Episode 806
Episode 806
The Death Knights hesitantly sheathed the swords they'd been about to draw. Though not entirely convinced, they didn't fully put them away.
"Is this for real?"
"How peculiar. Has he no pride? Even though he's the Principal's clone?"
"Could this be a different clone that doesn't pursue honor? Maybe one that prefers sleep...?"
"No. It's definitely the honor type. We checked multiple times."
The combat capabilities of Death Knights varied greatly depending on their level of preparation.
Their battle prowess could differ vastly based on which spells they retrieved from the estate's reserves and which artifacts they activated.
Naturally, when facing the Skeleton Principal's Mad Clone, they had brought out the most powerful spells available.
Even with the estate's support, one couldn't let their guard down against an archmage.
Having subdued Intarendals relatively easily, they had been prepared to show their true strength if the Skeleton Principal's Mad Clone appeared...
But the situation ended far more peacefully than expected. He just... permitted it?
"Are you certain he truly permitted it?"
Lee Han was thinking along similar lines as the Death Knights.
No matter how he looked at it, this wasn't the type to simply give permission. 'Could this be a trap?'
"Yes. Of course!"
"He didn't get angry? Or fly into a rage? Or smash his surroundings? Or exterminate all life?"
"Our master is a noble who understands honor. He would never do such things."
Intarendals responded firmly, as if questioning why they'd even ask.
"Look at me. Do you see a single wound on my body?"
"W-well, indeed..."
"Couldn't he have beaten you and then healed you?"
The Death Knights murmured among themselves but had to admit Intarendals showed no signs of having been struck.
He looked perfectly fine for someone who'd delivered such news.
"Then is Antagondals unharmed as well?"
"Who is Antagondals?"
"Th-that magic criminal in the domain... We mentioned him earlier. The one working as a slave..."
"Ah. My apologies. I don't bother remembering every worthless and insignificant individual."
Intarendals offered a genuinely polite apology, but that didn't make his words sound kind or warm in the slightest. Lee Han found himself relieved Antagondals hadn't heard this—no matter how heinous a magic criminal one was, they still deserved some basic dignity.
"That slave... I believe our master killed him several times... Hard to say. As I mentioned, we don't pay attention to or remember every worthless and insignificant individual."
"......"
"So he WAS angry!"
Lee Han was at a loss for words at Intarendals' absurd statement. If he'd killed Antagondals multiple times in a fit of rage after hearing the news, then he was clearly furious, not calm.
"Here. Please accept this."
"...Will this work?"
Lee Han eyed the strange small stone Intarendals offered with suspicion. Who knew what might happen if he took it—a vile curse, hellfire burning his flesh, his body rotting from poison, or worst of all, being transported straight to where the Skeleton Principal's Mad Clone resided.
"Didn't you say this yourself? That you truly wished to receive our master's teachings, but the garbage lessons you're currently receiving make it difficult time-wise."
"I don't believe I phrased it quite like that..."
"Here. Look."
Suddenly, the peculiar small stone flew over and settled onto the tip of Lee Han's staff.
Then, a mirage-like illusion began to flow from the staff.
The Skeleton Principal's Mad Clone had revealed itself.
'You insolent little brat.'
"H-how did it bypass Einrogard's defenses?!"
"Truly astonishing...!"
As the Death Knights marveled at the magic that had penetrated Einrogard's defenses to manifest as an illusion, the clone coldly spat out its words.
"Shut up, you ignorant trash. You fools who get deceived by the words of a worthless doppelganger and hinder the great work."
"That's quite harsh, sir."
"Do you have any idea how annoyed the Empire gets every time you show up periodically?"
"The sleep-deprived doppelganger from last time was better than this!"
No matter how much the Death Knights jeered, the doppelganger remained unfazed. The illusion spun around and glared at Lee Han. Lee Han considered throwing his staff aside, but stopped immediately when their eyes met.
'Daring to escape on your own wasn't enough—now you ignore my summons? Do you really think your pitiful skills can...'
"There were circumstances, Master!"
Lee Han quickly defended himself.
He had lectures to attend at Einrogard, assignments to complete, club activities to manage, and countless other obligations—he had no choice but to leave...
'To cling to such trivial matters. Your foolishness is enough to make me dizzy, you wretch.'
'If you keep making me dizzy, maybe I'll just exterminate you...?'
"For the first and last time, this royal will make a concession. Wretch, you must remember this and pass it down through generations."
"Yes. I'll keep that in mind."
Lee Han resolved to tell his future children, 'Beware of the Crazy Doppelganger.'
Having said his piece, the doppelganger arrogantly nodded his chin and spoke.
"Then prepare yourself."
"...Prepare for what?"
The doppelganger let out a deep sigh—one thick with contempt, scorn, and humiliation. Without a single word, it sounded like, 'I have to teach this idiot as my disciple?'
"Have you already forgotten what you were supposed to complete last time?"
"No, I did practice some Psychokinesis magic."
Lee Han answered carefully, hoping the other had a hazy memory.
Unfortunately, his opponent possessed an extremely sharp and precise recollection.
"It was the 5th Circle. Start the next 5th Circle magic immediately. You have a long way to go."
"5th Circle magic? Already?"
"I heard it's a 5th Circle spell in the Psychokinesis line. One based on incantationless casting."
"That's absurd! Isn't that too fast? You're only a second-year!"
"I actually think this is just the right pace. If anything, it might even be slow."
