Episode 1159
Episode 1159
If it had been anyone else, they might have thought it was a joke, but unfortunately, the speaker was Jiklin.
The knights were at a loss for words and could only nod.
"I-indeed."
'What kind of advice could she possibly be seeking?'
Since Jiklin hadn't specified what kind of advice she wanted, the knights could only imagine.
No matter how much the boy from the Wardanaz family was renowned as a genius, he was still only a second-year student. What kind of advice could she possibly need from him?
'Could it be advice that requires the Wardanaz family's secret magic?'
"In that case, Sir Moradi. Why are the mages from Einrogard exterminating bandits like that?"
"Isn't it because they're faithfully fulfilling the duties of a knight?"
"Indeed... No, but the Wardanaz family isn't a knightly house..."
Even if they made a hundred concessions, mages from knightly houses might act that way, but Wardanaz was absolutely not a knightly house.
The knights grew even more confused.
Regardless, Jiklin focused on her work. Even if they were welcoming guests from Einrogard, there were tasks that needed to be done first.
"Is the discovered ruin in this direction?"
"Yes. They say the entrance was found in a cave on the mountainside."
The Empire was vast, and dangerous places were discovered just by breathing. One of the tasks of the families stationed in each region was to discover and manage such places.
If a lich that had been sealed away thousands of years ago woke up and swept through the area with an undead army, how much damage would that cause?
In the worst-case scenario, that lich might even establish a magic academy and declare itself the new headmaster.
"Has the era of the ruin been identified yet?"
"My apologies. Our mages are... somewhat distant from fields like archaeology..."
The mages who worked alongside the knights were practically combat mages.
Even if they were proficient in healing or enhancement magic, mages who could estimate an object's age and deduce its era were rare.
Jiklin skillfully used her mana to enhance her vision. In the distance, she could already see people gathering near the cave on the mountainside.
The scene reminded her of a frontier settlement.
Quick-witted Northern merchants were selling daily necessities and items needed for ruins exploration under tents, while adventurers and explorers had spread out their sleeping bags nearby, exchanging information.
Experienced knights could estimate the value of the ruin just by the number of people gathered.
"The items coming out of there must be quite decent. I didn't expect such a crowd already."
"We don't see any injured people yet. That's a relief, at least."
"I'll go check the personnel and record them."
Jiklin declared firmly.
For now, she had no intention of controlling or blocking the ruin, but she couldn't just leave it unattended either.
Given how chaotic the North had been lately, suspicious individuals might have infiltrated the crowd.
Of course, the people gathered there would undoubtedly hate that. Who would want to report every little detail to the nearby knightly family while exploring a ruin?
The moment anything suspicious turned up, it would have to be inspected, and if it was a forbidden item, they'd have to surrender it for a pittance.
"No! We'll go!"
"Such dirty work is our responsibility!"
The knights shouted urgently.
This task absolutely could not be left to Jiklin. If even one ill-tempered adventurer acted rudely, the entire area would be reduced to ashes.
"Why is it your responsibility?"
'Oh no.'
The knights belatedly realized they'd made a mistake in their haste.
Such a clumsy excuse would never work on someone like her!
"Well... dirty work is... for those of lower status..."
"Do you consider your own status to be low? Why is that?"
Jiklin's expression grew grave.
That knights serving in the territory would consider themselves lowly.
This was not a matter to be taken lightly.
Perhaps the Moradi Family Head had been treating the knights too harshly lately...
"...My apologies. I don't actually think that way."
"Then? Why would you say such a thing?"
"Well... sob."
Tears welled up in the eyes of the battle-hardened veteran knight who wouldn't even flinch after three days of bloody combat against monsters in the glacial zone.
How had things come to this?
"Over there! It's the Einrogard students!!"
"!"
The knights turned their heads with visibly brightened expressions. Even the knight from the Dulak family who'd been swinging his sword in the back let out a joyful cheer.
"Truly the Empire's finest magic academy!"
"Let's go welcome the students!"
"Are those knights running toward us?"
Lee Han's expression turned serious.
Of course, it was only natural for knights to greet guests from the North, but their enthusiasm seemed excessive.
As someone with a guilty conscience, Lee Han couldn't help feeling slightly uneasy.
"Moradi. You don't think they found out, do you? About how I advised on the quarantine and nighttime curfew..."
"How should I know?"
Giselle retorted with an incredulous look.
They'd only just left Einrogard moments ago!
"Make an educated guess. They're knights serving your family, aren't they?"
"Strictly speaking, they're from various Northern families... Never mind."
Abandoning her attempt to correct him, Giselle narrowed her eyes. The knights' speed was indeed unusual.
"Either the knights have some urgent matter, or Wardanaz—you've definitely been found out."
"If we're caught, I'm telling them you advised me too."
"......"
When faced with unexpected verbal abuse, people often struggle to react immediately. Giselle was no exception.
What kind of...?
"Why drag others into your mess?!"
"I only answered when the Family Head asked, so naturally your family shares responsibility too."
"You call that a reas—"
"Welcome! We greet your arrival!"
"We've heard about your bandit subjugation!"
