Episode 870
Episode 870
'This place...'
Lee Han quickly checked the two spells stored in his Lesser Magic Storage while simultaneously deploying a defensive barrier using Wardanaz's Telekinesis around himself.
Once the most urgent preparations were complete, he moved on to Enhancement Magic.
Starting with Precognition, he swiftly boosted his physical abilities and lowered his stance. In one hand, he gripped his staff, while the other clutched the hem of his defensive cloak.
"......"
Having executed all these actions without a single wasted moment, Lee Han suddenly found himself feeling absurd.
'...Why am I so good at this?'
They say repetition breeds skill, but this was beyond mere skill—it was downright excessive!
Even he was baffled by his own proficiency.
'No time for distractions.'
Carefully returning to his original stance, Lee Han surveyed his surroundings. Thankfully, there was no sign of the endless abyss trap he had feared or any ambush by enraged spirits.
Instead, what greeted him was an infinite horizon—an endless expanse of land and sea stretching beyond sight.
The mountain ranges of Einrogard had been impressive, but compared to the colossal peaks visible far below, they now seemed like mere hills.
The sea beneath those mountains was equally surreal.
Moving like a dark, living entity—both eerily still and unsettlingly vast—it stretched so wide and deep that it felt dizzying to behold.
Beyond the mountains lay the sea, and beyond the sea, more mountains...
Overwhelmed, Lee Han tilted his head upward and saw unfamiliar stars and planets drifting slowly through the void—a sight he had never witnessed before.
In his haste to take in his surroundings, he hadn't even realized that he, too, was standing atop a mountain range.
It was just so massive that he hadn't even noticed the steep slope beneath him.
As a mage, it was inevitable to learn about dimensions to some degree, and Lee Han, who had taken courses across all disciplines, was naturally more knowledgeable than most. But the sight before him now was honestly astonishing.
Among all the dimensions he had studied or witnessed, none had ever been this transcendent in scale.
'What kind of dimension is this?'
While he was still pondering, the Black Book flew in from behind. It had clearly followed him through the portal.
Lee Han greeted it warmly.
"Die!"
True to his reputation as a seasoned magic combatant, Lee Han immediately struck with his Black Magnetite Staff.
Since his opponent was undoubtedly a magical construct, he aimed for its weakness.
But the Black Book was no pushover. Anticipating Lee Han's attack, it swiftly fluttered away, maintaining distance before immediately casting a spell.
The book multiplied into dozens of copies, scattering through the air like fluttering sheets of paper.
These weren't mere illusions meant to hide its true form—each sheet carried a powerful binding force that restrained Lee Han's movements upon contact.
As the paper sheets coiled around him like mummy wrappings, Lee Han instantly swung Valdororn's Mana Hammer, blasting them away before channeling power into the Black Magnetite portion of his staff.
Pah!
Unlike the Mana Hammer, which required close-range strikes, the Black Magnetite could disrupt magic remotely upon contact. The dozens of paper sheets scattered instantly.
The Black Book fluttered its pages in disbelief—was this mage really using such a terrifying staff? Realizing it couldn't stop Lee Han this way, the paper sheets began transforming into an army.
When Lee Han recognized the familiar skeletal knights of the Skeleton Principal, he gritted his teeth.
"You dare push me through a portal and then shamelessly summon an army?!"
—......
The Black Book was genuinely wronged.
Admittedly, it hadn't stopped the approach of the Nine Mountains and Eight Seas portal.
But that was only because it couldn't—that dimension only permitted entry to those who were qualified.
And it hadn't even pushed him in the first place!
"Hmph. Doesn't matter. I'll show you the power of a dragon."
—!?
At Lee Han's eerie declaration, the Black Book flinched slightly.
What had he done in that short time to claim he could wield a dragon's power?!
Outsiders...
"...!"
Hearing the rough, guttural voice from behind, Lee Han glared deeply at the Black Book.
It was because of this bastard that he hadn't noticed the approach.
"You're the reason!"-......
The Black Book fluttered indignantly once more, as if protesting its innocence.
The figure who had spoken from behind had a somewhat familiar appearance.
A massive frame rivaling that of a giant, with a ferocious visage reminiscent of a demon.
It was a yaksha—a race Lee Han had seen once before at Einrogard.
The difference was that while the yaksha at Einrogard had been old and dressed plainly, the one before him now was young and clad in majestic attire.
Lee Han's voice naturally grew more respectful.
"Are you... a yaksha, by any chance?"
'Yaksha' is both accurate and inaccurate. Are you truly human? I don't see humans often enough to be certain.
"I am."
Is that so? Then you may call me the Yaksha King. For you humans, the title 'King' should be easy to comprehend.
"So you are a king!"
Lee Han's deference deepened even further.
He had experienced firsthand, on multiple occasions, just how formidable beings bearing royal titles from other dimensions could be.
Hmm. By any chance, are you Os's disciple?
"......"
Lee Han hesitated for about a second before answering.
Setting aside the psychological torment of admitting he was the Skeleton Principal's disciple, what would be the most advantageous response here?
'First of all, I heard this dimension was visited by the Skeleton Principal in his youth. So he probably didn't cause too much trouble here. Surely he didn't go around picking fights...'
The Black Book beside him fluttered as if urging him to just admit it. After glaring at it briefly, Lee Han spoke.
"Well, one could say that... but at the same time, it's not entirely accurate to deny it either... and strictly speaking, the concept of being a disciple is..."
What an unusual human. I suppose the kingdom you were born and raised in must have a custom of speaking in such convoluted ways?
The Yaksha King analyzed Lee Han's response with an air of majesty and cold detachment.
