Published at 18th of December 2024 9:51 am

Chapter 628

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Jijel and the friend cradled in her arms became embarrassed simultaneously.

"Moradi. Didn't you say arms and legs would be broken and we'd have to crawl around with magic?"

"Oh my. Jijel likes to joke, that's why."

At her sister's brazen response, Jijel almost dropped Yi-Han.

"But the other knights of the family..."

"That was a mistake, wasn't it, Wardanaz? Did you feel anything from this swordsmanship?"

"Hmm."

Yi-Han, lying on his side, fell into thought at the question.

'Honestly, I felt a lot more in overall aspects rather than just swordsmanship.'

Having usually fought with strong opponents like Professor Bagrak or Professor Ingurdel who adjusted to him, Yi-Han had been under one misconception.

That the enemies he actually meets won't charge while being considerate like the two professors.

The biggest flaw in this fight was definitely...

'I should have prepared more thoroughly from the starting situation.'

When a knight who had reached enlightenment really came at him with determination, it was impossible to stop with Yi-Han's current firepower.

He should have brought out the strongest means like Ferkuntra or the bracelet of ten thousand demons from the start.

Only by buying time and binding feet could he have found a way to inflict damage somehow.

'If I couldn't face her with swordsmanship, I should have prepared magic to bind her feet, and if I couldn't prepare magic to bind feet, I should have at least used Ferkuntra or the bracelet of ten thousand demons. How could I act so carelessly when I've only been out of Einroguard for such a short time?'

Yi-Han reflected deeply.

To think he had let his guard down so much just because he left Einroguard.

If Professor Bagrak had seen this, he might have said, 'To think my disciple is so careless, from now on I'll teach with the intention to really kill.'

"I learned a lot."

"That's good then."

Jicklin sent a kind gaze with the eyes revealed on her expressionless face.

It was hard to believe that this was the gaze of a knight who had just tried to kill someone.

As Jicklin turned away, Jijel looked at Yi-Han and said,

"Hey. Get down."

"Ah."

Yi-Han got down from Jijel's arms and landed.

"Still, it's fortunate that it ended well. Right?"

"...Yeah."

Although Jijel still felt a bit wronged, she had to admit it.

This much was indeed ending well.

"Next time, it might be better to hold a sword and block at least once."

"What!?"

At Yi-Han's words, Jijel looked at her friend, wondering what he was talking about.

But surprisingly, Wardanaz wasn't joking.

"You're really going to try blocking!?"

"Don't we need to get into the habit of blocking if we want to survive?"

Yi-Han, recalling Professor Bagrak and Professor Ingurdel, asked back as if it was obvious.

By the second or third year, these professors would gradually increase their strength and beat up students, so if they didn't prepare in advance, they might really have to crawl around Einroguard.

In Yi-Han's case, who took classes from both, he might even end up walking around in an undead state beyond crawling...

Jijel, who had been looking at Wardanaz anew, felt slightly repentant.

'That's right. I shouldn't think about running away first.'

No matter if it was her sister, she shouldn't have thought about running away first.

As a mage who needed to create distance, she might have needed to pour out attacks more aggressively instead.

"Yeah. I think you're right."

Although there would be big differences in the forms, strength, depth, and breadth of swordsmanship, if she could at least draw her aura, she might be able to endure somehow.

Thinking this, Jijel was about to nod...

...when she hesitated.

Intense pain began to surge through her entire body.

"...Ma-magic backlash."

"What?"

"The backlash... is coming."

"!"

Only then did Yi-Han realize what state Jijel was in.

Having cast several powerful enhancement magic spells, the backlash was causing muscle pain to surge.

"Here, drink this potion."

Having much experience casting enhancement magic, Yi-Han quickly took out a potion.

Jijel, who drank it hurriedly, breathed a sigh of relief as the pain diminished.

"That's impressive. Is it a potion made by Maykin?"

"We made it together."

"I thought muscle pain potions were quite difficult..."

Treating pain spread throughout the body, rather than simply broken or cut wounds, required much more advanced skills.

"It's not a muscle pain potion, but a pain relief potion. You need to go lie down before the potion's effect wears off."

"..."

Jijel was about to curse but held back.

Well, it was a bit shameless to expect something like a muscle pain potion from a fellow 1st year student.

"...Alright, just help me walk."

"Moradi. There's one thing I want to say, but I hope you won't get angry."

"I'm already getting angry just hearing that, but I'm not sure if I can... Go ahead and say it."

"There's a banquet today."

"...Hey, stand in front of that cliff for a bit. I won't push you. Really."

***

Some imperial knights claimed that 'the direct and sincere gatherings of knights are on a different level from the roundabout chattering gatherings of nobles', but in fact, knights' gatherings weren't much different from nobles' gatherings.

While noble gatherings were usually held in salons or halls, knights' gatherings were usually held in fortresses or strongholds.

While noble gatherings were decorated with balls, exhibitions, or various plays or concerts at the beginning and end, knights' gatherings were decorated with matches and duels, and if the alcohol was a bit strong that day, with sincere duels at the beginning and end.

While noble gatherings talked about recent events while observing etiquette and formalities, knights' gatherings talked about recent events in a rougher and more familiar manner.

As such, the northern knights gathered at today's banquet were also excitedly chattering, greatly welcoming familiar faces they hadn't seen in a long time.

