When the professor forgot one's existence, it was a rule to quietly lie low and keep still.
The statue of the forgotten beast was an entity that had mastered that wisdom.
But there was no helping the boredom. "Thank you for coming here."
"The great statue, I've heard that you… possess the necessary wisdom within this academy."
Yi-Han started to speak of escape but quickly changed his words.
He could not trust the statue of the forgotten beast, unsure of when it might betray him.
"Wisdom, you say... That's rather embarrassing to hear. I may not possess wisdom, but I can share what I know. And I might be able to help with things within my power."
"Indeed!"
Yi-Han was grateful for the statue's boredom.
Otherwise, it wouldn't have offered such help.
"Of course, I can't help with things beyond my abilities. So, don't ask me to save a dragon or anything like that."
"Could you perhaps make the principal a bit kinder?"
"What color of dragon would you like? A dragon seems like a better request."
"I'm sorry. It was a joke."
Of course, Yi-Han had no intention of making such a ludicrous request.
He had only one desire.
The way to the stable at the spire, located in the upper levels of the main building.
"Do you know the way to the stable at the spire of the main building?"
"I know of about three places."
Yi-Han's eyes flickered slightly. He had finally found what he was seeking.
"I would like to know the way to the easiest one."
"Not difficult at all."
"!"
"But first, you must defeat me!"
"?!?"
Taken aback by the sudden change in atmosphere, Yi-Han was startled.
He held his staff, eyeing the statue warily. Instead of attacking, the statue laid out a bronze chessboard.
"Let's have a game!"
"..."
It was clear that the opponent was truly bored.
Boredom was a venom among venoms. Even the statue of the forgotten beast, which had loyally served under the professor for a long time, could not overcome boredom.
The statue of the forgotten beast favored chess.
The advantage of chess was that it could be played alone.
The statue's tail and other heads swayed with its movements.
Yi-Han asked to gauge its skill.
"Did you play chess with any other freshmen before me?"
"Yes, I did."
"How many times did that freshman win?"
"Not even once."
Yi-Han's expression grew serious.
'Had Tutanta not won a single game?'
He didn't know Tutanta's skill level, but losing continuously without a single win meant a lot.
The chess skills of this statue of the forgotten beast were exceptional...
'And it's cunning enough to hide that.'
If the difference was overwhelming, the opponent wouldn't have challenged again. It must have won narrowly, giving the opponent hope for a rematch.
Such control required a significant difference in skill.
'Can I win?'
Yi-Han didn't consider himself particularly good at chess.
He hadn't avoided chess, of course.
As with students typically confined to a lab, Yi-Han also enjoyed meaningless betting activities.
And chess was the most popular among them.
Yi-Han had never lost among other students...
...But that was a frog in a well. Against the foreign professor next door, he had never won.
The foreign professor, finding great joy in defeating the weak, often called Yi-Han to defeat him.
If the statue before him was better than that professor, it was certainly no less capable.
‘But just once, just one win is all it takes.’
No matter how he shook the opponent or caught them off guard, a single victory was sufficient.
Yi-Han planned to win by sheer volume of attempts.
Considering chess was a game with unexpected variables, he might win at least once in a hundred games.
"Just so you know, there's a penalty if you lose."
"...What is it?"
Yi-Han flinched.
The statue, now cast in shadow, seemed to exude an oppressive aura.
"If you lose, you have to play another game without any reward."
"...Is that so?"
The penalty was lighter than expected. The statue nodded in affirmation.
"And if you lose again on your next attempt, you'll have to play two games. If you lose again after that, three games..."
'It might be better just to take up work from the professor if it's that bored.'
Yi-Han thought so as he picked up a white pawn.
The king toppled over, signaling the end of the game. Yi-Han was astonished.
'Tutanta...!'
“You're really good.”
The statue exclaimed in admiration, but Yi-Han was slightly incredulous.
Incredibly, he had won.
And in the very first game!
At this point, he had to question the skills of both the statue and Tutanta. To not win even a single game against this statue.
'I was worried for nothing.'
"Here. This is the map I made."
"Thank you."
Yi-Han took the map offered by the statue and tucked it away, then asked,
"Would you like to play another game?"
Realizing that the opponent was easier than expected, there was no need to hesitate. Yi-Han spoke up, hoping to gain more.
But the statue was not so easily persuaded.
“No. Today, I'm truly satisfied. It was such an enjoyable game.”
"..."
"I think I can sleep soundly thanks to it. Thank you."
Yi-Han couldn't fathom what about this game satisfied the statue so much.
Surely it wasn't acting like this because it thought it couldn't win?
"Yes... I'm glad for you."
Yi-Han congratulated with mixed feelings and left the room.
Salko was waiting in the corridor, whittling a small statue with a hammer and chisel.
"You're out."
Salko, brushing off the dust, spoke without looking at Yi-Han.
Although he wasn't fond of nobles, he respected the pride that Yi-Han possessed.
He must have been humiliated, having not won even once.
"I'll guide you until you win. You can't enter alone. Just let me know when you want to go again."
"I won."
"...??!?!!"
