Episode 981
Episode 981
The alchemy lecture ended just like that.
As Lee Han walked out of the classroom, he considered burning <Thunderstep's Submersion Incense> recipe but held back.
'Let's keep it. It might be useful someday.'
Knowledge is always power.
Who knew—that recipe might help Lee Han one day.
Still, Lee Han vowed not to learn it immediately. It was a matter of pride.
He wouldn't dance on Professor Thunderstep's palm!
"Master. Are you alright?"
Lee Han turned to the Crazy Doppelganger following behind and asked.
"It wasn't bad, but the wizard acting as professor has some issues."
"Aha."
Lee Han nodded at his master's words.
Indeed, Professor Thunderstep had problems.
Not answering a student's question was one thing, but mocking them by assigning extra tasks like that?
His personality was downright spiteful.
"Professor Thunderstep's personality is a bit..."
"Feeble."
"Pardon?"
"I said feeble. A true master must possess not only generosity but also sternness."
Professor Thunderstep had forced himself to act kindly due to Professor Verdus's precedent, but that very kindness backfired.
The Crazy Doppelganger had branded him as a feeble wizard.
'That's absurd.'
Lee Han lamented the ridiculous misunderstanding.
Professor Thunderstep was someone who could rank among the most spiteful wizards anywhere, yet to be misunderstood like this...
"Still, he's usually stricter."
"Then it means he acted while minding the royals' reactions. That's also unbecoming of an outstanding wizard."
'Well, that's true.'
Even Lee Han thought Professor Thunderstep was excessively obsequious.
No matter how much Professor Verdus had suffered, for an Einrogard professor, it was rather unbecoming.
-Wardanaz. Are you okay?
Other friends who'd left the classroom gestured from behind.
-I'm fine.
-Really?
-Of course. But stay farther away.
"......"
You're clearly not fine at all!
Nilia and Yoner were exasperated.
Since when did 'fine' people tell others to stay away?
"Should a wizard who kidnapped Wardanaz be allowed to wander around so openly?"
"The Headmaster isn't here right now..."
"Isn't this the perfect time to file a complaint?"
The friends grumbled, cursing the absent Skeleton Principal at such a critical moment.
Normally, someone should lead the Death Knights to strictly eliminate outsiders and uphold Einrogard's discipline, but without that, chaos ensued.
They caught runaway students so well, yet now they couldn't do anything?
"Everyone, think carefully."
"Indeed. If we send a complaint, there's a chance the Headmaster might retaliate. We could end up locked in the Punishment Room until graduation..."
"No, I didn't mean that. I meant the content of the complaint. It needs to be precise and detailed so the Headmaster can't counter it."
"That's our Maykin."
The second-years marveled at their friend's seasoned advice.
Strictly speaking, the Skeleton Principal wielded more power against imperial bureaucrats than any student here.
Besides, hadn't the Skeleton Principal been Einrogard's lord for over a decade?
A sloppy complaint like 'The Headmaster starves us by withholding bread, boohoo' would clearly be anticipated and prepared for.
The students, no longer freshmen, had developed a broader perspective by now.
"Let's each record this doppelganger's dangerous actions."
"Exactly! Wardanaz attends almost every lecture, so role division will be easy. Lucky us."
"...Let's not say that in front of Wardanaz..."
The friends steeled their resolve.
For Wardanaz's sake, they would meticulously monitor this wicked wizard's even more wicked doppelganger!
"But isn't Wardanaz being way too calm about this?"
"Honestly, when I first heard about Professor Verdus's lecture, I wondered if Wardanaz brought him here on purpose. But surely that can't be the case, right?"
"...No. I asked Lee Han, and he said Wardanaz definitely didn't bring him here intentionally."
At Yoner's words, their friends let out slight sighs of relief.
Though they didn't show it, deep down, everyone had harbored a tiny thought: 'Surely Wardanaz isn't deliberately dragging him around, right?'
* * *
Bulgasari: Trying to use this mage seems like a very bad idea. It's basic knowledge not to wield magic with uncontrollable power.
Iactus: Didn't they say Professor Verdus got robbed? Do you think we could rob Professor Bendozol too?
Bulgasari: Is anyone even listening to me? We're dealing with a dangerous mage. Don't try to exploit him—leave handling him to the professors. The Headmaster will be back soon anyway.
Bakwantalana: Subjecting professors to personal retribution is the least significant and worthless thing that mage could do. If possible, we should extract his magic secrets.
Bulgasari: Can everyone see my messages or not?
Ipelldrem: I can see them!
Bulgasari: Thanks... Iactus. Even if you ignore me, I'll keep writing! Go ahead and ignore me if you want.
Iactus: Alright, alright, Bulgasari. I wasn't ignoring you on purpose. But you always have a knack for ruining the fun, don't you?
Bulgasari: Wh-what kind of absurd insult is that...? I absolutely refuse to accept that! Apologize!
'That... kind of makes sense.'
The members of the Watchers of Einrogard were engaged in a rare heated discussion.
Naturally, the topic was the much-talked-about question: How can we exploit this insane archmage?
Iactus wanted to use him to take down professors.
Bakwantalana wanted to extract his arcane secrets.
Bulgasari insisted they should just keep their distance because, professor or not, he was dangerous—the least fun and least popular opinion.
Iactus: Besides, isn't the Wardanaz junior wandering around with the Headmaster's clone? Just that alone makes me think he's not that dangerous.
Bulgasari: That's wrong! The Wardanaz junior was even kidnapped at one point!
