Chapter 84

Chapter 84

Chapter 84

Yonaire quickly picked up on Yi-Han's words.

The willow tree, as if deeply impressed, praised the students. "Excellent. You've been protecting the plants amongst yourselves without a professor. It's not something just anyone can do."

"Thank you."

Feeling the atmosphere lighten, Yi-Han inquired about the stranger's identity. "Excuse me, but who are you?"

"Ah, you're freshmen, so you don't know me. I'm a professor here, teaching botany. Call me Professor Willow."

The professor was indeed aptly named.

Gainando seemed to recall the talking oak trees he had encountered in the forest, raising his hand cautiously to ask, "Do you have any relation to the talking oak trees?"

"I'm a willow, and they are oaks, little troll."

"Me? I'm human, though."

"Yes, and I'm a willow, not an oak."

Yi-Han realized he needed to be careful with his words around Professor Willow, who seemed to dislike being lumped together with other similar trees.

Professor Willow slowly walked over, waved his branches, and touched the fallen bull.

Deepening the wrinkles on his wooden knots, he said, "This is a bull raised by Professor Uregor. Always so careless, that dwarf."

'Damn. It really was the professor's bull.'

Yi-Han cursed the absent Professor Uregor in his mind. If one was going to strengthen a monster with potions, at least manage it properly, not let it loose causing such a ruckus.

"Did you subdue this bull with a paralysis curse?"

Professor Willow looked at the students in amazement.

It was extraordinary for first-year students to do such a thing. They shouldn't have been able to cast such a powerful paralysis curse.

"We used a weakening potion first, then the curse."

"Still, it must have been tough. Remarkable."

Professor Willow rustled his branches, and vines grew from the ground, wrapping around the bull and confining it within a wooden enclosure.

"I'll inform Professor Uregor about this when he returns."

"Have you been taking care of the plants here, Professor?" asked Priestess Siana cautiously.

"Yes. My garden is usually elsewhere. I was asked by Professor Uregor to take care of this botanical garden for today. Its annoying, but what can I do when he has to meet the emperors officials?"

"Really? I thought he was going to the market with Professor Bungaegor."

Professor Willow stopped in his tracks.

"Is that true?"

"Yes. You can ask Professor Bungaegor later."

Professor Willow stood still, but the restless movement of the leaves on the tip of his branches indicated his mood.

"You're from the Wardanaz family, aren't you?"

Yi-Han was slightly startled when the professor suddenly guessed his name.

What?

"Don't be surprised. I've just heard about you from the other professors. Anyway, thanks for telling me."

Professor Willow expressed his gratitude in a gentle tone.

"Do you need anything? If so, let me know."

"We're planning to practice alchemy. Do you know where we can find useful ingredients or reagents?"

"Hmm..."

Professor Willow pondered.

Of course, the vast grounds of the magic academy were abundant with ingredients and reagents, but most of the places were a bit dangerous for freshmen.

Yi-Han observed Professor Willow's expressions with utmost attention.

It didn't matter that the other was a tree spirit-like being. As a professor, he couldn't escape Yi-Han's keen observation.

'Now!'

Yi-Han took a gamble with his next move.

"Perhaps, from Professor Uregor's Workshop, could we borrow... Ah, no, never mind. That was too impudent of me to ask."

Yi-Han bowed his head as if embarrassed, but Professor Willow rustled his branches as if it was a great idea.

"That's actually a good idea."

"What? But..."

"Then, Wardanaz, I'll move ahead."

"See you at the dorm!"

The students grunted as they hoisted the bags and descended. Yi-Han, noticing Yonaire still present, looked puzzled.

"Why?"

"I thought it'd be good to have someone to help you. Even if I'm not with them, they can still carry the bags."

"Thanks."

"What's this about, its nothing."

"Wait. Should I...?"

"Don't ask if you need to apologize."

Yonaire warned, extending a finger. Yi Han changed the subject.

"...thanks to Jena."

"Is that a southern dialect?"

As he spoke, Yonaire picked up the watering can.

Truth be told, Yonaire hadn't expected Yi-Han to be adept at tending plants.

Caring for plants was more difficult and complex than one might assume. Even the simple task of watering varied greatly.

Some plants needed less water, others more. On hot, sunny days, they needed extra watering, while on damp, cloudy days, less was required.

Common plants were one thing, but rare and delicate ones were even more challenging. It was a task requiring both knowledge and intuition.

Yonaire had confidence in this area, having nurtured plants while reading alchemical tomes back home, but Yi-Han...

"You're doing well," commended Professor Willow in an admiring tone.

Both Yi-Han and Yonaire were not novices in handling plants.

Yi-Han, sensing Yonaire's surprised gaze, asked quizzically, "What's up?"

"Oh... no, just... you water them so well."

"I've done it plenty of times."

Yonaire wasn't the only one who had walked the path of plant care. Yi-Han had done the same.

Initially, it was a semi-forced hobby due to the professors, but a hobby once developed seldom fades away.

In his previous life, he had tended to the professors' plants; in this life, out of boredom, he had cultivated the Wardanaz family's garden.

Yonaire looked at Yi-Han with a mix of joy and admiration in her eyes.

People with niche hobbies were always overjoyed to meet others who shared their interests.

"You too...! Did the servants at your family's estate also ask why you bothered with such tasks?"

'Not really.'

Yi-Han was slightly taken aback.

The Wardanaz family was quite laissez-faire, not minding whether Yi-Han practiced swordsmanship or plant care.

But Yi-Han didn't want to disappoint Yonaire, who was kindly helping him.

"Of course, I did. But I never minded. I thought it would be helpful for alchemy someday."

"Yi-Han..."

Yonaire looked at Yi-Han with an expression that suggested she would award him the 'Best Friend Medal' if such a thing existed.

Yonaire was not the only one moved. Professor Willow was also touched.

"To meet students who care so much for plants... Follow me, everyone."

Leading the way, Professor Willow descended the stairs. Yi-Han and Yonaire, quickly wiping off the water, followed him.

'Is he going to give us something more?'

Yi-Han felt a subtle sense of anticipation, fueled by the joy in the professor's voice. After all, wasn't this why he had volunteered to stay back?

Upon reaching a corner of the second-floor botanical garden, Professor Willow stopped and pointed to the plants.

"Here, water all these plants from this point to here."

"?"

Yi-Han's face stiffened at the unexpected turn of events.

Could it be that Professor Willow was one of those extremely rare professors who rewarded hard work with more work?

If that was the case, it was indeed a terrifyingly daunting prospect.

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