Chapter 45

The mindset of a real professional thief was on a different level from that of an ordinary person.

While the principal and professors were inspecting the scene, he managed to pick the lock and take out the items.

The glass flasks contained potions of all colors. Yi Han could feel the complex and diverse magical power emanating from them.

"But... what kind of potions are these?"

"I don't know."

"...Oh, I see."

Upon reflection, Ratford was a professional thief, not a professional alchemist.

He had just picked them up without knowing what they were.

'I don't know either.'

Yi Han had read various books and done some advanced learning when he was with the Wodanaz family, but identifying the contents of unmarked potions was impossible.

"Yoner, do you know?"

"This is..."

Yoner picked up one of the flasks and looked at it carefully.

"It's like alcohol?"

"...That's ridiculous."

"It looks like wine."

Yoner carefully opened the cork and sniffed, then nodded.

"Yeah, it's wine."

"......"

"But the others seem to be magical potions? We might need to go to the library to find out what they are..."

"At least that's a relief."

Ratford was not surprised to see the potions stolen by the Wodanaz and Maykin family members being discussed so casually.

One should not presumptuously question the actions of their superiors.

'Their capacity is broad enough to use stolen potions.'

"Thank you, Ratford. I'll use them well."

"No, it's an honor to offer them. Please call me whenever you need me."

"Don't be so formal... Hey, do you want to help take care of the horses?"

Since Ratford had come to the stables early in the morning, it would be good for him to get acquainted with the horses.

Ratford bowed his head at Yi Han's suggestion.

"Yes, it's an honor."

"Enough with the honor."

"Honor..."

"Stop it."

"Yes."

Thud—

"?"

A sound of something falling came from behind. Yi Han turned his head.

Nilia looked shocked.

"...You... you made a new friend..."

Seeing Nilia's betrayed expression as she took a step back, Yi Han and Yoner quickly ran over.

* * *

"What? It was just that? You could have told me. I'm not the type to misunderstand such things."

"......"

"......"

Yi Han and Yoner exchanged meaningful glances.

'Were you trying to misunderstand just now?'

'You were definitely trying to misunderstand.'

Fortunately, the ridiculous misunderstanding that Yi Han had chosen Ratford, a new friend from the Black Turtle Tower, instead of Nilia, was cleared up.

Ratford said seriously,

"I am not a friend but a subordinate... mmmph."

"Oops. My hand slipped."

Yi Han covered Ratford's mouth with the brush he was using to groom the horse.

"Come on, let's take care of the horses together."

There were a few more students in the stables trying to get closer to the horses.

Professor Lightning Step had said, "Get closer to the horses," but there weren't many diligent students who would wake up early in the morning to come here.

And the horses were merciless even to these diligent students.

"Ouch! Stop spitting!"

"Listen to me! Why are you doing this! What's wrong with you!"

The horses were headbutting, spitting, snorting, and trying to bite the students' hands.

However, Yi Han was not surprised.

'After all, no experimental animals are well-behaved.'

Of course, the horses were rough, but this wasn't the worst.

At least they weren't secretly running away or throwing their own feces.

"Let me brush your fur."

*Snort!*

The white horse assigned to Professor Lightning Step glared at Yi Han.

The moment he approached, it was clear the horse intended to attack.

But Yi Han approached without hesitation.

*Snort!*

The white horse tried to headbutt. Yi Han, as if he had expected it, leaned back to avoid it.

The white horse's eyes widened. It hadn't expected Yi Han to dodge.

*Spit!*

The white horse spat this time. Yi Han, as if he had expected it, dodged again.

"Good, good. Be nice."

*Chomp!*

The white horse tried to bite, but Yi Han sidestepped and approached it.

The white horse didn't give up. Though its legs were tied, it tried every possible trick.

Yi Han dodged, blocked, and endured the attacks.

Nilia, watching from behind, was amazed.

'How can he be so patient?'

If it were Nilia, she would have already sworn or used a whip.

But instead of getting angry, Yi Han kept soothing the horse with "Good, good."

Is this the dignity of a noble??

* * *

*Snort...*

After a long struggle, the white horse, seemingly exhausted, lowered its head.

Only then could Yi Han pick up the brush and start grooming the horse.

The white horse glared at Yi Han even as it was being brushed, clearly intending to misbehave again once it regained its strength.

'Does this horse really have the blood of another monster?'

Yi Han was puzzled by the unusually stubborn white horse.

The other horses didn't seem this vicious...

*Thud!*

"Alright, alright."

Yoner, who had been wrestling with a horse for a while, walked out, covered in mud but with a cheerful face.

Nilia and Ratford also looked quite roughed up.

"At least the horses are starting to listen."

"I think I'm getting closer to them."

Hearing this, Yi Han turned to look at the white horse.

The white horse turned its head away, clearly unwilling to cooperate.

If it were a young student, they would have either gotten angry or given up at this stubborn resistance...

'Some day, it will give up.'

Yi Han's mind was as calm as a lake.

No matter how much the white horse misbehaved, it wouldn't be worse than the professor.

