Episode 919
Episode 919
-It's an attack!
The demons were the first to notice the storm's arrival.
The demons waiting at the rear of the army for fresh blood and souls were shocked by the sudden magical storm.
-How dare you!
The nine-headed shoemaker demon, who served as chief demon blacksmith and siege officer under Esadojikwa, roared in fury.
That roar wasn't merely an expression of anger. The hellish siege devices prepared by the demons unleashed their firepower.--------!
The souls of mortals trapped within the bronze cannons wailed before transforming into streaks of energy. As the force tore through space and scorched the earth, the Young Skeleton Principal teleported away in evasion, his expression filled with contempt.
"Demons. Your kind shall pay for this evil karma for eternity."
-How presumptuous for a mere mortal to spout such nonsense! You mage! Don't you lack both the lineage and the power to retaliate against me?
"We'll see about that."
The Young Skeleton Principal made a casual gesture. Then, a small droplet of water appeared above his finger—a perfect spherical droplet.
None of the demons could comprehend or predict the magic he had just displayed.
Just a single droplet of water floating on his finger... what could it possibly...
BOOM!
Before their confusion could settle, the impact arrived. The droplet that left the Young Skeleton Principal's hand accelerated at a speed beyond human perception.
A conical shockwave erupted, scattering bluish-white light in all directions. But the demons had no time to observe the phenomenon caused by the droplet.
The droplet mercilessly tore through their siege devices.
The bronze cannons that had imprisoned mortal souls, the war chariots, and the siege towers—all were instantly engulfed in flames. Every time the droplet touched them, the massive weapons forged from the demons' blood and sweat exploded and collapsed.
It was on an entirely different level from Lee Han's compressed water with rotational properties. That single droplet contained at least dozens of attributes, concepts, and ideologies.
The despairing demons tried to counterattack, but the Young Skeleton Principal had already retreated beyond their range. The nine-headed demon trembled with rage as it shrieked.
-Mage! If I catch you, I'll leave nothing but your heart and eyes! You'll hang forever in eternal torment!
But to Lee Han's eyes, the battle was already lost for the nine-headed demon.
All the surrounding massive weapons had been destroyed, and the demon was just flailing about in desperation.
In truth, the Young Skeleton Principal completely ignored it, focusing on destroying other areas. The same was true for the other locations where his clones had descended.
You again, you damned prince brat!
As the rear melted away in the blink of an eye, Esadojikwa let out a furious roar.
Given their past encounters, he immediately recognized the Young Skeleton Principal's identity just from the magical aftermath.
Failing to corrupt you was my greatest mistake, Esadojikwa! Surround the prince brat! The other trash can be let go, but if you let him escape, I'll devour every last one of you!
The demon, whose appearance resembled a minotaur, bellowed as eternal flames poured from his eyes.
At the sight, the Young Skeleton Principal recalled all his clones at once. He couldn't afford to waste energy on them when facing Esadojikwa and his subordinates.
"You vile demons!"
"!"
The Young Skeleton Principal was startled by the voice coming from behind.
His students from the distant future, whom he had explicitly told to stay in the void, had now joined the battlefield.
"Student Lee Han! You must not come forward, understand? You absolutely must not come forward!"
"I understand, so look ahead! Ahead!"
Lee Han kept patting Professor Garcia's back and pointing forward.
This was no time for Professor Garcia to be worrying about her students.
Meanwhile, Professor Voladi summoned dark blades from the void and began slicing through the demons in rapid succession.
"Outsiders won't be able to approach here..."
Professor Garcia closed her eyes and began chanting a spell. In this situation, it seemed better to close her eyes to concentrate.
Professor Voladi attacked.
Professor Garcia defended.
And Lee Han...
"Professor! Take my mana!"
"Lee Han! Don't shout so loudly!"
"???"
Lee Han was puzzled by Professor Garcia's response.
"But the only ones who'd hear here are demons..."
"...Even so!"
Her dignity as a professor wouldn't allow her to openly admit she was draining her student's mana, even in front of demons.
After cutting down swathes of demons, Professor Voladi returned, replenished his mana from his student, then went back out to resume his slaughter.
With the perfect coordination of attack, defense, and recovery, Lee Han's group quickly secured their position even amidst the chaotic demon battlefield. Watching this, the Young Skeleton Principal let out a sigh of relief.
"Why did you come? I clearly told you to wait."
"How could we just stand by when demons are attacking like this! I might not be much, but these two professors are more than capable."
"L-Lee Han... I'm not really that confident..."
Professor Garcia flustered at her student's high praise of her abilities.
She had only come down trusting Professor Bagrak's judgment—her own combat skills weren't something she had much faith in.
Crackle—zzzt!
Just then, a demon trying to break through Professor Garcia's massive barrier turned to dust.
Seeing this, the Young Skeleton Principal nodded. Their abilities were more than sufficient to navigate the battlefield.
"Thank you all for worrying about this inadequate teacher of yours."
"Please, for the last time, stop saying things like that."
As Lee Han recoiled in disgust, Professor Garcia also unconsciously gave a small nod.
They had discussed and steeled their resolve before coming down, but even that resolve couldn't withstand the Young Skeleton Principal's grateful expression.
"...Wait! Those bastards?!"
Lee Han, belatedly noticing the shift in the situation, was horrified.
Taking advantage of the broken demon encirclement, the Magic Nobles and their underlings were fleeing the city.
