Episode 635
Episode 635
Alsicle's beak simply gaped open and shut in shock at the utterly unbelievable revelation.
"D-don't lie. There's no way those two would... They couldn't have just... fallen into carnal desire and gotten married like ordinary people..."
"The family head personally confirmed it, so it's certain."
Lee Han replied indifferently.
Whenever he spoke with the family head, unsolicited love stories would inevitably pop up, which was rather agonizing.
"So real love makes magic stronger?? I always thought love was just distracting dregs that got in the way of magic..."
"You share the same opinion as the headmaster, don't you?"
"H-how can you say that, Wardanaz? What did I ever do to deserve this?"
Alsicle wore an expression of deep hurt at his talented junior mage's harsh words.
"...I just said it without thinking. My apologies."
"I'm different from Headmaster Gonadaltes. Of course, it's possible Headmaster Gonadaltes might have said something similar. But there's a clear distinction. Even if it's for the sake of perfecting great magic, I would confirm my partner's feelings before marrying them."
'Wait, is he indirectly insulting the headmaster by implying he'd resort to abduction marriage?'
Seeing Alsicle take marriage far more seriously than expected, Lee Han grew curious and asked:
"Do you have any potential fiancés in discussion?"
"Well, there have been some candidates. That's right. Wardanaz, want to hear about them? You might be able to give good advice."
'Damn it. I need to break this habit.'
Lee Han immediately regretted his thoughtless question.
His inability to control his curiosity kept digging his own grave.
The family head's love stories were tedious enough—how much worse would Alsicle's fiancé discussions be?
'And would my advice even mean anything here?'
While he could offer input on magic or business proposals, advising Alsicle on whom to marry was beyond Lee Han's capabilities.
At best, the only question that came to mind was, 'Does your partner also like sardines?'
"One of the candidates currently under discussion is a daughter of the Arba Family. A family of albatross beastmen. Traditionally, penguin beastmen and albatross beastmen have a higher probability of producing exceptional offspring, so that's considered an advantage."
"......"
Lee Han had to suppress the urge to cover his ears.
'That is biological knowledge I truly did not need to know.'
An imperial folk tale about the compatibility between penguin beastmen and albatross beastmen?
Glancing to the side, he saw his junior had already dozed off.
"I... see."
"Another candidate is the deputy of the Frost Magic Tower. Since they specialize in cold-element research, it would be easy to align our research topics."
"Wow. That sounds truly wonderful."
Lee Han's insincere reply made him pause mid-sentence.
Even he could tell how utterly devoid of sincerity it was.
'Did I sound too half-hearted?'
But Alsicle seemed pleased.
"Right? I'm glad you think highly of it."
"......"
That reaction made Lee Han feel oddly guilty.
'I should give this more serious thought.'
"The last candidate is Lord ■■■■■■."
"...What language was that just now?"
"Ah. Your ears wouldn't be able to hear it. It's the name of a spirit. A spirit connected to our family. I'm considering forming a contract with this spirit. The advantage is that it's a spirit of cold, which would complement my magic."
In the empire, contracts with spirits took surprisingly diverse forms.
Some were straightforward, like the standard contracts Einrogard students made, but occasionally, mages would form unique contracts with powerful spirits.
Among these, the most unusual were marriage-like contracts.
Jealous spirits often sought exclusive possession of their mages, and if the mage was willing to endure that—whether for the spirit's power or because they'd fallen in love—then...
"That's how you end up forming such a strong contract."
"Spirits make good partners. By the way, do you know about this spirit? Here we have a squirrel spirit and a sparrow spirit."
"?"
Alsicle was slightly taken aback when Lee Han suddenly started showing off his spirits.
They were just ordinary low-level spirits—nothing particularly rare or unusual.
'Uh, what does this mean?'
"They're... quite cute and smart, aren't they?"
"Right?"
Lee Han wore the most pleased expression since entering the mansion. Though confused, Alsicle felt relieved, thinking he'd responded appropriately.
"So, which of the three seems best to you?"
"Hmm. Lord Pengerin. When you met each of them, which one made you happiest?"
Lee Han posed a textbook question.
Frankly, even asking this was bothersome, but since he'd already heard this much, he couldn't just skip over it.
"Huh? I've never met them."
"What?"
"I've never met any of them. I've only heard their names."
"......"
Lee Han was deeply disheartened.
Alsicle was even stranger than he'd expected.
'Should I just tell him to use Divination Magic to decide?'
As Lee Han pondered, the amorphous demon who had left earlier came to his aid.
Returning with anchovies, the demon spoke wearily to the kitchen.
- I brought them.
"Oh, right. Lord Demon. I'll be inviting some friends over soon—could you help?"
-......
The demon cursed its own bad luck with the dice roll as it twisted its body in frustration.
Why, of all days, did it have to roll low today?
"Lord Pengerin. To be honest, the dinners at our mansion aren't very varied, so I'm a bit worried."
Alsicle, oblivious to Lee Han's attempt to change the subject, nodded.
"Because there aren't many people?"
"Yes. Most of them are usually outside, and the few knights and attendants we have don't particularly enjoy lavish meals..."
The family wasn't lacking in food supplies, but the selection was limited, mostly simple fare.
