Episode 297

‘Am I doomed?’

Lee Han steeled himself.

Since there was no answer, it seemed likely this was the reaction of fearing him as a member of the Empire’s crazy mage family…

“That’s a truly excellent family.”

“!”

At Yoanen’s reaction, Lee Han’s face lit up.

“I’m only ashamed that I can’t live up to the family’s reputation.”

“No way. Even in the Wardanaz Family, talents like you must be rare.”

The conversation was warm, but Lee Han couldn’t read Yoanen’s inner thoughts.

Yoanen was thinking,

‘To think someone from the Wardanaz Family could be so considerate.’

It was really astonishing.

She’d thought the family was full of crazed mages who knew nothing but magic…

“Let’s go meet Yoner, then. Follow me.”

Yoanen left the workshop first, and as Lee Han and Ratford were about to follow, Kaljunin called out to Lee Han.

“Um…”

“?”

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to reach a great realization.”

Alchemist Kaljunin said seriously.

Showing the potion he was most confident in to the Meikin Family made him realize once more what he truly wanted to do.

Without Lee Han’s advice on fundamentals, Kaljunin would never have realized this.

Of course, to Lee Han and Ratford, Kaljunin was just a rather bewildering person.

‘What is he even talking about?’

‘I have no idea either.’

What kind of realization could you have from getting dragged somewhere by lining up in the wrong place?

• * *

‘Urrrrrrggghhhhh…’

Nillia was inwardly roaring in frustration, receiving the handmaids’ attention—something no noble would ever think to do aloud.

The handmaids dressed Nillia layer by layer with expert skill.

‘This is driving me crazy…’

When Nillia was first invited to Yoner’s mansion, she had been all excited and full of anticipation.

First vacation, first time visiting a friend’s house, and that house was an actual noble’s mansion.

She’d dreamed of such things ever since wandering the northern mountain ranges with the Shadow Patrol.

-What do nobles’ mansions have, I wonder?

-Hmm! I once visited a mansion and there was an enormous monster’s head and hide. It was a marvelously stuffed beast.

-…Not things like that… Something out of a fairy tale… Aren’t there any nobles like that here?

-What are you talking about? All nobles like to hunt.

-Yeah, Nillia. It’s not just in the north. Nobles from other regions probably all display their hunting trophies too.

-No! Not trophies! Paintings or sculptures! Music or sweets or something!

-Didn’t you see it last time? The “Blood-Soaked Hunt of the Seven Naked Hunters”…

-The drumming at the hunt was good, wasn’t it?

-Ah! Not that, seriously!!!

-What’s up with Nillia?

-You must’ve made her mad by eating the eyeballs first. You should always let the youngest have the eyeballs.

The people of the Empire’s north had no such dreams, but Nillia was different.

She was sure there must be fairy-tale nobles somewhere in the Empire.

And that their life was…

‘I can’t breathe!’

…more bothersome than she thought.

At first, it was fun entering the mansion.

Watching all sorts of people bustling about, strolling through the estate with Yoner, and stuffing herself on dinners full of dishes she didn’t even know the names of.

But then, things started to get weird.

-I will assist you with your bath.

-What? No! I can do it myself!

-Did we do something wrong…?

-…Fine. Just do it…

Nillia’s heart wasn’t cold enough to turn down the handmaids, who looked so hurt by her refusal.

But that was only the beginning.

-We’ll sing you to sleep.

-What horrifying idea is that? Who could sleep through that!?

-Did we do something wrong…?

-…Just do it…

Attending her while she slept.

-Are you awake? Let me assist you with washing up this morning.

-Blub blub. Blub blub blub. Pffft.

Dressing her.

-We will dress you now.

-Is there a reason for all these layers if I’m not heading to war?

-Ahaha! What a sense of humor!

-Truly, you are a mage!

-……

Attending her meals.

-I’ll cut it for you.

-N-no. I’d like to cut it myself. And weren’t you not even here at dinner yesterday?

-Yoner specially asked us to…

-Then, could you not do it today?

-Did we do something wrong…?

-……

Nillia gave up and let them serve her meals.

Whenever she tried to pick up the meat, handmaids rushed over; when she tried to fill her cup, they rushed over; if a bit of sauce splashed on her cheek, they rushed over again…

She couldn’t tell if this was a meal or handmaid training.

-When does Yoner come?

-Lord Yoner is still sleeping. Should I…?

-Ah, no. Let him sleep.

And after the meal, again came dressing.

-We’ll help you change now.

-But you did that this morning!?

-Pardon? These are your luncheon clothes… Did we do something wrong…?

-……

And now.

Knock, knock, knock—

With a face pale as a ghost, Nillia staggered to open the door. And there was Yoner.

“Sorry. I overslept…”

Nillia burst out in a tearful hug. Yoner was flustered.

“?!”

After hearing everything that had happened, Yoner felt deeply sorry.

“I should have warned you beforehand.”

“No! I… I actually enjoyed it!”

“Really?”

“Y-yeah.”

‘I should just say it.’

Nillia, averting her eyes and claiming she enjoyed it, made Yoner vow to herself.

“What’s your schedule today? I have some things I need to take care of.”

“!”

Nillia’s ears perked up.

