Episode 1020

‘Yes. Hate the sin, not the archmage.’

Erindarbel, compared to other imperial archmages, was notably responsible and devoted.

Knowing this, even the skull headmaster was willing to turn a blind eye. If it had been one of the other irresponsible archmages, he’d have written a formal complaint to the Emperor himself.

If a drowning archmage gets himself into trouble, he should climb out on his own, not drag others down by the ankles.

‘But…?’

The headmaster spotted a wizard sweating even more and looking even paler than Erindarbel.

It was Alsicle of the Pengerine family.

‘…Why on earth is she like that?’

Sure, the headmaster and Erindarbel had blundered, but what about her?

‘This is it. I’m finally going to imperial prison.’

Alsicle squeezed her eyes shut.

At last, Alsicle was about to follow in the footsteps of so many senior magicians to the imperial prison.

Or perhaps, not even a regular cell, but a secret Einrogard punishment chamber. Alsicle hoped the headmaster would at least speak up for her.

‘No, better to hope Wardanaz does… But he might not be able to get where I end up…’

Why are you like this, exactly?

The headmaster asked, genuinely confused. Alsicle moved her beak miserably, full of gloom and anguish.

“I vouched for Wardanaz’s skills and took him into the expedition…”

Ah!

The headmaster immediately understood.

Come to think of it, expeditions had eyes and don’t just grab Einrogard students at random. Clearly, Alsicle was the one who made the mistake.

The headmaster smiled gently. Turns out, someone far more responsible was here.

My, my! Doing something like that. Turns out the principal party at fault is right here!

“…Isn’t the person who gave the wrong letter even more at fault…?”

What are you talking about? Letters always get mixed up. The problem is when someone ignores that and drags someone along anyway.

Alsicle felt like she was sinking into a bog but couldn’t escape.

And the headmaster hadn’t intended it, but others were swept along as well.

The other explorers.

“…We also gave permission…”

“We never thought the letter might be swapped…”

Seeing the other explorers gloomily resigning themselves to jail time alongside Alsicle, the headmaster became even more amused.

Erindarbel, sweating bullets, tried to calm everyone. She felt awfully guilty at the thought of young imperial talents going to prison because of her.

“N-no, no. This is all my responsibility…”

Shh. That’s enough.

“But my mistake…”

If you get hauled off, it’s a headache for m—no, no, not that. Not checking was a greater fault than a mixed letter.

“But the juniors—”

Do you know imperial law better than I do? Want to take over Spirit Hall?

“……”

“No one has to go that far.”

At this point, Lee Han, returning from his conversation with the Green Jade Tower heir, cut in.

“I never joined the expedition.”

“…Hey, will that really work?”

“We’ll make it work. Please keep it secret, everyone.”

“Wardanaz…!”

Alsicle was about to be moved, but flinched under Professor Voladi Baegrek’s gaze.

Though as expressionless as ever, her guilty conscience made his eyes feel so much sharper.

It was as if he could see right through her lies.

“L-Lady Gonadaltes. Professor Voladi Baegrek is staring at me like he’s about to kill me.”

Put ‘Professor’ in there, Pengerine.

“…Professor Baegrek is staring at me like he’s about to kill me.”

Don’t mind it. He always looks like that…

The headmaster turned to make sure.

Professor Voladi was still staring in silence, but somehow his gaze seemed even fiercer.

Hm. Wait, that’s not it. He’s suspicious. Better watch out, everyone.

“……”

“……”

• * *

Outstanding battle wizards were also skilled at interrogation and wringing out the truth.

When Professor Voladi waved his notoriously brutal right hand and called over familiar adventurers from the expedition, their faces turned deathly pale.

There was also the even more notorious left hand.

“May I have a word with you?”

“T-t-th-that is…”

Hold up! If they’re stammering like this, I’d better check for aftereffects of dimensional erosion. Go get checked.

Luckily, the headmaster intervened.

He had the Death Knights take the adventurers aside to check for symptoms.

“……”

Professor Voladi. Don’t get the wrong idea. The monster that came through the rift this time wasn’t ordinary, it was a void monster—we had to check for aftershocks closely.

“Yes.”

Nasty thing—burned the entire space, and even then the ripple effects remained.

“Yes.”

…You’re suspicious, aren’t you?

“Yes.”

Professor Voladi answered totally straight. The headmaster protested, feeling wronged.

Why don’t you trust me, Professor Voladi? Was I not trustworthy before?

“Yes.”

‘You brat.’

The headmaster shot a glare at his former student.

Professor Garcia would have simply yielded out of sentimentality, and Wardanaz would have faked flattery. But there was no such thing with this cold-blooded vampire wizard.

Then ask Wardanaz yourself.

“I think it’s more accurate to ask others.”

Professor Voladi wasn’t fooled.

Given his protégé’s personality, it wasn’t surprising to think he and the headmaster might have colluded to lie.

