I Lied to the Male Lead with My Pinky Finger on the Line

 

 

“Insult? What are you talking about? I told you, I was just talking to myself!”

 

“So it’s not an insult if I tell myself you’re a moron and I wonder how you became a mage.”

 

“…….”

 

“Decide if you want to settle this in a duel or a bet.”

 

Caden glared at Aslan and gritted his teeth.

 

He had never thought that Aslan Rojasis could be this insane. His older brother Nita was a good sport and famous for having no enemies, but did all the bad temperament get piled up on the third sibling?

 

‘…I’d be at a disadvantage facing a lunatic. Avoiding someone who wants to kill you is the wisest course of action.’

 

Caden tried to rationalize himself.

 

“…Fine. Then let’s make a bet. If your little sister successfully opens the ancient ruin door, I’ll apologize for what happened today. Is that okay?”

 

“In front of everyone.”

 

“What?”

 

“Apologize with your head bowed at a 90-degree angle in front of all the other expedition members. Otherwise, I won’t accept it.”

 

“…….”

 

“You don’t want to do that? If you don’t, then let’s settle it in a duel.”

 

The words, ‘Yeah, fuck it, let’s go at it’ rose to the top of his throat.

 

But no matter how he thought about it, it was a crazy idea. There was no reason to risk his life for something so trivial.

 

He wasn’t going to be intimidated by a guy five years younger than him.

 

“…Alright. Let’s do it that way. But if she can’t open it, you’ll be the one apologizing. In the same way, with everyone watching.”

 

“Agreed.”

 

Aslan took out a scroll from his pocket. After forming a contract with one hand, the scroll unfurled and fluttered in the air.

 

“Sign it.”

 

In the scroll, along with the terms of the bet, there was a clause stating that if either of them broke the promise, they would both withdraw from the Royal Palace’s Magic Division and the Academy.

 

‘…This sneaky bastard. Did he prepare something like this in advance?’

 

“Because it would be difficult if you went back on your words and said something else later.”

 

Aslan said as if he could read Caden’s mind.

 

Caden signed the agreement with a disgusted expression. As Aslan let go of the scroll, it split into two pieces, with one piece flying to Aslan and the other to Caden.

 

“Well then, let’s call it a day. Have a good night, Lord Colliwood.”

 

Aslan smirked and disappeared from the barracks.

 

“…crazy bastard.”

 

Left alone, Caden cursed.

 

*****

 

The next day, after finishing the inventory and having lunch, I set out for the ruins. 

 

This time, there were twenty-one members of the expedition team, unlike on the first day.

 

When we arrived at the entrance to the ruins, I took out the brush and ink I had prepared. And in front of the other expedition members, I started drawing runes on the door.

 

The only sound that could be heard in the silent surroundings was the sound of the brush moving.

 

By the time I finished the task, two hours had quickly passed.

 

“Is it all done?”

 

As I descended from the scaffold, Marquis Colliwood asked.

 

“For now, I’ve drawn all the new runes for the updated spell. Now, if I cast the barrier spell again, the revision will be complete.”

 

I stood in front of the door and closed my eyes, and concentrated.

 

“Se Elvara Lartum, Adel Baher Suna Garare, Inamaha Roshanum….”

 

As I recited the incantation one by one, I could feel the mana circulating throughout my body expanding outward.

 

After completing the long and elaborate spell, the magic casting was finished.

 

When I opened my eyes, I saw the runes I had drawn with the brush engraved on the door, just like the existing runes.

 

Everyone seemed to be holding their breath.

 

“…did it work?”

 

Marquis Colliwood asked, and instead of answering, I took a step closer to the door.

 

Then, I raised my hand and infused mana into the door.

 

The runes carved on the door glowed white, and a grinding sound echoed as the rocks shifted.

 

At the same time, the door began to rise toward the ceiling of the cave and the entrance opened.

 

“It’s open!”

 

It was Cecile’s voice. When I turned around, I saw her covering her mouth in surprise.

 

“You really did it. Amazing. Truly amazing.”

 

Marquis Collyword said, sincerely impressed.

 

In fact, at the beginning of the task, there had been a slight air of skepticism not only from Marquis Colliwood but almost all expedition members.

