Episode 671
Episode 671
Lee Han fell deep into thought.
'If we're talking about the strongest magic I currently possess...'
If he were a swordsman who had honed a single secret technique to its limits, there might be one definitive strongest move. But for a mage, the story was slightly different.
A mage's strength lay in their flexibility and versatility, which meant their strongest magic also varied depending on the situation.
What if he needed to fight a battle of numbers against numerous opponents?
In Lee Han's case, he would pull out the bone reagents tempered with dark element and summon skeleton warriors.
On top of that, he could now borrow the strength of Sharkan, Gonadaltes, Ponlig, or even the basilisk.
What if the opponent moved swiftly and seemed weak against elemental attacks?
Lee Han would close the distance with either his Lightning Spear or Perkuntra's lightning.
Among the spells currently at his disposal, those offered the best balance of attack speed, casting speed, and destructive power.
If he needed overwhelming impact force, he'd deploy the Water Prison Bomb. Though slower than lightning-element magic, its sheer impact was undeniable if it landed.
If pure penetration power was needed regardless of damage, he could repeatedly cast enhancement magic over time. And if the enemy was a spirit-type entity composed mainly of mana? Morning Star would do the trick. If even that failed...
'I'd rather not resort to the Bracelet of Ten Thousand Demons or Perkuntra.'
Both were hidden cards in Lee Han's arsenal, but he had few pleasant memories of using them.
'Wait. I think there's one more option.'
"Intruders, scram! Unless you want to taste the mountain's wrath!"
While Lee Han was pondering, a gruff voice echoed from outside.
"My apologies, Professor."
"Never mind. Just joking. A Wardanaz like you wouldn't attack a professor, would you?"
Professor Lightning Step knew full well that despite Lee Han's grumbling about professors, he was remarkably loyal.
Take Professor Bagrak, for instance—Lee Han followed him obediently without ever stabbing him in the back.
"No, that's not—"
Lee Han tried to explain, flabbergasted, but Professor Lightning Step was too busy confronting Professor Bendozol to listen.
"Professor Bendozol! I am Lightning Step of the Chodar family!"
"And who the hell are you?!"
"......"
Professor Lightning Step clenched his fists tightly. The murderous aura radiating from him was potent enough to kill a man.
Lee Han grew concerned.
Not because he feared Professor Lightning Step might bury someone alive, but because he dreaded what would happen if Professor Bendozol returned to the school.
'Maybe it'd be better if he stayed missing.'
"I'm currently teaching students at Einrogard in your place. Didn't we meet once in the Einrogard Mountains three years ago?"
"You're teaching students?! Why waste your time on such nonsense!"
"......"
"......"
The students present wore gloomy expressions.
The thought that this mad professor might return this semester!
"Professor Bendozol. Why I'm teaching students doesn't matter! Rumors say a unicorn has appeared in the Sorrow Mountains. Poachers are swarming in. We need to cooperate!"
"What kind of trick is this, you dwarf swindler! Gonadaltes sent you to capture the unicorn, didn't he?!"
"Have you lost your mind?!"
Siana whispered in shock.
While Einrogard's professors were all insane in their own ways, they at least followed the basic rule of respecting one another.
The place was already chaotic enough—why make it even more hellish?
But Professor Bendozol was throwing a fit as if such rules meant nothing to him.
Professor Lightning Step let out a deep sigh.
"I was wrong. He's completely lost his mind over that unicorn."
"Lost his mind?"
"Didn't I tell you? He goes mad when rare creatures are involved. He was never sociable to begin with, but now it's especially bad. Something must have happened to that unicorn."
The moment Professor Bendozol got his hands on a rare creature, he became half-crazed.
If anyone so much as approached, he'd fly into a rage, screaming, "You bastard, are you trying to steal the creature I'm caring for?!"
And if that rare creature happened to fall ill, his paranoia only worsened.
"Could it be that the headmaster ordered you to capture the unicorn?"
"...Wardanaz..."
"Ah, no. I was seriously asking."
"If you were seriously asking that, then it's even more astonishing."
As they were talking inside the campsite, Professor Bendozol suddenly shouted.
"Poachers! I'll bury you all myself—no help needed. Get lost!"
"What should we do?"
"What do you mean, what should we do?"
Clank!
Professor Lightning Step pulled out a crossbow and finished loading it. Then he fired a shot outside.
"Bendozol! Prepare to lose to a dwarf swindler! I'll make sure you disappear forever this time!"
"!"
Lee Han was shocked as he watched the arrow explode midair, creating a complex mana pattern. 'An Magic Interference Field!' He hadn't seen Professor Bendozol's true skills yet, but he must have been an exceptional mage. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to keep his position as a professor with that insane temper.
In contrast, Professor Lightning Step was originally an imperial explorer, so facing off with magic head-on would have been disadvantageous. That's why he deployed an Magic Interference Field at the start of the battle to seize the initiative.
"You damn poacher!"
Professor Bendozol growled, waving his short, blunt-ended wand in an attempt to tear through the field.
Of course, Professor Lightning Step didn't just let that happen.
"O space, bring my enemy to me!"
As the glove artifact activated, Professor Bendozol was suddenly yanked forward as if pulled by a powerful gravitational force.
Thud!
"You made me suffer for a whole year, you bastard!"
Professor Lightning Step's fist sank deep into Professor Bendozol's solar plexus, bending his torso forward sharply.
"...Professor..."
"It's not that teaching you was a waste of time!"
Professor Lightning Step threw another punch at Professor Bendozol while explaining to the students. He felt completely refreshed.
But even as he was being hit, Professor Bendozol stubbornly completed his spell. Transforming into a giant mole, he instantly burrowed into the ground.
