Episode 907
Episode 907
Intarendals began his explanation while giving Lee Han a puzzled look at his strangely polite demeanor.
"Every person has both yang and yin. There are good parts and evil parts."
"That's generally true."
Though Lee Han couldn't yet guess where this conversation was going, he agreed for the moment.
People were inherently complex beings who often coexisted with both good and evil aspects.
As could be seen just by looking at Gainando, there were times when he'd steal meals from his friends, yet other times he'd voluntarily give his own meal to a friend.
"That... that example seems slightly off, but... anyway, you seem to understand correctly. Even a great archmage like Gonadaltes cannot escape this fate."
For ordinary living beings, even if good and evil aspects coexisted within their complexity, they would eventually achieve balance within that complexity.
But for thought-forms that had transformed into something akin to laws or rules, such balance was impossible.
They had to choose one or the other—either good or evil.
"Right now, the evil aspect within Lord Gonadaltes has awakened."
"...Wait, so you're saying until now he was a benevolent archmage?"
"That's a rather obvious question, isn't it?"
"......"
When the Chamberlain looked at him with eyes that said 'Why are you asking something so obvious?', Lee Han was dumbfounded.
Did they perhaps think the Crazy Doppelganger had politely sent Lee Han an invitation and taken him in as a disciple?
"Lord Gonadaltes sought to inherit the secret orthodox teachings and eliminate the world's suffering. How could that not be a noble purpose?"
True to the nature of the desire for honor, the Crazy Doppelganger's goal was extremely ambitious.
He would pass down the secret techniques of ancient magic he had mastered to his disciples, eventually achieving his grand ambition.
By the standards of ancient mages, this wasn't such a strange idea. Even if a mage died, as long as the magic they created was passed down, it was as if that mage lived on forever.
Of course, that ambition bordered on the impossible, and even beyond that, appearing as a thought-form to teach secret techniques was quite unique even by ancient standards.
And now, the reversed Crazy Doppelganger's goal was to personally conquer the continent and rule it with an iron fist.
'Hmm. When compared, the former was indeed more benevolent.' Lee Han was frustrated but couldn't argue against it.
Though he had attacked disciples and magic criminals, at least he'd tried to resolve matters peacefully by passing down his magic, hadn't he?
In contrast, the current Crazy Doppelganger was openly attempting to conquer the continent.
'Come to think of it, isn't this the Skeleton Principal's fault?' Lee Han suddenly felt rage boiling up toward the absent Headmaster of Einrogard.
This desire for honor had ultimately split off from the Skeleton Principal, which meant the goals of that desire were also the ambitions the Skeleton Principal had in his youth...
Which would mean the Skeleton Principal had thoughts like 'Shall I just conquer the continent?' in his younger days.
Judging by his current state, it seemed he hadn't acted on it, but the mere fact he'd harbored such ambitions was absurd.
Why on earth would he think such a thing?
But blaming someone who wasn't present held little meaning. The important thing now was stopping the Crazy Doppelganger.
'I already thought he was crazy before, but who knew he could get even crazier?'
"Lord Intarendals. We must stop him! Our teacher originally had a gentle disposition and disliked fighting. For someone who sought the supreme heights of magic to fall into such madness...!"
-......
The Hamster, who had been listening quietly while organizing his thoughts, looked at Lee Han in disbelief.
What kind of insane nonsense was this about that tyrant having a gentle disposition?
'No... but he's right. We have to stop this.'
Even from the perspective of Hamster, a magic criminal, this situation wasn't good.
Of course, the situation hadn't been great before this either, but if things escalated here, it could spiral into something far worse.
Even if by some miracle they succeeded, there was no way the Crazy Doppelganger would let them go, and if they failed, shouting 'I'm just an innocent magic criminal with no involvement in this' wouldn't convince the Empire's suppression force for a second.
"I agree. Lee Han of the Wardanaz Family. That form is completely unlike what Senior Gonadaltes normally pursues. One could say he has... lost his reason."
When the Chamberlain at least agreed with him, Lee Han let out a sigh of relief.
If Intarendals had also declared his loyalty and announced a continental conquest, it would have been truly hopeless.
"Thank you for agreeing. Then how do we stop him?"
"Well, I'm not quite sure..."
"......"
When the person who could be considered the foremost expert on the Crazy Doppelganger here showed reluctance, the mage and the hamster were aghast.
"W-what do you mean? If you don't know, Lord Intarendals, then who would?"
"My loyalty lies in serving Senior Gonadaltes as he is—I've never once considered how to change him to my own desires."
"True loyalty means being able to correct someone when they stray onto the wrong path—"
Lee Han stopped mid-sentence, realizing it was pointless.
Pointing out Intarendals' usual attitude now wouldn't suddenly produce a solution.
They needed to think of another method as quickly as possible.
"Ah! What about this? Senior has always felt indebted for learning magic from the dragons. If His Highness Jowurin were to persuade him—"
"That won't work. At least not with Lord Gonadaltes in his current state."
The Chamberlain, ever the loyal servant, accurately predicted his master's thought process.
-Conquering the continent is for the sake of all life. Once I subjugate it and demonstrate proper governance afterward, even the dragons will understand.
'What kind of nonsense is this?!' Lee Han cursed inwardly.
This was beyond absurd. 'Subjugate first, justify later'?
With that kind of logic, trying to persuade him as a member of the Emperor's race would be useless too.
No matter how benevolent the dragons were, such lenient rule was unacceptable—he'd probably decide to govern strictly in their stead.
And the most terrifying part was that the Emperor might actually agree.
'...Surely he wouldn't. No matter what... No matter what...'
