Episode 295
Episode 295
If they had shown any hesitation or signs of exhaustion while solving the problems, the guests might have suggested, "Let's call it a day here." But since the newcomers were performing so exceptionally, everyone got overly excited and kept egging them on.
Thanks to that, Doin was utterly miserable.
His mana was gradually reaching its limit...
"We're ready."
At this point, Lee Han's words sounded almost terrifying.
Wiping sweat from his brow, Doin shot Lee Han a desperate look.
'What's going on?'
There was no way Lee Han could miss that gaze. He fell into thought.
Why was the opposing mage acting like this?
"Sir Doin. Are you feeling unwell? You're sweating profusely..."
"Ah, n-no. I'm fine. Really."
Doin gripped his staff and suppressed a sigh.
He couldn't even think of what test to give them next.
'What kind of... magic should I...'
Thud!
Staggering, Doin finally collapsed. It was dizziness from mana depletion.
"Are you alright?!"
Lee Han immediately rushed over.
Having suspected something might be wrong earlier, his reaction was swift. Supporting Doin, he said,
"If you weren't feeling well, you should have said something sooner."
"Ugh..."
Doin nearly blurted out, 'Isn't it because you were too good at this without even realizing it?'
But he couldn't say that. After all, his opponent was from the Wardanaz family—no, the Dalkard family.
"Oh dear. It seems Sir Doin pushed himself too hard despite not being in good health."
"What a shame, but it can't be helped. We truly enjoyed ourselves today."
The guests offered warm farewells mixed with concern as they stood up.
Some approached Lee Han's group separately to heap praises.
"Magnificent. Soon we'll be hearing rumors of a grand mage emerging from the Dalkard family."
"Ah, no. Thank you."
"The reputation of the Wardanaz family is indeed well-deserved. Truly impressive."
"Thank you."
"If you have any plans after graduation, I'd like to personally sponsor..."
Among them were even those who offered personal sponsorship to Ratford.
Seeing this, Lee Han felt slightly aggrieved.
'Why only Ratford?'
Of course, he understood.
Such sponsorships were typically offered by wealthy patrons to talented but impoverished individuals.
Rich nobles could extend favors or debts to promising future grand mages in advance, while the mages received immediate gold—a mutually beneficial arrangement.
But offering this to a scion of a great noble family would be tantamount to saying, "Your family must be poor," which would be incredibly rude.
What a pity.
"I-it's alright."
"No need to decide now. If you change your mind later, feel free to visit."
Ratford nodded with a dazed expression.
Meanwhile, an elderly man approached Lee Han, who immediately sensed this was no ordinary person.
'Two rings. One necklace. One bracelet. All artifacts.'
For someone like Lee Han, who could sharply perceive mana flow, such assessments were possible just by appearance.
Few among the empire's wealthy carried that many artifacts.
"You recognized the artifacts?"
The man asked with interest.
"Yes. If I seemed rude, I apologize."
"Not at all. If you have the ability, it's only natural to notice. I'm Ardenne of the Greenbell family."
"Lee Han of the Wardanaz family."
Ardenne, a spider beastkin, had the kindly demeanor of a grandmother, yet his movements were precise and his posture unwavering.
"Sir Doin isn't a bad mage by any means, so today's events were surprising."
"We just got lucky."
"Though I'm no mage... there's no word less suited to magic than 'luck.' Only skill exists. It was impressive enough that you dismantled Sir Doin's magic so easily... but to drain his mana completely?"
"!"
Lee Han was startled.
'Oh no. That makes sense.'
Now that he thought about it, the priest's condition had been somewhat unusual.
If he was in such poor health, there should have been signs from the beginning.
He had naturally judged things by his own standards and hadn't considered that the opposing mage might have exhausted his mana.
'I've done something regrettable.'
However, it seemed Lady Alardne interpreted Lee Han's surprise in a different way.
"There's no need to be surprised. I didn't bring it up to reprimand you. An outstanding mage should have strong pride. Especially toward someone who dared test their abilities. Priest Doin should be grateful you ended things so gracefully."
"...No, that's not..."
Lee Han wanted to clarify the misunderstanding, but Lady Alardne had already convinced herself.
Even if it was just party entertainment, she wouldn't forgive a mage who challenged her without the skill to back it up.
She must have crushed him under the Wardanaz family's pride!
"Really, that's not it."
"If you say so, then let's leave it at that. Regardless, I was surprised. It's nothing new for mages from Einrogard to be exceptional, but I've never seen a first-year student this outstanding before. Even for a Wardanaz."
"Thank you."
"Since you're students, you'll likely be staying in Granden City during the break. If you ever need assistance, don't hesitate to visit the Greenbell family estate. Our doors are always open to capable individuals."
"!"
Lee Han was startled again.
Lady Alardne seemed to interpret his surprise differently once more.
"Shall I guess? You're probably wondering what kind of help you might need right now, aren't you?"
"No... not really."
"Sometimes there are matters even a great noble family's influence can't easily resolve... or situations where using the family name would be undesirable. There are definitely such occasions. In those cases..."
Lady Alardne gave a slight bow before withdrawing.
Ashan returned, his voice brimming with excitement after receiving lavish praise from his older siblings.
