"Are knights usually this persistent?"

At Yi-Han's question, Anglago answered proudly.

"That's right. Knights don't forget favors."

"How annoying."

"!?"

Anglago, who suddenly heard a harsh remark, was startled.

What did the knights do?!

'I really don't want to go in.'

Yi-Han thought with a frown.

Since it wasn't an official outing, it wouldn't be good to meet many other people.

The adventurers would disappear from here once this mission was over, so they would have no reason to contact Einroguard, and the mages wouldn't return to Einroguard since the festival was over, but...

If he met the knights of the Chestnut Tree Knight Order here, he was worried about maintaining secrecy.

Even if he made them keep their mouths shut, secrets tended to leak out the more people knew about them.

'If I step back and have someone else do it...'

"Let's at least talk to them first. I don't know if those knight bastards will understand though."

"Just in case, it would be better to summon a golem too. Those knight bastards might throw a fit if they're in a bad mood."

"Then how about secretly sprinkling some poison? There are a few mages who can use paralytic poisons."

"...I'll just go myself."

Yi-Han said, giving up.

If he left it to the mages gathered here, a fight that didn't exist might break out.

Jijel spoke to Bartreck, a dwarf student from the same tower.

"Which crazy bastard released the employees right away?"

"We... well."

"...Look me in the eye. Bark. I said look me in the eye. Why are you avoiding my gaze? Not raising your head?"

"Mo... Moradi. Don't do this. You're misunderstanding now. I don't know anything."

Jijel had already half-confirmed her suspicions from her friend's reaction.

To think she attempted an escape with these crazy bastards!

'Should I really abandon them next time?'

She could understand if they did their best even if they were stupid.

But was it reasonable to forcibly take along those she didn't want to because they were stupid, saying 'But they're from the same tower'?

The White Tiger Tower students believed that escaping together increased the chances of success, but in Jijel's view, escaping alone seemed to have a higher possibility of success.

"St... still, it worked out well thanks to the knights of the Chestnut Tree Knight Order here..."

Bartreck carefully brought it up while gauging her reaction.

The White Tiger Tower students who scattered to avoid the pursuers.

Not many were lucky. Jijel and Bartreck's side was one of those cases.

They discovered the campsite of the Chestnut Tree Knight Order while escaping on horseback.

Naturally, the Chestnut Tree Knight Order welcomed and accepted these students from knight families...

...And the two students were pondering how to leave the campsite.

"Can't we borrow some silver coins while we're here?"

Bartreck made a remark that was unbelievable for someone from a knight family, to the point that he seemed to have no pride.

It was because the environment of Einroguard had changed Bartreck.

Fortunately, Jijel was still in her right mind. Jijel tapped the table with her finger and looked at Bartreck with contemptuous eyes.

"Borrowing silver coins from a knight of a family you have no regular ties with, putting your family's name on the line... What a great idea."

"I knew it, right?"

"..."

Jijel was frustrated. And a curse that Jijel, as someone from a knight family, wouldn't normally use flowed from her mouth.

Bartreck was perplexed.

"Is, is it that bad?"

"Why? Are you going to sell your family name and go around?"

"That's a bit different from..."

Before Bartreck could further upset her, a knight of the Chestnut Tree Knight Order entered the tent.

"Is everyone doing well?"

"Yes."

"Thank you for your kindness."

"What are you saying? I only did what I had to do."

Jijel thought inwardly while exchanging conversation.

Now that they were out of the academy, they had to go to the town and buy necessary items to make it meaningful. They couldn't keep being held up here.

The problem was what excuse to use.

If they said they were going to the town, the knights here would escort them due to their personality, and if they followed like that, they would stand out too much and likely get caught.

But if they told the truth, the knights would react like 'Even so, how could you escape?' due to their personality.

"Oh. Your friends are here outside."

"Friends?"

The two were surprised.

Some time had passed since they scattered, so they didn't think there would be friends who would find their way here belatedly.

"Who could it be?"

"I wonder. Could it be Dolgyu? In that situation, Dolgyu..."

The two who walked out of the tent discovered Yi-Han and Anglago and froze simultaneously.

"..."

"..."

Why is that bastard there?

-You want to investigate here? Why should I allow that?-

-Actually, I'm Yi-Han from the Wardanaz family.-

-...!!! Please come in! Everyone, come out and see!-

-I appreciate the welcome, but there's no need to shout like that-

-Everyone gather!! Gather!! Ah. What am I doing? The trumpet was here.-

-...-

The welcome from the Chestnut Tree Knights was honestly not surprising.

Since they made quite a fuss when they met last time, he naturally thought they would welcome him.

What surprised Yi-Han was the fact that Jijel and Bartreck were at the campsite.

"Don't tell me... Moradi. Did you know in advance that this campsite was here and used your friends as sacrificial pawns?"

"...?!"

Bartreck, who was next to her, was startled.

'Was that it?!'

"Why would I do such a meaningless thing? Wouldn't it be more difficult to match the timing?"

"Ah. Indeed."

"..."

Bartreck glared at Wardanaz.

This guy keeps sowing discord among the White Tiger Tower friends...

"And you, why are you showing your face here? Why do you have Anglago with you?"

"Ah. It's a bit of a long story."

At Yi-Han's words, Jijel laughed.

No matter how long, how long could it be?

"It's fine even if it's long, so tell me if you can."

"That's right, Wardanaz. Don't make strange excuses!"

Yi-Han shrugged his shoulders and told them what had happened as briefly as possible.

