"Regardless, thank you?" Yi-Han expressed his gratitude as he watched the departing Death Knight who trudged towards the academy.
Of course, he knew Ferkuntra wasn't deceived.
Truly grateful people wouldn't start with 'regardless' nor end their sentences with a question.
-It doesn't seem like you're doubting me…-
-It’s a misunderstanding,- Yi-Han sincerely retorted.
He was admittedly a bit disappointed by Ferkuntra's recent display.
He had wanted to see firsthand how Ferkuntra fought and how strong it was, yet it only managed to turn the Death Knight away through ‘conversation and persuasion.’
However, compared to its previous achievements, Ferkuntra had played a significant role this time. Yi-Han slightly raised his evaluation of Ferkuntra.
Naturally, Ferkuntra was not satisfied with the slightly improved assessment.
-This insolent youth... If only there had been a bit more time...!- Ferkuntra ground its teeth.
The impending reverse summoning was a source of regret for Ferkuntra, as it couldn't properly confront Yi-Han about it.
-Summon me again! Next time, I'll thoroughly explain how remarkable my actions today were…-
-But according to the contract, I can't just summon you frequently at will, right?-
Besides, summoning a spirit like Ferkuntra just to hear it boast seemed like a waste of time.
-^$&@!-
Ferkuntra, incomprehensible in his frustration, was reverse summoned.
To the unaware students, it appeared as if Yi-Han had simply summoned a spirit, finished his task, and then politely sent it away.
"Mr. Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family, you truly possess remarkable affinity with spirits, just as Mr. Igor said."
"You're mistaken."
Surprisingly, the skull principal didn't react as vehemently as expected.
He likely had already dealt with his disappointment upon seeing the early return of the Death Knight.
'Don't make eye contact.'
Yi-Han averted his gaze.
There was no guarantee that the skull principal wouldn't be spiteful, despite his mental preparation.
The students had safely returned.
"Principal! What was that Death Knight all about?"
Yi-Han's heart sank at the White Tiger students' reaction to the sight, unnecessarily stirring the pot.
'These knights really...!'
The previously dejected skull principal seemed to regain a bit of vigor thanks to the White Tiger students.
“What's going on?”
"In any case, deploying a Death Knight on the way back is unbelievable!" exclaimed Anglago incredulously. The other White Tiger students nodded in agreement.
However, Yi-Han remained skeptical.
'Reacting only makes the opponent happier.'
To Yi-Han, the skull principal seemed most delighted when students exclaimed, 'How can you do this!'
If they didn't react, he would just sulk on his own...
“Do I need your permission to deploy my own Death Knight?”
"No, it's not like that..."
“You mean to say you don't have the confidence to overcome even this obstacle? As a student of this magic academy?! Ha! I thought only Baldurguard students would behave like this.”
"No, not at all!"
'Don't get carried away...'
As Yi-Han felt this frustration, the skull principal, having had his fill of amusement, suddenly changed the topic as if remembering something.
“Ah. Almost forgot.”
The skull principal snapped his fingers.
A pass and a purple flame emerged from thin air.
As the pass was exposed to the purple flames, it instantaneously turned to ash.
"????"
"!"
Most students failed to grasp what had just happened, but a few did.
Anglago's face turned pale as a sheet.
'I got caught!'
'He got caught.'
Yi-Han watched with a somber expression.
He had thought passing through earlier with the pass would pose no issue, but it seemed the skull principal had re-examined the pass he received.
'So, that's how he checks passes? I need to find a way around this. If I'm to use a fake, it must be when the skull principal is absent...'
“You should be proud.”
"What's that?"
“No one had ever tried to forge a pass to leave before. You're the first! I mean it. I'm proud of you.”
"..."
"…?!"
The students murmured among themselves.
"Forged a pass?"
"Who would dare to do such a thing?"
"Isn't it someone from the Black Tortoise? That's where all the technicians are."
“It pains me to punish a student I'm proud of, but it can't be helped. You're caught, and that's wrong. Next time, do better so you won't get caught.”
"Ugh..."
Anglago, shoulders slumped, walked forward. The other students looked at him in shock.
"Anglago was the culprit?!"
"How did he manage to forge it?"
Whispers among the White Tiger students followed as they glared at Asan.
The skull principal, with a benevolent look, said to Anglago,
If you have an accomplice, tell me. Your punishment will be reduced if you do.
Yi-Han felt his heart sink at the moment.
If he had been in Anglago's place, surely...
"There is none!"
“Really?”
While speaking to Anglago, the skull principal's gaze was fixed on Yi-Han.
Yi-Han remained impassive.
'After all, there's no evidence.'
"Yes!"
“This is why knights are... Fine! Off to the punishment room. Take him away!”
Undeads grabbed Anglago by the arms and dragged him away.
Yi-Han resolved internally,
'Anglago, I'll make sure they feed you well.'
"We need to study for the exam..."
"Just a little sleep first."
"That's a good idea."
"Wait, we have to study?"
Back in the tower, Yi-Han and his friends immediately collapsed onto their beds.
After the midnight ordeal with the Death Knight, exhaustion was inevitable.
Consequently, they didn't wake up until Sunday afternoon.
"Wardanaz!"
"?"
Upon descending to the common room, an excited student from the Blue Dragon exclaimed, "The principal must have lost his mind! Hurry, you must see this!"
"Calm down. It's a trap."
"Eh?"
"Ah. Sorry, just a habit."
