Yi-Han felt uneasy but was not surprised.
He had somewhat anticipated this.
If a professor simply allowed a student who hadn't completed their assignment to rest, they wouldn't really be a professor.
"Understood."
“Haha. Don't misunderstand, I'm not trying to trouble you.”
"Haha. Of course."
The skull principal cast a subtle, expectant glance at Yi-Han, hoping he would defy him, but Yi-Han did not take the bait.
"By the way, is Professor Verduus always like... that?"
“Yes. Professor Verduus is indeed a bit... like that.”
The two understood each other without needing to specify.
“Really, why did you work so hard to catch Professor Verduus's eye? Tsk tsk.”
"?"
Yi-Han hesitated.
The principal's words were complexly strange.
“Besides the fact that I couldn’t do it properly, I didn't particularly catch the professor's eye."
In Yi-Han's view, Professor Verduus did not hold him in high regard.
During the enchantment magic, there was constant criticism and complaints.
-Did you fail? Why? Oh dear. It's not that hard...
-Is your talent too lacking?
-Failing like this... it's a pity... I feel sorry...
-Your talent doesn't match your passion...
Yi-Han, who could let such comments go in one ear and out the other, was relieved that he wasn't another freshman who might have taken it more seriously.
“That's how much he likes you. Professor Verduus doesn't usually pay much attention to his students.”
"Everyone says that, don't..."
“What did you say?”
"Nothing."
Yi-Han pondered the principal's words.
Although Professor Beavle was somewhat eccentric, he didn't seem like someone who would forcefully drag Yi-Han away to teach him, unlike... well, other professors.
And he didn't seem to have high expectations for Yi-Han's talent.
'I guess he was just being nice because I was obedient, but he would understand if I refused.'
“This festival week is going to be tough.”
The principal spoke mischievously.
There was still Professor Boladi's tent to manage for a few more days, and the principal's magic fireworks hadn't even been made yet...
'Wait. I haven't even finished Professor Alpen's magic circle yet.'
Yi-Han counted on his fingers and realized the situation was too severe.
“Is there enough time?”
"...Physically, I don't think there's enough time."
“Don't exaggerate. As a student, it's more fun to prepare for the festival than attend classes, right?”
"I think I'd prefer just attending classes..."
As Yi-Han was saying this, he suddenly felt something was off and hesitated.
"Are we not having classes?"
“I've told everyone to take a break during the festival. Aren't you grateful?”
"I am grateful, but... didn't Professor Boladi hold a class?"
“Did he?”
The principal seemed puzzled.
Then he said nonchalantly.
“Well, that's possible.”
"..."
Yi-Han couldn't decide whether to seek out Professor Boladi or the principal first after graduation.
In the lounge of the Blue Dragon Tower, the spirit of spring was abundant during the Spring Festival.
Friends had hung unknown wildflowers picked from the fields here and there, and had written about fun events on the blackboard.
Gainando wore a pointed hat made by a priest and nibbled on thin cream-coated biscuits, a gift from a candy vendor who had come in from outside.
"Gainando! Catch this!"
"Hah! Like I'd let you!"
As a friend entered from behind and threw a clumsily made straw doll, Gainando quickly rolled to the side to avoid it.
One of the common events at the Spring Festival was a game involving throwing a doll believed to be laden with misfortune.
It was believed that if someone else caught the doll, the thrower's bad luck would transfer to that person for an entire season.
"You're late! How foolish!"
"Oh no!"
Another friend, who had been waiting, quickly threw the doll at Gainando. Gainando caught the doll and his face fell.
"Someone else! Someone else come out!"
However, the friends in the lounge had already prepared themselves after seeing Gainando catch the doll.
They hid behind furniture or turned their hands behind their backs in readiness. Gainando, seeing this, pointed at them accusingly.
"Cowardly! That's cowardly!"
"Anything goes at the Spring Festival, Gainando."
Just then, the lounge door opened and someone entered.
Gainando, his face brightening, turned the straw doll behind his back, planning to catch the newcomer off guard and throw it.
With a bang, Yi-Han entered with the most tired face in the world.
The intensifying evening sunset cast deep shadows across Yi-Han's face.
"..."
"..."
The friends in the Blue Dragon Tower, who had been lively moments before, suddenly felt inexplicably guilty.
Several students quietly moved the toys they had been playing with aside.
Asan, who was scribbling on the blackboard, unknowingly flipped it to the back.
The princess, who had been playing chess with a follower, pulled another student to sit in front of the chessboard and pretended to read a book.
The tired face of the friend who always cooked meals held a powerful ability to make all the students of the Blue Dragon Tower feel ashamed and sorry.
"Why is everyone acting like this? Is it because of me?"
Yi-Han was puzzled.
"Don't worry about me, keep playing. I don't understand why you're all being so cautious."
"Is that so?"
"Haha. I'm not sure either."
The friends slowly brought out the toys they had put away. Asan flipped the blackboard back. The princess put her book away and resumed playing chess.
Gainando, eyes gleaming, approached Yi-Han with the doll hidden behind his back.
"Yi-Han..."
"Hey, you deceitful and despicable guy!"
"How can you be so cruel?!"
Two students from the Blue Dragon Tower rushed at Gainando, grabbed his arms, and pulled him away.
