Episode 915
Episode 915
Professor Garcia nearly exploded with anger and almost let out a string of curses, but upon realizing her student was beside her, she barely managed to restrain herself.
"'Slaves'? We are not slaves. Look. It's magic, see?"
"An unusual kind of magic. Are you magic slaves?"
"......"
Lee Han saw Professor Garcia's fists clench tightly.
'Are ancient people fearless or something?'
Regardless of anything else, just looking at Professor Garcia's imposing figure should have elicited a reaction like, 'Ah, you're clearly not slaves!'
Even if Professor Garcia had shackles on her wrists and ankles, any sensible person would have cautiously concluded, 'Ah, you're not slaves,' and moved on. He couldn't fathom what kind of confidence made them act this way.
—Don't think of them rationally.
The hamster in the cage perched on the backpack squeaked sharply.
"What do you mean?"
—Just because they're dressed like imperial soldiers or patrol members doesn't mean they actually are. They're entirely different creatures.
To the hamster, these patrol members resembled magic criminals or looters far more than actual law enforcers.
Having spent their entire lives attacking and robbing others, their eyes gleamed with murderous intent, and their fingers trembled as if ready to strike at any moment.
"So you're saying these patrol members are criminals? Then coming here was..."
While Lee Han was speaking, the patrol members spoke again.
"Magic slaves or whatever, it doesn't matter. Drop your equipment and surrender."
"No! We're not slaves, I told you! Look. And we're not even from this kingdom. We're outsiders."
Professor Garcia suppressed her fury and attempted a rational negotiation once more.
At her words, the patrol members hesitated.
"You're not from the Margada Kingdom? You're outsiders?"
"Yes!"
"Even better. That means we don't have to return you to any slave owner. We can sell you for a high price. Surrender. Before we kill you..."
The patrol members, who had been speaking aggressively, suddenly collapsed.
Professor Voladi, who had disappeared from the group earlier, emerged from behind the fallen patrol members and spoke bluntly.
"They weren't going to let us pass easily."
"...Yeah, no kidding."
The group quickly restrained the unconscious patrol members and moved away swiftly.
Professor Garcia, who had found a suitable cave nearby, set up disguises and protective barriers at the entrance before establishing a temporary campsite.
"I'll help too."
"No need. Lee Han, go rest."
Professor Garcia shooed Lee Han away, clearly not intending to make her student work.
Dismissed, Lee Han approached Professor Voladi, who was tying up the captured prisoners and setting up a makeshift interrogation area.
"I'll help."
"Rest."
"......"
Though Lee Han was used to doing the work of ten people when with his friends, being with the professors meant there was practically nothing for him to do.
He could have relaxed comfortably, but instead, he felt oddly uneasy.
'Can't they just give me something to do?'
Sitting idle while the professors worked was more exhausting than labor.
Lee Han turned to the hamster.
"It seems like this kingdom's patrol members just capture anyone and turn them into slaves. Is that accurate?"
—Not exactly surprising.
The hamster squeaked indifferently.
The Empire might be peaceful now, but in borderlands, outskirts, or more remote areas, such things were common.
They strictly divided classes, oppressed the lower ranks, and treated unlucky outsiders like slaves.
This kingdom seemed no different.
Upon closer inspection, even the reinforcements that had appeared to fight the demon forces had an excessively rigid and severe demeanor.
The moment the enslaved assistants among the golems strayed even slightly out of formation, sharp lashes rained down from above, splattering blood and tearing flesh.
As a magic criminal, Hamster was acutely sensitive to the atmosphere of this kingdom.
A powerful Magic Kingdom that ruled its people through strength and fear!
"Let's begin."
After finishing preparations, Professor Voladi summoned the group and woke the captives.
The patrol members who regained consciousness glared fiercely and threatened them.
"How dare you slaves commit such acts? Are you not afraid of punishment?!"
"If you beg for forgiveness now, we might end it by merely enslaving you!"
Professor Voladi employed magic with ruthless efficiency.
After a few spells were cast, the patrol members became remarkably docile.
"What... do you want to know...?"
"Stop...! W-we'll answer..."
'His skill is extraordinary.'
Hamster had to admit that Professor Einrogard's abilities were quite exceptional.
Lee Han nodded in agreement.
"Indeed. Professor Bagrak knows how to make people listen."
'What's there to boast about, this punk?' Hamster thought incredulously.
Of course, as a magic criminal, he could appreciate such interrogation methods, but shouldn't the boy from the Wardanaz family be different?
"Affiliation."
"M-Margada Kingdom... patrol members of Isran City..."
"How to enter the kingdom."
"O-outlanders... generally can't enter... if caught... immediate enslavement..."
Professor Garcia, listening nearby, was startled.
"Completely banning outsiders? How does that make sense?"
People often assumed the Three Kingdoms Era meant only three kingdoms existed, but the reality was slightly different.
It was an era where, among numerous minor kingdoms, three stood out as powerful enough to leave their names in history—hence the name.
And the Margada Kingdom was one of those three great powers, a name even Professor Garcia recognized.
For such a vast kingdom, not some isolated minor state, to enslave all outsiders was unbelievable.
