Episode 749
Episode 749
Antagondals certainly possessed a personality befitting a Magic Criminal.
Even while looking at the pitiful boy doomed to die soon, he kept laughing with genuine amusement.
"...Isn't it possible that I might succeed?"
"Of course. I too shall soon become an immortal being."
"Excuse me?"
"Oh my. Wasn't this supposed to be a time for discussing impossible things? That's what I thought!"
"......"
Faced with Antagondals' sneering demeanor, Lee Han made a sincere resolution.
He would absolutely complete it within today, no matter what!
Antagondals stepped outside the workshop in an even more cheerful mood than before.
Nothing delighted this Magic Criminal more than watching young, inexperienced wizards bring about their own ruin through excessive ambition.
"Perish, young wizards. Haha. Perish!"
"You're noisy."
"...My apologies, O Master."
To his surprise, the Mad Doppelganger was waiting nearby the workshop, which slightly startled Antagondals.
Given the doppelganger's temperament, he'd assumed it would have lost interest by now and wandered off elsewhere—he never expected it to be waiting close by.
"Do you have further instructions for me?"
"......"
"O Master?"
Receiving no response, Antagondals cautiously raised his head.
The Mad Doppelganger simply glared into the distance without uttering a word.
From this behavior, Antagondals realized its madness had flared up again.
Though he itched to probe with magic, the lingering pain from the Dark Blade's wounds still throbbed. Antagondals decided this time it'd be wiser to simply keep his head down.
"Is this correct?"
"......"
Unlike Lee Han, Antagondals didn't invite punishment by asking 'What do you mean?'
He just waited quietly.
Though staying silent didn't necessarily spare him either.
Thwack!
Even in its abnormal state, the Mad Doppelganger sent Antagondals flying. As he regenerated his shattered bones, Antagondals replied:
"It is correct, O Master."
"What is?"
"Everything, of course!"
The Mad Doppelganger sent Antagondals flying once more.
This time the blow was far stronger, making Antagondals seriously consider fleeing.
If the Mad Doppelganger's madness had truly escalated to the point of killing him today, this might be his last chance to escape.
"Don't grovel when you don't even know what royalty is thinking, you trash."
"......"
"I wonder if this is truly the right way to nurture disciples. Trash. What do you think?"
"Of course it's correct!"
Antagondals had no particular interest in what the Mad Doppelganger was thinking.
He simply focused on the current situation and flattered accordingly.
Truth be told, Antagondals' own philosophy wasn't much different from the Mad Doppelganger's.
What was nurturing a disciple if not raising a lion capable of biting its master's throat?
A master both teaches and restrains their disciple, while the disciple steals their master's secrets and seeks weaknesses—this relationship was the true essence of magical inheritance.
"But is it truly correct?"
"...?"
Antagondals couldn't even begin to guess what the Mad Doppelganger was pondering.
Why did it keep repeating the same question? 'Is this the limit of a thought-entity composed of high-density magic? It might dissipate soon.'
The world naturally rejected all existences beyond itself.
Like most interdimensional beings, this magical thought-entity before him was no exception.
Though ancient magic could deceive the world's rejection and prolong its stay, the increasing frequency of its nonsense suggested its limit was approaching...
"What of the disciple inside?"
"!"
When the Mad Doppelganger's voice grew even colder, Antagondals realized it had regained its sanity—or rather, returned to its usual mad state.
"He is training his magic, O Master."
"I detect contempt in your maggot-like voice."
The mad doppelganger's words sent a chill down Antagondals's spine, as if a blade had been pressed against his neck.
Dealing with this mad doppelganger always made him feel like he had regressed to his powerless childhood days.
That icy tension where even the slightest shift in the other's mood could mean losing his head.
Antagondals readily admitted it.
"My apologies, Master. I don't believe it can be done."
"You don't believe it can be done?"
Normally, he would unconditionally agree with the mad doppelganger's whims, but this time was different.
No matter how he thought about it, it was impossible for a mere second-year student of Einrogard to fully master a telekinetic domain equivalent to the 5th Circle.
Antagondals was far more knowledgeable about Einrogard's standards than the mad doppelganger.
Not only the general level of the students, but even the few Einrogard professors rumored to be geniuses couldn't have reached such heights at that age.
And to demand mastery within a single day under such pressure—it was absurd.
Under such oppressive conditions, even a genius would struggle to demonstrate their abilities. 'If I rashly agree and the kid fails, he'll take his anger out on me even worse.' Antagondals coldly assessed the situation before answering.
"Yes."
"Fine. If he fails, you trash will kill him."
'?'
Antagondals froze at the mad doppelganger's words, spoken with a sinister smile.
An ominous sensation crawled up his spine.
'What? What is he thinking?'
He couldn't understand why the mad doppelganger wanted him to personally kill the student.
Was he trying to make Antagondals an enemy of Einrogard?
But in this domain, even death was denied. The Imperial Magic Officers weren't idle enough to bother labeling someone an enemy over such a fake death.
Thud!
