Episode 938
Episode 938
"What? Why do we need calming potions?"
Angrago asked as if he didn't understand.
Poison potions or monster summoning potions—even if not those, shouldn't they at least be making potions to terrify people or drive them mad?
Lee Han looked at Angrago as if he were staring at trash.
"What are you trying to do to innocent people?"
"Ah, no... I-I mean. It's just theoretical talk."
"If a commotion breaks out, the play will pause temporarily. The audience will likely step outside to take a break. That's when we'll distribute the potions."
Adenart and her knight escort, Rowena, looked at Lee Han with slightly moved expressions.
Even in this situation, he hadn't forgotten his devotion to the Empire's people.
No wonder the Wardanaz family was a pillar of the Empire...
"And after distributing them, we'll make an excuse to go gather more ingredients and slip out with some nobles. With nobles by our side, the Death Knights won't suspect anything."
"......"
"......"
Ignoring the disappointed looks from the two, Lee Han continued speaking.
"Even if the surroundings are chaotic, if everyone rushes out together, we'll be easily caught. So we need to split up like this. You guys... let's call you the 'Potion Escape Party.' Tell any seniors confident in alchemy to join this group."
"Wait. Wardanaz. I'm not exactly confident in alchemy. Wouldn't Maykin be better?"
Angrago hesitated.
Though he had self-studied potion-making to some extent as part of the Healing Magic school and had taken classes in his first year, it was never his main focus.
"No. Yoner has a different role. Yoner is part of the 'Noble Seduction Party.'"
"......"
Yoner gave her friend a look that asked what kind of name that was.
But the other students immediately understood what it meant. Salko nodded.
"Of course. You mean to deceive the nobles by talking to them in advance."
"Exactly."
When the play paused midway, some nobles would inevitably choose to leave rather than wait.
Students from high noble families, including Yoner, would benefit from chatting with these nobles beforehand to naturally secure invitations.
That way, when the play stopped, they could leave alongside those nobles.
"If we say we need to slip out without the Death Knight escorts noticing, they'll cooperate."
"Of course."
'So I'm in the Potion Escape Party.'
Nilia nodded slightly as she listened to her friends' discussion.
As an alchemy major, she was confident in potion-making...
Then Yoner grabbed Nilia's hand and said,
"Nilia. You'll have to do the talking."
"...Huh?? I'm not in the Potion Escape Party?"
"What are you talking about? You're in the Noble Seduction Party."
"Right. Lady Nilia, the Noble Seduction Party suits you."
"Even as someone from the same tower, I think that's where you belong."
"......"
Nilia was left speechless and flustered by her friends' words.
Why??
"Salko. You'll move with the seniors who prefer breaking through directly."
"Can we call it the 'Dwarf Tunnel Party'?"
"...Name it whatever. Just make sure you can slip out quietly when chaos breaks out. Can you do it?"
"Of course. Just leave it to me."
Not everyone could leave with the nobles.
Some students planned to exit the palace where the play was being held head-on.
With the Death Knights' surveillance reduced, digging tunnels or finding alternate routes would be relatively easier.
"I'll stay behind to support any party that runs into trouble. Everyone, do your best."
Lee Han and his friends exchanged solemn looks.
With preparations like these, even if some got caught, a good number would manage to escape!
"Wait. Dalkard. Now that I think about it, why aren't you in the Noble Seduction Party?"
"Ah, I'm not confident in dealing with nobles."
"......"
Angrago was speechless.
What kind of nonsense was this coming from a guy from the Blue Dragon Tower?
But surprisingly, even other seniors from the Blue Dragon Tower nodded in agreement.
"Dealing with nobles isn't an easy task."
"Exactly. Compared to that, alchemy is so much more comfortable. The potions in the cauldron won't talk back to me."
Encouraged by the seniors' support, Ashan spoke up.
"Socializing is something people like Nilia do. It doesn't suit me well. I prefer numbers."
"She really is in a league of her own."
Even Angrago from the White Tiger Tower had to admit that Nilia's social skills were exceptional.
She'd probably befriend all the nobles in about 30 minutes.
"But there's something I'm curious about."
One of the seniors lowered his voice slightly.
After all, they were currently inside the palace restroom.
Though it was an unbecoming place for the grand art of alchemy, this was the only way to brew potions undetected while avoiding the watchful eyes of the patrolling Death Knights.
"What are you curious about?"
"Why haven't we seen any other members of the Teleportation Club? Surely more than one person came."
"Um..."
Angrago hesitated at the question.
Come to think of it...
Ashan also tilted his head, seemingly sharing the same thought. But since neither of them belonged to the Teleportation Club, they couldn't even begin to guess.
"I'm not sure."
"Maybe your friend Wardanaz decided to handle it all by himself? Wanted to show off his skills in front of the seniors."
The seniors joked and laughed.
But Ashan and Angrago immediately grew serious.
"...Don't tell me..."
"Come on... Even so... It's possible, but..."
* * *
Within just 15 minutes, Nilia had received invitations from five noble families.
'Help me!'
When the nobles collectively proposed going on a hunting trip to the northern mountain range, Nilia could feel cold sweat trickling down her back.
The nobles who ventured into the treacherous northern mountains for hunting usually ended up dead—either by their prey, by misstepping, or by suspiciously familiar arrows resembling those used by the Shadow Patrol.
