Episode 1250
Episode 1250
Professor Garcia stepped outside and began her search.
The Death Knights gazing blankly into the distance with innocent expressions, as if they knew nothing, only made the situation seem more suspicious.
'What in the world is going on?'
First, Professor Garcia decided to use magic to examine the traces left behind.
"O Time, reverse thy flow and reveal the traces."
While there were many past-detection spells in the Empire, few could directly reverse the flow of time like this.
It was an investigative method only Professor Garcia, with her expertise in spacetime magic, could perform.
'There's nothing unusual...?'
Down the road, the group had left after their carriage wheels got stuck in the mud (though they hadn't actually gotten stuck), and above, another carriage had flown by swiftly...
Other than that, there was truly nothing. Professor Garcia was baffled.
"Why won't you let us pass?"
—We have no idea what you're talking about?
'Ugh.'
These knights were as shameless as some of Professor Garcia's students.
Regretting having spoken, she fell deep into thought.
...Could this entire act be groundwork for some grand deception later?
Having learned from their master, the knights often delighted in cunning schemes.
Even these seemingly meaningless actions might actually be a ploy to scatter the professor's focus.
"...Let's just get moving again for now."
—Ah! Those travelers, their carriage wheels are stuck in the mud again! Let's go help them!
"......"
What the hell is this??
"Great news! We've outpaced the professor!"
"Woooooah!"
Gainando cheered before glancing at Paridim beside him.
The Oculogard mage was just staring blankly.
"Why aren't you celebrating?"
"Huh? Oh. Uh... Woo! Woooooah!"
Paridim forced out a cheer.
He had no idea why he was supposed to cheer, but since he was told to, he did.
"Stop it. Don't bully someone from another magic school."
"Bully? I just said something because they weren't celebrating when they should be!"
Ignoring Gainando's words, Lee Han unfolded a map and calculated the time.
They had overtaken the carriage Professor Garcia was riding, and with the knights continuing to stall...
'Not bad. We can arrive early enough to meet them and leave in time.'
—Wooooooah!
"?"
Lee Han paused at the sudden cheer.
"Gainando. I told you to stop."
"I didn't do it this time!"
"???"
Listening closely, it wasn't the forced cheer Gainando had prompted earlier—it was coming from outside the window.
Perplexed, Lee Han stuck his head out.
Down below, it looked like some kind of festival was underway.
"Is there a festival going on?"
"What?! Did the Headmaster hide this from us?!"
Gainando was outraged.
Hiding the fact that there was a festival? No evil deed could compare to such treachery.
Paridim tilted his head in confusion.
"Why would a magic school care about an outside festival...?"
"Quiet! What kind of nonsense are you spouting?! Einrogard has always kept track of festivals!"
"But seriously, what festival is this?"
Ignoring her cousin, Yoner looked puzzled.
Was there really a festival of this scale happening now?
"The Harvest Festival?"
"Lee Han. The Harvest Festival ended when you were fighting the Evil God."
"...The Blessing Festival? The Breath Festival?"
"That ended while you were unconscious."
"......"
Lee Han suddenly realized just how chaotic this semester had been.
All the festivals had passed him by!
Jowurin spoke in a sorrowful voice.
"I only worked during the Breath Festival."
"B-But you said you were happy then, Sister?!"
Uman panicked.
Hadn't Jowurin said she was truly happy and fulfilled plowing the land and recreating the forest for the students?!
"Actually, I wasn't that happy. But I thought once everything was done, I could play with Lee Han..."
"Me too! I thought the same."
Gainando, for the first time in a long while, found himself sympathizing with this distant relative of his.
Who would've guessed his friend would end up lying down and then immediately getting sent to the Punishment Room?
Uman looked at Lee Han pleadingly, as if asking for help.
'Who would've thought she didn't want to work?!'
Lee Han deliberately avoided eye contact. He had no desire to get involved in their argument.
Above all, Lee Han was Jowurin's contractor, not Uman's.
"!!!"
Leaving the shocked Uman behind, Lee Han spoke up again.
"Alright. I get that I missed everything. So, what festival is this?"
"......"
No answer came.
This left everyone puzzled.
Could there really be a festival that none of them knew about??
"...That's strange. Hold on, let me check something."
Professor Voladi nodded, then tugged on the reins. The carriage came to a halt midair.
Lee Han jumped down. Below, people holding large, colorful flags were happily playing music as they marched.
"Excuse me. Could you tell me what festival is being planned?"
"You're late to the news! You must be from far away."
An Empire citizen dressed in festive attire cheerfully explained with a smile.
"An Evil God has been vanquished, so a commemorative festival will be held soon! Truly a joyous occasion!"
"......"
Lee Han froze in place.
Ah!
'That was a thing...!'
Festivals weren't predetermined events—they were created whenever something worth celebrating or commemorating happened.
If such a festival was well-received and popular, it could even be officially recognized in the Empire's laws.
And the recent eradication of an Evil God was more than worthy of celebration. Lesser events had spawned dozens of festivals before.
There were festivals celebrating the birth of a golden calf (Lee Han wouldn't have minded commemorating that one) or festivals honoring living, moving giant candy (which turned out to be the result of an Einrogard graduate's mishap)...
