Episode 1164
Episode 1164
"Perhaps because you're commanding a spirit..."
-Don't ask.
Saratan muttered in an angry voice.
'This bastard is asking again even though he knows!'
If that wasn't the reason, why else would the avatar mistake Lee Han for Bakwantalana?
No.
-Huh? No?
Saratan was even more taken aback by the response.
He had assumed it was because the avatar saw him acting like a slave!
It mistook you for the master because of how you interrogated the spirit with mana.
-......
Saratan's face twisted in displeasure.
It would have been better if the avatar had mistaken him because he was commanding a spirit.
To think it recognized Bakwantalana just by seeing someone torture a spirit with mana.
"I didn't know, but it seems this method has more tradition behind it than I thought."
Lee Han spoke as if fascinated.
He had simply used his overflowing mana without much thought, but who would have guessed this was such a traditional method that even Bakwantalana employed it?
-Talking about tradition! Is threatening with brute force without an ounce of intellect something a mage should do?!
Coming from a spirit who preferred violence more than anyone, it sounded oddly hypocritical, but Saratan's words were filled with genuine conviction.
Spirits and mages should communicate with each other—violence should never be used.
'Weren't you trying to kill me when we first met?'
We will now begin the qualification test. If you lack confidence, please withdraw.
-The avatar is about to cast magic! Be careful!
"Didn't you say earlier that the chances were slim?"
-...Is that really important right now?! Just relay it quickly!
Perhaps embarrassed himself, Saratan shouted even louder.
Honestly, this was a bit unfair.
Bakwantalana only placed such avatars in ruins where he stored his cherished magic.
How many ruins like that could there be? To expect that this small ruin entrance discovered in the North would be one of those precious ruins...
-Statistically...
"If you start talking about anything other than the avatar's magic right now, I'll immediately switch to the Bakwantalana method of conversation."
-......
"Listen up, everyone. The information I'm about to share is worth considering, but its reliability is quite low. So be careful not to trust it too much!"
'That little bastard.'
Saratan cursed inwardly.
Admittedly, he had wasted a bit of their limited time defending himself.
But after that, didn't he do his absolute best to share everything he knew?!
He deserved praise, not this kind of belittling...
"How do you know this information?"
"I heard it from a spirit who participated in the construction of multiple ruins."
"...Wouldn't that make it fairly reliable information?"
Not just Giselle, but the other students murmured in agreement.
Of course, being cautious was a good habit, but if the information came from a spirit involved in Bakwantalana's ruin construction, it seemed quite trustworthy.
"I told you not to trust it too much, and you're already breaking that rule. Think of that spirit as being a bit like Gainando—prone to mistakes."
"Ah!"
"That makes sense!"
-......
Though Saratan didn't fully grasp the mages' analogy, he could definitely tell it was insulting.
'If only Bakwantalana were alive, I would've just asked him to take me away.'
"First, the avatars are fundamentally under the effect of <Bakwantalana's Azure Eye> magic. It's an information absorption-type spell, so you can assume most illusion magic won't work on them."
Artificial summons like avatars, which followed predetermined commands, were always vulnerable to illusion magic.
Naturally, equipping them with <Bakwantalana's Azure Eye>, which rapidly absorbed surrounding information to assist the mage, was an obvious choice.
Otherwise, the test could end too easily.
"Tch. What a waste. If not for the Azure Eye, we could've solved this with illusion magic."
"Truly unfortunate."
When some White Tiger Tower students sarcastically lamented, Garko looked at them with admiration.
"Einrogard students really are on another level."
Normally, seeing a mage gave a rough idea of their friends' abilities.
Though rumors abounded about Lee Han of the Wardanaz family being exceptional, it stood to reason that his close friends were geniuses in their own right.
Just the fact that they were confidently saying they could handle it now was telling enough.
"...Ah, no. That's not..."
"J-just kid... I mean..."
The White Tiger Tower students grew flustered when an outsider reacted to what had been an offhand joke.
Normally, it would've been Wardanaz who got angry, but with an outsider interfering, the situation had turned awkward.
"N-no, we're not at that level."
"Right. We're just ordinary..."
"To the point of being humble!"
Garko's eyes shone with even greater satisfaction.
Talented mages could be found in the Empire, and humble mages could be found too—but mages who possessed both qualities were exceedingly rare.
"Then why are you spouting nonsense?"
After scolding his friends, Lee Han resumed his explanation.
The spells that followed after the Azure Eye were quite diverse.
The impenetrable magic that nullified any spell attempt—<Bakwantalana's Sorrow>.
The binding magic known to be inescapable once caught—<Bakwantalana's Restraint>.
Not to mention <Bakwantalana's Scream>, <Bakwantalana's Shattering>...
The clone would use one of these spells in accordance with the commands left by Bakwantalana during his lifetime.
'Bakwantalana really did create an absurd number of spells, huh.'
'It was annoying enough reading about them in grimoires, but having to face them in person is even more irritating.'
The gathered mages all harbored deeply irreverent thoughts inwardly.
But they couldn't help it.
No matter how respectable a senior mage might be, it was only natural to find them irritating when you had to face their spells.
We get that you're a genius, but did you really have to make so many spells?!
"Look at those mages. Their concentration is astounding."
"Naturally. Between Mr. Garko and those Einrogard mages over there—they're from the Empire's top magic academy. Their level is fundamentally different from ordinary mages."
The adventurers standing guard cast glances of mingled respect.
Though they'd ended up here after taking on the wrong client, the sight of those mages focusing without the slightest wavering made them reflect on themselves.
Those who advanced undeterred by any danger or hardship, dedicating everything to magic!
