Episode 1013
Episode 1013
Jinon was convinced by the other mages' words.
Admittedly, the letter's contents had been somewhat peculiar, but not to the point of being incomprehensible.
"Then I shall gratefully accept this kindness. To be honest, Archmage Erindarbel didn't need to go this far..."
"She's one of the few truly respectable figures among the Empire's grand mages."
The mages adjusted their collars neatly as they expressed their reverence.
In an Empire teeming with nothing but eccentric grand mages, a responsible mage like Erindarbel had always commanded respect from younger generations.
"By the way, how goes the tracking of that monster's traces?"
The Green Jade Magic Tower had more mages active in the field than those conducting research within the tower, given their abundance of combat mages.
Naturally, Jinon belonged to that category of mages.
What currently held the Green Jade Magic Tower mages' interest was tracking a monster that had crossed over from another dimension.
To ordinary people, such inter-dimensional monsters were merely targets for extermination, but to ambitious mages, they were walking treasures.
They contained countless secrets and laws from other dimensions.
"The mages are following the traces of where it fled, so results should come soon. Do be careful."
"Yes. I'll keep that in mind."
Jinon nodded.
Though he was a battle-hardened combat mage of the tower, Jinon never let his guard down.
Who in their right mind would approach such perilous matters lightly?
"...?"
Arriving at the abandoned warehouse district on the capital's outskirts, Lee Han grew puzzled by the alien energy emanating from underground.
This was the energy of another dimension—something he'd experienced a few times both inside and outside Einrogard.
'What's this? Did a portal open?'
A mage with keen senses could anticipate the scenery beyond just by observing a dimensional pathway.
The extradimensional energy currently surging from underground felt distinctly alien and sinister. It clearly wasn't from any warm or friendly dimension.
'...Something's off.'
One of the lessons Lee Han had learned at Einrogard was that even the staff you trust could betray you at any moment.
In fact, his own staff had once tried to whack him over the head, making it an especially painful lesson.
Though the Skeleton Principal had vouched for Erindarbel's character, she was still Yukveltire's mother.
'The Headmaster might have been deceived, or they could've been in cahoots from the start.'
"Wardanaz?"
"!"
Lee Han was immensely pleased to see the waddling penguin beastman mage approaching from behind.
"Master Alsicle!"
"What are you doing he— Ah. On second thought, I shouldn't be surprised."
Though startled by Lee Han's appearance at a mission to track a dangerous extradimensional monster, Alsicle quickly understood.
By that logic, their previous battle against Evil God Worshippers hadn't made much sense either.
"...??"
Lee Han sensed something odd, but Alsicle waved his staff first.
"Let's hurry down. The others must be waiting."
"Uh... Yes. But what brings you here, Master Alsicle? Were you invited too?"
"Hm? You could say that."
Alsicle nodded.
Thanks to Lee Han's help last time, Alsicle had secured a new patron and come to the capital to purchase and prepare some necessary spells.
That's when other mages had approached him with a request.
-We need the help of an exceptional ice mage to track this newly appeared monster.
-I'm not particularly interested in monster tracking...
-It's an unidentified monster from an unverified dimension. If secured, you'll get priority research rights.
-Very well! I'll join you!
"???"
Even after hearing the exchange, Lee Han tilted his head in confusion.
"What part of that conversation persuaded you?"
"Huh? Wardanaz, it's an unidentified monster from an unverified dimension. What if that creature holds the arcane secrets of the magic I seek? Isn't that why you're here too?"
"I don't think that's likely..."
No matter how positively he considered it, it seemed improbable that an unidentified monster would possess the secret to eliminating the world's suffering.
Even giving the most generous estimate, it probably wouldn't know a way to improve Einrogard either...
"And I came here because I received an invitation from Lady Erindarbel."
"Lady Erindarbel?"
Alsicle momentarily wore a surprised expression before murmuring to himself.
"If Lady Erindarbel invited you, then there's no need to worry... Hmm. It seems my concerns were unfounded after all."
Even if it was Wardanaz, he'd still harbored slight doubts about whether this wasn't too reckless, but hearing the archmage's name completely dispelled those worries.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing. It's nothing. Wardanaz. Capturing a monster from an undiscovered dimension is as exciting as exploring uncharted ruins. It'll definitely be beneficial for you too."
"Hmm. Understood."
Even if Erindarbel was one thing, when even Alsicle spoke with such confidence, Lee Han reluctantly conceded, dropping his stubbornness.
It seemed he must have been mistaken after all.
Tap!
After finding the stairs leading underground, Alsicle summoned glowing ice atop his staff.
"This is the old underground sewer system. It was abandoned after the Empire was established and new facilities were built."
Not just the Empire, but even the kingdoms that preceded it constructed facilities of a certain scale in areas overflowing with magical energy.
They needed to secure the mana required for the magic they used.
Naturally, this abandoned underground sewer system was more saturated with mana than other places.
However...
"The mana feels rather turbid."
"You noticed it too? Correct. The contamination level is high. We should have purified it long ago, but we kept postponing it..."
"Why was it postponed?"
Lee Han tensed slightly.
While mana itself was merely pure energy in its essence, when its properties changed, it could become an unpredictable tempest capable of causing unforeseen events.
Contaminated mana could summon beings from other dimensions or attract Evil God Worshippers who were suited to it...
