Episode 972
Episode 972
"Senior. Wake up!"
Lee Han remained composed.
It seemed like his opponent was trying to pull some tricks to avoid keeping to the five-minute time limit, but he had absolutely no intention of letting it slide.
The second hand of the pocket watch was already moving.
"Thirty seconds have passed."
"......"
Zarun barely managed to get up. The dwarf's short but thick limbs were trembling, though it didn't seem to be just from hunger.
"...How much do you know about orichalcum?"
"I know it's an extremely rare and expensive metal."
"Right."
"The most recent official Empire auction record was eight years ago at the Western Grand Festival Corridor. The price at that time was—"
"...Why do you remember things like that?"
Zarun was baffled.
While it was certainly impressively detailed knowledge, it had little to do with what he was trying to say.
In the first place, a metal as rare as orichalcum wasn't something you could buy just by having gold coins. Compared to the number of people trying to obtain it, there simply weren't enough available.
"What I want to talk about are the properties of orichalcum."
"I know it can condense mana at high density, at least."
At his junior's response, Zarun slowly shook his head.
"That's not it?"
"That's just one of its more visible properties, so you're mistaken. Orichalcum is a mineral, but it has plant-like characteristics. Specifically, it grows according to how you cultivate it."
Lee Han looked at his senior with pity in his eyes.
Originally, wandering alone in underground mines tended to drive people mad.
And to think he'd even gotten trapped inside a vein...
Noticing his junior's gaze, Zarun gritted his teeth with a grinding sound.
"It's true! Don't doubt me!"
"I've never heard of such a thing."
"Well, fully grown orichalcum is already rare, and records of pre-grown orichalcum only appear in ancient times, so of course you wouldn't have!"
Most orichalcum would complete its form and properties before ever being seen by human eyes.
And such orichalcum mostly became the most common high-density mana condensers.
But true orichalcum could originally have its properties freely altered and completed however the miner desired.
'Fascinating.' Lee Han found himself listening intently to Zarun's words.
There was still a possibility it was just the ramblings of a mad senior, but it was a captivating story nonetheless.
"Would something like a metal that continuously produces gold be possible?"
"...Can't defy magical laws, I suppose. Probably."
"Tch..."
With superhuman patience, Zarun ignored his junior's skeptical reaction.
"Listen carefully. I've located an orichalcum vein whose properties haven't been finalized yet. Do you know why I'm here like this, empty-handed?"
"I'm not sure. Weren't you fleeing to avoid pursuers?"
"It's because the vein only allowed approach under these conditions."
"!"
The orichalcum vein Zarun had found was still in an incomplete, un-crystallized state, but it already possessed several unusual properties.
One of them was the ability to repel intruders.
"At first I thought it was a problem with other metals. It melted all my pickaxes and equipment. So I brought artifact mining tools without metal, but they broke just the same."
"Ah. So that's why you tried approaching empty-handed."
While it might seem slightly insane, from a wizard's logic it wasn't that strange of a choice.
You had to get close first to do anything, after all. Zarun nodded.
"But..."
"?"
"Turns out approaching empty-handed wasn't the right method either. When I came to my senses, I was trapped inside this vein. The thing moved the surrounding terrain to push me out."
Hearing this, Lee Han realized the orichalcum's power was more formidable than he'd thought.
Even if it had plant-like properties, even man-eating plants had their limits, didn't they?
He'd seen plenty that moved to catch intruders, but one that could shift entire sections of terrain to swallow them whole...
"Senior, is it possible the vein developed its intruder-repelling properties because of you?"
"...That might... actually be the case."
Zarun looked slightly deflated.
The criticism from his junior was something Zarun had already been considering internally.
Had his greedy approach caused the pure orichalcum to develop hatred toward him?
"That's why I told you."
"Huh? Told me what?"
"...In my opinion, to approach the orichalcum, it shouldn't be someone like me—it should be someone like you. A kind and foolish one."
"...?????????"
For a moment, Lee Han glanced around, wondering if Zarun was talking about someone else.
"Wait. Are you insulting me just because I gave you a meal when you were on the verge of collapse?"
"Why—why are you getting angry? It's a compliment!"
Zarun was taken aback by his junior's fierce reaction.
For someone like Zarun, who rarely ever complimented his juniors, this was a genuine, heartfelt attempt at praise...
"How is calling someone 'foolish' a compliment?! Then saying someone is like Professor Verdus must also be praise!"
"Th-th-that's not the same! How could you compare it to such an insult?!"
Even the great Zarun was so incensed at being equated with Professor Verdus that he could barely string his words together.
For Zarun, who had spent most of his time at Einrogard underground in the mines, a junior with a tongue sharp enough to occasionally bring even the Headmaster to his knees was an overwhelming opponent.
-Wardanaz! Let's get moving soon! The Steel Shoe senior isn't threatening you, is he?
"Fine, just take this!"
Zarun snapped in irritation and swept his arm downward. A map materialized on his skin before popping out and landing in Lee Han's hands.
It was an astonishingly advanced level of Transmutation Magic—one that could deceive even Yukveltire and the other students.
"The location is marked here, so figure it out yourself later. I've told you clearly enough!"
As if unwilling to deal with Lee Han any longer, Zarun abruptly left. Stunned, Lee Han stared at the map in his hands.
'Wait. Am I really supposed to go there alone?'
Even if Zarun's "foolish" remark was nonsense, Lee Han doubted his own greed was any lesser than his senior's.
If he went, wouldn't the orichalcum just trap him in the ore vein the same way...?
