Episode 418

Episode 418

“Are knights usually this persistent?”

To Lee Han’s question, Angrago replied proudly.

“That’s right. Knights never forget their grudges.”

“How annoying.”

“!?”

Angrago was taken aback by the sudden verbal abuse.

What did the knights do?!

‘I really don’t want to go in.’

Lee Han frowned as he thought.

Since he wasn’t officially out, there was nothing good about meeting lots of other people.

The adventurers would disappear after this commission, so there shouldn’t be a reason for them to contact Einrogard, and since the festival was over, the mages wouldn’t be coming back to Einrogard either…

But meeting even the Beechwood Knights here, he was worried whether he could keep the secret.

Even if you tell people to keep quiet, the more people know a secret, the more easily it leaks.

‘If I step back and make someone else do it…’

“For now, let’s just say something first. I doubt those knight bastards will understand, though.”

“Just in case, I think we should also summon some golems. Who knows, those knight bastards might throw a fit if their mood sours.”

“In that case, how about secretly spreading some poison? There are some mages here who can use paralysis-type poisons.”

“…I’ll just go myself.”

Lee Han gave up and spoke.

If he left it to the mages gathered here, he thought fights that shouldn’t happen might break out.

• * *

Giselle looked at the dwarf student from the same tower, Bartrek, and said,

“Which crazy bastard released the staff right away?”

“Uh… I, I don’t know.”

“…Look me in the eyes. Bark. Look me in the eyes. Why are you looking down? Won’t you lift your head?”

“Mo… Moradi. Don’t do this. You’re misunderstanding. I don’t know anything.”

From her friend’s reaction, Giselle had already half-confirmed her suspicion.

She couldn’t believe she had tried to escape with these crazy idiots!

‘Maybe next time I really should leave them behind.’

She could understand being stupid if you did your best.

But being stupid and still being dragged along just because ‘they’re from the same tower’—how could that make any sense?

White Tiger Tower students believed that their chances of escape increased when going together, but in Giselle’s view, escaping alone seemed likelier to succeed.

“St… still, it worked out in the end. Thanks to the Beechwood Knights here…”

Bartrek, watching her mood, spoke softly.

The White Tiger Tower students had scattered to escape their pursuers.

Not many were lucky enough. At least Giselle and Bartrek were one of the few who got that luck.

While fleeing on horseback, they had spotted the campsite of the Beechwood Knights.

Of course, the Beechwood Knights had welcomed the students from the knightly families…

…And now the two students were mulling over how to leave the campsite.

“Since we’re here, can’t we borrow some silver coins or something?”

Bartrek made a statement so shameless it was hard to believe he was from a knightly family.

It was due to the environment of Einrogard transforming Bartrek.

Thankfully, Giselle still had her sanity. She tapped the table with her finger, staring at Bartrek with scornful eyes.

“You want to borrow silver coins from a knight of a family you’re not even close with, using your own family’s name… What a great idea.”

“I figured, right?”

“……”

Giselle was at a loss. And as someone from a knightly family, she couldn’t help but let a rare curse slip out.

Bartrek was taken aback.

“I-is it that bad?”

“Why? Why don’t you just go around selling out the family name altogether.”

“That’s… not quite the same as…”

Before Bartrek could get more on her nerves, a knight of the Beechwood Knights opened the tent flap and came in.

“Is everyone doing well?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you for your kindness.”

“Oh, please. We just did what we had to.”

While exchanging pleasantries, Giselle thought to herself.

Now that they were outside of school, they had to go to the village to buy what they needed; otherwise, there was no point. They couldn’t just stay here.

The problem was what excuse to use.

If they said they were going to the village, the knights here would want to come along to escort them, and if they followed, being so conspicuous, they’d be easily discovered.

But if they told the truth, the knights would react, ‘No matter what, how could you desert your group like this?’

“By the way. Your friends are outside.”

“Friends?”

The two were surprised.

Because time had passed since everyone had scattered, they hadn’t expected any friends to show up now.

“Who is it?”

“Good question. Maybe Deorgyu? If it’s Deorgyu, in that situation…”

The two came out of the tent and saw Lee Han and Angrago—and immediately froze.

“……”

“……”

Why is that bastard over there?

• * *

-You want to investigate this place? Why should I allow that?

-Actually, I’m Lee Han from the Wardanaz Family.

-…!!! Please, come right in! Everyone, come out!

-I appreciate the welcome, but is it really necessary to shout like that…?

-Everyone assemble!! Assemble!! Oh dear. Where’s my mind? Here’s the horn.

-……

The Beechwood Knights’ welcome, honestly, wasn’t surprising.

Even last time, they were quite the excitable bunch, so naturally Lee Han had expected a warm welcome.

What caught Lee Han off guard was the fact that Giselle and Bartrek were in the campsite.

“Don’t tell me… Moradi. Did you know about the campsite in advance and used your friends as a decoy?”

“…?!”

Bartrek, beside her, was shocked.

‘Was that the case?!’

“Why would anyone do something so pointless? It would be harder to coordinate the timing.”

“Ah. That’s true.”

“……”

Bartrek glared at Wardanaz.

This guy keeps sowing discord among the White Tiger Tower friends…

“Then why are you here showing your face? And why did you bring Angrago?”

“Ah. It’s a long story.”

Giselle gave a smirk at Lee Han’s words.

She thought, ‘How long could it possibly be?’

“It’s fine even if it’s a long story, so if you can, go ahead and tell us.”

