Episode 1232
Episode 1232
-It's really... not like that...
Though filled with resentment and bitterness, the Hamster still sniffled and began his explanation.
That he hadn't ambushed the Young Prince to destroy the painting, but rather the Young Prince had sacrificed himself, exhausting all the painting's power.
"You're still shamelessly—!"
Enraged, Lee Han began filling a basin with water. The Hamster didn't know what he intended but instinctively trembled.
-If you don't believe me, cough cough, ask the spirit in that staff...!
Though humiliating and embarrassing, the Hamster started explaining from the beginning.
To properly explain this matter, they had to go all the way back to the moment the Hamster had been bewitched by the Evil God.
Under normal circumstances, no matter how deeply immersed in magical secrets one was, they wouldn't have succumbed so easily to an Evil God's temptation, but it seemed his resistance had weakened after being trapped in a hamster's body.
It was infuriating that this Wardanaz bastard had so swiftly thrown him into the basement, but it had been the right choice...
"Hmph. You were always insatiably greedy for power, so it figures."
-......
"Breaking all order and rules to pursue the extremes of dark magic... Is that why you infiltrated Einrogard only to get caught and imprisoned?"
-......
The Hamster realized just how much this Wardanaz mage had been restraining himself normally. Once the leash came off, his tongue became like a blade coated in poison.
The most painful part was that every word was true.
He wanted to argue that infiltrating Einrogard had been to gain wisdom from the ancient Thought-form, and considering its value, it had been worth the risk—but protesting would only make him look worse.
-Yes. I'm ashamed to have been bewitched by such a low-intelligence Thought-form. Happy now?
"Not at all. If you were truly ashamed, would you have come in here?"
Lee Han pointed to the water-filled basin beside him. The Hamster pretended not to hear.
-The important part is what happened after entering the basement. The painting's Thought-form had been watching your fight the whole time. It intervened to help at the critical moment.
"......"
At the Hamster's sincere words, Lee Han grew solemn.
That the Young Prince had been watching that entire mess...
He'd thought it was just a streak of good luck, but there had been a reason after all.
"Wait. Are you saying my teacher sacrificed himself to help the spirit in the staff?"
-Yes.
"...Then why is this bastard keeping his mouth shut?"
Perhaps sensing Lee Han's murderous intent, the staff's hornbeam spirit, Saratan, hastily replied.
-I-I just didn't get a chance to speak!
Though Saratan had stubbornly used informal speech even while suffering before, this time he cautiously chose his words with deference.
He felt a very real fear that if he acted insolent now, staff or not, he might literally get split in half.
"What do you mean no chance? You bastard. Are you conspiring with that evil Hamster to trick me?"
-What kind of crazy...
"What?"
-Ah, no. Hehe.
"You think this is funny?"
-......
Saratan felt like crying.
'Why did this bastard save me instead of just letting me shatter...'
If only he'd shattered dramatically while fighting the Evil God as intended, he wouldn't be suffering like this!
Now Saratan bitterly regretted stepping forward to help.
He'd endured until his body nearly broke for that Evil God, and where was the gratitude?
-There's no way I'd be friendly with that Hamster. I wouldn't even want to deal with such a stupid, evil Magic Criminal.
"Well, that's true."
-......
The Hamster was speechless.
That withered spirit brat was spewing absolute nonsense with his loose mouth.
-It's just... I thought the contract resonance had strengthened, breaking my seal and restoring my power.
When his power returned during the initial crisis, Saratan had assumed his contractor's resonance had restored him.
Though it galled him to admit it, considering recent events with this contractor, he couldn't completely deny it either.
Hadn't the spirits who sealed Saratan said as much?
"To learn something from traveling with the mage."
So Saratan had been thinking, 'Ah, so it really was the resonance with my contractor that restored my power...'
...But after hearing Hamster's words, it seemed that wasn't the case.
No wonder!
'As if I'd ever grow that close to someone like him.'
"So you didn't know?"
-Y-yes...
"Then why didn't you answer immediately when you first heard? Why stay quiet?"
'Ugh.'
How much of a time difference was there even?!
Saratan trembled with irritation at the mage's relentless interrogation as he replied.
-It was so shocking and surprising... I was so moved by the Great Mage's benevolence that I couldn't find my words.
-......
Hamster stared at the staff's spirit with utter disdain.
He didn't know exactly what kind of spirit this was, but it must have been quite insignificant even before being sealed.
A creature this vulgar and devoid of pride must have been obvious even before its imprisonment.
"Hmm. Indeed, that makes sense."
'That actually worked!?'
As Lee Han's expression softened slightly, Hamster was even more dumbfounded.
That transparent flattery actually got through?!
Regardless, Saratan let out a sigh of relief and continued.
-If given the chance, I will never forget the grace bestowed by the Great Mage and will strive even harder, breaking my bones and crushing my body in devotion!
"Good. We'll let it pass for now."
-Thank you!
Though the words "for now" bothered him slightly, Saratan cheered joyfully.
He had survived somehow!
Lee Han then turned his gaze to Hamster, who hastily cried out.
-Since that staff spirit admitted it, doesn't that confirm the truth of my words?
"Then why didn't you help?"
-What?
"You could have lightened the burden by assisting the Headmaster. Yet you stayed still. Did you harbor some wicked intent?"
-......
Hamster thought to himself.
Had this mage been born just a thousand years earlier, he would have made quite the tyrant!
'This lunatic!'
-This rodent body had all its magic taken away—how was I supposed to help?! And I was even enthralled by the Evil God at the time!
"You may have lost your magic, but you still had wisdom. That you couldn't come up with any plan is suspicious."