"Um, the northern mountains might be a bit dangerous..."
"Hunting inherently carries danger, Miss Maykin!"
"The more dangerous, the more exciting, isn't it?"
'Then why don't you just enroll in Einrogard...'
Yoner fumed inwardly.
If they loved danger so much, why were they all just gathered in front of the theater?
"Excuse me, Princess. Could you help me out here?"
"...Hmm..."
After hesitating, Adenart finally made up her mind to step in.
Part of it was her sense of responsibility as a princess, but even setting that aside, Nilia's pleading eyes were just too pitiful.
"Everyone, I have something to say."
"When shall we depart? This coat should suffice for the northern mountains, right?"
"You should probably wear a scarf too! Oh, do they have theaters in the northern mountains?"
"......"
Adenart's fingertips trembled slightly.
Unlike Gainando, the princess had a considerable number of imperial supporters backing her—but unfortunately, none of them were present today.
As a result, the nobles were enthusiastically discussing among themselves when they should head to the northern mountains.
"Everyone... everyone..."
Adenart's voice grew quieter, shrinking under the weight of this unprecedented experience.
Seeing this, Rowena flared up and was about to shout when Yoner urgently stopped her.
"If you do that now, the Princess will only be humiliated further!"
"But—but these people! These people...!"
"Calm down! They're just excited, that's all!"
Now, people were asking for specific dates for the best hunting conditions.
Nilia, her eyes spinning in distress, spotted Lee Han passing by and desperately called out to him.
"Mr. Stedal! Mr. Stedal!"
"??"
Wondering what the problem was, Lee Han hurriedly ran over.
"What's the matter?"
"Ah! You came at the perfect time, Mr. Stedal! Would you perhaps like to join us for a hunt in the northern mountain range?"
"You'll freeze to death out there."
"!"
At these shocking words, the chattering crowd froze in unison.
Still, the person who'd brought it up hesitated before trying to persuade him again.
"But... Miss Nilia here is an experienced hunter from the <Shadow Patrol>...and there will be others joining us too..."
"That's nonsense. The North is one of the Empire's most harsh and savage lands—even among imperial territories. And the northern mountain range is especially brutal even within the North. I once wandered the North and met a knight from the Moradi family."
Lee Han began persuading the crowd while name-dropping Giselle's family.
The people who had been shocked and frozen by Stedal's rude remark were now gradually getting drawn back into the conversation.
By the time stories of serpentine dragons, minotaurs, and even Evil God Worshippers came up, the horrified crowd had grown cautious.
"That can't be! I had no idea the North was such dangerous land... I was planning to visit the Moradi family next month, but it seems I'll have to postpone."
"...There's no need to go that far... No, never mind."
Lee Han felt slightly guilty.
But the monsters he'd just mentioned were ones he'd either heard about firsthand or experienced himself. 'The North really is dangerous, after all.'
* * *
Surprisingly, Salko's group was proceeding the most smoothly out of the three.
Having located a warehouse behind where the illusion mages were working, Salko and the seniors immediately began digging an underground passage.
Impressed by their skill, Lee Han remarked,
"It'd be great if we could escape Einrogard like this too."
"Hard to do. There are barriers underground too."
'He really wastes money on the most useless things.'
After cursing the Skeleton Principal once, Lee Han asked,
"What about the Death Knights?"
"They don't seem to have noticed yet. They look distracted by something else."
'Is it because of what I said?'
Lee Han wondered if it was due to him reporting Madph as suspicious.
If the Death Knights still hadn't had the chance to pay attention to the students, the effect was even better than he'd expected.
'Hehe. At this rate, we'll soon...'
—Lord Nago.
"!"
As Lee Han stepped out, he was startled to find Death Knights approaching him.
'...'
Did they catch on?'
"What's the matter?"
—Madph was an Evil God Worshipper. Under interrogation, he confessed that they're targeting the palace.
"......"
Lee Han momentarily blanked out.
Having only been thinking about escaping the palace, the sudden mention of Evil God Worshippers was downright absurd.
'What in the...?'
Come to think of it, he had heard from Diret recently that Evil God Worshippers were running rampant and people were tracking them down.
But he never expected it to happen so close by.
'Then what should we do? Do we have to cancel all our plans?'
—Lord Nago.
"Yes?"
—We're currently gathering all potential allies in the palace to explain the situation. Would you join us?
"...Understood."
Lee Han nodded for now.
As he moved, he saw Einrogard students, illusion mages, and even Alsicle gathered in the hall.
It seemed they had summoned every mage who could contribute to their strength.
"What in the world is going on? Evil God Worshippers? Surely none are hiding here too?"
"Shouldn't we halt the play?"
"Being scared into stopping our work by Evil God Worshippers is even more shameful! It would tarnish the names of the knights and mages gathered here!"
"Still, shouldn't we at least inform the nobles?"
"No. We don't know which nobles might be collaborators."
As the crowd buzzed with chatter, Angrago quietly slipped over and whispered,
"...Wo, Wardanaz... Don't tell me the commotion you prepared was about Evil God Worshippers... right...?"
"......"
Lee Han kicked Angrago away to shoo him off. Watching this, the Death Knights thought to themselves,
'Truly a violent mage!'