Chapter 60

Upon realizing that it worked, Lee Han's reaction became even more intense.

Lee Han slapped his forehead and exclaimed,

"Amazing! As expected of Priestess Sianna of the Flemish Order! Amazing!!!"

"...Are you hurt somewhere?"

Yoner whispered in a low voice so that others couldn't hear.

No matter how he thought about it, it seemed like Lee Han had eaten something wrong.

However, everyone except Yoner was satisfied. Especially Priestess Sianna, who looked extremely pleased.

"As expected of Mr. Lee Han from the Wodanaz family... You have a keen eye."

"Even a blind man without a keen eye would know how great this potion is."

"Your praise is too much."

Priestess Sianna covered her rising smile with her sleeve and laughed softly. Lee Han also smiled back at her.

After exchanging a few more words, Priestess Sianna returned to the students of the Phoenix Tower with a very satisfied expression.

Lee Han sighed.

'It was exhausting.'

Showing a reaction that he didn't really feel was more tiring than he thought.

But it was worth it.

Priestess Sianna was telling the students of the Phoenix Tower about Lee Han's praise.

- As expected of someone from the Wodanaz family, how polite and discerning...

- Did something happen, Priestess?

- No, but she really has a keen eye...

Seeing this reaction, it seemed the students of the Phoenix Tower wouldn't worry.

"Yoner, even if you get first place in the alchemy class, I won't put poison in your cup."

"Are you really not hurt anywhere?"

Yoner's eyes were filled with worry.

* * *

After the emergency treatment, the students began to return.

Those with broken legs were carried by the uninjured students.

Fortunately, no other monsters appeared during the descent.

"Bartrek, did you encounter anything unusual with Wodanaz?"

"Bartrek, did Wodanaz try to brainwash you...?"

"Bartrek, did Wodanaz use forbidden black magic on you...?"

"I told you, nothing happened!"

Bartrek was exasperated.

Even if he told them that Wodanaz had helped, they didn't listen properly.

"And we're all first-year students, how could he use forbidden black magic?"

"I thought the same at first. It must be a rumor. But look at Wodanaz's magic abilities."

"I didn't believe it at first, but seeing Wodanaz, the rumors seem to have some weight."

The students of the White Tiger Tower nodded seriously.

Surprisingly, they were half-seriously believing the rumors.

"Probably, the Wodanaz family has been secretly training in magic since childhood."

"The Wodanaz family is truly terrifying."

The strong telekinetic magic Lee Han showed (even though it missed the target) and his performance in the basic black magic lecture were already exaggerated and spreading as rumors.

Students from other towers who had interacted with Lee Han didn't misunderstand him so much.

If they did, it was along the lines of "As expected of someone from the Wodanaz family, he has a lot of charisma" or "I heard he governs the students of the Blue Dragon Tower with a cold and ruthless rule."

However, the students of the White Tiger Tower were different.

They were genuinely terrified!

"Moradina and others said Wodanaz doesn't seem that scary..."

Bartrek tried to clear up the misunderstanding.

Feeling that he should do this much for saving his life.

"Bartrek, who cast the magic that knocked down the golem?"

"...Wodanaz did."

"Is that ordinary magic?"

Bartrek was speechless. He couldn't refute it.

To be out-argued by logic by these guys who believe such ridiculous rumors...!

"Hey."

"!"

While the students of the White Tiger Tower were chatting, Lee Han approached.

Upon seeing Lee Han, the students instinctively gripped their wooden swords, their eyes wide with fear, and their bodies tense.

'...What, are they herbivores?'

"W-What is it, Wodanaz...?"

"Nothing much... Everyone must be exhausted after all that hard work."

Lee Han extended the snacks he had brought in his backpack.

They were the oldest snacks from the food storage, but they were still tasty.

Flat bread with sweet jam and sugared cookies.

Lee Han decided to clear his pantry and show off a bit.

Even though the students of the White Tiger Tower had started the trouble by accusing him, Lee Han didn't like meaningless fights.

"Thank you, Wodanaz."

The students of the White Tiger Tower had conflicted expressions: "Is it safe to eat this?" and "But I'm so hungry."

The latter won.

At that age, such hunger is hard for anyone to bear.

"Bartrek of the Bark family? I heard you're from the eastern region. Here, take these rice balls and rice cakes."

"...!"

Bartrek was slightly moved by the food Lee Han offered.

To know he was from the eastern region and to show such thoughtful consideration.

Given the vastness of the empire, students were generally not interested in foods from other regions.

Moreover, Wodanaz wasn't from the eastern region.

Yet, to show such kindness.

The rumors about Wodanaz might be exaggerated.

After Lee Han left, the students of the White Tiger Tower, who had hastily eaten the snacks, seemed to think similarly.

"Maybe we misunderstood..."

"Did you hear? I heard the students of the Blue Dragon Tower say that Wodanaz used a water spell to knock down the mud golem there! He summoned a water dragon?!"

"......"

"......"

