Chapter 35

"By the way, what kind of riddle did the talking oak tree give?"

Thunderstep asked curiously.

"Well... it gave some rather strange and peculiar riddles."

While the shadow riddle was understandable, the dwarf and candle riddle was a stretch.

"Talking oak trees do give out absurd riddles."

Thunderstep nodded as if understanding.

Talking oak trees were famous for confusing wizards with their seemingly plausible but odd riddles.

Inexperienced wizards, dazzled by the dignified appearance of the talking oak trees, often mistakenly believed that some hidden mystery was hidden in the riddles, but there was none.

Talking oak trees were just cold spirits who liked cold riddles.

"...Is that so?"

"That's right. Most things in the world turn out to be disappointing once you know them."

Lee Han was taken aback by Thunderstep's explanation.

So, was the riddle about the goblin sneaking into the orc feast also a cold riddle?

'Now that I think about it, the candle riddle did have that vibe.'

"The riddle I heard was..."

Lee Han recounted the riddles he heard from the talking oak tree.

-Several orc tribes gathered for a feast, but a mischievous goblin sneaked in and ate and drank a lot. How was that possible?

"Easy. The answer is that the goblin disguised as an orc."

"...What?"

"Don't think too hard about the riddles from talking oak trees. Think simply. It wouldn't have been too difficult for a goblin to deceive and disguise as an orc."

"......"

Lee Han tried to focus despite feeling absurd and disappointed.

Of course, it was a ridiculous riddle, but this riddle wasn't just a random one.

The talking oak tree gave this riddle as a hint to escape the school.

There must be some meaning behind it.

'So... the meaning of the riddle was to disguise oneself?'

It was an obvious statement, but when you think about it, it was a surprising one.

This magic school wasn't a completely closed space.

Priests from other sects had entered the school from the outside, hadn't they?

'Besides, there are supplies.'

From food for the magic school to various reagents and materials.

These things had to be brought in from the outside.

And the people who moved these things were usually workers who didn't know magic.

There was a way to escape this school without using magical methods!

Lee Han clenched his fist.

In the dark laid out by the skeleton principal.

It felt like a ray of light had flickered in that darkness.

"...?"

Beside him, Professor Thunderstep looked at Lee Han's face in amazement.

The young wizard clearly had an expression of enlightenment.

What is it?

'How did he gain enlightenment from those cold riddles of the talking oak trees?'

This young man from the Wodanaz family was as surprising as a farmer who was better at farming than a skilled farmer.

* * *

After Lee Han finished tending the vegetable garden, Professor Thunderstep brought a few chickens from somewhere.

Judging by the sad look on Thunderstep's face, it was clear where the chickens came from.

"Take good care of animals, Wodanaz. If you treat them well, they will always repay you."

"Thank you. I'll eat well."

For the first-year students, who were so hungry they would eat stones, fresh eggs were a luxurious treat.

With these eggs, he could become the king of the dormitory.

"Take this too. Hmm. This would be good too."

Professor Thunderstep, perhaps wanting to give his new disciple something, filled a basket with various items.

From eggs to freshly harvested fresh cabbage, tomatoes, onions, and potatoes, butter and cheese, and thickly sliced deer meat.

As he filled the basket, the wrinkles on Thunderstep's face deepened, and his sadness grew, but Lee Han pretended not to notice.

"See you at the next class."

'Now I can eat well.'

The meal with the two dwarves was hectic, but he gained a lot.

The secret of the staff, a hint to escape the school, and extra food as a bonus. The food supply was running low anyway.

'I wonder how the other first-year students before me managed to eat and live.'

While Lee Han received food by working under the professor, the other students couldn't have done the same.

Did they just endure the hunger?

"Wodanaz!"

"Wodanaz is here!"

The students of the Blue Dragon Tower were sitting in the first-year lounge, looking tired and hungry.

The students who were playing chess or cards to pass the time were overjoyed to see Lee Han.

They were even more delighted when they saw the basket hanging from Lee Han's arm.

"Wodanaz! My honorable friend!"

"The most honorable family in the empire!"

'Although I shouldn't say it, for a noble family, they all lack dignity.'

But he understood.

Whether they were royalty or beggars, people became weak when they were hungry.

As the news of Lee Han's arrival spread, the students of the Blue Dragon Tower rushed out of their rooms and gathered in front of Lee Han.

They looked like baby birds waiting for food, staring at their mother bird.

"Everyone seems hungry. Wait a moment."

Using the vegetables and meat he received from Thunderstep, he could make a decent soup.

Even if all the gathered students ate together, it would be enough for a meal.

Lee Han placed a pot on the fireplace, cut the deer meat and onions, and fried them until they were nicely browned.

Next were the vegetables. Lee Han skillfully poured water, added tomatoes and potatoes, and seasoned with salt and pepper.

Seasonings that were easily available outside were precious to the first-year students.

The soup, tinged red by the tomatoes, bubbled, and the students looked at Lee Han with eager eyes.

-Is it done yet? Can we eat now?

But Lee Han firmly stopped them.

