Ihan decided to show a bit of consideration for Dergeu.
"Well, since this is for honor and justice, the word 'spy' doesn't really suit you. Dergeu, you're a whistleblower."
"Uh… huh?"
Dergeu was flustered by the unfamiliar term.
But it sounded a bit refined, and definitely more dignified than "spy," so he didn't feel too bad about it.
"That… actually doesn't sound so bad."
"Exactly. From now on, it'd be great if you could report the schemes of the White Tiger Tower students as a whistleblower."
"I-I'll do that."
Sitting beside them, resting his face in his palms, Yoner watched with fascination.
How had they managed to persuade this orc from the White Tiger Tower to be so cooperative?
"Dergeu, the reason I brought you here on this weekend morning… is to figure out a way to break out of school."
"...What?!"
Dergeu jumped in surprise.
Ihan, having expected that reaction, remained calm.
But what came next caught him off guard.
"Ihan, you were thinking about escaping too?"
"…?!!"
Just like the students from every other tower, those of the White Tiger Tower were also struggling with hunger.
You might ask if those from knightly families weren't more resilient to hunger—but they were still noble families of the Empire.
They rarely, if ever, went hungry.
In fact, their lives often involved eating well and staying physically active, which in some ways made hunger even harder to endure.
—"We need to hunt! I heard that Wardanaz from the Blue Dragon Tower caught a boar, so we can do it too!"
—"Let's form teams and go out this weekend. No one here's never hunted before. We've got the advantage!"
—"Let's put those smug bastards from the other towers in their place—those guys showing off with their little spells!"
—"Alright, alright. Quiet down, everyone."
It was, of course, Giselle who brought the noisy group under control.
With her natural authority, she swiftly tamed the hungry students.
—"Hunting? Sure, sounds good. But think carefully—do you think it'll be that easy?"
—"But even the Wardanaz family caught one…"
—"That was a boar prepped by the alchemy professor. Think about it—how deep would you have to go into the forest to find something like that? We don't even know the terrain around here."
—"..."
—"..."
At Giselle's words, the students found themselves unconsciously convinced.
Hunting wasn't an easy task—especially not in unfamiliar territory.
If it was just the low hills or nearby woods behind the school, maybe. But deeper than that? It was honestly terrifying.
It was the unknown—there could be monsters.
—"So, Moradi, do you have another plan?"
—"Yeah."
—"What kind of plan?"
—"We leave the school and head to the towns outside."
—"...!!!"
—"If we succeed, we won't need to worry about catching animals or not. We could bring back everything we'll need for the entire semester."
—"R-really?!"
—"Hah… but it sounds too crazy."
—"I already have everything planned out in my head. You're free to follow me. I'm not planning to keep it all to myself. But... if you do come with me, you'll have to follow my orders. I won't tolerate any rebellious nonsense that ruins the plan."
—"Of course, Moradi!"
—"Who would dare defy you?"
"Wait, you think I could join too… if I just follow orders?"
"…Hey, Ihan."
"Yeah, didn't think so."
Dergeu gave Ihan a look of disbelief.
Whether or not she'd accept Ihan, Dergeu didn't know… but come on. As someone from the Wardanaz family, Ihan had his pride.
Just thinking about what Giselle had tried to do to Ihan made even Dergeu mad.
"Think about what Giselle did."
"Yeah… she probably wouldn't let me in."
"That's… not even the point."
While Dergeu stared in exasperation, Ihan fell into thought.
Giselle's words had complicated things.
Originally, Ihan had planned to slowly scout out possible escape routes with friends like Dergeu and Nillia.
He never expected to find the perfect route in one go.
After all, even Professor Thunderstep had said escape wouldn't be easy.
But surprisingly, Giselle from the White Tiger Tower declared she already had a plan.
Was she bluffing?
'No. She's not the bluffing type… not like Gainando.'
Ihan hadn't had many conversations with Giselle of the Moradi family, but he had a sense of what kind of person she was.
Cold and obsessed with control.
If someone like that made a declaration like this, she definitely had something up her sleeve.
"I see… so they won't let me join, huh…"
"…Wait. You're not serious, are you?"
"If that's the case, then there's no choice."
"Glad you understand."
"I'll just follow them in secret and find out what they're planning."
"..."
Dergeu was at a loss for words. Where was he even supposed to start correcting this?
"Are you serious?"
"Is there a better method than tailing them?"
"…Doesn't it feel kind of… dishonorable?"
Dergeu hesitated.
A knight should pursue honor even in battle.
And the Wardanaz family was one of the Empire's greatest houses. Surely they valued honor too.
"Dergeu. Think carefully. This is strategy."
"Hmm?"
"Know your enemy, know yourself. It's strategy, right?"
"...Is it?"
"It is."
Ihan stared him down and spoke in a steady voice.
'The more ridiculous something sounds, the more confidently you have to say it.'
There's a reason why in this world, the one with the loudest voice wins.
Even if what you're saying is absurd—if you say it with enough sincerity and soul, it strangely becomes persuasive.
