Episode 1095
Episode 1095
'This is serious.'
Lee Han looked at the mountain of letters with a grave expression.
The people of the Empire were far more gossip-hungry and quick to act than Lee Han had expected.
The semester hadn't even started yet, and this many letters had already piled up.
He couldn't even imagine how many more would come flying in once the semester began.
'At least once the semester starts, letters won't come flying into my room.'
Who would have thought the Skeleton Principal's censorship would be this helpful?
Lee Han began opening and sorting through the letters one by one.
"Gainando too!"
"!"
Gainando, who had been hiding in the closet playing Wizard Cards, jumped in surprise.
Had he been caught?
"Gainando, playing Wizard Cards in the closet!"
"...Why?"
Gainando stepped out with a face full of awkwardness, embarrassment, and shame.
The friend who had been playing with him inside the closet glared at Gainando with resentful eyes.
'This bastard. You swore we wouldn't get caught.'
"I need you to check these letters for curses."
"Okay..."
Gainando obediently began preparing the magic without another word.
If he worked hard, maybe the punishment for hiding in the closet would be a little lighter.
"But Lee Han, why are you checking for curses?"
He wondered if they might be letters sent by Baldrogard students.
If that were the case, it was entirely possible they'd sent cursed letters.
"These letters are from all over the Empire—I can't afford to let my guard down. I'll check them with my senses too, but there's no harm in double-checking. You have reagents, right? Test them."
Gainando nodded and pulled out his reagent pouch.
As a student of the Black Magic school, checking for curses was something he could do blindfolded.
He pricked his finger to draw a little fresh blood, sketched a simple magic circle, and placed a silver scale on top to measure the weight of the curse...
"Gainando. You missed a character in the magic circle. The efficiency will drop."
'How did he see that?!'
Gainando was shocked by his friend's observation.
Lee Han wasn't even looking this way—how did he notice!?
"Once you confirm there's no curse, read who sent them and pass them to me."
"Okay. I'll start with the letters from Granden City. This one's from Wizard Puyo, who runs the <Banyan Tree Staff> shop."
"I see. He sent one too."
"Yoner's older sister also sent one."
"Lady Maykin? I already got hers earlier. Did I put it over there?"
Lee Han checked the letters in confusion.
To his surprise, Yoanen had indeed sent another one.
[Just in case Yoner's words might make you refuse the request...]
"...Thanks. Put it aside."
"Brother Ashan sent one too. Special Administrator of Granden City."
'Just how many letters came from Granden City alone?'
Suppressing his dread, Lee Han opened the letter.
[I was deeply moved to hear that you met my twin sister Haidan during this break and resolved Einrogard's financial issues. I have something I'd like to entrust to you, trusting in your abilities. It would be great if you could bring Ashan along, but if he seems unqualified, please discipline him in my stead...]
'I should tell Ashan his family misses him too much.'
Lee Han quickly distorted the letter's contents for his friend's sake.
If he didn't want to bring Ashan, fine—but why ask someone else to scold him?
"Greenbell Family... huh. Prince Bogajun is here too."
"!"
Prince Bogajun was one of the many, many ordinary (non-dragon) imperial royals in the Empire.
Though he had the support of several guilds, noble families, and magic towers, to Lee Han—who had recently been tormented by dragons...
'Honestly, what are the chances a non-dragon royal would ever become Emperor?'
Even if all the nobles in the Empire banded together and said, "Your Majesty, it's about time you abdicated," it was questionable whether it would work—especially since many of the great noble families were firmly in the "Haha, may Your Majesty reign forever" camp.
Frankly, even dragon royals would have a hard time becoming Emperor.
Let alone an ordinary (Bogajun would be furious to hear that) royal.
"Ah, the guy I met at the mansion last year."
Bogajun, of course, as well as Princess Judrantas (he thought she was around the twentieth or so in line—he didn't remember exactly), who competed fiercely against Bogajun...
Lee Han also remembered how they had looked at him with utter greed.
"Let's just postpone this. Gainando too. Move it aside."
"L-Lee Han. You're not avoiding other royals because of me, are you?"
Gainando looked at his friend with slightly moved eyes.
Having such a close friend like Gainando while continuously interacting with other external royals could negatively impact Gainando's reputation.
Could it be that his friend had considered that and acted accordingly?
Lee Han was startled.
Gainando wasn't a foolish friend, but he was definitely not the type to show such political acumen.
"Were you really thinking that far ahead?!"
"Actually, I was just parroting what Moradi said."
-Ugh. Senior Yukveltire, Adenart—why do all these royals bully Lee Han like this?
Gainando, who had lost his chance to play, was so frustrated that he grabbed the passing Giselle and vented.
Giselle looked at Gainando with the same expression one would use to observe the empire's top trash.
What nonsense was this guy spouting—the very ringleader of those bullying royals?
Still, Giselle suppressed her anger and explained as calmly as possible. This wasn't the secluded mountains of Einrogard—it was the capital's estate, after all.
-...
There must be political considerations too. Even if they're from the same magic academy, getting too close to just one royal could lead to misunderstandings. He probably doesn't want unnecessary external pressure either, right?
People who would suspect or oppose Gainando were extremely rare in the empire, but if the Wardanaz family's future archmage showed an unusually close friendship with him, the narrative would shift.
It was enough evidence for people to think, 'Could that prince be...?'
-What? So you're saying Moradi meant that Lee Han is forcing himself to mingle with those awful people because of me?
-It's not necessarily just because of you, but balancing things out probably plays a part...
-Thanks! I need to go confront those two right now!
-Moradi! Hold back! You can't punch a prince here!
