Chapter 246: The Mage’s Wish (2)

“Was that what happened?”

When Yuri returned after finishing his talk with Ainzer, Jared told him about the altercation between the knights earlier.

Yuri nodded.

“You said they were knights who studied in the Empire?”

“Yes.”

“Perfect.”

“Excuse me?”

However, Yuri showed no discomfort.

“If it’s something good, we should take it. The Empire’s Knight Academies are better structured than those in Briol. We could adopt a new training system through them.”

“That may be true, but they were picking a fight.”

“Isn’t that normal for a knight?”

“Doesn’t it anger you? Those guys, despite you publicly denouncing the Empire for using black magic, since they fed from the same imperial hand, now show hostility. They think they’re imperial knights!”

“Jared. They simply don’t know. You can’t punish ignorance.”

“That doesn’t sound like something you’d say…”

“I forgive ignorance. But not incompetence!”

Hernando, who had been listening silently, flinched and looked at Yuri.

Maryrose pointed at him with her finger, laughing.

“Ignorance and incompetence! Having both is the worst!”

Then Yuri pointed at Tirbo.

“Tirbo!”

“Yes!”

“You’re going to be the one to make them taste humiliation. Understood?”

“Humiliation? Um… how?”

“You just have to defeat them with your sword.”

Tirbo opened his eyes wide in surprise and tilted his head. Then he scratched his neck with a somewhat goofy expression and said,

“But… is it really humiliating for a weak knight to lose to a strong one? Hehe…”

At his carefree comment, Jared clutched his chest as if his heart had been stabbed.

“Kh…!”

“Do you feel it, Jared?”

“Yes. Damn it… it’ll be the greatest humiliation of their lives as knights.”

“Exactly.”

Tirbo still didn’t quite get it.

“Tirbo. Have you studied abroad?”

“No. Hehe…”

“Any expensive private swordsmanship tutor?”

“No. Should I have one?”

“Then how did you learn?”

“I just bought swordsmanship manuals at a bookstore and…”

“See?! We’ll use this Tirbo to make the difference in talent clear.”

“Hehe…”

And yes.

Tirbo was a genius.

Not on Yuri’s monstrous level, but while others took private lessons or studied at imperial academies, he had reached his current level by reading books and training on his own.

“The son of a count learned on his own?”

“My family isn’t famous for its swordsmanship…”

“The House of Romance has a good head, but it’s not known for using swords.”

“A good head? Are you joking?”

The House of Romance, to which Tirbo belonged, wasn’t recognized for martial prowess. That’s why he was considered an oddity even within his family.

Tirbo smiled confidently, though it didn’t inspire much.

“Sir Jared, I’m smart. Hehe…”

“Don’t lie.”

“It’s true.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“Alright, you…”

Jared asked,

“How much is 24 times 56?”

“1,344.”

The answer came before Jared finished speaking. His eyes shook.

“18 times 75?”

“1,350.”

Tirbo’s face remained calm.

Jared, looking incredulous, threw another problem.

“144 times 754?”

“108,576.”

“441 times 553?”

“243,873.”

“Are you answering seriously? You’re not just throwing random numbers, right?”

“You can check it.”

“This brat…!”

Jared tried writing the calculations on paper, but forgetting the exact numbers he had said, he crumpled it in frustration.

Tirbo kindly reminded him,

“You said 144 times 754, and 441 times 553. My answers were 108,576 and 243,873…”

“Shut up!”

“Hehe…”

Seeing that scene, Yuri slowly nodded.

Everything made sense.

Yuri spoke.

“Jared. Why do you think those who studied abroad looked at you with hostility?”

“Because they don’t like me?”

“Not wrong, but if you dig deeper, it’s because of desire.”

“Desire?”

“Human beings desire to prove their superiority.”

“That’s true.”

“If it turns out the Empire has been corrupted by black magic as I claim, then those knights who pride themselves on being from Parcent will be seen as trash. That’s why they want to refute me. And that feeling is projected toward you and yours.”

“I see.”

“It’s a trait common to all humans.”

Yuri patted Tirbo’s shoulder.

“I want to use that. Humiliation comes later. For now, we’ll use their desire.”

“Use their desire?”

“With that desire… we’ll stir the magician’s desire.”

“Excuse me?”

***

Yuri asked Ainzer for permission and summoned the knights who had studied abroad.

Since they sent people every year, the group had grown considerably. The Order of Vengeance had about fifteen people, including Yuri, Hernando, and Maryrose, but when all the graduates from the Parsent Knight Academy were gathered, the number doubled.

Even so, the Order of Vengeance showed no tension at all.

“Why did you call us?”

One of the knights who had studied in the Empire stepped forward and asked. Even with Yuri—now famous across the continent—in front of him, his attitude was blatantly insolent.

From behind, the members of the Order of Vengeance reacted irritably.

“Hey, watch your attitude.”

“My attitude? If something’s wrong with it, why don’t you explain it clearly?”

“This idiot…”

Yuri calmed them with a gesture, then put on a friendly smile.

“I called you because you studied in the Empire. You’re all from Parsent, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Well… I have a little problem…”

Yuri put on an uncomfortable expression.

“The thing is…”

Then he mimicked a gesture he had learned from watching Tirbo—scratching his neck while leaving his mouth slightly open. That single action was enough to completely dissolve the arrogant atmosphere that usually surrounded him, making him look clumsy and naïve.

