Episode 1008
Episode 1008
Some mages thought that way, but they couldn't stop them.
There was no helping it.
Just as moths fly into flames knowing they'll burn to death, mages were the kind of creatures who would plunge into wisdom knowing it would lead to their ruin.
Even if the evil archmage Gonadaltes had once deceived them by using Professor Garcia, that wasn't important now.
If they were to let slip a mage who genuinely wished to join the Daylily Magic Tower over some petty grudge... 'That must never happen!' Unlike a minor grudge, this would clearly become a wound they'd never forget for the rest of their lives.
"I heard he's an outstanding combat mage. That he has achievements like subduing the Ghoul King and the Sea Serpent..."
"How astonishing! ...But we're not a combat mage tower, are we?"
The mages expressed amazement yet were puzzled.
Each magic tower had distinct characteristics based on its founding purpose. The Daylily Magic Tower was a research-oriented mage tower far removed from magical combat.
Yet here they were trying to introduce a combat mage. Though his skills were undoubtedly impressive, it didn't make sense to them.
"And I heard he's only a second-year student."
"That's truly astounding...!"
"...Wait, no matter how exceptional Einrogard is, is it really acceptable to have a second-year student subdue the Ghoul King or the Sea Serpent?"
A mage well-versed in imperial law raised the obvious question.
No one even suspected that these feats might have been accomplished during his first year rather than his second.
"Well, His Excellency has always been quite harsh on his direct disciples..."
"But this isn't the barbaric ancient times or the dark ages - is this really acceptable?"
"Even in ancient times, I doubt they would have assigned such brutal subjugation missions."
As the conversation veered off track, Eullangdam intervened by waving his pipe.
"Whether His Excellency's teaching methods are too severe is a matter for Einrogard mages to petition about, not for us to debate."
"My apologies."
"You're not planning to resort to force again, are you?"
The atmosphere froze at someone's remark.
Surprisingly, it was a plausible speculation.
"N-now, even so... After causing such havoc last time, surely he wouldn't do it again..."
"...He might."
"Gawon. Why aren't you saying anything?"
Eullangdam directed his question to Gawon, a mage belonging to their tower.
This confident mage who would normally voice his opinions actively was being unusually quiet today.
"Well... you see. About that Einrogard mage I met during last year's exchange meeting..."
"Ah. That mage?"
His colleagues nodded as if they knew who he meant.
Gawon's experiences at last year's mage exchange meeting had been truly astonishing.
The presentation on artificial dimension research was surprising, the accidental summoning of a Demon Duke during the presentation was shocking, but the most astonishing thing was that Gawon's magic had received high praise.
-A magical filtration and amplification device using water element and spheres?
-Isn't that just <Ota's Light Prism> published five years ago with just the element changed?
To his colleagues, it had seemed rather shallow and simple, so they hadn't expected much. Yet surprisingly, it received high praise with comments like 'improved several times over' and 'the compression and efficiency are artistic.'
Under his colleagues' questioning, Gawon revealed what had happened.
-Actually, an Einrogard mage I met by chance gave me some slight advice.
-Slight? - ...I think I'll stop talking.
-Ah, no. Sorry. Please continue.
Gawon's story was shocking in itself.
No matter how unoriginal Gawon's magic was, it was still an extremely complex spell. So complex that it would be difficult to analyze without explanation from the mage himself.
"But for a mage I'd never seen before to reduce the required mana by two-thirds on the spot? Even if he was an Einrogard student, that was far from ordinary."
"..."
"That mage, why...?"
"..."
"I think his name was Lee Han too..."
When the Skeleton Principal contacted them saying he'd visit with his disciple Lee Han, Gawon's memory of that name was rekindled.
"What do you mean? You said he was a fourth-year? Then he should be a fifth-year now?"
"..."
"The grades don't match."
Noticing the inconsistency in the story, his colleagues raised questions.
How could Lee Han, who was clearly a fourth-year last year, suddenly be a second-year this year?
"..."
"To be precise, I never actually specified his grade."
Under his colleagues' dumbfounded stares, Gawon hastily defended himself.
"That exchange meeting was mainly for Einrogard students above fourth-year! Even for exceptional geniuses, third-year would be the limit! And since he wasn't a third-year... I naturally assumed he was a fourth-year!"
"......"
"......"
"I suppose one could overlook that. Still, Gawon. From now on, cultivate the habit of observing things more carefully."
At Eullangdam's words, Gawon nodded.
The other mages thought to themselves:
'Is he telling us to check whether high-grade Einrogard students are actually first-years when we meet them?'
'Though it's unlikely such a thing would happen twice...'
"Let's summarize. Separate from being an outstanding combat mage, he was a first-year last year and completed Gawon's spell?"
"..."
"To be precise, it wasn't completion but improvement—"
"It was completion."
"Frankly, it's practically the same as completing it."
His colleagues mercilessly pointed out. Even Eullangdam acknowledged it.
"That was indeed completed by the Einrogard mage."
"......"
Gawon shriveled up. Regardless, the other mages continued their lively discussion.
"Aside from combat magic, isn't that truly remarkable talent? If he joins the tower, I'll personally mentor him."
"Why is the conversation suddenly heading that way? What business is it of yours?"
"Don't you know I have distant relatives who are mages from Einrogard? Einrogard graduates are all eccentric and sensitive—they'd need someone understanding like me."