'Even in Einrogard, we fight together when demons appear!'
Furious at their unbelievable cowardice, Lee Han seethed.
"Gonadaltes! Just give the order! Professor Bagrak will sweep them all away!"
Professor Voladi didn't object.
Though their appearances differed greatly, the Young Skeleton Principal was his teacher, and hunting down traitors who betrayed their master was a disciple's duty.
But the Young Skeleton Principal shook his head.
"Let them go. It's better this way—they won't be in our way."
Separate from his hatred for the city's Magic Nobles, many of their underlings were still here.
The Young Skeleton Principal had no intention of abandoning them for petty revenge.
You princeling. Surely you're not foolish enough to sacrifice yourself to save those worthless scum?
Esadojikwa, who had a long-standing grudge against the prince, reconsidered.
If the fleeing city mages were part of the enemy's plan, he couldn't just let them go. It was a matter of pride.
Hunt them down! Chase them to the ends and slaughter everything in sight!
"!"
The Young Skeleton Principal's expression shifted slightly.
He wasn't worried about the Magic Nobles. Once free from the encirclement, they had more than enough ability to save themselves.
What concerned him were the people near the city gates.
If the Magic Nobles changed their minds and attempted an ambush near the gates, that would be one thing—but given their arrogant, selfish nature, they would undoubtedly rush straight through to the safest part of the city.
And that would inevitably lead to bloodshed near the gates.
With the Magic Nobles hastily passing through, the demons would arrive right after...
Finishing his thoughts, the Young Skeleton Principal reacted instantly. A duplicate formed, breaking through all obstacles to reach the gates faster than anyone else.
'The gates!'
Lee Han realized what the Young Skeleton Principal was doing.
In this desperate situation, the Young Skeleton Principal was working on the city gate using Blue Jade and Mermaid's Tears.
And he had even created a separate clone to do it!
"Professor Gonadaltes, you need to focus!"
While fending off the demons surging from behind alongside the professors, Lee Han shouted.
The demons attacking from all directions howled wretchedly, targeting Lee Han relentlessly. They had noticed that Professor Garcia and Professor Voladi kept charging their magical power from somewhere.
How dare you let your guard down before me, Esadojikwa? You brat prince. Today will be your end!
Esadojikwa seemed to have realized that the Young Skeleton Principal was overextending himself.
Without giving him time to recover or regain composure, he immediately lunged forward. The blood-red axe absorbed the surrounding magic with a ghastly shriek.
"Professor Gonadaltes! Disperse your clone and resume the work later!"
Despite Lee Han's shout, the Young Skeleton Principal shook his head.
"Disciple."
"Yes?"
"Downfall Magic isn't actually that difficult a spell."
"What...?!"
For a remark made in the midst of a Greater Demon radiating killing intent and leaping toward them, it was far too composed.
Lee Han felt himself growing unbearably anxious just watching.
"Just as you came down here out of genuine concern for me, please sincerely worry for others as well. Then you'll understand soon enough."
With those final words, the Young Skeleton Principal clashed head-on with Esadojikwa.
Staggering and pushed back because his clone was working on the gate, the Young Skeleton Principal didn't stop. Blood streamed from his nose and eyes, yet he continued casting spells in rapid succession.
You arrogant brat prince! Still acting so composed!
Despite being in a favorable position, Esadojikwa growled in humiliation at the insult. Witnessing his violent demeanor, Lee Han resolved to step in.
At the very least, I should lend him some magical power!
He had promised Professor Garcia not to step outside, but exceptions existed for a reason.
In this situation, Professor Garcia would surely understand.
But then, the surrounding space twisted strangely. Professor Garcia cried out in shock.
"The Scepter!"
The Scepter was trying to return Lee Han and his group to their original time. The return was happening far sooner than expected, and Professor Garcia's expression darkened.
If they returned in the middle of battle, what would happen to the Young Skeleton Principal?
Yet the Young Skeleton Principal merely smiled as if it were fine and said,
"Go back, disciples. This is not your era."
"But...!"
"We'll meet again someday. That alone is enough. Go!"
With that farewell, a spatial vortex swept through the surroundings. The attacking demons were scattered, and Lee Han's group was pulled into the dimensional rift.
The last thing Lee Han saw was the Young Skeleton Principal, still defending the gate while blocking Esadojikwa's attacks to the very end.
Thud!
"...!"
Lee Han staggered as he returned to Einrogard. It wasn't just due to the shock of the artifact's activation.
...Honestly... I'm impressed.
It wasn't some grand magic or piles of gold, but sheer attitude alone that had left such a deep impression.
The sight he had witnessed at the end had sent shivers down his spine.
In that brutal and merciless era, even when the entire kingdom sought to harm him, he had stubbornly upheld Good Karma.
Not just to master Downfall Magic, but because of the past he had personally witnessed.
Lee Han resolved to become a slightly more generous and kind-hearted person from now on.
Right. Even if I can't reach the Young Headmaster's level, I should at least try to be a little more...
-How dare you put other hamsters in my cage?!
Now safely returned and with time to spare, Hamster screeched in outrage.
-If you ever do this again—!
"They're gone now, so isn't it fine? While the Young Headmaster is risking his life fighting for others, you're still grumbling over one hamster friend in your cage? Have some shame!"
-......
Hamster shut his mouth with a deeply aggrieved expression.