"If they act like this, merchants would all flee to the Karsala Kingdom or the Arvanti Kingdom. Travelers from other minor kingdoms too."
Professor Garcia mentioned the two kingdoms' names as she questioned.
The Three Kingdoms Era was a brutal time when kings fell and crowns melted.
In such an era, such a blunder would only benefit rival kingdoms.
But the patrol member replied as if her words were absurd.
"The Karsala Kingdom and the Arvanti Kingdom are no different... Where are you from not to know that... Gah!"
"Mind your manners."
Professor Voladi, displeased by the patrol member's rudeness, efficiently employed magic again.
After a few more spells, the patrol member realized that where outsiders came from didn't matter—what mattered was etiquette.
"...The Three Kingdoms Era is harsher than I thought."
"Indeed."
Lee Han agreed with Professor Garcia.
From a historical perspective, one might remember only the great mages, secret arts, and cultural anecdotes, but seeing it firsthand revealed how brutal it truly was.
The three strongest kingdoms not only treated outsiders as slaves but also exploited their own people while obsessively developing powerful secret arts. Meanwhile, demonic legions roamed the continent outside, seeking weaknesses.
All this was learned in less than a day—how much worse were the horrors they hadn't uncovered yet?
"To enter... you must disguise yourselves... either with smugglers' help... or by wearing the kingdom's attire..."
"Chance of detection?"
"Periodically... chimeras patrol... outsiders lack the mark... easily caught..."
'Seems even more thorough than Einrogard.' Lee Han clicked his tongue inwardly.
Chimeras that detect those without magically processed marks?
This wasn't some royal palace—just a small city. Yet they maintained such strict surveillance? Unbelievable.
"Have you ever heard of the Gonadaltes family?"
"Gonadaltes? Gonadaltes... I think I've heard the name... but I'm not sure..."
The patrol member tilted his head in confusion before shaking it in denial.
No matter how the Skeleton Principal might have been a prince in his past life, he was still just a prince of a minor kingdom.
A mere patrol member wasn't sharp enough to be familiar with the noble houses of such a kingdom.
Having heard enough, Professor Voladi nodded and began analyzing the patrol member's magical sigil in reverse.
"Professor Garcia."
"Yes."
Professor Garcia, understanding without needing to be told, cast a sigil spell over the group's clothing.
Even if they entered the city, they wouldn't be easily detected as long as they had this magical sigil.
-Wait. I have a suggestion.
"?"
Everyone looked at the hamster in puzzlement when it started squeaking. Even the tattered patrol members they had captured were equally bewildered.
"Lee Han, I have a question."
-I am Antagondals. You mages must know of me. Though I'm currently trapped in this body due to circumstances...
"No, we know you're Antagondals. Lee Han already told us."
-......
The hamster looked slightly embarrassed.
And then it felt even more absurd.
Normally, wouldn't people hide the fact that they were carrying around an evil magic criminal in a cage?
-So you've been telling everyone about it?
"Huh? Who knows what kind of dog-like... no, what kind of tricks a mage might pull? Of course we had to say something. What if you bewitched me with evil magic?"
-......
Logically speaking, that made sense. It was just infuriating and irritating.
Professor Garcia cut in impatiently.
"What I was curious about was why you keep carrying this hamster around."
"Ah. Well, since he's the oldest among us here, I thought he might be helpful. He probably knows a lot about ancient times too."
That was also logically sound—if you ignored the emotional aversion.
Professor Garcia thought to herself,
'I've always thought this, but Lee Han doesn't seem nearly wary enough of associating with dangerous people.'
Of course, Einrogard had shoved excessively dangerous figures in front of Lee Han, but it was also true that he had adapted to them a little too well.
-Stop bickering and listen to my suggestion first. These patrol members need to be killed immediately.
The hamster spoke firmly, as his own safety was at stake too.
The other mages, being in full strength, could recover their souls and return even if they died in this past dimension. But the hamster was in a severely diminished state.
If they were wiped out, he would be the one to suffer the most.
"W-what did you say?!"
"You can't do that! How dare you kill patrol members of the Margada Kingdom?!"
The patrol members shouted in outrage.
How dare these outsiders, who came from who-knows-where, not only capture them but now casually discuss killing them?
-See? If we leave them alive, who knows what they'll do. There are too many spells we don't know for binding or subduing them. We can't afford unnecessary variables.
The Three Kingdoms Era had too many bizarre spells the hamster wasn't familiar with.
If there was a spell to track missing patrol members, things would get complicated.
-I know you Einrogard mages are soft, but right now...
"Um, but Honored Mage. I wasn't planning on binding or subduing them."
Lee Han cautiously interjected.
Even he had no intention of leaving the patrol members behind in this situation.
-Then?
"Well, we'll probably have to enter the city at some point, so I was thinking of making these patrol members act as our guides."
-Didn't you hear me say not to create unnecessary variables?
"Yes, I did. But wouldn't it be much safer to turn them into hamsters and keep them with us so they can't cause trouble?"
Professor Voladi nodded approvingly, as if his student had made an excellent judgment.
The hamster, after hesitating for a moment in speechless frustration, finally spat out:
-...
I have no idea why you Einrogard bastards aren't called magic criminals yourselves.