Episode 1195
Episode 1195
-Imagine your opponent is Professor Verdus, Successor.
One of the Death Knights whispered to Lee Han, trying to help.
Of course, it was utterly unhelpful.
'And they call that advice.'
Lee Han was dumbfounded. Unable to watch any longer, Professor Kirmin stepped in to assist.
"Since the master acts recklessly, isn't it natural for the disciple to do the same?"
"Their authority isn't equal."
"That's why Wardanaz has been far more restrained than you when visiting places!"
"?!"
-?
Lee Han and the Death Knights froze.
Had he...?
Had he really?
'That doesn't seem right.'
The Death Knights recalled Lee Han's actions after his master disappeared.
Barging into random cities, capturing wrongdoers, then shouting things like, 'You bastard Evil God Worshipper! Deny it? Then bring me the real Evil God Worshipper if you're innocent!' while causing chaos...
Compared to Professor Voladi, who preferred quiet assassinations, this was far noisier.
"......"
But Professor Voladi, unaware of his disciple's exact circumstances after his desertion, quietly sank into thought.
Seeing this, the knights smirked slyly.
'He really doesn't know!'
-That's right. Just how restrained he's been while visiting places!
"Rumors clearly say that mages from Einrogard have been causing disturbances in cities..."
-False rumors. Utter falsehoods.
The knights weren't just sly—they were downright shameless.
Knowing full well that arguing with these Death Knights was pointless, Professor Voladi turned his attention back to his disciple.
"Anyway, now that you've heard the explanation, return and focus on your studies."
Professor Voladi swung the hammer of reason again.
A second-year student should immerse himself in magic within the school grounds, not chase after a master who's off hunting.
Professor Kirmin trembled with indignation at such audacity.
'Breaking all the rules himself yet lecturing his disciple like this? Even as my friend, he's truly shameless.'
Lee Han opened his closed eyes.
Thanks to the time bought by the Death Knights and Professor Kirmin, he'd managed to organize his thoughts.
'Stay calm.'
Some professors had an aura so overwhelming that merely facing them was daunting.
In moments like these, he couldn't afford to be swayed. Instead, he had to respond with equal audacity.
Though it was insane advice, imagining his opponent as Professor Verdus did have some merit...
"I refuse."
"?!"
Professor Kirmin was more shocked than Professor Voladi.
He hadn't expected his disciple to confront him so directly.
"Why not?"
"There's nothing left to learn if I go back. I'll self-study while hunting Evil God Worshippers."
"......"
-......
At such outrageous words—rare even by their standards—Professor Kirmin and even the knights gaped.
Th-that's...!
'But the Successor does have the right to make such unreasonable demands.'
Given that he was effectively two years ahead, if Lee Han couldn't pull such a stunt, who could?
"That's a misconception."
Despite his disciple's rare defiance, Professor Voladi calmly explained.
While Lee Han's talent was exceptionally rare and his achievements remarkable, the faster one progressed in magic, the more gaps inevitably appeared.
This was especially true for mages like Lee Han, who trained in multiple schools simultaneously.
A mage who could topple mountains with a flick but couldn't boil a teacup wasn't just a joke—it was a real possibility.
Thus, even if he'd achieved everything this semester, he shouldn't grow arrogant. Instead, he needed to identify and practice what he'd missed or rushed through.
"I see."
"Then return now."
"I refuse. I've always wanted to honor the Wardanaz family's reputation and ease His Majesty the Emperor's worries. I'm going to hunt down those Evil God Worshippers."
"......"
As Professor Voladi fell silent, at a loss for words, the knights instantly seethed with anger.
'To think such a day would come...!'
They remembered what they'd thought back when Professor Voladi wouldn't listen no matter how much they tried to stop him.
Hadn't they wished he'd someday meet someone just as stubborn as himself?
'Karma truly exists. After all that refusal to listen and giving us headaches!'
As the two priests stood in tense opposition, Professor Kirmin cautiously intervened.
"Voladi. Since your opinions are so diametrically opposed, how about returning to the school for now? Lee Han still has his midterms at Einrogard to take."
Compared to the long-standing feud with the Evil God Worshippers, Einrogard's midterms seemed trivial, but Professor Kirmin knew his friend well.
At the very least, it was worth considering as an alternative.
But as always, Professor Kirmin's friend exceeded expectations.
"I've already prepared for that. Sir Garzidahaka has agreed to oversee them in my stead."
"...Who the hell is that?!"
Professor Kirmin, Lee Han, and even the knights were dumbfounded.
'When did he even arrange this?!'
Tracking down the remnants of the cult alone should have taken all his time!
"Sir Garzidahaka is—"
"Enough, enough. I didn't ask because I was curious who that is. So you're saying you have no intention of returning to school?"
"I believe I've already given my reasons."
Professor Voladi stood firm, unwavering in his response.
Why return to school when the root of the problem was out here?
"Fine. Then I'll accompany Lee Han in hunting down the Evil God Worshippers. I assume you knights will assist us as well?"
At Professor Kirmin's words, Lee Han brightened and nodded eagerly.
"An excellent idea! Let's sweep through the entire city like last time and root them out!"
