Chapter 7

Chapter 007

'It looks like a mix of forest mushrooms and ginseng.'

When Li Han saw the herb he was supposed to find, he thought this.

It was written that the herb, known as <Dok Ocho (瀆污草)>, was used in making antidotes.

"Have you ever handled it before?"

"Yeah."

"Good thing."

When Yonner said he had handled it before, Li Han felt relieved.

Distinguishing what was what among the countless plants and herbs scattered around the hills, fields, and forests was quite a difficult task.

Even with illustrations of the herbs, beginners could easily get confused.

In that sense, having someone with experience was reassuring.

"But... it might be a bit risky for just the two of us to move around."

"Is it really that dangerous?"

"Right? It's best to have at least three people when moving around. I guess we shouldn't have left Gaynando behind."

"Even if we hadn't left him, he wouldn't have followed anyway, so it doesn't matter."

Yonner chuckled at Li Han's words.

"Then, should we just move around together?"

"No. I don't want to end up on the death list."

Einroard lived up to its reputation with many gruesome stories.

Since magic is such a dangerous field, many cases of students dying while learning have been reported.

Li Han also thought it was inevitable before he entered here.

Even if the professors paid attention, accidents were bound to happen.

But now, looking at it...

'Isn't it just that everyone is generally careless?'

From Li Han's perspective as a modern person, it seemed like everyone in Einroard, from the professors to the students, had no regard for their lives. They all seemed a bit crazy to him.

"Death list... don't make such a creepy joke with that face. It doesn't suit you."

"It's not a joke."

"If it's not a joke, it's even scarier. Yeah. I guess it would be better to team up with someone from the same tower."

Yonner looked around.

He was thinking of finding one of the Blue Dragon Tower students and proposing to move around together.

But there was no one.

"Uh... are we in trouble?"

"Can't we talk to the princess?"

"Are you seriously thinking of talking to that princess? She seems to have a very sharp personality."

"We're just looking for herbs, not hosting a ball, right?"

Yonner nodded at Li Han's words. It was a valid point.

"But it seems we're already too late."

A few students were already gathered near Adenarth.

The princess, perhaps realizing the need to travel in groups, had already formed a party.

"Wait. Isn't there a Black Turtle Tower freshman over there?"

Li Han felt a bit aggrieved.

If they were going to be afraid of and avoid the Wodanaz family, the princess should do the same.

Surprisingly, a few of the students gathered around the princess were from the Black Turtle Tower.

"Well, the princess was already famous in many ways before entering the school..."

Famous people remain famous even before they enter.

Adenarth was renowned among the royal family for her outstanding intellect and remarkable talent.

It was natural for her to be surrounded by many nobles and commoners as soon as she entered.

"Is that so?"

"...Even if you're from the Wodanaz family, don't you read the news?"

"I usually only read <The Empire's New Ventures> in the newspaper. I don't really care about <News of the Royal Family>."

"Ah. That was interesting. Did you see the one where adventurers are encouraged to bring back used potion bottles from dungeons instead of discarding them? It's a good idea, isn't it?"

"It was a good idea."

"...No. This isn't the time to talk about that."

Yonner regained his composure. The conversation had veered off track.

"Anyway, you could have known about <News of the Royal Family>. Adenarth was famous in many ways, so it's natural for people to gather around her."

"By any chance, was Gaynando not there?"

"He wasn't."

"I see. Gaynando isn't much of a presence."

"He really isn't."

Gaynando, who was in the infirmary drinking a potion, was unfairly attacked.

"Then, let's give up on the princess and find someone else."

"Will that work? It seems the only ones left are the Black Turtle Tower students."

Yonner's words made Li Han frown.

'Hmm.'

Indeed, it seemed the only ones left were the Black Turtle Tower students.

Of course, if they randomly grabbed someone and asked to move together, a few might agree.

But since they would be moving together, it would be best if they didn't get in each other's way.

Most importantly...

'I hope they have some skills.'

When working in groups, the most important thing is each other's abilities, right?

Li Han looked around and spotted a suitable person.

* * *

Niria, a freshman at the Black Turtle Tower, was a dark elf from the <Shadow Patrol> in the northern empire.

The <Shadow Patrol> was a group of excellent hunters and scouts who moved through the northern mountains as if they were their own backyard.

Born into such a group, Niria was confident in navigating forests and mountains.

'What's this? It's not that difficult.'

Niria had never seen the Dok Ocho before, but once she knew what it looked like, finding it would be easy.

Compared to the bookish freshmen who had never set foot in the mountains or forests, it was a different story.

In fact, after entering Einroard, Niria had felt inferior.

There were too many outstanding freshmen, not only from other towers but also within the Black Turtle Tower.

Freshmen from newly established noble families, famous merchant families in the empire, and those with renowned adventurers as parents.

Among such people, Niria, who had spent her life running through mountains and forests before being invited to the school, couldn't help but feel inferior.

The magic classes, which she had never heard of before, were overwhelming...

But then, she encountered this class, and it was natural for Niria's enthusiasm to surge.

