Episode 292
Episode 292
"What did you say?"
"No. It's nothing."
Lee Han quickly changed the subject.
He didn't want to needlessly worry the kind old knight.
"What are your plans for the vacation, Young Master Lee Han? If there's anything you need, I, Alarong, will do my utmost to assist you."
"Well... I'll have to study."
Lee Han glanced at the pile of books strapped to Ponlig's back as he spoke.
One shouldn't mistake being given a vacation as, 'Ah, so they're telling me to relax and rest properly.'
Being given a vacation was closer to, 'Resting is your choice, but study on your own. If you don't, we'll leave you behind.'
Especially in a harsh school like Einrogard, there was a high chance the professors would say, 'You must have studied up to this point, right? Then I'll assume you know it and move on.'
Even students who took fewer classes had to be cautious about slacking off, but for someone like Lee Han, who took many classes, studying wasn't optional—it was mandatory.
"How admirable."
Unaware of Lee Han's desperate inner thoughts, Alarong was deeply impressed.
Not all scions of the empire's great noble families were as diligent and hardworking as Lee Han.
In fact, the majority were either dissolute or lazy. It was only natural, given how securely their family backgrounds supported them.
Yet Lee Han remained steadfastly devoted to magic without a single moment of laxity...
'Truly, Young Master Lee Han is worthy of the Wardanaz bloodline.'
"However, Young Master Lee Han. Gathering with fellow young students isn't just about studying—it's also about getting to know one another and socializing. While studying is important, wouldn't it be a waste to spend the entire vacation on it?"
"Of course, I've thought about that too."
Lee Han spoke as if to reassure him. Alarong's face brightened again.
"I plan to save up gold coins. There should be plenty of short-term work opportunities in Granden City."
"...?"
Alarong was slightly taken aback by Lee Han's response.
It was an answer he hadn't anticipated at all.
'What in the...?'
Alarong glanced at his subordinate knights.
He assumed the younger knights would understand Lee Han's meaning better than he did.
-We don't understand either.
-Maybe it's a metaphor only mages use?
-Is he really planning to save gold coins?
-Don't spout nonsense in front of Sir Alarong. Why would Young Master Lee Han do something like that?
"I... see. How admirable."
"Thank you, Sir."
Not wanting to appear like an oblivious old knight out of touch with the trends of young mages, Alarong offered his support for now.
But inwardly, he was still bewildered.
"Still, you must have other plans as well... right?"
"Other plans?"
Lee Han tilted his head in confusion.
Aside from studying and earning gold coins, he hadn't given much thought to anything else.
"W-Well, socializing with your friends..."
"Ah."
Only then did Lee Han realize and nod belatedly.
"I should meet my friends too."
Alarong sighed in relief internally.
"A wise decision. If you wish to host any gatherings or banquets, please let me know at any time. I'll ensure preparations are made befitting the Wardanaz family name."
'I don't think we need to go that far.'
Lee Han thought to himself at Alarong's words.
The reason Lee Han wanted to meet his friends was to collect the money they owed him.
Upon arriving at his family home in Granden City (Lee Han had slipped away early when the spectacle of the Blue Dragon Tower students' lavish carriages drew a crowd of onlookers at the city gates), Lee Han decided to rest first.
After a deep sleep on the soft, plush bed, the events at the magic school suddenly felt like a long nightmare.
Of course, it hadn't been a dream.
Lee Han sat up and roughly estimated the amount of silver coins recorded in his ledger.
Even a rough calculation suggested it would easily amount to twenty imperial gold coins.
It was such a staggering sum that it gave him an unfounded confidence in his business skills.
'...No. Get a hold of yourself.'
For a moment, Lee Han even considered aiming to become an imperial merchant rather than an imperial bureaucrat, but he quickly snapped out of it.
Earning twenty imperial gold coins in a single semester was an astronomical sum, but this was solely due to the uniquely closed-off environment of the magic school.
By second year, such business opportunities would become nearly impossible.
'Stay humble. Acting arrogantly will only lead to ruin.'
Still, the amount of twenty imperial gold coins was enough to make his heart race uncontrollably.
A farmer owning a sizable plot of land would have to toil all year just to earn a single gold coin...
"Breakfast will be served shortly, Young Master Lee Han."
A servant spoke from outside. Lee Han opened the door and replied.
"Just something light will do. Has Ratford woken up yet?"
"Yes. He asked to be informed when you cough, Young Master."
"My apologies. Could you call him? Ah, wait."
Lee Han stopped the servant before they could leave and asked,
"Yesterday, we entered Granden City through the White Sheep Gate. Do you know that small general store near the city gate? It was quite bustling..."
"Yes. Do you require something from there?"
"If I wanted to buy that general store, how much do you think it would cost?"
The servant pondered carefully before answering cautiously.
"At the very least, wouldn't it require two hundred imperial gold coins?"
Lee Han had to tense his body to keep from staggering.
He hadn't expected it to be cheap given it was a major city, but for a general store of that size...
'I was being presumptuous.'
To think he'd grown arrogant enough to consider becoming a merchant after earning just that much.
He felt nothing but shame.
"Young Master Lee Han?"
"...I see. Thank you for answering."
Shortly after the servant left, Ratford entered.
Perhaps feeling awkward in the mansion's antiquated atmosphere, Ratford brightened upon seeing Lee Han and scurried over.
"Lord Wardanaz!"
"Did you rest well?"
