Wizard was the most recognized school in the Empire.

No, in fact, even the term “school” seemed insufficient.

This was because Wizards were the very image of “mage” that ordinary people had in mind.

It was even common for the word Wizard itself to be used to mean mage.

— Oh! You’re a mage! Then of course you can use Fireball, right? What? You can’t? Different school? Ah, shit. You’re a fraud. Get lost!

This anecdote starkly showed the image of mages that ordinary people had.

People thought that mages should naturally hurl fireballs, conjure ice storms, and cut down enemies with wind blades.

Alchemists, Enchanters/Enchantresses, and other schools different from Wizards tried to change public opinion by saying that magic wasn’t just about smashing things and killing people, but people didn’t listen.

Of course, the weak and publicly disreputable Necromancers had no say in the matter—except for one, but she wasn’t interested in this topic.

When alchemists talked about the basic elements that made up living things and matter, and how changing their arrangement altered properties and forms, people had difficulty understanding its complexity.

The talismans and magic tools that enchanters created by engraving runes or circuits on objects were powerful, but people thought wielding a magic sword was cooler than making one.

In contrast, the magic of Wizards was highly intuitive, easy to understand in its effects, and flashy.

It was faster and more powerful to just shoot a fireball and burn the opponent than to create a fire-breathing creature or enchant a sword with fire magic.

The Witch of the South stood at the pinnacle of such Wizards, and Algind was her top protégé.

In other words.

“…I really don’t want to face her.”

If a frail—questionably—Necromancer faced her head-on, there was no way to say the odds were high, even as empty words.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ says he won’t lose!]

Dorothea stared intently at the Tin Knight, who was eagerly promoting himself beside her.

Dorothea was well aware of the Tin Knight’s combat ability, who went around slicing humans, bandits—human-type magic beasts according to the Tin Knight—actual magic beasts, golems, giant trees, and various other things, and bashing them with his shield.

Therefore, instead of chiding the Tin Knight, she sighed, “You might be able to, you… but can the rest of us endure?”

Dorothea recalled the magic Algind had demonstrated at the end.

The casting time was extremely short, and there were no special incantations or preparatory movements. At most, she just stretched out her hand.

Despite this, its power was extraordinary, enough to blow away two warriors armed with large shields and heavy armor in one hit, and even erase the mage and the mist he was creating without a trace.

“If we take a hit, we can’t endure, you might be able to block it if you’re in front holding out, but that would tie up your feet.”

“Isn’t the short casting time just speculation? There’s a possibility that she was preparing the magic during the time she wasn’t moving at first, just not visibly, don’t you think?”

Sophia proposed a theory. Dorothea didn’t particularly deny it, “That could be. However, we need to prepare for the possibility that it’s not the case.”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ asks if Dorothea has a method in mind!]

Dorothea shrugged, then pointed to a large jar in the corner of the room.

Inside the jar were uniquely scented oil and a large piece of wood being pickled in that oil.

“Looking at the tournament bracket, we’ll face Algind in the finals. Until then, I’m going to make this into a staff. Other than briefly showing my face at the tournament, I won’t have the capacity to help with anything else, so try not to cause trouble and stay quiet if possible.”

The Tin Knight thought.

It’s always when she says something like this that something happens in the meantime.

***

“I see. So I can’t meet Lady Dorothea?”

“Um, yes. She’s holed up in the lodgings with Sophia doing various work, so she’s hardly going out except for the tournament matches she has to participate in.”

At Adelaide’s answer, Lorentz Halder made a very regretful expression.

“Huh, then it can’t be helped. I really wanted to personally apologize for the incident our employee caused this time, but…”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ consoles him, saying Dorothea has probably already forgotten about such an incident, so there’s no need to worry!]

Of course, Lorentz couldn’t hear the Tin Knight’s voice.

Watching the Tin Knight offer words of comfort despite surely knowing this, Adelaide thought.

Do his actions have some meaning on their own, or is it just something done impulsively without much thought?

It’s probably the latter.

She was a pupil with a truly excellent understanding of her teacher. It was a wonder how she still held such respect for him even after understanding him so well, though.

