Episode 1228
Episode 1228
"Th-th-th-th-that's a dragon!!"
"Jowurin is a dragon."
Jowurin tilted her head and looked at Yoner in confusion.
He had even rolled around the Blue Dragon Tower lounge in his dragon form—why was she bringing this up now?
"N-no. It's not that I'm surprised His Highness Jowurin is a dragon... It's just, well, having two dragons in the Punishment Room is surprising."
"Ah."
Only then did Jowurin feel a slight sense of embarrassment.
Since his contractor and Professor Voladi were in the same cell, he hadn't noticed, but seeing people outside the cell made him remember the shame he had forgotten.
Was being locked in the Punishment Room something to be ashamed of??
"Why are you here?"
"Well, Jowurin... Jowurin's strike..."
"Your strike?"
"Um... So..."
Jowurin hesitated before quickly pointing at his younger sibling.
"Uman came down here on his own because he was sad!"
"...???!!!"
"Yoner. Stop asking too many questions and just tell us about the request, okay?"
Unable to watch any longer, Lee Han stepped in.
He was afraid Jowurin might burst into tears like Uman if this continued.
"R-right. I came because of the request... I got a message from my sister. She said you were in the Punishment Room..."
"Did she tell you to come during break? It seems like it'll be tough even then."
"No. She said it's even better this way. That it's a good place to focus. She said she'd come in person."
"......"
Lee Han made a complicated expression.
Yoanen of the Maykin Family confidently strode forward, her bundle of necessary reagents floating in the air beside her.
'It's burning again.'
In the distance, a tower and its surrounding grounds were ablaze, with monsters rampaging up and down, but Yoanen wasn't particularly surprised.
Einrogard always had something strange going on whenever she visited.
-This way, Lady Maykin.
"I'll be in your care."
The death knights, whom she had met a few times before, bowed politely to the outstanding alchemist.
There were rumors that Einrogard was unfriendly to outsiders, but that wasn't true. Einrogard was quite courteous to capable mages who made large donations.
"Is it true that Lord Wardanaz is confined because of the Evil God Subjugation?"
-It's not confinement, just a bit of reflection.
-More like voluntary seclusion, you could say.
The knights quickly made excuses.
They didn't want anyone to think Einrogard had failed to control a student properly, leaving him to face an Evil God directly.
The official statement would claim that participation had been carefully supervised by the professors.
-Don't trust the Imperial Newspaper. Those people are absolute trash.
-They never get anything right!
'So what Yoner said was true...'
Yoanen thought to herself.
The more the death knights badmouthed the Imperial Newspaper, the more credible Yoner's story became.
Sister, there's been a bit of a hiccup with this request. My friend ended up fighting an Evil God directly, so he's in the Punishment Room...
It was a shocking and surprising story.
But a great mage had to stay unshaken and pursue their path, no matter the unexpected events. From her sister's letter, Yoanen found useful information.
He's in the Punishment Room?
In a way, wasn't the Punishment Room a great place to focus on work?
Yoanen immediately wrote to the Skeleton Principal, requesting permission to use the Punishment Room. Her sister was very happy when she received the reply.
Even in the Punishment Room?! Do you really have to go that far?! I don't want to!!
Pleased with her sister's enthusiastic response, Yoanen sent another letter.
Thanks for your help. See you in the Punishment Room.
"Wait. I'll bring one more student with me."
When Yoanen turned toward the dormitory towers instead of heading to the Professor's Punishment Room, the knights looked puzzled.
Who was she planning to bring along?
"Is it Nilia?"
"Why would you think that?"
"She has a wide network of connections."
"I suppose."
However, Yoanen's summons defied expectations. The alchemist, her eyes gleaming behind her amethyst glasses, called out to the students of the Blue Dragon Tower.
"By any chance, is His Highness the Prince here?"
"Huh?"
The second-year students, who had been scribbling escape plans in the lounge, were startled by the sudden visit from an outsider and quickly flipped their desks over.
The Death Knights averted their gazes, pretending not to see.
"His Highness the Prince? Uh, do you mean His Highness Uman?"
"No."
"Eh? Then... there isn't one here?"
"......"
Adenart, who had been among the students, clenched both fists tightly.
Words she wanted to say rose to her throat.
'There is one, you know...!'
No matter how experienced an alchemist she was, such a reaction would naturally leave her slightly flustered. Yoanen, looking confused, asked hesitantly.
"Um, what about Gainando...?"
"Ahhh! Gainando!!"
"Gainando was here too!"
"......"
"......"
"Gainando! There's a guest for you!"
Only then did his friends remember Gainando and call out to him.
But Gainando was nowhere to be seen. The Blue Dragon Tower students grew puzzled.
He had been here just a moment ago.
-Ahem. I don't mean to interfere, but Student Gainando is hiding over there by the window using Invisibility Magic.
"...Coward!!!"
Gainando, who had been hiding beneath the window, let out a shriek.
The moment he saw Yoanen, he had immediately torn an Invisibility Scroll and hidden himself—but who would have thought the Death Knights would find him?!
-A word of advice, Student Gainando. Invisibility Magic that bends light is rather meaningless against undead like us.
"Hmph. If you're so good at giving advice, why not give some to Lee Han before he fights the Evil God directly?"
"......"
The Death Knights were furious.
Was this prince brat really throwing irrefutable facts in their faces?!
'Just you wait!'
"Why were you hiding, Gainando?"
"...I was practicing my Invisibility Magic scroll."
"You weren't trying to avoid Lady Maykin, were you?"
"Wh-wh-what are you talking about? No way! Absolutely not!"
The Blue Dragon Tower students were baffled.
