“Uh, sorry, but I…”

Realizing he was being recruited as Enroguard’s unofficial mountain keeper rather than a student, I-han politely declined.

Yacha didn’t seem too surprised, nodding in agreement.

- I suppose there’s no reason for a young mage to abandon Enroguard’s heritage and settle deep in the mountains.

“...After graduation, I’ll just use my network and business sense to multiply my assets… Oh. Yes, that’s right.”

‘Did I hear that wrong?’

Yacha blinked in disbelief. It was unlikely that a student with such high karma would have a craving for wealth.

“So, who exactly is this troublesome creature in the swamp? Could it be the Purple Swamp Worm?”

I-han tried recalling creatures that matched the description. The Purple Swamp Worm was an annoying creature the size of a bull that released poison, killing the surrounding plants once it settled in.

‘But if the giants help, it shouldn’t be too hard.’

The creature was a nuisance due to its stealth in the swamp, but giants, resistant to poison and with immense physical strength, could overpower it with brute force, rooting it out in no time.

- Hm? The Purple Swamp Worm? Ah, that little pest? I wouldn’t call the giants for something that small.

“But isn’t it huge…”

- It’s a Ghoul Dragon. It’s an old one, and its size is massive, with a level of poison that’s nothing to sneeze at.

“...”

- Hey, mage, why are you tugging on my hair? Stop it. That’s precious hair.

“S-sorry.”

I-han, flustered, realized he’d been gripping the giant’s hair.

Technically, a Ghoul Dragon wasn’t a “dragon.” It was a creature that resembled a dragon, but it was more like a dragon-like offshoot—if even that. Imperial dragon scholars would often complain, saying, “If every oversized lizard can be called a dragon, might as well call a drake a walking dragon too.” But people generally preferred simple names.

I-han didn’t mind the term “Ghoul Dragon,” though. Whether it was a real or fake dragon didn’t matter as much when it could kill him with a single blow, infect him with poison, or tear him apart with its claws.

“Um… Should we call the principal?”

- What? Don’t be ridiculous, fledgling. You don’t understand how terrifying Lord Gonadaltes is.

Yacha looked at I-han in astonishment. No matter how fond Gonadaltes might be of his students, he wasn’t the type to cater to such trivial whims.

“I don’t know; I think he might agree to this kind of request…”

- That’s the illusion every student has. You, your seniors, and your seniors’ seniors. How can you be so confident when you’ve barely spoken to him?

“Hmm.”

Yacha’s firm tone made I-han hesitate.

‘Come to think of it, the Skeleton Principal is a bit unhinged.’

Maybe it was just I-han who thought they were close, and calling him might indeed lead to a scolding…

“Alright, I understand. But isn’t dealing with a Ghoul Dragon a bit dangerous?”

- Nonsense, mage!

- Trust us!

The giants seemed offended by I-han’s doubt.

“No, it’s not that I don’t trust you…”

- Lead the way, old Yacha!

- Fine, fine. I’m going.

“...”

* * *

Freed from the giants, Valpatan and Anpagun didn’t immediately head for the peak… but instead followed the giants.

They couldn’t help but worry about their junior.

Even though he had earned the title “giant tamer,” giants were unpredictable. One moment, the “giant tamer” could become a “giant’s meal.”

“…Wait. Isn’t that Yacha?”

“What? Yacha?! He’s really here?”

Valpatan was stunned. He’d heard from a graduated senior that “there’s a Yacha somewhere in the mountain range,” but had assumed it was just a scare tactic.

- I met Yacha on a heavily snowy day, hic. He scolded me about accumulating karma. So, Moradi, you better respect your seniors… Hic. Where was I?

“Incredible… But where are they going?”

“Hell if I know. Damn, send another note. We might need to get him out of there soon.”

As the giants and Yacha started moving, the two seniors’ faces grew tense.

The coordinated way they moved gave off an ominous feeling.

“They’re not planning to eat him, are they…?”

“You barbarian! What a ridiculous thought!”

Anpagun snapped, irritated. Though he didn’t believe in superstitions, the mention of an unlucky omen from that White Tiger Tower brat was infuriating.

“You think I’m not worried? You know how strange those giants are!”

“That junior isn’t enough for all the giants to eat.”

“What if they’re using him as seasoning?”

“...Shut up!”

The two silently followed.

The giants, humming as they moved, began uprooting giant trees around them, cutting them into pieces and arranging something.

‘Are… they setting up camp?’

Valpatan’s eyes widened in horror.

Setting up camp meant preparing food, and preparing food meant their junior might be on the menu.

“Send the note! Prepare to get him out!”

“G-got it! Sending it now!”

For once, Anpagun’s face went pale as he quickly sent the note.

* * *

- A Ghoul Dragon isn’t especially cruel or violent. It’s just a stubborn nuisance.

Yacha checked the makeshift wooden shields the giants had prepared, gesturing for them to get ready.

- If it would just sleep peacefully deep underground, we wouldn’t have this problem. Okay, that should do it. We’re not capturing it, so that’ll be enough.

“Oh. So, we’re going to try talking to it?”

