Episode 297
Episode 297
'Is this the end?'
Lee Han steeled himself.
The lack of response likely meant the reaction he feared from the Empire's mad magic family...
"You come from a truly distinguished family."
"!"
At Yoanen's reaction, Lee Han's face lit up.
"I'm merely ashamed I can't live up to my family's reputation."
"Don't be ridiculous. Even in the Wardanaz family, talents like you must be rare."
Though their conversation was warm, Lee Han couldn't read Yoanen's true thoughts.
Yoanen was thinking to himself:
'To think someone from the Wardanaz family could be so considerate...'
It was genuinely astonishing.
He'd assumed they were all just magic-obsessed lunatics...
"Then let's go meet Yoner. Follow me."
As Yoanen stepped out of the workshop first and Lee Han and Ratford moved to follow, Kaljunin briefly called Lee Han back.
"Hey..."
"?"
"Thank you. Thanks to you, I gained a great realization."
Alchemist Kaljunin spoke with complete sincerity.
After creating a potion he was proud of and presenting it to the Maykin Family, he'd suddenly realized what he truly wanted to do.
Had it not been for Lee Han's advice about fundamentals, Kaljunin would never have come to this understanding.
Of course, to Lee Han and Ratford, Kaljunin was just a slightly awkward individual.
'What's this guy talking about?'
'I have no idea either.'
What kind of realization could he possibly have had from that bizarre incident of being dragged to the wrong place?
'Ughhhhhhh...'
Nilia growled internally, making sounds no noble would ever utter, as she was attended to by maids.
The maids skillfully dressed Nilia layer by layer.
'I'm going to lose my mind, seriously...'
When she'd first been invited to Yoner's mansion, Nilia had been bubbling with excitement.
Her first vacation, visiting a friend's house for the first time—and a noble's mansion at that, which she'd never entered before.
It was something she'd dreamed about ever since traveling the northern mountains with the Shadow Patrol.
-What do you think noble mansions have inside?
-Hmm! I once visited a mansion before, and there was a huge monster head and hide. Perfectly taxidermied too.
-...Not that kind of thing... More like something from a fairy tale... Aren't the nobles here like that?
-What are you talking about? All nobles love hunting.
-Exactly, Nilia. The north can't be the only exception. Nobles everywhere probably display their trophies.
-Not that! Paintings! Sculptures! Music or snacks!
-Didn't you see it last time you visited a mansion? <The Bloody Hunt of the Seven Naked Hunters>...
-The hunting drum performance was nice, wasn't it?
-Ah! Not that kind of thing, I mean real—!!
-Why is Nilia acting like this?
-She's clearly mad because you ate the eyeballs first. Should've given them to the kid first.
People from the Empire's north had no dreams, but Nilia was different.
She was certain that somewhere in the Empire, nobles straight out of fairy tales existed.
And their lives would be...
'Suffocating!'
...more tedious than she'd imagined.
At first, entering the mansion had been fun.
Watching all sorts of people bustling about, strolling the grounds with Yoner, enjoying a lavish dinner full of dishes whose names she didn't even know.
But then things gradually started getting weird.
-We'll assist you with your bath.
-What? No! I can do it myself!
-D-Did we do something wrong...?
-...Fine... Just do it...
Nilia didn't have the heart to refuse the maids, who looked utterly shocked as if thinking, 'What did we do wrong?'
But that was just the beginning.
-We'll sing for you until you fall asleep.
-What kind of horrible singing is this that would scare away even sleep!?
-W-what have we done wrong...?
-...Just go ahead...
Bedtime assistance.
-Have you awakened? I shall assist with your morning ablutions.
-Ah-pfoo. Ah-pfoo-pfoo. Pfoo-hack-pfoo.
Dressing assistance.
-I shall help you dress.
-Do I really need to be bundled up like this when we're not going to war?
-Ahahaha! You're so good at joking!
-As expected of a mage!
-......
Mealtime assistance.
-I shall cut your food for you.
-N-no. I'll cut it myself. More importantly, you weren't hovering like this during dinner yesterday.
-Lady Yoner specially requested...
-W-well, can't you specially not do it today too?
-W-what have we done wrong...
-......
Nilia gave up and accepted the mealtime assistance.
The moment she tried to pick up meat with her hands, the maids rushed over in panic. The moment she tried to rise from her seat to pour water into her glass, the maids rushed over in panic again. The moment even a drop of sauce splashed on her cheek, the maids rushed over in panic yet again...
It was hard to tell whether this was a meal or maid training.
-When is Yoner coming?
-Lady Yoner is still asleep. If you're coughing...
-N-no. Let her sleep.
And after the meal came dressing assistance again.
-I shall help you change clothes.
-We already did this in the morning!?
-Yes? For lunch clothes... W-what have we done wrong...
-......
And now.
Knock knock knock-
Nilia opened the door with a deathly pale face, staggering. There stood Yoner.
"Sorry. I overslept..."
Nilia burst into pitiful tears and clung to Yoner, who looked bewildered.
"?!"
After hearing the full explanation, Yoner grew deeply apologetic.
"I should have warned you."
"No! I... I kind of enjoyed it!"
"Really?"
"Y-yeah."
'I should have just told her.'
As Nilia averted her gaze while claiming she'd enjoyed it, Yoner made an inward resolution.
