Chapter 1271

The Emperor read the anonymous denunciation letter filled with rage and spoke regretfully.

It was not Uman he felt sorry for, but the mages of Einroguard.

Enduring Osu's harassment could not have been easy enough already, yet the person who had come as Inspector had apparently handled things this clumsily.

Life at the already difficult magic academy must have become several times harder.

"However, Your Majesty. I have heard that while the Inspector certainly went through some trial and error at first... afterward, he demonstrated considerable competence."

The minister standing before the darkness spoke cautiously.

No matter how much the Imperial officials detested Einroguard, they had not simply stopped paying attention after sending an Inspector there. Einroguard was far too important a place for that.

Naturally, they had continued sending additional people to investigate, make inquiries, and hear reports.

But the Emperor answered coldly.

He should have done well from the beginning. Is Einroguard a training ground for Inspectors? Are the mages of Einroguard some sort of experimental subjects for an Inspector?

"Th-That is not the case, but..."

The Emperor normally paid no attention no matter what sort of remarks bordering on lèse-majesté people made, so among the public he had a strong image of benevolence, but the senior officials who dealt with him face-to-face thought a little differently.

When it came to matters the Emperor cared about, he could be as harsh as he pleased.

"I received reports that after taking advice from the students, he properly struck a balance and improved Einroguard's environment. I fear that if he is recalled, those efforts may come to nothing."

The problem is that he only realized it after listening to the students. Issue the recall order and have him carry out further duties.

"...Yes!"

The minister bowed his head without saying anything more.

If he pushed any further, he might hear, 'Did Uman give you something?' The minister thought highly of Uman, but he could not shield him any further here.

More importantly, I have heard rumors that Osu's disciple contracted with a black dragon. What happened there?

"It appears there was a disturbance during the festival."

What had happened near oak hill had already become widespread gossip all the way to the center of the capital.

They said that the mage of House Wardanaz(the younger one) had participated in the festival and defeated a monster together with a black dragon.

After hearing the detailed report compiled by the officials, the Emperor slowly nodded.

So that's why Jowrin sent the denunciation letter...

Uman, true to being someone who had rejected the Emperor's position, had no tact whatsoever.

In the old days, if a mage contracted to another dragon acted excessively friendly with one, it would have immediately turned into a fight to the death.

Dragons were naturally a jealous race. If anything, it was remarkable that Jowrin had shown this much patience.

'Was she capable of this much restraint?'

"What do you mean, Your Majesty?"

The minister asked in confusion at the Emperor's murmur.

It is nothing. Make sure this is handled properly so that no unnecessary rumors spread.

"Rumors, you say..."

The minister took out a handkerchief and wiped away cold sweat.

Normally, something on this scale would not have been particularly difficult, but this incident had spread far too quickly and too widely for the rumors to be controlled.

Could it be done?

Fortunately, perhaps the Emperor understood what the minister was thinking, because he did not make an unreasonable demand.

I am not telling you to suppress every rumor. Just make sure the rumor that he contracted with a dragon is clearly corrected, and as for the rest... it cannot be helped.

Even if they contacted the various great noble houses and suppressed the rumor that he had contracted with a dragon, they could not suppress the rumor that he had transformed into a dragon as well.

No matter how much the Emperor cherished Lee Han, there were things even he could not do.

* * *

"Gasp."

Lee Han, who had been anxiously watching the approaching walls of Einroguard from inside the carriage, felt his heart drop.

There were officials he had never seen before gathered in front of the gate.

Lee Han squeezed his eyes shut.

'We've been caught!'

Professor Garcia, furious, must have used every means at hand to return to Einroguard before them.

To think they would be caught like this on the spot.

"Lee Han. It's not over yet. Don't give up! I'll draw their attention!"

"Right. As long as you and Professor Bagreg aren't discovered, we'll be able to fix this somehow."

Gainando and Yonair spoke seriously. Nillia was already nocking an arrow to use as a diversion.

