Bab 580
"Kata-katamu terlalu kasar..."
Sang ksatria magang menatap Jijel dengan ekspresi terluka.
Tentu saja, merekomendasikan seseorang dari keluarga penyihir yang mewakili kekaisaran, seperti keluarga Wardanaz, ke ordo ksatria memang merupakan preseden yang langka.
Memang sulit juga memprediksi reaksi orang-orang sampai sejauh itu.
Namun, jika itu adalah seorang pemuda dari keluarga Wardanaz, dia sepenuhnya memenuhi syarat untuk direkomendasikan ke ordo ksatria.
Bukankah itu sudah jelas hanya dari fakta bahwa dia pernah membasmi kelompok ekstremis anti-sihir bersama para ksatria dari Ordo Ksatria Pohon Kastanye terakhir kali?
Jika itu Wardanaz, dia akan mengangkat kehormatan orang yang merekomendasikannya, bukan mencorengnya.
Bagus untuk Wardanaz karena dia bisa bergabung dengan ordo ksatria yang luar biasa, dan bagus untuk Moradi karena dia bisa mendapatkan kehormatan karena merekomendasikan bakat yang luar biasa...
"Moradi tidak ingin disalahpahami bahwa keluarganya dekat dengan keluarga Wardanaz."
Yi-han maju membela Moradi.
Bagaimanapun, merekomendasikan seseorang ke ordo ksatria dengan nama keluarganya adalah tindakan yang sulit dilakukan kecuali mereka cukup dekat, karena jika pihak lain membuat kesalahan, itu juga akan mencoreng kehormatannya sendiri.
Saat dia merekomendasikan, orang-orang di sekitarnya tak bisa tidak berpikir, 'Oh, mereka pasti cukup dekat.'
Tentu saja, tindakan Yi-han tidak terlalu membantu. Jijel langsung menyangkalnya.
"Tidak? Kenapa aku menolak kedekatan dengan keluarga Wardanaz? Apa yang kaubicarakan, Wardanaz?"
Dari perspektif Jijel, yang memiliki kepekaan politik yang luar biasa, itu adalah sesuatu yang sama sekali tidak bisa dia akui.
Meskipun keluarganya bukan keluarga ksatria, tidak ada untungnya dari rumor bahwa dia menolak kedekatan dengan keluarga bangsawan tinggi seperti keluarga Wardanaz.
"Tidak... Hei..."
Yi-han tercengang melihat penampilan Jijel yang membawa percakapan kembali ke titik awal ketika dia mencoba menyelesaikannya dengan baik.
Tentu saja, Jijel juga memelototi Yi-han dengan tatapan absurd.
'Kenapa kau bilang keluarga kami tidak ingin disalahpahami sebagai dekat dengan keluarga Wardanaz? Bagaimana kalau keluarga Wardanaz tersinggung oleh itu?'
'Tidak. Anggota keluarga kami bahkan tidak membaca surat kabar kekaisaran. Mereka tidak akan peduli apa yang kau katakan.'
Dolgyu maju, tidak bisa menonton lebih lama lagi.
"Wardanaz sudah berkali-kali mengatakan bahwa dia sama sekali tidak berniat bergabung dengan ordo ksatria. Itulah mengapa Moradi bereaksi terburu-buru. Meskipun kata-katanya kasar, tolong dipahami."
"Ya. Betul."
"Benar. Itu dia."
Yi-han dan Jijel menganggukkan kepala mereka dengan lega.
Sebenarnya, dari perspektif Yi-han, juga sangat berbahaya jika disalahpahami sebagai ingin bergabung dengan ordo ksatria.
Ada sedikit pekerjaan yang sekeras dan semelelahkan ksatria.
Jika dia memikirkannya dengan sedikit dingin, dia bisa saja bereaksi, 'Apa hubungannya itu dengan memaki?' tapi sang ksatria magang menerimanya untuk saat ini.
