Chapter 84

Chapter 084

Yoner quickly responded to Li Han's words.

Willow praised the students as if they were very commendable.

"Excellent. You were guarding the plants even without a professor. Not just anyone can do that."

"Thank you."

Seeing that the atmosphere had improved a bit, Li Han asked about the other's identity.

"Excuse me, who are you?"

"Oh, you freshmen don't know me. I teach botany at the school. You can call me Professor Willow."

The other was indeed named after his appearance.

Gayan looked at Professor Willow and seemed to recall the talking oak trees he had met in the mountains. He cautiously raised his hand and asked.

"Do you have any relation to the talking oak trees?"

"I am a willow, and they are oaks. You're a troll kid."

"What? I'm a human."

"Yes, I'm a willow, not an oak."

"......"

Li Han thought he needed to be careful with his words in front of Professor Willow. It seemed he disliked being lumped together with similar trees.

Professor Willow slowly walked over, swaying his branches, and touched the fallen bull.

He deepened the wrinkles on the tree knot and said,

"This is the bull that Professor Thunderstep raised. He's a sloppy dwarf, after all."

'Damn, it really was the professor's bull.'

Li Han cursed Professor Thunderstep, who was not present.

If he was going to make the bull stronger by feeding it potions, he should have managed it better. Why did he let it loose and cause this commotion?

"Did you subdue this bull with a paralysis curse?"

Professor Willow looked at the students with a puzzled expression.

It was quite remarkable for first-year students. They shouldn't be able to cast such a powerful paralysis curse.

"We used a weakening potion first, then cast the curse."

"Even so, it must have been difficult. Impressive."

Professor Willow swayed his branches. Then, vines grew from the ground, tightly wrapping the bull and imprisoning it in a wooden cage.

"I'll inform Professor Thunderstep about this later."

"Professor, were you... taking care of the plants here?"

Siana, the priestess, asked cautiously. Professor Willow answered in a slow voice.

"Yes. My original garden is elsewhere. I was asked by Professor Thunderstep to take care of this oak hall for today. He said he had to meet an imperial official, though it's a bit troublesome."

"Wait, I thought you were going to the market with Professor Lightningstep."

"......"

Professor Willow stopped abruptly.

"Is that true?"

"Yes. You can ask Professor Lightningstep later."

"......"

Professor Willow stood still, but the leaves at the tips of his branches moved fiercely, revealing his mood.

"You are from the Wodanaz family, right?"

"?! "

Li Han was slightly taken aback when the professor suddenly guessed his name.

What's going on?

"Don't be surprised. I just heard your story from other professors. Anyway, thank you for telling me."

Professor Willow expressed his gratitude in a gentle tone.

"Do you need anything? If so, let me know."

"...We want to practice alchemy. Is there a place where we can get useful materials or reagents?"

"Hmm..."

Professor Willow pondered.

Of course, the vast grounds of the magic school were filled with materials and reagents, but most of them were too dangerous for freshmen to access.

Li Han carefully observed Professor Willow's expression.

Even if the professor was a tree-like being, it didn't matter. As a professor, he couldn't escape Li Han's sharp gaze.

'Now!'

Li Han took a gamble.

"Can we borrow from Professor Thunderstep's laboratory... No, that's too rude."

Li Han bowed his head as if he was embarrassed. However, Professor Willow swayed his branches, seemingly approving the idea.

"That's a good idea."

"Really? But..."

"It's fine. When Professor Thunderstep returns, I'll tell him the bull came in and stole them. I'll pick out things you can take."

With that, Professor Willow headed towards the third-floor stairs.

Siana, the priestess, looked at Li Han and said,

"Mr. Wodanaz, you shouldn't join any evil cults."

"?"

* * *

The moment they stepped onto the third floor, they were greeted by a dark, dim environment. Even light spells were ineffective.

"Be careful not to get lost. The paths here are very complicated."

Professor Willow swayed his branches. Then, something started running in the darkness.

It was a door labeled 'Laboratory 6.'

Click!

Professor Willow turned the doorknob and opened the door. Inside the laboratory, blue smoke had frozen everything. He quickly closed the door.

"This laboratory should be permanently closed."

Professor Willow pushed away Laboratory 6 and called out a few more laboratories. Most of them were in disarray. Laboratory 17 had a distorted space, with water falling from the desks and flowing to the ceiling. Laboratory 29 was filled with a dark void that was swallowing everything inside.

Li Han took out a piece of paper and meticulously noted down every action Professor Willow performed. He didn't know when he would return to the third floor again.

'So that's how it is.'

Li Han roughly understood the layout of the third floor.

The lack of traps on the first and second floors was because the third floor itself was half a maze.

If you didn't know what was in each laboratory and how to call them, coming to the third floor would be meaningless.

In such a jumbled space, breaking through with magic was also dangerous. You never knew what disaster might occur.

