Episode 483

Episode 483

One unfortunate student suffered, but the work proceeded quickly.

Professor Thunderstep instantly pinpointed the location of the Sangoria flower, and the Shadow Patrol hunters hunted down the monsters blocking the sea routes as if they were wiping them out completely.

Meanwhile, Professor Voladi and his outstanding apprentice took care of monsters hiding on islands and reefs.

“…Let’s call it a day here and go back to rest.”

Professor Thunderstep spoke to the sailors.

The sailors were a bit puzzled but nodded.

“Understood.”

‘It seems like we could do more…’

‘There must be a reason, since it’s the mage’s direction. Well, after rushing here, maybe he’s still tired from the journey.’

Because the work had moved quickly, the sailors were less fatigued.

They could have kept going, but since the mage gave the order, they decided there must be a reason and turned the bow without hesitation.

Professor Lightningstep, not understanding, asked,

“Are you tired or something?”

“N-no, sir.”

“Then why? If we push a bit, we could finish this whole area today.”

“It’s because I feel sorry for Wardanaz…”

“……”

Professor Lightningstep looked at Lee Han, who was walking out from the island with Voladi.

Then he nodded.

“You’re right!”

• * *

Among the strangers of Isran, there were several whose true identity was hard to guess.

If a port open to everywhere didn’t have a few suspicious types, that would be the stranger thing.

However, the suspicious figure currently in the west end of the port, near the drying racks, inside the shabby, fish-reeking -Cloudy Fish Eyeball- inn, was a bit special.

A former mage who became an imperial magic criminal, and who, in a sense, had reached the peak of infamy attainable by an imperial mage.

The magic criminal Ianop was sitting in a corner, listening to rumors.

“The Einrogard folks are here… so that wasn’t a false rumor?”

“Oh, mage sir, how could I dare try to fool you?”

The retired sailor bowed and rubbed his palms together obsequiously.

Mages were welcomed anywhere in the empire, and that was equally true in the dark back alleys.

Even to those living in the underworld, a mage like Ianop was an object of respect and fear.

That Ianop’s identity was uncertain and suspicious didn’t matter at all. The people around here all had a suspicious aspect or two anyway.

“Of course you wouldn’t. If it turns out to be a false rumor, I’ll pluck out your eyeballs and tongue.”

“……”

A cold sweat broke out on the retired sailor’s back.

He knew full well this mage wasn’t joking.

What had happened to those mercenary punks who had tried to rob the mage’s bulging pouch of gold last time?

They withered up and died as if they were shriveled old trees.

‘Definitely a black mage.’

The sailor didn’t know magic well, but he was sure Ianop was a black mage.

Otherwise, how could he use such evil curses?

“I knew things were buzzing because of the Sangoria flower… but I didn’t expect the Einrogard people to show up as well. Was summoning the Shadow Patrol their idea too?”

“Eh? How did you know that?”

To the sailor’s question, Ianop shot a look of contempt.

“Do you think the local guilds here hugged each other and summoned the Shadow Patrol?”

“They… could’ve…”

The sailor trailed off.

Ianop explained no further.

Explaining about the tension and conflict between the city’s guilds, the complicated rights and interests tangled with the Sangoria flower, and why no one would take the drastic step of calling in the Shadow Patrol to clean things up—what was the point?

He wouldn’t understand anyway.

“So, are you going to curse the Einrogard people? If you are, I’ll get what you need.”

The retired sailor smiled a greedy smile, the lines on his face deepening.

That greedy smile gleamed with the desire to make a hefty profit.

“Curse the folks from Einrogard… How many guts and how many lives do you have? Even if you’re a fool or an idiot, at least shove some straw in your head to protect what little sense you have.”

Ianop chuckled incredulously at the sailor suggesting they mess with the Einrogard mages.

Sometimes, reckless anti-magic lunatics acted out because they had a death wish, but Ianop was rational and sane.

And a rational, sane mage did not mess with the mages of Einrogard.

“You were a sailor, right? What did you do when a storm blew in while you were fishing in the deep sea?”

“Well… I’d avoid the storm…”

“Exactly. Think of the Einrogard lot as a storm. There’s still time to make a profit after the storm has passed.”

Ianop leisurely leaned back. The retired sailor looked dissatisfied at his missed opportunity, but, fearing the mage, didn’t say more.

“Don’t look so dissatisfied. Want me to pull out your eyes?”

“N-no, sir!”

“I have a job for you. Do it well and I’ll reward you handsomely.”

“!”

“Tell all the nearby mercenaries this. If the Einrogard mages are here, that means there may be students too. If any of them stand out, let me know.”

“A standout… you mean.”

The retired sailor hesitated.

He wondered if he could even judge the skills of mages.

“Don’t worry so much. It’ll come in the form of rumors. The accomplishments of mages spread whether you try or not. I don’t want middling ones. If you hear someone was unbelievably amazing, let me know. Einrogard produces such geniuses from time to time.”

“Yes… Understood.”

The sailor couldn’t decipher Ianop’s intentions.

He says Einrogard is a storm to avoid, but then wants to know about any outstanding students.

Does he plan to kidnap one?

‘But… that’s the complete opposite of what he just said?’

Ianop poured cheap liquor into a tin cup and laughed.