Dia sudah mengenal Dolgyu, dan sesuatu yang lain lebih memicu rasa penasarannya.
"Wardanaz. Menurutku kau akan bisa tampil dengan sangat baik bahkan jika kau datang ke ordo ksatria, jadi kenapa? Ada penyihir di ordo ksatria juga. Mereka sangat dihormati dan membantu para ksatria. Moradi. Ordo ksatria di utara tempat keluargamu..."
'Diam. Dasar orang yang tidak peka.'
Kali ini, Jijel berhasil menelannya dalam hati.
Jika dia ingin merekomendasikannya ke ordo ksatria, dia sendiri seharusnya yang merekomendasikan, jadi kenapa dia terus menyuruh Jijel yang melakukannya?
Untungnya, Dolgyu menjawab lagi.
"Wardanaz akan tetap di Einroguard bahkan setelah lulus. Karena dia harus belajar sihir dengan para profesor."
"APA KAU GILA, DOLGYU!?!?"
Yi-han berteriak kaget.
Kali ini, Dolgyu membuat ekspresi sedikit terluka.
***
Butuh beberapa waktu bagi para ksatria magang dan siswa untuk meluruskan kesalahpahaman dan menyatukan pikiran mereka.
"Jadi, kita berenam harus menghabiskan satu hari di pegunungan itu."
Pada kata-kata sang ksatria magang, Yi-han bertanya dengan hati-hati.
"Apakah kalian kebetulan tahu dari mana kita harus memulai?"
"Tentu saja tidak! Haha. Wardanaz. Kalau begitu itu bukan ujian namanya."
'Dasar orang tidak peka.'
Yi-han mengutuk sang ksatria magang dalam hati.
Para siswa Einroguard terjebak di dalam, tapi apa yang dilakukan para ksatria ini di luar tanpa mencari tahu bahkan hal itu?
Profesor Ingurdel pasti akan sedikit lebih lunak dengan mereka.
"Wardanaz. Ini masalah besar."
"Kenapa?"
Ketika Jijel berbisik dan bertanya, Yi-han bingung.
Tentu, mereka tidak mendengar dari mana harus memulai, tapi ini bukan masalah besar, kan?
"Kami awalnya berencana masuk kabin dan menghabiskan semalam."
"Itu rencananya?"
"...Apakah menurutmu orang-orang ini akan mengizinkan itu?"
"Apa? Tidak. Tentu saja mereka akan mengizinkan..."
Yi-han, yang hendak berbicara, terdiam.
Mata para ksatria magang terlalu lurus dan berkilau, lebih dari yang dia kira.
Hah?
"Tunggu. Semuanya. Ada satu hal yang ingin kutanyakan, yah... ada teman-teman seperti ini di antara teman-teman lain. Mereka menyembunyikan kabin di pegunungan terlebih dahulu dan berencana untuk berlindung di sana."
Begitu kata-kata Yi-han berakhir, sang ksatria magang jijik.
"Mereka melakukan hal sepengecut itu? Siapa sebenarnya?"
"Wardanaz. Kita perlu memberitahu profesor sekarang. Siapa orangnya?"
"...Yah. Aku juga cuma dengar sambil lalu."
Melihat reaksi para ksatria magang, wajah Yi-han menjadi serius.
Yi-han membuat alasan sebentar dan memanggil teman-temannya secara terpisah.
"Tidak. Apakah semua orang dari keluarga ksatria seperti ini? Bukankah menyiapkan kabin juga sebuah keterampilan? Kami bekerja sangat keras untuk menyiapkan persediaan yang akan dimasukkan ke sana."
Dengan suara tulus, Yi-han mencurahkan perasaannya kepada teman-temannya.
Apa yang diketahui oleh para ksatria magang sialan yang datang dari kota luar dan hidup nyaman untuk mengatakan hal-hal seperti itu?
