Chapter 1317

While Ahalmir hesitated in confusion, the Dekarogard students backed away with expressions mixed with shock, frustration, and despair.

It was bad enough that they had been the ones to lose gold coins instead, but the fact that their opponent was a Valdrogard mage made it even more humiliating.

How could this happen?

It would be one thing if the opponent were a merchant, but this was another mage, and a Valdrogard mage at that.

It was as absurd as a fully grown basilisk losing to a baby lamb.

"Everyone. What happened?! Did some of you inform on each other?"

Ahalmir called over the dejected Dekarogard students and asked.

Competition among Dekarogard mages was fierce, so this kind of interference was common.

They would tell the opponent about each other's tricks in advance. It was underhanded, but unquestionably effective.

"Senior Ahalmir. There's no way we would do that. I would never tell this bastard about my method."

"I even gave this one false information. Informing on each other beforehand was impossible."

The students firmly denied it.

Guests from Valdrogard were such big spenders that the students had charged in fully prepared.

Naturally, they had anticipated interference such as informing on each other and had prepared their methods accordingly, but...

"That makes no sense! Then why did all of you get beaten instead?"

"Sniff. I don't know either. Do you see how clean my clothes are? I spent five silver coins, so of course they're clean."

"That mage stole my brooch and staff right in front of me! I have no idea how it was done!"

As the students gave their testimonies, the genius orc mage's expression stiffened.

This new Valdrogard professor was truly no ordinary person.

To steal a brooch and staff right in front of transformation mages.

'Illusion magic school? Or transformation magic? Summoning magic is possible too. No. No! Impossible! There is no way a Valdrogard professor could be that versatile!'

"Senior. Please avenge us!"

"Ahalmir. You're the only one! You have to step in!"

"Understood. Leave everything to me. Before that..."

"?"

"Pay me for the trouble of avenging you."

"......"

The Dekarogard juniors, their expressions instantly turning cold, reluctantly pulled out silver coins.

Sometimes, at moments like this, they wondered if coming to this school had been a mistake.

***

"What just happened, Professor?!"

Jandanni could not understand.

Normally, they would have paid gold coins in exchange for having the dirty carriage cleaned.

And then, though they had not lost it, they would have bought the accessory that had somehow arrived through a mysterious twist of fate...

"It was a simple trick, Student Jandanni. Magic had actually been set up starting from the stable."

"The stable?!"

"Dekarogard mages are excellent transformation mages. They cast magic on the floor and walls of the stable so more mud and dust would splash onto things."

Lee Han had been wary of the Dekarogard mages from the moment he arrived at the stable.

The moment he saw the transformation magic cast on the floor and walls, he had guessed one of their intentions.

"Th-there was magic like that?!"

"When traveling, you must always begin by investigating the magic around you, Student Jandanni. Mages become weaker outside their own workshops."

"I-I see...! Come to think of it, I do seem to remember getting attacked unusually often when I visited Einroguard!"

"......"

That was simply because Einroguard students were savage and violent, but Lee Han said nothing.

It would ultimately amount to spitting in his own face.

'...Protecting them from those Dekarogard students will be my way of atoning a little.'

"Then what about the brooch, Professor? What happened with the brooch?"

"They approached us intending to sell the brooch from the beginning."

They would first approach and ask whether the other person had lost it, and if the person said they had not, they would cast transformation magic on the brooch to make it move splendidly.

For a Dekarogard transformation mage, something like that could be done with their eyes closed.

If the beetle brooch suddenly spread its wings, moved, and attached itself to the mage, they had planned to make a great fuss and say, 'It seems this brooch has chosen you, Mage!'...

But Lee Han had noticed the trick, stolen the brooch first with spatial magic, and even stolen the other person's staff.

"?"

"???"

Jandanni and Alnoev blinked, then looked at each other.

Huh?

'Did I hear that wrong?'

"Um... Professor? You said you stole the brooch?"

"Yes, Student Alnoev."

"Why???"

"They said it was my item and that I had lost it. In that case, I am allowed to take it."

"?????"

Lee Han kindly explained to the confused Valdrogard students.

"That is Dekarogard's rule."

"P-Professor. I have visited Dekarogard before, but I've never heard..."

"That is because you were an outsider, Student Jandanni. When visiting a magic school, you should not behave like an outside guest. You need to act as though you have become a student of that magic school if you want to learn a great deal."

"I see...! Now that I think about it, the Einroguard students did seem to treat me like an Einroguard student."

"......"

Lee Han quickly changed the subject. Every time Einroguard came up, he felt as though he were being driven into a corner.

Alnoev, however, still seemed somewhat confused.

"Professor. Even if we concede a hundred times over that taking the brooch was acceptable because they brought it up first... why did you steal the staff?"

"That is easy to understand once you know Dekarogard's rules too. Since the other person used a trick first, I received the right to use one trick as well."

"S-something like that...?!"

The two Valdrogard students were greatly shocked.

To think such fierce rules were hidden behind this enormous market, which they had thought of only as a warm resort destination.

Were all Dekarogard mages operating with intentions like that?

"Professor. If the Dekarogard mages need gold coins that badly, wouldn't it be all right to simply give them some?"

