Episode 870

‘This place…’

While checking the two spells stored in the -Lower Magic Storage- in his mind, Lee Han unfolded a barrier made with -Wardanaz Telekinesis- around him.

After the most urgent precautions, the next step was reinforcement magic.

Starting with precognition, he quickly heightened his physical abilities and lowered his stance. One hand took his staff, the other gripped the cloak of protection.

“……”

Having carried out all these steps without a wasted moment, Lee Han suddenly felt rather absurd.

‘…How did I get so good at this?’

Practice may make perfect, but this was a bit much!

Even he found it astonishing.

‘Don’t think about that now.’

Carefully returning to his normal posture, Lee Han looked around. Contrary to his worries, there were no endless pitfall traps or ambushes by angry spirits.

Instead, what greeted Lee Han was an infinite horizon and seascape with no visible end.

Even the Einrogard mountain range was impressive in size, but those ranges far below looked so vast, the former seemed like hills by comparison.

The sea below those mountain ranges was just as surreal.

It moved with an eerie calmness like a dark blue living creature, so vast and deep that it felt dizzying.

Beyond the ranges was the sea, beyond the sea, more mountains…

The overwhelming scene made him look up—stars and planets he’d never seen before floated serenely in the sky.

He hadn’t noticed, but Lee Han was standing on a mountain as well.

The mountain was so enormous, he hadn’t felt the steepness of the slope.

Every wizard necessarily learned about dimensions to some degree. Lee Han, who’d taken all the schools’ classes, naturally knew more than most. Still, the scene before his eyes was truly astonishing.

Among all the dimensions he’d seen and learned of, never had there been any so transcendently vast.

‘Just what kind of dimension is this?’

As he wondered, the black book flew in from behind. Clearly, it had followed Lee Han through the dimensional door.

Lee Han greeted it warmly.

“Die!”

Lee Han, truly a battle-hardened mage, wielded his black lodestone staff.

Since the opponent was obviously a being made of magic, he aimed for its weak point.

But the black book was no pushover. As if expecting Lee Han’s attack, it quickly fluttered away, putting distance between them before immediately casting a spell.

Dozens of black books multiplied, and sheets of paper fluttered like snow in the air.

It wasn’t a mere illusion to hide itself; each page carried a strong power that bound Lee Han’s movements upon contact.

When a sheet tried to coil around Lee Han like mummy wrappings, he swung Baldororn’s mana hammer to drive them off and pressed down on the black lodestone part of his staff.

Pop!

Unlike a close-range mana hammer swing, the black lodestone could disrupt the opponent’s magic even at a distance as long as it touched. Dozens of sheets scattered at once.

The black book seemed incredulous that a wizard would use such a sinister staff, fluttering its pages. Realizing it couldn’t stop Lee Han this way, the fluttering sheets began to morph into troops.

Seeing the familiar skull headmaster’s knights, Lee Han ground his teeth.

“You push me through a dimensional door and then shamelessly call reinforcements?”

-……

The black book was truly aggrieved.

Indeed, the black book hadn’t stopped the approach of the Gate of the Nine Mountains and Eight Seas.

But that wasn’t something the black book could have stopped in the first place. Only those with the right qualifications could approach this dimension.

And it hadn’t even pushed him!

“Hmph. Doesn’t matter. I’ll show you dragon power.”

-!?

When Lee Han threatened, the black book took fright.

What on earth had happened for him to be showing dragon power now?

An outsider.

“…!”

Hearing the gruff voice from behind, Lee Han silently blamed the black book.

Because of it, he hadn’t noticed someone approach.

“Because of you!”

-……

The black book, again, fluttered as though wronged.

The new speaker looked somewhat familiar.

Huge, almost giant-like physique, and a fierce appearance reminiscent of a ghost.

It was one of the Yaksha race Lee Han had seen once before at Einrogard.

The difference was, the Einrogard Yaksha had been elderly and plainly dressed, whereas this one was young, dressed with majestic dignity.

Lee Han’s tone naturally became respectful.

“Are you… perhaps a Yaksha… sir?”

I am and I am not. Are you human? I don’t see humans all that often, so it’s confusing.

“I am.”

Is that so. Then call me Yaksha King. You humans understand the word ‘king,’ don’t you?

“A king!”

Lee Han became even more polite.

He had experienced many times how powerful entities with royal titles could be in other dimensions.

Hmm. Are you perhaps Osu’s apprentice?

“……”

Lee Han hesitated for a second at the question.

Aside from the psychological pain of acknowledging himself as the skull headmaster’s apprentice, what was the safest answer here?

‘I did hear that the skull headmaster visited this dimension in his younger days. In that case, he probably didn’t cause too much trouble. Surely he didn’t just go around picking fights here.’

The black book by his side fluttered as if to encourage Lee Han to acknowledge it. Lee Han glared at it once, then said,

“You could say that, or maybe you couldn’t… but you can’t completely deny it either… and strictly speaking, the concept of apprentice is…”

Strange human. Maybe your homeland has a custom of speaking this way?

The Yaksha King analyzed Lee Han’s answer with a mixture of majesty and calm.

Feeling awkward, Lee Han simply admitted it.