Untuk membuat kabin di berbagai bagian pegunungan tanpa ketahuan, Yi-han dan teman-temannya bekerja keras di tengah jadwal sibuk mereka.
Pergi diam-diam saat tugas malam, pergi diam-diam pagi-pagi sekali, pergi diam-diam saat waktu luang di siang hari...
Persediaan yang dimasukkan ke sana juga merupakan persediaan berharga yang sulit didapatkan dari luar.
Berani-beraninya mereka meremehkan itu!
"Di antara mereka yang berasal dari keluarga ksatria, mereka yang masuk ordo ksatria sejak dini cenderung lebih keras kepala."
Jijel setuju dengan kata-kata Yi-han dan menjelaskan.
Mereka yang dilatih sebagai ksatria magang sejak usia muda untuk melakukan tugas mereka di ordo ksatria berkemauan kuat dan tidak tahu cara berkompromi.
Itu tidak masalah, tapi masalahnya adalah mereka juga memaksakan itu pada para siswa Einroguard.
"Tapi anak-anak Menara Macan Putih pandai berkompromi."
"Ya. ...Apa?"
"...Tidak sampai sejauh itu, kan, Yi-han?"
Jijel dan Dolgyu protes tanpa sadar.
Berasal dari keluarga ksatria, dibilang pandai berkompromi tidak terdengar seperti pujian.
"Bukankah kalian pandai berkompromi?"
"Atas dasar apa kau memfitnah seperti itu?"
"Terakhir kali, salah satu siswa menaramu menjual pedang kayu di pasar gelap. Kalau kau periksa, pasti ada beberapa anak yang tidak punya pedang."
'Orang-orang gila.'
Jijel mengutuk siswa-siswa dari menara yang sama dalam hati.
Mereka benar-benar anak-anak yang memalukan ke mana pun mereka pergi.
"Itu... mereka pasti benar-benar lapar. Sangat, sangat lapar."
"Hei... Choi. Diam saja."
Jijel memberi isyarat kepada teman orc-nya yang tidak peka itu. Semakin dia berbicara, semakin dia tenggelam ke dalam rawa.
"Yang penting sekarang bukan seberapa pandai menara kami berkompromi."
'Kalian yang bertanya.'
Yi-han berpikir begitu, tapi dia menutup mulutnya demi teman-temannya.
Dolgyu, yang menundukkan kepalanya dalam-dalam, dan telinga Jijel yang memerah.
"Ini tentang bagaimana menghadapi orang-orang yang tidak membantu itu. Ujian akan segera dimulai. Kita tidak punya waktu."
"Kau benar..."
Yi-han tenggelam dalam pikiran.
Profesor Ingurdel menempatkan mereka bersama agar penyihir dan ksatria bisa bekerja sama secara harmonis, tapi itu malah memberikan efek sebaliknya.
Itu sendiri merupakan hambatan bagi ketiganya yang berencana menemukan kabin di pegunungan dan segera memasukinya.
Setelah merenungkan, Yi-han berkata dengan hati-hati.
"Hanya satu hal yang terlintas di pikiranku."
"Aku juga."
"Aku juga memikirkan satu."
Ketiganya saling menatap seolah terkejut.
Mereka semua memiliki pikiran yang sama pada waktu yang bersamaan?
Dolgyu sangat bahagia dalam hati.
'Ada hasilnya bertarung bersama selama setahun!'
Biasanya, dia selalu cemas karena hubungan Jijel dan Yi-han tidak terlalu baik, tapi melihat ini, dia merasakan sedikit harapan.
Pada akhirnya, ujian-ujianlah yang membuat persahabatan menjadi kuat.
"Kalau begitu, mari kita semua mengatakannya bersama-sama? Tiga. Dua. Satu."
"Ayo taklukkan mereka setelah menidurkan mereka."
"Ayo taklukkan mereka setelah membuat mereka pingsan."
"Adil dan sportif dengan kemampuan... Hah?"
