Episode 652
Episode 652
"Why Is Everyone Like This?"
The lukewarm reactions left Siana bewildered.
"Priestess Siana. Did you happen to see any knights on your way here?"
"I did. They were guarding the western garden? They said something about a Golem causing trouble..."
"Still? Ah— Anyway, that's not the important part. The point is, those are the only people left in the mansion to greet."
"......"
"......"
Siana and Durgyu fell silent.
"Don't joke about that."
"I'm not joking..."
Lee Han's expression darkened slightly.
Maybe he should have kept Arsil here after all?
But even if he had, it probably wouldn't have made much difference. Adding one more person wouldn't suddenly make the place bustling.
"It's not a joke. That's literally everyone here."
"We've been here the whole time too."
"...Um, what about visiting the villages around the estate?"
"The last village was Fig Blossom Village, which you passed through on your way here, Priestess Siana."
Belatedly realizing the truth, Siana fumbled for words before clapping her hands together.
"There might not be any villages!"
"Wouldn't it be weird if there weren't...?"
When Gainando chimed in from the side, Siana shot him a sharp glare.
"Then why don't you go home, Lord Gainando?"
"Ah, no— That's not what I meant. I just thought it was strange... No, actually, it's not strange at all. I have no complaints."
Afraid of being kicked out, Gainando hastily backtracked.
"Still, it's not that weird, right?"
Lee Han looked around at his friends as he asked.
Sure, there were no villages within the territory and few people in the mansion, but Lee Han still held onto a sliver of hope.
Surely, among the countless noble families in the Empire, there had to be at least a few stranger than the Wardanaz family?
"...Right! It's not weird at all!"
"Things like this happen. The Empire's virtue begins with respecting the traditions of families with different cultures and customs."
Relieved by his friends' reactions, Lee Han sighed inwardly.
'Thank goodness.'
"Still, leaving right away feels a bit abrupt, so let's wait a few days before heading out."
Suddenly curious, Siana asked,
"Then what have you all been doing here this whole time?"
"Studying magic."
"Gathering herbs."
"Exploring ruins."
"...Should we just leave tomorrow?"
* * *
Three days later, Lee Han and his friends left the estate in a carriage guided by Alsycl.
There had been some disagreement in deciding their destination.
"What about Isran City? It's a beautiful place where you can see the western sea of the Empire. The scenery is gorgeous, and the climate is warm, so nobles often visit."
"Uh, Lord Pengerin... If I remember correctly, isn't that the city next to Baldrogard Magic School?"
"Right?"
"Ugh! Baldrogard!"
"That place would be crawling with Baldrogard bastards. Is there really a reason to go there?"
"Regardless of anything else, the Baldrogard students are..."
"......"
Pengerin, who had suggested it without much thought, was taken aback by the students' vehement reactions.
"Why? You guys haven't even had any reason to fight Baldrogard students yet..."
"We just hate them!"
"......"
Surprisingly, the Einrogard students held an inexplicable grudge against Baldrogard students.
While they suffered under the Skeleton Principal's harsh training, chewing on rock-hard bread, the Baldrogard students leisurely enjoyed gourmet courses and went on weekend excursions to the Empire's western coast.
"What about Granden City?"
"Ugh! Anything near Einrogard is a no!"
"Lee Han, I get that Granden City is good for work, but there's no reason to visit a city near Einrogard during winter break."
"I agree. There are plenty of larger, more prosperous cities."
Other options included Isran City (a southern coastal city they visited last year, which Yoner wanted to revisit), Chantmar City (a hub of western Empire traffic where all sorts of people gathered, which Siana wanted to visit), and the Imperial Capital (where Nilia wanted to tour the royal palace, though Lee Han dissuaded her).
But in the end, the lottery pick was Plaha City.
A dazzlingly prosperous commercial city in the heart of the empire, and home to the main estate of the Gainando family!
"Wow, guys! Look at these roads! Unlike other regions, Plaha City's streets use Black Spirit Stones! That's why carriages can travel so smoothly without any shaking!"
As Gainando excitedly pointed outside the carriage, his friends looked puzzled.
"Our Wardanaz family carriage already has shock absorption magic..."
"Unlike other regions, Plaha City's roadside trees have contracts with light spirits. So people can come and go easily even at night. Lee Han, isn't that amazing?"
"...Uh, yeah. Amazing."
The other friends subtly averted their gazes.
They judged that accidentally making eye contact with Gainando here might turn them into sacrificial offerings to the overexcited prince.
"Lee Han! Look at those people riding horses! That's the bard Papar! The most famous bard in Plaha City!"
'Who the hell is that?'
Even the empire's top-ranked bard Ifadur confused Lee Han—how could he possibly remember some local city bard?
"That's ■■ from the ■■■ family, that's ■■ from the ■■ guild, that's ■■..."
Lee Han felt like his friend might be using Mental Magic, as none of the words were registering in his ears.
"What's that over there?"
Trying to change the subject, he randomly pointed at something—where a strangely familiar flag emblem was visible.
Alsicle, who had been reading <Music Magic: A Promising Future or Nonsense?> beside him, spoke up.
"That's the Baldrogard flag."
"......"
"...Huh, what?!"
"What do you mean 'what'? Even Baldrogard students wouldn't want to stay in Ileinath City until winter break. What's so strange about them vacationing in a major city like Placher?"
"......"
Gainando made a face like he'd been caught off guard. His friends immediately erupted in criticism.
