Episode 979
Episode 979
Even the Crazy Doppelganger, who never changed his expression no matter what happened, seemed unprepared for the students' current reaction.
The students in the lecture hall, who had started with applause, grew increasingly fervent.
"Let's erect a statue of the Headmaster's doppelganger!"
"Remember this day! Today is when Saint Gonadaltes vanquished the wicked Verdus—"
THUD!
"Too noisy."
"Ah. Yes."
The students sobered up instantly, as if doused with cold water.
Even if their hearts burned with passion—especially after seeing Professor Verdus hung upside down—their minds could be cooled in an instant.
That was the essence of an Einrogard student.
"Let me go! Gonadaltes!"
"Who gave you permission to address royalty like that?"
"What? No... You were the one who allowed it in the first place!"
The Crazy Doppelganger didn't resort to torturing Professor Verdus.
Even in ancient times, there were mages like this. And back then, torture hadn't been particularly effective either.
For mages like this, there was always another way to teach them a lesson.
CRACK!
The Crazy Doppelganger shattered the artifact Professor Verdus had been working on.
The shock was so immense that the professor's pupils trembled uncontrollably.
He looked like a beaver whose carefully built dam had just collapsed.
"Wh—wh—what have you done?!"
"You still haven't learned proper manners, I see."
With an indifferent expression, the Crazy Doppelganger pulled out Verdus's next artifact.
CRUNCH!
As the staff split cleanly in two, Professor Verdus let out a shrill scream.
That staff had required the collaboration of twenty-three mages and six years of work!
The sight of the sobbing beaver beastman even softened the heart of the most hate-filled student. But the Crazy Doppelganger didn't stop.
Lee Han was reminded once again that he was facing an ancient grand mage.
No matter how much of a mad professor Verdus was by Einrogard's standards, he couldn't possibly surpass a grand mage who had survived the brutal eras of antiquity.
"I—I was wrong! I admit it!"
After two more artifacts were mercilessly destroyed, Professor Verdus finally grasped the concept of manners.
The Crazy Doppelganger nodded slowly at the sight.
"Never dare to forget propriety again. Those who teach must always uphold their own dignity."
Instead of responding, Verdus only wailed in despair. In response, the Crazy Doppelganger immediately pulled out another artifact.
"I won't forget! I swear I won't!"
"There are no second chances, mage. Remember that. And... what was the lesson just now?"
"W-wasn't this how they taught in ancient times?"
Professor Verdus blinked, cautiously gauging the Crazy Doppelganger's reaction.
Lee Han, listening from behind, also thought to himself, 'Right?' Come to think of it, he had heard that this was how teaching was done in ancient times.
Not spoon-fed by the master, but the disciple stealing the secrets by observing the master's techniques firsthand.
And occasionally killing each other in the process...
CRACK!
"Nooooooooooo!"
The Crazy Doppelganger immediately destroyed the next artifact. Professor Verdus let out a heartrending scream.
"Dare to insult royalty? Which ancient mage ever taught in such a manner?"
"Uh... wasn't that how it was?"
When Lee Han carelessly spoke up, the Crazy Doppelganger whipped his head around.
His gaze was one of sheer disbelief that such nonsense could come from his own disciple.
"Even if you steal knowledge instead of relying on your master's teachings, there are limits! What kind of master would ever endorse such selfish behavior, where you only care about your own tasks?"
'...Well, he's not wrong!' The students found themselves agreeing unconsciously.
Thinking about it, they realized they had too easily accepted the idea that "this was how they learned in ancient times" simply because they didn't know much about that era.
Ancient times were still inhabited by people—there was no way teaching methods were that bizarre.
No matter how harsh and rigorous the instruction might have been, even in ancient times, no master would abandon their disciple and call it "teaching" while focusing solely on their own work.
"That's not a disciple—that's a servant or a slave. Mage, are you saying you treated a royal disciple like a mere servant?"
"N-no, I didn't treat him like a servant...! I treated him extremely well...!"
Professor Verdus shook his head vigorously as he answered.
Of course, the Crazy Doppelganger didn't believe him. He looked at the other students and asked.
"How did that mage treat the royal disciple?"
"He worked him harder than any other student here."
Sigunting answered immediately.
Even if it was his own department's professor, an Enchantment Magic student always spoke the truth.
CRACK!
"When did I ever!!"
As another artifact shattered, Professor Verdus cried out tearfully.
But Sigunting didn't even blink.
Unlike students from other departments, those from the Enchantment Magic department were prepared to remain composed whether Professor Verdus sobbed his heart out or not.
"Swear it here. Mage."
"S-swear what?"
The Crazy Doppelganger didn't bother explaining. He simply took out another artifact.
When one more shattered, Professor Verdus began shouting whatever came to mind.
"I-I won't take gold coin investments and run away! No? I won't ignore clients and make things arbitrarily! N-not this either? I... I won't disregard students' works?"
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
"Professor! Stay strong! You're doing great!"
"I don't know! Help me!"
Professor Verdus desperately called out to his most kind and reliable disciple.
But even Lee Han couldn't help him. Not when the Crazy Doppelganger was glaring at him with those icy eyes—how could he possibly give hints?
"Just a little more in this direction!"
"I... I won't call students idiots and morons even if they act like them?"
"No. You should say that. Mage."
The Crazy Doppelganger corrected him.
If they acted like idiots and morons, they should be told so. Professor Verdus was utterly confused.
Not this?
"Think of things you don't usually do, Professor!"
"Uh, uh... Rest? Replying to letters? Writing exams?"
CRACK!
"......"
"I'll take care of students like they're my own creations! Still wrong?!"
