Episode 946
Episode 946
Lee Han failed to notice Rowena looking at him like he was some kind of weirdo from beside him and called out to Nilia.
"Nilia. Could you ask the spirits if they're lacking any fire energy?"
"Got it."
Nilia nodded and politely made a request to the spirits. She asked them to check the essence of flame inside the cauldron.
The spirits who received the request trudged over to check the heat inside the cauldron. Then they startled and fled in a panic.
"...They didn't run away because of me, right? It's because of the cauldron's energy?"
"I don't think that's the important point right now...!"
Rowena was flustered by Lee Han's tendency to fixate on completely irrelevant details.
"They said they didn't run because of you. ...That's true, right? Really? You're not just saying that because you're scared, are you? Hmm. They said the fire energy was much stronger than expected, so they retreated."
"I see."
If it had been weak, that would have been concerning, but there was no harm in the energy being strong. Still, just to be sure, Lee Han called Adenart.
"Princess. Could you ask the spirits one more time?"
Adenart nodded quietly as if to say she understood.
After briefly communicating with the spirits, she spoke.
"...I'm sorry, Wardanaz. The spirits are afraid to approach."
"......"
Lee Han realized it wasn't good for summoned spirits to get too chummy with each other.
To think they'd already shared information in that brief moment.
"Ah. Then I should summon my flame sparrow spirit."
"No, no. I'll try to soothe them properly."
Nilia gently calmed the spirit Adenart had summoned before making her request.
After some hesitation, the spirit eventually scurried over to the cauldron to check its heat.
"They say there's nothing unusual except that the fire energy is very strong?"
"I see..."
Lee Han's voice sounded slightly dejected. Rowena wondered inwardly.
Why was he like this when the problem was solved?
* * *
Arian, who had been checking the quality of newly imported tea leaves and inspecting the embroidery on silk with his staff, widened his eyes in surprise when the students appeared.
"What brings you all here?"
"Mr. Arian. We've restored the discarded Flame Tree Roots. Please take them."
"Excuse me? That's possible?"
Arian was even more astonished to hear they'd restored reagents discarded due to a transportation error.
Though he'd traveled extensively for guild business, he'd never heard of anyone restoring discarded reagents like that. 'Is this some secret technique passed down only in Einrogard?' Though surprised, Arian could somewhat accept it.
After all, this was Einrogard we were talking about. It wouldn't be strange if they had some special magic known only within its walls.
"I can't accept these back. More importantly, these were discarded reagents we gave you. You're free to... Ah!"
When Arian opened the wooden box containing the roots, he was shocked.
The Flame Tree Roots looked completely different from what he'd expected.
Their color had deepened several times into a vivid red, and the fiery energy around them was so intense that sparks were crackling nearby. '...
Were these grown on a lava field while being breathed on by a Red Dragon???' Flustered by the reagent's energy—several times stronger than anything he knew—Arian asked hesitantly,
"Are these really Flame Tree Roots?"
"Huh? Yes, they are. Look at the shape, color, energy, properties. They all match." 'The color and energy seem different though...' Arian asked a staff member to bring a small magnifying artifact and carefully examined them.
Surprisingly, they were indeed Flame Tree Roots.
Just with far more potent energy.
"Young Master of the Wardanaz family. I knew your magic was exceptional, but I never imagined it was to this extent. To enhance discarded reagents like this... I can't even begin to guess what kind of secret technique this is."
"It wasn't that difficult. I just condensed the flame until the alchemical equipment could withstand it, then pickled the Flame Tree Roots in it."
At Lee Han's words, Arian broke into a grin.
Unlike other members of the Wardanaz family, this boy seemed to truly enjoy a good joke.
"To think he could so elegantly deflect the question about leaking Einrogard's secrets..."
"Of course. In any case, I can't accept this. Why don't you students try selling it yourselves?"
"Pardon?"
At the unexpected suggestion, Lee Han and his friends murmured in surprise. Arian pointed to the tea leaves and silk behind him.
"These were also sold by Einrogard students."
The embroidery of gold and silver threads on jet-black silk depicted patterns that would be called 'Azirmo' in the Empire—the highest grade of fabric.
Lee Han was astonished to hear that their seniors had made it.
"You're saying our seniors made that premium silk?"
"Well, it's not exactly premium silk."
"!"
At those words, Lee Han belatedly realized something was off.
"I see...! There's none of that distinctive aura you feel from expensive luxury goods!"
"...Th-that kind of aura exists?"
Nilia asked her friends in confusion. They all shook their heads.
Even Adenart, who had encountered the most luxury items among them, had never sensed such an aura.
"Then what is this?"
"It's cheap silk dyed and embroidered with fake gold and silver thread. You could call it a counterfeit, but it still fetches a decent price."
Einrogard students couldn't afford to sell expensive materials at high prices.
Using cheap materials and magic to sell at high prices—that was the Einrogard way.
"Don't tell me those tea leaves are also...?"
"Those are real tea leaves. Though I heard the students grew them quickly in a greenhouse."
Second-years were starting to notice, but by third year, the amount of required reagents and materials increased exponentially.
Taking time out of their busy schedules to fulfill requests wasn't for nothing. Upperclassmen at Einrogard were always strapped for time and gold coins.
Making contracts with outside merchants to deliver goods and receive payment was relatively easy, which was why many students did it.
But Lee Han and his friends were currently outside the school and had quite extensive connections.
With no restrictions, selling directly would be most profitable.
"I see. Thank you for the advice."
Finding the reasoning sound, Lee Han nodded.
Indeed, if they could maximize their profits, there was no reason to refuse.
"Wait a moment!"
"?"
