Chapter 541
"Uh. I'm sorry. I..."
Finding himself in a situation where he might change his occupation from an Einroguard student to an Einroguard mountain keeper, Yi-Han expressed his intention to refuse.
The Yaksha nodded his head as if he didn't expect Yi-Han to agree either.
-Indeed, there's no reason for a young mage to abandon the academic tradition of Einroguard and hole up deep in the mountains.-
"...After graduation, with connections and excellent business sense, multiply assets by dozens of times... Ah. Yes. That's right."
'Did I hear wrong?'
The Yaksha doubted his ears, wondering if he had misheard just now.
It was unlikely for an Einroguard student, especially one who had accumulated that many good deeds, to be greedy for money.
"So who is this troublesome fellow who has settled in the swamp? Is it perhaps the purple swamp worm?"
Yi-Han recalled the knowledge he had and brought up a monster that came to mind.
The purple swamp worm was a troublesome monster the size of an ox that, once it settled in a swamp, would spew out poison and kill the surrounding plants.
'But if the giants help, it shouldn't be too difficult.'
It was annoying because it hid in the swamp, but a race like giants who were strong against poison and had excellent physical abilities could just push through with force.
If they went into the swamp and stirred it up until they caught it, it would come out on its own.
-Huh? Purple swamp worm? Ah... That little thing. Why would you call giants for that?-
"Isn't it quite big..."
-It's a ghoul dragon. It's an old one, so its size is one thing, but its poison is no joke.-
"..."
-Ouch. Mage. Why are you pulling my hair? Don't pull it out. It's precious hair.-
"So-sorry."
Yi-Han was so startled that he unconsciously pulled the giant's hair.
In fact, although it had the name 'dragon' attached to it, the ghoul dragon was not strictly a dragon.
It was a similar subspecies, or rather, not even a subspecies, but something resembling a dragon with its appearance.
The empire's dragon experts complained, saying, "If you're going to attach 'dragon' to every large reptile-like creature, why not call drakes 'walking dragons' too?" but people naturally preferred intuitive names.
And Yi-Han had no particular complaints about the term ghoul dragon either.
If it was a monster that could crush him to death in an instant, poison him to death with its toxic breath, or slice him to death with its contaminated claws, it didn't really matter whether it was a real dragon or a fake dragon.
"Uh... Should I call the principal?"
-What? Nonsense, little one. You don't know the fearfulness of Lord Gonadaltes.-
The Yaksha was dumbfounded when he heard Yi-Han's words about calling the skull principal for such a trivial matter.
No matter how much Gonadaltes cherished the disciples of Einroguard, he wasn't a soft mage who would indulge in nonsensical whims to that extent.
"No, I thought he would grant a request like this..."
-That's a misconception. The misconception that all your seniors and their seniors and their seniors' seniors had! You probably haven't even talked to him much, so where does that confidence come from?-
"Hmm."
Yi-Han was slightly overwhelmed by the old Yaksha's firm attitude.
Is that so?
'Indeed, the skull principal is a bit crazy.'
It might be just Yi-Han who thought they were close, and if he called him, he might go crazy...
"I understand. But don't you think it's a bit dangerous to face a ghoul dragon?"
-No. Mage!-
-Trust us!-
The giants were provoked by Yi-Han's reaction.
The mage was evaluating the ghoul dragon higher than them.
"It's not that I don't trust you, but..."
-Lead the way. Old man Yaksha!-
-Yeah. Okay. Okay.-
"..."
***
Balpatan and Anpagon, who had escaped from the giants' grasp, did not head straight to the peak...
...but followed the giants.
They were somehow worried about their junior.
No matter how much the junior had the title of giant controller, giants were a fickle and incomprehensible race.
If they weren't careful, the giant controller could become giant prey.
"...Wait. Isn't that a Yaksha?"
"What? Yaksha?! Is there really a Yaksha?"
Balpatan was startled.
He had heard from a senior who had graduated before that 'there was a Yaksha somewhere in the mountain range', but he naturally thought it was a lie the senior had told to scare him.
-I met a Yaksha on a day with heavy snow, and hic. He scolded me so much, saying I had accumulated evil deeds. So Moradi, you should serve your seniors well... hic. Where was I?-
"Amazing... Where are they going?"
"Who... who knows. Damn it. Send the note again. I think we should get out of here soon."
As the giants and the Yaksha began to move their steps, the faces of the two seniors hardened.
Their orderly movements were ominous.
"They're not trying to eat the junior, are they...?"
"You savage. What kind of nonsense are you thinking!"
Anpagon got angry.
He didn't believe in superstitions, but the White Tiger Tower guy who was saying ominous things right now was truly annoying.
"Who doesn't know how strange the giants are!"
"That junior is too small for all the giants to eat."
"What if he's like a seasoning?"
"...Shut up!"
The two quietly shut their mouths and followed.
The giants hummed and pulled out the huge surrounding trees, then started making something, chopping them up.
'Ca-camping preparation?'
Balpatan was appalled.
The giants are preparing to camp -> They are preparing to cook -> The junior becomes the dish
"Send a note! We need to prepare to get him out right away!"
"O-okay. I'm sending it now!"
Anpagon also turned pale, which was rare, and sent a note.
***
-The ghoul dragon is not a violent or cruel fellow. It's just that his temperament is a headache.-
The Yaksha checked the makeshift wooden shields the giants had made and gestured.
-It would be nice if he slept quietly deep underground, but every once in a while, he crawls out like this. Okay. That's enough. We're not going to catch him anyway, so that's enough.-
"Ah. Are we resolving this through conversation?"
