Episode 751
Episode 751
"First, I must pay my respects to your wickedness. But there's one thing you're overlooking. Do you really think you can escape this place just by receiving my help?"
Antagondals' observation was sharp.
The mad fragment was mentally unstable but magically formidable.
Already an ancient archmage in life, having now transcended the limits of mortality to become a magical thought-entity, it was no exaggeration to call it an otherworldly monster.
Deceiving the eyes of such a powerful foe and escaping would be difficult even for Antagondals.
At the very least, Antagondals would have to personally intervene—but doing so would almost certainly mean death.
It was better to just let the Wardanaz boy expose the truth.
That way, he might escape with only a few lives lost.
"I never planned to rely solely on your help from the beginning. There will be assistance from outside as well."
"An Imperial Magic Officer? The Imperial Magic Officers won't come. Wake up from your dream."
Antagondals scoffed when Lee Han mentioned the Skeleton Principal.
The Imperial Magic Officers were mages so great that even the title of archmage felt insufficient, but nothing in this world was without weakness.
This mad fragment was relatively indifferent to the approach of other mages or intruders but was extremely sensitive to the approach of its original self.
If an Imperial Magic Officer were to appear here, a battle would break out immediately.
And that battle would be so fierce it could overturn heaven and earth, destroying the entire domain.
'The Lord of Einrogard cannot afford such a sacrifice.'
The fact that he was tolerating the presence of an insolent outsider in his domain was proof enough.
What outsider in the Empire could possibly survive in the domain of Einrogard with such arrogance?
"Why would an Imperial Magic Officer come out?"
However, Lee Han's reaction was so indifferent that it made Antagondals' scoff seem pointless.
Flustered, Antagondals replied,
"Isn't he the Lord of Einrogard... and the Headmaster? Of course he would intervene in a student's problem."
"That won't happen. In my opinion, the Headmaster is leaving this alone because he thinks it's a good opportunity for me to learn magic."
"That... That can't be."
Antagondals had no reason to defend the Skeleton Principal, yet he found himself doing so unconsciously.
Of course, the magic criminal himself did think this was a good opportunity to learn magic.
Sure, he might lose his life, but how often does one get the chance to learn ancient magic? Losing a life or two was a cheap price to pay.
But he doubted the Imperial Magic Officer would think the same way and leave things be.
If that were the kind of mage he was, why would he have ever been granted a title like Lord of Einrogard in the first place...
"Ha! Who would know better—me, a mere student, or you, a magic criminal?"
"......"
"Anyway, the ones helping me from outside are the other students. They'll break through the grand magic spread across the mountain range."
Lee Han didn't trust the Skeleton Principal, but he trusted Diret.
If it was his senior, he would surely gather Lee Han's friends and carve a path for him.
"Students! If they can disrupt the magic from outside, that would indeed be helpful."
Antagondals collected himself and responded.
If someone outside could shake the magic, the mad fragment would have no choice but to focus on repairing it.
Because the grand magic was spread over such a vast area, even a single crack would require considerable effort to mend.
With its attention diverted, Antagondals would have enough leeway to create a hidden path elsewhere in the grand magic.
But there was one problem with this plan.
"But students of their level won't be able to make a dent in this magic. As I said, you're underestimating your teacher too much!"
"Aren't you the one underestimating my seniors? You don't even know who they are, do you?"
Just then, the Whispers of Einrogard delivered a new message.
It was from Diret. Feeble handwriting quickly appeared.
—Junior. Several students have gathered to try breaking the magic, but there's been no progress. I'm sorry...
"......"
"What's wrong?"
"The senior says they'll soon shake the magic to open a path for us."
Lee Han maintained a perfectly straight face as he bluffed. Then he quickly replied:
-No need to worry! I've mastered 5th Circle Magic. I'll be fine for a while.-......
* * *
Despite the new week having begun, the <Rescue the Junior Campsite> remained bustling with students.
Members from all sorts of clubs kept coming and going, attempting to probe the magic's weak points and chip away at it.
Inside the magical tent at the very center of this campsite, Yukveltire lifted a carefully drawn magic structure diagram with a solemn expression.
"No attacks are getting through... It's beautiful."
"Beautiful? Are you insane? After failing to make a single dent all weekend, that's what you say??"
"Diret. Denigrating magic superior to your own won't change anyth—"
"Shut up. You're useless. And I don't want your research help."
"!"
Yukveltire stared at his friend with genuine shock.
How could he utter such rude insults?
"But we had an agreement!"
"I said I'd help if it was useful. Is this useful now, you incompetent mage? I should've called Professor Verdus instead!"
"How can you say that? Can't you see all the contributions I've made analyzing this magic??"
"Analysis only matters if it actually helps!"
Diret snatched the magic diagram and threw it into the air. Flustered by his friend's outburst, Yukveltire hurriedly explained:
"The spell I'm preparing will be powerful enough to break through once completed—"
"You said that'd take half a year!"
"I can reduce it to five months—"
"Great. Get lost!"
"Both of you, please calm down. The juniors outside will hear and worry."
Illeg urgently mediated.
Though the two close friends often bickered, today was particularly intense.
"Diret, has something happened?"
"Something happened? Damn right! Our junior's about to die, and this guy's babbling about five months!"
"The academy grounds can resurrect anyone who dies—"
"Uh, Yukveltire... That doesn't seem like the right thing to say right now."