"Brother! It's been a long time. Isn't this the first time since the last Snowflake Forest subjugation?"

"I could hear about your reputation even where I was. Hahaha!"

Knights in half-armor could be seen shouting here and there.

Among them, some knights' faces were already red, having snatched and drunk the alcohol the servants were carrying, unable to wait.

Other knights blamed the servants for not bringing alcohol quickly enough rather than blaming those knights for their impatience.

"You should have brought the alcohol faster! You can't leave a knight who came from the edge of the north thirsty, can you!"

"I'm sorry, sir."

The tough northern servants, not unfamiliar with knights ranting for alcohol, brought the next barrel of alcohol without any panic.

"The Moradi family's prestige is still strong. Damn!"

"Lower your voice. This is the Moradi family's territory."

"Surely they won't punish us in this joyous occasion."

If there were people drinking and enjoying themselves excitedly, there were bound to be people getting angry too.

Not all northern knight families were cooperative with the Moradi family. There were families competing for hegemony.

Knights from such families were naturally bound to be jealous of this large-scale banquet.

Because this banquet itself symbolized wealth, fame, and family connections.

"By the way, I heard that the direct line of the Moradi family is close with the Wardanaz family, is that true?"

"That can't be."

The negative knights snorted.

Even if families boasted to show off their prestige, there was a limit.

What kind of family was the Wardanaz family?

Weren't they the most closed-off and isolated family among the imperial families?

There was no way a bloodline from such a family would suddenly interact with outsiders.

"But I heard it from several places. They studied together at Einroguard..."

"I know about Einroguard too. Don't underestimate me just because I'm not a mage."

A middle-aged dwarf knight spoke confidently.

"Do you think all Einroguard graduates are friends? Far from it. If they're from incompatible backgrounds, they're more like enemies with bad relationships. The Moradi family is a knight family and the Wardanaz family has been a mage family for generations, so how could they get along? If they get along, I'll cut off my beard!"

"You're certainly right!"

The surrounding knights nodded at the experienced dwarf knight's words.

It was certainly logical.

"Let's go inside now. My throat's getting dry from all this chattering outside."

"Let's do that. The Moradi family might not be good at other things, but they know how to treat guests properly..."

As the knights passed through the entrance of the huge tent and went inside, an even louder noise than outside assaulted their ears.

Knights gathered around tables made from halved giant logs were shouting at the top of their lungs.

But none of the knights were surprised. It was a familiar sight.

When had knights' feasts ever started according to the host's announcement?

Every time, half of them were drunk even before the host could announce.

"Hello."

"!"

The knights quickly greeted upon seeing a familiar Moradi family bloodline.

No matter how much of a competitor they were, if they acted arrogantly after being invited to a banquet, they wouldn't even be treated as knights in the north.

"It's an honor to meet the bloodline of the Moradi family, the shield of the north."

"Thank you."

The Moradi family bloodline staggered with each step as if she had received a serious injury.

The boy next to her quickly supported her.

"Your reaction is slow."

"I'm sorry, Miss Moradi."

"Are you mocking me now? Why are you being so formal? Are you crazy??"

"I was just trying to express my apology..."

"???"

The knights looked at the boy next to them in puzzlement.

They thought he might be a servant or attendant of the Moradi family, but he seemed too noble for that.

"Excuse me, who might this person be?"

"Ah. This is Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family. He was staying with the Moradi family on an unofficial invitation."

"...?!!!"

The knights' eyes widened.

Usually, such unofficial family visits were common when the person was close to a member of the family.

There was no way the Wardanaz family would have sent someone for another reason, and the boy in front of them was clearly the student from the rumors.

"Moradi. Want to drink?"

"Do I look like I can drink right now?"

"Sorry. Then do you want to eat cake?"

"I don't want to eat anything, so stop asking."

"Gainando's mood improves when he eats cake."

"...Would you care to explain what exactly you meant by that just now, Wardanaz? I'm really curious."

"Sorry. Even I think that was a bit too much, don't I?"

The two whispered as they walked towards where the other knights were.

Although their conversation was fierce, from the outside, they looked quite close.

"Wh-what...?"

"No, didn't you say not all Einroguard students are close!"

The surprised knights asked the dwarf knight.

The middle-aged dwarf knight held out a dagger with a dazed face.

"Cu-cut my beard."

"..."

***

The skull principal, who was yawning while sitting next to the family head, suddenly remembered and asked,

"Come to think of it, I heard you kept Wardanaz with you?"

"Yes. I was impressed by how efficiently he improved the magic circles."

"Is he at that level? Ah. With mana... What a crude fellow."

The skull principal realized immediately.

The Wardanaz family's boy had a crude shortcut that other mages couldn't follow.

"That's not all. To think he would improve behavior patterns by moving the location of outside knights. He said he learned it at Einroguard."

The family head spoke with faint impression showing on his cold face.

The skull principal pondered, wondering what he meant, and then was surprised.

"Was it because of Wardanaz that the knights' lodgings were moved?!"

"Yes."

'What a crazy bastard.'

The skull principal was dumbfounded.

This was the first time among Einroguard students that someone tried to make the empire like Einroguard just because they attended Einroguard.

Even a demon wouldn't do this!

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