Chapter 601
Even among the same mixed-blood races, there were bloodlines whose appearance was unusually close to animals.
These individuals were usually expressed as having a 'strong bloodline'.
And if that animal was a cute one that was generally liked, they could easily gain popularity surpassing the typical handsome men and beautiful women of the empire.
-Like Professor Verduus.-
Indeed, Professor Verduus had a cute appearance that was noticeably close to a beaver even among beaver mixed-bloods.
It was doubtful whether Professor Verduus's magic skills alone allowed him to survive with that personality, and his appearance might have played a role to some extent.
"Then shouldn't we take the professor?"
-Are you out of your mind???-
"Ah. I'm sorry."
Yi-Han immediately apologized. The skull principal also said with a softened face.
"Compared to Professor Verduus, Pengerin is a shining star in the social scene."
"But I don't want to go to the social scene..."
Alcicle spoke, gauging the reaction.
As someone born with outstanding magical talent, Alcicle believed he had a destiny to devote himself to magic.
A mage with such a destiny shouldn't waste time on useless social activities at social gatherings, but should focus on magic.
"Oh my. I don't want to be a magic school principal either. Pengerin. That's how life is. If you get caught sneaking in, you end up doing things you don't want to do. Now. Let's go." ꞦâΝộꞖΕ𝙎
The skull principal dragged the two and came up to the surface.
Suddenly remembering the other intruder, Yi-Han asked.
"What happened to the intruder who was turned into a statue?"
"Ah. That spy bastard. He was sent by a duke."
"Which duke?"
"Duke Icaldoren."
"!"
Yi-Han was startled.
It was a duke he had met a few times among the great nobles of the empire.
"You mean that capricious, eccentric, and stingy duke? To think he would do such a thing!"
"...?"
The skull principal was puzzled by Yi-Han's words. Alcicle was also puzzled by Yi-Han's words.
'He's not stingy though?'
'Isn't he cold and meticulous in personality?'
"Duke Icaldoren isn't stingy, is he? He's not someone who is stingy with gold coins."
"That's right. I know a few magic towers sponsored by Duke Icaldoren, and he's not a picky sponsor. And I heard his personality is also a bit strange, that he's so cold you couldn't draw a single drop of blood even if you pricked him with a needle..."
At their words, Yi-Han tilted his head.
Was that so?
"Isn't the rumor exaggerated? He was a bit of a strange person."
If Duke Icaldoren had heard it, he would have been furious, saying 'It's because of you that I was flustered!', but unfortunately, the duke was not present.
The skull principal and Alcicle took Yi-Han's opinion seriously.
"A person's personality can change."
"Indeed, that's also true. Maybe his personality became eccentric and capricious, and that's why he sent a spy."
Duke Icaldoren had suddenly become an eccentric, capricious, and stingy person.
"There are few trustworthy people in the empire. Still, to think a duke would do such a thing."
"You've gained enlightenment. How many people truly care for this empire? There might be only me."
"..."
"...Ah, yes."
Alcicle and Yi-Han's answers were a bit late, but the skull principal didn't mind.
"Then will you meet the duke first on the way?"
"No. I have no intention of changing my plans because of that minnow."
The skull principal waved his hand as if Duke Icaldoren's matter was very trivial.
Even if he was a renowned great noble of the empire, in the skull principal's eyes, he was just a youngster who was lucky to be born into a decent family.
Things like making a name in the imperial political world or raising one's reputation in the social scene were just ridiculous.
He had no intention of changing his schedule because of such guys.
Like eating dessert placed on the table when he felt like it, the duke's matter belonged to that category.
"I'll deal with it later if I remember."
"Uh, I thought you were furious because of the intruder."
"I was furious when we couldn't catch him. At the incompetence."
The death knights driving the carriage in front flinched.
"But there's no reason to be furious now that we caught him."
The skull principal had a truly nonchalant face.
To the point where it sounded sincere that he was more furious about not being able to catch him than the fact that he intruded.
"The youngster probably thinks he's special. But such a guy appears at Einroguard every year. Guys who think they're special and are convinced they can take something from Einroguard."
The skull principal who spoke looked at Alcicle.
Alcicle hurriedly made an excuse, feeling guilty.
"I didn't go in to take something, but to teach magic..."
"Shut up. Theft is theft."
Yi-Han, who was listening to the conversation, asked out of curiosity.
"What was the duke trying to take?"
"Probably some trivial things. Treasures related to immortality or eternal life."
'It doesn't seem trivial.'
Yi-Han thought so, but he held back from saying it out loud because the skull principal would give him a contemptuous look.
Silence.
A serene silence lingered in the carriage where the conversation had ended. Only the sound of the death knights driving the carriage and flying could be heard faintly from outside.
Perhaps bored or unable to endure the silence, Alcicle opened his mouth.
"Have you learned a lot of cold magic?"
"Ah. I succeeded in contracting with a lower cold spirit."
Yi-Han, who was writing letters to send to his friends in advance, answered proudly to Alcicle's question.
"?"
"?"
Of course, both Alcicle and the skull principal gave Yi-Han a look of 'What is this guy talking about?'
Is he bragging because he has nothing to brag about?
"Th-that's, that's great? Contracting with a cold spirit is also a great thing!"
