Episode 549
Episode 549
Yoner glanced at his friend with slight suspicion but couldn't keep it up for long.
Other undead creatures were beginning to slither out from the forest.
"A Contaminated Spirit? ...Is it of the Dark Element?"
Lee Han frowned and muttered.
Imperial citizens believed that cold-element spirits became more active during winter, but that was only half true.
Winter was a season that awakened far more diverse beings than people thought.
In regions with harsh winds, wind-element spirits appeared more frequently, while in mining areas, rock or metal-element spirits roamed about aggressively.
And among them, the most troublesome were undead.
Winter wasn't just symbolized by cold and wind—death was also part of it.
Few things terrified the Empire's people as much as undead rising and lurking in the long winter nights.
Professor Thunderstep had naturally taken precautions to prevent undead from reviving in the nearby forest, but exceptions always existed.
The Contaminated Spirit shuffling before them was one such exception.
An amorphous monster formed when a spirit, driven berserk or turned violent due to the region's intense mana flow, merged with another entity.
Because it was fused with a spirit, it wasn't an ordinary undead, so typical preventive measures didn't work well.
Moreover, the Corrupted Being before them was a fusion of a dark-element spirit and an undead.
Most spirits inherently despised undead, so even if they went berserk, they wouldn't get close to them...
"A dark-element spirit?!"
Priest Siana's eyes widened in astonishment.
Lightning-element spirits were already rare enough to be hard to find, but a dark-element one was even more uncommon.
"I get that it's fascinating, but now's not the time for that!"
Yoner urgently pulled out a potion from his bag and shouted.
The pitch-black, writhing Spirit Contaminated Being were gradually crawling out from the forest.
■■!■■■■...
Some of the Spirit Contaminated Being showed interest in the cabin, while others fought among themselves.
A beetle-shaped Corrupted Being, as large as a full-grown pig, attacked another, which retaliated by swinging its hind legs.
"Here, an Ignition Potion!"
"Thank you, Maykin!"
Yoner handed Priest Siana the Ignition Potion he usually carried for self-defense.
This potion, which burst into violent flames when the flask shattered and made contact with air, was useful no matter where you were in Einrogard.
Especially against Dark Spirit Contaminated Being, which were weak to elements like fire and light.
"Uh, Yoner? What about me?"
Lee Han, who had been casting enhancement spells on his two friends while holding his staff, tilted his head in confusion.
Yoner had naturally skipped over Lee Han without giving him one.
"Huh? ...Ah! Here!"
Yoner belatedly remembered that Lee Han could also use an Ignition Potion.
Since his friend was so capable in battle, it hadn't even occurred to him that Lee Han might need a potion.
"......"
"I... I was going to give you one... Really."
"Sure. Thanks."
Lee Han turned his gaze toward the cabin window.
The number of Contaminated Being, each with a different appearance, was steadily increasing. At this point, calling them a horde wouldn't be an exaggeration.
'This doesn't seem like a random occurrence. Did some senior studying dark elements carelessly dump their experiments in the forest?'
If that were the case, Lee Han was ready to show them the wrath of the underclassmen, senior or not.
They were already struggling enough—who needed this kind of nuisance?
And whenever such disturbances happened, it was always the first-years who suffered the most.
The upperclassmen of Einrogard could easily fend for themselves even if vicious monsters roamed the dormitories or the main courtyard.
"Let's hold out inside until the professor arrives."
"Do you think the professor will come?"
"If he doesn't, his cabin will be destroyed, so he'll come."
"......"
"......"
The two almost asked, "Did you, by any chance, pick a fight with Professor Wardanaz?" but held back.
Regardless of Lee Han's words, holding out inside was strategically the right choice.
With mindless monsters swarming outside in droves, sticking one's head out wouldn't have been wise.
The standard procedure was to wait until the horde moved elsewhere before proceeding slowly and cautiously.
■■■■■...!
"!"
The squirrel-shaped spirit, which had earlier tried to play tricks on the cabin but retreated due to the repellent potion, reappeared.
Frightened by the contaminated beings roaming nearby, the squirrel spirit began scattering frost flowers in all directions, attempting to ward them off.
"No!"
"Don't—!"
The students groaned at the sight.
No matter how scared it was, drawing attention like that in front of contaminated beings?
That was just stupid.
And sure enough, the dark spirit contaminated beings, which had been acting independently, instantly noticed the squirrel spirit and began chasing it.
"We should help."
Yoner carefully cracked open the cabin door, preparing to step out.
By slightly adjusting the magic circle laid around the area, they could guide the squirrel spirit inside.
"Right. Spirits never forget kindness. If we save it, it'll definitely repay us."
Lee Han muttered as he followed his friends out into the garden.
Priest Siana thought she heard something like, 'Can we really trust spirits? These ungrateful little—?' but decided to pretend she hadn't.
"Lee Han, I'll handle it."
Yoner, sensing Lee Han's accumulated grievances toward spirits, tried to push him back.
If the squirrel spirit they went to the trouble of saving ended up biting Lee Han's hand, there might truly be no going back.
Who knew—maybe a future Archmage with titles like <Spirit Slayer> or <Spirit Hater> would be born...
"Nah. Since I set up the magic circle, I can help faster. I'll pause the flow for a sec—cover me, will you?"
"Lee Han, even if that spirit comes in and acts violent, it's just the situation right now—"
"What are you even saying?"
Lee Han gave Yoner a baffled look.
Here they were, needing to pause the magic circle momentarily to let the spirit in, and Yoner was spouting nonsense.
"...Never mind. Ready!"
