WMT | Chapter 28

“……Is that so? Your Highness really doesn’t know anything about mages?”

“I don’t have a wide range of knowledge.”

“For someone who has King Wiss as an ancestor to know so little about mages…”

The representative clicked his tongue and led the way.

Wiss took them to the fields. The farmers were inspecting the crops that could be saved.

As Wiss’s group approached, they stepped back. With a tall royal followed by five suspiciously robed individuals and knights, it was a procession that anyone would feel compelled to avoid.

The mages fell silent upon seeing the size of the fields.

“……Is all of this fields?”

“Is it too difficult? It is quite large.”

“……I mentioned it because it’s too small.”

“That’s a relief. Don’t worry. There are more fields.”

“……”

Wiss led the mages around, overturning all the fields near the capital.

“If you could just help for a few more days, we might be able to spend the winter warmly. It’s all thanks to you mages.”

“Thank you, mages! Truly, thank you!”

“Long live Prince Wissmia! Long live Duke Akazel!”

The procession grew like a snake with a tail, and by nightfall, it was more than ten times its original size.

All the farmers from the nearby areas had gathered.

In addition, there were onlookers, children, and idle people tagging along.

As they praised the mages, the robed scholars nodded, unsure of what to do.

“……You really married well.”

Jessen admired. Who would have thought to seek the cooperation of the Mage Tower mages?

“Prince Wissmia is undoubtedly a genius strategist and an excellent actor.”

“He is a strategist, indeed. His acting is not as good, though.”

“Pardon?”

Theodore approached Wiss, suppressing his anger. He felt that conversation would be impossible in his current state.

As he hugged Wiss from behind, Wiss turned around in surprise—but he didn’t push him away. He had grown accustomed to Theodore clinging to him at every opportunity.

“What if you incur the mages’ wrath by doing this?”

“Why would they be angry?”

“……Well, usually people get angry when they feel used.”

‘Isn’t that something you would say?’

Wiss looked at Theodore. Wasn’t being used and acting like a fool his specialty?

But Theodore’s expression was strange.

“Are you angry with me right now?”

“Of course not. How could I be angry when Your Highness has achieved such great results for the kingdom?”

‘Just admit you’re angry.’

Why was this guy so twisted?

“Mages don’t retaliate.”

“Mages.”

Wiss held back his rising anger.

“……Yes. Mages can’t break promises they’ve made. Their magic is at stake. Since they promised to pay for their meals, they have to.”

“Did you read that in King Wiss’s book too?”

“Yes.”

“What about after the promise is fulfilled? Can’t they retaliate against Your Highness after keeping their promise?”

‘Damn it, as if I’d let that happen.’

But it was frustrating that he couldn’t say that. In the past, no one dared to question Wiss’s actions.

So why was he being interrogated like a scolded child now?

“Can’t you protect the person next to you while sticking around all day?”

Wiss lashed out in frustration.

Theodore’s expression changed.

“……Did you trust me?”

The tense atmosphere dissipated, but Wiss realized he had said something unnecessary.

“You relied on me.”

Theodore smiled and kissed Wiss’s cheek. Wiss couldn’t understand what was going on in this guy’s head.

── .✦

‘It’s good that they’re cooperative, but…’

Wiss shook off the clinging Theodore and went out.

“Where are you going?”

“To a café.”

“……? Is there some kind of ambush plan there?”

“I’m going to buy a limited edition dessert.”

“Should I come with you?”

“Your Grace stands out.”

“……”

Theodore made a face as if to say, “You’re one to talk,” but didn’t insist on coming along.

‘Shook off the surveillance.’

Theodore was capable but a weapon with limited use.

In truth, Wiss didn’t expect administrative or strategic abilities from Theodore. It was due to a prejudice against knights. It wasn’t easy for a great knight to also be an excellent administrator.

However, Theodore was an exceptional person. To become a duke whom his own king wanted to kill, he had to be at least that capable.

‘And yet he’s a Palatine.’

Did the King of Palatine do something great in a past life to have such talented subordinates?

With only a clueless guard as his manpower, Wiss had no choice but to do the legwork himself.

Even if Theodore was useful, Wiss couldn’t reveal his biggest secret.

“Isn’t this the place you came to before? Are you going to drink? ……You’re not planning to gamble, are you?”

The guard asked.

Wiss didn’t answer and entered the alley.

He sensed a magical presence nearby. Soon, Wiss found the tavern he had been eyeing.

It was a place he hadn’t been able to investigate before due to Theodore’s interference.

