Chapter 3

For a moment, Gainando thought Yi-han was kidding.

As if anyone could survive by eating brick pieces of bread and cold riceballs! As if anyone could bear wearing these ragged cloaks!

However, Yi-han's expression said otherwise.

'The Wardanaz Family...what a terrifying place it must be...!'

Gainando was in disbelief. The nobles in the empire held immense authority, and each had its own traditions and customs.

Very little was known about Yi-han's family as they stayed away from politics and focused on researching magic. Hence, misunderstandings were sometimes inevitable...

The Wardanaz Family must raise their children like that!

'But isn't this too much? Even slaves are treated better than this... To think the Wardanaz Family's patriarch was this merciless...'

Gainando tapped Yi-han's shoulders with a look of sympathy.

"Visit my estate when you have time. I'll see to it that you're welcomed properly."

"Um, thanks?"

Oblivious as to why Gainando was behaving like this, Yi-han nodded his head.

***

After the Skelly Principal's speech ended, the students dispersed, giving Yi-han time to once again talk with Yonaire. Yi-han continued their previous conversation.

"So, why do you follow him around? Cousins you may be, but with the power of the Maykin Family, you shouldn't need to walk on eggshells around royalty."

"Oh, it's because of his mother," she replied frankly.

Yi-han was amused to hear this.

"You owe her a debt or something?"

Yi-han's imagination began to run wild. A young Yonaire was invited to a party at the palace but ended up committing a grave mistake. She cried as the others stared at her in disdain. However, Gainando's mother, one of the empresses, approached her and said, "No need for tears. Everyone makes mistakes."

Oh, what a wonderful story this would be. If this story was true, it would explain why she treated Gainando like real royalty despite his shortcomings...

"Hmm? Oh, it's nothing like that. You see, his mother's rich. Like really rich. She gives me money for staying near him."

"...!!"

Yi-han was shocked.

'That's a strategy I didn't think about! I must befriend him as well!'

***

Einroguard was an academy that accepted students from all social classes as long as they were talented, be they royalty or slaves. However, the academy was aware that problems may arise if the students were all put in one place, especially considering how short-tempered they could be at their age.

Hence, Einroguard had students split into four dormitories depending on their identities.

Only for those with the noble blood of dragons

This was a tower open to royalty and powerful nobles. Since Yi-han was from the Wardanaz Family, he was naturally placed in this dormitory.

"Ugh, clergies. Hope they don't start preaching out of nowhere."

"Be quiet. We shouldn't get involved with them."

Yi-han heard someone complaining beside him. Their complaints were targeted at the freshmen that belonged to the Tower of the Immortal Phoenix.

Only for those that have dedicated their lives to the sacred fire

This tower was reserved for followers of the empire's numerous religions. Interestingly enough, they didn't mind using magic, believing mana to be a gift from the gods. As Einroguard was known as the empire's best magic academy, many members of the clergy gathered here.

'They do stick out though.'

Children of royalty and nobles hadn't changed into their uniforms and were all wearing something different. On the other hand, the students that belonged to the Tower of the Immortal Phoenix were in their priest's uniforms. Priests and priestesses often came by to the nobles' estates to preach their teachings, so it was no wonder that some of the students here had a bad impression of them.

Kaching, kaching-

However, their frowns became even deeper seeing the group behind them.

Only for those with the ferocity to rip through anything

This tower was for the students that came from a knight's lineage. It may seem weird for knights to attend a magic school, but it was something necessary, even for them.

Telepathy and healing magic was indispensable in any field, and the students here were determined to walk down the path of both knighthood and magic.

Gainando grumbled, somewhat dissatisfied.

"Why do they accept people like them who sully the purity of magic with their barbaric swords? Getting tutored by a random mage on the street should suffice for them."

This offhand comment pricked Yi-han's conscience. Unlike the others here who wished to study magic and discover the truth of the universe, he was studying magic to succeed in life.

"There's nothing wrong with wanting to learn from the best."

"Are you perhaps...siding with them?"

"Gainando."

Yi-han treated Gainando with even more kindness than before. After all, his mother was rich.

"Someone that's noble doesn't look down on others that are less fortunate."

"...That's...quite demanding..."

However, as he wished to be someone noble, Gainando shut his mouth.

The students of knights' lineages soon passed, and they were soon met with the figures of those that belonged to the last dorm. They were the most diverse and unique of all four groups.

Only for those with infinite patience and grit

This tower consisted of people that were commoners, servants, slaves, entertainers, beggars, merchants, lower nobility, and many more. Aware that their identities were the lowest among the students, they had sullen expressions on their faces.

'I'd like to get close to them if the opportunity arises.'

Unlike the others that scowled at this last batch of students, Yi-han had a rather favorable opinion of them.

Business was the best way to earn money, and when it came to business, it was better to work with people that honed their skills in the real world than with people like Gainando.

