Episode 1011
Episode 1011
The Death Knight sitting on the magic stone quickly assessed the faces of the mages who had come to greet them.
'Why are the Lava Bird Magic Tower, Snowflake Magic Tower, Water-Horse Mountains Magic Tower, and Paragranum Guild here? Even the Obsidian Magic Tower...'
Even a cursory glance showed that the number of participating towers was far from just one or two.
It seemed Erindarbel had shared the news she'd heard with multiple magic towers.
The Skeleton Principal, realizing this, spoke in an irritated voice.
"If you heard about the Small World, you should have kept it to yourself. Why spread it across the entire Empire?"
From a practical standpoint, the Skeleton Principal's criticism was justified.
Had he heard about an extraordinary magical talent, he would have immediately controlled the rumors first.
What good could come from increasing the number of competitors?
Yet this foolish archmage had shared the news with multiple towers.
-As Archmage Erindarbel is a responsible archmage, she likely believed this was information other tower mages should also be aware of...
"So you're saying I'm an irresponsible archmage then?"
-......
"......"
The subordinates and students remained silent, caught in the Skeleton Principal's grumbling.
Realizing that getting angry wouldn't change anything, the Skeleton Principal sighed.
"Annoyances from all directions..."
"What should we do now?"
At the student's question, the Skeleton Principal nodded as if it was a good question.
"From now on, when going outside, disguise yourselves and conceal your identities. When meeting other mages, first confirm if they're affiliated with a tower, workshop, or guild. If the group is above a certain size, don't even sit with them."
"...I meant right now, not the distant future."
"This isn't about the distant future. They came to spectate, so let them spectate."
"The Small World I've mastered is Basiliskos—it's not something I can just show others because I feel like it."
To summon this crown inherited from his doppelganger from a parallel dimension required self-sacrifice and nobility for others' sake.
It wasn't something that could be easily demonstrated before mages from various towers.
"It doesn't matter."
"?"
"Even if you just show them everything except the Small World, it'll be more than enough."
At the Skeleton Principal's words, the knights also nodded.
Simply sharing the normally mastered spells or contract list alone would be enough to make the mages faint.
"......"
While Lee Han stood there awkwardly, the Skeleton Principal read the last part of the letter he hadn't had time to check earlier...
'Due to the incident where Yukveltire's research advance payment was stolen, she is attempting to sue Your Excellency in the Imperial Court...'
"Do you happen to know what this means?"
"I promised to help Senior Yukveltire with her research during the vacation."
"Ah. I see."
The Skeleton Principal chuckled dryly and burned the letter.
"...Uh, she said she's suing you in court—is that alright?"
"Tell her to work hard. She still has a long way to go."
The merciful Skeleton Principal intended to teach the foolish student a lesson.
If you wanted to conduct research with a certain mage, you had to hold onto them tightly.
If you grew complacent just because of a promise, this was how you got robbed.
"Tsk tsk. Even after seeing what her own professor does, she still doesn't realize."
The Skeleton Principal felt pity seeing how even as Verdus's student, she failed to grasp this obvious truth.
Some mages could never be bound by Imperial law.
When dealing with such mages, you had to seize what you wanted by force!
Though Lee Han was slightly worried about not being able to show the Small World, the Skeleton Principal and the knights were right.
The mages from various towers were more than satisfied even without seeing the Small World.
"If we're talking about advanced lightning element magic, then <Wardanaz's Lightning Transformation>—"
"Gasp!"
"Are you referring to celestial magic? I have made a pact with the stars, but—"
"Gaaaasp!"
"Um..."
"Gaaaaaasp!"
"...I haven't even said anything yet."
"Ah. My apologies."
The mages, now accustomed to being startled, reflexively gasped before awkwardly realizing there was nothing to gasp about.
They'd been shocked so often that their bodies had started reacting on their own.
"What were you trying to say?"
"Ah, it's nothing major. I was just wondering how much more magic I need to demonstrate."
"Oh dear! We've been inconsiderate of our young talent. Let's stop here for today."
The mages laughed apologetically.
Of course, Lee Han hadn't meant it as a request to stop—it was just a question.
He hadn't even brought up the Skeleton Principal's debt yet.
"I can keep going if needed."
"No, no! That won't be necessary."
"Exactly. Einrogard may work its mages to the bone, but we at the Snowflake Magic Tower don't treat people like that."
"Honestly, Einrogard is a downright cruel and wicked place. Don't you agree?"
"?"
Lee Han sensed something oddly suggestive in the mages' conversation.
What was this about?
"Well... it's tough, sure, but calling it cruel and wicked... I mean, it's not wrong, but..."
"Exactly! Staying in a place like that for too long warps a person. If I recall correctly, isn't Professor Verdus still there?"
"That's right! Professor Verdus is still there. Have you ever considered that if you stay too long, you might end up like him?"
"......"
Lee Han had a sinking suspicion.
So right now...
Were they trying to invite him to their tower by badmouthing Einrogard?
'No way. Would imperial mages really be this transparent?'
"Are you... trying to give me a negative impression of Einrogard right now?"
"W-what? No!"
