Episode 035
“Anyway, what riddle did the talking oak tree ask?”
Lightning Walk asked curiously.
“uh… “He came up with some strange and unusual riddles.”
It’s a shadow riddle. Even so, the dwarf and candle riddle was far-fetched.
“Talking oak trees tell ridiculous riddles.”
Lightning Gaetol nodded as if he understood.
Talking oak trees were famous for beguiling wizards by coming up with strange problems that sounded plausible.
Inexperienced wizards were dazzled by the handsome talking oak trees and thought there was some mystery hidden in the riddle, but there was none.
The talking oak trees were just dull spirits who liked dull riddles.
“… Is that so?”
“That’s it. “Most things in the world are meaningless once you know them.”
Lee Han was dumbfounded after hearing Lightning’s explanation.
So, was the problem of the goblin hiding at the orc banquet also just a loose mystery?
‘When I thought about it, there was a hint of that in the candlelight issue.’
“The riddle I heard was… ”
Lee Han confessed the riddles he had heard to the talking oak tree.
-Several orc tribes gathered together and held a feast, but an evil goblin joined in and ate and drank a lot. How could that be?
“It’s easy. The answer is to disguise yourself as an orc.”
“… yes?”
“They say you shouldn’t think too hard about the riddle of the talking oak trees. Think simply. “If you were a goblin, it wouldn’t have been that difficult to disguise yourself and deceive the orcs.”
“… … ”
Lee Han endured the absurdity and futility and concentrated.
Of course, it was a ridiculous riddle, but this riddle didn’t come out of nowhere.
Isn’t this a riddle given by the talking oak tree as a hint to escape from school?
At least it would have some meaning.
‘therefore… Did the meaning of that riddle mean to disguise yourself?’
It was such an obvious statement, but if you think about it, it caught you off guard.
This magic school was not a completely closed space.
Didn’t priests from other denominations immediately come into the school from outside?
‘Besides, there are supplies.’
From food to be used at magic school to various reagents and ingredients.
These things had to be brought in from outside.
And the people who move these things are usually workers who don’t know magic.
There is a way to get out of this school, even if it isn’t magical!
Lee Han clenched his fists.
In the pitch-black darkness created by the skeleton principal.
It felt like a ray of light was shining in the darkness.
“… ?”
Beside him, Professor Lightning Walk looked amazed at Lee Han’s face.
Clearly, the boy wizard had an expression of enlightenment just now.
what?
‘How did you gain enlightenment from the dull riddles of those talking oak trees?’
Not only was he better at field work than a skilled farmer, but this boy from the Wardanaz family was so amazing that you would never get tired of looking at him.
* * *
After Lee Han tended the garden, Professor Lightning Walk rescued him some chickens from somewhere.
When I saw the thunderbird looking at me with a sad expression, I could tell whose coop the chicken came from.
“Take care of your animals well. Wardanaz. “If you treat animals well, you will always be rewarded.”
“thank you. thank you for this food.”
For first-year students who would chew on rocks because they were so hungry, a freshly laid egg was a dizzying luxury.
If you take those eggs, you can become the king of the dormitory.
“I’m taking this too. hmm. “This would be good too.”
Professor Lightning Walk put various things in a basket as if he wanted to give something to his new student.
Starting with eggs, freshly harvested cabbage, tomatoes, onions and potatoes, butter and cheese, and even thickly cut venison.
Every time he put it in the basket, the wrinkles on his face deepened and his sadness deepened, but Lee Han pretended not to notice.
“Then I’ll see you in next class.”
‘It looks like I suddenly ate a lot.’
The meal with the two dwarves was hectic, but I definitely gained a lot from it.
Not only the secret of the wand, but also a hint to escape the school.
And the extra food was a bonus. Food was already running out.
‘How on earth did other first-year students before me make a living?’
Even though they worked and received food like this under Professor Haniya Lee, other students probably couldn’t have done the same.
Did you just survive by starving?
“Wardanaz!”
“Wardanaz has arrived!”
Blue Dragon Tower students were sitting in the first-year common room with tired and hungry expressions.
The students, who were soothing their worries by playing chess or playing cards, were overjoyed when they saw Lee Han.
And when he saw the basket hanging on Lee Han’s arm, he was even happier.
“Wardanaz! “My honorable friend!”
“The most honorable family in the empire!”
‘It’s not something I would say, but for someone who comes from a great noble family, they are all very undignified.’
But I understood.
Whether you are a royal or a beggar, being hungry makes you weak.
As word spread that Lee Han had arrived, the Blue Dragon Tower students rushed out of their rooms and crowded in front of Lee Han.
It was like a baby bird waiting for food and looking at its mother bird.
“It looks like everyone is hungry. wait.”
I thought I could make a pretty good soup using the vegetables and meat I received from Lightning.
Even if all the students gathered here eat at the same time, it will be a meal that everyone can eat together.
Lee Han placed a pot on the fireplace fire, added cut deer meat and onions, and stir-fried them until golden brown.
Next were vegetables. Lee Han expertly poured water, added tomatoes and potatoes, and seasoned with salt and pepper.
Seasonings that were easily available outside were rare seasonings for current first graders.
The soup, which was red due to the tomatoes, was bubbling and the students looked at Lee Han with eager eyes.
-Wouldn’t it be okay to just boil it and eat it now?
However, Lee Han resolutely stopped him.
‘Now we can add cabbage.’
Add cabbage, add some butter, season again…
The sight of him cooking with a solemn expression was like a skilled alchemist.
