Chapter 472

"As expected."

Yi-Han had considered, then abandoned, the idea of employing Gainando to secure investment funds for a future business venture.

No matter how he thought about it, the possibility of it backfiring seemed higher.

"Actually, you're dancing well enough now."

"Really?"

Yi-Han looked slightly pleased.

The assurance from Yonaire, who had attended numerous balls, was quite reliable.

If that was true, it would be a bit easier when participating in balls or banquets to find sponsors later.

"You did step on my foot once earlier, but that's a mistake anyone can make, right?"

"..."

Yi-Han couldn't bring himself to say that he had intentionally stepped on Rowena's foot, so he remained silent.

"This much is enough, right? You didn't think it was lacking, did you?"

"It's lacking in new dances to change to when waltzes or round dances are played, and it doesn't suit concertos either..."

"...Are you trying to make a living by dancing?"

It's not like he was a professional dancer invited to liven up the atmosphere of a ball, so why would he need to go that far? One or two dances would be enough.

Yonaire made a disgusted expression at her friend's absurd goal.

"Ah. A letter came from the family."

"Is it sent by Lady Yoanen?"

"...Don't say such terrible things!"

Unlike usual, Yonaire strongly denied it with great disgust.

Yoanen was a good older sister, but she wasn't a good letter companion.

If Yoanen had sent a letter, she would have filled dozens of pages with stories about new potions that Yonaire had no interest in.

What was even more terrible was that if Yonaire didn't read them all one by one and faithfully reply, Yoanen would sulk.

'Wouldn't information about newly developed potions be good...?'

Yi-Han thought of something that would get him slapped by Yonaire.

Of course, it would be bothersome, but the production methods of newly developed potions were that precious.

"Then who sent it?"

"Remember what Nillia submitted last time?"

"Ah. That."

In the periodic discussions held by the Maykin family about the Empire's political issues and their solutions, Nillia had presented an excellent answer.

<When political instability is worsening in the southern coastal region of the Empire, the origin of Sangoria flowers, how should alchemists respond?>

<There are many idle hunters in the north, so sending them to the southern coast... Since they can attack from a distance, they would be good at dealing with monsters... If monsters are hunted well, people will be happy and political instability will decrease... I'm sorry...?>

It was a truly clever measure that took advantage of the season when the northern Shadow Patrol had free time and the season when Sangoria flowers could be obtained.

It was also good that it didn't additionally mobilize local mages.

Mages were basically expensive manpower, and there were many imperial people who felt uncomfortable with mages visiting in certain situations.

Looking at it again, it was such an intuitive and efficient measure!

'Nillia is too pessimistic.'

Yi-Han thought to himself.

If she had come up with such a measure, she could have been confident, but she kept groaning and saying things like 'This isn't it.'

'Well, that personality might make the plan more perfect.'

"Why is that?"

"The family said they finished preparing and are proceeding with it? They said they're coming to Einroguard."

"Really?"

Even if they borrowed the strength of the northern hunters, they couldn't completely entrust such a task to them.

Going together to advise on which monsters to hunt, directly collecting Sangoria flowers, and mediating a bit if the southern coastal guilds got angry...

Naturally, the practitioners from the Maykin family had to accompany them.

It would be the icing on the cake if a few more outstanding mages participated.

He knew that there had been talk of 'How about inviting professors from Einroguard?' at the Maykin family during the break, but he was a bit surprised that they were really coming.

'They managed to get permission even though it's during the semester. Did they make a large donation?'

Yi-Han thought the possibility was quite high. With the skull principal's personality, he wouldn't miss this opportunity even if he had to take up the teaching position himself.

"Then which professor is disappearing?"

"Who knows? It wasn't written that far."

"Could the principal disappear?"

"Probably not. Rather than disappearing, Yi-Han, it's inviting..."

"Could Professor Bagrak disappear by any chance?"

"..."

Yonaire was about to say something but felt sorry for her friend and just endured it and answered.

"Professor Bagrak doesn't seem to be coming since he's not a specialist in alchemy."

"No. Since they're going that far, they might need an escort."

"Uh..."

"What about Professor Verduus? Professor Verduus is also an expert in enchantment magic, so wouldn't he be likely to go?"

"The professor is in the punishment room."

"They can let him out, make him work, and put him back in the punishment room."

Yonaire inwardly lamented how difficult it must have been for her friend to become like this.

Indeed, it was true that the students of all four towers were overly dependent on Yi-Han.

After that, Yi-Han continued his happy imagination of 'Which professor will disappear? Can multiple professors disappear?'

Yonaire felt strangely apologetic and just kept her mouth shut and stepped.

Bang!

Gainando, who had woken up late, hurriedly opened the door and entered with his friends.

"So, sorry! I overslept! Because of the principal's scheme!"

"Student Gainando! If you're late, you should admit it with dignity and apologize, not make such excuses!"

"It's really a scheme..."

"Tsk tsk!"

"The rain has decreased a bit."

"But it's still raining too much, right?"

"What do you think, Mr. Devouring-ship fish?"

The students gathered at the temporary dock in front of the library, as the exams were over, looked up at the sky where rain was pouring and whispered.

The weekend had come, and they wanted to rest a bit, but the flood showed no signs of ending.

At this rate, will it really not stop until the end of the semester?

-Stop... tormenting me...-

"I'm just asking?"

-That's... tormenting me... Quickly... release me...-

"We have to release you when the flood ends."

-Why... are you tormenting me like this...-

The devouring-ship fish shed pearl-like tears.