“Yeah, Wardanaz. Don’t give us any weird excuses!”

Lee Han shrugged and explained the story as briefly as possible.

…And it really was longer than they expected.

“I s-see.”

“……”

The two had no choice but to accept.

No wonder there were all those mages and adventurers wandering around back there—they had wondered, ‘what’s going on?’

“Wait. Wardanaz.”

Giselle asked, frowning.

“You’re sneaking out too, aren’t you? Are you sure it’s okay to make things this complicated?”

“Moradi. Wardanaz, whatever else, is a thorough ba—no, thorough guy in these things.”

“Yeah. I’m concerned, too, actually.”

“……”

Bartrek glared again at Wardanaz.

That bastard, seriously!

“But I can’t just leave the mages over there to fight, you know. By the way, are the knights here really coming to Einrogard?”

“Yeah. Seems they managed to get permission somehow. Good for them.”

Giselle said sincerely.

As she’d said before, the Beechwood Knights might be a bit lacking in martial strength, but they had other advantages.

Considering the families involved, building relationships would make it easier for them to get involved or act politically in imperial affairs later.

Besides, recalling the previous event, Lee Han was not just a mere attendee, but the honored guest at that gathering.

Lee Han’s face twisted with grief and pain. Unaware of his inner thoughts, Giselle continued.

“No matter how great a mage you are, it’s not common to be invited to a knightly family gathering, so you should appreciate this as a good opportunity…”

At Giselle’s merciless needling, Lee Han could no longer restrain his anger.

He had intended to let it go, but couldn’t anymore.

“Sir Knight.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“Is it possible for my friends here to attend the gathering with me?”

“Hmm! That is…”

The knight hesitated.

Of course, the other students weren’t unqualified.

All of them hailed from the White Tiger Tower—students from reputable knightly families.

But that didn’t mean just anyone could attend the knightly meeting.

If it was just a matter of family background, even kids would be attending.

Lee Han was only invited as a gesture of thanks for the previous incident, but the others, if anything, were still just apprentice knights.

Bringing them to the meeting could make everyone uncomfortable.

Lee Han noticed his hesitation but didn’t back down easily.

‘I absolutely will not go alone.’

With determination to drag the White Tiger Tower jerks down with him, Lee Han spoke up again.

“As someone from a mage family, I’m a bit nervous about attending a knights’ gathering alone. If some close friends could go with me, I’d feel more at ease…”

“???”

Angrago tilted his head.

He didn’t know who these ‘close friends’ were, but he knew it wasn’t him.

Bartrek also tilted his head.

He thought the same.

Both turned to look at Giselle, who spat out in a voice brimming with malice.

“Look away before I gouge out your eyes.”

“N-no.”

“I just wondered, that’s all… It was Wardanaz’s nonsense, wasn’t it?”

The knight struck his chest and proclaimed in response to Lee Han’s request.

“…Very well! To invite someone we owe a debt to, and not grant such a favor would be a disgrace to the knightly name! I will make a strong request!”

“Thank you. Sniff sniff.”

Lee Han pretended to be weak as he thanked him. The knight, soothing him, suddenly had a thought.

‘Wait. Didn’t I hear the Wardanaz boy’s swordsmanship rivals that of a knight…?’

Huh?

After the confused knight left, Lee Han looked at the White Tiger Tower friends and said,

“Congratulations. You’re coming with me.”

“Wo-wardanaz…”

“Thanks.”

“…What are you thinking? Why are you doing this?”

At their reactions, Lee Han hesitated.

It was different from what he expected.

‘What is this? Is it their pride?’

“Thanks?”

“Huh? Uh. Well…”

“You left during the semester, didn’t even pick up any useful goods, just waste time chatting with knights, then come back? You’ll fall behind on assignments and studies, you know?”

“…It’s not a waste, you bastard!”

“What do you think a knightly family gathering is!”

The White Tiger Tower students objected, but Lee Han ignored them.

“You might act like you don’t care now, but when it’s time to go, your true feelings will come out. Yeah. Keep pretending to be happy. I’ll allow that much.”

“……”

As Lee Han turned away and walked off, the White Tiger Tower students were left in confusion.

“Why the hell is he dragging us along?”

“Isn’t he just embarrassed?”

“Moradi. What do you think?”

But even Giselle couldn’t answer this time.

She was just as baffled as the others.

Why would they be included?

• * *

The ones who called out to Lee Han, returning after firmly disciplining his wicked White Tiger Tower friends, were the mages.

“Wardanaz! We have results! We’ve found the source of the mana!”

“Oh…! That’s great!”

It was as if he heard the jingle of gold coins ringing in his ear.

“Can you see this spring? It’s clear that a world-overlap phenomenon is happening right below this spring.”

“I see.”

Around the spring, a collision occurred, causing mana to surge explosively and flow into the surroundings, creating abnormal phenomena throughout the forest.

“So, what do we do about this spring?”

At Lee Han’s question, the mages smiled as if to say ‘Just wait a moment,’ and began their calculations.

And then their faces stiffened.

“Uh…”

“What is it?”

“According to our calculations, the collision is very severe. It looks like creatures from another dimension will emerge from the spring soon.”

“I see.”

Lee Han wasn’t very surprised.

Since it was close to Einrogard, he could just report this to the professors and it would be handled easily.

“How much time is left?”

“Thirty…”

“If it’s thirty days, that won’t be difficult…”

“…minutes, I think… Wait, let me recalculate…”

Now, Lee Han’s face stiffened just like the mages’.