Chapter 1119
Perhaps because she felt guilty, Jowrin soothed her younger brother more actively than usual.
However, the black dragon did not easily regain his spirits. Jowrin sighed and called Lee Han.
“Lee Han. Lee Han.”
“Yes?”
“I think there is no helping it. I think it is right to let Uman resign...”
“......”
“Wh-why...”
At her contractor’s sharp gaze, Jowrin subtly lowered her head.
Had Jowrin’s perfect plan perhaps been discovered?
'Lee Han might be able to use mind-reading magic...!'
“Your Majesty. No matter how troublesome the Inspector is, you must support him. He is your family, is he not?”
Of course, if Uman resigned from the inspector post, quite a lot of people would become happy.
The Einroguard students, the Skull Principal, Lee Han too...
'...Wait. I do not think I would particularly become happy?'
Lee Han paused.
Now that he thought about it, even if Uman resigned from the inspector post, it did not seem like Lee Han would particularly gain anything. Rather, it even seemed a little like a loss.
'No, no. That is not what is important right now.'
Shaking his head, Lee Han came back to his senses again.
What mattered right now was not whether the people of Einroguard would become happy or unhappy. The people of Einroguard were originally unhappy people, so it was fine if they became a little more unhappy.
Was what mattered not Jowrin’s mental growth?
A heart that supported her younger brother even if she suffered a small loss herself!
Of course, Jowrin would absolutely not agree that being unable to go out was “a small loss.”
“I think that is right... Uman is Jowrin’s younger brother, so no matter how troublesome he is, Jowrin must support him!”
“Exactly!”
“Even if he stops Jowrin from playing with the students!”
“That is right!”
“Even if he stops Jowrin from going out together with Lee Han!”
“Correct!”
“...Uh, is it really right to support him...?”
“Stop. Please only think that far.”
Lee Han quickly blocked Jowrin’s thoughts. If he left her alone, she seemed likely to waver again.
“I will try soothing him for now. Your Majesty, please watch, then support me at the appropriate moment.”
Because he was a little worried about what would happen if he left it to Jowrin, Lee Han stepped forward directly.
“Your Majesty. It is not a lie. Many students truly are satisfied.”
That is hard to believe. Then why do the students set fires and attack warehouses?
“Your Majesty! Right now, Your Majesty is committing a great wrong against the students of Einroguard!”
!?
When Lee Han suddenly shouted firmly, not only Uman but even Jowrin was startled.
'P-perhaps Lee Han is trying to send Uman back...!'
While Jowrin had useless expectations, Uman answered in a gloomy voice.
I know. Since Uman did wrong, the students set fires and warehouses...
“That is not it! The students who are satisfied right now do not set fires or attack warehouses, so they are not visible. But is Your Majesty not trying to abandon those students because of the rampage of a few delinquent students! Can that truly be called the correct choice!”
Th-that...!
At the piercing criticism he had never thought of before, Uman’s eyes widened.
Is that so?
It seemed there were a little too many to call them a few students...
“There are even more students who are not like that. Also, those delinquent students are skilled at incitement and deception. If Your Majesty gives up, it means you are simply being defeated by those delinquent students!”
The black dragon’s wings spread wide, as if proving that they had regained strength. Uman sprang to his feet and asked.
Is that truly so?!
“Does Your Majesty not have the scales relic? If you cannot believe me, bring it here! I will prove it to you!”
Jowrin, who was watching from the side, was so startled she was speechless.
It was surprising that Lee Han had restored Uman’s spirits with just a few words, but even more surprising than that was telling him to bring that relic.
'It does not work on him anyway...!'
That relic, which bound the soul and placed it on the scales, did not work on Jowrin’s contractor.
Because of his bottomless mana, even if it tried to pull out his soul, it was repelled.
To use it like that!
Jowrin suddenly felt as if her field of vision had widened. It seemed she might be able to use a trick like that someday too.
No. I believe you! Seeing your confidence, it seems there is no need to use the relic.
Uman was completely taken in.
The confidence flowing out of Lee Han was something a liar could absolutely never show.
Truly shameful. I entered here resolved that I would definitely reform Einroguard, yet to think I was deceived by a few tricks and started sobbing. It is only natural that Lord Gonadaltes would laugh at Uman!
“I am glad Uman has regained his spirits!”
Seeing her younger brother regain his spirits, Jowrin clapped her hands and congratulated him.
Do not worry. Elder sister! This Uman will not retreat and will fight to the end!
“...W-wait. By ‘end,’ exactly until when...”
Jowrin tried to ask in panic, but the excited Uman did not hear her.
Instead, he looked at Lee Han and shouted.
Lee Han of House Wardanaz! I have a request for you.
“Yes?”
You already have a record of offering wise advice as Elder Sister’s contractor. Moreover, you are an expert who knows the current state of Einroguard well!
“That... is true, but...?”
This Uman also needs your wise advice. For the reform of Einroguard, become this Uman’s right hand!
Jowrin brightened.
Listening to the story, it seemed she might be able to legally play with her contractor.
“That is a good idea!”
“I am not sure whether it truly is...”
Lee Han felt slight doubt as to whether this was the right choice.
