Episode 920
Episode 920
'Oops. I Just Made a Resolution.'
Lee Han quickly reflected on his actions.
He'd just resolved to follow the young Skeleton Principal's virtuous example, yet here he was losing his temper like this.
"Ahem. My apologies. There's been a lot going on lately, and I took my frustration out unnecessarily. Here, have some grapes."
-Get lost!
"......"
At the angry hamster's curse, Lee Han began rapidly tossing grapes into the cage one after another.
The hamster shrieked and fled to the corner. 'Oops! I did it again!' Lee Han reflected once more, simultaneously feeling a twinge of self-reproach.
He'd just made a resolution, yet here he was already breaking it. 'Tch. Is this really impossible for someone like me? Acting like the young headmaster...'
"Lee Han. Are you alright?"
Professor Garcia, who had just carefully stored the Scepter's light back into its case, looked at her student with concern.
The experience through the Scepter was akin to having compressed information forcibly crammed into one's mind in a short time.
No matter how exceptional a mage might be, it would naturally leave one disoriented and bewildered.
"I'm fine, Professor. And I learned a great deal."
"Really? Like what?"
"After seeing the real headmaster—no, the young headmaster's behavior..."
"Didn't you just say 'real headmaster'?"
"...I realized I should strive to perform more virtuous deeds myself."
'Really now?' Professor Garcia tilted her head internally.
From her perspective, her student was already plenty virtuous enough.
By Einrogard's standards, that level was practically saintly... 'No, there's no need to discourage such thoughts.' The momentarily puzzled professor collected herself.
There was no harm in doing more good. If her student had gained such enlightenment, then as his teacher, she should simply support him.
"Lee Han. I'm proud of you for thinking that way."
Sigh. "But the moment I returned, I ended up taking my anger out on this hamster here..."
"...W-well, that's alright. I'm sure the hamster understands."
Even the young Skeleton Principal would probably react with 'Hmm, well, that much is...' to throwing a few grapes at a wicked magic criminal.
There was no need to mope over something so trivial.
"What about the Withering?"
Professor Voladi, who had been silently listening nearby, quietly interjected.
Truthfully, the Withering was the primary objective of this entire journey.
If they couldn't change the Crazy Doppelganger's heart, they'd have to start brainstorming solutions all over again.
And if that happened, the situation might truly escalate beyond Einrogard's walls.
"I've grasped a clue."
After some hesitation, Lee Han cautiously replied.
He wasn't entirely confident yet. But thanks to what the young Skeleton Principal had told him, certain pieces were falling into place.
-Just as you came down here out of genuine concern for me, you must sincerely care for others. Then you'll soon understand.
And the Crazy Doppelganger had said something similar:
-Familiarize yourself with this magic. You must realize it for yourself.
'Hmm. Now that I think about it, they're not similar at all.'
The former was kindly advice while the latter was just spouting cryptic nonsense.
Lee Han was struck anew by just how much the Skeleton Principal had twisted into a convoluted archmage with age.
How was anyone supposed to understand the latter's meaning?
'Ultimately, to surpass a certain level in magic, one must comprehend its underlying intent.'
This was rare in lower-circle magics. For those, understanding the mana flow and incantation was usually sufficient—no need to ponder the creator's original intent.
But higher-circle magics couldn't be perfectly replicated by merely following procedures.
The Small World was a prime example. Even with identical magic, casting was impossible unless the mage fully grasped the original creator's intended meaning.
Lee Han speculated that higher magics, while differing in structure, might all contain miniature worlds like the Small World within them.
"Unless you grasp and comprehend the intent embedded within the small world, you cannot fully draw out its power..."
Truthfully, this was a concept Lee Han had no need to learn at his current grade level, yet he had independently realized it through self-study.
'It's the same with Withering. I should have cast it with genuine intent.'
Deeply moved by the Young Skeleton Principal's words and actions, Lee Han resolved to attempt Withering again, imbuing it with that very conviction.
He wasn't entirely confident, but at the moment, no other method came to mind.
"There's no guarantee it'll succeed, but I'd like to try—"
"Done!"
"Done indeed."
"......"
When the two professors began conversing as if they had already succeeded, Lee Han was so dumbfounded he couldn't speak.
What was wrong with these people?!
"Professors... Did you mishear me? I clearly said there's no guarantee of success—"
"Yes, yes. We heard you, Lee Han. Rest up, and once you've regained your energy, we'll head out immediately. The Yaksha King must be straining himself as well."
"......"
Suddenly, Lee Han missed the Young Skeleton Principal terribly.
If the Young Skeleton Principal were here, he would've scolded them, 'Listen properly to your student!'
'What do they plan to do if this fails?!'
Regardless of their student's worries, the two professors, convinced they had solved the problem, continued their own conversation.
"By the way, I jotted down some of the Young Headmaster's magic during our visit. I scribbled it down hastily, but I plan to organize it properly once we return."
Professor Garcia pulled out a crumpled bundle of papers.
Among them were spells the Young Skeleton Principal had personally taught, as well as those Professor Garcia had reverse-engineered after observing their structure.
Though the journey hadn't been long, it had been more than enough for a mage to gain profound inspiration.
"Professor Bagrak, did you not take notes?"
"I did as well."
"I figured as much."
Professor Voladi retrieved a neatly bound black leather journal. The two professors exchanged notes on which spells had left the strongest impressions.
'Professors... They're truly relentless.'
Lee Han shook his head in disbelief.