If a friend like Gainando came over and was served the usual meal, they'd definitely ask, "Is this the appetizer? Is there a main course?"
'But is that really the issue right now?'
Alsicle thought as he looked at the eerie scene outside the mansion.
Rather than preparing a grand dinner for the arriving guests, there were more pressing concerns...
"We can just go to the village and gather whatever's useful. It looked pretty big on the way here."
-Damn penguin...
The demon muttered as it prepared to leave.
If you're going to order me around, do it all at once! Don't split it up like this!
Flustered, Alsicle clarified,
"No, I wasn't planning to send you there."
"More importantly, isn't that language too harsh?! They're still guests!"
At Lee Han's outburst, the amorphous demon shrank back completely.
-I was wrong, Lord Wardanaz. Please don't extend my sentence.
"Be more careful from now on. Anyway, Lord Pengerin, I'll go to the village as you suggested and buy some useful things. Junior, finish your studies here. I'll test you when I get back."
"I-I can also go shopp—"
"No."
Though it had no face, the demon stared desperately at Eandurde.
If it could trade places with that kid, it would gladly offer its soul.
"Wait. Wardanaz."
"Yes?"
"You're taking that demon to the village?"
"Yes. It's fine. It's bound by contract—it can't cause trouble."
'That's not the issue.'
Even if it was a contract-bound demon, using it as a pack mule for market trips wasn't normal.
How horrified would the villagers be if they saw it?
Alsicle hesitated to point this out.
As a guest, it felt inappropriate to interfere too much with the host family's traditions.
"Um... Alright... Have a safe trip."
"Yes."
Lee Han and the demon left through the main gate together.
As they walked silently along the path, Lee Han suddenly remembered their earlier conversation and asked,
"Demon Lord. Would you prefer someone who can bear outstanding children as your fiancée, someone compatible for magical research, or someone who can grant you great power?"
-Though I may not know much about mages, the best way to engage in marriage is with someone who makes your heart race and whom you love.
"...!?"
While helping Eandurde with his studies (this gorgon hybrid brat constantly attempted to escape and slack off), Alsicle waited for Lee Han's return.
'Is the family head not coming?'
The Room of Exploration's main gate showed no further contact. It was clear he must be busy with interdimensional exploration.
Though disappointed, Alsicle accepted it was unavoidable. Truthfully, even meeting Lady Layana Wardanaz on such a sudden visit was already an extraordinary feat.
Creak
The sound of the mansion's first-floor door opening signaled someone's arrival.
Alsicle peeked out, wondering if Lee Han had returned. Eandurde quickly crawled under the table to escape.
"?"
An unfamiliar spirit was walking into the entrance hall. Alsicle blinked in surprise before snapping back to attention.
'Wait—that's not a spirit!'
At first, the overwhelming natural energy made them assume it was a spirit, but upon closer inspection, it wasn't.
The figure was a living person.
Strands of their hair were tangled with earth spirits playing around, while tiny thunder spirits frolicked along the bridge of their nose and eyebrows.
The sight of notoriously temperamental thunder spirits playing without harming the person left Alsicle stunned.
Even skilled spirit mages rarely displayed such high affinity.
The stranger set down a large leather backpack, its worn seams straining as if ready to burst.
Alsicle tensed, unsure what might emerge from it.
"...?"
Out came an assortment of old trinkets.
A chipped porcelain cup with missing handles, an ancient stone tablet with faded engravings, an arrow with a rusted tip and a broken shaft...
The stranger began carefully arranging and tending to each item, aided by dozens of spirits working diligently beside them.
Alsicle was astonished once more.
Not only was the backpack full of junk surprising, but the spirits dedicating themselves to the task without complaint was nothing short of miraculous.
And all without a single spell or command!
'How is this possible? Affinity alone can't explain this. There must be an Artifact or something...'
While Alsicle stared intently, Eandurde tried sneaking away but knocked over a chair.
Crash!
"?"
The stranger looked up, locking eyes with Alsicle, who froze in place.
"Uh... um... I'm Alsicle of the Pengerin Family. And you are...?"
The figure didn't answer, lowering their head again to continue organizing the trinkets.
"I'm back, Pengerin."
"!!!"
At the sound of Lee Han's voice, Alsicle urgently called out.
"Wardanaz! Over here! There's someone I've never seen before! I think they might be a spirit disguised as a human—"
"Ah, Brother?"
"...???"
Arsil Wardanaz, the second son of the Wardanaz family, greeted Lee Han warmly.
"What brings you all the way here... Ah. Did you come to congratulate me on finishing my first year at Einrogard? You really didn't have to... I feel bad you traveled so far."
"??"
Alsicle was baffled watching Lee Han converse alone.
Though speaking with his elder brother, Lee Han was the only one talking.
"W-Wardanaz. Is Lord Arsil really speaking? I can't hear anything."
"It's close to Spirit Language, so it's hard to hear. I only catch it because we share blood."
"Wait. Humans can use Spirit Language?"
"Brother always could..."
"......"
Watching the Wardanaz nonchalantly say something that would make imperial spirit mages and linguists faint, Alsicle was painfully reminded of which family's domain they were standing in.