"Even so, incantationless Psychokinesis? That's not even one of the easier 5th Circle spells!"
"I'm glad to see everyone is so interested in Lee Han of the Wardanaz Family. If I may offer a word of advice, since you've already succeeded once, you're more than capable of attempting it..."
'Why is it so noisy back there?'
Lee Han grimaced, wishing the Death Knights and Intarendals would just disappear.
He wasn't in danger of being attacked, but just talking to the illusionary doppelganger was mentally exhausting enough.
Here he was, at the crossroads of whether to learn the next 5th Circle spell or not, and they were just babbling nonsense in the background...
"I'm not entirely sure what the next 5th Circle spell I should learn is, though."
From the 5th Circle onward, magic wasn't just about mimicking and memorizing spells—it required complete understanding, even in the narrowest of fields.
You couldn't just demand to learn it; you had to be fully committed to delving deep into that branch of magic.
Hearing Lee Han's excuse, the doppelganger coldly advised:
"Visit the estate, wretch. The garbage teachings are dulling your intellect."
"Hmm. I'll think about it some more."
Lee Han carefully deflected, knowing full well that visiting in person would mean being attacked with magic until death (or until he died) to recall it.
"But aside from Psychokinesis, I don't have much confidence in any other magic..."
"Though Lee Han is exceptionally talented overall, I've heard he has significant experience with Lightning, Frost, and Dark Elements."
"......"
Lee Han regretted not snapping Intarendals' neck earlier. He should've turned him into dirt right then and there!
In that short time, they had gathered quite a lot of information about him.
'Your elemental preferences are at least somewhat tolerable. You can take pride in not choosing garbage elements.'
"Yes. Thank you."
Even receiving praise didn't bring Lee Han much joy. He regretted not having started with more ordinary elements instead.
"Ah. I'm also quite skilled with the water element."
"Are you claiming you can complete a 5th Circle water magic now? Quite ambitious. I had suspected you were avoiding instruction, but it seems I was mistaken."
"......"
Lee Han felt utterly defeated, as if trying to remove a wart only to have it grow larger.
The Death Knights standing behind them interjected.
-Compared to lightning, frost, and dark elements, water might seem ordinary. But Lord Wardanaz has delved far deeper into water magic than most!
-Exactly! To look down on it just because of its common applications... Can you truly call yourself an archmage with such narrow thinking?
"Hmph. Knights who know nothing about magic running their mouths." The Crazy Doppelganger lightly dismissed the Death Knights' protests, though he did take some of their words to heart. "Very well, let's see what kind of 5th Circle water magic you've developed. Prove to me what makes your water magic 'deeper' than other 5th Circle spells."
"Actually... I'm not really that good with water magic. My applications are quite ordinary and conventional."
Though Lee Han spoke up, the doppelganger paid no heed. It had no time to waste humoring a disciple's unnecessary modesty.
"Start with lightning."
"Excuse me?"
The Crazy Doppelganger fell silent for a moment, his phantom form flickering faintly. From beyond the illusion came the sorrowful screams of a magic criminal that sounded vaguely familiar. When the doppelganger returned, he clicked his tongue and said:
"I said use lightning magic. All those trivial lightning spells you've learned—feel free to test them on these rotting knights too."
-Not a bad idea. I'll be your opponent.
One of the Death Knights enthusiastically raised his shield and stepped forward.
"If it aids the heir's training, what reason have I to refuse?"
Of course, the Crazy Doppelganger's words were rude and arrogant, but Einrogard had always been full of such characters. They might as well consider him the newly arrived Professor Bible's twin and move on.
"Why are you so eager... Never mind. Lightning Spear!"
Resigned, Lee Han began chanting. As he recited the incantation for Lightning Spear, a cloak of lightning began swirling around him.
Given that shape transformation was among the most difficult aspects of lightning magic, Lee Han's ability to maintain both a lightning spear and cloak stably earned him praise from the Death Knights.
-Magnificent!
-Rare indeed is the mage who can wield lightning with such stability!
"Shut up, you're being noisy. What would ignorant fools like you know about magic?"
The Crazy Doppelganger scowled at their compliments. This was barely a beginner's level, and such excessive praise might inflate his already immature disciple's ego.
CRASH!
Lee Han swung his lightning spear, clashing with the Death Knight. The undead warrior countered with a shield imbued with powerful magic, forcing Lee Han back. When the lightning cloak roared, threatening to sweep the surroundings, the Death Knight swiftly took cover behind his shield and held firm.
As the brief skirmish paused and Lee Han caught his breath, the doppelganger spoke.
"You felt it, didn't you?"
"Yes. Death Knights are cheating undead abominations."
"Hmph."
Suppressing his irritation by imagining killing Antagondals again, the Crazy Doppelganger continued:
"Your lightning attacks are one-dimensional. It's like using a legendary sword to slaughter chickens. What you must learn is the essence of lightning itself."
"The essence? What does that mean?" one Death Knight questioned, but Lee Han understood immediately.
"High-tier lightning spirits can become lightning itself, even when borrowing a human body. He wants me to replicate that, even if only temporarily."
Flash Lightning Fire—what Perkuntra had demonstrated before, becoming lightning incarnate. If he could wield even a fraction of that power momentarily, the possibilities would be immense.
"Good. At least you're not completely dull-witted."
As the two conversed, the Death Knights watching from behind suddenly had a thought:
'Come to think of it, doesn't the Wardanaz boy bear some responsibility for this situation too?'