Episode 880
Episode 880
"Be quiet, you lowly one."
"Yes."
When the Crazy Doppelganger glared, Lee Han immediately shut his mouth.
"It seems worthless mages like these... have no understanding of the value of truth or the importance of hardship."
At the ancient archmage's lament, Professor Zorjik cautiously offered his opinion.
"Excuse me, Archmage. Do you know what my goal is?"
"Why should royalty care about that?"
"To become the next headmaster of Einrogard."
"......"
Faced with this unexpectedly shocking goal, even the Crazy Doppelganger looked at Professor Zorjik with slightly surprised eyes.
Since it was an ambition too audacious for ordinary madness to dare conceive, Professor Zorjik deserved such a reaction.
"Surprising."
"As a candidate for Einrogard's next headmaster, I have a duty to protect the students."
The Crazy Doppelganger turned to Lee Han with an expression of disbelief and asked,
"Is he really a candidate?"
"Um... yes."
Though he didn't hear it clearly, Lee Han thought he caught the Crazy Doppelganger muttering something like, 'This trash has truly lost his mind.'
"As you know, the ancient magical tradition not only treats disciples harshly but sometimes even considers them expendable. We can't help but suspect that the Archmage views Wardanaz as expendable."
"How dare you?"
Professors Zorjik and Voladi immediately drew their staves. An overwhelming presence emanated from the Crazy Doppelganger.
Not merely releasing vast amounts of mana, but completely controlling all surrounding mana while dominating the space—the unique presence of an archmage!
"You show your insolent true colors when I speak generously. Does the teaching of royalty sound so trivial that it would be passed on to expendable trash?"
The Crazy Doppelganger's voice was flat, devoid of highs and lows, making it all the more chilling.
A sinister implication radiated from him—that this space could turn into a realm of death at any moment, depending on his words.
But why was he calling Lee Han a 'lowly one'?
Jowurin, who had been listening to the conversation while cradling the disliked Eandurde in her arms, suddenly spoke up.
The Crazy Doppelganger seemed caught off guard by the dragon's abrupt intervention and hesitated.
"...He is of lowly status, so I call him a lowly one."
But Lee Han is a noble?
"It is not about lineage. O scion of noble blood."
The Crazy Doppelganger explained the customs of ancient mages.
Whether royalty or slaves, disciples were fundamentally in a position of learning and thus considered lowly beings.
Jowurin recoiled at the harsh educational environment of ancient times.
In that case, the criticism about being expendable didn't seem entirely wrong!
"No, O scion of noble blood. Just because of the title doesn't mean he is expendable..."
The Crazy Doppelganger continued his explanation calmly, showing not a hint of anger toward Jowurin.
But Jowurin was truly of dragon blood.
No matter how many ancient customs and precedents the Crazy Doppelganger cited, she shook her head stubbornly in refusal.
Jowurin didn't care! She felt sorry for Lee Han!
"......"
After persisting in persuasion for a long while, the Crazy Doppelganger finally admitted defeat.
"...Very well. I shall call him 'disciple.' O scion of noble blood."
Wow!
Lee Han, watching this unfold beside them, was even more moved than before.
"Your Highness. I don't think I've ever been this proud of you before."
Hehe. Jowurin... Wait. So you've never been proud of me before? 'Oops.' Before Jowurin could catch the odd remark, Professors Zorjik and Voladi intervened.
"Your Highness, we have another request."
"You should also point out the dangers of his teachings."
"......"
The professors used Jowurin as a shield to voice their own demands, earning a contemptuous glare from the Crazy Doppelganger.
The continent was truly a fallen place. Over time, it only worsened, never improving.
After negotiations (or more accurately, Jowurin's stubborn insistence), a few changes were made.
Lee Han's title was upgraded from 'lowly one' to 'disciple.' A truly monumental change, one might say.
Compared to that, the changes to Crazy Doppelganger's teachings were minor, but they had still shifted slightly. He had promised not to impart any magic that carried the risk of death—at least for now.
