Episode 1113
Episode 1113
"Lee Han is indeed a student of the Black Magic School..."
Professor Garcia answered on his behalf, her face flushing red. When Professor Voladi opened his mouth to point something out, Professor Garcia hastily stopped him.
"Professor! Please!"
Even without him saying it, one could guess what kind of remark Professor Voladi was about to make.
It was probably something along these lines:
—Well, Lee Han does attend the Black Magic School, but he also attends all the other schools... And if we're being technical, isn't he closer to us than to Professor Mortum?
...In truth, even Professor Garcia had momentarily wanted to say something like that when she first heard.
But the world had something called consideration.
Professor Garcia didn't want to deal an additional blow to a Black Mage from Kallarogard, who already seemed to have lived a difficult life.
"I knew it!"
"What?! He's really a Black Mage?!"
"Why would someone like him—?! ...Ah, no. Jute, I'm sorry. Stop glaring at me."
His companions apologized under their friend's venomous gaze.
Truthfully, they were a little unfairly treated in this situation.
Since they were far removed from the world of magic to begin with, they had no reason to say things like, Why would someone like him become a Black Mage?
Unless one was a mage, it was difficult to understand the subtle position the Black Magic School held within the Empire's magical institutions.
There was only one reason they knew about it.
Because Jute had constantly ranted about it beside them.
Phrases like Talented individuals don't want to join the Black Magic School, This is why Black Mages suffer, and Sniff, I shouldn't have gone to Kallarogard, it's so lonely had naturally led them to think, Ah, so talented people don't join the Black Magic School, huh?
Listening to the adventurer party's conversation, Lee Han tilted his head slightly in confusion and asked:
"But how did you know I belong to the Black Magic School?"
Given his growing reputation, it wouldn't have been strange to meet someone in the Empire who knew of him.
But being asked, Aren't you from the Black Magic School? upon seeing him was a bit unusual.
Rumors usually didn't spread in that way.
Wouldn't they typically hear things like There's an outstanding mage from Einrogard or The Wardanaz family's mage is exceptional?
"We heard it from Professor Mortum at a Black Mages' academic conference."
"......"
Professor Garcia's expression wavered.
For some reason, she could guess exactly how Professor Mortum must have bragged about it.
And her guess was correct.
—Cough. This new undead fusion magic is quite intriguing.
—Hehe. Of course it is. Do you know how much our magic tower invested in this spell? We might even surpass the Einrogard Black Magic School soon.
—...Cough. Actually, a new student has joined the Einrogard Black Magic School. You might know of him.
And it wasn't just once.
—Did you see how our guild excelled in the recent separatist uprising? Hahaha!
—...Cough. Actually, a new student has joined the Einrogard Black Magic School...
—Ah, no. We weren't even provoking you, so why are you...
Professor Mortum, who didn't have much to boast about, kept swinging the one sword he had.
Other Black Mages found it dirty and petty, but there was nothing they could do. That sword was truly sharp and powerful.
'Hmm. This is the first time I've ever felt like leaving the Einrogard Black Magic School.'
Lee Han thought to himself.
Even when the Black Magic School was so poor that he and Senior Diret had to fill the school's vault, he hadn't considered quitting. But hearing about Professor Mortum's antics outside made him feel deeply ashamed.
Why did the professor get to do the bragging while Lee Han had to bear the embarrassment?
While Lee Han was suffering, Jute, who had been organizing his thoughts, suddenly paused.
Without realizing it, another thought had crossed his mind.
"...Wait a minute! Then... does that mean the mages from the Daylily Magic Tower are acting like this... not to invite you professors, but to recruit this student from the Black Magic School?!"
"That's... Well... Uh... Ah... Yes... That's correct."
Professor Garcia, who had been trying to defend the Daylily Magic Tower's honor, hesitated before finally admitting it.
How could she possibly deflect this conversation now?
At those words, not only the other adventurers but even the knights were startled.
"No way, would they go this far just for one student? Is this how magic towers normally operate?"
"Though this old knight knows little of mages' affairs, this seems excessive... Shouldn't they respect an individual mage's will and persuade them properly rather than resorting to such enticement?"
Hearing these perfectly reasonable arguments, Professor Garcia felt ashamed instead.
Just as Lee Han had felt ashamed on behalf of Professor Mortum, Professor Garcia now felt ashamed on behalf of the Daylily Magic Tower mages.
"W-well. Normally they don't. This is just... an exception. Please try to understand the Daylily Magic Tower mages."
Jute's companion Iliane, who had been listening, expressed admiration in a reverent voice.
"That mage must be truly remarkable. In a way, they're trying to take away a student they themselves taught, yet they're not stopping it but rather sending them off."
"We're not exactly sending him off."
For the first time today, Professor Garcia immediately turned stern. Her murderous aura was so intense that even the battle-hardened adventurers and knights startled and straightened their postures.
"M-my apologies."
"Ah, no... I'm sorry. What was I thinking...!"
Professor Garcia deeply reflected.
What kind of disgrace was this, getting so worked up over someone's muttered comment?
Truth be told, if we trace the root of the Daylily Magic Tower mages' disgraceful behavior, it ultimately stemmed from the Skeleton Principal's wicked deception.
Having been tricked across two generations, how much resentment must the Daylily Magic Tower mages have harbored?
Regardless, Jute was moved to the point of tears.
"A Black Magic student receiving such treatment!!"
"......"
"...Hey, Jute. Um..."
The orc warrior Iliane nearly said 'I understand how you feel, but getting so emotionally invested and living vicariously through another black mage's success doesn't seem mentally healthy' but stopped herself.
