Episode 1007
Episode 1007
The nobles present were even more shocked than before.
Haidan was one thing, but Lady Kraha too?
It was utterly unbelievable. One of the nobles, trying to regain his composure, gulped down scalding tea (which didn't help much) before asking:
"L...Lady Kraha. You clearly stated before. No matter how much His Excellency Gonadaltes has dedicated himself to the Empire, he wouldn't yield easily this time."
"How cruel."
The Skeleton Principal pretended to sound hurt as he interjected, but none of the nobles reacted or paid him any attention.
"That was indeed the case."
"Then why?!"
"Well...it seems we owe young Wardanaz here an immense debt. So we have no choice."
"The Wardanaz Family?" Only then did the nobles turn their attention to the Skeleton Principal's disciple.
Truth be told, they'd been so shocked by Haidan and Lady Kraha's statements that they'd overlooked it, but introducing one's disciple wasn't something to be taken lightly in the first place.
Among Einrogard's countless students, this was effectively an introduction to the most outstanding and brilliantly unhinged one—a future archmage in the making.
And if that disciple happened to be of Wardanaz bloodline? All the more reason. The nobles struggled to process this new information.
"So..."
"The Wardanaz Family..."
"Didn't they subjugate the Ghoul King last year? I assumed it was a graduate..."
"I think I also heard about the Basilisk and Sea Serpent subjugations. Wait. If he's a second-year now, that means he was a first-year last year?"
The Skeleton Principal quickly signaled the death knights.
It was an urgent command to divert the topic before the nobles uncovered Einrogard's sinister secrets.
"Wait, the person the dragons mentioned this time was—"
"Dragons?"
"Never mind."
Among the reacting nobles was even the Moradi Family Head, who had received a letter from the dragons.
The moment he recalled it, he immediately understood. 'Of course.' Now he could see why sharp calculators like Haidan and Lady Kraha had softened their stance so readily.
It wasn't just because he was the Skeleton Principal's disciple.
Though being the Principal's disciple was impressive enough, that alone was usually reason to keep one's distance rather than draw closer.
Neither the Skeleton Principal nor his disciples were the kind you'd benefit from associating with.
Getting close only meant having your supplies plundered or being forced into donations whenever something like this happened. For a peaceful, comfortable life, maintaining distance was the wiser choice.
But a dragon contractor? That changed everything.
For someone who'd formed a pact with dragons—a rarity in these times—even being the Skeleton Principal's disciple was worth risking some goodwill. 'As expected, neither of them is ordinary.'
"I would also gladly accept if it's the disciple's request."
"I shall do the same."
Nobles who'd heard rumors about the Wardanaz Family's youngest and considered investing in him, Family Heads who'd received letters from dragons, and those who simply followed the shifting atmosphere all voiced their agreement in turn.
Yet a considerable number still refused to back down.
Those ignorant of the rumors, the greedier nobles, or those desperate to take Professor Verdus instead of gold coins clung stubbornly to their demands.
"Lady Kraha. Please reconsider. Deferring such a massive sum just because of a debt..."
'Fools. Do they really think Lady Kraha would act solely for such a reason?' The more perceptive nobles thought to themselves.
In truth, that was exactly the reason, but the nobles couldn't even fathom it.
"It's not me who owes the debt—it's Gainando."
"Just because he's your son's friend?"
"It's not just that level of—it's truly..."
Even with Lady Kraha's explanation, the nobles remained unconvinced.
"Would there really be any need for him to rely on his friends at the magic academy? Meals and cleaning would be handled by slaves or servants, and magic would be taught by professors."
Haidan also found the explanation unconvincing.
"Considering the changes in my younger brother, I don't find it regrettable in the slightest. It's to the point where even investing several times the Dalkard family's gold coins wouldn't be enough."
"?!?!?!"
The nobles wondered if the Skeleton Principal's disciple was not a second-year student but a professor.
Otherwise, it made no sense.
Given what he had done last year as well...
"If it's something Young Master Wardanaz is asking for, the Kraha family's debt could simply be written off this time."
Lady Kraha spoke with overflowing affection.
Considering all the things the boy from the Wardanaz family had done for Gainando, they could have invested dozens of times more without hesitation.
"Is that truly the case?!"
The Skeleton Principal exclaimed in surprise.
The equally astonished Death Knights finally understood how their master's successor had persuaded the bureaucrats.
Just going and speaking to them must have been enough!
'Perhaps I lacked faith!'
'That might be the true magic.'
But Lee Han refused.
"No... That would be a bit too much. I'm already grateful just for the extension."
"Come here for a moment."
The Skeleton Principal, about to rejoice, suddenly turned serious and immediately pulled his disciple aside.
"Why are you doing this? Did those Baldrogard bastards secretly invite you or something?"
"Huh? Is transferring to Baldrogard even possible?"
Lee Han asked out of pure curiosity. The Death Knight answered instead.
-He's asking if you were offered a position as a professor, not a student.
"Quiet! When Lady Kraha is showing such favor, why are you refusing it? That's also impolite!"
"Well, it's Gainando's wealth too. I can't just waste it."
"......"
The Death Knights silently applauded. They were moved by his friendship.
Of course, from the Skeleton Principal's perspective, it was nothing short of infuriating.
"Considering the Kraha family's vault, it's an amount so insignificant it wouldn't even make a dent...!"
"Couldn't you just treat Gainando well and make a separate request to Lady Kraha?"
