Chapter 39

It is said that when a person loses one sense, the others develop to compensate for it. However, even considering this, the warehouse keeper's senses were astonishing.

How could he have caught Lee Han and Rattford when he couldn't see?

'Hearing? No, we didn't make a sound. Smell? Even if he could, there are too many things here. Could it be... does he have the ability to detect magic?'

While Lee Han was pondering whether to confront or flee, the warehouse keeper spoke again.

"You must be the principal. I apologize for the intrusion."

"...???"

The warehouse keeper didn't come closer; he simply turned and left.

Rattford was half-fainting from fear, but Lee Han focused to understand the situation.

What's going on?

'Why did he mistake me for that crazy skeleton principal?'

If it were another student, they might have panicked and made a sudden move or a mistake due to the confusing situation. However, Lee Han thought persistently.

'It must be because of the magic!'

The ability to detect magic.

If the warehouse keeper found Lee Han and Rattford because of this ability, it made sense.

Lee Han's magic power was at an enormous level, as the professors had said. It was possible that the warehouse keeper, who couldn't see, felt his magic power to be similar to the principal's.

'But does this make sense? Even so, the principal...'

Lee Han didn't fully believe it but decided to assume it for now.

They couldn't stay here any longer.

"Hey, snap out of it."

"Uh, uh. What just happened? How...?"

"That's not important right now."

There was no time to explain, and Lee Han himself wasn't entirely sure. However, Rattford interpreted it differently.

This young man of the Wodaniz family had surprisingly prepared a way to deceive the warehouse keeper!

'He's a big shot! This guy is really a big shot!'

At this point, the rumors were an understatement.

A freshman with the magical skills to deceive the warehouse keeper.

"I understand, I understand."

"?"

Lee Han was puzzled by Rattford's sudden use of formal language, but there was no time to question it.

"Let's move. Don't touch anything here."

"Indeed... If we touch anything, we might be caught, and that guy memorized all the numbers."

"True. There's also an alarm spell."

Lee Han was also frustrated that he couldn't touch the items piled up in the warehouse.

However, given the principal's sinister intentions, this warehouse was clearly a trap for unsuspecting freshmen.

Surely, in a week or two, there would be freshmen who would be caught and dragged away!

'We need to keep moving and find a way out. We need to find a path.'

Lee Han decided to focus on finding a way out instead of being fixated on the warehouse.

If they could find a way out...

"This way!"

Rattford pressed his ear to the ground and found the direction of the footsteps.

The warehouse, despite its name, was so large that it felt like a vast maze.

In such a situation, Rattford's ability to detect sounds was very useful.

"Very good."

"Phew. Thank you."

"But why the formal language...?"

"Follow me."

Rattford hurriedly moved his steps.

If they stayed in the warehouse any longer, who knew what might happen!

Lee Han wasn't afraid, but Rattford was terrified of every moment.

'But this was definitely the right way...?'

However, Rattford had to stop, looking bewildered.

They had come in the direction where he had heard the sound, but instead of a passage, there was only a solid wall.

"Was this definitely the right way?"

"Yes... but..."

"I see."

"!?"

Unlike Rattford, who had only picked similar locks, Lee Han, being from Earth, had a much broader imagination in such situations.

"Look at this. There are parts of the wall that are worn. If you touch them, it should open."

"!"

Rattford was amazed again.

He was surprised by the secret door that opened in this way and by the young man of the Wodaniz family who had noticed it.

How did he...!

Creak!

When he touched the worn parts, the bricks indeed slid to the side, revealing a passage.

It was a long corridor, so long that the end couldn't be seen. It was wide enough for two or three carriages to pass, and the light reflecting off the walls and ceiling confirmed that they had found the right path.

'Finally!'

* * *

The workers who transported the supplies needed by the magic school had several rules to follow.

Never reveal how to enter the magic school.

Never reveal what you see in the magic school.

Never speak first inside the magic school.

There were other rules like "be careful not to break the glass bottles" and "don't misplace the scrolls," but these were the most important.

The workers took these rules very seriously.

They didn't want to be turned into frogs and trapped in a wizard's workshop.

It wasn't a joke; one mistake could mean being trapped in the magic school forever.

This was the scary part of the magic school.

The nearby villagers respected and feared the magic school for good reason.

So when a priest and a beggar appeared from the other end of the passage, the workers said nothing.

Oh, they must have appeared!

"......"

"......"

Lee Han and Rattford were quite flustered.

The carriages at the end of the passage and the workers loading and unloading them.

Even if they had met them face to face, the workers were pretending not to notice them.

What's going on?

