Episode 996
Episode 996
Of course, Lee Han didn't release the hamster.
The hamster trapped inside could only pray that Gonadaltes would show mercy to his disciple.
'So that's how he managed to suppress the rampage. He learned the Small World technique.'
Instead of clicking his tongue, the Skeleton Principal made a bone-rattling sound to express his displeasure.
It wasn't that he was displeased with the fact that Lee Han had learned the Small World technique. That was something worthy of praise.
What displeased him was that Lee Han was using that very technique to play spy.
'That crown wasn't meant for such things. And that crown wasn't sacrificed for this either. And you—you damn hamster brat. Are you egging him on from the side?!'
The hamster felt his heart sink.
Though he had mocked Gonadaltes outside the territory as a magic criminal, facing a Great Mage who could bend the world to his will was overwhelming. The sheer pressure made it impossible for him to speak.
"Wh-what do you mean...?"
'That doppelganger was trying to kill himself, and the Chamberlain wouldn't refuse him. The only one who could tell him how to stop it was you! Even if you've learned the Small World technique, forcing a mage's body to endure the world's tribulation—just you wait until this is over.'
The Skeleton Principal's deduction was sharp.
He had clearly pinpointed the culprit in this brief situation.
No matter how much Lee Han had learned the Small World technique or drunk the Elixir of Wisdom, the absolute amount of his magical knowledge was still lacking.
And the only rat bastard who could supplement that knowledge was right beside him.
Unable to stand it any longer, Lee Han defended him.
"Don't be too harsh on the hamster. I was the one who asked."
"Hmph. You must've been fooled by that magic criminal. Their tongues are far too cunning. Have you already forgotten what I told you?"
The Skeleton Principal was being unreasonable.
Of course, the headmaster knew full well that his disciple wasn't naive enough to be swayed by the words of magic criminals.
But when displeased, one tends to hate the already detestable even more.
And that was exactly the case with the hamster.
'I see right through you, Wardanaz. You're keeping that doppelganger alive to extract more magic from him. That's just the kind of person you are.'
'No.'
Lee Han was dumbfounded.
Was a Great Mage really resorting to such petty attempts at sowing discord?
"R-really...?"
The hamster let out a shocked squeak.
If Lee Han was truly orchestrating all this for that purpose, then this boy from the Wardanaz family was a magical monster far beyond his own comprehension.
"Be quiet before I throw you out front."
Squeak...
The hamster obediently shut his mouth.
'But you're wrong. I usually respect my disciple's freedom, but that doppelganger is far too dangerous. I'll teach you the magic myself, so step aside.'
The Skeleton Principal spoke benevolently.
Ignoring Lee Han, he addressed the Crazy Doppelganger behind him.
"You're not actually believing this nonsense about sowing discord, are you? Who would go through all this trouble just to learn one more spell?"
"Move."
"...Seriously?! You're pulling excuses at the hamster's level now?!"
Though his disciple was furious, the Crazy Doppelganger paid no heed.
"I didn't even listen to that drivel in the first place. The outcome is decided. The defeated have their own fate. Even if it's tragic, it must not be resisted."
"With all the trouble ahead, do you really have to act like this too, Professor?!"
Lee Han gritted his teeth.
He was already struggling to handle the situation, and now his teacher was scraping at his nerves from behind.
But the Crazy Doppelganger seemed to have already made up his mind. The Skeleton Principal spoke as if he had expected this.
'See, Wardanaz? He understands the meaning of my words.'
The Skeleton Principal wasn't surprised by the other's submission.
Because they fully understood each other's way of thinking.
The doppelganger knew exactly how dangerous he was. He knew he stood no chance. And above all, he knew how despicable it would be to use his disciple as a shield after being defeated.
"Then it's only natural that he would accept the fate of eternal imprisonment."
But as expected of a disciple, he stubbornly persisted.
"Headmaster. Just look at Einrogard—there are plenty of demons roaming around. Take Mr. Oripulas, for instance. He's diligently serving his duties, isn't he? With proper calculations, contracts, and preparations, even the terror of the royal lineage could be controlled."
For whose sake?
"Huh?"
Batchnaz. You don't understand the true meaning of the world's rejection. What you've experienced is but a fraction of a fragment. It is an eternal punishment. Do you truly believe that would be good for him?
"......"
Lee Han was left speechless, caught off guard by the unexpected point. Indeed, he hadn't considered the suffering of the Crazy Doppelganger himself.
But there was something the Skeleton Principal hadn't considered either.
"Don't concern yourself with it."
"!"
"It's something I've already resolved and vowed to do. If one expects a path toward resentment to be free of suffering, that's nothing but shamelessness. It's not something a disciple should worry about."
This is utterly maddening.
The Skeleton Principal trembled with fury as he looked at his own doppelganger. That relentless persistence, indifferent to pain even from childhood, was now tripping him up.
"However, that doesn't make what you just said any more reasonable. Binding a demon with a contract and controlling it is entirely different from restraining the terror of the royal lineage. The scale is incomparable. There's no reason to take such risks and cast such a grand spell. You are a mage first and foremost, before being a disciple of the royal lineage. Act with reason."
I take back what I said earlier. Truly, as expected of me—wise as ever.
"Then why did Your Lordship act that way?!"
"???"
Lee Han and the Skeleton Principal turned their gazes downward at the sudden shout.
Chamberlain Intarendals had approached unnoticed and was now shouting with blazing eyes.
"Chamberlain. Just because the royal lineage has been defeated doesn't mean I permit discourtesy."
"Please allow this discourteous counsel! Your Lordship is not setting a proper example right now. If you yourself cannot act that way, why do you harshly instruct your disciple to walk such a ruthless path?"
