Chapter 027
“These bad guys should be thanked for feeding sleeping plants, not poison!”
Nilia said with a sigh.
As much as he heard what happened to Lee Han and Yoner, he was very angry with the White Tiger Tower students.
“To fight like that against Wodanaz, who did nothing wrong!”
“Actually, there’s nothing wrong with it. I did get into a swordsmanship class with the students of the White Tiger Tower.”
“uh?? No, that’s why it’s wrong…”
“But that’s not the point.”
Nilia opened her eyes wide and looked at Lee Han as if she was absurd, but Lee Han ignored it and continued talking.
“Anyway, Durgyu. I know you’re surprised, but I want you to know that this is nothing cowardly or dishonorable. It’s a strategy.”
“That’s right. The victim is an idiot.”
Nilia helped Lee Han.
For Nilia, who was a hunter, this level of retaliation was not even retaliation.
“I’m a bit honorable though…”
“Uh huh. Durgyu. You’re looking narrowly at honor. Let’s see the results. If we fought here and got caught up in a commotion, we wouldn’t have blushed for honor or something. However, thanks to the addition of sleeping weed in the water, we were able to finish well without causing each other to blush. We will go back to school without being caught and those friends unharmed. Isn’t this an honor?”
“Is that… is that so?”
“It’s an honor. It’s an honor.”
Nilia helped Lee Han. Yoner and Cainando also agreed.
“It sounds like an honorable act.”
“Is this enough to be honored in the imperial palace?”
“That… that’s right.”
Just as a person close to ink gradually turns black, Durgyu was gradually becoming colored by Lee Han’s way of thinking without even noticing it.
* * *
Tatatatatatak- Lee
Han nodded at the sound of the undead running from afar.
– Suppression complete.
– Suppression complete.
The bone chasers didn’t find it strange that the White Tiger Tower students were asleep.
As an undead pet with low intelligence, he couldn’t distinguish such things.
‘I guess I’ll have to wait now.’
Yihan was sure that those bone chasers would soon begin to disperse.
Since all of the students in the White Tiger Tower, the target, were captured, there was no reason to stay any longer.
“Where?”
“I’m going to check around here while I wait.”
Lee Han cautiously moved towards the side of the wall.
An unexpected uproar broke out and the original goal of escaping the school was in vain, but I couldn’t just go back empty-handed.
‘I need to check something.’
How far can the huge fortress wall enclosing the school site extend into the mountain range?
And is there really no way to escape?
The other students followed after Lee Han and cautiously moved their steps.
The bone chasers are gone, but a deep darkness looms before them, and the mountaintops get steeper and thicker with trees and bushes.
“It’s… so dark.”
“This is dangerous. I will fall.”
In addition, the surroundings were even darker because even the students of the White Tiger Tower, who had lit torches, had disappeared.
“Wardanaz. I need to turn on the light.”
“Wouldn’t that be dangerous?”
“There are so many obstacles around here, so it should be fine.”
“okay. Light!”
Intense light enveloped the surroundings along with Lee Han’s spell. It was like daylight.
Nilia, who saw that, suddenly became anxious.
Theoretically, if the distance is this far and the trees and bushes are dense and thick, it’s normal to not be able to see the light from below…
Lee Han’s spell seemed too strong.
‘I’m sure they won’t find out.’
– Turn off the lights. young students. ‘Cause I can’t sleep
“!!!”
A low, resounding voice filled with unmanaged magic came from within the forest.
The students who had been tormented by the crazy principal couldn’t help but be astonished.
Could it be that there was a trap here too?
“who are you?”
Lee Han was the first to come to his senses and open his mouth.
‘If it was the principal’s summoned beast, he would have attacked first.’
-I’ll ask the question first. Because your students came. If you get the question right, you’ll be treated as a guest, but if you’re wrong, you’ll be treated as an uninvited guest. Now… there’s nothing to be nervous about. It’s a really easy problem. A dwarf had lit five candles in the room late in the evening. But a strong wind blew outside the window and one of the candles went out. Not long after, a dwarf, a guest drinking beer in the next room, opened the door and came in, knocking out one more candle. So the dwarf closed the windows and doors to prevent the candle from going out. How many candles are left the next morning?
‘This is a trap.’
Lee Han realized the trap hidden in the mystery.
At first glance, it’s easy to think that there would be three left since two of the five went out, but the candles were supposed to burn out over time.
In other words, when morning comes, the number of remaining candles is 0.
“Three outlines!”
Kainando answered without going through his brain. Lee Han was shocked.
“!”
-That’s the correct answer.
“…Wait a minute. Didn’t the candle burn out and go out?”
Lee Han could not stand it and asked. Then the voice answered as if wondering.
-When you solve a riddle like this, of course you use a non-burning magic candle, right? Isn’t that obvious?
“……”
Lee Han cursed inwardly.
‘It’s like this crazy magical society.’
As I said, it was an easy problem.
– Since you answered the question correctly, I will treat you as a guest. But… it’s been a while since I met a guest, and it’s a pity to just end it. Why don’t you try one more question? Even if it’s wrong, I’ll treat you as a guest, and if you get it right, I’ll give you a gift.
“I am ready.”
Lee Han answered right away without even thinking about it.
If you miss this opportunity, you’re just an idiot.
– Here in the morning there is a big man. It gets smaller at noon and gets bigger again in the afternoon. At night, this character disappears. Who is this person?
The students hesitated.
He was bewildered by an unexpected riddle.
