Episode 652

Episode 652

“Why is everyone acting like this?”

Siana was flustered by the lukewarm reaction.

“Priest Siana, by any chance, did you not see the knights on your way here?”

“I did. They were guarding the west garden, saying the golem was causing trouble…”

“Still? Ah. Anyway, that’s not the important thing, the point is, those are all the people you need to greet in the mansion.”

“……”

“……”

Siana and Deorgyu fell silent.

“Don’t joke around.”

“I’m not joking…”

Lee Han looked slightly sullen.

Should I have stopped Arsil from leaving?

But even then, it wouldn’t have made much of a difference. Adding one more person wouldn’t make the place crowded.

“I’m not joking. Those are all the people there.”

“We’ve been here the whole time too.”

“…Uh, what about visiting villages around the mansion?”

“The last village Priest Siana passed on the way was Udumhwa Village.”

Realizing the truth belatedly, Siana hesitated what to say and then clapped her hands.

“It’s possible that there are no villages!”

“It would be strange if there weren’t…”

When Gainando commented from the side, Siana retorted sharply.

“Then, Mr. Gainando, why don’t you go home?”

“Ah, no. I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant it’s strange… No, it’s not even strange. I have no complaints.”

Afraid he might be chased away alone, Gainando hurriedly changed his words.

“But it’s not that strange, right?”

Lee Han looked around at his friends and asked.

Of course, there were no villages in the territory and few people in the mansion, but Lee Han had a little hope.

Among the many families in the Empire, surely there were a few stranger than the Wardanaz family?

“…Right! It’s not strange!”

“It could be like this. The virtue of the Empire starts from respecting the traditions of other families with different cultures and customs.”

Relieved by his friends’ reactions, Lee Han felt reassured.

Apparently, it wasn’t as serious as he thought.

‘What a relief.’

“But let’s not leave right away. Let’s stay for a few days before going.”

Suddenly curious, Siana asked.

“Then what have you all been doing here?”

“Studying magic.”

“Herb gathering.”

“Exploring ruins.”

“…Should we just leave tomorrow?”

• * *

Three days later, Lee Han and his friends, guided by Alsicle, left the territory by carriage.

Actually, there were some disagreements when choosing their destination.

-How about Ileinas City? It’s a beautiful place where you can see the Empire’s western sea. The scenery is beautiful and the climate is warm, so nobles often visit.

-Um, Miss Pengerine, if I remember correctly, isn’t that the city next to the Baldrogard magic school?

-Isn’t it?

-Woo woo woo! Baldrogard!

-Is there any reason to go where Baldrogard students swarm about?

-If nothing else, why must we go where the Baldrogard students are…

-……

Pengerine, who had recommended it without much thought, was embarrassed by the students’ fierce reaction.

-Why? You haven’t even had a chance to fight with the Baldrogard students yet…

-I just don’t like them!

-……

Surprisingly, the Einrogard students held a grudge against the Baldrogard students for no reason.

It was because they themselves had to endure being attacked by the skeleton principal and eat hard bread, while the Baldrogard students elegantly enjoyed course meals and went on weekend getaways to the Empire’s western coast.

-How about Granden City?

-Woo! I don’t want anywhere near Einrogard!

-Lee Han. I get that Granden City is good for working, but there’s no reason to go to a city close to Einrogard during winter break.

-I agree. Lee Han. There are many bigger and more prosperous cities.

Other options mentioned were Isran City (the southern coastal city they visited last year, which Yoner wanted to revisit), Shangtma City (a transportation hub in the Empire’s west that Siana wanted to visit), and the Imperial Capital (where Nillia wanted to see the palace, but Lee Han refused). But in the end, the lottery chose Flaher City.

A dazzlingly prosperous commercial city in the Empire’s center, and the city where Gainando’s family mansion was located!

“Wow! Guys! Look at the roads here! Unlike other regions, the roads of Flaher City are made of black spirit stone! Thanks to that, the carriage doesn’t shake and we can travel comfortably!”

When Gainando excitedly pointed out the window, his friends were confused.

“But the Wardanaz family carriage already has shock-absorbing magic…”

“Unlike other regions, the roadside trees here in Flaher City are contracted with light spirits. So that people can move easily even in the evening. Lee Han, isn’t it amazing?”

“…Y-yeah. It’s amazing.”

The other friends quietly averted their eyes.

They judged that if they accidentally made eye contact with Gainando here, they might become a sacrifice to the excited prince.

“Lee Han, look at those people on horseback! That’s Minstrel Paparya! The most famous minstrel in Flaher City!”

‘Who’s that again?’

For Lee Han, who even got confused by the empire’s top-ranked troubadour Ifadur, city minstrels were hard to remember.

“That’s the ■■■ family’s ■■, that’s the ■■ guild’s ■■, that’s ■■…”

Lee Han felt like his friend’s voice wasn’t reaching his ears, as if someone was using a mind spell.

“What’s that?”

Trying to change the subject, he pointed at random, and at the tip of his finger was a flag emblem he vaguely recognized.

Next to him, Alsicle, who was reading -Music Magic, Is It the Future or Nonsense?-, spoke up.

“That’s the Baldrogard flag.”

“……”

“…Uh, why?”

“What do you mean, why? Baldrogard students probably didn’t want to stay in Ileinas City until winter vacation either. What’s so strange about them coming to a big city like Flaher for the holidays?”

“……”

Gainando had a taken aback expression. His friends immediately began accusing him.

