Episode 619
Episode 619
Fortunately, Balpatan didn't seem to notice that expression.
"You're being too strict."
"Haha. I suppose you're right."
Even so, Lee Han spoke kindly as his senior.
"But shouldn't we still follow the established training regimen?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? Knights are human too—how can we live just by training?"
"?"
Lee Han tilted his head in confusion.
Even Lee Han, who came from a mage family, had lived solely under Alarong's training regime—shouldn't Balpatan, being from a knight family, endure even harsher training?
"I thought knights were originally devoted to training..."
Alsicle said the same. Balpatan waved his hand dismissively.
"That's just old tales and distorted fairy tales. Modern knights focus not only on training but also on social activities and friendships with—"
"What did you just say, Balpatan?"
When a stern voice came from behind, Balpatan nearly jumped out of his skin in fright.
"...There are those who prioritize such things, but they're the kind who don't even know which family they hail from! Wardanaz. A knight lives by blood, sweat, and steel. Understood?!"
"Ah, yes."
Lee Han and Alsicle glanced pityingly at Balpatan, who had collapsed awkwardly with his posture ruined.
Entering through the door behind them was an elf knight as tall and slender as Lee Han.
The elf knight had her long golden hair tied tightly into a single ponytail draped over her back, and she wore thick enchanted plate armor as naturally as if it were casual clothing.
No matter how many enchantments were applied, knights rarely wore their combat armor casually due to its weight and discomfort.
The fact that she moved so effortlessly in such armor gave a clear sense of just how formidable she was as a knight.
'Is that person the Moradi family's younger... no, older sister?'
"Greetings. Might you be Lady Jiklin of the Moradi family?"
At Lee Han's question, the elf turned her head and nodded.
"Welcome to the Moradi family. Lord Lee Han of the Wardanaz family. Lord Alsicle of the Pengerin family. As a token of goodwill, I've prepared gifts."
"Eh?"
Both Lee Han and Alsicle were startled.
This wasn't even an official visit—they had just casually tagged along with the Skeleton Principal for an informal outing. To receive such a formal reception was almost embarrassing.
"Ah, no. That's unnecessary. We don't deserve—"
But Jiklin shook her head firmly.
"The Wardanaz family upholds the Empire's magical foundations, do they not? Of course you deserve it. Likewise, the Pengerin family suppressed the beaver beastfolk rebellion. I've long held respect for both."
'Being lumped together with the Wardanaz family feels oddly awkward...'
Alsicle felt a bit sour inside.
Of course, any family would pale in comparison to the Wardanaz family in terms of imperial contributions, but hearing it straight to his face was still quite embarrassing.
He'd rather she just moved on!
"Th-thank you. If you ever visit the Wardanaz family, I'll prepare a gift in return."
Lee Han accepted the sword Jiklin offered as he spoke.
It was a finely crafted blade made from high-quality steel, meticulously refined. Its balance was solid, and its appearance was impressive enough to hold value as a decorative piece.
'Can I sell this later?'
"Are you inviting me?"
Jiklin asked expressionlessly. Lee Han was slightly taken aback.
"Huh?"
"I asked if you were inviting me."
"W-well, yes?"
Of course, it had just been a polite remark, but when faced with such a direct question, he couldn't exactly deny it.
When Lee Han answered, Jiklin nodded.
"Then let's arrange a time for it later."
"......"
Alsicle had been about to say, 'You should visit us sometime,' as a courtesy, but after seeing what happened to Lee Han, he swallowed his words.
Jiklin gazed at them both seriously.
"Before we discuss the deeper purpose of today's visit... Balpatan. Why are you here? What about today's training?"
"I-I already finished it."
"Yesterday's training was insufficient—why haven't you made up for it?"
Balpatan's pupils darted frantically in all directions.
Sensing danger, Balpatan threw his junior under the bus.
"Ah! This Wardanaz here led the Beech Knights and defeated those anti-magic bastards!"
"...!"
Lee Han was stunned. 'Just as I thought—you can't trust a single one of these knights!' No wonder they were White Tiger Tower students—this was outright betrayal!
Balpatan did his best to keep spinning the tale.
While the achievements of this junior might have been merely interesting stories to most knights, to someone like Jiklin—steeped in loyalty, honor, and chivalry—they were absolutely riveting.
"The Ghoul King... anti-magic extremists... the Frost Giant King... and he's even skilled in swordsmanship..."
"Hold on."
When Jiklin raised her hand to stop Balpatan mid-sentence, he flinched, wondering if he had made a mistake.
Had he been too transparent?
"I will hear it directly from him. Balpatan, go make up for yesterday's insufficient training."
"...Understood."
With the sorrowful gaze of a lamb being led to slaughter, Balpatan trudged out.
Jiklin sat down without a change in expression. Lee Han and Alsicle exchanged uneasy glances, their breaths unconsciously stifled. 'We just came to exchange greetings before the banquet—why is this turning into such an ordeal?' Alsicle's eyes seemed to say.
Even the rowdy gatherings with other knights were preferable—this Jiklin was so intense that merely sitting in silence with her made the atmosphere suffocating.
For Alsicle, born into a noble family, such situations were unfamiliar. 'Exactly.' 'There might be a way out.' 'What is it?' "Lady Jiklin of the Moradi family. I left a special anchovy dish back in my quarters—may I go retrieve it?"
"Go ahead."
Alsicle bowed slightly before swiftly making her escape.
Watching this, Lee Han was stunned once more. 'Just as I thought—you can't trust a single one of these mages!' To think she'd just make up an excuse and slip away like that.
Lee Han was furious at himself for not thinking of that first.
