Episode 1012
Episode 1012
"Who exactly do you mean by 'other friends'?"
"Huh?"
Lee Han was taken aback—he hadn't expected her to demand specific names.
As expected, the insight of an Archmage was anything but ordinary.
"...Senior Diret, and... Lee Han of the Wardanaz Family..."
Flustered, Lee Han made a choice he would never have made under normal circumstances—he included his own name in the list of friends.
The Death Knight accompanying him inwardly lamented.
'Young Master. Trying to slip in your own name as if it were someone else's only makes you seem more awkward.'
"And... um... Stedal of the Nago Family."
"......"
The knights couldn't bear to look at their young master with a straight face and had to turn their heads away.
This conversation had the power to make even soulless undead feel secondhand embarrassment.
Erindarbel frowned at the unfamiliar name.
"Was there such a person? I'll have to ask Yukveltire about it."
"That mage has a very secretive personality. That's probably why she never mentioned him."
"How strange. Yukveltire isn't the type to respect others' tendencies like that."
'Ugh.'
Lee Han cursed the absent senior in his mind.
Just how much of a troublemaker had she been in the past to torment her juniors even when she wasn't present?
"...Senior has changed... just a little."
"If that's true, it would be a truly surprising and joyous thing. Perhaps it's thanks to the devotion of her friends."
"I think that's highly likely as well."
Lee Han quickly agreed.
If not for Senior Diret, that damn Verdus would have either starved to death or gone missing in the deepest parts of Einrogard by now.
"An outstanding mage shouldn't keep burdening her friends like this."
"I completely agree!"
After answering, Lee Han worried that his reaction had been too intense.
For a moment, his voice had come out louder than intended.
But he couldn't help it.
How could he pass up the chance to scold Verdus with the help of an Archmage—and a mother, no less?
However, Erindarbel paid little attention to Lee Han's reaction. Instead, she raised her silver eyebrows in displeasure at her daughter's behavior.
"I sent a letter, yet nothing has changed. It's truly disappointing."
"What did you say in the letter?"
"I wrote to Yukveltire that she should abandon that student since he wouldn't be of any help to her magical research and focus on her own work instead."
"?"
Lee Han tilted his head in confusion for a moment.
Then, belatedly, he realized—
To his shock, this Archmage hadn't sent the letter to Yukveltire, but to Diret!
"W-Wait. Shouldn't you have sent it to Senior Yukveltire?"
"There's no point sending letters to Yukveltire—she never listens anyway."
"......"
Truly, one didn't become an Archmage for nothing. Lee Han had no choice but to concede.
'She's absolutely right. Convincing Senior Yukveltire is far less likely than just telling the people around her to stay away.'
"Hold on. Then why did Senior Diret, after receiving that letter, continue such a... friendship?"
Erindarbel let out a small, regretful sigh.
"The reply said, 'I'll choose my own friends, thank you very much.'"
"That idiot!"
Lee Han also let out an exasperated sigh.
Why on earth—?
'Maybe the letter was too direct.'
If someone had sent Lee Han a letter saying, "Stop being friends with Gainando," he probably would've responded with "Who do you think you are?" and become even more protective.
Instead, something like "I heard Gainando secretly hoarded a month's worth of snacks for himself" would have been far more effective.
"Since you've also identified yourself as Yukveltire's friend, Lord Wardanaz..."
"Was I the one who said that!? ...Of course I did."
Lee Han belatedly tried to smooth things over, then winced in distress.
'Damn. I should've thrown Moradi under the bus instead.'
The question had been too sudden, making his reaction sluggish.
"...Please be cautious not to get entangled with Yukveltire and let it interfere with your own research. From a broader perspective, it would be a tremendous loss if the mages who must shoulder the Empire's future cannot devote themselves fully to magic."
The Archmage Erindarbel, like most exceptional mages, held firm convictions.
Talented mages must be nurtured, supported so they can each blossom in their own way...
And if one of those talented mages ever tried to torment others like weeds or poisonous mushrooms, they must be strictly isolated...
'Isn't that a bit too harsh?'
Lee Han was slightly startled by his own thoughts.
It seemed he still harbored some protective feelings toward his senior.
"What about Adenart?"
"Huh? Ah..."
Only then remembering that the mage before him was also Adenart's mother, Lee Han replied as favorably as possible.
"Her Highness is extremely diligent."
Unlike Senior Yu, Adenart was, in fact, one of the most diligent students even within the Blue Dragon Tower.
"Is that so? From the contents of the letter, it seemed she kept pressuring you into cooking, Lord Wardanaz..."
'Gah.'
At the sharp observation, Lee Han instinctively held his breath.
He couldn't count how many times this archmage had made him tense up.
"...Students of the Blue Dragon Tower divide tasks among themselves. So there must have been a misunderstanding. As part of the Alchemy School, I often handle cooking."
'Along with gathering, repairs, crafting, cleaning, and so on...'
The Death Knight thought to himself.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't a lie that he handled cooking because he was in the Alchemy School.
He just didn't mention the other schools were listening in.
"I see. Adenart has always been picky with food, so I found the letter's contents puzzling. But if the other students were sharing the meals, it makes sense."
"Ye... yes???"
Lee Han was startled.
Were there perhaps two Adenarts at Einrogard?
