Episode 1139

Meanwhile, the Death Knights resting at the mansion showed their puzzlement.

-Strange. Why isn’t anyone coming?

Granted, Bephaim City was in chaos due to the disaster, but that didn’t mean there were no people.

If anything, because of the crisis, there were even more notable figures from around the Empire.

There were bishops from the church, some Baldrogard students—useless, but still, they were there—and even an inspector dispatched for this very incident…

So, really, it was even weirder that no one came.

Were the city’s criminals seriously not going to complain about all this?

Were they just cowards, or were they actually smart?

-Wow, aren’t they pretty impressive?

-So clever it’s annoying. Maybe there really are evil god worshippers hiding out?

“Um, everyone… did you know the locals here would tattle to the authorities?”

Evenita asked in surprise.

The knights sounded like they fully expected the city’s criminals to file complaints.

-Of course, right?

“…You still caused all that ruckus last night, even knowing that?!”

Evenita had assumed the knights must have gotten approval for everything or at least had a plan.

Otherwise, how could you just go rampaging through an imperial city so brazenly?

But here they were, going, ‘Why aren’t there any reports of complaints yet?’

His heart sank with dread.

‘Don’t tell me that archmage will punish me for this too…’

-Calm down, Evenita. Of course, we had a plan.

“R-Really?”

Once the knight tried to reassure him, Evenita let out a sigh of relief.

He’d been a notorious bandit chief who didn’t flinch even when children cried outside, but after working for these knights, he felt himself turning into a coward.

“So what was the plan?”

-When the complaints arrive and the bishop or inspector shows up, they won’t do anything right away. They’ll summon witnesses and evidence first. That’ll take days.

“Yes.”

-And in that time, we escape—no, return to Einrogard.

“I see. Then what…?”

-That’s it.

“……”

Evenita’s face turned gray.

That was their plan?

“That’s your strategy? But then the complaint will end up in Einrogard, and that archmage will… will…”

-Turn you into a toad? A rat? What were you afraid of?

-Stop messing with him. The guy’s a criminal, but didn’t he work hard yesterday?

The old knight interceded. If he didn’t step in, Evenita looked about to have a heart attack.

-You calm down, too. Sure, our style is a bit shocking.

‘A bit??’

Rampaging through an imperial city, busting up everyone from nobles to merchants with no warning, and you call that a bit?

Evenita almost shouted out loud.

-But this is how we’ve always handled things. If what we do is really so reckless, how could we have lasted so long?

“……”

Evenita was, strangely, somewhat convinced.

The knights had been the Einrogard lord’s elite guard for a very long time—their reputation was legendary.

If they were really that careless, could they have lasted this long?

“That… makes some sense. So the complaint never actually reaches Einrogard?”

-Of course.

‘Ha! Fool.’

The ex-bandit chief fell for it, and the knights grinned slyly.

The report never reached Einrogard, after all.

But the Skull Headmaster was never one to just let it slide. He was always furious at the knights whenever complaints reached him.

So how did they deal with him?

They went straight to the punishment room with dignity.

Veteran knights weren’t afraid of that kind of punishment. Since they were helping the heir, they considered that a badge of honor.

Of course, a degenerate ex-bandit like Evenita couldn’t appreciate this kind of sacrifice. That’s why they kept it from him.

-And look at it positively. No complaint has arrived yet.

“What if they all get together and prepare an even bigger complaint?”

-Oh, this little thief is so nervous. Why were you a bandit, then?

-Enough, enough. True, it is disgusting that this thief was once a reckless criminal but now shivers like this…

“……”

Evenita looked at the old knight in disbelief.

Wasn’t he supposed to be helping him?

-Anyway, stop whining. What are you going to do about it now? Go apologize? Offer your neck with us?

Annoying…but it was true.

Most likely, the local thieves now hated Evenita even more than they hated Lee Han and the knights.

People always hate the collaborator who helps the enforcer more than the enforcer himself.

“What are you talking about?”

-Shhh. Don’t mention any of this just now.

As Professors Garcia and Kirmin walked up, the knight quickly warned Evenita.

Since they’d sneaked out last night without telling the professors, they couldn’t mention a thing.

-We were just talking about how nice the weather is. Haha.

“With this heatwave, it’s sweltering.”

-As undead, we’d call this warmth. Hahaha.

“……”

While Evenita was still goggling at their nonsense, Professor Garcia couldn’t take it anymore.

“I know exactly what you all did last night!”

-!

-How… how did you know?!

The knights were shocked.

They’d made sure the students were with them, but they’d checked the professors remained in the inn before going out!

