Episode 811
Episode 811
"How can one person possibly be a 4th, 5th, AND 6th year at the same time? Don't you all find that strange?"
"Hmm. It's true that rumors aren't always reliable. As cultured nobles..."
"It's not about culture but intelligence... No. Never mind."
Garal caught himself mid-sentence.
He still hadn't shaken off the habits from his time with the Magic Tower.
'This calls for self-reflection. I'm no longer a mage of the Magic Tower. I need to let go of my pride.' Hadn't he suffered countless times because of that very pride?
"Excuse me, Mage. We'd like you to leave our party now."
"Wha... what!? You think your little party can protect someone like me!? How dare you say such things!"
"That attitude is exactly why! You keep muttering about how stupid we are behind our backs every chance you get—how can we possibly fight for our lives with you around?"
"I was merely pointing out facts..."
"Enough. Here's our party's new mage. We hit it off at the inn yesterday. A true talent who can cast two whole 1st Circle spells."
"That's not even a real mage! That's just a magic parrot! Even a magic parrot would be better than..."
"Just leave quickly. If you don't go, we'll call the guards!"
Thanks to several bitter experiences, Garal had gained enlightenment.
Just how difficult it was to earn gold coins himself!
"He must be a 6th year."
"I'd say he's most likely a 6th year. There's a small chance he's a 5th... Wait, where did those guys go?"
The Baldrogard students belatedly realized something was off—the Kallarogard students who had been there moments ago were now fleeing into the distance.
"Where are you going! Our duel isn't over yet!"
'It's over, you fools,' Garal grumbled inwardly. It had been obvious from the start how this would end...
One of the fleeing Kallarogard students suddenly stopped and shouted:
"Baldro bastards! I don't like you, but as fellow students of the Empire's magic schools, I'll give you some advice—RUN!"
"What?"
"Wait, did he just call us Baldro bastards..."
"Run, I say! That's an ancient forbidden spell! Who knows what'll happen if you stay here!"
With those final words, the Kallarogard students bolted away. Lee Han quickly explained:
"It's under perfect control! No need to worry!"
While the Baldrogard students might have lacked talent in magic, they weren't stupid in other areas.
The fact that they hadn't enrolled in Einrogard proved they had an instinctive knack for pursuing the happiest life possible as mages.
As such, the Baldrogard students were quick to sense the danger in this situation.
"Are you absolutely sure it's under control? Given the rumors about the Wardanaz family and testimonies about that boy, this seems quite dangerous."
"...I agree. That magic looks extremely dangerous."
When even Garal agreed, the Baldrogard students made a bold decision.
"Retreat!"
Watching the students retreat like the ebbing tide, Lee Han called out in frustration:
"Everyone! I told you it's under control! If you'd just listen to my explanation! The truth is, I didn't cast this spell because I wanted to—"
"Hmm! Even more suspicious! Everyone, don't look back!"
'I underestimated the Baldrogard students too much...!' Lee Han had thought he could at least persuade the Baldrogard students, even if not the Kallarogard ones. But he was wrong.
Though lacking in magical prowess, the Baldrogard students knew exactly when to run.
"Ugh."
Lee Han sighed inwardly. He was worried this might spawn strange rumors. 'No. The Kallarogard students are all antisocial, and the Baldrogard students are disliked by everyone at other magic schools, so rumors won't spread that far.' Lee Han tried to reassure himself.
Of course, the problem of rumors spreading within Kallarogard and Baldrogard still remained, but Lee Han chose to gloss over that. 'To think I let those trash escape. And it's shameful that it took this long despite the royal family's orders.'
The Crazy Doppelganger lightly admonished Lee Han without knowing his inner thoughts.
"......"
Lee Han glared at the Crazy Doppelganger. Now that he thought about it, if this crazy doppelganger hadn't caused a ruckus by demanding he show off his magic, the whole thing could've ended happily with just a fight between Kallarogard and Baldrogard students.