* * *
"You've all worked hard."
The Skeleton Principal, having finally shaken off the mages, opened the carriage door and stepped inside.
"Tracking spells, brand spells, parasitic magical creatures, extradimensional beings—check if anyone planted anything on you."
The Skeleton Principal didn't trust the mages of the officially recognized Magic Towers of the Empire in the slightest.
It wouldn't have been strange if they'd secretly planted communication methods on his students' collars or cloak hems while they were talking earlier.
-Your disciple already checked and destroyed them with mana.
"...Ah, good."
The Principal shuddered internally.
Even Professor Garcia hadn't adapted this quickly.
What a terrifying guy!
"Still, it's a relief we won't be kidnapped by the Magic Towers. Let's see..."
The Skeleton Principal took out his pocket watch and checked the time and date.
"I'll be staying in the capital until next week. Since we finished much earlier than expected, you're free to do as you please during the remaining time."
Though the debt collectors had been dealt with, they couldn't just return to Einrogard with cheerful smiles.
They still had to personally explain the events to the Emperor and other key figures of the Empire.
The fact that one of the periodically descending thought-forms had permanently ascended was crucial information.
"Ah! In that case—"
"Wait. If you're thinking of visiting His Highness Jowurin, drop it. It's better we go together after I finish my schedule."
"?"
When the Skeleton Principal firmly stopped him, Lee Han was puzzled.
"Are you stopping me because His Highness might be upset with you if I go alone first?"
"...Haha. You brat. Sharp as a giant's blade, aren't you? Exactly. So let's go together later."
The Skeleton Principal looked at Lee Han with pity as the student, who had demonstrated such high intelligence when casting spells in front of the Green Jade Magic Tower mages, now only offered pathetic speculations.
It was said that prophets couldn't foretell their own futures, but how could he be this clueless?
"Well, I needed to buy a gift anyway... Ah. I received this from Archmage Erindarbel."
Lee Han pulled out a tightly rolled scroll. It still had its wax seal unbroken.
"Do you happen to know what this is?"
"I do. It seems Erindarbel holds you in high regard. Not that there's any reason not to."
At those words, Lee Han nodded as if understanding.
"She must want me to participate in her magic research."
"What? No!"
The Skeleton Principal was dumbfounded by this ridiculous misunderstanding.
"Erindarbel isn't that kind of... Ah. Did you think that because of Yukveltire?"
"Of course not."
"Don't lie."
"Alright, it's true."
"...Erindarbel enjoys giving gifts to talented mages. It's probably something that'll be useful to you."
"Like participating in her magic research?"
"......"
The Skeleton Principal's heart ached at his student's distrust.
But what could he do?
Sometimes, parents had to bear the sins of their children.
"It's your choice whether to open it or not, but if you're curious, go ahead. You won't lose anything."
With that final assurance, Lee Han set aside his doubts and broke the seal on the scroll.
Inside were a map of the capital, a location to visit, and an explanation.
To the esteemed mage and future successor,
The magic we discussed is currently being prepared at the following location.
I've left instructions, so there should be no issues with your participation.
I look forward to your attendance and achievements.
Erindarbel
"???"
Lee Han tilted his head in confusion at the scroll's contents.
Noticing his expression, the Skeleton Principal asked,
"Is it a banquet? Or an artifact shop? If you're lucky, it might be the vault of some bankrupt noble family."
Erindarbel usually invited mages to such places to let them take desired artifacts.
It was such a generous event that even the Skeleton Principal would want to attend.
"None of those. It seems to be an underground location on the outskirts of the capital."
"Must've discovered some hidden underground vault. If possible, try to steal something for me."
"It says the magic we discussed is being prepared, but I don't remember discussing any..."
"Yes, yes. Of course. Your memory will come back when you go talk to them."
The Skeleton Principal didn't pay much attention.
His student's track record was simply too impressive.
There was a very high chance Lee Han hadn't even realized it was magic.
"She's calling me a successor—isn't there some mistake here?"
"Probably just those knights forgetting their chivalry and running their mouths improperly."
At the Skeleton Principal's words, the Death Knights averted their gazes once more.
"Let me say this one last time—Erindarbel isn't the type of mage who forces people into research like Yukveltire does. If you're not interested, you don't have to go. Just don't regret it later when you see it in the Imperial Newspaper."
"I'll go right away."
Lee Han made his decision immediately.
If he later saw a headline like <Ancient Hidden Vault Discovered in Underground Outskirts of Capital> in the Imperial Newspaper, the agony would be unbearable.
Jinon, who was being considered as the next successor of the Green Jade Magic Tower, fell into deep thought after receiving a letter from the Great Mage, unable to comprehend its meaning.
"What's troubling you?"
"Ah. I received a letter from Archmage Erindarbel, but I can't make sense of it."
To the esteemed mage and future successor,
I am currently distributing artifacts suitable for Einrogard students at the following location.
I hope this serves as some compensation for the troubles caused by Yukveltire.
Thank you once again.
Erindarbel
"What does this mean? Artifacts suitable for Einrogard students?"
"Doesn't it just mean they're that good?"
"And what about the troubles caused by Princess Yukveltire?"
"Probably referring to that time she forcibly took the reagents the Green Jade Magic Tower had purchased first."
'Is that so?'