Episode 952

Episode 952

In Ellendil’s opinion, people who got along well with spirits usually didn’t have smooth relationships elsewhere.

He himself was a clear example of that.

But the Junior from the Wardanaz family was unusually sociable.

He was even contacting his friend’s family separately, chatting about gatherings.

Ellendil might have judged wrong, but this just…

‘Gasp. That makes sense.’

Nillia got goosebumps at Ellendil’s words.

If you got along with spirits, your other relationships would be rocky.

As someone who once dreamed of picture book cakes while the northern Shadow Patrol hunters feasted on fresh animal blood and livers, Nillia could deeply relate.

“Hey. Nillia, you have a lot of friends and spirits, though.”

“I think that Senior is just insisting he’s got no friends. He has no friends because he secretly summons artificial spirits in the forest, that’s why.”

“……”

But the friends were indifferent to Ellendil’s words.

Even Adenart joined in.

“Affinity with spirits has nothing to do with sociability. That’s just nonsense.”

“Exactly, right?”

Even Adenart, who didn’t want his own people skills denied, nodded repeatedly, and the friends became even more certain.

Meanwhile, Lee Han returned with the approved pass. Oddly, he was carrying a new coat in his other arm.

“…Wardanaz. What is that?”

“Here. Ahsan. Lord Daihal said he prepared some clothes for you.”

“What!? Not to scold me about my test scores?”

“…He did a bit of that too, but anyway, that’s not important. Here, take it.”

Ahsan checked the coat with much suspicion.

He half expected to find a note inside saying ‘Don’t settle for 100 points, get 200,’ but there was none.

“Hmm. I may have doubted my brother too much…”

“I told you, Lord Daihal doesn’t not care about you.”

Of course, when Lee Han visited, Daihal had said, “Wardanaz! Just in time—I was going to give this to you next time,” and gifted him the new coat.

But that didn’t mean he wasn’t thinking of his younger brother. He had continued to ask questions about Ahsan’s magical achievements.

‘But there’s no reason I need to tell him that.’

“And Ahsan. Here’s Lord Haidan’s pocket money.”

“Wait. This pouch says ‘Lee Han Wardanaz’ on it?”

“That’s because I put it in my own gold coin purse when I left.”

‘Isn’t it a bit too fine a fabric for Lee Han to use?’

Yoner sensed something odd but said nothing.

He had other, more important things on his mind.

“Senior. Once we get in, where should we search first?”

The Guard barracks, where Granden City’s guards and senior knights stayed, was bigger than expected and had several buildings inside.

If they stirred the wrong place, the enemy might catch on first.

“The underground temporary prison.”

“Indeed. That does seem most likely.”

Lee Han nodded, agreeing with Ellendil’s suggestion.

There were other places, like the other barracks, armory, and warehouses, but none were ideal.

With a barracks, they’d have to bribe everyone in it. An armory or warehouse was too risky if something happened.

The underground temporary prison, dug out and dark with lots of space, wouldn’t attract much attention…

‘To realize that right away. Impressive, as expected.’

“Yeah… The spirit just said so.”

“…Then let’s go in.”

Lee Han quickly turned and strode boldly forward. Ellendil, a little flustered, asked the friends,

“D-did I do something wrong…?”

“You tried to ambush Wardanaz in the forest with artificial spirits, remember? It’s only natural we’re cautious.”

‘That was ages ago…!’

Ellendil felt wronged inside.

• * *

“This is bad. Of all people, Akdin had to get caught.”

“We could do this without that guy.”

“Is this really the time to bluster? You wicked… I mean, we haven’t even solved this artifact!”

The mercenaries gathered in a hidden space at the back of the underground temporary prison.

It used to be a place for storing barrels of food for the prisoners, but now it was forgotten, known only to a few servants or thieves.

Experienced mercenaries would always secure several such places in the city as temporary hideouts when working.

Staying near busy inns or pubs was like hanging your head out waiting to get caught.

But even with that experience and ingenuity, the power of the evil god was overtaking them bit by bit.

The ancient artifact, emitting a wicked light.

It was imprisoning them, something they couldn’t throw away or abandon.

Move… Obey my command…

‘Damn it!’

They wished they could seek a temple or mage and have the curse lifted, but in this situation, they’d likely be ratted out immediately.

The mercenaries felt ready to go insane.

Ting!

“!”

As the string strung up in the corner snapped, the mercenaries’ eyes sharpened.

They weren’t just hiding. They had set up simple detection devices at the entrance and exits.

The bribed servant would only come at a fixed time, so this was…

“Guards?”

“Shh.”

One of the mercenaries drew a crossbow glowing with a bluish light in the darkness.

Said to be enchanted by Jembaya herself, this crossbow could pierce thick metal armor like clay.

Being armed with such artifacts was proof of the mercenaries’ combat power. They preferred this kind of power boost over personal training.

‘Not coming in?’

The door opened but no one entered, and the mercenaries narrowed their eyes.

What’s going on?

Crash!

With the sound of glass breaking, smoke began to billow into the back of the cellar.

The mercenaries exchanged silent signals, shocked.

-Cover your mouths, scrolls!

If they inhaled the alchemist’s poisonous smoke they’d collapse in under ten seconds. The mercenaries quickly tore open scrolls.