Without going so far as to laugh like Tirbo, Yuri kept that pose and continued,

“I-I thought it would be good if those who studied in the Empire could help me a little…”

“Oh, I see. Hahaha…”

Seeing Yuri imitate Tirbo, the imperial knights instinctively felt superior.

“Well, leave it to us. We can help you. Problems in the Empire can only be understood by those who have lived there.”

“Thank you. The master of the Magic Tower hasn’t agreed to meet us. I want you to go and talk to him. Tell him the Empire is using black magic.”

“Black magic?”

The knights looked at each other, then smiled and nodded.

“Yes. We’ll tell him clearly.”

“Thanks. Gentlemen!”

Yuri shook their hands with a big smile.

“Then, let’s go right away.”

“Right now?”

“Of course. Is there a problem? If we don’t go now, we might not get another chance…”

“No, it’s fine. Let’s go. Anyway, the tower is in Mathehorn. Since you probably don’t know the area, we’ll guide you. Hahaha…”

Ignoring the death glares from the Order of Vengeance, the imperial knights took the lead and began moving forward.

Jared approached Yuri and asked,

“Your Highness, are you sure about this?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Those guys are looking down on you.”

“No adult gets angry over a child’s boasting. To me, they’re nothing more than that.”

“Oh…”

“Let’s see if they do what I expect.”

“Understood.”

The mixed group of imperial knights and the Order of Vengeance soon arrived at the Magic Tower, located in the center of Mathehorn. Though they called it a tower, from the outside it looked more like a solid mansion.

Once inside, Hernando and Maryrose took the lead. They climbed to the top floor of the tower and, together, activated a spell. On a blank wall, an arch appeared drawn, transforming into a real door.

Hernando explained,

“This is the interview room with the master of the tower. If he decides to receive you, you’ll be able to meet him there.”

“Yes?”

“By the way, neither Maryrose nor I managed to get him to show up, no matter how much we called…”

Following Yuri’s instructions, Hernando scratched his neck with his mouth half open, also imitating Tirbo’s gesture. Immediately, his appearance changed, making him look like an incompetent mage. The effect was truly remarkable.

The knights asked,

“Our job is to go in there?”

“That’s right. Go in and convince the master that the Empire is involved with black magic.”

“Alright, we’ll give it a try.”

One by one, the more than twenty imperial knights passed through the door and disappeared. It closed behind them.

Yuri turned to Hernando and asked,

“When you said you were investigating, you weren’t just sitting in there complaining, were you?”

“Of course not. I conducted all kinds of magical analyses.”

“Yes?”

“But, Your Highness…”

Hernando looked worriedly at the entrance to the room.

“How are those knights supposed to convince the master of the tower? All they’ll do is criticize you and praise the Empire.”

“That’s exactly why.”

“Excuse me?”

“You two were too naïve in your approach.”

At those words, Hernando blinked in confusion.

“Naïve, me?”

Maryrose, on the other hand, winked.

“His Highness is right. I’m very naïve. I don’t understand anything.”

Hernando frowned at her. Maryrose looked back seriously, lifting her chin.

“What are you looking at?”

“I’m looking at someone naïve.”

“Don’t look at me. It wears out.”

“Even if you ask, I don’t want to.”

While the two argued, Yuri sighed and explained,

“Of all human desires, there’s one that’s particularly irresistible. And mages feel it stronger than anyone else. Do you know what it is?”

“What?”

“It’s…”

Yuri opened his eyes intensely.

“The desire to correct stupidity!”

**

The imperial knights entered the interview room. Unlike the exterior, the interior was surprisingly spacious. There were even chairs prepared, exactly the number needed for everyone present.

They sat in order.

In front of them was a table with a crystal sphere and an ostentatious empty chair. An invisible barrier prevented them from getting closer to it.

One of the knights spoke,

“So, we’re supposed to talk here and the master of the tower or whatever will show up?”

“Seems like it. He must be listening through that crystal sphere.”

“Hm.”

They exchanged glances and signals.

From the start, these knights had no intention of cooperating with Yuri’s plan. They were sympathetic to the Empire and didn’t believe in black magic. In fact, they thought Yuri was conspiring with other countries to discredit the Empire.

One of them spoke,

“Master of the Tower, can you hear us?”

“…”

“Allow me to say something. Black magic doesn’t exist. His Highness must have misunderstood something. In fact, black magic isn’t as evil as they say. It’s just another branch of magic. And I know what I’m talking about. What is magic? It’s using nature’s mana! A mage imposes his will! And produces miracles, plain and simple!”

“Oh…”

“Not bad, this guy!”

The others applauded his words.

“Please, scold His Highness for speaking without knowing. We beg you!”

Another knight continued,

“That’s right. Black magic? Human sacrifices? All of that is conspiracy theory nonsense. Hahaha, how exactly is one supposed to get magic from something like that? If it’s not pure mana, magic can’t be created. I had lessons as a child! Only the pure mana of nature! Only a kind and pure personality can feed magic!”

“Are you a prodigy or what?”

“This guy’s too good to be just a knight.”

“Exactly! You need a good heart to use magic!”

“I heard that from my nanny too.”

“What if your nanny was a secret mage?”

“These idiots…”

The crystal sphere in front of them trembled slightly, but the knights, absorbed in their own words, didn’t notice.