Episode 1176
Episode 1176
Despite the icy reception, the Descendant of Ahrag remained unfazed.
Black mages who had lived for over a century were fundamentally shameless by nature.
"Why dismiss it without even trying to learn it? It might work out!"
"Krrrruk (Don't act friendly just because you're embarrassed)."
"Let's just take out more of the extra money we've saved and bribe him. We can also make a donation to the Einrogard Black Magic School."
The Obsidian Magic Tower's suggestion had a sharp edge to it. Without realizing it, Lee Han paused.
If they had said they would give it only to him, he might not have cared—but the mention of donating to the Einrogard Black Magic School made him waver.
Suddenly, Senior Di Mo's delighted face flickered in his mind...
"You brat, do you even know which family he's from? He's from the Wardanaz Family. Do you really think a little bribe will work on him?"
"Prejudice isn't good."
Lee Han muttered, but the black mages were too busy arguing among themselves to hear him.
"And donating to the Einrogard Black Magic School? Kid, if you donated to the Obsidian Magic Tower, do you think they'd be so moved they'd grant your request?"
"...I admit my thinking was shortsighted. I'll concede that."
Even the mage from the Obsidian Magic Tower had to acknowledge that his suggestion had been a misstep this time.
What fool would be swayed just because someone donated to their school?
"Anyway, don't dismiss it without even trying to learn it! If you study it, your perspective might change!"
"Hmm. I am curious about <Ahrag's Eye>."
Lee Han said lightly.
A semi-permanent surveillance summoning spell—sounded useful.
It'd be great for keeping an eye on students from the White Tiger Tower, the Blue Dragon Tower, or the Black Turtle Tower.
"Krrrruk (It's not a spell you can learn so easily)..."
The undead replied as if the idea was absurd.
Just because the century-old black mage said it casually didn't mean it was simple—this was fundamentally a black magic spell that started at the 5th Circle.
Not to mention, it incorporated a significant amount of summoning magic elements. Spells with such complex structures tended to be far more difficult than others within the same Circle.
"Why are you discouraging the kid? Keep quiet."
The Descendant of Ahrag scolded the undead.
At this rate, they were barely managing to coax the boy—why keep pouring cold water on their efforts?
"Think about it. How thirsty would this kid become once he hears about the spell?"
Whether he could learn the magic or not wasn't the point. What mattered was igniting that thirst.
A thirst for knowledge!
For a mage, it was the most lethal and sharpest poison imaginable.
How many mages had brought about their own ruin because of that very thirst?
"Kruk (Indeed)!"
"That's a convincing method, I admit..."
Once their discussion ended, the elderly black mage called Lee Han with a benevolent expression.
"Curious about Ahrag's Eye?"
"Well, if it's too difficult, I don't mind—"
"No, no! If you're curious, you should learn it. Don't you know that suppressing curiosity is a sin for a mage, kid?"
"Well, I can't learn every spell I come across on the street. I have to meet the Crone soon, after all."
"......"
The Descendant of Ahrag cursed internally dozens of times before finally speaking.
"...This spell was inspired by ancient black magic."
Ancient black magic.
A phrase that always made black mages' hearts race.
But in truth, it wasn't as glorious as it sounded.
Unlike the Empire's current, relatively streamlined magic system, ancient black magic was far less organized—requiring far more to learn and prepare when casting spells.
"The Black Emperor's Crown—though a brat like you wouldn't know—"
"I know it."
"...You know?"
The Descendant of Ahrag faltered.
The Black Emperor's Crown wasn't just a spell for sealing coffins—it was a magic designed to control artificially created demigods.
Of course, there were very few mages who even knew of its existence. For a mere second-year student at Einrogard, it was even more unthinkable.
"You must have seen all sorts of strange books in the library. But what you read in those books would only be the most shallow and basic aspects of the Black Emperor's Crown. This magic called the Black Emperor's Crown..."
"I also assisted in summoning it."
Lee Han replied indifferently.
Recalling his memories with the Crazy Doppelganger made it difficult for him to respond cheerfully.
On top of that, Professor Voladi had fled like Gainando, abandoning them...
"WHAT?!?!"
Naturally, the Descendant of Ahrag had no interest in the sorrow of the mage beside him.
What mattered far more was that Lee Han had assisted in summoning the Black Emperor's Crown.
For a magic academy student to claim they had assisted in an ancient black magic ritual—no matter how experienced an old black mage was, it was enough to make them faint from shock.
"Who in the world... D-don't tell me, Gonadaltes?!"
Only one name came to mind. The Descendant of Ahrag asked in a trembling voice.
"Well... strictly speaking, you're not wrong."
'That lunatic!'
The descendant could only gape in shock.
And yet, the Empire's people still thought the Descendants of Ahrag were the evil ones.
The truly wicked mages were right here in Einrogard!
'I knew they treated their students harshly, but this is just... too much!'
No matter how harshly they were treated, there had to be limits. Who would make a second-year assist in summoning the Black Emperor's Crown?
Faced with such madness, the Descendant of Ahrag suddenly snapped back to his senses, as if doused with cold water.
"B-but... you must have only done a minor role. Even Gonadaltes wouldn't... it's not like we're in the Dark Ages anymore... right?"
"I only did a minor role."
"Phew."
The old black mage finally let out a sigh of relief. The Undead Mage watching nearby also barely managed to exhale.
'I really thought he was insane!'
