Episode 311
Episode 311
Magic was a discipline that revealed its true depth only to those who understood it.
Mages like Derguna and Angrago, who had no interest in black magic, remained oblivious, but Lafadell—who studied black magic alongside Lee Han—could acutely sense just how absurd the boy's current actions were.
Summoning that many bone restraints despite them being low-circle magic, simultaneously conjuring Bone Hands, and maintaining control over all of them at once...
While bone magic fell under the broader category of elemental magic, and the Wardanaz family's innate talent for elemental manipulation meant Lee Han's proficiency wasn't entirely unexpected...
This was still utterly ridiculous.
Just how much mana and innate talent did one need to pull off something like this?
"Lafadell. What are you doing? Get moving."
"......"
"Hey, hey! What's wrong with you?"
"Don't... don't you feel anything seeing this?"
Lafadell asked Angrago, who responded with a look of utter incomprehension.
"Wardanaz has always been good at magic."
"......"
'This absolute idiot!'
Watching his clueless friends—who couldn't even recognize the sheer brilliance before them due to their ignorance of black magic—Lafadell wanted to tear his hair out.
Do you have any idea how incredible this is...?!
"Sir Mage. How are we supposed to fight like this?"
One of the mercenaries, voice trembling, tried appealing to Lee Han's sympathy—a transparent attempt to get their restraints loosened.
"You could still fight ghouls perfectly fine in that state, couldn't you?"
"But if something unexpected happens... The caves are dark and the terrain's complicated. Who knows what might occur?"
"Don't worry. The darkness won't be an issue since I'll provide light. As for complex terrain, Sharkan will scout ahead to map it out. Just maintain formation and fight properly—you won't be ambushed."
"......"
The captured mercenary thought bitterly to himself:
Mages truly are the worst kind of people to deal with!
"Then we'll head in now."
"Wait. Let me cast Agile Footsteps on you first."
"Oh...!"
The two adventurers brightened at experiencing a mage's enhancement magic firsthand—something they'd only heard about in stories.
Lee Han cast <Gonadaltes' Agile Footsteps>. As power surged from deep within their bodies, the adventurers shuddered.
'So this is enhancement magic...!'
'Now I understand why parties scramble to recruit enhancement mages!'
"We'll proceed now."
"Wait. Let me also cast Spatial Perception on you."
"Ah... thank you."
When <Spatial Perception> took effect, the adventurers felt their sense of distance grow razor-sharp and incredibly precise.
'This is enhancement magic...!'
'No wonder people try so hard to...'
"Alright, let's go!"
"Wait. I'll also cast Sharp Hand on you."
"......"
"Th... thank you."
The adventurers were starting to feel uneasy.
A mage's mana wasn't infinite—was this really okay?
Not that they were complaining, but was this normal??
'Is this just standard for someone from Einrogard?'
"Right. That's everything, so let's proceed. Forward."
Lee Han tightened the Bone Hand gripping Bulldark's throat. Gurgling, the mercenary stumbled forward.
-Grrrrrl.
Sharkan let out a sharp sound, having likely caught the scent of ghouls inside.
"Hold position."
Lee Han tightened the Bone Hand around Bulldark's throat again.
Gritting his teeth audibly, Bulldark growled:
"I'd understand if you just used words..."
"Light, arise!"
As a sphere of intense light manifested at the cave entrance, the ghouls nesting near the opening began shrieking and crawling out—driven by their violent rejection of brightness and the instinct to eliminate the mage who'd summoned it.
-■■■... ■■■...
-■■■■■...
"Hold them back!"
The mercenaries fought more desperately than ever.
Under normal circumstances, they'd have maintained loose formations while fighting freely, but being forcibly bound like this left them no choice.
They stood shoulder to shoulder, maintaining a tight formation as they stabbed and toppled the ghouls.
Durgyu couldn't help but marvel at the sight.
"I never knew mercenaries could fight in such coordinated harmony. It reminds me of our family's soldiers."
"...Durgyu. Can't you see the bones attached to their necks, wrists, and ankles?"
"Push forward! Sharkan. Keep identifying the enemies!"
Lee Han pushed the Bound mercenaries to the front while maintaining formation with his friends behind them.
The cave was wide enough for dozens to pass through comfortably. Lee Han conjured another orb of light.
-■■! ■■!
The cave brightened as if it were broad daylight.
Properly provoked, the ghouls came charging out again.
The mercenaries shouted desperately as they swung their weapons.
A ghoul struck by a mace collapsed forward, while another slashed by a broadsword tumbled to the ground.
Lee Han summoned a Water Orb and launched it at Sharkan's signal. Ghouls hiding behind walls or rocks burst out in fury.
"Protect Wardanaz!"
The cave was so vast, and ghouls were swarming from all directions, some breaking through the mercenary formation and slipping past to the rear.
The White Tiger Tower students raised their swords and shields, knocking down the ghouls.
Raphael, in particular, was exceptionally aggressive.
"Where do you think you're lunging, you ghoul scum? Return to the land of the dead! How dare you—!"
"Raphael. You don't need to go that far—Wardanaz is fine."
Angrago was slightly taken aback by his friend's excessive zeal.
He worried about Wardanaz, but this was too much. It wasn't like Wardanaz would be taken down by a mere ghoul or two.
"What? No! What nonsense are you spouting?! Choi. Explain it to them!"
"Uh... Thanks for worrying about Wardanaz, Raphael."
"......"
Raphael sighed at his foolish friends, who knew nothing of Black Magic.
