Episode 910
Episode 910
When Professor Garcia seemed to be dodging the question and hiding something, Lee Han looked at her suspiciously.
But Professor Garcia was, after all, a professor. Professors never lose when dealing with students.
"Lee Han. Listen carefully to what I'm about to say."
"Yes!"
"To activate a spell powerful enough to damage that demigod, we'd need to operate an ancient artifact—"
"No. That won't be necessary."
When Professor Voladi interrupted, Professor Garcia looked puzzled.
"Do you have another method?"
"I do."
As he answered, Professor Voladi pointed to the sky.
A Gold Dragon, one they'd seen often before, was streaking toward them.
"......"
Lee Han's expression grew complicated as he watched the imperial family member brazenly flying in despite the no-flight order that had been issued not long ago.
"Professor Bagrak. What do you think about Jowurin going out for a short while?"
"?"
As Lee Han busily left his seat due to an exam, Jowurin began to scheme.
Of course, Jowurin had deeply reflected and promised never to recklessly use physical form again.
But wasn't going out a separate matter?
Playing with the baby basilisk in front of the lounge fireplace quickly grew boring.
Jowurin missed the times when she used to roam around Einrogard with Lee Han.
"Of course it's possible, Lord Dragon!"
Professor Bendozol answered immediately, then growled at Professor Voladi.
"If you have any human decency, let Lord Dragon go out for just a little while."
"No."
"What exactly is your problem?! Have you no human feelings?!"
As the two began arguing again, Jowurin hurriedly tried to stop them.
Not out of guilt, but because she was worried Lee Han might find out later if they kept fighting.
S-stop it! It was just a simple question!
"I see, Lord Dragon! I misunderstood your simple question."
So, Professor Bagrak. What do you think...
Professor Voladi conveyed his meaning through the traditional method of slightly shaking his head side to side.
'Hmph.'
Jowurin regretted sending a letter to Professor Voladi about visiting the school.
At the time, there'd been no other choice, but if only someone slightly less strict had been guarding the entrance now...
It didn't even have to be someone less strict.
If it had been someone like Professor Verdus, Jowurin could have escaped secretly and then made unreasonable demands afterward!
Her recently improved social intelligence only made Jowurin's disappointment that much greater.
In the end, Jowurin gave up and curled up again in front of the fireplace.
In a way, this might have been for the best.
If she sincerely reflected on her mistakes, Lee Han might reduce her sentence a little.
-Is it really okay if I don't sneak out?
Mmm.
-Then can't just I sneak out alone? I probably wouldn't get caught.
No.
Jowurin tightly hugged the baby basilisk. The baby basilisk squirmed but couldn't escape the dragon's embrace.
If even Basil disappeared, Jowurin would be unbearably bored.
-I probably wouldn't get caught...
Jowurin pretended not to hear anything.
-Huh? Something moved over there!
The baby basilisk pointed outside the window with its tail, looking puzzled.
A strange surge of power could be felt coming from the mountain range.
Considering its species alone, the baby basilisk's extraordinary innate bloodline made it keenly sensitive to such disturbances.
Naturally, Jowurin noticed it too.
That's weird!
-You're right!
But strange things often happen at Einrogard anyway.
-That's also true.
The two intelligent creatures immediately accepted this.
Although the surge of power felt from afar was strong and threatening, this was Einrogard.
Strange things happened all the time.
And indeed, another strange thing happened immediately afterward—Professor Garcia arrived in front of the tower.
"Professor Bagrak. You felt that disturbance just now, right? It seems to be coming from the workshop where that clone is staying, so I was going to check it out. Would you accompany me?"
"Understood."
"Eh? You're both leaving?"
At Professor Garcia's sudden visit, Professor Bendozol's face lit up with delight.
Being stuck with this inorganic professor had already been torture, and now she wasn't just visiting but taking him away too!
Truly, among Einrogard's professors, she was one of the few with a conscience.
"Yes. There's something I need to check."
"I see. Go ahead then. Professor Bagrak. I'll hold the fort here alone."
"Keeping one's promises symbolizes the dignity of one's existence."
"...What nonsense are you spouting now?"
"Nothing. Do as you please."
With those final words, Professor Voladi immediately departed.
Though the exact situation remained unclear, if precautions were needed, haste was necessary.
Left alone, Professor Bendozol ground his teeth furiously.
"How dare he say such things and leave! If he thinks this Bendozol can be pushed around, he's sorely mistaken! As if I couldn't release the Dragon Lord myself!"
He shook his fist as if shouting after Professor Voladi, but his distant, vanished opponent naturally couldn't hear.
Professor Bendozol shuffled his feet fretfully as he pondered.
'...Keeping promises is indeed important. Especially considering the Dragon Lord is still young...'
As someone who knew the Empire's creatures better than anyone, Professor Bendozol fully understood how crucial it was to instill habits of promises and rules in intelligent, powerful species.
If he indulged whims now by permitting this outing, decades later might see the birth of a wicked, despicable dragon.
"Wait. But how did you get here?"
Lee Han grew puzzled while listening to the story.
From the sound of it, Professor Voladi had bound Professor Bendozol with a single remark, so shouldn't that have prevented Jowurin from sneaking out?
Did he just let her pass when she asked?
"......"
Lee Han immediately regretted hearing this story.
