Episode 625

“Please, speak comfortably. Patriarch.”

Alsicle showed courtesy and yielded the seat of honor.

As guests being treated with respect on another family’s estate, it was time to say there was no need for formal address now.

“I will, then. Sir Pengerine.”

“Please, speak comfortably with me as well.”

“Thank you, Lee Han.”

After exchanging light greetings, they all sat down.

At that moment, a knight staying on the estate knocked on the door.

“Sir Pengerine, you said you’d help repair the ice wall today… Oh! I’m sorry!”

“It’s fine. You must have had an earlier appointment.”

Without much change in expression, the patriarch gestured for him to continue.

“T-that is, today, Sir Pengerine said he would strengthen the ice wall of the Orumbawei Cape Fortress with magic since it’s become weak. I came because it’s time…”

“Ah, yes, I did.”

Alsicle realized his mistake.

He’d promised the knights to cast supporting magic for patrol assistance.

“I’m sorry, Patriarch.”

“No, it’s understandable if you already had an appointment. In fact, the Moradi family should be thankful. Escort Sir Pengerine well.”

“Yes!”

Alsicle lowered his head in gratitude to the patriarch, who didn’t reproach the knight and preserved everyone’s honor.

Then he met Lee Han’s gaze.

‘Gasp!’

Lee Han was looking at Alsicle with the eyes of someone staring at a traitor.

“T-this isn’t what you think!”

“What isn’t?”

“This time really is just a coincidence, unlike last time!”

“Ah. Sure. If you say so.”

Lee Han’s stare at Alsicle was now as low as he looked at the skeletal principal.

Feeling the change, Alsicle’s heart ached.

‘Ugh.’

“I’ll be back. Let’s talk again later.”

“Yeah, whatever.”

“I really didn’t mean it…”

Alsicle clung to the end as he went outside.

‘Hmm.’

Left alone with the Moradi family patriarch (well, his junior was there, but not much help), Lee Han couldn’t help but feel tense.

Even Zeclen could be suffocating in a one-on-one; what about the patriarch?

‘He looks like a cold person.’

An elf with such a cold demeanor, one wouldn’t expect a drop of blood to come out if pricked with a needle.

Lee Han recalled what he’d heard about the family.

One of the top northern knightly families, known for iron-blooded, cold nature, never forgetting a grudge…

Basically, all the quintessential Moradi traits.

As the patriarch of such a family, he probably embodied those virtues more than anyone.

“I heard about the evil god worshiper incident. Lee Han, I thank you in the name of the family.”

“I didn’t do it alone.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that what you did was impressive. I heard you’re close with Giselle, and yet you’re from different towers. I’m curious how you became friends. Could you tell me?”

“Cough.”

Lee Han almost spit out his coffee. His junior, reading aside, glanced to check if he was okay.

He couldn’t very well say, ‘Moradi kept picking fights with me’ in front of the patriarch…

“Uh… We grew close by overcoming Einrogard’s adversities together.”

The patriarch listened and turned contemplative.

Then, as if not understanding, he asked again.

“All Einrogard graduates overcame adversity together, but I’ve heard it’s rare for students of different towers to be this close. What’s the difference?”

“The adversities the seniors overcame were fake, but what we overcame was the real thing.”

Lee Han shamelessly answered.

Since he’d started bluffing, he’d just stand tall and stick to it.

No way the patriarch could know the reality inside Einrogard…

‘?’

The patriarch paused, not comprehending Lee Han’s words.

He wondered if he simply didn’t understand because he’d never been to Einrogard himself.

‘What’s the difference between fake adversity and real adversity?’

As the patriarch pondered, he quickly came back to his senses.

This wasn’t important now.

It was curious that Giselle had made friends, but that was entirely Giselle’s business, and what he had to do was probe Wardanaz’s intentions.

“I see. Lee Han, how is your patriarch these days?”

“He’s still reclusive. He’s very into exploring the outer world.”

“Remarkable. I’ve respected the Wardanaz patriarch since my youth.”

With such words delivered on such a cold face, Lee Han felt a bit unsettled.

‘Does he not know how to act with his face?’

To Lee Han, the Empire’s ultimate facial actor, this straightforward elven patriarch was a strange type.

“Then what is your goal, Lee Han?”

“I’m thinking about becoming an imperial official.”

“Hm. I see.”

‘As expected, he won’t speak plainly.’

The patriarch was not surprised or anxious at the boy’s answer.

The Moradi patriarch was more familiar with noble conversation than knightly small talk.

It was rare for nobles to reveal their true feelings at the first meeting.

They would pretend otherwise at first, then later confide fragments of their true desires once recognizing someone as a potential ally.

Why would a Wardanaz scion want to be just an imperial official?

Clearly that was just humility.

‘Professor Gonadaltes valued the Wardanaz boy highly. He could even be grooming him as successor. If so, “official” isn’t totally false. What an exceptional answer.’

The patriarch quietly admired the boy, who spoke with both humility and subtle metaphor.

He was nothing like other Wardanaz kin the patriarch had met.

“A fine goal.”

“Do you really think so?”

Lee Han’s face brightened.

He never expected the head of another family to cheer him on.

“Of course!”

“Thank you.”

“If you become an official, you’ll travel the Empire’s domains—I’d like to show you our family’s estate myself.”

