Episode 987
Episode 987
"That's impossible. Our dimension is vast, and the number of mages is endless. How do you expect to find one specific mage?"
Catten retorted with an incredulous expression.
He likely hadn't even considered the possibility that the culprit might be among the juniors behind him.
The Frost Giant didn't immediately draw his weapon despite Catten's arrogant attitude.
An exceptional warrior deserved respect.
-No one said you had to search the entire dimension. That mage is undoubtedly still in this dimension. Compared to others, this dimension is relatively small—finding them should be easy enough.
"I don't understand. How can you be sure the mage is still in this dimension?"
Catten asked again.
If they knew the location, the Frost Giants would have acted already.
The fact that they were giving orders like this meant they still didn't know where the target was.
Yet they were so certain the mage was still here.
-Warrior. Think carefully. What reason would a challenger recognized by the King have to remain in this dimension?
Giselle muttered from behind.
"Because the professor told them to."
"Shh. Be quiet."
Fortunately, the two weren't heard. The Frost Giant continued with conviction in his voice.
-That challenger must also be after the relic we seek. And since they haven't obtained it yet, they're still in this dimension. I can feel it—that bastard is hiding somewhere in this dimension, watching us!
"......"
Lee Han wanted to tell him to go see a healing mage.
Where exactly was he sensing the presence of an enemy that didn't even exist?
But Catten seemed convinced by the Frost Giant's words.
"Indeed... If warriors of your caliber sensed it, then it must be true."
'That makes no sense.'
-Exactly. It's not just me—the other giants have been sensing it too. The presence of that bastard lurking somewhere in this dimension.
'They all need to see a healing mage.'
Despite the pessimistic thoughts of the two juniors, Catten seemed to have made up his mind.
"Very well. I'll search for them myself. But remember this—if that person sought the relic out of greed and malice, I'll tell you their location. But if their reasons are just, I'll remain silent."
-Ha! Truly worthy of a warrior.
"I'm a mage."
-...
What? He was a mage?!
"I told you before. There are three mages here."
-I thought you meant there was one more mage behind you.
The Frost Giant looked bewildered.
Anyone could see he was a warrior!
The two behind him were definitely mages. Despite their trained stances, they carried the unmistakable aura of mages.
But from Catten, there wasn't the slightest hint of magical scent. That was the bearing of a pure warrior.
Catten scolded the Frost Giant.
"For a powerful race like yours to fall prey to prejudice—you should reflect on that!"
-So... so you're really a mage? Was I mistaken?
Leaving the Frost Giant muttering in shock, Catten turned and left with his juniors.
"The Frost Giants are strong, but their arrogance blinds them. Juniors, if you ever face them, you must exploit this weakness."
'It doesn't seem like arrogance was the reason for their mistake.'
While the two juniors exchanged dubious glances, Catten continued.
"First, we need to find that mage to gain the Frost Giants' recognition. Hmm... I wonder what kind of mage they are. Recognized by their King and also after their relic... I worry they might be a dark mage."
Catten's concern wasn't unfounded.
By nature, the King of Frost Giants was a violent and formidable being.
A good mage would have little reason to seek out such a being for a challenge.
And if they were also after the Frost Giants' relic... that made it even more suspicious...
"...Senior. Actually, that was me."
"?"
Catten's ears perked up sharply.
The junior's words didn't register immediately, as if they were under some curse.
"Junior. I must have misheard. What did you just say?"
"It's me that the Frost Giants are looking for..."
Lee Han explained in a sullen voice.
Last year, he'd had the misfortune of encountering the King of Frost Giants, and ever since then, the Frost Giants had been giving him trouble...
He looked so pitiful that even Giselle couldn't stand it and stepped in to defend him.
"It's not Wardanaz's fault, Senior. The Frost Giants are the ones unilaterally pursuing—"
"I'm not saying it's your fault, Junior. Wait, then what about the artifact?"
"That's also something the Frost Giants stole."
Lee Han explained the mission given to him by Arsil, his elder brother from the same family.
The artifact the Frost Giants were after didn't originally belong to them.
Since they had stolen it too, Lee Han, as a mage of the Wardanaz Family, had both the right and duty to reclaim it properly...
'Well. That kind of sounds like nonsense.'
Even as he spoke, Lee Han was cautious.
Arsil could spout nonsense and the spirits would still agree like sycophants, but Lee Han was different.
If he talked nonsense, he might get hit.
What if Catten asked why a mage of the Wardanaz Family was stepping in when the artifact was stolen by the Frost Giants—shouldn't the original owner be the one to reclaim it?
"Indeed. In that case, Junior, you do have a legitimate claim."
"...Senior!"
Lee Han was moved.
Perhaps because they were both from Einrogard, Catten took Lee Han's side.
"Then there's only one thing left to do, Juniors."
"What is it?"
"Cut down the Frost Giants and prove our strength—"
"Before that, I think we should report to the Headmaster."
Lee Han quickly stopped Catten.
It was easy to mistake him because of his cute appearance, but one must never forget why the <Beastman Personality-Cuteness Inverse Proportion Hypothesis> was created in the first place.
This senior was also one of Einrogard's madmen who wouldn't hesitate to draw his sword if provoked!
"The Frost Giants dared to reject you?"
