While I-han was in a state of confusion, more words began appearing on the note.

- Because that idiot from the Moradi family messed things up again...

“???”

- Ragaimpaffdatmaningingar...

“????”

‘Could it be that he’s not alone?’

The text looked chaotic, as if two people were wrestling for control of the quill and trying to snatch the paper from each other.

After a moment, the words settled down, and Anpagun began explaining the situation properly.

He’d come with Valpatan to look for an elixir, but they got into a minor argument…

‘A minor argument?’

I-han glanced around.

The remnants of the forest, torn apart by magic, were scattered before his eyes.

If this was a minor argument, what would a serious fight look like?

- So why are you with the giants? Did they capture you?

- Oh, no. I’m actually helping them with some things.

- ?

“?”

The writing on the note stopped momentarily.

I-han wondered what was causing his seniors to act this way.

- Why are you helping the giants?

- We got close.

Another silence.

Seeing that his seniors had gone quiet, I-han cautiously wrote.

- Forgive me for saying so, but as your junior, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you two to be fighting.

A response came almost immediately.

- We’re not fighting. Anyway, noted.

- But didn’t you introduce yourself as Gainan-do last time?

I-han conveniently ignored the last remark.

* * *

“How can anyone befriend giants? I don’t get it.”

“Anything can happen at Enroguard. You clearly still have a lot to learn.”

“Stop spouting nonsense. So, do you have any friends or seniors here who are friends with giants?”

“...”

Anpagun went silent.

Frankly, he couldn’t imagine what one would have to do to befriend giants.

What could possibly make that happen…?

“So why didn’t he answer about the name?”

“That’s not important right now.”

Anpagun answered Valpatan’s question in an irritated tone.

The giants were wandering right in front of them. Why should it matter whether that junior had introduced himself as Gainan-do or Wardanaz in the past?

Probably just a misheard name or something!

“We need to get the giants to back off.”

“Oh, right.”

Initially, they thought the junior was deceiving and disguising himself among the giants, but if he had genuinely befriended them, it was even better.

Even if they still couldn’t fully believe it…

‘I’ll definitely ask him later.’

‘I’ll have to ask later.’

Even Anpagun, usually uninterested in others, was curious.

- If you could get the giants to back off, we’d be willing to offer a reward...

- A reward?

At the junior’s reply, the two seniors looked at each other.

And then they spoke in unison.

“You put in worthless junk as the reward!”

“Your reward is just trash.”

* * *

I-han was slightly touched.

‘The professors never offer any rewards when they make me do things, but my seniors are different.’

In reality, the professors were merely giving lectures, not assigning tasks, but I-han didn’t care about such details.

The seniors promised to keep a stockpile near the Azure Dragon’s Tower, with items such as ten suits of armor crafted from the skin of the Red Lion, ten Wind Barrier scrolls, and five jars of Moonlight Honey.

Honestly, he would’ve done it without any reward, but this was a nice added incentive.

“I know where the culprit went. Follow where I’m pointing.”

- Ooh!

- The mage is smart!

When I-han confidently called out, the giants cheered and moved in the direction he indicated.

I-han glanced toward the area where he assumed his seniors would be hiding, giving a slight nod.

A silent signal to escape while they could.

‘Heh, perfect.’

As he watched the giants march off, I-han felt proud.

He looked every bit the helpful junior who could do no wrong.

Though his seniors weren’t visible, I-han figured Valpatan and Anpagun were probably pleased with him.

“...”

“...”

Valpatan and Anpagun stood with their jaws dropped, watching the giants leave.

They’d trusted I-han to handle things, but to see him command the giants so effortlessly was beyond their expectations.

“He’s... a giant tamer…!”

Little did I-han know that he’d just earned a new nickname among his seniors.

- But why are they going that way?

“The culprit always leaves a trace. I sense a magical residue here.”

I-han pointed forward with his staff, saying whatever came to mind.

It wasn’t difficult.

He just had to lead the giants around a bit, then pretend he lost track, apologizing for letting the culprit escape.

For someone trained at Enroguard, this was as easy as blinking.

- Indeed! Look, this rock is shattered!

“That’s exactly it.”

- This tree is smashed too! They must have fled this way!

“?”

I-han, who’d been babbling nonsense, paused.

Something seemed off with the giants’ reactions.

‘Huh?’

Instead of following the mountain’s peak, I-han and the giants had wandered deep into a secluded area within the range.

Naturally, there shouldn’t have been any traces of human presence here.

Yet here they were, with broken rocks and felled trees.

‘Something feels wrong…’

- There! Over there!

- It’s him! The old Yacha! I knew it!

“????”

I-han’s eyes widened in surprise.

Beyond the forest, a massive figure, reminiscent of a ghostly fiend, was clearing away trees and rocks as he walked.

The Yacha, a rare creature in the empire, stood there with a hulking frame almost rivaling a giant’s.

Noticing the giants’ shouts, Yacha turned and spoke.

- Why are you loud idiots squawking in front of your elder?

- Oof! Old Yacha! You broke trees last time, and here you are again!

