Episode 1065
Episode 1065
This guy... this person here?
Even while making considerable concessions, Saratan could acknowledge that the young prince before him possessed a kind heart.
He had personally witnessed a glimpse of it when he was dragged into the other's soul earlier.
An abyss of countless pains and sorrows—something unimaginable for a spirit like himself who had lived his entire life impulsively, solely for his own sake.
And the prince's soul that sympathized and empathized with all of it!
Even Saratan, notorious among spirits as a violent troublemaker, couldn't deny the young prince's inherent goodness.
'But this little bastard here is a bit...'
Saratan hid his conflicted gaze as he glanced sideways at Lee Han.
What kind of kindness is this from someone who brutally beats others with magic when they don't listen?
Moreover, the guy himself didn't seem particularly convinced either.
"I don't think I have a kind enough heart to reform this spirit..."
-No. Disciple. You must believe in yourself.
"Ah, no. Master. Believing in myself won't suddenly make me kind-hearted."
Though not as much as the spirit, Lee Han was also flustered.
Kindness wasn't something that grew stronger or more powerful just by willing it like magic.
-You already possess kindness, Disciple. Don't you agree, Honored Mage?
"?"
Yukveltire, who had been quietly listening nearby, fell into thought when the question was directed at her.
Was her junior truly kind?
'Hmm. During the break, he didn't immediately help with research and instead left his seat—so probably not.'
Having quickly reached her conclusion, Yukveltire opened her mouth.
"He's not kind..."
-Just so you know, I'm currently assisting Honored Mage. If I don't receive a satisfactory answer, the blueprint might suddenly be destroyed, and you might find yourself unable to answer any questions.
"......"
"......"
The young prince was by no means purely benevolent.
Had he been that kind of person from the start, he wouldn't have been able to travel across the continent in ancient times, battling villains.
Overwhelmed by the pressure, Yukveltire's mouth opened and closed before she finally spoke.
"He... seems kind..."
-That's right. Good answer. Now, tell me in what ways he is kind.
"......"
Yukveltire's pupils shook just like before.
-Quickly!
"W-well... you see..."
When her senior looked at her pleadingly for help, Lee Han was dumbfounded.
'This woman. Just now, she asked me to make snacks for her...'
Mentioning the fact that he made snacks for her alone should have been enough for a few words, yet she couldn't even recall it.
Even Gainando would probably be less shameless than her.
"I made snacks for you, didn't I?"
"H-he made snacks for me."
"I also helped with research."
"Wait. But didn't you volunteer because you were impressed by the research?"
Yukveltire expressed her confusion.
She distinctly remembered her junior saying, "This research is truly amazing, hehe. I'd be grateful if you let me participate."
"...I didn't say that. I didn't smile so slyly either. Anyway, just follow along. Master is looking at us suspiciously."
"I also helped with research..."
-See? How kind is he?
"Th-that seems to be the case..."
Saratan wasn't entirely convinced, but he pretended to agree for now.
From the looks of it, the prince seemed determined to say what he wanted regardless of Saratan's opinion.
In that case, it was better to stay quiet than to make trouble and suffer harsh consequences like before.
-Then, what must one do to cultivate a kind heart?
"Uh... should I observe and learn from this person's actions...?"
-Excellent, Lord Spirit.
The prince praised Saratan. Though it wouldn't be easy, the spirit was steadily stepping onto the path of discipline.
But what exactly should he observe and learn?
Saratan cautiously asked.
He had given the desired answer, but he still wasn't entirely sure what he was supposed to do.
'Is he telling me to learn how to torment spirits? But I already know how to do that...'
- That's something you must figure out for yourself, Lord Spirit.
The Young Prince reprimanded him sternly.
Cultivating a kind heart wasn't something one could achieve just by following orders. He had to contemplate and discover it for himself.
"U-understood."
Saratan was startled.
Though his kind and gentle demeanor was easy to be deceived by, that prince was by no means an easygoing person.
If he kept hesitating, the iron hammer might come flying at him again.
"Um... What will you be doing?"
As Saratan cautiously asked, Lee Han pointed to the piled-up reagents and blueprints beside him.
"I was preparing for a magic experiment..."
"I'll help!"
"Hmm. The way you're offering makes me a bit uncomfortable."
'This little bastard...'
Saratan inwardly cursed.
Who the hell does he think is helping out of goodwill?!
"Anyway, since you're offering, fine. Master, may I prepare it as you instructed earlier?"
-Yes. Give it a try.
Lee Han pulled out the magic circle blueprints the Young Prince had advised on earlier.
In truth, the prince had already drawn up the blueprint for a magic circle that fused <Bakwantalana's Dimensional Rod> and <Ahriman's Refraction>.
But seeing how he had subdued—no, persuaded—Saratan like that...
"I assume you mean to utilize that spirit, right?"
Yukveltire nodded.
Regardless of that tree spirit's temperament, even Yukveltire could clearly sense its power.
"Tree spirits are inherently sturdy and highly resilient. It would be wise to assign them the dangerous parts of the magic circle."
Currently, an artifact—<Yukveltire's Stone Mirror>—had been placed in the magic circle to withstand the distortion and pressure generated during the spellcasting.
But...
"Right. Relying solely on this mirror artifact would be pushing it. If that spirit takes on the additional burden, it should be safe."
"......"
Yukveltire's eyebrow twitched faintly, having already heard suggestions for improving her artifact earlier.
