Episode 1004
Episode 1004
The Skeleton Principal looked down at the pile of papers and sent an approving glance toward his muttering student.
'Come to think of it, I had this thought before too. The most genius talent this Wardanaz family mage possesses might not be his magical skills, but his silver tongue.'
'This time too, I pray you sweep those imperial bureaucrats off their feet!'
Silvas, an examiner working for the Empire's Ministry of Finance, was utterly shocked.
He had just returned from reviewing whether the <Centaurs' Magic Relay Stations> project in the eastern region had any feasibility, only to find the atmosphere within the imperial palace extremely tense.
"What on earth happened here?"
"Don't even ask. Lord Gonadaltes stormed into the Ministry of Finance. The Finance Minister was left hanging upside down."
"W-what?! Over that absurd research and experiments?! Isn't that going too far?!"
The mages of Einrogard were notorious for harassing bureaucrats to secure funding for all sorts of trash-tier research projects.
And it was always the Skeleton Principal who personally delivered those funding applications.
From Silvas's perspective, this was the only way to see it.
"This time it's a bit different. He claimed they need to permanently seal away a Thought-form that infiltrated Einrogard. But who knows the truth? What if the Einrogard mages are just using another bizarre excuse to pocket the gold coins?"
"Still... surely His Lordship wouldn't resort to such shallow lies... though I suppose he could."
"Exactly. You'd better be careful too. Everyone's on edge right now."
No bureaucrat could possibly be happy after having to hand over a massive amount of gold coins as if half of it was being extorted from them.
The bureaucrats' nerves were now as frayed as those of the Einrogard students whose food storage had vanished.
'Huuuh.'
Silvas sank into thought after sitting down at his heavy rosewood desk.
The story he'd just heard was so shocking that he couldn't just let it go.
Lord Gonadaltes, the ruler of Einrogard and the Emperor's Magic Tower, enjoyed immense trust from His Majesty.
In fact, storming into the imperial palace, hanging the Finance Minister upside down, and forcibly borrowing gold coins—like what had just happened—wasn't something just anyone could do. Without His Majesty's tacit approval, it would have been impossible.
So... did something truly dangerous really happen in Einrogard's territory?
'No. Even so, hanging the Finance Minister upside down is too much.'
The other bureaucrats were currently grinding their teeth in frustration.
If the Skeleton Principal failed to repay the borrowed gold coins on time, they were fully prepared to mercilessly deduct the amount from Einrogard's other subsidies to make up for it.
"Excuse me. Are you there?"
"...Ah. Aren't you Lee Han of the Wardanaz family?"
Silvas was startled by the unexpected visitor.
And then he thought,
'Huh? Has Einrogard's semester already ended?'
It seemed like there were still a few days left...?
"Here's a gift. I remembered you liked this last time."
Lee Han took out a cup of coffee and an apple pie he had bought from <Rock Spirit's Apple Jam Cafe>, located in front of the imperial palace.
Warmed by the kind consideration—something rarely seen from the arrogant riffraff who usually visited the palace—Silvas's heart grew as warm as the apple pie.
Sniff. 'The others should really learn from this.'
After distributing the snacks to his colleagues (the bureaucrats stared at Lee Han with expressions of shock and awe), Silvas expressed his gratitude once more before speaking.
"By the way, Honored Mage. That <Research on Trolls' Preferred Prey Species> has already started showing results."
"Excuse me?"
Lee Han froze at the sudden remark before belatedly realizing what it meant.
This wasn't his first time visiting the imperial palace in the Empire's capital. Last year, he had come with the Skeleton Principal and spouted nonsense to get his seniors' absurd research topics approved.
One of them was precisely the <Research on Trolls' Preferred Prey Species>.
'What did I even say back then? That to reduce troll-related damages, we needed research on their preferred prey species?'
Looking back now, it sounded like complete nonsense. Lee Han was genuinely amazed that it had gotten approved.
"Wait. It's already showing results? This soon?"
"Yes. The damage caused by trolls has significantly decreased. The <Wasteland Star-Catchers> from the western region even sent us a plaque of gratitude."
"......"
Lee Han reflected on the fact that he hadn't trusted his senior.
'To think it was such a great research project...!'
"The mages of Einrogard only conduct research for the sake of the Empire. Baldr... ahem. Though some external mages may slander us, I'm glad that at least someone like you, Lord Silvas, recognizes the truth."
'Is that so?' Silvas tilted his head inwardly.
Of course, the research topics brought by the boy from the Wardanaz family last year had indeed been outstanding, despite their outward appearances.
But regardless, the claim that Einrogard mages were being slandered was a bit dubious.
'It doesn't really seem like they're being slandered, though...'
"Actually, the reason for my visit today is due to the thought-form incident that occurred at Einrogard."
"So it really did happen!"
"Huh?"
"Ah, no. Never mind."
Silvas quickly backtracked.
He couldn't possibly voice his doubts about the Skeleton Principal's words in front of an Einrogard student.
"I heard that the Headmaster went to great lengths for the students' safety this time, even at the cost of inconveniencing the officials..."
"Ah, no. I understand Lord Gonadaltes's intentions."
"Thank you for understanding. The Headmaster is usually a cold and rational person, but when it comes to matters involving students, he loses all reason."
'Is that so?' Silvas tilted his head again inwardly.
Yet, the rumors circulating from Einrogard seemed quite ominous...
"The gold borrowed from the Empire's treasury must be returned immediately, but... is there any way we could delay it just a little longer? For the sake of Einrogard's mages and their research..."
"Hmm..."
Silvas wore a troubled expression.
Personally, he wanted to agree, but he wasn't sure he could convince the other officials.
