Episode 1202
Episode 1202
-It's been corrupted. It's gained sentience. It's still immature, but we can't give it too much time.
Hamster squeaked out the explanation instead.
Given how shocking this was, it seemed better for an experienced mage like himself to explain rather than Wardanaz.
Professor Voladi repaid the kindness of the explanation with a response.
"I didn't ask you."
-......
Hamster repeated his curses internally about three times.
What an insufferable bastard!
"It's been corrupted. It's gained sentience, though it's still immature. But we can't give it too much time."
"I see."
-......
Hamster was even more dumbfounded.
Wasn't that just a repeat of his own explanation?!
"This is serious. An Evil God has been corrupted."
Professor Kirmin, who had pulled his face out of the corridor wall, returned with a gloomy expression after stopping his nosebleed. Lee Han asked worriedly,
"Did the two of you fight upstairs?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, Wardanaz. Why would I quarrel with Voladi? When have I ever badmouthed Voladi?"
"During the pursuit..."
"That's not important right now!"
Seeing his disciple about to recount all his past complaints, Professor Kirmin firmly cut him off.
"An Evil God has been corrupted. What do you think we should do?"
-We must immediately form an extermination squad.
The Death Knight spoke in a grave tone.
Fundamentally, such divine beings weren't a major threat since they lacked sentience.
Even Evil Gods were no exception. Without followers borrowing their power to wreak havoc, Evil Gods themselves didn't cause much trouble.
But if an Evil God could think and desire for itself, that changed everything.
Even if its way of thinking was still immature, it was dangerous. In fact, its immaturity made it even more hazardous.
-I will contact the Master immediately.
"Then we'll just clean up here and follow. That's fine, right, Voladi?"
Professor Kirmin asked, looking at his friend.
They couldn't just leave with the city in such chaos. They had to erase traces of dark magic and ensure everything was safely dealt with.
The problem was his impulsive friend's reaction.
Surely he wouldn't lose patience and act recklessly in just this short time, would he?
"Fine."
"Do you swear on your honor? Really?"
Professor Voladi nodded. Professor Kirmin placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, showing his trust.
"I believe in you."
"Thanks."
"Then can you also promise on your disciple's honor?"
"......"
-......
Lee Han and the Death Knights stared at Professor Kirmin in disbelief.
-If you're going to make bets, keep it between yourselves. Why drag successors into it?
"Honestly, if Professor had already decided to lie, such promises wouldn't mean much anyway..."
With no support from the group, Professor Kirmin spoke with a resentful expression.
"Don't come crying with regrets later when Voladi runs off again."
"Surely you wouldn't do that again, Professor."
-No, I think it's entirely possible...
Professor Voladi silently watched as the mages, including his disciple, debated the likelihood of his escape.
Feeling awkward and uncomfortable, Amrek called out to the group.
"Everyone. Is there anything you'd like me to do?"
-Ah. There is.
The Death Knight answered immediately. Amrek's face brightened.
"Tell me anything. I'm not the least bit afraid of Evil God Worshippers or the like."
-Please take credit for everything that happened today. If Einrogard's name gets out, it might just drive the remaining remnants into hiding.
"...Excuse me?"
Amrek looked back.
The sight of the workshop, half-destroyed and in ruins, came into view.
No matter how you looked at it, this wasn't destruction a single knight could have caused.
"I don't think people will believe I did all this alone..."
-Persuasively deceiving them is also part of a knight's training. I believe in you. I sensed the makings of a great knight in you from the moment we met.
"W-well..."
Amrek wavered, yet he could feel his own heart wanting to be deceived.
The praise from these renowned seniors was far too tempting for the young knight!
[Master. The successor has fled.]
'Not fled—he's on a mission.'
When the first report came in, the Skeleton Principal responded indifferently.
Currently, the Skeleton Principal was not in his usual office but staying in a secret hideout located on the ninth basement floor of the Main Building.
This was because that troublesome Dragon kept visiting him in his office.
At first, he had thought the student would return, worn out by the resentment of his peers, but thanks to some sycophant whispering advice in his ear, the situation had changed.
Now, emboldened with courage and confidence, this nuisance of a Dragon had become even more aggressively bothersome.
'Einrogard must be reformed further!' 'Please do not dismiss Uman's suggestions...' and so on.
Given his fervor, there was a chance he might stick around until next semester—worst-case scenario.
[No. It's definitely not a mission—he has fled.]
'Why would he flee when he could stay outside for an entire semester just by completing the missions he already has... Ah.'
The Skeleton Principal recalled the professor who was currently in a state of desertion.
Like teacher, like disciple, after all.
'He must have gone looking for Bagrak. Let him be. This will make for an interesting showdown.'
Though Professor Voladi had more experience in desertion and was a powerful Combat Magic practitioner, Wardanaz's sheer ruthlessness was nothing to scoff at.
With his vast network and that unhinged mind of his, he stood a fair chance.
And considering that Professor Voladi tended to go soft on his students...
'Quite possible.'
[Shall we send him to the Punishment Room upon his return?]
'The Punishment Room is only meaningful for those who should be confined. That Wardanaz brat would probably enjoy it if we sent him there. Forget it.'
The Skeleton Principal was a generous and lenient man. Naturally, he disliked unnecessary punishments.
Especially for mages like Wardanaz, who willingly walked the path of hardship—the Punishment Room held little meaning.
[Then shall we leave the knights who followed him alone as well?]
'...Lock those ones up.'
The Skeleton Principal was dumbfounded.
'Come to think of it, the numbers did seem a bit off—were they following Wardanaz?'
'Seems there's more than one sycophant around here.'
And a few days later...
Professor Garcia stormed in, fuming.