"My body is fine, but my mind is a bit..."
"You'll get used to it soon. Let's have breakfast first."
Though he'd requested a simple meal, the servants brought out a more lavish spread than expected.
After slicing and eating a slightly spicy seasoned egg, Lee Han let out a deep sigh.
"Is something troubling you?"
"It's nothing serious. I was just thinking about buying a small shop later, but the prices are no joke."
Ratford, sipping chilled milk from a bottle, nodded understandingly at Lee Han's words.
"I understand."
"Understand what?"
"You want me to secure gold coins for you, right?"
"...Ratford. Theft is a crime outside the magic school."
Technically, it was a crime inside too, but Lee Han considered that more justifiable.
Even among thieves, weren't there those called righteous bandits depending on their motives and goals?
In Lee Han's view, stealing from the Skeleton Principal definitely qualified as righteous banditry.
Ratford looked confused at Lee Han's words.
"So... are you telling me not to do it? Or to do it without getting caught?"
"Don't do it, Ratford. If I ever ask you for a favor, I'll be extremely specific without using metaphors, so never act recklessly."
"Yes."
Ratford looked slightly dejected.
To be denied even the opportunity to steal...
With a clatter, Lee Han neatly emptied his bowl of rice.
Eastern-style meals had been hard to come by at Einrogard, so this one tasted exceptionally good after so long.
Ratford, after finishing a slice of buttered toast, tilted his head slightly.
"Does it not suit your taste?"
"Oh, no, it's not that."
"You don't seem convinced. I'd prefer your honest opinion."
"Well... Lord Wardanaz's cooking was tastier..."
Lee Han laughed at Ratford's words.
He was happy to hear his friend's praise.
"Thank you. But that was only because of the special circumstances at Einrogard. In that situation, anything would have tasted better."
After all, anything tastes better when you're starving.
Otherwise, there was no way Lee Han's cooking could have been tastier than that of the mansion's professional chefs.
"Is that so?"
"That's right."
Ratford nodded at Lee Han's words, though he wasn't entirely convinced.
'Objectively speaking, it really did taste better...'
"I think I'll finish my meal and step out for a bit. Do you have plans today?"
"Where are you going?"
"I'm planning to collect some silver coins."
Ratford asked with a slightly expectant tone.
"By any chance—"
"I'm going to collect, not steal."
"Yes. I'll still come with you."
Ratford looked disappointed.
Ashan of the Dalkard Family was so tense he could barely breathe.
"I heard a member of your family has been admitted to Einrogard. Congratulations."
"Thank you."
The Dalkard Family's mansion in Granden City was quite historic, and as such, it housed many family members and guests.
Moreover, there happened to be a gathering today, and high-ranking figures from Granden City were arriving one by one as guests.
Under these circumstances, it was inevitable that the family student who had just returned from Einrogard yesterday would become a topic of conversation.
"An Einrogard graduate. The Dalkard Family's name will shine even brighter."
"Thank you."
"I'm curious which school of magic you specialize in. May I ask after today's performance?"
"Please do."
'Someone save me.'
Ashan felt like he was suffocating.
If he made even a single mistake in front of these distinguished guests from Granden City, it would tarnish the family's honor.
"Focus."
Ashan's older brother, Daihal, approached.
Dressed in an impeccably pressed suit, Daihal was the type of person who wouldn't shed a single drop of sweat even under the scorching midsummer sun.
"You're still making too many mistakes. You were a beat late with your greeting earlier. And when answering—"
Haidan, Ashan's older sister and Daihal's twin, also approached.
Like Daihal, she was the type who wouldn't bat an eye even if a dragon appeared over the city.
"You didn't even notice the dust on your cufflinks. No wonder you keep making mistakes. Remember the mistake you made seventeen months and four days ago?"
"Because of your miscalculation, we became a laughingstock."
"But I only got one digit wrong in the—"
"Quiet. It's that careless attitude that keeps leading to mistakes."
Ashan clamped his mouth shut under his siblings' scolding.
If they ever made mistakes themselves, he might have retorted, but since they were practically flawless, Ashan could only shrink back.
Daihal had been selected as an Imperial Bureaucrat and was rapidly climbing the ranks, while Haidan had been hired by the Bronze Dwarf Bank in the East, impressing even the notoriously demanding dwarfs...
"That's why you couldn't even secure first or second place in the tower."
"It's not that I did poorly—it's that the top two were just too—"
"Quiet. Stop making excuses."
"Lord Ashan. A guest has arrived."
What saved Ashan from further scolding was a family servant.
Though he didn't know who the guest was, Ashan was relieved. At least he had an excuse to escape this situation.
"Brother! Sister! It seems a friend has come to visit!"
"Why do you look so happy?"
"W-well, wouldn't you be happy if a friend visited?"
"......"
"......"
Daihal and Haidan stared piercingly at their unreliable younger sibling.
"If my younger brother's friend has come, I should go greet them."
"I'll come too."
"W-what?! I can handle it my—"
"Quiet. Greeting guests at the mansion isn't your duty—it's mine."
Ashan trailed behind them with a crestfallen expression.
'Please not Gainando. Please not Gainando.'
Given their personalities, if the visiting friend didn't meet their standards, they would likely tear into Ashan mercilessly.
He desperately hoped it wasn't Gainando and that another friend had come first.
"Good day."
"!!!"
At the sight of the familiar face entering, Ashan let out a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, his most dependable friend had come to visit first!