Ipelldrem: K-kidnapped?! Do students even get kidnapped at Einrogard? And it was that Wardanaz?!
Bulgasari: ...
It happens very rarely. Usually, it doesn't.
When the newly joined Baldrogard student poked his head in, the other members realized their mistake.
They had been chatting away, assuming only Einrogard students were present, without considering how it might look to an outsider.
Lee Han quickly moved his quill to placate the new member. No matter what, they couldn't air all their dirty laundry in front of a Baldrogard student.
Gonadaltes: Right. Calling it 'kidnapping' is clearly an exaggeration. It was probably just... aggressive magic instruction. That Wardanaz guy tends to exaggerate a lot—
Ipelldrem: H-how can you dismiss being kidnapped like it's nothing?! Gonadaltes, you're really rude—just like last time!
"......"
First impressions mattered more than one might think in human relationships.
The Baldrogard student, who had previously tried to use 'Wardanaz' as a pseudonym in the Watcher Club only to receive blunt criticism from Lee Han, now regarded them with deep suspicion.
First, they dismissed a fellow Einrogard student like Wardanaz, and now they were downplaying kidnapping as if it were nothing—how could they be so rude?
He almost wanted to see their faces in person.
Gonadaltes: ...
Iactus. You explain it instead.
Iactus: Well, kidnappings aren't common, but geniuses are like that, right? You've gotta be at the level where crazy mages swarm you to pass on their magic before you're a real prodigy. This'll probably happen again, so don't freak out already.
Gonadaltes: What kind of nonsense is that? When does that ever happen nowadays? Don't talk like we're in ancient times.
Iactus: "What? Why are you angry?"
Gonadaltes: "I'm not angry."
Lee Han quickly composed his emotions.
If he reacted immediately to the other's unpleasant remark, he might give himself away.
Iactus: "Anyway, it's all over now, and he's fine. Though that doppelganger is still loitering around the main building's lecture hall."
Bulgasari: "Right. It's fine. You don't need to worry too much."
Ipelldrem: "Yeah..."
Bulgasari: "You're not misunderstanding Einrogard, are you? If you are, ask now."
Ipelldrem: "Ah, no. I'm not misunderstanding anything."
'They're all terrible at comforting people.' Lee Han clicked his tongue.
Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed they had only succeeded in frightening the Baldrogard student further rather than clearing up any misunderstandings.
Honestly, this wasn't the time to worry about others. The person that student was most wary of was Lee Han himself.
Since he was currently the only outsider free to move around, it would be best to ease their wariness if possible.
But how? 'If I say I'm Wardanaz, they'll just think I'm crazy...' Revealing his identity was risky and could backfire.
Lee Han fell deep into thought.
Surprisingly, the crazy doppelganger's presence wasn't much of an issue.
Listening to the other members' conversations, it seemed their only concerns were whether it would attack professors or try to teach them magic. Unlike Jowurin last time, no one here coveted his body.
Then again, no matter how much they were Einrogard students, charging at the Skeleton Principal's doppelganger was a bit...
Beaver
- Penguin
- Fox: "Everyone's struggling with the lectures. Hang in there."
"!"
Ilendil had left a message in the Watcher Club on a mere whim.
'Everyone's forgetting what's truly important.'
Einrogard students, obsessed with magic and its evaluations, often lost sight of what truly mattered.
But Ilendil was different. She knew exactly what was most important.
The forest.
A magical space teeming with spirits and plants, breathing with life.
Compared to tending and nurturing this space, Einrogard's lectures were trivial.
In fact, Ilendil had skipped most of her classes—a boldness rarely seen in a fourth-year student.
Yet, the dryad-blooded student felt not an ounce of regret.
Look at those students, clinging so desperately to lectures and teachings.
Because of that obsession, they were now caught up in all sorts of external incidents and suffering for it.
In contrast, Ilendil could focus solely on her own work in the tranquil forest...
"Senior! Are you there?"
"......"
Ilendil was startled by the familiar voice calling from afar.
Why?!
Why had that junior come looking for her in the forest?!!
'Right, right!'
It was only after seeing the artifact, the [Echo of the Demigod], placed deep in the forest that Ilendil's memory returned.
Come to think of it, she hadn't just received this artifact for free.
That junior had given it to her under the condition that she could tame an artificial demigod and practice ancient dark magic in the forest.
'How could I forget that?!'
Scolding herself, Ilendil prepared to respond.
"Don't call out so crudely. Send a paper bird instead."
"Yes. Understood."
"...!"
The moment she realized there was someone else present, Ilendil acted like the high-ranking Einrogard student she was—she immediately burrowed deep underground.
In that brief moment, she persuaded the earth and asked the rocks to let her hide beneath them—truly the skill of an Einrogard senior.
'Th-this can't be happening. Why me...?!'
Was this divine punishment for mocking the other students who attended lectures?
Ilendil deeply regretted her actions.
If she were shown mercy just this once, she swore she'd never mock another student again...
"Senior! Senior! ...Where did you go?"
"Below."
"Huh?"
"I'm below."
As the crazy doppelganger twitched its jaw and spoke, Lee Han laughed as if it were absurd.
"What kind of senior digs like a dwarf? Why would you be underground in the forest?"
CRACK!
With a swing of the doppelganger's hand, the earth split open, revealing Ilendil hiding deep below.
The dryad-blooded senior, who had been crouching, slowly stood up.
"H-hi..."
"......"
"Um... Aren't you going to say something...?"