"They're staring at us."

"Don't match eyes with them. Nothing good will come of it."

"They're so full of themselves..."

The disdainful stares directed at them didn't go unnoticed, but they simply shuffled along quickly as they didn't wish to get into trouble.

"Must the academy accept miserable rags like them? I mean, we have standards, you know?"

One voice stood out among the rest, and the students of the Black Tortoise knit their brows when they heard this.

'A chance!'

Yi-han had been waiting for something like this to happen. It was the perfect opportunity to earn the other group's favor!

'Here I come!'

***

Though the students of the Black Tortoise weren't happy, they didn't have the courage to speak up. Even the bolder ones weren't comfortable with confronting the students of the Blue Dragons in this unfamiliar environment.

That was when Yi-han, who belonged to the other camp, spoke up. He, who had a masculine appearance and an air of dignity around him, opened his mouth slowly.

"I think you're the one behaving miserably here. Before we entered Einroguard, we should've put everything we had behind. Stop holding on to your pathetic pride."

The aura around him was fierce as if to accentuate his existence. It was something only a noble descendant of a powerful and prideful family could exude.

Influenced by his imposing figure, the other students of the Blue Dragons agreed to his words.

"He's right."

"He's a Wardanaz, right? As expected."

The person that ridiculed the Black Tortoise Tower fell silent, ashamed of what they had said previously.

The students of the Black Tortoise Tower reacted strongly to this as well, just not the way Yi-han expected.

"The Wardanaz??"

"You mean that family of mages!?"

"Idiot, don't look at him! They're a dangerous family!"

"I heard their patriarch is a dragon! Does that mean he has dragon blood running through his veins?"

"I thought they were descendants of an ancient spirit?"

"..."

***

Initially, Yi-han thought everything had gone well. The students around him seemed convinced by his speech.

'Not bad. Not bad at all.'

Now, he just had to wait for the students of the Black Tortoise to extend their gratitude...

"The Wardanaz??"

"You mean that family of mages!?"

"Idiot, don't look at him! They're a dangerous family!"

"I heard their patriarch is a dragon! Does that mean he has dragon blood running through his veins?"

"I thought they were descendants of an ancient spirit?"

"..."

However, the reactions he got weren't what he expected. Instead of appearing friendly, he had instead instilled fear into the students!

He soon realized things weren't going the way he thought they'd go.

'Aren't they going to thank me...?'

Yonaire seemed awed by his earlier performance.

"What you did just now. It was amazing. Just as I expected from a member of the Wardanaz Family."

"...Yonaire. Did I look scary back there?"

"Umm, no? You seemed every bit as grand and imposing as a true noble."

Yonaire failed to understand what was troubling him.

"Nobility" was the perfect word to describe Yi-han's appearance. He had masculine features, angled jawlines, thin lips, and a piercing gaze.

No commoner would dare approach him, and this was a trait highly valued by the nobles, as could be seen by the praises showered on him by his fellow dormmates.

Yi-han let out a deep sigh.

'Seems like I won't be getting close to them anytime soon...'

***

Each dormitory was located North, East, South, and West of the academy's main building, and Yi-han followed the other students to the blue tower which lay far ahead.

'It's really huge.'

He was surprised by how huge it was. Despite being called an academy, Einroguard had mountains, forests, rivers, and lakes in it. This reminded Yi-han of what the Skelly Principal said.

'He told us to get what we want ourselves, right?'

He also mentioned how everything they desired could be obtained inside the academy. Seeing how huge this place was, it started to make sense. He could hunt in the forest or fish in the lakes.

"I see we are having similar thoughts."

"Hm?"

"Aren't you thinking about how blessed we are to see such beautiful scenery?"

"No, I was wondering what kind of games I can catch in the forest."

"...Does the Wardanaz Family make you do such training?"

***

The Tower of the Prideful Blue Dragons was a narrow blue tower that didn't look spacious from the outside. However, the space inside had been expanded by the mages of the academy, making it seem almost infinite.

"..!"

When Yi-han passed through the tower's gates, the students around him suddenly vanished, and before he knew it, he was alone in a dark space.

[Where do you wish to go?]

"??"

[Where do you wish to go?]

'Oh.'

He quickly realized it was the tower speaking to him.

"Where can I go?"

[You're fast on the uptake.]

He couldn't say for sure, but it felt like the tower had smiled.

[As of now, you can go to your personal room or the resting lounge for the first years.]

"Will I eventually have access to other places?"

[Yes. Some places merely require you to know its name. Others require something more.]

"Will I have access to the resting lounge for the second-years?"

[Yes, but not now.]

"Why?"

[The principal has forbidden it.]

"..."

Yi-han cursed at how thorough the Skelly Principal was.

"Then please send me to my personal room."

[Understood. Welcome to the academy, young mage.]