-The ghoul dragon can't understand words. And even if he could, he's such a lazy fellow that he would ignore it.-
Yi-Han became gloomy.
-The method is not that difficult. You little ones go in and push the ghoul dragon out with force. When he's far enough away, he'll find it troublesome to go back to the swamp and return to the underground cave where he used to live.-
"Is that really all it takes?"
Yi-Han was surprised by the unexpectedly peaceful method.
-Yeah. These guys are very strong, even if they don't listen.-
Indeed, even if the method seemed simple, whether they could actually do it was a different matter.
It wasn't easy for giants of this size to unite and use their strength.
-There's only one thing you have to do, little blood bag.-
"I understand. What kind of magic should I use in front?"
Yi-Han grabbed his staff and asked, having made up his mind.
-What are you talking about? There's no way we would put a young mage in front to get rid of the ghoul dragon. Give orders to the giants from behind. They don't listen to me well.-
"Is that all?"
-No... Then what did you think you were going to do?-
The Yaksha looked at the young mage strangely.
Yi-Han became embarrassed and quickly said.
"It seems like I have too little to do..."
-You're already doing a tremendously important job. Those guys really don't listen.-
-Okay. It's all set. Pull him out!-
Kuururung!
As soon as the order was given, the giants pushed through the forest and made a path.
Then the swamp that had been hidden and the huge ghoul dragon settled on it were revealed.
At a glance, it looked similar to a dragon, but it was much smaller. With its twisted and grotesque appearance added in places, it looked more like a hideous chimera that a mage had created by mistake rather than a dragon.
-Uooooh!-
"Wait, wait! Coordinate with the others!"
-Uoh...-
"To the side! Turn to the side!"
The giants really didn't listen.
Yi-Han persuaded, coaxed, and threatened the giants to create an encirclement.
The Yaksha was very satisfied to see that.
-You're doing really well. Oh. What year are you in? I forgot to ask.-
"I'm a first-year."
-I see... What?-
-Old man Yaksha! Help us!!-
The giants called the Yaksha.
The ghoul dragon, who didn't want to come out of the swamp, had started resisting with all its might.
The giants, whose noses and eyes were stinging from the poison it was spewing, screamed.
-I'm coming. Go! Let me borrow some strength for a moment!-
"Pardon?"
The Yaksha put Yi-Han on his head. The giant who had his mage suddenly taken away wailed.
-Wait a moment. I'll return him soon!-
As the accumulated deeds turned into strength, a force incomparably stronger than before flowed through the Yaksha's entire body.
He had felt it since he first saw him, but the good deeds accumulated by this young mage were no joke.
-Get lost, you troublesome fellow! Go back to the place you liked and sleep!-
-Old man Yaksha is doing well!-
It felt like the entire surroundings were collapsing and shattering from the giants' clash.
Yi-Han did his best not to fall from the roughly shaking Yaksha.
'Endure... Endure it!'
At some point, Yi-Han realized that he was naturally standing on top of the Yaksha's head.
Thanks to gaining a glimpse of enlightenment while climbing the side of the ship during the last test, he had finally embodied the mana conversion with the property of suction in this situation.
Naturally, without the need to forcefully release mana!
'Done...!'
-We're being pushed back! Roll him! Roll him!-
-Push him out of the swamp!-
The giants pushed excitedly, not knowing the hardship Yi-Han was going through.
It was a shock that would make even a person who was perfectly attached shake.
The basilisk in Yi-Han's sleeve cried out as if it was unfortunate.
How did it get dragged here by these giants...!
***
-Huff, huff.-
-Good work. You little ones have accumulated good deeds.-
When the work was done, the Yaksha spoke with sincerity.
If it weren't for the giants who were panting and covered in mud, he wouldn't have been able to pull out the ghoul dragon with his strength alone.
They had really done well.
-What did old man Yaksha do!-
-Have you forgotten that I rushed in because you couldn't pull him out?-
-Old man Yaksha did something too...-
The giants became energetic and tried to argue, but they shrank back.
-Mage. Where did the mage go?-
-Old man Yaksha stole him!-
-I didn't steal him. You little ones.-
The Yaksha scolded the giants and returned Yi-Han. Yi-Han sat on the giant's shoulder with an exhausted face.
-Wait. Why are you so tired?-
"It was a bit shaky up there..."
-What? With magic... Wait. You don't know how to use it? Are you really a first-year??-
The Yaksha was greatly shocked.
He knew there were all sorts of students down the mountain, but he never thought there would be a first-year playing with giants.
-You'll really become great. You'll really become great! A first-year coming all the way here and becoming close with giants.-
"It's not that I wanted to, but the professors forced me..."
Yi-Han was about to immediately curse the professors, but the Yaksha didn't listen.
-Take this. If you need this old man's help when you come to this area, just pull it and call me. I received help, so I should give help in return.-
The Yaksha handed over a small horn-shaped piece. Yi-Han received it and had a question.
'Will I ever come here again?'
It seemed like he would never set foot here again once this was over...
"Yes. Thank you."
-If I had known you were a first-year, I wouldn't have asked for help. I'm sorry about that.-
"No. I'm just happy to hear those words."
Yi-Han answered bitterly, thinking of the professor who had sent him here.
"?"
While the giants were excitedly praising each other, Yi-Han looked down at the ground.
A few notes that looked like someone had sent them were scattered on the ground.
'What's this? Was there someone else here besides the seniors?'