I wonder if what I learned from Professor Boladi was meant for moments like this, Yi-Han thought, his gaze fixed on the words <Avoid the Water Beads>, contemplating them seriously.

No matter how much it was for grades, being attacked by Professor Boladi often made him question, 'Why am I doing this?' These fundamental doubts had arisen.

But now, seeing the words <Avoid the Water Beads>, his thoughts shifted slightly.

Ah, so we study because it helps in life!

"I'll do my best."

"You seem to enjoy festivals."

"...Yes, well."

Yi-Han, rather than explaining at length, simply nodded his head.

Professor Boladi thought to himself.

How he loves festivals! It was good to bring him here.

Rest was also important for a skilled mage.

-

Anglago of the White Tiger, a student from the Alpha family, felt for the first time like he was truly at a magic 'academy.'

The bustling, noisy atmosphere.

The various tents and shops.

This was indeed a festival.

"Are you a student of the White Tiger?"

"Yes, Priest."

"Would you like to try some of this?"

"Thank you!"

Anglago gratefully accepted the potato baked personally by the priest.

Ever since entering the magic academy, he had stopped being picky about food and became grateful for every meal. The potato the priest offered felt as valuable as its weight in gold to Anglago.

'Giving me something like this. The priests are truly remarkable.'

Feeling a newfound sense of faith, Anglago bit into the potato.

It was delicious.

Soft, warm, filling his mouth, with a hint of sweetness, clearly a carefully cultivated expensive variety.

It was definitely delicious, but...

"Why is that?"

"Oh, it's nothing!"

Anglago hastily replied, shaking his head.

He couldn't believe it.

'It seems the one baked by Wardanaz was tastier...???'

Anglago couldn't understand himself. It was as if he was under some spell from the Wardanaz family.

"Anglago, look over there. The professors are here too."

"!"

Prompted by his friends, Anglago looked up.

Indeed.

Not only priests but also familiar professors were standing under the tents in different attire.

"I heard they were preparing something by calling the students."

"Moradi went too."

"I heard the principal is preparing something too. Is it true?"

"Don't say such creepy things."

The students of the White Tiger seriously contradicted their friend's words.

While students from other dormitory towers also feared the skull principal, the fear among the White Tiger students was more intense.

A newcomer who had tried to flee the mountains at night only to see the principal emerge from the darkness with piercing blue eyes would undoubtedly be traumatized.

"Shall we go check it out?"

"Let's go over there."

Curiosity led the White Tiger students to move forward.

And then they were startled.

"..."

"..."

Seeing two stern-faced mages, a teacher and a disciple, standing quietly, the students of the White Tiger involuntarily stepped back.

Both Professor Boladi and Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family were mages who intimidated others with just their presence.

"Is this... <Avoid the Water Beads>?"

A White Tiger student, having heard rumors about Professor Boladi, asked with a trembling voice.

According to rumors, he would beat and expel incoming students...

'Why? Why would Wardanaz attend such a class?'

The students of the White Tiger couldn't understand.

Though young, the boy from the Wardanaz family was among the most intelligent of the new students.

It puzzled many why such a clever lad wasn't seen in classes like <Basic Dance and Socializing> or <Understanding Basic Empire Masterpieces>, but instead attended such a peculiar class.

Could it be that he found those other classes too well-known and hence uninteresting?

'It's possible.'

Being from a major family, the Wardanaz boy would have certainly grown weary of learning such aristocratic manners to the point of boredom.

Thus, perhaps, he chose to attend the other classes, excluding those mundane ones...

The theory seemed more plausible as they observed Yi-Han's statuesque face standing next to Professor Boladi.

"Indeed, it is <Avoid the Water Beads>."

"Wait, are we supposed to throw water beads at Wardanaz?"

One of the White Tiger students asked with a strangely enthusiastic voice. Yi-Han thought to himself.

'This kid.'

His intentions were all too clear.

After all, many among the White Tiger students would jump at the chance to throw water beads at Yi-Han.

Perhaps he could even make a business out of it if ever in dire need of quick money...

"No."

Professor Boladi shook his head.

"...Not?"

"Wardanaz throws, and you dodge."

"..."

The students from the White Tiger frowned.

It seemed like Professor Boladi had a different understanding of what a 'festival' meant.

Did he even know what a festival was?

"But dodging, that's... that's..."

The students hesitated to ask the professor if he knew what a festival was.

Anglago, holding back, finally spoke.

"Is there a reward for dodging them all?"

"Yes."

"What's the prize?"

"An outing pass."

"..."

"..."

The expressions of the White Tiger students changed once again.

Yi-Han sighed.

'Damn, rumor of this will definitely spread.'

Why do people insist on visiting shabby tents among the splendid ones?

They should just enjoy the grand tents...

Now that the White Tiger students had visited, whether they won or lost, the rumor would spread and surely attract more visitors.

'But I can't give it up.'

Yi-Han currently had an outing pass, a real one at that.

However, using this pass still made him uneasy since he had acquired it by theft.

If he ran into the skull principal while using it, he might be asked, 'Where and when did you get this?' potentially leading to a trail back to him.

