Episode 750
Episode 750
However, the magic criminal wasn't an opponent weak enough to lose his temper against. Lee Han forced himself to ignore the Mad Doppelganger and focused on his enemy.
'You can do this.'
The magic that had been clumsy at first became more familiar with each repetition, flowing out smoothly along with the incantation.
The previously limited telekinesis now felt like an extension of his own limbs, freely changing form and spreading out.
'Stronger.'
The compressed telekinetic force lifted Antagondals with powerful output. The magic criminal who'd tried testing the limits by increasing mass grew frustrated.
'Now weaker.'
Thread-like strands of telekinetic force branched out like tentacles, detecting Antagondals who'd turned transparent. The magic criminal, who'd tried escaping by hiding his body and altering volume, grew increasingly agitated.
'In the form of a sharp spear.'
An invisible spear stabbed between armor plates.
'In the form of a whip.'
With the sound of air tearing beyond the wall, the enemy was sent flying.
'This time as a shield.'
Incoming attacks lost their way midair and fell.
The continuously trained telekinesis-series magic, near-infinite mana, and senses sharp beyond compare...
All these elements were merging and manifesting as his understanding of telekinetic force.
"Now do you understand what the royal family meant by research, you wretch?"
The Mad Doppelganger spoke with the wisdom of both an exceptional mage and educator.
When Lee Han had first instinctively created a telekinetic shield without an incantation to block an attack, the Mad Doppelganger judged his disciple had mastered at least one 5th-circle telekinesis-series spell.
Not only could he manipulate telekinesis as freely as his own limbs, but he'd also incorporated both no-chanting and swift attributes—enough to qualify as his own unique 5th-circle magic.
From the natural movements, one could infer he'd completed it by personally adding his own experiences and characteristics based on broad understanding of a specific field.
Far superior to parrot-like attitudes that merely mimicked existing magic.
Yet astonishingly, this dull and lowly disciple insisted he'd never learned it before.
As absurd as a bird born with wings claiming it had never flown.
So instead of ordering him to learn another 5th-circle spell, the Mad Doppelganger instructed him to reflect on his own magic.
True enough, the disciple splendidly repaid his teacher's generosity without fail...
'Should I just kill him for real?'
Of course, the dull and lowly Lee Han remained completely unaware of the Mad Doppelganger's thoughts.
Lee Han genuinely wanted to wield his mastered telekinesis against the Mad Doppelganger.
For this 5th-circle spell—which could be named <Wardanaz's Telekinesis>—the one who'd truly helped him master it was Diret.
Even if he generously included Professor Voladi or the Skeleton Principal, the Mad Doppelganger absolutely couldn't be on that list.
He'd sooner add Professor Verdus...
"I yield! I yield!"
Antagondals, who'd stubbornly tried finding weak points in Lee Han's unmastered areas, finally surrendered.
At first, he'd refused to believe it and persisted, but by the midway point, even while sensing his impending defeat, he'd kept clinging on.
He'd grown curious—just how long could his opponent keep wasting magic like this?
But dragging this out further would not only wound his pride as a mage but risk provoking the Mad Doppelganger's wrath.
Now was the time to concede and withdraw.
"Brat. I find myself curious about your name. What is it?"
For the first time, Antagondals asked his opponent's name.
This archmage normally never bothered asking names himself.
Especially not for mere sprouts of mages—lower-year students at Einrogard.
He might have subordinates handle seduction or coaxing, but even as a magic criminal, he still held a mage's pride.
But the magic he had just demonstrated gave Antagondals every right to ask for his name.
"Lee Han of the Wardanaz family."
"...Wardanaz!!!"
Only then did Antagondals show genuine surprise for the first time.
"Don't tell me it's that Wardanaz..."
"Hold out your arms."
The Mad Doppelganger spoke in an emotionless voice. Antagondals obediently extended both arms.
If he stubbornly resisted in this situation, he might lose not just his arms but his head.
Losing one's head would be far harder to recover from than losing arms, wouldn't it?
"Please wait a moment!"
Surprisingly, this reckless boy intervened despite the Mad Doppelganger standing right there.
The Mad Doppelganger's eyebrows twitched with anger, but fortunately, he didn't explode in rage. Antagondals, fearing unexpected developments, quickly spoke up.
"This is none of your concern."
Even if both arms were severed, it wouldn't be much of an issue for a mage of his caliber.
Antagondals was confident he could regrow his arms anytime.
"That's not it—I'm curious why you were surprised upon hearing the name Wardanaz. If you're about to be executed, could you tell me before you go?"
"......"
The magic criminal was left utterly dumbfounded after being countered by a mere second-year student from Einrogard.
"Are you alright?"
Lee Han asked as he watched Antagondals return with his arms severed.
Upon reflection, he realized he might have been too hasty with his question.
Given that Antagondals might soon die—and had even cursed Lee Han to die first—his question might have come across as... 'a bit rude.'
"Of course!"
Antagondals tapped the wall with the dark, writhing cross-section of his forearm.
Immediately, earth and stone gathered to form new arms for him.
"Not the finest prosthetics, but they'll do for now."
"About why you were surprised when you heard the name Wardanaz—"
"I think it's best we drop that subject."
'This bastard.'
Lee Han cursed inwardly as the man dodged the question.
Clearly, Antagondals still held a grudge over losing his arms because of Lee Han.