"Of course not! We were just discussing some obvious facts about Einrogard."
"Statistically, did you know that mages who graduate from Einrogard have a higher chance of becoming magic criminals?"
"Let's not stoop to such cheap tactics."
The Skeleton Principal suddenly interjected, cutting off the conversation.
The mages flinched as if they'd just encountered a sinister lich in the deepest part of a dungeon.
"If you're mages, you should recruit others fairly—through magic. Show them what your tower's magic is like, what kind of knowledge you possess..."
The wise archmage's advice was met with enthusiastic agreement from the tower mages.
"So is that why you locked Professor Kim in Einrogard?"
"Only certain mages have the right to talk about fairness."
"Why don't you release Professor Verdus instead?"
"...I didn't lock up Professor Garcia! She made that choice herself!"
The Skeleton Principal vehemently denied the first accusation, though he couldn't refute the others.
That was pure slander.
"Sure, sure."
"And all the students at Einrogard are happily practicing magic of their own free will, right?"
"I bet they're locked in the Punishment Room being threatened."
"......"
The Skeleton Principal sensed that if he kept talking, he wouldn't even recover his losses from these venomous mages.
This was the inevitable karma from the moment he'd scammed them with Professor Garcia.
"...But you'll still grant my request, won't you? If only for my disciple's sake?"
"Of course. We'll even wipe your debt clean."
"Would you like to take that artifact we asked for last time? You can have it now."
"Haha. No need."
The Skeleton Principal subtly poked his disciple's back.
The message was clear: they'd gotten what they wanted, so it was time to slip away quietly.
Lee Han, now well-versed in dealing with mages brimming with madness, nodded and silently stepped back.
The mages, engrossed in their perfect concealment magic, failed to notice that the student had disappeared while they were talking with the Skeleton Principal.
-You've worked hard.
The knights who had been watching nervously also let out sighs of relief.
-We were worried the mages might go mad and attempt an abduction.
"Even so, they're all members of the Magic Tower. Would they really go that far?"
-Back in Professor Kim's days, they actually raided and burned down the Young Master's villa...
"...What exactly did you advise me to do earlier?"
Lee Han felt the need to properly recall the advice he'd brushed off earlier.
Disguise yourself when outside, hide your identity, if you meet a mage mention the Magic Tower or...
-Still, there's no need to worry too much.
"Right? Even if they're mages affiliated with the Empire's official Magic Tower, surely they wouldn't be so reckless..."
-Ah, that's not what I meant. I meant that since the Young Master is an excellent combat mage, you'd be able to handle it well even if the Magic Tower mages attempted an abduction.
"...Wow... how delightful."
The knights all looked pleased at the heir's response.
It seemed they'd found some comfort in his words.
As they exited through the tower corridors with the knights, an unfamiliar mage appeared ahead.
A mage with silver hair and blue eyes. Lee Han whispered to the Death Knights:
"Is that Archmage Erindarbel?"
-Correct. She resembles your friend, doesn't she?
The knights naturally assumed Lee Han had recognized her by facial features.
"Ah. Right. There is certainly a resemblance."
-Huh? Then how did you recognize her?
"The magical structure of the staff she's using is similar to Senior Yukveltire's..."
-...
It would be better not to say that in front of Magic Tower mages.
"???"
Lee Han was puzzled by the knights' reaction.
Had he made some mistake in his deduction just now?
"Greetings, Wardanaz. Welcome to our tower."
"Hello, Archmage Erindarbel."
The two mages exchanged polite greetings.
The archmage's welcome felt somewhat strict and rigid.
But Lee Han felt slightly relieved just by the fact that she wasn't insulting Einrogard or loudly proclaiming how wonderful it would be for him to join their Magic Tower after graduation. 'Maybe she's a decent person.' His expectations had lowered considerably after recent encounters with other mages.
"Thank you for the magic demonstration during today's visit. It must have left a deep impression on the other mages."
"Not at all. It was lacking magic, so I'm rather embarrassed."
-Lacking?
The Death Knights muttered in disbelief, but Lee Han signaled them to be quiet.
"Rather, I heard Senior Yukveltire sent a letter. My apologies—the Headmaster interfered..."
"Are you referring to Yukveltire's research?"
"Yes."
"That's not particularly noteworthy research, so you needn't assist with it. Please focus on your own research, Wardanaz."
"...You really are Senior Yukveltire's mother!"
"?"
"Ah, my apologies. It's nothing."
Lee Han quickly recovered upon realizing his rudeness.
"It didn't seem like such an insignificant research project though. If we could create even localized artificial dimensions..."
"When researching magic, one must consider both feasibility and practical utility upon success. To put it in Einrogard terms, it would be a failing grade. Moreover, she's even inconveniencing her friends."
"Friends? Who..."
-The Black Magic faction! She means the Black Magic faction!
One knight desperately whispered. Only then did Lee Han regain his senses.
"Ah! You mean Senior Diret! With so many friends, I momentarily got confused about whom you were referring to."
"???"
Erindarbel looked at the Wardanaz family mage with a strange expression.
Was there perhaps more than one Yukveltire at Einrogard?