'Is this a rule?'

Lee Han quickly deduced the situation from the workers' deliberate avoidance.

The magic school must have strict security.

It was natural for the workers to show no unnecessary interest.

'Remain calm. If I stay calm, they won't notice.'

Very few freshmen had ever successfully escaped from the school.

The workers were unlikely to suspect Lee Han and Rattford as "Hey, are these freshmen trying to escape?"

As long as Lee Han didn't make a mistake...

'The more confident I am, the better.'

Lee Han spoke calmly, without changing his expression.

"Can we go outside now?"

"I'm sorry, sir. Please wait 30 minutes. We still have some cargo to load."

"I understand. Can we ride with you?"

"Of course."

The worker thought Lee Han was a very polite and courteous priest. He could have just sat in the carriage without saying anything, but he even asked.

The worker never imagined that Lee Han was a new freshman.

Lee Han was too natural and had a regal presence.

No one suspected Lee Han.

"......"

Rattford looked at Lee Han with admiration.

If Lee Han had used force or magic, it wouldn't have been as impressive.

To deceive someone so naturally and achieve his goal.

No long, complicated speeches or heavy bribes were needed. A true thief could deceive with just a glance and posture.

'I still have a long way to go!'

Rattford was grateful to have seen a new level of thievery today.

Sometimes, a single real-life experience can teach more than ten years of training.

This was one of those moments.

* * *

Clunk—

The work was done, and the carriages began to move. Among the six carriages, the one Lee Han and Rattford were in was the last.

Even after the cargo was loaded, the workers didn't say a single unnecessary word. This made Lee Han realize how terrifying this school was.

'If they manage the external workers this strictly...'

The place for imperial talent education might seem warm and cozy, but Lee Han knew the world wasn't that simple.

The magic school was a symbol of the empire and the wizards. Both the empire and the wizards had enemies.

How much these enemies must despise the magic school.

Even without such enemies, there would be many who coveted the treasures inside the school.

In a way, this level of security was understandable.

'Of course, I don't agree with locking freshmen in and not letting them out.'

That was just the principal's hobby.

The carriage in front of them paused briefly. Lee Han, puzzled, leaned out of the carriage.

"!!!"

To his surprise, a familiar face was in the lead carriage.

Professor Troll, Garcia Kim.

'Have we been caught?'

Lee Han felt his heart sink.

But upon reflection, they hadn't been caught yet.

If they had, the carriage would have been surrounded, and Lee Han and Rattford would have had to raise their hands and crawl out.

So why was the professor in that carriage?

'Damn. This is getting complicated!'

Lee Han had a hunch.

Professors are people too and need to go out. It must have coincided with today.

"Outside... outside...?"

"Shh."

Lee Han gestured for Rattford to control his expression.

"We haven't been caught yet. We'll keep going. The town is wide, and it's dark outside. If we're careful, we won't be noticed."

Rattford nodded but was a bit flustered.

'But who's the thief here?'

Shouldn't Rattford have told Lee Han this?

The stopped carriage started moving again with a clunk.

Lee Han focused to remember as much as possible.

If something went wrong and they failed...

'I won't give up.'

Lee Han clenched his fist and then felt embarrassed.

...It's just a late-night escape from school. Why am I being so...

* * *

Professor Garcia carefully held the package he received from the principal with both hands.

-When you go outside, the emperor's attendant will be waiting. Hand over this completed artifact.

Professor Garcia wasn't going out for a leisurely stroll in the town.

The magic school might seem peaceful on the surface, but inside, it was like a furnace.

It was natural, given that it gathered the empire's best wizards.

Producing and delivering artifacts the emperor wanted was one of the tasks the wizards at the magic school had to do...

Professor Garcia was assigned to quietly deliver this completed artifact this time.

Naive people might think, "Why deliver it quietly if it's for the royal family?" but that was a foolish question.

Being bold and loud would only cause trouble.

It would just attract unnecessary attention.

Wizards should think practically.

Thump—

"Ah!"

"Uh!"

The workers beside him tensed and straightened their posture when they slightly bumped into Professor Garcia.

He was already scary as a magic school professor, and being a troll made him even more intimidating.

It was hard to say which was more frightening.

Professor Garcia smiled. He saw this reaction every time, and it always amused him.

"...Everyone, ready your weapons!"

"??"

Professor Garcia was puzzled by the worker's shout.

Even if they were scared, this seemed excessive.

"Professor! There's a suspicious person ahead! Get in the carriage!"

"...!!"

Only then did Professor Garcia realize that something was amiss on the road ahead.

'Who could they be?!'