Episode 1265
Episode 1265
In truth, even more embarrassed and bewildered than Gainando were the warriors of the Rock-Crusher Group led by Taarad.
The moment they triumphantly drew their weapons, they were swept up in a magical storm and subdued—a disgrace so pitiful that even in the Empire's prisons, people would say, "Are those guys really that stupid?"
"To resort to such cowardly deception. This is why we can't associate with mages."
Even while tightly sealed by magic, Taarad remained unbroken, growling defiantly.
Gainando, provoked, hurled a curse at him—one of pain and dizziness.
But the warrior merely shook his head a few times before declaring triumphantly:
"Black mage. Curses like these can't break the resolve of us warriors. Is that all you've got?"
"This... Fine. Let's see how you handle this!"
"Stop it. What are you doing?"
Lee Han stopped Gainando from pulling out another curse.
Why waste curses trying to overpower enemies who were already defeated?
Persuaded by his friend's reasoning, Gainando put away the curse he was about to unleash. Seeing this, the warriors' morale rose.
"What's wrong, black mage? Giving up? With such shallow curses—"
"Stop provoking him. That curse was the 'Curse of Aging,' the 'Curse of Misfortune,' and the 'Curse of Faith Confusion.' If it hits you properly, you'll wish you were dead."
Lee Han explained the curses Gainando had been about to use.
Even within the Black Magic school, not all black mages studied the same curses. Recently, Gainando had become obsessed with curses, fervently reconstructing ancient curses recorded in old texts one by one.
The Curse of Aging, as the name suggested, caused the body to wither with age. The Curse of Misfortune brought about endless accidents, much like what happened to Golem Senior. And the Curse of Faith Confusion was a terrifying curse that twisted the target's faith—in the worst case, it could even connect them to an Evil God.
Of course, Gainando wasn't yet skilled enough to wield those curses perfectly. If he were, he would already be a fifth-year student.
At his current level, the curses would only make the target slightly fatigued or cause them to lose at dice games repeatedly.
But the captured prisoners didn't know that, so they trembled in fear.
'This is terrifying...!'
'That black mage... He looks frail, but he's utterly wicked!'
What Lee Han had just demonstrated was not the work of an ordinary mage. Only a powerful combat mage could display such might.
Given that he was with such a mage, they couldn't help but overestimate Gainando as well.
Even Gainando's slightly absent-minded demeanor now seemed like a sinister ploy to lull them into complacency.
"The knights will be here soon. Stop struggling and just get captured quietly."
"Hah! You think we're the only ones?"
Taarad strained to lift his head defiantly as he spoke.
Lee Han honestly didn't feel like engaging with him (after all, anyone who tried to contact yakshas couldn't be normal), but he played along to extract some information.
"What do you mean? Are you saying there are more?"
"Exactly. Think about it. How many people hold grudges against Einrogard mages? And what about the lunatics who worship Evil Gods?"
Taarad's confidence surged when he thought his opponent was afraid.
And he wasn't entirely wrong. The Empire had many enemies, so it was no surprise this festival had plenty as well. Especially when the targets were Einrogard mages.
In fact, the separatists trying to contact yakshas were among the most moderate attackers.
At least they hadn't come with the intent to spill blood.
But other factions were different. Especially the Evil God worshippers.
Lee Han, not quite understanding, retorted:
"That doesn't make sense. Don't Evil God worshippers operate separately by cult? Even if the Sanguiros Cult was destroyed, I doubt many would seek revenge for it."
"The Northern Mountains!"
"???"
"The Northern Mountains!"
Taarad repeated sternly, as if he believed those words alone would strike his opponents like a physical blow and make them realize something.
But neither Lee Han nor Gainando caught on.
What about the Northern Mountains?
'Is he insane? Or is he just bluffing without knowing anything?'
True to his expertise in bluffs, Gainando immediately grew suspicious. Taarad, incensed, immediately pressed on and shouted,
"Don't play dumb! The purge of Evil God Worshippers in the Northern Mountains! The Shadow Patrol wouldn't have acted alone—it must've been Einrogard mages who commissioned it!"
The sudden pursuit and hunt in the Northern Mountains had dealt a heavy blow to many Evil God Cults.
In particular, the Prahgal Cult had suffered so badly that an entire faction had tried to flee beyond the Northern Mountains, only to be half-annihilated.
The news was so widespread that even Taarad, who wasn't an Evil God Worshipper, had heard of it.
Experts all speculated Einrogard's involvement. The only ones capable of laying such a trap in the Northern Mountains were Einrogard mages.
'Did the Headmaster or the seniors step in?'
Lee Han was puzzled but accepted it.
Einrogard mages had a strong tendency to act independently, so no matter what anyone did, it wouldn't be surprising.
Just as Lee Han's seniors had been shocked—'Huh? A junior took down an Evil God mid-semester and came back?'—Lee Han, too, had to accept whatever his seniors might have done.
"I see. So you're here for revenge."
"Exactly. I see fear creeping in now."
"Well... It's not like I've never seen crazy people before. Are there no others? Any news about Anti-Magic Zealots or Magic Criminals?"
Gainando, who had been listening nearby, scoffed and said,
"What would someone like him know? Honestly, I don't even believe what he just said."
