Episode 1134
Episode 1134
Though he'd forgotten because of his sociable and normal demeanor, Professor Kirmin had been close friends with Professor Voladi since their school days.
Professor Garcia blamed herself. After being at Einrogard for so long, she was still this inexperienced.
'I forgot the most basic rule.'
Even someone who appears perfectly normal can harbor enough madness within.
Preoccupied with self-reflection, Professor Garcia was slow to notice the approaching merchant party riding toward them.
Had she spotted them earlier, she might have at least signaled them to 'Run away!'
"Are you the group from Einrogard!"
Naseda signaled the soldiers accompanying him and swiftly dismounted his horse.
Even such simple etiquette could demonstrate respect depending on how it was shown.
Indeed, the rough-looking coachman among the knights (whose faces were hidden by helmets) seemed thoroughly satisfied.
-Correct, we're from Einrogard. And who might you be?
"I am Naseda, sent by the orders of Count Bouillon. It seems there's been a misunderstanding, so I've come to clarify!"
"One."
Lee Han muttered. Professor Garcia felt a flicker of curiosity.
'What does he mean by "one"?'
-Clarify? Do you even know what discourtesy your count's soldiers committed?
The knights scoffed dismissively.
Truthfully, the knights weren't particularly angry. Their stern expressions were partly for the sake of the successor standing behind them.
If they acted too friendly here—saying things like "Are you from that side? Well, misunderstandings happen..."—they might hear someone from behind shout, "Are you perhaps worshippers of an Evil God?"
The knights' prickly response flustered not only the merchants but even the soldiers.
'What's going on? Why are they like this?'
'...They couldn't have found out about the embezzled relief supplies, could they?'
"Two."
Lee Han muttered again. Professor Garcia's curiosity grew, mixed with a tinge of worry.
'He's not counting the number of people to kill, is he... Surely not, unless he's Professor Bagrak...'
Naseda grew increasingly confused by the unexpectedly hostile reaction.
Had the soldiers been particularly rude? Even so, smashing the checkpoint shouldn't warrant this level of anger.
Still, he had to bow for now. If these people were here to inspect the relief supplies, things could get ugly.
"Hah, haha... Yes, of course we know. How could we not, with the checkpoint destroyed like that? The soldiers made a grave mistake. We'll hold them accountable, as we should."
-Hmph!
"His Excellency the Count wishes to meet in person to explain. Could you wait briefly at a nearby estate?"
"Three."
"???"
Now Professor Garcia was purely curious.
What on earth do those numbers mean?
The answer came immediately. Lee Han declared in a firm voice,
"Something's suspicious. Let's arrest and interrogate them!"
"......"
So that's what it was!
Even as the knights pounced menacingly on the merchant party, Professor Garcia found herself idly lost in thought.
Perhaps she was just trying to mentally escape the current situation.
"Wha—what is this?! What are you doing...!"
-Stay still, you Evil God Worshipper scum!
"Evil God Worshipper?! I—I've never even believed in any god...!"
The merchants and soldiers flailed in shock at the sudden ambush.
And the accusation of being Evil God Worshippers only deepened their confusion.
Had the Count secretly been worshipping an Evil God?
'He's absolutely not the type!'
'He's the kind to even steal money meant for an Evil God!'
"Let go of me! No matter if you're from Einrogard, do you really think you can get away with this?! His Excellency the Count will formally protest!"
Naseda shouted loudly for now.
He had no idea what was happening, but he had to hold out by invoking the Count's name.
"Are they really not Evil God Worshippers?"
"The way they suddenly flew into a rage is suspicious."
The knights whispered among themselves.
They had arrested them out of fear the successor might get angry, but now that they had them in custody, something felt off.
Both the soldiers and the merchants were acting as if they were hiding something. And that head merchant's sudden change in attitude was especially suspicious. His earlier demeanor must have been an act.
"You bastard!"
Ibinta shouted loudly.
He felt pressured to do something while the knights were taking action.
"Do you even know who this is?! He's from the Wardanaz Family!"
"?!!"
Naseda, who had been shouting, froze at those words.
From the Wardanaz Family?
There was only one mage of that age from the Wardanaz Family currently at Einrogard and active on the continent.
"...D-don't lie! I heard that particular Wardanaz is a prodigy destined to lead the Empire's next generation!"
Merchants made it their business to collect rumors from all corners of the vast Empire.
In their line of work, staying informed was more crucial than for anyone else.
And from what they'd heard, the Wardanaz mage currently at Einrogard was an exceptional sorcerer who would one day shoulder the Empire's future.
A mage who had repelled invaders from other dimensions that descended upon the continent, and despite his youth, collaborated with wizards from multiple magic towers to achieve remarkable feats of magic...
...So when they'd heard the rumors, they'd even thought, 'His personality seems quite different from the usual Wardanaz mages—how peculiar.'
But now, it seemed the rumors might have been wrong.
Wasn't he exactly like the typical Wardanaz mages they'd heard about?!
"...Mr. Ibinta. Let's refrain from unnecessary talk."
"Ah. Yes. My apologies."
Ibinta regretted his words at Lee Han's cold reprimand.
He shouldn't have mentioned the family name...!
Though he had sent his trusted right-hand man, Count Bouillon felt uneasy for some reason.