Only then did the artifact shattering stop. Professor Verdus burst into tears.
To think his precious creations were being destroyed because of these fools!
"Stop crying and prepare to teach again. If you act like before, I won't forgive you."
"B-but... Gonadaltes... sir."
Verdus almost addressed him casually before catching himself and adding 'sir.'
"What?"
"How... should I teach?"
"......"
When the Crazy Doppelganger glared at him with utter contempt, Professor Verdus sobbed uncontrollably, begging him not to destroy his remaining artifacts.
Fortunately, the Crazy Doppelganger didn't break the remaining artifacts.
Instead, he left Professor Verdus hanging and took over the lecture himself.
Lee Han was impressed. 'Amazing.' The Crazy Doppelganger didn't particularly enjoy teaching those he didn't acknowledge as disciples.
Before recognizing Lee Han as a disciple, hadn't he subjected him to such dogsh—no, such harsh trials?
Yet now, the Crazy Doppelganger was temporarily teaching students who had nothing to do with him.
Clearly, he had decided it was better to step in himself rather than whip Professor Verdus into becoming a good teacher.
To think he could make even the Crazy Doppelganger give up. 'Professor... You may have lost, but in truth, you've won.' Lee Han silently paid his respects.
Of course, for Professor Verdus, hanging upside down, this was anything but joyful.
"Leave my artifacts alone! Leave them be!"
As students swarmed over the shattered artifact fragments to claim them, Professor Verdus wailed in despair.
How many threats from sponsors and investors had he endured just to gather the materials for those artifacts?
"Shut up. Unless you want me to break more."
"......"
Professor Verdus clamped his mouth shut with a gloomy expression.
The hanging students, completely unfazed, cheerfully gathered the fragments. They would be invaluable for completing their staves.
"Senior. Why do you keep glancing at Professor Verdus?"
Lee Han noticed Senior Varglios sneaking repeated looks at the suspended professor and tilted his head in confusion.
"Could there be some problem with the seal that's suspending the professor?"
"Ah. Sorry. It's just that no matter how many times I look at it, it makes me feel good."
"...I-I see."
"I see."
"...See what?"
Diret, who had been hunched over his desk with one hand holding a rice ball and the other gripping a quill, raised his head at his friend's voice.
Though he found it irritating to follow his friend to the workshop just to ponder, 'Why do juniors only listen to you and not me?', he still considered him a friend.
"Diret, you have dark-colored hair. The junior from the Wardanaz Family also has dark-colored hair."
"...You're not just vaguely saying 'dark-colored' because you can't remember it's black, are you?"
"But my hair is silver. Maybe that's why they don't listen to me."
"Fascinating. What a groundbreaking discovery. You should definitely present this at the Imperial Academy."
Diret replied dryly.
He really wanted to pass this 'hair color compatibility' theory to the Divination Magic school.
They'd be so thrilled they'd jump for joy.
"...Are you mocking me?"
"Of course I'm mocking you!"
Diret shouted in exasperation. Yukveltire's eyes widened in shock.
"Why? You're Diret, not some mediocre mage. Why would you—?"
"...Ugh. Fine. I'll just explain it to you."
Seeing his friend's innocent, wide-eyed gaze, Diret's resolve softened.
Yukveltire nodded lightly, as if granting forgiveness.
"Diret. You may be rude and waste time often, but at least you have the redeeming quality of being capable of self-reflection."
"......"
Diret swept away the quill he had just snapped and pulled out a new one.
Then he spoke.
"There's a <Staff Materials and Magic Amplification> lecture today, right? Go help the professor and teach the juniors while you're at it."
"Why?"
"...Can't you just do what I say for once?"
"I've always listened to your requests, Diret."
Diret had to pull out yet another quill.
Maintaining his composure with a patience no ordinary mage could muster, the top disciple of the Einrogard Black Magic School opened his mouth.
"Listen carefully, Yukveltire. Juniors respect seniors who teach them magic."
"I've already taught them before."
"...Filling in for the professor doesn't count because you were forced to do it. And you need to help them way more often than you think."
"Did you do that too, Diret?"
"Yeah!"
"Why would you do that? Everyone would've been better off if you hadn't."
Yukveltire criticized her friend's actions.
Because Diret had gone out of his way to be kind, other seniors had to put in more effort than usual to win the juniors' favor.
"...If you're jealous, go do it yourself. Win their favor."
"Hmm."
Yukveltire pondered for a moment.
Then he shook his head.
"No. I won't."
Snap!
Diret shoved the quill far away this time. He couldn't afford to break another one.
"Why not?"
"Professor Verdus is in charge of today's lecture, right? Considering how often I have to substitute when he's absent, I can't waste a rare opportunity like this."
If Professor Verdus left the lecture hall, Yukveltire would have to step in and teach.
He didn't want to squander this precious time when the professor was actually present.
Of course, to Diret, this was utter nonsense.
'You're standing here right now, spouting nonsense at me...'
"You can learn a lot by teaching juniors."
"No. I thought about it—there's nothing new to learn from assisting in <Staff Materials and Magic Amplification>."
"Hey. Get out."
Diret was about to cast an expulsion spell to avoid punching his friend.
Just then, a junior burst into the workshop.
"Senior!!! Do you know what happened today!? You won't believe it!"
"Ogoldos. Sorry, but bones going missing isn't as rare as you'd think—"
"The Headmaster's clone beat up Professor Verdus and took over the lecture instead!"
"!?!"
Diret was genuinely shocked.
But no matter how shocked he was, it was nothing compared to Yukveltire. With a face full of disbelief, Yukveltire asked:
"Why didn't they call me?"
"......"