‘Everything about the story was wrong.’
Professor Bungaegor was incredulous.
"Just a loyal beast..."
"Ah. Is that so?"
Yi-Han looked at Sharakan again. Sharakan wagged its tail happily.
"Come here, Sharakan. I am actually trusting you."
Sharakan rushed towards him, barking joyfully.
Yi-Han stroked Sharakan, thinking he should give it the sausage he planned to give to Gainando later.
Professor Bungaegor looked at this scene with disdain.
'But the fact that no special magic treatment was done means...'
Either the Madman, no, Professor Mortum hadn't cast any special magic and yet this undead summon was showing such loyalty, or it was one of two things.
Either Sharakan was unusually fond of people (the likelihood was as much as Gonadaltes becoming kind and compassionate), or Yi-Han's presence was simply too overpowering.
Beasts like Sharakan were sensitive to hierarchy. It made sense for such a creature to show loyalty to a master like Yi-Han, who exuded tremendous mana.
Other mages had to use all sorts of magic, arcane knowledge, and tricks to tame such beasts, but Yi-Han did it effortlessly.
And most baffling of all, the person himself was unaware of it.
If Professor Bungaegor's friends, who were well-versed in monster and beast taming, were here, they would have discussed this event for hours.
"Good job, Sharakan. I trusted you."
Though those who really trusted wouldn't say such words, Sharakan seemed pleased nonetheless.
Professor Bungaegor, struck by a thought, asked,
"Wait. Why do you trust Sharakan but not that... white horse?"
"Eh?"
Yi-Han looked at Professor Bungaegor as if he was asking something obvious.
"Well, Sharakan has always been loyal, whereas that Niffirg has been kicking and biting me."
For Yi-Han, trusting Niffirg was difficult.
The creature that caused so much trouble suddenly becoming docile was suspicious.
Moreover, Niffirg was among the most intelligent and cunning horses in the stable.
Whether it was fed a potion, enchanted, or had a lineage mixed with other monsters, it seemed several times smarter than other horses.
Such a sudden change in behavior was even more suspicious!
Huhiihihiing!
Niffirg protested desperately, pawing the ground with its hooves.
Of course, a horse suddenly behaving like that was suspicious, but griffins were creatures like that.
If someone they didn't recognize as their master tried to ride them, they would never accept it, but once they recognized a master, they would show loyalty – proud magical creatures.
But being mistaken for a horse and misunderstood, Niffirg was frustrated to death.
"See? That's exactly what I mean."
Huhiiing!!
Niffirg, giving up on convincing Yi-Han, wailed crazily at Professor Bungaegor.
Its message was clear.
Remove the magic!!
Professor Bungaegor avoided Niffirg's gaze.
'It can't be.'
The effort it took to transform a healthy griffin into a horse.
Considering the cost of potions and magic elixirs alone, it was unthinkable.
No matter how much a potion was given or magic was cast to make a horse ferocious, it couldn't truly be like a monster.
Having a monster transformed into a horse in the stable was necessary for freshmen to get used to real monsters later.
"What do you think?"
"Yes. Having heard your explanation, it seems your words have some merit. Unlike Sharakan, Niffirg might be hiding its true feelings."
Huhiihiing! Huhiihihihing!
Niffirg glared at Professor Bungaegor as if wanting to kill her.
'Just wait until this transformation wears off!'
"I shall take my leave now. Enjoy your walk and return safely."
"Yes, please go ahead."
Huhiiing!! Huhiihihihing!!
"Stop it, Niffirg. I will trust you."
Hurt by his master's insincere words, Niffirg kicked the ground with his hind legs in sorrow. Sharakan tapped Niffirg with his tail, as if to console him.
'Let's find a way to break the spell together...'
"Huh. There seems to be less meat than usual today."
"Gainando, are you trying to deceive us to eat more? Behave honorably."
"No... I mean, it really seems less than usual, doesn’t it? Strange?"
"You might have eaten a bite and forgotten?"
"Could it be...?"
As the students of the Blue Dragon ate their breakfast, Sharakan, having returned from its walk, roamed around.
It wasn't just wandering.
It knocked over books in the lounge and pulled out potions from the shelves.
"What's wrong, Sharakan?"
"Are you hungry? Gainando..."
"Touch my plate and it's a duel!"
The students asked questions, but Sharakan, without responding, continued rummaging through the books and potions.
"Why is it acting like that?"
"Maybe it's looking for something? Being a high-intelligence monster, it’s entirely possible."
Yi-Han fell into thought at Yonaire's words.
Was Sharakan looking for something?
"There shouldn't be anything like that. Sharakan, come here."
Yi-Han pulled Sharakan towards him. Sharakan resisted, digging in its claws, but was eventually dragged over.
"Oh, right, Wardanaz. Did you see the priests who came from outside?"
"It would be nice if they stayed longer."
Being in a magic academy, even the children of noble families without faith often found themselves developing it.
Seeing priests from outside caring for and helping the students made them wonder, 'Huh? Then what about all the professors we've met so far?'
Yonaire, gathering her bag, said, "The priests have arrived?"
"Going to the Flameng Order?"
