Episode 832

“Oh. Is this a prophecy of a king-level spirit? How interesting.”

-This Duke of Pride also finds it interesting-

Such a prophecy, truly fascinating.

Not knowing Lee Han’s inner thoughts, Lagesa, the Duke of Pride, and Arsil each added a word.

And for the crime of speaking last, Arsil received her younger brother’s fierce glare.

“You said it, didn’t you, big sister?”

?!

Arsil waved her hands in surprise.

But Lee Han’s suspicion had already hardened by half.

“Please be honest. You said I might become Marengwan while talking about me, right?”

From long ago, Arsil had a tendency to overestimate her relatively younger sibling.

Knowing this well, Lee Han wasn’t the least bit doubtful that Arsil had brought up the Marengwan story.

Faced with her brother’s continued suspicion, Arsil shook her head.

Even though Arsil had expectations of Lee Han, she had never predetermined to beings of other dimensions that “he will become something.”

Words had power, and she didn’t want to carelessly influence her brother’s future.

It’s sad to be doubted by us. We really didn’t do that!

-Human-magician-do-not-doubt-your-blood, how sad must Lord Butterfly be-

“And who are you to meddle in someone else’s family business?”

!!

The Duke of Pride was greatly hurt by the sharp words of the human magician.

How could someone speak so cruelly?

Luckily, the King of Broadcloth cleared up Arsil’s misunderstanding.

-Ah. Just a moment… I seem to have been mad for a moment.

“I see. You’re saying the title you called me just now is the word of a madman?”

-What did I just say? Oh dear. Seems I prophesized in a fit of madness. If it was an unpleasant prophecy, I apologize.

“……”

To think an apology could be this unpleasant.

Lee Han wore a complicated expression.

Sensing that the guest had heard quite an unpleasant prophecy, the King of Broadcloth added:

-Human magician. Just because you hear a prophecy, it doesn’t mean it will come true.

“Of course, that’s true, isn’t it?”

-But—the King of Broadcloth’s—prophecies—are—famous for—their—accuracy—

Be quiet, Garisaima.

Arsil warned the Duke of Pride to be quiet, as her younger brother seemed not to like having his future predetermined by the prophecy about becoming Marengwan.

-Of course, most do come true. Especially mine. In any case, speak quickly before the madness returns. You came for the staff?

The King of Broadcloth spoke in a weary voice, rushing without even a breath.

He clearly intended to wrap things up before the madness came back and normal conversation became impossible.

“Yes. Of course, I know it’s absurd to make such a request to someone with whom I have no connection, but if you could at least give me a chance to pass a trial…”

-If you head north from here, there is a sacred grove I’ve raised. Any magicians visiting today may go and take whatever branch they want. This promise I make while I am lucid,

so it will be maintained even if I fall into madness. I swear on the domain.

The King of Broadcloth’s words sped up, so much so that by the end, there was hardly any pause.

Lee Han, who was listening as intently as he could, was taken aback.

“Uh. You’re saying we can just take it?”

Lagesa, also listening intently at his side, was just as surprised.

“What, you can just take it? Won’t that spoil young magicians? I feel like there should be a proper trial or something.”

Despite their virtuous and righteous impressions, spirits were not beings who gave gifts for no reason.

As can be seen from the Empire’s old stories, contracting with a spirit itself was a kind of test passed only through trial.

The same went for any request for a spirit’s gift or authority. Spirits were all beings from other dimensions with their own desires.

Spirits contracted with magicians so they themselves could borrow the magician’s power.

Spirits gave magicians trials to overcome in order to test the magician’s abilities firsthand.

Yet the King of Broadcloth was telling them that they could just go to the nearby forest and take the branch they wanted, without any trial, contract, or negotiation.

From Lee Han’s viewpoint, this was a perplexing development. It was the same for Lagesa.

-I am so mad I really don’t need contractors. I often just forget, so what does it matter.

“But is it okay to give precious treasures to magicians with no verification at all? Shouldn’t you at least check for qualifications?”

“Lagesa…”

Lee Han called in disbelief, but Lagesa ignored him.

The King of Broadcloth replied again.

-I am so mad that treasures and possessions have no meaning for me anyway.

“You might have to entertain outsiders some day, though?”

-Outsiders rarely come, so I don’t need to prepare for entertaining. Take what you want since you’re here. Who knows when you’ll have another chance to visit.

“……”

“……”

Suddenly, the audience fell silent.

Lee Han wondered if he was forcing a gift out of a spirit who was tired and in pain, and felt sorry for him.

Even the White Tiger Tower students, who’d toughened up their skin as second-years, seemed to feel a little of this as they whispered.

“Uh… is this really okay?”

“He seems pitiful…”

-My grove thrives so luxuriantly anyway, so magicians needn’t worry. It’s fine; call all your friends to take what they want.

Though the Spirit King looked tired and weary, he still possessed a king’s dignified generosity.

As the exceedingly young human magicians hesitated, he reassured them they needn’t worry.

“Is it really okay, though?”

At Angrago’s question, the King of Broadcloth nodded and then paused for a moment.

-Why are you in prison after taking a branch?

“Excuse me?”

-Oh. Seems I went mad again for a moment. My headache is getting worse.

“……”

“……”

Everyone stared at Angrago.

Angrago shouted in a fluster.

“Ah, no! Even if I do get locked up, it’d only be for a crime light enough to break out of!”

-Ugh.

Unable to watch, Arsil stepped forward.