Absolutely, she did not want to be left alone in this paradise-like mansion.

“Can I… join you?”

“Hm? Well, you can, but…it’s not interesting.”

“No! Anything is fun if I do it with a friend!”

Nillia declared desperately, and Yoner looked a little pleased and nodded.

“Then let’s do it.”

To sum it up, it really wasn’t interesting.

-Today’s topic is: -As political instability worsens along the Empire’s southern coast, the habitat of the Sangoria flower, how should alchemists respond?-

“……”

For a moment, Nillia thought the nobles were speaking another language.

“W-what is…this…?”

“It’s something my family does sometimes.”

Yoner explained kindly.

Among the grand noble families, the Meikin Family was especially active in commerce and patronage, so they pursued ongoing internal competition.

A prime example of this was the topic essay.

Anyone working in the family could submit solutions to the topic.

“If your idea is chosen, you get a prize.”

“…O-okay.”

Nillia glanced around.

Everyone solemnly held quills, boring holes into their paper, so this was not the time to say, ‘Can’t we just go hunting?’

Nillia sighed inwardly and grabbed a quill.

Write something! In the north, there are many hunters with idle hands—send them to the southern coast… they can do ranged attacks so it will help with monsters… if monsters are dealt with well, people will be happier and political turmoil will decrease… I’m sorry…

“Yoner.”

Nillia and Yoner simultaneously looked up.

Someone who was obviously Yoner’s older sister was calling for him.

“Your friend is here.”

“!!!”

Nillia’s face lit up.

“My friend’s here! Let’s go see!”

“Nillia. You really didn’t want to do this, did you…”

“N-no! It’s not like that…”

• * *

After only a few days apart, Nillia was so delighted to see Lee Han that he was a bit baffled.

“Did something rough happen at the Meikin Family’s mansion?”

“Eh?! No! Not at all! Don’t even joke like that… People’ll misunderstand!”

Nillia jumped up and denied it.

‘So there was something, after all.’

“Doesn’t seem like Yoner would’ve bullied you… Ah. Was it that they fussed over you too much?”

“How did you know!?”

Nillia was genuinely shocked. Lee Han smiled bitterly, understandingly.

He’d experienced something similar himself.

“You should just explain, then.”

“How could I say anything when the moment I speak she looks about to cry…?”

“Thought you said it wasn’t uncomfortable.”

“……”

“There’s a way to say it indirectly. I’ll teach you later.”

“You’re staying for a while, right? Stay for a while. Don’t leave soon.”

Nillia whispered softly, gripping Lee Han and Ratford’s sleeves.

Lee Han suddenly felt sorry for inviting Nillia.

“I have places I need to visit, but… Shall we all go together, then?”

Nillia nodded energetically.

Yoner, bringing out a pouch of silver coins, asked curiously,

“What were you talking about?”

“I asked if we should go together when we visit other places.”

“Ah. So you didn’t enjoy yourself, huh?”

“What?! No, I had fun!?”

Nillia frantically shook her hands in denial, but Lee Han and Yoner both looked at her knowingly.

“What were you working on?”

“Solving the regular family topic. Today’s was -As political instability worsens along the Empire’s southern coast, the habitat of the Sangoria flower, how should alchemists respond?-.”

“Of course. Ultimately, the reason for instability would be declining fish yields.”

“Right. The guilds’ overharvesting made the sea’s mana turbulent, angering the spirits.”

“It would be best to negotiate with the guilds for a fishing break, but that’s easier said than done. The Empire should send mages to restore the sea’s mana and first work on persuading the pro-Empire guilds on the coast.”

“I thought the same.”

“……”

Listening to Lee Han and Yoner’s conversation, Nillia kept turning her head, baffled.

Were these really students her own age?

While they talked, Yoner realized something odd.

“Wait. Why did Yoanen come herself?”

Normally, if someone showed up formally, the servants would announce, ‘Your friend has arrived’.

“Lined up in the wrong spot.”

“Huh?”

Lee Han explained what had happened.

“Good thing she was a kind person.”

“…Wait a second.”

For once, Yoner was flustered, which puzzled Lee Han.

“What?”

“You made a potion in front of my sister?”

“Yeah.”

“She saw it?”

“Yeah.”

“Lee Han. Remember Professor Bible Verdus?”

“Of course I do.”

“My sister is the nice Professor Bible Verdus.”

“…That’s ridiculous, Yoner.”

Lee Han felt a chill down his spine and tried to deny reality.

How could someone who seemed so gentle be Professor Bible Verdus?

Moreover, a nice Professor Bible Verdus couldn’t exist.

It was a total contradiction.

Like the sociable Professor Voladi, or the conscientious skeleton headmaster…

Yoner spoke seriously.

“You’d better leave the mansion quickly. Let’s go.”

“Are you serious?”

“I don’t joke about things like this. Hurry. Nillia, get ready to go too.”

Lee Han and his friends started hurrying to get ready. Nillia wanted to change into comfortable clothes but Yoner stopped her.

“Sorry. No time for that. We have to go now.”

“Aww.”

Knock, knock, knock—

“Are you done talking in there?”

“Eek!”

Yoner nearly hiccuped at the sight of her sister peeking in through the door.