Chapter 1360

‘Damn that friend!’

This anger was entirely justified.

If a fist mark had been left in the workshop wall, then it should have been repaired right away. Why leave it there like some kind of monument?

But Professor Garcia’s friend had an excuse too.

Punching cleanly and elegantly through a magical barrier and leaving a fist mark in the wall like that was genuinely not easy!

Any mage would instinctively feel, ‘This has to be preserved.’

“P-Professor, you...!”

“Student Lee Han. Just because there’s a huge fist mark carved into the wall, does that necessarily mean I was the one who made it?”

“Oh. It wasn’t you?”

Lee Han was surprised.

There was someone other than Professor Garcia who could do something like this?

“...No, I did make that one.”

Professor Garcia quickly gave up and confessed.

There was far too much evidence left behind by that khehkpehksek friend to deny it. Given the student’s intelligence, there was no chance he would fail to see through it.

“......”

“If you have something you want to say, it’s fine, Student Lee Han.”

“Ah, no. I was just wondering why you kept it secret. Were you afraid the other students would criticize you for being friends with a Valdrogard student?”

It sounded ridiculous, but Einroguard students really were that petty. People naturally became small-minded when they were cold and hungry.

If a scandal broke out that Professor Garcia had been close friends with a Valdrogard student during their school days...

‘Though even if it did, they’d still rank first.’

Just as scooping one cup of water out of the sea made no noticeable difference, Professor Garcia’s popularity was like that.

“No. Of course not. Why would I care about something like that?”

Professor Garcia was baffled by the student’s guess.

‘Ah. Wait. Maybe I should’ve just said yes?’

Thinking about it, it was not necessarily a bad thing if the student did not know the real reason.

Maybe this embarrassing conversation could somehow end while Professor Garcia still retained a shred of dignity?

“Then what was the reason... Ah. Was it because you and your Valdrogard friend caused trouble while you were students?”

“......”

Professor Garcia realized they had once again underestimated just how intelligent their student was.

‘If he was going to figure it out in one second, couldn’t he have just said it first...!’

Then Professor Garcia would never have gotten their hopes up that the subject might simply pass!

“...Yes.”

“What? Why would you want to hide that?”

Lee Han did not understand.

From this Valdrogard graduate’s current journal, the previous journal, and a few things the Skull Principal and the other professors had said, he could already tell that Professor Garcia had not been nothing but kind and gentle during their school days.

In fact, remaining kind and gentle all the way to graduation at Einroguard was close to impossible. Even students who had once been priests of the Phoenix Tower would, by the time they graduated, learn at least how to discreetly cover the symbol of the god they worshiped before beating someone up.

But that was not necessarily a bad thing.

‘Especially in Professor Garcia’s case. Raiding Einroguard’s warehouses could, in a sense, be called an act of good. There’s a reason people talk about righteous outlaws.’

The same went for bringing a baby Bulgassari into Einroguard and raising it.

Unfortunately, the Bulgassari had grown up far too gentle to turn the school upside down. But if it had grown up sufficiently violent, Professor Garcia’s name would have been recorded forever in Einroguard history as a revolutionary.

‘Or as the new Principal.’

Of course, Professor Garcia was not particularly pleased by the respect the student was directing at them.

Instead, they answered in a lukewarm tone.

“Student Lee Han, you’ll understand once you sit in a professor’s position too...”

“What?”

‘Ah. He’s sitting in one right now.’

Professor Garcia realized the mistake too late.

“Normally, even if someone attacked the Principal and plundered Valdrogard territory while they were a student, once they become a professor, they start wanting to look a little more dignified and well-mannered.”

“What?! You plundered their territory too?!”

‘Oops!’

Professor Garcia, having dug their own grave, genuinely wanted to cry.

They had no idea how many verbal slips they had made today.

‘More importantly, he wasn’t surprised about attacking the Principal...’

“Professor. I still think you’re the most dignified and well-mannered person in all of Einroguard.”

“Normally I would have thanked you, but hearing that in this situation doesn’t make me very happy.”

“And the other professors live quite confidently without caring much about what they did in the past.”

“Who?”