***
Today, the Skull Principal looked especially happy. The knights below knew the reason why.
-Master. The students’ acts of destruction are gradually worsening.
Is that not how everyone grows?
If it had been the usual him, the Skull Principal would have thrown the students into the punishment room with rage, but recently, he had been showing a degree of generosity that was hard to believe.
When one is young, one sets fire to the school and destroys buildings.
-As expected of you, Master!
Unlike usual, the knights offered flattering words instead of speaking frankly.
To the Death Knights as well, Uman was a very troublesome superior.
If this black dragon returned to the capital, they would be able to work as loosely as usual.
Hmm. Even so, go and check once.
The Skull Principal ordered a knight to go and check Uman’s condition.
Since he had watched and raised him from childhood, he could not completely avoid worrying.
He had started crying in black dragon form three days ago, and if he was still sniffling in black dragon form today as well, that was a little dangerous. In that case, the Skull Principal intended to go and soothe him.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning, Principal.”
......
The Skull Principal froze exactly as he was when he saw Uman in human form and his insane human-race disciple pass by beside him.
The blue-burning light in his eyes flickered like a candle before the wind.
Wh... what... What did I just see?
-...Th-that is what I would like to know as well.
The knights were also quite flustered and could not continue speaking.
What on earth was that?
The Skull Principal belatedly understood the situation.
Batdanaz!! That lowly lackey of power!!!
That disciple tended to receive favoritism from the Imperial Family and the dragon race. If it was a case where the Imperial Family and dragon race were combined, there was no need to say more.
On top of that, his eloquence was enough to deceive a Spirit King, so a grief-stricken Uman would likely have been won over in an instant.
-A-ah, Lord Wardanaz probably had no choice either. If the Inspector told him to help, how could he refuse?
Why are you insisting he could not? It is so easy!
The Skull Principal kept grumbling.
Of course, it could not be helped that one’s heart was moved to pity when seeing a sobbing black dragon.
Even so, he should have coldly considered his own status and said, “Your Majesty would be better off getting lost back to ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) the capital; please never take interest in Einroguard again,” so what was this, acting as a stooge just because he wanted to comfort him?
If Jowrin sobs that she wants to become emperor, will he stand beside her and act as chancellor? Hm?
-Wh-why are you saying that to us...
The knight, who had pointlessly defended him once only to get scolded, became gloomy.
The other experienced knights worked hard to soothe the Skull Principal.
-Perhaps he is only soothing him for a moment. The successor probably does not like the Inspector staying for long either.
I am not sure whether that is so.
The Skull Principal sneered.
When comparing Lee Han’s usual hardships to the hardships he experienced after Uman came, it was honestly very close.
And apart from that, if Uman learned the wrong things from Lee Han for no reason, things would become troublesome.
Starting from professors to students, was he not an expert on the method of winning favor?
I worried he would be won over by the Daylily Magic Tower, but the enemy was inside the territory.
-You do not need to worry about the Magic Tower, Master. From what I heard, they were complete lunatics. They apparently called him to entrust him with subduing Heavenly Fire General.
...What? Subduing whom?
The Skull Principal doubted his ears.
Come to think of it, he had wondered how his disciple had reported the old locations of the evil-god order, but perhaps...?
***
“First, you must implement an appeasement policy for about one meal out of the day.”
“But even once will have a bad effect on the students’ bodies.”
“There are times when one must step back one step in order to move two steps forward. Your Majesty. If you implement an appeasement policy, the students will gradually become accustomed to healthy meals, and later, even if greasy and vulgar meals are offered to them, they will refuse them with their own hands.”
Lee Han smoothly poured out lies without even wetting his lips.
Uman was distressed, but nodded. Had he not decided to receive advice from Elder Sister’s contractor?
“I understand. I will implement an appeasement policy for about one meal.”
“And please inspect Professor Verdus thoroughly. You may leave the other places alone.”
“???”
Uman immediately fell into confusion.
Even though he had decided to receive advice, the advice was so difficult to understand that a rebuttal came out right away.
“Why is that?”
“Professor Verdus tends to conduct lectures carelessly. If you inspect this, all the students will know that Your Majesty is a capable inspector.”
“B-but... as far as Uman knows, the professors of Einroguard are outstanding mages guaranteed powerful autonomy. This Uman can directly interfere with the students’ meals or lifestyle habits, but carelessly interfering with the teachings of the professors is...”
Even when he attended Professor Bendozol’s lecture, Uman had watched cautiously.
Nevertheless, because Professor Bendozol had behaved quite strangely, Uman had been worrying whether his observation had perhaps interfered with the lecture.
“Your Majesty. You must trust me.”
“...I understand! This Uman always keeps a promise once made.”
After worrying, Uman nodded at Lee Han’s words.
He did not quite understand, but had Uman not already decided to trust this contractor of Jowrin?
If so, he had to follow the advice.
“First, go and inspect Professor Verdus thoroughly, and also... Ah. Transfer about half of the work Professor Garcia is in charge of to Professor Verdus. Then the balance should roughly fit. The faculty will also respect Your Majesty’s ability.”
“I... I understand.”
Even more confused, Uman accepted it.
Though he was curious what on earth this had to do with the faculty’s respect!