Chapter 33

"Do you happen to know Professor Thunderstep?"

"How did you know? I'm Thunderstep's aunt, Lightningstep."

'No way. They were really related?'

I thought not all dwarves who looked similar were necessarily related, but they really were.

"Are you acquainted with Thunderstep?"

As the dwarf pushed up his pilot glasses and asked, Han instinctively sensed something ominous.

Being remembered by a professor's name and face is generally not a good thing, whether on Earth or here.

If he were dragged to a graduate school like on Earth...

"I don't really..."

"Wodanaz is Professor Thunderstep's top disciple!"

"That's right! Wodanaz has earned Professor Thunderstep's recognition! He can even visit the professor's cottage!"

"......"

Han turned to look behind him.

The Blue Dragon Tower friends winked at Han, looking proud of their achievement.

As a fellow tower member and their leader, Han was apparently very proud.

'What a bunch of useless kids!'

Han cursed inwardly. The Blue Dragon Tower students, unaware of Han's thoughts, felt only proud.

"Indeed! If you're Thunderstep's top disciple, you could also be considered my disciple."

"Not quite a top disciple..."

"Moreover, to be granted access to his cottage. You must have really earned his recognition."

"...Yes, that's true."

Han gave up and acknowledged it.

Given the situation, he thought it best to accept it and leave a good impression on the professor.

* * *

Professor Lightningstep got off his mount and stood in front of the students.

Then, with a loud and powerful voice, he shouted,

"Attention!"

"Professor, the people who fainted..."

"Leave them! They'll wake up soon!"

Professor Lightningstep shouted heartily. Medically, it was nonsense, but no student dared to contradict him.

"I am Professor Lightningstep, who will be teaching you this semester. The professor originally assigned to teach you was Professor Bendozol, but he went missing while searching for a unicorn. So, I was hastily recruited."

'I don't understand why no one is surprised that he went missing while searching for a unicorn.'

The students were more surprised by Lightningstep's name than by the news of Professor Bendozol's disappearance.

"Is that the famous explorer Lightningstep?"

"The one who tamed Behemoth and made it a mount?"

"The one who explored the elemental crater that no one could set foot on?"

'Hmm. I should have read something other than the imperial economy in the newspaper.'

Han felt left out, unable to join the conversation.

It seemed he was quite a famous explorer.

Some students looked at Lightningstep with admiration and respect.

"Alright! Is there a student who can guess why I rode a Thunderbird today?"

"!"

Thunderbird.

Han had heard of this famous monster.

Its massive size, swift and violent movements, and the special ability to control thunder, lightning, and tornadoes made it a nightmare for those who travel the skies or high mountains.

Just thinking about such a monster attacking made his spine shiver.

'This school really needs a proper imperial inspection.'

While Han grumbled inwardly, another student raised his hand.

"Is the goal of this semester to ride the Thunderbird? So you're letting us get used to it..."

"Wrong! Hahaha! What a ridiculous guess. You'd need more than ten years of practice to ride a Thunderbird!"

Lightningstep burst into laughter, finding it hilarious. The student who spoke up was taken aback and stepped back.

'Ah. Is there really so few people who took the alchemy class?'

Upon reflection, the alchemy class was an elective.

In contrast, the mount training class was a required course.

Thus, there were far more students who were unfamiliar with the teaching style of the Lightningstep clan dwarf professor.

"Did you ride the fastest mount to get here quickly?"

"If I had to ride the fastest mount, I would have ridden Sleipnir. Wrong. Hmm. Wodanaz! You tell me."

"......"

Though he really didn't want to draw attention, the dwarf professors didn't leave Han alone.

Han managed his expression and answered.

"Did you ride the Thunderbird to improve our ability to deal with dangerous monsters like the Thunderbird when we encounter them?"

Han's answer made some students burst into laughter, finding it absurd.

The mount training class was about riding beautiful and cute horses around the area, not a "surviving monsters" class.

Why would they need such training...

"Correct! Indeed, there's a reason Thunderstep likes you!"

'Damn it.'

He didn't think it would be right, but it really was.

Han shook his head.

Since he would inevitably meet Professor Lightningstep often if he got along with Professor Thunderstep, the only answer was to make a good impression.

While attracting the professor's attention was risky, earning the professor's dislike was even more dangerous.

Better to have affection...

"Professor? Wasn't this a horse riding class?"

"Y-Yes. Why do we need to train to avoid Thunderbirds?"

Some students, still not fully grasping the situation, asked in disbelief.

Why not ride horses and avoid Thunderbirds?

"What do you think you'll do if you encounter a Thunderbird while riding a horse! It's a natural training!"

Lightningstep seemed to be angry at the absurdity of the question. The students who asked were visibly intimidated.

'Thunderbirds are rare monsters found only in high skies or mountains...'

