Episode 1240
Episode 1240
"No. What is this? People will misunderstand. Please get up quickly."
Lee Han shouted at the Oculogard mages.
Of course, Lee Han had sent a threatening letter, but that was purely for negotiation purposes—he hadn't actually intended to threaten them.
But if the mages here were prostrating themselves like this, what would others think?
"What's the point of acting surprised now..."
Gainando muttered beside him before getting sharply elbowed in the side. Eandurde glared fiercely at him, signaling him to shut up.
'...I-I'm the senior here...!'
Feeling wronged, Gainando turned to Yoner and asked,
"Why is she still here when she's not even a second-year?!"
"She has to attend the lecture. What else can she do?"
"Grr... Combat Magic faction is so annoying...!"
With no way to retaliate, Gainando could only stomp his feet in frustration.
Perhaps because he only had one junior, Lee Han was being excessively lenient.
No matter what she did, he'd just say things like, "Ah, juniors can be like that sometimes, haha!"
"More importantly, look at those Divination mages over there. They're not getting up from their seats."
"Are they staying down because they're afraid Lee Han will attack them if they stand?"
"......"
Yoner was about to tell them to stop talking nonsense but hesitated for a moment.
...Surely, that couldn't be the real reason?
Even if her friend had recently gained notoriety from the Evil God Subjugation, would they really be that scared...?
"Why aren't you getting up?"
"We are measuring the predetermined time."
The Divination mage stood up from his seat and dusted himself off.
"Predetermined... time?"
"Apologies must follow a clear procedure. Neither the order nor the timing can be incorrect."
The Divination mages from Oculogard strictly adhered to the proper procedures even while apologizing.
Not a single step or second could be out of place.
"...I-I see. I'm impressed by such a perfect apology. But I think there's been a slight misunderstanding. We only sent an invitation. Did you perhaps receive some strange letter?"
'He's my friend, but he's really shameless.'
'He's my junior, but he's truly shameless.'
'He's Jowurin's contractor, but he's way too shameless...'
'He's my little brother's contractor, but...'
Everyone present had the same thought, but the mages from Oculogard didn't change their expressions at all.
"We received it. And who sent it doesn't matter. What's important is persuading the involved party not to disrupt the divination."
"If this is about me, I have absolutely no intention of disrupting another magic academy's divination. If you could just cooperate with the exchange between magic academies..."
Lee Han also had no intention of picking fights at other magic academies for no reason.
Unless it was Baldrogard, why would he interfere with mages who were each walking their own paths?
Besides, if he actually went and heard things like "Aah! It's the insane Harbinger of Doom!", he'd probably feel a little hurt.
"Understood."
"!"
The mages in the room were startled. Golem Senior, in particular, was the most surprised.
'This easily!?'
After ignoring all kinds of persuasion, coaxing, and bribery until now, they were flipping their stance over a single threatening letter?
It was so shocking it almost felt like betrayal.
'As expected, Professor Kraer's divination is no joke...!'
Even if his personality was a bit wicked, his magical prowess was undeniable.
"But there's a condition."
"Don't worry. I won't even glance in Oculogard's direction."
Lee Han spoke generously.
Honestly, he wasn't sure if he should be acting like he was "letting them off the hook," but if that's what they wanted, what could he do?
"No. Precisely the opposite."
"???"
"Wardanaz, you will visit Oculogard."
"...!!!"
The room was struck with shock. A flustered Gainando whispered,
"W-why are they inviting Lee Han? Are they planning to assassinate him after inviting him?"
"There's no way... they would. Probably."
"Probably?! You're doubting it too!"
Being invited by a magic academy that had absolutely no reason to invite him was highly suspicious.
Especially since, even if Lee Han hadn't sent it, an unidentified threatening letter had still reached them.
The moment they crossed the main gate, it wouldn't have been strange if assassins ambushed them from both sides.
Fortunately, Golem Senior, who knew a bit about Oculogard, stepped in to defend them.
"O-Oculogard isn't the kind of place to do such a thing. ...Probably."
"Then why don't you go in Lee Han's place, Senior?"
Gainando grumbled back. Golem Senior glanced at Professor Voladi, as if pleading for help.
If anyone could clear up this assassination misunderstanding, it would be a professor of the Magic Academy...
"It would be wise to accompany him, just in case."
"!!!"
"See! Even Professor Bagrak is saying this!!"
Professor Voladi's words not only shocked the friends but also prompted even Jowurin, who had been quietly listening, to join in.
"Lee Han. If even Professor Bagrak is saying that, it's extremely suspicious! You absolutely must not go!"
"...Let's at least hear the reason first. Why do I need to visit?"
"Wardanaz, you must cast a spell. No one else can."
"What kind of spell?"
"That cannot be disclosed. Confidentiality must be maintained."
"Hmph. Must be the kind of spell where assassins pop out from all directions."
Despite Gainando's mockery, the Oculogard mage didn't even flinch.
Lee Han thought to himself.
'Is it a spell that requires my mana?'
Honestly, he didn't think it was an assassination attempt.
...Probably!
After all, Oculogard was an officially recognized magic school in the Empire, not some group of evil god-worshipping fanatics. It wouldn't make sense for them to invite someone just to ambush them.
Most likely, they genuinely needed Lee Han for the spell.
"Well, it's not that I don't want to visit. There's just one problem."
"What problem?"
"I'm currently locked in the Punishment Room..."
For some reason, Golem Senior's face grew uncomfortably warm.
Even though golems weren't supposed to have that function!
'Why do I feel so embarrassed?'
But the Oculogard mage showed no surprise or hesitation.
"We are aware. 'The unforgivable crime of ignoring the Headmaster and three professors and acting recklessly on your own.'"
"...That's a distorted rumor."