Because her friend was being too intensely moved.
'Just leave him be.'
'Right. When does Jute ever get this happy?'
Lee Han felt extremely awkward amid the unexpectedly shifting atmosphere.
Perhaps it was because he hadn't revealed his actual enrollment status earlier when he should have.
"Um... So... Can we deal with this relic now?"
"Ah! Please do!"
Lee Han called over Apazragon, who had been standing blankly until now.
The angel, whose awkward fleshly form resembled a lump of meat, had been waiting blankly and turned its head at Lee Han's call.
"Apazragon. Do you have any advice on how to deal with the spirit trapped inside this?"
Originally, if it were a sword made by an angel, they could have just stabbed the relic to damage it and proceed from there. But now that it was revealed the creator was of a different race, that strategy was blocked.
Perhaps this angel had another approach?
"I do."
"Oh? What is it?"
"Form an encirclement with these mages and knights, then open the relic to draw the spirit out."
"And then?"
"Surround and attack it."
"......"
Lee Han stared at the angel in disbelief. Even Jute, who had been moved to tears, looked at the angel with equal incredulity.
What kind of strategy was that??
Even a five-year-old could come up with the 'surround and beat it up' tactic.
Yet Apazragon stood firm. It had given the best advice it could.
"...It's not exactly wrong..."
Lee Han glanced at the formidable forces beside him.
Professor Voladi, Professor Garcia...
"L-Lee Han student. You're not... counting me among those forces, are you?"
Professor Garcia looked slightly flustered.
Despite her size, Professor Garcia wasn't confident in combat. Support was one thing, but...
"Ah! Of course not. I didn't include you."
"Whew. Thank you."
"You didn't include her?"
Apazragon asked, sounding puzzled.
From an angel's perspective, not including a mage of that caliber in the battle force was strange.
Lee Han shot a look telling it to be quiet. Apazragon grew even more confused.
Mortals' actions sometimes left angels utterly bewildered.
"Is confusion the path to enlightenment?"
"Professor Bagrak. What are your thoughts on resolving this through force?"
'Oh no. Did I ask the wrong person?'
Lee Han felt a tinge of regret immediately after posing the question.
I should've asked someone less belligerent...
"Nothing wrong with that."
Professor Voladi readily agreed.
It wasn't because Voladi was some bloodthirsty maniac—it was genuinely a viable solution.
Given they were within the Daylily Magic Tower, there were plenty of spaces to weaken and contain the spirit.
If they mobilized knights and adventurers to form an encirclement, even a King-class spirit could be subdued.
"In that case, I'll inform the mages of the Daylily Magic Tower as well."
"Wait. Student Lee Han."
"?"
As Lee Han was about to call the mages who were conducting bizarre resting rituals by the lake, Professor Garcia quickly stopped him.
She was slightly worried her student might not return if sent on this errand.
"Could someone other than Student Lee Han go instead?"
"...Professor..."
"What? Why?"
Among spirits, fire spirits were particularly notorious for being violent and savage. Considering the inherent nature of fire itself, this wasn't entirely unfounded.
Among them, there was one especially combative spirit who roamed between realms, stirring up countless battles.
Not only was it formidable in strength, but it was also cunning—becoming the bane of many spirits—yet it never ceased its rampage.
As it continued to ignite conflicts and burn territories, it eventually earned a fearsome title:
Fire General Zvagni!
Though the hornbeam spirit Saratan, contracted to Lee Han, was also quite unruly, the scale of destruction between the two was incomparable.
Saratan was aggressive, but at least he didn't pick fights with spirits who didn't provoke him.
When enraged, he would smash everything around him, but once his temper cooled, he wouldn't cause further trouble.
The Fire General, however, acted like pure condensed fury—the very embodiment of fire's destructive nature.
It attacked even unprovoked spirits and burned everything in sight, regardless of its mood. Unlike the sealed Saratan, if this Fire General had been captured in the spirit realm, it would have been annihilated long ago due to its countless enemies.
Hm?
Zvagni reacted with curiosity as the artifact imprisoning him suddenly loosened.
Other spirits might have been intrigued or cautious about the situation, but Zvagni had something else in mind.
An ambush.
If the opponent died, great. If not, there was no loss either.
The spirit's tongues flickered before transforming into spears and shooting forward. The power behind them was on an entirely different level from the flame spears wielded by ordinary fire mages.
But things didn't unfold as Zvagni had hoped. As the spears split the air, the Fire General shook off the artifact's chains and laughed.
What, did those mages release me to finish me off?
"Which spirit is this?"
The mages holding ancient texts on spirits immediately shouted.
"Wait, let me check... Fire General! It's the Fire General!"
"The Fire General?!"
Even the mages in the back stirred at the unexpectedly formidable title.
'Are they surprised because I'm weaker than they thought? Well, after being bitten by a dragon and struck by an Evil God, it'd be weirder if I were at full strength! If they give me some time, I can show them my true power.'
"Under no circumstances let your guard down."
Tower Master Eullangdam issued an immediate warning.
Though greatly weakened, such a spirit could never be underestimated. Its actions were unpredictable.
Other spirits might have chosen submission or compromise, but Zvagni had no such inclination.
Zvagni smiled like a kindly old man—yet threatening flames flickered in the depths of his eyes.
Whether he was defeated and reverse-summoned back to the spirit realm or annihilated here, it didn't matter. Until then, he intended to burn as many prey as possible.
...Wait. What are you?
Just as Zvagni was about to lunge, he paused and spoke to Lee Han in a baffled tone.
What kind of mage is this guy, covered in spirits and even commanding a star?