Episode 295

If they had hesitated while solving the problems or showed signs of fatigue, people would’ve said, “Let’s stop here,” but since those freshmen were handling everything so well, everyone just got more excited and kept egging them on.

Thanks to this, only Doin was having a rough time.

He was starting to run out of mana…

“We’re ready.”

Lee Han’s words sounded almost frightening at this point.

Doin wiped the sweat from his brow and looked desperately at Lee Han.

‘What’s going on?’

Lee Han, of course, noticed that look. He pondered.

Why was the other magician acting like this?

“Sir Doin, are you feeling unwell? You’re sweating quite a bit…”

“A-ah, I’m fine. I really am.”

Doin gripped his staff and stifled a sigh.

He no longer had any idea what test to give next.

‘What… spell…’

Thud!

As he staggered, Doin finally collapsed. It was dizziness from mana exhaustion.

“Are you alright?!”

Lee Han rushed over at once.

He’d been worried Doin might be sick for a while, so he reacted quickly. As he helped support Doin, he spoke.

“You seem unwell, you should have told us in advance.”

“Ugh…”

Doin almost blurted out, “Isn’t it because you were too obliviously good at this?”

But he stopped himself. His opponents were from the Wardanaz Family and the Dalkard Family, after all.

“Oh dear. Sir Doin must have overexerted himself despite not feeling well.”

“Unfortunately, it can’t be helped. Today was truly delightful.”

The guests rose from their seats with warm, concerned farewells.

Some guests even approached Lee Han’s group personally to praise them.

“That was splendid. Soon, there will be rumors that a great mage has arisen from the Dalkard Family.”

“N-no, thank you.”

“The reputation of the Wardanaz Family is truly well deserved. I was sincerely impressed.”

“Thank you.”

“If you ever have plans after graduation, I would be happy to offer you personal sponsorship…”

Some guests even offered Ratford personal support.

Upon seeing this, Lee Han felt a bit wronged.

‘Wait, why only Ratford?’

He understood, of course.

Such sponsorships were bestowed by wealthy patrons on talented but financially poor individuals.

Rich people or nobles could win the favor of a potential future archmage by giving money or favors ahead of time, and the mage could immediately receive some gold—so it was a win-win.

But to offer this to a scion of a great noble house would be an insult—as if to say, “Doesn’t your family have any money?”

How unfortunate.

“I-I’m fine, thank you.”

“There’s no need to decide now. If you ever change your mind, please come see me.”

Ratford nodded, a bit dazed.

At that moment, an elderly person approached Lee Han. He immediately recognized that this was no ordinary individual.

‘Two rings. One necklace. One bracelet. All artifacts.’

Someone like Lee Han, who could keenly sense the flow of mana, could judge as much from appearances alone.

Someone who wore that many artifacts was rare even among the empire’s rich.

“Did you recognize my artifacts?”

The person asked with interest.

“Yes. I apologize if that seemed rude.”

“It’s nothing. If you are capable, it’s only natural to notice. I am Aradne of the Greenbell Family.”

“I am Lee Han of the Wardanaz Family.”

The spider beastkin, Aradne, gave off the air of a kind grandmother, but her movements were precise and her posture never wavered.

“Sir Doin is not a magician of poor ability, so today was surprising.”

“It was just luck.”

“I’m not a mage myself, but there are few words less suited to magic than ‘luck.’ Only skill exists. Dispelling Sir Doin’s magic so easily was already astonishing, but to drain all his mana as well…”

“!”

Lee Han was surprised.

‘Ah. That’s right.’

Now that he thought about it, Doin’s condition had been odd.

If he had been truly unwell, there would have been signs from the outset.

Caught thinking from his own perspective, Lee Han hadn’t considered that the other magician might simply run out of mana.

‘That was a bit thoughtless of me.’

However, it seemed Aradne misunderstood Lee Han’s surprise.

“There’s nothing to be shocked about. I didn’t mention it to criticize. A great mage ought to be proud—especially toward someone arrogant enough to test their skills. Ending it so gracefully, Sir Doin should be grateful for that, at least.”

“…No, that’s…”

Lee Han wanted to clarify, but Aradne was already satisfied in her own mind.

Even if it was just an event at a gathering, any magician who challenged her without even possessing the skill deserved to be trampled by the pride of the Wardanaz Family!

“It really wasn’t like that.”

“Well, if you say so, let it be that way. In any case, I was impressed. It’s nothing new for Einrogard graduates to excel, but to see a first year at this level, even for the Wardanaz Family, is a first.”

“Thank you.”

“As students, you’ll stay in Granden City over the vacation, right? If you ever need help, please come see the Greenbell Family. The doors of our manor are always open to the capable.”

“!”

Again, Lee Han was surprised.

Aradne seemed to interpret his surprise in another way.

“Shall I guess? You’re thinking, ‘Is there anything I need help with right now?’ right?”

“No… that’s not it.”

“Sometimes there are things that even the power of a prominent family can’t resolve, or things you’d rather not use your family’s name for. It happens. So…”

With a nod, Aradne left.

