Still, as a junior from the same tower—though the fact that Princess Yukbeltire was Diret’s friend mattered more—Lee Han tried to defend her a little.

“She isn’t a bad person.”

“What? She’s Verdus’s top disciple. How is she not a bad person?”

Damn. That’s pirate logic, but it’s hard to argue with.

Lee Han felt the defense collapse before it had even begun.

How was he supposed to defend someone when Ragesa opened with the fact that Princess Yukbeltire was Professor Verdus’s disciple?

“...I’m Professor Verdus’s disciple too.”

“You naive kid. Are you defending her just because she’s a senior from the same school? I guarantee you, that arrogant Little Verdus doesn’t even think of you as her junior.”

“Well, I don’t really think of her as my senior either...”

“...”

Ragesa found herself wondering all over again whether Einroguard’s enchantment magic school was really all right.

It seemed to have even less unity than a pirate crew.

“Then why defend her?”

“I happened to see that bronze golem.”

“Ah. That thing. It was well made.”

“What did Senior Little Verdus say to make you so angry?”

“She came to see me with the bronze golem.”

“And then?”

“That was it.”

“...”

Perhaps sensing Lee Han’s confusion, Ragesa explained in more detail.

“You know about the box of gold Torgerd’s daughter sent Verdus, don’t you? Then you should understand what it means for his top disciple to come strutting up to me with a bronze golem.”

“Maybe she purely wanted to compete through magic.”

“Hmph!”

Ragesa briefly recounted the conversation.

—Hello, Ragesa. I’m Princess Yukbeltire, a fifth-year at Einroguard.

—I know. You’re Verdus’s disciple.

—That’s right.

—Do you know what it means for his disciple to come to me like this, knowing the bad blood between me and Verdus?

—Ragesa. Mages are judged only by magic. There’s no reason to drag old grudges or past wrongs into this.

—So your master’s affairs are your master’s affairs, and as the disciple, you have nothing to do with them?

—That’s right.

—Hmph. Well, I suppose I’m partly to blame for getting fooled by that bastard Verdus... Even if it means dealing with his disciple...

—That’s right.

—...Get lost!

Hm. Senior Yukbeltire was definitely in the wrong.

Lee Han immediately regretted trying to defend her.

Why had he tried to stand up for someone like that?

If it had been Lee Han, he would at least have put on a show and said, “The one who deceived you was at fault! I’ll go catch him immediately!”

“Senior Little Evil Verdus has always been... lacking in awareness.”

“She certainly seemed that way. No wonder she’s Verdus’s disciple.”

“Could you give her one more chance? That bronze golem really is an impressive piece of work.”

“...Agh! Fine. I’ll give her one more chance, if only out of pity for you, since you’re stuck playing caretaker. Bring her later.”

“I’m not Senior Yukbeltire’s caretaker.”

“I wasn’t talking about Little Verdus. I meant you’re the caretaker for the kids in your year.”

“??”

***

I’m still worried.

Lee Han remained uneasy as he headed toward the healing magic lecture hall.

He had been unable to attend the previous class for unavoidable reasons.

Of course, being kidnapped by an insane ancient mage was the sort of excuse that deserved consideration...

But the healing magic school honestly might not consider that enough.

The healing magic school suffered from severe manpower shortages. Every student who left was a serious loss.

How desperate must they have been for the Skull Principal to permit the extreme measure of forcing all first-years to attend?

And yet, once students became second-years, the healing magic school still had the highest dropout rate.

Even among Lee Han’s immediate friends, very few remained in the school.

“Oh. Senior Phil!”

At times like this, seniors were the most reliable option.

Unlike other fifth-years, Phil of the healing magic school had never appeared in outside activities, presentations, or research sessions.

Lee Han knew why without needing to ask.

Must have been dragged around by the professor and worked to death...

“You...!”

“It’s good to see you.”

“I was relieved because I thought you’d finally given up on the healing magic school!”

“...”

Nearby, Ragesa excitedly pulled snuff from her pouch, delighted that the conversation was already entertaining.

Now this is Einroguard!

“No, why would you think that? I’m an all-school student.”

“Honestly, I thought you could still count as all-school even without taking healing magic...”

Phil looked genuinely troubled. Lee Han asked cautiously.

“Was I expelled from the school because I skipped the last lecture without permission?”

“What nonsense are you talking about? Our school doesn’t expel people. We’d drag you out of an Imperial prison and put you to work.”

“Senior. Um. There’s an outside guest here, so please lower your voice...”

“Ah. Sorry. That was a joke.”

“Kihihi. Go on. Keep going.”

Phil was too exhausted to ask who Ragesa was. His junior was the more urgent problem.

“Not expelled. I just thought that since you didn’t come, you’d finally realized the value of choice and focus...”

“...I was kidnapped.”

“Oh my. Really? What happened to the other party?”

From Phil’s reaction, Lee Han realized his senior truly hadn’t heard much outside news.

Someone locked in the punishment cells probably knew more.

“It’s a long story. Anyway, Senior, I’m worried because I missed the last lecture. Can I keep up?”

“You handled the second-year curriculum by yourself last year. Of course you can.”

“Hey. Tell me more about that.”

Ragesa pressed an Imperial gold coin into Phil’s hand, urging him on. Phil looked bewildered, but still pocketed it.

“That’s not difficult... but we need to get to the lecture hall first. This week is also mini-exam week.”

“!”

Only then did Lee Han remember that the fourth week was usually when surprise quizzes were held.

No. They’re giving exams even during club week... I was a fool. Of course they are.

