Episode 811

Episode 811

“How can a single person be a 4th year, 5th year, and 6th year? Don’t you guys find it strange?”

“Hmmm. Rumors really aren’t to be trusted. If you’re a cultured noble…”

“It’s not culture, it’s intelligence… Never mind.”

Garral stopped himself mid-sentence and regained his composure.

To think he still hadn’t fixed the habits he picked up when he belonged to the Mage Tower.

He had to reflect on that.

‘I am no longer a Mage Tower-affiliated mage. I must let go of my pride.’

Hadn’t he suffered many times because of that pride?

-Sir Mage. Please leave the party now.

-Wha… what did you say!? Do you think a party like yours can get a mage like me!? Just why are you saying such nonsense?

-It’s precisely because of your attitude! Every time you do anything, you keep muttering that we’re idiots behind our backs. How can we fight with our lives on the line like that?

-I was merely pointing out the facts…

-It’s fine. Here, this is our party’s new mage. We hit it off at the inn yesterday. He’s a talent who can cast two 1st circle spells.

-That’s not even a mage! That’s worse than a magic parrot! Even a magic parrot could…

-Anyway, please leave at once. If you don’t, we’ll call the city guards!

Thanks to a few bitter experiences, Garral gained enlightenment.

He realized just how hard it was to earn gold coins himself!

“He’s a 6th year, right?”

“I think he’s a 6th year. There’s a slim chance he’s a 5th year… Wait, where are those guys going?”

The Baldrogard students belatedly realized something was off.

The students from Kalarogard, who had been there just moments ago, were running away into the distance.

“Where are you going! Our duel isn’t over yet!”

‘It’s over, you idiots.’

Garral grumbled inwardly.

Anyone could see the fight was over from the start…

One of the running Kalarogard students stopped and shouted.

“Hey, Baldrogard jerks! I don’t like you, but I’ll tell you as a fellow student of the Empire’s magic schools—run away!”

“What?”

“Wait, did he just call us Baldrogard jerks…”

“I said run! That’s an ancient forbidden magic! You don’t know what’ll happen to you if you stay there!”

With those final words, the Kalarogard students dashed off.

Lee Han quickly clarified.

“It is well controlled! Please do not worry!”

The Baldrogard students might have lacked talent in magic, but they weren’t dumb in every field.

Just the fact that they hadn’t entered Einrogard yet meant they instinctively chased the happiest life a mage could lead.

Because of this, the Baldrogard students sensitively picked up on the sense of discomfort in this situation.

“Is it really well-controlled? Considering the rumors about the Wardanaz family, and the testimony about that boy, this situation looks pretty dangerous.”

“…Agreed. That magic looks very dangerous.”

When even Garral agreed, the Baldrogard students made a bold decision.

“Retreat!”

Lee Han watched the students flood out like the tide, and cried out in a regretful voice.

“Everyone! I said it’s well controlled! If you listen to my explanation, you’ll understand! This magic wasn’t even something I wanted to use…”

“Hmph! All the more suspicious! Do not look back as you leave, everyone!”

‘I underestimated the Baldrogard students…!’

He had thought he could at least persuade the Baldrogard students, even if not Kalarogard, but that wasn’t the case.

Even if lacking in magical skill, the Baldrogard students knew when to run away.

“Ugh.”

Lee Han lamented inwardly. He was worried some strange rumor might spread pointlessly.

‘No. The Kalarogard students are all unsociable, and the Baldrogard students are disliked by all other magic school students, so the rumor won’t spread that badly.’

Lee Han steeled his heart somehow.

Of course, there was still the issue of rumors spreading internally within Kalarogard and Baldrogard, but Lee Han just let that go.

Letting the trash escape. And it was shameful that it had taken this long even with a royal order.

The Mad Clone lightly scolded, not knowing Lee Han’s inner thoughts.

“……”

Lee Han glared at the Mad Clone. On second thought, if this Mad Clone hadn’t stirred things up by insisting he show off his magic, the situation could have ended nicely as a simple Kalarogard vs. Baldrogard fight.

“I understand. Please go back now.”

The Black Lord’s unique trait is that it grants control over nearby undead. Especially against undead summoner necromancers…

‘How do I turn this off?’

Ignoring his disciple, the Mad Clone was in the middle of explaining the traits of the Black Lord he summoned this time, while Lee Han intently examined the -Echo Stone- set into the end of his staff.

The Mad Clone interrupted his explanation to say,

With your meager senses, you can’t possibly grasp its structure yet, so don’t go poking at it for nothing…

Pop!

As soon as he said that, the apparition vanished. Lee Han stared blankly at the -Echo Stone-.

Just in case, he stretched out his mana like a thread and poked at a specific part inside, and by luck, it turned off.

The Mad Clone rated Lee Han’s talent quite highly.

But he still underestimated the dogged persistence Lee Han could show in certain situations.

‘Hmm. I’ll leave it off for a while.’

Lee Han abandoned the staff, planning to insist later that he turned it off by mistake if questioned.

• * *

Iactus: Hey. I heard someone used a forbidden ancient magic in front of other magic school students this time?

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Amazing!

Iactus: Amazing my ass!

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Why? Iactus, don’t you want to do that too?

For upper-year Einrogard students, using forbidden ancient magic in front of students from other schools wasn’t something to be criticized, but rather admired.

After graduation, students from other schools are nothing but rivals anyway.

They would have to fight tooth and nail to land grants amidst the Empire’s magic academia, so it was brilliant to make one’s name known and engrave their reputation ahead of time.

