“Mo-monster...!”
“No. I didn’t do this. My master did it for me.”
Seeing that the other person seemed to have misunderstood, Lee Han stepped forward and clarified.
Mages originally had all sorts of ways to communicate with one another beyond the limits of time and space.
Even if he could not reveal the young prince’s identity, Abalkarun would understand right away if Lee Han said he had received help from his master inside.
“Are you referring to a communication artifact?”
“It’s similar, but a little different. In any case, please understand that my master did this for me.”
Abalkarun guessed that the master Lee Han refused to reveal was the Skull Principal.
There were already rumors that Lee Han was the Skull Principal’s disciple, and there were not many mages capable of displaying such magic in such a short amount of time.
It was wrong, but it was a reasonable guess.
Some parts of it were not entirely wrong, either...
But even if his master taught him through a communication artifact, wouldn’t he still have had to handle quite a lot himself?
Abalkarun, unaware of the spatial labyrinth and the basement, thought to himself.
Even when receiving instruction from afar, unless the master came in person, the disciple still had to perform a considerable portion of the work.
...Then that was still impressive enough, wasn’t it?
Just as Abalkarun was about to be impressed all over again, his master’s voice rang in his ears.
“It’s done! Abalkarun. Come here!”
Abalkaigen, having finished the work, called for the disciple.
Abalkaigen wanted to show Abalkarun this boat, newly improved with ancient artifacts.
“Master. About <Bivle’s Sorrow>...”
“Abalkarun. You cannot put two potions in one bottle. You must focus on the magic before you.”
Abalkaigen scolded the disciple with a stern expression.
No matter how regrettable it was that Professor Verdus had made the opportunity slip away, continuing to worry about it while doing other work was unacceptable.
The magic composing this flying sailboat was by no means easy. Even if it was a matter of combining completed spells, one could not afford to let down one’s guard.
“That’s not what I meant...”
“Ahem!”
“I-I’m sorry. I’ll concentrate.”
The orc mage flinched and bowed.
Abalkaigen was a strict master when it came to magic. Seeing that expression, Abalkarun decided to explain everything after all the work was finished.
“Shall we take it out for a ride? Wait. Can you pilot it?”
Even after asking, the two mages hesitated.
This flying sailboat was Professor Verdus’s masterpiece, designed so that even someone who had not learned magic could pilot it. But that did not mean they should actually put someone who had not learned magic at the helm.
Since it was a prototype, a mage capable of repairing and controlling the magic circles installed in the boat should pilot it, in case something went wrong in the air.
“Yes. I piloted it last time too.”
“...I see!”
The two mages recalled that spells such as <Bivle’s Departure Enchantment> and <Bivle’s Flight Enchantment> began at the fourth circle at minimum, but they simply nodded without asking further.
After everything they had seen, was there really any need to be surprised by each individual thing?
“Then let’s cut through the roof and depart.”
“Wait. This is the Imperial capital. Don’t we need permission?”
Inside Einroguard territory, as long as one did not escape, it did not matter whether one flew through the sky, dug through the ground, or set fire to the principal’s office. Outside, however, there were Imperial laws.
If they flew into the sky of the capital without permission, knights would come rushing in from every direction.
-Do not worry. We have already contacted them and received permission.
“...You didn’t plan this before coming here, did you?”
-What are you talking about! Absolutely not!
The wrongfully accused knights sprang up in protest.
They were already dying from the injustice of being assigned to escort Professor Verdus. How could they also be suspected of something like that?
The knights truly were only working hard out of pure hatred for Professor Verdus.
“I understand. Then I’ll gratefully take it out for a ride.”
Lee Han jumped lightly onto the sailboat. Abalkaigen, Master Puyo, and Princess Yukbeltire also took their seats.
CRACKLE!
“?!”
When mana sparked from the magic circle, Abalkaigen started and asked, “Is this all right?”
“Ah. It’s been like this since I first received it. It’s because of the hull reinforcement magic, the wind-resistance magic, and the corrosion-prevention magic... I’ll turn off the last one.”
Lee Han skillfully manipulated the magic circle.
Having experimented with various things under Professor Verdus, he had no trouble handling the sailboat.
Seeing this, Master Puyo whispered to Princess Yukbeltire.
“Professor Verdus must have made Wardanaz do quite a lot. Do all students of the divination magic school suffer like this?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“...”
At that confident answer, the wood-spirit mixed-blood mage’s gaze toward Princess Yukbeltire turned slightly cold.
***
“A purple torch? Was there a purple torch today?”
The flying knights of the capital knight order, who were responsible for the airspace above the western wall district, were puzzled when they saw purple light flashing in the air.
Those permitted to fly in the capital had to hang magical torches of different colors above them. Anyone without such a torch, or anyone carrying a forged one, was arrested immediately.
Purple torches were markers granted only to royalty or figures connected to the Imperial Family. Since they were rarely seen, it was only natural for the knights to be stirred.
“Knights from Einroguard applied for it.”
“His Excellency the Imperial Mage Marshal?”
“No.”
“Well, if he wanted to fly, he’d fly around without permission anyway.”
The knights’ voices held both respect and irritation. The Imperial Mage Marshal, who flew over the capital walls whenever matters were urgent, always brought them humiliation.
No matter where they complained or submitted recommendations, it was useless.
Even when high officials or figures from great noble houses joined forces and spoke directly to the Emperor, the Emperor might blame himself, but he always protected his Imperial Mage Marshal.
“Are you well?”
“Ah. Count Jau!”
The knights greeted the familiar face.
Count Jau was famous among the many nobles living in the Imperial capital for his generous character.