But having another legitimate pass would change the situation.

He could use the stolen one under the guise of having won it, and in the process, find a loophole for using the next pass.

'Absolutely!'

Looking ahead, Yi-Han noticed Anglago's eyes burning with determination. Clearly, Anglago had similar thoughts.

Given that Anglago possessed a forged pass, he would undoubtedly need a real one even more.

'I must get it!'

"Anglago. Going to try?"

"And what? You're not? You know how much we need an outing pass! Remember last time... cough. How risky it was to use that one..."

"But that professor... You know."

The students from the White Tiger glanced at Professor Boladi.

His vampire lineage's pale complexion seemed particularly more menacing today.

No matter how handsome, a professor with a staff in hand could appear to the students like a crazed serial killer.

"Wardanaz will throw the water beads."

"Oh. Really?!"

"Seriously?!"

"Yes."

Yi-Han responded.

And he gripped his staff.

"Are you going to take the challenge?"

"Of course!"

The students of the White Tiger, who had been hesitating just a moment ago, now eagerly stepped forward, as if fearing the outing pass would disappear if a friend took the challenge first.

"Get ready."

A water bead floated in front of Yi-Han.

The White Tiger students, having previously experienced Yi-Han's water beads, promptly adopted a cautious stance.

"Come on, Wardanaz!"

"Understood."

With his words, the number of water beads rapidly increased.

"..."

The eyes of the White Tiger students widened in alarm.

Kendry Bak, a friend of Professor Alpen Knighton and a senior imperial accountant himself, noticed the ongoing festival. He warmly greeted the mages from Baldurguard who had come to visit Einroguard.

"Did you come to show the students around Einroguard?"

While Baldurguard Magic Academy didn't have as much fame as Einroguard, it was still a respectable institution within the empire. Kendry thought that Baldurguard's approach to education seemed more...

...rational and fitting for nobility than what he had observed at Einroguard.

No matter how many times he saw it, Einroguard's method seemed a bit archaic and rough.

"That's right, Mr. Bak."

A mage working as a professor at Baldurguard responded with a nod.

The boys and girls behind him then spoke with a hint of discontent in their voices.

"Why don't Einroguard students visit our academy, but we have to come to them?"

"Is Einroguard looking down on us?"

"Shh. Show some respect when visiting another magic academy. Do you want to tarnish Baldurguard's reputation?"

The Baldurguard professor, acting as the chaperone, raised a finger in a dignified manner.

At this gesture, the students from Baldurguard pressed their lips together. Despite their displeasure, Kendry could immediately tell the students' noble origins by their polite demeanor.

Located in the west, Baldurguard's elegant appearance and landscape matched its student body, which consisted exclusively of children from noble families of the empire.

The students enjoyed the warm, comfortable climate and the picturesque nature of the western part of the empire, but...

...that didn't eliminate feelings of jealousy and inferiority.

'It's a misunderstanding.'

It wasn't that Einroguard students didn't visit Baldurguard. They were simply hindered by their principal.

In Kendry's view, if Einroguard students were asked, 'Who wants to visit Baldurguard?' they would probably fight each other for the opportunity.

"Who visits first doesn't determine the status. It just shows that Baldurguard is more generous and magnanimous."

Kendry's words brightened the students' faces.

They were second and third-year students, but still immature. That they could be swayed by such words was proof enough.

"If we meet Einroguard students at the festival, we'll show them our skills."

"..."

Kendry pondered how to explain to the Baldurguard students that the only Einroguard students they would see at the festival were freshmen.

The Baldurguard students likely wouldn't understand the concept of segregating first-year students.

Why are first-year students separated? Can't they interact? Then they can't talk with upperclassmen, participate in clubs... Why?

'Hmm. Better leave it to that professor.'

Kendry quickly gave up on explaining.

"Well then, Mr. Bak. I shall see you another time."

"Umm... take care."

The Baldurguard professor, with a noble and elegant demeanor, bid farewell and then began leading the students away.

Kendry felt a pang of regret, sensing his advice had not been properly conveyed.

'Oh no...'

No sooner had he finished speaking than students from Einroguard appeared.

The students from Baldurguard immediately grasped their staff.

"Let's greet them and compare our skills!"

"Calm down, everyone. Such impoliteness is..."

"Out of the way! Move!"

The Einroguard students rushed past, one carrying a fallen comrade. Some were bleeding from their noses.

"..."

"...???"

The Baldurguard students watched in disbelief.

What on earth had happened?

"Was there an accident?"

"It was an unfortunate mishap. Please, don't worry."

Yi-Han politely responded to the unfamiliar mage and his disciples.

"Baldurguard visitors, I see."

Professor Boladi spoke softly. Yi-Han recognized the name.

"Baldurguard, you mean..."

"Thrash..."

Without realizing, Yi-Han stepped hard on Professor Boladi's foot.

He was surprised at himself.

"??"

Professor Boladi looked at Yi-Han, puzzled. Yi-Han brazenly replied.

"I slipped."

"Be careful, then."