"Yeah. And I'll ask about the potions."
"!"
The potions borrowed by Ratford from the carriage.
Yonaire and Yi-Han had been diligently trying to identify these potions, but the process was slow with only the wisdom of freshmen.
But what if they asked the priests of the Alchemy Order, the Flameng Order?
'Not a bad idea.'
"But Yonaire... If there's a suspicious potion, it might be hard to explain."
"I'll insist we found it. They're kind enough not to confiscate it... probably?"
Although slightly anxious, no better plan came to mind.
Yi-Han nodded at Yonaire.
"Alright. I'm counting on you."
Other potions in the box also went into Yonaire's bag. Suddenly, Sharakan growled lowly.
-Grrrrrrr...
"Sharakan, stay still."
-Woof! Woof woof!
Sharakan barked desperately at the potion in Yi-Han's hand, as if wanting it.
"Sharakan, this is not for you to eat."
And the color, a vivid green, clearly didn't seem healthy.
Even if Sharakan was an undead summon, there was no need to feed it poison.
Eventually, the green potion went into the bag.
Sharakan pawed the ground in disappointment, but Yonaire closed the bag.
"We'll see later."
"Yeah. The priests of the Presinga Order are visiting, right?"
"Yes, I should also visit the priests of the Presinga Order."
"...?"
Yonaire, nodding her head, felt a sense of dissonance in Yi-Han's words.
'Also' visit the priests?
"I need to check which other order's priests have come. See you later."
"..."
Yonaire said nothing to her friend, who seemed to be casually exploring the various Religious Orders like one would browse through a neighborhood shop. Instead, she offered silent encouragement.
Hang in there!
...Though she still wasn't quite sure what exactly her friend was up to!
"Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family, it is a pleasure to see you here."
"The pleasure is mine."
"Are you perhaps interested in the faith of Bildochkal?"
"I have always been curious."
"Well, then...!"
"But, can one believe in Bildochkal's Order and others simultaneously?"
"That is not allowed, is it?"
"I'll visit another time then. Thanks for the invitation."
As Yi-Han entered the area where the priests were gathered in front of the main building, surprisingly, many students from the Immortal Phoenix recognized him, thanks to his previous acts of kindness.
While young priests called out to Yi-Han with goodwill...
He declined.
Since he needed to benefit from visiting various orders, there was no way if they did not allow belief in other orders.
"Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family."
With a voice as if aflame, Priest Nigisor, a fire spirit mixed-blood, appeared, blazing as usual.
"Good to see you."
"Are you interested in the Aphar Order?"
"I have always been curious. But does the Aphar Order not mind if one believes in other orders as well?"
To Yi-Han's question, Priest Nigisor nodded.
"The fire of Aphar simply burns; it does not force a direction."
"Oh... then I would like to meet with your priest."
"A joyous occasion. Follow me."
Priest Nigisor led the way, and Yi-Han followed, pondering about the Aphar Order.
'Now that I think about it, I don't know much about the Aphar Order.'
There were so many Religious Orders in the Empire that unless one was famous or personally believed in it, it was not easy to know about them.
The Aphar Order was said to worship fire...
'Does that mean they specialize in flame magic?'
If so, it could be greatly beneficial to Yi-Han.
One of his biggest weaknesses was fire element magic.
While he was relatively better at other elemental magic, his compatibility with fire was the worst.
He could use the magic, but if not careful, he might end up burning himself.
'It's warm.'
Upon entering the large tent of the Aphar Order, the first thing Yi-Han felt was warmth, emanating from the purple flames burning inside.
The priests of the order, comprised of various races and dressed in diverse, ununiformed attire, were comfortably chatting. They greeted Nigisor warmly as he entered.
"Priest Nigisor! May the fire of Aphar find you."
"May the fire of Aphar find you. Priests, this is Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family."
"Ah, the one you mentioned before... I am surprised. I thought the mages of the Wardanaz family had little interest in faith."
"That's a misconception."
Yi-Han lied blatantly, without even a hint of shame on his face.
"Anyway, it's good that you are interested. Shall I explain our faith to you?"
"Yes, I would appreciate that."
The priest of the Aphar Order looked like a mercenary who had spent about a decade on the battlefield.
However, as soon as he began to speak, a wealth of knowledge about faith flowed from him.
Yi-Han listened intently.
Joining the Aphar Order could offer valuable benefits, and this was an opportunity to understand what they might be.
"...So, we believe that the end of this world will come with the fire of Aphar, which will burn everything to ashes."
"...?"
Yi-Han, who had been listening closely, paused in surprise.
Wait, what?
"That... fire, is it a metaphorical fire? Like one that burns only the world's injustices, evil beings, and skull liches?"
"No? It's just a fire that burns everything."
"...Ah. So, is it destruction for the sake of new creation and rebirth?"
"That's an interesting perspective. But after the apocalypse, there's nothing left. It's just burning."
"..."
"Now, let's see the flame you hold within your soul, Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family."
Yi-Han suddenly felt he understood why Priestesses Tijiling and Siana had warned him to avoid Priest Nigisor.
'Perhaps they don't want me to unleash the fire within my soul to contribute to burning the world...?'