Let me go brew some tea.

-Duke of Pride—will you have a cup too?

At the Duke of Pride’s coy request, Arsil knowingly brought out two cups of tea.

The King of Broadcloth, sipping his tea while enduring his throbbing headache, spoke again.

-To one as mad as I am, guests are a very brief and precious connection. One can’t know if you will meet in the past, present, or future. So, human magicians, just take as you please. You may never meet me again in your life.

The Spirit King’s kind and generous words deeply moved the magicians. Even Lagesa’s heart was touched.

Even Lee Han, who moments ago had received a curse-like prophecy, felt a lump in his throat.

Why was it that, although both were kings, there was such a difference between Perkuntra and this one?

One, with a mind of non-possession, felt sorry he couldn’t give magicians more, while the other…

“Spirit King…”

“I’ll remember King of Broadcloth every time I use the staff!”

-Madness may strike, so I do not recommend it. Now go!

The King of Broadcloth gave a clear dismissal. There was firmness in his voice that allowed for no more conversation.

Arsil and Garisaima also stood to usher the students out for their friend’s sake.

-Ah—I almost forgot—!

As he was sending out the students, the Duke of Pride clapped his hands and called to Lee Han.

As Lee Han was about to leave with his friends, he turned back in puzzlement.

-Aside from the King of Broadcloth’s business, shouldn’t human-magician challenge me again? I, Garisaima, love rematches—

“……”

Perkuntra was not a prophecy-spouting spirit, but he could predict the future well enough.

Now that he was about to get caught up with the Duke of Pride, Lee Han became very flustered. What’s more, unlike before, his opponent even knew Lee Han’s personal details.

“I-I have urgent business, so I’ll come pay a visit later…”

All right—leave—your seal—I’ll send a messenger later

“……”

It was indeed hard to trick someone of the ducal level.

While Lee Han was desperately racking his brain for what to do, the Duke of Pride’s expression changed.

Urgh—!

Thud!

The Duke of Pride collapsed to his knees. Lee Han and his friends were startled, not knowing what could trouble a demon duke.

“Are you all right?”

I—Lord Butterfly—put poison—in—the tea—!

The Duke of Pride looked at Arsil with eyes full of betrayal.

He’d thought she was a pacifist unlike other mortals, but to do something like this!

Arsil ignored him and quickly pushed her younger brother’s back. It meant to get going while the duke was paralyzed.

‘…Big sister!’

Lee Han gazed at Arsil with grateful eyes.

To think she would go this far to shield a brother who’d just accused her unfairly.

Family was the best after all.

“Let’s go!”

-Human-magician—wait—for—the—next—appointment—urgh—!

Ignoring the desperate, poisoned call of the Duke of Pride, Lee Han hurried away with his friends.

• * *

The students walked quietly on the clouds.

So much had just happened in the mansion that they needed time to process it all.

“…This is an incredible stroke of luck.”

“R-right!”

The friends decided to gloss over the attempted poisoning and Angrago’s prison prophecy, and focus only on the positive sides of the incident.

Lagesa also agreed seriously.

“You brats really caught an incredible piece of luck. You rarely ever meet a connection like this.”

“Right??”

All the students wore excited faces at the thought of receiving branches from the Sacred Grove.

‘Something’s off.’

Lee Han felt suspicious at Lagesa’s lack of mischief.

The King of Broadcloth had given without any trial, and yet Lagesa was so nonchalant about it?

As Lee Han was doubting, Lagesa spoke first.

“He said you could call all your friends, so you can have the other brats come get something too.”

“…Ah. Lagesa!”

“?

As Lee Han cried out with an expression of realization, Lagesa flinched.

Could this brat have already figured it out?

“Could I sell my friend rights for money? To seniors or outside magicians…”

“……”

Lagesa felt shame for just having flinched at himself moments earlier.

How could he get rattled by a comment like that.

“Did you just say that out loud?”

“It could just be academic curiosity…”

‘Is this brat sure he isn’t from a pirate family?’

Lee Han was about to ask about the limits of contracts and pledges, but quickly backed off.

Apparently, selling a friend’s spot for money was impossible after all.

“Stop your useless thoughts and get this finished before the rift closes. Once King of Broadcloth’s madness fully kicks in, you won’t be able to get back in.”

“There it is!”

The White Tiger Tower student running at the front shouted upon spotting the forest in the distance.

Unlike the other forests set in the unreachable sky of the domain, this was the only one rooted on the clouds.

Tatata-tak!

The White Tiger Tower student bounced along with the power of enhancement magic.

He reached for the nearest tree’s branch and broke it.

Swish!

“?

The student stared in confusion at his empty hand.

He’d definitely grabbed and broken a branch, but nothing was left. Looking ahead, the branch was unharmed.

Once more…

Swish!

“……”

It was only then that the student realized the tree before him was a mirage. Lagesa burst out laughing, unable to hold back anymore.

“Kihihihihi! Did you really think it would be that easy to just take a branch from the Spirit King’s forest, even without a trial?”

Thinking on it, Lagesa had calmly accepted things because great hardship was to be expected, even without a trial.

Other White Tiger Tower students cursed, but Lagesa just kept laughing.

Lee Han held back the urge to push him off the cloud and asked.

“Lagesa. So how are we supposed to get one?”

“You have to wander until you’re chosen.”

Lee Han instinctively checked the breadth of the Sacred Grove again. At any rate, it was certain there was no end in sight.