"Our conversation has strayed. Anyway, <Ahrag's Eye> begins from a similar principle as the Black Emperor's Crown. Though it's embarrassingly inferior compared to a demigod... it involves creating the eye of black magic—which doesn't exist in reality—within the dark element and then summoning it."
For mages, the material plane, representing the reality of the continent, was always a place full of constraints and rules.
This wasn't about the Empire's laws. It was about the laws of nature.
Why does the earth pull objects downward? Why can't people pass through solid walls?
If mages could manipulate these rules as they pleased, they could accomplish so much more.
One of the attempts born from such thinking was precisely this workaround.
Instead of creating it in reality, if they forged it within a pure mass of elements and then summoned it, they could bypass the laws of nature and manifest the desired magic.
"Ah, I understand now!"
"Given that you assisted with the Black Emperor's Crown, you grasp things quickly. Good. That's the gist of this magic. Do you understand what kind of magic it is?"
"It's not that I understand what kind of magic it is—I understand how to cast it."
Lee Han corrected the misunderstanding.
At first, he couldn't fathom how the spell was even cast, but hearing about the Black Emperor's Crown allowed him to dissect the magic's structure.
Some of the magical formulas used in summoning the Black Emperor's Crown were scattered throughout.
"......"
"......"
To the black mages, this was utterly bizarre and preposterous.
He hadn't even begun explaining yet—how could he claim to understand how to cast <Ahrag's Eye>?
"Kid. Don't boast. This isn't that kind of magic."
"Anyway, I don't think you need to explain further. Can I ask about another spell instead? There was one that seemed useful..."
"...This brat is unbelievable!"
Lee Han's attitude only further infuriated the Descendant of Ahrag.
If caught, he should be apologizing—where did he get the nerve to act so shamelessly?
"Fine, then try casting it yourself! If you can cast it, I'll crawl around this fortress on all fours!"
At the other's words, Lee Han suddenly thought to himself.
'Why do mages always insist on making bets about crawling on all fours?'
He couldn't understand why they always had to add that condition when they could just tell him to try it. Did they actually want to crawl on all fours?
"Understood. I'll prepare to attempt it."
"Hmph!"
And ten minutes later.
"Oh. It seems to be working. This is correct, right?"
"......"
"......"
The black mages were speechless, only blinking their eyes.
Floating in the air, <Ahrag's Eye> slowly blinked in response. Seeing it react meant the summoning was successful.
'...Right. This brat isn't just any ordinary genius...!'
In his emotional state, he had forgotten—the boy before him wasn't just a student of the Black Magic School but a mad genius attending multiple schools.
If only Professor Mortum had boasted a little less, he might have remembered this useful information...
But because the professor had bragged so much about pointless things, he failed to recall what truly mattered.
'Too focused on the fact that he made contact with The Crone, I didn't pay enough attention to his actual skills. What a ridiculous situation.'
'Even so, summoning this on the spot? Was the Black Emperor's Crown really just assisting him?'
"The eye..."
"The eye?"
"It's a bit cloudy."
The Descendant of Ahrag shamelessly nitpicked.
It was a desperate attempt to find fault so he wouldn't have to crawl on all fours.
"Grrk (No, it's not)."
"Apologies, but it's nearly perfect."
"...Fine, you damn bastards. I get it! Are you satisfied now?!"
Infuriated by the unhelpful remarks of the black mages, the Descendant of Ahrag finally exploded in anger.
Like most mages who ventured outside, the Descendants of Ahrag periodically contacted their colleagues.
Found traces of The Crone
High likelihood of sealing the North (The Moradi Family Head has almost crossed over)
...And so on.
Of course, that wasn't the only message. Another followed.
Found traces of The Crone
Einrogard mage made contact (North situation resolved)
"The situation is resolved?!"
"More surprising is that an Einrogard mage succeeded in making contact. Impressive fellow. Can we recruit him as a new descendant?"
"Even if our ranks have remained unchanged for so long that it's grown stale, we can't just casually add a new descendant."
The Descendants of Ahrag, seated around a round table, conversed with their robes and masks pulled low.
Even if they couldn't see each other's faces, identifying one another was never an issue.
While the others marveled, more messages arrived.
To ask The Crone questions, formally inquire with the Einrogard Black Magic School...
"No way!"
"Are we supposed to listen to Mortum's bragging again?"
...Fortunately, they were told to contact Diret, his student, instead.
"Whew!"
"That's a relief, at least. First, we need to decide what to ask The Crone."
And shortly after.
Einrogard mage mastered <Ahrag's Eye> on the spot (We never intended to teach all our magic)
Learned it just by hearing a few words without proper instruction
"......"
"...What the hell kind of person is this?"
Even the usually composed descendants paled in shock.
He mastered it just like that, on the spot?
No matter how talented, that's really...!
"The important thing isn't how he learned it. It's how we should respond."
"True. If he mastered <Ahrag's Eye> so easily, doesn't that mean he has a connection with us? Inviting him might not be a bad idea. Even if we can't recruit him immediately."
"Wasn't it the Second and the Third who went to the North?"
"Right."
"Aren't they the worst personalities to send for an invitation?? We should send someone else."
"But none of the others have particularly inviting personalities either..."
Meanwhile, another message arrived.
Good news
The Legion of Oondorgu also had their <Living Wall> magic stolen immediately
"......"
"See, I told you we should've sent someone else."