The dean’s office was in a solitary tower within the Andrei Castle. It might have been one of the quietest places in Andrei, as not many liches passed by here.

The tower was hollow, with a stone spiral staircase embedded along the inner edge of the cylindrical wall, but compared to the central void, it was as small as scales adorning a dragon’s body, barely allowing two people to pass side by side.

Thankfully, there were side rails; otherwise, Lyle would not dare step on the seemingly dangerous stairs.

The entire tower’s architectural style was a "dismantling style." True to its name, it was very easy to dismantle. Lyle even wondered how it hadn’t collapsed already.

The stairs underfoot had one end embedded in the wall, with the other exposed to the air, connected by a railing as slender as a piece of fine art.

With just one step, Lyle felt the stone staircase tilt beneath his foot.

Apart from the outer wall itself, there was no other means of support, resembling a chimney, with the dean’s office at the very top.

Such a perilous building it was.

Lyle used Nia to cling to the wall, scuttling upwards sideways like a crab.

Despite the creaking and groaning of the stones and a certain degree of tilt, they did not collapse.

"Magic power is affixed to the surface of the stones and extends deep inside." This was the truth that Lyle and Nia discovered.

Mr. Dean was a master of enchantment studies. He excelled at improving the properties of materials themselves. Not to mention a hollow tower, if he built an upside-down pyramid atop a pyramid, it would stand inverted, unshaken by storms or the passage of time.

Even though he understood everything mentally, Lyle could not stop his legs from trembling in reality. Alright, I might as well keep moving sideways.

During his slow progress, Lyle also began to notice some details. The stones forming the walls appeared the same as the rest of Andrei Castle, all dark black stones.

But through touch and feeling, Lyle noticed that these stones had no sharp edges, smooth as mirrors, fitting tightly together. Without careful observation, you might think they were a single entity.

The only protrusions within this fantastical tower were niches that appeared every dozen or so steps on the wall, shrine-like areas, or perhaps display cabinets? Inside, there were some bust sculptures.

Alright, half-skeleton bust sculptures. Lyle was relieved that their eye sockets did not hold soul flames; otherwise, he would have thought he was back at the Executive Committee.

Although these stone skulls chattered their jaws, they did not speak.

Lyle saw an inscription.

"Alexander Crux, a lich that argued with me, got his head smashed."

What a story!

Lyle specifically looked at the hole the size of a bowl on the top of the skull statue’s head.

You really had it rough, Mr. Alexander.

Lyle finally realized it all; this was the dean’s wall of military achievements, each and every one a vanquished foe of his.

Lifting his gaze to those wall holes crowded like ant nests, Lyle’s respect for the dean’s strength rose another level.

"Cyril Kusak, mocked my newly established Andrei Academy, so I broke his legs."

Below that was another line written in a strikingly different color that made it obvious it was freshly carved.

"Poor old chap got obliterated by holy light, hope he didn’t fail to escape just because of that single leg."

"Otherwise... otherwise, I’d be thrilled."

"Such unfortunate news."

Name after unfamiliar name surfaced in Lyle’s mind, particularly the reasons for their beatings, which were trivial matters. Mocking the dean, arguing with the dean, and so on.

Ah, mocking the dean’s beard, now that might not be a trivial matter.

"Henry Searle, Isis Kriss... Edmund George, Melok Raymond..."

Lyle blinked, looking up at the niches etched with familiar names.

There were no sculptures within, no skull sculpture of Mr. Raymond, but the dean had already prepared a space for him.

Mr. Raymond’s position was densely engraved with words that seemed to express the headmaster’s resentment; the entire groove was filled with his violations and indiscipline.

Below was a line of small text.

"I awakened Melok, and I treat each soul I awaken as if they were my own children. But Melok is that kid that even parents would want to strangle. I hope this will make him forget the past."

In front of Mr. Raymond’s position stood the statue of Edmund George, which, like Raymond’s, was empty inside.

"Light Chaser dwells in darkness... but this guy really started asking for a beating after entering the academy."

As one ascended closer to the room above, there were more empty grooves on the stone wall, mostly engraved with code names of Andrei’s current people. It seems that the headmaster’s blacklist had turned into a memoir, chronicling every bit of his experiences.

The staircase led into an entrance in the stone wall, its interior reflecting light. Lyle walked in, finding himself in an antechamber filled with collectibles, circular in shape, surrounding the central room, lit not by light bats but by crystal lamps made of gemstones and gold—so many that they seemed inexpensive.

Lyle circled the outer perimeter of the antechamber but couldn’t find the entrance to the headmaster’s office; there must be some trick.

Thinking so, Lyle’s gaze settled on a stone statue placed against the wall.

It was a short-haired man with exaggerated mustaches, dressed in noble attire, carrying a harness, and holding a slender ceremonial sword; don’t trust your common sense, the one that says ceremonial swords can’t be used in battle. God knows why a stone sword would glow.

He stood in a clearly oversized, inappropriate groove, striking an exaggerated pose, with only those stone eyeballs rotating.

He stared at Lyle, and Lyle stared back at him, until Nia started yawning, bringing an end to the standoff.

The statue began to speak.

"Why don’t you come over?"

"I’m afraid you’ll chop me."

"I am Bashien the Knight, guardian of the headmaster’s office, and you must answer the password correctly to pass! If you answer wrongly, you’ll have to duel me!"

As expected, there was a problem, although Lyle felt like commenting, he kept it to himself.

Where’s the knight’s horse? This is an infantryman.

Lyle stepped quietly back, with Nia spreading out behind him, fully prepared.

A password? Of course, he didn’t know it. It seemed like a test from the headmaster; just give any answer and start the fight.

"Mustache."

Bashien heard the reply, sheathed his sword, and stepped out of the groove by himself.

As the statue moved away, stairs at the back became visible as the magic dissipated.

"Did I get it right?"

"Go on in," Bashien said without further explanation, letting Lyle enter successfully.

The headmaster sat in his seat, looking at the new visitor, still wearing that huge wizard hat, his bulky body making the seat seem miniature, like a giant squeezing into a children’s playground.

A clump of golden plant roots lay not far from his skeletal hand, which was a fake mustache.

"Welcome, Plague Doctor, I hope that idiotic stone figure didn’t hinder you."

Lyle shook his head, "No, headmaster, I seem to have guessed the password correctly."

"There’s no damn password, Plague Doctor. It was just that idiot stone figure’s word game; I never set any password. If it weren’t for the fact that Bashien was a gift from my old friend, I’d have thrown him out."

The headmaster proudly stroked his mustache, "But since he let you in, it seems my lessons are still useful."

"What lesson?"

"Last time, he blocked me out of my own office."

"I smashed his horse."