Published at 8th of March 2026 8:16 am

Chapter 691

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

The Death Knight stared intently at Lee Han and his friends, then let out a sigh.

-I understand. Ill pretend I didnt see anything.

Oh, really?

Gainando was slightly flustered.

He hadnt expected the Death Knight to actually pretend not to see anything.

-Its my fault for becoming a senior and getting caught by underclassmen.

The friends were left speechless by the Death Knights cold words.

It was fortunate, but!

-Well then, it seems the conversation is finished, so lets get going. Are you all ready?

Eandurude nodded. The Death Knight looked at the students and said.

-How about saying your final farewells? You wont see each other for about a year.

Hmph. Lee Han will just ignore that and wander around anyway. He already has interference potions Gack.

Lee Han struck Gainando in the solar plexus before answering.

Thank you. Well say our farewells.

The students gathered there looked at Eandurude.

In the students eyes were all the emotions one could send to a newly enrolling student: sympathy, pity, compassion, regret, and sorrow.

Eandurude. I dont know what to say to you.

Im fine!

Eandurude responded energetically to Yoners words.

Youre not excited because you dont have to study anymore, are you?

N-no

Caught in his true feelings, Eandurude averted his gaze.

After Lee Han, Yoner had been the one who made him study most harshly at the manor.

Ahem. Eandurude well ugh. I dont know what to say! Just remember what I told you about edible plants and easy-to-make traps. With just those, you can get some food.

You should practice lockpicking more. Youre still lacking for Einroguard.

Oh right. You need to memorize more potion recipes. Theyre potions youll use frequently.

I know you have physical strength and special racial abilities, but dont rely on them too much. You need skills to survive in Einroguard.

Eandurude, who had been listening earnestly to his seniors advice, tilted his head.

Isnt it a magic school?

From what the seniors were saying, it sounded like he was going to the worst underground fighting arena.

Well, youll understand once you get there!

Right. Dont be too scared. Einroguard is also a place where people live no that might not be true, but anyway, youll adapt over time. Probably. Gainando. You say something too. Youre the only one who hasnt.

Huh?

Gainando had been standing there blankly, but when his friends urged him, he hurriedly thought.

Uh uh

Hurry up!

F-find a friend like Lee Han and follow him around, itll be easy!

We shouldnt have asked.

You guys told me to!!

Gainando jumped up and down, but his friends ignored him and called the Death Knight.

-Are you finished?

Yes. I think you can depart now.

Lee Han whispered quietly to Eandurude one last time before he left.

If you really run short on food, leave a mark in front of the Blue Dragon dormitory tower. Ill secretly bring you some.

However, Eandurude firmly shook his head.

Im fine.

You little!

Ill steal from other students!

You little

Lee Han slightly regretted not giving him more character education.

***

Erde of the Markan family was an Einroguard Blue Dragon Tower student advancing from second to third year this time.

His grades were about mid-tier within the tower, his family was famous for floriculture in the southern part of the Empire, and he himself was interested in illusion magic, ice elements, and numerology.

If there was anything unusual, it was that he had been caught by underclassmen while looking for underclassmen to use in Einroguards new semester smuggling operation.

Ugh. How humiliating.

He had followed out of curiosity when the underclassman he was talking to entered a villa belonging to a different family rather than his own, only to be ambushed by a swarm of underclassmen who came rushing out.

No matter how much they were underclassmen, it was difficult to gain the upper hand against multiple opponents. And he had been ambushed on top of that

Unless one had received proper magical combat training, casting magic quickly when ambushed was nearly impossible.

Senior. You promised to stay quiet.

Would you stay quiet if you were in my position? More importantly, what about the smuggling? Who told you guys? Was it White Tiger Tower or Black Turtle Tower?

Erde was certain that someone from his year had told the underclassmen the truth.

Otherwise, there was no way the underclassmen could know so much about the smuggling operation.

Probably someone had interfered to check Erde, who belonged to Blue Dragon Tower.

We told you. We figured it out ourselves. Every senior we met tried to use us as bait.

Its a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding! I absolutely had no intention of using you as bait.

Erde spouted lies without even wetting his lips.

Of course, it had no effect on the underclassmen. The underclassmen looked at their senior with cynical eyes.

Then you really wanted to include us in the smuggling operation because you cared about us?

Of course! I did it because I felt sorry for you guys. Release me right now. If you participate in our operation, you can also get enough food supplies to last the whole year, right? Think about it. Freshly baked mixed grain bread and buttermilk inside Einroguard. Maple syrup dessert mixed with a little honey. A feast like meatloaf with more than 1/3 meat!

That doesnt sound very appealing

?!

Erde had made the proposal with some confidence, but unfortunately, there were limits to his imagination.

The students reaction to the feast menu, which was more modest than Lee Hans meals, wasnt very enthusiastic.

Wh-why? If youre new students, you must have been thinking about those foods all throughout your first year?

We ate pretty well.