"Junior."
"Hm?"
"The exam's start seems excessively delayed."
"...!"
At Catten's remark, Lee Han realized the source of his unease.
Now that he thought about it, the exam's start had been delayed far too long.
At this point, it should've begun ages ago.
-You don't think it's giving us leeway because we resemble Bakwantalana, do you?
"Is this really the time for jokes?"
-......
Saratan felt slightly wronged.
He had been quite serious in his speculation just now.
If this was a clone left by Bakwantalana, it might genuinely judge things that way and grant extra time...
Whoosh!
"Bakwantalana's Restraint!"
Garko was the first to identify the spell just from the sound of mana shifting.
A densely condensed net and chains of mana formed, binding the targets tightly—a vicious confinement spell.
-Ah, so that's it! It took so long because there were many of us to prepare for!
Lee Han wanted to tell Saratan he was wrong again, but the situation wasn't so relaxed.
The restraints erupting from the ground were difficult to evade even for those who had anticipated which spell would come. Indeed, several friends had already been caught, plastered flat against the ground.
"Ghk!"
"Attacking mid-conversation... how cowardly!"
But not all Einrogard students had been disgracefully caught. Some had moved swiftly, just as planned.
"Rise, pillars!"
"This way!"
As Batrek chanted and summoned several stone pillars, the White Tiger Tower students scaled their sides vertically.
Though the restraints were fast, they couldn't catch the White Tiger Tower students, who had already cast several enhancement spells in preparation.
Lee Han also dodged quickly. He didn't climb Batrek's pillars, but his psychokinesis was enough.
Stepping and leaping as if on invisible footholds in midair, the restraints sliced through empty space in vain.
"Are you alright?!"
"Thank you for your concern!"
Garko replied leisurely as he transformed back from a bird to human form. Landing flawlessly on the narrow space atop the pillar without even a wobble, he prepared to transform again.
After all, now that Bakwantalana's Binding had begun, it wouldn't give up so easily.
"Still, luck seems to be on our side!"
"Huh? Really?"
Lee Han, who had been checking on their trapped friends, startled at the remark and asked back.
Luck was on their side?
'What does that mean?'
Honestly, Bakwantalana's Binding felt like a terrible draw. Even when he had tried predicting possible spells beforehand, Binding was one he had hoped to avoid.
With something like Bitong, though sturdy, there were still gaps to dodge or bypass. And with Bimyeong, the moment it activated, the situation became overwhelmingly favorable for Lee Han (though his friends would suffer).
But luck was on their side?
Could it be that, like Garko, an experienced mage could see something invisible to Lee Han?
"Binding is practically akin to Transmutation Magic in nature! The fact that this avatar guarding the place used Binding means the undiscovered magic inside is even more likely to be Transmutation Magic!"
"...Wow! What incredible luck!"
Lee Han, remembering that the other was a senior mage and an outsider to Einrogard, forced himself to respond as politely as possible.
Had it been anyone else, he might have smacked them already.
"Wardanaz! Look over there!"
"!"
At his friend's shout, Lee Han turned his gaze—and his expression twisted in shock.
While everyone else was either moving or trapped on the ground, one person stood out. Senior Catten.
"Senior! Get up here!"
"Tch, this damn Binding... keeps... bothering... me...!"
Catten neither climbed up nor got caught. Instead, he swung his sword, trying to slash through the incoming Binding spell.
"That spell can't be cut! You'd better get up here now!"
Garko shouted a warning at Catten.
At a glance, Bakwantalana's Binding resembled a net or chains, but that was an illusion.
Its true nature was an endlessly regenerating chain of magic. Cutting it once wouldn't stop it—countless small magical units would reconnect and keep trying to bind their target.
This was exactly why Garko believed Bakwantalana was a master of Transmutation Magic.
Only an exceptional Transmutation mage could create such a spell.
"Ghk—!"
Swish!
Lee Han and Garko witnessed something bizarre in that instant.
The severed Binding magic didn't regenerate—it froze solid.
Lee Han, well aware that Catten pulled off all sorts of absurd feats with just his sword, wasn't that shocked. But Garko certainly was.
"That's impossible!! How?! What kind of magic was on that sword?!"
"Garko!"
Lee Han shouted in alarm.
The Binding that had missed Catten was now flying toward Garko. He should've transformed immediately, but his shock delayed his reaction.
'Saratan!'
Pulling Garko with telekinesis, Lee Han called out to Saratan. It was an order to do something.
Though it was only a brief moment, Saratan, with his not-so-bright mind, did his best. As the Authority of Life activated, nearby plants rapidly grew, shielding Garko.
Fortunately, Garko also snapped back to his senses. Transforming into a bird again, he performed acrobatic maneuvers to evade the Binding's pursuit.
Thud!
'Now it's after me!'
Lee Han began sprinting through the air, bolstered by Enhancement Magic and telekinesis. At the same time, he prepared a spatial teleportation spell.
He didn't know how far the Binding would chase him, but it was better to be ready.
Pursuit and escape.
Given the relentless tenacity of the chase—far beyond what the other students faced—it was clear the avatar had marked Lee Han as the primary threat.
-Looks like it considers you the most dangerous!
"I didn't need you to tell me that!"
Dodging spells in a frenzy, Lee Han suddenly found himself in an unfamiliar space, far from the other students.
At its center stood a strange stone tablet he had never seen before. The moment he laid eyes on it, Lee Han instinctively knew.
'Bakwantalana's legacy!'
Beneath it was an inscription.
To the successor who has reached this tablet, I bequeath Black Magic.
'...Or not?'