Salko couldn't believe his ears.
The chess skills of that beast statue were formidable.
Even Salko, unrivaled in the Tutanta family, had never won against it.
He had planned to prepare with Wardanaz and try again...
But Yi-Han just won?
"Really?"
"Yes. It even said it's going to take a nap because of it."
Salko didn't doubt the word of an opponent that he had decided to respect for no reason.
But Yi-Han's claim was hard to believe without seeing it with his own eyes.
"Wardanaz, would it be alright if I check for myself?"
"Go ahead. Do as you like."
With Yi-Han's permission, Salko repaired the corridor statue, opened the door, and went inside.
He walked out with an expression as if he had seen a ghost.
Indeed, the statue was asleep.
Yi-Han said to Salko, "Thank you. I got the information I needed because of you."
"That's good to hear..."
Salko momentarily looked at Yi-Han with eyes full of admiration, then quickly regained his composure.
In his lifetime, he never imagined feeling such respect for someone born into a noble family!
Salko coughed slightly and turned around.
"Let's go back. I'll lead the way."
Unaware, Salko had not noticed the subtle change in Yi-Han's eyes as he turned his back.
The look in Yi-Han's eyes as he watched Salko had shifted, now resembling the way he gazed at Nillia.
Yi-Han, wearing an expression of extreme fatigue, opened the door to the rest area.
Salko, who seemed to be formed from a lump of rock, turned out to be more talkative than expected.
-"I want to tell you about the 'Dwarf Gambit,' a chess strategy of the Tutanta family. It involves advancing the pawn to e4 and when the opponent counters with e5, attacking fiercely with f4."-
-"I specialize in moving my knight to f3 when the opponent takes a pawn, but about that..."-
-"There was this incident during the last game I played..."-
-"Did you know? Those elf fellows don't play pawn to e4; they send it to d4 and counter with c4 at d5! Mad, I tell you!"-
All the way back, Salko had been incessantly talking about chess.
Yi-Han was not someone who dedicated his life and passion to chess like Salko.
Though he tried to respond earnestly, fearing Salko might get upset, he couldn't help but feel mentally exhausted.
"Wardanaz! You're back!"
His friends in the rest area, who had been working on assignments, greeted Yi-Han joyfully.
Yonaire was busy checking potions with other students, collaborating closely.
These were the potions Yi-Han and Ratford had stolen from a carriage previously.
Thanks to salvaging reagents from Professor Uregor's lab, they were able to conduct various experiments.
"Did you find out anything?"
"Wardanaz. We've done it."
"??"
One of the students sitting next to Yonaire excitedly began to speak.
"We've discovered the potion of miracles!"
"Did you find a teleportation potion?"
Yi-Han asked, puzzled.
The students replied with sheepish expressions.
"Not... exactly teleportation."
"But it's still an amazing potion! Let me show you! Gainando!"
They brought Gainando over. Yi-Han noticed something different about Gainando's demeanor.
He seemed a bit... more intellectual.
'What? Is this a fake Gainando?'
Gainando nodded calmly and composedly at Yi-Han, making him oddly want to hit him.
"Gainando. Who teaches <Basic Magic Understanding>?"
"Professor Garcia Kim."
"How do you make a <Lesser Mana Recovery Potion>?"
"Cut the base of the Garamaldu, and slice the remaining part into pieces two finger-widths long. At the same time, tear the Snow Fragrance grass finely by hand, but you must do it quickly before the Garamaldu dries."
The students of the Blue Dragon erupted in cheers at the smooth responses.
"See?? It's the potion of wisdom! The potion of wisdom!"
There were potions in alchemy that temporarily enhanced the drinker's intelligence.
Gainando's current state was a clear testament to that.
This murky-colored liquid was undoubtedly a potion of wisdom!
'Wait. Did these kids test this on Gainando?'
Yi-Han had that suspicion but decided to let it pass. There were more important things to consider.
"Do you really think this is the potion of wisdom?"
Yi-Han asked Yonaire in a low voice. Yonaire replied with a thoughtful expression.
"I'm not sure yet. But seeing Gainando's reaction, it seems possible."
"Didn't you test it thoroughly before drinking it?"
"No, he just happened to drink it during the verification process..."
"..."
Yi-Han started to say something but then held back.
'If it's a potion of wisdom, that would indeed be beneficial.'
Like the cheering students, Yi-Han also had numerous uses for a potion of wisdom.
He contemplated drinking a little during Professor Garcia's class, a bit during Professor Boladi's, some during Professor Uregor's, and a little when meeting Professor Mortum and Professor Millei...
Counting on his fingers, Yi-Han reflected.
Potions were not harmless to the body. They always required a price. Drinking that much could be detrimental to his health.
Yet, the need for wisdom at the academy was overwhelming.
'Maybe I should check a bit more.'
Yi-Han looked at Gainando and asked,
"What's 14 times 19?"
"417."
The immediate response elicited cheers from the students of the Blue Dragon who were listening.
However, Yi-Han, Yonaire, Asan, and the Princess wore expressions of disbelief.
...Huh?
