Episode 879

After some deliberation, Professor Voladi spoke.

“There are already too many advanced attributes you’re learning…”

“Ah. I almost forgot. I heard you contracted with a star as well? Heard it from Professor Bendozol.”

“……”

Professor Voladi turned and stared at Lee Han intently.

That gaze felt like one reprimanding a student who had caused trouble while he was away.

‘This really is unfair.’

Even if Lee Han had contracted with a star of his own will, he shouldn’t have to receive such a reproachful look from Professor Voladi.

At least when it came to this matter, Professor Voladi should have nothing to say.

“At this rate, the advanced fire attribute will be no problem. Student Wardanaz. Don’t you think so?”

“I’m not confident, though.”

“See that! So modest. Such outstanding talent, and even modesty—surely he’ll master the advanced fire attribute in no time.”

“???”

Lee Han wondered if he had just answered, ‘Leave it to me, hehe.’

He was sure he’d said, ‘I’m not confident.’

But maybe this was inevitable.

After all, Professor Zorzik was still a professor, and that curse to interpret every student’s words conveniently must run in the blood.

It was the inescapable fate that befell anyone who rose to the rank of professor.

“Perhaps Student Wardanaz is already ready. Just like he’s cleared other exams early, perhaps he intends to breeze through mine as well.”

“Absolutely not.”

Lee Han flatly denied it.

He hadn’t touched anything like advanced fire attributes. He had far too many things to worry about for that.

However, the two professors ignored Lee Han’s words.

The student was so humble, there was no point believing any modesty, no matter what he said.

Professor Voladi grew thoughtful.

Indeed, Wardanaz had often claimed a thing was difficult only to master it soon after.

Seeing that he’d already contracted with a star in that short time, perhaps Voladi simply misunderstood Lee Han’s modesty and worried unnecessarily.

“That may be.”

“……”

Lee Han shuddered with betrayal, feeling as if this was beyond reasons for dismay and already out to the dimension containing the Yaksha King.

‘So much for “say something sharp”…!’

Professors, as he’d expected, could not be basically trusted.

As a student, to defeat them he needed even more power…

Power.

Startled by the voice of the Mad Clone, Lee Han nearly dropped his staff.

“What… what did you just say?”

I said I need your strength. You wretch.

The Mad Clone spoke with disapproval at the sluggish reaction of his disciple.

He was still bothered that when he’d told Lee Han to master the essence of magic and rid the continent of blood and scars, Lee Han had replied, ‘Can I just learn ten 5th circle spells instead?’

“Ah, Master, you mean?”

Yes.

‘So he didn’t read my mind.’

For a moment, Lee Han had feared that the ancient mad mage was revealing his evil nature and trying to tempt him with power to defeat the two professors.

The scariest thing was that, if he did, Lee Han would probably seriously consider it for a second.

“No, you mean you need my strength, Master? I’m not sure how much that would help…”

The Mad Clone’s magical abilities were truly transcendental.

Though the empire had many so-called archmages, Lee Han was certain even among them this ancient clone was in the top tier.

But for the Mad Clone to need Lee Han’s strength…

He couldn’t even guess what was going on.

‘More than anything, it’s exam week next week…’

Normally that would be so. But the situation has changed. Intruders have entered the demesne, so several hands will be needed to deal with them.

“!?”

Lee Han was even more shocked.

Intruders?

‘…Wait, strictly speaking, isn’t he an intruder himself?’

It was odd, but Lee Han decided to let it pass for now.

“Who are the intruders? I’ll call the Death Knights first.”

You can’t trust those knights. They’re blinded by false loyalty to the dregs they serve.

‘That’s rather harsh.’

Furthermore, the knights are busy protecting the insignificant trainees in the demesne, so they won’t spare any resources for the royal workshop. Even if they wanted to, the royals wouldn’t allow it.

“?”

Lee Han felt a sense of wrongness as he listened.

It was natural that the Death Knights couldn’t protect the Mad Clone’s workshop as they were busy guarding the students. After all, wasn’t the Mad Clone himself an intruder?

If the Death Knights said, “Well, you’re the master’s clone, and you’re staying here, so we’ll protect you too,” the enraged skeleton headmaster might lock them in the punishment room forever.

But what felt off to Lee Han was something else.

It sounded as if the intruders weren’t aiming for Einrogard’s main building, but specifically for the Mad Clone’s workshop.

No matter how wide the demesne, breaching its defenses took immense preparation, and after all that trouble, why target the Mad Clone’s workshop over the main building?

“Wouldn’t they target the main building, not your workshop, Master?”

Wrong. What they’re after is the hamster.

“…Excuse me?”

Ah. I forgot to mention it. I turned the slave into a hamster. It was too disgusting to look at.

The Mad Clone pointed past the illusion at a hamster running on a wheel in a cage.

It was hard to believe that this cute creature was Antagondals, the infamous magical criminal from the empire.

“Uh… So… that hamster…”

His associates have come to rescue him.

“Aha!”

Now Lee Han fully understood the situation.

If Antagondals’s associates were coming in to rescue him, it made sense that they had no interest in the main building.

No wonder the Death Knights weren’t intervening. If it was outsiders fighting other outsiders, why meddle?

