Episode 86
Episode 86
"Are we... are we in the wrong place? This doesn't look like the school..."
Unfortunately, Yoner was still in denial about their situation. Lee Han spoke with a bitter expression.
"This is the school. It's the Punishment Hall."
"...?!?"
Though some freshmen had been there themselves, for most students the Punishment Hall was something only heard about in rumors.
-They say if you fail three subjects, you get dragged to the Punishment Hall all vacation.
-I heard the bottom ten students in midterms get taken to the Punishment Hall?
-This is just a rumor, but apparently some seniors got sent there after failing an experiment.
-People say if you get caught trying to escape school, you're taken to the Punishment Hall, but that's gotta be fake, right??
Most seemed like lies, but rumors always contain a grain of truth.
Clank!
"!"
Lee Han had been anxiously gripping the doorknob of their private room, but soon realized his worry was unfounded.
Surprisingly, the door to the room they were in stood wide open.
'It is the Punishment Hall, but...'
Lee Han realized this particular Punishment Hall wasn't currently in use.
The hallway outside was covered in dust and cobwebs, with all the private rooms on either side empty and left open.
"Seems like it's not being used right now."
"That's not very comforting."
Yoner muttered in a frightened voice.
An empty Punishment Hall was scarier than one with people in it.
He'd rather there were people...
"Finding the Punishment Hall was pretty difficult. This is going to be a headache."
"How do you know... oh."
Yoner looked at Lee Han with an apologetic expression. He'd just remembered that Lee Han had been to the Punishment Hall before.
"It wasn't as bad an experience as you'd think."
"The Headmaster didn't threaten you, right?"
"Nope. From now on, if the Headmaster ever threatens me into saying something, I'll add 'I swear' in front of it."
"That's a good idea."
Having confirmed this, the two walked to the end of the hallway.
But there was no staircase.
"...???"
"????"
Only a solid brick wall stood before them.
Flustered, Lee Han turned around. There were no other passages on the opposite side. They had to go forward.
'This is...'
Lee Han intuitively understood what was happening. Though he'd only been at the Magic School for a few weeks, he'd already adapted down to his bones.
'A magical passage.'
Just like when he'd tried escaping through the underground storage before, the path was concealed by magic.
There were two methods.
Find it or force your way through.
Lee Han pulled out some neatly paper-wrapped charcoal powder from his pocket. Yoner asked curiously:
"What's that?"
"Ratford and I made it in case we needed it for escaping."
It worked on similar principles to graphite powder for revealing fingerprints on objects.
Yoner was at a loss for words at Lee Han's preparedness.
Seeing Yoner's strange look, Lee Han thought he must be envious.
'I should teach him later.'
Yoner would definitely love this kind of technique!
"...Not working."
But unlike the underground storage last time, this wasn't so easily solved. There were no traces to be found.
Lee Han didn't give up.
"Yoner. Step back."
If technique didn't work, then brute force.
Lee Han planned to blast away the magic concealing this passage just like he'd blown through the defensive spells at the dorm entrance before.
'No need to hit it that hard. Just enough. Enough to reveal the passage.'
Stop that, you fool!
"!"
A spirit's voice boomed thunderously through the hallway. It was a fierce voice that radiated wildness just from hearing it.
"Who are you?"
My name is not for the unworthy. Why have you come to my shadowed domain? Answer quickly or face my wrath.
"We were introduced by Mr. Parakis."
By Parakis?
The fierce spirit's voice faltered, as if taken aback. This seemed unexpected.
You're quite strong for a professor at this school, but that doesn't make you worthy to contract with me. I don't know what Parakis was thinking sending you here...
"Um, I'm not a professor. I'm a student."
Yoner cut in.
?
"I'm a freshman..."
......
An awkward silence fell for a moment. Lee Han could sense the mana waves flowing along the walls and ceiling.
The spirit seemed to be verifying things again.
So a young mage... Wait. Is he really a young mage? Not someone disguised?
"If you don't believe me, you're welcome to verify."
The fierce spirit seemed to deliberate before deciding not to suspect further.
In that case, it makes sense that Parakis sent you. That fellow tends to be kind to young mages. But I won't make a contract. I don't contract with those I don't know.
"As I thought..."
Yoner said regretfully.
"It's because Lee Han has too much mana, isn't it? Just like the other spirits."
...What nonsense is this? Absolutely not!
The opposing spirit was flustered by Yoner's words.
Of all the misunderstandings, to think I'd avoid someone out of fear because they have too much mana?
This was an insult he couldn't let slide.
"But you're not even showing yourself. From what Parakis said, Lee Han's very existence seems to frighten spirits."
"Yoner... He didn't say it like that..."
Now I sound like some kind of freak!
"So that's why you're not showing yourself?"
I told you no! Do I look like some cowardly spirit who'd hide just because of excessive mana?!
"Then what's the reason you're not revealing yourself?"
This time, Lee Han asked with genuine curiosity.
The spirit hesitated before answering.
I simply... dislike pointless fights. I was avoiding one.
"......"
"......"
Lee Han and Yoner exchanged glances. Then they spoke in unison, as if understanding.
"I see."
"That makes sense."
You insolent little human mages! Do you think I can't read the meaning behind your tones?!
Perkuntra.
That was the spirit's name, which he hadn't shared with the two.