“Professor Bagreg, Professor Verdus, Professor Bendozol, Professor Ku...”

“...One name would have been enough.”

Professor Garcia could not argue.

The Einroguard professors did seem to be a little too unconcerned about hiding their pasts.

After letting out one sigh, Professor Garcia gathered their thoughts again.

Just like all the countless things they had done during their school days, it was time to accept the embarrassment of having been found out by the student and move forward.

“Thank you, Student Lee Han. For not criticizing me.”

“I’d actually like to hear the details. How exactly did you carry out the attacks and the plundering...”

Professor Garcia pretended not to hear.

Accepting the past was one thing. Giving the student a lecture on this was another.

“Ipheldrem was a close friend of mine during our school days. They’ve gone somewhere far away now, though.”

“Ah...”

When Lee Han made a sympathetic expression, Professor Garcia asked in disbelief,

“Student Lee Han, you aren’t thinking anything strange, are you? When I say somewhere far away, I literally just mean somewhere far away. Ipheldrem works in the basin of the eastern dwarf mountain range.”

“Ah.”

Lee Han immediately returned his expression to normal.

“The eastern mountain basin is quite remote. Is there a reason they work there? Is it because of magic, after all?”

Environment mattered more to mages than one might expect.

If they needed the mana of the eastern dwarf mountain range basin or the reagents that naturally grew there, it would make sense for a Valdrogard mage to work there.

“No. There’s less work and the salary is higher.”

“......”

Lee Han immediately developed a great deal of fondness for this senior mage he had never even met.

There was someone who had successfully walked the path Lee Han himself had failed to take!

***

Before leaving Valdrogard, Professor Garcia said they would take the baby Bulgassari back with them first.

-It would probably be better to raise it at Einroguard than at Valdrogard. There’s another Bulgassari there too.

-You mean the Bulgassari you raised, Professor.

-...I’m not sure you really needed to add that qualifier, but yes. Student Lee Han will be returning soon anyway, so it should be fine if I take it with me first.

-Hmm.

-You’ll be able to come back soon! Don’t worry, Student Lee Han. Even if I have to break the Principal’s neck, I’ll make sure you can return!

-You mean the duplicate right now, correct?

Of course, Professor Garcia did not leave immediately.

The professor wanted to help with Lee Han’s teaching of the Valdrogard students as much as possible.

“Professor Garcia is going to help with the lectures?”

“Hah. Those lucky Valdrogard bastards. It hasn’t even been that many days and they already get to learn from Professor Garcia. Professor Verdus would be just right for guys like them.”

“Is there no way to bring Professor Verdus here?”

“Forget it. They’d be assassinated on the way.”

“Ah. I see... Is there no way to bring Professor Verdus here?”

The Einroguard students grumbled with deeply dissatisfied expressions.

Professor Garcia was still far too good for the Valdrogard students.

They should have to suffer for at least another half a year before they could even consider being allowed to behold that noble face!

But the Valdrogard students, still unable to see the truth beneath appearances, trembled in fear.

“P-Professor. What did we do so terribly wrong for you to do this to us? We did our best.”

“What? That’s why I’m giving you a gift. For one day, Professor Garcia will take over...”

“From now on, I’ll never rest while casting magic! I’ll dedicate myself to magic twenty-five hours a day!”

“Why all of a sudden? Though your attitude is good.”

“I’ll never insult other mages again! Thinking about it, I shouldn’t have looked down on others using things I didn’t earn through my own strength!”

“Everyone!”

Lee Han was slightly moved by the Valdrogard students’ burning passion.

He had honestly not been sure at first, but seeing this reaction changed his mind.

These students deserved to meet Professor Garcia.

“Everyone... you are worthy of learning from Professor Garcia.”

“......”

“......”

The Valdrogard students’ expressions filled with sorrow and despair.

Isn’t this too cruel?

‘We begged this much...!’

‘No blood or tears at all! I suppose that’s why someone like this can run these lectures!’

‘The only blood Professor Wardanaz has is the blood splattered on him after beating other people!’

“Now. Please welcome the professor with a big round of applause.”

The students were still slow to react because of their grief. Lee Han spoke in a cold voice.

