Episode 1120
Episode 1120
'...This is more fun than I thought.'
Lee Han, who had been giving various pieces of advice beside Uman, trembled at the sweet taste of power he was experiencing for the first time in his life.
Was this the power of authority?
He couldn't even imagine what he could do with this kind of power.
He could make Gainando study all day long, or force Professor Verdus to only teach instead of doing research. It was truly an overwhelming force that could shake the very foundations of the Empire.
'Oh no. I'm getting too drunk on power.'
Lee Han shook his head.
As a wizard, one had to be cautious with great power. History was full of wizards who had ruined their lives by becoming intoxicated with suddenly acquired power.
For now, let's focus on inspecting Professor Verdus!
"Let's go, Your Highness!"
"Alright! Professor Verdus...! Hmm. Are you sure this is really okay?"
"Just trust me."
Even as Uman followed Lee Han, he deeply agonized over whether this was the right thing to do.
The students attending the third-year lecture, <Dangerous Artifacts Found in the Empire and Their Safe Handling>, were yawning. Some were even dozing off.
But Professor Verdus stubbornly refused to change his approach. After throwing a large chest right in the middle of the students, he kept repeating the same words.
"Figure out how to safely disarm it yourselves."
"...Could you at least give us a hint?"
"No! Have you ever seen dangerous artifacts giving out hints?"
The students cursed the professor in their minds. Some even cursed him openly.
"I wonder who's going to be the one to break that bastard's dam."
"Why even bother holding lectures if he's going to do this?"
"More importantly, why is that guy crawling around on all fours?"
If this had been a lecture exclusively for students of the Enchantment Magic department, there would have been fewer complaints.
Students already accustomed to Professor Verdus simply ignored their teacher, whether he was neglectful or noisy, and focused on their own tasks.
But <Dangerous Artifacts Found in the Empire and Their Safe Handling> was a lecture attended by students from other departments as well.
Professor Verdus's behavior—throwing a dangerous artifact at them and telling them to figure out how to safely disarm it on their own—infuriated the students.
Wasn't this just blatantly cutting corners?
"Can't we just pick it up and throw it back at the professor?"
"Brilliant idea. I'll block his left arm, anyone want to block his right?"
"Am I the only one bothered by the fact that Professor Verdus is crawling on all fours? Why is no one else bothered by this?"
BANG!
Amidst the third-year students whispering their rebellious plans, the door burst open with a loud crash.
Uman looked slightly flustered and muttered,
"Was breaking the door really necessary...?"
"You must show the dignity of an inspector, Your Highness."
-This knight doesn't know much about an inspector's duties, but agrees that dignity must be displayed.
Before anyone realized, the Death Knights who had followed Lee Han chimed in.
Among the many tasks an inspector could perform at Einrogard, inspecting Professor Verdus would undoubtedly be one of the best.
Still, seeing Uman hesitate, Lee Han quickly shouted,
"Professor Verdus! By the sacred authority of the inspector bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor, I shall reinspect your lectures and duties!"
"What?! Why?!"
Professor Verdus was utterly shocked.
Why him, an innocent mage, and not some wicked wizard like the Skeleton Principal?
Instead of answering, Lee Han gave orders to the Death Knights.
"Take him away! Lock him in the detention room and make him do Professor Garcia's backlogged work!"
-We were already planning to drag him away without being told. Hehe.
"No! Take Gonadaltes instead of me!"
Professor Verdus was dragged away screaming. Watching this, Uman still looked concerned and asked,
"If we just lock him up like this, who's going to teach the students?"
"Ah, don't worry. Senior Yukveltire will take over the lecture."
For Yukveltire, who had been quietly immersed in her research, this was a bolt from the blue, but Lee Han paid no mind.
Fifth-years were supposed to make some sacrifices for their juniors. Just look at Senior Diret.
"I-I see..."
"Now then, by the authority of the inspector, I shall send a letter to the senior. Everyone, have a nice day!"
The inspector and his right-hand man, who had swept in like a storm, disappeared just as swiftly.
The students in the lecture hall were so shocked that no one dared to speak until Yukveltire came storming in with a furious expression.
"Professor! How dare you dump your lectures on someone else without permission— Wait, where is the professor?"
"H-He was dragged away..."
"?!!"
News of the inspector's changed demeanor spread like wildfire.
Iactus: What a despicable inspector!
Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Isn't this a good thing?
Iactus: Good? How is this good?! This kind of appeasement will only divide and weaken the students!
The matter was even being discussed in the Watcher Club.
Ipelldrem: Honestly, I don't see what's wrong with the inspector who came to Einrogard...
Iactus: Shut up!
Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Shut up!
Ipelldrem: S-Sorry.
Iactus: It's obviously Wardanaz who's been feeding the inspector ideas, right? That bastard. As an Einrogard student, colluding with an outside force...
Ipelldrem: Wardanaz?!
"......"
Lee Han quickly sent a private message to Senior Ilendil.
Gonadaltes: Senior. Senior. Please defend me on this.
Beaver-Penguin-Fox: ...Aren't you exploiting me too much?
Still, since they were in the same boat, Ilendil stepped up to defend him.
Beaver-Penguin-Fox: The inspector must have threatened him.
Iactus: Ha! So what if he was threatened?! If he gets threatened twice, he'll just sell Einrogard to Baldrogard!
Ipelldrem: Wow. Can we actually buy it?
Bulgasari: Uh, Ipelldrem... That doesn't sound very good...
Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Instead of just getting angry, why not think of a way to use this? If the inspector listens to that junior, it means we can control the inspector by controlling the junior.
"......"
Lee Han, utterly dumbfounded, sent another private message.
Gonadaltes: Senior. What exactly are you doing right now?