"You brought us to a place swarming with Baldrogard students?!"
"No wonder it felt suspicious, you traitor!"
"Your Highness, you should get out and walk from here!"
"G-Guys, the prince meant well..."
While his friends cursed, Lee Han studied the carriage bearing the Baldrogard flag with interest.
'Baldrogard students really do have a different culture.'
Lee Han never carried the Einrogard flag when spending holidays outside school.
Beyond just embarrassment, it felt like an invitation for unnecessary trouble.
But Baldrogard students seemed to genuinely love their school—hanging flags on carriages, engraving emblems on carriage walls, even wearing uniforms and coats embroidered with crests (not Einrogard's ragged patchwork uniforms, but the finest southern empire velvet).
Lee Han held no particular grudge against Baldrogard students.
If anything, it was his own fault for being unlucky enough to get dragged into Einrogard—what did Baldrogard students have to do with it?
Yet, watching them laugh brightly while putting on airs, something deep inside him boiled over.
'Am I really this petty?'
"Professor Tosre suggested collaborating with an external Magic Tower for research—what a shock! The mage in question was actually a former slave! No matter how you look at it, how could anyone expect us to conduct magical research alongside a former slave? Doesn't he care at all about our family's honor and dignity?"
"How outrageous! I never thought Professor Tosre could be so rude."
"I refused on the spot."
"Good call! By the way, did you get tickets for the polo match? This one's going to be legendary. You can't miss it! Rumor has it a Rock Drake will appear!"
"Don't worry. I already secured them."
"Wow! How so fast?"
"Dipped into the family stipend a bit."
"Hahaha! You're something! What about this year's research funding, then?"
"Only incompetent mages need gold coins to do research! I can work without them. More importantly, if I missed the chance to watch polo with friends, where else would I find inspiration?"
"You're absolutely right, absolutely right! What's more important—magic or life? Life, of course!"
The Baldrogard mages left, laughing.
Lee Han quietly turned his gaze inward.
Gainando, perhaps feeling wronged by his friends' attack, tattled to Lee Han.
"Lee Han. Lee Han! It's not a big deal if some Baldrogard students show up in the city—"
"Hey. If Baldrogard students pick a fight, hit back immediately. Never back down."
"...?!!"
His friends were startled by the blazing intensity in Lee Han's eyes.
Just what on earth had happened to make him like this?!
Gainando's family home belonged to the Kraha Family, one of the most prominent families even in the bustling Plaha City.
Given that, it was only natural for his friends to stay at Gainando's mansion.
"Listen up, guys. Tomorrow, after we wake up, we'll start with a Wizard Card game in the Third Mage Card Room, then watch a play in the Second Theater Room, enjoy a performance in the First Music Hall, and after that, we'll have a quick meal before heading out together to—"
"......"
"...Lord Maykin. Would it be possible for us to stay at the Maykin Family's mansion instead?"
"Ah, no! Absolutely not!"
When his friends tried to desert him right from the start, Gainando threw his entire body into stopping them.
"What's the problem?!"
"It's packed to the brim like crazy..."
Nilia stared at Gainando as if he'd lost his mind.
Even the hunters from the Shadow Patrol probably didn't train this harshly.
"Fine. Fine! I'll skip the Wizard Card game. Happy now?!"
Gainando shouted as if he were making a huge concession.
Of course, his friends weren't fooled.
"Lord Maykin."
"Th-then everyone except Lee Han can go."
At that, Lee Han's expression darkened.
He had no desire to endure that schedule alone without his friends.
"Hold on, everyone, calm down."
Yoner stepped in to settle them.
"Gainando won't actually be able to follow through with that plan."
"Who says I won't?!"
Gainando flared up.
He had been dreaming of this perfect schedule ever since detention, and now his rude cousin was trying to ruin it.
"In the afternoon, an illusion mage is coming for a hidden treasure hunt!"
'Does this not work on me?'
While Lee Han was lost in thought, Yoner shrugged.
"You should really stop now while you still can."
"I won't stop. Not even if the headmaster himself stands in my way!"
Nilia muttered under her breath.
"If only he showed this kind of courage at school..."
"Well, then there's no helping it."
Yoner said nothing more. Gainando suddenly felt uneasy.
What was going on?
When the carriage arrived at the mansion, Gainando's mother, veiled, stepped out as if she had been waiting.
She refrained from bathing the surroundings in radiant light like last time.
"Welcome, everyone. When Gainando said he was bringing friends to the mansion, I didn't expect quite so many... Are you all truly his friends?"
Gainando's mother whispered to Yoner.
Yoner nodded. The others might have differing opinions, but for now, they could be considered friends.
Gainando's mother was taken aback by the answer.
Not only had Gainando befriended someone from the Wardanaz Family, but he had also brought along such a diverse group.
She almost wondered if he had awakened some hidden ability she didn't know about.
"By the way, Lady Kraha. About Gainando..."
Yoner promptly reported Gainando's wicked plans in full.
Gainando's mother fixed her gaze on him. Even through the veil, the pressure was palpable, freezing Gainando in place.
"Wh-what's the matter?"
Snap!
The family servants appeared and seized Gainando by both arms. Sensing his grim fate, Gainando cried out to Lee Han.
"Lee Han! Lee Han! These villains are trying to drag me away!"
"Welcome to the mansion. I hope you all enjoy your stay."
"Thank you for your hospitality, Lady Kraha."
"Traitors! You traitors!!"