Episode 755
Episode 755
Fortunately, the disguise seemed effective as the hellhounds continued to scatter.
With so many entities nearby dispersing energy signatures similar to the target, they had fallen into confusion.
Professor Verdus grumbled as he watched hellhounds crashing against the barrier field.
"Why does it feel like most are coming this way?"
"Eek! Professor! This one's biting and won't let go!"
Gainando screamed.
The wide, bowl-shaped flying artifact Professor Verdus had created wasn't particularly stable, rocking violently left and right whenever hellhounds collided with it.
"They can't break through the barrier anyway."
"But they're glaring right at us!"
Gainando trembled as he watched the demons dripping acidic saliva while pounding against the barrier protecting their vessel. The black smoke rising wherever the drool fell was terrifying beyond words.
"Just knock them off then!"
"How am I supposed to do that?!"
"Figure it out yourself like Wardanaz would!"
Professor Verdus was too busy using artifacts to sweep away hellhounds charging head-on to pay proper attention.
Though even if he'd had the time, he'd have likely given a half-hearted answer out of annoyance—but right now, he was genuinely swamped.
Clank!
A golden disc-shaped artifact materialized in midair.
The artifact blazed as if condensing sunlight itself, then spewed flames at the hellhounds attempting to teleport through space toward them.
Whoooosh!
That wasn't all. Next, a round drum appeared, sweeping away hellhounds with each resonant beat.
"Incredible!"
Angrago couldn't help but gasp in admiration.
Moments like these made him understand why someone like Professor Verdus could remain a professor at Einrogard.
Whatever else might be said, when it came to artifact crafting, he was an unrivaled expert whose skill brooked no competition.
"Garcia! Bagrak! Help me out here!"
But in truth, Professor Verdus hated having to use his carefully crafted artifacts for mere escape and combat, desperately calling for his fellow professors.
These artifacts, while immensely powerful, weren't particularly durable.
Every time magic was unleashed against the beast-like demons, either the artifacts or their vessel sustained damage.
Of course, the two professors coldly ignored him.
Grumbling, Professor Verdus had no choice but to pull out another artifact.
"Filthy demons! Gonadaltes should've wiped out the Demon Realm entirely!"
"Professor!"
"This artifact was expensive. Ugh. This one... I made it too well. This one's not quite right either..."
"Professor!!"
"What now?!"
As Angrago kept pestering him, Professor Verdus finally snapped.
"Gainando's disappeared!"
"......"
Perhaps remembering Professor Garcia's earlier warning, Professor Verdus's face paled slightly.
"Student Lee Han. You've truly been through a lot!"
"Not at all. Thank you, Professor. And to everyone else as well..."
Upon reaching the main building, the remaining hellhounds finally gave up pursuit and retreated.
Professor Garcia sighed in relief seeing Lee Han and the other students arrive safely.
"Professor Vible! You've been through much as well."
"Mmm."
"Professor?"
"Mmm..."
"Doesn't it feel like someone's missing?"
At those words, Lee Han and his friends quickly did a headcount.
Gainando was gone.
"...He disappeared without us noticing..."
"......"
"......"
As everyone stood shocked, Professor Garcia began shaking Professor Verdus violently in all directions.
"Now! You! Tell me that's acceptable!"
"Ghk, ugh, blergh."
"Go! Find him! Now!"
"Alright! Alright! I'll bring him back!"
Normally he'd have protested with "Why me?" several times, but with Professor Garcia gripping his collar, Professor Verdus' agreement came out reflexively.
Thud!
"?"
Hearing a noise outside, the students curiously peeked out.
The hellhounds had dumped Gainando on the ground before blinking far away into the distance.
"......"
"H-how did you get back?"
Gainando answered his friends' questions with a sullen face.
"They said the doppelgänger saw me and told them to put me back where I was originally."
"...That insane doppelgänger!"
"Right! They must be crazy to have such terrible judgment!"