...And it was really longer than expected.

"Th... that's how it is."

"..."

The two had no choice but to acknowledge it.

No wonder there were mages and adventurers wandering behind him, making them wonder 'What's going on?'...

"Wait. Wardanaz."

Jijel asked with a frown.

"You must be in a situation where you secretly came out too. Is it okay to make such a big deal out of it?"

"Moradi. Wardanaz may not know about other things, but he's thorough in these aspects, that ba no, that guy."

"Hmm. I'm also worried now."

"..."

Bartreck glared at Wardanaz again.

This bastard, really!

"But we can't just leave those mages fighting. Oh. Are these knights really visiting Einroguard?"

"Yeah. They seem to have skillfully obtained permission. It's a good thing."

Jijel spoke with sincerity.

As she said before, the Chestnut Tree Knight Order was a knight order with other strengths even if their military power was a bit lacking.

Considering the names of the participating families, if they built friendships, it would be easier to intervene in the empire's affairs or act politically when necessary rights were involved in the future.

Moreover, judging from what happened last time, Yi-Han wasn't just a mere participant in the gathering, but the main guest of honor that day.

Yi-Han's face contorted with sorrow and pain. Unaware of his inner thoughts, Jijel spoke again.

"No matter how great a mage you are, it's rare to be invited to a gathering of knight families, so think of it as a good opportunity and gratefully..."

At Jijel's provocation that relentlessly scratched his insides, Yi-Han became furious.

Even if he tried to let it slide, this was unbearable.

"Sir Knight."

"Yes? What is it?"

"Could my friends here also participate in the gathering together?"

"Hmm! That's..."

The knight hesitated.

Of course, the qualifications of the other students weren't lacking.

The other students here were all from the White Tiger Tower. They were from renowned knight families.

However, that didn't mean just anyone could participate in a knight order's gathering.

If participation was possible just by being from a good family, even kids would be participating in the gathering.

Yi-Han was invited as a guest to express gratitude for what happened last time, but the others were still at the level of squires if they had to be strict about their status.

If he took them to the knights' gathering for no reason, it could make both sides uncomfortable.

Yi-Han read the other party's hesitation but didn't back down easily.

'I absolutely won't go alone.'

With the determination to drag the White Tiger Tower bastards here like water ghosts, Yi-Han opened his mouth again.

"Since I'm from a mage family, I'm not confident about attending the knights' gathering alone. If close friends go with me, I think I'll feel less nervous..."

"???"

Anglago tilted his head.

Whoever the close friends were, it wasn't him.

Bartreck also tilted his head.

Likewise, it wasn't him.

The two turned their heads and looked at Jijel. Jijel spat out in a voice full of murderous intent.

"Turn your eyes before I gouge them out."

"Ah, no."

"We, we were just wondering... It was Wardanaz's nonsense."

The knight exclaimed, tapping his chest at Yi-Han's mission.

"...Alright! If we can't even provide such convenience when inviting someone we owe a debt to, the name of a knight would be laughable! I will strongly recommend it!"

"Thank you. Sob."

Yi-Han thanked him, pretending to be weak. The knight comforted him, saying not to worry, then suddenly had a thought.

'Wait. I heard the boy from the Wardanaz family is no less skilled in swordsmanship than knights...?'

Huh?

After the confused knight left, Yi-Han spoke to his White Tiger Tower friends.

"Congratulations. You guys get to go together too."

"Wa, Wardanaz..."

"Thank you."

"...What are you thinking? Why are you doing this?"

At the three's reactions, Yi-Han flinched.

It was different from the reaction he expected.

'What? Is this pretense?'

"You're thanking me?"

"Huh? Yeah. Well..."

"Going out in the middle of the semester, not being able to bring any other useful items, just having pointless conversations with knights and having to return? Homework and studying will pile up?"

"...It's not pointless, you bastard!"

"What do you think a knight family gathering is!"

The White Tiger Tower students flared up, but Yi-Han ignored them.

"Even if you pretend it's not now, your true feelings will be revealed when it's time to go later. Yeah. Keep pretending to be happy. I'll understand that much."

"..."

As Yi-Han turned around and walked away, the White Tiger Tower students were very confused.

"Why is that guy taking us with him?"

"Isn't he doing that because he's shy?"

"Moradi. What do you think?"

But Jijel couldn't answer.

This time, even Jijel was so confused that she couldn't understand.

Why invite them too?

It was the mages who called out to Yi-Han, who was sternly punishing his evil White Tiger Tower friends and returning.

"Mr. Wardanaz. We have results! We found the source of the mana!"

"Oh...! That's great!"

Yi-Han felt like he could hear the sound of gold coins jingling in his ears.

"Do you see this spring? There must have been a realm overlap phenomenon below this spring."

"Indeed."

A collision phenomenon occurred around the spring, causing the mana to explosively flow out to the surroundings, and that mana circulated through the forest, creating strange phenomena.

"Then how should we solve this spring?"

At Yi-Han's question, the mages smiled as if to wait a moment and began their calculations.

And then their faces stiffened.

"Uh..."

"What's the matter?"

"According to the calculations, the collision is quite severe. It seems creatures from another dimension will appear from the spring soon."

"I see."

Yi-Han wasn't very surprised.

Since it was near Einroguard anyway, he could easily handle it by telling the professors.

"How much time is left?"

"30..."

"If it's 30 days, it's not that difficult..."

"...It seems about 30 minutes are left... Wait, let me calculate again..."

Yi-Han's face also stiffened like the mages.