Episode 298

“What’s wrong, Yoner?”

“Ah… nothing. Really. Um, we were just about to head out…”

Yoner let her words trail off. Yoanen’s eyes sparkled behind her amethyst glasses.

“Heading out?”

“Yeah.”

“Where are you going?”

“To see friends.”

“When will you be back?”

“Uh… Well…?”

“How about your friend from the Wardanaz Family?”

“L-Lee Han is busy… Why?”

“He seemed interested in alchemy.”

“N-no, it’s not that much interest.”

“He’s the top student in alchemy, isn’t he?”

“……”

Yoner glared at Lee Han and Ratford.

Did they really mention that in just that short time?

‘Sorry.’

Ratford bowed his head deeply.

He’d only wanted to show Yoner’s sister how amazing Lee Han was…

“Yoner… did you really think I’d treat your friend like the other alchemists in the workshop? That’s not it, right?”

“N-no.”

“Right? I would never do that.”

Lee Han wanted to ask, ‘How do you treat the other alchemists in the workshop?’ but couldn’t bring himself to do so.

“If you’re a magic school student, you’ll be studying during vacation… Is my workshop not suitable for learning alchemy?”

“N-no, your workshop is the best in Granden City…”

“Thank you for saying so.”

“But Lee Han really is busy…”

When Yoner held out, Yoanen turned her attention to Lee Han.

“Wouldn’t you like to visit the workshop once?”

“Thank you.”

“When will you visit?”

‘She really is Professor Verdus!’

Seeing how she immediately tried to pin down a date, Lee Han couldn’t help but acknowledge it.

Perhaps noticing Lee Han’s caution, Yoanen sweetened the deal.

“I don’t know what Yoner told you, but that’s a bit exaggerated. Sometimes I get busy at work, and it just so happened Yoner dropped by the workshop to have a look at one of those times.”

“I see…”

Anyone else might have been fooled by Yoanen’s kind look, but not Lee Han.

A demon always smiles kindly.

“My workshop isn’t a bad place to study alchemy during vacation. You can freely use high-quality ingredients, everyone working there is well-paid, and top city alchemists visit often, so it’s a good place to build a network.”

‘That’s it. Lee Han, just one more push and she’ll give up…’

Ignoring Yoner’s earnest hope, Lee Han responded immediately.

“Do the alchemists get paid as well?”

“Of course. Ah, are you interested in the salary? Since you’re an Einrogard student and my sister’s friend…”

Yoanen stealthily held up three fingers. Lee Han’s heart skipped a beat at the gloved hand.

Triple the pay.

“Lee Han…!”

Yoner whispered, sounding regretful, but Yoanen seemed to know just what Lee Han wanted and smiled, extending a fourth finger.

“…I was actually hoping to learn alchemy during vacation anyway.”

Yoanen elegantly took Lee Han’s hand and shook it.

“Welcome. Come anytime. Oh, would you mind if I talked to my sister alone for a moment?”

After Lee Han and his friends headed out first, Yoanen turned to Yoner.

Yoner spoke gloomily.

“If I lose my friend, it’s your fault…”

“I promise not to wear him down. I mean it. But he really is an unusual person.”

“Yeah. He really is.”

“I thought he’d refuse, but to accept just for the pay… He can’t just be a Wardanaz who loves gold coins, right? Is he in debt or something?”

“No. He just likes gold coins.”

• * *

“Meeting Gainando is a bit worrying.”

Even though Lee Han was esteemed enough to visit any high noble family, royalty was a different matter.

Generally, there was nothing to be gained by getting involved.

The Empire’s nobles fell into three camps.

The loyalists, who supported the most exceptional royalty.

The noble faction, who scoffed at the excessive number of royals.

And the neutrals, those who sided with neither.

The Wardanaz Family was an example of the neutral camp. In fact, they could almost be called the reclusive or loner camp rather than the neutral.

For Lee Han to visit a royal residence officially would be begging for the rumor, “Lee Han of the Wardanaz Family supports Royal A?”

“It’s fine. If we all go together, it just looks like school friends visiting.”

Yoner understood Lee Han’s concerns.

At such times, a proper excuse was important.

“Actually, that part isn’t much of a problem as long as I go with you. I’m more worried about the people who’ll be at Gainando’s residence.”

After visiting the Dalkard and Meikin Families, Lee Han had realized something.

Noble family estates differed far more than he’d expected.

At this point, nothing weird at Gainando’s place would surprise him.

“What’s Gainando’s estate like?”

“Gainando’s place? It’s pretty normal. No tests like my family, and fewer guests overall.”

People visiting Gainando’s estate didn’t come to see the royal Gainando, but rather his mother.

After all, Gainando’s mother’s family, the Craha Family, was famously wealthy even among the Empire’s aristocracy.

With that much money, even abilities you never had could “develop.” Of course, people were desperate to visit.

Yet, guests at Gainando’s manor weren’t all that numerous.

“Gainando’s mother just doesn’t really like hosting guests.”

“Why? Wouldn’t having more visitors help promote Gainando’s reputation… hmm. Actually, never mind.”

Hosting guests could spread both good and bad word about the family.

