Episode 1123
Episode 1123
The students of the Blue Dragon Tower scattered like the ebbing tide. As Lee Han clicked his tongue while watching their retreating backs, a paper bird flew in through the window.
Come to the principal's office immediately!
-Gonadaltes
"......"
Power was sweet but dangerous.
Lee Han was reminded of that fact once again.
-But why are you taking me along?
The hamster squeaked in confusion from inside its cage.
The guy who had left him in the Black Magic department's underground tower for so long had suddenly, for some unknown reason, come out carrying the cage in one hand.
Lee Han smiled kindly and said:
"I thought I might have been too harsh on you lately, no matter how busy I was. I brought you out to let you see the outside world."
-Hmph! What's this all about now?
Though secretly pleased, the hamster squeaked grumpily. At the same time, he felt self-loathing.
...Getting excited about going out for a walk after becoming a mage!
'I need to get back as soon as possible!'
He felt a slight fear that he might truly become a pet at this rate.
-You've arrived?
The Death Knights greeted Lee Han from a distance when they spotted him.
Feeling somewhat guilty, Lee Han cautiously glanced around his surroundings.
'There shouldn't be any traps or ambushes prepared, right?'
Currently, Uman was actively moving around again based on Lee Han's advice.
Because of this, even if the Skeleton Principal were to attack, he wouldn't be able to fly over immediately. Lee Han slightly regretted not bringing him along somehow.
You're here? Sit.
A skull floating in midair gestured with its jaw for Lee Han to sit. Feeling guilty, Lee Han obediently took a seat.
But...
"?"
Why is that guy acting like that?
"Ah."
Only then did the hamster realize the truth and was glaring at Lee Han with eyes full of hatred and resentment.
You said you were taking me out for a walk, but you brought me to a den of archmages?!
His intentions were blatantly evil. Wasn't he planning to use me as a shield in case of danger?
"It's nothing. He seems upset because I haven't taken him out for walks lately."
What nonsense about walks. You should be grateful I spared your life.
The Skeleton Principal smirked as he looked at the hamster.
Under that chilling gaze, the hamster didn't dare raise its head. He knew all too well how ruthless the other could be.
The only reason this magic boy could grumble in front of him was because he was a student—a privilege granted to him.
An outsider, especially one who was a former magic criminal, wouldn't even be able to imagine the miserable fate that awaited them if they acted presumptuously.
"Principal. Let me make this clear—I only gave some advice..."
We raided the hideouts of those Sanguiros bastards you told us about. Most were abandoned, but we got results from a few.
"...Ah!"
Only then did Lee Han remember what he had reported.
He had passed on the information about the Evil God Worshippers that the General of Fire Heaven had given him directly to the Skeleton Principal.
'So that's why he called me.'
Lee Han felt relieved.
Come to think of it, the Skeleton Principal was a responsible adult who cared about Uman—there was no way he'd be angry over something as trivial as giving advice.
Advice, you say?
"It's nothing."
Right. Got it. Batnaz. So, about those results...
"...Wait, did you just say Batnaz?"
No? Wardanaz. What are you talking about?
The Skeleton Principal blinked his eye-lights, acting as if he had no idea. Lee Han found it suspicious but let it slide for now.
"What kind of results are we talking about?"
We found out those bastards are very ambitious. They're planning something soon.
As soon as he received the report, the Skeleton Principal mobilized the Death Knights and nearby forces to raid the old sanctuaries.
In matters like these, delay only brings trouble.
Caught off guard, the Evil God Worshippers couldn't even mount a proper counterattack and had to abandon their old sanctuaries, weeping tears of blood.
During the battle, much information was destroyed, but the seasoned mages and knights managed to decipher many clues from the remnants.
The regions and cities recently targeted by the Sanguiros Cult, several plans they were preparing, and the individuals who had caught their attention...
'Their plans must have been scrapped by now. Still, the areas and cities they were focusing on could prove quite useful.'
"Well done."
No. Not well done. You were among the individuals they were paying attention to.
"...Excuse me?!?!"
Lee Han was utterly shocked.
And simultaneously thought:
'Are these Evil God Worshippers actually sharing information among themselves?!'
If the Prahgal Cult or the Ksaxarigol Cult had spread baseless rumors, it would make sense for the Sanguiros Cult's worshippers to develop unnecessary wariness toward Lee Han.
How many times had Lee Han interfered with their schemes? Especially in the case of the Prahgal Cult, they probably ground their teeth in frustration at the mere mention of his name.
But Lee Han also felt deeply wronged.
'It's not like I deliberately got in their way. These bastards.'
What was he supposed to do when they kept causing trouble wherever he went?
He couldn't just sit quietly and wait for them to strike first.
'No need to panic just yet. It's not like they've prepared an assassination plot or anything.'
The Skeleton Principal calmly explained.
If the Evil God Worshippers had seriously been plotting an assassination, the Skeleton Principal himself would have been more surprised.
With so many targets of hatred still swarming the Empire, why would they go after some greenhorn rookie?
The list the Sanguiros Cult had included Wardanaz's name on wasn't an assassination list.
To be precise, it was a list of individuals deemed worthy of recruitment or brainwashing.
"......"
You're the only current student included. Congratulations.
"Wow... thank you."
Lee Han replied in a flat voice.
Even fifth and sixth-year students hadn't made the list, yet his name was there.
It was more absurd than flattering.
"What could be the reason?"