And, in a way, the other Einrogard students were even more dangerous than the orichalcum.
Even if they failed to find it, they could still trap Lee Han in the ore vein. If he were to go back later, he'd need to gather trustworthy people to accompany him.
"?"
Yukveltire tilted her head in confusion as Lee Han stared at her intently.
"What is it, junior of the Wardanaz family? Do you have something to say?"
"Haha. It's nothing."
'I should absolutely not go with this person.'
Retracing their steps, the group repeated their earlier tasks.
The Enchantment Magic students took out artifacts to light up the surroundings and clear the path, while Lee Han...
"I'll handle it. You all rest."
"????"
When Yukveltire tried to stop him, Lee Han was shocked.
In fact, not just Lee Han—the other seniors were equally stunned.
"Senior Yukveltire. Snap out of it right now—"
"My mind is perfectly fine. I can prove it."
Before anyone could suspect her of being under some madness or mental attack, Yukveltire immediately pulled out a pendant. The blue gem embedded in it proved that her mental state was completely stable.
"......"
"...Understood. Everyone, don't forget to stay alert. Something's off."
Anpagon whispered to the two of them.
Though he usually had little interest in others, the situation changed when the senior responsible for leading the students back was acting insane.
"I was startled too, but isn't she just acting this way because of what I gave her earlier?"
If she were human, feeling a bit guilty after being treated to a meal and potions by a junior wouldn't be strange.
Unlike Professor Verdus, Senior Yukveltire had a kind friend like Diret by her side.
A mage who even implanted a warm heart into a small, humanoid golem!
"Wardanaz. Are you tired? You're saying strange things."
"Don't push yourself just because you have a lot of mana. If you're exhausted, take a break."
"......"
When the other two seniors sternly told him to stop talking nonsense, Lee Han reflected.
'Well, it is a bit strange.'
Kindness and consideration for a junior.
It was definitely odd. Lee Han regained his composure and raised his guard slightly.
While the three juniors were all staring at him with suspicion, Yukveltire was also observing Lee Han.
'That junior from the Wardanaz family likely doesn't know about Small World Magic.'
Judging by common sense, it was impossible for a second-year student to have actively begun learning Small World Magic on their own.
If that was the case, then he must have been involved with that magic through some action.
She needed to uncover the truth of that magic through meticulous and thorough observation.
Though she wanted to explain it directly and ask questions, Yukveltire restrained herself.
If that magic had forcibly possessed him, there was no telling what unexpected consequences might arise if the junior became aware of its nature.
At best, the junior might just suffer some damage, but in the worst-case scenario, the magic could vanish entirely, leaving Yukveltire unable to observe it further.
That would be truly dreadful. Yukveltire was absolutely determined to research Small World Magic.
And to do that, she needed to deceive the junior to some extent. The junior had to remain oblivious and act as usual.
'If I show kindness, he'll surely be moved and invite me often. I'll observe him secretly.'
'...'
Why does her gaze look like that of a magic criminal?'
Of course, the junior was already highly wary of Yukveltire.
When someone who usually doesn't act kindly suddenly forces it, it's impossible not to notice.
"Undead group ahead. More than ten."
"Let's avoid them."
"Tha... No. It's Diret."
"!"
Startled by Yukveltire's words, Lee Han raised his head.
Far in the distance, a group of students from the Black Magic department were huddled together, walking toward them.
"Senior Diret!"
"...Junior! You're alive!"
Diret shouted with a voice full of relief. Lee Han was slightly taken aback by his tone.
"Were you worried about me? I was moving with these seniors here."
"It was Yukveltire who mentioned it. Junior, everyone was afraid you'd explode and attack Yukveltire."
"......"
Lee Han was deeply moved by their friendship.
Even a heartless golem had such a caring friend.
"Thank goodness. Nothing serious happened, right?"
"It's a long story."
'So a lot happened.'
Diret immediately sensed it.
Well, he'd had an inkling ever since the Transmutation Magic students came out saying, "There's no orichalcum."
Lee Han explained everything that had happened with the seniors he respected.
And the orichalcum map too...
Diret, who had been managing his expression despite his shock, completely broke down.
"Y-You didn't tell Yukveltire, did you?!"
"Hah. Senior, do I really look that stupid to you?"
"W-Well, no."
Even as he answered, Diret felt a pang of sadness.
To think he was a senior who couldn't earn that much trust from his own department's junior...
'Yukveltire, get a grip!'
"I'm thinking of going later with some trustworthy people. Do you have any recommendations?"
"Hmm... No."
"So nothing comes to mind right now?"
"No. I mean, there's just no one."
"...I-I see."
Lee Han changed the subject.
"By the way, Senior. I heard an explanation about Small World Magic from that yaksha bastard."
"Yaksha bastard?"
"The Yaksha King."
"You didn't say bastard... Ah, never mind. That's not important. So you heard about Small World Magic?"
"Yes. I wanted to ask a few things..."
"Should we call Yukveltire too?"
"I'd appreciate it if you did."
Diret called Yukveltire, who had been acting suspiciously in the background (though Diret didn't pay much attention since she was always strange).
"Yukveltire. The junior has some questions about magic."
"You answer him. I have things to do."
"What's so urgent? It's just answering a question."
But Yukveltire shook her head.
Right now, she needed to observe the junior. There was no telling if clues about the Small World Magic she'd seen earlier might reappear.
"Hmph. Don't come crying to me later."
'Typical Diret threat.'
Yukveltire brushed it off lightly.
What could possibly make her regret something like that?