Episode 614

Episode 614

“No, no way… This can’t be…!”

There weren’t many magicians who had experienced the feeling of the sky collapsing.

It could be glimpsed sometimes in Einrogard, but generally, it was rare for the sky to collapse.

However, for the young Alhis, today was an experience where it felt as if the sky had fallen.

How could this happen?

“Th-this is a trick! A trick!”

Flushed-faced, the Alhis jumped up and shouted.

Their attitude was full of youthful brashness, befitting their age.

“That… that senior must be in fifth year or something!”

“He was a first-year student until this year. Fongrif.”

“Th-then… then that senior must be top of his class! There’s no way he’s ordinary!”

“!”

‘No way?’

The Skull Headmaster and Lee Han were startled by the sharp observation of the Alhis.

As expected, for someone well-known in the family for excellence, he wasn’t of ordinary intellect.

“No, actually?”

But the Skull Headmaster was still one step more shameless.

Lee Han averted his gaze in embarrassment, but the Skull Headmaster continued speaking without blinking.

“Top student? Hardly. Students like this one are scattered along the road like pebbles in Einrogard. Isn’t that right, Wardanaz?”

“……”

“Enough! Alhis. You bring shame!”

Fortunately, the aged penguin beastkin exploded in anger instead of Lee Han.

“To blame others for your own shortcomings! Since when has the Fongrif bloodline grown so despicable?”

“N-no, that’s not it… I just thought the senior couldn’t possibly be ordinary…”

“How dare you ignore Lord Gonadaltes’ words! You can’t even reach the heels of the reputation Lord Gonadaltes has built!”

The old penguin beastkin trembled his beak as he scolded the Alhis.

The Alhis hung their heads in shame.

‘Is this really okay…?’

Lee Han shot a look to the Skull Headmaster, hoping he’d intervene.

But the Skull Headmaster just nodded, as if his praise was totally reasonable.

Keep going!

“……”

“S-sorry. We were wrong.”

“It isn’t only your fault. Everyone in our family is at fault. We overestimated talent just because you’re family. Lord Gonadaltes, please, I beg you. Please take this talentless one to Einrogard and train him! If you do, we’ll consider it a family honor.”

“Haha. Of course, that’s exactly what I came here to do.”

The Skull Headmaster spoke like the world’s kindest archmage.

“Fongrif, even if you lack talent, there’s no need to worry too much. If you enroll at Einrogard and study hard, you might become like your ordinary senior here.”

“Headmaster, that’s enough, really.”

Lee Han whispered to the Skull Headmaster, who was gleefully teasing the Alhis.

No matter what, they were still juniors, and he felt a little sorry.

“S-senior. I apologize for my rudeness earlier.”

Not knowing what the two were talking about, the Alhis approached hesitantly.

As they came to, they realized how rude their earlier words had been.

“I was wrong.”

“…It’s fine. I don’t mind at all.”

Lee Han quickly comforted them.

His conscience pricked at the thought of just leaving them.

“And your skills were already impressive. If you enter Einrogard, you’ll make great achievements.”

“No! You don’t have to comfort us like that.”

The Alhis shook their heads fiercely.

Today, they had felt it clearly.

They were being deceived within the Fongrif family!

“I’m still lacking a lot. Up until I enroll—no, even after I enroll—I’ll study even harder to reach the level you showed us today, Senior!”

“Uh… um… no…”

Lee Han almost said, ‘Even among my friends, there’s no one like that,’ but then stopped.

“Please remember me. I swear! I’ll definitely come find you again!”

“…Did I ever say my family name?”

Lee Han wondered if ‘My name is Gainando’ might still work.

But it was already too late.

After seeing the Alhis walk off full of determination, Lee Han sighed.

“I hope they don’t come looking for me later.”

“Then you should be grateful; it means you inspired them to study hard.”

“……”

‘I really want to hit him just once.’

• * *

…Lee Han, what did I do so wrong for you to do this to me? Sure, I haven’t studied the dark magic books! But it’s vacation! I’ll seriously study from now on so don’t ever pull this kind of thing again! Got it? Seriously, you must never do this again! How could you! Is not studying such a huge crime!?…

“This guy. He doesn’t even study and still gets angry?”

“?”

Next to him, Bandur lifted his head from reading -History of the Imperial Guild-.

Lee Han waved his hand as if it was nothing.

“Junior, it’s not about you, don’t worry. There’s a friend of mine who never studies, yet he’s the one who gets upset, you know?”

“A grave sin!”

“Right. A very grave sin. Clever, aren’t you? Here, have a cookie.”

The junior happily ate a cookie.

“Execution!”

“Execution’s a bit much. Still, have another cookie.”

The junior chewed as he started reading again.

Lee Han shook his head at Gainando’s outrageous letter.

Not studying his dark magic books, honestly, what a shameless guy.

…Gainando. If, when we return to school after break, you haven’t studied, I’ll spoil every incident in those magazines you read… No negotiation or compromise… If you don’t get at least nineteen out of my twenty questions right…

Finishing the reply, Lee Han opened a letter from Yoner.

…Lee Han. I got your letter. I’m doing well right now. Oh, and Nillia asked me to send regards. The signature form you prepared was really helpful, she said. Nillia is also preparing a letter, but since her handwriting is messy, she wants to practice more. Yoanen is looking for you and it’s probably better to avoid the workshop for a while. Usually, when she’s searching for someone like that, it’s to give out harsh chores. Don’t be fooled just because she says the pay is good…

‘She says the pay is good?’