That was excellent psychological warfare.

If other students had had the time and opportunity, anyone would have used forbidden ancient magic to widely publicize their name.

So why was Iactus reacting like that?

Iactus: I should have been the one to do it!

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Ah. I get it. It’s the start of the semester, so you probably didn’t have enough prep time—how’d someone manage it?

Iactus: I’m sure they were preparing since last year. Whoever it is, they’re a cunning bastard!

Bulgasari: Hold on. How about you all reconsider? Of course, you can briefly gain fame by showing off forbidden ancient magic. But isn’t a truly great mage someone who researches steadily, presents results, and builds up achievements over time?

Iactus: Nope.

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: I don’t think so either.

“……”

Lee Han watched the Watchmen Club chat with a complicated expression.

Never mind that Bulgasari froze the conversation’s mood; it seemed the rumor was spreading faster than he’d thought.

Fortunately, since it wasn’t the same magic school, his name didn’t seem to have come up yet…

Iactus: So who is it? Who’s this enviable bastard?

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: I heard it was a 5th or 6th year…

“!”

At that moment, a wicked idea flashed through Lee Han’s mind.

Gonadaltes: Hmph. I know who it is.

Iactus: Ooh! You sly fellow! Who?

Gonadaltes: Normally, I’d take compensation, but I’ll just tell you this time. It’s none other than the Blue Dragon Tower’s 5th year, Buyeo Magic School’s renovator, heir of a great bloodline—Yukveltire.

Iactus: !

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: !

Bulgasari: !!!!!

Iactus: Bulgasari. One exclamation mark is enough. I’ve wondered for ages—why do you use so many?

Bulgasari: …Just… for emphasis?

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: That’s not what’s important right now. Yukveltire? He is a 5th year, but it’s odd.

Gonadaltes: What’s odd?

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: I heard it was a forbidden spell on the necromancy side.

Gonadaltes: That’s explainable, too. In Yukveltire’s case, he’s a 5th year of the necromancy school and close friends with Direte.

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: They’re close friends?

Iactus: Are they? I don’t think so. Just like Professor Verdus has no friends, his disciple doesn’t either.

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: I agree. Their relationship is more like… Professor Garcia and Professor Verdus, right? Professor Garcia’s kind so he looks after Professor Verdus. But if you asked if they’re friends, even Professor Garcia would punch you.

Bulgasari: I don’t think Professor Garcia would do that…

Lee Han, finding the reaction pickier than he’d thought, quickly changed his words.

Gonadaltes: Just take the gist. Anyway, there’s a connection. That explains the necromancy-side forbidden spell, too.

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Indeed. Maybe that Yukveltire stole it.

Iactus: Or maybe he snatched it by force.

Bulgasari: Maybe he just camped out at the workshop until they agreed to help…

‘Did Yukveltire Senior slap them or something? All of them?’

Of course, Lee Han had no right to say this, having just dropped the blame his way, but he found the reaction cooler than expected.

Still, there was no other way.

‘Senior, sorry. But this is Einrogard, isn’t it.’

Lee Han was behaving as he’d been taught by Yukveltire.

Baquantalana: What were you all talking about? What’s with ‘camping at the workshop until they agreed to help’?

Baquantalana, who had just arrived, seemed to have read only the last sentence before the chat disappeared.

Lee Han explained kindly.

Gonadaltes: We were saying that the one who showed forbidden magic to the students from other schools was Yukveltire.

Baquantalana: …That’s not it? What are you talking about?

Iactus: What? It’s not? Then who?

Baquantalana: I haven’t confirmed who yet, but it’s definitely not Yukveltire.

‘Gasp’

Lee Han was startled.

He hadn’t imagined there was someone who knew the truth!

But even as he panicked, Lee Han responded immediately. With things like this, the slowest to react lost.

Gonadaltes: Whatever, believe it or don’t. I went out of my way to tell you for free, and all I get is baseless denial. It’s kind of annoying.

Iactus: W-whoa. Calm down, friend. I’m sure Baquantalana didn’t mean it in a bad way.

Gonadaltes: I think Baquantalana is just a little jealous of Yukveltire. Can’t stand to see him take the glory. But still, isn’t flat denial a bit harsh?

Baquantalana: Wha—! No, it’s not!

Gonadaltes: Everyone, think carefully about what I said. How many people in Einrogard, during Club Week, could possibly show forbidden magic to students from other schools? Don’t you think my theory makes sense? It’s Yukveltire!

Lee Han appealed slyly to their feelings.

Sure enough, maybe the other club members had built-up feelings toward Yukveltire, because they bought into it.

Iactus: I’ll trust Gonadaltes’ theory. Seems convincing.

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Me too.

Baquantalana: Fine, think what you want, you dimwits. I sigh to think such people are Watchmen members.

Bulgasari: Don’t fight, everyone!

Iactus: Bulgasari, stop being a bat and pick a side! Is it Gonadaltes’ theory, or Baquantalana’s?

Bulgasari: I-I… I just thought it might be possible another student could…

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Who? Don’t just keep implying, give us a convincing name.

Bulgasari: Well, if I had to say, Wardanaz family’s Lee Han or…

“!!”

Lee Han shivered on the spot. Sure enough, you could never underestimate the seniors of Einrogard. How did his name come up here?

Iactus: Hey, he’s a 2nd year.

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Are you an idiot?

Gonadaltes: For heaven’s sake. Nonsense. Really, to think I’m hearing rubbish like this.

Iactus: Gonadaltes, bear with it. There’s a lot of weird talk today.