As Lee Han's group turned to leave, Arian called them back again.
With an awkward expression, Arian spoke.
"Could I buy just one crate of Flame Tree Root now? There's not much stock in the city..."
Upon reflection, he needed one crate of Flame Tree Root for an upcoming alchemists' gathering in the city.
Though he wanted to end the conversation gracefully after showing such consideration, Arian was still a merchant.
If there was a chance to secure good merchandise, he would never let it slip by!
"This should do, right?"
The students finished repacking the crate. Just then, Salko raised a concern.
"Hold on. We need to be careful. If word gets out that Einrogard students are selling this, we might attract unwanted attention."
"That's true. Hmm. We should probably use a fake name."
Aside from disguises, they needed a separate alias.
After brief consideration, Lee Han wrote <Nago Family> on the crate.
"What's the Nago Family?"
"A fictional noble house I made up. It's the identity I used when rescuing you all last time. Right. You all should memorize it too."
"?"
Angrago blinked, wondering what exactly he was supposed to memorize.
"Alright. Stedal of the Nago Family is a noble who was captured by pirates in the southern Empire and later rescued by Lagesa, daughter of Torgerd, who leads the Privateer Fleet..."
"......"
Thirty minutes later.
Angrago nodded with a dazed, unfocused expression.
"I... I think I've memorized it now."
"Good. Well done. Preparation must be thorough."
'But why did we have to memorize the part about amassing wealth during the martial arts upheaval?'
Angrago was curious, but he held back, fearing another hour-long lecture on fabricated identities if he asked.
"Ah, right. I forgot to mention the part about the treasure map assets."
'No!'
"Wait. Lee Han."
Angrago, who had been screaming internally, let out a sigh of relief when Yoner intervened.
'Thank you, Maykin!'
"A family name is good, but you also need a crest. Just writing the name without a crest might look awkward."
"Ah... right."
Lee Han, having received the critique, pondered for about ten seconds.
He needed to think of a crest that suited the family.
There was no need to overthink it. It was just for a fake identity anyway.
Scratch scratch scratch
—"How about this?"
"...Is that an upside-down hanging skull?"
"Correct."
"It seems a bit provocative... Never mind. We're going to the Punishment Room either way if we get caught. So, let's go with this?"
Yoner wondered if it was really necessary to provoke the Skeleton Principal, but she trusted her friend to handle things well.
Perhaps it was even an expression of respect as his student.
"Family name—done. Crest—done... Now we just need to say we're from the Nago Family and deliver it. Ah, Yoner. How about Lady Yoanen's workshop?"
Lee Han brought up the name of the first alchemy workshop that came to mind.
If it was the exceptional alchemist Yoanen, she would surely recognize the value of this Flame Tree Root.
"That won't work."
"Why not?"
Lee Han was slightly taken aback by the unexpected answer.
He hadn't expected Yoner to refuse.
Had there been some issue between her and Lady Yoanen?
"Elder Sister Yoanen is razor-sharp about pointing out flaws and cutting costs when buying reagents. If you want to sell high, another place would be better."
"Indeed...!"
Lee Han sent a look of respect toward her thoroughness, which didn't even spare family.
With such a wise friend, he felt confident they could make a huge profit.
"Kids, we can do this. We'll become the greatest merchants in Granden City!"
"T-that far?!"
"Tell Lady Maykin I'm not here if she comes!"
An alchemist burst into the workshop, shouting.
But surprisingly, the workshop was already empty. The alchemist panicked, stumbling backward, and bumped into something.
Thud
"Wh-what? Who's there? Did someone drink an Invisibility Potion?"
"Shh. Keep quiet."
"Pahuseok?! What are you doing?"
"Planning to say I'm not here if Lady Maykin comes."
"......"
The latecomer alchemists finally realized their colleagues had all drunk Invisibility Potions and were hiding all over the workshop.
Their peers were one step ahead.
"Did none of you manage to get Flame Tree Root? No, it's not even that rare of a reagent!"
"The Richmond Family's transport ship just happened to sink... We'll have to wait at least another month for the next shipment."
"A month? In a month, Lady Maykin could wring us all dry and still have 29 days to spare!"
The reason the alchemists were acting like this was simple.
They hadn't been able to procure the reagents needed for the workshop.
And none of them had!
Yoanen Maykin wasn't a violent person, but she was a mage brimming with madness. If the necessary reagents kept running out, the workshop's alchemists might have to work 25 hours a day.
Creak
At the sound of the door opening, an alchemist yelped and splashed an Invisibility Potion on himself.
The workshop's owner, Yoanen Maykin, wearing amethyst glasses, stepped inside.
Thud!
When Yoanen pulled out a small stone fragment from her pocket and tossed it, all the invisibility effects in the workshop were absorbed.
The alchemists hiding in the ceiling, closets, and cauldrons silently walked out without a word.
"Lady Maykin, if you just give us a little more time, we'll definitely procure the reagents. Please, stay calm."
"Ah. The situation has changed slightly."
Yoanen's face was filled with intense interest as she pulled out a small reagent pouch.
With gloved fingers, she deftly untied the string and took out the reagent inside.
'Flame Tree Root? No. The energy is too strong. Is it a special reagent made from Flame Tree Root?'
"I received this Flame Tree Root from an alchemist I know."
"This is Flame Tree Root?!"
"Correct. Fascinating, isn't it? And what's even more fascinating is that this alchemist also received it as a gift from a merchant, who said this Flame Tree Root will soon flood the city."
"......"
"......"
"If we fail to find and purchase this, we'll gladly work 26 hours a day!"
The alchemists declared with eyes blazing hotter than the heat radiating from the Flame Tree Root.