Dolgyu tersentak.
Jawaban kedua teman lainnya sedikit berbeda dari yang dia harapkan.
Dalam situasi seperti ini, bukankah improvisasi yang tepat adalah menyerah karena tidak ada pilihan dan mengatasinya dengan berkoordinasi bersama tiga ksatria magang?
Jijel juga memiringkan kepalanya.
Tentu saja, itu sedikit berbeda kekhawatiran dari Dolgyu.
"Bisakah kita menidurkan mereka?"
"Aku membuat ramuan tidur dengan teman-temanku. Kita bisa bilang itu untuk pencegahan dingin."
"Ah. Itu jauh lebih damai. Oke. Ayo lakukan itu."
Yi-han dan Jijel cepat mencapai kesimpulan.
Ayo ikat tiga ksatria magang itu setelah menidurkan mereka dan bawa mereka!
"Kenapa, Dolgyu? Ada yang perlu ditambahkan?"
"...Bukan apa-apa. Aku mau bilang ayo taklukkan mereka secara adil dan sportif dengan kemampuan
Chapter 580
"Your words are too harsh..."
The squire looked at Jijel with a hurt expression.
Of course, it was a rare precedent to recommend someone from a mage family representing the empire, like the Wardanaz family, to the knight order.
It was also difficult to predict people's reactions to that extent.
However, if it was a boy from the Wardanaz family, he was fully qualified to be recommended to the knight order.
Wasn't it evident just from the fact that he had exterminated the anti-magic extremists together with the knights of the Chestnut Tree Knight Order last time?
If it was Wardanaz, he would raise the honor of the person who recommended him, not tarnish it.
It was good for Wardanaz as he could join an excellent knight order, and it was good for Moradi as she could gain the honor of recommending an outstanding talent…
"Moradi doesn't want to be misunderstood that her family is close to the Wardanaz family."
Yi-Han stepped up for Moradi.
After all, recommending someone to the knight order with her family's name was a difficult action to take unless they were quite close, because if the other party made a mistake, it would tarnish her own honor as well.
The moment she recommended, people around her couldn't help but think, 'Oh, they must be quite close.'
Of course, Yi-Han's action wasn't very helpful. Jijel immediately denied it.
"No? Why would I refuse intimacy with the Wardanaz family? What are you talking about, Wardanaz?"
From the perspective of Jijel, who had excellent political sense, it was something she absolutely couldn't acknowledge.
Even if her family wasn't a knight family, there was nothing to gain from rumors that she refused intimacy with a high noble family like the Wardanaz family.
"No... Hey..."
Yi-Han was dumbfounded by Jijel's appearance of bringing the conversation back to square one when he tried to end it well.
Of course, Jijel also glared at Yi-Han with an absurd look.
'Why are you saying that our family doesn't want to be misunderstood as being close to the Wardanaz family? What if the Wardanaz family takes offense to that?'
'No. Our family members don't even read the imperial newspaper. They won't care what you say.'
Dolgyu stepped up, unable to watch any longer.
"Wardanaz has said many times that he has no intention of joining the knight order at all. That's why Moradi reacted hastily. Although the words were rough, please understand."
"Yeah. That's right."
"Right. That's it."
Yi-Han and Jijel nodded their heads in relief.
In fact, from Yi-Han's perspective, it was also very dangerous to be misunderstood as wanting to join the knight order.
There were few jobs as hard and arduous as knights.
If he thought about it a bit coldly, he could have reacted, 'What does that have to do with cursing?' but the squire accepted it for now.
He was already acquainted with Dolgyu, and something else aroused his curiosity more.
"Wardanaz. I think you would be able to perform excellently even if you came to the knight order, so why? There are mages in the knight order too. They are respected a lot and help the knights. Moradi. The knight order in the north where your family is..."
'Shut up. You clueless bastard.'
This time, Jijel succeeded in swallowing it inwardly.
