"It's just pure academic curiosity," declared Yi-Han, a person adept at deceiving his professor. Despite Professor Bungaegor being one of the most renowned adventurers of the Empire, she couldn't fathom that Yi-Han was searching for a flying mount to escape the academy.
"You might find something," replied Professor Bungaegor cautiously, examining Yi-Han's expression to gauge if he had caught on.
Fortunately, the young boy from the Wardanaz family seemed unaware of the fact that one of the horses in the stable, tended by the freshmen, was actually a griffin!
"This academy is so vast, it lacks nothing," she added.
"But it lacks warm meals or essentials, or care for its students," Yi-Han retorted, which Professor Bungaegor chose to ignore.
"There are mountains, lakes, underground dungeons... surely, there must be flying creatures," the professor mused.
"If I find one, could I tame it?" Yi-Han inquired.
"That would be difficult. Even experienced trainers struggle with taming wild monsters, especially the flying ones," Professor Bungaegor explained earnestly. If taming were easy, people wouldn't choose to fight monsters they encountered outside. Moreover, creatures capable of flight were often temperamental and wild.
"It requires complete understanding of what you're dealing with. Ordinary knowledge isn't enough. Knowing its habits, gradually befriending it and understanding its characteristics... but you'll likely fail many times in the process," she warned.
"Professor, could you teach me in your spare time? I don't plan to attempt it recklessly right now," Yi-Han lied, already planning to act as soon as he felt confident.
"I wouldn't want to miss the chance to tame a monster in the future," said Yi-Han, his eyes burning with sincere passion.
Seeing this, Professor Bungaegor felt a surge of enthusiasm. As a teacher, she couldn't just stand by when her student showed such interest.
"Very well! I'll teach you in my free time. But be warned, it's not an easy study," she agreed.
Despite the daunting task of memorizing thick books about local monsters and the practical challenges that awaited, Professor Bungaegor believed the boy from the Wardanaz family was up to the task. With his interest and passion, it seemed entirely possible.
'He seems very interested in flying and exploring. The lad...'
'I'll find the most suitable beast, tame it, and then escape.'
The professor and student nodded to each other, each harboring different thoughts.
After the conversation, Professor Bungaegor trudged off to see the garden that Yi-Han had finished working on. To her surprise, she found that the garden, neither too large nor too small, was impeccably maintained.
She had expected Yi-Han to plant a few vegetables for personal use, but the garden was thriving with various edible vegetables like carrots, onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cabbages, and even medicinal herbs like chamomile, basil, and rosemary.
'Is he planning to start a farm?'
Noticing the professor's astonished gaze, Yi-Han reassured her that everything was under control.
"I too was worried at first," he admitted.
"About what?"
"Whether it would grow well in such a confined space. But thanks to the staff of the tree spirit, it seems to be thriving without any issues. Isn't that fortunate?"
Professor Bungaegor gazed at the jug of milk on the table, which she had set aside to give to Yi-Han when he returned. Observing Yi-Han's current work, she thought the jug alone might not suffice.
"Wait here. You should have something to eat before you go back," she suggested.
"??"
Yi-Han bit into a roasted potato skewered on a wooden stick as he headed towards the dormitory. If one forgot they were in a magic academy, it could have been a romantic evening. One arm held a basket filled with the day's harvest, the other a freshly baked, salted new potato skewer... He felt like a farmer returning home after a bountiful market day.
'Maybe living like this after retirement wouldn't be so bad,' he mused.
The new potatoes tasted exceptionally good, perhaps due to the atmosphere. Even just baked and salted, they seemed to melt deliciously with each bite. He understood why Professor Bungaegor had insisted on giving him these roasted potatoes.
'Did she regret eating such tasty potatoes alone? Maybe she wanted to boast about them...'
Yi-Han hadn't realized that the potatoes had come from his own garden.
"?"
"Princess, I've organized the materials from the library and brought them to you."
"I've also gathered what we need for the assignment after asking other students! It will be helpful to you."
"I found a book this time..."
'What is this?'
It was the princess and her followers. Freshmen from different towers had gathered, sparing no effort in helping the princess with her classes.
Yi-Han chewed his potato in surprise.
'There's such a method?'
He was almost jealous enough to report to the professors, 'The princess is exploiting her peers with her unfair power.' Yi-Han had to struggle through nights in the library with friends, while the princess received information just by breathing.
'Is it because of her royal blood? But that doesn't explain Gainando. How does one acquire such devoted followers?'
While Yi-Han pondered this, the princess thanked her followers and walked up alongside them. Yi-Han, who was observing from the stairs while munching on his potato, caught the eye of his friends.
"What a fine evening," he remarked, unfazed. The followers of the princess, recognizing the face of the boy from the Wardanaz family, who practically ruled the Blue Dragon, quickly bowed their heads. It was natural for them to be cautious; any misstep could make life difficult for the princess in the tower.