"That's nonsense. Your section already has enough mages. Mine has vacancies."
"..."
To be precise, they were now discussing 'who would take him in if he joined the tower.'
Eullangdam exhaled a long stream of smoke as he gazed at the high ceiling of the tower's central chamber.
Seeing the mages bicker like this before anything was even confirmed made him feel like he was being toyed with by His Excellency Gonadaltes.
"Sigh..."
"Master Eullangdam, what do you think? Who would be best to mentor him?"
"Enough bickering. I'll take personal charge of him."
"......"
"......"
Though the mages stared at him in disbelief, Eullangdam paid no heed.
A true mage must pursue their own wisdom, indifferent to worldly opinions.
"But, Headmaster."
Lee Han cautiously called out to the Skeleton Principal.
Despite having resolved two of the three creditor factions, the Skeleton Principal was still grumbling.
"Not conquering the continent is really that..."
"......"
Even after leaving the nobles' mansions and traveling to the Daylily Magic Tower on the capital's outskirts, his relentless grumbling left Lee Han—and even the Death Knights—astonished.
'He must be truly disappointed.'
'Didn't you bestow something upon Intarendals, sir?'
"Headmaster?"
"What? Does Intarendals have more hidden assets?"
"Even if he did, you know he can't disclose them because of the will, right?"
"There it is!"
The Skeleton Principal and the Death Knights shuddered.
Intarendals' pettiness in seeking revenge to the bitter end just because they hadn't granted his petition for continental conquest sent chills down their spines.
"...At least give me some clue about what kind of property it is."
"That's not the important part. We're almost at the magic tower, and you still haven't decided what to say."
Lee Han had good reason to worry.
While the first two encounters had been resolved by sheer luck, he had no plan for the last one.
The Skeleton Principal had boldly declared, 'Don't worry—those who've been fooled once by Professor Garcia will fall for it a second time,' but from Lee Han's perspective, skepticism was inevitable. 'Wouldn't someone who's been tricked once be more cautious the second time?'
"Didn't I tell you? Just go and calmly introduce yourself, and those mages will collapse in tears..."
"Stop talking nonsense."
Lee Han cut him off with an irritated voice.
The Skeleton Principal had been spouting absurdities nonstop.
"At least tell me what I should say when I get there."
"Such a faithless disciple."
The Skeleton Principal sighed in disappointment at his distrustful student.
How could someone be this dense?
"Fine. I'll tell you. When we arrive at the tower, knock on the door first. Then say this—"
"'I've come from Einrogard?'"
"No. Say, 'A mage who has mastered Small World Magic in his second year has arrived.'"
"......"
Even the most dreaded self-introduction in the world couldn't possibly be worse than this. Lee Han stiffened and refused outright.
"No."
"Then how about saying you've contracted with Arna or the Thunder King?"
"I'll just say I'm from Einrogard."
"You'll have to mention it all eventually. Why be so stubborn?"
The Skeleton Principal sneered, but Lee Han ignored him.
Even if he had to explain everything inside the tower, he refused to introduce himself like that while knocking on the door. 'But I do have a rough idea of what to talk about.' Achievements like mastering Small World Magic or contracting with a spirit king were clearly effective with the mages here.
Lee Han resolved to bring up those accomplishments when meeting the mages... Though he did feel a little guilty, considering he had no intention of actually joining the Daylily Magic Tower!
"Your Excellency! Have you arrived?"
The mages of the tower, spotting the Death Knight-drawn carriage, rushed forward even before the gates opened.
At their enthusiastic welcome, the Skeleton Principal boldly prepared to announce—
"Here stands one who has mastered Small World—"
Lee Han, halfway out of the carriage, immediately retreated back inside. The Death Knights apologized sheepishly.
"-Our apologies. We wanted to stop him, but..."
"...I appreciate the sentiment."
However, the Skeleton Principal didn't get to finish his declaration.
The tower mages, upon catching sight of Lee Han inside the carriage, immediately began shedding tears of emotion. 'I haven't even said anything yet?' This reaction went beyond even the Skeleton Principal's expectations.
He had assumed the mages would collapse in tears only after hearing about Small World Magic—but this was happening before he'd even revealed anything.
"Did someone inform them in advance?"
"-Why would we do such a thing?"
"Right, that makes sense."
The Skeleton Principal dismissed his suspicion.
Though the Death Knights occasionally betrayed their master, they wouldn't do so in a situation like this.
"We've been waiting! You must have suffered so much! Let me personally guide you through the tower!"
"No, I—"
"Can't you let go of this hand?"
"You let go first!"
Though the Daylily Magic Tower wasn't a tower of combat mages, that didn't mean its mages never fought.
The sight of frail mages staggering while grabbing each other's collars made the Skeleton Principal recoil in disgust.
If they were going to fight, they should at least use magic—this was just disgraceful.
"Worse than with Professor Garcia. Calm them down."
"-But, Master."
"Hm?"
"-If they're reacting like this before even hearing about Small World Magic, I'm worried how they'll react when it's actually mentioned..."
"Hmm."
The Skeleton Principal paused at the knights' warning.
This was an unforeseen problem, and now he was genuinely concerned.
"Should we just mention 5th Circle magic instead?"
"-That might still be... excessive."