"Understood. You may leave now."
The Black Emperor's Crown grants control over nearby undead. Especially against undead-summoning black mages... 'How do I turn this off?' Ignoring his disciple's words, Lee Han carefully examined the <Echo Stone> embedded in the tip of his staff while the Crazy Doppelganger continued explaining the Black Emperor's Crown's properties.
The Crazy Doppelganger paused mid-explanation and said,
"With your current senses, you won't be able to grasp its internal structure yet, so don't mess with it recklessly..."
Pop!
The illusion vanished the moment he finished speaking. Lee Han stared blankly at the <Echo Stone>.
Just in case, he extended his mana like a thread and poked at a specific part inside—luckily, it turned off.
The Crazy Doppelganger held Lee Han's talent in fairly high regard.
But he still underestimated the sheer tenacity Lee Han displayed in certain situations. 'Hmm. I should leave it off for a while.' Lee Han set the staff aside, planning to later claim he'd turned it off by accident if questioned.
* * *
Iactus:
"Hey. I heard someone from another magic academy cast a forbidden ancient spell this time?"
Beaver
- Penguin
- Fox:
"Brilliant!"
Iactus:
"Brilliant? What's so brilliant about it?!"
Beaver
- Penguin
- Fox:
"Why not? Don't you want to do the same?"
For the upperclassmen of Einrogard, casting a forbidden ancient spell on students from another magic academy wasn't something to criticize—it was something to admire.
After graduation, weren't students from other magic academies just future competitors anyway?
Within the Empire's magical academia, they'd have to claw and fight for funding, so making a name for oneself early was a masterstroke of preemptive dominance.
Given the time and opportunity, any of them would've cast a forbidden ancient spell to spread their own name far and wide.
So why was Iactus reacting like this?
Iactus:
"Because I should've been the one to do it!"
Beaver
- Penguin
- Fox:
"Ah. We get it. It's the start of the semester, so you didn't have enough time to prepare. How could anyone pull off a spell like that?"
Iactus:
"They must've been preparing since last year. Whoever it is, they're a sneaky bastard!"
Bulgasari:
"Hold on. Shouldn't we all reconsider? Sure, you could whip out a forbidden ancient spell for a quick boost in reputation. But isn't a mage who steadily researches and publishes spells, building up real achievements, the truly impressive one?"
Iactus:
"Nope."
Beaver
- Penguin
- Fox:
"Doesn't seem like it."
"......"
Lee Han watched the Watcher Club's conversation with a complicated expression.
Aside from Bulgasari freezing the mood, it seemed the rumor was spreading faster than expected.
At least, since it involved a different magic academy, Lee Han's name hadn't come up yet...
Iactus:
"So who is it? This enviable bastard?"
Beaver
- Penguin
- Fox:
"I heard it was a fifth or sixth-year..."
"!"
At that moment, a wicked inspiration flashed through Lee Han's mind.
Gonadaltes:
"Hoh. I know who it is."
Iactus:
"Oho! You wicked friend! Who, who?"
Gonadaltes:
"Normally, I'd demand payment, but I'll just tell you this time. It's Yukveltire, a fifth-year from the Blue Dragon Tower, an Enchantment Magic specialist, and a descendant of a great bloodline."
Iactus:
"!"
Beaver
- Penguin
- Fox:
"!"
Bulgasari:
"!!!!!"
Iactus:
"Bulgasari. One exclamation mark is enough. I've always wondered—why do you use so many?"
Bulgasari:
"...For emphasis?"
Beaver
- Penguin
- Fox:
"That's not the point right now. Yukveltire? She is a fifth-year, but that's weird."
Gonadaltes:
"What's weird about it?"
Beaver
- Penguin
- Fox:
"I heard it was a forbidden Black Magic technique."
Gonadaltes: "That can be explained too. In Yukveltire's case, she's a fifth-year student from the Black Magic faction and close friends with Diret."
Beaver
-Penguin
-Fox: "Close friends, you say?"
