IWMHWD 28

Episode 28 — Ropal Wizard Association
Date: 2023.11.28

Leonard had a strong sense that claiming Cordelia as his disciple would only drag him into some major hassle.

“That? Really? What do you mean?”

Leonard’s eyes narrowed sharply. Sensing his shift in mood, Cordelia quickly added,

“I just meant… if people found out you’re my master, they’d probably get jealous.”

“Hmph.”

Baron chuckled and picked up where she left off.

“To sum it up: Maximilian is trying to shut down Leonard’s laboratory, and you, Cordelia, have to stop him.”

“Me? Uh, how?”

Cordelia almost blurted out Why me?, but swallowed the question when she saw Leonard’s wide-eyed glare.

“I told you before. When a wizard dies, they pass their heart to their disciple.”

“Yes, I remember.”

“That ‘heart’ can mean a lot of things. But symbolically, it also refers to the laboratory. For a wizard, their lab is everything—it’s their life.”

“Ohh… so it’s really important.”

“It is. And Leonard has never had a disciple before. Despite all the achievements and priceless artifacts inside, no one can enter his lab except him.”

“If no one can enter, then Maximilian can’t get in either, right?”

“That’s true. But you can seal the door. Since Leonard has no official disciple and Maximilian is his only blood relative, you have the authority to shut it permanently.”

“So… could you just go back and open it later?”

“Are you dumb? ‘Sealing’ it doesn’t mean just closing and locking it. It means permanently sealing it shut. No way to reopen it.”

After Belluce’s blunt clarification, Cordelia finally realized why they were making such a big deal.

There was something important in that lab. Maximilian was trying to destroy it—and Cordelia had to stop him.

“Alright. What do I need to do?”

“It’s simple. Just go to the Ropal Wizard Association and show them this seal to prove you’re Leonard’s disciple.”

“That’s it? Sounds easy.”

“Then head into my lab and retrieve a few things I need. I’ll make a list.”

“Okay.”

It didn’t sound as dangerous as she’d feared. She wasn’t infiltrating enemy territory, just popping into a lab and grabbing a few items. Cordelia nodded, relieved.

“Oh, and if you run into Maximilian, run. Smartly.”

“Okay—wait, why would I even meet that guy?”

“You might. Once people find out you’re Leonard’s disciple, they’ll swarm you like bees. Maximilian will be among them for sure.”

“Ugh!”

Cordelia imagined Maximilian as some kind of demon or monster. Honestly, that wasn’t far off—he’d dug up her mother’s grave and murdered her brother.

She trembled and shook her head.

“N-no, then I won’t go. I can’t. I won’t!”

“I didn’t ask for your opinion. Not going isn’t an option.”

“Can’t Baron go instead? Or just retrieve the important stuff now?”

“Oh, did I not mention?”

“What?”

That warm smile of Baron’s always gave her a bad feeling.

“I’ve been excommunicated. I can’t enter the Ropal Wizard Association.”

“What? Suddenly? You’re pretending to be excommunicated just to get out of this, aren’t you?”

Cordelia squinted suspiciously. But Baron just laughed and shook his head.

“Haha. I was excommunicated before Lady Cordelia was even born.”

His serious tone made it hard to doubt him. Besides, she’d heard before that excommunication for a wizard was essentially a death sentence—no one joked about that.

“You don’t have to worry too much about running into Maximilian. With so many eyes around, he won’t harm you directly.”

“So, he could still harm me indirectly…?”

“Hehe. Well.”

Baron laughed but gave no answer. Cordelia’s face went pale.

Now she understood: she was the only one who could enter the association. But would she be able to retrieve the items safely?

Just then, Belluce pointed her chin at the man lying on the floor and asked,

“What should we do with him?”

“No need to interrogate. Take care of it.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Cordelia instinctively squeezed her eyes shut. She heard bones snap—and the faint breathing stopped.

“You were lucky. If Belluce hadn’t intercepted that note, you would’ve been killed.”

“Hmm. Let’s wait and see.”

While Baron sighed with relief, Leonard muttered something she couldn’t quite catch.

The group changed course toward the Wilarth Archipelago, where the Ropal Wizard Association was located. Luckily, it was en route to Delona’s territory, so they didn’t have to backtrack.

“At this pace, we’ll reach Lande in two days. I’ll ditch the carriage and get us boat tickets when we arrive.”

“By boat? Oh, right—we need to cross the sea to reach Wilarth.”

“Exactly. It’s not far. Just a one-day boat ride from Lande.”

“Huh. Closer than I thought.”

The sea.

Cordelia suddenly felt a tingle of excitement. She’d lived in Vasquez all her life, and even when she married, she only moved as far as Abrams, nearby. She’d never seen the ocean.

Books described it as a vast, endless blue lake. But what would it look like in person?

With the carriage window slightly cracked, she could almost smell the salty breeze.

“Are you even listening?”

“Hmm? What?”

Leonard gave her a look. He clearly noticed she was spacing out.

“You’ve come a long way, my student. Daydreaming in class now, are we?”

“Oh, come on. Except for when I eat and sleep, I’m always in class. A little daydreaming shouldn’t hurt. Don’t be stingy with your mercy.”

Cordelia pouted.

“Focus. We need to reach Lopal soon.”

“Why?”

“So you can witness firsthand how honored you are to be my student. Everyone will envy you—”

“Ah yes, yes. I’m forever moved by the grace of my beloved Master.”

“Hmph. I’ll let that sarcasm slide. We’re almost there anyway. Did you memorize the list I gave you?”

“Yup. Lancel’s Last Flower, Saint’s Tears, and Red Dragon’s Breath. Even the names sound legendary.”

“They are legendary. Each one is a priceless relic.”

Cordelia shrugged—she didn’t think much of them. But in reality, even a single one of those items would be classified as a national treasure.

“To open the lab, plug this into the door and solve the riddle. The answer is: the red flower.”

He handed her an old key. Cordelia took it and tucked it carefully into her inner pocket.

“Where exactly is your lab?”

“Ask anyone in the Association—they’ll point you to it.”

“Oh wow. Sounds famous.”

“One last thing—very important.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t trust anyone there. No matter what they say. They’ll smile to your face and stab you in the back.”

Cordelia was about to ask what kind of place the Magic Association was to deserve such warning—when the carriage came to a sudden halt.

“Wah!”

She tumbled forward, crashing to the floor. Lottie, asleep on the ground, woke up and rolled with her. Leonard, seated across from her, looked down with an unimpressed expression.

“What are you doing?”

“Geez! When someone falls, you’re supposed to ask if they’re okay!”

“You don’t look okay, so why bother asking?”

“Ugh! Master, you’re so mean!”

“I apologize. Are you hurt?”

Baron’s voice came from outside the carriage.

“What’s going on?”

“There’s an Elfenbaum banner ahead.”

“Elfenbaum? That Elfenbaum?”

Cordelia instantly forgot her pain and scrambled up. She stuck her head out the window.

The Elfenbaums were a family rivaling the Attilas—one of the Eight Sacred Houses.

They were among the most powerful bloodlines in all of Ershe, having produced five kings and countless queens.