Episode 1253
Episode 1253
"D-Duke Your Grace! Why?!"
Baron Rount was more bewildered than angry despite having just been slapped across the face.
"You foolish man! Do you not know how much the Empire's Magic Academy wizards dedicate themselves through backbreaking labor every day?!"
"???"
Not only the Baron but everyone present (including Professor Garcia) was taken aback.
Generally, the Empire's nobles weren't particularly close with wizards.
And if that wizard happened to be from the Magic Academy?
The already distant relationship became even more strained.
Unless they came from ancient wizard families themselves, this was typically how ordinary noble families treated Magic Academy wizards:
-Ugh! Another Einrogard wizard caused trouble! These wizards, honestly!
-Did you hear? Duke Icaldoren was recently imprisoned at Einrogard and had to pay a fortune in gold to be released.
-What? How could such a thing happen?! Does the Empire have no laws?!
-His Grace claims he paid compensation for committing a crime, but who'd believe that? Such a generous, merciful man would never commit crimes!
Neither too close nor too distant.
This was how ordinary noble families typically treated Magic Academy wizards.
While they couldn't deny their necessity, they simultaneously feared and felt uneasy about them deep down.
Duke Belaron was a high-ranking noble renowned as the Emperor's confidant, yet he wasn't from a wizard background nor was he a knight who collaborated with wizards.
Naturally, one would expect him to side with nobles over wizards...?
"P-please stop. I was the one who made an unreasonable request."
A flustered Professor Garcia tried to intervene.
She couldn't understand why the Duke was taking her side and actually felt uncomfortable about it.
But Duke Belaron kept sweating profusely while glancing around nervously, as if someone was watching him.
"You! Apologize to the professor immediately!"
"Please calm down."
Duke Belaron moved to grab the Baron by the collar but couldn't because Professor Garcia stepped between them.
When the professor grabbed the Duke's arm, his body froze as if wedged between massive boulders.
'????!'
Though the Duke didn't physically train himself, the alchemical elixirs he regularly consumed and artifacts he carried made his physical abilities rival a knight's.
Thus, Duke Belaron momentarily wondered if he'd taken the wrong potion or if his artifact had malfunctioned.
"I-I've calmed down, Professor."
"Oh! I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?"
"Not at all! Not at all!"
Duke Belaron was horrified to see distinct fist marks imprinted on his sleeve.
He'd rushed here upon hearing the news, but had this Baron seriously considered acting rudely despite seeing those fists right before him??
'Madman!'
"Hurry! Apologize at once!"
"I... I apologize, Professor. For... the Magic Academy wizards'... backbreaking dedication..."
Baron Rount sniffled as he apologized.
Maintaining his pride when the Duke he trusted and respected was reprimanding him wasn't easy. It felt like his world was crumbling.
"I-It's fine. I told you I made an unreasonable request."
"Please use the Great Hall we borrowed to your heart's content, Professor!"
Seeing an opportunity, Duke Belaron loudly declared. Sweat poured down his forehead no matter how much he wiped it with his handkerchief.
"...Your Grace. Are you under external pressure? From the Headmaster or..."
Professor Garcia wasn't stupid.
She couldn't help but find it strange how the Duke was suddenly drenched in sweat while acting this way.
Duke Belaron jumped even more startled.
Though originally renowned as the most elegant gentleman in the capital, the Duke now looked as anxious as a prisoner being dragged to execution.
"Absolutely not! How could you even suggest such a thing? What do you take Duke Belaron's honor for?!"
"I-I'm sorry."
"No! Don't apologize! Please! Take it back—rescind that apology!"
"......"
Professor Garcia was utterly bewildered.
'What in the world is going on??'
Even if the Skeleton Principal had intervened, this reaction seemed excessive.
-I-I'm sorry.
"How dare you! Your Highness, please inform Duke Belaron that for every apology Professor Garcia makes, I shall report once to His Majesty the Emperor!"
"...V-Very well."
Uman nodded and sent a telepathic message to Duke Belaron.
From a distance, they could see the Duke visibly jump in shock. Lee Han smiled in satisfaction.
"Much better. Thank you, Your Highness."
"Jowurin too! Jowurin shall do the same!"
"Haha. Not bad at all. Now, firmly reprimand His Grace the Duke—"
Uman wanted to stop him, but Jowurin had already sent the telepathic message.
Having been directly chastised by two of the Emperor's direct descendants, Duke Belaron staggered weakly like a straw doll.
For Uman, who knew full well how esteemed the Duke was in the capital, the sight was deeply unsettling.
...Your Majesty. Duke Belaron is a highly respected noble in the Empire, revered by many. I'm uncertain if it's appropriate to treat him so arbitrarily.
Uman secretly sent his intent onto a piece of paper. An immediate reply came flying back.
Fool! That man was raised from a family meant for precisely this kind of work.
!!!!
The Emperor coldly explained.
Unlike the great noble houses that contributed to the Empire's founding, Duke Belaron's title was one established solely to manipulate other nobles.
The Empire needed at least one spy family—bearing the grand title of the Emperor's confidant, handling trivial tasks, and gathering intelligence from loyalist nobles.
-How about you, my most reliable youngster, take care of it?
-I shall defer the honor to my esteemed master, who brought forth the divine artifact.
-...If neither of you wants to do it, I'll just assign it to someone else. There are plenty eager for the task. Seeing you two pass the buck while entrusting imperial duties to a Dragon makes me want to burn all those oaths to ashes.