"O acid, burn the earth!"
When he threw what was clearly a viciously potent acid potion into the tunnel, Frost Step asked in alarm,
"Isn't that potion too strong?"
"Don't worry, he won't die from this. Hunters, what are you doing?! Aim properly!"
The unnamed hunters, who had been watching, finally moved—but they were a step too late. Professor Bendozol suddenly burst out of the ground and grabbed one of the students.
It was Gainando.
Flash!
A fairy beetle from Professor Bendozol's pocket teleported him outside the campsite.
Seeing this, Professor Lightning Step realized his mistake.
He had assumed Professor Bendozol had lost all reason because of the unicorn, but surprisingly, he had been thinking coldly and logically.
No matter how insane Professor Bendozol was, he couldn't possibly take on Professor Lightning Step and his entire group head-on.
The most effective tactic was a hostage situation to tie their hands!
"Don't follow me, you poachers! If you chase me, I'll feed the hostage to the unicorn!"
"L-Lee Han! Save me! Waaah!"
"Shut up!"
Professor Bendozol disappeared into the darkness of the mountain. Professor Lightning Step gritted his teeth and said,
"He's smarter than I thought."
"What are you going to do?"
"We chase! There's no way he'll actually feed Gainando to the unicorn."
When it came to sheer guts, Professor Lightning Step was absolutely unmatched.
Professor Bendozol would never feed Gainando to the unicorn!
"Why not? Does the unicorn dislike him?"
"Priestess Siana... Stop talking nonsense..."
"It's because of the headmaster. Judging by Bendozol just now, even in his crazed state, he was making fairly rational decisions. So if he fed a student to the unicorn, he knows exactly who would come after him." 'That's convincing!' Lee Han found himself strangely persuaded.
Well, even people who seemed insane sometimes had moments of clarity.
Just then, a truly insane person passed by him.
If it was the Skeleton Principal's madness, perhaps it could suppress Professor Bendozol's madness...
"From now on, there's no need to find the unicorn. If we find that bastard Bendozol, we'll find the unicorn too. We're changing tactics! Hunters. Pair up with students in teams of two to track him. If Bendozol tries to counterattack, the students will act as shields!"
"Yes!"
Lee Han answered and stood up. It was to move quickly.
But his friends' reactions were a bit strange. They were all looking at Lee Han with horrified expressions.
"What's wrong?"
"W-Wardanaz... Aren't you scared that we have to act as shields?"
"Don't worry. Professor Bendozol will absolutely never attack us."
Lee Han was confident, but unfortunately, that confidence didn't spread to his friends.
"Just what are you seeing that makes you so confident, Lord Wardanaz?"
"Lord Wardanaz seems to have some sort of understanding with the professors."
"Isn't that an insult?"
While his friends whispered among themselves, Lee Han prepared to begin the pursuit.
Paired up with one of the nameless hunters in a two-person team...
"......"
The nameless hunter who ended up in the same team as Lee Han made an indescribably subtle expression upon seeing him.
Then he went over to Professor Lightning Step and whispered,
"No way. What are you changing? Are you joking? The King of Monsters? This isn't the time for superstitions. Let's move out quickly!"
"......"
This time, it was Lee Han who looked at the nameless hunter with an indescribably subtle expression.
The hunter shrugged his shoulders and pointed forward with his hand.
"Let's move out."
"Yeah, whatever."
* * *
The nameless hunters were individuals who lived solitary lives scattered across the empire's various mountain ranges, but they were a group that shared common goals, lifestyles, and numerous superstitions.
Having devoted their entire lives to hunting, their tracking skills were so exceptional that even most patrol members couldn't keep up.
Lee Han had learned the Shadow Patrol's methods from Nilia, but there were still many new things to learn. 'Amazing!'
"How did you find the direction here? There aren't any footprints."
"Sometimes the absence of footprints is the clue. This area is constantly frequented by small animals, yet this patch of soil is unusually devoid of traces. They must have covered their tracks after leaving footprints."
"Incredible...!"
"From now on, lower your voice. Many monsters in the Sorrow Mountains are sensitive to sound."
"I'll keep that in mind."
The nameless hunter was surprisingly friendly toward Lee Han, despite seeming wary or even afraid of him.
He answered every question thoroughly and meticulously pointed out things Lee Han should be cautious about while tracking Professor Bendozol.
Honestly, he was a better teacher than Nilia. 'Nilia taught things too roughly...'
Recalling how Nilia would often teach with vague expressions like "whoosh whoosh!", Lee Han shook his head.
"Can I ask you a few more things?"
"Go ahead. It's not the dark moon, so ask freely."
Lee Han didn't waste time with questions like "Why not during the dark moon?"
Instead, he asked what he was most curious about.
"What is the King of Monsters? I've never heard of it before."
"The King of Monsters is a figure from the old tales of us nameless hunters. A terrifying being who commands all manner of demons and monsters."
The King of Monsters was a character often seen in stories—a fearsome villain-type figure.
If the protagonist was an arrogant hunter?
He'd grow lazy, sell his bow and armor, play around, then meet the King of Monsters and meet a miserable fate.
If the protagonist was a brave but young hunter?
He'd seek out all kinds of weapons to deliver a blow to the King of Monsters.
A conveniently versatile villain—used for moral lessons and scaring children alike!
"...Wait, isn't that just a character from fairy tales and old stories! Does it really make sense to be wary of me because of that?"
"Of course the King of Monsters is a figure from old tales. But regardless of those stories, anyone who tames and travels with a griffin and a basilisk is bound to be frightening."
"......"
Well... that's true...