Chapter 1316

"I'll be going too, Professor!"

Jandanni shouted as if asking not to be forgotten.

At that sight, Lee Han suddenly felt puzzled.

'Wait? Wasn't this person definitely a fourth-year?'

Then why were they saying they would be coming next semester too?

"Jandanni..."

"Please feel free to call me Student Jandanni, Professor!"

Having a mage several years above him address him with a title while looking at him with eyes full of respect was harder to endure than Lee Han had expected.

'Come to think of it, this person thought I was a sixth-year.'

"Student Jandanni. Did you know? At Petroguard, professors and students call one another by name without regard for position. So Student Jandanni can feel free to..."

"But isn't that a Petroguard school rule?"

Jandanni asked back as if they did not understand.

Why should Valdrogard students follow the rules of those eccentric artists?

If it were Einroguard, at least there would be the symbolism of the two schools being the twin pillars leading the Empire, but Petroguard did not even have that.

'Damn it. Why are they only pointlessly logical at times like this?'

"That is... true."

"If I act too casually simply because I am acquainted with you, Professor, people will mock me as someone who does not even know proper manners. Alnoev. You remember this too. Not only professors, but senior mages must be treated with the respect they deserve."

"Yes!"

"......"

Unable to endure it any longer, Lee Han chose to escape. 𝖿𝖗ⅇℴ𝑚

"Jandanni... Student. Weren't you supposed to graduate this time?"

"Ah. Professor. I decided to stay another year."

"I see."

'So they were held back.'

Lee Han thought to himself and nodded slightly.

Being held back was nothing to be ashamed of. Anyone could fail to graduate.

If the opportunity arose, he even wanted Gainando to hear about Jandanni's experience.

The world did not end just because you were held back...

'...Wait. Does Valdrogard even have students repeat a year? They don't have exams.'

"I look forward to spending my fifth year with you."

"F... fifth year?!"

Lee Han was startled.

Valdrogard had a fifth year too!?

"Why are you so surprised?"

"I think I know, Senior. Any mage would have no choice but to be amazed by the decision to remain alone at school and devote oneself to magic."

"H-haha. Is it really that impressive? Come now... Professor has already walked that path himself."

'I haven't.'

Lee Han thought to himself.

"In any case, fifth year... I was surprised by your choice, Student Jandanni."

"This year may quite literally become a year of madness for magic, Professor Wardanaz."

Jandanni declared boldly, thumping their own chest.

At that sight, Lee Han nodded.

'With that much resolve, they should have far less resistance when I seal the lecture hall. How lucky that I have a student willing to cooperate like this.'

In truth, Jandanni knew nothing about sealing the lecture hall, had never heard of it, and had never agreed to it, but Lee Han decided that on his own.

Professors were, by nature, people whose profession involved judging students however they pleased.

"But Professor. Did you come to our carriage just to greet us?"

"No. I came to talk briefly about this visit to Dekarogard... What do you two think of Dekarogard?"

Lee Han still had a little hope.

Jandanni's judgment was fairly high-tier among Valdrogard students.

Simply traveling around to several magic schools was enough to build up a great deal of common sense(other students went on things like tours of the Imperial Grand Theater instead of visiting magic schools).

"If I may be so bold, I would say it is the kindest and most courteous magic school apart from our own Valdrogard!"

"That is what I heard as well, Professor!"

"......"

Lee Han unconsciously looked out the window. He suddenly wanted to return to the Skull Principal's carriage.

'No. I can't give up already.'

"Once we arrive at Dekarogard, both of you follow behind me. I will guide you."

***

Ukablock, the goblin professor of Dekarogard, held the old coin in his hand up to the sunlight and examined it closely.

"You got scammed."

"Th-that can't be! Professor! I checked after reading dozens of old books! A coin this filthy and covered in dust..."

"That was the trick. It's a common mistake. Everyone assumes transformation magic will be used to make something intricate and beautiful, but no one expects someone to deliberately make it dirtier and dustier. The secret is in the mud, so take a good look."

This goblin professor knew very well what kinds of tricks could be pulled with transformation magic.

All the more so because he himself was a master of such tricks. The student who realized they had paid dearly for a fake coin shouted in frustration.

"That damned merchant! Just wait! Next time, I'll definitely sell him a fake!"

"Good thinking. Fee."

"...Could you perhaps give me a discount since your student was scammed?"

"Why would getting scammed be anything special enough for a discount? Do you want me to encourage you to get scammed more?"

Ukablock extorted a silver coin from the student's pocket.

The mages were currently talking beneath the shade of a tent set up on the outskirts of the enormous permanent market.

Located at the heart of the trade routes in the southern Empire, this permanent market was one of the largest in the Empire. Merchant caravans continuously streamed across the desert sands stretching to the distant horizon, while the nearby market was packed with more than a thousand colorful tents and roofs.

A facility of this scale could not be maintained without magic anywhere in the Empire. Dekarogard mages handled all sorts of duties, beginning with managing the market's drinking water and extending to temperature control, sanitation, appraisal of goods, and public security.

And at the same time, they made money.