"Come to think of it, why did the Einrogard mages visit this place?"
"Perhaps they were heading to Bepaim City? Crossing the bridge would shorten the journey, and given the recent devastation near Bepaim City, it's likely they were summoned there."
"Then why did they react so violently?"
"The foolish soldiers must have made a mistake. You know how greedy they are."
The Count didn't pay his soldiers well. As a result, it was customary for those managing the checkpoint to find their own means of income.
Given their nature, it was only natural they'd become friendly when bribed and rude when denied.
"Is that so? Those idiots. They should've just talked properly and sent them on their way, what were they—"
BOOM!
"?"
The Count in his study frowned at the distant explosion.
"What was that noise?"
"It seems there was a carriage accident outside."
"How stupid! They should drive properly."
KABOOM!
Another explosion echoed.
This time, it sounded even closer. The Count and the Head Butler's faces stiffened.
KABLAM!
-"Aaaah! We're not Evil God Worshippers! We really aren't! We have nothing to do with the Evil God—!"
The Head Butler frantically rushed to the window to check outside. Then, his figure disappeared beyond the window.
"?!?!?"
Startled, the Count leaned out to see what was happening. The Head Butler, bound in opaque chains, was being dragged down below. It was a truly bizarre sight.
"Gahk!"
And naturally, the Count was dragged out too. The Death Knights were seizing everyone in sight and hauling them away.
"What is the meaning of this! Do you know who I am?!"
-You can explain later. Drag them all out! Where do you think you're running?!
Some servants, thinking an attack was underway, tried to flee but found themselves back where they started.
It was as if an invisible labyrinth of illusions had been laid around the mansion.
Count Bouillon, dragged along with the other people from the mansion, was forced to kneel in the front garden of the estate. The count, refusing to give up, shouted defiantly.
"Do you even know who I am?!"
"Shut up. Be quiet."
Lee Han warned the count in an irritated voice.
He was focusing on making sure no one escaped the mansion, and the constant whining from the side was grating on his nerves.
"I am Bouill—"
Thud!
The sight of Lee Han instantly knocking the count unconscious with a Water Prison Bomb made Naseda and the other captured merchants recoil in shock.
The way he resorted to violence without even listening made him seem like a genuine madman.
'He truly is the embodiment of the Wardanaz Family...!'
"If the count turns out to be an Evil God Worshipper, then you lot—"
"N-no, we swear! We only embezzled and sold relief supplies, nothing more!"
The merchants cried out, tears streaming down their faces.
This was the first time they were desperate to be believed even when telling the truth.
Yet, Lee Han's suspicious gaze didn't waver.
There was still a chance that either the count or one of his retainers might be an Evil God Worshipper.
Even if the merchants were truly uninvolved, they were still worth investigating.
-All of them have been captured.
"...So, embezzling supplies was all they did?"
"Most likely. Well, serves them right, doesn't it?"
Professor Kirmin shrugged his shoulders.
As he had said earlier, those who lingered in front of an angry man had only themselves to blame.
Besides, after hearing the merchants' testimonies, he felt no sympathy. They had abused their authority to secretly siphon off and sell relief supplies.
Sometimes, fate acted justly. Perhaps fate had borrowed Wardanaz's hand to strike down the count.
"......"
Professor Garcia stared pointedly at Professor Kirmin.
Now didn't seem like the time for such profound remarks, especially given the state of their student...
'Maybe I should've brought someone else.'
The knights were too sycophantic to be of any help, and even Professor Kirmin, whom she had trusted, was being overly indulgent—perhaps out of pity for his friend's student.
Not long after, the knights returned, having swiftly completed their search, interrogation, and investigation.
-For now, nothing suspicious has been found within the mansion. They did embezzle supplies and abuse their authority, but there's no evidence of collusion with Evil God Worshippers.
-The testimonies align. The count was despicable in hoarding wealth, but witnesses say he never interacted with Evil God Worshippers. He mostly mingled with merchants...
"Th-that's right! Please believe us!"
"We only cared about money! We never had any interest in Evil God worship or anything like that!"
Thanks to the merchants' desperate cries, the count, regaining consciousness, finally grasped the situation and gaped in disbelief.
He couldn't fathom why he was being accused of being an Evil God Worshipper.
"Tch."
Lee Han clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.
He had hoped to catch at least one suspicious figure, but they were just ordinary criminals.
The count found himself staring at this mage from the infamous Wardanaz Family without even realizing it.
Of course, even if he explained himself now, it wouldn't change anything. Though he wasn't an Evil God Worshipper, his most shameful secret—embezzling relief supplies—had been exposed.
Still, Count Bouillon wanted to hear something, anything. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to sleep at night.
Hadn't this whole mess started because of that damned suspicion of Evil God worship?!
If only they had come accusing him of embezzlement instead, he might've at least felt some relief.
'Say something. Say anything!'
"You shouldn't have acted so suspiciously."
With those final words, Lee Han turned and walked away without another glance.
He offered no explanation, no reason—nothing. The knights exchanged glances before quietly following after him.
"......"
"......"
In that moment, the count and the merchants made a solemn vow.
They would never, ever go near anyone with Wardanaz blood for the rest of their lives!
'That insane family...!'