Chapter 75

Chapter 075

"It's just a pure academic curiosity."

Lee Han was skilled at deceiving the professor.

Although Professor Lightning Step was one of the most famous explorers in the empire, he never imagined that Lee Han was looking for a flying vehicle to escape from school.

"It might... be possible."

Professor Lightning Step cautiously replied, checking Lee Han's expression to see if he had noticed anything.

Fortunately, the young man from the Wodanaz family seemed unaware.

That one of the horses in the stables cared for by freshmen was actually a griffin!

"This school is so vast, it's as if it has everything."

"Isn't it true that there are no warm meals or essential supplies for the students?"

Professor Lightning Step pretended not to hear Lee Han's words.

"There are mountains, lakes, and underground dungeons. It's impossible that there are no flying creatures to be found."

"Can I tame one if I find it?"

"That would be difficult. Taming wild monsters, especially flying ones, is something even trained tamers struggle with after years of practice."

Professor Lightning Step spoke sincerely.

If taming were that easy, people wouldn't choose to fight when they encountered monsters outside.

Moreover, most flying creatures were temperamental and rough.

A freshman's perseverance and knowledge were not enough to handle them.

"First, you need to fully understand what you're dealing with. General knowledge won't do. You need to know the creature's habits and gradually build a relationship to understand its characteristics... It sounds simple, but you'll fail dozens of times in the process."

"Professor, if it's possible, could you teach me in your spare time? Of course, I don't plan to make any rash attempts right now..."

It was a lie.

From the moment Lee Han decided he could do it, he planned to act immediately.

"...If I ever get the chance to tame a monster, I don't want to miss it."

Lee Han's eyes burned with a genuine, unfeigned passion.

Seeing those eyes, Professor Lightning Step suddenly felt motivated.

If a student shows such interest, a teacher can't just stand by.

"Alright! I'll teach you in my spare time. Don't regret it. It's not an easy study."

It was a difficult study, involving memorizing thick books about monsters that might appear in the area and then facing them in real life, but Professor Lightning Step thought the young man from the Wodanaz family would be fine.

With that level of interest and enthusiasm, it was certainly possible.

'He seems to have a lot of interest in flying and exploring. That kid...'

'Find the most promising beast, tame it, and then escape.'

The teacher and student nodded, each with different thoughts.

After the conversation, Professor Lightning Step slowly walked over to inspect the garden Lee Han had finished working on.

He was surprised.

'What is this...?'

The garden Lee Han received from Professor Lightning Step was neither extremely large nor extremely small, but of a moderate size.

Professor Lightning Step probably thought Lee Han would plant a few vegetables and take them.

However, Lee Han's garden was thoroughly cultivated, leaving no space unused.

It included various edible vegetables like carrots, onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and cabbages, as well as medicinal herbs like chamomile, basil, and rosemary, which he somehow obtained.

...Is he setting up a farm?!

Noticing Professor Lightning Step's surprised look, Lee Han replied nonchalantly.

"I was worried at first too."

"...About what?"

"Whether I could grow them in such a small space. But thanks to the wooden staff of the tree spirit, they're growing well without any problems. Isn't that fortunate?"

Professor Lightning Step looked at the jug of milk on the table.

It was the jug he had prepared to give Lee Han when he left.

Seeing Lee Han work, he thought it wouldn't be enough.

"...Wait a moment. It's better to eat something before you go."

"??"

* * * *

Lee Han headed to the dormitory, taking a bite of a roasted potato on a wooden skewer.

If he forgot he was in a magic school, it was a romantic evening.

On one arm, he carried a basket filled with the harvest, and in the other hand, he held a freshly roasted, salted new potato skewer...

It felt like he was a farmer returning home after a successful trip to the market.

'I might live like this when I retire.'

The new potatoes were delicious, perhaps due to the atmosphere. Just roasted with a bit of salt, each bite made the warm, tender insides melt in his mouth.

He understood why Professor Lightning Step had taken the trouble to roast and hand him the potato.

'Did he feel it was a waste to enjoy such delicious food alone? Maybe he wanted to show off...'

Lee Han didn't realize that the potatoes Professor Lightning Step had roasted were from his own garden.

"?"

"Your Highness. I've brought the materials I organized from the library. Please accept them."

"I've also gathered information from other students to help with the assignment! It will be useful."

"I found a book this time..."

'What is this?'

It was the princess and her followers.

The freshmen who had gathered in the tower were dedicating themselves to helping the princess with her lectures.

Lee Han, munching on a potato, was surprised.

'There was such a method!'

He was so envious that he almost wanted to report to the professors that "the princess is exploiting her peers with her unfair power."

While his friends were struggling to find books in the library all night, the princess received information just by breathing.

'Is it because of her royal blood? But that doesn't explain Gaianado. How does one get such followers?'

While Lee Han was pondering this, the princess thanked her followers and walked up the stairs with them.

Lee Han, who had been watching from the top of the stairs, made eye contact with his friends.