Alcicle shook his beak and tried his best to agree somehow.
The skull principal was even more dumbfounded.
"Did you go crazy in the punishment room, Pengerin?"
"Contracting with a spirit is also quite an achievement..."
"There's a limit to pampering."
"Anything else?"
Alcicle changed the subject to shift the conversation.
"I was too busy to learn much... Oh. I succeeded in creating a cold element doppelganger."
"Cough."
At the words of the merciless genius, Alcicle staggered, at a loss for words.
***
The capital of the empire was a place where the title 'capital' became more familiar than the original name of the city.
The most beautiful city in the empire, the largest city in the empire, the most prosperous city in the empire…
Even the imperial people who took pride in their home regions in the vast imperial lands had to frown and acknowledge it when the name came up.
That was the capital of the empire.
At the dozens of city gates, countless visitors were already lined up and waiting.
The walls, which had a history rivaling the magic barrier of Einroguard, looked down on those visitors.
The numerous magic spells on the walls made the waiting mages gasp in admiration. To the point where there were mages who came up just to see the walls themselves.
"Is that Anita's Lake? The one that bestows blessings?"
"People are already gathering there."
"Look at the top of the wall! Illusion mages are showing new magic!"
"I swear by His Majesty the Emperor's grace, it's truly beautiful!"
If it were any other city or castle, there would have been people expressing complaints while waiting outside like this, but it was hard to find such people in the capital.
Not only were there so many splendid sights that the eyes couldn't rest even while standing still…
...but rather, it was because if they caused even a small disturbance, they would have to face His Majesty the Emperor's royal knights right away.
No matter how reckless a person was, they didn't cause a disturbance in the imperial capital.
Buuuuuuu-
With a loud trumpet sound, a carriage shrouded in the eeriness of death began to approach.
Experienced mages and warriors shuddered at the powerful energy emanating from the carriage.
Buuuuuuu-
-Make way. Make way! It is His Excellency Gonadaltes, the Emperor's Mage Advisor and the Guardian of the Empire's Magic Barrier!-
The death knights blew their horns and signaled to the people gathered at the gate.
Those who heard the name Gonadaltes began to make way in shock.
"Hey, move! It's Mr. Gonadaltes! The grand mage!"
"I swear by my beard, I never dreamed of seeing the empire's greatest grand mage here!"
"Don't set your eyes on the carriage! Do you want to become a toad!"
People were flustered by various rumors and misunderstandings about the grand mage.
Fear, respect, curiosity…
Various emotions flickered on the faces of the gathered people.
Yi-Han, who was watching that sight from inside, lowered his head in embarrassment.
Although the inside of the carriage couldn't be seen from outside, he instinctively covered his face.
"Do we have to enter so noisily?"
"Then should we fly over the wall with the carriage? There are procedures for everything."
The skull principal went outside the carriage and waved his hand.
Then a thunderous cheer erupted.
"Long live the grand mage!"
"I wish my son would become an outstanding hero like the grand mage!"
'Oh my.'
Yi-Han was sincerely regretful.
To think of having someone emulate the skull principal!
It was a tragedy caused by the truth being hidden.
"Your Excellency Gonadaltes. Thank you."
The knight commander in charge of the gate area heard the news and ran over.
Unlike ordinary guests, Gonadaltes' visit was a major event that made all the knights of the capital tense.
"I sincerely thank you for not flying over the wall to enter this time."
"..."
"..."
Yi-Han and Alcicle inside were dumbfounded.
He flew over the imperial capital's wall to enter??
The skull principal snorted and retorted.
"I have flown over this city to enter for hundreds of years. Since before you bastards were born."
"You know well that it wasn't an order I gave."
The knight commander looked at Gonadaltes with pleading eyes, as if saying 'Please don't cause trouble.'
It wasn't the knights who stopped the skull principal from flying in, but the imperial bureaucrats.
They had worked hard to create the empire's laws and rules, so how hurt would their pride be when some ancient grand mage laughed and entered?
The moment the skull principal flew in once, the bureaucrats scurried to the emperor and started whining.
"I know. I know. Those guys are annoying, so that's how it is. Can we enter?"
"Yes. Please come in."
The knights opened the way.
After passing through the gate, Yi-Han was startled to see the main road the skull principal's carriage entered.
The imperial capital had various roads laid out like blood vessels, as vast as its scale, and among them were roads that only certain classes could use.
And the road the skull principal's carriage entered now was the imperial road that only the emperor could use. Even though the surroundings were crowded with people, not a single ant could be seen on the road.
"...Is it okay to use this?"
"Eh. With the merits His Excellency Gonadaltes has accumulated, he should be able to use this much. ...Probably."
Alcicle tried to maintain his noble dignity in front of Yi-Han.
However, he couldn't help the tip of his beak from trembling.
Fortunately, the knights didn't come running. It seemed like they really had permission.
"Pengerin. I'll take Wardanaz and have a private audience with His Majesty. You..."
"I have relatives nearby, so I'll stay there."
"No. Meet the bureaucrats and praise Einroguard a bit."
"...Yes..."
Alcicle had a lot he wanted to say, but he obediently nodded his head.
He couldn't refuse because the effect of the punishment room hadn't worn off yet.
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