The students would have normally felt heartbroken, but the empathy of the students who had been in Einroguard for more than half a year had deteriorated more than expected.

"Nothing will change even if you do that."

"That's right. I heard it in lecture. Even if the contracted being appeals with tears, never waver."

-You trashy... mages... Release me...-

While such conversations were taking place outside, similar discussions were happening inside.

"If we don't empty it quickly, the tapir might attack again. Moreover, there must be many other monsters in the library."

"I hate to admit it, but Moradi is right about this. Wardanaz. What do you think?"

"Hmm... If Professor Bagrak disappears... No. Professor Verduus... No. Isn't there a possibility of the skull principal too..."

"Wardanaz? Wardanaz?"

Jijel and Salko were flustered when Yi-Han was lost in other thoughts.

Few things were as disconcerting as a friend who didn't usually do this.

"Ah. Sorry. I was thinking about something else. What were we talking about?"

"It was about how long the flood would last. The seniors' exams are over too, so won't they resolve it soon?"

Yi-Han immediately answered Salko's question.

"Oh. Probably not."

"...No? Why?"

"Well, the seniors..."

It was easy for a student who had just entered Einroguard to think like this.

-There are many senior students in the school, so if a problem arises, the seniors will solve it, right?-

However, surprisingly, it was the opposite in Einroguard.

Whether it was a snowstorm, flood, or lava in the school, the senior students had no need to solve it since they had the ability to get around on their own.

It was unfortunate that the lower-year students had to step up.

And there was a practical reason too. As the year increased, they became busier, so they had less room to solve such things.

"..."

"..."

The faces of Jijel and Salko, who had heard Yi-Han's logical explanation, distorted.

Even though Yi-Han hadn't used mental magic, he felt like he could hear their inner thoughts.

'They're cursing the skull principal.'

"Then do we have to solve it?"

"That's what it means."

Yi-Han was slightly flustered while listening to Salko and Jijel's conversation.

The content was too extreme.

'No, do we have to solve it?'

Of course, it would be nice to solve it, but most of the things in Einroguard were things that couldn't be solved by human power.

At times like this, it was wisest to entrust it to time rather than wasting effort.

"Wardanaz. I heard you have a wise helmet among your possessions. Can we ask that helmet by any chance?"

Salko threw out a question cautiously.

Since it was using someone else's artifact, there was nothing he could do if Yi-Han refused.

It would also be true that it would be a waste to use a precious number of uses here.

"There was something like that?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"..."

The atmosphere suddenly became awkward.

Jijel's mind became complicated when Yi-Han denied it.

'What? Did Tutanta talk nonsense? Or did Wardanaz lie? What kind of helmet is it?'

Salko's mind also became complicated.

'Did I hear it wrong? I'm sure I heard there was such a helmet? Could it be the principal's false rumor?'

"Ah. I know what you're talking about."

Yi-Han belatedly realized it from the flustered appearance of his friends.

"There's a strange helmet. Are you talking about the one I picked up in the school's underground dungeon before? I tried to sell it to a store because it wasn't very useful, but I was rejected."

"..."

"..."

Why are you selling that!

The two shouted inwardly.

"It doesn't seem very useful, but if you want it, Salko, let's try it. But be careful since it's a cursed artifact."

"I, I see. So that's why you didn't seem to use it."

"No. It's not because I'm concerned about the curse, but because there's no use for it. It wasn't helpful."

"..."

Yi-Han rummaged through his backpack and took out the helmet. The helmet, which had been trapped in a pitch-black pocket, exclaimed with joy as it escaped.

-Finally! Has the time come to lend my evil wisdom? I know what you want. You want to become the top student of the year? With my potion of vision...-

"Huh? Really?"

Gainando threw a glance with interest. Yi-Han slapped the back of his head and said,

"No. We're going to ask something else."

-Finally!!!-

The helmet vibrated back and forth with joy.

Seeing that, Yi-Han suddenly felt a bit sorry.

'Did I abandon it too much?'

If he wasn't going to use it, he should have at least found it a new owner, but he might have neglected it too much.

-Ask! Ask!-

"How do we end this flood?"

-...Huh?-

The helmet blinked its light in confusion.

Surprisingly, the school was in chaos due to the spirit flood.

"You don't know?"

-Ah, no. I know. I know, but... Although my goal is to increase my knowledge regardless of whether the owner dies or not, isn't this too dangerous...-

The helmet, which had been modified by Professor Verduus, rambled on without hiding the truth.

Yi-Han made a bitter expression.

Come to think of it, even a helmet that put its student owner in danger had lived a life dangerous enough to think, 'Uh, isn't this a bit too dangerous?'

A life where he was made to reflect by a cursed helmet!

-The best method is a sacrifice.-

"Sacrifice?"

-Yes.-

The anger of spirits basically dissipates over time, but there were several ways to quickly appease it.

One of them was sacrifice.

-If it's enough to cause a flood of this magnitude, there must be a spirit with a name! Then, of course, there will be a sacrifice it wants.-

"What kind of sacrifice should be made?"

-How would I know that? I don't even know what kind of spirit it is...-

"Aren't you the helmet of wisdom?"

Yi-Han made a genuinely disappointed expression.

The helmet was dumbfounded.

-In the first place, there is only one question at a time! I answered, so I will go and recharge my power.-

"..."

-Next time, I hope you call me as soon as my power is restored!-

The light of the helmet went out.

Yi-Han looked at it and asked his friends,

"Is there anyone who wants to buy it?"