Yoanen of the Maykin Family was a renowned alchemist.
It wasn't like the Death Knights were kidnapping him—Yoanen had come to fetch him personally. Why was he reacting so dramatically?
Gainando glanced around frantically. Of all times, Lee Han had disappeared into the Punishment Room, leaving him with no one to ask for help.
"H-help me."
Gainando called out to Adenart in a pitiful voice. Startled by the plea from a relative who had never spoken to her like this before, Adenart was taken aback.
"Wh-what am I supposed to say?"
"If I get dragged away this time, I'll be worked to death! ...Just like Lee Han!"
It was an incredibly rude comparison to make about a friend, but Adenart let it slide.
That wasn't the point right now.
"I still don't understand."
"Last time, Lady Maykin sent a request letter, right? Ever since that letter arrived, both Yoner and Lee Han have been looking at me with these sinister eyes! If I go now, I'll definitely be exploited!"
"!!!"
Adenart was shocked.
It wasn't that she was surprised Wardanaz had received a request from Yoanen—though, of course, that should have been surprising in itself, but it wasn't anything new now.
What shocked Adenart was Gainando's situational awareness.
When faced with a situation where he might have to work, his judgment became remarkably sharp.
Truly astonishing!
"Th-that's amazing."
"Help me! Tell them I have studying to do!"
Adenart nodded. Gainando's face brightened.
"Then—"
"Take him with you. His schedule is clear, apparently."
"?!?!?!"
Gainando stared at Adenart with eyes full of shock and despair.
The princess merely shrugged.
Trying to act chummy all of a sudden, now of all times.
Why should I help you?
"T-Traitor!"
Among the imperial family, there existed only cold-hearted schemes. Gainando realized this fact and let out a scream of despair.
-Hehe. Come along now, Student Gainando.
-Tsk tsk. Stop struggling.
"Lord Gainando. Are you perhaps reluctant to go?"
"...If I don't go... will you send a letter to my mother...?"
Instead of answering, Yoanen simply smiled. Gainando sniffled and spoke.
"I'll come along..."
"That's a wise decision."
"Who's currently in the Punishment Room?"
"Lee Han and a professor."
"Professor Verdus?"
"No. Professor Bagrak."
"???"
Yoanen paused in surprise.
Huh?
'Could he have mistaken the names?'
She thought Gainando might have confused Bagrak with Verdus.
Unfortunately, the knights only escorted them to the entrance of the Punishment Room, so she couldn't ask further.
"Why is Professor Bagrak there?"
"I heard he was imprisoned after trying to escape..."
"Why did he try to escape?"
"Well... the Evil God Worshippers kept being a nuisance, so he went to deal with them...?"
"I see. Then why is Lord Wardanaz there?"
"Uh... Lee Han also got angry and went out to subdue them every time..."
"......"
Yoanen's gaze turned icy behind her glasses.
Gainando's credibility had plummeted drastically based on that statement.
At least say something that makes sense!
"Here we are."
"That's right. Lee Han!"
Gainando urgently called out to his friend.
He didn't want to stay with Yoner's older sister any longer. He needed his reliable friend.
"Wait a moment! Jowurin must defeat Professor Bagrak! ...Lee Han. Which card should I play here?"
"Shh. Your Highness. Lower your voice. Everyone can hear you."
"?!?"
"...Wh-what's a dragon doing here?!"
Only then did Yoanen belatedly sense the strangeness in the Punishment Room. Gainando also exclaimed in shock.
"Were you playing Wizard Card?!"
'Is that really what's important right now?'
Yoanen gave the imperial prince an exasperated look.
But indeed, just as surreal as a Black Dragon casually sitting in the Punishment Room was the sight of two prisoners exchanging cards across the detention cells.
Lee Han would take the card Professor Voladi played and move it to the center. Then when Jowurin played a card, he'd do the same.
"Your Highness Jowurin?!?!"
Yoanen belatedly realized there wasn't just one dragon.
There were two dragons in the Punishment Room?!!
"Ah. It's Yoanen of the Maykin Family."
"Your Highness. Why... why are you in there?"
"......"
Jowurin fell silent for a moment.
Then he shouted.
"Jowurin is actually not Jowurin!"
'He learns so quickly!'
Lee Han marveled internally.
He was naturally using one of Einrogard students' secret techniques—'pretending to be someone else after causing trouble.'
"Sister. I've prepared everything you asked for."
Yoner called out in an exhausted voice. Only then did Yoanen notice her younger sister was in another empty cell.
"You too!??!"
"I'm not!"
Yoner bristled at being treated like a fellow prisoner.
She had merely borrowed an empty cell to set up her work tools and equipment!
'...Could it be that Yoner is ashamed of us?'
Lee Han wondered privately.
He was concerned that their red-haired friend might be embarrassed by the three prisoners here.
We have nothing to be ashamed of!
"Wait just a moment longer! Jowurin must definitely win..."
"Your Highness. If we start the alchemy work now, we can declare this round null and void."
"Ah! Alchemy work does seem more important!"
Jowurin swiftly swept the cards aside. Lee Han discreetly checked the card Jowurin would have drawn next.
'Too bad. Just one more turn and you could've turned the tables.'
Professor Voladi's hand was mostly filled with useless cards. Jowurin had been fooled by the sheer number of cards remaining.
"Gainando. You probably already guessed, but we'd like your help with our work."
"Got it. ...But tell me you weren't playing Wizard Card the whole time I was gone?"
Gainando glanced suspiciously at the empty cell across from them. Lee Han issued a stern warning.
"If you get sent to the Punishment Room, I'll make you study time magic for 25 hours a day."
"...No need to get that angry about it..."