this had been an Einroguard student, the answer would have been, 'Then go back in time and ask for compensation.'

To lower one's guard over something this minor.

The students of the two magic schools differed as much as wolves and sheep.

Ipheldrem: Thanks to you, we were able to treat Lord Wardanaz properly.

Gonadaltes: That's... good...

Lee Han's fingertips trembled slightly. Pretending not to be himself was harder than expected.

Ipheldrem: I'm grateful for your help, but I'll say this again. Not every Einroguard student is evil, and they don't all visit just to extort money from us. Lord Wardanaz really didn't do anything.

Gonadaltes: Right...

Ipheldrem: And he didn't say anything about wanting to lock a demon underground either!

Gonadaltes: Let's get to the point. That's actually what I was about to tell you. Wardanaz is going to take up a position as a Valdrogard professor this semester.

Ipheldrem: Don't try anything funny! How dare you!

Gonadaltes: ?

Ipheldrem: Do you expect me to believe something like that?! You're looking down on me just because I'm a Valdrogard student!

“......”

Lee Han was bewildered.

This kind and good-natured mage, who had remained polite no matter what rude things the other members said until now, had suddenly become this angry.

'Did the owner change?'

Gonadaltes: Why are you angry? Do you think I'm lying? I'm not. You'll find out as soon as you check.

Ipheldrem: Just wait right there! If this isn't true, Gonadaltes, I will never speak another word to you ever agai—I'm sorryI'm sorryI'm sorryI'm truly sorry!!!

Ipheldrem spent about ten minutes posting a lengthy apology and reflection.

Then, still sounding utterly unable to believe it, they asked,

Ipheldrem: How in the world did they make Lord Wardanaz a professor...? I can't believe it. Did they perhaps pay an enormous bribe to the Principal of Einroguard?

'What?'

Lee Han was slightly surprised.

This student of House Kraha possessed not only magical skill unusual for Valdrogard, but surprisingly sharp insight as well.

It was slightly different from the truth, but much closer than expected.

Ipheldrem: And Gonadaltes, how in the world did you find out about this?

Gonadaltes: All Einroguard students have their ways.

Ipheldrem: I see...!

In truth, they did not. Very few people knew.

Ipheldrem: It has always been my dream to learn magic from Lord Wardanaz. I'm truly delighted!

Gonadaltes: This suddenly made me curious, so let me ask you. How many students at Valdrogard are there who would want to attend a magic lecture like you?

Ipheldrem: One moment. Senior Jandanni is beside me, so I'll go ask.

'Ah. Things are going well.'

Lee Han was pleased by the unexpected stroke of luck.

A short while later, Ipheldrem replied.

Ipheldrem: I asked everyone. There are two.

Gonadaltes: ...Didn't you write that wrong? Two?

Ipheldrem: Yes! Me and Senior Jandanni. Two of us.

Gonadaltes: Ah. I think you misunderstood my question, my Valdrogard friend. I meant how many people in all of Valdrogard you think would be interested.

Ipheldrem: That's what I mean. Two.

Ipheldrem wondered why Gonadaltes was having such trouble understanding.

They wanted to attend, and Senior Jandanni wanted to attend, so that made two in total.

“......”

Lee Han felt a chill run down his spine.

Gonadaltes: That's impossible! No matter what, there can't be only two!

Ipheldrem: Hmm... Come to think of it, there might be a few more. There are students who are interested in magic. We sometimes talk about it together.

Gonadaltes: Exactly! I knew it!

Ipheldrem: But they have something more important to do this semester...

Gonadaltes: What is it?

Ipheldrem: Professor Seden's theater class. It got an amazing response this year, so I think everyone will be focusing on that next semester.

“......”

Lee Han stopped writing and slumped in despair.