Who knows. As I've said many times, it's hard to decipher the thoughts of madmen... Maybe it's because you defeated the Ghoul King.
"I see..."
Or perhaps the Frost Giant King. Or maybe because you've dealt with Anti-Magic Zealots or Magic Criminals.
"Understood."
Lee Han replied, not wanting to hear more.
He had already understood—more than enough, in fact. There were too many possibilities to pinpoint a single reason.
'Or maybe it's because I'm a Dragon Contractor. Or perhaps...'
"I said I understood!"
Why are you getting annoyed when I'm explaining?
The Skeleton Principal seemed determined to vent his accumulated grievances by listing every conceivable reason one by one.
"...Then what should I do from now on?"
Nothing.
"Excuse me?"
Nothing! Trying to act in this situation would only make things more dangerous.
The Skeleton Principal wasn't joking.
Those lunatics held Wardanaz in surprisingly high regard. Not that it was entirely incomprehensible.
After all, numerous rare titles dangled from him like medals on a uniform.
The more critical the situation, the more he needed to act as usual. If he tried to provoke them or act boldly, it could backfire.
Act as if you know nothing—just behave normally. Batnaz. Honestly, I wasn't even going to tell you this information... but given your personality, I figured you'd cause more trouble if I didn't. So I decided to warn you instead.
"...You definitely just said Batnaz."
This time, he was certain. Lee Han was speechless.
Hamster. You tell him. Did I just say Batnaz?
-No... no, you didn't.
See? I didn't say it.
'Pathetic, really.'
Lee Han couldn't believe a Great Mage could stoop so low.
Did the Evil God Worshippers sharpening their blades against the Skeleton Principal even know their nemesis was this petty?
After mentally cursing the principal, Lee Han decided to stop and focus on asking the remaining important questions first.
"Headmaster. But does Professor Bagrak know about this as well?"
No. I haven't told him yet.
"...Then may I tell him?"
Hmm.
Surprisingly, the Skeleton Principal sank into deep contemplation instead of giving an immediate answer—an uncharacteristic look for the usually straightforward archmage.
You handle it.
"Excuse me?"
I'm saying you should decide whether to tell him. If you think Professor Voladi will remain composed after hearing it, then tell him. If not, don't.
"But what kind of—"
Lee Han, about to protest in bewilderment, realized the Skeleton Principal was being serious.
Frankly, I still have my doubts about Professor Voladi. I even considered excluding him for that reason. In the end, I did include him, but... Perhaps it's better if you tell him rather than me. It sounds absurd, but strangely enough, there are people who ignore even the words of a heavenly master yet listen to their disciples.
"I think the Headmaster would understand him better than I would."
Lee Han honestly lacked confidence.
How would Professor Voladi react if he reported, 'Professor! I've been added to the Evil God Worshippers' recruitment list!'?
At the very least, he wouldn't be proud—either nodding curtly or suggesting a preemptive strike, one of the two...
But the Skeleton Principal, as if annoyed, refused to entertain any further objections.
I trust you. Trust yourself too. With your abilities, Batnaz, you can figure it out.
"...If you keep calling me Batnaz, I'll file a complaint with the inspector."
'Why is Wardanaz staring so intently like that?'
Professor Kirmin Ku, conducting the third-year second-semester lecture <Basics of Astral Projection Usage>, found it odd.
Of course, this wasn't an easy lecture by any means.
While many mages could create simple projections, few could produce truly high-level ones.
Using elemental forces or simple illusions to create phantom-like projections was easy.
But making those projections behave like the real thing or giving them texture was an entirely different matter.
To achieve that, one had to start by perceiving their own soul and then learn to divide or separate it freely.
...But today's lecture was just about the basic theory of the soul.
'Didn't Wardanaz already learn to sense his soul last semester?'
Thinking he might be mistaken, he glanced back—yet Wardanaz was still staring holes into him.
His eyes shimmered with deep contemplation.
After some hesitation, Professor Kirmin called out to Lee Han.
"Wardanaz."
"Yes?"
"I can guess what you're thinking."
"Really?!"
Lee Han was startled.
Had the Skeleton Principal spoken to him separately?
Then again, Professor Voladi didn't seem to have many friends. If anything, this was putting it nicely—whether he had any friends besides the professor before him was questionable.
"You're focusing because you're trying to cast an astral projection, aren't you? Right? But I wouldn't recommend it. Perceiving the soul is hard enough, but freely dividing or separating it is even more difficult."
Professor Kirmin explained kindly.
The Illusion Magic department was a rare sight in Einrogard—a faculty where professors were actually considerate. It was incomparable to the Enchantment Magic or Healing Magic departments.
Had it been Professor Verdus, he would've pushed Lee Han to try it immediately, but Professor Kirmin didn't.
After all, the goal of this lecture wasn't casting. Literally laying the foundation was the objective.
"That's not it."
"It's not?"
Professor Kirmin was slightly taken aback.
With his outstanding illusion magic skills and innate racial abilities, this professor rarely failed to read others' emotions.
But the boy before him was an exception. His immense mana alone acted as anti-magic armor.
"Then why were you so deep in thought?"
"Professor. By any chance..."
"Go on. Speak freely, Wardanaz."
"Is there a way to figure out what Professor Bagrak is thinking?"
"...Perhaps too freely. Wardanaz. Focus on the lecture for now!"
Professor Kirmin scolded him, exasperated. He felt he'd worried for nothing.