Yi-Han had not received his compensation.
As he extended his arm to search, the latter had awakened.
“...Hah!”
“What in the world happened?”
“...”
Yi-Han and Ratford glared at the other tower students with dissatisfaction.
If they were going to wake up, they should have done so back in the hallway. After all the trouble of carrying them out...
‘These kids weren’t pretending to sleep, were they?’
“Thank you, Wardanaz.”
The Black Tortoise student, having regained consciousness, quickly assessed the situation and expressed his gratitude.
His last memory was of entering the classroom and inhaling the smoke emanating from an ominous magic circle.
His memory after that point was blank, clearly indicating that Wardanaz and his friends had saved them.
Thud-
The Black Tortoise student shook the hand Yi-Han extended, much to Yi-Han's bemusement.
It had been a hand intended for rifling through pockets.
“Thank you, Wardanaz.”
“We never expected you to save us.”
One by one, the White Tiger students also awakened.
And they, too, expressed their gratitude in the same manner.
“To think you would carry us out like this...”
“We never imagined. We are sincerely grateful.”
The students, now on their feet, politely expressed their thanks and departed.
Yi-Han watched their retreating figures with irritation.
“Shall we knock them out again?”
Swayed by Ratford's whisper, Yi-Han wavered slightly.
“What a curious affair...”
Professor Uregor puzzled over the situation, his head tilting in bewilderment.
It wasn’t due to a hangover. A hangover after heavy drinking was normal. It would be strange if there wasn't one!
Having chased away the hangover with a potion, Professor Uregor sank back into contemplation.
‘How did no one get caught?’
At the request of other professors, Uregor had arranged several potions in the first-floor classroom of the tower.
Teasing the students, no, aiding their growth was a cooperative task, even for other professors.
Considering the effects of the magic circle, the students should have been causing chaos in the classroom until morning.
But astonishingly, the classroom was empty.
There hadn’t been a lack of intruders. The flying chairs and damaged magic circle confirmed an intrusion.
But how?
‘Did they realize and strategize? No... If they had realized, they wouldn’t have activated the magic circle.’
Uregor was more curious than angry.
What exactly had happened?
“Good morning, Professor.”
Students began to appear one by one to submit their alchemy assignments on a Friday morning.
“Yes, good morning.”
Each student submitted their potion and left.
Their sullen and contemplative expressions pleased Professor Uregor.
Their faces clearly showed the struggles of gathering ingredients all night.
“Good morning, Professor.”
“Yes, Wardanaz.”
Upon seeing Yi-Han, Professor Uregor suddenly felt suspicious.
‘...No, it can’t be.’
He doubted the boy from the Wardanaz family was responsible, but then remembered Yi-Han hadn’t attended those classes.
Having no connection to the classes, it must have been a mere coincidence.
“I'll leave this here.”
“Do so.”
Yi-Han respectfully submitted his potion and turned away.
Even after he left, Professor Uregor remained deep in thought.
‘Hmm. Truly mysterious.’
Uregor stood and began examining the potions submitted by the students.
He could feel the desperate struggles of the students in their concoctions, created amidst a lack of ingredients.
‘Did he substitute thistle for dandelion? The idea is novel, but it hardly seems suitable. This one is... rather foolish. Did he proceed without the right ingredients? Bold, but the effect is greatly diminished. This potion is a complete surrender, mixing it with another potion of similar color.’
Professor Uregor halted in his inspection.
Surprisingly, a near-perfect potion lay before him.
“?!”
Startled, Professor Uregor leaned in closer to examine the potion. Yet, even upon closer inspection, its efficacy was impeccable.
How??
‘How did he acquire thistle flowers? Did he know the location of another flower bed?’
If that was the case, then the student was incredibly lucky.
Tsk-ing in amazement, Professor Uregor looked to see the name of this fortunate student.
-Yi-Han Wardanaz-
“...”
Professor Uregor squinted his eyes.
Something nagged at his brain.
‘It’s not just one, is it??’
Looking around, he realized that not just one or two students had managed to get thistle flowers.
Professor Uregor couldn't believe it.
Could it be...
Really?!?
“It’s over!!!”
Friday evening.
The freshmen of the Blue Dragon were cheering and whistling in the lounge.
Some students popped open bottles of saved drinks, spraying them liberally.
Whether they had done well or poorly, now that the midterms were over, all students felt a sense of liberation.
“It’s over! It’s finally over!”
“Anyone for a game of cards?”
“Curse the professors!”
“A game of cards, anyone?”
“Wardanaz! What is all this?”
“You all did great on the exams.”
Yi-Han greeted his friends with a kind smile.
Luxurious items, saved for the occasion, filled the table.
Bottles of cold fruit juice and various desserts crammed the space.
Crispy creme brulee topped with strawberries, cream cake, cold peach cream soda, and ice cream. Pudding made by mixing grapes, cream, and milk, solidified - a feast of desserts not usually available in Einroguard.
The students of the Blue Dragon were almost moved to tears.
“Wardanaz...!”
“You are... truly...!”
Even if Yi-Han had saved the empire, they might not have been this touched.
Yi-Han thought to himself.
‘It pricks my conscience that they enjoy it this much.’
