‘I still had so much prepared material left.’

Lee Han clicked his tongue in disappointment at the merchant’s cold response.

He had wanted to tell the story of how Stedal Nago, after the speculation wave, chose stable investments in miners’ guilds over uncertain investments in mage towers and achieved tremendous success.

It was a story that would show everyone Stedal Nago was wise enough not to trust mages.

Mage towers and mage guilds were fundamentally terrible places to invest!

“We’ll wait here for a moment. Another noble will be joining us shortly.”

“Who is it?”

“Hmm. This one is a little difficult to deal with. Rather arrogant and self-righteous. It may be better to exchange only light greetings, then speak with other people once we arrive at the palace.”

Amur, who was standing beside them, asked in confusion.

“Why are we traveling with someone like that?”

“A merchant can’t only associate with people he likes. In this person’s case, they’re looking for a patron, and I’ve taken on the role of assisting them.”

The Kaako Trading Company was quite large by Imperial standards, and Arien, as one of its members, handled all sorts of work.

This sort of request was one of them.

Introducing young nobles seeking patrons to social gatherings and helping smooth over the atmosphere.

In return, the trading company could form connections with noble families and even place them in its debt.

“Oh my. They must have quite the nasty personality. It sounds like they’ll be difficult to deal with.”

“It should be enough if we don’t start a conversation and simply talk among ourselves.”

“Thank you, Amur. As expected, there’s no one but—”

Just then, the carriage door opened, and a penguin beastman mage wearing a splendid coat embroidered with silver snowflake patterns stepped inside.

It was Alshicle Pengerine.

“...”

“Good day.”

“Pleased to meet you, Pengerine.”

“Yes. I look forward to working with you. And this person is...?”

“This is Stedal of House Nago.”

“I see.”

Alshicle answered indifferently, then plopped heavily onto the long carriage seat.

Then he clicked his beak and muttered,

“I don’t want to go...”

“Pengerine!”

“...S-Sorry.”

At Arien’s sharp reprimand, Alshicle straightened his posture.

Now that he thought about it, the gathering was practically beginning already. The other people in the carriage were also participants, weren’t they?

“But... these people aren’t patrons.”

“That is true. But you never know when or where rumors may leak out. These people are tight-lipped, but you should still be careful, Pengerine.”

“...Why exactly do patrons only gather at theater viewings? Couldn’t they gather to watch magic experiments at mage towers instead?”

Alshicle spoke in a voice full of deep resentment.

There was only one reason an arrogant and self-righteous penguin beastman mage like Alshicle would bother attending such a theater gathering.

Because that was where the patrons were!

Alshicle, who needed patrons for new research, had been forced to attend despite finding theater dull and uninteresting.

‘Sob, sob. I really don’t want to go.’

Beside him, Amur whispered in confusion.

“Aren’t magic experiments popular too? I think I saw something about that in the Imperial newspaper.”

Amur definitely remembered seeing articles in the Imperial newspaper, things like: 【All Patrons Gathered to Watch Magic Experiment at Tree-Root Mage Tower Have Hair Turned Into Tree Branches!】

Magic experiments were surprisingly entertaining to watch, popular enough that people continued gathering even after accidents like that.

“They are popular, but it varies greatly depending on the magic.”

“Ah.”

Generally, schools like dark magic did not attract many visitors even when they offered to demonstrate experiments.

Occasionally, undertakers or similar people came by asking if there was any work available.

And in Lee Han’s opinion, Alshicle’s research did not seem very likely to be popular either.

First of all, it was too cold.

‘Rich Imperial people have no reason to pay money and travel somewhere remote just to shiver.’

Snowflakes were beautiful up close, but watching them fall from a distance grew boring quickly.

Seeing the two whispering, Alshicle grew curious and asked Arien,

“By any chance, is Nago quite wealthy?”

“...Well, Nago was once captured by pirates in the southern Empire and rescued by Ragesa, daughter of Torgerd, who leads a privateer fleet. While he was captured by the pirates, he obtained a treasure map and used it to amass a great fortune. Afterward, he devoted himself to alchemy, created several potions, and accumulated even greater wealth...”

“!”

Alshicle’s eyes widened at Arien’s smooth explanation.

He had thought this was merely some idle noble going to watch theater, but the man was actually wealthy!

Alshicle checked his appearance.

‘I should have brought canned sardines.’

Hoping there would be sardines at the palace, Alshicle opened his mouth.

“Nago. I was truly impressed by your innate luck and insight. I was even more surprised to hear that you increased your fortune during the Boneflesh Flower speculation wave. By any chance, are you interested in cold magic research—”

“Alshicle. I’m Wardanaz in disguise.”

“...Hey!!!”

Alshicle shouted in frustration.

How dare he toy with such earnest feelings!

***

“Why exactly are you disguised like that?”

“To help the Einroguard Theater Club students escape.”

“...I was wrong to ask.”

Alshicle reflected deeply.

Unlike himself, who was reluctantly going to watch theater, this boy from House Wardanaz was doing his best to help his friends.

“Why exactly does Einroguard torment students to this extent?”

“I wonder that too. More importantly, Alshicle, do you know much about theater?”

At Lee Han’s question, Alshicle’s expression immediately darkened.

Alshicle was not particularly knowledgeable about the cultural arts either.

“I’m not very confident.” 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

“That’s fine. I came prepared.”

“!”

