Episode 914
Episode 914
Yet the boy from the Wardanaz family did not stop his attack.
The relentless questioning about potentially deducted points had destructive power comparable to Word Magic.
-Can't you just stop, you lunatic?!
"No. Are you really getting angry at me when you're the one who made the mistake?"
Lee Han was astonished.
As expected of a magic criminal—their shamelessness was truly extraordinary.
To give him the wrong information and then react like this?
-If you have time for this, you should be thinking more about how to deal with the Tyrant.
"I am thinking about it. If you're going to say something like that, you should at least offer a good strategy first, Honored Magician."
-Actually, I just thought of one.
"!"
Lee Han looked at Hamster in surprise (though it was hard to see him clearly since he was buried in wood shavings).
As expected of a former Great Mage—he had actually come up with a good plan.
"As expected! I knew I could count on you."
-......
"So, what's the method?"
Hamster held back a curse and spoke.
-As frustrating as it is, the Tyrant's secrets are profound and ancient. Mortals of our era can't easily predict them. To return him to his original state, we must extract his secrets.
Currently, the Tyrant was sealed by the Yaksha King from another dimension.
Had he been in his original state, Hamster would have tried to read the Tyrant's secrets and knowledge himself, but now that he was reduced to a hamster and had lost all his abilities, he intended to teach Lee Han the method and leave it to him.
-This spell is the <Mirror of Mnemosyne>. A powerful magic created during the Three Kingdoms era.
The <Mirror of Mnemosyne> was a spell that summoned a bronze magic mirror connected to the target in midair.
One might wonder what was so impressive about summoning a mere mirror, but the summoner could extract desired information from it through questions and answers.
When interrogating someone with magical defenses, obtaining information isn't easy—but this spell pierces through such defenses.
-Since it requires short questions and answers, some skill is needed, but I'll guide you from the side.
"That's amazing. I had no idea such magic existed."
Lee Han's genuine admiration seemed to soothe Hamster's anger, as his voice became slightly less irritated.
-The horizon of magic is always vaster than one expects. We wizards are but insignificant insects before it. To become even slightly larger insects, we must gather secrets.
'What an unpleasant analogy.'
Still, since the other party had come up with a good method, Lee Han kept the thought to himself.
"Wait. If we need to extract information from the Headmaster, why not just directly observe and experience his past?"
-That's the most ridiculous nonsense I've heard recently. Why don't you just wish to become the continent's sole god while you're at it and use that power to reverse-summon the Tyrant?
Hamster squeaked in utter disdain.
Of course, what the Wardanaz boy had said wasn't impossible.
But magic wasn't some convenient tool that granted a wizard's every wish, was it?
He couldn't even begin to imagine how much magic and arcane knowledge would be required to make what he just said a reality.
"I just thought there might be a way, so I asked."
-Just because the horizon of magic is vast doesn't mean you can spout any nonsense.
For the first time in a while, Hamster squeaked—no, lectured—with the dignity of a Great Mage.
"Lee Han. This is an ancient artifact called the <Scepter of Kairos>. We're going to use it to directly experience the Headmaster's past."
"......"
-......
Lee Han stared blankly at Hamster. Hamster was too dumbfounded to speak.
Who could have known he'd possess such a fraudulent artifact?
-That's not magic—it's an ancient relic from the Three Kingdoms era...!
"It's alright."
Lee Han spoke first, cutting off Hamster's attempt to explain.
"It's not that you're incompetent, Professor Garcia is just extraordinary. Isn't that right?"
People often imagined magic criminals as monstrous mages who disregarded imperial laws and ethics, wholly immersed in magic and always one step ahead of others.
But Lee Han's perspective was slightly different.
The mages from the Magic Academy—who inherited the empire's oldest magical traditions and conducted research with the empire's largest funding—were surely more skilled in magic than any magic criminal, weren't they?
The latter probably couldn't even focus properly on their research, constantly wandering frigid wastelands and evading pursuit.
'Unauthorized researchers usually aren't as skilled as people think.'
Hamster wasn't particularly comforted by Lee Han's considerate words.
Realizing that this brat was patronizing him, Hamster grew even more furious than if he'd been mocked outright.
-%$#@&^!
'Which era's language is that?'
Unfortunately, Lee Han hadn't yet learned enough ancient tongues to understand Hamster's cursing.
"Lee Han. I would've preferred to give you more preparation time, but the matter is urgent. Will you be alright?"
"Ah, yes. You can start right away. I'm ready."
At Professor Garcia's call, Lee Han nodded and raised his gaze—then froze in surprise.
"...Uh, Professor?"
"What is it, Lee Han?"
"N-nothing."
Lee Han was taken aback by Professor Garcia's appearance—she had somehow donned an antique-looking set of plate armor he'd never seen before.
Rather than suiting her, it gave off the awkward vibe of a lifelong mage forcibly squeezed into armor for the first time.
"Professor. Professor."
Lee Han called out to Professor Voladi.
Surely an expert would know best about this.
"Professor Garcia seems... tense. Is that alright?"
Even as he asked, Lee Han felt slightly embarrassed.
Who was he to worry about her?
