Chapter 11

Chapter 011

Sweet things can rejuvenate one's spirit and revive the soul.

The jams that Professor Thunderstep brought were just like that.

Students who generously spread strawberry jam, raspberry jam, fig jam, and others on their bread wore expressions as if they were drunk.

'Tsk tsk.'

The dwarf professor looked at the first-year students with renewed pity.

As a professor at this magic school, he well understood how tough it was for the freshmen.

While upperclassmen could go out, freshmen had to endure life within these walls...

"Eat your fill now. You won't be able to for a while."

"Thank you, Professor!"

Thick, well-cooked meat, sweet jam, and butter on bread.

With the scenery of a babbling spring and close friends.

Everyone enjoyed their meal and drinks.

While the freshmen were eating their fill and breathing heavily, Professor Thunderstep started cleaning up.

"...Wait. Why is one jam jar missing?"

"I'm sorry, Professor."

"......"

When Li Han brazenly pulled out the jam jar from his cloak, Thunderstep was at a loss for words.

'This year's freshmen are really not ordinary!'

* * *

The size of the pig, enlarged by magic, was more impressive than expected.

Even after eating their fill and doing as much smoking as possible, there was still a lot of meat left.

Even after Professor Thunderstep took a few chunks to hang in the cabin.

"What should we do with this?"

"Professor, is there any way to store this?"

Li Han asked Thunderstep, who nodded in response.

"There is."

"!"

"Use a cold magic spell to freeze it."

"......"

"......"

The freshmen glared at Thunderstep.

They couldn't even properly cast 'Light Creation' and would have to practice again with the troll professor next time, so how could they use a cold magic spell to freeze meat solid?

"Is there no other way?"

"There is."

"What is it?"

"Summon a cold elemental for help. By the way, I can use both methods."

"......"

"......"

The freshmen exchanged glances and came to a mutual understanding.

'Let's not ask this professor.'

'Right.'

Thunderstep seemed to notice and cleared his throat.

"Unfortunately, you can't preserve all this meat at your current level."

"If you cast a spell on it, Professor..."

Nilia's suggestion was immediately rejected by the dwarf professor.

"That wouldn't be fair."

"Hmm... Can we share it with our friends?"

Nilia asked, looking at Li Han and Yoner. They needed his permission since they had caught it together.

"Sure, it's your share, so you can do as you please."

"Right."

"Thank you."

Nilia's face turned slightly red, moved by their consideration.

Although she hadn't become close with the other tower students yet, this meat would be a good opportunity to do so.

Just like in the mountains, 'the one who shares food when you're hungry is your friend.'

Nilia suggested to hide her embarrassment.

"What about sharing it with everyone?"

"Ooh... For money?"

"That's actually a good idea?"

Li Han and Yoner were impressed by Nilia's suggestion. Nilia waved her hands in panic.

"No, I didn't mention money..."

"Indeed. Most students in the Tower of the Blue Dragon are wealthy. There's nothing wrong with offering food and taking a little money from them."

"Right! We're being kind to our friends."

Yoner nodded in agreement with Li Han.

Some noble heirs might react with 'How disgraceful is that?' but the two nobles here were very practical.

Li Han, who believed in 'earning like a dog to eat well and live well.'

Yoner, who believed in 'saving every coin for the alchemy workshop.'

They shook hands, their expressions showing mutual understanding.

Of course, there was someone with a clear head. Nilia asked, disbelievingly.

"Are you really planning to sell food to your friends for money?"

"Will you do it too?"

"No way!"

Li Han's question made Nilia stomp her feet.

"Isn't that a bit... a bit wrong?!"

"Nilia, think about it. How much would your friends' pride be hurt if they received something for free without any return?"

"Right. We're being considerate of our friends."

"......"

The two nobles spoke convincingly about noble pride, but Nilia wasn't fooled anymore.

"I'll just give it to my friends as a gift."

"Do as you please, Nilia. But you might regret it."

"Right. Nilia, friendship may fade, but gold coins remain."

"Will they really consider you a friend?"

"Of course, they might. But there's a better way. With gold coins..."

"I won't listen, so both of you be quiet!"

Professor Thunderstep, sitting in a chair in front of the cabin and sipping coffee, shook his head at their conversation.

'Those three will cause a lot of trouble if they stick together.'

The freshmen came from all over the empire, so there were all kinds of students.

While these three were talented and passionate, they had the look of troublemakers.

* * *

The arrogant Tower of the Blue Dragon.

This dormitory, located far from the main building of Einrograd, welcomed freshmen with the fresh scent of a forest, as if it were inhabited by spirits.

Even students accustomed to meager and poor meals would soften their expressions when they inhaled this air.

"......?"

But today's air was different.

Sizzle, sizzle—

The smell of roasting meat, which tempted the appetite, filled the air.

"Hey, did everyone eat well?"

"Really a great evening!"

"......?"

"????"

The students who came out were confused by the tall boy and the red-haired girl waving and greeting them.

They were the freshmen from the Wodanaz and Meikin families.

