Episode 750

However, a magical criminal was not someone Lee Han could afford to lose his temper at. Lee Han tuned out the crazy doppelgänger and focused on his opponent.

‘I can do this.’

Just as a spell that was clumsy at first became more familiar and skillful with each repetition, so too did his previously limited telekinesis now flow and change form freely, almost as if it were his own hands and feet.

‘Stronger, now.’

The compressed telekinetic force lifted Antagondals with powerful output. The magical criminal, who had tried to increase mass and test the output of his telekinesis, was stymied.

‘Now, softer.’

Thread-like wisps of telekinesis extended out like tendrils, detecting the now-invisible Antagondals. The magical criminal, who had tried to hide his body and alter his volume to escape, grew even more anxious.

‘In the form of a sharp spear.’

An invisible spear pierced the enemy through gaps in his armor.

‘In the form of a whip.’

With a sound like tearing air, the enemy was flung away beyond the wall.

‘Now as a shield.’

Incoming attacks lost their way midair and fell aside.

Telekinesis spells constantly trained, seemingly boundless magic power, and a peerless sense of perception…

All these merged and manifested as true understanding of telekinesis.

“Do you now understand what royalty wanted you to research, lowborn?”

The crazy doppelgänger spoke with the wisdom of an excellent wizard and educator.

When Lee Han had instinctively created a shield with telekinesis to block an attack without chanting a spell, the crazy doppelgänger judged that at the very least, his disciple had mastered one 5th-circle spell in the telekinesis category.

Being able to freely wield telekinesis as if it were one’s own limbs, to add instant and no-chant casting—this could certainly be called his own original 5th-circle spell.

Seeing the natural motions, one could guess that on top of a broad understanding of a specific domain, the wizard had personally added his own experience and traits to perfect it.

It was far superior to simply parroting existing spells.

Yet, astonishingly, this foolish and lowborn disciple insisted he’d never learned it.

It was as absurd as a bird with wings crying out that it had never flown.

Thus, rather than have him learn other 5th-circle spells, the crazy doppelgänger ordered Lee Han to reflect on his own magic.

The disciple more than lived up to his master’s magnanimity…

‘Should I just kill him?’

Of course, the foolish and lowborn Lee Han had no idea of the doppelgänger’s thoughts.

Lee Han sincerely wanted to march up to the crazy doppelgänger and smack him with his new telekinesis.

The one who had really helped him master this 5th-circle magic—if he had to name it, -Wardanaz’s Telekinesis-—was Direte.

If he were being extra generous, he’d add Professor Voladi and the skeleton principal—there was no way he’d add the crazy doppelgänger.

He’d sooner add Professor Verdus…

“I give up, I give up!”

Antagondals, who had tried persistently to find a weak point Lee Han hadn’t mastered, finally gave up.

At first, it was just disbelief keeping him from letting go, but halfway through, even after sensing his defeat, he couldn’t help but keep going.

He was curious to see just how long his opponent could keep casting spells so wastefully.

But dragging things out any longer would only hurt his pride as a magician—and risk sparking the crazy doppelgänger’s wrath.

It was time to admit defeat and step down.

“Kid, I’d like to know your name. What is it?”

For the first time, Antagondals asked his opponent’s name.

This archmage never usually asked names personally.

Especially not if it was a lower-year Einrogard student.

He might seduce or lure someone through subordinates, but even a magical criminal had the pride of a mage.

But the magic just displayed gave Antagondals the right to ask directly.

“I am Lee Han of the Wardanaz family.”

“…Wardanaz!!!”

For the first time, Antagondals was truly surprised.

“No way, that Wardanaz…”

“Hold out your arms.”

The crazy doppelgänger spoke in a flat, emotionless tone. Antagondals respectfully extended his arms.

If he stubbornly refused here, it wouldn’t be just his arms—he might lose his head.

Regrowing arms was easier than regrowing a head, after all.

“Wait a moment, please!”

Amazingly, this fearless boy intervened even with the crazy doppelgänger right there.

The doppelgänger’s brow writhed in anger, but he didn’t explode. Antagondals, not wanting any unexpected trouble, quickly spoke.

“That’s none of your concern.”

For a master-level mage, losing both arms was no big deal.

Antagondals was perfectly confident he could regrow them any time.

“That’s not it, I’m curious why you were so surprised to hear Wardanaz’s name. If you’re really going to be executed now, could you tell me before you go?”

“……”

The magical criminal was dumbfounded to be so thoroughly trounced by a second-year student of Einrogard.

• * *

“Are you alright?”

Lee Han asked as Antagondals returned, missing his arms.

In hindsight, he’d asked a bit too abruptly.

The man might be about to die—not to mention he’d wished Lee Han dead first—so Lee Han had asked bluntly, but on second thought…

‘That could sound a bit rude.’

“Of course!”

Antagondals rapped the wall with the dark, swirling stump of his arm.

Then earth and stone filled in to form Antagondals’s new arm.

“It’s not an excellent prosthesis, but it’ll do.”

“Were you surprised just now because of the name Wardanaz…”

“I think it’s best not to ask about that.”

‘Seriously, this guy.’

Lee Han cursed inwardly at how the man dodged the question instead of answering.