Lee Han changed the subject.

“What’s Gainando’s mother like?”

If she were another kind “Professor Verdus” type, it might be worth delaying the visit.

“She’s kind and gentle. And…”

“And?”

“She’s really extremely beautiful.”

“O-oh, I see.”

Taken aback by the sudden topic, Lee Han hesitated.

“When you first meet her, you probably won’t be able to look her in the face.”

“Why not?”

“She’s so beautiful there’s practically a halo behind her. It’s dazzling.”

“…Isn’t she descended from a spirit or an angel or something?”

“Right. I’ve heard she has some light spirit blood.”

Lee Han wanted to ask, “If her face is hidden by light, how do you know she’s beautiful?” but refrained, seeing how much Yoner admired her.

Who cared, anyway?

“By the way, is it true Gainando’s mother gives you an allowance if you’re close?”

“Yeah.”

“Objectively, I’m his closest friend, right? What do you both think?”

Ratford and Nillia looked at Lee Han as if he were ridiculous.

• * *

“Please wait thirty minutes.”

“Oh. There’s already a guest?”

“Um… I’m sorry. Please wait thirty minutes.”

“??”

Lee Han and his friends tilted their heads in confusion in front of the splendid entrance to Gainando’s estate.

If a guest arrived first, waiting briefly was normal, but waiting outside wasn’t.

Unless there was something inside they couldn’t let others see…

“What is this?”

Bam-ba-ba-ba-ba—

Pop! Pop-pop-pop-pop!

With a fanfare from a brass ensemble, magical fireworks lit the sky.

Passersby stared, thinking there was some kind of festival.

“What…”

“What is going on…”

“Welcome to the manor!”

“Welcome to the…”

“Welcome…”

“Welcome…!”

Choir voices echoed inside.

Suddenly, Lee Han wanted to turn right around and leave.

“What’s all this commotion?”

“It seems the Prince is welcoming guests at the Craha Family estate.”

“My, is all this necessary?”

“They must be friends reunited after a long time.”

As people commented with interest, Lee Han and his friends blushed deeply.

“…Cloak, swallow me.”

“Le-let’s go in together! Me too!”

The four used the magic they’d learned at Einrogard to slip inside.

As soon as Gainando, standing on the giant marble staircase, saw them, he waved.

“Over here! Here!”

“Stop the music already!”

“Huh? Why? We’re only one movement in.”

“It’s too noisy, just stop it already!”

“Please, stop!”

With his friends protesting, Gainando, awed, gestured to the musicians.

They stopped playing at once.

“Why? Didn’t you like the music?”

“It wasn’t the music. Let’s just go inside.”

Lee Han and his friends dragged Gainando into the manor.

Gainando was dragged along, grumbling.

“We could’ve listened and gone in after.”

“I’ll hear the rest later.”

“Really?”

“…Someday. Anyway, how have you been, Gainando? Anything new?”

Lee Han swiftly changed the subject. Gainando considered, then answered.

“Well, something did happen.”

“!”

Lee Han was shocked.

Could it be that, like Ahsan, Gainando was bullied by his talented royal relatives?

“Did someone cause you trouble?”

“No. I lost a magician card game last night even though I used a new card.”

“……”

“……”

Yoner nearly raised her hand to smack him on the back of the head.

If Nillia hadn’t hurriedly grabbed her wrist, there would have been a loud smack.

Lee Han nodded knowingly and asked again.

“Besides the magician card game, nothing happened? Nobody showed up to bother you?”

“Hm? No one came.”

“……”

That, in its own way, sounded sad.

Lee Han gave his friends a look of sympathy.

“At least we’re here now.”

“That’s why I prepared the performance, but you guys interrupted.”

Gainando grumbled again.

Yoner, now raising her other unrestrained hand, had Nillia quickly grab it as well.

“Anyway, Lee Han. Let’s hang out together this vacation.”

“What did you want to do?”

“Go around shops, buy new cards, check out toys, pick up magazines that piled up while we were at school…”

Lee Han shook his head.

Living like that, with endless spending, was a surefire way to end up broke.

“Gainando. That’s nice, but I know something even more fun.”

“What? Really?”

“Follow me and you’ll find out. Let’s go together soon.”

There’s nothing as fun as sweating for your silver coins. Lee Han decided to show Gainando the joys of earning.

Yoner whispered.

“Won’t Gainando hate that sort of thing?”

“It’s fine. Just tell him when he can’t escape.”

“……”

“Oh right. Time to pay back the money I borrowed.”

Gainando called for a servant. Lee Han was surprised at the gesture.

“I didn’t expect you to remember first.”

“My mom says you’re garbage if you don’t repay debts.”

“I… see.”

Gainando’s room was large enough to fit several carriages. Each student scattered, finding things of interest to occupy themselves.

Reading an entertaining serialized magazine story (Toberiz, a canine detective, was using divination magic to find the culprit), Lee Han noticed sounds coming from outside.

“Were you expecting anyone today?”

“Huh? Oh… Oh, yeah. I did hear other royals would visit.”

“……”

“…If even this doesn’t count as an event, what does?”