“So that’s what happened.”
After finishing his conversation with Ainger, Jared recounted to Yuri the earlier tension between the knights.
Yuri nodded thoughtfully.
“The knights who studied abroad in the Empire?”
“Yes.”
“That’s good.”
“Huh?”
Yuri didn’t seem bothered at all.
“You have to accept what’s good. The Empire’s knight academy is more systematic than Briol’s, so we can adopt new training methods through them.”
“That may be true, but they were picking fights.”
“Isn’t that expected of knights?”
“Isn’t it infuriating? They’re Briol knights, yet when His Majesty accuses the Empire of dabbling in black magic, they get hostile just because they’ve been influenced by the Empire. It’s like they’ve all become Empire knights now!”
“Jared, they just don’t know any better. You can’t punish ignorance.”
“That’s not like you, Your Majesty…”
“I forgive ignorance. But I will never forgive incompetence!”
Hernando, who had been quietly listening, blinked in surprise and looked at Yuri. Marilose pointed at him and laughed.
“Ignorance and incompetence! Having both is the worst!”
Then Yuri pointed at Tirbo.
“Tirbo!”
“Yes?”
“You’re going to personally humiliate those guys. Got it?”
“Humiliate? How?”
“By beating them with your sword.”
Tirbo’s eyes went wide, and he tilted his head in confusion. Scratching the back of his head, he gave a slightly clueless smile.
“Hey, isn’t it normal for a weaker knight to lose to a stronger one? Heh…”
Jared clutched his chest at the casualness of that remark.
“Ugh…”
“Feel that, Jared?”
“Yes. Oh my god. That’s going to be the biggest humiliation of their knightly lives.”
“Exactly.”
Tirbo still looked puzzled.
“Tirbo, have you ever studied abroad?”
“Nope. Heh…”
“Had any expensive sword instructors?”
“Nope. Should I have?”
“How did you learn then?”
“I just bought sword manuals at the bookstore…”
“See! Through Tirbo, we can clearly show the difference talent makes.”
“Heh…”
That was the truth.
Tirbo was a genius.
Not an extraordinary prodigy like Yuri, but while others took private lessons and studied swordsmanship at the Empire’s knight academy, he had taught himself by reading books alone—and reached this level purely through his own talent.
“The son of a count taught himself?”
“Our family isn’t famous for swordsmanship…”
“The Romance family is known for brains, not swords.”
“Huh? Brains? No way.”
The Romance count family, to which Tirbo belonged, was definitely not renowned for swordsmanship. He was an oddball even within his own household.
Tirbo smiled confidently, though it wasn’t exactly convincing.
“Sir Jared, I’m smart. Heh…”
“Don’t lie.”
“I’m serious.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Alright. What’s 24 times 56?”
“1,344.”
Before Jared could finish, Tirbo answered. Jared’s eyes flickered.
“18 times 75?”
“1,350.”
Tirbo’s expression remained calm.
Jared, shocked, kept throwing out questions.
“144 times 754?”
“108,576.”
“441 times 553?”
“243,873.”
“Are you sure you’re answering properly? You’re not just throwing out random numbers…”
“Try calculating it yourself.”
“Damn it…!”
Jared tried to write it down and calculate, but he couldn’t even remember the numbers he’d just said and crumpled the paper.
Tirbo reminded him.
“You said 144 times 754 and 441 times 553. My answers were 108,576 and 243,873, right?”
“Shut up!”
“Heh…”
Watching this, Yuri nodded slowly.
The picture was becoming clear.
Yuri spoke.
“Jared, why do you think those knights who studied abroad were glaring at you?”
“Because they don’t like Your Majesty?”
“Not wrong, but if we dig deeper, it’s because of desire.”
“Desire?”
“Humans want to prove their superiority.”
“That’s true.”
“If it’s revealed that the Empire is a rotten country manipulated by black magic, then those knights who studied abroad—proud of being from Parsonte—will see their pride thrown in the trash. That’s why they want to argue with me. Their feelings are projected onto you.”
“I see.”
“That’s a trait everyone has.”
Yuri patted Tirbo on the shoulder.
“I’m going to use that. Humiliating them comes later. For now, I’ll use their desire.”
“Use their desire?”
“To stir the desire of the wizard through their desire.”
“Huh?”
Yuri asked Ainger’s permission and summoned the knights who had studied abroad.
Since they sent students abroad every year, their numbers were quite large.
The Vengeance Knights numbered about fifteen, including Yuri, Hernando, and Marilose, but gathering all the Parsonte academy knights doubled that number.
Still, the Vengeance Knights showed no sign of tension.
“Why have you called us?”
One of the knights who studied abroad stepped forward and asked. Despite facing Yuri, who was famous across the continent, his attitude was insolent.
The Vengeance Knights bristled behind him.
“Watch your tone.”
“Tone? If there’s a problem with my tone, be specific.”
“This one…”
Yuri calmed them down and then smiled gently.
“I called you because you studied abroad in the Empire. You’re from Parsonte, right?”
“Yes, but…”
“There’s a problem…”
Yuri put on a deliberately troubled expression.
“The thing is…”
Then, mimicking Tirbo’s studied gesture, she half-opened her mouth and scratched the back of her head.
Even Yuri’s usual arrogant air faded, replaced by a somewhat lacking impression.
She stopped short of laughing awkwardly and continued.