“You brought us to a place crawling with Baldrogard students!”

“Something was fishy; you spy!”

“Mr. Gainando, get out of the carriage and walk!”

“E-everyone, the prince had good intentions…”

While the friends were cursing, Lee Han looked at the carriage with the Baldrogard flag with interest.

‘Baldrogard students really have a different culture.’

When spending holidays outside school, Lee Han didn’t carry around an Einrogard flag.

Other than being embarrassed, he thought it might provoke unnecessary conflicts.

But Baldrogard students seemed to truly love their school, hanging flags on their carriages, engraving the emblem on the carriage walls, and even wearing uniforms and coats with the emblem (not the rough, ragged uniforms of Einrogard, but uniforms made from the Empire’s finest southern velvet).

Lee Han didn’t particularly bear any grudge against the Baldrogard students.

It was his own misfortune to be dragged into Einrogard, not the Baldrogard students’ fault.

Yet, seeing the Baldrogard students smiling politely and acting dignified, something deep inside Lee Han stirred.

‘Am I really this narrow-minded?’

“This time, Professor Tosre told me to work on research with an outside tower, and I was astonished. The mage from over there used to be a slave! How could I possibly do magical research with a former slave? Such a suggestion doesn’t even consider my family’s honor and reputation!”

“That’s outrageous! I had no idea Professor Tosre could be so rude.”

“I rejected it right on the spot.”

“Good job, good job! By the way, did you get tickets for this polo match? This game will be really spectacular. They say a rock drake might appear!”

“Don’t worry. I already got them.”

“Whoa! How did you get them so fast?”

“I used some of the family’s support funds.”

“Hahaha! You! So what will your research be about this year?”

“Only incompetent mages say you need gold coins to do research! I can do research without gold. And above all, if I miss watching the polo match with a friend, where will I find inspiration?”

“Exactly, exactly! Is magic that important? Life is more important!”

The Baldrogard mages left, laughing as they chatted.

Lee Han quietly turned his gaze inward.

Gainando, apparently frustrated after being attacked by his friends, tattled to Lee Han.

“Lee Han! Lee Han! There might be some Baldrogard students in the city, but still…”

“Hey, if a Baldrogard student picks a fight, answer right back. Never back down.”

“…?!!”

The friends were shocked when they saw Lee Han’s burning eyes.

What on earth happened?!

• * *

Gainando’s family was the Kraha family, one of the most prominent families even in the metropolitan Flaher City.

Naturally, it was expected that Lee Han and his friends would stay at Gainando’s mansion.

“Guys. Listen up. When you wake up tomorrow, first we’ll play the mage card game in the third mage card room, then watch a play in the second theater room, then listen to a performance in the first music room, and after that, have a light meal together with me, and then…”

“……”

“…Ms. Meikin, could I possibly stay at the Meikin family’s mansion?”

“Ah, no! No!”

When his friends tried to defect as a group right from the start, Gainando threw himself to stop them.

“What’s the complaint?!”

“This is insanely overpacked…”

Nillia stared at Gainando with disbelief.

Even Shadow Patrol hunters probably didn’t play this hard.

“Okay, okay! I’ll take out the mage card game. Is that enough?!”

Gainando shouted as if he was really making a concession.

Of course, his friends weren’t buying it.

“Ms. Meikin.”

“T-then, everyone but Lee Han can go.”

At those words, Lee Han looked displeased.

He didn’t want to handle that schedule alone without his friends.

“Wait, everyone calm down.”

Yoner tried to calm the group.

“Gainando won’t be able to follow through with his own schedule anyway.”

“I will! How do you know?!”

Gainando protested sharply.

He had dreamed up this perfect plan ever since the punishment room, but this rude relative was trying to ruin it.

“In the afternoon, a phantasm mage will come and we’ll play a game looking for hidden treasures!”

‘That doesn’t work on me, though?’

Lee Han thought, as Yoner shrugged his shoulders.

“You’d better stop even now.”

“I won’t stop. Even if the principal stands in my way!”

Nillia muttered.

“Wish you’d show that kind of courage at school…”

“Then it can’t be helped.”

Yoner didn’t say anything more. Gainando suddenly became uneasy.

What’s this?

When the carriage arrived at the mansion, Gainando’s mother, veiled, walked out as if she’d been waiting.

It was so as not to sweep the area with radiant light like last time.

“Welcome, everyone. When Gainando said he’d be coming with friends, I didn’t expect this many… Are they all your friends?”

Gainando’s mother whispered to Yoner.

Yoner nodded. Even if the people involved may feel differently, for now, they did look like friends.

Gainando’s mother was astonished at the reply.

She was already surprised that Gainando befriended someone from the Wardanaz family, but now he was bringing such a diverse group.

She wondered for a moment if Gainando had awakened some ability she didn’t know about.

“Oh, Lady Kraha. About Gainando…”

Yoner reported Gainando’s nefarious plans from earlier just as they were.

Gainando’s mother stared at Gainando. Even through the veil, the pressure was palpable, and Gainando froze on the spot.

“Wh-what’s wrong?”

Snap!

The family’s servants came out and grabbed both of Gainando’s arms. Sensing his tragic fate, Gainando called out to Lee Han.

“Lee Han! Lee Han! The villains here are trying to drag me off!”

“Welcome to the mansion. I hope you all have a pleasant stay.”

“Thank you for your hospitality, Lady Kraha.”

“Traitors! You traitors!!”