While Antagondals was lost in thought, the mad doppelganger shattered his body once more.
The old magic criminal groaned and replied.
"Understood. If he fails, I will kill him."
Antagondals didn't particularly mind killing a young mage. In fact, he preferred it.
How hard could it be to kill some second-year student?
"But if he succeeds, I'll kill you."
'Of course.'
Antagondals shuddered at the mad doppelganger's violent temperament.
He must have been angered by Antagondals's refusal. At this rate, even if the boy failed, the mad doppelganger might still try to kill him.
"Forgive me, Master. That you would desire my worthless life... How could I ever place my judgment above yours? If you say so, then I am as good as dead already."
Antagondals let out a choked sob and prostrated himself.
The mad doppelganger responded with disgust.
"If you spew that nauseating liquid from your eyes one more time, I'll kill you right now. Trash. As a reward for your pitiful efforts, I'll let you crawl away on all fours."
"Yes, yes!"
Hearing this, Antagondals felt relieved.
From the way he spoke, it seemed his anger had cooled slightly. Even if that second-year boy failed, the mad doppelganger's wrath probably wouldn't extend to him.
"Get lost."
"Yes! Thank you, Master."
The mad doppelganger turned his gaze toward the distant cliffs.
But he wasn't looking at empty cliffs. He was observing the countless flows of life moving beyond the sixteen mountain peaks.
Those lives were attempting to breach his grand magic.
And above them, the lord's gaze descended like a veil, silent and watchful.
If the mad doppelganger were to step beyond the mountain range's magic and interfere with that swarm of ants, it would mean no further compromise—only war.
Though he usually called them trash, the mad doppelganger didn't underestimate his opponent. After all, they shared the same roots.
He had no intention of provoking them unnecessarily. If he could achieve his goal, there was no reason to dirty his hands with trash.
"But..."
'Why on earth does that trash value those ants so dearly?'
"..."
'I don't get it.'
"The time has come, Master."
The Mad Clone nodded his head as if granting permission.
When Antagondals swung his staff, the cave door covering the workshop opened.
"Come out. It's execution time."
"......"
Perhaps angered by the mockery, the boy walked out without uttering a word.
A perfectly natural reaction for someone so young.
"Have you achieved magical mastery?"
Again, no answer came. Not that Antagondals had expected one, as he nodded and turned his gaze toward the Mad Clone.
"Shall we begin, Master?"
"Attack with everything you've got."
The Mad Clone spoke firmly while looking not at Antagondals but at Lee Han.
"Prepare to kill."
Though Antagondals—not being a student—wouldn't be resurrected by the territory's power even if he died, the Mad Clone didn't particularly care.
Antagondals spun his staff and said,
"Whenever you're ready—"
BOOM!
In an instant, Antagondals was startled to see three defensive spells protecting his body activate in rapid succession.
A powerfully compressed force had flown at him like a storm, far faster than he'd anticipated.
"Not bad! Elemental Barrier, split!"
True to his reputation as a seasoned Magic Criminal, Antagondals reacted swiftly despite his surprise.
His opponent seemed quite adept at linear telekinetic attacks—the simplest and most straightforward form.
Given the limited time, mastering that approach was advantageous.
Though such focus and decision-making under precarious circumstances deserved praise, Antagondals had no intention of holding back.
A densely woven barrier of various elements rose between them. Lee Han, maintaining his concentration, swung his staff.
The telekinetic force then bent like a whip, bypassing the barrier to strike Antagondals.
THWACK!
'He can manipulate formless telekinesis to this degree?!'
This time, even Antagondals couldn't help being shocked.
This was a far more advanced level than before.
It almost felt as if the boy had fully internalized telekinesis.
'But that's impossible!'
As Antagondals began summoning dark magic, the Mad Clone issued a quiet warning.
A threat—interfere with the test of skill by resorting to brute force, and he'd be killed instantly.
Though annoyed by the interference, Antagondals understood and swiftly switched spells to attack the boy.
ZZZZZT!
Toxic insects materialized midair, scattering in all directions to swarm and bite Lee Han.
These magic-born pests were optimized to exploit simple defensive spells.
True defensive magic rarely covered every angle without gaps.
Fast and unpredictable, the insects would infiltrate any opening and poison the mage in moments.
Yet Lee Han swung his staff twice—first erecting an impenetrable barrier, then counterattacking the swarm.
The insects, buzzing as they searched for weaknesses in the telekinetic shield, were obliterated by precise strikes.
'An even more complex form...!'
By now, Antagondals was breaking into a cold sweat.
The moment he acknowledged the boy's complete mastery of telekinesis would mean losing both arms.
Antagondals's form twisted as he transformed into a monstrous figure clad in mineral armor—a structure designed to shield its weaknesses.
THUD!
But the boy focused his telekinesis into a thin, piercing shape and stabbed straight through the armor's flaw.
The Mad Clone watched with satisfaction. The outcome was already decided.
"You've grasped the lesson well."
"......"
Lee Han nearly lost his focus for a moment.