Episode 605
Episode 605
Lee Han, who had been too stunned to speak, finally managed to respond belatedly.
"No way, you're using the school budget for that...?"
"It's not being done with the school budget."
"......"
If it was being done with personal funds, that was even more absurd.
Lee Han wanted to ask what kind of grudge the headmaster had against the freshmen to go this far.
"There seems to be a misunderstanding, young master."
The dwarf printer, noticing Lee Han's expression, hastily interjected.
"We're doing this of our own accord. To repay Headmaster Gonadaltes's kindness."
"Were you perhaps threatened to say that?"
"Huh? I don't quite understand what you're..."
The good-natured dwarf printer didn't catch Einrogard's signature black humor.
"Some time ago, the printing press's spirit went berserk and an ink monster emerged. Headmaster Gonadaltes helped us then."
"If not for Headmaster Gonadaltes, we might all have died."
"Headmaster..."
Lee Han felt slightly moved for the first time in a while.
"Why didn't you tell me about such heartwarming deeds?"
"Ha. I've done too many good deeds to recount them all—the sun in the sky would grow old and die before I finished." 'What unbelievable shamelessness.' Immediately brushing aside his brief moment of emotion, Lee Han nodded.
"Moreover, if our small service can help keep intruders out of Einrogard, what greater joy could there be?"
"That's right! It's no trouble at all!"
"?"
Lee Han was puzzled.
Keeping intruders out?
"Headmaster. That magic tome... wasn't it made to lure and deceive freshmen kids?"
The memory was still vivid in Lee Han's mind.
The memory of White Tiger Tower students who had studied about Einrogard in advance only to suffer dearly during the escape.
"Well, among intruders, there might be some fools who'd fall for that too."
"......"
Lee Han couldn't bring himself to tell the kind printers the truth.
* * *
"You've worked hard. Send them to the places I've written down."
The Skeleton Principal was exceedingly cunning and meticulous.
Among the confirmed first-year students, he specifically targeted those from the Blue Dragon Tower and White Tiger Tower.
Since most came from established families, placing the tomes in nearby bookstores always caught them.
Lee Han could only shudder at such tenacious and relentless effort. 'Is this really necessary?' "Uh, is this <The Puppy Beastkin Detective Toberiz>?"
Lee Han looked puzzled at the printed magazine. It was a mystery magazine that Gainando really liked.
"Yes. We've prepared next month's issue in advance. The newspaper company said the serialized content for next month is particularly climactic and exciting, so it should sell well."
"Do you like that magazine?"
The Skeleton Principal looked at Lee Han with surprise.
He seemed like the type who'd only read the Empire Newspaper's economy, business, and magic sections.
"Gainando likes it."
"Oh. Then how about reading it in advance and sending him the contents?"
"Ah! I was running out of things to write in letters—this works out perfectly. Thank you."
"...Right, sure."
The Skeleton Principal shuddered at his disciple's quiet madness.
It had been a joke...
click
After checking his pocket watch, the Skeleton Principal nodded. By now, the complacent bureaucrats should have returned to their seats.
"Let's go. Time to resume persuasion."
"Please wait a moment."
Lee Han asked the printers a few questions, took notes, and returned.
"What did you ask about?"
"I inquired about simple gifts worth buying in this area."
"Do you have someone in the capital to give gifts to?"
"Huh? I was thinking of bringing some for the Ministry of Finance bureaucrats."
"...Why!?"
The Skeleton Principal was genuinely appalled.
What possible reason could there be to give gifts to those parasitic creatures whose only purpose was opposing magic?
"Isn't it good to build goodwill when asking favors from others?"
"Why?"
"......"
Lee Han simply gave up on persuasion.
"I'll just buy some and take them."
"Hmm... You certainly do have a way with trash."
"You're being too harsh calling my friends that."
"I was talking about the vampires."
'Oh no!'
The Skeleton Principal fell into brief contemplation.
Originally, what he had expected from this Wardanaz family boy was to meet and converse with the capital's patrons.
-Einrogard is the Empire's finest magic school. The students receive the best education. The students are not hungry. The students are happy.
-Seeing the Wardanaz boy speak like that makes me want to increase my support for Einrogard!
But upon reflection, this kid had always been patient and tolerant even with trash. That was a talent even the Skeleton Principal himself lacked.
Perhaps this social skill might actually work on the bureaucrats!
"...Fine! I'll leave it to you once."
"Excuse me? Leave what to me?"
"The persuasion."
Lee Han was stunned by the Skeleton Principal's absurd words.
"How am I supposed to handle that?? I don't even know what's in them!"
"Honestly, knowing wouldn't change anything. They're just that trashy of research projects."
"But..."
Having to take his seniors' research proposals and secure funding for them?
Just the thought of it made his shoulders feel heavy.
And starting next year, he'd have to face those seniors too...
-Is that the guy who rejected our research proposal?
-What an arrogant brat. A disgrace to the Blue Dragon Tower!
He didn't want to start off with such a terrible impression.
"I'd feel too guilty if I failed in front of my seniors."
"Guilty? The ones who dumped this on a junior and are lounging in their mansions should be the guilty ones. I won't mention your name, so feel free to do as you please. If you don't want to do it, you can just tear up the proposals right here."
The Skeleton Principal sounded indifferent.
Frankly, the contributions this first-year student had made for Einrogard already surpassed most of the seniors.
The other students should take a lesson from him.
"You really can't blame me if I fail."
"Sure, sure. Just take it easy."
Lee Han sighed and picked up the research proposals.
"How on earth am I supposed to persuade them with something like <Research on the Species That Trolls Prefer as Prey>..."