The Crazy Doppelganger's reaction to the report was different from what Lee Han had expected.
He had anticipated indifference or sarcasm, but the response was far more intense.
"To dare turn away an envoy bearing the name of royalty. It seems the giants have drunk too deeply of time and lost their minds. I should remind them who holds their leash. Prepare yourself!"
At this abstract command, Lee Han flusteredly replied.
"Master. I didn't actually reveal your identity, though."
"...?"
The Crazy Doppelganger paused at his disciple's words.
He had conversed with the Frost Giants without revealing his master's status?
"Then by what authority did you speak to the Frost Giants?"
"...Well, you see, I once had a confrontation with the King of Frost Giants before..."
"......"
Though baffled by his disciple's sudden change of topic, the Crazy Doppelganger patiently waited.
The bond he had built with his disciple had granted even the Crazy Doppelganger some patience.
"...And so, I was kind of forced into a challenge, and word must have spread among the Frost Giants..."
"I see."
The Crazy Doppelganger nodded slightly, as if finally understanding.
"So you were approached as a challenger before even revealing your royal name. That makes sense."
Given that Frost Giants were a violent and warlike race, this explanation fit.
His disciple must have been challenged before even disclosing his royal status.
As a challenger recognized by the King of Frost Giants, he was asked to bear honor and duel!
"I hid it, though..."
"What?"
"Um... I hid the fact that I was a challenger."
"...Why?"
"I thought... a great mage shouldn't recklessly reveal their identity..."
The Crazy Doppelganger raised a hand to stop his disciple's nonsense. Listening further would be a waste of time.
"Go, reveal your identity, face them with dignity, and win. Don't return until you do."
The Archmage was truly wise.
As if anticipating that his disciple might grumble or make excuses after giving the order, he immediately swung his hand and pushed the ground away.
By the time Lee Han tried to protest, he had already arrived far below the distant cliff.
—Isn't this too harsh?!
Though his disciple's distant shout echoed back like a reverberation, the Crazy Doppelganger paid it no heed.
—Can he really find the challenger? A mere fragile mortal?
—I believe in that warrior. Though he is of a weak race, his eyes hold a spirit resembling that of us Giants.
—To say that much! Now I'm truly curious.
The Frost Giants chattered among themselves, discussing the beastman warrior who had come earlier.
Meanwhile, a new guest arrived from afar.
A mage with a stone gifted by their king embedded at the tip of his staff—any Frost Giant would recognize it.
—!!!!
—No way!
"I heard you were looking for me..."
Lee Han tried his best to shout with as much confidence as he could muster.
It seemed pointless to admit he had been sneaking around or avoiding them—nothing good would come of it.
No matter what, he had to appear as a challenger who had come forward proudly on his own!
Thwack!
A Frost Giant warrior punched his comrade in the face.
The comrade reached for a club leaning against the wall, but he was a little too slow. As a result, he toppled backward.
"??!"
Startled, Giselle asked Catten,
"Why are they doing that?"
"Einrogard students do that sometimes too, don't they?"
"What does that even...?"
Baffled by the cryptic answer, Giselle belatedly realized—
The Frost Giant who had knocked down his comrade was cheering.
—With this, the honor of the challenger is mine alone!
"......"
He had taken down his comrade first because he wanted the honor of facing Lee Han all to himself.
Giselle was both shocked and strangely familiar with the sight. It was something she often witnessed at Einrogard.
—At last, you've appeared. Challenger! I've been looking for you!
"There seems to be a misunderstanding. I wasn't hiding to covet any relics. I was simply training alone to hone my magic!"
—Is that so? It doesn't matter.
'These bastards...'
Lee Han was dumbfounded. These Frost Giants had blatantly insisted he was hiding somewhere to ambush them, only to now say, 'That doesn't really matter.'
Truly, their shamelessness was on par with each other—no surprise for fellow Giants.
—Challenger. I desire the honor of defeating a challenger recognized by our king!
"...I want recognition. If I win, you must promise not to challenge me again. Swear on your name and guarantee my honor among the other Giants."
—Agreed!
The Frost Giant readily accepted.
After all, whether others could challenge him or not wasn't his concern. Such honors were first-come, first-served.
If they wanted the honor of the challenger, they should've been here, shouldn't they?
From behind, Catten muttered quietly,
"Exactly what kind of challenge should we step in for, junior?"
"I think I'll have to hear it first. Like... if it's a challenge where Wardanaz's strength alone won't be enough..."
Even if the Crazy Doppelganger had ordered it, Lee Han wasn't the kind of mage to recklessly charge at a Giant.
Naturally, he had prepared at least some safety measures—and those measures were the two behind him.
If the challenge seemed impossible, they'd step in and cause chaos!
—Challenger. I will propose the challenge, and you may choose. First, look at that glacier!
Lee Han turned his gaze.
The glacier beside the valley where the Frost Giants resided was ice infused with dimensional mana, preventing it from melting naturally.
Such ice could only be melted by magic or by dispersing its internal structure with immense mana.
—Inside the glacier is a white flower. The challenge is to see who retrieves it first.
"I should step in."
Realizing this wouldn't work, Catten immediately reached for his sword.
But Giselle showed a slightly ambiguous reaction.
"That level... might actually be manageable..."
"?!!"