Published at 31st of March 2026 9:27 pm

Chapter 844

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

After the brief conversation, Lee Han lamented inwardly.

How could this be. I couldnt trust my senior.

It would be one thing with other professors or seniors, but to end up like this because he doubted Diret.

He couldnt help but feel self-reproach.

Ugh. This is too painful.

I-its not that bad, is it?

Diret panicked when his junior expressed distress.

Of course, due to the misunderstanding, he had worked too hard on magic he didnt need to do, but still, learning the Skeleton Golem was a remarkable achievement.

It was something to be proud and satisfied about.

Junior. Look. You can summon Skeleton Golems now.

I didnt need to do it though

Dont you like golems?

I should have listened to you properly

Whoosh!

Diret grabbed his whining juniors head with both hands and forcibly turned it sideways to make him look at the Skeleton Golem.

Hey. Look at it. Isnt it cool?

Ugh. Its cool.

Arent you proud?

Im proud.

Right. Completing a Skeleton Golem in just one lecture is really, really amazing. Right?

Yes

Its amazing. Right!

Yes!

Todays lecture was rewarding and satisfying, right?

It was rewarding and satisfying!

Satisfied with his juniors (forcibly obtained) answer, Diret nodded, but suddenly began to doubt himself.

Am I perhaps acting like the professors of Einroguard right now?

***

After the lecture ended, Lee Han briefly visited the Dark Tower.

He wanted to personally check on Duke Ikalderens condition.

If the Dukes condition has improved, he might be able to communicate with me too.

Last time, because the Duke was too frightened, he only managed to get him to sign for Yukveltires artificial dimension research, but couldnt discuss any other deals.

Diret claimed that the reason Duke Ikalderen was scared was because of Lee Hans status as the disciple of Marryongwan

Lee Han didnt completely agree.

The fact that the seniors kidnapped him by putting him inside a toad demon must also be one of the reasons. It wasnt just me who scared him.

In any case, if the Dukes condition had improved and conversation was possible, Lee Han might have a chance to extort some gold coins.

Lee Han recalled several fake research titles he had thought of in advance as he went down the stairs.

Something like Research on Ancient Micro-world Magic or Applied Research on Water Jade Bullet Magic, Advanced Conversion of Lightning Elements and Spirit Authority Research might tempt him.

Are you there?

Please just go away. I wont ask for more anymore.

?

Lee Han was puzzled by the Dukes tired and starved voice.

Of course, anyone imprisoned in the underground prison of a Dark Mages magic tower would become irritable, but what the Duke just said seemed to have a slightly different meaning.

As if he was talking to someone else

Your Grace Duke. Are you alright?

You you, youre not the Imperial Princess!

The Duke belatedly recognized Lee Hans voice and banged on the bars.

Quickly! Come quickly!

???

Lee Han went down cautiously, wondering if it was a trap.

What if the Duke was hiding nearby and would pounce on him when he went down?

Of course, the Duke was properly confined within the bars. He looked much paler and more gaunt than when he had seen him last time.

You

Duke Ikalderen, upon discovering Lee Han, whispered in a hoarse voice.

Thinking he might start ranting again about being the disciple of Marryongwan or something, Lee Han became a bit worried.

Your Grace Duke. What you said last time was a bit of a misunderstanding

Do you have food?

Pardon?

Food, I mean. Something to eat. Anything is fine.

Im sorry, Your Grace. The food I carry around is only ordinary stuff.

Lee Han always carried a certain amount of provisions in his backpack just in case, but most of it was simple preserved food that could be eaten easily.

It wouldnt be satisfactory for the Duke, who enjoyed luxurious meals with names too difficult to remember.

Ordinary is fine! Ordinary is fine. Do you have bread?!

Bread I have some, but it might be a bit stale.

Give it to me!

Lee Han took out some slightly stale hard bread and offered it. The Duke unwrapped it and hurriedly stuffed it into his mouth.

Your Grace Duke. Here, at least spread some butter and jam on it.

Oh, ooh!

The Dukes eyes welled up with tears as he received the butter and jam Lee Han offered. He cut a large chunk of butter with a knife, spread jam thickly on it, smeared it on the bread, and swallowed it without even breathing.

After finishing four pieces of bread in an instant, the Duke finally seemed to regain his senses.

I shall repay you for this meal. Disciple of Marryongwan. What research are you currently conducting?

Pardon? Well, ancient micro-world

Before clearing up the misunderstanding about being the disciple of Marryongwan, Lee Han first mentioned the fake research title he had decided on.

Before even hearing it all, the Duke took out paper and signed to sponsor the research.

Take it. You can write in the research name here as you see fit.

No way. Hes giving it this easily?

Lee Han was flustered.

There was a limit to being happy about good fortune, but wasnt this too easy and fast?

Surely he didnt give this just because he provided four pieces of bread with butter and jam

Was there some other intention?

There might be some scheme.

While Lee Han was pondering, the Duke glanced around and opened his mouth.

Do you have more food?

Pardon?

I-Im not asking for it for free. Lets exchange. Here. Take a look.

The Duke quickly took out another piece of paper and made a blank check to sponsor research.

Lets exchange it for food. How about it?

Your Grace Duke. By any chance, have you been starving? Hasnt Senior Yukveltire been giving you meals?

Duke Ikalderen rolled his eyes around.

He was pondering because he couldnt understand what Lee Han meant by the question.

