Episode 1295
Episode 1295
Lee Han wiped his cold sweat and first covered his friend's mouth.
Gainando, who had been quietly standing by his side before suddenly getting elbowed in the ribs, groaned and bowed his head deeply.
'Wh-what?!'
Gainando couldn't understand.
What had he said wrong in this situation?
"If we hadn't set the fire and rescued you, you'd be stuck learning Professor Verdus's Small World Magic by now. Just thinking about it is horrifying."
"...No. Professor Verdus's magic is also excellent, so I wouldn't necessarily call it horrifying."
Diret said this while pulling out hidden snacks from the cabinet and pushing them toward the Descendants of Ahrag.
Compared to his earlier hesitation about whether to open the magic tower's door, his attitude was now considerably more friendly.
"Junior. I wouldn't mind at all if you learned Professor Verdus's Small World Magic first. Got it?"
"Of course, Senior."
Lee Han answered respectfully. For some reason, he found himself adding "Honored" to "Senior," unlike usual.
"But I want to learn Black Magic Small World first. The reason is simple: Black Magic is the most extraordinary and exceptional school of magic in the Empire."
Clap clap clap clap clap—
The elderly black mages applauded. Some were even wiping their teary eyes.
Lee Han wasn't foolish enough to actually consider learning Professor Verdus's Small World Magic first here.
'Come to think of it, I didn't know Senior Diret had this side to him...'
He suspected that Einrogard's harsh environment and the brutal conditions of the fifth-year winter break had hardened the senior's heart.
Lee Han cursed Professor Mortum internally.
'See, this is what happens when you dump all the work on your senior and don't help—people end up like this.'
Professor Verdus was such an absolute villain that he monopolized all the infamy among the students, but if he hadn't existed, Professor Mortum would've earned quite a notorious reputation himself.
After hearing his junior's final remark, Diret's expression softened completely, and he coughed awkwardly as if embarrassed.
"Ah, Black Magic isn't that great... Junior, why'd you suddenly add 'Honored'?"
'Oh no.'
"I must still be flustered from rushing out of the burning magic tower. Haha."
Lee Han internally sighed in relief.
This senior was indeed not to be underestimated. A single slip-up could expose his lie.
"I heard Wardanaz mentioned the Pentagrammaton to you?"
"He hasn't even started teaching it yet. He only gave me an explanation. Are you interested in the Pentagrammaton?"
Diret looked at his junior and asked.
This Small World Magic, which involved subjugating five high-ranking demons and sealing them into five characters, used their power as a catalyst to break the limitations of Black Magic within the caster and their immediate surroundings.
It was a highly versatile spell that any black mage would benefit from learning, but it had its drawbacks. Regardless of difficulty, completing the magic took a considerable amount of time.
"Difficulty-wise, you could probably master it, but it'll take a long time to complete. Wouldn't that be tough?"
'This is hard. Is this a trick question?'
Lee Han briefly pondered.
If he said, "It's tough," would Senior Diret snap, "You traitorous spy from another school! So you did want to learn another school's Small World Magic first!"?
Noticing his hesitation, Diret gave a wry smile.
"Junior. You can speak freely. I overreacted earlier, didn't I? Sorry."
Diret was perceptive too.
His junior had suddenly started showering Black Magic with praise he'd never given before and calling him "Lord Senior"—of course it felt unnatural.
Looking back, his own reaction had been too extreme. He'd openly shown disappointment and sadness, so it was only natural that his considerate junior would notice.
'This is tough. Is this another trick question?'
Lee Han pondered once more.
If he answered 'Understood' here, wouldn't the senior retort, 'This spy from another school! So you really thought that way all along!'
"...I said it's really fine, so just speak comfortably!"
"Ah. Yes. Understood."
"Given that it's the Wardanaz family, mastering the Pentagrammaton shouldn't take too long, right?"
One of the Descendants nearby spoke up.
With the family's influence, summoning about five high-ranking demons should be easy enough.
Lee Han responded with an incredulous tone.
"What are you talking about? Of course, there are some demons in our family's territory, but..."
"Some?"
Lee Han pretended not to hear someone muttering in the background.
"...But those aren't demons I can just use as I please. Don't be misled by strange rumors."
"Hmm. I suppose without the Family Head's orders, you wouldn't be able to freely command demons. Maybe we were being too optimistic..."
"Ah! Young Master. I see you're having a pleasant conversation with fellow black mages."
Orlach, the former flag bearer of the Pride Duke and a front-stage jester, arrived holding a broom and greeted Lee Han's group upon noticing them.
"My apologies for interrupting. I'll come back later to clean."
Orlach politely bowed, removing the cleaning cap from his head, and began stepping backward to leave—
"Wait! Wait! WAIT!!"
The elderly black mage shouted so loudly that the cracked windows rattled, startling Orlach.
Had this black mage gone mad?
"What is it? Don't raise your voice so rudely. This is—"
"That's a demon! And not just any demon—that's one under the Pride Duke! That insignia can only be carried by a flag bearer!"
The Descendants of Ahrag were all well-versed in demonology. Just by Orlach's appearance, they immediately recognized which Duke he served under and his former position.
