Royalty. Princes. Princesses.
Typically, anything with the word "royal" attached to it carried an air of nobility and dignified power.
But in the empire, things were a little different.
The royal family…
Was far more numerous than one might expect.
"Isn't the current emperor's offspring numbering over a hundred?"
No matter how prestigious the royal bloodline was, if the emperor's direct children alone reached triple digits, it was safe to say there was a bit of a problem.
At that point, Lee Han could probably sneak into the palace, and the emperor might mistake him for one of his own kids.
Just as Lee Han was paying the price of being born later than his siblings by having to work hard in life, the emperor's children faced the same fate.
If you weren't born first…
You got nothing.
In a way, it could be considered even harsher than Lee Han's situation.
The Wodanaz family head at least remembered his children's names and looked after them to some extent.
But the royals? They were left to fend for themselves without such care.
Of course, as the saying goes, "even a rotten fish is still a fish"—the royal bloodline still held some sway in front of commoners.
But unfortunately, those gathered here were the heirs of the empire's most prominent noble houses.
They had no reason to grovel before some unheard-of prince.
Take Yoner Maykin, for instance—her status was likely better than that of most royals.
So why was Yoner going out of her way to associate with this prince?
'…Is she a bit dim?'
Lee Han entertained a thought that would've angered Yoner if she'd heard it.
In fact, looking around, he noticed a few boys and girls snickering at her.
It was the kind of mockery that questioned why someone of noble pride would stoop to serving a prince.
The pride of imperial nobles was no less than that of the royals.
In truth, even the emperor couldn't treat the great noble families carelessly.
"Alright. Got it."
Still, Lee Han accepted Maykin's proposal.
'No harm in it.'
The one being mocked was Maykin, not Lee Han, who was merely receiving the suggestion.
And just because the prince lacked influence didn't mean Lee Han had to pick a fight right from their first meeting.
In this world, getting along with anyone could prove helpful down the line.
"…Thanks! I'm so relieved!"
Maykin beamed like a ray of sunshine. Her joy was so evident that Lee Han grew puzzled.
"Why?"
"Three people have already rejected my offer."
"…"
Lee Han briefly regretted not turning her down.
* * *
The prince, Gainando, was the 97th prince.
There were rumors that, given the number of siblings born around the same time, he might actually be the 101st, but Gainando insisted fiercely that he was 97th. He clearly didn't want to cross into triple digits.
Aside from that, Gainando was a rather immature royal.
At 15, one was considered an adult, but not everyone matured at the same pace.
He obviously hadn't yet realized that royal status didn't carry much weight in this school.
"Did you hear, Lee Han?? That guy rejected my offer!"
"Yeah, yeah, I heard."
"How dare he??"
"He probably doesn't know how noble you are, Gainando."
"What's 'noble' mean?"
Gainando looked at Lee Han with a puzzled expression.
Lee Han stared back at him, then gave a polite smile and a nod.
In that moment, Gainando's evaluation dropped a notch in Lee Han's mind, though the prince didn't notice.
"'Noble' means someone of high status and value."
"Oh. That fits me perfectly."
"Right."
"Anyway, he rejected my offer and went off to talk with Adenart! It's so insulting…!"
Adenart.
The student Gainando pointed at, Adenart, was also a royal—probably the 43rd or 44th princess.
'She's on a different level.'
Long, flowing silver hair and striking blue eyes. An intellectual and refined face.
The princess exuded a serene chill just by standing silently.
A naturally dignified aura like hers couldn't help but earn respect from the noble-born students.
And Adenart probably…
'Didn't send someone else to summon people like Gainando did.'
No matter how prideful noble heirs were, they wouldn't be rude enough to ignore a royal who approached them directly.
If Gainando had just gone up to people himself and acted friendly, he'd have gathered a crowd by now.
"Will you take care of him for me later?"
Gainando said, looking at Lee Han.
Compared to his peers, Lee Han was tall and sturdy.
It was only natural, given his consistent swordsmanship training.
Though they were here to become mages, among boys and girls who hadn't properly learned a single spell, physical strength still ruled.
Of course, Lee Han had zero intention of fighting someone just to stroke Gainando's ego.
"Gainando."
"Yeah?"
"A noble being doesn't send others to harass people."
"It's not harassment, it's punishment—"
"Either way, noble beings don't do that. Think about it."
"Hmm."
Gainando frowned in thought at Lee Han's words. On reflection, it did seem a bit undignified.
"So, Lee Han, what do you think I should do?"
"Forgive him generously."
"…Anything else?"
"You could challenge him to a duel yourself."
"Hmph. I'll forgive him generously."
Not wanting to duel personally, Gainando made his decision quickly.
Lee Han noted a strength in Gainando from this.
He was simpler than expected.
"Wow, you're amazing. You even bent Gainando's stubbornness."
Yoner approached with an impressed look. Lee Han asked curiously,
"Why do you hang out with Gainando?"
"He's my cousin."
"Even so, you don't have to cater to his every whim, right? With the Maykin family's status…"
Before he could finish, a booming voice reverberated through the hall like an explosion.
- Had a good chat, you ironheads? You can stop talking now. You'll have plenty of time to yap over the next few years.
"!"
The same voice from the gate earlier rang out, and a massive skull floated up in the center of the hall.