The correct approach was to learn step by step from the beginning.

Just as there are no shortcuts in academia, there are none in thievery.

'Laboratory 6: Swinging left twice and 6. Laboratory 17: Swinging right four times, up once, and 17. Laboratory 29: ...'

"I found it."

Professor Willow found a suitable laboratory. Li Han quickly tucked the paper into his coat.

This time, the laboratory was ordinary, filled with various alchemical tools and flasks.

The students entered with slightly frightened expressions due to the previous laboratories they had seen.

"Here, take them."

Professor Willow started throwing alchemical tools and flasks one by one. Li Han caught them without hesitation and carefully placed them in the leather bag he had brought.

"Did I give you too much?"

"No, Professor. I'm very grateful."

As the leather bag filled up, Li Han handed it to his friends and took out a new one. The speed at which he switched bags was so fast that Professor Willow almost mistook him for a thief.

"This should be enough for you to practice. I didn't give you anything too dangerous or too precious to Professor Thunderstep."

"That's more than enough."

Professor Willow swayed his branches, tidying up the laboratory as if it had been robbed. The scattered tools returned to their places, and the open drawers closed.

He frowned at the wilting plants in the corner and called for a watering can.

"I'll help."

Li Han volunteered.

'I need to make a good impression.'

Although it didn't seem like Professor Willow would report to Professor Thunderstep, you never know with people.

Besides, it wouldn't hurt to make a good impression on the professor. Who knows when he might have to attend Professor Willow's class.

Unaware of Li Han's intentions, his friends rolled up their sleeves to help. However, Li Han shook his head.

"Go back to the dormitory."

"Why? Wodanaz? We can..."

"We don't know when Professor Thunderstep will return. Take the bags back to the dormitory."

"!"

The friends were impressed by Li Han's words.

Indeed...!

Ratford, impressed, said,

"You're really excellent. I have nothing more to teach you."

"Don't flatter me, Ratford. There's still a lot I need to learn from you."

Yoner, who suddenly felt the situation was a bit strange, didn't interrupt because the atmosphere was warm.

"Then, Wodanaz, I'll go first."

"See you at the dormitory!"

The students grumbled as they carried the bags down. Li Han was puzzled to see Yoner still there.

"Why?"

"I thought you might need some help. I can still carry the bags."

"Thanks."

"What's the big deal?"

"Wait. Silver..."

"...Don't ask if I'm angry."

Yoner warned, pointing a finger. Li Han changed the subject.

"...Thanks anyway."

"Southern dialect?"

As he spoke, Yoner picked up the watering can.

Actually, Yoner didn't think Li Han would be skilled at taking care of plants.

Taking care of plants was more difficult and complex than it seemed. Even watering them was a challenge.

Some plants needed less water, while others needed more.

On hot, sunny days, more water was needed, but on rainy, humid days, less water was required.

For common plants, it was easier, but for rare and delicate plants, it was even more challenging.

It required both knowledge and intuition.

Yoner had confidence in this because he had grown plants while reading alchemical manuals at his family's estate. But Li Han...

"You're doing well."

Professor Willow said in an admiring tone.

Li Han and Yoner were not novices when it came to handling plants.

Li Han felt Yoner's surprised gaze and asked curiously,

"Why?"

"Ah... No, you're watering them so well."

"Practice makes perfect?"

Yoner wasn't the only one who had walked the path of plant care. Li Han had too.

It started out as a semi-forced hobby due to the professors, but once a hobby is formed, it doesn't easily disappear.

In his previous life, he had taken care of the professors' plants, and in this life, he had tended to the Wodanaz family's garden out of boredom.

Yoner looked at Li Han with a mix of joy and admiration.

People with niche hobbies are always happy to meet others with the same interests.

"You too...! You also wondered why the servants in your family did such things by hand?"

'I didn't.'

Li Han was slightly taken aback.

The Wodanaz family was so laissez-faire that they didn't care much whether he wielded a sword or tended to plants.

But Li Han didn't want to disappoint Yoner, who was helping him.

"Of course, I did. But I didn't care much. I thought it might be useful for alchemy someday."

"Li Han..."

Yoner looked at Li Han as if he would award him the 'Best Friend Medal' if it existed.

Li Han's actions moved not only Yoner but also Professor Willow.

"To meet students who care so much about plants... Follow me."

Professor Willow led the way down the stairs. Li Han and Yoner wiped the water off and followed.

'Does he want to give us something more?'

Li Han was secretly hopeful, sensing the professor's joy.

Was this why he had volunteered to stay?

When they arrived at a corner of the second-floor botanical garden, Professor Willow stopped and pointed to the plants.

"Here, water all the plants from here to here."

"?"

Li Han's face stiffened at the unexpected request.

Could Professor Willow be one of those rare professors who gives more work as a reward?

If so, it would be truly terrifying.