"...You insolent Black Magic bastard! Don't insult a noble-blooded warrior! Once we break free from the Empire's oppression, scum like you wouldn't even dare lift your heads!"
"There was a purge in the North? I know those people well—they don't move without reason, especially in this season."
Gainando pointed out sharply.
Thanks to Nilia, Gainando was practically an expert on the Northern Mountains patrols. He knew how and when they operated.
This only made Taarad even angrier.
As a noble-blooded warrior destined to receive a dukedom in the new kingdom, he couldn't tolerate being insulted by some Black Magic nobody.
"You dare speak when you don't even know that Anti-Magic Zealots are gathering nearby?!"
"Oh."
Lee Han looked at Gainando with surprise.
Who knew Gainando's interrogation would be this effective?
"Professor Bagrak. I leave this to you."
Before Uman could even finish speaking, Professor Voladi moved.
Moments later, Professor Voladi returned, dragging six criminals behind him. Bound by magical ropes, they trembled so violently it was hard to believe they had just been causing chaos.
"Spare us! Please!"
"Don't take us to Einrogard!"
Even the hardiest criminals, who would've scoffed at being dragged into the Empire's wretched underground dungeons, went pale at the mention of Einrogard.
Uman almost tried to explain that Einrogard wasn't actually that dangerous, but stopped himself.
Right now, Einrogard's infamous reputation was necessary.
"All who have sinned will rot in the deepest Punishment Room of Einrogard!"
"No! No! Please!"
"Don't turn me into a toad! I hate toads! I hate them!"
"......"
Uman's expression darkened as he watched them being dragged away.
The larger the festival, the more suspicious and wicked individuals it inevitably attracted.
Among the troublemakers, there were insignificant petty criminals, but there were also those who were undeniably suspicious to anyone's eyes.
Had Professor Voladi not immediately stepped in to subdue them, it was impossible to guess what kind of incident they might have caused.
"I can't even begin to imagine how the bureaucrats and religious orders control such chaos. No matter how many knights they have..."
At Uman's words, Professor Voladi remained silent.
This young Dragon possessed exceptional abilities and had the capacity to realize things on his own without needing separate instruction.
Above all, Uman was not his student. Professor Voladi wasn't the type to meddle by giving unnecessary advice to an external inspector.
"Uman has spoken shamefully, Professor. I believe I understand what you were about to say."
When the other remained silent, Uman nodded as if he had figured it out.
Even species with weaker physiques than his own were moving diligently without giving up.
Then Uman, too, should be moving instead of wasting time with weak words.
"Then I shall take action, Professor Bagrak! Uman will personally patrol the area and assess the situation!"
Though Professor Voladi said nothing, Uman took it as a gesture of encouragement.
And so, they each began patrolling the areas assigned to the students.
"The alchemists are doing fine. The level of completion is truly impressive."
"The Enchantment Magic practitioners are the same. Though I never expected them to be this harmonious. Why is the Einrogard Enchantment Magic school so... Ah, my careless words. Please forget them. I didn't mean to belittle Einrogard."
"The Divination Magic practitioners are also working diligently. Who are they divining for?"
"The mages here are also... Ah, no. Sister, what are you doing there?"
While making his rounds, Uman was startled to see Jowurin surrounded by a crowd.
It wasn't just the crowd that surprised him—it was the title the people were using to address her.
"Lady Yukveltire's insight is simply astounding! To replace complex spellcasting with raw mana!"
"Hmph! Yukveltire thinks so too!"
"Was Lady Yukveltire always someone who held such views? It seems so different from what she's published before..."
Bewildered, Uman glanced around. Unfortunately, the Wardanaz Family mage who could have helped was nowhere to be seen.
"P-professor, do you know what's going on here?"
Professor Voladi answered briefly and simply.
"I have no idea."
"......"
Uman wondered if he had just missed Lee Han and clung to that faint hope as he scanned the surroundings again.
Of course, Lee Han was nowhere to be seen.
"What? Another mage showed up and took them away?"
"Yes. A truly vicious mage."
"A vicious mage? From which knight order?"
The traveler vividly described the appearance of the mage he had seen. Lee Han, who had been listening absentmindedly, stiffened at the familiar description of the professor.
"...I wouldn't say 'vicious,' exactly."
"The mercenary trying to flee suddenly acted as if possessed by a malevolent spirit—!"
"There's no need for such detailed descriptions."
Feeling at a disadvantage, Lee Han quickly cut off the other's words. Listening further wouldn't do him any good.
'Well, Professor Bagrak is also working, so it's only natural.'
With the Divination Magic practitioners casting their spells and both Uman and Professor Voladi on standby, it was inevitable that suspicious individuals would be caught first.
Lee Han wondered if the separatists earlier had just been lucky fish slipping through the net.
"Gainando too. Maybe I worried too mu—"
No, he should have worried! This old lady was watching, and he was handling things so carelessly!
"W-who's there?!"
At the eerie voice, Gainando jumped in fright. Lee Han, his expression unchanging, explained.
"One of the extraplanar entities I contracted with last time. That..."
"Why do you only contract with such strange people?!"
"......"
Lee Han was left speechless at his friend's irrefutable remark.
Exactly!