As Lee Han stood there dumbfounded, the citizen seemed to grow suspicious.
"...What's wrong? Why aren't you happy? Are you... an Evil God worshipper—?"
"Hurrah! Hurrah! I was just late to respond because I was thanking the Yaksha King, who led this expedition!"
"Ah, I see."
The festival-goer's expression finally relaxed, though a hint of suspicion lingered in their eyes.
"But the Yaksha King wasn't the only one on the expedition... weren't there others?"
The citizen probed subtly. Lee Han swallowed his shame and answered.
"Uh... uh, long live the Einrogard mages!"
"You should be more specific."
"...Uh, l-long live Bagrak of the Voladi family? And Professors Garcia and Kirmin too..."
"Hmm!"
"What's the matter?"
As a fellow citizen approached, the first one whispered:
"This outsider seems suspicious. He's avoiding mentioning the Wardanaz family—could he be a disguised demon?"
This well-informed citizen had heard rumors that demons feared uttering the name of the Wardanaz family.
Could this stranger be one of them?
"Come on, you and your wild theories. As if a demon would dare show up at a festival with so many priests around!"
"Demons are cunning! I swear, I heard it from a bard. The Wardanaz family commands ten thousand demons—that's why they're called 'Pandemonium'..."
"Oh, please. Most of what bards say is just tall tales."
"......"
With his hearing enhanced by magic, Lee Han listened to their conversation with a pained expression.
Then, he shouted the words he least wanted to say:
"Long live the Wardanaz family!"
"Oh!"
"See? Told you he wasn't one."
Despite his friend's reassurance, the citizen was stubborn. Determined to confirm one last time, they asked:
"Do you happen to know exactly which mage from the Wardanaz family it is?"
"Huh? It's Lee Han of the Wardanaz family."
"Hmm."
The imperial citizen nodded.
Though only one of the two had guessed correctly, it seemed fair enough to accept that as the right answer.
"I misunderstood the person. I apologize. These days, the Empire is so chaotic..."
"Haha. I understand. Well, I'll take my leave now."
Lee Han quickly scurried back upstairs.
If there were just a few more people like that among the festival-goers, he didn't think he could handle it.
"Would you like a commemorative festival drink before you... Oh. He's already gone."
The imperial citizen clicked his tongue regretfully. His companion beside him tilted his head in confusion.
"Huh. But that guy... I feel like I've seen him somewhere."
"Where did you see him?"
"Where was it? I think I saw him in the Imperial Newspaper... I can't quite remember..."
The companion never would have imagined.
That one of the very subjects of the festival had suddenly approached them and then dashed away!
"...We're in trouble."
Lee Han returned to the carriage, his face pale.
Professor Voladi immediately reached for his weapon. Lee Han stopped him and explained.
"It's not that kind of trouble—they're holding an Evil God Subjugation Festival."
"...That's not trouble at all, is it?"
Gainando asked, bewildered.
Had Lee Han forgotten what constituted a real crisis?
"...You're right. It's not really trouble."
Lee Han snapped back to his senses at his friend's remark.
"Sorry. The person I just met was so... sharp..."
"Huh? Was he a mage?"
"No. It wasn't that."
"???"
His friends were baffled.
For Lee Han to be this startled by someone who wasn't even a mage?
"It is trouble."
At Professor Voladi's words, everyone looked at him in confusion.
"Why is this trouble?"
"Hmm. From Uman's perspective, this outing was supposed to be discreet."
Uman, unable to stay silent any longer, interjected.
The goal of this trip was to quietly visit the Emperor first, discreetly report the Skeleton Principal, and then return to Einrogard without fanfare—not to join a festival procession.
Moreover, people interested in this mage from the Wardanaz family were scattered across all levels of the Empire.
Royalty, nobles, mages, priests, merchants...
Especially after this expedition, that interest had reached its peak. If not for the Skeleton Principal keeping him locked up in Einrogard, Lee Han might have had to meet dozens of people daily.
"...Everyone, hide anything that looks like Einrogard insignias. We might get recognized. Sir Paridim, your clothes are too Einrogard-like—please change."
"Huh?"
Paridim was dumbfounded.
It was just a shabby outer robe—how was it "too Einrogard-like"?
"It really does look like Einrogard attire. You should change."
"Do I look too exhausted?"
"???"
The students did their best not to appear like Einrogard mages.
If they looked healthy and warm, they'd be suspected of being from Baldrogard. But if they looked shabby and vaguely furious, they'd be suspected of being from Einrogard.
"Alright. We'll avoid unnecessary contact and request an audience with His Majesty immediately."
"Let Uman exercise his authority."
Uman took out a purple torch. Upon closer inspection, one could see another light flickering within it.
It was a mark granted only to nine special individuals among the imperial family.
As the capital came into view in the distance, the patrolling sky knights noticed the torch and flew over in surprise.
"Your Highness. Have you returned from Einrogard already?"
"Hmm. Uman has matters to discuss with His Majesty."
"Ah. Have you brought the Einrogard mages to attend the awards ceremony?"
"No, no. These mages are not from Einrogard."
"???"
The knights were bewildered.
Then who were they?