Episode 1012

Episode 1012

“If you mean other friends, who are you talking about?”

“Yes?”

Lee Han was flustered because he hadn’t expected to be asked to name specific friends.

As expected, the insight of an archmage was sharper than most.

“…Senior Direte, and Lee Han of the Wardanaz family…”

Flustered, Lee Han made a choice he would never normally make.

He added his own name to the list of friends.

The Death Knight walking beside him felt sorry for him inwardly.

‘Successor, trying to squeeze in your own name like it’s someone else’s just makes it sound even more pitiful.’

“And… um… Stedal of the Nago family.”

-……

The knights had to turn their heads, unable to look at their successor with a straight face.

This conversation was so shame-inducing that even an undead who’d lost his flesh felt embarrassed.

Erindarbel displayed curiosity at the unfamiliar name.

“Was there such a person? I’ll have to ask Yukveltire.”

“That wizard is very secretive. So she probably wouldn’t have bothered mentioning it.”

“That’s odd. Yukveltire isn’t the type to act out of respect for others’ tendencies.”

‘Ugh.’

Lee Han cursed his absent senior.

How much trouble had she caused, to be such a headache even when not present?

“…Senior has changed a little, at least.”

“If that’s true, it’s a remarkable and joyful thing. It might be thanks to a friend’s devotion.”

“I think that’s quite likely as well.”

Lee Han nodded quickly.

If not for senior Direte, that cow Verdus might have starved to death by now or disappeared in the depths of Einrogard.

“An outstanding wizard shouldn’t keep troubling her friends, though.”

“I completely agree!”

After answering, Lee Han worried that his response was too enthusiastic.

He’d accidentally raised his voice.

But he couldn’t help himself.

When would he ever again get the chance to borrow a great archmage and mother’s authority to scold cow Verdus?

However, Erindarbel didn’t seem to care about Lee Han’s reaction. Instead, she lifted her silver eyebrows in irritation at her daughter’s actions.

“It’s truly unfortunate that even after my letter, she shows no change.”

“What did you write to her?”

“I sent a letter telling her that Yukveltire wouldn’t help with her magical research, so she should leave her alone and focus on her own work.”

“?”

Lee Han cocked his head, feeling a sudden sense of wrongness.

Then he realized—

Amazingly, this archmage had sent the letter not to Yukveltire but to Direte!

“Aren’t you supposed to send that to Senior Yukveltire?”

“Yukveltire won’t listen, so there’s no point in sending her a letter.”

“……”

No wonder anyone couldn’t be an archmage. Lee Han could only accept.

‘That’s certainly correct. It’s probably much easier to tell everyone around Senior Yukveltire to avoid her than to try to convince her.’

“Wait. Then, Senior Direte got the letter, so why did she keep that fri– I mean, why keep that friendship?”

Erindarbel sighed lightly in pity.

“She replied that she’d choose her own friends.”

“Oh, dear!”

Lee Han gave a sigh of regret as well.

Why, indeed?

‘Maybe the letter was too direct.’

If someone sent Lee Han a letter saying “Don’t be friends with Gainando,” he’d probably just flutter in and defend him even more, thinking “Who are you to say so?”

A letter like “By the way, Gainando is hoarding a month’s worth of snacks and eating them secretly alone” would be far more effective.

“Since you revealed yourself as a friend of Yukveltire as well…”

“Did I!? …Well, yes, I suppose I did.”

Lee Han tried to recover, but it pained him.

‘Damn. I should’ve named Moradi instead.’

He’d reacted slowly because the question was too abrupt.

“…Please be careful not to get entangled with Yukveltire and hinder your own research. It would be a great loss, in terms of the greater good, if wizards who must bear the Empire’s future were unable to fully concentrate on their magic.”

Archmage Erindarbel, as most great wizards, held strong convictions.

Talented wizards must be nurtured and supported so they could each flourish.

…Of course, if one of those talented wizards started to harass others like a weed or poisonous mushroom, strict isolation was also called for…

‘Isn’t that a bit harsh?’

Lee Han was slightly surprised by his own thoughts just then.

He apparently still had some sense of loyalty as a fellow senior.

“How is Adenart doing?”

“Yes? A…”

At last Lee Han recalled that the wizard before him was also Adenart’s mother and answered favorably.

“Her Highness is extremely diligent.”

In fact, unlike a certain senior, Adenart was noted even in the Blue Dragon Tower for her diligence.

“Is that so? According to her letters, it sounds like she’s constantly pressuring you to cook…”

‘Gasp.’

At the keen remark, Lee Han involuntarily sucked in his breath.

He had no idea how many times he’d been nervous facing this archmage.

“…The Blue Dragon Tower students divide up the chores. Maybe you misunderstood. I’m in the Alchemy Faction, so I often end up responsible for cooking.”

‘You also do gathering, repairs, crafting, cleaning, and everything else…’

The Death Knight thought inwardly.

Strictly speaking, being in the Alchemy Faction and doing the cooking wasn’t a lie.

It just happened that he listened to all the other factions as well.

“I see. Since Adenart is a picky eater, I wondered at her letters, but if it’s for everyone, that makes sense.”