Though not formally trained in magical combat, Professor Garcia was a genius who had mastered every existing imperial magic discipline—time magic, spatial magic, and even fist magic.
For Lee Han to fret over someone like her might come across as presumptuous.
'But I can't help feeling concerned.'
"She does look a bit dangerous."
"!"
Lee Han's heart plummeted at Professor Voladi's words.
So even an expert could tell Professor Garcia was visibly tense.
"What should we do, then?"
"Guard her."
"?"
Lee Han instinctively glanced behind him.
Hadn't Professor Voladi just asked someone else to protect Professor Garcia?
Of course, there was no one else around.
"...Wait, you mean me?!"
"?"
Professor Voladi gave his student a mildly puzzled look.
Though unspoken, Lee Han clearly heard the thought: Who else would it be?
"I'm not sure I'm qualified to guard Professor Garcia..."
Professor Voladi stared silently at his humble student, then said simply:
"You'll do."
'Even if I think about it, if an enemy is strong enough to threaten Professor Garcia, I'll get blown away too...'
Though uneasy, Lee Han accepted the role.
And truthfully, having Professor Garcia in their party was reassuring for him too.
If Professor Voladi gave any outrageous orders, at least there'd be someone to rein him in.
Without Professor Garcia around...
-Look, there are the ten strongest mages of antiquity. Go bring me their heads.
-Professor!...
...That scenario was all too plausible.
While Lee Han and Professor Voladi talked, Professor Garcia finished her preparations, scepter in hand.
"Everyone, come here."
The mana radiating from the scepter split into sixty streams, then sixty again, before dividing into twenty-four distinct threads.
Professor Garcia entered a state of pure concentration, free from any distracting thoughts.
No matter how powerful the Ancient Artifact was, she couldn't entrust everything to it.
In a way, immense power was a double-edged sword—if control was lost, it could even harm the mage wielding it. The <Scepter of Kairos> was a precious treasure, so valuable that even Einrogard treated it with special care, but it was by no means omnipotent.
It wasn't something that could be used lightly—like briefly experiencing dawn three days ago or noon two days ago.
Only the moment the caster strongly focused on.
Once they entered that moment and completed the experience, the Scepter itself needed rest and recharging.
'O Scepter, take us to the time where the key to this problem lies!'
Woooooong—
An indescribably low vibration resonated as the Scepter's light enveloped the mages.
Once all the preparations were complete, Professor Garcia, without realizing it, had a fleeting thought.
'Though, with Lee Han here, recharging might not be so difficult...'
Pop!
"Hahk, hahk, hahk, hahk..."
Professor Garcia gasped for breath, her face deathly pale.
Even though all the preparations were done, how could she let her guard down while using an artifact?!
For a mage who studied Ancient Artifacts, this was an unacceptable mistake.
Lee Han, seeing the professor's state, was inwardly shocked.
'This is no ordinary artifact. For Professor Garcia to be struggling like this...'
Of course, wielding a powerful Ancient Artifact was no easy task, but he hadn't expected the professor to be this exhausted.
"Professor, thank you. I didn't expect you to go so far as to use such a dangerous artifact for my sake."
"...???"
Professor Garcia was momentarily baffled by her student's words.
Was the Scepter really that dangerous of an artifact?
"What are you— Wait. Look over there!"
She pointed behind them.
A landscape unlike anything seen in the current Empire's continent came into view.
From the architecture to the clothing of the people running about, nothing resembled the present. Lee Han realized they had truly traveled to the distant past.
"Bow down, all races! To me, Esadojikwa—the chief aide and foremost herald of the Duke of Wrath!"
"...Hahk!"
Professor Garcia wasn't just startled by the changed scenery.
At the edge of her vision, a massive demon was leading an army in an assault.
The demon resembled a minotaur in appearance—each step it took shattered barriers, and each swing of its arms demolished city gates.
For Lee Han, who had only seen demons bullied by mages until now, this demonic horde—something straight out of ancient tales—was a shocking sight.
The people of the small city behind them activated the magic of their barriers and spires to fend off the demons, but the difference in strength was obvious to anyone.
"Demons, daring to invade the domain of the Margada Kingdom? How insolent!"
Fortunately, reinforcements soon arrived.
Hundreds of magical golems charging across the plains left Lee Han stunned once more.
He knew they had fought fiercely, but he hadn't imagined it was to this extent.
"They're moving. The demons will notice us soon."
At Professor Voladi's words, the group snapped back to attention.
Seeing the demonic forces retreating, it was likely they'd be discovered soon. To avoid unnecessary conflict, they had to move.
"We need to ask about the Headmaster's location, but can we even enter the city?"
"It'll be difficult, Lee Han. Who knows how the people of this era will perceive us..."
Professor Garcia was cautious.
Of course, she had some knowledge of ancient customs from her studies, but still...
Everyone in their group was an exceptional mage, and in ancient times, mages were highly respected—so things might go smoothly.
"Ah!"
Just then, patrol guards emerged from the city. Professor Garcia carefully greeted them.
"Hello? We are—"
"Judging by your attire, are you runaway slaves?"
"......"