Episode 980
Episode 980
Yukveltire was utterly bewildered at having missed the opportunity to learn spells from the Crazy Doppelganger.
Diret cautiously spoke up.
"Enchantment Magic students are all... a bit individualistic, you know."
'And you're the ringleader of that.'
He swallowed the follow-up comment out of friendship.
To be honest, Diret somewhat suspected that Yukveltire's influence had contributed to Einrogard's Enchantment Magic school's culture.
"I was talking about the junior from the Wardanaz family."
"Ah."
Diret was momentarily at a loss for words.
Come to think of it, in that junior's case, the excuse of individualism didn't apply at all.
"He probably couldn't focus because the Headmaster's doppelganger was right next to him."
"Indeed. He's still inexperienced."
Diret's junior, Ogoldos, standing behind Yukveltire, twirled his finger near his temple.
That gesture meant only one thing, whether inside or outside Einrogard.
-Is that senior crazy?
"......"
Diret shook his head.
Yukveltire wasn't crazy. Just slightly eccentric...
Probably!
"Anyway, Yukveltire. You understand now that I wasn't wrong, right? If you'd listened to me, you'd have learned at least five more dimensional spells by now."
"That's not logical..."
"No. It's perfectly logical."
Just as Diret was about to shut his friend up and send him away, he belatedly sensed something odd.
"Wait. The Headmaster's doppelganger entered Professor Verdus's classroom too?"
"Senior... Shouldn't you have been surprised by that first?"
"No. It came into my classroom too."
"?!!"
Ogoldos was shocked.
Who would have thought the Headmaster's doppelganger had visited Diret's classroom too.
"Were you unharmed!?"
"Hmm? Yeah..."
"...As expected of you, Senior!"
Ogoldos looked at him with eyes full of admiration.
Truly a mage worthy of supporting Einrogard's Black Magic School. His capability was incomparable to a certain professor.
"He wouldn't possibly plan to attend every class the junior goes to, would he?"
"That seems to be the case."
The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy and murky.
Not because it was the Black Magic School's workshop, but because they'd intuited the junior's unfortunate fate.
"So if I follow the Wardanaz junior to his classes, I can learn spells too?"
"That would be the case. But you're a fifth-year, so you can't. You can only attend when you're the one teaching."
"Auditing is free at Einrogard..."
"Auditing classes you've already taken is prohibited."
Diret instantly legislated the Diret Law.
Yukveltire protested, but her shameless and illogical friend wouldn't back down.
"I was surprised, Master."
"That mage is indeed surprising. Even in ancient times, such individuals were rare."
The Crazy Doppelganger nodded as if understanding his disciple's words.
Indeed, there was something extraordinary about the mage called Verdus.
Even in ancient times, such single-minded individuals were hard to find.
To persistently pursue his desires even after having his artifacts destroyed like that...
Had it been the old days, he might have become a terrifying enemy.
"Huh? Oh, the professor? I wasn't that surprised by him. He's always been like that. More than that, I never expected you'd examine other people's magic too, Master."
After subduing Professor Verdus, the Crazy Doppelganger proceeded to teach the class instead.
While the other students weren't particularly surprised, Lee Han's situation was different.
Who would have thought the Crazy Doppelganger would personally conduct the lecture!
Honestly, Lee Han had been nervous that the Crazy Doppelganger might say, 'You teach them, disciple.'
Forced magic training would be better than having to teach his seniors. How was he supposed to do that?
"Indeed. So there was such a method."
"......"
Lee Han deeply reflected. 'A mage who cannot control their own mouth will never achieve greatness...!'
"The reason I held this lecture today is because the royal family has grand ambitions."
"?"
Lee Han was puzzled by the Crazy Doppelganger's words.
To think they had plans.
What kind? 'Gasp. Could it be?' Only one possibility came to mind. With a shocked expression, Lee Han asked,
"By any chance... are you aiming for the position of Einrogard's Headmaster?"
"......"
The Crazy Doppelganger stared at Lee Han with an icy gaze, as if looking at filth rather than a disciple.
"Ah, no. Nothing else comes to mind besides that."
"Why would the royal family covet the lordship of this flea-infested hole?"
Though suddenly reduced to a flea, Lee Han remained unfazed.
"It's quite a respectable position. Recognized by the Empire, serving as both a lord and a noble of the imperial court..."
"You should strive for such things yourself."
"That's too harsh, isn't it?!"
Lee Han, unusually, lost his temper.
The Crazy Doppelganger was taken aback by the sudden outburst from the normally polite disciple.
"My apologies. This disciple got carried away."
"You're not suffering from madness, are you? It's too soon for you to lose your mind."
"There's no need to worry. So, what exactly are you planning?"
The Crazy Doppelganger did not answer Lee Han's question.
Instead, it seemed to be deep in thought.
'????'
As the other party remained silent, Lee Han grew even more bewildered.
It was extremely rare for the Crazy Doppelganger, who usually answered as kindly as a crystal ball of prophecy, to withhold a response like this.
"That, I cannot tell you. This plan is not for you to know."
"......"
Lee Han was stunned. 'Is he really after the Headmaster's position?' Nothing else came to mind.
Teaching students who weren't even his disciples and hiding this from Lee Han...
"Where are we heading next?"
"Uh... the lecture titled 'With a Drop of Potion Instead of Complex Magic.'"
