"... I'm really happy."
Yi Han struggled to keep his expression in check.
Even when the professor's kindness didn't sit well with him, he had to maintain his composure.
After all, an irritated professor was scarier than most demons.
Thunderstep walked over with heavy steps and stopped in front of a horse.
It was a truly beautiful white horse—neither too large nor too small, with a sturdy build and well-defined muscles.
The white horse stared at Yi Han intently, blinking its eyes.
There was no hint of violence in its gaze.
If Yi Han had been a bit younger, he might have been fooled into thinking, "Did the professor really gift me such a fine horse?" But Yi Han was someone who had been through countless trials.
He wasn't easily deceived.
'Is this a demon disguised as a white horse?'
Something was definitely off!
"Here. This horse is truly a fine one. But it's also the most stubborn and difficult creature in this stable. If you can tame it, you'll be able to handle any other monster with ease," Thunderstep said with a pleased expression.
"Of course, it might be too much for a first-year student."
"If you think so, then perha—"
"But you, Wodanaz, who handled the Thunderbird so skillfully, can definitely do it! I believe in you!"
'Damn it.'
Just because he did well, the difficulty level went up! How unreasonable and absurd could this be...
While Yi Han and Professor Thunderstep were talking, the other students were still trying their luck with various horses, refusing to give up.
"Good boy? Good boy... Ouch! It bit me!"
"Stop spitting! Stop spitting, I said!"
"It's headbutting me!"
Of course, the horses weren't cooperative.
As chaos continued, Nilia cautiously suggested to her friends, "Shouldn't we try to befriend the horses first?"
"We're trying to befriend them, aren't we?"
"I mean, don't just go up and try to pet them out of nowhere. There are other things, like coming early in the morning to groom them, clean their stables, or feed them..."
Nilia didn't think she was saying anything strange.
When she worked with the <Shadow Patrol>, taming unfamiliar beasts required at least this much effort.
Without consistent time and effort, the other party wouldn't open up.
"Why do we have to go that far?"
"Do we really have to come to the stables early every morning?"
"?!"
Surprisingly, the other students showed resistance.
Many of them came from wealthy families, even among the Black Turtle Tower students.
Horses were something servants or slaves took care of—there was no need for them to bother themselves.
'Are they all idiots!?'
Nilia almost said, "Do you think we're still outside the school?" but held back.
If she said that, she'd be the one labeled as strange.
She could only swallow her frustration.
'Fine, I'll do it alone.
Maybe when they see the horses listening to me, they'll start listening to me too.'
As Nilia walked over with a sullen expression, Yi Han and Yonell approached her.
"Nilia, have you picked a horse yet?"
"We're planning to come early every morning to take care of the horses. Want to join us?"
"... Yes!!"
Nilia hugged Yi Han and Yonell with a teary expression.
True friends didn't care about which tower they belonged to.
Yi Han and Yonell looked at Nilia, puzzled.
'Why is she like this?'
'Who knows...?'
After the basic riding training class ended, Yi Han headed to Thunderstep's cabin with Professor Thunderstep.
To be precise, it was more like he was dragged along.
Yi Han couldn't refuse the professor's request.
"You're here... No."
Yi Han clearly saw it.
Thunderstep's eyes widened, and his complexion paled as if he had seen a family elder!
"... What brings you here?"
"Do I need a reason to visit my nephew? Step aside. Oh my! You're still living in this secluded cabin, aren't you? It's not even properly cleaned! Look at all this dust!"
"I-it's clean enough."
Thunderstep tried to defend himself.
In truth, the cabin had become much tidier since Yi Han arrived.
"Clean, you say? What kind of cleaning is this!? Alchemy is fine, but you should start thinking about finding a good partner and having children. How long do you plan to live alone!? The elders are worried about you..."
"......"
Thunderstep looked at Yi Han as if pleading for help.
Yi Han couldn't bring himself to refuse that look.
"Professor, should I prepare some food?"
"Ah, yes. I brought my disciple, so I should feed him. You stay put, Thunderstep. Your cooking is terrible. I'll make something delicious, Eastern-style."
"But I don't really like Eastern-style food..."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing."
Thunderstep mumbled and then closed his mouth.
He then looked at Yi Han and said in a desperate voice,
"Did anything happen to you?"
His tone clearly begged for a change of topic.
Yi Han pondered what to say.
Should he mention joining the Freesinga Sect?
"Wait. That staff..."
Thunderstep finally noticed that Yi Han's staff was unfamiliar.
"Where did you get that staff?"
"Ah, this?"
Yi Han hesitated for a moment.
Then he asked,
"You'll keep it a secret, right?"
"......"
Thunderstep was taken aback.
He had only asked casually to change the subject, but such a response came back.
Moreover, the way Yi Han spoke made it clear that something was suspicious...
"... I'll keep it a secret."
"Child, our family always keeps secrets."
Thunderstep, who had been chopping ingredients in the background, washed his hands and approached.
"Whatever the secret, we don't bring up what's discussed at the dinner table. By the way, what kind of ingredients are these? All you have is bread and meat?"