Spirits summoned by mages typically either resided in locations prepared by the mage to fulfill their contracted duties or appeared when called to perform agreed tasks.
The key point here was the contract.
A mage couldn't demand anything beyond the initial contract terms from a spirit, and spirits likewise wouldn't comply with such demands.
Conversely, this meant spirits staked their honor on upholding the exact terms they'd initially agreed to.
So why was Perkuntra behaving like this?
One might understand if this were an occupied punishment room, but an empty, sealed one?
The answer was simple: there had never been a proper contract.
-"I have summoned thee, great spirit Perkuntra. Submit to me. Bow before me. I know thy true name, and thus thou shalt kneel!"
-"Enough of this drivel, you stinking Lich! No matter how much I respect strength, do you think I'd kneel to the likes of you?!"
The Lich Headmaster had discovered Perkuntra's name from ancient relics and used it to summon him.
Naturally, Perkuntra didn't obediently submit just because his name was known. If nothing else, he had no desire to contract with a Lich.
The two fought relentlessly for seven days and seven nights.
When no amount of threats could break Perkuntra's defiance, the Lich Headmaster finally proposed a compromise.
-"If you despise contracting so much, what say you to a compromise, arrogant spirit Perkuntra? Perform but one task for me, and I'll never command you again. In return, I'll provide regular tribute!"
-"...What task do you speak of?"
-"I nurture young mages. There is a building where these young mages are educated. All I ask is that you prevent them from escaping!"
-"That's all?"
-"That's all!"
Perkuntra wavered at the Lich's offer.
Compared to convoluted, detailed contracts, simply monitoring a building to prevent young mages from escaping seemed trivial.
Moreover, without a formal contract, he wouldn't need to tether his soul to that wretched Lich.
-"If you refuse..."
-"Arrogant spirit. This is my final offer. Refuse now, and I'll tear you apart limb from limb before sealing you away. Every tome bearing your name shall be entombed in forgotten graves. Will you choose eternal oblivion... or accept my proposal?"
-...Fine. I accept!
Perkuntra, realizing he couldn't defeat the Lich Headmaster, ultimately accepted the proposal.
And he thought, 'How often could these young mages possibly try to escape anyway?'
At worst, they'd just be homesick and want to go outside, right?
...But contrary to his expectations, the young mages were quite capable, and escape attempts were frequent.
Only later did Perkuntra understand the reason.
That damned Lich was actively encouraging escapes.
-"If they succeed in escaping, isn't that talent in itself? Let them try their best to escape."
Instead of punishing escape attempts as misconduct, the madman would cancel the punishment entirely if they succeeded, so the bold students kept trying to escape.
As a result, the work in the underground prison was far more grueling and exhausting than Perkuntra had anticipated.
The only time he could rest was when he was alone in this sealed punishment room... though even this peace would shatter the moment students attempted another escape.
Still, when there were no students around, this sealed punishment room was truly pleasant.
But today, two young mages—utterly clueless—had suddenly barged into Perkuntra's resting place.
'Parakis. That bastard!'
He knew the spirit cared for young mages, but to send them here like this?
Writhing in irritation, Perkuntra spoke aloud.
"I refrain from revealing my form out of consideration for you young mages!"
"Ah... I see..."
Yoner, unlike Gáinán, didn't openly provoke the spirit, but the sincerity behind his words only angered Perkuntra further.
A spirit of Perkuntra's caliber could easily discern the thoughts behind a novice mage's words.
Yoner was inwardly convinced that Perkuntra was scared.
What an absurd misunderstanding.
True, the young mage beside him possessed staggering mana, but Perkuntra wasn't the kind of spirit to cower and flee from something like that.
Lee Han, growing impatient, made a polite request.
"Understood, Lord Spirit. Since you have no intention of forming a contract, could you perhaps open a path for us?"
Wait!
"?"
You two young mages are doubting my strength in your hearts. Do you have any idea how insulting that is?
"No—"
Lee Han protested indignantly.
"We spoke with proper manners, didn't we? Why assume such paranoid thoughts?"
You think I can't read those emotions?!
Lee Han and Yoner flinched slightly. But Lee Han didn't back down.
"But we can't control fleeting thoughts, can we? Regardless of what we thought, we behaved with honor and courtesy."
Yoner nodded vigorously in agreement—there wasn't a single thing wrong with that statement.
Of course, Perkuntra was far from convinced.
Then I shall show you a glimpse of my power.
"If you open that wall, we might be able to see it—"
Silence and prepare. You! Gather your mana.
"I've only been learning magic for less than a year, though."
I know. That's why I'll show you in the simplest way possible. Use the mana you've gathered to convert an element!
The spirit showed no signs of backing down.
Lee Han gave up and began gathering mana. If they wanted to find a way out, they'd have to convince this spirit first.
"Which element should I use?"
The most destructive one!
"......"
Didn't I tell you not to doubt me?!
The spirit flared up again, as if reading Lee Han's hesitation. Lee Han winced.
"Burn!"
Of course, the most destructive element was fire. Hoping the insight he'd gained from petting the puppy would help, Lee Han summoned flames.
At that moment, a massive bolt of lightning from the ceiling of the punishment room came crashing down toward the flames.
BOOM!!!
"!"
"!!"
Lee Han and Yoner jumped at the deafening noise.
And what they saw next shocked them even more.
The flames Lee Han had summoned remained completely unharmed.
"...Uh, what did you just do?"