Episode 882
Episode 882
-Wardanaz. Drink this. Your anger will disappear.
The kind giants first handed Lee Han a large gourd filled with giant liquor to calm him down.
This liquor, fermented from the milk of Mountain-Destroying Sheep, was so potent and fiery that just one sip could soothe one's rage.
Whoosh!
"...Unless I'm seeing wrong, it seems to be on fire?"
-Correct! That makes it even more fiery!
Though he didn't drink, hearing about the giants' absurd drinking customs slightly cooled Lee Han's anger. He steadied himself and turned around.
"Thank you all for your concern."
-That mage is suspicious.
"Giants! This Intarendals would never harm the master's disciple—"
"That person is somewhat at fault too."
"?!"
Intarendals was shocked by Lee Han's sudden statement.
What exactly had he done wrong?
-Throw him off the cliff! Throw him off the cliff!
"It's not that serious. No need to get angry on my behalf."
-Wardanaz, so generous! Too kind!
The giants pretended to pat Lee Han's back (they knew exactly what would happen if they actually did so after last time) and praised him.
'Right. No need to despair yet. Prophecies aren't absolute.' Lee Han steeled himself.
Prophecies weren't absolute. In fact, blindly following them could be even more dangerous.
And wasn't Intarendals just a mage too? His interpretation could easily be wrong.
For example, Guest Star Arna might have shifted its orbit and changed its nature, becoming a star that helps the virtuous students of Einrogard...
'Even as I think it, that sounds like utter nonsense.'
Studying magic had raised his intelligence, making it harder to deceive himself.
"Lee Han of the Wardanaz Family. You must persuade the giants."
Despite being falsely accused, Intarendals didn't point it out.
Perhaps at some point, he'd failed to properly serve his master's disciple, hence hearing such words. He needed to reflect on himself.
"Understood. Let's persuade them together—"
-Wardanaz! The sheep had babies! Come see!
-Wardanaz! We got a new pot! Come look!
-I asked first!
-Sheep having babies is natural! The pot is way more important!
Crash! Bang! Thud!
As the giants began grabbing each other's collars and fighting, Lee Han quickly intervened.
"I'll go to both! Both!"
After stopping the fight, Lee Han swiftly left with the giants. Watching his retreating figure, Intarendals belatedly muttered in confusion.
"Wait, what about the persuasion...?"
Left alone to guard the carts at the giants' campsite while waiting for Lee Han, Intarendals heard a low, rough voice behind him.
-Quite an unusual guest. You've lived longer than this old man?
'A Yaksha!'
Intarendals lightly bowed upon seeing the Yaksha Elder.
"Greetings. I am Chamberlain Intarendals, here under Lord Gonadaltes's orders to conduct negotiations."
-Gonadaltes...? Ah, I see. Then let's speak comfortably.
"I came under my master's orders, so I can't do that."
-Then I shall observe formalities as well.
The Yaksha Elder guessed that this person wasn't an underling of the Skeleton Principal but of the Crazy Doppelganger.
None of the Skeleton Principal's subordinates had ever been a resurrected chamberlain like this.
-But why are you alone here...?
"Well, you see..."
Intarendals grumbled as he explained the situation.
He'd prepared for long, tough negotiations with the giants, but he hadn't expected to be left waiting like this.
Even if negotiations were ongoing, being stuck waiting was frustrating enough to complain.
-Ah. The giants are quite fond of the Wardanaz boy. It's been a while since his visit, so they must have much to discuss.
"Since when were giants such a sociable race?"
-They're usually not. It's just that the Wardanaz boy is special, isn't he?
Intarendals nodded at the Yaksha Elder's words.
Being Gonadaltes's disciple, Lee Han was bound to be extraordinary...
Though he hadn't expected that to manifest in being so close with giants...
"Anyway, we need to negotiate, but I have no idea when he'll return."
-Negotiate, you say?
"As I mentioned before, we need escorts to guard the mountain pass—"
-Ah. It's not that I didn't understand your meaning.
The Yaksha Elder set down the A-frame and basket he'd been carrying.
-The Giants would probably agree if Wardanaz simply asked them.
"Haha. You've got quite the sense of humor!...Wait. That wasn't a joke?"
-No.
"That's...absurd."
Intarendals reacted negatively.
Of course, he'd seen firsthand how close Lee Han was with the Giants, but personal and professional matters should always be kept separate.
Just because they were friendly didn't mean the Giants were the type of race to take on tasks without compensation.
-It's true, though. You can confirm it yourself when they return...
Before he could finish speaking, the Giants concluded their final visit and returned to the campsite with Lee Han.
-Isn't our statue magnificent!
"Yes...truly splendid..."
-We made another on the eastern peak! Let's go see that one too!
"...Let's save that for another time. Masterpieces shouldn't be viewed all at once. It dilutes the impact..."
-As expected of Wardanaz! So wise!
Lately, the Giants had taken up sculpting as a hobby, erecting crooked Giant statues on every mountain peak.
That alone would've been fine, but they insisted on dragging Lee Han around to admire each one, leaving him utterly exhausted.
"Oh. Hello there."
Lee Han greeted the Yaksha Elder upon spotting him at the campsite. Before the Yaksha could respond, the Giants erupted in furious accusations.
-Ooooh! Yaksha Elder!
-You made Wardanaz angry! Wardanaz suffered because of you! You must take responsibility!-???
The Yaksha Elder was baffled by the sudden, baseless accusations.
