Chapter 1251

"V-Valdrogard..."

"They're from Einroguard."

Unable to keep watching, Lee Han stepped in.

Seeing Uman stammer as he tried to pass them off as Valdrogard students, Lee Han couldn't bring himself to stay silent.

"I knew it!"

The knights nodded in understanding.

Uman had been visiting Einroguard as an Inspector this semester, so there was nothing strange about him bringing Einroguard students along.

They weren't quite sure why he had tried to say they were Valdrogard students, though...

"Did you come to participate in the award ceremony and the festival?!"

"No. We came in a hurry because we have something to tell His Majesty."

"Aha. But you'll still participate in the award ceremony and the festival, right?"

"What? No."

"Oh. Still, surely you'll attend the award ceremony..."

"......"

Lee Han was dumbfounded.

'These aren't Einroguard knights in disguise, are they?'

He had been through so many strange things lately that even his suspicions were becoming strange.

Why were they being so persistent?

"Then perhaps the festival, at least?"

In truth, there was a reason the knights were acting like this.

This expedition to subjugate the evil god was such a joyful and tremendous achievement that several religious orders had come to celebrate it...

...but no one actually wanted to attend the award ceremony or the festival!

-You want me to come and participate in the commendation and award ceremony? The fact that you're even inviting me, a being from another dimension, perhaps means that deep down you feel the Empire's current authority is lacking? It seems you have that sort of inferiority complex.

In the case of a certain king of a certain race, the knights who had gone to invite them were reduced to tears.

-To summarize, you're asking me to attend the commendation and award ceremony.

-Yes!

-I refuse. I have no desire to waste time on such an event.

-...What about the festival?

-When you trained with the knight order, did they not teach you how to understand context? No. Never mind. I'll ask your knight commander personally.

In the case of the eldest child of a certain house, the knights who had gone to invite them were plunged into self-loathing.

-Your Excellency. Could you perhaps attend, at least?

-Are you making fun of me right now? Do you want to die?

-I-I'm sorry!

The lord of a certain magic academy became so openly irritated and flew away the moment they tried to speak that the knights couldn't even properly make the proposal.

As a result, despite such an extraordinary achievement, there was no one left to participate in the award ceremony, commendation ceremony, or festival.

From the capital knight orders' perspective, nothing could have felt more disappointing or awkward.

...Honestly, was it really that difficult for even one person from Einroguard to come?

What was so hard about accepting the commendation as a representative and participating in the festival for a bit...

"W-well, we're currently in a situation where we shouldn't be moving around openly. I don't think we'll be able to participate."

"I see."

The knights' shoulders drooped.

Feeling strangely guilty, Lee Han looked at Paridim and asked,

"Could you perhaps accept it on our behalf..."

"What?! N-no!"

At this outrageous Einroguard-style attempt to dump the responsibility on someone else, Paridim lost their usual composure and practically jumped.

"Y-you have your other friends here too!"

"They secretly came out too, so they can't. You're an outsider, Paridim, so it's fine."

"......"

For a moment, Paridim imagined the future.

At an award ceremony where everyone in the Imperial capital had gathered, an Oculoguard mage who had nothing to do with any of it would step forward and receive the award instead, amid everyone's bewildered and cold stares.

Just imagining it felt damaging.

"C-couldn't the members of the Imperial Family here receive it instead?"

"If a member of the Imperial Family attended such an event as a substitute, it could invite unnecessary political suspicions. Of course not."

Lee Han rejected the idea firmly.

If rumors like 'Apparently Jowrin is going to become the next Emperor' spread for no reason, they might be summoned straight to the dragons' court.

"Lee Han...!"

"As expected of Sister's contractor!"

Jowrin looked at him with moved eyes. Uman did the same.

Only Paridim wondered inwardly.

Then what about me??

"Ah. Professor Garcia! There's Professor Garcia."

"What? Do you mean Professor Garcia Kim?"

"That's right. Professor Garcia should be arriving in the capital soon as well."

Unlike Lee Han and Professor Voladi, who were supposed to be in the punishment area, Professor Garcia had no such problem.

If the knights persuaded Professor Garcia, the professor would make a perfectly suitable representative.

"Thank you! We'll do our very best to persuade Professor Garcia!"

Seeing the knights happily see them off, Lee Han felt a little proud himself.

Perhaps Professor Garcia might even be pleased.

'Maybe some of Professor Garcia's anger will ease.'

"Hm."

Beside him, Professor Voladi had a thoughtful expression.

"Is something wrong?"

"It's nothing."

Professor Voladi didn't bother telling the student.

Given Professor Garcia's personality, it didn't seem like the sort of thing the professor would enjoy...

* * *

The Emperor's Inner Palace, a palace within the palace, was a labyrinth that even the strongest could not easily enter, but the moment Lee Han's group approached, a path opened in an instant.

It showed just how warmly its master welcomed the visitors.

"?!"

Lee Han was shocked when he suddenly realized that he was standing there alone.

To be precise, it wasn't that the master welcomed the visitors.

The master welcomed a visitor.

More specifically, Lee Han!

"Um... Your Majesty? Professor Voladi and my friends..."

I left them outside.

The gold dragon explained as Lee Han was let inside.

He had felt this the last time as well, but the Emperor's residence was truly a bleak place with absolutely nothing in it.

Inside a cavern so enormous that the ceiling seemed impossibly distant, there wasn't a single decoration or sculpture.

But that absence didn't matter at all.

A presence so overwhelming that nothing else could draw attention occupied the very center.

It was a gold dragon with a vast body more beautiful than any gold.

As the dragon slowly blinked wise and benevolent eyes at him, Lee Han was once again reminded just how young Jowrin truly was.