The students of the White Tiger Tower were shocked.

Really...

Wodanaz is really scary!

* * *

While the professors were toasting each other, Professor Uregelemb suddenly realized something.

'Wait? There are no vegetables?'

His student, Lee Han, had brought the vegetables he harvested, but when he came to his senses, they were all gone.

The skeleton principal couldn't have eaten them, so there was only one culprit.

"Why is that?"

Professor Ingeldel, noticing Professor Uregelemb's gaze, asked curiously.

"Oh, it's nothing. You... really like vegetables, don't you?"

Oh, Uregelemb. Thinking that elves always love vegetables... That's an outdated stereotype. As a representative of this school, I'm sad. Do you think dwarves love beer because they're dwarves?

"I do like them."

"Ah, I'm sorry."

Professor Ingeldel apologized.

"I don't particularly like only vegetables, but they were strangely delicious, so I kept eating them."

"Is that so?"

You don't really like vegetables, do you?

"No, I do. I eat them well."

At most, he would eat a little soaked in meat juice. Why are you scolding Professor Ingeldel for this?

"Really, I'm sorry..."

"No, no! Stop it!"

Professor Uregelemb resolved never to call the skeleton principal to his cabin again.

Since the skeleton principal can't eat or drink, he finds joy in tormenting others.

'But I'm curious.'

When you can't eat, you get curious. Professor Uregelemb licked his lips.

The students are coming back. What did I say? I said they would handle it well on their own.

"!"

Professor Ingeldel jumped up and ran to the door. The skeleton principal shook his head.

To be so soft-hearted...

* * *

The students, who saw Professors Uregelemb and Ingeldel waiting, were not surprised.

They already knew from Lee Han.

Instead, they glared with resentment.

'When I become the Grand Magician of the Empire, I'll start by stepping on these professors.'

'When I become the best swordsman in the Empire, I'll start by destroying these professors.'

'When I become a high official in the Empire...'

Professor Uregelemb laughed cheerfully.

"You all did well!"

"Yes... Thanks to the professors, it was very enjoyable."

"Seeing that you're not surprised, you must have figured it out. Alchemy is like this. It's best not to let your guard down. A crisis can come at any moment, in any situation."

"......"

"......"

The students seriously considered a surprise plan to attack Professor Uregelemb.

They wanted to throw an unexpected crisis at this professor!

Professor Ingeldel apologized with a guilty expression.

"I'm sorry. I really tried to stay..."

"Sure, sure."

"Hmph. You're all the same."

"?!"

Even the students of the White Tiger Tower glared at Professor Ingeldel. Professor Ingeldel was flustered.

"I really did! The principal appeared and teleported me..."

"Enough. Professor."

"We won't trust anyone anymore. Isn't that what the school wanted?"

The students, who had gone through the trials, had matured and become more cynical.

They now distrusted professors, regardless of the tower.

When the students, who had shared their souls through swordplay, cast distrustful glances, Professor Ingeldel felt his heart tear.

"......"

Professor Uregelemb pretended not to notice the glares.

'It's not my fault, Professor Ingeldel. Blame Gonadates.'

Lee Han, seeing Professor Ingeldel's reaction, tilted his head.

'Huh? Did Professor Ingeldel really not know?'

Of course, it could be an act, but Professor Ingeldel's reaction felt genuine.

The excuse that the skeleton principal appeared and kidnapped him was too absurd for anyone to believe...

'But it's not that absurd. He's capable of it.'

Creak, creak, creak—

The bone summoner pointed to the cabin.

"!"

A similar magical aura to what he felt in the mountains faintly emanated from the cabin.

At that moment, Lee Han remembered whose magical aura it was.

It was the principal's magical aura.

'Really?'

Lee Han was shocked.

No, even if that's the case, to kidnap a professor?

'Thinking about it, it's not that surprising. He's capable of it.'

Lee Han quickly regained his composure and said to Professor Ingeldel,

"Professor, I trust you. The principal must have kidnapped you."

"Student Wodanaz...!"

Professor Ingeldel was moved to tears.

* * *

After confirming all the students, Professor Uregelemb became curious.

How did these students solve the trials I prepared?

"So, how did you solve it?"

"Wodanaz used the <Yumidifus' Jade Bullet> spell to blow away the mud golem."

"And the other mud golem, Wodanaz burned it with fire."

"...?"

Professor Uregelemb was taken aback by the unexpected responses.

He didn't know where to start.

"Wait... Wait. Hold on."

"??"

"Why did a mud golem appear? What about the bull? Where did the bull go?"

"What... Professor, stop it. Do you think we're children?"

The students of the Blue Dragon Tower scoffed.

Professor Uregelemb was trying to trick them again.

We won't fall for it this time!

"No...! Why did a mud golem appear? I didn't prepare a mud golem."

"Hah. As expected. It must have appeared 'by chance.'"

"Did you all hear? Professor Uregelemb said it appeared by chance! Let's believe him!"

"......"

Professor Uregelemb slightly reflected on his life.