Paridim panicked and tried to stop the group.

"E-Everyone. Even if you've been discovered, there's no need to make this into such a huge incident..."

The Einroguard students ignored Paridim as a group. Outsiders really were too complacent to be entrusted with anything.

"...Thank you, everyone. I swear I'll make it back to the punishment area with Professor Bagreg!"

Lee Han answered seriously. Paridim became even more confused.

Was this really something that required going this far??

"Inspector Uman, come outside and receive His Majesty's Imperial decree!"

The messenger took out a rolled scroll decorated with gold from inside his clothes. Uman immediately recognized what the scroll was.

Had he not received that same decree when he was granted the authority of Einroguard's Inspector?

"Don't tell me!"

Lee Han cried out in surprise as well. There were not many orders that could possibly be coming for Uman right now.

Perhaps Uman had already guessed its contents, because his face was deeply remorseful.

Considering the mistakes he had made this semester, it would not have been strange if he had been suspended long ago.

"As of this moment, the authority of the Einroguard Inspector attending as His Majesty the Emperor's representative is suspended. Return to the capital immediately and report."

"Understood. I will do so."

"Isn't there some kind of misunderstanding? This can't be..."

Lee Han found it hard to believe.

When he had arrived at the capital and met the Emperor face-to-face, there had been absolutely no sign that he intended to dismiss Uman.

And yet the moment they arrived at Einroguard, this terrible news came flying in.

"Uman understands. His Majesty probably wanted to suspend Uman's position right then and there."

Uman gave a bitter smile as he looked around at the Einroguard students.

Now that he thought he would no longer be able to stay with these students, his heart hurt for no reason.

He should have done better!

"The reason he did not was likely so that Uman could help these glorious students here even a little more."

Persuading the students of the other magic academies and protecting the citizens during the festival.

If he had lost his position as Inspector first, he would not have been able to participate in those things.

Thinking about it that way, Uman could only feel deeply grateful for the Emperor's consideration.

All the Einroguard students present felt their hearts swell.

There had been many twists and turns this semester because of this Inspector, but that sincere expression was more than enough to wash all of it away and move them.

Gainando sprang to his feet inside the carriage and shouted.

"Your Highness! We won't forget you!"

When Gainando, who had complained about Uman more than anyone else in the group, shouted that, Uman was deeply moved.

"Thank you, everyo—"

What are you doing here?

The Skull Principal came floating over.

He had heard that officials had come to the gate and wondered what was going on, only to find, surprisingly, that Uman was being dismissed.

This was quite a surprise even to the Skull Principal. To think the fellow who had even survived the evil-god subjugation incident would suddenly be dismissed.

He had endured so well that the Skull Principal had been planning to persuade the officials to drive him out during vacation...

"...Principal! The Principal is the culprit!!"

Gainando shouted as though he had figured it out.

No matter how he thought about it, there was no reason Uman would suddenly be fired.

When something happened at Einroguard, if you pointed at the Skull Principal, you were right roughly half the time.

"Is that really true?"

Uman asked with a shocked expression.

He had never imagined that his dismissal might have been because of the Skull Principal.

He could not even imagine how the Principal had persuaded the Emperor.

...Yes. I did it. Happy? You should have known when to stop provoking me.

At the Principal's answer, Gainando stamped his feet in outrage.

"How can you do that! How can a person do that!"

If you're angry, you do it too. I won't stop you.

"Grrrrgh...!"

What are you all doing? Get that fired bastard out of here.

The gathered officials came to their senses only after the Skull Principal urged them on. Uman nodded.

"Uman will follow on his own, so there is no need to worry. Lord Gonadaltes. This Uman will say just one thing. The students of Einroguard can grow into outstanding mages even without a harsh environment!"

"Your Highness! Your Highness!"

Gainando burst into tears. The Skull Principal, finding the sight unbearable, sealed Gainando's mouth.

Take that annoying fellow away already.