"I'll do my best, but I can't make any promises. Of course, I believe supporting Einrogard's mages—like with the <Research on Trolls' Preferred Prey Species>—is crucial for the Empire as well. But the other officials are quite furious..."
"There's no need for that!"
"!?"
The door to the luxurious palace guest room swung open, and an unfamiliar figure strode in.
Thud!
The man was so massive that he banged his forehead against the doorframe as he entered. Wincing briefly in pain, he ducked his head and stepped inside.
Lee Han had never seen a human of such enormous stature before—he even surpassed Senior Falkrius in size.
"You must be Lee Han of the Wardanaz family?"
Though his tone was casual, his voice boomed through the spacious room like thunder.
Not only that, his eyes burned with intensity, and his well-trained physique radiated an overwhelming aura. He looked like a warrior straight out of ancient myths.
Lee Han briefly wondered if the financial officer had hired a bodyguard from the north for revenge.
"That's correct, but... who might you be...?"
"I am Uman, the Emperor's fourth son. I've heard much about you from my elder sister. First, let me express my gratitude!"
"????"
Lee Han's brain short-circuited for a moment, wondering who this 'elder sister' could be.
Then, belatedly, it hit him. '...Jowurin's younger brother?!' Come to think of it, Jowurin was the third child. If this man before him was the fourth, then it made sense that Jowurin would be his elder sister...
Though it was impossible to imagine just by looking at them.
"Uh... well..."
"Is something the matter? If you're curious, feel free to ask! You're a Dragon Contractor, after all!"
"His Highness Jowurin... is still... um... quite young, isn't he...?"
"Ah! My elder sister's soul vessel is simply that vast."
Uman explained in his booming voice.
"A small vessel completes quickly, but a large one takes much longer to fulfill its purpose."
"Since Uman is a small vessel, he grew quickly, but Jowurin is a large vessel, so she grows slowly..."
'Is there any basis for this?' Lee Han wanted to bring up logic and theory as a mage, but he didn't dare voice his dissent before an opponent whose stature surpassed even Senior Falkrius and Professor Garcia.
Uman spoke again.
"Actually, apart from hearing stories from my elder sister, I've heard separate tales about you."
"Gasp. What kind of stories?"
Lee Han instinctively tensed up.
He had, after all, committed far too many misdeeds.
Last year, he had defeated formidable foes like ghouls, the King of Frost Giants, magic criminals, anti-magic zealots, basilisks, and sea serpents. This year, he had dealt with ancient archmage thought-forms, an evil hamster, a demigod attempting to conquer the continent, and in his spare time, had even done a bit of robbery in Granden City... 'Which one is he referring to?'
"Very righteous deeds!"
"...Specifically which ones?"
"???"
Silvas was taken aback by Lee Han's question.
Did he have so many stories that he needed to ask which one was being referred to?
But Uman shook his head.
"I'd love to elaborate, but I can't. You have your own affairs to attend to, and Uman has his! Anyway, Silvas. You needn't trouble yourself!"
"Eh? What do you mean by that...?"
Silvas, belatedly regaining his composure, looked puzzled.
Even if Uman was the Emperor's fourth child, he couldn't possibly suppress the anger of the bureaucrats...
"Uman will cover the necessary gold from the imperial treasury instead! Don't touch the funding allocated to Einrogard."
"...Are you truly alright with this?"
"Of course!"
Silvas sprang to his feet.
Overcome with emotion, he tightly embraced Uman.
Though there were noble factions in the Empire that disregarded over a hundred imperial family members, witnessing this act today would surely silence any such arrogance.
How could anyone make such a decision if not of noble blood?
As Silvas hugged Uman tightly, he realized there was another person beside him.
Unbeknownst to him, the mage from the Wardanaz family was also tightly embracing Uman.
"Both of you, step back!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
The Emperor's fourth child personally escorted Lee Han as he left the imperial palace.
"Thank you very much, Your Highness."
"No need for thanks! You deserve this help, and Einrogard is a school fully worthy of such support."
"?"
Listening to Uman's words, Lee Han felt a sense of dissonance.
Judging solely by his words, this dragonkin seemed like nothing short of a devoted patron and investor of Einrogard—a dragonkin who recognized the school's value...
So why had he never heard this person's name mentioned by the Skeleton Principal before? 'Was he impoverished until recently?'
"Your Highness. But the amount of gold is no small sum—are you truly alright with this?"
"No need to worry about Uman. Every year, the profits from selling Wizard Cards pile up in the treasury."
"...You sell Wizard Cards?!"
"Indeed! It's an honorable duty passed down from my ancestors."
Lee Han felt as though he had stepped into a myth.
To meet the enigmatic creator of the modern Wizard Cards—whose identity had remained a mystery to all—face to face like this...
"It's an honor. My friend is a huge fan."
"Your friend must be young, then?"
"Ah, but don't older people often enjoy Wizard Cards too?"
At that, Uman frowned, clearly displeased.
"That's a perversion! How dare adults steal something made for children and enjoy it for themselves?"
"......"
Lee Han resolved to keep today's encounter a secret, even from Gainando.
"Anyway, thank you so much for your help. With the most difficult bureaucrats persuaded, convincing the remaining nobles and mages should be far easier."
"You're the one persuading them?"
"Eh? Yes."
Uman muttered under his breath.
"Another misdeed by Duke Gonadaltes..."
"It's nothing. Ah! I have a request. Could you keep this meeting with Uman a secret from Duke Gonadaltes? Of course, I know it's a difficult favor to ask—you are his disciple, after all. But this is truly for the sake of justice and the greater good..."
"It's not difficult. I'll do it."
"?!"