Scolding himself for almost asking such an idiotic question, Lee Han turned back to his senior.

“What’s the exam?”

“Sorry, but I don’t know either. We’ll find out when we get there.”

“??”

For a moment, Lee Han wondered if Phil was lying, but there was no hesitation in his expression.

What?

Fifth-years who assisted professors usually knew the exam contents whether they wanted to or not.

Just last year, one unfortunate first-year had overheard a professor explain an exam while helping other students prepare...

“More importantly, you missed the last lecture. What did you not hear... Actually, let’s just cover the important parts.”

“Ah. Yes.”

When Phil began talking about healing magic, Lee Han focused intently.

“First, now that you’re a second-year, you’re a proper member of the healing magic school.”

“Yes.”

“You need an alias.”

“...”

“Ah, right. Not an alias. A nickname. If we call it an alias, it sounds suspicious, so remember: it’s a nickname.”

Lee Han had already learned why healing mages preferred to keep their identities vague.

To avoid being dragged out even on rest days, it was better to use a common, forgettable nickname.

“What nickname will you use?”

“Uh... Gainando...”

“No. Too long and too easy to remember. One or two syllables at most.”

“I’ll think about it later. What else?”

“Other than that... nothing, really.”

“...Really?”

“Like I said, you learned the second-year curriculum by yourself last year.”

Treating cuts and lacerations usually began in the second year.

First-year instruction started with the absolute basics.

“Ah. There are the juniors Demon and Goat.”

“?”

Lee Han turned to see who had chosen such ridiculous nicknames.

It was Priest Tiziling and Angrago.

I would’ve been better off choosing Gonadaltes.

—How about Basilisk?

When the baby basilisk asked brightly, Lee Han smoothly changed the subject.

“I’ll think about it later. Hey, over here!”

The two spotted Lee Han and looked surprised.

Then they spoke at almost the same time.

“Didn’t you ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) quit the healing magic school?”

“I thought you quit!”

“...”

When Lee Han looked at Phil, the senior flushed with embarrassment.

“I was so happy that I may have talked too much to the juniors.”

***

he healing magic school’s lecture, <Practical Healing Magic>, had several unusual features.

First, second-years, third-years, and fourth-years all attended together.

The lecture hall was unusual as well.

Unlike most professors, who disliked holding classes in their own magic towers, Professor Alcasis conducted lectures inside her tower, Dogyu Hall.

Partly because searching for separate lecture rooms was troublesome, but also because Dogyu Hall’s facilities were uniquely suited for it.

“!!!”

Not only Lee Han but his friends as well looked up at the sky in shock.

Dozens of wyverns were rapidly flying in and out. Anyone would have mistaken it for an attack.

But the wyverns had not come to invade.

Each wyvern carried a flag indicating where it had come from and for what purpose. They stopped in midair, dropped patients toward the ground, then flew away again.

Before the patients struck the ground, Dogyu Hall activated the magic spread around the area and sucked them into the tower.

From the surrounding region and far beyond, patients all across the Empire who needed healing magic had been rushed to Einroguard as quickly as possible.

The Death Knights busily managing aerial traffic greeted Lee Han warmly when they saw him.

—Oh. Student Lee Han. Didn’t you quit the healing magic school?

“...”

“I’m really sorry...”

Phil could not raise his head from shame.

“More importantly, is it all right to have this many patients?”

“It’s usually like this when there are a lot. Let’s pray they aren’t too badly injured. That makes the exam easier.”

Only then did Lee Han realize what the healing magic pop quiz was.

The patients who periodically rushed in were the exam.

“Whew, is everyone here? Oh. Senior Phil, you came too!”

Palcrius, the enormous priest from the Kitchen Club, was handing out sandwiches he had personally made near the entrance to Dogyu Hall.

Then he noticed Lee Han and looked startled.

“Didn’t you quit the healing magic school?!”

“...Senior Phil spread false rumors.”

“Oh my! Well, either way, good for us. Not good for you, Wardanaz, maybe? Uhaha! Everyone upstairs! Hurry!”

Shoved along by Palcrius, they climbed into Dogyu Hall, where a vast chamber wider than a banquet hall opened before them.

The healing magic students who had arrived earlier were divided by year and already treating patients.

—Where should this patient go?

—Second-year section.

—What about this patient?

—Third-year section.

—This patient...

—Ask one more time and I’ll turn you into a patient.

-S-Sorry, Professor.

In the chaotic atmosphere, Lee Han and his friends hurried toward the second-year section.

At that moment, Phil and Palcrius grabbed Lee Han by the shoulders from both sides.

“?”

“Uh, well...”

“Whew. Senior Phil and I were going to take you to the fourth-year area.”

“No, you lunatic!”

“Huh? Isn’t that right?”

Palcrius looked confused by Phil’s reaction.

“No matter what, it should be the third-year area! Why are you already trying to drag him into fourth-year work?! Even third-year is too soon!”

“He has a lot of mana and can use fourth-circle magic, so he can assist well enough, right? If it’s just support, third-year or fourth-year...”

“That’s true, but...”

While Phil was being crushed by logic, Priest Tiziling and Angrago read the situation and quickly spirited Lee Han away to the second-year area.

“Hey, hey! You cowards! Come back! Return Wardanaz!”

“Palcrius, you’re being noisy!”

“Sorry, Professor!”

Ragesa watched the entire scene with satisfaction, then quietly headed downstairs.

Knowing Professor Alcasis’s personality, if she stayed here too long, work would absolutely be assigned to her too.