Putting aside her contemplation of the Tin Knight, Adelaide opened her mouth, “There will be a chance to meet face to face after the tournament ends, so don’t be too discouraged.”

While Adelaide wasn’t particularly savvy about economics, she knew that the head of a large company was an incredibly busy position.

If one were talking about the head of a mid-to-upper tier company in the Empire, their behind was usually heavier than that of a noble in an ordinary kingdom.

For someone in such a position to personally come to apologize for the misconduct of a mere branch manager was already the utmost sincerity.

Adelaide didn’t want to treat Lorentz coldly and she believed Dorothea would feel the same way.

“Ho ho ho.”

Perhaps thanks to Adelaide’s thoughtfulness being conveyed, the spring breeze returned to Lorentz’s face, which had been damp like it was wet with cold rain.

It might be rude to say this, but what a kind and good child.

Through various investigations, Lorentz had come to know what had happened in the Friedel domain.

Having experienced such things at a young age, it wouldn’t be strange if she resented the world and harbored bitterness, but it was simply amazing that she still maintained such goodness and purity.

With her status and personality, she’d be the best candidate for a daughter-in-law… Should I try suggesting it?’

“I’m truly glad you say so. That Micks, when he heard about this incident, was so restless saying he needed to apologize to you all. He was incredibly regretful that he couldn’t come along due to other schedules.”

“Ah, yes.”

A moment of silence passed.

Tick, tock, tick.

The sound of the clock echoed.

As Adelaide’s eyes began to waver, the Tin Knight spoke.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ says isn’t this about the son of this person we saw before!]

“…Ah, aah! That’s right! Please tell your son not to worry about it either!”

Seeing Adelaide trying hard to laugh with a “hahaha,” Lorentz Halder inwardly shed tears.

Oh, my poor son. It’s one thing not to be seen as a romantic prospect, but to be completely forgotten…

Just as Lorentz was resolving to give up on impossible romantic strategies and instead gain their favor through bribery or flattery, it happened.

“Sir.”

One of the Halder Company’s subordinate employees approached and whispered something in Lorentz’s ear.

Lorentz’s eyebrows twitched.

Adelaide tilted her head and asked, “Has something happened?”

“Hmm, it’s nothing major. Just a customer causing a disturbance in the store, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

Adelaide was about to nod and say, “I see,” but the Tin Knight said to her.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ points out that when they say something like this, it’s never really nothing!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ argues that in these cases, it’s usually better to intervene early rather than leaving it alone, which tends to make things worse!]

Adelaide hesitated for a moment.

She thought.

If it were Miss Witch, she would have said that it’s just tiring to meddle unnecessarily in such situations.

The Dorothea that Adelaide knew was an extremely wise and clever woman.

The knowledge and common sense spoken by the Black Witch usually matched up in most cases. The only thing that didn’t match common sense was her bizarre fashion sense.

But…

When Sir Knight says something like this, usually Sir Knight’s words turn out to be right.

If asked which “common sense” to believe between the witch and the knight, Adelaide would choose the witch’s without hesitation.

But if asked which “intuition” to believe between the witch and the knight, Adelaide would gladly choose the knight’s.

She was a little lion who had seen the knight’s intuition smash the witch’s common sense several times.

Therefore, Adelaide opened her mouth, “You don’t need to be considerate. If there’s anything I can help with, I’ll do it.”

“Hmm.”

Lorentz showed a reaction as if caught off guard for a moment, then spoke as if he had no choice, “Alright. Then, let’s go together.”

***

Murmur, murmur.

Chatter, chatter.

Many people had gathered at the Halder Company’s Thracus branch.

However, they weren’t customers who had come to buy things.

Rather, they were closer to spectators, curious about the sudden commotion and at the center of that commotion was a group of young men.

Crash!

“Oh my, please calm down, sir. You can’t smash everything like this.”

“How dare a lowly thing like you try to order us around!”

“You still haven’t come to your senses!”

With rough kicks, the counter was smashed, and various displayed products rolled on the floor.

After the store had been turned into a mess by the young men’s hands for a while, a man, who had been quietly watching the scene from behind the young men, stepped forward.