Crazy Doppelganger had tried to persuade them by citing ancient customs, arguing, 'We can just resurrect them afterward,' but Jowurin remained stubborn.
No! Absolutely not! Dying is painful!
"......"
Having suffered nothing but losses from this, Crazy Doppelganger's mood seemed far from pleasant. Lee Han cautiously observed his teacher's expression.
Normally, Lee Han wouldn't pay much attention whether his teacher was angry or upset, but things were different when that teacher was Crazy Doppelganger.
There was a reason the word "Crazy" was attached to his name.
"Master. Still, I've made a few achievements in the meantime."
Crazy Doppelganger, still in a foul mood, pretended not to hear and ignored him.
Lee Han. You seem sulky...
Given that Jowurin was the one who sulked most often here, Lee Han had developed an expert eye for distinguishing emotional resentment.
Of course, he couldn't just say, 'Yes, I am,' so Lee Han quickly denied it.
"You're not sulking. You're just slightly uncomfortable."
...Isn't that the same as sulking?
"Shh. More importantly, help me out here. I need to talk about my achievements."
Mmm! Understood!
Perhaps feeling slightly guilty for having been unreasonable with Crazy Doppelganger earlier, Jowurin nodded vigorously.
"Look. My staff is now complete."
"It would have been more powerful if you'd used a branch of the World Tree. Disciple... no, my student."
"......"
Lee Han suddenly found himself missing the days when Crazy Doppelganger would coldly scold him.
Being outright ignored like this was far more troublesome to deal with.
"Oh, right. I also completed a Skeleton Golem."
"Reflect on how late you were in completing it. To take this long just to finish a single Skeleton Golem..."
While Crazy Doppelganger responded curtly, Professors Zorjik and Voladi were engaged in their own conversation.
"Professor Bagrak. I say this cautiously, but I dare to suggest that Einrogard's current methods of imparting magic are far superior and more refined than the ancient ways."
"I agree."
"Even if we learn ancient magic, we need not adopt its teaching methods."
'Can't they go somewhere else to chatter?'
Though the two professors were earnestly discussing magic and pedagogy, their conversation was of little help to Lee Han.
Unable to bear it any longer, Jowurin stepped in to provide support.
Lee Han had also acquired a spatial magic backpack and learned the spells necessary to construct an airship!
"How utterly impressive. You could work as a craftsman in a guild workshop."
At Crazy Doppelganger's icy tone, Jowurin's expression darkened.
But Lee Han was puzzled. 'Isn't that a compliment?' No matter how he thought about it, it sounded like praise. For a moment, he wondered if Crazy Doppelganger's anger had subsided.
However, the Doppelganger's expression remained as cold as ice. Lee Han realized he still had a long way to go.
"Um... I also visited the Nine Mountains and Eight Seas dimension. I met the Yaksha King, heard his story, and even made a contract with a star..."
As he spoke, Lee Han subtly checked his teacher's expression—to see if his anger had eased even slightly.
And then Lee Han was stunned.
"...?!!"
Crazy Doppelganger was staring at him with an expression he had never seen before.
Shock, admiration, awe—so many emotions were tangled on his face that it was hard to discern any single one clearly.
"Continue."
"Huh? That's all I just said."
"Do you not know the meaning of the word 'detailed'? Speak. In detail. Leave nothing out."
Lee Han felt an unspoken pressure—as if he'd be turned into a hamster and thrown into a cell with magic criminals if he didn't elaborate. Quickly, he recounted everything in detail.
How he had crossed the dimensional gate, how he had encountered the Yaksha King, how the Yaksha King had attempted to deceive him (Crazy Doppelganger waved dismissively at this part, as if annoyed)...
And when he finally named the star he had contracted with, Crazy Doppelganger fell silent for a moment.
"You..."
"?"
"...are worthy of being called my disciple. I am proud of you."
Lee Han realized one thing.
