Chapter 624
"Thank you."
"Sure. But it won't turn out the way you're thinking now."
The skull principal advised indifferently.
What the family head was thinking was as clear as looking at his palm.
He was probably thinking the same as some of the ambitious people in the empire.
-I'll get ahead in the power structure within the empire by joining hands with the Wardanaz family, the empire's most powerful mage family!
Such thoughts were not surprising as they were common among families with some ambition.
All families within the empire wanted their family to become stronger, richer, and more renowned.
To such people, a family like the Wardanaz family was an attractive partner.
A great noble family with a long history, strong power, and wide influence.
...The problem was that the Wardanaz family wasn't an ordinary family that wanted to become stronger, richer, and more renowned.
Just as the skull principal didn't aim to make his family the top prestigious family in the empire after establishing it, the head of the Wardanaz family was the same. Mages who had reached enlightenment had no choice but to transcend the times and be detached from the world.
When there was a distant glimmering truth, how could they be interested in the messy and annoying power struggles within the empire?
However, the family head in front of him didn't care.
"That boy might have different goals."
"Well, he'll be even harder to deal with..."
"...?"
***
"Prahgal is the god of life."
"?"
Yi-Han, who had returned, doubted his ears at Jicklin's explanation.
"Not the god of tentacles or chimeras?"
"Well, even evil gods' claims usually sound plausible."
Jijel answered indifferently while looking up the records of battles with the Prahgal Order in the family archives.
Originally, even evil god cults had plausible claims.
If their claims were strange from the start, why would fanatics emerge?
The Prahgal Order roughly had the doctrine of 'Lord Prahgal is the god of life, and the current people of the empire are incomplete beings, so let's accept Lord Prahgal's essence and become greater and stronger beings'.
"Is that greater and stronger being a chimera?"
"Strictly speaking, it's not quite a chimera...? It's closer to using transformation magic with holy magic."
As Yi-Han and Jijel whispered to each other, Jicklin felt slightly hurt.
She knew they were both mages, but she felt left out when they talked without including her.
"The fact that such an evil god worshipper appeared means there's a high possibility of other comrades nearby."
"That's right. The knights in charge of reconnaissance are checking the surroundings now. They've probably already fled though."
"How about asking the Shadow Patrol for help?"
"Ha, ha, ha. Are you out of your mind?"
"...You don't have to say it like that."
Yi-Han became slightly sulky when his somewhat serious suggestion was blocked.
Jijel was rather flustered by this reaction.
"...I thought you were joking."
"Isn't it fine?"
"Imagine asking the Black Tortoise Tower for help to solve something the White Tiger Tower is in charge of."
"!"
Yi-Han understood immediately.
'But you guys cooperate and join forces when needed, don't you?'
They cooperated slyly while following his orders when needed!
"Ahem."
As her sister and her sister's friend played by themselves, Jicklin cleared her throat.
Only then did the two raise their heads and look at Jicklin.
"What's the matter?"
"??"
"Um... um... So, we're interrogating the captured mercenaries now. Would you like to watch?"
"Ah, yes. I'd be glad to participate."
"They probably don't know much though."
"Shh. Be quiet. She's being considerate."
"Is she your sister?"
***
Despite waking up late, the captured mercenaries tried to stay calm.
"Damn. Was it an evil god worshipper? No wonder he was so generous..."
"Shh. Keep your mouth shut."
Experienced mercenaries knew well how to act in such situations.
Keep their mouths shut, minimize talking, and claim they knew nothing.
In this case, it was even more advantageous because they really didn't know anything.
The most dangerous thing was to get scared and blurt out something strange by mistake.
If they were misunderstood as being close to the evil god worshipper or having connections with them, they would have to rot in the underground prison for over ten years.
"You guys know well too."
"You do your part. Don't treat me like a rookie."
The mercenaries strongly warned each other in case of any situation.
It would be troublesome if another mercenary got scared by the knights' pressure and fabricated something they didn't do.
"Follow me."
The knights imprisoned the mercenaries separately and began the interrogation.
"Where did you meet the evil god worshipper?"
"In, in Shantma City, Sir Knight. I really didn't know anything. I just went because they said they'd pay..."
"What was the destination?"
"It was Ice Harbor. They said we just had to take them to Ice Harbor... I really didn't know! Please forgive me!"
"Didn't you suspect anything when the pay was so generous?"
"Oh my, if we suspect clients who pay generously, how can we work as mercenaries!"
"I see. Then tell me everything you know about the evil god worshipper. Anything suspicious, no matter how small."
"W-well..."
"Is there a mercenary who talked a lot with the evil god worshipper?"
"I'm not sure about that either..."
The mercenaries only said what was necessary and answered that they didn't know as soon as they heard the rest of the questions.
Even if they tried their best to recall and talk, it would only become troublesome.
Moreover, there was no benefit to having rumors spread that they, as mercenaries, had blabbed about their client.
The knights seemed to sense this and glared at the mercenaries.
"They're seasoned bastards. Even though they didn't have much time to talk, they're all acting the same."
"They probably won't say anything because there's no benefit in moving their mouths unnecessarily. These mercenary bastards."
"What should we do? There might be someone in collusion with them."
"I don't think so. That evil god worshipper wouldn't try to lure such mercenaries into their cult. They're not trustworthy at all."
"Indeed..."
"Still, continue the interrogation. We need to get even small clues."
"I'm debating whether to torture or bribe them."
"Both in this situation... Oh, Lady Jicklin!"