He enjoyed dangerous situations, and questioning him wouldn’t get the truth.

So instead, Professor Voladi turned his gaze to the penguin beastkin wizard. The only one really safe to interrogate.

Pengerine also needs rest after fighting the void monster, yes? Wardanaz, you agree?

“…Yes! See? She’s collapsed and barely conscious!”

Lee Han pointed at the fallen Alsicle. Professor Voladi answered bluntly.

“She just looks tired.”

“The monsters were so strong, that’s why.”

“No need to lie to your mentor. Just tell me the truth.”

When Professor Voladi invoked their master-disciple bond, Lee Han panicked.

He hadn’t expected such an underhanded tactic.

Using emotional pressure? Especially after the crazy clone incident, that was hitting below the belt.

‘Should I just tell the truth?’

-Don’t you dare!

The headmaster urgently sent a telepathic plea.

With Professor Voladi’s temperament, if the truth came out here, at least Alsicle and some adventurers might actually end up in imperial jail.

-Don’t be fooled! Only if you endure this crisis can you become a true liar.

‘You’re the worst comforter ever!’

“…I don’t know.”

“Alright. Got it.”

Professor Voladi nodded and withdrew cleanly.

He exchanged a few words with the Green Jade Tower magicians, then left with them.

Lee Han watched his retreat with a lingering sense of guilt and unease.

“…Will everyone be alright?”

You mean Pengerine and the others? They’ll be fine.

“That’s not it—Professor Baegrek…”

You mean Professor Voladi? He won’t be fine. Getting lied to by his own student, after all.

“……”

And neither will you, come second semester. You’ll be back in his class.

“Is it too late to just pay back all the gold coins I owe the towers now?”

Calm down, hahaha.

The headmaster shrank slightly and apologized.

Unlike his other students, this one could actually inflict major damage on Einrogard if sufficiently provoked.

I’m sure Professor Voladi isn’t that petty. Look at all the people you saved.

He pointed to Alsicle and the other explorers.

A wizard should take pride in saving these innocent folk.

“If you’d just pointed out the letter problem in the first place, none of this would have happened.”

‘Not falling for it, eh.’

The headmaster clicked his tongue inwardly.

This student was too shrewd for the kind of appeasement that worked on Professor Garcia.

• * *

“Does it make sense that he couldn’t even take the final because of the headmaster?”

Gainando trembled with rage.

All the wild card parties, mystery parties (Gainando was to be the first victim and hidden culprit), dessert parties, and so on—all were canceled for the break.

Without Lee Han, the other friends just replied, “Why should I?” “Go repay Gainando for covering your shift before talking about parties,” killing any momentum. Lee Han’s absence was fatal to party plans.

“Most things would have been rejected even if Lee Han were here.”

“Hmph. I planned a lot anyway, expecting that. If even one goes through, it’s a win.”

“…!”

Yoner was shocked at his cousin’s sudden leap in intelligence.

How did Gainando get so cunning?

“But the headmaster ruined everything! I mean, seriously, if the school’s broke, he should sell some treasures or work for it or something!”

“Why is the prince spitting truth today?”

“Didn’t he just beg Wardanaz for money when broke?”

The others whispered inside the coach.

Now, after the first semester, Einrogard students were traveling to the capital in several carriages.

Normally, they’d enjoy break in Granden, but the news that a friend was stuck helping the headmaster had changed everyone’s mind.

-If we leave him there, Wardanaz could be dragged around all break!

The “Rescue Wardanaz from the Headmaster” movement unexpectedly drew a large crowd.

Yet, despite their numbers, not one student suspected the business was already finished.

“He might not get valedictorian because of the headmaster.”

“No way. Wardanaz is always first. I checked before coming.”

“All perfect scores. Did you just not bother checking your grades, prince?”

“……”

Gainando quickly changed the subject.

“How hard is it to get gold coins, anyway?”

“Obviously not easy. Prince, couldn’t you just get a donation?”

“That’s…”

Gainando hesitated.

“Not like allowance. No matter how much I whine, mother won’t just give out donations…”

Lady Kraha was generous with pocket money, but strict when large amounts were involved.

She’d even refused Gainando’s earlier demands to buy out the rights to Magic Cards.

‘Wasn’t that just flat-out impossible, though?’

Siana cocked her head, puzzled.

“Well, she is a savvy businesswoman, very prudent with money.”

“I mean, I wouldn’t lend to Einrogard either…”

The realization suddenly dampened the mood of the second-years.

They realized, anew, that nobody in their right mind would just hand gold over to Einrogard.

“Hey, let’s just write a letter of complaint and rescue him. That’s the only way.”

“You think?”

“If we flood the palace gates with letters, the headmaster would have to let him go.”

At least, the students had matured.

Faced with an impossible crisis, they did not falter but calmly sought out the best solution.

Already the spirit of Einrogard was growing lush and strong in their hearts.