A person who didn’t know magic couldn’t possibly guess what he was thinking.

‘The more talented they are, the easier they are to corrupt.’

Ianop hadn’t graduated from Einrogard, but he had met magic criminals who had.

It was decades ago, but the memory was still vivid.

A genius who inherited the essence of imperial magic and far surpassed Ianop, who thought he wasn’t lacking in magical talent.

Just making eye contact gave off an overwhelming feeling.

Every word of the spells spoken was genius, every structure of the magic flawless…

And more arrogant than anyone.

Ianop, unable to understand, once asked the great and evil archmage Antagondals:

-What possible reason is there for an Einrogard graduate to act like that?

-A foolish question. The more talented the mage, the easier it is to fall. Well, someone who’s never been exceptional wouldn’t understand.

The more skilled you are in magic, the more trivial reality feels, and all the rules and constraints blocking your path feel meaningless.

If you’re about to see the end of sublime truth and laws, what does it matter if hundreds of worms die?

No matter what glories and honors of the empire await, the greatest temptation for a great mage is truth itself.

-Ianop. Think about it. The sight of that brilliant… that incomparably great magical mind falling.

-Ma… Master Antagondals.

-Too abstract for you? Fine. How’s this? If you ever succeed, I’ll take you as my disciple.

-…!!!

For a mage like Ianop, stuck at his limit, the chance to become a disciple of Archmage Antagondals was an irresistible temptation.

Even after decades, that desire hadn’t faded.

‘I don’t expect much, but…’

Since then, he’d crossed paths with several graduates from Einrogard, but disappointingly, none were as extraordinary as he hoped.

No matter how capable, average-level geniuses from Einrogard didn’t fall for Ianop’s temptations easily.

Only an arrogant genius willing to do anything for truth would fall for such a lure.

Ianop earnestly wished there was such a genius among these Einrogard folks this time.

• * *

Evening.

The faces of the students at the mansion’s dining table were pale and haggard.

Lee Han was startled to see the princess, sitting beside him, dozing off with her spoon in hand.

‘My goodness!’

He’d seen something similar before.

Even Gainando, who had an extraordinary ability when it came to food, couldn’t overcome fatigue and nodded off during a meal.

That event shocked Gainando so much that from then on, he tried to stay alert at mealtime by stabbing his thigh with a needle.

As you could see, for a royal to doze at the dining table meant she was that tired.

“Princess. Please wake up.”

“…!”

Adenart’s eyes widened.

“You need to eat. If you fall asleep and miss your meal, you’ll regret it.”

“Thank yo…”

She tried to thank him while half-asleep, but something felt off.

…No, she wouldn’t regret it over just a meal, would she?

“Wardanaz…”

She tried to ask what was going on, but Lee Han was already talking to someone else.

“Wardanaz. I heard you wiped out all the monsters on the island.”

“…What? How do you know that?”

When Bartrek of the Bark family, of the White Tiger Tower, commented, Lee Han was taken aback.

How did you hear that, when you were trapped in the house workshop the whole time?

“The servants told me?”

“…Wait. Wait. Hold on.”

Lee Han was perplexed.

“Could you come over for a moment?”

“What is it…”

A servant rushed over in surprise.

“Do you not like the drink? It’s a southern style—”

“No, that’s not it. I mean, about me having wiped out all the monsters… not that I did it alone, but anyway, where did you hear that rumor?”

“I heard it from the fishmonger I do business with by the port.”

“…Do you know where that fishmonger heard it?”

“He said he heard it from the fishermen who laid their nets today? Uh, the hunters told the fishermen, or so I was told, is that not right?”

“……”

The rumor spread faster than the internal Einrogard professors’ network.

While Lee Han was hunting on the island, the Shadow Patrol were catching sea monsters and spreading the word to passing fishermen: ‘That boy from the Wardanaz family is so good at hunting monsters.’

An unbelievable multitasking ability.

‘No wonder they’re called masters of the hunt…’

“Did I make a mistake?”

“No, no. Actually, I called you here because the food was just so delicious. Could you bring another plate of woodcock for the princess?”

“Of course, sir.”

The servant left in delight.

The princess, now awake and eating, looked at Lee Han in disbelief again.

No way…!

“What…?!”

Of course, she had thought she wanted another plate, but that was just a thought.

Adenart was about to protest with dignity and firmness, grabbing Lee Han’s shoulder.

“…Wardanaz. How was the Shadow Patrol today?”

But again, she was interrupted.

Nillia, visibly worried and glancing around, asked in a nervous voice.

She looked terrified that he’d gotten into trouble.

Lee Han resisted saying, ‘They wouldn’t believe I was close with you unless I said you threatened them with a bow. They kept offering me liquor, didn’t listen to my explanations about magic, and were as annoying as Gainando.’ Instead, for his friend’s sake, he spoke.

“…I was honored to meet the most skilled and capable hunters in the Empire. I wonder if I’ll ever get such an opportunity again.”

Yoner, who had gathered bits of information from the Meikin family, glanced at Lee Han pitifully and slid the plate of apple tart away from Bartrek to Lee Han.

Bartrek was aggrieved, but held back.

He couldn’t say anything to Wardanaz, not after all the work Lee Han had done.