"Greetings, Mr. Wardanaz!"
As one student shouted this, the others looked at him in confusion, wondering if they should follow suit.
"Greetings, Mr. Wardanaz!"
"Uh... Greetings, Mr. Wardanaz!"
"..."
Yi-Han unconsciously scanned the surroundings, relieved that no one else was watching.
'If someone saw, I'd be sent to the punishment room for no reason.'
Unsure why the followers were trying to mess with him, Yi-Han responded as calmly as he could.
"It's good to see everyone. I see you've been talking with the princess."
"Yes!"
"We are just thankful for the opportunity to serve the princess and appreciate the efforts of Mr. Wardanaz," they responded.
"We look forward to your continued support!"
Yi-Han wondered, 'Will they attack if I don't take care of her?' Zealous supporters were always a frightening prospect, especially since the princess's supporters extended beyond the magic academy. Considering his future social life after graduation, he felt the need to tolerate their unfair pressure.
"Of course. Don't worry."
Yi-Han didn't mention that he received extra silver for taking care of the princess. He thought it better to change the subject. Prolonging the conversation about the princess could bring up the topic of his undue benefits.
"Have you all had dinner yet?"
"...?"
The princess's followers realized only then that Yi-Han was carrying something. It was a roasted potato.
The sight of a cold-faced boy with an aristocratic air offering roasted potatoes on skewers baffled the students.
'Is this some noble joke?'
'Is it okay to eat?'
'Is this a test?'
"Aren't you going to eat?"
"Well, we will eat, thank you."
One student, apparently hungry, reached out and took a roasted potato. Yi-Han sprinkled salt on it himself. For a moment, the student tensed, fearing it was some magic powder.
'Ah, it's just salt.'
"Is it okay?"
"It's... delicious!"
It wasn't just because of Yi-Han's influence; the freshly roasted new potatoes were objectively tasty. The student who received the potato chewed eagerly, then scalded his palate and choked.
"Here, have some milk too."
"Tha... thank you."
Having swallowed the warm potato, the student suddenly felt that Yi-Han's cold demeanor seemed somewhat softer.
...Was it a magic potato?
"May we have some too?"
"Yes. Go ahead."
The hesitant followers slowly reached out and took the roasted potatoes. Under the warm evening sunlight, the freshmen of the magic academy became a little closer as they ate the potatoes.
"Let's offer one to the princess!"
"How dare you! What if the princess is offended by such absurd rudeness!"
One student, about to offer a potato to the princess, withdrew his hand at his friends' words. Yi-Han thought he saw the princess, standing aloofly, look a bit downcast, like a hungry Gainando.
'That's a harsh comparison.'
Yi-Han felt remorse. The princess hadn't even had breakfast that day. He discreetly offered her a roasted potato where others couldn't see.
"You might want to try a little."
Though the students didn't see, Yi-Han clearly saw the princess attempting to pop the entire peeled, hot potato into her mouth.
"Cut it first! Cut it before you eat!"
"..."
The princess, as if nothing had happened, put down the potato, cut it, and started to eat.
The students, hearing Yi-Han's shout, turned their heads in confusion.
"What are you cutting?"
“The potatoes, and then eat them.”
"Haha… even if we're hungry, we don't just gulp them down. We always cut the potatoes before eating them, Mr Wardanaz.”
"..."
Yi-Han glanced at the princess, then at the student, and thought to himself.
'That guy's not going to make it far in life...'
The next morning, Yi-Han finished his work in the stables and, along with his friends, walked to Professor Garcia's class on <Basic Magic Understanding>.
Yi-Han yawned, his face betraying an unusual tiredness, prompting Yonaire to ask with concern, “You look sleepy. Are you alright? Did you have trouble sleeping?”
“I slept fine, but I had a nightmare…”
“What did you dream about?”
“A dream involving a professor.”
Yonaire, considering Yi-Han's mental health, chose not to probe further.
It seemed the impression left by Professor Boladi's class had infiltrated Yi-Han's dreams. In the nightmare, Professor Boladi had instructed Yi-Han to mount a frenzied griffin, pass through a ring of fire, and control water beads. It was a terrible nightmare.
“Good morning, everyone.”
“Good morning, Professor!”
As Professor Garcia entered the room, Yi-Han felt a sense of relief wash over him. He hadn't known before enrolling that meeting a troll could be such a comforting experience.
“Last week, Professor Mortum visited to teach us about dark magic, remember?”
Murmurs and gasps of ‘huh’ filled the room, a mix of fear and apprehension at the mention of dark magic again.
“This week, another professor will teach us about summoning magic.”
The classroom erupted in excited exclamations.
Yi-Han suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for Professor Mortum, who wasn’t even present.
