Episode 658

“The Baldrogard students came, didn’t they?”

Just then, Alsicle entered the parlor chewing on a sardine.

“They left.”

“Already?”

Alsicle looked confused.

It was rather odd for them to just leave without even meeting a member of the Pengering family like Alsicle.

“They even left their reagent pouches behind.”

“I guess I’ll have to return them.”

Unbeknownst to himself, Alsicle had just saved the lives of the two Baldrogard students.

It was a good deed so impactful that later, two anonymous houses provided major research funding to Alsicle.

“You guys didn’t bully them, did you?”

“They wanted to show off some magic, so we watched, and we showed them some of ours in return. That’s all.”

“Ah…”

At the Einrogard students’ answer, Alsicle realized his mistake.

“Then of course they’d be crushed.”

“Huh? What kind of magic would leave someone so crushed?”

Lee Han sounded incredulous, but his friends could relate a little.

Wasn’t there a Wardanaz friend who’d broken the spirit of any freshman with thoughts like, ‘maybe I’m talented?’, right from the start of the semester last year?

“Baldrogard kids aren’t actually that great at magic. Most of them do it as a hobby.”

“Baldrogard is supposed to be one of the twin pillars of the Empire’s magic schools along with Einrogard, isn’t it?”

Siana tilted her head.

She couldn’t really understand what Alsicle meant.

Those guys earlier and the rumors sometimes said, ‘Baldrogard is one of the two best magic schools in the Empire along with Einrogard!’

“That’s a rumor spread by the Baldrogard students themselves.”

“……”

“……”

Lee Han and his friends were appalled.

It turned out, rumors in the Empire were really not to be trusted.

“Other magic schools all say they’re also the twin pillar with Einrogard. It’s just that Baldrogard kids spread it farther because so many of them are highborn.”

“How despicable!”

Gainando stamped his feet in rage.

Not working on their magic, but spreading their reputation through such underhanded tactics!

“Can they even do that?”

“They can’t. It’s an insult to you guys too. Gonadaltes absolutely hates it.”

“The principal would definitely hate that.”

“Yeah. Last time, a Kallarogard alumnus drunkenly talked about the twin pillars in front of Gonadaltes, and he ended up buried alive under a grave. You guys be really careful around Gonadaltes.”

“……”

The story was far more brutal than expected, so the students pretended they hadn’t heard.

Curious about Baldrogard, Lee Han asked,

“But Mr. Alsicle, how do people even pass the entrance exams if they only treat magic as a hobby?”

“Entrance exams?”

Alsicle flapped his wings in confusion.

He didn’t understand what Lee Han was talking about.

“What entrance exams?”

“The internal exams in Baldrogard.”

“Oh. Baldrogard doesn’t have exams.”

The shocking answer made the atmosphere fall silent and cold.

Alsicle didn’t know, but all the students were staring in horror.

“The school has a rule that you can’t arbitrarily evaluate distinguished nobles.”

“Are… are they insane?!”

“Miss Siana…”

“Sorry, excuse me.”

“How is that possible? How?”

“Let’s send a formal complaint to His Imperial Majesty! Bastards!”

“Let’s just go burn it to the ground!”

“…Is it really worth getting so angry?”

Alsicle was flustered at their intense reaction.

How could Baldrogard not having exams even matter to Einrogard?

But the students’ fury didn’t calm down. Gainando stamped his foot in fury and brandished his spellbook until Lee Han whacked him.

Lee Han calmed his friends and asked again,

“I heard some students there claim they’re at the top of their class. If there are no exams, do they just decide amongst themselves?”

“Uh… The Baldrogard professors tell every student who asks that they’re at the top.”

“……”

“Should I have gone to Baldrogard after all?”

Gainando muttered involuntarily.

His friends spotted the traitor and scolded him loudly.

“Lee Han! Gainando says he wants to go to Baldrogard!”

“Traitor! I knew he was suspicious from the very start!”

“No, no! I was joking! Just a joke!”

Alsicle, feeling like he’d said too many bad things about Baldrogard, coughed.

“Baldrogard’s teaching is… a bit lax, I admit.”

“A bit?”

“Do you even know what ‘a bit’ means…?”

With the students fuming, Alsicle pretended not to hear.

“But Baldrogard does produce some outstanding mages. When they get older, some start realizing their own deficiencies.”

As the years went by, some Baldrogard students realized they weren’t that great at magic after all, and there were two types:

Those who consoled themselves that ‘what matters is noble blood, not magic,’ and just enjoyed social life.

And those who belatedly focused on magic as an academic discipline.

And, usually, there were far fewer of the latter.

‘I won’t mention that part,’ thought Alsicle ethically.

He felt like he’d been too negative about Baldrogard.

“Does anyone actually come out of there?”

“One per grade, maybe?”

“……”

Seeing the sharp Einrogard students, Alsicle changed the subject.

“What kind of magic did you show them? You didn’t show them your magic, did you, Wardanaz?”

“I didn’t. My friends did.”

“Whew. That’s a relief.”

Alsicle sighed in relief.

If Lee Han had demonstrated his magic personally, the Baldrogard kids’ shock would have been unimaginable.

“Then they should be alright.”