“I thought it’d be good if those who studied abroad could help…”
“Oh, really? Heh heh heh…”
When Yuri imitated Tirbo, the knights who studied abroad instinctively puffed up with pride.
“Well, just leave it to us. We’ll help. People who’ve lived in the Empire know its problems best.”
“Thank you. The master of the Mage Tower won’t meet with us. You’ll talk to him. Tell him the Empire is using black magic.”
“Black magic?”
The knights exchanged glances, then smiled knowingly and nodded.
“Yes. We’ll deliver the message properly.”
“Thank you. You all!”
Yuri smiled brightly and shook hands with them.
“Then let’s go now.”
“Now?”
“Yes. Is that a problem? If not now, there won’t be time…”
“No, let’s go. The Mage Tower is in Matterhorn anyway. Since you don’t know the area, we’ll guide you. Ha ha ha…”
The knights who studied abroad, under the sharp gaze of the Vengeance Knights, took the lead and began moving.
Jared asked Yuri.
“Your Majesty, are you sure this is okay?”
“Why?”
“They’re looking down on you.”
“There’s no adult who gets angry at a child’s posturing. To me, they’re nothing more than that.”
“Oh…”
“Let’s see if they act as I intend once we get there.”
“Yes.”
Yuri and the Vengeance Knights, led by the knights who studied abroad, soon headed toward the Mage Tower in the center of Matterhorn.
Though called a tower, from the outside it looked like a sturdy mansion.
Once inside, Hernando and Marilose took charge.
The two went to the top floor and cast a spell together. An arched image appeared on the blank wall, and a real door materialized.
Hernando explained.
“This is the interview room where you can meet the master of the Mage Tower. If the master agrees to the interview, you’ll be able to meet him.”
“Really?”
“By the way, no matter how much Marilose and I called, he never showed up…”
Following Yuri’s lead, Hernando half-opened his mouth and scratched the back of his head. He, too, began to look like an incompetent wizard. Truly an impressive gesture.
The knights who studied abroad asked.
“Is our task to enter this room?”
“Yes. Please go in and persuade the master of the Mage Tower. Tell him the Empire is steeped in black magic.”
“Alright, we’ll try.”
The knights opened the door and entered. Over twenty of them vanished in an instant.
The door closed behind them.
Yuri looked at Hernando.
“You said you’ve been working hard, but you weren’t just sitting in the interview room grumbling, were you?”
“Of course not. We’ve done all sorts of magical investigations.”
“Is that so?”
“By the way, Your Majesty…”
Hernando looked worriedly at the interview room’s entrance.
“How do you expect those knights to persuade the master of the Mage Tower? They’ll probably just badmouth Your Majesty and praise the Empire.”
“That’s exactly it.”
“Huh?”
“You and Marilose approached this too naively.”
At Yuri’s words, Hernando blinked.
“Naive?”
Meanwhile, Marilose winked.
“You’re right, Your Majesty. I’m so naive I don’t know anything.”
Hernando frowned and glared at her. Marilose, as if daring him to look, straightened her face and lifted her chin.
“What are you looking at?”
“Looking at a naive person.”
“Don’t look. It wears you out.”
“Even if you tell me not to, I won’t stop.”
The two of them were locked in a war of words when Yuri let out a sigh and continued her explanation.
“Anyway, there’s one desire in humans that’s simply impossible to resist. Especially among wizards, it’s a particularly deadly craving. Want to know what it is?”
“What is it?”
Yuri’s eyes snapped open.
“It’s the desire… to refute stupid nonsense.”
The foreign-trained knights opened the door and stepped straight into the meeting room. Contrary to what they’d expected from the outside, the room was surprisingly spacious. Somehow, chairs had even been arranged to match their number.
They all took their seats in order.
Opposite them stood a table with a crystal orb resting on it, alongside a dazzlingly ornate chair. An invisible barrier had been erected, preventing anyone from crossing over.
One of the knights spoke up.
“So, if we speak here, the so-called Master of the Mage Tower will hear us through that orb?”
“Sounds about right. That guy’s probably listening in through that crystal ball.”
“Hmm.”
They exchanged glances.
From the start, the foreign-trained knights had no intention of going along with Yuri’s plan. They were loyal to the empire and didn’t believe in black magic at all. In fact, they suspected Yuri of conspiring with other nations to slander the empire.
One knight addressed the orb.
“Master of the Mage Tower, are you listening?”
“…”
“Let me tell you this: black magic doesn’t exist. Our sovereign must be mistaken. Black magic isn’t some evil sorcery. It’s just another branch of magic. I happen to know a thing or two about magic. Magic is about harnessing the mana in nature! A wizard sets their will and brings about miracles, isn’t that right?”
“Ooh…”
“Not bad, this one.”
The other knights applauded his words.
“Please, scold our sovereign for speaking nonsense. We beg you!”
As he finished, another knight chimed in.
“He’s right. Black magic? Human sacrifice? It’s all conspiracy theory. Ha! How could magic come from that? Magic can only be created from pure mana, right? The clean mana of nature! When I was young, I was taught that only a kind heart and a pure spirit can fuel magic!”
“Are you some kind of prodigy?”
“This guy’s too good to be just a knight.”
“Exactly! You need a kind heart to wield magic!”
“I remember my nanny telling me the same thing when I was little.”
“Was that nanny secretly a wizard, by any chance?”
“Those guys…”
The crystal orb on the table across from them trembled faintly, but the knights, caught up in their own words, didn’t notice at all.