Yi Han simply put aside his emotions and did what needed to be done.

After finishing the grooming, Yi Han mixed some feed and placed it in front of the white horse. The white horse ate while staring at Yi Han.

It seemed to be saying, "Don't think you can get away with this."

"I'm thinking of taking it for a walk now."

Nilia, shaking off the mud, said.

Taking the horses for a walk was essential when taking care of them. Regular walks kept the horses healthy.

And for those trying to get closer, walks were helpful.

Continuing to walk together would eventually open even the most stubborn animal's heart.

'Hmm.'

However, Yi Han was doubtful whether the white horse would follow obediently.

It was still attacking, and in a wider space, it might try even more varied attacks.

"Hmm..."

Yi Han looked at the iron bracelet and belt he was wearing, then at the white horse again.

The white horse sensed something ominous in his gaze.

* * *

"I'm here!"

"......"

Thunder Step maintained his composure as he opened the door.

Lightning Step, holding a tin cup, walked into the hut.

"Make some tea!"

"Even though you don't like the tea I make..."

"I'll bear with it, so it's fine!"

"......"

Thunder Step boiled the kettle with a sad expression. He hadn't realized how sad it would be without Yi Han.

"The freshmen are diligently taking care of the stables."

Lightning Step said while heartily drinking the hot tea.

Diligence was a talent applicable to both alchemy and taming.

The reason for gathering the most temperamental horses in the <Basic Riding Training> class was to teach the freshmen diligence.

There were many conditions for getting close to unfamiliar animals, but the most important was diligence.

Without diligence, one could not get close to any animal.

"Even though I deliberately made the horses temperamental, if the students show care and affection, the horses will soon calm down and open their hearts. But those who try to tame them with force and whips will have a very hard time."

When given such a task, the students' reactions were divided into two groups.

Those who diligently came out in the morning to get close to the horses.

And those who arrogantly tried to subdue the horses with spurs and whips.

The horses prepared by Lightning Step were impossible to subdue with such methods.

The undiligent students would have a tough time.

"Ha-ha-ha!"

"......"

Thunder Step shook his head as Lightning Step laughed heartily and put down the cup.

'He really enjoys tormenting students.'

Thunder Step never imagined that he would be treated like a similar person to Lightning Step by Yi Han.

I'm different!

"How is the Wodanaz boy doing?"

"Oh, Wodanaz. He's a diligent boy, so he should be doing well. Of course, the griffin is a bit picky. But with diligence, intelligence, and a bit of luck, he should be able to get close to it."

"?"

Thunder Step, pouring the tea, looked up.

What did he say?

"What did you just say?"

"What?"

"Just now... you said something, didn't you?"

"You must have misheard. I said 'horse.'"

"......"

Thunder Step looked at Lightning Step with a face full of shock and fear.

Did he really turn a griffin into a horse...?

"No, right?"

"What?"

"......"

'No, calm down. It could just be the horse's name, Griffin.'

Thunder Step regained his composure.

Griffin.

A flying monster with the head and wings of an eagle and the claws and legs of a lion.

It was arrogant, picky, and extremely violent, choosing its owner very carefully.

While its personality and habits varied depending on the region, one thing was certain.

It was not something a freshman could tame!!

"What's the horse's name?"

"Gr... ifon."

"Are you really crazy?!!"

Unable to hold back any longer, Thunder Step exploded.

Not only was he currently taking a day off due to an injury, but what crazy thing was Lightning Step planning to do to his alchemy student?

"Is this nephew crazy? Why are you making a fuss while drinking well?"

"No matter what, turning a griffin into a horse is crazy!"

"When did I say that? Do you have proof? And even if I did transform it, wouldn't it be safer as a horse?"

"Does a griffin's intelligence look like a slime's?!"

The sounds of breaking cups, flying chairs, and breaking tables echoed loudly in the hut.

A typical dwarven family quarrel.

* * *

*Snort...*

"Boy."

Yi Han looked at the white horse with a pleased expression.

As if the earlier misbehavior was a lie, the white horse was now obedient and well-behaved.

To be precise, Yi Han had made it that way.

He had put all the magic-absorbing iron bracelets and belts on the horse.

"Sure enough, it becomes more obedient when its magic is absorbed."

All living beings are born with a certain amount of magic, so when it is absorbed, they inevitably lose energy.

The white horse, now wearing all the items Yi Han had, was so drained of energy that it couldn't even resist.

"Let's get along from now on."

*Snort...*

The white horse followed obediently as Yi Han led it by the reins.

Seeing this, Yi Han suddenly thought of something.

'But if it can still walk even with the bracelets and belt, doesn't that mean the horse has more magic than I thought?'

Either the absorption rate of the bracelets and belt was low, or the horse had a lot of magic.

'The griffin's blood might not have that much magic. Could the equipment be absorbing less magic than expected?'

Yi Han walked with the horse, lost in thought.

In front, a few students who had rashly tried to ride the horses were crying and begging.

"Get off, get off! Please! I'm sorry!"

'Is there a way to increase the absorption rate?'

This was now a familiar part of the daily routine at the magic school.