‘what?’
‘I do not know.’
Gainando, who gained confidence with the correct answer earlier, shouted again.
“It’s a monster that’s big in the morning and afternoon and shrinks in size at noon!”
-…Wrong.
“why?! ah. I forgot to disappear at night…”
-That’s wrong.
“Is the correct answer a shadow?”
– That’s the correct answer!
“!!!”
Friends looked at Lee Han with surprised eyes.
-How did you guess?
It was an all-too-famous riddle.
Isn’t it one of the riddles of the Sphinx?
As it was annoying to explain that he had previous life knowledge, Lee Han answered simply.
“As I focused my mind and surrendered to wisdom, the answer came.”
Ambiguous answers always and everywhere are interpreted favorably.
The other party seemed to be very impressed with Lee Han’s answer.
He said in a more excited voice than before.
-excellent. welcome you clever little students
The densely planted trees moved aside all at once, and the surrounding terrain began to change as if it were foggy.
Along with the magical power of the thick greenery, an empty land of spirits that did not seem to exist in reality appeared before my eyes.
* * *
It was a talking oak tree that greeted Lee Han and his friends.
All kinds of monsters, spirits, and other mysterious beings lived in the deep forest.
The oak tree now appearing in front of me was one of them.
– You look very tired. Try drinking this.
The talking oak tree moved its branch and handed over the wooden cup. There was a cold green liquid dripping from it.
‘It doesn’t smell very good.’
Green juice-like color and green juice-like smell.
But the feeling of magic was abundant. Lee Han drank cautiously.
“!”
I felt as if the fatigue built up in my muscles had been released.
Just like the cold ice water you drink after running in a sweat on a hot summer day pierces your whole body, so did the green drink you just drank.
The coolness that goes down the cold throat!
Apart from being very bitter, the effect was obvious.
– It’s a drink using the sap made by trees in the forest. does it fit your mouth?
“yes. Delicious. Could you please give me some more?”
-do whatever you want.
Lee Han put the sap in a leather water bag and took it. As the school environment was barren, I had to take care of these things when I could.
While Lee Han was taking care of it, the other students continued to ask the oak trees questions.
I couldn’t help but wonder as I came to a mysterious clearing only known by the spirits of the forest.
“What are you doing here?”
“Are there any other trees?”
“Do you have anything to eat? this is too bitter At least some sweet fruit.”
While the friends chatted, Lee Han also asked the talking oak tree a question.
This opportunity could not be missed.
“Can I ask you a few questions?”
-do whatever you want. But you have to reveal who you are. Introduce yourself.
“I am Lee Han.”
The oak tree was amazed at Lee Han’s first name instead of family name.
It was not uncommon for a noble boy to say his name first instead of his family name.
– What is your family name?
“This is the Wardanaz family.”
Kung-
The oak tree took a step back. Lee Han felt slightly embarrassed.
-I’m sorry. It’s not your fault, but because of the rumors. The Wardanaz family has a lot of great wizards.
“Is that so?”
-There are a lot of crazy wizards out there.
“……”
– Saying your own name instead of your family name. Great. You will become a good wizard. But what are the students doing here in the middle of the night?
Lee Han answered without spitting on his lips.
“I was enjoying my night walk.”
“……”
Hearing the answer from the side, Yoner bit his lip to hold back laughter.
Of course, the Talking Oak Tree was not fooled by such lies.
-ah. Are you looking for a way out of school? But looking at the shape of the moon today, it must be the first week the freshmen came in. Are you already trying to get out in the first week?
“…Actually, there are various circumstances.”
Lee Han tried to make an excuse, but the talking oak tree was already admiring it.
– To be able to go out in the first week… The new students who came in this time are amazing.
‘shit.’
Lee Han gave up his excuses.
“Talking Oak. If so many students have tried to get out before me, can you give me some advice on how to get out?”
-I have lived in this forest for over hundreds of years. I watched a lot of students try to get out of this school. There is no way. It’s because it’s impossible at your freshman level.
The Talking Oak Tree seemed unwilling to speak.
Lee Han, who did not expect much from the beginning, decided to ask another question.
“Can I go out in the mountain if I go in this direction?”
-It would be overkill. Because there are walls.
“…There is a castle wall here too??”
-okay. And the walls are enchanted. If you climb carelessly, you will taste the bitterness.
Lee Han was astounded.
The ramparts continued even deep inside this steep mountain range that had been climbed for several hours.
That’s great!
‘If this is the case, it’s practically impossible to find a place where the wall is broken and escape.’
Climbing the walls or bypassing them is not allowed.
The Talking Oak gave an admonition.
-When you are a freshman, don’t try to go out by force. Because it’s a risky thing. For now, the mountain is quiet, but in a few more weeks the sleeping monsters will wake up.
“thank you for telling me.”
The Talking Oak looked at Lee Han’s eyes.
Even after hearing these words, I didn’t waver in the slightest.
Rather than being scared, the eyes that were trying to run more.
I liked the oak tree whose spirit spoke.
-I’ll give you a riddle. Orcs of the Black Ax tribe and Orcs of the Red Feather tribe. The Orcs of the White Eagle Tribe and the Orcs of the Green Frog Tribe gathered and held a feast. Even the evil goblin got in and ate and drank. How could a goblin do that?
“…?”
“???”
The assembled students were perplexed by the riddle of the talking oak tree.
Gainando opened his mouth.
“Were you a popular goblin?”
The oak tree pretended not to hear.
