Episode 766
Episode 766
However, Agdung didn't stop answering.
As a senior from the same Black Magic School, he couldn't suppress his academic curiosity...
And when the disciple of the Magic Tower asks for extermination purposes, what could he do?
He could only pray that things would go smoothly.
Beaver
-Penguin
-Fox: How did you finish the analysis so quickly? I can't believe it...
"This map and analysis seem truly remarkable, Senior. Does Kallarogard have some special training program?"
"You shouldn't ask if Einrogard students receive special training... And besides, this was prepared by the professor."
'Ah.'
Lee Han realized this after asking, noticing the other party was more surprised than expected.
Since he was explaining based on analyses previously prepared by a Kallarogard professor, it was only natural for them to be astonished.
Gonadaltes: Hmph. This much is basic. Why can't an Einrogard student even manage this much?
Beaver
-Penguin
-Fox: ■■ ■■ ■■...
Instead of cursing, the other party smeared the ink into black square shapes.
That alone sufficiently conveyed what they wanted to say.
'This senior really has a foul temper,' Lee Han inwardly grumbled.
He had only disguised himself as an ordinary senior, yet they reacted like this.
Beaver
-Penguin
-Fox: More importantly... by any chance... Profe... Prof... Never mind.
The other seemed about to scribble something but gave up, smudging the characters again before returning to the main point.
Beaver
-Penguin
-Fox: Do you have any information on purification methods for the contamination source?
"Senior, do you have any advice regarding purification?"
"Hmm. Wait a moment... Ah, here it is. The professor apparently left behind a peachwood staff artifact nearby, just in case."
"Oh? What kind of artifact is it?"
Professor Taswan was someone who knew well that Einrogard could be a vicious and violent place at any time.
In case things went awry during a visit by students alone, he had prepared by placing artifacts in the vicinity.
"Let's see... This artifact is... Ugh. Professor, why do you like Three Kingdoms-era script so much?"
Though Agdung was kind-hearted, he couldn't help but feel irritated that the professor had scribbled in ancient script instead of standard Imperial characters.
"Is this... what was it again... Essence? Purification? Spirit?"
"That doesn't look like Three Kingdoms script—it resembles Seoharin Kingdom script."
"Ah, you're right."
Agdung nodded at Lee Han's correction, then paused.
"You said you're a second-year?"
"Yes."
"...Never mind. Let's read it again... Ah, it's an Absorption Artifact."
The artifact left behind long ago by Professor Taswan was a powerful one capable of gathering all nearby contamination sources at once.
Rather than searching through scattered contamination sources underground, if they could flip the earth and water to draw them out, the task would become much easier.
'Wait, isn't that excessive?' Lee Han was startled.
An artifact of that caliber would have required considerable time and effort to create, even for a professor.
And yet, he had simply left it behind on Einrogard's seventh floor and departed.
Could it be that Kallarogard was a wealthy magic academy, unlike Einrogard's Black Magic School???
'Please don't let that be... Ugh! What am I thinking?' Lee Han deeply regretted his wicked thoughts.
It would be good if other black mages lived prosperously—he shouldn't envy them.
"Senior, may I ask one more thing?"
"Anything. Ask freely."
"How is Kallarogard financially?"
"Ghk. Kghk!"
Agdung nearly spilled the water from the cup he was holding.
'I should put this down.'
Even though he couldn't drink water in his skeletal state, he had been holding it out of habit—now he'd almost caused an accident for no reason.
"Kal... Kallarogard isn't as well-off as that Baldro bastard, but we help each other out and get by."
"?"
Lee Han felt puzzled about two things.
First was the part about 'not as well-off but helping each other out and getting by.'
That was usually... 'the kind of talk that comes from impoverished departments.' Even in Einrogard's Black Magic School, you'd often hear things like, "We may not be as affluent as other departments, but we still help each other out, haha," followed by someone shouting, "Shut up, Coholti!"
And the second puzzling point was...
"Did you just say 'Baldro bastard'?"
"What are you talking about? I said Baldrogard."
"You said 'Baldro bastard'..."
"No, no! How could I say something like that? Wardanaz! I'm hurt you'd misunderstand me like this. Are you judging me just because I'm from Kallarogard?"
"......"
Lee Han stared at Agdung with disbelief.
While he might let an amateur like Gainando slide, Lee Han wasn't fooled by such tactics. After all, Lee Han himself was a master of such tricks.
-Well done, Gainando. Open the next volume and study.
-Huh? Wh-what? Wasn't the snack supposed to be after this part?
-What are you talking about? It was until the next volume.
-No way?! It was definitely up to this part!
-Gainando... Are you trying to trick me when you know I'm exhausted after listening to lectures all day? Even in this state, I prepared dinner for you guys! How could you do this?
-N-no...! No... I-I'll keep studying. 'He definitely said "Baldro bastard."'
Perhaps sensing the suspicious looks, Agdung hastily changed the subject. He couldn't let his juniors catch wind of his shameful feelings toward another magic academy.
"So why did you ask that?"
"Ah. The artifact you mentioned earlier seemed quite expensive, so I couldn't understand why you'd leave it installed here."
"Aha."
Only then did Agdung realize what the Spirit Offering Hall Master's disciple had misunderstood. Rattling his bones, Agdung laughed.
"It's not because we're rich enough to install such artifacts—it's because Einrogard is so insanely dangerous that we had no choice but to invest in artifacts!"
"......"
"......"