“Well, with Student Wardanaz so upset, obviously he wouldn’t just go to bed… of course I predicted you’d all sneak out to investigate.”

-Oh no…

Not only the friends, but the professors had read Lee Han’s habits.

-You acted on impulse and got called out. Good lesson.

-Indeed!

“What do you mean ‘indeed’ and ‘good lesson’?”

Professor Garcia snapped.

“When we return, I’m not going to cover for any of you—don’t count on it!”

-We never expected you to, Professor. And thank you for not stopping us last night.

The Death Knights’ shamelessness made Professor Garcia wonder if he should have intervened after all.

He’d wanted to give his student time to sort his emotions on his own, but seeing the results…

“You need to take going underground a lot more seriously.”

-We will from now on.

Hearing their cheeky answer, Evenita suddenly hesitated.

“Huh? Underground? What’s that supposed to…?”

So it didn’t all just end by returning to Einrogard?

-Don’t worry about it. Professor Garcia sometimes jokes. More importantly, Professor, there’s something strange.

The knights, seeing that the professors had joined them, explained the curious situation.

Why hadn’t there been any complaints at all?

Was there some vast conspiracy at play that they didn’t know about?

“Maybe the church covered it up to protect Student Wardanaz?”

“The Baldrogard students are probably too friendly with him to lodge a complaint.”

-That’s possible! …Actually, now that you mention it, it does make sense. So the officials…

“…Maybe it just didn’t make it to the officials?”

Even Professor Garcia, who knew Lee Han well, couldn’t guess the extent of things.

Nobody would have guessed that an imperial inspector, sent from the capital, would burn a complaint to protect a single student mage from Einrogard!

---

-So that’s what happened.

“Oh. Excellent. That means we can go out again tonight.”

Lee Han was delighted at the knights’ report.

The knights, seeing his mad enthusiasm, felt an odd sense of pride.

‘He’s starting to become every bit the heir!’

If Lee Han had heard this, he’d have lost his temper on the spot and started swinging his staff.

“And to think the professors even figured it out… I need to reflect.”

Just like the knights, he felt just a little sorry.

Because he’d acted on emotion, he’d gotten predictable—twice.

He resolved that no matter how upset he got, he’d never forget creativity in his movements.

-But Lord Wardanaz, even if you dodged complaints this time, eventually news will reach the master.

“I’ve thought of that, too.”

-Oh? What do you have planned?

“If I get caught and banned, I’ll just operate under the Stedal Nago identity.”

-…!!

The knights were deeply moved. Some even prodded Evenita until he teared up, then wiped their own eyes with his tears.

-You even prepared for this kind of contingency?!

“That’s not what I meant.”

-Truly remarkable!

“I said that’s not what it was. Are you even listening to…”

Unfortunately, Lee Han had no chance to finish.

There was a commotion outside the mansion.

-Seems like someone’s gathered outside.

-Don’t tell me, instead of complaints, they’re just going to storm the place?

The Death Knights, barely hiding their excitement, rushed to the window.

Seeing the crowd of dozens at the front gate, their anticipation grew.

The gatekeeper, panicking, asked:

“U-uh, what should I do…?”

-Open it! Quick!

The knights raced down, excited. If they were lucky, maybe they could twist the report later into, “We tried to resolve things peacefully, but those insane criminals attacked us in broad daylight…”

-Yes! What brings you here?!

“…We’ve come to surrender.”

-Repo… huh?

The knights, reaching for their swords, paused.

Come again?

“We’ve come to surrender…”

With the saddest, most hopeless faces, the assembled crowd spoke. Defeat and regret radiated from them.

-Huh, why?

Even the knights, for all their city-wrecking, were dumbfounded.

They’d caught all sorts of people over the years, but had never had a crowd show up just to turn themselves in.

“We deeply regret our crimes…”

-Enough nonsense, we’re going to interrogate you anyway. If you try to hide something and we find out, we won’t forgive you.

“The thing is…”

The crowd, terrified out of their wits by this threat, confessed everything honestly.

Frankly, seeing nothing happen even after talking to the authorities filled them with abject terror.

What could one do in the face of such monsters?

-You said you went to the authorities!? Are you sure it wasn’t a con artist dressed up as an official?!

“We went to Inspector himself…”

-To the inspector?!

While the knights chattered in shock, a ways off, bishops and priests quietly watched.

“As expected, it was all lies. There’s no brutality at all! To think they dared try to smear them that way.”

“Exactly. Greedy men resentful over Count Buyong, no doubt.”

“Send a letter to the rest of the clergy—make sure no one is fooled by such tricks.”

The church representatives burned with outrage at the scheming of greedy men.

They vowed never to be deceived again!