Lee Han felt the urge to abandon the Skull Headmaster’s work and dash to the workshop right away.

What if other alchemists took his place while he was gone?

…By the way, that business project probably needs more work. Some of the sponsors tend to get violent if things fail…

Lee Han nodded at his friend’s letter.

‘He means I should secure some muscle.’

…Also, this is a bit off-topic, but did you just copy-paste some of the same contents into your letters because you had nothing to write? While talking to Nillia, I noticed some of the same things in her letter. If that’s the case, you don’t have to be so formal. No need to repeat yourself…

“!!”

Lee Han was taken aback.

…Yoner. I got your letter. I recommend magic to Nillia. If she masters the -Low Manipulation- spell, she could write large quantities of letters without arm fatigue even with bad handwriting. Or she could find another scribe. I do the same when I have to write a lot.

Thanks for your advice on the business strategy. I think I do need to secure a bit more muscle to keep the sponsors from getting violent.

As for the similar content, that’s just a complete coincidence. I guess things overlapped a bit since I was being formal and writing about recent events. Don’t misunderstand…

‘From now on, I shouldn’t write to Nillia.’

Coldly resolved, Lee Han opened the next letter.

…As the weather grows cold and the season of snow arrives, it brings to mind such anecdotes. One hundred and twenty years ago, the magician Oloede said…

‘…Who sent this?’

Lee Han was surprised by just how dense the letter was written, so much tighter than the standard format.

It was so dense he could barely recognize where the spaces were.

-Blood of the Empire, Adenart

“……”

Lee Han was at a loss for words at the unexpected sender.

Who knew the princess would be so talkative in letters.

…And thus, since all the issues were resolved, it seems we can learn many lessons from this. By the way, your meat pie from last time comes to mind. It truly was a wonderful dish. Even asking the chef didn’t produce that flavor, you know. Ah, I received your letter while writing this, so I’ll finish after reading it…

‘My eyes hurt.’

Lee Han frowned and put the letter down.

Judging by the pointless stuff at the front, there was bound to be more at the end as well.

He’d finish it some other time!

…Thank you for your letter, Wardanaz. By the way, there’s something I’d like to clarify: The reason I stole the bread from the White Tiger Tower students is because they stole my friends’ bread first. I was just taking it back, you see? Please don’t misunderstand…

• * *

After wrapping up their affairs in the capital and taking a short rest, Lee Han’s group set out once more.

They needed to meet with students from across the Empire, except for the capital, who needed to be seen in person.

Inside the flying carriage, Alsicle tried to share the ‘history of the Fongrif family’ with Lee Han’s junior.

“So, during this time, the Fongrif family suppressed the beaver beastkin rebellion and earned an Imperial noble title.”

“What happened after that?”

“After that… um… not much really, but that’s the same with most families…”

“Did the Wardanaz family, when there was a mana reversal that caused a terrible drought in the Empire’s west, have their patriarch transport all the seawater away, remove the salt, and then make a reservoir?”

“……”

Alsicle didn’t expect to be caught off guard by such a greenhorn.

“Th-that just means the Wardanaz family is the weird one!”

“Alsicle…”

“N-no, I’m not saying you’re weird…”

The Skull Headmaster, eyes closed, spoke with a sigh.

“How do you end up losing an argument to someone who hasn’t even enrolled yet?”

“I didn’t know he’d already learned so much…!”

“Click, click. Some excuse.”

Watching the scenery fly by, Lee Han spotted the northern mountain range in the distance and asked,

“Wait, is the new student in the northern mountains?”

“No. It’s down at the base of the range.”

‘Phew.’

Lee Han breathed a sigh of relief.

He had no wish to enter the mountains and run into the Shadow Patrol.

Apart from the fact that Shadow Patrol members were a hassle, he had some lies hanging over him…

Tap—

After the carriage arrived in a basin and everyone disembarked, a group was coming up the road.

It was the Shadow Patrol.

“!!!”

“A servant in the shadows greets you, Lord Gonadaltes. Are you visiting the mountains today?”

“No. I haven’t come to the mountains today.”

The Skull Headmaster accepted the Shadow Patrol’s greeting as if it were routine.

From that, Lee Han realized the Skull Headmaster wasn’t here for the first time.

Hunters operating in the notoriously harsh mountain range would naturally want magic’s help.

And there weren’t many Imperial magicians who could offer help in such places.

“Then we’ll take our leave. Please call for us if you need us.”

“All right. Thanks.”

“By the way, is our young hunter doing well?”

“Very well. Truly a promising future ahead.”

“Thank you! It’s a bit bold to praise our own, but he’s a truly commendable one. He’s gone to see a friend to carry out a special assignment, and not a single complaint.”

“Ah, Headmaster. There are knights over there! Wow! Even here, there are knights!”

Lee Han smoothly changed the subject. The Skull Headmaster replied, oblivious.

“They’re knights from near the northern mountains. Looks like they’ve got their eye on new students too.”

“Why, those despicable knights.”

“Knights have always been ungrateful and despicable.”

“I agree!”

The Shadow Patrol all nodded enthusiastically.

Whoever that young boy was, he sure spoke nothing but the truth.