- Ghoul Dragons don’t understand speech. And even if they did, it’d just ignore us; it’s a lazy creature.

I-han’s shoulders slumped.

- The method isn’t complicated. You young ones will drive the Ghoul Dragon back by force. Once it’s far enough away, it’ll be too lazy to return and will head back to its underground den.

“…That’s all it takes?”

I-han was surprised by the relatively peaceful solution.

- Yes. They may not listen, but they’re incredibly strong.

While it seemed simple, putting it into action was another story.

Getting these giants to work together in harmony was no easy task.

- The only task for you, fledgling, is this.

“Understood. What kind of magic should I use from the front?”

I-han, steeling himself, gripped his staff and asked.

- What nonsense is that? You think I’d put a fresh young mage in the front to handle a Ghoul Dragon? Just stay behind and direct the giants. They don’t listen to me very well.

“That’s it?”

- What else were you expecting?

Yacha eyed the young mage curiously.

Feeling a bit sheepish, I-han quickly replied.

“I just thought my part would be more… involved.”

- What you’re doing is already impressive. These giants hardly listen to anyone. Alright, it’s time. Move it out!

With a rumble, the giants started pushing through the forest, clearing a path.

Before long, the hidden swamp and the massive form of the Ghoul Dragon perched above it came into view.

At a glance, it looked like a dragon, albeit smaller. But its twisted, hideous form resembled a botched chimera that a mage might have created.

- Roaaar!

“Wait, wait! Work together with the others!”

- Roaar…

“Go around! Circle it from the side!”

The giants were as stubborn as ever.

I-han coaxed, urged, and threatened them into forming a proper perimeter around the creature.

Watching this, Yacha seemed pleased.

- You’re doing well. By the way, what year are you? I forgot to ask.

“I’m a first-year.”

- Alri—what?

- Old Yacha, help us out!

The giants called out to Yacha.

The Ghoul Dragon, not keen on leaving its swamp, was digging in, resisting with all its might.

The poisonous fumes it emitted stung the giants’ noses and eyes, making them yelp in pain.

- Here I come! Hold on a moment; I’ll need some help!

“What?”

Yacha lifted I-han onto his head. The giant who’d been carrying I-han let out a wail.

- Don’t worry, I’ll give him back soon!

As the karma-powered strength surged through Yacha’s body, he felt a tremendous force unlike anything before.

He’d sensed it the moment he saw the young mage—the amount of good karma this boy had accumulated was extraordinary.

- Out of here, you troublesome beast! Go back to your cozy den and sleep!

- Old Yacha is strong!

The giants’ cheers echoed as the ground shook and cracked under their clash.

I-han, holding on tight atop Yacha’s head, focused all his energy on not falling off.

‘I… I can hold on!’

At some point, I-han realized he was naturally balancing on Yacha’s head.

Thanks to insights gained during his last trial, he’d finally mastered his mana conversion, allowing him to balance his energy without forcing it.

‘Finally…!’

- It’s moving! Roll it out of here!

- Push it away from the swamp!

Oblivious to I-han’s struggles, the giants gleefully shoved the creature away.

The tremors were so intense that even someone perfectly

 balanced would’ve struggled to stay on.

The basilisk in I-han’s sleeve let out a mournful sound.

How had it ended up here, being dragged around by giants…?

* * *

- Hah, hah…

- Well done. You young ones have accumulated good karma today.

Once it was over, Yacha spoke with genuine appreciation.

If not for the mud-covered, exhausted giants, they wouldn’t have managed to drive the Ghoul Dragon out.

They’d truly done well.

- What were you doing, old Yacha?

- You forgot that I stepped in when you couldn’t push it out?

- Yacha did help…

The giants, who had been about to boast, shrank back slightly.

- Mage. Where’s the mage?

- Old Yacha stole him!

- I didn’t steal him, you little brats.

Scolding them, Yacha handed I-han back. I-han slumped on the giant’s shoulder, looking exhausted.

- Why are you so worn out?

“It was… a bit shaky up there…”

- What? Didn’t you use magic to… wait. Don’t you know how to stabilize yourself? Are you really a first-year?

Yacha looked at him in shock.

He knew Enroguard had all sorts of students, but a first-year who played around with giants?

- You’ll go far. Truly, you’ll go far! To think a first-year would be here befriending giants.

“I didn’t want this; it was my professors who forced me…” 

I-han started to complain about the professors, but Yacha wasn’t listening.

- Take this. If you ever need help in this area, pull it, and I’ll come. You’ve helped me, so I’ll return the favor.

Yacha handed I-han a small horn-shaped charm. I-han accepted it, though he was puzzled.

‘Why would I ever come back here?’

Once this was over, he had no intention of coming anywhere near this place again…

“Thank you.”

- If I’d known you were a first-year, I wouldn’t have asked. I feel a bit guilty now.

“No problem. I appreciate it regardless.”

I-han replied, casting a resentful thought toward the professor who’d sent him here.

“?”

As the giants happily congratulated each other, I-han glanced down at the ground.

Scattered around were a few pieces of paper that seemed to have been left behind.

‘What’s this? Was someone else here besides my seniors?’