If it was a trap

Your Grace Duke. I swear on Marryongwans name to keep your secret. Please speak honestly.

Yes. Ive been starving. It seems you didnt know.

I dont understand. Senior Yukveltire may be narrow-minded, petty, stingy, and eccentric, but shes not someone who would deliberately starve prisoners.

For a junior following a senior, there was a suspiciously large amount of harsh criticism, but the Duke was too tired and exhausted to notice.

The Imperial Princess didnt starve me on purpose. But it was as good as starving me on purpose.

The Duke explained what had happened with a sigh.

At first, when the Marryongwans disciple and the student from the evil black maic school disappeared, leaving only Yukveltire, the Duke was slightly relieved.

After all, if he had to choose the most honorable and trustworthy mage among those three, wouldnt it be the royalty?

And Yukveltire acted with proper etiquette as the Duke expected.

-Thank you for sponsoring the artificial dimension research, Your Majesty.

-Im just pleased to help an outstanding Einroguard mage.

-If theres anything you desire, please tell me. Ill do my best to accommodate you.

-Hmph. In return, youll have to sponsor more research. Yes. If its gold I have to pay anyway Since I dont know how much longer Ill be trapped in Einroguard, I should at least eat properly this time. The food the Death Knights bring is so bland.

When this week ended and he returned to the solitary cell guarded by Death Knights, hed have to eat boring meals again.

The Duke ordered the luxurious meals he used to enjoy.

Outstanding mages like Einroguard students should be able to prepare them sufficiently.

That judgment was almost accurate.

Except for the fact that one of the few exceptions was right in front of the Duke.

-Rotten salad with truffles and chicory ham harvested two days ago, beans harvested from the Empires south. Is that correct?

-All wrong. Are you joking right now?

-I apologize, Your Majesty. Could you tell me again?

-So, salad with truffles

At first, when the Imperial Princess couldnt properly remember the menu, he thought surely not.

She was still an Einroguard upperclassman, wasnt she?

However, that surely not soon became merciless reality.

-Ive prepared it. Please eat.

-Oh! Thank What is this?

-Prosciutto ham with truffles, chicory salad harvested no more than two days ago, and Empire southern-style mushroom consomme.

-Isnt this garbage?

-Your Majesty. Even if you try to provoke me with such meaningless insults, its pointless.

-Im not trying to provoke you! No. Look at this!

The Duke was truly dumbfounded.

If he just got the ingredients, it wasnt such a difficult dish to make. Making it this disastrously seemed harder.

The ham was frozen solid and stuck to the bowl, the chicory salad had some strange sauce mixed in that gave off an odd smell, and the mushroom consomme had roughly cut fish and meat floating around instead of clear broth

-The ham is frozen!

-Eating it cold is the delicacy, isnt it?

-Its not cold, its frozen And what on earth is this salad sauce!?

-I heard the sauce is the essence of salad.

-The consomme?! What are all these chunks supposed to be?

-I tried to enrich the flavor by adding leftover ingredients.

-

The Duke seriously wondered if the Imperial Princess was doing this to insult him, but after a long conversation, he finally understood.

The Imperial Princess truly knew nothing about cooking.

Yet she had uselessly high confidence and tried to cook however she wanted! When I pointed that out, she told me not to provoke her with meaningless insults! Huh!

The Duke was so wronged and bitter that he shouted with veins bulging in his neck.

It wasnt such a difficult request.

Just following the recipe would have been much better than this.

I, I see. But But Your Majesty. If Senior was terrible at cooking, couldnt you have just asked for the ingredients?

I didnt say she was terrible Anyway, I said that. From now on, none of that is necessary, just give me the same meals you eat.

Lee Han was puzzled by the Dukes words.

Then wasnt the problem solved?

Why did he starve like this?

Wasnt that good then?

Do you see that?

The Duke pointed to a table outside the bars. On the table was a single thin slice of bread.

I see it.

Thats a days worth of meals.

Is that whats left after eating?

No! Thats the Imperial Princesss daily meal!!

The Duke shouted as if having a fit. Lee Han was overwhelmed by his intensity and stepped back.

Who would have known the Imperial Princess ate so little! Damn it, she should have at least told me! How can a person survive on just that!

Moreover, Yukveltire had left for several days due to some business, leaving only the food behind.

From the Dukes perspective, it was maddening.

He had to starve without even having anyone to complain to.

Bring out food! Damn it!

Duke Ikalderen realized that in the face of true hunger, titles and reputation meant nothing.

When Lee Han hurriedly took out a can of beef and gave it to him, the Duke opened the lid and ate it with his hands.

Creak-

!

Both Lee Han and the Duke were startled by the sound of a door opening from above.

Lee Han was startled because he was trying to get some separate sponsorship while his senior was away, and the Duke was just startled.

However, the person who entered was someone theyd never seen before.

He seemed to be limping, using a crutch on one side, and had cooking utensils like kitchen knives, ladles, and spatulas hanging from his waist.

With even a chefs distinctive hat on, he gave off the atmosphere of a very picky and irritable cook.

The person looked Lee Han up and down, then asked bluntly.

Are you the Wardanaz Family boy?

Thats correct. Who are you?

Im the Kitchen Keeper.

!

It was one of the Skeleton Principals minions hed never seen before. Lee Han said in surprise.

Nice to meet you.

I suppose so. Ive never seen you either. And I havent seen the 2nd years either. Because of you. Thanks to that, I couldnt collect staffs and got scolded. This is also because of you.

???

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