Chapter 38

'You're a student from the Black Turtle Tower, right?'

Lee Han carefully observed what the other person was doing. The other person was a ratkin boy, short in stature with a slightly hunched back, but his footsteps were so quiet that not a sound could be heard.

Lee Han suspected that the boy had received special training. As the old knight Alarlong had said, one's gait often revealed their background.

The gait of a knight, a mage, a hunter, a thief...

And this gait was close to that of a thief.

'Ratkins aren't exactly welcomed in the empire.'

While the empire claimed that all races were equal, it was hard to truly achieve that.

In reality, there were popular races and unpopular ones.

And the ratkins were among the latter. Due to the high number of thieves, vagrants, pickpockets, and ragpickers, they were always met with suspicious glances from the empire's people.

'This must be my prejudice. Not all ratkins are thieves.'

Lee Han thought he had jumped to conclusions. Not all ratkins had received training as thieves.

Click—

"..."

However, the other person took out a crude and fake key from his waist and began to vigorously turn it in the locked door. It was obvious to anyone that his intentions were not good.

'I shouldn't be judging others, either.'

Lee Han was also trying to find a way to leave the school without breaking the rules, so he couldn't criticize the other person.

On the contrary...

'Cooperating might be better.'

The fact that the boy had brought a key suggested that this wasn't his first time. There were bound to be other students who wanted to leave the school, not just Lee Han.

Lee Han cautiously approached. If the other person screamed, Lee Han would be in trouble too.

Swish—

Lee Han quietly stopped behind the ratkin boy, who was intensely focused, and pressed a cane to his neck, whispering in a low voice.

"Hey. Make a loud noise and you'll die."

"...!!"

* * *

Ratford was a professional thief, a member of the Thieves' Guild, the White Raven, even before he entered the school.

In fact, Ratford couldn't believe it when he received the offer to attend the magic school.

No matter how talented he was, it was surprising that a thief would be accepted as a student.

Fortunately, the students of the Black Turtle Tower didn't ostracize Ratford.

However, Ratford himself couldn't help but feel a strange sense of isolation.

He was different from the children of wealthy merchant families and those who had honed their thieving skills in the dark alleys.

Therefore, Ratford wanted to show something with his own abilities.

Like Nillia, who came from a hunter background (though Ratford didn't think there were others like him), he wanted to be recognized by his fellow students in the tower!

So Ratford prepared meticulously.

- Given the size of the school, there must be kitchens and storerooms. If I can find them and raid them, I'll have plenty of food and supplies to last me!

While other students passed through the corridors without a care, Ratford carefully observed the keyholes behind the central staircase.

Using only the sensation in his fingertips, he examined the keyholes and then made a makeshift key on the spot. This was a high-level skill that even experienced thieves found difficult.

But Ratford, after pouring all his spare time into it, finally succeeded.

He thought the only thing left was glory, but suddenly he was ambushed.

'W... Who...'

The identity of the other person was obvious.

It was clearly a guard of the school.

Professional thieves were always prepared for such situations.

Ratford cautiously raised his hands above his shoulders and spoke as humbly as possible.

"Don't hit me. I surrender."

Even among thieves, those who admitted defeat when caught received fewer beatings than those who resisted.

If he was already caught, admitting defeat was a better choice.

"Shh. I also snuck out like you."

"...?!"

Only then did Ratford turn around.

A sturdy boy in a novice's robe removed the cane from Ratford's neck and looked around.

'He's a fellow freshman!?'

Ratford was stunned.

He had assumed the other person was a guard because of the intense threat.

Moreover, for a fellow freshman to threaten him with such a menacing tone...

"What is this...?"

"Lower your voice."

"Who are you?"

Even as he asked, Ratford had a good idea of who the other person was.

Tall and well-built, and the way he used the cane as a weapon.

He was definitely one of the students from the White Tiger Tower.

'How he got the novice's robe is a mystery, but he's a smart one.'

Wearing a novice's robe would reduce suspicion.

Ratford was surprised that a muscle-bound knight could show such ingenuity.

"I am Lee Han Wodanaz, from the Blue Dragon Tower."

"..."

Ratford was shocked.

* * *

Ratford accepted the situation faster than expected.

He wasn't entirely convinced.

'Why would someone from the Wodanaz family be out at night... What... No, how did he get the novice's robe...'

But given the urgency of the situation, he decided to accept it.

More shockingly, the proposal from the Wodanaz boy was even more surprising.

"Let's move together?"

"Two people working together is more efficient than one. Wouldn't it be better for you to move together rather than alone?"

"...Can't you see who I am??"

Ratford asked, bewildered. Lee Han hesitated.

"Are you the principal's son or something?"

"..."

Of course, Ratford was not the principal's son.

Ratford was flabbergasted.

Anyone with eyes could see that Ratford was a ratkin.