"What's the plan for today? I have something to do."
"!"
Nilia's ears perked up.
She absolutely didn't want to stay alone in this heavenly mansion.
"C-can I come with you?"
"Huh? You can, but... it'll be boring?"
"No! Anything done with a friend is fun!"
Nilia desperately shouted. Yoner nodded slightly with a pleased expression.
"If you say so."
To conclude, it was indeed really boring.
-Today's topic is: <As political instability worsens in the southern coastal regions of the Empire, the habitat of Sangoria Flowers, how should alchemists respond?>.
"......"
For a moment, Nilia thought the nobles were speaking another language.
"Wh-what... is this...?"
"It's something the family does regularly."
Yoner kindly explained.
Among the great noble families, the Maykin Family—active in commerce and patronage—pursued constant internal competition.
One prime example was precisely these topic papers.
Anyone working within the family could submit written solutions to these topics.
"There are rewards for good ideas."
"...Uh-huh."
Nilia glanced around nervously.
Everyone was solemnly holding quills, staring holes into their papers—this was no atmosphere to suggest, "Can't we just go hunting instead?"
Suppressing an inward sigh, Nilia gripped her quill.
Just write something!
There are many idle hunters in the north—send them to the southern coasts... Since they can attack from range, they'd handle monsters well... If monsters are hunted properly, people will be happier and political instability will decrease... Sorry...
"Yoner."
Nilia and Yoner looked up simultaneously.
Anyone could tell at a glance that the person calling Yoner was like an older sister to her.
"You have a visitor."
"!!!"
Nilia's face instantly brightened.
"She says you have a visitor! Let's go see!"
"Nilia... So you really didn't want to do this..."
"N-no! It's not like that..."
Lee Han was slightly taken aback by how overwhelmingly happy Nilia looked despite having only been apart for a few days.
"Did something difficult happen at the Maykin Family's residence?"
"Huh?! No! What! How can you say that... Someone might misunderstand!"
Nilia jumped in shock as she denied it.
'So something did happen.'
"I doubt Yoner would bully you given her personality... Ah. Maybe she was being overly attentive and made you uncomfortable?"
"How did you know?!"
Nilia was genuinely surprised. Lee Han gave a knowing bitter smile.
He'd experienced it himself before.
"You could just tell her properly."
"How can I speak firmly when she starts tearing up at anything I say..."
"You said you weren't uncomfortable."
"......"
"There are indirect ways to say it. I'll teach you later."
"You'll stay long, right? Stay long. Don't leave quickly."
Nilia grabbed Lee Han and Ratford's sleeves and whispered in a small voice.
Lee Han felt oddly guilty for having invited Nilia.
"We have other places to visit too... Then shall we go together?"
Nilia nodded her head rapidly.
Yoner, who had come out carrying a pouch of silver coins, asked curiously:
"What were you talking about?"
"I suggested we visit other places together."
"Ah. So it really wasn't interesting?"
"What?! It was interesting?!"
Nilia flailed her hands in denial, startled, but Lee Han and Yoner both looked at her with knowing expressions.
"What were you doing anyway?"
"Proposing solutions for the periodic topic essays from the family. Today's was <With the political instability worsening in the Empire's southern coastal regions where Sangoria Flowers grow, how should alchemists respond?>"
"Naturally. The root cause of instability must be the declining fish catches."
"Right. The guilds there have been overfishing seafood recklessly, making the sea's mana turbulent and angering the spirits."
"Negotiating with the guilds for a rest period would be ideal, but that won't be easy. The Empire should support mages to restore the sea's mana while preferentially recruiting and persuading pro-Empire guilds among them."
"That's what I thought too."
"......"
Nilia, who had been listening to Lee Han and Yoner's conversation, kept turning her head in confusion.
Is this really a conversation between students the same age?
Noticing something odd, Yoner paused their discussion to ask:
"Wait. Why did Yonan big sis come?"
Normally if it was an official visit, servants would come to announce "Your friend has arrived," right?
"I stood in the wrong line."
"Huh?"
Lee Han briefly explained what had happened.
"Good thing she was kind."
"...Uh. Wait a second."
Yoner looked uncharacteristically flustered. Lee Han found her reaction strange.
"Why?"
"Did you make potions in front of her?"
"Yeah."
"And she saw them?"
"Yeah."
"Lee Han. Remember Professor Vible Verbus?"
"Of course I remember?"
"Big Sis is the nice version of Professor Vible Verbus."
"...What kind of nonsense is that, Yoner."
Lee Han felt a chill run down his spine as he denied the reality.
How could someone who seemed so kind possibly be like Professor Vible Verbus?
And fundamentally, a nice Professor Vible Verbus couldn't exist.
That was a complete contradiction in terms.
Like a sociable Professor Voladi or a conscientious Skeleton Principal...
Yoner spoke gravely:
"We should leave the residence quickly. Let's go."
"Seriously?"
"I don't joke about these things. Hurry. Nilia, get ready to leave too."
Lee Han and his friends began scrambling to prepare to leave. Nilia wanted to change into more comfortable clothes but Yoner stopped her.
"Sorry. No time for that. We need to leave quickly."
"Ehh."
Knock knock knock-
"Are you done talking yet?"
"Eek!"
When the door opened and the sister peeked her head in, Yoner nearly hiccuped in fright.