Episode 311

Magic was a field more easily appreciated by those who understood it.

Mages like Deorgyu or Angrago, who had no interest in black magic, didn’t really grasp it, but Raphadael, who was studying black magic alongside Lee Han, could sense just how absurd what Lee Han had just done was.

No matter how low-circle the magic, to summon that number of bone restraints and bone hands, and control them all at once—

Bone magic, too, was a type of elemental magic, and as someone adept at controlling elements, Wardanaz was naturally skilled…

But this was truly unbelievable.

How much mana and how much talent would one need to do something like this?

“Raphadael. What are you doing, not coming in?”

“……”

“Hey, hey! What are you doing!”

“Aren’t you even surprised seeing all this?”

Raphadael asked Angrago.

Angrago replied as if he didn’t see the big deal.

“Wardanaz has always been good at magic.”

“……”

‘What a clueless fool!’

Watching his friends, who didn’t even know enough about black magic to realize how impressive this was, Raphadael clutched his chest in frustration.

This was an incredible feat…!

“Sir Mage, how are we supposed to fight like this?”

One of the mercenaries spoke to Lee Han in a tearful voice.

He was trying to arouse sympathy and somehow get out of his restraints.

“You should be able to fight ghouls just fine in that state?”

“If something happens… the cave is dark and the terrain’s complicated, you never know what might occur.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll cast floating lights so the darkness doesn’t matter. As for the complex terrain, Sharkan will go ahead and scout. No danger of being ambushed, so keep formation and fight properly.”

“……”

The restrained mercenary thought to himself:

Mages are really a breed you never want to mess with!

• * *

“Then, let’s head in.”

“Wait. I’ll cast Nimble Step magic on you.”

“Oh…!”

The two adventurers brightened at the chance to experience enhancement magic from a mage, something they’d only heard about.

Lee Han cast -Gonadaltes’ Nimble Step-. The strength welling deep inside their bodies sent shivers through both adventurers.

‘So this is enhancement magic…!’

‘I see why everyone wants an enhancement mage in the party!’

“Then, let’s go in.”

“Wait. I’ll also cast Spatial Perception magic.”

“Ah… Thank you.”

Once -Spatial Perception- magic was cast, the two adventurers felt their sense of distance grow sharp and precise.

‘So this is enhancement magic…!’

‘No wonder…’

“Alright, going in!”

“Wait. I’ll also cast Sharp Hand magic.”

“……”

“Th-thank you.”

The two adventurers were starting to get flustered.

A mage’s mana isn’t infinite—was this really okay?

It was nice, but was this really alright??

‘Is this normal for Einrogard graduates?’

“Alright, now that everything’s cast, let’s go. Forward.”

Lee Han tightened the grip of the bony hand around Buldahak’s neck. Making choking sounds, Buldahak walked forward.

–Grrr!

Sharkan, apparently smelling ghouls inside, let out a keen cry.

“Stop.”

Lee Han once again tightened the bony hand that was holding Buldahak’s neck.

Grinding his teeth, Buldahak muttered,

“I can understand words, you know…”

“Light!”

At the mouth of the cave, an orb of strong light appeared, and the ghouls lurking near the entrance began crawling out with hideous noises.

They felt strong aversion to the light and came to attack the mage who summoned it.

–■■■… ■■■…

–■■■■■…

“Hold them off!”

The mercenaries were more desperate than ever.

Normally, they would have fought more loosely and freely, but being forcibly bound like this, they couldn’t.

Shoulder-to-shoulder, maintaining a solid formation, they stabbed and felled the ghouls.

Deorgyu marveled without realizing it.

“Didn’t know mercenaries could coordinate that well. Reminds me of the family’s soldiers.”

“…Deorgyu. Don’t you see the bones on their necks, wrists, and ankles?”

“Move in! Sharkan, keep scouting ahead!”

Lee Han pushed Buldahak and the mercenaries to the front, maintaining formation with his friends behind as they entered.

The cave was wide enough for more than a dozen people to pass. Lee Han conjured another light orb.

–■■! ■■!

The cave inside was as bright as day.

Properly stimulated, more ghouls came rushing at them.

The mercenaries screamed as they swung their weapons desperately.

A ghoul struck by a mace fell, and another slashed by a thick single-edged sword tumbled.

Lee Han floated water orbs, launching them as Sharkan signaled. Ghouls hidden behind walls or rocks leapt out, angered.

“Protect Wardanaz!”

The cave was so expansive and ghouls surged from all sides that some broke through past the mercenary line.

The White Tiger Tower students took down the ghouls with swords and shields.

Raphadael was particularly proactive.

“Where do you think you’re coming, you ghouls. Return to the land of the dead! How dare you!”

“Raphadael. You don’t need to go that far—Wardanaz is fine.”

Angrago was a little startled at his friend’s overzealousness.

Wasn’t Raphadael worrying too much about Wardanaz? Wardanaz wasn’t the type to fall to a ghoul or two.

“What? Are you kidding?! Choi, help me explain!”

“Uh… Thanks for worrying, Raphadael.”