Since Lee Han wasn't particularly close to the Emperor, he couldn't be sure.
Would the Emperor really refuse outright if this Crazy Doppelganger demanded the throne?
Especially when the Empire's wicked high noble families had already entangled the Emperor in cunning contracts and forced him into labor?
'Dragons are generally wise and benevolent, but... damn it. I can't be certain.'
Oooooooom—
A powerful surge of mana rippled from outside the workshop. The Chamberlain shouted urgently.
"Lord Gonadaltes is trying to summon the Demigod Legion!"
"......"
For the first time in a while, Lee Han felt his spine tingle with dread.
His instincts screamed that if they didn't act immediately, the situation would spiral beyond recovery.
'Demigod Legion... Could it be something like that Black Emperor's Crown Magic he showed us last time? Summoning that on a legion scale? How?!'
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but Lee Han didn't let them distract him—he quickly checked what he had on hand.
Calling the seniors or professors would take too long. Besides, there was no telling how the Crazy Doppelganger would react.
'A being who can speak firmly to the Crazy Doppelganger... If such a being exists...'
Suddenly, Lee Han's gaze landed on Perkuntra's sigil.
A spirit king of that caliber could surely reprimand even the Crazy Doppelganger.
'No!'
Just as Lee Han was about to summon Perkuntra, a better idea struck him.
Come to think of it, hadn't he met someone when he was forcibly dragged into the Nine Mountains and Eight Seas last time?
Lee Han pulled out the Yaksha King's Horn Fragment. Perkuntra wasn't an incompetent ally, but in this situation, the Yaksha King seemed far more suitable.
Clutching the horn fragment with desperate resolve, he channeled his mana into it, and the incantation flowed naturally from his lips.
"Please help me, O King of Golden Eyes! This mortal seeks your wisdom!"
Even as he chanted the incantation, Lee Han felt a flicker of worry.
Just as he had thought when first receiving the horn fragment, the Yaksha King was a being residing in a distant, far-off dimension.
He had no contract with Lee Han and no particular ties to the continent—could he really appear just from a single horn fragment?
Hmm. You summoned me faster than expected.
"!!!"
Yet astonishingly, the Yaksha King manifested instantly in midair.
There had been no signs, no grand magic—which only made Lee Han more shocked.
The Hamster, too, seemed stunned, letting out a series of squeaks instead of forcing out human speech.
For a being from another dimension to cross the gap so effortlessly—'Just who is this?'
Os's disciple. I expected this would happen.
The Yaksha King's voice carried an air of profound mystery, the kind only a being capable of foreseeing the future could possess.
Lee Han was utterly overwhelmed by that presence.
Forgetting even his lingering resentment from being tricked with the Star Guide earlier, he found himself asking deferentially without realizing it.
"You... foresaw this situation?"
Indeed! It wasn't particularly difficult. That demon assassins would target Os's disciple—you—is, in a way, self-evident.
"......"
The Hamster felt a sudden pang of shame.
He was embarrassed at himself for being so easily overwhelmed by some lunatic from another dimension.
And Lee Han was feeling something similar.
"That's not it."
Hmm?
"I'm not being attacked by demon assassins."
Suppressing his anger, Lee Han explained as quickly as possible. There was no time to lose his temper now.
Fortunately, the Yaksha King understood immediately.
Hmm. My prediction was slightly off. It seems your existence, Os's disciple, acted as a variable.
"......"
"Never mind the excuses—please help me! You said you were close with the Headmaster in his youth, didn't you? Was he ever... like this back then?"
Os's disciple. From my perspective, it seems you're simply misunderstanding your teacher...
The Yaksha King seemed slightly troubled by how Lee Han seemed to view his teacher as some kind of madman.
The Skeleton Principal was not that kind of lunatic.
Though admittedly, this Crazy Doppelganger definitely needed to be stopped now.
Hmm. First, we must resolve the immediate problem. Os's disciple. You'll need to assist me.
"What should I do?"
Rather than wasting time arguing, Lee Han asked directly.
Summon your teacher. Not Os—Os's doppelganger. Hmm. It would be better to call him like this rather than plainly. Say that you've glimpsed new possibilities in the vision of Dynamis and wish to challenge the Withering again. Os's disciple, tell him you intend to cast Despotis.
"......????"
Hearing several unfamiliar ancient magic terms thrown at him, Lee Han froze for a moment.
From the sound of it, these spells seemed to be at least on the level of Small World magic or higher. 'I don't know any of these—can I really lie like this?'
But the overwhelming surge of power resonating from outside left him no room for hesitation.
Lee Han immediately took out the Echoing Stone and called the Crazy Doppelganger.
I'm busy right now, so hurry up and lead the vanguard.
"Teacher. I've glimpsed new possibilities in the vision of Dynamis. I wish to challenge the Withering again. I also intend to cast Despo—"
Before he could even finish, the Echoing Stone went silent. Then, the workshop door burst open like lightning.
The Crazy Doppelganger, his eyes blazing with fire, roared.
"Is this true?!"
Yah!
The Yaksha King swiftly ambushed the distracted Crazy Doppelganger.
A massive yaksha clad in gleaming golden armor and helmet pinned the archmage down with both arms, making him cry out in shock.
"You—?!"
It's been a while, Os.
"King of Yakshas...! No matter the debt between us, how dare you interfere with royalty?!"
At this unimaginable audacity, the Crazy Doppelganger's eyes boiled with contempt and fury.
And then those eyes immediately turned toward his disciple.
"Disciple! You dare betray your teacher?!"
"......"
"Your Majesty. This is... fixable, right? Please tell me it is."
Lee Han spoke with utter sincerity.