The knights who were talking stopped their conversation and greeted Jicklin, Jijel, and Yi-Han as they visited.
"We were just pausing the interrogation of these bastards and planning what to do next."
"Hmm."
Jicklin nodded.
"I'll take charge from now on."
"Yes!"
As she had brought her sister and her sister's friend, Jicklin intended to show her capable side as a knight.
"The conversation recorded so far is as follows..."
Crack!
As Jicklin, who was about to receive the documents, slightly bumped into the wall beside her, the solid rock wall crumbled.
The knights looked at this sight with awe-filled gazes, and the mercenaries were terrified.
Although they were prepared for some torture...
'Isn't that an execution??'
"I made a mistake because I was thinking of something else for a moment."
"That can happen!"
The mercenaries wondered what kind of thoughts one had to have to be able to destroy a rock wall.
"Hmm. So now..."
"Ugh, ugghhhhh!"
One of the mercenaries in the solitary cell closest to the entrance screamed.
That mercenary pointed at Yi-Han with his finger, trembling.
"You, you, you...!"
"?"
"You, that mage...!"
"What are you talking about?"
Yi-Han brazenly feigned ignorance.
After all, it wouldn't be good for what Yi-Han had done to be revealed in front of the other knights.
Even Yi-Han thought it was a bit despicable to pretend to be friendly and put sleeping potion in the pot before running away.
"Wh-what nonsense! You're that mage, aren't you! You came to us... Wait, did you make us faint too?! Since when! Since when did you do it? Answer me!"
The mercenary shouted in panic.
He couldn't believe it himself.
That all of them had been fooled and collapsed because of such a young brat?
He'd rather believe that they had collapsed because the evil god worshipper did something strange.
"Be quiet. If you don't be quiet, I'll punish you."
"Si-sir Knight. Look at that mage! That mage did something to us... to us!"
"How dare you speak so rudely to our family's guest, you mercenary bastards!"
The anger of the knights, who had their face disregarded even when spoken to nicely, exploded.
The solitary cell door opened, and the knights taught the mercenary who had opened his mouth a lesson.
"Ugh, urgh! Kurgh! I, I'm sorry! I misspoke...! Please spare me!"
As the interrogation wasn't over yet, the knights stopped their attack at an appropriate level.
The mercenary who had been thoroughly beaten looked around, completely cowed.
'Did I dream...? No, no!'
The mercenary discovered a familiar knight next to that handsome mage.
Surprisingly, they were both indeed people from the Moradi family!
'Si-since when have I been under the Moradi family's surveillance? Don't tell me everything was under the Moradi family's surveillance? Even this interrogation now...?'
The mercenary felt a chill down his spine.
Thinking that he had been under surveillance from the moment he set foot in the north, he suspected that even this interrogation might be just probing while knowing everything.
If that was the case, just keeping his mouth shut and being stubborn was the worst choice.
If he did that in front of knights who knew everything, he'd immediately be charged with insolence...
"I-I remembered. Actually, that evil god worshipper once said he came from the west."
"What? Tell me more."
"And... and also... Ah! Two days ago, one of the other mercenaries talked with the evil god worshipper for a few minutes. Please interrogate that guy."
"Oh ho."
The knights were very curious about the suddenly cooperative mercenary.
Why did this seasoned mercenary bastard suddenly...?
"Are mercenaries usually this cooperative?"
"No. This is surprising."
Even the knights were surprised at Yi-Han's question, not knowing the reason.
Seeing this, Jicklin, who was putting on her gauntlets, gave a regretful look.
She had wanted to show her capable side as a knight in front of her sister and her sister's friend...
***
After finishing the hunt and interrogation, Yi-Han was resting in his lodgings while teaching his junior.
"That's right, Eandurde. This herb is an edible medicinal herb. This one is a poisonous herb you can't eat. It'll be useful when you go to school."
"Edible medicinal herb!"
"And if you follow the river, you'll occasionally come across cabins. If there's no one in the cabin, break down the door and check under the shelf. Usually, the professors make a basement door there."
"...?"
Alcicle, who was next to them, was puzzled by their ominous conversation.
What kind of conversation was this?
"Mr. Wardanaz. Are you inside?"
"Another visitor?"
"Isn't this all because of you, Mr. Alcicle!"
Yi-Han grumbled.
Wasn't it because Alcicle had tried to escape alone and told the knights all sorts of stories, true and false, that visitors kept coming?
"I-I'm sorry. But I didn't tell any false stories..."
"Is that important right now!"
"Hmph."
Alcicle looked at Yi-Han nervously.
The previous betrayal seemed to have stung quite a bit, as it hadn't been resolved even after eating sardines.
"There's someone who would like to see Mr. Wardanaz..."
"Yes. Please come in."
Yi-Han answered while roughly clearing the desk at the servant's words.
He had expected more knights to enter.
However, when the door opened, only one person entered. It was an elf knight with a cold impression.
Seeing an impression somewhat resembling Jijel or Jicklin, Yi-Han had a feeling.
"Could it be..."
"I am Jiderpra of the Moradi family. Welcome to our guests who have come from afar."
"Hic."
Alcicle was so surprised to see the head of the Moradi family that he hiccupped.
'What did you do?'
'I didn't do anything!'
'...Didn't you catch an evil god worshipper yesterday?'
'...I didn't do anything except that!'
Alcicle vowed to never believe this boy from the Wardanaz family again when he said he 'didn't do anything'.
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