Alshicle’s face brightened again.

Since the boy from House Wardanaz said that, it felt rather reassuring.

He was from a great noble house to begin with, and if he was confident enough to say this...

“I’ll tell you about a few simple plays now. The heirs of two feuding families fall in love...”

“They both die, and then a lich appears and resurrects them? I know that one.”

“...”

Lee Han looked at Alshicle with an expression full of shock and betrayal.

Why had he pretended not to know anything when he was clearly so well-versed in theater?

‘How can a person be this cowardly?’

“N-No...! That’s basic common knowledge! Who hasn’t seen that?”

“...Do you know this one too? A poor girl wanted to go to a ball and cried...”

“You mean the one where «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» a lich appears and gives her a dress and a glass sword? Then she kills the demon disguised as the prince? Later, the real prince identifies the girl by her sword-wielding form...”

“It seems I don’t need to help you, Alshicle.”

“Y-Yes.”

Alshicle was more shocked that a mage like Wardanaz was saying such things.

Even a woodcutter living in the northern mountains would probably have seen those plays when coming down to the village.

At last, their destination began to appear in the distance.

It was the 【Old King’s Palace】, a famous landmark of Granden City. It had once been a palace during the kingdom era, but was now used as a banquet venue for the city’s people.

Several splendid carriages that had arrived earlier were already visible. Alshicle whispered to Lee Han,

“If you see anyone who might invest in my research, tell me.”

“Then could you help me get my friends out too, Alshicle?”

The two mages shook hands firmly. Arien and Amur watched in satisfaction.

“Well then, enjoy yourselves. We’ll wait here.”

With that send-off, the two mages stepped forward with determination.

Lee Han looked around, searching for anyone useful.

“Alshicle. That person over there looks like a mage from the Phantom’s Embrace.”

“Wardanaz.”

“Yes?”

“Mages are all broke bastards, so I’m not interested! Find patrons!”

‘Though there are exceptions, like Valdrogard.’

Lee Han grumbled inwardly, then nodded.

Well, even from his perspective, there was no particular reason to approach mages here.

They would be hard to get sponsorship from, and they might interfere later when Lee Han caused trouble.

“Clevik. How should we coordinate the timing once the play begins?”

“Effort and repetition! All the mages gathered here have talent, but talent only blooms through blood and sweat.”

Clevik spoke solemnly while looking at the illusion mages.

The reason Clevik had come to this palace today was not only to provide the magic needed for the play, but also to instruct the illusion mages currently under his guidance.

If some mage towers shared information only among themselves, there were also organizations that traveled throughout the Empire and spread knowledge in order to raise the level of entire schools.

The Phantom’s Embrace, to which Clevik belonged, was closer to the latter. That was only natural, since Ogonin himself was a major figure in the illusion magic school.

At the moment, Clevik was teaching the illusion mages gathered near Granden City without any compensation. Thanks to that, the illusion mages’ eyes shone with respect.

“Even so, don’t worry too much. This Clevik will check everything from start to finish. Everyone, prepare the magic you were assigned!”

Lee Han grew interested in the illusion mages’ conversation.

From what he could hear, they seemed to be preparing the magic needed for the play. If he could take part in that, wouldn’t it help him get the students out later?

“It looks like they’re preparing magic for the play. I’d like to join them.”

“Ugh. I told you, there’s no money in that...”

Although Alshicle complained, he did not oppose Lee Han’s suggestion.

It did make sense. If they wanted to help the Einroguard students escape, taking part in the play’s preparations would be useful.

The surveillance was so thorough that they would have to exploit several openings before they had any chance of succeeding.

“It would be better for Alshicle of House Pengerine to ask, rather than Stedalbo of House Nago. By the way, that alias sounds familiar. Is it a real family?”

“No. It’s the Principal’s name backward.”

“...”

Alshicle looked as though he had seen every kind of lunatic in the world, then approached the mages.

When Clevik heard Alshicle’s house name and title, he readily accepted.

“It would be an honor! I’d be happy to help however I can. You could even teach the mages here!”

“Thank you. ...That settles it, right?”

Alshicle returned and spoke to Lee Han.

But Lee Han’s expression was filled with shock and dismay.

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

“Baldoron is over there!”

Although most of his face was covered and only his eyes were visible, Lee Han recognized him immediately.

That was Baldoron, the great illusion mage of Philone Village.

“...Huh? Really?!”

Alshicle was startled and looked up.

Alshicle had also heard the name during vacation—the illusion mage who had taught Wardanaz magic.

-So Baldoron...

-Now that I think about it, Baldoron...

-Honestly, isn’t Baldoron more impressive than Ogonin?

-You’re free to think that, but it’s probably better not to say it in front of people from the illusion magic school.

“Who is it? That person? No, he looks ordinary.”

“Isn’t true greatness often hidden within the ordinary?”

Lee Han spoke with a faint note of respect in his voice.

The truly strong hid their claws.

“I was already wondering about a few things in magic, so I should speak with him.”

“Wait. Wait, Alshicle. Look at Baldoron right now.”

Lee Han pointed at the man.

His face was almost completely covered, as if he didn’t want to meet anyone he knew.

In other words, he had another purpose.

“He probably has a purpose, just like us. Let’s not interfere unnecessarily.”

“I see... That’s unfortunate. I wanted to speak with him. But what purpose could he have for doing this kind of menial work?”