Episode 1170
Episode 1170
"Ah. About that..."
Lee Han explained about the stone tablet and the Crone.
On the way here, he and his friends had excavated Bakwantalana's ruins together...
"That's right. We went together."
"As you know, mages need knights to protect them, don't they?"
Seizing the opportunity, the White Tiger Tower students spoke up.
Having been caught not preparing for the request at all earlier, they were now trying to make up for it.
"I see. Let's keep it down now."
Jidorf couldn't maintain his usual pretentious demeanor and waved his hand irritably.
No matter how iron-blooded a family head might be, it wasn't easy to remain composed after hearing such shocking news.
The Empire's prominent black mages had been insisting that to resolve the situation, the North needed to be sealed off and thoroughly searched—and now it was already resolved?
"It seems that stone tablet was a sigil from another dimension."
"Ah! Then could the opening of the ruins entrance have been the cause of the anomalies in the North?"
Angrago asked with wide eyes.
Powerful objects from other dimensions naturally disrupt order just by existing.
While Bakwantalana's ruins had completely sealed the sigil's power, if the ruins' entrance had been damaged enough to open, it wouldn't be strange for its power to leak out.
Lee Han's eyes widened even further in surprise.
"Angrago...!"
"What, what? Did I get it wrong?"
"How did you figure this out on your own?"
"......"
"Magicians from Einrogard. Shall we return to the main topic?"
"My apologies."
Chastised by the family head, Lee Han returned to the main subject.
Anyway, while analyzing the stone tablet, they met its original owner, returned the sigil, and resolved things through conversation, so the anomalies should subside soon...
"Summon the black mages."
Jidorf barely maintained his composure and ordered the attendant beside him.
When their eyes met, Giselle, perhaps feeling awkward, spoke up.
"...Wardanaz is always surprising, isn't he?"
"......"
The black mages staying in the lower areas of the fortress came swarming in upon receiving the summons.
Among them, the black mages affiliated with the Descendants of Ahrag wore expressions brimming with anticipation.
"Calling us back so soon... There can only be one reason, no?"
"Huh?"
"Don't play dumb. The blockade. The blockade."
The spiteful black mage's eyes sparkled with anticipation like phosphorescence.
"As I mentioned before, a blockade of the North is impossible."
"Can't we just send this brat back to Kallarogard already? Hey. What do you think?"
"Grk (Not sure)..."
"?"
The Descendants of Ahrag found the strange attitude of the undead from the Legion of Oondorgu puzzling.
Avoiding eye contact and being evasive—it was the attitude of someone who'd done something wrong.
'What's this?'
"What's wrong?"
"Grk (It's nothing)."
"It doesn't seem like nothing... Hey, you didn't go blabbing to the Northern knights about me apologizing in front of Gonadaltes, did you? I didn't cry, you know!"
"Grk (Didn't say that)."
Upon reaching the top of the fortress, they saw other mages approaching from the opposite side.
They were professors from Einrogard.
"...Oh."
Burdened by past misdeeds, the Descendants of Ahrag hesitated.
Fortunately, it wasn't Mortum from the black magic faction, but encountering Einrogard professors here was hardly welcome.
"Wh-what? Why are they here?"
"The Einrogard students came for a request, didn't they? It's only natural the professors would accompany them."
Professor Taswan said this and politely greeted the two professors.
"Good day."
"Professor Taswan! It's been a while!"
"Pleasure to see you. I'm glad to see your health has improved."
Professors Garcia and Kirmin greeted him warmly in return.
Among these monstrous black mages, Taswan might be treated like a junior, but to the two younger professors, he was very much a senior.
After being constantly belittled by those old monsters, receiving such respect suddenly made Professor Taswan's eyes grow hot with emotion.
'Truly, in this empire, the only ones you can rely on are fellow magic academy members.'
Professor Garcia shot a sharp glance at the Descendants of Ahrag. The subtle killing intent in her gaze made them freeze momentarily.
'What was that? I just felt a murderous aura.'
"Didn't you feel that killing intent just now?"
When questioned, the mages from the Obsidian Magic Tower simply stared back with blank expressions.
Their indifferent attitude made the Descendants of Ahrag click their tongues in frustration.
"Asking you lot was a mistake. Forget it."
The Obsidian Magic Tower mages represented one of the empire's rare, properly functioning black magic towers.
Which meant these black mages were somewhat...
...unique among the empire's black magic practitioners.
Cold, composed, and calculating—they were closer in temperament to enchantment magic scholars!
"Enough with this nonsense about killing intent. Focus your efforts on persuading the Moradi Family Head instead."
"The blockade?"
"You agreed with the Kallarogard black mages' proposal, didn't you? Instead of obsessing over a blockade, let's compromise by increasing the number of search personnel."
"Why did you even join a black magic faction if you love compromise so much? If you enjoy concessions, why not scram to the enchantment magic department?"
The black mages continued arguing until they finally entered the reception hall.
'What's going on?'
The atmosphere inside the reception hall felt oddly off.
Given the chaotic situation in the North, an unusual mood was to be expected—but this wasn't the tense, desperate air one might anticipate. Instead, it was closer to... awkwardness.
Why was the atmosphere so awkward?
"Now that everyone's gathered, let's cut to the chase. Black mages—is the extra-dimensional entity suspected to be behind the North's anomalies possibly... the Crone?"
"!!!"
The black mages were stunned.
They'd discussed otherworldly entities but had never mentioned the Crone's name to the Moradi Family Head.
The reason was simple.