Recalling unpleasant old memories, the Emperor scolded his disappointing children.
In exchange for handling such minor tasks, they inherited a lifetime of luxury and glory. You—foolish fourth child. You don't even know who deserves your pity! No wonder you remained oblivious to the Evil God Subjugation despite being an inspector!
......
Under the stern rebuke, Uman's face turned deathly pale.
The Emperor disliked all nine of his children equally, but he particularly loathed those like Uman, who said things like, "I don't want to serve the Emperor, but I do want to aid the Empire."
Who did they think they were fooling?
Forgive me! My judgment was shortsighted.
Of course it was! If you're swayed so easily by tears, resign as inspector immediately. What do you intend to accomplish with such poor discernment?!
Uman reflected deeply.
When he first approached Duke Belaron with the paper and explained the situation, the Duke had looked as though the sky had fallen.
Two of the Emperor's direct descendants had come to deliver His Majesty's orders—orders to hastily block the noble he had invited. It must have been a thunderbolt from the blue.
But if he truly wished to serve the Empire, he couldn't afford to soften at such a sight.
Hadn't Duke Belaron's family enjoyed their lavish lifestyle all these years precisely because the Emperor had secretly supported them from the shadows?
To pity him over such a trivial humiliation...
He shouldn't have wavered even if the disgrace had been a hundred times worse.
If you waste this busy Dragon's time again with such pointless matters, there will be no forgiveness. Reflect on this!
Yes...!
Humbled, Uman lifted his head and glanced at Jowurin's contractor.
The sight of Duke Belaron being ruthlessly grilled without a shred of mercy suddenly appeared in a different light.
'That's right. Uman should have been that cold-hearted too!'
So moved that he overlooked one crucial fact—that the Duke, who had been meticulously set up to manipulate the nobles, was now being used just to help a single mage...
When all the nobles who had agreed to participate voluntarily declared they would cover all necessary expenses and materials for the gathering, Professor Garcia felt both joy and dread.
What in the world is going on??
"Phew. Next..."
"Let's head to Oculogard..."
"Huh?"
Lee Han, who had been about to check Baldrogard first just in case, paused at the Emperor's voice.
"Is Baldrogard really okay? Professor Garcia wrote that it would be the easiest, but we shouldn't let our guard down..."
"It should be fine."
"Even Jowurin thinks the people of Baldrogard will be fine."
"It seems better to go to Oculogard."
With Uman, Jowurin, and even Professor Voladi saying so, Lee Han couldn't argue.
"Grr... If those Baldrogard bastards betray us, Professor Garcia's heart will be torn apart... But hasn't Oculogard already been contacted?"
"Well... about that..."
Paridim spoke up.
The Oculogard student, who had been utterly stunned witnessing a renowned Duke of the Empire being used like a chess piece, had barely regained his senses.
"There's... some... anger in Oculogard... regarding the coercion."
"Ah."
Lee Han and the other Einrogard students froze.
Now that they thought about it, what they had done wasn't persuasion—it was closer to coercion.
"Closer? It was outright coercion..."
"Ah, Your Highness. Don't be so absolute."
Lee Han quickly cut off Jowurin's muttering.
After all, the truth could be seen differently from multiple perspectives, right?
"So, Lord Paridim. You're saying there might still be some people who are... a little angry?"
"My apologies. The 'little' was just my addition. There might be people who are very angry."
"......"
Lee Han deeply reflected.
The saying 'Those who rise by the sword shall perish by the sword' existed for a reason.
Who would've thought his rash actions would come back to bite Professor Garcia like this...
"I'll go ahead and apologize first."
"Huh? But is that really..."
Paridim wasn't sure if that was the best approach.
Oculogard mages were more sensitive to divination the higher their rank, and those invited by Professor Garcia were at least at the professor level...
Would it really be okay for such people to meet Lord Wardanaz?
'Good idea. Go ahead...'
"Thank you!"
The Emperor's encouragement gave Lee Han a push. He was about to move immediately.
Wait...
"?"
'Take the Duke's carriage... It's comfortable and good for traveling...'
"Th-thank you?"
Even Lee Han hadn't expected this level of consideration, so his reaction was slightly flustered.
Having commandeered—no, borrowed—the Duke's carriage, Lee Han tilted his head and asked Uman,
"Isn't His Majesty being a bit too kind?"
"Not at all! In Uman's eyes, you're more than qualified!"
"Huh? I don't see how borrowing someone else's carriage has anything to do with qualifications..."
When Oculogard mages arrived in the capital, they preferred staying in the northern Spirit Mausoleum district.
The numerous spires there provided an ideal environment for focusing on divination.
In the pin-drop silence of the highest tower, they quietly conducted their divinations.
"Force. Storm. Approach."
"Escape?"
"Force. Storm. Capture."
"Then the countermeasure?"
"Gratitude. Acceptance. Participation."
"Baffling!"
The divination mages focused on the cryptic omens.
Something extremely dangerous, something from which escape would be difficult, was approaching—and the countermeasure was simply to accept an apology and participate?
"Below. Carriage. Halt."
"Who is it?"
"It's Duke Belaron's carriage. No need to pay attention—Wardanaz! He's coming this way!!"
Professor Marhazin's face paled as he shouted.
The same overwhelming sensation that had shaken his divination when he saw that Einrogard student locked in the Punishment Room last time—it was now climbing up the tower!