He had hoped to extract as much information as possible from this encounter with a magic criminal, but...
"Your master seems to care for you more than you think. Can't you feel it?"
"???"
When Lee Han stared at him as if he were spouting nonsense, Antagondals laughed as if he could guess exactly what he was thinking.
"Kehahaha! Fair enough. A mage who threatens to kill you and tortures you with magic doesn't exactly seem like a model mentor. But think about it—has your master ever severed your arms or shattered your bones? Like this?"
"It feels like a matter of time."
"No. If he truly disliked you as a disciple, he would've severed your arms or crushed your bones the moment you met. It's not a matter of time."
'He has a point.'
Lee Han couldn't deny there was some logic to that.
Compared to how he had beaten Antagondals, the Mad Doppelganger had been far gentler when disciplining Lee Han.
At first, Lee Han thought it might be because he was a student and Antagondals was an old magic criminal, but now it seemed unlikely that the Mad Doppelganger would make such allowances.
"He does care for you. That's why you should be even more careful. If unnecessary misunderstandings arise..."
Antagondals let out an ominous chuckle from behind his silver mask.
What if, while having a private conversation with Lee Han, he were misunderstood as trying to steal or interfere with the master's disciple?
In that case, even multiple lives wouldn't be enough to atone.
"So let's end our chat here. Let's keep our distance! You learn magic from your master, and I... steal magic from him."
"Hmm. May I ask just one more thing?"
"If it's not too personal, I'll consider it."
"Since I've mastered 5th Circle Magic, I was wondering if I could get a brief outing as a reward..."
Antagondals began to laugh.
It was a far more amused sneer than when he had heard about Lee Han's doomed fate.
Seeing that Antagondals would likely keep laughing all day if left unchecked, Lee Han decisively cut him off.
"I take it that's impossible. Understood."
"The fact that you even considered it is what's truly astonishing. Does that mad doppelganger really feel like your master to you?"
"Well, you never know until you try, right? Even professors who seem eccentric can sometimes surprise you with unexpected sides..."
Lee Han almost gave an example involving an Einrogard professor but, failing to recall one, abandoned the thought and continued.
"...If that's not possible, I'll try to slip out during the break period."
"Why the rush to leave? How long have you even been here?"
Hearing that, Lee Han roughly estimated the time.
He couldn't be sure exactly how much had passed, but the weekend had likely ended, and a new week had begun.
The later he left, the more his lessons and assignments would pile up exponentially.
'Even more terrifying and dreadful than the mad doppelganger.'
"There are lectures I need to attend..."
"I see. That's your reason, then. But if it's about learning, that 'master' of yours isn't so bad, is he?"
At Antagondals' words, Lee Han firmly denied it.
"The level is far too high for me to steal and learn from. I need teachings at a much lower level."
"My opinion differs somewhat... but fine. If that's how you feel, brat, do as you please."
This old magic criminal's interest lay solely in how much magic he could steal from the mad doppelganger.
Whether the Wardanaz boy ran away or sought out mediocre teachings was none of Antagondals' concern.
'Wait. Break period?'
Antagondals suddenly paused.
Using the break period to leave?
What break period was he talking about?
"What do you mean by break period—"
"What are you doing?"
As the mad doppelganger drifted into the workshop like a ghost, Antagondals swallowed nervously and tensed up.
Just as expected, the mad doppelganger was beginning to grow suspicious of Antagondals.
"I was extolling the virtues of the master's teachings."
Thud!
Despite the flattery, the mad doppelganger hurled Antagondals into the wall.
"Daring to ruin my work. Trash. Get lost."
Rather than struggling free, Antagondals humbly stayed embedded in the wall.
Fortunately, the mad doppelganger lost interest in him and called for Lee Han instead.
"This time, you understood decently. Good."
"Yes! Thank you!"
"Rewarding subordinates is also the duty of royalty. Do you have a wish?"
"...Might I be allowed a brief outing?"
"No."
"Then, I'd like to take a short break period. To reflect on the magic I've learned and strengthen my skills."
Having anticipated the refusal, Lee Han remained unfazed and made another proposal.
First and foremost, he needed a way to escape the mad doppelganger's attention.
Only then could he plan his escape—or whatever else he intended to do.
"No."
"......"
The words 'Then why did you even ask?' rose to Lee Han's throat, but seeing Antagondals' toes still sticking out of the wall, his anger subsided.
"I am happy simply knowing you intended to reward me!"
"It seems you've learned a fraction of a disciple's proper mindset."
The mad doppelganger looked faintly pleased and issued a new order.
For one who pursued magic, there was no such thing as a break.
Only relentless dedication.
"Then prepare the next 5th Circle Magic."
"......"
Before Lee Han could say anything, the mad doppelganger vanished after delivering his command.
"Are you alright?"
-Yeah.
Antagondals, still embedded in the wall, answered as he pulled himself free.
This magic criminal seemed genuinely curious whether Lee Han could prepare the new 5th Circle Magic as successfully as last time.
Like an audience member wondering whether a gladiator thrown into the arena would live or die.
But Lee Han had absolutely no intention of satisfying that curiosity.
"I need to get out of here."
"Do as you like."
"Help me."
"Why should I?"
"If you don't, I'll tell him you tried to corrupt me into becoming a magic criminal."
"......"
Antagondals was sincerely impressed by the boy before him.
To be so cunning at such a young age!