Han thought this but didn't say it out loud.

Even in front of a professor, one must be careful with words.

"But don't worry. You'll still ride the horses you love. Wodanaz, come forward. You'll help me with my class."

Han stepped forward, receiving a mix of awe and envy.

While the awe was understandable, Han wanted to punch the students who looked at him with envy.

'Such ignorant people...'

"Horses are the most basic and common mounts you'll see in the empire. Anyone who can't ride a horse shouldn't be traveling. If you want to ride more difficult mounts, you must first learn to ride a horse well."

Many students looked bored at Professor Lightningstep's words.

This was because there were more students who knew how to ride horses than those who didn't.

Having ridden horses for various reasons, they thought, 'What's there to learn?'

However, Professor Lightningstep didn't get angry at their expressions.

He smiled kindly.

Creepy!

'This...'

Han felt a sense of foreboding from the smile.

'This isn't just a horse riding class!'

What kind of school makes you constantly on edge? This was clearly not a normal horse riding class.

"Let's move to the stables!"

The stables near the main building were clean and spacious.

The three-story stable, resembling a giant warehouse, opened as if it were alive as the professor approached.

'There's magic on it.'

Han could feel the magical aura on the stables.

After all, it wasn't just ordinary horses that needed protection.

"Wow!"

"Oh my..."

Exclamations of surprise echoed throughout.

The sight of the horses lining the stables was enough to make the young students marvel.

The horses, with various coat colors like white, black, brown, and gold, were clearly of excellent bloodlines.

The thought of riding such horses made the students' eyes light up.

However, Han wasn't fooled. He whispered to Yonner beside him.

"Be careful."

"What?"

"Think about the alchemy class. Professor Lightningstep is of the Thunderstep clan. Do you think there's no trap?"

"!"

Yonner nodded hurriedly, looking enlightened.

Professor Lightningstep stroked his beard and smiled mischievously. Then he said to Han,

"Since you'll be helping me in class, I'll give you the first choice of horse."

Jealous and envious whispers came from behind.

While they could tolerate other favors, choosing the first horse was unbearable.

Once chosen, the horse would be Han's partner for the semester. If he got the best one, it would be like taking it from them.

'They must think that. Stupid kids.'

Han remembered the fleeting smile on Professor Lightningstep's lips.

"I'm fine. I'll choose later and let the other students go first. It wouldn't be fair for me to choose first."

"Wodanaz...!"

"You, kid!"

The other tower students were impressed.

While others were eager to choose first, such a gesture of yielding was a mark of true nobility.

"Then what should we do?"

"Let's draw lots from each tower and take turns choosing. If there's a tie, we'll draw again."

"Alright."

The students began to form lines.

The Blue Dragon Tower students gathered to draw lots and determine the order. The first to be chosen was Gainando.

"That's right!"

Gainando was delighted.

It felt like compensation for the misfortune of being caught by the Thunderbird earlier.

The other Blue Dragon Tower students were openly disappointed.

"Why Gainando?"

"Maybe we should have let Wodanaz choose first."

"Pfft. Losers talking nonsense."

Gainando ignored his friends' comments. Han, curious, asked Yonner,

"Does Gainando know how to choose a horse?"

"Well... I don't think so."

Gainando strode forward and chose the largest and most temperamental white horse.

The students from other towers looked at him in disbelief.

A larger horse isn't necessarily better.

Moreover, considering he would have to tame and bond with it, choosing such a temperamental horse was a bad idea.

It could cause problems while riding...

Thud!

"Oof!"

Crack!

"Ouch!!"

Thump!

"Ah!"

"?! "

The gathered students were all shocked.

While it was understandable that Gainando was knocked down by the horse, the other students also got hit or spat on.

The horses...

Why are they so vicious?

Rumble!

Rumble! Snort! Snort!!

The horses in the stables, which had been waiting quietly, began to neigh simultaneously.

They glared at the students as if they were enemies, their hidden wildness exploding.

"Hahaha! I told you. You need to learn how to ride a horse well. Your first task is not to ride a horse but to bond with one of these horses. Did you really think I would let beginners like you choose a horse?"

"What... what..."

"That's too much...!"

Some students who hadn't taken the alchemy class were on the verge of tears from disappointment. However, Lightningstep didn't stop laughing.

"If you take care of the horses morning and night, one of them might open up to you. That's your goal. Just one! Bond with just one!"

"......"

'These are definitely not ordinary horses.'

Han was certain.

No matter how he thought about it, they weren't normal horses.

What kind of horse would act like this...

Thud-

While pondering which horse would be easiest to bond with, Professor Lightningstep's pot-like hand landed on Han's shoulder.

"?"

"By the way, Wodanaz. I'll choose a horse for you."

"......"

Do I really have to?