Episode 1050
Episode 1050
However, Professor Garcia, who had already entered a state of panic, didn't hear those words.
"Lee Han! Lee Han!"
'She seems even more negative than me?'
Lee Han found it slightly absurd that the person who always told the Skeleton Principal, "Principal, you're too negative and pessimistic and blah blah blah," was acting like this.
Following the long chain, Professor Garcia hurriedly ran forward. Thanks to the time acceleration magic she used, the surrounding scenery didn't even register in her vision.
In contrast, the Skeleton Principal noticed something strange about this dungeon.
"...This is a dragons' dungeon!"
He realized this was no ordinary dungeon but one that dragons used like their personal playground.
There was only one reason something like this would be in the mansion.
'You secretly built this, didn't you?'
Given that Jowurin was also a dragon, she must have had the desire to secretly decorate her lair.
The Skeleton Principal wasn't particularly surprised or angry about that fact itself.
Seeing how other dragons had helped, she must have done a decent job at least...
'...'
Isn't this overprotection a bit too extreme?'
Though Jowurin was a dragon whose mental growth was relatively slow, this level of overprotection seemed unnecessary.
No matter how you looked at it, having a lounge and even a bath in a dungeon?
After all, only lowly minions would be entering a dragon's dungeon.
Meanwhile, Professor Garcia found Lee Han's group.
"Lee Han!!"
Gasp.
Jowurin, who had been digging at a corner of the dungeon with her front paws in case any monsters appeared, was startled by the familiar voice coming from behind.
This voice...?
"Release him at once, you wicked spirit!"
Jowurin merely flinched in surprise, but the Water Spirit beside Lee Han was utterly terrified.
The overwhelming aura emitted by the mage who consistently ranked first in Einrogard's unofficial combat rankings was enough to frighten even a high-ranking Water Spirit.
Bubble, bubble...
While the Water Spirit trembled in fear, Professor Garcia cast a spell.
The space between Lee Han and the spirit expanded, and the spirit froze in place—robbed of time in an instant.
"Principal! Please finish off that wicked spirit!"
"...Calm down first, Professor Garcia."
The Skeleton Principal, who had arrived belatedly, tried to soothe his disciple with an exasperated expression.
No matter how he looked at it, that Water Spirit didn't seem to be at fault.
It appeared the dragons had assigned it to maintain this dungeon...
Wh-what do I do? What should I do?
As both the professor and the principal appeared, Jowurin's face turned pale.
Her ambitious plan to keep Lee Han locked in the mansion for about a hundred years had been completely exposed.
"Please don't worry, Your Highness."
At the reassuring words of her dependable contractor, Jowurin's expression brightened again.
Lee Han...!
"I'll stay by your side when you get scolded."
...Lee Han!
Rather than trying to mediate, his merciless declaration that he would watch her get scolded made Jowurin pout.
How cruel!
"You've had it rough."
Th-thank you, Magic Tower, Your Excellency.
The Skeleton Principal released the spirit and calmed it down.
Then he turned his gaze to Lee Han.
"I clearly warned you, so why did you carelessly enter the mansion and get kidnapped?"
"......"
For a moment, Lee Han wondered if he wasn't the disciple but the spirit was.
The same person being so kind to the spirit was now scolding his kidnapped disciple.
"If you're going to warn me, do it properly! How was I supposed to understand that?"
"Did you boil and eat Professor Bible when I wasn't looking? How can you be this shameless?"
Though the Skeleton Principal was usually well aware when he was being unreasonable, this time was different.
He had clearly said...
-If you go there, they'll hold onto you until the vacation ends.
-Maybe they won't even let you go after the vacation.
-Haha. You've become quite the dragon expert. Anyway, if you're going to meet them, get everything done first. I definitely warned you...
That's what he had said.
This wasn't just him being petty—it was solid advice telling him not to go.
"How exactly am I supposed to explain this in more detail?"
"......"
Lee Han changed the subject.
"By the way, could you please remove these shackles?"
"You mean this Dragon Armor? Wait. It's not easy to remove, so it'll take some time."
"...!"
Lee Han was startled.
At first, he thought the Skeleton Principal was just being spiteful, but that wasn't the case. He was serious.
"What? There's something even you can't easily undo, Headmaster?"
"Well, this is something dragons made to imprison criminals forever, after all. I'm surprised you even managed to get your hands on this."
"......"
Everyone present except the Skeleton Principal turned to look at Jowurin.
Jowurin hung her head low.
She had planned to return it later if Lee Han promised to stay at her mansion...
"I understand, Your Highness. I, too, once promised His Majesty that I would abdicate once the Empire stabilized. We all have our moments, don't we?"
The Skeleton Principal lightly moved his fingers and inscribed a magic circle over the shackles Lee Han was wearing.
These shackles, called Dragon Armor, were a kind of living metal that adapted to the characteristics of the criminal.
A metal imbued with artificial life, limited by the dragons' condensed power.
Even the Skeleton Principal had to go to considerable lengths to neutralize and remove such a thing.
"Mana dispersion? Dragons wouldn't normally prepare for something like this. Who added this feature?"
It wasn't meant to imprison another dragon, so mana dispersion was rather pointless.
What criminal would have near-infinite mana to necessitate such a measure?
"Exactly."
Lee Han feigned indignation alongside him, pretending to be innocent.
Dragons truly are a thorough species, aren't they?
The Skeleton Principal sensed something suspicious but ignored it and continued drawing the magic circle.
This magic circle was inscribed with ink infused with the Skeleton Principal's own breath. Given time, it would move on its own and complete a circle capable of restraining the Dragon Armor's power.
"Alright, then..."
The Skeleton Principal turned around with a grin. Jowurin let out a hiccup.
"Ten years of confinement, with only boring visitors allowed..."