If he wanted to recommend him to the knight order, he should recommend him himself, so why did he keep telling Jijel to do it?
Fortunately, Dolgyu answered again.
"Wardanaz will stay at Einroguard even after graduation. Because he has to study magic with the professors."
"Are you out of your mind, Dolgyu!?!?"
Yi-Han shouted in shock.
This time, Dolgyu made a slightly hurt expression.
***
It took some time for the squires and students to clear up misunderstandings and put their heads together.
"So, the six of us have to spend a day in that mountain range."
At the squire's words, Yi-Han carefully asked.
"Do you happen to know where to start?"
"Of course not! Haha. Wardanaz. Then it wouldn't be an exam."
'This clueless bastard.'
Yi-Han cursed the squire inwardly.
The Einroguard students were trapped inside, but what were these knights doing outside without finding out even that?
Professor Ingurdel would have been a bit more lenient with them.
"Wardanaz. This is a big problem."
"Why?"
When Jijel whispered and asked, Yi-Han was puzzled.
Of course, they didn't hear where to start, but this wasn't a big problem, was it?
"We were originally going to enter the cabin and spend a night."
"Was that the plan?"
"...Do these guys look like they'll allow that?"
"What? No. Of course they'll allow..."
Yi-Han, who was about to speak, hesitated.
The squires' eyes were too upright and sparkling, more than he thought.
Huh?
"Wait. Everyone. I have one thing I'm curious about, well... there are friends like this among other friends. They hide a cabin in the mountains in advance and plan to take refuge there."
As soon as Yi-Han's words ended, the squire was disgusted.
"They do such a cowardly thing? Who on earth?"
"Wardanaz. We need to tell the professor now. Who is it?"
"...Well. I heard it in passing too."
At the squires' reaction, Yi-Han's face became serious.
Yi-Han made an excuse for a moment and called his friends separately.
"No. Are all those from knight families like this? Isn't preparing a cabin also a skill? We worked so hard to prepare the supplies to put in there."
With a sincere voice, Yi-Han poured out his feelings to his friends.
What did those squire bastards who came from the city outside and lived comfortably know to say such things?
To make cabins in various parts of the mountain range without getting caught, Yi-Han and his friends worked hard in their busy schedules.
Going up secretly when on night duty, going up secretly early in the morning, going up secretly during free time during the day…
The supplies to put in there were also precious supplies that were difficult to obtain from outside.
How dare they ignore that!
"Among those from knight families, those who entered the knight order early tend to be more stubborn."
Jijel agreed with Yi-Han's words and explained.
Those who had been trained as squires from a young age to do their part in the knight order were strong-willed and didn't know how to compromise.
That was fine, but the problem was that they imposed it on Einroguard students as well.
"But the White Tiger Tower kids are good at compromising."
"Yeah. ...What?"
"...It's not to that extent, right, Yi-Han?"
Jijel and Dolgyu protested without realizing it.
Being from a knight family, being told that they were good at compromising didn't sound like a compliment.
"Aren't you good at compromising?"
"On what basis are you slandering like that?"
"Last time, one of your tower students sold wooden swords on the black market. If you check, there will be a few kids without swords."
'Crazy bastards.'
Jijel cursed the students of the same tower inwardly.
They were really embarrassing kids wherever they went.
"That... they must have been really hungry. Very, really hungry."
"Hey... Choi. Just shut up."
Jijel gestured to the clueless orc friend. The more he spoke, the more he was sinking into a quagmire.
"What's important now is not how good our tower is at compromising."
'You guys asked.'
Yi-Han thought so, but he kept his mouth shut for the sake of his friends.
Dolgyu, who had his head bowed deeply, and Jijel's ears were turning red.
"It's about how to deal with those unhelpful guys. The exam will start soon. We don't have time."
"You're right..."
Yi-Han was lost in thought.
Professor Ingurdel had put them together so that mages and knights could cooperate harmoniously, but it had the opposite effect.