Illeg frantically covered the Princess's mouth.
Left unchecked, someone here might die before the junior did.
Diret, who'd been erupting in anger, finally exhaled heavily and slumped down.
"The junior messaged saying they'd learned 5th Circle Magic. Probably just trying to tell us not to worry."
"Isn't it possible they actually learned it?"
At Illeg's words, Diret and Yukveltire simultaneously scoffed.
"Are you serious??"
"Chagla. There's a limit to overestimating juniors."
"......"
The Library Club president looked slightly dejected.
Given the Wardanaz junior's talent, they might have actually pulled it off.
Noticing Diret's mood, Yukveltire cleared her throat and spoke carefully.
"Diret."
"Yukveltire. Think very carefully about what you're about to say. If you piss me off now... remember what happened two years ago? That's how you'll end up."
"......"
After brief hesitation, Yukveltire wrote something on paper and showed it to Illeg.
Then he whispered:
"Does this seem safe to say around emotionally compromised Diret?"
"Yukveltire, please just— Yes. It seems acceptable."
Receiving Illeg's confirmation, Yukveltire nodded and asked:
"It's Wednesday now."
"Yeah."
"The junior hasn't died yet."
"Yeah."
"Then we can probably discard your 'weekend death hypothesis.' The junior might last longer than you—"
Illeg urgently whispered again:
"You didn't show me that last part! Why are you improvising?"
"I was trying to give Diret the comfort he wants to hear."
"Doesn't seem to be working. Please stop."
"......"
Listening to their exchange, Diret fell deep into thought.
Indeed, contrary to their worries, Lee Han's junior seemed to be holding up well even under the mad clone's pressure.
Though they couldn't quite tell how he was managing to persuade it... 'Could he have actually learned 5th Circle Magic to prove his talent?' It was the least plausible explanation he could think of, but nothing else came to mind.
"Senior Yukbel Tire."
"What is it?"
"Professor Verdus has sent a letter."
A letter flew into the magic tent.
Yukbel Tire picked it up with an elegant motion, then casually tossed it into the bonfire burning in the center of the clearing.
"Is it alright to burn it like that?"
"Of course it is. It's just useless nonsense."
Yukbel Tire answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world to his concerned friend.
The letter undoubtedly contained some pointless demand—likely an order to craft and submit a few artifacts under Professor Verdus's direction this semester.
If the professor wanted to see artifacts, he should make them himself. Why bother Yukbel Tire with it?
"Let's get more students involved to shorten the timeframe. At the very least, we need to get him out before the break. Chagla. Can I ask you for a favor?"
At Diret's words, the bespectacled bear-kin nodded gently with his usual mild expression.
"Helping a junior is my pleasure. What do you need me to do?"
"Go intimidate some juniors and bring them here."
"......"
Illeg looked slightly hurt.
"Professor Garcia?"
"Yes. Professor Bagrak."
"I think Professor Verdus's gag needs reinforcing."
"Ah. Thank you."
Professor Garcia swung his staff, strengthening the magical gag sealing Professor Verdus's mouth.
The spell had already been wearing off.
"Mmmpf! Mmmphh!"
Professor Verdus thrashed on Professor Garcia's shoulder, but the perfectly cast sealing magic refused to release him.
There was a reason why Einrogard's esteemed professor had been abruptly kidnapped and dragged off into the mountains.
To understand, they had to go back to the previous night.
—Professor Vible! Are you there?
—Come in! Cough!
The two professors who had visited Professor Verdus's workshop subdued and kidnapped him.
Professor Verdus was no stranger to dealing with all sorts of attackers and assassins sent by investors.
Naturally, his workshop was always prepared for such situations—but the strength of his fellow professors exceeded all expectations.
"You do know this must be kept secret from the Headmaster, right?"
"I'm aware."
Professor Garcia, perhaps uneasy, made sure to remind Professor Voladi once more.
Unlike the other professors, this vampire professor had always been inscrutable—no one could ever guess what he was thinking.
'Student Lee Han. Just hold on a little longer.'
Though the Skeleton Principal had told the faculty not to act rashly and to wait, the professors of Einrogard had never been ones to follow his orders obediently.
Instead of trusting the Headmaster, Professor Garcia decided to gather reliable colleagues and take matters into his own hands.
First, the dependable combat mage—Professor Bagrak.
Fortunately, since Bagrak also had a close mentor-student relationship with Lee Han, he agreed without hesitation.
Next was the outstanding enchantment specialist—Professor Vible.
Luckily, this professor also had a strong bond with Lee Han, so Garcia made the decision immediately.
—Let's kidnap him.
—Understood.
True to expectations, Professor Vible agreed to the abduction and was now being dragged along.
—I called my student! He'll come to rescue me!
—Stop bluffing, Professor. You didn't even have the chance.
—No! My workshop has countermeasures for this exact situation!
Unfortunately, he had been so loud that they'd had to gag him—but at least the preparations were complete.
"Fortunately, the students have located the magic's focal point and are working on it. Let's approach from that side and try to break through the spell."
Professor Voladi nodded, then pulled a sharp-edged stone from his coat.
Professor Garcia recognized it instantly.
That thing radiated an overwhelmingly dense concentration of mana—it was...
'An ancient relic!'
Where on earth had he gotten that?
"I borrowed it from the Headmaster's office. Let's use this."
"......"