Episode 619

Episode 619

Fortunately, Valpatan did not notice that expression.

“You’re too strict.”

“Haha. I know, right.”

Still, Lee Han, being the senior, put it nicely.

“But isn’t it right to do the scheduled training?”

“What kind of nonsense is that. Knights are people too, how can they live just training?”

“?”

Lee Han tilted his head.

Even Lee Han, from a magician family, had only trained under Allarlong, so if it was Valpatan from a knight family, shouldn’t it be even harsher?

“I heard knights originally focused on training…”

Alsicle said so too. Valpatan waved a hand.

“That’s just old stories or fairy tales distorting things. These days, knights train, of course, but there’s also socializing or friendship with other friends…”

“What did you say, Valpatan?”

When a stern voice was heard from behind, Valpatan almost fell over in fright.

“…There are those kinds of people, but they’re the ones who don’t even know which family they’re from! Wardanaz. Knights live on blood, sweat, and steel. Understand?!”

“Ah, yes.”

Lee Han and Alsicle looked pitifully at Valpatan, whose posture crumbled as he collapsed awkwardly.

The one who entered through the back door was an elf knight as tall and slender as Lee Han.

The elf knight had her long golden hair tightly tied back in one, and she wore thick, magically treated heavy armor as if it were casual clothing.

No matter how many spells you put on it, heavy armor for battle was rarely worn normally because of its weight and discomfort.

The fact that she wore such heavy armor so naturally showed just how strong she was as a knight.

‘Is that person Moradi’s old… no, older sister?’

“Hello. Are you perhaps Ziklin of the Moradi family?”

At Lee Han’s question, the elf turned her head and nodded.

“Welcome to the Moradi family. Lee Han of the Wardanaz family. Alsicle of the Pengerine family. We have prepared gifts as a sign of goodwill.”

“Oh.”

Both Lee Han and Alsicle were surprised.

To be greeted so sincerely on an unofficial visit following the skull principal, not even an official visit.

This actually made the recipient feel all the more awkward.

“Ah, no. It’s fine. I don’t deserve such a gift…”

But Ziklin shook her head firmly.

“The Wardanaz family is the one that supports the Empire’s magic. Of course you deserve it. Likewise, the Pengerine family is the one that quelled the beaver beastkin rebellion. I’ve always respected you.”

‘It sounds weird when you put the Wardanaz family together with us.’

Alsicle felt reluctant inside.

Of course, any family would pale in contribution compared to the Wardanaz family, but hearing it right to the face like this was too embarrassing.

Should’ve just glossed over it!

“Th-thank you. If you ever visit the Wardanaz family in the future, I’ll prepare a gift as well.”

Lee Han said, taking the sword Ziklin handed over.

It was a sword made of well-refined, high-quality steel. Its balance was solid and even its appearance was good enough to be worthy as a decorative piece.

‘Could I sell this later?’

“Did you invite me?”

Ziklin asked again without any change in expression. Lee Han was slightly flustered.

“Yes?”

“I asked if you invited me.”

“Th-that’s right?”

Of course, it was just polite talk, but with the other person speaking so seriously, he couldn’t deny it.

When Lee Han said that, Ziklin nodded.

“Then let’s set a time together next time.”

“……”

Alsicle, about to say the usual, ‘Come visit sometime’, swallowed his words after seeing what happened to Lee Han.

Ziklin looked seriously at the two.

“Before having an in-depth discussion about today’s visit… Valpatan. Why are you here? What about today’s training?”

“I-I’ve finished it all.”

“You must’ve had insufficient training yesterday, so why aren’t you making up for it?”

Valpatan’s eyes shook up, down, left, and right.

Sensing danger, Valpatan sold out his junior.

“Oh! This Wardanaz here led the Beechwood Knights and beat the anti-magic people!”

“…!”

Lee Han was appalled.

‘Knights really can’t be trusted!’

Only a White Tiger Tower student would betray like this!

Valpatan did his best to continue the story.

For knights, the accomplishments this junior achieved this year were just interesting stories, but for someone like Ziklin, united by loyalty, honor, and knighthood, they were eye-opening tales.

“The king of the ghoul… anti-magic people… the king of the frost giant… also good at swordsmanship…”

“Wait.”

When Ziklin extended her hand and stopped Valpatan’s words, he wondered if he’d made a mistake and flinched.

Was he too transparent?

“I’ll hear it directly. Valpatan, go make up for the training you lacked yesterday.”

“…Understood.”

Valpatan, with eyes as sad as a cow being led to slaughter, walked out.

Ziklin sat without a change in expression. Lee Han and Alsicle looked at each other, feeling suffocated for no reason.

‘This was supposed to be just a light greeting before the banquet, but isn’t it getting too awkward?’

Alsicle spoke with his eyes.

Chattering noisily like with the other knights was better, but this Ziklin was so serious that just sitting still was suffocating.

Alsicle, who was born into a noble family, wasn’t used to this kind of mood.

‘No kidding.’

‘I do have a good idea though.’

‘What is it?’

“Ziklin of the Moradi family. I left a special sardine in my room, can I go get it?”

“Go ahead.”

Alsicle bowed his head quickly and got out of there.

Seeing this, Lee Han was once again appalled.

‘Magician guys really are all the same, can’t trust them!’