“Scroll deployed.”

Yoner, who had thrown the glass bottle from above and waited, reported after confirming the scrolls had been activated.

Despite what the mercenaries believed, the thrown potion was just for smoke.

The enemies likely had poison resistance, so there was no reason to go all out at the very start.

For an Einrogard mage, this kind of trick was basic.

“Understood.”

Adenart sent a chakram-shaped artifact spinning into the smoke. The artifact that detected life rampaged regardless of line of sight.

-They’re mages! Mages upstairs!

-Break the siege and escape!

As soon as the ambush was certain, the mercenaries made a bold move.

They immediately activated their potions and scrolls and ran toward the side wall.

Though the prison seemed to have only one exit, the mercenaries had already scouted out the thinnest wall.

Break through here…

Thud!

One mercenary, boosted with a strength potion, swung a hammer and broke through the wall, revealing the mages beyond.

Angrago and Rowena, reinforced and holding position behind a rock barricade, looked hard to shake.

“Other way!”

“Too late. Just smash through!”

Without Akdin, the mercenaries were in disarray. That moment, a purple-glowing arrow precisely nailed one of them.

“Turn left, one more!”

“They can see through the smoke!!”

With Ahsan’s foresight magic supporting Nillia, the darkness and smoke in the cellar only hindered the mercenaries.

“Gah!”

One mercenary, unable to hold out, leapt out relying on his temporarily enhanced strength.

When fighting a mage, getting up close was often the answer, even if you took a few hits.

But the mages above were ready even for that. Angrago broke his posture with an attack, and Rowena swung her staff to knock him out.

“Tutanta! Knock down the wall by the torch and bury them!”

“Wait. That’ll make the corridor too wide!”

The mercenaries, realizing they were well and truly trapped, cursed and retreated deeper inside.

Yoner threw another potion. This time, it was an actual attack potion.

‘Again!?’

As the saying goes, having even one wizard in a party makes them tricky to handle.

Just one mage can plug the party’s weaknesses and provide variety.

But today, several such mages stood before the mercenaries.

And they were extremely adept at cooperating!

Individual mages were a handful, but mages working in seamless coordination like this…

For the mercenaries, it was a nightmare.

“S-surrender. We surrender!”

“All right! Just keep breathing that smoke!”

“……”

Trying to find their moment, the mercenaries were about to cry.

They had no idea which mage tower these Granden City people came from, but they were merciless.

Even the Lava Bird Tower probably wasn’t that vicious…

Thud!

“Did they all go down?”

“Just in case, let’s wait a bit more before going in. Yoner, could you throw one more potion?”

At Lee Han’s request, Ellendil shouted in shock.

“H-How…!”

“…It’s not that wasteful, actually.”

“Th-that’s not it. How is everyone…?”

“???”

The friends were puzzled by the Senior’s unexpected reaction.

‘Were we too extreme?’

‘No. Einrogard was worse to us, what is he talking about?’

“Your coordination is so good…?”

“Ah.”

At Ellendil’s words, the students realized what he meant.

It was definitely unusual.

So many people moving together without a single mistake.

“Are you all close?”

“W-what. We’re not close at all!”

“Alpha, you jerk. Move out of the way!”

The tower students glared at each other, shoving aside.

It was a most unpleasant misunderstanding. As expected from a weird Senior, even his misconceptions were offensive.

When the friends who just fought together started bickering, Lee Han stepped in.

“We’re not close. We’ve just cooperated many times.”

‘…Isn’t that being close?’

Ellendil simply could not understand the 2nd-year students.

Of course, he’d never truly understood his Juniors before either, but these 2nd-years were especially…

‘I really don’t get it!’

• * *

“Oh. A magic crossbow. Nillia, take it.”

“Thanks.”

“I think this armor will suit Angrago. Wait. It’s got a curse of intelligence reduction.”

“Does that matter?”

“What do you mean, does that matter, Tutanta, you jerk.”

“I meant just wear it with the intelligence boosting bracelet, then it’s fine.”

“…Ah, that’s what you meant? Haha.”

“Then what did you think I meant?”

Lee Han’s party thoroughly looted the mercenaries.

Watching this strange spectacle, Ellendil shook his head and focused on the real objective.

The ancient artifact, Echo of the Demigod.

-■■■■■■!

“Ugh.”

The contamination inside was worse than expected, making Ellendil grimace.

It didn’t look like something to just touch lightly.

“What’s wrong?”

“The contamination is worse than I thought… I think it needs to be purified first…”

Ellendil pondered which method to try.

Since it was an object linked to the evil god, half-baked measures were unlikely to work.

“Should I ask someone?”

“Who?”

Instead of answering, Lee Han opened the Echo’s stone and summoned the Mad Clone.

If you’re wasting time on something useless again, this is your last warning…

“This time is different, Master. This artifact…”

When he saw the artifact, the Mad Clone’s anger faded. He spoke much more kindly than before.

…I forgive you. Quite commendable. I didn’t expect you to find the magic you’ll learn next…

Zap!

Lee Han immediately turned off the Echo’s stone.

“…Huh???”

“Oh dear. Looks like he doesn’t know either.”