Lee Han had come to realize a terrifying truth: when an ancient, insane archmage showed anger or cold indifference, it was far less frightening than when they looked at you with deeply moved, expectant eyes.
Unlike Lee Han's shock and horror, the Crazy Doppelganger seemed extremely pleased and even showed kindness to the two professors.
He kindly answered Professor Zorjik's questions about magic and promised to consider Professor Voladi's critiques about education.
"But Master. You mentioned earlier that you were preparing for intruders, didn't you?"
"Ah. That's right. It was such a trivial matter that I'd forgotten."
"......"
Neither professor raised any objections.
Due to Einrogard's reputation, intruders constantly appeared. But among those intruders, those who managed to escape with their lives were exceedingly rare.
Most couldn't even cross the territory's barriers, and even if they did, they'd vanish without a trace inside—not even a mouse or bird would know what happened to them.
Moreover, intruders coming all this way to rescue a single hamster—no, a magic criminal—from a remote workshop in these mountains?
From the professors' perspective, it was only natural to consider it trivial.
"To protect the workshop's contents, we'll ultimately need subordinates."
No matter how great a mage one was, they'd inevitably be vulnerable to thieves breaking into the workshop during their absence.
Even the most powerful and advanced magic had its flaws.
It wasn't for nothing that mages kept subordinates to guard their workshops.
Listening to this, Lee Han tilted his head and asked,
"But if Master were to seriously cast defensive magic, wouldn't most intruders not even dare attempt an attack in the first place?"
Sure, the advantage usually lay with the attackers, but that didn't mean someone could break in just because they threw Gainando in front of the Skeleton Principal's office, which was fortified with defensive magic.
There was still a difference in skill level...
The Crazy Doppelganger replied coldly,
"Are you suggesting I waste such magic just to protect a single slave?"
"...Ah. Right."
Lee Han found it absurd, but the other two professors nodded in understanding.
"Indeed, squandering arcane secrets for the sake of a single magic criminal would be ridiculous."
"If you had magic like that, you should use it for your disciple instead."
'Did I really bring these two along for no reason?'
It would've been much better to just bring Jowurin.
"Should I stand guard? His Highness Jowurin and Eandurde could also—"
"Have you grown arrogant just because you met the Yaksha King and made a pact with a star? You barely have enough time to practice magic as it is."
'Then you shouldn't have called me in the first place.'
Lee Han cursed his master inwardly.
Regardless, the Crazy Doppelganger continued lecturing.
"To think you'd try to assign menial tasks to a descendant of noble blood. How many times must I teach you proper etiquette?"
But Jowurin is fine?
The Crazy Doppelganger pretended not to hear and ignored him. Jowurin pouted.
"The same goes for trying to assign tasks to lowly juniors. You'll need several more years of training."
"!"
Eandurde looked shocked, her eyes darting between Lee Han and Professor Voladi.
Was her own skill level really that low?
"No, Eandurde. Don't be fooled. Master is just a bit strict."
"You're doing perfectly fine."
The two hurriedly comforted Eandurde. Then Lee Han asked again,
"So, do you have a good solution in mind?"
"As I said, we need subordinates. That means we'll have to find them nearby."
"Ah, I see. You mean the seniors of Einrogard."
"......"
At Lee Han's answer, not only the Crazy Doppelganger but even the professors stared at him in shock. Even Professor Voladi looked slightly surprised.
"Uh, isn't that it?"
Lee Han... Jowurin seemed to be referring to the local races...
"You truly are a descendant of noble blood. What a pitiful disciple. Many races reside in these mountains."
"The Einrogard seniors would work hard if we paid them in gold..."
The group ignored Lee Han's remark.
"Among them, the most suitable race would be the giants. As the disciple of royalty, I entrust you with full authority. Visit the giants alongside Intarendals. The giants are rough and untamed, so you must be extra cautious in your demeanor. Do not act arrogantly just because you can offer generous rewards. Their wrath is never light."
"?"
Wait, are there other giants in these mountains?