No one could bring themselves to give the exhausted Yi-Han the straw doll.
"Let go! Let me go! Didn't you say everything goes?"
"Be quiet!"
Yi-Han watched Gainando being dragged away and collapsed onto the sofa, too tired to even ask why Gainando was acting that way.
"Did everyone enjoy the festival?"
"Of course. Wardanaz. What did you do?"
"I was managing Professor Boladi's tent, then got locked up in the workshop making magic fireworks for skull principal."
"...Hey. Put away the toys. Put them away."
Hearing Yi-Han's words, the friends hurried to put away the toys they had received during the festival.
Yi-Han waved his hands, signaling them to stop.
"It's okay... And everyone, be careful when skull principal sets off the magic fireworks. Don't get too close."
"Why?"
Gainando, who had his straw doll confiscated, asked in confusion.
"Just do as you're told, you fool."
"What did I do wrong...!"
Gainando felt wronged.
He had, after all, only tried to throw the straw doll at the tired Yi-Han!
A girl with red hair handed over a steaming tin cup with a small note attached.
-Free! (If asked about the price, say Gainando)
"...Thanks, Yonaire."
"Don't mention it."
"...Did I focus too much on the price?"
Yi-Han, feeling a bit concerned, asked Yonaire a question. Yonaire feigned ignorance.
"Is it that serious?"
The hot coffee, loaded with sugar, somewhat revived his senses.
Yi-Han turned to his friends.
"What did everyone do at the festival today?"
"I helped Professor Uregor. We were making and tasting various potions. The visitors from outside really enjoyed it."
"Indeed... Maybe I should consider doing such events regularly if I go into business..."
"Yi-Han. You might have been born for making money."
Yonaire was impressed by Yi-Han's fiery business ideas. He kept on thinking about business even in his exhaustion!
"I was in line earlier to get some sweets. A confectioner from outside had come in."
"Is that allowed?"
"They had permission, apparently. The priests must have invited them."
"Those priests, always reliable..."
The students murmured among themselves, moved.
In this land forsaken even by the professors, the only trustworthy ones were the priests.
"And there were quite a few visitors from outside, right? I saw some people from another academy earlier."
"What? Really? Where?"
"I couldn't talk to them to find out... It wasn't the right atmosphere. They were all bleeding from the nose as they left."
"Oh. Really? I saw some guys from the White Tiger Tower with nosebleeds too. What's that about?"
Yi-Han, lying down, warned his friends.
"Right. And don't go near Professor Boladi's tent either."
"Why?"
Gainando asked without much thought.
"Just do as you're told, you fool."
"Why do you always pick on Wardanaz!"
"Ah... I didn't mean..."
Chastised by his friends, Gainando felt doubly wronged.
It was natural to be curious!
"Wardanaz mentioned the magic fireworks, and it reminded me, didn't the principal say he's going to have a magic fireworks event?"
"I heard he's planning something else besides the magic fireworks... It's suddenly making me uneasy."
"But everything the principal does is always unsettling."
"True. Should we avoid all the events?"
Yi-Han lay there, listening to his friends chatter.
'I didn't expect so many outsiders to come in. It's a pity.'
If he had known, he would have used it as a chance to try and escape...
A real missed opportunity.
'But it's not over yet.'
Just as Yi-Han's dealings with Professor Boladi, skull principal, and others weren't over, the Spring Festival had only just begun today.
He resolved to use the remaining time to make contact with the outsiders and find a way to escape!
...Of course, after managing Professor Boladi's tent, making skull principal's magic fireworks, completing Professor Alpen's magic circle, and in whatever time was left...
"Yi-Han."
As Yi-Han finished his coffee, Yonaire whispered to him in a low voice, careful not to let the others hear.
"What is it? Do you need to scold Gainando?"
"No, it's not that..."
Yonaire took out a potion bottle and spoke with a serious expression.
"Listen to what I'm about to say without being shocked."
"Okay."
"...That talk about a griffin, it might actually be true."
"Is that so."
"Aren't you surprised?"
"At this point, I wouldn't be shocked even if Gainando turned out to be a Kraken. Let's go, Yonaire."
Yi-Han stood up.
Tired or not, this was something he had to see for himself.
Upon hearing Yi-Han's words, Yonaire, half-doubting, asked the priests of the Flameng Order for assistance.
And a startling truth was revealed.
...The potion that Niffirg from the stables had drunk was not an animal transformation potion, but a curse-breaking potion.
"But Yi-Han... even so, Professor Bungaegor? That doesn't make sense."
"Yonaire. Don't trust the professor. Actually, don't trust anyone in this academy."
Yi-Han spoke earnestly. Yonaire nodded in agreement.
If that creature really was a griffin, then Yonaire felt she couldn't trust any professor.
-Growl.
Sharakan, who had followed Yi-Han, growled beside him. Yi-Han might not have known the language of leopards, but he seemed to understand what Sharakan was saying.
'Probably something like, "What did I say?"' Yi-Han thought.
He stroked Sharakan apologetically. He felt even more sorry for not being able to pay attention to it due to the festival.
When they reached the stable, the door creaked open.
And then, Yi-Han and Yonaire's eyes met with someone emerging from inside the stable.
It was a person whose body and face were covered with black cloth.
"...That’s not... Ratford! Yonaire! It’s a thief!"
"!!!"