 

The only one who believed in me without a doubt was Aslan.

 

“Thanks to you, we saved a significant amount of time. Well done.”

 

Marquis Colliwood patted me on the shoulder. I ducked my head in response.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Now, then, let’s take a look inside.”

 

“Wait, there’s something that needs to be done first.”

 

Aslan said, stepping forward.

 

“What is it, Professor Rojasis?”

 

“I made a prior agreement with Lord Colliwood. If researcher Eila Rojasis succeeds in opening the door, he would publicly apologize for insulting Researcher Rojasis yesterday.”

 

Everyone’s attention turned to Caden, who stood there with a visibly tense expression.

 

“Lord Colliwood?”

 

“…….”

 

Caden walked slowly towards me.

 

“…I apologize for what happened yesterday.”

 

I was quite taken aback since I had no idea that Aslan and Caden had made such an agreement.

 

Above all, the most shocking part was that Caden actually apologized to me, following the terms of their arrangement.

 

“No, that’s not right. Isn’t there something wrong with the way you’re apologizing?”

 

“…….”

 

Caden’s expression twisted with anger at Aslan’s words.

 

“If you don’t remember, do you want me to remind you?”

 

“No, there’s no need.”

 

Caden said through clenched teeth. He glared at me as if he wanted to kill me.

 

‘Why is he giving me such a threatening look when they made the agreement among themselves?’

 

Soon, Caden bowed his head in front of me.

 

He bent down, assuming a rigid right angle posture.

 

“Yesterday, I… misspoke. I apologize.”

 

His voice trembled with humiliation.

 

I couldn’t believe my eyes.

 

‘What kind of agreement did they make for this prideful person to bow down like this?’

 

“Since researcher Eila doesn’t seem willing to accept the apology, it seems there’s still a lack of sincerity.”

 

“…….”

 

“What? Oh, no, I accept your apology. Please lift your head, Lord Colliwood.”

 

“…….”

 

Caden slowly raised his head. Then, with a grumbling expression, he stepped back.

 

Glancing at Marquis Colliwood, I noticed that his expression was stiff.

 

He wouldn’t be pleased witnessing his son being humiliated like this.

 

Marquis Colliwood spoke up after a moment of silence.

 

“Polden.”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

Count Polden quickly stepped forward.

 

“Lead the formation. Since we sealed the door meticulously, there might be additional barriers or defensive spells inside. Use detection magic.”

 

“Yes, Sir. Understood.”

 

“The rest of the team line up in two columns and follow behind.”

 

The expedition members promptly moved in perfect sync according to Marquis Colliwood’s instructions. Their movements were so agile and precise that you could believe they were soldiers rather than mages.

 

This showed how much everyone was watching Marquis Colliwood’s mood.

 

‘How am I going to salvage this situation….’

 

I sent a reproachful look at Aslan. However, instead of being remorseful, he seemed rather gleeful.

 

We slowly made our way through the ruins.

 

*****

 

The ruins seemed to be a mage’s workshop, just as we had expected.

 

However, it was excessively large to be considered a private workshop. The interior of the ruins was divided into three floors: one above ground and two underground, and each floor was even larger than the research department I belonged to.

 

Creating a structure of this scale inside a cave is not an easy task. It’s even more amazing when you consider that the workshop was built at least a thousand years ago.

 

“Having a workshop of this size would suggest that the mage who owned it must have been renowned.”

 

Marquis Colliwood muttered, and Aslan shrugged his shoulders.

 

“We can’t be so sure it’s a workshop yet.”

 

“What do you mean, Professor Rojasis?”

 

“If it’s just an ordinary workshop, there wouldn’t be a reason for it to be hidden so deep inside like this,” Aslan explained.

 

“If it’s not a workshop, then what is it?”

 

“There could be several possibilities. It could be a secret laboratory built by the state to work on some sort of secret project, or it could be a place where black mages gather to study forbidden magic.”

 

“Come to think of it, the structure does seem like it was used by multiple people.”

 

Marquis Colliwood nodded in agreement with my observation.

 

“For now, ensuring our safety is our top priority. We need to thoroughly check for hidden traps and any signs of the cave collapsing.”

 

“Yes, sir.”