“Enough.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The young men, all dressed in luxurious clothes and equipment, clearly looking like nobles, bowed their heads in unison.

Accepting their greeting as if it were natural, the man—Maximilian Egir Haidern—opened his mouth, “Halder Company, was it? I’ve heard rumors about you. You sold suspicious, unverified drugs under the pretext of strengthening the body and recovering from fatigue, didn’t you? I even heard that some people died or suffered heart problems due to side effects of the drug. Moreover, I hear you didn’t hesitate to use violence while associating with delinquent groups, thus, you are truly the worst of the worst—lowborn seeds who’ve thrown away morals and honor to the dogs.”

At Maximilian’s words, the crowd watching this scene began to murmur.

A Halder Company employee responded in shock, “P-please wait a moment! Esteemed guest, while the incident you mentioned did indeed occur, it was committed by the former branch manager who went out of control on his own! The current branch manager has been dismissed, compensation has been paid to affected customers and their bereaved families, and this matter has been reported to the Lord of Thracus, awaiting punishment! We’ve done everything we can at the company level, so please calm your anger—“

“You’re spouting nonsense!” Maximilian scolded the employee loudly. “Is punishment something that criminals receive if they want to, and don’t if they don’t want to? If you wish to truly repent for your sins, how can you utter such nonsense as saying you can’t receive the punishment I give because you’re already scheduled to be punished by someone else?”

“B-but.”

“I don’t want to hear it! You talk about reflection and compensation, but it’s clear your real intention is just to let the incident blow over! Isn’t that right!?”

“That’s right! That’s right!”

“Evil company, get out of here right now!”

As if responding to Maximilian’s words, shouts of agreement flowed from among the crowd.

Although it was barely even one percent, let alone one-tenth of the total number of people, Maximilian declared with a satisfied expression, as if everyone here had agreed with his opinion, “I, Maximilian Egir Haidern, proclaim! If you truly repent your wrongdoings, don’t try to escape the incident with mere pocket change, but return all the company’s assets earned through evil schemes to the people of this city!”

“Oh, ooooh!”

“Maximilian! Maximilian! Maximilian!”

At the sound of money being given, even the spectators, who had been indifferent until now, began to give enthusiastic cheers one by one.

In contrast, the Halder Company employee felt like dying.

While the demand for more compensation because it was insufficient was one thing, the demand to scatter the entire company’s assets to the city was clearly unreasonable, no matter how one looked at it.

Even if Halder Company uprooted its foundation and offered everything to the people, the people wouldn’t acknowledge that Halder Company had truly repented, but would just be busy praising Maximilian.

His intention to make others do the work and take the losses, while reaping the benefits himself, was blatantly obvious.

But he couldn’t dare to voice any objection.

Not only because several young men armed with swords were revealing killing intent, as if ready to cut him down at any moment, but even if it were possible to subdue them by force, the opponent was a noble. Not just any noble, in fact, but an incredibly high-ranking one.

For an employee who was merely an acting branch manager—no, even if Lorentz, the head of the company, came here, it was doubtful whether the situation could be resolved.

Looking down at the employee’s face distorted with despair, Maximilian opened his mouth, “Now, if you understand, immediately—ugh!?”

But those words didn’t continue to the end.

A reddish fruit flew towards his face.

Although Maximilian reflexively swung his sword to block the fruit, some juice splattered and dirtied his face.

“M-my lord?!”

Amidst the bewildered voices of his subordinates, Maximilian’s face flushed with anger.

Along with his anger, he turned his gaze in the direction the fruit had come from.

“Who dares!?”

No answer came.

Instead, a mysterious shadow leapt up and landed on the roof of the Halder Company building.

Sturdy long boots, leather armor prioritizing mobility, bright, tousled golden hair, a small frame, a two-handed sword slightly smaller than that frame, and a mask covering the face.

The mysterious intruder looked down at Maximilian and said, “U-um, ow. T-that level of misconduct cannot be forgiven!”

The citizens of Thracus, who had been busy not only watching the martial arts tournament recently but also talking about it every day, all had the same thought simultaneously.

…If you wanted to hide your identity, shouldn’t you have covered something other than just your face?

***

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