Contrary to their worries, the arriving knights showered them with praise rather than angry retaliation.
Even Lee Han, who'd remained wary, nodded in acknowledgment.
"Good. Seems we haven't been found out."
"......"
"But why are they being so friendly?"
"The North is always short on hands."
With vast lands, sparse population, and frequent incidents, the Empire's North had become a place where only the strong survived.
The welcoming knights poured out their grievances like a confession.
"???"
Lee Han didn't understand.
"Why can't Sir Jiklin handle it?"
"You clearly have no idea."
When Giselle spoke with pitying disdain, the other knights nodded in agreement. Unfortunately, this was knowledge only Northern knights could possess.
No matter how wise an outsider might be...
'Are Northerners taking things too far?'
As Lee Han grumbled internally, a voice suddenly emerged from his staff.
-Don't miss that ruin!
"!"
It was Saratan's voice.
-It looks ordinary, but that's no common ruin. I'll explain later—get inside as quickly as possible!
"...I see."
Nodding at the imprisoned spirit's earnest advice, Lee Han then suggested to the knights:
"Then we'll document those gathered around the ruin."
-Yes! Use that as an excuse to drive the others away and...
"After recording, we'll depart immediately for the Moradi family's fortress."
-Huh? W-wait. Then we can't enter the ruin!
Saratan panicked.
He'd thought his advice was being followed, but this mage's actions made no sense to him.
Lee Han replied bluntly:
"You were wrong last time too."
-......
Though Saratan had correctly guessed that there was a spirit trapped inside the relic, he had failed to predict that it would be a powerful spirit like the General of Fire Heaven.
If Saratan had provided accurate information from the start, they could have suffered much less.
-W-well... that's because the opponent was an exception beyond all norms...! And my warning did help, didn't it?!
"Strictly speaking, your warning wasn't particularly meaningful... It wasn't much different from the warnings the adventurer party we brought along gave us."
-...I told you, that relic isn't just any ordinary relic!!
Despite the spirit's outburst, Lee Han methodically focused on the tasks at hand first.
He called the people gathered around the mountain foothill relic and announced that they would be verifying identities.
Some bristled and tried to protest, but a few people from the west paled upon seeing the Einrogard flag hanging from the carriage and stepped in to persuade the others instead.
-So... not a single one survived...
-That can't be... no way that's possible under imperial law...
-Some individuals... possess extraordinary authority...
-The Empire... truly is terrifying...
"Yes! We'll cooperate to the fullest!"
"Thank you all."
Lee Han and the White Tiger Tower students proceeded to verify the identities of the gathered crowd and inspect their belongings.
If anyone happened to be carrying forbidden magical items, they needed to be stopped beforehand.
"Wardanaz. Why are you confiscating this Ranberia flower?"
"It's highly toxic and banned under imperial law."
"But Einrogard grows them, don't they? Pretty sure they're in Professor Thunderstep's garden... Ack!"
"I think you must be mistaken. Say that again."
"...Now that I think about it, maybe it wasn't a Ranberia flower after all."
The more calmly Lee Han immersed himself in the task, the more Saratan grew impatient.
The more he knew, the more anxious he became—it was unavoidable.
And in Saratan's mind, if they ended up being too late and something went wrong, this mage would likely blame him.
Something along the lines of, 'If it was really that important, you should've used any means necessary to tell me properly!'
-Listen. You might think that relic is just an ordinary one, but it's a disguise. That relic belongs to the mage Bakwantalana!
"?!"
Lee Han turned his gaze in surprise.
The name Bakwantalana was better known among mages than among spirits.
It was the name of an exceptional enchanter who had been renowned long ago.
In fact, even Professor Verdus frequently used a few of Bakwantalana's spells—proof of his greatness.
This was a man who modified nearly every spell into his own version, yet he used Bakwantalana's unchanged.
And now, a relic of that very Bakwantalana?
The fact that Saratan, a spirit, was the one mentioning it made it all the more bewildering.
"How do you know Bakwantalana?"
-...I met him before.
Saratan hesitated, trailing off. His attitude carried a hint of something suspicious.
Having witnessed this spirit's mistakes multiple times already, Lee Han couldn't just let it slide. He spoke in a stern voice.
"If you don't explain properly, even if that place turns out to be Headmaster's relic instead of Bakwantalana's, I won't be going in."
-If it's that insane archmage's relic, of course you shouldn't go in—what are you even saying?
Grumbling, Saratan finally gave up and spoke.
Now that he had gone this far, even if he tried to clam up, this mage wouldn't leave it alone.
-Actually... I once worked under Bakwantalana.
"You formed a contract?"
-...No. I worked for him.
"??"
Lee Han grew even more confused.
Usually, when a spirit worked under a mage, it was either under a contract or...
"...Don't tell me you were forcibly captured and made to work?"
-......
Saratan said nothing. His silence spoke volumes.
'Bakwantalana, what an incredible mage he must have been!'
Lee Han felt a surge of admiration for this senior mage whose face he had never even seen.
Somehow, he got the impression that the man probably hadn't been on good terms with spirits.