“If the applause is too quiet, everyone loses ten thousand points under collective responsibility.”

“Waaaaaaaaah!”

Clap clap clap clap clap clap!

A mage had to know how to use magic with a cool head even while their heart was breaking from sorrow.

The Valdrogard students were learning truths like these one by one.

“Professor. You can come in.”

“Ahem. Ahem.”

Professor Garcia entered while clearing their throat.

The shabby-looking Valdrogard students stared at Professor Garcia with the eyes of frightened animals. For a moment, the professor thought they were at Einroguard.

“Um... I’m Garcia Kim. I’m half-troll. I know all of you are frightened, but there’s no need to be afraid. I don’t eat people unless I’m extremely hungry.”

‘I’ve thought this for a while, but maybe it’s about time Professor Garcia changed that joke.’

***

Before leaving Valdrogard, Professor Garcia said they would take the baby Bulgassari back with them first.

-It would probably be better to raise it at Einroguard than at Valdrogard. There’s another Bulgassari there too.

-You mean the Bulgassari you raised, Professor.

-...I’m not sure you really needed to add that qualifier, but yes. Student Lee Han will be returning soon anyway, so it should be fine if I take it with me first.

-Hmm.

-You’ll be able to come back soon! Don’t worry, Student Lee Han. Even if I have to break the Principal’s neck, I’ll make sure you can return!

-You mean the duplicate right now, correct?

Of course, Professor Garcia did not leave immediately.

The professor wanted to help with Lee Han’s teaching of the Valdrogard students as much as possible.

“Professor Garcia is going to help with the lectures?”

“Hah. Those lucky Valdrogard bastards. It hasn’t even been that many days and they already get to learn from Professor Garcia. Professor Verdus would be just right for guys like them.”

“Is there no way to bring Professor Verdus here?”

“Forget it. They’d be assassinated on the way.”

“Ah. I see... Is there no way to bring Professor Verdus here?”

The Einroguard students grumbled with deeply dissatisfied expressions.

Professor Garcia was still far too good for the Valdrogard students.

They should have to suffer for at least another half a year before they could even consider being allowed to behold that noble face!

But the Valdrogard students, still unable to see the truth beneath appearances, trembled in fear.

“P-Professor. What did we do so terribly wrong for you to do this to us? We did our best.”

“What? That’s why I’m giving you a gift. For one day, Professor Garcia will take over...”

“From now on, I’ll never rest while casting magic! I’ll dedicate myself to magic twenty-five hours a day!”

“Why all of a sudden? Though your attitude is good.”

“I’ll never insult other mages again! Thinking about it, I shouldn’t have looked down on others using things I didn’t earn through my own strength!”

“Everyone!”

Lee Han was slightly moved by the Valdrogard students’ burning passion.

He had honestly not been sure at first, but seeing this reaction changed his mind.

These students deserved to meet Professor Garcia.

“Everyone... you are worthy of learning from Professor Garcia.”

“......”

“......”

The Valdrogard students’ expressions filled with sorrow and despair.

Isn’t this too cruel?

‘We begged this much...!’

‘No blood or tears at all! I suppose that’s why someone like this can run these lectures!’

‘The only blood Professor Wardanaz has is the blood splattered on him after beating other people!’

“Now. Please welcome the professor with a big round of applause.”

The students were still slow to react because of their grief. Lee Han spoke in a cold voice.

“If the applause is too quiet, everyone loses ten thousand points under collective responsibility.”

“Waaaaaaaaah!”

Clap clap clap clap clap clap!

A mage had to know how to use magic with a cool head even while their heart was breaking from sorrow.

The Valdrogard students were learning truths like these one by one.

“Professor. You can come in.”

“Ahem. Ahem.”

Professor Garcia entered while clearing their throat.

The shabby-looking Valdrogard students stared at Professor Garcia with the eyes of frightened animals. For a moment, the professor thought they were at Einroguard.

“Um... I’m Garcia Kim. I’m half-troll. I know all of you are frightened, but there’s no need to be afraid. I don’t eat people unless I’m extremely hungry.”

‘I’ve thought this for a while, but maybe it’s about time Professor Garcia changed that joke.’