Episode 1075
Episode 1075
'Why, of all possible backgrounds, did Stedal Nago have such an unusual one?'
Of course, Lee Han had included that background with greedy intentions.
Who in the Empire wouldn't want to amass wealth during the Bone-Reviving Flower Speculation Frenzy?
But he hadn't expected people to fixate on that of all things.
Wouldn't experiences like being captured by pirates or discovering treasure from a treasure map be more interesting?
"What? From the Nago Family?! I've heard of them! They acquired eight bankrupt noble houses during the Bone-Reviving Flower Speculation Frenzy!"
"!"
Lee Han flinched at the distorted rumor that had somehow spread.
He had never said anything like that!
"Astounding. Truly remarkable insight, truly immense wealth. No wonder they're the great tycoons of the south."
"Wasn't it the west?"
"Huh? The east..."
"What kind of family is the Nago Family? This is my first time hearing of them."
"Ah, you must have been traveling and missed the news. Recently..."
While the gathered people rapidly exchanged rumors, the mages lying inside the ship shared bewildered looks.
What in the world was going on?
"What is this 'Stedal Nago'?"
"I... I don't know either. Sounds like an alias. Do Einrogard students use aliases?"
"Could it be an alias used by Lord Gonadaltes?"
"Perhaps... that might be the case."
Puyo found Avalkaigen's hypothesis plausible.
Though the Skeleton Principal gave the impression of someone who lived outside imperial law, this archmage was surprisingly law-abiding.
Of course, from the victims' perspective, one might argue, 'Is that really abiding by the law?'—but by his standards, he was showing restraint.
Still, rumors of mysterious and terrifying incidents occasionally spread throughout the Empire.
Stories of people suffering terrible fates at the hands of an unidentified, fearsome archmage!
And strangely enough, those people always seemed to have recently provoked the Skeleton Principal's temper.
Puyo wouldn't be surprised at all if the Skeleton Principal secretly used aliases to hunt down those who had crossed him.
"Come to think of it, the alias does seem closely tied to Lord Gonadaltes."
"But isn't it a bit too... uninspired?"
"I suspect there's a deeper meaning we mere mages cannot fathom."
The two mages never imagined that the Skeleton Principal's student would brazenly use his master's family name as an alias.
Meanwhile, among the gathered crowd, someone finally said the words Lee Han had been waiting for.
"Ah! You mean the mage who escaped from those pirates!"
'Finally!' Lee Han inwardly sighed in relief.
He needed to act boldly from now on, and it would be troublesome if people mistakenly believed he was some kind of investment prodigy of the Empire.
—Hmph. Bullsh—
—Lord Nago! Please grace us with your wisdom—will the western regions see a bountiful harvest or a famine this year?!
'Just thinking about it is embarrassing.' That kind of situation had to be avoided.
"From pirates?"
"Yes. I heard that in his youth, he was captured by pirates but turned their ropes into venomous snakes, poisoning them all! Not only that, he turned the pirate captain into stone and scattered pieces of him across the sea!"
"......"
Lee Han, who had been about to interject, froze again.
Just like the exaggerated investment rumors, the other stories had also been blown wildly out of proportion.
"Ah! I think I've heard of that! They say he buried a greedy man alive in Granden City!"
"...Lucky!"
Though, strictly speaking, he hadn't buried him in a canal—but explaining that here would be impossible.
At the rough voice, the people in the room flinched and turned their heads. Lee Han, who had shouted without realizing it, quickly cleared his throat.
"Who dares insult Stedal of the Nago Family? Step forward!"
"I... I apologize."
Count Jau quickly sheathed his finely crafted dagger as he offered his apology.
Everyone gathered here deeply understood just how unpleasant and insulting it was to be mistaken for Professor Verdus.
The mere thought of causing such harm to an innocent person was horrifying to imagine.
'Just how many enchantments are on that dagger?' Lee Han inwardly sighed. Though the elderly count appeared benevolent, the aura emanating from his dagger was truly murderous.
Its purpose was likely to penetrate through all the defensive magics protecting an enchanter's body in a single strike...
Realizing he shouldn't even attempt to defend against it with psychokinesis if a fight broke out, Lee Han shouted:
"How dare you commit such tyranny in the capital!"
"My... my apologies, Lord Nago. But... isn't that sailboat the work of the mage Vible Verdus?"
"No..."
"You can tell by the beaver figurehead attached to the prow of the sailboat."
"I've also seen it several times in Professor Verdus's letters."
'Damn it!' Lee Han realized his mistake as he was about to deny it.
He should have immediately removed the beaver figurehead from the sailboat's prow!
He'd left it intact, fearing he might disrupt the delicate balance of the masterfully crafted magic, never imagining it would trip him up like this.
The assembled nobles were only worried about mistakenly accusing another innocent person of being Professor Verdus - they were by no means pushovers.
Without a proper explanation, there was no way to send them away.
"I... took it from him."
"!!!!"
"You... you took it?!"
The crowd buzzed with shock.
Lee Han thought people were overwhelmed by the lawless audacity of Stedal Nago brazenly stealing another's property.
But that was a misunderstanding.
"How could you possibly take something from Professor Verdus? By what means?"
"Truly remarkable...! The rumors weren't wrong!"