"Hey. Just give up on that one."
The Skeleton Principal gave cold but practical advice.
Silvas, working proudly as one of the Empire's esteemed auditors, wore a worried expression after hearing his colleagues' words.
"Lord Gonadaltes came?"
"Yeah. But since he's not here anymore, it seems he gave up."
"Everyone's had it rough. Really."
"We've defended the Empire's gold and silver!"
The other bureaucrats teared up, moved by their own efforts.
But Silvas still felt uneasy.
'What if he comes back when we least expect it?'
Knock knock
"Ah, are you there?"
"Oh! Please, come in."
Silvas straightened his posture at the sight of the boy entering.
Visitors to the Imperial Palace were, by default, individuals whose status had already been verified and confirmed. Ordinary people couldn't even enter.
Because of this, even bureaucrats couldn't throw their weight around here. In fact, it was often the visitors who, relying on their own influence, would act high-handed toward the bureaucrats.
-This land is under my jurisdiction! Why won't you permit the transfer of territory? Are you insulting my family?!
-You're making me pay double the taxes? Are you a bandit or a bureaucrat? I'll take this directly to His Majesty the Emperor! Inform him! I've brought an elixir to present to His Majesty. Even His Majesty, weary from his duties, will be pleased!
Yet the boy who entered bowed politely. Silvas was pleasantly surprised by the refreshing demeanor of this visitor.
"How may I assist you?"
"Well, I'm a mage, and I came to request funding."
"Ah! A mage. Are you from the guild? Or the Magic Tower? Please, have a seat."
Silvas pulled out a chair and pushed it toward the boy.
Though he was surprised by how different this mage was from the usual ones, he found himself liking the boy even more.
If only half the mages showed this boy's level of courtesy, a bureaucrat's job would be so much happier!
'Is he the youngest from the guild or the Magic Tower?'
Though they usually didn't send young people for such tasks, the boy's refined appearance made it easy to guess he came from a high noble family.
"Even if he's young, a noble-born skilled in etiquette could be entrusted with such matters."
Seeing how composed and adept he was, it became clear this wasn't just handed to him without reason.
"Ah. This is a gift."
"W-what?! No... bribes are—"
"It's not a bribe. I thought you might need a break after handling the Empire's affairs, so I brought this."
The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the scent of warm apple pie began filling the office.
The thought of custard cream and apples made Silvas unconsciously swallow his saliva.
"I've never received a gift like this before."
'??'
Lee Han was taken aback.
He hadn't expected that no one had ever brought something like this.
'Isn't this basic?'
Bringing an obvious bribe while making a request was amateurish. Coming empty-handed was mediocre. Bringing a subtle, memorable gift was the mark of a true master.
Lee Han kept his expression neutral. These imperial bureaucrats would one day become his superiors—those who could either push him forward or hold him back.
He always had to leave a good impression.
"I got this from the <Rock Spirit's Apple Jam Cafe> nearby, but I'm not sure if it's to your taste..."
"I love that place! You really know your stuff!"
Silvas brightened at the mention of the familiar café.
That café had fragrant coffee, delicious apple pie, and even the hearty stone soup served by the rock spirits.
And now he was receiving it like this.
"Everyone! Come get some snacks!"
"Snacks? Where did they come from? We haven't even had time to step out."
"This gentleman here was kind enough to bring them for us, concerned about our workload."
"!"
"!!"
The bureaucrats exchanged glances of shock and gratitude. One of them even had tears welling up slightly in the corners of his eyes.
"You're not crying, are you?"
"I-It's just... the coffee was a bit strong."
Silvas turned back to Lee Han, his demeanor now far more gentle and friendly.
"What kind of support are you requesting, Mage? The difficulty varies depending on the matter. If it's a natural disaster or dimensional crisis, we can immediately deploy the Imperial Knights along with funding. For independent magical research, though, you'd need to prove its usefulness—that's a bit trickier."
Lee Han hesitated.
'Should I just give up on <Research on the species that trolls prefer as prey>?'
The more he thought about it, the more he felt it might be better to abandon it and start fresh.
"Don't be nervous, speak freely. Ah, I've been so distracted I forgot to ask—which family are you from?"
"Lee Han of the Wardanaz family."
"The Wardanaz family...! Are you here to request aid in your family's name?!"
Even as he asked, Silvas doubted it.
If the Wardanaz family needed help, they would've contacted the Emperor directly, not some lowly bureaucrat.
The boy shook his head.
"So it's under your organization's name. I'm surprised. I never thought I'd meet a Wardanaz mage in person. And one so young, too."
"I'm on the younger side. Wait—do you happen to know Daihal?"
Lee Han noticed a photograph on Silvas' desk.
It showed Silvas, Daihal, and a few other young bureaucrats smiling together.
"Ah, yes. Do you know Daihal?"
"Yes. We're quite close."
Truthfully, Lee Han wasn't entirely sure how close they really were—but right now, he was desperate.
<Research on the species that trolls prefer as prey> wasn't something one could attempt without desperation.
"I've been invited to the Dalkard family a few times."
"Of course. Being from the Wardanaz family, that makes sense. I've always admired the Dalkard family head. He's my role model."
"Actually... one of the Dalkard boys, Ashan, nearly got attacked by a troll once."
"What?! Is he alright?!"
"Yes. Thankfully, he was unharmed, but ever since then, I've been troubled by how indifferent the Empire seems to the threat of trolls..."
Silvas found himself moved by the young mage's words.
Compared to other mages who only cared about their own interests and demanded funding, how noble were this mage's reasons!