Episode 1203
Episode 1203
"Is everything alright?"
The Skeleton Principal asked with a puzzled expression.
He had expected Professor Garcia to react violently upon reading the letter. No matter what the contents were, the outcome would have been the same.
If the letter had stated they were returning soon...
'If you're coming back, you should come right away! How dare you send such an obvious letter!'
If the letter had mentioned an unexpected situation causing a delayed return...
'I knew it! Things could go wrong, yet you took Lee Han along!'
No matter the contents, the Skeleton Principal had anticipated Professor Garcia would explode in anger, likely destroying a few pieces of furniture or equipment in the process.
However, Professor Garcia's reaction was different from what he had expected. Her eyes widened as she silently reread the letter from top to bottom.
Seeing this, the Skeleton Principal grew concerned for no particular reason.
'Did Professor Voladi kill some innocent person? Let me see.'
Snatching the letter, the Skeleton Principal immediately understood why Professor Garcia had frozen in place.
An Evil God had made contact.
"This is serious. We must assemble an extermination squad to defeat it. Prepare to send out missives."
Leaving the petrified Professor Garcia as she was, the Skeleton Principal issued orders to the knights.
A corrupted Evil God needed to be dealt with as swiftly as possible. The Skeleton Principal intended to strike before it grew wiser and more mature.
"I will join as well!"
"You? Why would you...?"
The Skeleton Principal responded with bewilderment to Professor Garcia's declaration.
While many in the Empire feared Professor Garcia based solely on her appearance, the Skeleton Principal knew better than to misunderstand her.
What business did such a magically clumsy mage have joining an extermination squad?
"Lee Han is participating—is there any reason I can't?"
'The letter doesn't mention Wardanaz joining... Though I suppose he would participate anyway.'
The Skeleton Principal found her logic convincing.
Professor Voladi would undoubtedly join the extermination squad, which naturally meant Wardanaz and Professor Kirmin would accompany him as well.
Now that Wardanaz had mastered the fundamentals of magic, the Skeleton Principal saw no reason to forcibly stop him. Even if he tagged along, it was clear he'd pull his own weight.
And considering those who had sent the letter, having Wardanaz along might actually prove advantageous...
'This might motivate him a little more.'
"Very well. It's about time you grew stronger anyway."
'Does she really need to grow any stronger...?'
One of the knights muttered under their breath.
The idea of Professor Garcia completely overcoming her aversion to violence was truly unimaginable.
"Master."
Upon Lee Han's visit, the Young Prince residing in the basement greeted him warmly.
'It's been a while, my disciple. Did you leave that rodent behind?'
"Haha. I'm letting him get some exercise outside."
Lee Han defended the hamster.
If he mentioned the hamster was being stubborn, this Young Prince wouldn't let it slide.
Though kind to his disciples, the prince was extremely strict with outsiders—especially villains.
'Something must have happened again.'
"Yes."
The Young Prince gestured from within the painting, urging him to speak. Lee Han recounted the shocking events that had transpired.
'A corrupted Evil God, you say. Not impossible. Disciple, do you remember the Black Emperor's Crown?'
An ancient magic that dealt with artificially created demigods.
The vessel used to imprison those demigods was none other than the Black Emperor's Crown.
"Indeed..."
'Depending on how a mage wields it, they can imbue even divine entities with consciousness and will. It's not impossible for a corrupted Evil God to awaken.'
Despite facing an Evil God, the Young Prince remained unfazed.
Even divine beings were still fools—unable to properly discern right from wrong, slaves to their own power.
With a mage's wisdom, they could be permanently eradicated without much difficulty.
"In a way, you could even say we were lucky. Now we can completely annihilate it."
"Ah. I heard about that from Hamster."
"Did you now?"
The Young Prince silently vowed to make Hamster pay for this someday.
How dare he advise his disciple before he could.
"The part I'm actually concerned about is slightly different. It might just be the Evil God's bluff, but..."
As someone who had conversed with the Evil God, Lee Han remembered even its most trivial remarks.
The Evil God had laughed, claiming that the magic criminal, Hamster, and even the mage above all feared it.
It made sense that the magic criminal or Hamster would fear the Evil God.
But Professor Voladi being afraid?
"Hmm. Disciple. It might be a bluff, but I think it's more likely to be true."
"Could it be Professor Ku who's scared rather than Professor Bagrak?"
If Professor Kirmin had heard this, he would have glared at Lee Han for being ungrateful.
The Young Prince slowly shook his head.
"The fact that it mentioned someone who wasn't even present suggests there might have been bad blood between them for a long time. It's probably Disciple Voladi. Disciple, are you thinking this? That if Disciple Voladi is afraid, shouldn't he refrain from joining the subjugation team?"
"Ah, yes. If we catch him off guard and ambush him with Professor Ku, couldn't we somehow trap him inside Einrogard?"
If Professor Voladi didn't participate, neither Lee Han nor Professor Kirmin had any reason to join either.
They could just leave it to the Skeleton Principal and wait for the outcome.
Instead of scolding his disciple for showing no respect for his teacher, the Young Prince gently persuaded him.
"That's quite an ingenious method. But I'd like you to have a little more faith. Anyone can feel fear. What matters is how they overcome it."
Lee Han paused at the Young Prince's words.