'Working with people who don't understand Black Magic is so frustrating!'
Meanwhile, the latest wave of ghouls had all been defeated. The mercenaries panted heavily as they lowered their weapons. Fighting while forcibly bound made the battle several times more exhausting than usual.
"Ma—"
As one mercenary tried to turn his head, Lee Han reflexively hurled a Water Orb and tightened the grip of the Bone Hand.
"Ghk—kghk!"
"You damn bastard!"
"Why'd you fall over?!"
When their bound comrade collapsed, the other mercenaries staggered and cursed in irritation.
"Ah. My bad. Shouldn't have tried turning my head. What was I thinking?"
"Rest... need rest..."
"Fine. Rest."
"Maybe something to drink—"
"You idiot. Have you no sense?"
A nearby mercenary hissed in horror.
They were captured while trying to ambush someone with a bounty on their head—and now this fool was asking for a drink? If they didn't want to be dissected before reaching the city, they should keep their mouths shut. Of all people, why did they have to be stuck with someone this clueless?
The moment the enemy showed the slightest leniency, this moron tried pushing his luck!
Dying alone was one thing, but dragging the rest of them down with him—that was the problem. The mercenary lamented having such a fool in their group.
"Water?"
Lee Han summoned water and poured it over the mercenaries. The cold, life-giving stream washed away sweat, blood, and heat, making them cry out in joy.
"Thank you!"
"Thank you, Honored Mage!"
"More to drink?"
"Just a little—"
"Hey, you damn idiot!"
The other mercenaries panicked, but Lee Han showed no reaction. He simply summoned another mass of water and poured it over them.
Bound inwardly cursed at the sight of the mercenaries yielding so easily.
Mercenaries flocked to silver and bent to gold—but seeing it happen right before his eyes made his stomach churn. It was utterly infuriating.
"Let's move again."
The party began moving once more, just as they had before.
Sharkan took the lead in scouting the path, Lee Han summoned floating orbs of light, and the mercenaries dealt with the swarming ghouls.
Of course, things didn't always go smoothly.
"The path is blocked!"
"We took the wrong fork. Turn back."
The cave was vast, and its internal terrain was more complex than expected. If they chose the wrong path, they had to backtrack the way they came.
Upon emerging from the blocked path, Gobon spoke up.
"It would be best to leave markers so we don't enter the wrong path again."
"Is that so? Light, heed me!"
Lee Han immediately summoned a floating orb of light at the entrance they had mistakenly taken, leaving Gobon flustered.
"You don't have to use magic—you could just mark the wall with chalk..."
"But that could fade, and this way, it's clearly visible even from a distance, right?"
"But your mana... Are you sure...?"
"I'm fine."
'He doesn't look fine at all.'
Gobon and Bizdek exchanged uneasy glances.
No matter how they looked at it, Lee Han didn't seem fine, yet his other friends acted as if everything was perfectly normal.
Was it because they didn't understand magic?
'Even so, this seems like a huge waste of mana...'
-Krrrrrrumble!
"!"
Sharkan stomped his foot and barked, signaling for everyone to look ahead.
Thanks to the floating orbs illuminating the space, Bizdek could see clearly and shouted.
"It's a trap! Everyone, halt!"
"Is it a pressure-activated mechanism?"
"Correct."
The mercenaries murmured among themselves.
Normally, encountering traps in caves or dungeons was a very dangerous sign.
Ghouls, mindless and chaotic, were manageable as long as luck wasn't against them. But traps hidden in the dark dust were difficult for even seasoned adventurers to avoid.
However, the situation was different now.
Some crazy mage had turned the cave as bright as daylight...
...And more importantly, the presence of traps meant there was a high chance of treasure.
After all, no one would set traps where there was nothing to protect.
"Could this really be...?"
"Shh. Gobon. Not the time for that."
Bizdek rolled up his sleeves and spoke.
This was exactly the kind of situation where his skills would shine.
"By any chance...?"
"Yes. I've... learned a thing or two from thieves."
Bizdek spoke cautiously, gauging their reactions.
When raiding ancient ruins or dungeons, a trap-disarming specialist was essential—but people rarely looked kindly upon such specialists.
Because, more often than not, those specialists were former thieves!
No matter how much a specialist claimed, "I've gone straight now," "I don't steal anymore," or "I was a righteous thief," other party members could never be sure whether they'd pick the ruin's locks—or their own backpacks.
So even those from thief guilds preferred to say things like, "I happened to pick up some skills," rather than admit their background.
"Oh. I've also learned a thing or two from thieves."
"Y-Yes... Yes????"
Bizdek couldn't believe his ears.
What did he just say?
"What did you just say?"
"I said I've learned from thieves before."
"Are you joking? How does that... make any sense?"
Lee Han, in turn, looked at him incredulously.
"Bizdek, you've learned from thieves, so why is it impossible for me?"
"Well... uh... I mean..."
"Right? Then let's disarm it together."
"......"
In a daze, Bizdek followed Lee Han toward the trap.
Thanks to the various enhancement spells cast on him, his senses were sharpened, making it easier to dismantle the mechanism.
"It seems pressure-activated. Am I right?"
"Y-Yes. How did you—"
"Should we dig in from the side to disable the lower mechanism? Or just trigger the trap outright?"
"Disabling it safely would be better. I have tools, so if we dig from the side—"
"Dig."
As a pit formed instantly before them, Bizdek quietly thought to himself.
'When I get back to the city, I should save up and learn some magic...'