"These bastards should be thankful we used sleepweed instead of poison!"
Nillia huffed angrily.
She was furious at the students from the White Tiger Tower after hearing what had happened to Ihan and Yonel.
"To think they picked a fight with Wardanaz when he did nothing wrong!"
"Well, it's not like I did absolutely nothing. I did attend the swordsmanship class that the White Tiger Tower students usually go to."
"Huh?? But how is that wrong..."
"But that's not the point."
Nillia widened her eyes in disbelief and stared at Ihan, but he ignored her and kept talking.
"Anyway, Dergeu. I get that you're surprised, but I want you to understand—this isn't cowardly or dishonorable. It's strategy."
"Y-Yeah. The ones who got tricked were just fools."
Nillia backed up Ihan's words.
To a former hunter like Nillia, this kind of payback didn't even count as real revenge.
"I still feel like… I wish it were more honorable..."
"Come now, Dergeu. You're thinking of honor too narrowly. Let's look at the results. If we'd fought and caused a scene, we'd all be in trouble and embarrassed. But because we used sleepweed in their water, everything ended peacefully. No one got hurt, we weren't caught, and they'll go back to school none the wiser. Isn't that honorable in itself?"
"That… kinda makes sense?"
"It is honorable. Totally honorable."
Nillia chimed in again. Yonel and Gainando nodded in agreement.
"Seems like a noble move to me."
"Even the imperial palace would probably call this honorable."
"I… I see."
Like ink staining something over time, Dergeu was slowly being influenced by Ihan's way of thinking—without even realizing it.
Tatatatatak—
Ihan nodded as he heard the sound of undead running from afar.
-Target subdued.
-Target subdued.
The Bone Trackers didn't find it odd that the White Tiger Tower students had fallen asleep.
As low-intelligence undead summons, they weren't capable of noticing anything strange.
'Now we wait.'
Ihan was sure the Bone Trackers would soon begin dispersing.
They'd completed their mission of capturing the White Tiger Tower students, so they had no reason to stay.
"Where are you going?"
"Going to check out the area while we wait."
Ihan carefully moved toward the side where the fortress wall stood.
Their original goal of escaping the school was ruined by the unexpected chaos, but they couldn't return empty-handed.
'I need to find something.'
Just how far did the massive wall surrounding the school grounds extend into the mountains?
And was there truly no way out?
The others quietly followed behind Ihan.
Even though the Bone Trackers had vanished, the pitch-black darkness loomed ahead. The higher they climbed, the steeper the slope became, and the thicker the forest and underbrush grew.
"It's so... dark."
"This is dangerous. I'm gonna trip and fall."
To make matters worse, now that the White Tiger Tower students who had torches were gone, it was even darker than before.
"Wardanaz, we need light."
"Won't that be dangerous?"
"There's too much cover around us—it should be fine."
"Alright. Let there be light!"
With Ihan's spell, a burst of light flared up around them, as bright as midday.
Seeing that, Nillia suddenly grew anxious.
In theory, with the trees and underbrush this dense and from this distance, the light shouldn't be visible below…
But Ihan's magic seemed way too strong.
'No way we're getting spotted… right?'
-Put out the light, young ones. I can't sleep.
"!!!"
A deep, resonating voice filled with magical power echoed from within the forest—it didn't sound human at all.
Already on edge from dealing with the crazy headmaster, the students froze in terror.
Was there another trap here?
"Who are you?"
The first to recover and speak was Ihan.
'If it was the headmaster's summoned creature, it would've attacked already.'
-I'll ask the questions. You students came here. Answer correctly and you'll be treated as guests. Answer wrong… and you'll be treated as intruders. Don't be nervous. It's a really easy question.
A dwarf lit five candles in his room late at night. Then a strong wind blew in from the window and snuffed one out. A little later, a guest dwarf opened the door forcefully, snuffing out another. To stop the rest from going out, the dwarf closed both the window and the door.
So, how many candles were left the next morning?
'It's a trick question.'
Ihan realized the riddle's trap.
At first glance, it sounds like there would be three candles left—but candles burn out over time.
By morning, none would be left.
"The answer is: three!"
Gainando answered without even thinking. Ihan was horrified.
"!"
—Correct.
"...W-Wait. Weren't the candles supposed to have all burned out?"
Ihan couldn't help but ask. The voice responded with a tone of mild confusion.
—When posing riddles like this, obviously we use magic candles that don't burn out. Isn't that obvious?
"..."
Ihan cursed internally.
'What kind of ridiculous magical society is this?'
It really had been as easy as it sounded.
—Since you got the question right, I'll treat you as guests. But... it's been so long since I've had visitors, I feel a bit disappointed to end it like this. How about one more riddle? Get it right, and I'll give you a gift. Even if you get it wrong, I'll still treat you as guests.
"I'm ready."
Ihan replied without the slightest hesitation.
It would be foolish to let a chance like this slip away.
—There is one who grows big in the morning, shrinks at noon, grows again in the afternoon, and disappears at night. Who is this?
The students hesitated.
They were caught off guard by the unexpected riddle.
'What is it?'
'I don't know...'
Buoyed by his earlier success, Gainando shouted again.
"It's a monster that grows big in the morning, shrinks at noon, and grows big again in the afternoon!"