There were not many nobles bold enough to cause trouble in the capital where the Emperor resided, but even taking that into account, Count Jau was truly tolerant.
He was so tolerant that he had even forgiven a mage who had graduated from the magic school after the mage accidentally burned down his carriage.
“This fellow keeps wanting to fly in the sky, so we came out like this. I worry I’ve added to your work.”
When the white-haired old count apologized, the knights waved their hands as if to say it was nothing.
“What are you saying? We raise flying creatures too, so we understand. Pegasi truly hate staying still.”
The pegasus the knights were riding gave a displeased snort.
“Oh dear. You are all suffering because of me. This old man will be on his way now. Come! Let’s go!”
The knights looked respectfully after the count as he flew upward with the magical torch.
How peaceful would it be if all the nobles of the Empire had such character?
“...Wait. Isn’t that purple light a little strange?”
A knight, belatedly noticing the discomfort that had slipped past while they were talking, raised a hand and pointed at the sky.
Purple lines were being drawn across the dark sky as the light moved, but the speed was far too fast and dazzling.
What kind of mount were they riding?
“It doesn’t seem to be a living creature.”
“Y-you’re right. Then that makes sense.”
At the words of the experienced senior knight, the others nodded.
The movement visible in the distance was too rigid to belong to a living creature. Since they were knights from Einroguard, it would not be strange even if it was a magical mount.
“But if it’s a magical mount from Einroguard... Profes...”
“No. Professor Verdus would not be flying around that peacefully. Absolutely not.”
When magical vehicles and flight were combined, Professor Verdus inevitably came to mind in the Empire.
But Professor Verdus was absolutely not here. Since this was not Einroguard territory, doing such a thing might actually result in being shot down...
“Oh. The count is heading that way?”
Count Jau’s blue torch began moving toward the purple torch.
Not only that, but the torches that had received permission earlier and had been circling other areas suddenly all converged on the purple torch.
At that sight, a chill ran down the knights’ spines.
***
Fast!
Lee Han was amazed by the violent movement.
Who would have thought it would be this fast?
It was on a completely different level from when he had cautiously piloted it inside Einroguard territory last time.
“To supplement! Its lacking! Speed! I brought out! Ancient artifacts!”
Abalkaigen shouted proudly through the roaring wind.
“I cast magic! On the mast! To reinforce! Its resistance!”
“Thank you, everyone!”
Lee Han carefully brought the small sailboat to a stop.
He had gotten excited without realizing it and performed rapid acceleration and aerobatic flight, but he was {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} worried that he might have pushed the sailboat too hard while it was still a prototype.
When he checked, there did not appear to be any damage to the magic circles or the hull.
“Junior.”
“Yes?”
“People are coming.”
“?!”
At Princess Yukbeltire’s words, Lee Han looked up and was startled.
Torches were flying in from every direction. People were definitely gathering.
What? Did the Death Knights fail to get proper permission?
For a moment, headlines from Imperial newspapers flashed wildly through Lee Han’s mind.
Einroguard Student W., Unauthorized Frenzied Flight in the Skies Above the Imperial Capital... Another Einroguard Incident?
Professor V. Takes Responsibility as Master and Voluntarily Appears in Imperial Court... Life Sentence Expected After Other Charges Considered...
“Gasp...!”
“?”
However, the two mages were even more shocked than Lee Han. They looked at each other with pale faces.
“What’s wrong? Do you happen to know who those people are?”
“I don’t know who they are, but I can guess why they’re here! They came looking for Professor Verdus!”
“What?”
Lee Han did not understand at first. Then realization struck, and he was horrified.
They had guessed it was Professor Verdus just from seeing this sailboat?
“Does it make sense to think of Professor Verdus immediately just because there’s a fast-flying aerial magic vehicle?”
“It does.”
“...What a useless bastard!”
Lee Han was furious at Professor Verdus’s uselessly famous reputation.
Even when absent, Professor Verdus still managed to grab his disciple by the ankle.
-Is that Bivle Verdus? Answer!
-Professor Verdus?
The voices of the people who had seen the outline of the small sailboat from afar rang out loudly.
At those voices, the two mages steeled themselves.
“To think we made such a foolish mistake. I’m sorry, teacher.”
“No. I should have anticipated this as well. I was too absorbed in the magic...”
If it became publicly known that they were connected to Professor Verdus, it would be fatal.
From now on, countless people would come looking for them and harass them with things like, “Where is Professor Verdus?” and “Drag Professor Verdus out here.”
Lee Han gave instructions to the others with a resolute expression.
“Everyone, keep your heads down.”
“What?”
“Hurry! Keep your heads down. Cast invisibility magic and don’t come out from inside.”
The other mages followed his instructions in confusion. Lee Han finished preparing as quickly as possible.
Before long, the voices of the approaching people grew closer.
“Professor Verdus! Answer me if you’re there! I didn’t come here to get angry. I’m simply curious about what you made with the gold coins you received as investment. Hm? Come now. Just stick your face out. I’m not holding anything in my hands!”
“Hmph. You think I’d fall for a trick like that? Bivle Verdus, come out! You bastard. I’ll tear off your tail and make soup with it!”
The dark sky above grew noisy with shouts, each with a different purpose.
However, what came from inside the small sailboat was a rough, growling voice that exceeded everyone’s expectations.
“Who’s calling me Bivle Verdus? I am Stedal of House Nago!”
“Stedal of House Nago?! The Stedal who increased his fortune even more during the bone-flesh flower speculation wave?!”
“...”
When someone mentioned detailed background information he had not expected, Lee Han was flustered and almost dropped the disguise.