Dont lie! What do you mean you ate well? You must have boiled and eaten leather boots or pots!

The students shuddered at the seniors more miserable first-year diet than expected.

And they reflected anew.

I shouldnt complain about what I want to eat anymore

I was wondering, but we really did eat our fill!

I should ask for chocolate cake when school starts.

When all the Four Tower students fell silent with guilt and gratitude toward Lee Han, Erde misunderstood their reaction and spoke up.

You probably dont know how amazing this is because youve never experienced it! But its really possible! If you just succeed in smuggling at the beginning of the year, you can eat and live like rich people throughout the semester!

Creak-

Lee Han, who had returned after seeing off the Death Knight, opened the door and entered.

Then he held up the potion he had taken from Erde and asked.

But Senior. You told us to drink this whenthe inspection starts.

Thats a potion to help with smuggling.

This is a warrior potion mixed with blade bear transformation potion. Senior. If you drink this, youll transform into a blade bear and rampage like a madman.

Wh-which bastard betrayed me!?

When his wicked scheme to transform an underclassman into a monster and make them rampage was exposed, Erde became visibly flustered.

The underclassmen glared at their senior with contemptuous eyes.

Someone had to draw attention.

Im sure you did.

Realizing he was cornered, Erde sighed and made a request to Lee Han.

Huh. Fine. Just untie these bindings on my wrists for a moment.

Senior, you just tried to run away again. I cant do that.

This time is different. I promise on my familys name. Even if you untie me, I wont run away.

For a noble to promise on their familys name was a vow that was difficult to break easily.

Even when captured as a prisoner during territorial wars, if such a promise was made, they wouldnt flee even when opportunities arose.

When Erde went that far, the students mood softened a bit. They judged that now the senior would stop thinking of escaping and stay put obediently.

Understood. Ill untie you.

Haha, you foolish brat! Senses, into a maze!

As soon as his wrists and ankles were freed, Erde quickly pulled out a spare wand from his sleeve and cast the magic he had been preparing.

Cold air swirled around his enemies, disrupting their sense of direction and summoning illusions mixed with reality.

It was sufficient magic to escape this predicament.

Youve learned one lesson today. A true Einroguard mage values a piece of bread more than family name or honor!

Thwack!

Lee Han struck Erde as he tried to escape the annex, then dragged him back and sat him down.

And tied him up again.

He had already detected from the mana flow around Erde that he was trying to cast magic.

He only went along with it once because it seemed like Erde would keep being annoying if he didnt.

Lee Han swung his wand to sweep away the remaining illusion magic and brought his friends back to their senses.

Then Erde reacted belatedly.

How how how?!

Senior. You just swore on your familys name.

Even Erde seemed a bit ashamed of this and averted his gaze.

Then he muttered.

Hmph. Its normal at Einroguard.

We dont do that

You guys will too, you brat! Just stay one more year and youll be selling your ancestors names too! And you, what tower are you from! Do you know more about noble honor than me?!

Im from Blue Dragon Tower

Gainando, suddenly singled out, answered with an awkward expression.

Erde was surprised by that answer.

Come to think of it, this was the villa district of noble families. There was no way there wouldnt be Blue Dragon Tower students.

But

Wait, what about that guy?!

Erde pointed at Durgyu and asked.

No matter how he looked, he wasnt from Blue Dragon Tower.

White Tiger Tower.

Im from Black Turtle Tower.

Im Phoenix Tower.

Wait, wait, wait a minute.

Erde was even more flustered.

He was more surprised than when he was ambushed by the underclassmen.

He had wondered why there were so many of them and they lacked unity

How are you guys together?

Because were friends?

Blue Dragon Tower cant be friends with White Tiger Tower!

Erde shouted firmly.

Gainando almost agreed without realizing it.

Those guys are really annoying

Dont you see Choi next to you?

Ah, no. Except for Durgyu!

After thinking for a moment, Erde looked at Lee Han and asked.

Are you perhaps controlling these guys? If thats the case

Sometimes even within magic schools, charismatic seniors received respect regardless of tower.

The White Tiger Tower student before his eyes might be such a case.

Of all places, White Tiger Tower has someone like this

Im from Blue Dragon Tower.

?!!!!

Anyway, Senior. I tried to respect your honor as much as possible, but you kept deceiving us. Im confiscating all your wands and reagents.

Lee Han searched Erdes body and confiscated all remaining items.

No! Think carefully. Im your senior! Wont you see my face in the tower?

Regardless, Lee Han said what he had to say.

Ill release you when the semester starts. Youll have to come with us to the main gate though. Until then, you must stay inside the annex. If theres anything youd like to eat, please let me know.

Thick pancakes with premium salted butter, southern honey, and coffee with plenty of milk.

Ah. I didnt mean Id just give it to you, but that Id give it to you if you provide advice or information about smuggling.

Are you really a 1st year??

Erde looked at Lee Han with shaking eyes.

To think such a guy had entered Blue Dragon Tower!

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