There were so many ways for mages to make money in a market like this that listing them all would be difficult.

Which meant the students had to move as efficiently as possible.

The student who had just been scammed had fallen for the method known as 'collecting and reselling ancient artifacts,' a difficult business that could yield enormous profits if successful.

Gold was always found beside danger.

-Valdrogard carriage approaching! Valdrogard carriage approaching! Valdrogard carriage approaching!

The trumpet Ukablock had placed beside the tent pole began shouting noisily.

At that, not only Ukablock but the Dekarogard students jumped in surprise.

Valdrogard students were coming?

"Professor. This is..."

"Gold is blessing you! I am truly jealous!"

People said there was no such thing as fortune without a price, but in truth, there was one exception.

A visit from Valdrogard students.

A blessing with no strings attached that multiplied the weight of Dekarogard students' gold-pouches several times over simply by arriving!

They were so popular that Dekarogard had even established rules such as 'professors may not participate.'

Ukablock smiled wistfully. Seeing the eyes of his disciples sparkling with excitement made him think how wonderful youth was.

'Youth really is wonderful! How nice it would be if I could join them too?'

"Go! Do not return until you have filled this entire tent with gold!"

"Yes!"

***

Ahalmir, an orc mage and student of Dekarogard, was one of the school's most renowned geniuses.

In only the second year, Ahalmir had succeeded at the consecutive transformation of five materials, considered one of the more difficult feats in transformation magic, and in the third year had successfully transformed the cursed sword of a count visiting the school into a wooden club(the sword was secretly sold afterward).

Naturally, Ahalmir took pride in that.

"There are as many merchants in this market as grains of sand in the desert. Among them, there will be merchants with more experience than me, and merchants more skilled at business than me. But I am confident I can earn more gold coins than any of them!"

If all the merchants here were gathered together and forced to start again with nothing, Ahalmir was confident of taking first place.

"Shabit. You need to regain your confidence too. An attitude like that only drives gold farther away. It won't bring it back."

"But Senior Ahalmir. I still don't have the confidence..."

Shabit, the junior, continued to hesitate.

They looked as though they had lost all confidence. It was a very rare sight at Dekarogard.

Ahalmir knew perfectly well why the junior was acting this way.

Shabit had recently visited the capital, where an Einroguard mage had thoroughly defeated them and shattered their confidence.

It was still hard to believe even after hearing the story again.

A Dekarogard mage could lose to an Einroguard mage in magic, knowledge, or reputation.

But to lose in gold coins?

If Professor Ukablock had not confirmed that it was true, Ahalmir would probably still have been denying it.

"Grr. That Einroguard mage dared to... Just wait."

"Senior. You heard about the recent evil-god subjugation incident. You absolutely must not challenge him recklessly."

"Shabit. What has gotten into you? Did you honestly think I was planning to attack him by force?"

Ahalmir stared at the junior in genuine disbelief.

To think Shabit believed a Dekarogard mage would settle frustration through force. The junior truly must have been having a hard time.

"Of course I will compete with him in gold coins. I will prove that both you and Professor were wrong. Enough! Shabit. You go rest at the tent. I will handle your share as well."

"Senior. Why not just let it go this time? Even if you only deal with merchants without getting involved with other magic schools..."

Shabit spoke cautiously while watching Ahalmir's reaction.

Shabit did not quite understand why they were acting like this either.

They simply wanted to spend this year safely without getting involved with other magic schools.

"What a terrible thing to say! No matter how badly Einroguard frightened you, you're scared of Valdrogard too? Absolutely not! I can't let the others take everything! Go rest!"

Ahalmir spun around and headed toward the stables where the Valdrogard carriage should have landed.

Several Dekarogard students could already be seen approaching. They were clearly watching and keeping one another in check.

'It's a carriage pulled by pegasi. They'll be dirty with sweat and dust, so I'll transform the outside clean and then charge them for it.'

'Hmph. You're thinking about cleaning the exterior, aren't you? Foolish junior. I'll earn their trust first. I operate on an entirely different level from those of you with such simple ideas.'

"Ha!"

Ahalmir looked at the other students with contempt.

There was a better method than such petty tricks.

Transform into a pegasus personally and seduce the pegasus that had pulled the carriage here.

It was a strategy possible only with both the magical ability to transform into a pegasus and the Bendozol-like boldness needed to seduce a pegasus one had never met before.

But then something astonishing happened.

-I'll brush your pegasus and clean your carriage for... What?! The carriage is already clean?!

-I took care of it before we arrived. Oh dear. There is some dirt on your cloak. Allow me to clean it with magic.

-Do not be fooled by those offers to clean things for you. It isn't even something you need. More importantly, perhaps you lost this? This brooch... Huh? Where did the brooch go?

-The brooch is here. I never lost it in the first place. But perhaps... did you lose your staff? I happened to pick this up on the way here. Haha. You can give me an appropriate reward.

'What in the world?!'

Ahalmir was startled.

That seemed to be the new professor who had come with the Valdrogard students, but both the magic and the business sense were anything but ordinary.

How did Valdrogard have a mage like that?