Episode 1075

‘Of all the many exploits of Stedal Nago, why that unusual one?’

Of course, Lee Han had added that one out of greed.

Who in the Empire wouldn’t have wanted to increase their fortune during the Boneskin Flower speculation boom?

But he never expected so many people to latch onto that detail.

Wasn’t being captured by pirates or discovering a treasure map more interesting?

“What? That Nago family?! I heard that too. He took over eight ruined families during the Boneskin Flower panic!”

“!”

Lee Han flinched at the rumor, now thoroughly distorted.

He never said anything like that.

“Amazing. Truly great insight, and truly great wealth. No wonder he’s a great magnate of the South.”

“Wasn’t it the West?”

“Huh? I thought East…”

“What’s the Nago family? I’ve never heard of it.”

“Ah, perhaps you missed it while traveling. Recently…”

As those gathered rapidly exchanged rumors, the mages inside the vessel shared looks of bewilderment.

What on earth is this situation?

“What’s Stedal Nago?”

“I, I don’t know. Must be a pseudonym. Do Einrogard students use such aliases?”

“Could it be Lord Gonadaltes’ secret name?”

“It could… it could.”

Puyo considered Avalkaigen’s hypothesis plausible.

Judging by his behavior, the skeletal headmaster seemed like someone who lived outside Imperial law, but in fact this great mage was surprisingly law-abiding.

Of course, for those victimized by him, the refrain was always, ‘Is that what you call self-restraint?’ But in reality, he was holding back.

On the other hand, there were always strange rumors circulating in the Empire.

Stories of people who’d suffered greatly at the hands of an unidentified, terrifying archmage!

Oddly enough, they always seemed to have recently offended the skeletal headmaster.

Puyo wouldn’t have been surprised if the headmaster secretly used an alias to ambush those who crossed him.

“Now that I think about it, the alias also feels closely tied to Lord Gonadaltes.”

“But isn’t that rather perfunctory as an alias?”

“I’m sure there’s some deep meaning. As mages, we can’t begin to imagine it.”

Neither mage could have imagined that the headmaster’s disciple was freely borrowing her teacher’s family name for an alias.

Meanwhile, finally, someone among the crowd said what Lee Han was hoping for.

“Ah! The mage who escaped from pirates, right?”

‘At last!’

Lee Han let out a sigh of relief inside.

He was about to act roughly, and it wouldn’t do for people to think he was the empire’s investment god.

-Hmph. Go a…

-Nago! Would you, please, offer your wisdom on whether the West will have a good harvest this year?

‘That would be embarrassing.’

Such a situation had to be avoided.

“Pirates?”

“Yes. I heard he was once captured by pirates in his youth, but turned the ropes into vipers and poisoned them all. Not only that, the pirate boss was turned into stone, and his statue scattered across the sea!”

“……”

Lee Han paused, about to butt in again.

Just as with the investment rumor, the other stories had been greatly exaggerated.

“Ah! I’ve heard that too! He supposedly buried greedy bastards underground in Granden City!”

“…It was the canal!”

Lee Han blurted it out before he could stop himself—it hadn’t strictly been underground.

Startled by the rough voice, everyone turned his way. Lee Han quickly cleared his throat.

“Who dares insult Stedal of the Nago family? Step forward!”

“I-I apologize.”

Count Zau quickly sheathed his finely honed dagger and bowed.

Everyone assembled deeply sympathized with how unpleasant and insulting it was to be mistaken for Professor Verdus.

Imagining some innocent person being blamed for Verdus’s deeds was horrific.

‘Just how many enchantments does that dagger have…?’

Lee Han let out a breath. The kindly old count’s dagger radiated a deadly energy.

Its purpose was likely to pierce through all the protective magic an enchanter’s body had in a single blow…

If fighting broke out, Lee Han resolved not to block it by telekinesis.

“How dare you cause such chaos in the capital!”

“S-sorry, Sir Nago. But… isn’t that sailing vessel the work of Bibble Verdus?”

“Ac…”

“You can tell by the beaver figurehead at the prow!”

“I’ve seen it in several of Professor Verdus’s letters as well.”

‘Oops!’

Lee Han realized his mistake as he was about to deny it.

He should have cut that beaver figurehead off immediately!

He’d left it, not wanting to disrupt the balance of the well-made artifact, and that came back to bite him.

The assembled nobles weren’t going to wrongly accuse some innocent bystander of being Professor Verdus, but they also weren’t easy to fool.

Without a proper explanation, Lee Han wouldn’t be able to send them away.

“I… took it from him.”

“!!!!”

“T-took it?!”

The crowd buzzed in shock.

Lee Han thought they were overawed by Stedal Nago’s brazen theft.

But that was a mistake.

“How could you possibly take something from Professor Verdus? By what means?”

“Incredible…! The rumors were true!”

