Episode 906
Episode 906
Chasing down intruders was the kind of work suited for servants.
Mages from a prestigious magic academy like Einrogard had no reason to engage in such tasks.
Of course, if some mage had spread baseless rumors like, "What if the intruders have the Headmaster's treasure?" then it might have been a slightly exceptional situation...
But Lee Han didn't offer that explanation and instead maintained a clueless expression.
—Unless they had nothing better to do and time to waste!
"This is truly bizarre!"
Without interrupting the hamster's furious squeaking, Lee Han played along.
Once the hamster vented its anger, it would soon calm down.
If the hamster gave up on escaping and stayed in its cage, it would be good for Lee Han, good for the Crazy Doppelganger, and good for everyone.
"This is terrible!"
"???"
When Intarendals' scream echoed from outside, Lee Han was startled.
The Chamberlain had always maintained composure and kindness no matter the situation. For him to scream like that—
It was something Lee Han had never seen before.
"What happened?"
"Lord Gonadaltes' condition has become unstable."
"...This guy is the culprit!!"
Lee Han immediately pointed at the hamster and accused it.
He didn't know the full situation, but a man had to survive, right? Now that they'd been caught, the hamster had to take responsibility.
The hamster let out an indignant squeak.
Even for a noble family's descendant, how could he betray someone without even a second of hesitation? 'Even a magic criminal would hesitate for a second.'
"Lord Lee Han of the Wardanaz Family. I don't quite understand what you mean. That mage is the culprit? What are you talking about?"
"Let me explain the vile scheme this guy plotted."
Lee Han quickly detailed the sinister trap the hamster had devised.
After hearing the explanation, Intarendals responded immediately.
"That's completely irrelevant."
"...Oh, is that so?"
"Yes. Lord Gonadaltes would recognize the traces of a corrupted soul just by glancing at them."
—Nonsense. It's not that easy to detect.
The hamster bristled, but Intarendals ignored it.
"And weren't all the intruders already captured anyway?"
—......
The hamster deflated. There was no way to argue against that.
"Then what do you mean by the Master's condition becoming unstable?"
"That is..."
Before he could finish speaking, an intense wave of energy swept through the workshop.
The Great Mage had returned.
At his arrival, Intarendals fidgeted with an unprecedented look of agitation.
"Oh dear, what should we do...? It's much faster than expected..."
—What the hell is going on?
The agitation spread to Lee Han as well.
Intarendals was a seasoned warrior from the ancient Empire, so he merely seemed restless, but Lee Han immediately felt fear.
"His condition has become unstable"—did that mean he might attack his own disciple?
"Lord Gonadaltes. Welcome back!"
While the Chamberlain briefly stepped away, Lee Han whispered to the hamster.
"What's going on? What do you mean by 'unstable'?"
—I don't know either.
Normally, the hamster would have been furious at Lee Han's betrayal, but the current situation was too unusual.
Even a seasoned magic criminal could instinctively sense danger.
If even the disciple of a mad Great Mage was afraid, how much more dangerous was it for a mere slave like Lee Han?
—If I had to guess... that tyrant originally had bouts of madness.
The hamster racked its brain for survival, recalling past experiences.
—There were signs in how he treated me.
"...You're not seriously suggesting he went mad because he attacked you, are you?"
Lee Han asked incredulously.
That was just the Crazy Doppelganger's usual behavior. Hadn't Lee Han been attacked frequently too?
'And honestly, this hamster kind of deserved it.'
—Shut up and listen! That's not what I'm talking about.
The hamster was talking about the time when Lee Han had just been kidnapped—no, chosen as a disciple—and visited the workshop.
The time when he had declared that Lee Han must master a 5th Circle spell within a day and would be tested by Antagondals.
"I remember. Come to think of it, you cursed at me, saying I'd die before mastering the 5th Circle spell."
Lee Han spoke in a chilling tone. The hamster shuddered and pretended not to hear.
—That's the story.
* * *
While Lee Han was mastering the 5th Circle spell, Antagondals had stepped outside the workshop, waiting cheerfully.
He greatly enjoyed watching young, overambitious mages meet their ruin.
But unexpectedly, the Crazy Doppelganger had been waiting nearby the workshop at that time.
—Do you have more to teach?
—......
—My teacher?
—Is this correct?
—...
"Yes, my teacher."
—What is?
—Everything, my teacher!
Thwack!
—Don't flatter me when you don't even know what royalty thinks. Trash.
* * *
"??"
Lee Han, hearing the explanation, was puzzled.
He couldn't understand what the hamster was trying to say.
'I get that he enjoyed watching me fail, but...'
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
—You fool. That tyrant isn't a living being—he's a Thought-form! A Thought-form composed of mana! It's impossible for such a Thought-form to feel doubt or confusion.
Even after that conversation, the tyrant had continued attacking the hamster while being confused about whether his teaching methods were correct.
At the time, the hamster had assumed it was just the world's rejection causing the Mana Thought-Form to go mad, but now, seeing the situation, it had been a sign.
—Do you think a storm or an earthquake would question itself and feel confused? Absolutely not.
"I see. Then how do we cure his madness?"
—I don't know.
"......"
Lee Han looked down at the hamster not with respect for a Great Mage, but with contempt for a fattened rodent.
The hamster angrily defended himself.
