Most of the students who entered the magic school saw magic not as a means, but as an end.
Very few thought along the lines of, "I'll learn fire magic to light campfires and water magic to get free drinks when I'm thirsty."
Typically, students were ambitious, thinking, "I'll master the basics, learn the spells I want, and pioneer new magical frontiers and revelations."
Because of that, Nilria had little interest in fire magic.
Lighting fires didn't require a staff or incantations in the first place. Even with just some stones and twigs, Nilria was confident she could spark a flame.
She would've much preferred to have an affinity for water magic, something she'd been interested in for a long time...
"Nilria, you should be grateful for the magic you have."
"Huh... oh? Y-yeah."
Overwhelmed by the aura Ian gave off, Nilria nodded reflexively.
"Was that a compliment on my magic??"
It was obvious Ian, being from the prestigious Wardanaz family, couldn't stand the idea of Nilria looking down on her own magic.
Feeling a bit sheepish, Nilria turned her head away.
Of course, Ian was grumbling internally.
"If only I knew how to control my mana, I would've started with fire magic. So jealous."
After warming their frozen limbs, quenching their thirst with magic water, and toasting bread and cheese to eat, the party's exhaustion eased somewhat.
"It's probably time to go outside and check on those undead bastards."
Ian thought it was time to see if the undead were still out there.
Knowing how insane the principal was, it wouldn't be surprising if they were still lurking.
"Nilria."
"Got it. Let's go."
Perhaps picking up on Ian's thoughts, Nilria quickly stood up.
As they stepped out of the cave, darkness wrapped around them.
They hadn't gone far before they noticed.
"..."
"Damn it."
Far below the mountain, there was still light. It was as if a ring of fire circled the mountain base. It was the undead's barrier, summoned by the principal.
"He's actually insane."
"W-well, you're right, but... can we say that?"
Nilria trembled slightly, nervous about badmouthing the skeletal principal.
"It's fine. No one's listening. You can curse him."
"R-really?"
"Nilria, magic comes from free thought. The principal wants us to insult him and think freely."
Ian had an exceptional ability to spout nonsense with a completely serious face.
With his sculpted features and utter seriousness, his ridiculous words were oddly convincing to Nilria, who didn't know much about magic.
I-is that so...?
"Th-the principal is a jerk! A bear-brained brute! May wolves drag him off in the ni—"
Rustle—
"WAAH! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!!"
The moment she heard something rustle ahead, Nilria squealed and clung to Ian.
Ian calmly peeled her off like a leech and focused his alert gaze forward.
"Nilria. Be careful. Someone's there."
Whoever it was, they'd noticed Ian too, as a voice called out.
"...Who's there?"
"You first."
"White Tiger Tower."
"Shit. So they didn't all get caught."
Ian clicked his tongue.
No wonder the undead hadn't dispersed—there were still some White Tiger Tower students who'd escaped in the chaos.
Another rustle, and the White Tiger Tower students appeared, looking like total wrecks—practically like beggars.
"B-beggars?"
"No, I told you. White Tiger Tower."
-Punish the students who defied the great principal's orders and fled.
-Punish the students who defied the great principal's orders and fled.
Unlike Ian's group, the White Tiger Tower students who tried to break through the perimeter were met with an uncountable number of skeletons.
The skeletal trackers advanced with clattering bones and bone-chilling chants.
Their bone clubs weren't lethal, but one hit slowed you down, two made your legs give out, and three... you'd collapse.
"Argh!"
"These cowards, relying on numbers... Gah!"
Even with their honed swordsmanship, the White Tiger Tower students, wielding wooden swords, were eventually knocked down one by one.
-Target subdued.
-Target subdued.
"...Up! Escape up the mountain!"
The first to realize the truth was Giselle.
"This was never meant to be breakable!"
Ian never trusted the principal for a second, but Giselle had naively believed his words, thinking the perimeter could be broken.
Continuing downhill would only lead to capture.
So, Giselle led the remaining students to flee up the mountain.
Luckily, the skeletal trackers didn't chase them that far uphill.
"Huff... huff huff..."
"Moradi. Is it okay... to flee uphill? There's no path."
"Summoned creatures don't last long. Once time passes, they'll vanish."
If Ian had been there, he would've snapped, "That only applies to crappy mages—do you think the principal's summons are that weak?" But unfortunately, the White Tiger Tower students lacked that level of magical knowledge.
They found Giselle's words convincing and nodded along.
"What do we do in the meantime?"
"Wait. Rest and recover. Start a fir—no, let's find shelter first. Somewhere out of the wind."
At Giselle's suggestion, the White Tiger Tower students began searching the area.
Unlike Nilria, they weren't used to the darkness or mountain climbing, but they had stamina.
Despite their muscles aching and their throats parched with thirst, the students of White Tiger Tower kept moving without pause.
Rustle—
"I heard something over there."
"Could be a wild animal?"
"If it is a wild animal, let's catch it. Feels like my stomach's glued to my back."
But what they heard wasn't the sound of a beast—it was human voices.
The White Tiger Tower students looked stunned.
To think there would be someone else out here in the dead of night...
"...Who's there?"
"You first."
"White Tiger Tower."
"Damn. So you all weren't captured."
To their surprise, it was the students from the Blue Dragon Tower.