“I’m sure they will. We talked a lot about magic, so maybe they’ll take an interest when they go back.”

The friends exchanged complicated looks.

Maybe it would have been better if Lee Han had just done it himself…

• * *

After the Baldrogard students’ visit was over (strangely enough, the Baldrogard students never visited again), a few days passed, and Lee Han was summoned by Lady Kraha.

“I called you because I was wondering how you were faring.”

“Thanks to your consideration, I’ve been well, Lady Kraha.”

After a moment of thought, Lady Kraha closed her folding fan and cautiously asked,

“By the way, are all the students who visited the mansion really friends of Gainando?”

“…Yes.”

Lee Han was a little flustered. The lady seemed to sense that and coughed.

“I was just curious.”

“I see.”

“I was also wondering what your plans were for today. If you haven’t chosen a place to go, I’d like to make a recommendation.”

“Ah. I already have somewhere to go. I’m taking my junior to explore the shopping district.”

Lee Han planned to take Eandurde shopping with the rest of his friends.

Since Eandurde barely owned anything, Lee Han wanted to help him buy all the necessary supplies.

With such a bustling city, there were goods available nowhere else.

“Junior? But as far as I know, you shouldn’t be able to see juniors from Einrogard at this time…”

Even behind the veil, Lady Kraha’s eyes showed confusion.

Lee Han briefly explained what had happened over this winter break.

“…So I was looking after him until he enrolls.”

“!!!”

Lady Kraha looked at Lee Han in shock.

That a boy of the Wardanaz family took such good care of others!

She could hardly believe it.

“Mr. Wardanaz, is caring for those in need a personal hobby of yours?!”

“Excuse me? No, it’s not.”

“Gainando too, for that matter…”

“……”

Lee Han was too dumbfounded to reply.

“Your junior doesn’t seem to have money. Who’s paying for everything?”

“I thought I would, for now.”

Imperial nobles might sneer, but by Lee Han’s standards he’d saved up a fair sum.

He’d worked hard all last year and had managed to save over a hundred imperial gold coins.

He could certainly afford to spend some on his junior.

And then…

“That won’t do.”

“Sorry?”

“The Kraha family will pay. I can’t allow a guest in our house to go without such accommodation.”

“Oh, that’s really not necessary. I was planning to bill the principal when I get back to school.”

“……”

Lady Kraha was shocked once again.

A boy about to enter second year, calmly planning to hand a bill to the skeleton principal.

He had nerve, and without some kind of connection, it would be impossible.

“…Do you really not have a hobby of looking after the pitiable?”

“Why do you keep misunderstanding me?”

“Never mind… Here’s what we’ll do. I’ll give you some gold coins as a gift. Please use them for your junior. Since you spent your own, you can submit a bill to the principal after all.”

“Amazing! What a perfect solution! I’ll do it!”

“……”

She’d intended to press him if he declined out of politeness, but was instead baffled by how Lee Han accepted instantly.

…Maybe he doesn’t get along with the principal?

“But are you really alright doing this? I’m worried you may be wasting too much gold…”

“It’s fine. There are other things to save on.”

• * *

“Mother cut off my allowance!”

Gainando walked among his friends with a tearful face.

“What the heck did you do this time?”

“You should’ve stopped sleeping in so late.”

“Gainando, I know you’re not from a knightly house, but waking up early is…”

“No, that’s not it! It’s all because of you guys!”

“???”

His friends were bewildered by the sudden accusation.

What did we do??

Nillia hesitated,

“I-is it because you ate too many cookies?”

“She said since most of you don’t get allowances during the break and make your own money, I should follow my friends’ example and learn!”

“……”

Lee Han quietly tucked the pouch Lady Kraha had given him away.

If Gainando saw the crest on the pouch, he might figure out the truth.

“Gainando. I’ll buy you some cotton candy, so cheer up.”

“L-Lee Han…!”

Gainando almost got moved to tears by Lee Han’s words, but hesitated.

“I don’t have to study more if I eat that, right?”

“No, it’s just me treating you.”

“Lee Han…!”

Gainando brightened.

At least he had one true friend.

“What does Eandurde still need?”

“Maybe some more clothes? The clothes he got at the mansion are all formal, not great for moving around… He needs something comfortable.”

Hearing about clothes, Eandurde protested and flailed—he didn’t want more dresses. Lee Han comforted his junior.

“No, no. We’re not shopping for clothes. We’re going for weapons.”

“…Weapons are good…”

Lee Han signaled his friends that they should drag him to a clothing store before he caught on.

“A small alchemy cauldron or mortar and pestle might be good too.”

“Why?”

“Could make money during the break with alchemy.”

‘Can’t he just skip alchemy…?’

Yoner thought, but nodded.

Truthfully, picking out alchemy gear for the junior was fun for him too.

“I want to recommend something too. Lockpicking tools…”

“Then I’ll recommend some decent armor.”

“Mage cards! He needs mage cards too!”

Except for Eandurde, everyone was enjoying shopping. Lee Han nodded contentedly.

“Let’s start with one shop at a ti—”

Just then, at the end of the road ahead, Lee Han saw a familiar figure.

It was Professor Voladi.

“…Maybe we should head back to the mansion today and go out tomorrow?”

“???”