"That would go against the sacred rules of Einrogard."
The Skeleton Principal firmly refused, but Lee Han gave him a suspicious look.
Though he claimed it was for equality, Lee Han suspected he just wanted to torment students.
"Anyway, I've done what you asked. Isn't an indefinite extension more than enough?"
Instead of answering, the Skeleton Principal grumbled in an ancient language. Thanks to his time under the Crazy Doppelganger, Lee Han could understand some of it—like, "No use raising disciples anyway."
"Then I'll go and persuade them further..."
"?"
The Skeleton Principal didn't immediately grasp his disciple's words.
Persuade further?
Of course, there were still stubborn nobles present, but they weren't the type to be persuaded separately.
He had assumed Lee Han would just push through with the numbers of those already in favor...
The knights seemed to think the same way, looking puzzled.
-How does he plan to persuade them?
-Is he trying to hand over Professor Verdus?
-Surely not... But if that really is his plan, I'd kind of like to see it.
"Everyone. The Headmaster made an unreasonable request, but I never intended to just ask for a favor from the start."
"!"
At Lee Han's words, the nobles murmured in surprise.
"You could've just asked..."
"Quiet, please. Lady Kraha."
Yoanen covered Lady Kraha's mouth. She was curious about what he was about to say.
"So?"
"Actually, I happened to meet an ancient undead and learned the locations of several families' lost ancestral tombs. If you're willing, I can share them with you in exchange for your generous mercy..."
"Come here for a moment."
The Skeleton Principal turned serious again. The startled nobles tried to hear the rest, but the Headmaster was a step faster.
"Just what the hell was that? How do you know the locations of lost ancient tombs?"
"The Chamberlain wrote it down for me."
"'Intarendals!'" The Skeleton Principal, realizing the culprit, tightly shut his eyes.
Ever since this Chamberlain from the Three Kingdoms era had pledged loyalty to a thought-form of ambition, he had shown exceptional talent in twisting the Skeleton Principal's guts.
Regretting that he should never have taken him in so long ago, the Skeleton Principal spoke.
"My disciple. Have you ever thought... do those who don't even know where their ancestors' ancient tombs are truly have the right to care for them? Such thoughts, I mean."
"Haven't thought about it."
"And the ancient evil artifacts inside them... Isn't it a mage's responsibility to control and oversee such relics? Have you considered that?"
"You could just come along as a reference when we enter, couldn't you?"
"......"
A clever disciple often twisted their master's insides.
If that disciple was both clever and kind, it was twice as bad.
Lee Han spoke honestly.
"Actually, the Chamberlain wrote some things down separately, so I couldn't tell you earlier."
Intarendals flipped through the Crazy Doppelganger's book while handing over the remaining potions and items in the workshop to Lee Han. Among them was a personally written note.
Various old tombs of noble families that might help the disciple, the old tomb of the Dalkard Family (the Chamberlain had permitted him to just take and use this one), and so on.
And at the very end, it was written:
'Return them to the descendants of each family if you must, but never hand them over to the Lord of Einrogard...'
"......"
The Skeleton Principal let out a deep sigh.
Then, as if genuinely unable to comprehend, he asked the knights,
"Did I treat Intarendals so harshly? Is refusing to conquer the continent something worth retaliating over until the end of time?"
"W-we don't really..."
The death knights averted their gazes.
This truly wasn't a matter they could comment on.
Eullangdam, the Tower Master of the Daylily Magic Tower and an archmage, narrowed his eyes at the Skeleton Principal's request for a visit.
"What reason does Lord Gonadaltes have for coming?"
"Could it be an apology for his previous rudeness?"
The mages of the Daylily Magic Tower had visited the Einrogard territory to contain the thought-form, only to be angrily dismissed and told to leave abruptly. For the mages who had rushed through harsh training for grand magic, it had been utterly baffling treatment.
But now the Skeleton Principal was visiting with his disciple—perhaps he intended to apologize?
"Would His Excellency really do such a thing?"
Eullangdam, who looked like nothing more than a village elder save for his robes, deepened the wrinkles on his face as he lit his long pipe.
True to his status as an archmage, Eullangdam coolly speculated, unlike his subordinates.
"Likely trying to delay repaying his debts. Mages are always strapped for funds, after all."
In truth, madmen weren't exclusive to Einrogard.
The tower's mages had plenty of their own, which was why they were always struggling with budgets.
It was just that Einrogard's scale was overwhelmingly larger!
"How dare...! Even so, to offer such insults and then do this—!"
"He's right."
Eullangdam puffed on his pipe. The old archmage, gazing blankly into the air with clouded eyes, asked as if he couldn't understand,
"But he isn't the type to come without some scheme. I wonder what he's thinking."
"He said he's bringing his disciple... Could he be trying the same method he used with Professor Kim?"
At those words, the expressions of all the mages present changed.
The incident with Professor Garcia was a painful memory for everyone.
They had all fallen for the Skeleton Principal's rhetoric—'That mage might come to our tower!'—and spread the word like madmen.
"...Surely not. His Excellency wouldn't use that method twice. Unless he takes us for fools."
"But they say his disciple is an exceptional mage."
"Enough. Quiet. I don't even want to hear it."
"My... my apologies."
The mage bowed his head at Eullangdam's warning.
A brief silence.
The archmage, lost in thought, quietly asked,
"How exceptional is this mage?"
'...We might really be fools.'