Sure, the Giants often spouted nonsense, but what did they mean by "Wardanaz suffered"?
-What nonsense are you spouting? What did I do?
-Wardanaz met the Yaksha King! That's why he suffered! The Yaksha Elder must take responsibility!-...
He met the Yaksha King?!
This was the most shocking revelation of the day for the Yaksha Elder.
Though Yaksha clans were scattered across multiple dimensions, there was only one being worthy of the title "Yaksha King."
The wisest of all Yaksha, revered and served by every Yaksha!
-You mean he met that wise King?
"Wise? What part of that was wise?"
Lee Han grumbled in a voice sharp with irritation.
Noticing the clear resentment in his tone, the Yaksha Elder asked again, perplexed.
-What could you possibly resent about meeting His Majesty the Yaksha King? What an honor that must have been!
The wisest of Yaksha, the King resided in a palace beyond the reach of ordinary mortals, overseeing wisdom and esoteric secrets.
Countless would gladly offer their eyes or hearts just for a chance to meet him—such was the King's renowned sagacity.
-An ancient Yaksha legend tells of a lost traveler who, wandering at midnight, found a house and opened its door, only to—
"Legends aside, it was no help to me. I nearly died."
-Ooooh! How cruel!
-Yaksha Elder, apologize!'Perhaps the teachings were a tad too intense?' the Yaksha Elder mused.
The Yaksha King was a benevolent ruler who delighted in sharing his wisdom with lost wanderers, but such methods might feel excessive to a young mage.
The thought filled the Yaksha Elder with genuine sorrow.
To misinterpret the King's goodwill so thoroughly...'No matter. In time, he'll understand the King's intent and be grateful.'Nodding to himself, the Yaksha Elder imagined Lee Han ordering the Giants to grab him by the collar if he ever heard that thought.
-Hmm. So there was some peril. Still, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity...
"He said I could visit again."
-What?! Then of course you must, you foolish young mage!
The Yaksha Elder flared up without realizing.
If the King extended an invitation, one should gratefully accept and receive his wisdom—not act like some ungrateful brat!
"What nonsense are you talking about? I won't do it."
-Think carefully. The King is...
"Wardanaz won't visit! Yaksha Elder, shut up!" - ...
These damn brats!
The Yaksha Elder swung a large wooden switch imbued with the good karma he'd accumulated. The giants screamed and fled.
-...
The King only taught you because he cared for you. Understand?
"By the way, the Headmaster's Crazy Doppelganger is also 'teaching' me out of concern right now." - ......
The Yaksha Elder suddenly realized the boy before him had far too many extraordinary teachers.
Normally, having even one such mentor would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, yet here they were fighting over who got to teach him—exhausting for the disciple. 'The King shouldn't be treated like this!'
"Um, giants,"
Intarendals, unable to wait any longer, finally cleared his throat and spoke up.
"Shall we begin negotiations now? Even if we start, it'll take at least two more days, so we should—"
-Huh? No.
-We already finished discussing while walking earlier. We're going to help now.
With that, the giants strode off toward the workshop.
Intarendals was so shocked he couldn't speak, barely managing to choke out a single phrase.
"...It seems this Chamberlain has grown too old to assist his master any longer!"
"No, no. Why are you like this? The giants were just being kind."
Lee Han hastily comforted his shocked friend's ancestor.
The evil adventurer party known as the Shadows of Kangla had deep ties with Antagondals from the beginning.
No matter how skilled a mage, no one could handle everything alone—even a magic criminal like Antagondals was no exception.
He needed adventurers who could quietly and skillfully carry out his requests, and the Shadows of Kangla were the best among them.
In return, Antagondals provided the party with powerful magical support.
Every exceptional adventurer party has a wise mage to aid their exploits, and for the Shadows of Kangla, Antagondals was precisely that mage.
So when Antagondals' communication was cut off and a rescue request came in, it was only natural they took it seriously.
'It's not just about losing support. This is a chance to seize more of his magical items.'
Frankly, they could always find another mage to provide magical support for the party.
They might not get one as powerful as Antagondals, but it wasn't impossible.
But what about the countless treasures Antagondals possessed?
These adventurers knew better than anyone just how many treasures and artifacts the notorious magic criminal had hoarded—working under him had ensured that.
Even if they failed to rescue him, they at least needed to retrieve keys or access rights.
"But would Antagondals hand them over willingly?"
"If it comes to it, we should consider finishing him off. If he's trapped in Einrogard, he won't be at full strength. That place turns even the toughest into mush."
The Locksmith, clad in a midnight-black cloak and mask that concealed his entire body, spoke up.
Members of the Shadows of Kangla avoided revealing their identities to one another—it was safer in case things went wrong.
The Swordsman offered his opinion.
"What if we just kill him and bring back the corpse?"
"That's a last resort. His treasures might get locked away upon death."
"Damn it. To think we'd have to visit Einrogard... I heard stories from my grandfather..."
"What did your grandfather say?"
The other adventurers asked curiously when the Archer muttered under his breath.
"My grandfather once infiltrated Einrogard and got caught. Barely escaped."
"Oh. Isn't that lucky for us? He must've told you about it."
"No. He couldn't say a single word about Einrogard. Not until the day he died. A geas was placed on his soul. The only thing he could say was to never go there—with pure terror in his voice."
"......"
"......"
An instinctive fear rose among these battle-hardened, evil adventurers.