"Budget constraints?"
"Ah."
Lee Han immediately understood.
If it wasn't due to sinister bureaucrats or a mage's conspiracy but simply a lack of funds, it made perfect sense.
"Probably because of that mana, the monster used this area as a passage to cross over."
"Are there any known characteristics of the monster?"
"Hmm. Not many yet. It's stealthy, cunning, and... extremely gluttonous."
The stealth and cunning were obvious even without asking.
A monster that crossed over from another dimension and escaped the watchful eyes of mages had to be stealthy and cunning.
But extremely gluttonous?
"Did it steal and eat food? Like an Einrogard student?"
"Why make such a comparison...? It seems to indiscriminately devour everything—food, inorganic matter, organic matter. The places it passed through were completely devastated."
'Just like Gainando.' Lee Han made a rather rude comparison in his mind as he moved forward.
Walking along the musty sewer passage, a pale light became visible in the distance. It was the exploration team that had arrived first.
"Ah, you're here... Wait, who is this mage?"
A member of the exploration team pointed at Lee Han in surprise.
They weren't startled by Alsicle, whom they'd met several times before, but the unfamiliar mage beside him was another matter. 'Isn't that an Einrogard student?' "This is Lee Han of the Wardanaz family. Recommended by Lady Erindarbel."
At Alsicle's introduction, the other exploration team members murmured among themselves.
"Lady Erindarbel? She did mention introducing one mage, but..."
"What year are you? Fifth year?"
Though Alsicle was always confident and arrogant, he hesitated slightly at that question.
A shred of conscience still remained in him.
"Well... a bit lower than that."
"Fourth year, then? I know Einrogard mages are exceptional, but isn't this a bit risky? Not even fifth year, but fourth?"
"But Lady Erindarbel did recommend him, didn't she?"
"Well... that's true, but..."
The expedition members exchanged uncertain glances among themselves.
They'd trusted the recommendation of an archmage, but to think it was just a fourth-year student from Einrogard who hadn't even graduated yet.
The upcoming expedition was supposed to be quite dangerous, wasn't it?
They knew Einrogard mages were exceptionally skilled, but they doubted whether such a young mage could handle such a perilous mission.
"I did hear Professor Voladi vouched for his abilities too..."
"That's right! This Wardanaz here is Professor Bagrak's prized disciple."
Alsicle quickly interjected upon hearing the murmurs among the expedition members.
At that, their expressions shifted slightly.
"Is that so?"
"Well, if that's the case, then I can understand... Wait, Lee Han of the Wardanaz family? Then isn't he a second-year??"
One member who had been about to accept this suddenly recalled an old rumor and exclaimed.
Alsicle shot Lee Han a slightly resentful look. Lee Han felt wronged. 'This isn't my fault.'
Despite even greater confusion and shock than before, the expedition members eventually came around.
With recommendations from both Erindarbel and Professor Voladi, it was hard to distrust him—even if he was just a second-year from Einrogard.
"If everyone's ready, we'll reveal it now."
"Reveal what?"
At Lee Han's question, the senior mages smirked, as if they'd been waiting for this very moment.
"Lord Wardanaz, you probably assumed we'd open a portal and chase the runaway creature across dimensions, didn't you?"
"That wasn't the plan?"
Even Alsicle looked surprised.
Fundamentally, pursuing creatures capable of traversing dimensions was akin to a game of tag—one had to be prepared to leap across multiple realms in pursuit.
Naturally, they'd expected this creature to require the same kind of tracking...
"Ah. So instead of fleeing to another dimension, it caused Dimensional Erosion underground and hid there? Wait. But then it should've been detected much sooner... That means it also has camouflage abilities. And you've prepared this magic to break that disguise, correct?"
Lee Han pieced it together based on his knowledge and experience.
Occasionally, beings from other dimensions would trigger erosion phenomena.
Just as the Frost Giant King had brought an unseasonable winter to Einrogard, they could spread their native dimension across the continent.
Come to think of it, the dimensional energy Lee Han had sensed earlier was far too potent to be from a mere portal. It was far more likely to be a space undergoing Dimensional Erosion.
Which meant the creature wasn't hiding in another dimension—it was lurking right beneath them.
Given that it hadn't been detected yet, it must also possess some form of surface-level camouflage...
"...You're right."
The mages who had been about to explain looked slightly deflated.
They'd prepared this reveal hoping to surprise him, so having him figure it out immediately took the wind out of their sails.
"I... I was surprised!"
"Thanks, Pengerin...Wait. You didn't explain it to him, did you?"
"I didn't know either..."
As he spoke, Pengerin felt his face grow warm with slight embarrassment.
If he'd judged things calmly, he should've realized it from the sheer volume of dimensional energy below and the structure of the spells the expedition mages had prepared!
"I did receive a personal invitation from Lady Erindarbel, you know."
Lee Han said this as if to console Alsicle.
"Ah. So Lady Erindarbel told you?"
"That's not it."
"...Just shut up."
Alsicle wanted to punch Lee Han right in his beak—no, his mouth.
Though he'd often been on the receiving end of jealousy from other mages in his life, finding himself in this position made him deeply reflect. 'I should've been less insufferable.' Alsicle decided that after this expedition, he ought to send some letters to old friends to check in on them.