Ditching himself with an excuse.

Lee Han was angry with himself for not thinking of it first.

“??”

The junior looked puzzled seeing Lee Han clench his fist.

What’s wrong with him?

“Lee Han of the Wardanaz family.”

“Ah. You can speak comfortably.”

“Alright. Wardanaz.”

‘Isn’t that a bit too comfortable?’

Lee Han realized even jokes had to be made with caution in front of this person.

“Is there anything uncomfortable about visiting the family?”

“The knights are too both… No, nothing.”

If he said the knights were annoying, they might all be called out and punished, so Lee Han changed his words.

Ziklin nodded seriously and asked again.

“Is there anything you’re curious about while visiting the family?”

Next to them, Eandur-de wiped sweat from his forehead without realizing it.

For Eandur-de, who had only experienced battles in the arena, this was an unbearably suffocating conversation.

Why is it so hard to breathe!

“Nothi—”

“Then, is there anything disappointing about visiting the family?”

‘Crap. I have to think of something.’

Lee Han focused as he saw his junior struggling.

If he didn’t answer, this awkward knight would just keep repeating her list of set topics.

His junior wasn’t the type to bring up a topic first. Only Lee Han could do it here.

“Ah. I do have a question. Which master made that armor?”

“Are you interested in armor?”

“Yes? Yes.”

“Hm. I’ve cherished this armor since I was a child, but if a Wardanaz family blood is interested, out of respect I will gift it to you…”

“It’s really fine!”

Lee Han hurriedly stopped Ziklin.

This elf knight was too formidable.

No matter what topic he brought up, she would absorb it like a sand pit.

What kind of topic would work against a person like this?

• * *

Out in the hall, Valpatan, forgetting his junior, instead of focusing on training, hurriedly looked for Giselle.

Valpatan did have a conscience after all.

“Giselle, Giselle!”

“?”

Giselle, who had changed into casual clothes and was reading a spellbook, looked puzzled at the sight of her relative running over.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s bad. Ziklin is about to knock out your close friend! The magician friend!”

“…?”

Giselle arched her eyebrows in confusion.

She wasn’t surprised that her sister Ziklin would knock someone out. That had happened many times before.

Taciturn and serious, lacking in conversation skills, Ziklin had a power to suffocate any listener in any setting.

Every year in the fortress, visiting knights, admiring Ziklin’s skill, would faint from stifling pressure, and it had become an annual event.

What surprised Giselle was hearing about a close friend.

Among the external guests now at the fortress, the only magician was the skull principal.

But being close friends with the skull principal, no matter how you looked at it…

“Do I seem like I’m close friends with the principal?”

“What are you talking about? Wardanaz! I mean Wardanaz!”

Giselle spat out her tea in her relative’s face. Valpatan dodged using knightly skills.

“What are you doing?!”

“That… what… no, no…”

Coughing, Giselle put down her spellbook and regained her composure.

“I’ll check one by one. By Wardanaz do you mean Lee Han?”

“That’s right. You’re close, right?”

“…When, how did he visit?”

“They say he came with the principal?”

“…!”

Giselle realized too late.

Now that she thought about it, that boy from the Wardanaz family was the favorite disciple meant to inherit evil magic, beloved by the principal since first year.

Of course, the skull principal could have brought him when visiting the fortress.

‘How did I miss that.’

Giselle criticized her own judgment. She should have confirmed who came along.

“But why do you say we’re close?”

“Uh, aren’t you?”

“……”

Giselle hesitated.

Should she say they weren’t close here?

‘If I say I’m not close to the Wardanaz family, not only within the family but to other knights in the fortress, it could sound strange. They might misunderstand and think I have a grudge or ill feelings.’

“…We are.”

“Huh?”

“We’re close. We’re close, okay.”

“Why, why are you glaring at me? Did I do something wrong?”

Valpatan was flustered when Giselle answered with a murderous glare.

He had no idea what he’d done wrong.

“So why did your sister want to see Wardanaz?”

“She heard there was a guest.”

“Wait. If I didn’t hear of it, it must not have been an official visit, so how did your sister find out?”

“…The knights skipped training and went to chat and got caught…?”

“……”

Giselle stared at Valpatan in shock and horror.

Even the mighty Valpatan felt ashamed when his younger relative looked at him that way.

“I… I did my training first.”

“……”

“N-now’s not the time to argue. Before I got out, I saw it—things were dire in there. Please, go and talk to Ziklin. She listens to you.”

‘Should I just kill him.’

Giselle stood up, vowing to make this relative’s winter vacation hell.

Since it was an unofficial visit, they could’ve quietly entertained them, but instead, all the family knights and even knights from the north came and caused a commotion.

“If so, by just shortening the casting time…?”

“Exactly. As expected of Moradi. Excellent. Among the battle magicians, the crazy… no, the excellent ones are skilled at this.”

“I’m surprised. Do battle magicians always practice this way? But if you concentrate on casting speed like this, doesn’t it lack destructive power?”

“You’re right. As expected of Moradi. Excellent.”

“You flatter me.”

Valpatan and Giselle were startled by the conversation coming from inside the room.

“Huh, he didn’t faint??”

“It’s the first time I’ve seen sister talk this much…”

‘That’s what you call talkative?’

Valpatan was alarmed at Giselle’s words.