Speculating about unconfirmed beings would only attract more rival mages, increasing competition.
'How does he know? Did the Einrogard professors advise him? But even they shouldn't have been able to deduce the Crone's existence.'
There were countless otherworldly beings that might interest black mages.
Even those present had only hypothesized the Crone's involvement after gathering clues in the North. How could the newly arrived Einrogard professors have figured it out so quickly?
"Y... yes. That's correct."
After some hesitation, the black mages reluctantly admitted the truth.
No matter how greedy they were for magic, lying to a northern knight family would be tantamount to suicide.
Even black mages weren't that foolish.
"Hmm."
"?"
Jidorf's slight hesitation made the black mages exchange puzzled looks.
Why was this notoriously ruthless knight acting so hesitant?
'Is this really about the blockade? The blockade?'
"It seems you've already located and retrieved one of the Crone's markers."
"......"
"......"
A chilling silence fell over the room.
The black mages—and even the Einrogard professors—were too stunned to speak.
Who? When? How could someone have—?!
"Wh-what... what kind of... nonsense is this?! Family Head! Some scoundrel must be deceiving you! Who made such a claim?!"
Lee Han cautiously raised his hand, glancing around nervously.
With so many unfamiliar black mages present, it was impossible not to feel self-conscious.
"You?! Don't lie! Reveal the traces of that great wisdom!"
The Third Descendant of Ahrack immediately cast a spell.
The magic of the Crone—the most cunning and most cantankerous of entities—was infamous across dimensions for its alien and bizarre nature.
And within the Ahrack lineage, they had once developed a specialized tracking spell to detect it.
No matter how faint the traces, this advanced magic could uncover them!
Flash!
A faint white glow shimmered above Lee Han's hair—residual traces left from being struck by her staff.
Thud!
The Descendants of Ahrag slumped to the ground in shock.
They had no choice but to be several times more shocked than the other black mages.
They had collected hearts and fresh blood from all kinds of monsters as bribes to make contact with the Crone, and had flattered her tirelessly every day, only to be constantly ignored.
And yet, some greenhorn kid had actually met and conversed with her.
The other black mages seemed to share similar thoughts as they buzzed with murmurs.
"Krrrk (How did he manage to converse with her?)"
"Is it some secret technique of the Einrogard Black Magic School?"
"I-I've never heard of such a thing..."
The Third Descendant, barely regaining his senses, staggered to his feet.
Then, in a hoarse voice, he asked Lee Han:
"Y-you met and talked with her?"
"Yes. She asked for the stone tablet back, so I returned it."
"...Why would you just give it back like that, you crazy little brat!!"
The Descendants of Ahrag jumped up and down, shrieking in shrill voices.
Of course, this was an unfair accusation. They, too, had fully intended to return it. To resolve the situation, the token had to be returned to its owner.
The important part was whether the black mages could receive wisdom and advice in the process—returning the stone tablet was ultimately the right thing to do.
Crash!
The sound of the magically reinforced stone floor of the reception room shattering rang out.
It was the sound made by an enraged Professor Garcia.
"What was that? Say that again to my student. Are the Descendants of Ahrag officially making such statements now?"
"...N-no. That's not..."
Only then remembering that professors were present, the Descendants quickly cowered.
It was a well-known rule of Einrogard: mess with a student, and the professors come; mess with a professor, and the Headmaster comes.
"What do you mean 'no'? Not only did you dare to exclude the Einrogard Black Magic School from your invitation, but now you're throwing insults on top of that?"
"Krrrk (What terrible people)!"
The undead quickly sided with the professors. The Descendants of Ahrag were horrified at how they seemed to have discarded any semblance of conscience along with their human flesh.
'Th-these bastards, so that's what they were up to!'
No wonder they were acting shifty and watching their words earlier!
"We... we apologize, Professor Garcia. We're truly sorry. We were so shocked that we misspoke."
"Seems like you misspeak quite often—just like in front of Lord Gonadaltes last time."
When the mages from the Obsidian Magic Tower muttered this, the Descendants shot them murderous glares.
Couldn't even help out, could they...
"So, returning the stone tablet was the right thing to do, correct?"
"R-right... of course..."
The Descendants swallowed their tears of blood as they answered.
In truth, it was anything but "right."
Considering the offerings they had sacrificed, the praises, the specialized tracking magic they had developed, and the time and effort spent analyzing clues—it was enough to make tears stream down their faces.
No matter how old they got, this kind of sorrow was something no mage could endure.
"By any chance... did you have something you wanted to ask the Crone?"
Seeing the older black mages on the verge of tears, Lee Han felt slightly guilty.
As fellow mages, he could empathize with their emotions to some extent.
How utterly disheartening it must be to have something you'd searched for so diligently taken and finished by someone else first.
"We did..."
"W-well, I'm supposed to meet her again soon—would you like me to ask on your behalf?"
"!!!"
The Descendants of Ahrag were stunned once more.
That cranky entity had agreed to another meeting?!
The very fact was shocking enough, but in their joy at having their questions answered, they didn't even think to question it.
"If you'd do that for us, we'll take you in as a new Descendant of Ahrag!"
There had already been talk among the Descendants about needing a new mage anyway.
They were all black mages over a century old, so they often grew tired of each other.
"That's fine. Actually, I have something I'd like to ask you."
"What is it?! Ask us anything!"
The Descendants of Ahrag became as kind as grandfathers doting on their grandsons.
"What did you mean by 'excluding the Einrogard Black Magic School' and 'leaving them out'?"
"......"
"......"