"We're just glad you're back safe, Gainando!"
The friends crowded around Gainando, trying to console him.
Truthfully, returning unharmed was nothing short of a miracle.
Just look at Lee Han—hadn't he been caught and suffered for nearly a week?
Compared to that, being chased away immediately after meeting them could be considered lucky...
"Garcia. I'm back now, so let me go."
"......"
"Why are you looking at me like th—Ghk! Ghk-ghk!"
* * *
"Lee Han. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"Wardanaz. You good?"
"I said I'm fine..."
"Wardanaz. The White Tiger Tower guys left some fruit as a get-well gift. Personally, I think there's a chance it might be poisoned..."
"......"
Annoyed, Lee Han shooed his friends away and hung a <Resting—No Visitors> sign on his dorm room door.
Surprisingly, Lee Han was actually resting.
Professor Garcia had given the order—after being dragged around and suffering for nearly a week since the weekend, the poor student deserved some peace.
"It's just two days anyway, so rest well until the weekend. I'll handle the other professors."
"Are you sure that's alright? The other professors might..."
"Don't worry. I can manage this much."
'But I am worried.'
Lee Han was concerned about Professor Garcia.
Sure, purely in terms of physical ability, Professor Garcia ranked among the top faculty at Einrogard—but in the professors' social hierarchy, seniority and experience carried significant weight.
He couldn't help but worry whether someone as young as Professor Garcia should be making such bold statements.
* * *
To celebrate your safe return from the most dangerous opponent, I'm gifting you this book.
I plan to formally protest to the Headmaster's doppelgänger about your kidnapping during Library Club work. Once you recover, let's build a lighthouse together in the 7th-floor glacial region. I'll send you the plans—take a look.
—Illeg
For my junior who must've starved while trapped in Alde Markang, I'm sending this basket. Eat well, and don't tell the other club members.
—Falkrius
I never thought even a skilled polo player could get kidnapped inside the school. Still, I applaud your quick thinking in escaping on a griffin. Here—I got you some toys to use with your friends while you rest.
—Carnella Hormasi
Unlike his same-year friends, the seniors had sent letters and gifts.
A novel titled Escape from Einrogard (surprisingly, written decades ago by an alumnus) from Senior Illeg, about a mage breaking free from Einrogard.
The Stonemason Club's Tower of Water-Ice Ore project proposal—a decade-long plan to secure a stable reagent supply from the glacial region.
A meat-filled basket from Senior Falkrius, packed with beef, pork, lamb, horse, chicken, wyvern, venison, goose, duck, rabbit, and drake meat.
And finally, a peculiar artifact shaped like a toy from Senior Carnella.
'What's this?'
Lee Han stared at the wand-like artifact with a dangling bell, puzzled.
Was he supposed to shake it whenever his friends studied?
'If I train like that, maybe I'll eventually be able to study just by shaking this wand.'
—Shhk-shhk!
When he shook it, the basilisk let out excited hisses and flicked its tail.
Only then did Lee Han realize it was a toy for animals.
Reflecting on how he'd just treated his friends like pets, he discreetly pushed the toy aside.
"Senior. Thank you again for your help. I'm worried I've taken up too much of your time—is the Black Magic faction alright?"
Lee Han left the message for Diret.
The reply came faster than expected.
"Don't worry about that at all."
"But Senior, I'm curious. I heard Senior Yukveltire also participated—why did they help me?"
"We're in the same tower and the same Enchantment Magic school, aren't we? Even if Yukveltire pretends otherwise, she was worried about you."
"Ah, I see. Thank you."
"Right. Get some proper rest! And don't go wandering outside for a while!"
'He's lying.' Lee Han coldly assessed.
Such a clumsy lie wouldn't work on Lee Han, an expert on Professor Verdus.
Arguments like "same tower, same magic school, same sentiments" would never hold water with Professor Verdus.
And from Lee Han's perspective, Yukveltire was quite similar to Professor Verdus.