"Good evening."

Lee Han wasn't flustered. The princess's followers recognized his face and quickly bowed.

He was, after all, a young man from the Wodanaz family, who practically ruled the Tower of the Blue Dragon.

If they made a bad impression, the princess's life in the Tower of the Blue Dragon could become difficult, so it was natural to be cautious.

"Meeting you, Wodanaz-sama!"

When one of them shouted, the other students looked at the friend in confusion.

Should we shout too?

"Meeting you, Wodanaz-sama!"

"W... Wodanaz-sama!"

"......"

Lee Han unconsciously looked around. Fortunately, there was no one watching.

'If someone sees, I might end up in the punishment room for no reason.'

He didn't understand why the followers were trying to make him look bad, but he answered as calmly as possible.

"Nice to see you all. You seem to have had a conversation with the princess."

"Yes!"

"I only admire the efforts of Wodanaz-sama, who always dedicates himself to the princess."

"Please continue to take care of us!"

'Are they going to attack me if I don't take care of them?'

Fanatical supporters are always scary. Moreover, the princess's supporters were not limited to the magic school.

Thinking about his future social life after graduation, he had to endure their unfair pressure.

"Of course. Don't worry."

Lee Han didn't mention that he received more silver coins for taking care of the princess.

'Changing the topic would be better.'

If the conversation about taking care of the princess went on, the topic of his unfair benefits might come up. Lee Han changed the subject.

"None of you have eaten dinner, right? Would you like to eat something?"

"...?"

The princess's followers finally realized that Lee Han was carrying something. He offered them a roasted potato.

The sight of a cold, stern young man offering a freshly roasted potato on a skewer made the students hesitate.

'Is this a noble... joke?'

'Can we really eat it?'

'Is this a test?'

"Are you not going to eat it?"

"I... I'll eat it."

One of the students, who seemed hungry, reached out and took the roasted potato.

Lee Han sprinkled salt on it himself. The student tensed, thinking it was a magic powder.

'Oh, it's just salt.'

"Is it okay?"

"It... it's delicious!"

It wasn't just because he was from the Wodanaz family; the freshly roasted new potato was objectively delicious.

The student, who had been eating, burned his palate and choked.

"Here, drink some milk too."

"Thank you."

The student, who had swallowed the hot potato, felt Lee Han's cold expression soften.

...Is it a magic potato?

"Can we...?"

"Yes, you can eat it."

The hesitant followers slowly reached out and took the roasted potatoes.

Under the warm evening sun, the freshmen of the magic school became a bit closer as they ate roasted potatoes.

"Let's give one to the princess too!"

"What an impolite suggestion... If the princess gets angry, what will we do!"

One student tried to offer the potato to the princess but stopped after hearing his friends.

Lee Han felt the princess's expression, which had been stern, become somewhat gloomy.

Like a hungry Gaianado...

'That was too harsh a comparison.'

Lee Han reflected.

Thinking about it, the princess hadn't eaten breakfast that morning.

Lee Han discreetly offered the roasted potato to the princess, who was out of sight of the others.

"Looks like there's some left. Would you like to try it?"

The students had turned away, so they didn't see, but Lee Han clearly saw the princess, without cutting it, put the freshly roasted new potato in her mouth.

"Cut it! Cut it before you eat it!"

"......"

The princess, as if nothing had happened, put down the potato, cut it, and put it in her mouth.

The students, hearing Lee Han's shout, turned their heads in confusion.

"What are you cutting?"

"Potatoes should be cut before eating."

"Ha ha. Wodanaz-sama. No matter how hungry we are, we don't just swallow them. We naturally cut them before eating."

"......"

Lee Han looked at the princess and then at the student, thinking.

'That kid won't make it in the world...'

* * * *

The next morning.

After finishing his work in the stables, Lee Han walked with his friends to Professor Garcia's "Understanding Basic Magic" lecture.

Lee Han yawned. Looking unusually tired, Yonner asked worriedly.

"You look sleepy. Are you okay? Did you have trouble sleeping?"

"I slept well, but I had a nightmare..."

"What did you dream about?"

"A dream about a professor."

Yonner didn't ask further, concerned about Lee Han's mental health.

Perhaps because Professor Bolladi's class left an impression, Bolladi appeared in Lee Han's dream.

In the dream, Professor Bolladi instructed Lee Han to ride a mad griffin, pass through a burning circle, and control water beads. It was a terrifying nightmare.

"Good morning, everyone."

"Good morning, Professor!"

When Professor Garcia opened the door and entered, Lee Han felt a sense of warmth.

Before entering the school, he never imagined that meeting a troll could be such a comforting experience.

"Last week, Professor Mordum came to explain what black magic is."

There were gasps of fear.

The reaction was a mix of fear and surprise, wondering if black magic would be discussed again.

"This week, another professor will come to explain what summoning magic is."

"Wow!"

Lee Han suddenly felt sorry for Professor Mordum, who wasn't even in the room.