While he had been preoccupied with how brutal the ancient era was and scheming ways to recruit the Young Skeleton Principal to Einrogard...
The professors had barely returned before diving straight into discussions about magic. He supposed one had to be that dedicated to become a professor at Einrogard.
"Hmm. Then we can start by teaching Lee Han the Time Magic we have here."
"Understood. The Young Headmaster's Hidor might be too difficult to teach right now."
"......"
Lee Han's eyes widened as he watched the two professors conspire to forcibly pass down the spells they'd learned from the Young Skeleton Principal to him.
What kind of malice was this?!
'If the Young Headmaster were here, he would never allow this!'
The Yaksha King was greatly surprised by Lee Han's group's arrival.
"Hmm. Os's disciple. My expectations were off. I never thought you'd fail..."
Seeing Lee Han's gloomy expression, it was clear the preparations had failed.
Though shocking, there was nothing to be done. The Yaksha King immediately offered his next piece of advice.
"In that case, we'll have no choice but to annihilate it together with me. Evacuate the students and summon the mages. I'll do my best to interfere, but we must never let our guard down—"
"Wait! We didn't fail, Your Highness!"
Professor Garcia cut off the Yaksha King's advance with a shout.
The Yaksha King blinked in confusion.
They hadn't failed?
"That's right!"
"Then why does Os's disciple look so sullen?"
"My face just looks like this."
Lee Han replied with a deadpan expression.
Of course, he understood Professors Garcia and Voladi's perspective.
As the Skeleton Principal's disciple (and his most recent one at that), it would be rude and underhanded for them to monopolize the magic.
Out of respect for the Young Skeleton Principal, who had shared his knowledge generously, they had to pass it on to Lee Han as quickly as possible...
Of course, Lee Han's own will wasn't taken into account at all.
'Why should the number of spells I have to learn increase just because the professors forcibly brought more magic?'
No matter how much he thought about it, this remained an incomprehensible conundrum.
"Hmm. I must have been mistaken. Then, Os's disciple. Show us what you've prepared!"
At the Yaksha King's shout, Lee Han shook off his distracting thoughts and stepped forward.
The people around him also cheered Lee Han on.
"Lee Han, you can do it!"
—You absolutely must succeed!
"......"
Lee Han kicked the hamster cage once with his foot. The hamster squeaked and spewed curses.
—Why do you only do this to me?
"You can't kick a professor like that!"
—......
At the strangely logical remark, the hamster had no choice but to concede.
Well, that's true!
'Focus. Forget the hatred and channel the realization I felt back then.'
Lee Han discarded his irritation toward the hamster and resentment toward the professors and sank deep into concentration.
<Gonadaltes' Downfall> was ultimately a spell born from the Young Skeleton Principal's resolve to shoulder the suffering of others.
He had to understand that resolve and prepare himself to contribute in some small way.
'I don't know how much I can contribute... but still, to the best of my ability...'
Even as he focused, Lee Han momentarily wondered if such a half-hearted resolve was acceptable.
Shouldn't he at least pledge something like, "I will dedicate all my remaining wealth and life" when casting the spell?
But there was no helping it. Before the magic he was about to cast, such lies were impossible.
Just a little more than what he'd done before.
To the best of his ability.
At that moment, Lee Han felt his spiritual vision expand vastly.
A boundless sense of expansion, like understanding an unknown world and its laws, shook his very soul.
'This is...!'
The first thing the Crazy Doppelganger saw upon regaining consciousness was the Yaksha King gripping its neck with one arm.
"...What are you doing?"
You've regained your senses, my friend.
"Regained my senses? What..."
The Crazy Doppelganger quickly assessed the situation—glancing around the workshop, sensing the mana flow outside, and lightly detecting the magic set up at the periphery.
"Was there a Reversal?"
Indeed.
"How was it stopped?"
By the excellent mages here... and your disciple.
Professor Garcia waved her hand with an extremely awkward expression.
Unlike the disciple, Professor Garcia still found it uncomfortable to face this cold, insane doppelganger.
"As royalty, I shall show proper courtesy."
"Ah, no. We just did what needed to be done."
"Wizard. Accept the royal commendation with pride. Not just anyone can receive it."
'Is there any way to make it go insane with the Young Headmaster's personality...?'
Professor Garcia grew slightly sullen, reminded of the Young Skeleton Principal's kindness.
How could she already miss him when they'd parted so recently?
"Release me."
Very well.
The Yaksha King promptly withdrew his arm. The Crazy Doppelganger swiftly reversed the summoning of the demi-god army foundations it had set up outside.
Professor Garcia, who had been gauging the situation, cautiously asked,
"Um... you've given up on your ambition to conquer the continent, right?"
"Did I, as royalty, say such a thing? I suppose I must have. You needn't worry."
The Crazy Doppelganger sneered as it spoke.
By the Crazy Doppelganger's standards, conquering the continent was closer to a reckless mistake born of impatience.
Setting aside what came after the conquest, how many resources would be wasted in the process?
To the Crazy Doppelganger, which sought to realize its magical ideals, this method felt far too crude and brutish.
Whew.
Professor Garcia let out a sigh of relief. Judging by its words, it really didn't seem like it would conquer the continent.
"Royalty shall ask one question as well."
"Ah. Yes."
"Why is my disciple not present?"
"...Well..."
As Professor Garcia hesitated, the Crazy Doppelganger tensed slightly.
Surely there hadn't been some mistake while casting Withering?
"...He went to take the remaining exams."
"......"