Episode 418
Episode 418
"Are knights usually this persistent?"
Angrago proudly answered Lee Han's question.
"Of course. Knights never forget a debt—or a grudge."
"How annoying."
"!?"
Angrago was taken aback by the sudden harsh words.
What had the knights even done?!
'I really don't want to go in there.'
Lee Han frowned as he thought to himself.
Since this wasn't an official outing, there was no benefit in running into too many people.
The adventurers would disappear after this request was over, so there was no reason to interact with Einrogard, and the mages wouldn't return to Einrogard now that the festival was done, but...
If they ended up running into the knights of the Beech Knights, he was worried about keeping things under wraps.
No matter how much you tried to enforce secrecy, the more people who knew a secret, the easier it was for it to leak.
'If I stay back and send someone else instead...'
"Let's at least try talking first. Though I doubt those knights will understand."
"Just in case, we should summon a golem. Who knows if those knights might throw a tantrum if they get upset."
"Then why not secretly spread some poison? There are a few mages here who can use paralyzing toxins."
"...I'll just go myself."
Lee Han gave up and spoke.
If he left it to the mages gathered here, they'd probably start fights out of nowhere.
Giselle looked at Batrek, a dwarf student from the same tower, and spoke.
"What kind of lunatic just released the staff like that?"
"Uh... I don't know."
"...Look me in the eyes. Bark. Look me in the eyes. Why are you avoiding my gaze? Can't lift your head?"
"M-Moradi. Don't do this. You're misunderstanding. I don't know anything."
Giselle had already half-convinced herself based on her friend's reaction.
To think he had tried to escape with these lunatics!
'Maybe I really should just abandon them next time.'
She could have understood if they were just stupid and doing their best.
But did it make any sense to forcibly drag them along just because 'we're from the same tower' when they were too stupid to keep up?
The students of White Tiger Tower believed that escaping in larger groups increased their chances, but from Giselle's perspective, escaping alone seemed far more plausible.
"W-well, it worked out, didn't it? Thanks to the Beech Knights here..."
Batrek cautiously spoke up, testing the waters.
The students of White Tiger Tower had scattered while fleeing their pursuers.
Not many had been lucky. Giselle and Batrek were among the few who had.
While escaping on horseback, they had stumbled upon the Beech Knights' encampment.
Naturally, the Beech Knights had welcomed these students from knightly families...
...and now the two students were contemplating how to leave the encampment.
"Since we're here, can't we just borrow some silver coins?"
Batrek made a statement so lacking in pride that it was hard to believe he came from a knightly family.
Einrogard's environment had changed him.
Fortunately, Giselle was still sane. She tapped the table with her fingers and glared at Batrek with disdain.
"Borrowing silver coins from a knight of a family we're not even close to, using our family name as collateral... What a brilliant idea."
"Right?"
"......"
Giselle was exasperated. And then, as someone from a knightly family who rarely resorted to it, a curse slipped from her lips.
Batrek was stunned.
"I-Is it that bad?"
"Why stop there? Why not just sell off your family name while you're at it?"
"That's a bit different—"
Before Batrek could dig himself deeper, a knight from the Beech Knights entered the tent.
"Is everyone doing well?"
"Yes."
"We're grateful for your kindness."
"No need for thanks. We only did what was right."
As they exchanged pleasantries, Giselle thought to herself.
Now that they were outside the school, the only meaningful thing to do was head to a village and buy necessary supplies. They couldn't afford to stay trapped here forever.
The problem was finding the right excuse.
If she said she wanted to go to the village, these knights—given their personalities—would insist on escorting her, and the moment they tagged along, they'd be far too conspicuous, making it highly likely they'd get caught.
On the other hand, if she told the truth, the knights—again, given their personalities—would react with something like, "No matter the circumstances, how could you even think of running away?"
"Ah, by the way. Some friends of yours have arrived outside."
"Friends?"
The two were startled.
Since they had scattered earlier and some time had passed, they hadn't expected any friends to come looking for them this late.
"Who could it be?"
"Good question. Maybe Durgyu? If it's Durgyu, given the situation..."
As the two stepped outside the tent, they spotted Lee Han and Angraog and froze simultaneously.
"......"
"......"
Why the hell is that bastard here?
-You want to investigate this place? Why should I let you?
-Actually, I'm Lee Han of the Wardanaz family.
-...!!! Please, come in at once! Everyone, come out and see!
-I appreciate the welcome, but there's no need to shout like—
-Everyone, assemble!! Assemble!! Ah, damn. Look at me forgetting. The trumpet was right here.
-......
Frankly, the Beech Knights' enthusiastic welcome wasn't surprising.
Given how excitable they'd been the last time they met, Lee Han had fully expected them to welcome him warmly.
What shocked him was the fact that Giselle and Batrek were at the campsite.
"Don't tell me... Moradi. Did you already know about this campsite and use your friends as disposable decoys?"
"...?!"
Batrek, standing beside her, was startled.
'Was that the plan?!'
"Why would I do something so pointless? Timing that would be even harder."
"Ah. Yeah, that makes sense."
"......"
Batrek glared at Wardanaz.
This bastard keeps sowing discord among the White Tiger Tower friends...
"Speaking of which, what brings you here? And why do you have Angraog with you?"
"Ah. It's a bit of a long story."
At Lee Han's words, Giselle let out a scoffing laugh.
She figured, how long could it possibly be?
"No matter how long it is, if you can explain it, go ahead."
"Yeah, Wardanaz. No weird excuses!"
Lee Han shrugged and recounted the events as concisely as possible.