- You brainless oafs. Dead and rotting trees should be cleared to help the others grow.

- Don’t lie! You smashed perfectly fine trees too!

“...”

I-han felt a slight pang of guilt.

After all, the ones who’d smashed the trees were his seniors.

- If you’ve got complaints, come at me! Wrestle if you think you’re tough!

- Oof…

- This Yacha’s too strong.

The giants recoiled, their spirits dampened.

It looked like they’d clashed with him several times, only to be soundly beaten.

“But aren’t you giants stronger in size?”

- Yacha has weird powers.

- We can’t beat him…

As they muttered, one giant, roused by the mage’s presence, pounded his chest and roared.

- We don’t flee in front of a mage! Watch!

With that, the giant stomped and charged, trees flying around him.

Yacha smirked.

- Why do you youngsters never think about your size?

- Ugh! Arrgh!

The giant struggled against Yacha, trying to overpower him, while Yacha sneered.

- That’s why you should’ve cultivated good karma. All you oafs do are morally neutral actions at best. What are you hoping to accomplish?

“!”

I-han marveled at the supernatural flow of power surrounding Yacha.

Certain rare beings in the empire are born with abilities even magic struggles to replicate, but Yacha’s gift was unique even among those.

He could manifest good and evil karma into physical force!

While Yacha could convert his own good karma into strength, his opponents were often hindered by their misdeeds.

The giants didn’t have bad karma, but they hadn’t exactly cultivated good karma either, which left them at a disadvantage…

‘What an incredible power.’

I-han now understood why mages, despite creating vast systems of magical study, remained intrigued by primal magic and supernatural abilities like this.

These unique flows and patterns were irresistible to anyone curious about magic.

- Oof… I’m going in too!

- Me too!

The other giants, seeing their friend struggling, rushed in to help. Yacha laughed, absorbing their attacks with one arm.

- Come on! Come at me, you brats!

- I’m coming too!

“Uh, wait…”

I-han, suddenly jostled as the giant he was on charged forward, felt a surge of panic.

His giant ally was so fired up that he seemed to have forgotten the little mage sitting on his shoulder.

- Oof!

- Take thi—urk!

As the giant rammed into Yacha with I-han on his shoulder, Yacha let out a surprised grunt as he toppled backward.

- Wha…?

- Whoa?! We beat Yacha!

The giants, shocked by their unexpected success, stared at one another before erupting in cheers.

- We beat the old Yacha!

I-han clung to the giant’s shoulder, using every trick he knew to avoid falling, then scrambled back up.

As the giants clapped in victory, Yacha slowly got back to his feet, looking bewildered.

- What happened? Have you gained some karmic weight since I was last around?

- The mage’s cooking was delicious. My body grew stronger!

The giant carrying I-han proudly proclaimed. Yacha, dumbfounded, finally noticed I-han.

- What’s an Enroguard fledgling doing here with giants??

Yacha’s shock reminded I-han that befriending giants wasn’t exactly typical.

‘Is that why the seniors were so surprised earlier? No, they’re Enroguard

 students; they wouldn’t be fazed by something like this.’

“I’m friends with the giants.”

- …Nonsense…

- We’re friends! It’s called friendship, old Yacha!

The giants shouted proudly, while Yacha, looking pained, waved his hand as if warding off a headache.

Then, narrowing his eyes, he scrutinized I-han, as though trying to gauge his strength.

- Good karma…? What…?

“Uh, have I accumulated a lot of good karma?”

- How can you not know if you have?

Though exasperated, Yacha’s hostility softened.

He figured a mage with that much good karma couldn’t be all bad.

- Well, this works out. You youngsters, come with me. There’s something you need to handle.

- We don’t listen to old Yacha!

- Last time you made us work and didn’t give us anything!

Yacha sighed, frustrated.

- Didn’t I tell you? If I hadn’t cleared the glacier, it would have collapsed your sleeping cave.

- You make us work; you owe us a reward!

- …Is Ikurusha around? Ikurusha?

Out of options, Yacha called for Ikurusha.

After all, Ikurusha was the only one who seemed to understand him among the giants.

“Um, everyone, maybe we should listen to what he has to say?”

I-han tried reasoning with the giants.

Yacha didn’t seem like a bad guy. If anything, he reminded I-han of Ikurusha.

He seemed exasperated with the giants, yet genuinely concerned for their well-being…

- Hmph. Speak.

- Just this once, we’ll listen.

- ???

Yacha’s eyes widened as he looked at I-han.

He could hardly believe that an outsider, a mage at that, could manage giants so well.

- There’s a troublesome creature that’s taken up residence in the swamp. It’s been killing the surrounding forest. I’ll need you young ones to help drive it out.

- Ha! Another trick! A trick!

“If the forest dies, doesn’t that mean the trees you love will also die?”

- Really? What should we do?

“Stop it, of course.”

- Fine. We’ll help, then!

- …Have you considered not returning to Enroguard and working here instead?

Yacha asked, genuinely suggesting it to the young mage.