Beaver-Penguin-Fox: S-Sorry. I got carried away while defending you and spoke without thinking.
Wasn't this like pouring oil on the fire when he was supposed to put it out?
Beaver-Penguin-Fox: But now that I think about it, this might be a good opportunity... Could we maybe use some of Einrogard's budget for the Spirit Forest?
Gonadaltes: I'll take my leave now.
Lee Han swiftly closed his book.
Power truly was a terrifying thing. He hadn't expected requests to start pouring in so soon.
'I'll have to be careful for a while.'
The thought that not just his seniors but even his friends might try to exploit the inspector's authority made him wary.
Lee Han steeled his resolve.
He would act selflessly—no, with just a little self-interest—but mostly with the pure intention of helping Jowurin's younger sibling!
"Ah. Senior."
At the gloomy four-story tower, the <Black Rock Hall>, located far to the west of the Main Building—the stronghold of the Einrogard Black Magic School, as well as the stronghold of tombstones, graves, cesspits, and swamps—Lee Han encountered Ogoldos, a senior from the same school, and instinctively grew cautious.
'He might be after the inspector's authority I hold.'
"...Why are you looking at me like that? Is something wrong?"
Ogoldos, on the other hand, grew even more wary under his junior's gaze.
Considering this junior's combat prowess, honed through brutal combat mage training, it might be wise to keep some distance.
"It's nothing. Senior, if you're thinking of wielding the inspector's authority, I absolutely won't allow it."
"W-What are you talking about?"
Ogoldos was utterly bewildered.
He knew an inspector had come to Einrogard, but wanting to wield their power?
What on earth was that supposed to mean?
'Huh?'
Lee Han paused.
His senior's reaction wasn't quite what he'd expected.
"Senior, didn't you hear that Professor Verdus was arrested?"
"Professor Verdus was arrested?! I knew it. That's exactly what an inspector should do first."
Ogoldos was startled for a moment, then immediately understood.
Honestly, it would've been strange if the inspector hadn't immediately arrested Professor Verdus at the banquet with a "Professor Verdus, you're under arrest!"
"...Senior. What did you do today?"
"Today? I checked the sewage pit condition, tended to the mushrooms, and summoned some undead for status checks."
"What about yesterday?"
"Tended to the mushrooms, checked the sewage pit condition, and summoned undead for status checks. Ah. And we got a purchase request for black magic reagents this time. Hehe. The southern farm bought ten whole vials of Ankle-Snaring Poison. This should make this semester quite comfortable."
"......"
Lee Han felt his eyes stinging for no reason.
Why did his heart always feel so heavy whenever he came to the Black Magic department?
"But why do you ask?"
"It's nothing. Sniff."
At the very top of his mental list of selfish desires, Lee Han added a new entry:
-Support the Black Magic Department
As the two conversed, Senior Dirimpa appeared from above.
Since this senior usually stayed underground, Lee Han rarely saw him, but having met during the break, he politely greeted him.
"Hello, Senior Dirimpa."
"Who are... Ah, are you that junior from the Wardanaz family?"
"Yes."
"Wait, have we met before?"
Dirimpa tilted his head in confusion.
He'd heard much about this junior but couldn't recall meeting him directly.
'Oh no.'
Lee Han realized his mistake.
Come to think of it, when they'd met during the break, he'd been using his Stedal Nago identity.
"I've heard so much about you from Senior Diret that I recognized you immediately. He always speaks highly of you."
"...See that, Ogoldos? This is what respect looks like."
Dirimpa was thoroughly pleased.
Senior Coholti had called this junior completely insane, but meeting him in person, he was far more polite than expected.
'As expected, Senior Coholti isn't someone to be trusted.'
"By the way, Senior. Do you know anything about the inspector's authority?"
"I know an inspector came, but what's this about authority?"
"...What did you do today and yesterday?"
The dwarf senior tilted his head and counted on his fingers.
"Today I searched for bones underground, yesterday... I searched for bones underground."
"......"
"You came out at a good time?"
Ogoldos asked, sounding puzzled.
This senior usually stayed underground so much that even Ogoldos rarely saw him.
"Heard a new demon joined the Black Magic department, so I came to see. Wanted to ask if it knows anything about bones."
"Ah."
The demon Orlach, former flag bearer of the Pride Duke and court jester, who they'd rescued from the angel's grasp during the break.
This demon had made a contract to work for Einrogard's Black Magic department in exchange for escaping relentless pursuit.
'I should warn him to pretend we've never met.'
Lee Han thought to himself.
That demon had no tact—if not instructed beforehand, there was no telling what nonsense he might spout.
"What's this? Everyone's gathered?"
Diret, who arrived last, looked at the juniors with puzzlement.
With their small numbers and everyone busy with their own work, it was rare for Black Magic students to gather like this.
For final confirmation, Lee Han asked:
"Senior Diret. Do you know about the inspector's authority?"
"What's that?"
"As expected. It's nothing."
Lee Han smiled.
It seemed he could relax comfortably around the Black Magic department people, free from that terrifying authority.
"You're all here to see the demon, right? I'll just unlock it and go. Got things to do."
"What things?"
"An ancient black magic artifact was found in the eastern region. The Headmaster told me to analyze it and submit a report."
Everyone nodded, but Lee Han felt something was off.
Huh?
"He told you, not Professor Mortum?"
"He did assign it to Professor Mortum, but if the professor's busy, I handle it."
Diret said as if it were nothing.
By fifth year, students at Einrogard were skilled enough to serve as quasi-professors.
Which also meant they could substitute when professors were busy.
Lee Han nodded.
"I'll step out for a moment. You can see the demon first."
"??"