'Hmph. Just wait. I can find it several times faster than the others.'

Niria planned to move quickly on her own to find the Dok Ocho.

While others might need to travel in groups because they were unfamiliar with the mountains and forests, Niria was confident she could manage on her own.

"Hmm."

"?"

Niria was slightly startled when someone approached. It was a pretty girl with red hair.

"...Who are you?"

"I'm Yonner from the Meikin family. This is..."

"Li Han. Nice to meet you."

From their introductions, Niria guessed that Yonner was a noble and Li Han was not.

Nobles usually mention their family name first when introducing themselves.

'But he's from the Blue Dragon Tower?'

"Why is he like that?"

"Because you didn't mention your family name..."

Yonner looked at Li Han with a bewildered expression.

Why mention your name but not your family?

"Isn't it too troublesome to mention your family name every time you introduce yourself? Later, you'd have to start with the head of the family and even mention where the family land is located."

"Nobles do that when they have parties, don't they?"

"......"

Yonner's words made Li Han genuinely dislike it.

Niria, watching this, spoke with a wary tone.

"If you two want to chat, go somewhere else. Why are you here?"

"Do you want to move together?"

"!"

Niria was taken aback by Li Han's words.

She hadn't expected this at all.

"What's your motive?"

Niria looked at Li Han with a hostile gaze.

She didn't think highly of the children of noble families.

Even when she lived in the north, it was the same.

Occasionally, nobles would visit the mountains, frowning and saying, "How can people live in such a place?"

Even when the hunters offered the best food and the best beds, the nobles would complain about the taste, the discomfort, and the poor treatment.

Some scouts even joked, "If we pretend to guide them through the mountains and push them off a cliff, no one would know, right?"

Growing up in such an environment, Niria had no reason to think highly of the Blue Dragon Tower students.

"It's disadvantageous to move alone in such a vast area. If a monster appears, you need at least three people."

"Hmph. I don't need it."

Niria refused with a snort. Li Han, unfazed, asked:

"Can I ask why?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"By understanding your reasons for refusing, we can also gauge what kind of person you are. Hmm. Let me guess once."

Li Han thought for a moment and then spoke.

"Perhaps you think we might use you as bait or abandon you in danger. That would be a huge insult to our honor."

"...No, I don't think that."

No one could say "That's true" to such a statement from two nobles.

No matter how much Niria disliked them, she couldn't say that.

"Then, do you think you can manage on your own?"

"That's exactly it..."

"Surely not. No matter how skilled you are, you never know what might happen in the mountains and forests. Besides, finding the herbs is not the end; you also need to carefully dig them up. If you think you can do all that alone, you're really foolish. I don't think you're that kind of person. Hmm. I really don't understand your reason."

"...Shut up. Let's just move together!"

Niria turned away, fuming.

Li Han nodded in satisfaction, while Yonner looked at him with surprise.

'What do they teach at the Wodanaz family?'

* * *

Niria moved with light and quick steps.

Her leading the way and quickly making a path looked like that of an experienced hunter.

Yonner, curious, asked Li Han:

"She really moves well, but how did you know to talk to her?"

"Her legs and calves were well-developed, and there were calluses and bumps on her hands and fingers. They form when holding a bow. It's evidence that only experienced hunters have."

"!"

"!"

Not only Yonner but also Niria, who was walking ahead, felt a chill.

To think he could guess her background from such details.

She had thought he was just a noble, but this boy, Li Han, had a peculiar aura that couldn't be easily dismissed.

As if he could see through people's intentions...

"It's a joke. There's a <Shadow Patrol> emblem on your belt. If you're from there, you must be good at climbing mountains."

"......"

Niria turned her head sharply and glared at Li Han.

Yonner, laughing, asked:

"Did you hear that?"

"I didn't hear it!"

"Let's move together. Try to match your pace."

"Why should I match my pace to yours?"

Li Han replied to Niria's words:

"Well, Yonner is the only one here who can identify the herbs. If Yonner gets tired and collapses, the two of us will have to find them."

"......"

Niria was speechless again. She couldn't argue with such logic without losing her pride.

"Fine. I'll slow down."

"Ah, that's the wise decision, fitting for someone from the Shadow Patrol..."

"Are you mocking me?? Yeah??"

"It's a compliment."

Feeling frustrated at being outmaneuvered by Li Han, Niria turned the tables.

"Yonner can identify the herbs, and I can be the guide. What about you? What's your role?"

'If I say I'm just along for the ride, she'll get angry.'

Li Han hesitated, not wanting to provoke her unnecessarily.

"My role is to chase away any wild animals or monsters that might appear."

"......"

Niria was speechless again. The role of chasing away monsters when climbing mountains was important.

It seemed Li Han was from a knight family, given his height and well-built physique.

'...Wait, aren't knights from the White Tiger Tower?'

"I didn't hear it clearly before. What family are you from?"

"Wodanaz. The Wodanaz family."

"......"

Niria took a step back, her face showing disgust.

Li Han felt slightly hurt.