Orlach felt a surge of pride and arrogance he had long forgotten, stirred by the black mages' exaggerated reactions.
Working as a janitor and odd-jobber in the magic tower had made him forget, but he was, after all, a demon.
A demon's rightful place was one where countless mortals would fear and revere them.
"...You seem to have a discerning eye. Tell me, do you recognize this insignia as well?"
"A front-stage jester! You were a jester too? Wait, demon—is your name... Orlach?"
The black mages' immediate recognition made Orlach nearly leap with joy.
For a demon, having their identity exposed to mages was usually a dangerous situation.
If a demon's weapons were brutality and raw strength, a mage's weapons were knowledge and preparation.
If a mage knew a demon's true nature, they likely also had the means to defeat them.
But Orlach was too elated to care. Besides, he was in a state of servitude now, so there was no risk of combat.
With the dramatic flair befitting a demon jester, Orlach declared in a solemn voice:
"At this point, hiding any longer is meaningless! Ah, Young Master! Please forgive this incompetent servant for revealing his true nature!"
"Indeed. If you already have a demon like Orlach serving you, there's no need to borrow demons from the family territory."
The Descendants of Ahrag marveled, though for entirely different reasons.
If he had such a demon as a servant, it made sense that he wouldn't bother borrowing demons from the family lands.
"That demon belongs to the Black Magic department."
"Oh? Who captured him?"
"......"
Gainando and Diret glanced at Lee Han.
The black mages, understanding the implication behind those looks, nodded knowingly.
"I take back mentioning the family name so carelessly. I can definitely complete this on my own."
"No...!"
Lee Han, who was about to refute, hesitated.
The more he listened, the more he began to wonder if he was the one in the wrong.
Was that really the case?
'Could it be that the Pentagrammaton is actually the most suitable for my current situation?'
At first, he hadn't even considered it because the idea of capturing and sealing five high-ranking demons seemed like it would take years. But with people whispering things like "This is perfect for you" and "This magic was practically made for you," he found himself wavering.
What if this wasn't some cunning trick by these seasoned black mages but genuine, well-meaning advice?
"...Senior. If we're sealing five high-ranking demons, does that mean they'll remain imprisoned indefinitely?"
"Yes. That's why we usually seal demons who are already hostile."
Lee Han instinctively glanced at Orlach. Startled, Orlach flailed his arms in protest.
"Young Master! Surely you're not thinking of sealing me away?!"
"Sometimes, for the sake of magic, even a demon servant must be sacrificed."
"If he won't offer himself as a sacrifice here, then his loyalty is a sham! Demon! Prove your loyalty!"
The Descendants of Ahrag whispered slyly from the side.
If they could fill one of the five demon slots during this opportunity, wouldn't Lee Han be more motivated to prepare the Black Magic Small World, if only out of reluctance to waste what he'd already invested?
Orlach gnashed his teeth at the sudden treachery of these despicable mages.
'It wasn't that I trusted these cunning, lowly mages. They're swindlers who'd stab me in the back the moment they got the chance!'
Mages constantly condemned demons as vile beings who sought to exploit mortal emotions by emerging into the Material Plane. But from a demon's perspective, it was the mages—always scheming, bending rules, and deceiving for personal gain—who were the truly wicked ones.
"Hmm. Even so, sealing a demon who's worked for our family before feels a bit..."
The elderly black mages sighed, while Orlach let out a cry of joy.
Never before had he felt so proud of having been a slave under the Wardanaz family.
Truly, even as a slave, it was better to serve under a verified archmage than some shady black mage.
"Tsk tsk. Being so sentimental..."
"That demon clearly has no loyalty. It's obvious he'd betray you."
"I heard rumors that Orlach is so ill-tempered and vile that even other demons can't stand him. Wouldn't it be better to seal him away?"
"......"
Orlach deeply regretted revealing his identity in that brief moment of joy.
He'd thought it wouldn't matter much since he was already a slave, but it turned out to matter a great deal.
These mages were spreading baseless rumors with their deceitful tongues...!
"...No, that still won't do."
"Our junior is right. Don't force him."
"Senior!"
Lee Han gave Diret a grateful look when he took his side.
Truly, in times like these, Diret was the only one he could rely on.
"Besides, if our junior sets his mind to it, he can always capture demons on his own."
"Senior?"
Lee Han paused as the conversation took an odd turn.
Huh?
"It's not wrong, is it?"
"Well... I might not always... be able to catch them..."
Mid-conversation, one of the black mages pointed at Lee Han's bracelet and asked,
"Mind if I ask something?"
"Yes?"
"Did you seal demons inside that bracelet? I sense a peculiar energy."
The demons trapped within the Bracelet of Ten Thousand Demons stirred briefly before suddenly falling silent.
It was as if they were pretending to be dead. They must have realized that if they were caught now, they'd be dragged to a place far worse than the bracelet.
"...They are sealed inside, but I can't just wake them at will. They don't listen to me."
"Even better! Trick them, lure them out, and then drag them... Heh heh..."
Lee Han whispered to the bracelet, telling the trapped demons not to be afraid.
He wasn't sure if they'd trust him, but...!