...And it turned out to be much longer than expected.
"I... see."
"......"
The two had no choice but to admit it.
No wonder there were mages and adventurers wandering around earlier, making them wonder, 'What the hell?'
"Wait. Wardanaz."
Giselle furrowed her brow and asked,
"Aren't you technically sneaking out right now too? Are you sure it's okay to escalate things like this?"
"Moradi. Say what you will about Wardanaz, but when it comes to this kind of thing, he's a thorough son of a... I mean, a thorough guy."
"Hmm. I am a bit worried about that too."
"......"
Batrek glared at Wardanaz again.
This bastard, seriously!
"But we can't just leave those mages fighting out there. By the way, are these knights really visiting Einrogard?"
"Yeah. Somehow, they managed to get permission. Lucky us."
Giselle spoke sincerely.
As she'd mentioned before, the Beech Knights might lack a bit in combat prowess, but they had other strengths.
Considering the names of the families involved, building connections with them now would make it easier to intervene in imperial affairs or secure political advantages when needed in the future.
Moreover, judging from what happened last time, Lee Han wasn't just another attendee—he'd been the guest of honor that day.
Lee Han's face twisted in sorrow and agony. Oblivious to his inner turmoil, Giselle continued,
"No matter how great a mage you are, being invited to a gathering of knightly families is rare. You should consider this a good opportunity and be grateful—"
Provoked beyond endurance by Giselle's relentless needling, Lee Han's anger flared.
Even if he'd been willing to let it slide, this was too much.
"Sir Knight."
"Yes? How may I assist you?"
"Would it be possible for my friends here to join the gathering as well?"
"Umm! That's..."
The knight hesitated.
Of course, it wasn't that the other students lacked qualifications.
All the other students present were from the White Tiger Tower—scions of renowned knightly families.
But that didn't mean just anyone could attend a knightly order's gathering.
If mere family lineage was enough, even children would be attending these meetings.
While Lee Han had been invited as a guest of honor to express gratitude for the previous incident, the others, strictly speaking, were still at the level of squires.
Bringing them along to a knights' gathering might only make everyone uncomfortable.
Lee Han sensed the knight's hesitation but refused to back down easily.
'I absolutely won't go alone.'
With the unwavering determination to drag these White Tiger Tower bastards along like drowning ghosts, Lee Han spoke up again.
"As someone from a mage family, I'm not very confident about attending a knights' gathering alone. If my close friends could accompany me, I think I'd feel much more at ease..."
"???"
Angra tilted his head in confusion.
He had no idea who these "close friends" were, but he was certain it wasn't him.
Batrek also tilted his head.
Likewise, he knew it wasn't him.
The two exchanged glances before turning their eyes to Giselle. Giselle spat out in a voice dripping with murderous intent.
"Take that back before I gouge your eyes out."
"Ah, no."
"W-well, I was just asking... Guess it was just the Wardanaz bastard's nonsense."
The knight thumped his chest and declared loudly in response to Lee Han's request.
"...Very well! If we can't even accommodate such a small request when inviting someone we owe a debt to, we'd be a laughingstock as knights! I'll insist strongly on it!"
"Thank you. Sniff."
Lee Han pretended to be meek and grateful. The knight reassured him not to worry, then suddenly had a thought.
'Wait a minute. I heard the boy from the Wardanaz family wields a sword no less skillfully than a knight...?'
Huh?
As the knight left in confusion, Lee Han turned to his "friends" from the White Tiger Tower and said:
"Congratulations. You're coming along too."
"W-Wardanaz..."
"Thanks."
"...What are you thinking? Why would you do this?"
Lee Han paused at their reactions.
It wasn't what he had expected.
'What's this? Are they bluffing?'
"Thanks?"
"Huh? Oh. Well..."
"Going outside during the semester, not even getting anything useful out of it, just wasting time making small talk with knights before coming back? Our assignments will pile up, and our studies will fall behind..."
"...It's not useless, you bastard!"
"What do you think a knightly family gathering is?!"
The White Tiger Tower students flared up, but Lee Han ignored them.
"Even if you act indifferent now, your true feelings will show when it's time to go. Fine. Keep pretending to be happy. I'll humor you that much."
"......"
As Lee Han turned and walked away, the White Tiger Tower students were utterly bewildered.
"Why the hell is that bastard dragging us along?"
"Is he just embarrassed to go alone?"
"Moradi. What do you think?"
But Giselle couldn't answer.
This time, even Giselle was too confused to understand.
Why on earth were they being invited too?
When Lee Han returned after decisively punishing his wicked White Tiger Tower "friends," it was the mages who called out to him.
"Lord Wardanaz! We have results! We've found the source of the mana!"
"Oh...! That's great!"
Lee Han could almost hear the jingling of gold coins in his ears.
"Do you see this spring? There's definitely an Overlap Phenomenon occurring beneath it."
"Indeed."
The collision phenomenon around the spring had caused mana to explosively spill into the surroundings, circulating through the forest and creating strange phenomena.
"So how do we resolve this spring?"
At Lee Han's question, the mages smiled as if asking him to wait briefly and began their calculations.
Then their faces stiffened.
"Uh..."
"What's wrong?"
"The calculations show the collision is quite severe. Creatures from another dimension will likely emerge from the spring soon."
"I see."
Lee Han wasn't particularly surprised.
Since they were near Einrogard anyway, the professors could easily handle it if notified.
"How much time do we have?"
"Thirty..."
"Thirty days shouldn't be too difficult—"
"...Minutes, it seems... Wait, let me recalculate..."
Lee Han's face stiffened just like the mages'.