Professor Verdus was not only an exceptional mage himself but also maintained strong defenses due to having many enemies.
Moreover, he spent most of his time hiding in his dam—no, his magic tower—within Einrogard's territory.
Stealing from such a mage was as difficult as pilfering a dragon's treasure.
"I seized it through cunning strategy and formidable strength."
"Truly... remarkable..."
"Lord Nago, might you consider visiting our family for a while?"
"No! Our family first!"
The capital's nobles all vied to invite this impossibly extraordinary mage to their homes.
With this mage's power, they might finally be able to capture Professor Verdus.
-What's going on here!
'Whew. Thank goodness.' Lee Han sighed in relief as knights came flying from afar.
They must have seen the crowd gathered in midair and rushed over.
Now the crowd would soon disperse...
"We heard Lord Nago here has seized an item from Professor Verdus!"
"!"
Lee Han was flustered.
He hadn't expected the capital nobles to lose all decorum and immediately tattle.
The knights were naturally astonished upon hearing this.
"How do you mean? By what method?"
"......"
Lee Han was at a loss for words.
Shouldn't they not be asking about the method?
One of the newer knights cautiously asked:
"Um, excuse me... but even if it was taken, shouldn't we investigate such theft?"
"Compared to the amounts Professor Bible Verdus has swindled, this is a drop in the bucket. Even if we investigate, he wouldn't show up anyway."
The knights were seasoned and wise.
Professor Verdus never appeared in imperial courts anyway. Making a fuss over this would be meaningless.
"More importantly, how was it taken?"
"He says he seized it through cunning strategy and formidable strength!"
"My, this will go down in imperial history. The name Stedal of the Nago Family..."
The astonished knights finally began to question Stedal Nago's identity.
"Surely there was permission... The Death Knights of Einrogard applied for it, right?"
"That's correct."
"Then is he from Einrogard? A new professor?"
"That must be the case, no?"
To be fair, the very idea of Einrogard professors stealing and plundering from each other might have seemed strange, but none of the knights present found that part particularly odd.
"Then making an unreasonable request would be difficult, I suppose."
Had he not been from Einrogard, the knights would have gladly taken the time to receive instruction on 'how to ambush Professor Verdus.' But since their opponent was from Einrogard, such a thing was out of the question.
After quietly concluding their discussion, the knights began dispersing the crowd.
"We understand your astonishment, but you cannot continue gathering here like this!"
"Everyone, please move as previously discussed!"
The gathered crowd cried out to Lee Han as if they were dying of regret.
"Lord Nago! Please consider our proposal!"
"Our family's doors are always open to you!"
Watching them scatter, Lee Han let out a sigh of relief.
Though there had been perilous moments here and there, it seemed everything had concluded well enough.
"They've all left. Let's head down now."
"I won't speak of today's events to anyone."
"!"
Lee Han was impressed by the two mages' thoughtful consideration.
He had been about to make that very request... 'As expected, renowned mages are truly on another level.'
"Thank you."
"We should be the ones thanking you. We nearly tarnished our reputations back there."
Avalkaigen expressed his gratitude sincerely. Never in his life had he imagined the day would come when he'd receive help from one of Professor Verdus's students.
"If you ever need to repair or further improve this ship, feel free to send a letter and ask."
"I suppose it would be difficult to consult Professor Verdus about it, no? I may not match Professor Verdus's skill, but I can gather the wisdom of other mages for you."
Thud.
Upon returning to their starting point, the two mages descended to the second floor and prepared to depart.
"Shouldn't you bid farewell to Professor Verdus before...? Safe travels!"
Lee Han nearly asked if they shouldn't greet Professor Verdus but quickly realized what a foolish question that would have been.
The two mages chuckled and set off separately. Neither spared a single glance toward Professor Verdus on the first floor.
Once they were far enough away that no one would suspect any connection to Professor Verdus, Avalkaigen turned to his disciple.
"Now that I think of it, what was it you were trying to say earlier?"
His disciple had clearly been about to bring up the topic of <Vible's Sorrow>.
"Ah. About that..."
Abalkarn explained what had happened earlier—how the boy from the Wardanaz family had briefly stepped away to converse with a mentor he presumed to be the Skeleton Principal, then returned after casting <Vible's Sorrow> to perfectly restore the artifact...
"......What?!!"
Avalkaigen barely managed to suppress the shout that threatened to burst out.
The words 'Why are you only telling me this now?!' rose to his throat, but he swallowed them down.
'Guh...'
The master made a firm resolution.
From now on, he would listen to his disciple's words without interruption—no matter what!
"Wardanaz."
"Ah. Lord Alsicle. You truly had a rough time yesterday."
"Huh? No, no. That was nothing compared to what you went through. But I was curious about something."
"?"
The next day.
When Alsicle, who was staying with him at the villa, called out, Lee Han was puzzled.
What was this about?
"By any chance... have you done anything recently under the identity of Stedal Nago??"
"...Why do you ask?"
Rustle—
Alsicle flipped his backpack upside down and shook it.
Out poured what must have been at least a hundred letters. Some even bore teeth marks from being chewed on.
"I woke up this morning to find my room filled to the brim with letters begging me to introduce them to Stedal Nago..."
"My sincerest apologies!"
Lee Han apologized with genuine remorse.