"Alchemy, is it? Is this mage also like that previous one?"
"Absolutely not. There's no way someone like that would... well, there might be others at Einrogard, but this professor isn't one of them."
As he spoke, Lee Han felt slightly guilty toward Professor Thunderstep. 'Still, he wouldn't be that surprised, right?'
"In the future, please resolve any complaints with words!"
Seeing the Headmaster's doppelganger sitting idly, the dwarf professor hurriedly pulled Lee Han into a corner.
When Professor Garcia had warned him earlier in the lounge to "be careful," he hadn't understood what she meant—but now it made sense.
He knew this disciple was resourceful and capable, but he never imagined Lee Han would drag the Headmaster's Crazy Doppelganger into the lecture hall just to vent his grievances against a professor.
"That's a misunderstanding. I didn't bring him here on purpose either."
"You went to Professor Verdus's lecture hall too, didn't you?! How is that not on purpose?!"
"...I did enjoy that part a little, but technically, it was still a lecture I had to attend."
Lee Han explained earnestly.
Of course, he had somewhat enjoyed the takedown of Professor Verdus, but in principle, it was a lecture he was required to attend.
How could Lee Han have stopped the Crazy Doppelganger from following him?
Hearing the disciple's explanation, Professor Thunderstep's anger subsided slightly.
The professor was aware of Lee Han's unfortunate circumstances. Not many mages could stop the Headmaster's doppelganger from trailing behind them.
"If that's the case, then there was nothing you could do. You've had quite the ordeal... Wait. Didn't you complete your staff? Then why were you in Professor Verdus's lecture hall...?"
'Oh no.'
It was the Crazy Doppelganger who had helped Lee Han. The Crazy Doppelganger quietly called out to Professor Thunderstep.
"Wh-what is it?"
"Excellent. You're a mage who knows proper etiquette."
"?"
Professor Thunderstep was puzzled by the other's words.
When it came to formalities and etiquette, he considered himself merely average—certainly not outstanding.
"I had thought that mage-like fellow from earlier might appear again... but it seems that's not the case."
'Ah.'
As always, everything was relative.
Compared to Professor Verdus, any professor who merely breathed normally would seem outstanding.
'Thank you, Professor Verdus. I won't repay you later, but still!'
Mentally expressing his gratitude to Professor Verdus, Professor Thunderstep bowed his head.
"Any professor at Einrogard would naturally possess such etiquette."
"It didn't seem particularly natural to me... Anyway, I have a task for you."
"?"
Professor Thunderstep hesitated.
Was this really okay?
'When the Headmaster returns, won't all hell break loose?'
Since Wardanaz was still a student, and the Skeleton Principal doted on him so much, accompanying the enemy might be excusable.
But if an Einrogard professor accepted a request from the enemy?
Would that still be excusable?
"What... kind of task is it?"
"First, swear an oath. Secrecy is crucial for this matter."
"A wise suggestion. Secrecy is indeed important."
Professor Thunderstep immediately nodded.
If possible, he wanted to keep this secret even after the Skeleton Principal returned.
After the conversation, Professor Thunderstep began his lecture as usual.
Well, not exactly as usual.
Today, Professor Thunderstep was the kind and gentle version of himself.
"Professor, the reagent is contaminated."
"Then go out and get a new—...! Hmm. Ahem. Never mind. It happens. You iron-headed fool. Hm?"
"We're not first-years anymore..."
"Shut—... Ahem. Right. I must have forgotten!"
Seeing Professor Thunderstep—who usually erupted like fire at mistakes—kindly comforting them, Lee Han's friends quickly grasped the situation.
"Professor! I'd like to use additional reagents!"
"Professor! I want to mix the solution in the cauldron—could you guide me?"
"Professor! Actually, I was the one who melted the bottom of the pot last week!"
"......"
Professor Thunderstep shuddered at the behavior of his second-year students.
These Einrogard brats, right down to their bones!
"Professor."
"What do you want now?!"
When Lee Han called out, Professor Thunderstep immediately flared up.
Why was this one calling when he had nothing to ask in the first place?
"I have a question too."
"Ah. Right."
Professor Thunderstep looked slightly embarrassed.
He often forgot, but now that he thought about it, this student before him was still a second-year.
It wasn't as if every potion had to succeed on the first try.
Approaching Lee Han, Professor Thunderstep checked the contents of the cauldron. The shimmering silver solution gave off the distinct energy of fully dissolved moonstone.
"...This is perfect, though?"
"It's not about the potion... Did you discuss something with the Headmaster earlier?"
Lee Han asked in a low voice.
No matter how he thought about it, the Crazy Doppelganger's plan felt unsettling.
Perhaps Professor Thunderstep had some clue?
At the student's question, the professor nodded.
"So that's what you're curious about. Understood."
Professor Thunderstep took out a quill and began secretly writing something on a piece of paper.
Lee Han watched with hopeful eyes.
"Here. Take it."
"Thank y—... <Thunderstep's Submersion Incense>? Is this what the Headmaster wanted?"
<Thunderstep's Submersion Incense> was a signature creation of Professor Thunderstep—one Lee Han had seen before while preparing for the last exam.
Just reading the instructions made his head spin from the sheer difficulty.
"No. You just seem to have too much free time on your hands, so I'm telling you to practice making that."
With those words, Professor Thunderstep turned and walked away.
Lee Han glared at his retreating back.
That shameless professor!