"Wardanaz! Did you hear? I got praised! They praised me!"
"Ashan... I don't think you need to attach so much significance to a single compliment."
Lee Han looked at his friend with pity.
Life would be easier if he just ignored such things—why did he insist on this behavior? It was endlessly pitiable.
"Right. What exactly did they praise you for?"
Seeing his friend so happy, Lee Han asked out of courtesy.
Ashan's face flushed as he answered:
"They said I did well, that I made a good friend, and that I should work hard to keep up with that friend."
"?"
"??"
Lee Han and Ratford exchanged confused looks.
Ratford whispered quietly so Ashan wouldn't hear:
"Lord Wardanaz. I don't know much about nobles, but... is that considered praise among your kind?"
"No. That's not praise, Ratford."
Regardless of their reaction, Ashan remained blissful. Lee Han spoke sympathetically:
"Ashan. If you get bored during the break, come visit the Wardanaz family estate. No—even if you're not bored, come by often."
"Thank... you?"
Ashan tilted his head, sensing something off, but agreed anyway.
"More importantly, Wardanaz. You helped me like this—I can't just let you go without returning the favor. Is there anything you need? If there is, tell me. I'll repay you in the name of the Dalkard family."
Lee Han, about to decline, paused.
Now that he thought about it, there was one thing he needed.
"There is something, actually."
"Oh? What is it?"
"Pay back the silver coins you borrowed."
"...Ah, no. That's a given. Anything else?"
"Nothing else comes to mind."
Ashan looked flustered.
Wasn't repaying borrowed coins just basic decency?
"You didn't come all this way just for that, did you?"
"Of course not. I just came to see a friend."
"Right? That must be it...?"
Ashan nodded in understanding, yet couldn't shake an odd sense of disappointment.
The Maykin family mansion in Granden City resembled a bustling and prosperous alchemy workshop more than an old-fashioned noble estate.
The practical design devoid of unnecessary decorations, the workers and alchemists constantly entering and exiting the mansion without rest, the scent of various herbs and potions wafting from within...
"The smell of herbs is incredible."
"Yeah. The smell of money is incredible."
"Huh? The smell of herbs, you mean."
"Ah. Sorry. I was lost in other thoughts."
Lee Han apologized to Ratford.
Seeing the countless workers bringing in materials and the alchemists coming and going, it was clear why the Maykin family was so wealthy.
Moreover, this wasn't even their main residence—it was practically a villa.
"I should get closer to Yoner from now on."
"Aren't you already close with him?"
Lee Han approached the mansion's main gate.
The gatekeepers, too busy to even properly look at Lee Han, shouted at him.
"Get in line and wait! Five carriages just went in! No matter how much you push, you'll have to wait!"
"Hmm. Actually, we—"
"I said no! Whether you're from a merchant group or a workshop, you have to wait in line! Rules are rules! If you don't follow them, what will the people waiting here think?!"
"That's certainly true."
Lee Han was convinced by the gatekeeper.
The carriages and workers lined up in a long queue in front of the gate.
They were people from guilds, merchant groups, and workshops who had come for business and were waiting their turn.
Of course, Lee Han wasn't here for business but to see a friend, but that wasn't a reason to cut in line.
"Let's go wait."
"Uh... I think we could just pass through separately..."
"Ratford. What would the people waiting behind us think? We might cause unnecessary trouble for the Yoner family, so let's just wait."
Ratford tilted his head but followed Lee Han.
Was visiting a noble mansion always like this?
'Doesn't seem like it...'
"What brings you two here?"
An alchemist who had been waiting ahead of them spoke up.
His long robe, weighed down with various potions and reagents, declared his identity more clearly than if he had the words written on it.
"We're here to meet someone from the Maykin family."
"Figured. That's why I'm waiting too."
The alchemist smiled warmly upon finding a fellow visitor with the same purpose.
According to the alchemist who had been waiting longer, the people visiting the Maykin family mansion could be divided into two categories.
One group consisted of those who had formal contracts with the Maykin family and had come to deliver promised goods.
The other group was those who sought to catch the Maykin family's eye for sponsorship or contracts.
The Maykin family was a reliable patron. Whether it was merchant groups, guilds, or workshops, once they took notice, they provided substantial financial support.
That's why so many people were waiting with herbs, reagents, or alchemical potions they had gathered or crafted.
"I see."
"But you two... do you really need to wait here?"
The alchemist looked puzzled as he examined Lee Han and Ratford's attire.
Having lived in the city for a long time, one could often guess a person's status just by their clothes.
The two of them clearly looked like they were from noble families.
"If we have business, we wait."
"Well, that's true. I spoke out of turn."
The alchemist nodded.
Even if they were from noble families, if they had business, they had to wait like everyone else.
Of course, the thought, "If they're from noble families, couldn't they just send a servant to arrange an appointment?" did cross his mind, but he figured there must be some reason and let it go.
After a suspicious-looking person carrying an egg in a cage went in, followed by an employee from a merchant group who had brought reagents from the snowy mountains, it was finally their turn.
"This way! Come this way! What's your purpose for visiting?"
"We're alchemists. Here to have our potions evaluated."
"Understood! Head to the West Hall! Three new alchemists to the West Hall! Three alchemists!"