Professor Bendozol's struggles and realizations had been futile enough to crumble at a single request.
Jowurin spoke cautiously.
W-well, Jowurin had intended to stay inside too. But seeing Professors Bagrak and Garcia moving made her worried... The energy fluctuations were growing stronger too... A-and Basil here agreed!
-Why, why drag me into this?
The baby basilisk clinging behind her cried out miserably.
Already suffering from sleeve-exile punishment, why keep implicating him in offenses warranting harsher penalties?
Lee Han, who'd been silently observing Jowurin, slowly spoke.
"Your Highness."
Hm?
"While it's awkward for me to lecture you about acting recklessly or handing body parts to others after my own sermons... I need Your Highness's help."
...!
Jowurin's large eyes blinked rapidly before her entire face blossomed with radiant joy.
Jowurin could help! Jowurin really wanted to! Wow! So exciting!
For the first time, Lee Han asking for assistance made Jowurin tremble with uncontainable excitement, her wings fluttering uncontrollably.
The baby basilisk, sensing the mood, hesitantly asked:
-Uh, but shouldn't we not be excited in this situation?...
Never mind that!
"With dragon breath, the nearby defenses would be completely neutralized."
Professor Garcia coolly assessed the situation.
That demigod hamster (why it took hamster form remained baffling) had established formidable defenses by altering local laws and order.
Though they'd need to deploy equally potent magic, dragon breath changed everything.
By utterly demolishing and destroying the surroundings, the chains binding the laws and order would be severed as well.
"Your Highness, if you unleash your breath, Professor Bagrak and I will handle the aftermath immediately."
Understood! Lee Han, hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!
Lee Han briefly regretted making the request as he climbed onto Jowurin's back.
Seeing this, the Death Knights signaled each other before swiftly taking flight. Their plan was to create confusion in case the Demigod Hamster attempted a counterattack.
Approach is forbidden.
The Demigod Hamster, who had been quietly focusing on its descent while expanding the distance and warping space into a labyrinth, issued a stern warning at the Death Knights' advance.
A powerful law of subjugation hurtled toward a Death Knight charging with his spear.
—Hah!
The Death Knight immediately reverse-summoned himself. As his existence vanished, the encroaching law lost its target and dissipated.
Another Death Knight struck the pommel of his sword, and the reverse-summoned knight promptly reappeared.
This was an acrobatic feat—a trick only Death Knights fighting within their domain could perform.
—So, a demigod, are you? Then accept this tribute!
The more experienced Death Knight among them raised both arms atop his steed and conjured a black sphere.
Pop!
The sphere vanished—only to be absorbed directly by the Demigod Hamster.
A pure tribute, devoid of any intent to attack.
Yet that offering alone slowed the Demigod Hamster's movements.
—Tributes of darkness must be harder to digest, eh?
—Offer more!
Knights who had fought for decades on the battlefield were not just warriors—they were monsters versed in every trick and stratagem.
And Death Knights, who had fought hundreds of times longer, knew how to exploit even a demigod.
While the Demigod Hamster irritably pushed away the forced tributes, Jowurin soared into the sky with Lee Han on his back.
Jowurin was ready! If Lee Han assisted with mana like last time...!
"I'm ready too, Your Highness. Let's do this."
Lee Han's voice carried an uncharacteristic sluggishness.
But Jowurin, exhilarated by the adventure and battle, didn't notice.
Now!
As the dragon's maw gaped open and a torrent of immense power began to gather, the Death Knights swiftly scattered in all directions.
A direct hit would require months of recovery—even with the domain's resurrection.
Cease your attack, Commander...
Commander?
"Ignore it."
Got it!
Hearing Lee Han's firm response, Jowurin unleashed his breath.
A golden cascade, radiant as the sun itself.
That torrent crashed down from the heavens, engulfing the Demigod Hamster.
Jowurin, joyously pouring out his breath, flapped his wings as he felt his depleted mana replenish.
With this reliable ally on his back, he felt like he could fly anywhere.
Once, twice, thrice, four times...
Commander!
The Demigod Hamster's telepathic scream cut off in a dying wail. The laws and order it had imposed reverted to normal.
Before Professors Voladi or Garcia could intervene, the Giants, grinding their teeth, roared battle cries and charged.
—You! You little—!
—We'll turn you into a coffin-hamster!
Lee Han! Jowurin has won again! You may praise me!
"You did well... Your Highness." ...?
Only then did Jowurin sense something amiss.
Lee Han's voice was unnaturally listless—nothing like his usual excitement.
Normally, he'd be cheering just as eagerly...?
Lee Han? ...
Lee Han?!?!
Jowurin shrieked in alarm—Lee Han had collapsed on the dragon's back.
A closer look revealed blood trickling from his lips.
Blood! Blood!! Lee Han! Blood! Blood! Blood!!
"The blood... is from earlier... I'm fine."
Lee Han, who had stubbornly sustained a failed spell and kept moving afterward, was half-exhausted.
Though his mana was infinite, his body and mind had reached their limit.
Even in his dazed state, he tried to reassure Jowurin—but it did little to help.
Y-y-y-y-you can't die!!! Lee Han! Lee Han??
No answer came from Lee Han, who had fallen into a deep slumber. Jowurin felt as if the world were ending.