Professor Verdus was not only a powerful mage but wary and on guard due to his many enemies.

Not to mention, he spent most of his time hiding inside his dam—or rather his magic tower—within Einrogard.

Stealing from such a wizard was as hard as robbing a dragon’s hoard.

“With cunning schemes and mighty strength, I took it by force!”

“A-amazing…”

“Sir Nago, would you visit our family sometime?”

“No, our family first!”

The nobles all tried to invite this impossibly skilled wizard.

If they could harness his power, maybe someone in the capital could finally catch Verdus.

-What’s going on!

‘Whew. Thank goodness.’

When knights approached swiftly from afar, Lee Han sighed in relief.

Seems they’d noticed the crowd gathering midair.

Soon, people would be dispersed…

“They say Sir Nago here stole something from Professor Verdus!”

“!”

Lee Han was stunned.

He didn’t expect capital nobles to tattle so gracelessly and immediately.

The knights, of course, were shocked at that.

“How? By what method?”

“……”

Lee Han was at a loss for words.

Why ask how?

One knight, who seemed to be new, cautiously asked,

“S-sir, even if he did steal it, are we just to let it go?”

“In comparison to all that Bibble Verdus himself conned away, this is nothing. Even if you investigate, he won’t even show up in court.”

The knights were seasoned and wise.

After all, Professor Verdus never appeared in Imperial court. Making a fuss about it was pointless.

“More important—how did you pull off the theft?”

“With cunning schemes and mighty strength!”

“A historic feat for the Empire. His name will be remembered: Stedal Nago…”

As they marveled, the knights finally thought to question Nago’s identity.

“How did the permit…? Wasn’t it lodged by the Einrogard Death Knights?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then, is he from Einrogard? A new professor?”

“Wouldn’t that make sense?”

The fact that Einrogard professors were stealing from and robbing each other was strange, but none of the knights here questioned it.

“Then, we probably shouldn’t push it.”

If he wasn’t from Einrogard, the knights might have requested guidance on “how to rob Professor Verdus,” but since he was, it was impossible.

Their conversation over, the knights began dismissing the crowd.

“We understand your amazement, but you can’t stay here!”

“Please disperse as previously arranged!”

The crowd left with regret, shouting after Lee Han,

“Sir Nago, please consider our offer!”

“Our family’s doors are always open!”

Lee Han heaved a sigh of relief as they dispersed.

There had been nerve-wracking moments, but it seemed he’d pulled it off.

“They’re gone. Let’s go down.”

“We won’t speak of this to anyone.”

“!”

Lee Han was impressed by the two wizards’ thoughtful consideration.

He’d been going to ask, but…

‘Distinguished mages really are on another level.’

“Thank you.”

“We should thank you! Our reputations would’ve been stained otherwise.”

Avalkaigen was genuinely grateful.

He’d never imagined he’d need help from Professor Verdus’s disciple.

“If you ever need to repair or improve this vessel, don’t hesitate to send a letter.”

“I’m sure it’s hard to consult Professor Verdus, but while I’m not as good as him, I can get the insight of other mages together for you.”

Tap—

Once they returned to the starting point, the two mages descended to the second floor and prepared to leave.

“You won’t say goodbye to Professor Verdus…? Safe travels!”

Lee Han realized mid-sentence what a foolish question it was to ask.

The two wizards laughed and went on their way. Not a single person looked toward Professor Verdus on the first floor.

Once they were far enough away and any association with Professor Verdus would be unthinkable, Avalkaigen asked his disciple,

“By the way, what were you trying to say earlier?”

He remembered his disciple tried to bring up -Bibble’s Lament-.

“Oh, right.”

Avalkarn explained what had happened before.

How the boy from the Wardanaz family briefly stepped out, apparently spoke with his master, whom they presumed to be the skeletal headmaster, and returned having cast -Bibble’s Lament- and perfectly restored the relic…

“…What?!!”

Avalkaigen nearly exploded with a shout, barely regaining composure.

The words “Why didn’t you say so sooner?!” almost burst from his throat.

‘Ugh.’

The master made a vow.

From now on, he would always listen to his disciple’s words to the end without cutting him off!

• * *

“Wardanaz.”

“Ah. Alsicle. You worked really hard yesterday.”

“Huh? No, it was nothing compared to your trouble. But there’s something I’m curious about.”

“?”

The next day.

Alsicle called out to Lee Han at the villa, and Lee Han looked at him curiously.

What was going on?

“Did you do anything recently as Stedal Nago??”

“…Why do you ask?”

Rattle—

Alsicle flipped his backpack upside-down and shook it out.

Well over a hundred letters spilled out, some with bite marks from a beak.

“This morning I woke up to find my room full of letters asking to be introduced to Stedal Nago…”

“I’m sorry!”

Lee Han apologized wholeheartedly.