Iactus: "Is that so? Doesn't seem like it to me. Just like Professor Verdus has no friends, his disciple doesn't either."
Beaver
-Penguin
-Fox: "I agree. Their relationship is more like... Professor Garcia and Professor Verdus' relationship, right? Professor Garcia is kind enough to look after Professor Verdus, but if you asked if they're actually close, even Professor Garcia would punch you."
Bulgasari: "I don't think Professor Garcia would do that..."
Lee Han grumbled at the unexpectedly strict reactions and changed his words.
Gonadaltes: "Just get the gist. The point is they have a connection. That explains the Black Magic side of the forbidden spell too."
Beaver
-Penguin
-Fox: "Indeed. That Yukveltire fellow might have stolen it."
Iactus: "Or perhaps seized it by force."
Bulgasari: "Maybe she held out in the workshop until she got help..."
'Did you all get slapped by Senior Yukveltire or something?' Of course, it wasn't Lee Han's place to say this after throwing the blame onto his senior, but the reactions were colder than expected.
Still, there was no helping it. 'Senior, I'm sorry. But this is Einrogard we're talking about.' Lee Han was acting exactly as Yukveltire had taught him.
Bakwantalana: "What were you all talking about? What's this about 'holding out in the workshop until getting help'?"
Having arrived late, Bakwantalana seemed to have only caught the last sentence before the conversation disappeared.
Lee Han kindly explained.
Gonadaltes: "We were saying that Yukveltire was the one who showed forbidden magic to the students from the external magic academy this time."
Bakwantalana: "..."
"No? What are you talking about?"
Iactus: "Huh? No? Then who was it?"
Bakwantalana: "I haven't confirmed who yet, but it's not Yukveltire. Definitely not..."
'Huh?!' Lee Han was startled.
Who would've thought there was someone who knew the truth!
But even while panicking, Lee Han immediately responded. In situations like these, the slower reactor always lost.
Gonadaltes: "Well, don't believe it if you don't want to. I went out of my way to explain it without even asking for compensation, and all I get is outright denial. How hurtful."
Iactus: "Whoa, whoa. Calm down, friend. Bakwantalana didn't mean it in a bad way."
Gonadaltes: "I think Bakwantalana might be a bit jealous of Yukveltire. He can't stand seeing Yukveltire gain such glory. But outright denying it is a bit much, don't you think?"
Bakwantalana: "What...! That's not it!"
Gonadaltes: "Everyone, think carefully about what I said. How many people in Einrogard would dare show forbidden magic to external magic academy students during Club Week, huh? Doesn't my argument sound convincing? It's Yukveltire, plain and simple!"
Lee Han skillfully appealed to their emotions.
Sure enough, the other club members, who might have harbored some resentment toward Yukveltire, quickly sided with him.
Iactus: "I believe Gonadaltes' theory. It seems highly plausible."
Beaver
-Penguin
-Fox: "Me too."
Bakwantalana: "Then think whatever you want, you imbeciles. To think such fools are members of the Watchers... It's sigh-inducing."
Bulgasari: "Everyone, stop fighting!"
Iactus: "Bulgasari, don't act like a bat and pick a side! Gonadaltes' theory or Bakwantalana's?"
Bulgasari: "I, I..."
"Well..."
"I did think... other students might be possible too."
Beaver
-Penguin
-Fox: "Who? Stop just saying 'someone' and give us a convincing name."
Bulgasari: "W-well, if I had to say... Lee Han of the Wardanaz family, maybe..."
"!!"
Lee Han got chills. The seniors of Einrogard truly couldn't be underestimated. How did his name come up here?!
Iactus: "Hey. He's a second-year."
Beaver
-Penguin
-Fox: "Are you an idiot?"
Gonadaltes: "Good grief."
"That's nonsense. Really, to think I'm hearing this kind of talk."
Iactus: "Gonadaltes, bear with it. Today's been full of strange remarks."