"??"
His junior looked at him in confusion as Lee Han clenched his fists.
Why was he acting like this?
"Lee Han of the Wardanaz family."
"Ah. You can just call me casually."
"Understood. Wardanaz." 'Isn't that too casual?' Lee Han realized he had to be careful even with jokes around this person.
"Have you encountered any inconveniences since visiting the family?"
"The knights are too annoy—I mean, no, nothing."
He quickly corrected himself, fearing that if he called the knights annoying, they might all be summoned for disciplinary action.
Jiklin nodded seriously before asking again.
"Have you had any questions since visiting the family?"
Beside them, Eandurde wiped sweat from his brow without realizing it.
For Eandurde, who had spent his entire life in the arena, this was an unbearably stifling conversation unlike anything he'd ever experienced.
Why was it so hard to breathe?!
"None, rea—"
"Then, have you felt any disappointment since visiting the family?" 'This is bad. I need to think of something.' Lee Han focused, seeing his junior's discomfort.
If he didn't answer, this awkward knight would just keep cycling through the same predetermined topics.
His junior wasn't the type to initiate conversation either. Here, Lee Han was the only one who could.
"Ah, I do have a question. Who crafted that armor?"
"You're interested in armor?"
"Eh? Yes."
"Hmm. It's a set I've treasured since childhood, but if a descendant of the Wardanaz bloodline is interested, as a sign of respect, I could gift—"
"Really, it's fine!"
Lee Han hastily stopped Jiklin.
This elf knight was a formidable opponent.
No matter what topic he brought up, she absorbed it like quicksand.
What kind of subject could he possibly raise to stand his ground against her?
Outside, Balpatan completely forgot about his junior and, instead of focusing on training, busily searched for Giselle.
Even Balpatan had a conscience, after all.
"Giselle! Giselle!"
"?"
Giselle, who had changed into casual clothes and was reading a magic tome, looked puzzled at the sight of her cousin rushing toward her in a fluster.
"What's the matter?"
"It's an emergency! Lady Jiklin is about to make your close friend pass out! Your wizard friend!"
"...?"
Giselle arched her eyebrows in confusion.
It wasn't that she was surprised Jiklin was making someone pass out—that had happened multiple times already.
Jiklin, who lacked conversational skills and was perpetually solemn and serious, had an uncanny ability to suffocate listeners wherever she went.
It was practically an annual tradition at the fortress for newly arrived knights, eager to pay respects to the renowned knight Jiklin, to end up collapsing from breathlessness after visiting her.
What shocked Giselle was the mention of a "close friend."
Among the current external visitors to the fortress, the only wizard was the Skeleton Principal.
Even so, calling the Skeleton Principal a "close friend" was a bit...
"I don't think the Headmaster and I are close friends...?"
"What are you talking about? Wardanaz! I'm talking about Wardanaz!"
Giselle spat out the tea she was drinking onto her cousin's face. Balpatan twisted his body with a knight's reflexes to dodge.
"What the hell?!"
"I... what... how... no. No..."
Choking on her own spit, Giselle set down the magic tome and composed herself.
"Let me clarify one thing at a time. By 'Wardanaz,' do you mean Lee Han?"
"Of course. Aren't you close?"
"...When, how, and why did he visit?"
"He came with the Headmaster, apparently?"
"...!"
Giselle mentally facepalmed.
Now that she thought about it, that boy from the Wardanaz family had been the Skeleton Principal's favored apprentice since his first year—the chosen successor to inherit his wicked magic.
Of course, it made sense that he'd accompany the Headmaster on a visit to the fortress. 'How did I miss this?' Giselle scolded her own judgment. She should have checked who else had come.
"But why are you calling us close?"
"Huh? Aren't you?"
"......"
Giselle hesitated.
Should she deny it here? 'Even if I say we're not close, it'd sound strange—both within the family and to the other knights in the fortress. They might misunderstand that we have bad blood or some grudge.'
"...We are."
"Huh?"
"We're close. Very close."
"Why—why are you glaring at me like that? Did I do something wrong?"
Balpatan flinched as Giselle answered while shooting him a murderous stare.
He genuinely couldn't figure out what he'd done wrong.
"So why is my sister after Wardanaz?"
"She heard a guest had arrived and went to greet him."
"Wait. If I didn't hear about it, it must've been an unofficial visit—so how did my sister find out?"
"...Uh... the knights skipped training to go gossip about it and got caught...?"
"......"
Giselle stared at Balpatan with a look of utter shock and horror.
Even the mighty Balpatan felt ashamed under the judgmental gaze of his younger cousin.
"I... I finished my training before going."
"......"
"W-we can argue about right and wrong later. When I left, he was already suffocating. You should go stop Lady Jiklin. She listens to you."
'I should just kill him.' Giselle vowed to make this cousin's winter break a living hell as she stood up.
If it was an unofficial visit, they should've just quietly hosted him and let him leave—what was this about knights from their family, and even other northern knights, flocking over to gossip?
"Then, simply reducing the casting speed would—?"
"Exactly! As expected of Lady Moradi. Truly outstanding. Among combat mages, the insane—no, the exceptional ones excel at this technique."
"I'm impressed. Do combat mages always train this way? But wouldn't focusing solely on casting speed reduce destructive power?"
"Spot on. As expected of Lady Moradi. Truly outstanding."
"You flatter me."
Hearing the conversation from inside the room, Balpatan and Giselle exchanged stunned glances.
"Wait, he's not passed out?!"
"I've never seen my sister this talkative before..."
'That counts as talkative?!' Balpatan shuddered at Giselle's words.