When Ihan of the Wardanaz family said it with that cold, chiseled face, Dergeu found himself thinking: "Huh? Maybe he's right?"
Come to think of it… maybe it was strategy?
"Ma… maybe it is strategy."
"Right. It's strategy. We need to know what the enemy is planning. Only then can we prepare."
Sure, it wasn't like Giselle had some evil plan specifically involving Ihan, but…
Ihan smoothly twisted the narrative so that tracking Giselle's escape plan sounded like a noble mission to thwart a sinister scheme.
"Dergeu. Your role is important. You need to tell me what that Moradi girl is planning."
"Alright. I'll try my best."
"Great! You're a true, honorable whistleblower. Others might not understand, but I know just how noble you really are!"
"Thanks, Ihan."
"Yeah, yeah."
Ihan patted Derregu on the shoulder, giving him endless encouragement before sending him off.
"Phew. I was originally going to think over an escape plan, but it looks like plans have changed… Why is everyone looking at me like that?"
Yoner and Gainando were staring at Ihan with curious expressions.
Gainando asked seriously.
"Hey… did you, by any chance, learn mind control magic before coming to school?"
"..."
Saturday evening, around sunset.
It was the time when Giselle of the Moradi family had decided to lead the students of the White Tiger Tower in their escape attempt.
Ihan, who had gotten the time from Derregu, began to move as well.
'I need to find out the escape route this time, no matter what.'
There was no way Giselle would share the escape method with anyone else.
And once they succeeded even once, they'd definitely be extra careful about who might follow them next time.
Why? Because that's exactly what Ihan would do.
The best chance to find out the escape route without getting caught was today—the first attempt.
The White Tiger Tower students would be too nervous on their first try to even think about checking for pursuers.
"I've gathered you all here today—Derregu, Gainando, Yoner, and Nilia."
Ihan looked at the friends who had assembled before him.
These were the comrades who would help with today's pursuit.
"Thank you all for attending this meeting to discover a way to escape the school."
"…????"
Dark elf Nilia perked up her ears in surprise.
This was the first she was hearing of this.
When Ihan called her, she'd followed casually, thinking, "Oh? Are we going hunting?" — but now…
"W-what?! We're going outside the school?!"
"That's right."
"…Are you insane?!"
At Nilia's shout, Gainando subconsciously felt relieved.
At least he wasn't the only sane person in this group.
'See? I knew this was crazy!'
Gainando also wanted to go to the village outside if possible.
But there was no way that would be easy.
He figured Ihan might have a plan, which is why he followed, but he was still scared.
"No, Nilia. We're not just trying to sneak out recklessly. We have a plan."
"!"
Nilia's eyes widened in shock at Ihan's serious tone.
A plan?
They'd only been at the school for a week. And already?
Judging by his expression, he wasn't lying.
'The Wardanaz family really is… impressive…'
Nilia silently admired him.
She'd only heard rumors about the Wardanaz family before, but now she was starting to understand why those rumors existed.
He was completely different from the other new students—his entire presence was on another level.
Nilia asked, a hint of curiosity and hope in her voice.
"What's the plan?"
"There's a student from the White Tiger Tower who knows the escape method. We'll follow them and copy it."
"..."
The method Ihan spoke of was far outside what Nilia had imagined.
Too far outside.
Following another dorm's student to steal their escape method was not the kind of romantic school life Nilia had dreamed of.
A short but deep sigh.
Still, in the end, Nilia decided to join.
—Ihan, I don't think Nilia wants to join.
—But Yoner, we need her help. She's the best at tracking out of all of us.
—Still, forcing her to join is…
—Is that so? Well, if she really doesn't want to, I guess we can't force her…
—…I guess there's no choice! If I'm the only one who can help, then I have to!
—Nilia!!
Listening to Ihan and Yoner's conversation, she just couldn't bring herself to say no.
Being afraid and abandoning friends wasn't how the Shadow Patrol operated.
And honestly… she was happy that someone was recognizing her talent as a hunter.
Ironically, it wasn't the students from her own tower who valued her abilities the most, but Ihan from another tower.
Derregu muttered quietly, still confused.
"That dark elf… I thought for sure she'd refuse. Why is she joining?"
"I think I know."
Gainando replied confidently.
Hearing that, Derregu let out a soft "Ah…"
"I see."
Everyone has things they don't want to do.
There are many reasons.
Fear.
Anxiety.
Selfishness.
But the virtues that push someone to overcome those feelings and take action—those are called honor… and friendship.
The only reason that dark elf joined, despite not wanting to, had to be because of friendship.
'I witnessed something good today.'
Derregu smiled faintly to himself.
He too had joined for the sake of honor, and seeing friends forming bonds regardless of their backgrounds made him feel strangely happy.
"What the heck, Choi. You figured it out too?"
"Yeah."
"She probably wants to go to the village that badly. Honestly, I really want to go too. Once I get there, I'm either sleeping in a fluffy bed or—no, wait, first comes food. I'm gonna eat every sweet thing they have in that village. Candy, chocolate, pancakes, syrup…"
"..."
Derregu looked at Gainando with a baffled expression.
'…Why is he here again?'