“I am indeed his apprentice.”

Really? Then was your roundabout answer because you didn’t want to admit to being Osu’s apprentice? There are many reasons why an apprentice wouldn’t want to recognize their master, but in your case…

“……”

• * *

After giving Lee Han a psychological consultation for about 30 minutes upon their first meeting, the Yaksha King finally stood.

At one point, he theorized, “Maybe you ended up like this because of an overly affectionate teacher,” but Lee Han endured superhumanly.

Thunk!

The Yaksha King removed his huge scarlet-gold shimmering armor and helmet and placed them on Lee Han. Lee Han asked, surprised,

“What is this?”

This dimension is vast. I know you wizards have a knack for wandering dimensions, but even so, it’s an immense place. You might get lost or meet enemies, so I’m giving you my helmet.

“…Thank you.”

Come to think of it, wizards like knowledge, don’t they? I should tell you something interesting. According to records, unless it’s highly exceptional, wizards who visit this dimension do so by accident. And they all die within three days.

“You’re very kind.”

Lee Han replied insincerely.

Who gives such information to a guest?

‘I really shouldn’t hang around with the skull headmaster’s acquaintances.’

Kindness has nothing to do with it. I help you because you are Osu’s apprentice. If I were truly kind, I would have let those wizards die.

“Were you close with my master?”

Asked, the Yaksha King gestured to his eyes glowing golden. The energy radiated strong magic.

“Was that a gift from my master?”

Osu stole my eyes and made new ones.

“As I mentioned, I’m really not on good terms with my master.”

The Yaksha King that appeared not to care at all tapped the sword at his belt.

Is that so. Among humans, grudges built up by a master often pass to the apprentice, so you may suspect I’ll take it out on you? I don’t mind at all.

Lee Han didn’t answer right away.

After dealing with Yukveltire recently, he’d learned that ‘I don’t mind at all’ might be a lie.

Osu took my eyes as a test. He was curious.

“To see how easily he could take your eyes??”

A joke? Jokes greatly vary by where one grew up, so it’s hard for them to work well.

“Haha. Pity. That was my best joke.”

The Yaksha King, expression unchanged, continued.

This dimension is among the largest and most limitless, one where only those with the right qualifications may come.

The Yaksha King had ruled over the Yaksha and a few other races for so long, he could scarcely remember when it began.

Then, one day, a young human wizard visited—not by accident or mistake, but with the right qualifications.

Normally, he would have left him alone, but the Yaksha King got interested.

The visitor’s merit was truly astounding.

“Not evil karma?”

Hmm. Perhaps there is so much noise in your homeland that your hearing is weak?

Lee Han firmly resolved never to make silly comments before the Yaksha King again.

“That might be the case…”

I’ll keep that in mind for the future. I got curious about how strong he was and challenged him to a contest…

“And lost one eye.”

Technically, much more.

“……”

Lee Han was starting to wonder if he should slip away.

For a Yaksha who claims to bear no grudge, this one remembered it in great detail.

“Then why did my master come here?”

You don’t know?

“Uh, no.”

Hmm. That’s unusual. Usually, when a master sends their apprentice to such a dangerous place, they warn and explain. Not even explaining before sending you… The most likely scenario—did you sneakily steal your master’s secret and figure out how to visit?

“Absolutely not.”

Even before the Yaksha King, Lee Han answered sternly.

Is that so? Then how did you end up here?

“There is a really tragic and wicked reason.”

Holding back his indignation, Lee Han explained what happened.

The skull headmaster gave him a book, he learned some magic from it, and then… that bastard…

The black book, grumbling, fluttered its pages as if offended that he was being blamed for not stopping one dimensional door after all it had done for Lee Han.

The Yaksha King tilted his head, as if he didn’t understand.

That’s surprising. Hard to believe.

“Right?! I can barely believe it myself.”

Ah. Perhaps you and I are discussing different things. You mean it’s unbelievable from a master’s perspective? I was talking about Osu. By human standards, Osu is warmhearted and kind. Hard to believe he’d treat an apprentice this way.

Lee Han looked at the Yaksha King as he would Gainando.

“You’ve been fooled.”

Hmm. Maybe time can change one’s character.

“I’m telling you, you’ve been fooled.”

Still, remarkable. For a mage who accumulated such merit to change this much.

“Are you hard of hearing?”

I can hear. But your words about your master are so full of emotional resentment that they don’t seem credible.

‘Wow. This guy has what it takes to be an Einrogard professor.’

He was a real talent at driving students crazy. It seemed he could tangle up their minds just like an actual professor.

Anyway, then you don’t know why Osu visited here either. Look over there.

The Yaksha King pointed upwards.

Stars, planets, all sorts of bizarre spaces—above it all.

At the mountain summit beneath their feet, a single point of light shone. Though tiny, it was clearly luminous even from here.

“What’s that?”

Everything.

“Excuse me?”

I mean it. If you reach there, they say any being can gain whatever they desire.

“I see. I understand.”

Lee Han replied absentmindedly. The Yaksha King sounded intrigued.

Hmm. For a human wizard to sit still after hearing this is impossible. Your soul must be deeply wounded by trauma.

“……”