"...Lucky you didn't get hit. And Moradi overinterpreted things. He just loves politics too much. I'm just avoiding troublesome spots because of all these letters."
"Really? Still, if anyone asks, can you say it was more because of me than Adenart?"
"No."
Gainando grumbled as he finished inspecting the letters.
By the time they checked all the letters—not just from Granden City but from other places too—nearly half the day had flown by. Lee Han sighed.
'No matter how much I reject these, there's a limit. Even if I only accept the unavoidable requests, my semester will be packed.'
There were even proposals from Baldrogard, Kallarogard, and Petrogard.
Baldrogard was understandable, but why would a magic academy outsource requests to an external mage?
"Everyone, attention!"
"!"
"Gah, gah! Is it Einrogard?!"
One of the dozing students, struck by the Skeleton Principal's fiery gaze, mistook it for Einrogard and scrambled to his feet in panic.
"Phew. Still outside."
"His Highness wishes to personally escort you all."
"His Highness Jowurin?!"
Lee Han was aghast and confronted the Skeleton Principal.
It seemed they had let their guard down as the break neared its end. Maybe he should remind them they could still receive more letters.
The Skeleton Principal looked at his disciple like he was insane.
"His Highness Uman, obviously. Are you mad?"
"Ah."
As the students gathered noisily, Uman began his prepared speech.
"Thank you all for gathering. It truly brings me joy to see the empire's young pillars—the mages who will shoulder its future!"
"He seems like a good person!"
The murmuring students immediately changed their attitudes.
They had been worried when they heard he was an inspector, but seeing how he spoke, he seemed incredibly kind.
Then again, it wasn't easy to be more terrifying than the Skeleton Principal.
'Hmph. Foolish brats.'
The Skeleton Principal beside him sneered inwardly.
Right now, they're looking at him with expectant eyes, but once the semester starts, they'll surely miss his rule.
"Since Uman carries the bloodline of dragonkind, he can carry all of you and fly. If given the chance to soar through the skies with Einrogard's talents on his back, it would be an honor!"
"!!"
The students were flustered by the unexpected offer.
"Do you really have to go that far? If anything, it feels a bit burdensome..."
"More importantly, aren't dragons extremely rare in the Empire? How in the world did His Majesty manage to wed a dragoness?"
"Professor Bendozol would faint if he heard this."
"But how often do you get a chance to ride on a dragon's back?"
"That's true. It's an honor you'd be hard-pressed to experience even once in a lifetime."
Jowurin, who had been holding Eandurde's hand with one hand and sucking on a lollipop with the other, bristled at those words.
"Jowurin can carry you all just fine! Lee Han!"
Lee Han, who had been chatting with his friends up front, was startled.
The distance from here to Einrogard was no joke—if Jowurin flew there herself, she might collapse from exhaustion.
'Eandurde. I'm counting on you.'
Lee Han shot a pleading glance at his junior before turning away.
If anyone could persuade Jowurin's stubbornness, it would be this junior who was close to her.
Snatch!
Eandurde yanked the lollipop from Jowurin's hand. Then, in a stern voice, she said:
"If you don't stay still, no more candy."
"...W-wha..."
"Calling your senior won't get you candy either."
"......"
Jowurin stifled her whimper, swallowing back what she was about to say. Eandurde handed the lollipop back.
"No tattling, right?"
"Mm..."
While their owner was busy talking with friends, the Baby Basilisk, having witnessed the whole scene, wondered if this should be left alone.
'Isn't this lese-majesty?!'
But seeing Jowurin happily sucking on her lollipop again, it seemed fine... probably.
"Right. Once the new semester starts, we should all go see the lake together."
"Okay."
"And the snowy mountains!"
"...Fine."
"The desert too—"
"Enough! Pick one."
Jowurin was taken aback by her friend's strict response.
Only one?
This was a level of coldness she'd never seen from Lee Han.
"W-why...?"
"Elder Sister!"
Amid the chatter, Uman approached. Jowurin brightened at the sight of her younger brother.
"Uman! What brings you here?"
"Since the new semester is about to begin, there are a few things I must discuss with you, Elder Sister."
Jowurin nodded magnanimously.
Though, given the stark difference between her and her towering, human-shaped brother, not an ounce of dignity was felt...
"Once the new semester starts, Einrogard students must focus solely on their studies."
"Hmm. That sounds reasonable."
"Therefore, I ask that you refrain from interacting with the students as well."
"...Huh?"
Jowurin's expression shifted.
Wait, what?
"Your intention to tour Einrogard's spiritual lands is indeed extraordinary, but that doesn't mean you can disrupt the Empire's future pillars, does it?"
"Th-th-th-that's..."
Jowurin's pupils spun wildly. Eandurde gave her a look that said, 'That's the excuse you went with?'
"E-Eandurde..."
"Already saying your goodbyes? How admirable."
No matter how formidable a first-year Eandurde was, taking down Uman was beyond her.
While Jowurin floundered, Uman wrapped up the conversation.
"C-can't I talk to Lee Han either? He's my contractor??"
"Hmm... Contractors may be an exception. Please ensure your conversations don't interfere with his studies."
"Y-yes! I'll do just that!"
Jowurin's voice was thick with relief at having at least secured her contractor. Watching this, Eandurde suddenly felt worried about her senior...
Is this really okay?
Uman bowed politely before turning away. Striding off, he spotted Gainando and remarked:
"Wizard Cards, I see."
"Yes! Are you familiar with them?"
"Aren't Einrogard students past the age for Wizard Cards? Please leave them to the children."
Uman clapped Gainando on the shoulder with encouraging words before walking off.
"...What... just happened?"