Lee Han firmly shook his head.

Einroguard students ran themselves ragged here and there to gather the gold coins needed for magic, so he could not simply stand by while only Dekarogard students gathered theirs so easily...

...That was not the reason. This also had to do with Dekarogard's rules.

"If you behave that way, none of the Dekarogard students will like it. They would not be able to feel the sense of accomplishment from achieving it themselves."

If the Dekarogard students had heard that statement, they would have become enraged enough to attempt assassination.

In Einroguard terms, it was the same kind of outrageous nonsense as saying, 'If you provide Einroguard students with enough food, they will not be able to feel the sense of accomplishment that comes from finding food themselves.'

But there were only Valdrogard students here.

The two were deeply impressed.

"Professor!"

"My thinking was shallow! You're right! The rules of a magic school must be respected!"

Lee Han felt satisfied that the two seemed to understand his feelings.

"Thank you all for understanding. From now on, if Dekarogard students approach you, please do your best to deal with them."

"Yes!"

After that, Lee Han continued defeating the Dekarogard students one after another.

One student transformed the alleyways into a maze and offered to guide them(Lee Han saw through the magic and broke through using foresight magic), while another tried to sell an antique that had been made less than half a year ago(Lee Han bought the antique, rapidly infused it with mana, and resold it back at a higher price)...

"Are you mages from Valdrogard?"

"That's right."

Lee Han looked the other person up and down.

He could not sense any trace of mana, but he could not let his guard down. The person might be a lackey bought off by Dekarogard.

The stable worker, who wore various work tools such as rope, hammer, nails, and horseshoes on a belt around the waist, spoke.

"We were planning to let the pegasus you rode rest for a while at the pasture..."

The Empire's stables were equipped with all kinds of facilities so animals of different sizes and habits could stay there, but they were not perfect.

Flying mounts such as pegasi in particular should, if possible, be allowed to roam around in a wide space.

"Ah. Please do..."

"Wait. Before that, let us go together and check."

The two students looked puzzled at Lee Han's words.

Could this new professor really think there was some kind of trap at a nearby pasture too?

"Professor. I don't think there is much they could do at the pasture. Unless they plan to kidnap the pegasus..."

"Student Jandanni. A mage must think flexibly. Anything can happen. For example, Dekarogard mages are masters of transformation magic, so they might transform into a pegasus and approach."

"?"

"???"

The two had no idea what he meant.

Transform into a pegasus and approach?

"Professor. I'm not sure I understand what you mean. If they transform into a pegasus and approach, are you saying that if we get on that pegasus, it might fly somewhere and kidnap us?"

"That would be a crime, Student Jandanni."

'Weren't the things that already happened crimes too...?'

Alnoev tilted their head.

These were the words of a professor as high as the heavens, but they were slightly confusing.

"More likely, they might seduce the pegasus you rode here and become friendly with it, then later try to win your favor by claiming that the pegasus follows them when they first meet you. They might offer to act as your coachman and introduce nearby shops or inns..."

"......"

"......"

For the first time that day, the two students' trust in their professor as high as the heavens wavered slightly.

'Does that... make sense?'

'Even so, I don't think anyone would actually do something like that.'

It was hard to believe that an honorable and proud mage would do such a thing.

The three arrived at the pasture near the stable and looked around.

Nothing in particular seemed strange.

There was a Stormmane Wyvern, a Sun Horse, a giant ice turtle, a three-headed flame ostrich, a pegasus...

"Professor. It doesn't seem like there is any problem."

"Wait a moment. What is that pegasus?"

"Professor. That's just an ordinary pegasus brought by another guest..."

Just as Jandanni tried to stop him, the stable worker cried out in surprise.

"That pegasus isn't registered?! What is that?"

"I thought the flow of mana seemed strange."

Lee Han cast <Raven's Evil Eye>. This dark magic, which activated as long as the target entered the mage's field of vision, was well suited for a situation like this.

As the paralytic poison transformed into a curse burst forth, Ahalmir jumped in shock and tried to flee.

'I've been discovered?!'

But Lee Han had already approached.

When Wardanaz's telekinetic spell activated without an incantation, the pegasus was unable to take flight and had its feet bound on the spot.

Panicking, Ahalmir transformed the ground into something like a swamp and tried to burrow underground.

It was behavior completely unlike a pegasus, but this was no time to worry about that.

However, the ground bounced back like rubber.

Lee Han had immediately cast the transformation magic he had learned from Senior Jarun.

This rubber-like swamp looked like a swamp, but it was by no means easy to burrow into.

"Tack!"

"Ah, yes! Here!"

The worker jumped in surprise and brought out a bit, saddle, and other tack.

Lee Han immediately brought them over with spatial movement magic, then cast a series of enchantment spells on them and turned them into a kind of binding seal.

THUD!

Ahalmir, now shackled, collapsed onto the ground.

It was physically difficult to move, but the mental shock was even greater.

'I... lost?'

To suffer such a complete defeat from beginning to end without being able to do anything!

And to a Valdrogard professor!

"Professor Wardanaz! I am truly amazed! To think there really was a transformed pegasus..."

'What? Who?'

Ahalmir doubted their ears.

Had they really just said Wardanaz?