Lee Han took a step forward. Suddenly, the water-filled basin beside them began to weigh heavily on Hamster's mind.
-I was really enthralled! Stop this. Even that Thought-form said it—since there was a second encounter, a third is surely coming!
"!"
Lee Han, who had been eyeing the basin, paused.
"Did it really say that?"
-Yes!
"And you didn't just make it up?"
-Think about it. Does it seem like I could fabricate something like that?
'Well, that's true.'
Lee Han had no choice but to concede.
Given Hamster's personality, there was no way he could have come up with such a touching line...
Splash!
Suddenly, Lee Han lifted him and tossed him into the basin, making Hamster shriek.
Even after telling the truth, this young tyrant was still determined to offer a blood sacrifice!
-I'm not lying! Stop this! A mage would rather die than suffer humiliation!
"Just washing off the dried blood."
Lee Han replied nonchalantly.
The blood from fighting the Evil God Worshippers was still caked onto Hamster's fur.
Hamster felt extremely awkward.
-I thought you were threatening me with the basin earlier, so I misunderstood.
"That part was indeed a threat."
-......
Terrifying brat!
"There's no Fire-repelling Herb?"
Professor Thunderstep paused at the first-years' words.
This herb wasn't typically used by alchemists—it was usually employed by Black Mages, a plant found in the Undead Realm.
Because of this, Professor Thunderstep hadn't paid much attention to its stock...
But who would have thought it would run out this semester?
"I'll go retrieve it."
"Pengerin. Your magic is exceptional, and your fur is beautiful, but you're still lacking. This isn't an herb a first-year should be fetching."
The dwarf professor stroked his beard as he spoke.
This beastman penguin student possessed outstanding magical abilities, unwavering determination, and an adorable appearance—qualities that made him coveted by professors from various schools.
Though Professor Thunderstep was known to drive his students quite harshly, he wasn't the type to send first-years to the Undead Realm just to gather herbs. Even if they were exceptionally talented, it was no exception.
"But Senior Wardanaz went to gather them during his first year, didn't he?"
"...That must be a baseless rumor. Don't believe it too readily."
Though inwardly, Professor Thunderstep suspected it might actually be true, he maintained a composed demeanor.
Wardanaz was undoubtedly a model senior, but there were also a few things juniors shouldn't emulate—chief among them being his madness. The professor sincerely hoped Pengerin wouldn't pick up that particular trait from him.
"It's not a rumor. He went there himself—"
"Enough!"
"......"
Alhidel promptly shut his mouth.
This student still held enough respect for his professor that a stern rebuke like this worked. Seeing this, Professor Thunderstep felt a swell of pride.
'May this attitude last a long, long time!'
...Though, once he started mingling more with the seniors next year, it would likely vanish like morning dew...
"I suppose I'll have to ask Wardanaz for the Fire-repelling Herb... Ah."
Only then did Professor Thunderstep remember that his student was currently in the Professor's Punishment Room.
"Ugh!"
'You don't realize what you have until it's gone.' Now that his capable student was absent, the inconvenience was far greater than he'd anticipated.
'How did I manage without Wardanaz before?'
Since the Fire-repelling Herb was essentially a reagent managed by the Black Magic School, he would normally have to request it from them.
Of course, if he bluntly asked Professor Mortum, he'd be met with, "Cough, have you lost your mind? Did you drink the wrong potion?" And if he slyly asked a Black Magic student, he'd get looks that said, "Is this professor insane? Since when were we close?"
But Wardanaz was different.
Not only was he capable of retrieving it himself, but he could even waltz into the Black Magic School's storage and take what he needed—earning nothing but favor from both seniors and professors alike.
He was like a legendary magic staff come to life.
"Ugh... Ughhh."
The professor racked his brain, trying to recall if any alchemy students had any aptitude for the Undead Realm or Black Magic—but none came to mind.
Even if there were, such students weren't exactly open to negotiation.
-I'll let you loot my entire pantry if you can just get me some Fire-repelling Herb!
-Are you insane? I need to graduate, so get lost. And once I do, if you see me outside Einrogard, don't even pretend to know me.
...A student like Wardanaz—both capable and shameless—was exceedingly rare.
After much deliberation, Professor Thunderstep quietly sought out Professor Garcia.
"Ahem. Professor Kim."
"Ah! Professor Thunderstep!"
Professor Garcia greeted him warmly, and the dwarf inwardly sighed in relief.
Fortunately, it seemed the young professor's anger had cooled somewhat over time. A very good sign indeed.
"What brings you here? Let me fix you some tea."
"Ah, no need. I brought my own leaves—let me brew you a cup instead."
"?"
Professor Garcia was puzzled.
Just as a royal chef might slack off at home, exceptional alchemists rarely brewed tea—or coffee—for others.
And Professor Thunderstep was the last person one would expect to do so.
"Did you... have a favor to ask, by any chance?"
"Not at all! How could you think so coldly of me? Professor Kim, we share a bond of friendship—how could you assume I'd only brew tea if I wanted something?"
Professor Garcia smiled again—a smile that said, 'I see right through you.'
"Of course. Still, I thought I'd ask just in case. If there's anything, feel free to say it. I've learned much from you, after all."
"...Well, there is one small request!"
Seizing the opportunity, Professor Thunderstep blurted out quickly.
"What is it?"
"Well, Wardanaz is currently serving his punishment, but given the circumstances, couldn't we just... temporarily release him so he could handle a little task—"
Mid-sentence, Professor Thunderstep's instincts screamed at him.
'I'm going to die here today.'