"Um... Your Excellency."

What is it?

When the messenger hesitated instead of leaving, the Skull Principal was puzzled.

Was there something else?

"Well... Princess Jowrin must return with us as well..."

Ah. Right.

"......"

Jowrin, who had been sitting quietly in the carriage with her head lowered, cried out in shock at the sudden news.

"Why must Jowrin go!?"

Why...? Your Highness was only allowed to be here in the first place because that fellow was here.

The Skull Principal explained as though dumbfounded.

He had thought she had grown quite a lot, but seeing something like this showed that she was still immature in some respects.

There was no way the Emperor, who cherished the students of Einroguard so much, would simply toss Jowrin here alone.

Especially considering the burden it would place on Wardanaz.

"N-No! Jowrin shall remain!"

You may not.

"You may not, Sister. I apologize."

When both the Skull Principal and Uman spoke in unison, Jowrin regretted it bitterly.

So this was what people meant when they said acting in a moment of anger led to regret!

"Waaaaah! Waaaaaaaaah!"

Uman and Jowrin departed together with the Imperial officials. Lee Han waved for the moment, trying to soothe her.

He did not know whether Jowrin had seen or heard him, though...

Once the surroundings quieted down, the Skull Principal turned around and asked.

So who sent the denunciation letter?

"What?"

I asked who sent the denunciation letter. There's no way Uman would suddenly be fired for no reason.

The Skull Principal was not an idiot.

Earlier, in front of Uman, he had claimed to be the culprit to protect the possible true culprit(and to tease Uman more), but normally there was no way Uman could have been fired without a reason.

He had even survived the greatest crisis of all, the 'Runaway Student Unauthorized Evil-God Subjugation Incident'...

"Mmphmmphmmphmmphmmphmmph! Mmphmmphmmph!"

When Gainando shouted, the Skull Principal started to listen, then decided against releasing him.

It sounded like it would be useless anyway.

"Principal. None of us sent a denunciation letter. We don't have any complaints about His Highness Uman."

If the students had no complaints, why did they set fire to Einroguard's territory?

"...That was quite a while ago."

Hmmm.

The Skull Principal looked over the students once.

Surprisingly, none of them seemed to be lying.

In fact, at first he had suspected Wardanaz.

Not because Wardanaz disliked Uman, but because there was no one else capable of persuading the Emperor.

There had been no reason, but reasons like this could appear at any time. All it took was going outside and hearing Uman say something like, 'As expected of Professor Verdus's disciple,' and there would immediately be a reason.

But Wardanaz really did not seem to be the culprit.

Then?

Princess Jowrin is the culprit.

"What? What kind of nonsense is that... Even if you want to cover up your own crime, Principal, isn't it too much to dump the blame on Princess Jowrin?"

Lee Han fired off the long accusation without even taking a breath. The Skull Principal was dumbfounded.

Did you write that in the carriage? And Princess Jowrin is the culprit. If it wasn't you lot, then it was Princess Jowrin. The motive is obvious too. Wardanaz, you were getting along too well with Uman, so she reported him.

"You're wrong. Even though Princess Jowrin discovered that I transformed into a black dragon, she generously forgave me."

...She discovered WHAT!?

The Skull Principal was genuinely shocked.

How was Uman still alive?

"It's true. Princess Jowrin is far more mature than you think, Principal."

Seeing that Uman is alive, I agree with that. She has grown a great deal. And Wardanaz. Being mature isn't necessarily a good thing. Secretly sending a denunciation letter is also a mature thing to do.

'What a filthy attempt at slander.'

Lee Han gave him a contemptuous look. His friends all joined him and sent the same look.

The Skull Principal shook his head. These inexperienced mages still did not know how to see through appearances.

I think Uman kept provoking her because he had no tact... Fine. If that's what you want to believe, believe whatever you like. More importantly, there's one other thing I'm curious about.

"Yes?"

Why are you all outside?

"......"