The patriarch suggested this, using it as a pretext.

If the opponent had ambition, he’d surely react to the power of House Moradi.

“Oh… I’d be happy to accept.”

Lee Han had no particular thoughts on it.

Compared to when someone like Sir Zeclen suggested going on a hunt, touring the estate was a peaceful and comfortable break.

And it was a good chance for flattery.

‘You’ve inherited the spirit of the cold north… hmm. That’s dull. The vital energy of the cold northern sea…’

‘His eyes just changed.’

Seeing the Wardanaz boy seemingly deep in thought, the patriarch became all the more interested.

• * *

“This is the underground pasture.”

Situated atop a vast bedrock, the Moradi family had painstakingly constructed various facilities over time.

Among these, there were rare installations that other northern families couldn’t match.

One of them was this underground pasture, tunneled deep into the cave.

“Impressive!”

“Thank you.”

“To carve out stone and create a pasture here—no family could match such a feat!”

“You flatter me.”

The patriarch only responded out of courtesy to Lee Han’s praise, showing no genuine interest.

Such praise was meaningless.

What mattered was what actual agreement might be made.

‘Fascinating.’

After some perfunctory flattery, Lee Han looked around.

Generally, pastures require open space, so people would expect them to be on surface plains, and yet here was a deep underground pasture.

Among the animals raised inside were not only ordinary livestock but rare species as well. It was a facility truly worthy of praise.

“Magic is used a lot, too.”

“If you thought a knightly family didn’t use magic, you’d be mistaken, Lee Han. In truth, the Moradi family has quite a few mages. Of course, that’s nothing compared to the Wardanaz family…”

“We actually have fewer. We’re not ones to make a fuss.”

While the patriarch was analyzing Lee Han’s comment for hidden meaning, Lee Han surveyed the underground pasture’s animals and the magic installed throughout.

Clearly, the hard work of the past year was bearing fruit—he could now tell what magic was being used.

Thanks to the harsh training of the skeletal principal and Professor Verdus.

In that moment, Lee Han was moved to be grateful to them…

‘No. I’m not grateful.’

…but upon reflection, felt otherwise.

‘Heating, wind… Ah. Air circulation. This draws water, I think? This one’s purification magic—there must be animals that hate filth.’

There was no way the patriarch would fail to notice Lee Han’s interest as he observed the magic with curiosity.

As expected of Wardanaz blood, he seemed very interested in magic.

“Is there anything you’re curious about?”

“Ah, I was just thinking if it could be arranged a bit more efficiently.”

The patriarch was intrigued by Lee Han’s answer.

He couldn’t tell if it was justified confidence or arrogant overestimation.

Even if he was an Einrogard student, newly entering second-year mages weren’t likely to improve such things…

But he was Wardanaz blood. He might just show something exceptional.

‘It doesn’t matter which way it turns out.’

The important thing was that regardless of success or failure, it didn’t matter.

The boy would feel goodwill toward the patriarch for this kindness.

“Go ahead and try, then. Lee Han.”

“Eh? No, it’s fine. What if something goes wrong…”

“There are other mages not far from here. Even if something happens, we can quickly fix it. Giving young mages experience is more important.”

The patriarch spoke without changing his expression. His demeanor was so cold others might have been scared.

But Lee Han had grown too bold for such things to frighten him.

‘I can do this much, at least.’

“Okay. I’ll try, then. Just for a moment.”

By simplifying the overlapping parts that maintained and amplified mana in the magic circle, and pouring nearly excessive power into the remaining part, he managed to assemble a circle much simpler than before.

He reduced the number of magic stones, covering the gap himself with his own mana—something only Lee Han could do.

“…!”

As the work continued and the flow of mana shifted, the patriarch’s expression changed for the first time all day.

He looked at Lee Han with surprise. As an excellent knight himself, he could sense intuitively what Lee Han was doing.

‘He’s reducing the mana draw like that!’

“All done. Is there anything I did wrong?”

“No. That’s remarkable, Lee Han. I am impressed.”

“Haha. Thank you. It was worth practicing at Einrogard.”

The patriarch quickly calculated the number of magic stones saved by the recent adjustment.

“Could you look at another place as well? I’d like your opinion.”

“But what I just did is basically patchwork, so it might not work on complicated magic circles.”

“No problem. I’d appreciate your thoughts anyway, even just as a casual opinion.”

For the first time today, the patriarch smiled.

Cooperation with the Wardanaz family quickly faded from his mind.

Now, all he was thinking about was how much the genius boy before him could improve his estate.

• * *

“I’m here?”

Having reached the training grounds, Giselle looked around to find her sister.

Zeclen was sitting deep inside, wearing a troubled look.

“Giselle.”

“Yes.”

“Mm. Never mind.”

“…What? You can tell me!”

Curious what her sister was worried about, Giselle prodded her.

Most of Zeclen’s worries were pointless, but occasionally she’d have dangerous ideas like “I’d like to spar with the giant swordmaster.”

“You’re my little sister. I’ll trust you.”

“Mm.”

After pondering, Zeclen finally spoke up.

Giselle listened, wondering what was on her mind.

“Father keeps sticking with Wardanaz, so I haven’t had a chance to show him my swordsmanship.”

“……”

Giselle regretted asking.