The Skeleton Principal watched with a gaze that seemed torn between silencing him or letting this intriguing conversation continue.
A doppelganger was originally a being that moved solely for its purpose—a thought-form, not a living being.
Yet, this doppelganger was displaying an attitude unlike its usual self?
"Since when has the royal lineage shown such behavior?"
"I found it strange, but my loyalty blinded me to it. Had Your Lordship truly thought only of resentment with cold rationality, why would you have bestowed wisdom upon the mages of Einrogard?"
...What? What did I do?
"...I merely left behind debts for my disciple."
"That is an inefficient method! Who plants and nurtures a sapling from scratch just because they want to eat fruit? That is exactly what Your Lordship has done! I could list countless more examples. Why did you punish that beastman mage, Beaver?"
What???
"That was..."
"Admit it! Wasn't it not for resentment but simply because you cherish your disciple? Then why do you call it wrong when your disciple cherishes you in return?"
"Very well said!"
Lee Han, having regained his vigor, shouted in support of the chamberlain's argument.
"So what if it seems inefficient and roundabout? Not everything in the world can be done with pure efficiency."
"After all the teachings you've received, you still spout such foolish words?"
"I'm not finished yet. If we view things from an omniscient perspective, everything we do would inevitably seem foolish. Do you remember Senior Catten?"
"Are you referring to that fool who played Wizard Cards during lessons?"
"...Well, Gainando also—no, not him. That senior who manifested magic through a sword, remember?"
Lee Han nearly faltered at Gainando's name suddenly popping up. Apparently, the audacity of playing Wizard Cards during lectures had left quite an impression.
"Everyone says that senior acts inefficiently. Honestly, I've thought so myself a few times. But the future is something no one can predict! Senior Catten might one day complete a magic no other mage could ever replicate!"
Normally, the Crazy Doppelganger would have interrupted his disciple's words as illogical, but this time he listened quietly.
For the first time, he found himself overwhelmed by his disciple's spirit.
Lee Han felt his body swaying. Considering everything he had done today, it wouldn't have been strange if his physical exhaustion had reached its limit, regardless of his mana reserves.
But he couldn't stop here. Gritting his teeth, Lee Han continued to persuade.
"Frankly, I'm not certain I can achieve Master's long-cherished wish. But I intend to try my hardest until the end. Since I'm not as wise as Master, I'll need help—what do you say? Senior Catten and Gainando will help, Professor Bagrak and the Headmaster will lend their aid too. I must seek help where I fall short. Master, please help me as well."
"......"
Honestly, he was moved. Far more than he had expected.
While the Crazy Doppelganger remained silent, the Skeleton Principal spoke.
Lee Han brightened and asked eagerly.
"Then, instead of sealing him away permanently—"
No. Wardanaz. My resolve has only grown firmer.
The Skeleton Principal's eye sockets blazed with fire.
A Thought-form is dangerous, but one that has begun to change is even worse. Step aside!
Separate from his momentary surge of emotion, the Skeleton Principal had already been preparing his magic while Lee Han spoke.
He instantly sent the ungrateful professor, who was bound to interfere, to another dimension and drew upon the magic power he had prepared below.
He planned to fold space, push Lee Han away, and immediately hurl the Crazy Doppelganger into the void.
If he allowed any more emotional stimulation, there was no telling how that Thought-form might transform. It had to be ended now.
Lee Han cursed furiously, feeling utterly betrayed.
What kind of heartless person does something like this, Headmaster or not?
Now he understood why imperial bureaucrats despised him.
Hmph. Wardanaz, you're neither the first nor the last disciple to hurl curses at me.
The Skeleton Principal dispelled the telekinesis Lee Han had summoned, evaporated the Water Prison Bomb, and reversed the Lightning Transformation.
The Small World's duration had ended, and the Wisdom Brew was gradually losing its potency.
Pushing aside this Wardanaz disciple wouldn't be difficult at all.
Then—a dazzling aurora surged forth.
"...?!"?!
The radiant beams of light piercing through the space still affected by the Unique World's aftermath could never be an ordinary natural phenomenon.
The Skeleton Principal cried out in shock.
Arna!
There was no mistaking it—the star he had once contracted with.
Mastering the Small World was one thing, but had he really formed a contract with Arna too?!
The light of the Guest Star came to aid its contracted hero. All surrounding magic was swept away in waves of light.
"Is this the power of Arna?!"
When Lee Han asked in bewilderment, the Skeleton Principal snapped in irritation.
Ask later, you ungrateful Wardanaz brat!
'How petty, really.' Grumbling inwardly, Lee Han turned away.
He still didn't fully understand what kind of power this was, but he had no choice but to seize the opportunity.
"Master. Let's escape first! ...Master?"
Lee Han was stunned.
The Crazy Doppelganger's form was fading.
Had the Skeleton Principal's sinister magic struck before Arna's light could block it?
"No way..."
But the Crazy Doppelganger shook his head.
"The royal bloodline... No. I think this is enough."
The ancient royal spoke calmly.
His face no longer bore the torment of a mage suffering under the world's curse.
It was the face of a mage who had passed everything to his disciple, confident that his wish would one day be fulfilled.
Only then did the royal realize the painful chains binding him had vanished. What he had mistaken for pride had actually been a curse.
"Now, at last, I can be certain. That you, my disciple... will one day achieve that wish."
The royal sensed his end approaching.
This wasn't a Reverse Summoning, where he would return to suffer again someday.
Nor was it an eternal seal to drift through the void.
"...I leave the world to you."
With those final words of genuine trust, the royal ascended. The Skeleton Principal's shocked, flickering gaze only amplified the royal's serenity.