—...Incorrect.
"What?! Ah—maybe I forgot the part where it disappears at night..."
—Still wrong.
"Is the answer... a shadow?"
—Correct!
"!!!"
The others stared at Ihan with wide eyes.
—How did you know?
It was an incredibly famous riddle—one of the classic Sphinx riddles, even.
Not wanting to bother explaining that he knew it from a past life, Ihan gave a simple response.
"I focused my mind and let wisdom guide me—the answer came to me."
Vague answers always left room for positive interpretation, no matter the situation.
Apparently, the voice was quite impressed by Ihan's reply.
It now spoke in an excited tone.
—Excellent. I welcome you. Clever young students.
The dense trees around them parted all at once, and the terrain began to shift like mist swirling away.
Bathed in the deep green glow of magical energy, a mystical glade appeared before them—so unreal it seemed like something from a dream.
What greeted Ihan and his friends was a talking oak tree.
In the depths of the forest lived all sorts of monsters, spirits, and other mysterious beings.
The oak tree standing before them was one of those.
—You look tired. Drink this.
The talking tree extended one of its branches and handed over a wooden cup, filled with a cold green liquid that sloshed quietly inside.
'Smells kind of gross.'
It looked like green juice, and it smelled like green juice too.
But the magical energy radiating from it was rich. Ihan cautiously took a sip.
"!"
It felt like all the fatigue built up in his muscles melted away.
Like drinking cold water after running hard on a hot summer day, the chill seeped into his whole body.
The cool sensation sliding down his throat!
Bitter as it was, the effect was undeniable.
—It's made from the sap of the forest trees. How does it taste?
"It's good. Could I possibly have some more?"
—Take as much as you like.
Ihan filled his leather water pouch with the sap. With how harsh life at the academy was, you had to stock up when you could.
While Ihan was storing the sap, the other students were still asking the talking tree all kinds of questions.
It was only natural—they were standing in a mystical forest glade known only to the spirits.
"What kind of place is this?"
"Are there any other trees like you?"
"Hey, don't you have anything to eat? This drink is way too bitter. Maybe something sweet, like fruit?"
As his friends chatted away, Ihan took his own chance to question the oak tree.
He couldn't let this opportunity pass.
"May I ask a few things?"
—As you wish. But first, tell me who you are. Introduce yourself.
"I am Ihan."
The tree was intrigued by the way Ihan gave his name before his family.
Among nobles, it was rare to state one's personal name before the house name.
—And your family?
"The Wardanaz family."
Thunk—
The oak tree stepped back slightly. Ihan felt a bit wronged.
—I apologize. It's not your fault, but the reputation precedes you. The Wardanaz family has produced many great mages.
"Is that so?"
—And also quite a few mad ones.
"..."
—Introducing yourself by name before your house… that's admirable. You'll be a good mage. But tell me—what brings students here at this hour of the night?
Without missing a beat, Ihan replied:
"Just enjoying a nighttime walk."
"..."
Yonere, who was listening beside him, bit his lip to keep from laughing.
Of course, the talking oak tree wasn't fooled by such a blatant lie.
—Ah. So, you came looking for a way out of the school, did you? But judging by the shape of the moon, it must be the first week since the new students arrived. Don't tell me... you're already trying to escape in the first week?
"...Well, there are some circumstances behind that."
Ihan tried to make excuses, but the talking oak was already impressed.
—Trying to escape in the very first week... The new batch of students this year must be something else.
'Damn it.'
Ihan gave up on explaining.
"Talking Oak, if so many students before me have tried to get out, could you perhaps give us some advice on how to escape?"
—I've lived in this forest for hundreds of years. I've seen many students attempt to leave this school. It's not that there's no way—just that it's impossible for students at your level.
The talking oak showed no intention of sharing any secrets.
Not having expected much to begin with, Ihan decided to change the topic.
"If we continue in this direction, would we eventually reach the mountains and be able to leave?"
—That'd be difficult. There's a wall.
"...There's a wall here too??"
—Yes. And it's enchanted. Try to climb it carelessly, and you'll get a taste of something unpleasant.
Ihan was dumbfounded.
Even deep in the mountains, hours away on foot—there was still a wall stretching through.
How thorough could they be?
'So finding a break in the wall and escaping through there is practically impossible.'
Climbing or going around it was out of the question.
The talking oak spoke in a gently scolding tone.
—Don't try to force your way out during your first year. It's far too dangerous. The mountains may be quiet now, but in a few more weeks, the monsters that sleep here will start to wake.
"Thank you for the warning."
The talking oak looked into Ihan's eyes.
Even after hearing all that, there wasn't a flicker of hesitation in them.
Not scared—if anything, even more determined.
That spirit pleased the talking oak.
—Then I'll give you a riddle. The Black Axe Tribe orcs, the Red Feather Tribe orcs, the White Eagle Tribe orcs, and the Green Frog Tribe orcs all gathered for a feast. A nasty little goblin snuck in and feasted with them. How could that goblin pull it off?
"...?"
"???"
The students looked around in confusion at the sudden riddle.
Gainando spoke up.
"Was he a really popular goblin?"
The oak ignored him completely, pretending not to hear.
SUPPORT US- https://ko-fi.com/pokemon1920