“Master, I…”

Lee Han was about to gently refuse, but then stopped.

‘…If Antagondals escapes, won’t he come after me too?’

Reasonably speaking, Antagondals’s revenge should be directed at the Mad Clone, but magical criminals were not rational creatures.

Especially when you considered what happened in the workshop, he might very well come after the Mad Clone’s student, too.

“…Of course I will help. Magical criminals should remain on the wheel, I mean, behind bars forever.”

I knew you’d say that.

The Mad Clone seemed satisfied, as if he’d been confident his student would help.

Professor Zorzik, who had been listening with interest, chimed in.

“Student Wardanaz. Could you ask if this Zorzik may come along too?”

“Pardon? But, why?”

Lee Han was taken aback by the professor’s suggestion.

He was trying to avoid going himself with every excuse, but here was a professor trying to volunteer.

And with the Mad Clone’s temperament, he might treat Einrogard professors as lackeys of the skeleton headmaster and attack them.

‘Could it be because of the headmaster position?’

Lee Han knew Professor Zorzik was interested in becoming headmaster, but he never imagined he’d try to make contact with the Mad Clone.

Lee Han tried to reply firmly.

“Professor. Profe—”

“It’s not common to get a chance to meet and converse with an ancient archmage. And the headmaster’s avatars are usually impossible to converse with.”

The skeleton headmaster’s clones weren’t truly living beings, but conceptual existences. Once summoned, they followed their own rules and couldn’t be reasoned or bargained with.

But this clone, for some reason, had taken on Wardanaz as a disciple, so communication was possible.

So wanting to get wisdom as a fellow mage was perfectly natural.

“…Ah. I see.”

“But what were you trying to say just now, Student Wardanaz?”

“Ha ha. Nothing at all.”

Lee Han quickly changed what he’d been about to say.

Come to think of it, it was only natural that Professor Zorzik would also have an academic curiosity as a mage.

“I’ll ask too.”

Professor Voladi, listening, spoke up.

“Professor, is there a specific magic you want to ask about?”

“No.”

“…Then, why are you coming?”

“To criticize his teaching methods.”

“……”

• * *

The Mad Clone surprisingly allowed it. He even cheerfully permitted Joulin and Eandurde to join.

‘…Maybe I shouldn’t have brought them?’

Following the directions of Intarendals, who greeted them at the door, Lee Han suddenly felt worried.

Professors Zorzik and Voladi were mentally tough adults, but Joulin, for example, might get deeply hurt by the Mad Clone’s abusive tongue.

“Welcome, heir of noble blood. My abode is your abode, my treasures your treasures.”

But the Mad Clone greeted Joulin with utmost etiquette. Lee Han widened his eyes in astonishment.

“Wh-what? Master… did you know His Highness?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re so respectful to His Highness…”

“…You wretch. This is called proper etiquette.”

The Mad Clone gazed at Lee Han with a look filled with both contempt and pity.

To be so shocked at the etiquette due a dragon!

‘Ah. That’s right.’

Now Lee Han remembered that the skeleton headmaster had once learned magic from dragons.

Of course the Mad Clone showed respect and courtesy to dragons—she was kin and descendant of his old teachers.

Joulin grinned brightly at the formal welcome.

The Mad Clone looked over the group, then pointed at Eandurde.

“And that one?”

“My junior.”

“Sturdy.”

“Please don’t take him as your disciple without permission. Eandurde has a say, too.”

“…You wretch. Do you think the teachings of royalty are some cheap street trash distributed to anyone just for being sturdy?”

“Uh…”

Lee Han almost blurted out ‘Well, you did force people to learn sometimes,’ but bit his tongue.

“Ha ha. As if I’d think such a thing.”

“And this one…”

“Greetings, Grand Mage. I am Zorzik of the Benmalpha family, faculty at Einrogard.”

After Professor Zorzik bowed, Professor Voladi beside him also greeted simply.

The Mad Clone nodded slightly, then spoke.

“Do you know why I let you all join?”

“I do not. Please enlighten us.”

“I called you all so I could teach you as well. Your slack and lazy instruction is holding back this wretch’s growth!”

“……”

Lee Han, who had been quietly listening, got struck by lightning out of nowhere.

“Master, the criminal’s associates are invading—shouldn’t that take priority?”

“Be quiet, wretch. Compared to teaching my disciple, such things are utterly insignificant.”

Professor Voladi indicated agreement. Lee Han glanced at him, floored.

‘What the hell are you agreeing with?!’

He felt like writing up a report to the skeleton headmaster for collusion.

“Still, Grand Mage, I must point out that Student Wardanaz’s growth is among the best in the empire.”

“It could have been faster.”

“It might have been riskier.”

Professor Voladi sided with Zorzik to coolly point out the risks. But the Mad Clone was not called mad for nothing.

“So, did something dangerous happen? Truth cannot be obtained if you’re bound by the world’s petty shackles.”

Professor Voladi paused to consider. Lee Han grew sincerely afraid.

If Professor Voladi devolved into Mad Voladi because of the Mad Clone…

‘I’ll need to seriously consider transferring to another magic school.’

“No. You can’t overlook risk just by looking at the results.”

“I always believed in you, Professor!”

Lee Han cried out, overcome with gratitude.