Not only Lee Han, but even his friends looked at Agdung with sorrowful expressions.
Even students sitting at other tables in the teahouse turned to stare at him with gloomy faces.
Belatedly, Agdung shouted,
"...B-but Einrogard is still the Empire's greatest magic academy, offering unparalleled learning opportunities! Haha! Hahaha!"
"It's fine, Senior. Our school is just... a bit too dangerous."
With a bitter expression, Lee Han contacted BeaverPenguinFox.
[Gonadaltes: I installed an artifact nearby that absorbs contaminants. Once activated, it can churn the earth and water, gathering all contaminants in one place.]
[Beaver]
[Penguin]
[Fox: ...]
D-don't scam us.
The reaction was more intense than expected. Lee Han calmly replied.
[Gonadaltes: If you pay the price, I'll even activate it for you.]
Since this was a transaction anyway, Lee Han was willing to operate the artifact as long as the payment was fair. Given that the mushroom field was fortified, approaching from that direction would make it relatively easy to reach the artifact's marked location on the map. Plus, they even had a reliable Kallarogard senior with them.
[Beaver]
[Penguin]
[Fox: ...]
Wait! I need to ask something first.
BeaverPenguinFox suddenly disappeared mid-conversation. Lee Han guessed they were consulting Bakwantalana one-on-one. 'Since Bakwantalana brought me here, they're probably asking if I can be trusted.' Whatever they decided didn't matter—Lee Han had already earned enough from the answers he'd provided.
If the senior tried anything shady, Lee Han was fully prepared to raise hell in front of the entire Watcher Club.
Given the abundance of magical power, this artifact can maintain the longest and most persistent connection.
'Having a lot of magical power does have its advantages sometimes.'
Beaver
- Penguin
- Fox: Al... Alright. Let's... let's make a deal.
Gonadaltes: First, I'd like to settle payment for the help you've provided so far.
Beaver
- Penguin
- Fox: Come to the Tower of Illusion on the 7th floor. I'll leave the items under the red-green banner.
"?"
Lee Han, unfamiliar with the Tower of Illusion on the 7th floor, hesitated.
'Is this a trap?'
For all he knew, they might be luring him in to ambush him.
In the worst-case scenario, they might even try to rob him of his Imperial gold coins...
Beaver
- Penguin
- Fox: Ah, right. You're new. You probably don't know how to use the Tower of Illusion. I'll tell Bakwantalana.
Soon, a message arrived from Bakwantalana.
The Tower of Illusion on the 7th floor was a magical building used by Watcher Club members for transactions, designed specifically for members who didn't want to reveal—or know—each other's identities.
As such, the entry process was optimized for anonymity.
Bakwantalana: Anywhere on the 7th floor will do. Hold up a mirror and aim it at the bell tower at the top of the Tower of Illusion. When the light flashes three times, the entry is complete—then look into the mirror. The tower will be inside.
Following the instructions, Lee Han took out a mirror and scanned the higher districts of the Exile Village on the 7th floor from the second-floor terrace of the teahouse.
A flying Contaminated Being was burning to death in the village's defensive magic, while inside, someone had apparently messed up a spell—eight chimneys from a workshop were spewing steam like mad.
"You bastard, destined for the Punishment Room for life! What do you think you're doing, conducting experiments like that on the upper floors?! I can't see a thing because of all this steam!"
"Just wait, it'll disappear soon! You impatient brat! Should I throw you out to the Contaminated Being outside?!"
As Lee Han's gaze followed the chaotic upper levels of the Exile Village, towers gradually came into view.
Most of the towers, haphazardly built by past seniors, were now abandoned ruins, with only a few still functioning.
Among them was the Tower of Illusion. Lee Han adjusted the mirror's angle until the tower was reflected inside.
Once, twice, thrice.
"!"
Lee Han instinctively sensed that the Tower of Illusion had cast a powerful spell on the mirror.
Even if mirrors were magically responsive items, to establish such a simple connection from this distance—!
Looking into the mirror, the interior of the tower flickered. Each time he tilted it, the scenery changed as if his position shifted.
The tower seemed to consist of a massive spiral staircase—whether going up or down, the same repetitive scenery appeared.
'Red-green, red-green...'
Searching among the countless banners hung on every floor, Lee Han moved up and down the tower until—
'Found it.'
Entering the room, Lee Han saw the piled-up goods and realized BeaverPenguinFox hadn't lied.
This must be the payment.
Shhk
Lee Han reached into the mirror and began pulling out the items one by one.
* * *
"Why isn't Lee Han coming down?"
"Maybe because you're being noisy?"
"You guys were loud too!"
When Lee Han went up alone to the empty second floor and didn't return, Gainando, about to throw the magical yut stick, paused with a serious expression.
"I should go check on him."
"You're just doing this because you're about to lose, aren't you?"
"N-No! I already suggested we play Wizard Card earlier!"
"That's hard to do with just a few people. And I don't even have any cards."
"Are you a barbarian?! You don't have Wizard Cards?!"
Gainando berated Lafadell for not owning Wizard Cards. Lafadell, unimpressed, urged him on.
"Rather than Wizard Cards, let's just play yut. Hurry up and throw the stick. I need to capture your piece quickly."
"Right, Gainando. And Lee Han said bad luck follows you around. Someone else should—"
Before he could finish, Lee Han descended from the second floor, levitating a massive load with his psychokinesis.
His friends stared in stunned silence.
"...Did you just loot the entire second floor?"