'How can two dragons have such different auras?'

"May I ask why?"

Because if they were in the same place, you wouldn't be able to speak honestly, would you?

"?"

Lee Han wondered what that meant, then belatedly understood.

"No. Professor Bagreg isn't that kind of person. He doesn't hold grudges... well, I can't say he doesn't, but still, there was no need to send him outside..."

I wasn't talking only about the professor.

The Emperor spoke calmly.

The professor wasn't the sole reason everyone else had been made to wait outside the Inner Palace.

If those foolish idiots were beside you, you'd naturally be watching what you said.

"???"

Lee Han looked puzzled because he didn't know who the foolish idiots referred to.

Gainando?

'But then why did the Emperor say "those"?'

"Forgive me, but who are you referring to?"

Jowrin and Uman. Who else would I mean?

The Emperor spoke indifferently.

The Emperor had countless children, but the ones regarded with the most dissatisfaction were those nine.

Failures who could never inherit the Emperor's position!

The others at least had the excuse of belonging to different races if they failed, but those nine had been born dragons and still couldn't inherit the Emperor's position, which made them even more irritating.

They aren't bothering you or making things difficult for you, are they?

"N-no! Nothing like that has ever happened."

Lee Han answered sincerely. But the Emperor wasn't so easily convinced.

What about Jowrin? You even formed a contract. Are you saying Jowrin really hasn't been troublesome?

'Sharp!'

Lee Han broke into a cold sweat inwardly at the incisive question.

As expected of a dragon that had lived for ages, the Emperor could sit still and see what happened ten thousand li away.

But Lee Han instinctively knew that if he agreed even slightly here, Jowrin would be dragged back to the estate.

"Heh heh heh. Not troublesome at all. If anything, it has been an honor to serve such a noble race."

Do not imitate that unpleasant laugh. I don't understand why you're copying even that aspect of Osu.

"......"

Lee Han immediately stopped laughing and straightened his expression.

He didn't think he could use that laugh when flattering people anymore. Apparently it sounded unpleasant.

Seeing you take Jowrin's side tells me Jowrin found a proper dragon contractor... I do feel sorry that I've placed another burden on you, Osu's disciple, when you already have such a difficult life... but perhaps fate is simply unavoidable.

Lee Han struggled to control his expression.

If this was a trap question and he answered incorrectly, Jowrin could be dragged away immediately.

Ah. How are those kind members of the Imperial Family you mentioned last time?

The Emperor suddenly remembered and looked at him with eyes full of anticipation.

Hadn't this disciple of Osu rated them very highly last time by saying, 'They're good people'?

Perhaps by now they had grown enough to become candidates for the Emperor's successor.

"Um... they're still kind."

Excellent. To be kind means to pity all things in the world, and that is precisely the qualification of an Emperor.

'Can't someone bring the Principal here?'

Without realizing it, Lee Han glanced around.

The last time, the Skull Principal had been there to point out, 'What kind of nonsense [N O V E L I G H T] are you talking about?' But now there was no one to do that.

I've gone on too long about pointless things... So, why did you request an audience? Do you perhaps want Osu punished further?

It was a tempting question, but Lee Han did have a conscience.

At least in this incident, the Skull Principal hadn't really done anything wrong.

"No. It wasn't the Principal's fault. I acted on my own."

It is still Osu's fault. If Einroguard's glory and prestige belong to Osu, then Einroguard's mistakes should belong to Osu as well.

The Emperor was unmoved.

Even if a student escaped and caused trouble, according to the Skull Principal's usual philosophy, that too was the Skull Principal's responsibility.

Lee Han wavered slightly at those sweet words.

"That does sound somewhat reasonable..."

Not somewhat. This is correct. It's all because Osu taught you badly.

"You're right!"

Lee Han immediately gave in.

Perhaps the person Professor Garcia should truly be angry at wasn't Lee Han himself, but the Skull Principal.

Because the Skull Principal had taught him badly...!

"Your Majesty. The reason I requested this audience is for Professor Garcia. I came here personally to petition on Professor Garcia's behalf. If you want to punish the Principal further, that's one thing, but Professor Garcia..."

?

The Emperor slowly moved their head.

For a moment, the ancient gold dragon didn't understand what Lee Han was saying.

Who told you that the dragon intends to punish Professor Kim?

"What?"

The dragon has no intention of punishing the professors of Einroguard. As I said, if anyone is to be punished, it would be Osu...

"......"

Huh?

Lee Han felt something beginning to go strangely wrong. The Emperor spoke kindly.

Calm down. You were probably caught in one of Osu's schemes. Try to calmly retrace your memories.

"Th-thank you."

Encouraged by the Emperor, Lee Han calmly retraced his memories.

Clearly...

"An Oculoguard mage testified that Professor Garcia would soon be punished by Your Majesty..."

That's it. That mage was either bribed by Osu or deceived by Osu.

"...What a despicable person!"

Indeed.

The Emperor deeply agreed with Lee Han.

As expected of a disciple, he knew how to see his master's true nature.

"Then why is Professor Garcia coming to the capital?"

Wait a moment. Hmm...

The old dragon's eyes shone like stars. For this dragon, who could access countless records throughout the Imperial capital, finding out something like that wasn't particularly difficult.

Professor Garcia is coming to meet mages from other magic academies and persuade them toward harmony. What a truly admirable mage.

"Indeed."

Quite different from the master.

"Exactly!"

The Emperor and Lee Han looked at each other with burning intensity.

Despite the enormous gulf of years between them, the two felt a sense of kinship as though they had met a true kindred spirit.

When else would they get another opportunity to speak this badly about someone who wasn't even there?