“Ye… Yes???”

Lee Han was startled.

Was there more than one Adenart in Einrogard?

• * *

“Everyone, good work.”

The skeletal headmaster, having finally dispatched the wizards, opened the carriage door and stepped inside.

“Check for tracking magic, branding magic, parasitic magical life forms, extra-dimensional creatures—see if anyone planted anything.”

The headmaster didn’t trust even officially recognized imperial tower wizards, not one bit.

It wouldn’t surprise him if, during the conversation, they had planted a hidden communication device on his student’s collar or cloak.

-The student checked and destroyed it with mana earlier.

“…R-right.”

The headmaster shuddered inwardly.

Even Professor Garcia hadn’t adapted this quickly.

What a terrifying kid!

“Still, thank goodness you probably won’t be kidnapped by a tower. Now, let’s see…”

The headmaster took out a pocket watch and checked the time and date.

“I plan to stay in the capital until next week. Since things finished much earlier than expected, you’re free to do as you wish for the rest of the time.”

Convincing the debt collectors was finished, but that didn’t mean he could just return to Einrogard grinning.

He still had to explain what had happened to many figures in the Empire, including the emperor.

The fact that one of the continent’s regularly descending thought-forms had ascended permanently was extremely important information.

“Oh. In that case…”

“Wait. If you’re thinking of visiting His Highness Joulin, forget it. It’ll be better if you go with me after I’ve finished my schedule.”

“?”

Lee Han was puzzled by the headmaster’s firm refusal.

“Are you saying you’re worried His Highness will be upset with you if I go by myself first?”

“…Ha ha. You clever one, sharp as a giant. Correct. So let’s go together later.”

The headmaster looked at his student with pity as he made such a silly guess, having displayed such intelligence when casting among the tower wizards.

Just as prophets cannot foresee their own futures—how could he be like this?

“I needed to buy a gift anyway… Ah. I received this from Lady Erindarbel.”

Lee Han took out a rolled-up scroll, still sealed with wax.

“Do you know what this is?”

“I do. Looks like Erindarbel holds you in high regard. Not that there’s any reason she shouldn’t.”

At those words, Lee Han replied understandingly.

“She wants me to join her magical research, right?”

“What? No!”

The headmaster was dumbfounded at this absurd misunderstanding.

“Erindarbel’s not that type… Oh. Is it because of Yukveltire that you thought that?”

“What? No way I’d think that.”

“Don’t lie.”

“In fact, yes.”

“…Erindarbel likes to give gifts to talented wizards. It’s probably something useful to you.”

“Like joining her magical research?”

“……”

The headmaster was pained by his student’s distrust.

But what could he do?

Sometimes even the parent paid for the child’s sins.

“You’re free not to open it, but if you’re curious, go ahead. You’ve nothing to lose.”

At that, Lee Han let go of his doubts and broke the seal on the scroll.

Inside was a map of the capital, with destinations and explanation written on it.

A letter to my dear wizard and future successor.

The magic I discussed with you earlier is in progress at the following location.

Since I left word in advance, there should be no problem joining in.

I look forward to your participation and achievement.

Erindarbel

“???”

Lee Han cocked his head at the scroll’s content.

The headmaster saw this and asked.

“A banquet? An artifact shop? If you’re lucky, maybe even the storeroom of a bankrupt noble house.”

Erindarbel usually called wizards to such places and let them take the artifacts they wanted.

It was a generous gathering, enough that even the skeletal headmaster wanted to join in.

“None of those. Looks like it’s an underground area just outside the capital.”

“Maybe she found a secret underground vault. If you can, swipe a little something.”

“It says the magic we discussed is in progress, but I don’t have any memory of discussing magic…”

“Sure, sure, you’ll remember after you talk. Go check it out.”

The headmaster didn’t listen.

His student’s history was already too full of such things.

He probably hadn’t even thought it was magic at the time.

“She calls me the successor… isn’t something off?”

“It’s probably because these knights forgot their knighthood and recklessly ran their mouths.”

At the headmaster’s words, the Death Knights averted their gaze once more.

“One last thing: Erindarbel isn’t the type to force others into research like Yukveltire. If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to, but don’t regret it later when you read about it in the imperial paper.”

“I’ll go right now.”

Lee Han made up his mind at once.

He knew he’d be too devastated to bear it if he later saw an article like -Ancient Hidden Vault Discovered Underground Outside Capital- in the imperial newspaper.

• * *

Jinon, chosen as the next successor of the Green Jade Tower, received a letter from the archmage and fell into troubled bewilderment.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah, I received a letter from Lady Erindarbel, but I don’t understand it.”

A letter to my dear wizard and future successor.

Artifacts suitable for Einrogard students are being distributed at the following place.

I hope this helps compensate a little for the inconvenience caused by Yukveltire.

Thank you again.

Erindarbel

“What does this mean? What kind of artifact is suitable for an Einrogard student?”

“Maybe it just means it’s a really good artifact?”

“And what’s that about Princess Yukveltire’s trouble?”

“She probably means the time Princess Yukveltire took the reagent that the Green Jade Tower had just bought first.”

‘Is that it?’