"Come in."
The White Tiger Tower students hesitantly entered the cave.
Their faces were full of awkwardness.
They hadn't fought that long ago, so it was hardly comfortable to now be receiving help from these same people.
"Sit. Eat and drink."
Ian spoke with a blank expression. Gaenando, who was sitting nearby, muttered quietly:
"But we don't even have enough for ourselves, so why..."
"Shh."
Derrgyu elbowed Gaenando in the side.
The White Tiger Tower students had appeared out of nowhere.
Judging by their ragged appearance, it was clear how much they'd suffered out here in the middle of the night.
Under normal circumstances, Ian would've had every right to kick them out.
Given how the White Tiger Tower had treated them, no one would've blamed Ian for refusing them help.
But instead, upon seeing the pitiful state they were in, Ian had invited them in.
He even shared food and drink with them.
Honestly, it was moving.
"Ian is truly an honorable man!"
It was easy to be kind to your allies. But true greatness came from showing kindness to your enemies.
Derrgyu silently hoped that Ian's gesture would make the White Tiger Tower students reflect—and maybe even lead to reconciliation.
"..."
Only the soft sounds of chewing echoed through the cave.
Giselle carefully observed the situation.
"How the hell are Blue Dragon Tower students here?"
She never imagined Ian would've followed her here.
After all, they weren't from the Black Tortoise Tower, so who would've thought Blue Dragon Tower students would pull such a sly move?
Instead, Giselle came to a different conclusion.
"...They must've seen the map too."
Otherwise, there was no reason for them to be here at this time of night.
They must've arrived before the White Tiger Tower students and hid in the cave once the chaos started below.
Giselle pursed her lips, trying to decide what to do.
Ian, from the prestigious Wardanaz family, had shown kindness—but that was one thing. This was another.
Back in the Moradi family, Giselle had been raised with a very clear philosophy.
"Giselle, as you know, the Moradi family never forgets a grudge. But what people forget is the second part—we repay favors only when it suits us."
Being swayed by emotions like gratitude was something the Moradi family considered the ultimate weakness.
A Moradi had to be able to coldly reject even a benefactor who had saved their life if the situation called for it.
"How can I use this? First, I need to earn their trust."
While Giselle was scheming, one of the White Tiger Tower students hesitantly spoke up, trying to ask Derrgyu—someone they were somewhat friendly with—what was going on.
"Choi, wha—"
Thud!
"?!"
The student fell forward mid-sentence.
Derrgyu jumped in shock.
"What the hell?!"
At first, he thought the student had just collapsed from exhaustion.
But no.
Thud! Thud!
One by one, other students began dropping like flies, as if they'd eaten something bad.
"...Goddamn it!"
Realizing too late, Giselle spat out the water she still had in her mouth and shouted sharply.
But she'd already drunk a good amount—her mind was growing hazy.
"The water was drugged?!"
"You're too late. Far too late."
Ian said coldly.
Even as her consciousness began to fade, Giselle glared at Ian with murderous intent.
Gone was the gentle, slender-faced boy she had first met—replaced by a sharp, merciless expression like a blade drawn cold and gleaming.
It was a side of Giselle no White Tiger Tower student had ever seen before—her true face.
"Just you... wait, Wardanaz...!"
The last thing she saw before losing consciousness was the boy from the Wardanaz family, staring down at her with a face as still and cold as a statue.
And with that image, Giselle drifted into sleep.
'Maybe I went too far?'
Contrary to Giselle's assumption, Ian was feeling a bit of regret.
He doubted the White Tiger Tower students would forget this anytime soon.
Still, what else could he do?
They were the ones who started it.
If someone hates you for no reason—give them a reason.
"What, what, what, what the hell, Ian?!"
"There was poison in the water?! I drank it too!!"
Derrgyu was so shocked he could barely speak. Gaenando was just as rattled.
Ian had deliberately left the two of them out of the loop.
Derrgyu and Gaenando weren't exactly known for their poker faces—if they'd known, it might've caused a problem.
"Gaenando. Don't worry. It wasn't poison. And your water didn't have anything in it. I'm going to leave them with the Bone Trackers down below."
Ian hadn't drugged the White Tiger Tower students over some petty grudge.
Those skeletons down there—who did they seem to be looking for?
It had to be the White Tiger Tower students.
He had to hand them over, quickly.
"But still... wasn't that a bit much?"
"Derrgyu, think about it. If we'd fought them head-on, it would've made a racket. The skeletons would've heard us. And do you really think that Moradi girl would've just sat still? She would've dragged us all down with her."
Derrgyu had no comeback. Once again, Ian's words made sense.
"Still, I mean... where did you even get the sleeping agent?"
Yonner shyly raised a hand.
"I found some sleeping herb on the way up."
Yonner was good at identifying all sorts of plants and flowers. While they were climbing, he had spotted the white-stemmed herb.
—"Hey, check this out."
—"What is it?"
—"Sleeping herb. Grind it up and mix it in water, it knocks you right out."
—"Take it."
—"Huh?"
—"Take it. Never know when we might need it."
—"You think we'll ever use this?"
Yonner had tilted his head but tucked it away anyway—just in case.
He never imagined they'd actually end up using it.
...Certainly not like this.