Ahsan returned from being praised by his brother and sister, sounding excited.

“Wardanaz! Did you hear? I was complimented! They praised me!”

“Ahsan… I don’t know if you should invest so much meaning in a single compliment.”

Lee Han looked at his friend with pity.

Life would be so much easier if he could just ignore them. Why try so hard?

“So, what did they say?”

Since Ahsan was so happy, Lee Han asked out of courtesy.

Ahsan replied, face flushed with excitement.

“They said I did well, that I made a great friend, and that I need to work hard to keep up with that friend from now on.”

“?”

“??”

Lee Han and Ratford tilted their heads.

Ratford whispered softly so only Lee Han could hear.

“Sir Wardanaz, I’m not familiar with nobles—is that actually a compliment among them?”

“No, Ratford. That’s not a compliment.”

Ahsan kept smiling regardless. Lee Han said sympathetically:

“Ahsan. If you get bored during the break, come to the Wardanaz Family mansion. Or rather, even if you’re not bored, come visit often.”

“Tha… nks?”

Ahsan agreed with a puzzled look, as if he felt something was off.

“By the way, Wardanaz, after you helped me like this, I can’t just let you go. Is there anything you need? If there is, tell me. The Dalkard Family will repay you.”

Lee Han was about to refuse but hesitated.

Come to think of it, there was one thing he needed.

“There is something I need.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“Repay the silver you borrowed.”

“…Ah, that’s just a given. Anything else?”

“Nothing in particular.”

Ahsan looked flustered.

Paying back a borrowed silver was only natural.

“You didn’t come all this way just for that, did you?”

“Of course not. I just came to visit a friend.”

“Right? Of course…”

Ahsan nodded, trying to convince himself but still feeling uneasy.

• * *

The Meikin Family’s mansion in Granden City reminded one more of a bustling and prosperous alchemy workshop than a stately noble house.

Practical design with no unnecessary ornamentation, laborers and alchemists constantly coming and going, the scents of all kinds of herbs and potions wafting from within…

“The herbal smell is strong.”

“Yeah. The smell of money’s even stronger.”

“Excuse me? I said the scent of herbs.”

“Oh. Sorry, I was thinking about something else.”

Lee Han apologized to Ratford.

Seeing all the workers hauling in materials and alchemists coming and going, he understood why the Meikin Family was so wealthy.

And this wasn’t even their main family house, just a manor.

“I should get closer to Yoner from now on.”

“Aren’t you already close?”

Lee Han walked toward the mansion’s main gate.

The doormen were so busy that they barely looked at Lee Han before barking out,

“Line up and wait! There are already five carriages inside! No matter how hard you try to push through, you’ve got to wait!”

“Actually, we’re—”

“I said no! Whether you’re from a merchant company or a workshop, you’ve got to line up! It’s the rule! If you break the rules, what will that make all these folk waiting here?”

“That’s true.”

Lee Han was convinced by the doorman.

A long line of carriages and laborers were waiting at the gate.

People from guilds, merchant groups, and workshops had all come and were waiting.

Of course, Lee Han hadn’t come for business but just to visit a friend, but that wasn’t a reason to cut the line.

“Let’s just wait.”

“Uh… I think we could just go through separately…”

“Ratford, what do you think everyone waiting behind us would say? It could cause trouble for the Yoner Family, so let’s just wait.”

Ratford tilted his head but followed Lee Han.

Was this how it always worked when visiting a noble house?

‘I don’t think so…’

“What are you two here for?”

An alchemist ahead of them asked.

With a long robe, laden with potions and reagents, he looked more like a walking advertisement for his trade than an actual alchemist.

“We’re here to see someone from the Meikin Family.”

“I figured. I’m here for the same reason.”

The alchemist smiled, pleased to spot a fellow with the same goal.

According to the alchemist, visitors to the Meikin Family mansion fell into two categories.

One group came with a formal contract to deliver items promised to the family.

The other group tried to attract the Meikin Family’s interest and receive a contract or sponsorship.

Meikin was a reliable patron. Any merchant company, guild, or workshop that caught their eye could receive a generous grant of gold.

That’s why so many people stood in line, carrying herbs or making their own alchemical potions.

“I see.”

“But you two… do you really need to wait here?”

The alchemist looked Lee Han and Ratford up and down.

If you live in the city long enough, you learn to guess a person’s status from their clothes.

The two of them clearly looked like noble scions.

“If you want something badly enough, you need to wait.”

“That’s true. I suppose you’re right. Never mind my question.”

The alchemist nodded.

Even those of noble birth had to wait if they wanted something enough.

Of course, it wasn’t that he hadn’t considered, ‘If they’re nobles, couldn’t they just send a servant to make an appointment?’ but he let it go, figuring they must have their reasons.

Someone ahead with a suspicious egg was let in, then a merchant group employee with reagents from the snowy mountains was let in, and finally it was their turn.

“This way! Please come this way! What’s your purpose for visiting?”

“We’re alchemists. We came to have our potions appraised.”

“Understood! Please go to the west wing! Three new alchemists for the west wing! Three alchemists!”