And he was trying to pick a lock in the middle of the night.

Anyone with a brain would realize, "Ah, he's a thief!"

"You look like a thief! Is a noble from the Wodanaz family really going to move with someone like me?"

"Hey. What do you think I'm doing right now?"

"..."

Ratford was speechless.

...Why?

"Let's move together?"

"Sure. You were looking for the food storage, right? I was too."

"!"

Ratford was shocked again and then regained his composure.

"Are you really from the Wodanaz family?"

Ratford looked at him suspiciously.

No matter how he thought about it...

"Are you going to move together? Or do I knock you out and go alone?"

"R... Relax. Relax. Let's move together. Two is better than one."

Ratford waved his hands frantically as Lee Han's cane was threateningly pointed at him.

He was certain that he couldn't win in a fight.

"So. Did you prepare the key?"

"Yeah."

"Does it work?"

"It doesn't. It should, but it seems to be protected by magic."

Ratford fidgeted with the keyhole anxiously.

If it was protected by magic, there was no way for Ratford to open it.

Unless he had a thief's treasure, he was completely unarmed...

Click!

"?"

A key suddenly shot out of Lee Han's pocket and inserted itself into the keyhole.

It turned and opened the door.

"???"

"Where did you get that key?"

"I stole it from the principal's office."

"Are you... joking?"

"No. I'm serious."

While staying behind to clean up after Asan, Lee Han had not only learned magic but also taken a key.

He wasn't sure what key it was, but it turned out to be the key for the area behind the central entrance.

'...I need to be more careful.'

If it was a key left by the principal, it couldn't be taken lightly.

Lee Han firmly resolved not to be complacent about this stroke of luck.

Passing through the empty banquet hall, the large hall, and several closed doors...

"Wait."

Ratford suddenly dropped to the ground.

"There seems to be someone in the basement. I can hear them."

"!"

Lee Han realized where the workers were entering.

'The basement!'

Using the main entrance or the wall passage on the ground level would make the students visible and likely to use it.

In contrast, entering and exiting through the basement made it much harder for students to discover.

It was strange that students could walk around without seeing any workers...

'Why does this school go to such lengths?'

"There's definitely someone talking in the basement storage. Let's find the way down!"

"Indeed..."

Ratford quickly started moving.

Fortunately, the stairs leading to the basement appeared soon.

Creak—

The air changed after descending just one flight of stairs.

While moonlight filtered through the windows above, here it was only cold darkness.

Lee Han considered summoning light but was stopped by his instincts.

The fact that the key from the principal's office opened the door heightened his caution.

'Given the principal's character, it wouldn't be surprising if there were traps here.'

Ratford rustled beside him. Lee Han whispered.

"Don't turn on the light."

"..."

"Someone might be waiting."

"!"

Ratford was startled by the Wodanaz boy's words.

Indeed, this was an unknown place. The unfamiliarity and tension had almost made him light a flame.

If Lee Han hadn't said anything, he would have made a mistake.

'...But what is he, really?'

Ratford had heard rumors about the Wodanaz boy in the Black Turtle Tower.

-He has no blood or tears? He's already charmed the Blue Dragon Tower with his charisma.

-Even princes and princesses can't breathe in front of the Wodanaz family.

-He succeeded in a magic lesson where others failed multiple times.

-He tamed a thunderbird with magic in a riding class. Can you believe it?

At first, Ratford thought these were exaggerated rumors.

It was too extreme for a fellow freshman.

But seeing him now, Ratford began to think the rumors might not be exaggerated.

The aura of authority was overwhelming!

Whoosh!

"!"

A lantern flickered in the distance, illuminating the area.

Lee Han and Ratford crouched, barely breathing.

In the darkness, they realized the entire basement was a massive storage area.

Shelves and tables were packed with all kinds of items.

The storeroom keeper slowly walked with the lantern, and his muttering was clearly heard in the silence.

"Cheese... 8. Confirmed. Maple syrup... 5 bottles. Confirmed. White fire paper... 22 sheets. Confirmed. Spirit silver needles... 3. Confirmed."

'He's memorizing all the numbers!'

"The alarm magic is weakening. I need to set it again."

A wave of mana was felt as the storeroom keeper cast a spell on the items.

Lee Han felt a chill down his spine.

All the items were protected by alarm magic.

If he had touched them without knowing, he would have been dragged to the punishment room.

"Who's there?"

"!"

Their hearts sank.

The storeroom keeper had turned his head in their direction and spoken.

'He shouldn't be able to see us from this angle.'

Lee Han tried to remain calm amidst the confusion.

How did he notice them? Was he just testing? Would it be too late to use an invisibility spell now?

"..."

Lee Han was shocked when he saw the face of the approaching storeroom keeper.

Surprisingly, the storeroom keeper was a blind man, his eyes wrapped in bandages.