The Blue Dragon Tower students unconsciously adjusted their clothes and politely adjusted their posture.
“It’s done. “Bring a bowl.”
“yes!”
‘Why are you using the honorific language?’
Lee Han was puzzled, but instead of asking, he picked up a ladle and poured a generous amount into the bowl.
Yoner, who came after hearing the news, helped write the ledger by putting ink on the quill pen.
“Killenen family, eight silver coins… Gainando, eleven silver coins… ”
“Wardanaz. “Isn’t one silver coin too little money?”
“Wouldn’t it be okay to take a little more? “It’s too little money compared to your dedication.”
Boys and girls from great aristocratic families lacked financial sense.
Ihan and Yoner lamented at that sight.
‘I don’t know how I’m going to live like that when I become independent later!’
“Hey, Wodanaz.”
“?”
“Can’t I bring some to the princess?”
Two or three Blue Dragon Tower students spoke cautiously. He was probably a follower of Aden Arth.
At those words, Lee Han’s face became slightly clouded.
“Well, that. Wardanaz. It’s not that I’m forcing it… ”
“I know you’re close to Prince Kainando, but it’s not like you two have to fight. “I just want the princess to eat something worth eating.”
‘huh?’
Lee Han realized that his friends were misunderstanding something.
The reason why Lee Han was reluctant to bring food to the princess was not because he supported Gai Nando.
I just thought it would be a waste to give away food for free.
“I think there is a misunderstanding, but I have no intention of not giving food to the princess because of Gainando. “There’s no way you would do something childish like that.”
“Wardanaz… !”
“also!”
The students’ faces brightened at Lee Han’s words.
Lee Han quietly asked, “I guess I’m feeling better.”
“But who pays the silver? “Is it true that the princess is paying?”
“We’ll pay for you! “We’ll each pay double.”
“Thank you, Wardanaz!”
“no… “Is it okay to do something like that (money rotting)?”
“Compared to what you do, this is a small amount of money. Wodanaz.”
“thank you so much. “You must be worried about the prince.”
The students were truly grateful. Lee Han was surprised to see that.
I was surprised that he spent his own money on behalf of the princess, I was surprised by his financial sense that he increased the amount of money even when bargaining was not enough, and I was surprised by the way he highly valued Kainando.
‘As a member of the royal family, Gainando’s political power to create and run its own faction is close to zero.’
There was a lot of misunderstanding between each other, but since the other person viewed Lee Han favorably, there seemed to be no need to explain.
“I want the royal family to be friendly with each other. “For the empire.”
“Wardanaz… !”
“A guy like you… !”
* * *
Lee Han held a bowl of soup and knocked on the door of the princess’s private room. After a while, Aden Arth appeared.
“?”
Aden Arth raised his eyebrows slightly and asked with his eyes why he had come.
Lee Han said, holding out a warm bowl.
“I cooked in the break room, so why don’t you eat some?”
Instead of accepting it right away, Aden Arth hesitated a little. It seemed like he was hesitating because he didn’t know what Lee Han was thinking.
Since he had already heard about the misunderstanding about Gainando below, Lee Han decided to clear up the misunderstanding.
“All the other students took it too. “It’s okay to eat.”
In fact, he received it in exchange for silver coins, but Lee Han didn’t bother to say it.
Ardenart hesitated even more than he had just hesitated, and eventually took the bowl carefully with both hands.
It seemed that hunger had won over hesitation.
Adenart slightly bowed his head in gratitude, picked up a spoon, scooped up some soup, and put it into his mouth.
After taking one or two spoonfuls, I saw that the speed gradually increased and it seemed to suit my taste.
“You can come in and eat.”
At Lee Han’s words, Aden Arth stopped holding the spoon.
“… … ”
Then he bowed his head once more, closed the door, and went inside.
‘Did I say it for no reason?’
When Lee Han came down to the lounge, the students waiting expressed their gratitude.
“Wardanaz. The princess… ”
“ah. “It seemed like you liked it.”
“amazing! “You are a truly outstanding alchemist!”
‘I think if I’m just starving, I’ll eat anything I give it… ‘
“Can I continue to ask for this in the future? “We’ll pay the silver coins, so when we have food, I hope we can bring some to the princess.”
“… “Dedication to the imperial family of the empire is tantamount to honor as a noble.”
Words flowed out of Lee Han’s mouth. Even Lee Han himself was surprised.
‘Anyway, the royal family is truly amazing.’
I can’t believe there are so many people following him simply based on his lineage.
I felt the power of my veins again.
Of course, Gainando is a bit of an exception…
* * *
>Repetitive learning of basic magic combat> held on the first basement floor of the main building.
The vampire professor, Boladi Bagrek, was thinking. Of course, it wasn’t revealed through facial expressions.
I am the only student left now.
What should I do to get that student to continue taking this lecture?
‘It’s really difficult.’
Originally, Professor Boladi had no interest in making students listen to his lectures.
Professor Boladi’s contract was to give lectures here, not to gather students.
But the current situation was a bit exceptional.
A boy from the Wardanaz family with considerable magical power.
Can we find another talented person like that boy?
If you miss it this time, you may have to wait several years to move on to the next part of the lecture.
Moreover, there was no guarantee that the next student would have the same qualities as that boy.
After thinking about it, Professor Boladi opened his mouth.
“Do you have any questions?”
“… yes?”
Lee Han, who was concentrating on spinning the marble, looked up in surprise.
Why the question all of a sudden?
Could it be that Lee Han’s dark desire to eat raw food was discovered?