"Headmaster! I intend to formally accuse another professor!"
'Ah, so the moment has finally come. Professor Garcia, how many times have I told you to accuse Bible earlier? That beast doesn't have enough conscience to remember the favors you've done for him...'
"No. I'm accusing Professor Kirmin!"
What?!
The Skeleton Principal was stunned.
With all of Verdus' countless misdeeds, she was choosing to accuse Kirmin?
Could Professor Garcia be mistaken about something?
'Not Bible? Professor Garcia, in case you've forgotten, let me remind you. It was Bible who raided your reagent storage. It was Bible who manipulated the duty roster to dump his work on you. It was Bible who pretended it was my order to make you grade exams. Shall I go on?'
Without pausing for breath, the Skeleton Principal listed Verdus' misdeeds.
One could talk for three days and nights about his villainy and still not cover it all.
And yet, Professor Garcia had always defended and protected him as a colleague...
"...Honestly, hearing all that does make me a little angry, but that's not why I'm here. I'm accusing Professor Kirmin."
"R-right. Understood. On what charges?"
"Negligent student supervision and aiding desertion!"
......
The Skeleton Principal instantly grasped the situation and gave her a deadpan look.
This was just her throwing a tantrum because she hadn't been taken along!
'Professor Garcia. You and Professor Voladi are the only professors who never accuse others—you know that, right? Voladi is a lawless rogue, so I'll let that slide, but I've always thought you should've been more willing to file accusations.'
"I'm doing it now, aren't I?!"
'...But you're really going to let the professor you truly despise off the hook and accuse someone over such a petty reason? Really? Don't come crying later asking to retract it.'
"Hmph! If he truly considered me a fellow professor, he wouldn't have made me do all the grunt work together only to leave me behind at a time like this!"
Professor Garcia was fuming, clearly beyond ordinary anger.
After looking after their shared student all semester, to just leave her behind when the crucial moment arrived!
Of course, she knew Professor Kirmin was Professor Voladi's friend. Even within Einrogard, Professor Garcia had been relatively close to him, but one couldn't compare a best friend to a junior colleague.
Still, to leave without even a word—that crossed the line.
It was especially infuriating coming from someone who'd always said, 'Wardanaz should become independent now,' and 'Let him handle things on his own.'
As Professor Garcia radiated an aura of fury from her entire body, the Death Knights cautiously retreated.
It was impossible to imagine these were the same knights who usually cracked jokes whenever professors visited.
'Maybe Wardanaz left you behind.'
"Don't talk nonsense! There's no way Lee Han would do that!"
Professor Garcia shot the Skeleton Principal an incredulous look.
'Hmm. One more word, and I'll file a complaint against you too.'
Knowing full well his student's unshakable resolve, the Skeleton Principal refrained from further persuasion.
Very well. Perhaps it's time Professor Kirmin got a taste of his own medicine. Then...
Whoosh!
Flames surged, and a letter shot out from the cauldron placed at the center of the Skeleton Principal's hideout.
This bronze cauldron, engraved with complex ancient runes, was a magical device the Death Knights used for urgent reports.
The Skeleton Principal's eyes flickered as he opened the letter.
Oh dear.
"Wh-what happened?"
Professor Garcia forgot her anger, now looking worried.
Had Lee Han gotten hurt? Or had something happened to the other professors...?
Good news. They've caught Professor Voladi.
"!!!"
Professor Garcia was stunned by the unbelievable report.
They actually caught him?!
"How did they do it?! Did Lee Han set some kind of trap?!"
Quite the imagination. Though, I did consider that method too.
Though he didn't say it aloud, one of the Skeleton Principal's hypothesized strategies for the Wardanaz party had been exactly that.
Go to the area where Professor Voladi was hiding, then fake Wardanaz being in mortal danger—wouldn't that draw him out?
But from the sound of it, they hadn't used such a method after all.
Must have persuaded him.
"...I always believed in Lee Han!"
Professor Garcia exclaimed, her face brightening.
If they could bring back the fugitive Professor Voladi through persuasion rather than force or traps, nothing could be better.
...Though whether that was actually possible still left him somewhat baffled!
Instead, he's tagging along to help Professor Voladi get revenge.
"......"
Professor Garcia's face twisted with rage again. The Skeleton Principal inwardly sighed in relief.
'Thank goodness Kirmin went along.'
Had Professor Kirmin not been there, that rage would have been directed elsewhere.
"To think they'd run around helping him get revenge when they should be rushing back...!"
Calm down, Professor Garcia. You know how stubborn Professor Voladi is. If not for that, they wouldn't have persuaded him at all.
"...I suppose you're right."
Fortunately, once her anger subsided, Professor Garcia regained her rationality.
She even postponed filing the complaint against Professor Kirmin, declaring she'd let it slide as long as Lee Han returned unharmed.
Good thinking. Very good thinking.
But the Skeleton Principal had miscalculated one thing.
Namely, Professor Garcia's persistence.
Starting the next day, she began knocking on his door incessantly.
"Any new updates?"
"Did anything come in during lunch...?"
"Why are the knights so slow with their reports?"
"Headmaster. I think we need to overhaul the reporting system..."
'With Uman gone, she's gone wild.'
The Skeleton Principal struggled to remind himself that Professor Garcia did the work of five people.
It would have been easy to shout her away or change the hideout's location, but doing so would drastically reduce Einrogard's administrative efficiency.
"Really, no updates?"
I'll send a Paper Bird the moment anything arrives, so please just go do your own...
Whoosh!
Flames erupted, and another letter shot from the bronze cauldron.
Professor Garcia snatched it with reflexes faster than the Empire's top polo player—even the knights were impressed.