'He didn't make some strange deal to help me, did he? Like paying Imperial Silver Coins...'
Or in the worst case, he might have even paid Imperial Gold Coins.
If such a terrible contract had been made, Lee Han didn't think he could bear the weight of his conscience.
Iactus: "So the matter's been resolved after all?"
Bakwantalana: "You could say that."
Iactus: "Damn it. We won't be able to approach the mountain range for a while now. Still, that second-year managed to escape somehow. No wonder he's the only student taking all the school's courses."
Bakwantalana: "I don't usually like overestimating people, but I agree."
'!'
Upon checking the <Watchers of Einrogard> page after a long time, Lee Han saw the members were in the middle of a conversation.
Beaver
-Penguin
-Fox: "Was there anything magically salvageable?"
Iactus: "There might have been. But I wouldn't recommend going near there unless you've got a death wish. Even the fifth-years were completely helpless until the professors arrived."
Beaver
-Penguin
-Fox: "What a shame. I'm interested in ancient magic."
'New faces.'
While Iactus and Bakwantalana were familiar from before, BeaverPenguinFox was a new member Lee Han hadn't seen before.
'Why on earth choose "Beaver" as a pseudonym?'
Though it was an ominously unsettling name, Lee Han greeted them first.
Gonadaltes: "Nice to meet you all."
Beaver
-Penguin
-Fox: "..."
P-Principal??
Iactus: "No. Just a crazy newbie."
Iactus and Bakwantalana explained about the new member's pseudonym.
Upon realizing the misunderstanding, BeaverPenguinFox flooded the page with twenty-nine lines of curses.
"......"
Feeling slightly wronged, Lee Han protested.
Gonadaltes: "Your pseudonym is weird too, you know."
Beaver
-Penguin
-Fox: "Mine? How?"
Gonadaltes: "You included 'Beaver,' didn't you? Professor Verdus is a beaver shapeshifter."
Beaver
-Penguin
-Fox: "..."
"I just picked cute animals. The fact that you think like that is way creepier."
Iactus: "True. Gonadaltes, why are you associating Professor Verdus with innocent, adorable creatures? If we start picturing the professor every time we see those animals, it's your fault."
'What despicable people.'
Lee Han lamented the territorial behavior of the senior members.
No matter how he looked at it, the other side was the strange one, yet they were pinning it on him. Truly, territorialism was unavoidable anywhere.
Gonadaltes: "Speaking of fifth-years, does anyone know about Diret from the Black Magic school?"
Iactus: "How could we not?"
Bakwantalana: "If we didn't, we wouldn't be members."
Beaver
-Penguin
-Fox: "Why do you ask?"
Gonadaltes: "I was thinking of sending him a letter for help with a magic research project, but I was wondering what kind of payment would make him accept."
Beaver
-Penguin
-Fox: "He'll be busy for a while. He's helping with an Enchantment Magic school research project."
Gonadaltes: "Enchantment Magic research?"
Beaver
-Penguin
-Fox: "Yeah."
Lee Han set down his quill in frustration.
If Diret was helping with an Enchantment Magic research project around this time, it could only mean Yukveltire.
Had he made an even more sinister deal than Imperial Silver or Gold Coins?!
'He doesn't even deserve to be called a senior.'
To exploit a junior's misfortune for personal gain—truly, he was Professor Verdus's disciple for a reason.
Gonadaltes: "I see. Thanks, everyone. I should get going now."
Iactus: "Wait, already? Don't just ask questions and leave. At least answer something before you go."
Gonadaltes: "Fine, ask away."
Annoyed by the new member's arrogant attitude, Iactus deliberately threw a difficult question to mess with him.
Iactus: "There's a rumor that a Magic Criminal was involved in this recent incident. Do you happen to know who it was?"
Gonadaltes: "Antagondals. Everyone should be careful. He's not your average eccentric mage."
Iactus: "......"