"We will wait until you are released from the Punishment Room. It's not difficult."
"You're saying this here?!"
The Oculogard mage shook his head. Thankfully, that wasn't the case.
Instead, an Oculogard student who had been standing behind the mage stepped forward. Judging by the horns and pupils characteristic of their race, they seemed to be a demon hybrid.
"Nice to meet you! My name is Paridim."
"You will stay here until he is released, then accompany him back."
"Yes!"
The student responded enthusiastically to their teacher's instructions.
Of course, they were the only one who felt that way—the Einrogard students were doubting their ears.
"...W-Wait. You're leaving them here because of Lee Han?"
"Nice to meet you!"
"No, I mean... isn't that... uncomfortable?"
Gainando asked, flustered.
If the Skeleton Principal ordered him to stay at Baldrogard for the rest of the semester due to a mission, Gainando would...
'Ah. That wouldn't be so bad, would it?'
For a moment, Gainando was torn between his pride and practicality.
'No. I should pick a much worse place than Baldrogard. Kallarogard or Petrogard... Wait. Actually, both seem slightly better than Einrogard...'
As Gainando floundered in his own mental swamp, Yoner finished the question for him.
"Even if it's just for the rest of the semester, what about the final exams and other obligations?"
"Ah. That's not a problem. Exams aren't mandatory for us."
"......"
"......"
The students' reactions immediately turned icy. Gainando muttered under his breath.
"If Baldrogard doesn't have exams, Petrogard doesn't have exams, and Oculogard doesn't have exams... are we the weird ones?"
"...Petrogard does have exams. They're just a bit different..."
Afraid his friends might attack the student from another magic school, Lee Han quickly changed the subject.
"Um, Paridim. If exams aren't mandatory, does that mean there are equivalent processes instead?"
"That's right!"
Paridim readily explained.
While some Oculogard lectures did have exams, most disliked such uniform assessments.
Instead, they placed greater importance on discussing how to foresee the future as mages and how to steer it in a favorable direction.
"Look. Gainando. That also looks plenty difficult. It might even be harder than the final exam."
"That's not reall—"
"Be quiet."
Lee Han swiftly covered Paridim's mouth.
If they didn't placate Gainando here, rumors like 'Those Oculogard guys live just like the Baldrogard folks' could spread among the other students.
No matter how much Oculogard had ignored their communications, they couldn't just let a visiting student get attacked like this.
"Hmph. I can also talk about how to change the future just fine."
"I'd love to hear it! Please tell us."
"Eh? Uh..."
Gainando was taken aback by the Oculogard student's enthusiastic response.
He hadn't expected them to actually take him up on it.
"Well... um... if I were to rule the Empire..."
"If you were to?"
"...I'd, uh, give Lee Han the position of regent and have him handle it instead."
"......"
"......"
Not only Lee Han, but even Uman and Jowurin shot him looks of contempt.
How could anyone come up with such a trash idea?
Paridim didn't seem much different either, responding immediately.
"What a complacent and trivial opinion, utterly devoid of any consideration for divination magic."
"...Wh-what?! How dare this Oculogard brat insult Einrogard?!"
"It's not an insult but a critique. Altering the future through divination magic must be carried out with precision. You must discern numerous omens and deeply contemplate how to twist them to barely nudge fate. An opinion like yours is nothing but complacency."
"...Lee Han. Can't you crush that bastard's arrogance with a divination magic duel? Show him the power of mana."
Realizing he couldn't win through magical theory, Gainando quickly changed tactics.
Let's settle this with a divination showdown!
"Stop it. We're not here to fight."
Lee Han, restraining Gainando, composed himself before speaking again.
"I understand you're allowed to stay here for the remainder of the semester. There's a guest lodging on the fifth floor of the main building, so..."
"Ah. I intend to stay here."
"?"
Everyone present looked puzzled.
Jowurin whispered,
"Perhaps the Punishment Room has become a popular lodging spot without my knowledge."
"That's... that's not it..."
Lee Han, still confused, tried to persuade again.
"This is a prison-style Punishment Room. There's no need for you to stay here."
Honestly, having an outsider staying in the solitary confinement cell across from him would make him more uncomfortable.
But Paridim refused once more.
"It's Oculogard's school regulation."
"What?! There's a rule that says you have to stay in prison when you're outside?!"
Gainando was shocked.
He'd always thought Einrogard was the worst magic academy in the Empire, but perhaps there was something even worse beneath it.
"No. The regulation states that one must not receive excessive hospitality when visiting."
Paridim explained the rule.
If a mage received excessive hospitality during a visit, they could become corrupted.
If that happened, their foresight and willpower would crumble, so they had to discipline themselves strictly to prevent such a thing from occurring in the first place.
"...Providing lodging isn't excessive hospitality, is it?"
"But you all are staying here, aren't you?"
"Well... I suppose."
Of course, some were here just to hang out, but most were staying in the Punishment Room as a rule.
"Then I shall stay here as well."
"......"
"Well... if that's what they want, what can we do?"
In the end, Lee Han gave up.
If the other insisted on staying, what could he do?
The Oculogard student unpacked their modest belongings in the remaining solitary cell. Then they called Lee Han again.
"Might I ask one favor of you?"
"Ah. Yes. What do you need?"
Lee Han wondered if he'd have to lend them a dragon's tooth.
Anyone sent to the Punishment Room inevitably felt the urge to drill a hole into the neighboring cell.
"It's almost time for my divination magic practice, but since I'm not in Oculogard, it's difficult to find someone to practice with. Would you assist me?"
"Ah. I was studying magic from another school right now... but, sure. I'll help."
"Another school? What school of magic were you studying?"
The Oculogard student seemed genuinely curious about which additional school Lee Han was studying for divination purposes.