He definitely bore a grudge for losing his arms to Lee Han.

Having met a magical criminal here, Lee Han had hoped to at least extract as much information as possible…

“I think the master cares for you more than you think. Do you feel it?”

“???”

When Lee Han stared as if to say, ‘What nonsense is this?’ Antagondals smiled knowingly.

“Ha-ha-ha! Right. A wizard who threatens to kill you and tortures you with spells doesn’t seem like a caring teacher. But think of it this way. Has the master ever cut off your arms or shattered your bones? Like this.”

“It seems like only a matter of time, though.”

“No. If you’d been a disliked disciple, he would have cut off your arms or crushed your bones the moment you met. It’s not just a matter of time.”

‘That’s true.’

Lee Han couldn’t deny there was a certain logic there.

He pounded Antagondals more, and pounded Lee Han less.

At first Lee Han thought it was because he was a student and the other was an old magical criminal, but on reflection, the crazy doppelgänger didn’t seem the sort to make such distinctions.

“He does care. So you have to be even more careful. If you create a misunderstanding…”

From beyond the silver mask, Antagondals smiled ominously.

If he ended up having a personal talk with Lee Han, and it was misunderstood that he was trying to steal or influence the disciple…

Losing several lives wouldn’t be enough.

“So let’s keep our distance! You learn magic from the master, I steal it from the master.”

“Then, may I ask just one thing?”

“As long as it’s not a ‘personal’ question, I’ll think about it.”

“To be honest, now that I’ve mastered a 5th-circle spell, I wanted to ask if I could get a short outing as a reward…”

Antagondals burst out laughing.

It was a much more delighted, mocking laugh than when he’d called Lee Han a dead man walking.

If left alone, he’d probably laugh all day, so Lee Han cut in firmly.

“So, that’s not possible. Understood.”

“I’m more surprised you’d even consider it. Does that crazy doppelgänger really feel like a teacher to you?”

“You never know till you ask. Even professors who seem quirky sometimes have hidden sides to them…”

Lee Han was about to give an example from Einrogard’s professors, then gave up when none came to mind.

“…If not that, I’ll just use break time to try and get out.”

“Why are you so eager to leave? How long has it even been?”

After hearing this, Lee Han tried to estimate the time.

He didn’t know the exact hours, but the weekend was probably over and the new week had begun.

The longer he delayed, the more lessons and homework would pile up.

‘Scarier and more dreadful than the crazy doppelgänger.’

“I’ve got classes to attend…”

“I see. But if it’s for learning, that master isn’t a bad choice.”

Lee Han firmly shook his head.

“For me to try and steal from him, the standard is too high. I need simpler lessons.”

“That’s not how I see it, but… fine. If you insist, go ahead.”

All this old magical criminal cared about was how much magic he could steal from the crazy doppelgänger.

Whether the boy from House Wardanaz escaped or ran off for pettier training, that wasn’t Antagondals’s concern.

‘Wait. Break time?’

Antagondals froze for a second.

Using a break time to get out?

What kind of break time?

“What do you mean by break…”

“What are you doing?”

The crazy doppelgänger entered the workshop like a ghost and Antagondals swallowed nervously.

As expected, the doppelgänger was beginning to grow suspicious of Antagondals.

“I was praising the master’s teachings.”

Thwack!

Despite the flattery, the crazy doppelgänger slammed Antagondals into the wall.

“Ruining the work, are you? Trash. Get out.”

Stuck in the wall, Antagondals humbly stayed put instead of getting out.

Fortunately, the crazy doppelgänger lost interest in Antagondals and turned to Lee Han.

“You finally understood. Lowborn.”

“Yes! Thank you!”

“It is the role of royalty to bestow rewards on subordinates. Do you desire anything?”

“…Could I go out for a short outing?”

“No.”

“Then I’d like a short break, to reflect on the magic I’ve learned and improve my skills.”

Lee Han had expected the outing to be refused and so calmly offered another suggestion.

He needed a way to divert the doppelgänger’s attention.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to escape or do anything else.

“No.”

“……”

‘Then why’d you even ask?’ The words rose to his throat, but when he saw Antagondals’s toes sticking out of the wall, Lee Han’s anger faded.

“I am just happy that you wish to give me a reward, sir!”

“It seems you have finally learned a little about what it means to be a disciple.”

The crazy doppelgänger nodded in faint satisfaction and gave new orders.

For a magic practitioner, rest was an illusion.

Only persistence and more persistence.

“Prepare your next 5th-circle spell.”

“……”

Before Lee Han could say a thing, the crazy doppelgänger vanished, saying only what he wanted to.

“Are you okay?”

-Yeah.

Antagondals replied, extracting himself from the wall.

He looked genuinely interested to see if Lee Han could pull off a new 5th-circle spell like last time.

He watched, like a spectator at an arena waiting to see if the combatant would live or die.

But Lee Han had no intention of entertaining his curiosity.

“I need to get out of here.”

“Do as you please.”

“Help me.”

“Why should I?”

“If you don’t, I’ll tell them you lured me into becoming a magical criminal.”

“……”

Antagondals stared at the boy in genuine admiration.

To be so cunning at such a young age!