Chapter 289

    TL/Editor: raei

    Status: 5/week mon-fri

    Illustrations: none

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    Count Dranheim was known for liking wizards.

    Since he owned the domain where Imperial University was located, perhaps his fondness for wizards had developed naturally.

    But his true thoughts were unclear.

    Whether he truly respected and liked wizards, or just pretended to like them because a magic-teaching university happened to be in Dranheim - no one knew.

    Ian thought the latter was probably correct.

    If he liked wizards, he''d frequently invite them to parties.

    But the only people the count regularly sought out were noble students like Elia.

    He''d hardly heard rumors of the count hosting or entertaining wizards.

    "He''s being wise~"

    Elia hummed while speaking.

    "Wise?"

    "Yes. Count Dranheim isn''t interested in power. For someone like that, what''s the point of getting close to wizards?"

    Ian smirked.

    Not interested in power? Even passing dogs would laugh at that.

    But he understood what Elia meant.

    ''Not interested in power'' meant no ambition to become king.

    Though the Holy Empire fundamentally served an emperor, that didn''t mean lower nobles had no ambitions.

    Anyone who ruled over others naturally desired to become the supreme ruler.

    Would they stay content as a mere count, or establish a kingdom to become the highest authority?

    Some might be satisfied as imperial dukes-

    But others wanted their own kingdoms, however small.

    The Holy Empire had many such lower nobles.

    They''d be the first to celebrate if the Holy Empire collapsed.

    Titles weren''t earned through strength alone.

    You needed proper bloodline and legitimacy. And loyalty to the empire.

    How excited would they be when those ''restrictive'' requirements disappeared with the empire''s fall?

    "The Dranheim counts have always been loyal to the empire. This count is no exception."

    "A family of loyal subjects?"

    Elia smiled and said.

    "You could say that."

    If someone power-hungry and ambitious had become count, the empire would have taken action.

    After all, Dranheim had Imperial University.

    They couldn''t leave a place that produced the empire''s future talent in the hands of an anti-imperial count.

    If anyone showed suspicious behavior, they would have secured the university even if it meant stripping the domain.

    The fact that the Dranheim counts had managed the Imperial University without such unfortunate incidents...

    Meant they had that much trust from above.

    Elia had been grinning since earlier, apparently pleased with Count Dranheim''s loyalty.

    Ian honestly found it hard to understand.

    The Imperial Emperor was elected, not hereditary.

    Moreover, Elia wasn''t even promised to inherit any family...

    What did it matter if Count Dranheim was loyal? He was just a local noble.

    ''Does she want to become Emperor?''

    Ian made an educated guess.

    Looking at Elia''s behavior made it plausible.

    A foreign student who barely studied. More focused on socializing than studying.

    Even being friendly with Ian was just an extension of networking, wasn''t it?

    Making connections early for future politics wouldn''t be strange.

    ''...''

    Suddenly, Ian recalled Gerard the space-time wizard''s prophecy.

    That gloomy prophet had definitely told Ian.

    The empire was destined to fall.

    That prophecy might be connected to Elia too.

    If her goal was to become Emperor.

    ''No need to ask now.''

    Ian briefly understood the space-time wizard''s mindset.

    If Ian asked Elia right here "Do you want to become Emperor in the future?", would that question affect Elia''s future? Or not?

    Interestingly, he seemed more like someone who simply loved food rather than being greedy.

    Maybe it was his sharp eyes?

    "Don''t you have an ancient language name?"

    "Me?"

    Ian nodded.

    "No. Just Ian is all."

    "Young people these days really are different from the old days. When I was young, there were so many wizards at the university with ancient language names." ?α??O??BE??

    "..."

    "Haha. I guess trends come and go!"

    Ian was slightly bewildered.

    Wait. Why did this sound like something he''d heard in his past life?!

    People might be the same everywhere, even as times and technology change.

    "When you were young, that would have been during the previous emperor''s time."

    "Yes. Speaking of the previous emperor. If he hadn''t subjugated those orcs back then, the farmland around here would have been completely..."

    As expected.

    Elia skillfully brought up history and politics.

    And true to his age, Count Dranheim eagerly continued the political discussion.

    It was truly noble conversation and.

    Ian had no desire to join in these conversation topics.

    It''s not like he owned any domain. Nor had he received thorough history education.

    Ian had walked the path of magic his whole life.

    Ah! The worldly humans are chattering! Thinking this, Ian focused on enjoying the food.

    If nothing else, the count''s chef seemed very skilled.

    This place is really good. *munch munch*

    "...It seems they''ve finally made their move."

    "What move...?"

    "Don''t be shocked. They''re saying they have the Silverwind Margrave''s heir."

    "! What?!"

    Elia shouted.

    Mid-meal, Ian looked at Elia.

    Though he wasn''t sure what they were talking about, Elia had raised her voice in genuine surprise.

    "That''s impossible! Silverwind is gone! They''re an extinct family-"

    "I think so too. But what can we do when the Fargars say they found one? Must be either a rare genuine article or a well-made fake."

    With such an intense reaction, Ian got curious too.

    "What''s the big deal?"

    Elia frowned and said.

    "It''s complicated to explain everything..."

    "Then summarize?"

    "Even summarizing is hard. But the conclusion is..."

    Tap.

    Elia bit her fingernail.

    "Duke Fargar is going to start a war."

    "Ah. With Duke Roxlan?"

    "Yes. But that''s for later."

    "???"

    "First, they''ll fight with the Rashin Kingdom."

    Where the fuck is that?

    Ian''s head throbbed.

    These medieval patchwork maps were just ridiculous.

    Random tiny kingdoms popping up everywhere!

    "Rashin is just an excuse. More likely it''s really about Roxlan."

    "...If Fargar attacks Roxlan..."

    Count Dranheim stroked his mustache.

    "Your father will be busy."

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