At the time, he let it go, but thinking back, it was very strange.

In a world where the Mage Tower was eager to gather every mage, how could a blind mage be wandering around a shabby tavern?

“It looks like the place is closed today.”

“Open it.”

“Pardon?”

“Break it down.”

“No, Your Highness. No matter what, you can’t just break someone else’s property…”

Wiss strengthened his legs with mana and kicked the door. A tingling rejection ran through his veins.

But he didn’t cough up blood like before.

‘All that exercise paid off.’

Wiss wiped his nosebleed with the back of his hand.

“Oh, come on! I told you not to! Why do you use your body so recklessly? Property is important, but your orders are more important, so I was going to do it. Why don’t you listen to people?”

The guard grumbled as he hit the lock with the scabbard. There was a clanging sound, and the weak link of the lock shook.

Clatter!

The lock fell. As the guard kicked the door open, Wiss went inside.

“It looks like it hasn’t been opened for a while.”

The guard waved his hand to clear the dust.

Wiss’s eyes glowed brightly. The mana gathered in the air spread out like a net and clung to the walls.

The net delicately probed the walls with its feet.

The mana response was detected beyond the wall.

“Break that.”

“What? It’s a wall.”

“Yeah.”

The guard grumbled again and kicked the wall behind the counter. But there was a thud from the stone wall.

“Huh?”

The guard, doubting his eyes, put all his strength into hitting the stone wall again.

Thud!

The sound was unmistakable.

The guard gritted his teeth and pushed against the wall again.

Thud!

The wall swung open. The guard rolled into the space inside.

“Ah!”

It wasn’t a wall; it was a door.

Wiss stepped over the fallen guard. The secret space was a bit dark, but he could clearly see what was inside. It was thanks to the luminous stones attached to the ceiling.

Those were magical items as well.

Wiss realized—

This was a mage’s workshop.

And what was being researched in this workshop were puppets.

“……What is this?”

The guard clung to Wiss.

Human-sized puppets were lined up against the wall. All three walls, except for the workbench, were filled with puppets. There seemed to be about twenty of them.

Twenty puppets with unfocused eyes were facing the entrance of the workshop.

While the guard trembled, Wiss walked to the workbench and picked up the open booklet.

The contents of the booklet were… puppet blueprints. The materials, dimensions, and combinations were detailed enough that one could build a puppet just by following the diagrams.

‘Are they crazy?’

Wiss got goosebumps.

This wasn’t a mage’s workshop.

It was a treasure trove.

── .✦

Wiss returned to the castle, filled with excitement.

Theodore looked puzzled at his empty hands.

“Didn’t you say you were going to buy dessert?”

Wiss remembered the excuse he had made.

“Ah… yes. I ate it there. It was delicious.”

“……”

‘Maybe I should have brought one back.’

Seeing Theodore’s disappointed expression, Wiss thought for a moment.

“More importantly, how about we entertain some guests?”

“Entertain guests?”

“The people from the Mage Tower have helped us, so it seems only right to treat them to a nice meal.”

“Yes… That makes sense.”

Theodore looked like he had nothing to say, but he did call for the mages.

Wiss greeted the guests with a smile in front of a table set with a feast.

“Thank you for coming. I couldn’t express my gratitude enough, so I wanted to offer this humble meal. There’s not much, but please enjoy.”

“……?”

The mages sat down, bewildered.

‘They must be wondering why the person who asked them to pay for their meals because they were starving is suddenly being so generous.’

Wouldn’t that make the hospitality seem insincere?

The mages sat cautiously, barely picking up their spoons. It was only after seeing Wiss happily finish the appetizer and start on the main dish that they began to eat.

The mages, who had been forced into farming for several days, were exhausted both physically and mentally. Whether human or animal, a full stomach tends to ease the mind.

Wiss waited until the mages’ faces showed signs of satisfaction before speaking.

“But magic is truly amazing. To accomplish in an instant what hundreds of people couldn’t do even with effort… I felt it when the golem attacked, but I still can’t understand how such things are possible.”

The relaxed representative laughed and said,

“Actually, we were more surprised that the golem was destroyed. We never thought it was possible to destroy a golem with human strength.”

“There’s nothing His Grace can’t do.”

Wiss looked at the duke with sparkling eyes.

It was a signal to play along.

‘They need to mention the puppets first.’

But the duke looked at Wiss for a moment before lightly kissing his lips.

“……?”

“Isn’t this what you wanted?”

Wiss’s face flushed.

‘What is he talking about, this crazy guy.’

Who was making a face that begged for something like that?