“……”

Raphadael lamented his foolish friends who knew nothing about black magic.

‘It’s frustrating working with people who know nothing about black magic!’

Meanwhile, the surge of ghouls was finally subdued. The mercenaries, breathing heavily, lowered their weapons. Fighting while bound together was several times more exhausting than usual.

“Ma…”

When one mercenary tried to turn his head, Lee Han reflexively shot a water orb and tightened the bony hand.

“Khurkhurkhur.”

“Damn lunatic!”

“Why are you falling over!”

As the fellow mercenary toppled, the others stumbled and cursed.

“Ah, sorry. That’s why you shouldn’t turn your head. What is it?”

“B-break…”

“Okay, take a break.”

“Could I have something to drink…”

“You idiot, do you have no sense?”

A nearby mercenary whispered in fright.

They had just been caught trying to ambush someone while wanted, and now they were asking for a drink?

If you didn’t want to be dissected before reaching the city, you’d better keep your mouth shut, but there was always some clueless fool.

Just because the opponent was a little accommodating, someone always tried to push it!

If he died alone, fine, but it’d drag everyone else down—that was the problem. The mercenary lamented the presence of such a fool in the group.

“Water?”

Lee Han conjured water and splashed it on the mercenaries. In cool life water that washed away sweat, blood, and heat, the mercenaries squealed in delight.

“Thank you!”

“Thank you, sir Mage!”

“You want more?”

“Just a bit…”

“You crazy idiot!”

The other mercenaries were aghast, but Lee Han didn’t react. He conjured another mass of water and doused the mercenaries again.

Buldahak inwardly cursed at the sight of the mercenaries giving in so quickly.

Mercenaries would sell out for silver coins and gold, but watching it right in front of his eyes truly stung. It was completely disgraceful.

“We’re moving again.”

The party moved on as before.

Sharkan scouted ahead, Lee Han illuminated the way, mercenaries took out the ghouls.

Of course, not everything went smoothly.

“The path is blocked!”

“We chose the wrong fork. Let’s go back.”

The cave, while wide, had a more complex layout than expected, and if they took a wrong turn, they had to double back.

Once out, Gubon advised,

“It’s better to mark the way so we don’t go back in.”

“Is that so. Light!”

Lee Han conjured a light orb at the wrong entrance, and Gubon was startled.

“You can just mark it with chalk.”

“It could be erased, and this way you can see it from far away, right?”

“But your mana… is it okay…”

“It’s fine.”

‘It doesn’t seem fine.’

Gubon and Vizidek were worried.

No matter how they looked at it, it didn’t seem fine, yet Lee Han’s friends acted like it was completely normal.

Was this because they didn’t know magic?

‘Still, this seems like way too much wasted mana…’

–Grrr!

“!”

Sharkan stomped, calling attention.

Thanks to the orb of light floating in the air, Vizidek could see clearly and shouted,

“It’s a trap! Everyone stop!”

“Is it a trap that triggers when stepped on?”

“Yes.”

The mercenaries murmured.

Usually, traps in caves or dungeons were a very bad sign.

Ghouls, mindless and wild, could be handled if unlucky. But traps, hidden in the shadows, were dangerous even for seasoned adventurers.

But this was different.

Some crazy mage was lighting the cave like bright daylight…

…And, more importantly, if there was a trap, odds were high that a treasure was nearby.

After all, you wouldn’t find a trap where there was nothing.

“Could it really be…”

“Shh, Gubon. Now’s not the time.”

Vizidek rolled up his sleeves.

If there was ever a moment for his skills, it was now.

“Perhaps?”

“Yes. I learned some thief skills.”

Vizidek said, checking around.

When exploring ancient ruins and dungeons, having a trap-disarming expert was essential, but they weren’t always viewed favorably.

That’s because most were ex-thieves!

Even if an expert claimed, ‘I’m retired,’ ‘I don’t steal anymore,’ or ‘I was a righteous thief,’ as far as party members were concerned, you couldn’t trust someone who could crack locks on both ancient relics and your backpack.

So ex-guild members often said, ‘I picked up some skills by coincidence,’ instead of saying they were from the Thieves Guild.

“Oh. I’ve also learned some skills from a thief.”

“Yes. Wha…what???”

Vizidek couldn’t believe his ears at Lee Han’s words.

What did he just say?

“What did you say?”

“I said I’ve also learned some skills from a thief.”

“Are you joking? How could… is that even possible?”

Lee Han retorted, as if it was ridiculous to doubt.

“You learned from thieves, so why can’t I?”

“Well…uh…that is…”

“Right? Then let’s disarm it together.”

“……”

Vizidek walked with Lee Han, feeling bewitched.

With multiple enhancement magics, their senses were sharpened, making it much easier to disarm traps.

“It looks like it triggers by pressure. Is that right?”

“Y-yes. How did you…”

“Should we dig in from the side and disable the device below? Or just trigger it?”

“Better to disarm it safely. I have gear, so let’s approach from the side…”

“Dig.”

A pit opened up instantly, and Vizidek thought quietly,

‘Once I get back to the city, I should save up and learn some magic myself…’