Oh no!
"See, who told you to cause trouble, Your Highness? My heart aches too, but there's nothing to be done."
The Magic Tower, devoid of human compassion, coldly assigned demerits and decided on the punishment.
For a long time to come, Jowurin's mansion would only welcome dull and tedious visitors—no soft, adorable guests allowed.
"Accumulate some Good Karma. Then I'll consider reducing your sentence."
Helping Einrogard students might count as Good Karma...
Jowurin said cautiously, gauging his reaction.
Seeing this, the Skeleton Principal realized anew just how much Jowurin had matured mentally.
To think she'd resort to such cunning tricks?
'Well, there were signs ever since she fooled both His Majesty and me at the same time.'
"Add two hours a day of listening to Imperial hymns."
!!!!
Jowurin flapped her wings pleadingly, but the Skeleton Principal coldly ignored her.
"Aren't you being too harsh?"
"Even if I forgive her later, discipline must be strict when it's due. Dragons need to learn things the hard way."
After firmly answering Lee Han's whisper, the Skeleton Principal glanced around.
"By the way, is Pengerin not here either?"
"Uh, well...?"
Lee Han averted his gaze at the exact same angle as his master.
"Fine. Wardanaz, the reason I sought you out is that I have something to say about Professor Voladi."
At that, Lee Han gave a bitter smile.
Professor Garcia, who had been apologizing to the spirits nearby, noticed his expression and asked curiously,
"What's wrong, Lee Han? Do you have an idea?"
"Hmph. Isn't it obvious? He's telling me to rat out Professor Bagrak if he tries to submit a petition to the Imperial Palace."
Thwack!
The Skeleton Principal smacked his cheeky student with his staff.
"No."
"...Oh, it's not?"
Lee Han was embarrassed. Professor Garcia was equally embarrassed. Honestly, they'd thought that was the right answer.
"Do you remember when we caught one of those Ksaxarigol bastards last time?"
"Yes."
That incident when Alsicle and the capital explorers had joined forces to hunt a monster from beyond dimensions.
During that hunt, all sorts of criminals from the Empire had shown up.
Magic criminals, Evil God worshippers, separatists...
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a comprehensive gift set of criminals.
And among those captured was an elf prophet from the Ksaxarigol Cult.
That wicked bastard who kept slandering Lee Han, calling him a 'monster that devours foresight'!
"Huh? When did Lee Han get involved with the Ksaxarigol Cult?"
Professor Garcia tilted her head in confusion.
Given how often Lee Han tangled with the Empire's most vile and powerful entities, she had almost overlooked it, but now that she thought about it, something felt off.
'Anti-Magic Zealots, magic criminals, the Ghoul King, the King of Frost Giants, the Prahgal Cult... But he's never been involved with Ksaxarigol's lunatics before, has he?'
"......"
"......"
The Skeleton Principal and his prized student exchanged a very subtle and complicated glance.
Explaining that they'd somehow gotten involved while tracking a dimensional void creature wouldn't sound very good to Professor Garcia.
The two nodded almost imperceptibly in unison.
"You remember last time, right? Professor. That time. It was totally Ksaxarigol-related."
"Right. Exactly."
"????"
While Professor Garcia was lost in confusion, trying to recall if she'd missed something, the Skeleton Principal swiftly moved the conversation forward.
"Anyway, we interrogated that so-called prophet and dug up more information... and some of it was related to Professor Voladi."
The Skeleton Principal seemed reluctant to specify exactly what the issue was.
Lee Han, sensing his hesitation, spoke cautiously.
"If it's something I shouldn't hear, just tell me what I need to do."
"But, Headmaster. Lee Han is already involved in plenty of dangerous situations. Hiding information from him won't make things any less risky. Wouldn't it just backfire?"
"You have a point. Might as well tell him everything."
The Skeleton Principal immediately conceded to Professor Garcia's reasoning. Lee Han made a conflicted face.
"......"
Of course, it was better to hear everything upfront rather than be blindsided later, but...
What was this uneasy, prickling feeling?
"There's a certain group on the continent that Professor Voladi despises."
"?"
Lee Han was puzzled by the abrupt start.
A group that Professor Voladi despised...
Wasn't that too broad?
'Criminals, beaver beastmen, Anti-Magic Zealots, Professor Verdus, magic criminals, the Einrogard Enchantment Magic faction's representative...'
As if reading his thoughts, the Skeleton Principal clicked his tongue irritably.
"Not just any group he dislikes—a group he especially despises. And for the record, I'm not talking about Professor Bible."
"!"
Not even Professor Verdus?
Lee Han couldn't even begin to guess.
Glancing to the side, he saw Professor Garcia listening with an extremely cautious expression.
"It's an Evil God cult that fell into ruin long ago, their name all but forgotten... but according to that lunatic, they seem to be making a comeback."
"I... see..."
Lee Han straightened his posture and nodded.
Now he was starting to understand what the Skeleton Principal was getting at.
"I get it. You want me to stop Professor Bagrak if he tries to go after them in secret, right?"
Emotions like rage and obsession were fatal for a mage.
And for someone like Professor Voladi, who relished fighting alone without backup, the risk was even greater.
"Stop him? Don't get cocky and end up getting beaten to a pulp. Just quietly observe and report. It's not like Professor Voladi would hold back just because you're his student."
"......"
The Skeleton Principal was nothing if not pragmatic.
Trying to stop him outright would only backfire, so discreet surveillance was the wiser approach.
If anything felt off or suspicious, reporting it immediately would be the best way to help his former student.
"But I am practically half of Professor Voladi's school at this point..."
As Lee Han grumbled, Professor Garcia quietly interjected.
"Lee Han. Don't try to stop him. Just observe and report."
"...Fine."