"Ah, I can take care of myself..."
"That's why your health is weak! For dwarves, Eastern eating habits are the best. You should eat rice, not wheat. I'll make you a delicious stew."
Thunderstep's expression turned sorrowful.
The dwarf professor, determined to change the subject, asked Yi Han again,
"So, how did you get that staff? I can feel a life force emanating from it..."
Yi Han summarized and polished the events of the previous night.
—I happened to go for a walk up the mountain at night and met a talking oak tree...
"... You happened to go for a walk deep into the mountain at night???"
"Yes. A walk is best enjoyed in secluded and quiet places."
"......"
"......"
Thunderstep and Thunderstep looked at Yi Han in disbelief, but Yi Han remained unfazed.
'He was trying to escape.'
'An escape attempt.'
There was only one reason a freshman would go up a mountain on a weekend night.
"But wait. You met a talking oak tree? Did you solve its riddle?"
"Yes. How did you know?"
"It's a rather famous spirit... So, you received that staff from the talking oak tree?"
Thunderstep nodded with interest, examining the staff.
Talking oak trees were known for their strict and bothersome nature, but their ancient knowledge and wisdom were undeniable.
The staff Yi Han held radiated the vibrant life force of a tree spirit.
It was a rare and unique staff.
"Does this staff have any special effects?" Yi Han asked with a hint of anticipation.
As a human, it was hard not to feel hopeful.
The talking oak tree had made it seem like quite an extraordinary item...
"That staff is good for farming."
Thunderstep placed a bubbling pork stew on the wooden table.
The well-fermented kimchi (though it was called Eastern cabbage pickle, Yi Han just called it kimchi) was stir-fried, and various seasonings and pork were chopped and boiled, filling the air with a mouthwatering aroma.
For Yi Han, who was of Korean descent, the typical Eastern-style cuisine of the empire always felt familiar.
In contrast, Thunderstep's expression turned sorrowful.
With green onions and red peppers added, the stew looked undeniably spicy.
'He's cooking such spicy Eastern food in front of his disciple...'
"Thank you for the meal."
"?!"
Thunderstep was shocked to see Yi Han scoop a large spoonful of white rice and mix it into his bowl.
He was eating it just fine!?
'Is it not spicy? Does he actually enjoy spicy food!?'
"As expected of Thunderstep's disciple. You know how to eat, Wodanaz."
Thunderstep said with a satisfied expression.
The empire was vast, and many couldn't handle cuisine from regions other than their own.
Compared to them, Yi Han, who ate heartily, was a delight.
It was the kind of eating style that elderly dwarfs couldn't help but love!
"In contrast, why are you picking at your food like that!? Eat up!"
"Ah, yes!"
In contrast, Thunderstep ate slower than his disciple.
As the dwarf and human ate, Thunderstep continued the earlier conversation.
"That staff has tree spirits dwelling within it, so it's excellent for nurturing and growing things. It's literally a living staff. Such staffs are hard to come by. It's a very precious item."
"Uh... Are there any other effects?"
"Hmm? That's the most notable one."
Of course, helping crops grow wasn't a bad effect, but it was far from what Yi Han had hoped for.
'It's for farming...?'
He had hoped it would help with magic control, not turn him into an invincible being or allow him to learn magic in his dreams...
"That's good. You were planning to start a garden, weren't you?"
"That's right."
"A garden?"
Thunderstep showed interest in the conversation between Thunderstep and Yi Han.
"Aren't you from the Wodanaz family?"
"He's a bit unique."
"I can see that. What are you planning to grow?"
"Anything edible. I want to try growing various things."
"He's interested in Eastern cuisine, so he wants to plant things like cabbage and green onions."
"Really?"
Thunderstep's words seemed to please Thunderstep.
He said with anticipation,
"If you want, I can help you."
"Ah, really?"
"Yes. I've tended quite a few gardens myself."
Yi Han went outside the cabin with Thunderstep.
Behind the cabin was an empty plot of land prepared for Yi Han's garden.
Thanks to the soil being well-tended, it was ready for planting seeds or seedlings.
"It's best to start with things that take a while to grow. Potatoes and sweet potatoes will be very useful."
Thunderstep knew well how much the school's freshmen suffered.
Crops like potatoes and sweet potatoes, which could fill one's stomach, were invaluable.
"It'll take at least two months, but if you plant them now, you'll be grateful later."
"That's true."
Yi Han agreed with Thunderstep's reasoning.
He received potato and sweet potato seeds and began planting them carefully in one section of the garden.
'...
He's from the Wodanaz family?'
Thunderstep was slightly taken aback by Yi Han's work.
Anyone who had done manual labor would be impressed by Yi Han's skill.
His experienced demeanor was that of a born worker...
Was he really from the Wodanaz family, known for their magic?
"...?"
Thunderstep, who had come out late to watch, felt something was off.
"Did you plant these over the weekend?"
"Huh? I just planted them now."
"Really?"
Thunderstep tilted his head in confusion.
'He just planted them now?'
Then why did it already look like sprouts were growing?