Embarrassed, Lee Han simply admitted it.
"Actually, yes, I am his disciple."
Oh? Then was your earlier evasiveness due to reluctance to acknowledge being Os's disciple? There are many reasons a disciple might dislike admitting their master, but from what I can see, your reason seems to be...
"......"
It took the Yaksha King about thirty minutes of psychological counseling for Lee Han—whom he had just met—before he finally rose from his seat.
At one point, analyses like 'Perhaps you were warped by an overly affectionate master?' came up, but Lee Han endured it with superhuman patience.
Thud!
The Yaksha King unfastened his massive crimson-gold armor and helmet, then promptly placed them onto Lee Han. Startled, Lee Han asked:
"What is this?"
This dimension is vast. I know you mages have the skill to wander between dimensions, but even accounting for that, this place is expansive. You could get lost or encounter enemies—that's why I've given you my helmet.
"...Thank you."
Come to think of it, mages do enjoy knowledge, don't they? I suppose I should share something that might interest you. According to records, mages who visit this dimension rarely do so intentionally—most arrive by accident. And they don't survive past three days.
"How very kind of you."
Lee Han responded with feigned politeness.
What kind of person goes out of their way to share such information with a guest?
'I should really avoid associating with the Skeleton Principal's acquaintances from now on.'
I'm not being kind. I'm helping you because you're Os's disciple. If I were kind, would I have let those other mages die?
"Were you close with my master?"
In response to the question, the Yaksha King gestured to his own eyes, which burned with a golden glow. They radiated an intense magical aura.
"Did my master gift them to you?"
Os plucked out my eyes and made new ones.
"Actually, as I mentioned earlier, my relationship with my master isn't particularly good."
The Yaksha King seemed unbothered by Lee Han's words, instead tapping the scabbard at his waist.
I see. Among humans, grudges accumulated by a master are often inherited by their disciple. Are you worried I might take out that grudge on you? I don't care in the slightest.
Lee Han didn't respond immediately.
After his recent encounter with Yukveltire, he had learned—through every fiber of his being—that the words "I don't care in the slightest" could very well be a lie.
"Os took my eye because of a test. He was curious, you see."
"You mean to ask how well he could steal an eye??"
Was this a joke? Jokes tend to vary so much by regional customs that they're rarely effective.
"Haha. Pity. That was my best attempt at humor."
The Yaksha King continued speaking without changing his expression.
This dimension was one of the most vast, endless, and infinite among countless dimensions, a place only the qualified could enter.
The Yaksha King had ruled over yakshas and several other races since time immemorial—so long that even his own memory couldn't recall the beginning.
Then, one day, a young human mage visited the dimension. Not by accident or mistake, but by qualification.
Normally, he would have left him be, but the Yaksha King grew curious and approached.
The amount of Good Karma the other had accumulated—
It was truly staggering, beyond anything he'd ever witnessed.
"Not Bad Karma?"
Hmm. Perhaps the kingdom you were born and raised in was so noisy that your hearing has weakened?
Lee Han firmly resolved never to speak carelessly in front of this Yaksha King again.
"That... might be the case..."
I'll keep that in mind from now on. Intrigued by just how strong he was, the Yaksha King proposed a duel...
"So you were injured in one eye."
To be precise, he was injured far more than that.
"......"
Lee Han began debating whether he should make a run for it now.
For someone who claimed not to hold grudges, the Yaksha King seemed to remember things a little too well.
"But why did your teacher visit this place?"
You don't know?
"Uh, no."
Hmm. That's unusual too. Normally, when a master sends their disciple to such a dangerous place, they give as many warnings and explanations as possible. To send you without any... The most plausible explanation is that you stole your master's secrets and figured out how to visit on your own.
"Absolutely not."
Lee Han's expression turned serious, even though he was speaking to the Yaksha King.
Oh? Then how did you end up here?
"There's a truly tragic and wicked story behind it."
Swallowing his indignation, Lee Han explained what had happened.
The Skeleton Principal gave him a book, and when he learned some magic from it—that damn thing...
The Black Book fluttered its pages as if grumbling. After all it had done for him, was it really fair to blame it for failing to block one measly portal?
The Yaksha King tilted his head, as if unable to comprehend the explanation.
How astonishing. Hard to believe.
"Right?! I can't believe it either!"
Ah. I think we're talking about slightly different things. You, human, probably meant that it's absurd for a teacher to act this way, no? I was referring to Os. By human standards, Os was always the type to be affectionate and kind-hearted. To treat a disciple like this...
Lee Han stared at the Yaksha King the same way he would at Gainando.
"You've been deceived."
Hmm. Time can change one's nature.
"I'm telling you, you've been deceived."
Even so, it's astonishing. Who would've thought a mage who accumulated so much Good Karma could change so drastically.
"Can you not hear me?"
I hear you. But your words are too emotionally charged with resentment toward your master to be credible. 'Wow, this guy has the makings of an Einrogard professor.' His skill at flipping Lee Han's robes inside out was extraordinary. He'd probably do just as well flipping students' robes inside out too.
In any case, that means we still don't know why Os visited this place. Look there.
The Yaksha King raised a finger and pointed upward.
Stars, planets, all manner of bizarre spaces—and above them all.
At the summit of the mountain where the two stood, a single point of light was visible. Though small as a dot, it shone brightly enough to be seen from here.
"What is that?"
Everything.
"Pardon?"
Literally. It's said that any being who reaches it can obtain whatever they desire.
"I see. Right."
Lee Han answered absentmindedly. The Yaksha King sounded intrigued.
Hmm. For a human mage to hear this and remain unmoved is impossible. Perhaps your soul was severely damaged in an accident?
"......"