"...I-I didn't mean to that extent, but... fine! If that's what you want, Wardanaz."
-We'll join as well!
The professors, students, and knights united in purpose.
To break a stubborn vampire's will, one must never back down.
They all turned to Professor Voladi as if challenging him.
But the professor posed an entirely different question.
"Like last time?"
"......"
-......
Professor Voladi looked puzzled.
Sweeping through the city like last time to hunt them down?
Lee Han immediately backtracked.
"That was just a slip of the tongue. The important thing is, if you won't return, we'll proceed with the hunt our own way."
-With reinforcements and greater numbers, it'll be far more spectacular and noisy.
"We can even call Professor Kim to join."
An unrelenting offensive.
But Professor Voladi proved once again why he had been the bane of the Death Knights during his school days.
"Understood."
"......"
-......
Lee Han and the Death Knights stared at the professor with exasperated expressions.
It seemed the mage before them had no concept of negotiation or compromise.
Professor Kirmin sighed and spoke.
"Fine. Then we have no choice but to resort to the last method."
"Wait, you still had another method hidden away?!"
Lee Han shot him an accusatory look.
If such a method existed, why not use it sooner?!
Professor Kirmin replied with a wry expression.
"You already know this one, Wardanaz."
"Huh?"
"Knock him out and lock him in the deepest part of Einrogard until the hunt is over. Let's see if his newfound dimensional escape works there too."
-He won't escape like in his school days, Professor.
Despite his friend and the knights closing in with ominous intent, Professor Voladi didn't even blink.
As if confident he could break free within days even if captured.
"Wait, wait. This isn't right."
In the end, Lee Han was the first to surrender.
No matter how he thought about it, knocking out the professor and locking him up until the situation was resolved didn't seem like a good idea.
It also seemed likely that he'd escape...
-Don't worry, Successor. We're aware of his capabilities. Escaping won't be that easy.
"That's not what I'm worried about."
"Wardanaz. I didn't want to do this to a friend either, but there was no other way."
"Excuse me?"
"Ah, my apologies. I didn't want to do this, but there's no alternative."
"...There must be a way. A solution that both the professor would agree to and that we could accept."
"As if such a thing exis—"
One hour later.
The entire group was moving together.
Professor Kirmin, walking behind Professor Voladi, wore an extremely conflicted and complicated expression.
'Is this really the right way?'
Surprisingly, there had been one method that both Voladi and Wardanaz could agree to.
It was having the entire group accompany Voladi on his revenge mission.
Though Voladi had coldly abandoned his student when he first fled, this friend of his was stubborn and had a foul temper—but he was by no means a fool.
Even in a situation where his student had proven capable of enforcing his will, Voladi didn't stubbornly insist on the same course of action.
Rather than letting him move separately and risk danger, bringing him along was the more rational choice.
Of course, it was only rational from Professor Voladi's perspective—who knew how it would sound to others?
Professor Kirmin already wanted to flee just imagining how Uman or Professor Garcia, who had come as inspectors, might react upon hearing this news.
-So you went to retrieve him and ended up deciding to hunt together? With a second-year student?... Are all Einrogard professors like you, by any chance?
-Professor Kirmin Ku. I'm surprised you're telling me this. Why surprised? Last time, you left without telling me, so I thought you considered me unworthy of being informed. No, don't apologize. I plan to treat you the same way from now on. In fact, now that I think about it, there's no need to call you 'Professor Kirmin Ku' anymore. I should just address you as 'someone I've never met before.'
"......"
Professor Kirmin let out a sigh. His friend's back of the head seemed particularly tempting to smack at that moment.
'Well. Whether visible or not, if someone's irritating, it's better if they're visible at least...'
Tap. Tap.
Professor Voladi poked Professor Kirmin's shoulder as he was lost in thought.
With an attitude three times more prickly than usual, Kirmin snapped back.
"What? What do you want?"
"I'd like to hear about Wardanaz's academic progress."
"...Oh, so that's what you're curious about!"
At his friend's words—wanting to know how much progress his student had made in various lectures during his absence—Professor Kirmin smiled brightly.
And then raised his middle finger.
-He is the top student, after all...
The Death Knights following behind nodded in understanding.
Though insulting, it wasn't an inaccurate description.
Professor Voladi paid no mind to whether his friend raised a middle finger or an index finger and simply moved on to his next target.
"Wardanaz's..."
The Death Knights immediately grew solemn.
-You think we'd tell you?
Though rebuffed by the knights, Professor Voladi remained undeterred. When it was finally his turn, Ibinta turned pale.
Among this gloomy and bizarre group, his standing was the lowest.
He truly didn't want to be dragged into this dispute.
"I-I really don't know anything. I don't even understand magic well in the first place."
"I see."
Having failed in all his inquiries, Professor Voladi took out a sheet of paper and began writing a letter.
Though he resolved to ignore it, Professor Kirmin couldn't resist sneaking a glance.
To the Headmaster,
Regarding inquiries about Wardanaz's current academic progress...
"...Hey, just tell him if you know! Stop this!"
Professor Kirmin snatched the letter and burned it to ashes.
This bastard clearly didn't understand what 'defection' meant!