It was an obstacle itself for the three who were planning to find the cabin in the mountain range and enter it right away.
After pondering, Yi-Han carefully said.
"There's only one thing that comes to mind."
"Me too."
"I also thought of one."
The three looked at each other as if surprised.
They all had the same thought at the same time?
Dolgyu was very happy inwardly.
'There's a reward for fighting together for a year!'
Usually, he was always anxious because Jijel and Yi-Han's relationship was not very good, but seeing this, he felt a bit of hope.
In the end, it was trials that made camaraderie strong.
"Then shall we all say it together? Three. Two. One."
"Let's subdue them after putting them to sleep."
"Let's subdue them after knocking them out."
"Fair and square with skills... Huh?"
Dolgyu was startled.
The answers of the other two friends were a bit different from what he expected.
In a situation like this, wasn't it the right improvisation to give up because there was no choice and overcome it by coordinating with the three squires?
Jijel also tilted her head.
Of course, that was a bit different concern from Dolgyu's.
"Can we put them to sleep?"
"I made a sleeping potion with my friends. We can say it's for cold prevention."
"Ah. That would be much more peaceful. Okay. Let's do that."
Yi-Han and Jijel quickly reached a conclusion.
Let's tie up the three squires after putting them to sleep and take them!
"Why, Dolgyu? Is there anything to supplement?"
"...It's nothing. I was going to say let's subdue them fair and square with skills."
"Haha. You're right."
"It's nice to have the same idea."
At the words of the two friends, Dolgyu smiled desolately.
***
Rattle, rattle-
"I didn't know we would move by carriage!"
Labda of the Engge family was amazed.
He didn't expect to move through this mountain range by carriage. Einroguard wasn't a school for mages for nothing.
"Labda. You were definitely a master of absorption swordsmanship, right?"
"I'm not a master yet. I still have a long way to go."
At Yi-Han's words, Labda spoke humbly. However, an undeniable pride was felt in his appearance.
The swordsmanship of the Engge family focused on the mysterious technique of absorption, a rare swordsmanship even in the empire.
Knights already had pride in their family's swordsmanship, but in Labda's case, that pride had to be even stronger.
"That's amazing. I'm also practicing the mysterious technique of absorption, but to apply it to swordsmanship... It's hard to even imagine."
"Than... Huh?"
Labda felt something strange.
'How is he practicing it?'
In the first place, could the mysterious technique of absorption be practiced?
"Now, everyone drink this."
Yi-Han handed over a round glass bottle containing a potion. The squires looked at it with a curious gaze.
"What is this?"
"It's a potion that helps endure the cold."
"Oh. Thanks."
Gulp gulp-
Seeing the squires drinking the potion one by one, Yi-Han smiled with satisfaction.
"Is it possible to figure out where the carriage is going?"
"Not at all. It doesn't seem to be moving in the usual way."
Jijel, who had her eyes closed and was checking the direction the carriage was moving, frowned.
Putting aside the fact that there were no windows, this carriage had been showing physically impossible movements since earlier.
Going up a slope and suddenly falling down, then moving backward…
It was clear that it had flown or teleported several times in the middle.
Thud, screech!
The carriage stopped and the door opened. It was a signal to get off.
Yi-Han and his friends tied up the sleeping squires and carried them down one by one. Then the driverless carriage turned around and quickly disappeared downward.
"The snow is getting heavier..."
Dolgyu groaned and checked the surroundings.
He had a feeling that the thickening snowfall would not be easy to deal with.
"I heard there are giants in this mountain range. I hope we don't encounter giants."
"You don't have to worry about giants. There are no giants now."
"I see. Thanks... Uh, Yi-Han. But how do you know that?"
Dolgyu asked, but Yi-Han couldn't answer.
He was concentrating on checking the location of this area on the map.
"Found it. If we walk about 30 minutes from here, we'll reach the cabin I prepared."
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