And they were holding meat tongs.

Sizzle, sizzle—

Li Han added firewood to the bonfire under the grill. The meat, cut into thick slices, sizzled and cooked.

The sound and smell made someone's stomach growl.

Swallow—

"Come on, everyone, eat. I caught this for you."

"R-Really?! Is that true??"

The freshmen shouted, their eyes wide.

Even if they were from prestigious noble families, they were still just teenagers.

In a situation where their stomachs were almost touching their backs, a barbecue party was too tempting.

"Sure. Just pay one imperial silver coin each."

"One imperial silver coin?"

In the village outside, a meal like this could be had for two or three coins.

But this was an isolated school.

Charging three times the price was still reasonable with no competition.

"Is that enough?! Isn't that too cheap?"

"Haha. We're not trying to make money off you. We just don't want you to feel uncomfortable eating for free."

"Right, right."

Li Han and Yoner smiled kindly and told the students.

The students were moved.

Nobles from prestigious families were indeed different.

To be so generous.

In such a hungry and difficult situation, it would be understandable to eat alone, but these two had prepared a grill and bonfire to share with their friends!

"Wodanaz...!"

"Meikin...!"

"Come on, the meat will burn. Pay and eat quickly."

"Wait, I don't have any silver coins."

"Me neither."

The students of the Tower of the Blue Dragon hesitated. They had come in with almost nothing, so they had no money.

Li Han, with a reassuring expression, handed them paper and a quill.

"Just write the amount and your name and sign it. We can settle up all at once, no need to pay separately."

"Such...! Wodanaz, you're a genius!"

"What a convenient method!"

Scratch, scratch, scratch—

The students, driven by hunger, had slightly lowered intelligence.

They hastily signed and rushed to the grill.

Chomp, chomp, munch!

Li Han rolled up the paper and put it in his pocket, looking at the scene with satisfaction.

'I didn't expect this to work so well.'

Someone might ask if it was worth going to such lengths to earn a few coins, but money should be earned when possible.

Besides, one silver coin wasn't a small amount. In a place where digging up a single coin was impossible, silver coins were even more valuable.

If this situation where freshmen couldn't leave continued, Li Han's pockets would soon be full.

"Paliek, instead of eating cold rice balls, you can fry rice with the grease from the meat on this grill..."

"Are... are you a genius, Wodanaz?"

"It's just common sense."

Li Han patted the students' shoulders.

Having received the silver coins, he could afford to provide this service.

The students, stuffing the cooked meat into their mouths to prevent it from being snatched, were so moved that if asked to choose a first-year representative, they would unanimously choose Li Han.

"Wodanaz! Wodanaz! Wodanaz!"

"Meikin! Meikin! Meikin!"

The noble students cheered their family names with mouths full of food.

Gayanado, who had just come down, asked with wide eyes.

"W-What... What's going on??"

"Ah, Gayanado. You're here? Want some meat?"

"What!? There's meat?? Really??"

Gayanado, deciding to ask about the situation later, tried to rush over.

Thud—

But Gayanado couldn't. Li Han had grabbed his shoulder.

"Why?!"

"One imperial silver coin."

"Money... You're charging money?"

"If I give it for free, everyone's pride will be hurt."

"That's true. But I don't have any money right now..."

"Just write the amount and your name and sign it."

"Ihan...!"

Gayanado looked moved.

To be so kind.

True friendship was indeed found in school.

* * *

Thanks to the sudden barbecue party, the students of the Tower of the Blue Dragon looked a bit better.

However, the boring lectures didn't become any more enjoyable.

Seeing the title of the mandatory course, 'Basic Magic and Character Education,' the students frowned.

"Character education? What do they think we are?"

"Shouldn't this be something the lower classes learn? Do we, who know honor, really need to learn this?"

"Exactly. I can't believe it."

'These guys are really good at complaining.'

Li Han thought to himself.

The students were only in the lecture hall because they were from the Tower of the Blue Dragon; if students from other dormitories were here, there would have been a fight.

What was surprising was that they weren't saying this out of malice.

They were making these remarks with very pure hearts!

Everyone was having a good morning.

"......"

"......"

The faces of all the students froze at the telepathic magic that hit them like a hammer.

It wasn't because of the magic. They recognized the voice.

'Could it be...'

Hello! Ironheads!

"......"

A giant skeleton appeared with a 'pop' from the ceiling, not the lecture hall door.

The headmaster of the academy, Ossu Gonadates.

Isn't the new school life fun? It must be thrilling to try things on your own after living within the confines of your family.

Of course, no one answered. The lich headmaster looked around in surprise.

Look at this. You must have eaten something. You're faster than I thought! I expected it to take over a month before you moved!

"What do you mean? Did we have to find and eat something on our own?"

Yes, I told you to do it yourself.

"What do you mean? I don't understand why we had to do this..."

-Silence!

"Ugh!"

The voice of the student who raised his hand disappeared. The lich headmaster nodded his skull approvingly. A chilling clatter echoed.