Being cautious had become a reflex, especially concerning matters related to the skull principal.
"What's going on?"
"Look at that!"
The student pointed at the approaching Gainando.
In one hand, Gainando held a giant cotton candy, and in the other, a frothy beer mug.
"?????"
Where on earth did these come from, especially since the festival and leave had ended?
"Where did he get them?"
"The principal has thrown a banquet to celebrate the end of the festival! Maybe he's not all bad after all!"
Yi-Han couldn't believe it and decided to check for himself.
Surprisingly, his friends were right.
The normally closed doors of the main building's first-floor grand hall were open, and inside, an abundance of food and drinks were still lavishly laid out.
Layers of cream cakes, cheesecakes, butter cakes. The candies, cookies, and chocolates Gainando had brought earlier.
The tables were laden with all kinds of delicacies from the empire, not just desserts, but also whole wild boars slathered in sauce and roasted.
"You must have woken up. How about a drink?"
The skull principal, noticing Yi-Han, generously offered him a cup filled with wine fermented from apples.
"Here! Normally, I wouldn't allow such valuable things for ironheads, but today is a special day!"
"...I don't understand. Why is today special?"
“It's the weekend after the festival has ended!”
"And why is that special?"
“Isn't it? Then, think of it as a gesture of consideration for the students!”
"...Principal, you're not suggesting that midterms start tomorrow, are you?"
“This is why I don't like clever ones.”
The skull principal looked at Yi-Han with obvious displeasure.
Yi-Han was at a loss for words.
'Really, to this extent?'
Usually so stingy with treating students to good food, and now offering drinks on the eve of midterms...
He couldn't help but be amazed.
Impressive, indeed!
"It's too late now. Many students have already eaten and drunk. Do you think you can stop them?"
"?"
Yi-Han was puzzled by the principal's remark.
'Why would I stop it?'
If his rivals were happily drinking beer and apple wine and then falling asleep on the main building's lawn, it was a welcome situation for Yi-Han.
"Why would I stop them?"
“Don't pretend. You've enjoyed thwarting my plans until now.”
“...”
Yi-Han realized what was happening.
The skull principal still misunderstood him as someone who would sacrifice for his friends.
“Of course, I understand. A worthy intellectual competition is enjoyable. I won't deny that you've made things more interesting for me.”
Yi-Han felt exasperated inwardly.
His efforts to avoid the principal's antics had inadvertently given the principal inspiration.
"Think what you will."
He nodded perfunctorily and decided to leave, planning to bring food to Anglago.
“Tomorrow is the <Basic Magic Character Education> class. You know that, right?”
"Yes."
“Tell the students. The <Basic Magic Character Education> exam will be held in the Beetle Classroom on the fourth floor of the main building.”
"Understood...?"
Yi-Han nodded, though he felt uneasy about the fourth floor.
“The exam starts now and lasts until next Friday.”
"Is the exam content that extensive?"
“What are you talking about? It's just one sheet. You can go to the classroom anytime to solve and submit it. I've given plenty of time.”
"...?"
Yi-Han suddenly had a bad premonition.
It didn't seem like the skull principal to be so accommodating in setting an exam.
"So, we just go anytime before next Friday, solve it, and submit it?"
“Exactly.”
"...Is the way to the Beetle Classroom on the fourth floor straightforward?"
“It might be a bit challenging.”
"...?"
Yi-Han bolted out of the banquet hall.
The principal giving them until next Friday meant...
'I might not have enough time even if I start searching now!'
Considering other exams during the midterm period, it certainly wasn't ample time.
Behind the fleeing Yi-Han, the skull principal let out a sinister laugh.
"Gainando, wake up, you fool! We have an exam to attend!"
Yi-Han slapped Gainando's cheeks from both sides, but he didn't wake up.
'Maybe I should have learned a spell to sober up from alcohol?'
Not just Gainando, but students from the Blue Dragon were too blissfully unresponsive to his calls.
Yi-Han ruthlessly abandoned his friends.
Having indulged in alcohol the night before the exam, there really was no excuse.
'These foolish ones...'
No matter how hard and painful it was, to gulp down the alcohol offered by the principal was unwise.
As he moved, Yi-Han pulled out a book. The midterm wasn't just one lecture; time was tight.
'I'll read the blood magic book later, and the one given by the principal as well. I've nearly deciphered all the magic in the box he gave... but that too, later.'
On his way, he saw students from the White Tiger, drunkenly singing in high spirits.
Yi-Han thought this was a good opportunity.
"Hey. Tell your friends! The <Basic Magic Character Education> exam has started! It's in the Beetle Classroom on the fourth floor!"
"What nonsense are you spouting, Wardanaz? Trying to trick us..."
Yi-Han precisely struck the midriff of a White Tiger student with his staff. The student vomited the alcohol he had just consumed.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
But Yi-Han didn't stop there.
He summoned a blob of water and drenched the White Tiger student with it.
"Feeling a bit more sober now?"
"Sober, sober! I'm sober! Stop it, you fiend!"
"That's good to hear."
Yi-Han nodded earnestly.
"Now, remember this. The <Basic Magic Character Education> exam has started. It's in the Beetle Classroom on the fourth floor. Got it?"
"Got it, got it."
Leaving the White Tiger Tower students behind, Yi-Han walked away.
The soaked White Tiger Tower student muttered as he watched Yi-Han's retreating figure.
"That guy's crazy...!"
"Shh, what if he comes back?"