It was a fundamental truth, but he couldn't quite imagine Professor Voladi feeling fear.
"But the opponent is strong and extremely dangerous. Is it really okay to act without overcoming that fear first?"
"Waiting indefinitely doesn't guarantee overcoming fear. Sometimes, you can only conquer it by taking action. I believe Disciple Voladi can overcome his fear even if he has it. After all, he has such reliable people by his side, doesn't he?"
"...I don't know about that, but it's certainly true. Someone like Professor Ku even postponed his own work to come along..."
"I was referring to myself and you, but fine. Let's include Professor Ku as well."
The Young Prince spoke as if making a concession.
The "reliable people" the prince mentioned were likely Lee Han, the Young Prince himself, or someone like Professor Garcia.
"By the way, since you're joining the subjugation team, I can't just send you off empty-handed. Take this."
The paint in the painting rippled like waves, transforming into a stream of energy that flew toward Lee Han.
It settled into the remaining space of the Behemoth Bone Necklace he always carried.
"With this, I can assist you even from outside."
"But Teacher. Didn't you say this was originally impossible?"
Lee Han asked, confused.
Currently, the Young Prince existed by borrowing unstable and unique magical power that was difficult to replicate.
While he might manage inside this sealed room, freely casting magic outside would be challenging.
"Disciple. You sometimes forget who I am. I inherited the true lineage of Ancient Magic and have shattered countless staves of the continent's wicked mages. Something like this is child's play."
"That's truly impressive. So what kind of magic did you use?"
"...It's a magic you wouldn't know."
"At least the name... What exactly—?"
-It seems I hear someone calling for you outside. It appears the subjugation team has arrived.
"Ah. Then I'll see you next time."
As Lee Han stepped outside, the Young Prince let out a faint sigh.
Having a clever disciple wasn't always a good thing.
Even lying became this exhausting...
"Has the Headmaster arrived?"
Lee Han ran out eagerly.
The human mind was truly remarkable. After suffering outside for a while, even Einrogard became something to miss.
Who would have thought fighting Evil God Worshippers would make the Skeleton Principal seem welcoming...
'Good to see you, Os's disciple.'
"......"
Faced with an unexpected opponent, Lee Han immediately turned serious.
Waiting outside was a majestic, enormous yaksha clad in reddish-gold armor and helmet.
It was none other than the Yaksha King.
-To mobilize the Yaksha King... Gonadaltes is truly... terrifying!
The Hamster trembled. With magic sealed and stuck in this foolish mortal body, facing such a powerful being was difficult enough as it was.
The Yaksha King's golden, burning wise eyes could pierce deep into the souls of evil beings the moment they met his gaze.
"Did the Headmaster not come?"
Of course, to Lee Han, the Yaksha King wasn't some dimensional heavyweight—just a bizarre madman who raised life's difficulty every time they met.
'Asking for his teacher right away. I see now. So that time you insulted Os was because you couldn't admit your own respect for your teacher.'
"......"
The moment they met, Lee Han vividly remembered why he disliked the Yaksha King.
This was exactly why!
Rather than having his stomach churn from pointless conversation with the Yaksha King, Lee Han decided to change his target.
"Professor. Is the Headmaster not coming?"
'Os's disciple. I understand your desire to see your teacher, but I, the Yaksha King, have taken charge as leader of this subjugation team.'
Perhaps because the disciple's expression looked utterly grief-stricken, Professor Kirmin cautiously explained.
"The Headmaster doesn't personally participate in every matter, Wardanaz."
"...Right. Thinking about it, I don't know why I assumed otherwise."
Lee Han reflected deeply.
Now that he thought about it, he should have expected this.
The Skeleton Principal wasn't the type to leave his post easily, and if they needed to fight a powerful being from another dimension, someone like the Yaksha King was the obvious candidate.
-Good to see you.
Behind the Yaksha King, another familiar figure appeared.
And just like the Yaksha King, this was someone who turned Lee Han's stomach.
"...Apazragon!"
Facing the angel, Lee Han gritted his teeth.
If only that stupid angel hadn't had his dimension stolen by Professor Voladi...
-'O King of Wisdom. Thank you for granting me this opportunity.'
'I, the Yaksha King, am a ruler who bestows advice upon those who seek wisdom, so there's no need for such gratitude.'
"......"
Lee Han already felt dizzy.
Watching the Yaksha King and Apazragon compliment each other made his chest feel tight.
"Apazragon... why is that angel... part of the subjugation team?"
-'He walks the path of ancient mages in pursuit of enlightenment. It's only natural.'
'Os's disciple. Even if others walk the same path, do not feel jealousy or obstruction. Such emotions bring no aid to the pursuit of the Way.'
Lee Han immediately regretted it.
Why did I ask?
'A self-aware Evil God cannot be left alone. Os's disciple. This time, I look forward to your skills.'
"I'll go over there and prepare some magic... I don't know what kind yet, but anyway, I'll get ready."
Feeling like one of them might attack if he stayed any longer, Lee Han quickly retreated.
Just then, light flickered in the air as space distorted, revealing a dimensional rift.
And the Death Knights and Professor Garcia arrived.
"Ah. Professor."
"Lee Han! Where is Professor Ku?"
"...May I ask why?"
Lee Han flinched at the faint killing intent emanating from Professor Garcia.