—Who could possibly cure a Thought-form's madness?! Most Thought-forms are destroyed by the world's rejection before that even happens. That tyrant is only holding on thanks to ancient secrets!
"So you're saying you can't do it."
—If you didn't like that, you shouldn't have interfered with the measures I prepared!
"When did I interfere? Are you seriously implying that I schemed to hire mages and giants—"
Before he could finish, the Crazy Doppelganger appeared at the workshop entrance. Behind him, Chamberlain Intarendals fidgeted with an extremely anxious expression.
'...He looks surprisingly normal?'
Lee Han was taken aback.
He had expected the instability to manifest as hair standing on end or murderous intent blazing from his eyes, but the Doppelganger looked exactly as usual.
"Good, you're here."
"Ah. Yes. I had some academic questions to ask—"
"Put that aside for now. Something more important has come up."
"What is it?"
"From now on, I will conquer the continent."
"......"
A silence heavier than death filled the room. Behind them, Intarendals bowed his head in despair.
Lee Han wanted to ask what was going on, but with the Crazy Doppelganger right in front of him, he couldn't.
"Con... conquer the continent, you say?"
"Indeed. You, my disciple, shall serve as the royal adjutant and commander."
Lee Han shuddered at the skill with which he was being dragged into the leadership of an imperial rebellion.
And after just having contracted with the Guest Star Arna...
'Heir of the Wardanaz Family, Shocking Allegations of High Treason... Dreams of a New Dynasty Exposed...'
'A Scheming Ambitious Man Who Deceived the Royal Family, Revealing His True Colors!'
Headlines from the Imperial Newspaper flashed through his mind—and now, it was no longer a joke.
Given the current situation, the tone might even become more extreme.
"Teacher. May this disciple ask a few questions?"
When Lee Han cautiously asked his question, the Crazy Doppelganger surprisingly nodded with ease.
"Go ahead."
"Um... why exactly do you want to conquer the continent?"
The Crazy Doppelganger let out a small sigh.
That sigh sounded as if he were thinking, 'Why is my disciple so dull, foolish, and oblivious?'
It was so sincere that Lee Han almost felt a twinge of guilt.
'No.'
Lee Han quickly snapped out of it.
Not understanding this was absolutely not Lee Han's fault. He couldn't afford to fall for the other's tricks.
"Look."
The Crazy Doppelganger pointed with the tip of his finger outside the open workshop door. A lush, verdant mountain range came into view.
"What do you see?"
"I see... mountains?"
"To the royal family, the suffering and wounds of the world are visible."
"......"
Lee Han wanted to joke about getting him new emerald glasses but held back.
He wasn't sure if humor would work on the Crazy Doppelganger right now.
"If left unchecked, people will only continue to inflict pain and wounds upon each other. If no magic or secret art can save them, then at the very least, a Holy King must rule them with strict discipline and reformation."
"Ah... I see."
Though his mind was reeling, Lee Han could barely grasp the context based on his past experiences and conversations.
It was still hard to believe, but the Skeleton Principal had once been a rather benevolent person in his youth, striving to eliminate the world's suffering.
He had even developed spells like <Gonadaltes' Downfall>, so his passion had undoubtedly been genuine.
Such passion doesn't simply vanish upon failure and frustration. It merely changes direction, burning even fiercer.
If the Crazy Doppelganger, after all magical means had failed, concluded, 'There's no choice—I must conquer and rule the continent myself,' it wouldn't be strange...
'No. Actually, it is strange. It's insane.'
It was insane, but then again, he was the Crazy Doppelganger. He'd just seemed so normal lately that Lee Han had forgotten.
Seeming satisfied with his explanation, the Crazy Doppelganger issued his final order.
"Listen well, disciple. While the royal family prepares the army, you will lead the vanguard and seize that Magic Academy. The mages of the territory must dedicate themselves to the Magic Empire."
The Crazy Doppelganger now felt so inorganic and mechanical that Lee Han almost missed when he was just being irritable.
He was like a thought-form born solely for the purpose of conquering the continent.
Overwhelmed by the flood of information, Lee Han fell silent for a moment before suddenly remembering something and asking,
"Vanguard? Who exactly are you referring to?"
"Who else? The Giants. They should suffice."
"Master! The Giants would never—"
Lee Han tried to argue, 'The Giants are too independent—they'd never obey orders!'
"The Giants said they would follow if you were the commander. Depart. The royal family will prepare the new army."
'Ugh.'
Lee Han cursed the unhelpful Giants inwardly.
Of course, the Giants had only agreed in a 'Lee Han's attacking? Might as well tag along' kind of way, but in this situation, it was anything but helpful.
As the Crazy Doppelganger stepped outside, Lee Han and the Hamster immediately cornered the Chamberlain with a barrage of questions.
"What in the world is going on?!"
—Conquer the continent? How did it come to this?!
"How can we stop him? We have to stop him!"
—No matter how powerful this tyrant is, he can't possibly conquer the entire continent...
"Wait. Please, just a moment."
Intarendals raised a hand to halt the flood of questions.
Then, he swung a magical whip at the Hamster.
Whack!
"I showed leniency, and now a prisoner dares to act insolent?"
"......"
Without realizing it, Lee Han straightened his posture respectfully. Having subdued the Hamster, Intarendals relaxed his cold expression and returned to his usual polite demeanor as the Chamberlain.
"I will explain everything, Lee Han of the Wardanaz Family."
"Y-you can take your time..."
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