Whoooosh
Yoner, guarding Lee Han with his staff and ignition potion, marveled at the magic circle's transformation.
To halt such a vast, intricate magic circle—one large enough to blanket the entire area—so effortlessly...
Not only did it require complete understanding of the circle's structure, but also the ability to weave one's own mana into it and manipulate its flow freely.
It made him realize anew that his grumbling friend, despite his complaints about spirits, was truly a magical genius—one of the Empire's finest.
Priest Siana seemed to share the sentiment, staring at the magic circle with admiration.
"Get in!"
Lee Han forcibly suppressed the magic circle and shouted at the squirrel spirit.
The spirit, still being chased, belatedly heard Lee Han's voice and turned its gaze toward the cabin.
"Over here!"
"Hurry!"
Yoner and Priest Siana gestured frantically.
As the squirrel spirit began darting toward them, the two let out sighs of relief.
Lee Han muttered under his breath.
"Even when its life's in danger, it ignores me when I call."
"...Ah, no. Must've been a coincidence."
"But it really didn't come when Wardanaz called..."
"Priest Siana...!"
Yoner shot her an exasperated look for stirring the pot.
But Priest Siana had her reasons.
"Still, forcing support might backfire. Honestly, it is a bit ungrateful."
"Well, that's true, but..."
"Guys. I'm seriously fine."
Lee Han sighed and looked at his friends.
Sure, spirits were far harsher toward him than his sincerity warranted, but he wasn't so fragile as to let it weigh on him constantly.
So what if spirits didn't like him?
Lee Han had his own path to walk.
If anything, his friends fussing over him like this was what really bothered him.
"Spirits might be a bit wary of me. So don't worry about it too much."
"Sorry, Lee Han."
Yoner looked at Lee Han with an apologetic expression.
In trying to care for their friend, they'd only made things more uncomfortable.
"No, there's nothing to apologize for. Just be honest with me."
"Okay. I will."
Priest Siana, who had been listening to their conversation, quietly asked Yoner:
"So earlier, when you called, it really didn't come, right?"
"Yeah."
At Yoner's definitive confirmation, Lee Han's expression faltered slightly.
Thud.
-In the meantime, the squirrel spirit passed through the magic circle. Lee Han quickly reactivated the circle.
The Contaminated Beings chasing the squirrel spirit let out eerie shrieks as they instinctively sensed something unsettling and began circling the area.
"Don't be afraid. We're not your enemies."
"That's right. Look."
Yoner and Priest Siana spread both hands as if to soothe the frightened squirrel spirit.
Frightened spirits often became more dangerous. If provoked, they could go berserk and cause havoc.-
The squirrel spirit glanced around, assessing the situation, then climbed up Lee Han's ankle and stopped at his wrist.
Then, as if expressing gratitude, it nuzzled its head against him.
"...????"
"Lee... Lee Han!"
"This is a miracle!"
"Priest Siana..."
"N-not quite a miracle...? More like half a miracle...?"
Lee Han couldn't hear their conversation. All he could see was the squirrel spirit nuzzling against him.
"Lee Han... You're not crying, are you?"
"...No. Just got dust in my eyes."
The basilisk hidden in his sleeve hissed softly.
It wasn't pleased that Lee Han was showing affection to those ungrateful spirits.
Regardless, the squirrel spirit clung to Lee Han and refused to let go.
"Wardanaz. I think we should head inside. Over there..."
Priest Siana called out to Lee Han while pointing ahead.
Deep in the forest, they could see Contaminated Beings wandering about, possibly chasing other spirits.
For now, the Contaminated Beings weren't entering, but if more gathered and their numbers increased, another reckless breakthrough like before might happen.
"Another spirit being chased?"
"Hmm? Probably, right?"
"Let's help them."
"...Huh? What?"
Priest Siana was taken aback.
The situation now was different from earlier.
Before, the nearby Contaminated Beings had shown little interest in them, allowing them to open the magic circle as a surprise. But now, the Contaminated Beings were shrieking and eyeing the cabin.
The situation had become far more dangerous.
"I can handle this much. Trust me, Priest Siana."
"I do trust you, but... aren't you pushing yourself too hard?"
"No. It's enough. And I can't just stand by and watch innocent spirits get forcibly recalled by those Contaminated Beings."
The squirrel spirit, moved by his words, clung tighter to Lee Han.
"......"
"...Alright... I'll prepare."
Professor Thunderstep let out an irritated shout upon seeing the sudden appearance of Contaminated Beings.
"Get
out
here!"
Blowing into his magic horn, he watched as the Contaminated Beings coughed up ichor and shriveled.
"I swear on my ancestors' damned beards, if this was summoned by students, I'll make them pay dearly!"
The dwarf professor swiftly rode the summoned spirit deer.
With so many cabins built within the school grounds, there was no time to waste.
As he rode along the ridge, checking the cabins in the three forests, Professor Thunderstep belatedly remembered his first-year students.
'Oh no!'
Their cabin was located on the opposite side, close to the forest, making them the most likely to be affected if something like this happened.
'No. They have the magic circle and that Wardanaz kid.'
Thinking of Wardanaz reassured him somewhat. Professor Thunderstep turned the spirit deer and rushed forward as if flying.
'As expected...'
In the distance, the cabin came into view. Seeing it intact, he was certain everything was fine—
Crackle-crash-boom!
"...Has a war broken out?!"
The clearing in front of the cabin was utterly devastated, as if it had been assaulted, leaving behind a pitiful wasteland of ruins. Professor Thunderstep was genuinely shocked.
Had there really been such a violent battle here??