Episode 918

So this is it. When they said the ancient era was an age of madness, this is what they meant.

Lee Han had read several times in books that unchecked madness flowed everywhere in ancient times, but he never imagined this was what they meant.

If not, the current scene couldn’t be explained.

Sirens and merfolk worshipping the young skeleton headmaster and offering him their tears was truly…

In ancient times, both sirens and merfolk must have been much kinder.

-■■■!

A mermaid that had been gliding under the surface noticed Lee Han and suddenly growled, attempting to attack.

The young skeleton headmaster held out both arms and stopped it.

“Stop! Merfolk! This person is my student. I won’t permit you to harm my student. If you must, attack me instead!”

The attacking mermaid apologized for the misunderstanding and quickly retreated.

The young skeleton headmaster checked to see if Lee Han was hurt and spoke.

“Merfolk are not lenient with intruders. You should be careful. Are you unhurt?”

“I’m fine. …Though perhaps my feelings are a little hurt…”

“???”

• * *

After that, no enemy appeared to hinder the young skeleton headmaster’s voyage.

It seemed that every race, from beneath the sea to above the sky, was paying respects to the young skeleton headmaster.

“Did you perhaps use a Small World or Personal World before I came? The sirens and merfolk are in a state of confusion.”

“Student Lee Han. Don’t deny reality!”

Professor Garcia called out with a desperate tone, trying to get the student to regain his senses.

Of course, Professor Garcia had been equally shocked by today’s events.

To think such violent races would show this level of reverence to the young skeleton headmaster.

But as a magician, no matter how shocking reality was, you had to accept reality and use it to build new theories. To deny reality and escape was not an option.

“The madness theory sounds pretty plausible, though…”

“It doesn’t.”

“So I guess it’s really because of the headmaster’s… ki… ki… ki… kindness that the races act like this.”

Lee Han had to hesitate several times to get the word “kindness” out.

Professor Garcia nodded slowly as if to say it was hard for him, too. His mind understood, but his body refused to accept it.

“Then why is the headmaster the way he is now?”

“…Time changes many things, Student Lee Han. Come on, let’s go help the headmaster.”

‘He’s dodging the question.’

Lee Han sensed Professor Garcia was dodging, but didn’t call him out on it.

Honestly, if it were him, he would’ve responded the same way.

Even Professor Garcia—what could he say about a transformation like that in the skeleton headmaster?

‘How much did those kingdom bastards push his buttons? No, no matter how much they provoked him, it’s hard to believe that person changed so much…’

“Oh dear.”

Back at the port, the young skeleton headmaster stopped his steps.

“What’s wrong?”

“The well that was down by the city has been destroyed. Now the people around here have no way to get water…”

Since external invasions were frequent, even city facilities rarely escaped unscathed.

Even essential facilities for citizens were often destroyed, and unless a local noble or wizard intervened, such structures took ages to be restored.

“I’ll help with the repairs.”

“Repairs won’t do much good. Look.”

The young skeleton headmaster flapped his robe sleeves and pointed ahead.

Merchants from elsewhere were already shouting that they had clean water for sale.

“Seeing the well was destroyed, they must have gotten permits to sell water nearby.”

To obtain such permits, the merchants would have had to pay hefty bribes.

Such heavily-bribed merchants would never simply allow the well to be repaired. If no one was watching, they’d smash up the well again straight away.

“I see. Then…”

Lee Han began to look forward to the young skeleton headmaster’s specialty.

It was a given that he would thoroughly beat up those merchants selling water, and the only question was whether he’d toss them into the sea afterward.

However, the young skeleton headmaster picked none of the options Lee Han had imagined.

He took out a jeweled ornament from his robe and tore it apart, distributing it to the merchants.

“????”

Even before Lee Han finished being surprised, the young skeleton headmaster cast a spell.

Then, the nearby statue began to shake and transformed, its composition changing into water. What had been an ordinary decorative statue seconds ago was now a fountain.

Professor Garcia widened his eyes.

Turning a statue to water was a kind of transformation magic and Professor Garcia could do it too, but to apply a spell so it would maintain its form near-permanently—such sustained magic was beyond what humans could do.

And in barely a single breath!

‘Impossible…!’

“What the heck?!” “What the heck?!”

Professor Garcia realized his student had shouted the same thing and looked over. The boy from the Wardanaz family seemed to have the same question he did.

“You were wondering the same thing as me, Student Lee Han. Wondering how that spell was cast, right?”

“Pardon? I just wanted to ask why he gave out the jewels.”

“……”

The young skeleton headmaster smiled and soothed his disciples.

“Calm down, everyone. I’ll explain everything without being rushed. First, the reason I turned the statue into water was because the statues are owned by the nobles.”

No matter how many times the well was repaired, if someone else smashed it up and filled it with earth secretly, that was that. But statues, set up by the nobles, were another matter.

Even locals couldn’t damage them recklessly.

Knowing this, the young skeleton headmaster deliberately turned the statue into a fountain that would flow forever instead of repairing the well.

Now, anyone nearby could get water from it if they wanted.