In fact, such luxury-focused provisions were more profitable for Yi-Han.
Already reaping enough benefits, he felt uneasy about exploiting more.
The benefit of making a generous meal using fresh ingredients available from the garden or other places and seasonings and spices purchased from outside was not that great.
‘...No. I mustn’t waver.’
Yi-Han steadied his wavering heart.
Such special treats should be rare. Filling the pantry with such items and planning meals around them would quickly deplete resources, leaving the students starving.
It wasn’t good for Yi-Han in the long run!
“Don't rush, line up. There’s enough for everyone.”
Although the Blue Dragon was usually orderly compared to other towers, this time there was a scramble to be first in line.
Yi-Han, with the help of Yonaire, managed to organize his friends into a line.
“Alright. Form a line...”
“I’m first!”
“What are you doing here, you couldn’t even pass the test!”
“...Line up, I said.”
“Ah. Yes.”
“Sorry, Mr. Wardanaz.”
Despite minor frictions, the friends understood each other.
Yi-Han nodded in understanding as he watched the followers of the princess line up to receive their share.
“You want to bring it to the princess?”
“Aha!”
“...Surely you hadn’t forgotten?”
Confronted with Yi-Han's question, his followers awkwardly averted their gaze.
“Bring it to her, and then come back to get your share.”
The followers glanced at the glass bottle of melon juice, then at the appetizingly sliced cake, and finally up the staircase.
“The princess might not like these things...”
“...”
Yi-Han was astounded.
Loyalty defeated by delicious desserts?
“She usually eats lightly; maybe she was just indulging us...?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“I don’t think so.”
Despite Yi-Han's comment, his followers pretended not to hear. The allure of the desserts was too strong.
“...Fine, I’ll call her down.”
“Typical Wardanaz!”
“Stop it, it sounds like you’re being sarcastic.”
Yi-Han ascended the stairs and knocked on the princess's private chamber.
The princess opened the door, a faint anticipation in her otherwise expressionless face.
However, that anticipation soon faded. Yi-Han's hands were empty.
“...!”
The princess's eyes shook more violently than when she had been suspected of secretly stealing sandwiches.
“Everyone is having snacks downstairs, come join us.”
The princess let out a slight sigh of relief, then nodded.
Following Yi-Han, who had descended first, the princess came down the stairs.
The followers were visibly surprised.
“Are you sure this is okay? It’s quite noisy here...”
“Won’t it disturb your thoughts? Perhaps you should stay upstairs...”
The princess sternly slapped the back of a follower's hand, causing him to fluster.
“Wardanaz. What if the princess finds it too taxing?”
“She doesn’t look troubled at all.”
“Exactly. Your loyalty is misguided.”
Gainando grumbled while stuffing pudding into his mouth.
If only they showed a fraction of that respect...
“Quiet, Gainando. What do you know about my loyalty?”
“Right. My loyalty is pure.”
Irritated, Yi-Han waved them off.
“She’s not children. She’ll manage fine. Look, she’s standing over there just fine.”
“Is... is that so? Is she really okay? But how did you convince her to come down? She doesn’t usually like such places, right?”
Yi-Han wondered if his friends had ever really talked with the princess.
He was guilty of the same, of course...
“I spoke sincerely. Now, next.”
“Yi-Han. After distributing the desserts, how about a game of cards?”
“You always lose, don’t you?”
Although it was meant to be considerate, it seemed to have bruised Gainando's pride.
Trying to remain calm (though visibly shaking), Gainando said,
“That... that was a test deck. I’ve added new cards now... it’s stronger...!”
‘Just because it’s expensive doesn’t mean the deck is strong.’
Gainando typically crammed his deck with high-magic-cost summoning cards.
In contrast, Yi-Han preferred low-magic cards that whittled away the opposing mage's life, ending the game early.
Naturally, Yi-Han was bound to win.
“Fine. I’ll play a round with you...”
Bang!
The door to the lounge burst open, and a Death Knight appeared.
The students were all shocked.
“On a holiday? Isn’t this too much!?”
“Can they do this? Really, can they do this?!”
Despite the students' outcry, the Death Knight had a reason for his appearance.
“Students whose names I call, who have failed, move to the punishment room.”
“...”
“...”
Yi-Han was shocked.
‘So the rumor about being sent to the punishment room for failing wasn't false!’
Though one might assume Einroguard was lenient due to its educational approach of letting mages study as they wished, it was by no means easy. Being lazy in attending lectures was not tolerated.
“Gainando.”
“No! No!”
Realizing he had to spend his precious weekend in the punishment room, Gainando attempted to flee.
Of course, he couldn’t escape the Death Knight.
“Yi-Han! Sneak in some food for me! You have to!”
Several unfortunate students were dragged away by the Death Knight. Outside, a prison carriage, reminiscent of those used for criminals, awaited them.
“Wardanaz.”
“?!”
It was the other students who were more surprised than Yi-Han.
How could Wardanaz possibly fail?
“Isn’t there some mistake?”
“You should consider! Even an undead like you would fail at least one class if you attended lectures!”
He’s the top student of the Blue Dragon. Follow me.
“...”
His friends, somewhat resentfully, glared at Yi-Han. Calmly, he said,
“It’s not my fault.”