A skull with blazing eyes, radiating tremendous magical power.
'A lich!'
A great mage who overcame death by becoming undead.
That was a lich.
Lee Han had only heard rumors, so seeing one in person was a first. The other students murmured in awe as well.
- I'll give you one question. Why do I call you ironheads?
Adenart raised her hand. Gainando glared at her disapprovingly.
- Speak.
"…Because the symbol of us new students is steel."
- Excellent. I'll give your dormitory 10 points!
"There's such a thing?"
- Of course not. If you want to be a mage, learn to see through lies first.
Realizing she'd been tricked, Adenart's pale face flushed as her excitement faded.
- Right. Your first-year symbol is steel, just as second-years' is bronze. Steel is sturdy, its quality varies depending on how it's forged, and it's a versatile, useful material. Truly a metal fitting for you first-years.
"Ohh…"
"Indeed."
The gathered boys and girls gasped in admiration at the skull headmaster's words.
- Fooled again! You idiots. Your symbol is steel because your heads are empty. That's why you're ironheads! If you don't believe me, knock on them—bet they'll make a nice sound.
"…"
"…"
The mood in the room turned icy in an instant.
Many here had never been insulted like this, given their status.
But no one dared object.
The skull headmaster's presence was that overwhelming.
'Impressive.'
Lee Han inhaled and exhaled.
Ever since the skull headmaster appeared, the magical density around them had spiked so much that moving felt difficult.
It was like being plunged into the depths of the ocean.
'Still… I think I can move. Yeah, I can manage it somehow.'
As Lee Han twitched his body, the skull headmaster turned its gaze toward him.
- …?
A gaze filled with curiosity.
Lee Han immediately straightened his posture and stood upright.
He had come here to graduate with a diploma and connections—he couldn't afford to get on the headmaster's bad side from the first year.
- It seems I've been too harsh with the empire's future, who've traveled such a long way to get here.
The skull headmaster's voice softened. A few students relaxed slightly at his words, but Lee Han wasn't fooled.
'He's definitely a bit crazy.'
They say becoming a lich means losing something, and this skull headmaster had clearly lost quite a few things.
Lee Han recalled a professor from his past life's graduate school days, one from the lab next door.
That professor's eyes had also been filled with a similar kind of madness…
'No, this lich might actually be better than that professor.'
With that thought, the skull headmaster suddenly seemed more manageable.
- Now! For you all, the academy's finest chefs have been preparing a feast since yesterday. It may be modest, but I hope you enjoy this banquet and relieve the fatigue of your journey. After the meal, warm blankets and beds will be waiting for you in the dormitories…
At those words, a couple of chubby boys started drooling.
What kind of feast would it be? Perhaps a western empire-style dish—plump chicken coated in flour, simmered with oil, butter, onions, salt, pepper, and a splash of wine—or maybe a gratin smothered in béchamel sauce.
In his current mood, even a thick slab of cheese and butter with white bread to spread it on would do just fine.
Or maybe an eastern empire-style dish—fresh fish slathered in spicy red pepper paste and grilled over charcoal.
Noodles were considered cheap food in the east and usually avoided, but after the long journey, he was so hungry that he felt he could scarf them down if they were served now.
Yet, the massive tables in the hall remained conspicuously empty of any food.
"???"
- Fooled again! You idiots! When will you ever wise up? How are you supposed to become mages like this?
'This guy's not just crazy, is he?'
A few faint-hearted freshmen teared up at the skull headmaster's barrage of insults.
- Alright, I'll tell you the rules now. This academy is the cradle of mages. And the greatest driving force in nurturing mages is desire!
With those words, a tattered cloak, a worn-out staff, and a bundle of shabby clothes materialized in the air.
- These are the uniforms you'll wear and live in.
No sooner had he finished speaking than hard, black bread and cold rice balls appeared in the air.
- This is the food you'll eat and live on.
"You're going too far…!"
Someone blurted out involuntarily, and the skull headmaster responded with an excited tone.
- Yes! That's exactly the reaction I wanted! Does that food look too disgusting? Then learn magic quickly and get your own! Do those clothes and that staff look like garbage? Master magic and get new ones with your own hands! This academy will let you obtain anything you desire!
"…"
Lee Han was dumbfounded.
He'd heard rumors that Einroguard was harsh, but he hadn't expected it to be *this* extreme.
In short, the school's rule was: "If you don't like it, get better at magic fast!"
'Is this even allowed?'
"Hmph. I'll just have stuff brought in from outside," a cocky student muttered with an indignant expression.
The skull headmaster shouted even more gleefully.
- Yes! I wanted that reaction too! First-years are forbidden from leaving! And don't even think about asking upperclassmen to get things for you—you won't even meet them for a while!
"…"
"…"
- Disperse! Good luck, you ironheads! Become great mages!
Lee Han could've sworn he heard someone mutter "bastard" under their breath.
Even the skull headmaster didn't bother commenting on that.
Prince Gainando stomped his foot in frustration as the skull headmaster vanished.
"This is absurd! How dare they treat people of our status so rudely? Lee Han! Aren't you angry? Do you really think a person can live wearing clothes fit for a beggar and eating food fit for pigs??"
"Huh? It's not that bad, is it?"
"…"