“But I wasn’t asking about the water; I was asking how you cast the magic…”

“I was asking why you gave out the jewels.”

The young skeleton headmaster was a bit flustered at his disciples’ responses.

Was this so uninteresting?

“The reason for giving out the jewels is because the merchants suffered losses too. Even if they bribed for a permit, they’d go bankrupt if they couldn’t make any profit.”

“!”

Lee Han was surprised by the unexpected answer.

He hadn’t thought the headmaster would even consider the shopkeepers’ side.

“The method of casting the magic isn’t very difficult. It’s simple. You start with Small World magic, using dynamis as the base…”

“I see… I see!”

Professor Garcia took notes eagerly.

Once explained, it really wasn’t a hard method.

Is there greatness in simplicity?

According to the young skeleton headmaster’s explanation, Professor Garcia felt confident he could try it himself.

‘What’s so simple about that!?’

Of course, to Lee Han, it all seemed like nonsense. He grumbled and spoke to Professor Voladi.

“How can that be simple? Seriously, Professor, isn’t that absurd?”

“……”

Professor Voladi quietly chewed on the memory of Lee Han scolding his friends: ‘Like this! How can you not do something so easy!’ but kept it to himself.

Lee Han was a student who already had a lot to learn here. Now was the time to quietly cheer him on.

• * *

Finishing the water statue work, the young skeleton headmaster immediately moved on to the city gate.

The prepared blue jade and mermaid’s tears were already halfway through the correct mixture. They had been getting ready for it even on the way back from the short voyage.

“The city gate work is a little different from the water statue work.”

“Different how…?”

“It means there are many eyes watching.”

The young skeleton headmaster gave a bitter smile.

He was doing this for the city folk here, but he himself couldn’t stay for long or do anything too conspicuous.

Otherwise, the city’s wizards or knights would wise up and come after him.

“As soon as the work is finished, we must escape. Otherwise, we’ll be dragged into a fight at the city gate.”

“I understand.”

Lee Han no longer asked, “Why go so far?” or “Is it worth it?”

Those are questions you only ask someone who might actually hesitate or reconsider.

No matter what Lee Han said or how he tried to persuade him, the young skeleton headmaster wouldn’t be swayed. All Lee Han could do was assist.

‘Better finish quickly and learn the Fall spell.’

Lee Han decided to help the young skeleton headmaster wrap things up as fast as possible.

Come to think of it, he was finally getting used to the young skeleton headmaster. However he acted, Lee Han could respond calmly now.

“Then, please keep watch…”

Bang!

Before he finished speaking, an explosion sounded from a distance.

Unlike Lee Han’s party, the young skeleton headmaster immediately understood what was happening just from the sound.

“Esadojiqua! The Duke of Wrath’s underling is here again!”

“Is it a demon attack?”

“So it seems. We’ll have to intercept them!”

The young skeleton headmaster stopped the city gate work and quickly got ready to move.

Lee Han and the party hurried to follow. Judging by the demon army’s might he’d seen upon arriving, it was hard to imagine how much damage might break out nearby.

“Follow me!”

With a spell, the young skeleton headmaster shot up into the air. Lee Han and the group automatically followed in his magical wake.

Thanks to that, Lee Han had the leisure to check the scenery. In an instant, the distance closed and he got a good look at the demon army.

‘What is that…?’

Lee Han’s eyes widened at the unexpected scene.

Enemies surrounded by the demon army looked nothing like ordinary citizens.

There were expensive battle golems and knights in full armor.

And wizards dressed in finery that couldn’t be compared to Lee Han’s own rags!

The wizards’ robes were decorated with silk, gold thread, and jewels—anyone could see they were nobles of this city.

You’re caught, wizards! By me, Esadojiqua, chief adjutant and foremost herald of the Duke of Wrath!

The archdemon, apparently in a good mood, let out a booming laugh.

Hall of the Waves, you say? Compared to my master’s powers, you might as well splash in a puddle.

–Hall of the Waves!–

You chimeramakers. Compared to the most supreme demon race, your toys are mere amusements.

–Metamorphosis Burrow– too?!

Lee Han realized that all the city’s wizard-nobles he’d learned about from the patrol members were now surrounded here.

A few more had existed, but the young skeleton headmaster had taken care of them last time…

“Everyone, please fall back.”

The young skeleton headmaster pushed Lee Han’s group, floating in the sky, behind him, then concealed himself behind several barriers.

Lee Han cautiously suggested,

“Mr. Gonadaltes, wouldn’t it be better to let them fight each other? If they spot you, I doubt they’ll just stand by.”

From what Lee Han had heard, the city’s wizard-nobles weren’t the type to be grateful just because you saved them.

More likely, they’d say, ‘Heh, thanks for your help, now I’ll make you my slave,’ and attack.

The young skeleton headmaster agreed.

“You’re right. Most likely.”

“Then if you wait…”

“But if I do, many of the people over there will be killed or hurt. Sorry, my student. I don’t judge who to save based on my likes or dislikes. I understand if it’s frustrating.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the young skeleton headmaster descended amid the demon army’s rear in dozens of clones.

And a magical storm struck that army.