'Now I can add the cabbage.'

He added the cabbage, some butter, and adjusted the seasoning...

His serious and solemn expression while cooking was like that of a skilled alchemist.

The students of the Blue Dragon Tower unconsciously tidied their clothes and sat politely.

"It's done. Bring your bowls."

"Yes!"

'Why are they using honorifics?'

Lee Han was puzzled but instead of asking, he filled the bowls with a ladle.

Yonner, who heard the news, helped write the ledger, dipping his quill in ink.

"Kilenen family, eight silver coins... Gaynando, eleven silver coins..."

"Wodanaz. One silver coin is too cheap, isn't it?"

"Can't you ask for a little more? It's too little compared to your dedication."

The young men and women from noble families lacked a sense of money.

Lee Han and Yonner sighed at this.

'I don't know how they plan to live independently in the future with this attitude!'

"Hey, Wodanaz."

"?"

"Can we bring some to the princess?"

A couple of Blue Dragon Tower students asked cautiously. They were probably followers of Adenart.

Lee Han's face slightly darkened at this.

"Well, Wodanaz. I'm not forcing you..."

"I know you're close to Prince Gaynando, but you don't have to fight with him. I just thought the princess should have some decent food."

'Hmm?'

Lee Han realized his friends had misunderstood something.

The reason Lee Han was hesitant to bring food to the princess wasn't because he supported Gaynando.

He just didn't want to give away food for free.

"There seems to be a misunderstanding. I don't plan to withhold food from the princess because of Gaynando. I wouldn't do such a childish thing."

"Wodanaz...!"

"Of course!"

The students' faces brightened at Lee Han's words.

Feeling good, Lee Han asked casually.

"But who will pay the silver coins? Should the princess pay?"

"We'll pay for it! We'll each pay double."

"Thank you, Wodanaz!"

"But... is it right to do such (wasteful) things?"

"Compared to what you're doing, this is just a small amount. Wodanaz."

"Thank you so much. I know you're worried about the prince."

The students were genuinely grateful. Lee Han was surprised.

He was surprised that they were willing to spend their own money for the princess, and even more surprised by their financial sense, which was willing to increase the price despite the need for negotiation, and by their high evaluation of Gaynando.

'Gaynando, as a royal, has almost no political skills to form and manage his own faction.'

Although there were many misunderstandings, it didn't seem necessary to clarify since the other party viewed him favorably.

"I hope the royals can all get along well for the sake of the empire."

"Wodanaz...!"

"You are...!"

* * *

Lee Han carried a bowl of soup and knocked on the door of the princess's private room. After a moment, Adenart appeared.

"?"

Adenart raised an eyebrow slightly, asking with her eyes why he was there.

Lee Han extended the warm bowl.

"I made some soup in the lounge. Would you like to have some?"

Adenart hesitated for a moment before accepting it. She seemed unsure of Lee Han's intentions.

Since he had already heard the misunderstanding about Gaynando from below, Lee Han decided to clear it up.

"All the other students have taken some. It's fine for you to have some too."

In fact, he had received silver coins for it, but Lee Han didn't mention it.

Adenart hesitated even more before finally accepting the bowl carefully with both hands.

Hunger seemed to overcome her hesitation.

Adenart bowed slightly in gratitude, picked up a spoon, and took a sip of the soup.

After a couple of spoonfuls, her pace quickened, indicating that she enjoyed it.

"You can go inside and eat it if you prefer."

At Lee Han's words, Adenart paused with the spoon in her hand.

"......"

She bowed again and closed the door, going inside.

'Did I say something wrong?'

When Lee Han returned to the lounge, the waiting students expressed their gratitude.

"Wodanaz. The princess...?"

"Oh. She seemed to like it."

"Amazing! You're really an excellent alchemist!"

'If you're hungry, you'll eat anything well...'

"Can we ask for your help in the future? We'll pay the silver coins, and we'd like you to bring some food to the princess when it's available."

"...Devotion to the imperial family is as honorable as a noble's duty."

The words flowed smoothly from Lee Han's mouth, surprising even himself.

'The royals are truly remarkable.'

To be followed so much just by bloodline.

He felt the power of lineage anew.

Of course, Gaynando was a bit of an exception...

* * *

In the basement of the main building, the <Repetitive Learning of Basic Magic Combat> was ongoing.

Professor Vlad Bagrek, the vampire, was pondering. Of course, it didn't show on his face.

The only student left now.

How can I make this student continue to attend this class?

'This is truly difficult.'

Originally, Professor Vlad didn't care much about making students attend his class.

His contract was to teach here, not to gather students.

But the current situation was a bit exceptional.

This young man from the Wodanaz family, with considerable magical power.

Could he find another talent like this young man?

If he misses this opportunity, it might take years to move on to the next part of the lecture.

And there was no guarantee that the next student would have the same qualities.

After much thought, Professor Vlad opened his mouth.

"Do you have any questions?"

"...What?"

Lee Han, who was focused on rolling the marble, was startled and looked up.

Why the sudden question?

Did his dark intention to eat the student get exposed?