"The Stone Mirror alone can endure it. We're just deploying that spirit to be extra cautious."
"O-of course. Naturally."
Lee Han placated the senior, who was growing serious.
'What a bothersome human.'
If he contradicted her here, she might waste time trying to prove the Stone Mirror's capabilities instead of focusing on the research, so he chose his words carefully.
"Then we'll deploy that spirit."
"Mhm."
"Saratan!"
While Yukveltire swiftly prepared the magic circle in the basement, Lee Han called the spirit.
He then briefly explained what needed to be done.
"Right now, the senior here will inscribe and activate the magic circle, but we need someone to absorb the backlash."
That's nothing difficult at all!
Saratan laughed heartily.
To powerful spirits like him, the magic of mages felt like child's play.
How fragile must their bodies be if they couldn't even handle the strain themselves and had to ask a spirit for help?
"Your confidence is reassuring. Good. We're counting on you."
While they conversed, Yukveltire had already completed over half of the magic circle.
Even with a blueprint, her speed was almost unbelievable. The Young Prince praised her.
-Excellent craftsmanship, Mage. I entrust much of your teachings to my disciple.
"Understood."
Yukveltire's expression brightened slightly. Perhaps it was her recently restored pride at work.
-Ah! But the magic runes you're inscribing now seem inefficient. The pentagon two spaces below already fulfills that role. There's no need to add extra runes. Flashy mages might do that often, but you're not one of them, are you?
"...Yes..."
Yukveltire's expression darkened slightly again.
The reagents for casting <Bakwantalana's Dimensional Rod>—Bakwantalana's crystals—were placed at each intersection.
The enchanted crystals resonated with one another, weakening the barriers between dimensions and generating new power.
"...!"
Lee Han shuddered at the pulsating energy.
'This is incredible!'
Now he understood why dimensional magic required such caution and safety measures every time it was cast.
Twisting intact space and making contact with another dimension was impossible without immense energy.
Who would have thought that the seemingly ordinary crystal Yukveltire pulled from her reagent pouch contained such power?
'So they draw out all this energy, amplify it, and use it. Unbelievable.'
Once again, Lee Han was struck by Saratan's strength.
To withstand the distortion and pressure of a magic circle where such forces clashed—now that was the resilience befitting a high-ranking spirit.
"Alright, Saratan. To your position—"
...Wait, hold on.
Saratan's expression was different now. Anyone could see the unmistakable fear written all over his face.
"What's wrong?"
This... This magic seems a bit stronger than I expected...?
"Oh? Isn't dimensional magic usually like this?"
'You insane little mage bastard!'
Saratan gulped inwardly.
The magic's momentum was far more violent than he had anticipated.
Watching the energy spewed by the crystals within the magic circle resonate viciously and swirl violently, he realized that if those forces overlapped and surged the wrong way, it would spell disaster.
'I'm not even fully recovered yet, and you expect me to just block that...?'
"Don't tell me it's too much for you?"
T-Too much?! Not at all! Not at all! There's a limit to underestimating me! My level is far beyond that of a mere mortal body!
"Got it, got it. No need to shout."
As Saratan puffed up his wooden form in anger, Lee Han waved his hand dismissively.
Truly, the pride of a high-ranking spirit was no joke.
'Judging by his reaction, he must be able to handle it after all.'
"First, we'll cast the Dimensional Rod, stabilize it, and then inscribe Ahriman's Refraction on top of it."
"Understood."
"The strain will peak three times."
Yukveltire spread her fingers as she explained.
During this magical process, the moments of greatest distortion and pressure would occur three times:
When casting the Dimensional Rod, when stabilizing it, and when inscribing Ahriman's Refraction.
Three times?!
"Hey, quiet down."
"It'd be best if you stayed silent."
At their words, Saratan clamped his mouth shut.
'You crazy mage bastards!'
"And the later ones will be stronger."
They get stronger later?!
"Are you doing this on purpose?"
N-No, of course not. Please proceed.
"Anyway, Senior Yukveltire, should we have Saratan hold the Stone Mirror?"
"Yes."
W-Wait a minute. I heard this artifact isn't fully improved yet...?
"......"
Yukveltire's fingertips trembled slightly. Fearing the work would slow down, Lee Han snapped at Saratan.
"Are you going to keep spouting nonsense?!"
Guh...
'What part of this guy is supposed to be virtuous?!'
Saratan couldn't comprehend it.
"Let's begin. 'The rod Bakwantalana planted upon the stone sprouted buds, grew shoots, and blossomed with flowers...'"
Yukveltire chanted the incantation.
Spells beyond the 5th Circle weren't completed in just a few words. They were often deliberately made long.
Though it sounded verbose and filled with metaphors, the length of the incantation inevitably matched the elaborate process required for high-level magic.
'Now.'
Yukveltire gestured. Lee Han immediately poured in his mana. The withered magic circle seemed to regain life, radiating vitality.
"...The rod swallowed the stone, swallowed the earth..."
The inner dimensions began to twist. The spell, gorged on reagents and mana, tore through reality's walls and mingled the dimensions.
"Saratan, here it comes!"
And the first impact struck.
Saratan nearly dropped the Stone Mirror. The overlapping dimensional shock felt like it was shredding his entire spirit body.
Cough—!
"...Are you okay?"
J-Just a scratch!
"What?"
I-I said I'm fine!
"You're clearly not fine!"
Lee Han saw right through him.
This stupid spirit bastard?!