Episode 955

“In… in my forest, the artificial demigod…?”

Ellendil slowly asked in a desperate voice, like Gainando assigned extra homework.

He’d clearly heard, but wished he’d heard wrong—a truly pitiable sight.

“Yes? Weren’t we going to share the rights to the artifact? Or would you rather keep it in the dorm or another mage tower?”

“……”

Ellendil gaped, pricked in a sore spot by Lee Han’s words.

His reason for coveting the artifact had been for the forest’s recovery and growth.

For that purpose, the artifact needed to be in the forest. Only then could it act steadily, continuously.

His Junior knew that and had been considerate…

‘I really hate this!!!’

But separate from the logic, he absolutely did not want to tame an artificial demigod and perform forbidden dark magic in the middle of his precious forest.

The forest he cherished might one day be called a “Haunted Forest” or “Forest of Ruin.”

“Wouldn’t that… be dangerous? For you, Junior…?”

Ellendil, moving sluggishly, fidgeted with his fingers and searched for excuses.

Lee Han was moved by that.

His opinion, which had slumped below even Yukveltire, rose just a hair.

‘At least he isn’t a bad person!’

It might seem strange to have your evaluation rise for something like this, but there was no helping it.

When you evaluated Einrogard’s Seniors, your standards inevitably lowered without you realizing.

Just because he’d worried about him, Lee Han raised his opinion of Ellendil.

“Senior, are you worried about me? I mean, it seems really dangerous, doesn’t it?”

“Be quiet.”

The Mad Clone, shutting his foolish disciple up, turned to Ellendil with a question.

“If a royal family member is handing down magic to his disciple, and you have advice, say it.”

“…None…”

Ellendil withered again.

He wasn’t nearly reckless enough to voice opinions proudly in front of someone who looked like the skull Headmaster.

Lee Han felt sorry.

‘How cowardly!’

He was basically saying, “Go on, complain if you have something to say”—but who’d actually do that?

“Then may I say something?”

“No.”

“……”

The Mad Clone cut Lee Han’s words short, then began manipulating the -Echo of the Demigod- again.

A thick red aura surged out, with chilling screams erupting like a death rattle.

Lee Han, watching, asked quietly,

“Is it done?”

“Yes. The evil god’s power is sealed inside the artifact. Use it after taming the demigod.”

“?”

Lee Han, who’d expected purification and severance, faltered. Ellendil, too, looked like he doubted his own ears.

I will remember you…

“…Master. The evil god is threatening that it remembers me.”

“Evil gods neither remember nor hold grudges. Don’t give meaning to its words.”

Just as a parrot repeats human speech without understanding, when an evil god speaks to people, it’s no different.

A divine being doesn’t have a personality and address people, but rather speaks according to its own laws and principles.

The evil god threatening “I will remember you” was not truly recalling anything.

It was simply the most effective form of contact.

“Those mercenaries bound to the evil god likely already had souls completely eroded. But you, my disciple, have no such binds. The best an evil god can do is threaten. If you fear that threat, then maybe, but otherwise it means nothing.”

Evil gods, born from evil power and worship, keep functioning according to the rules and principles of their creation.

Since Lee Han was immune to any bind or curse, there was nothing the evil god could do except such threats to try to affect his heart.

‘I see.’

Lee Han understood his Master’s words.

He felt a chill.

It was easy to assume there was a personality when facing it, but an evil god was more like magic power—a pure force that simply existed.

The moment you attached more meaning and felt fear, you only amplified the evil god’s power and became entangled before you realized it!

‘…But even so, isn’t there no real reason not to just purify it now?’

He could guess the reason.

A gateway to the evil god had some value in its own way.

He was being told not to destroy it but use it if it ever became useful.

‘Still, this doesn’t feel good.’

Ellendil stared at the Mad Clone with a face full of horror, shock, resignation, and ‘why are you doing this to me.’

It was hard not to feel unsettled, knowing there was an evil god sleeping in the ancient artifact.

Realizing that staring at the Mad Clone would do no good, Ellendil looked to Lee Han. But there was nothing Lee Han could do either.

‘I’m sorry, Senior. There’s nothing I can do.’

Just from how the Mad Clone ignored him earlier, it was clear persuading his Master about magic was nearly impossible.

All Lee Han could do was put it off.

“All right. After taming the demigod, if I remember, I’ll try talking to it once.”

“Do so.”

“……”

Seeing the two, Ellendil sagged his shoulders in regret.

This ancient artifact hunt seemed to have been more trouble than it was worth.

• * *

“Still, Senior, don’t forget to support me at the Watchman Club.”

“…Yeah… okay…”

After the Mad Clone left, Ellendil seemed especially deflated.

Einrogard students were prone to bouts of gloom anyway, so Lee Han didn’t worry much.

“By the way, are you going straight back to Einrogard?”

“Yes.”

“How are you getting out?”

“I had help from another student.”

Lee Han was curious to hear that.

‘Wait, so he had friends!’

It was a bit rude, but he couldn’t help it.

Ellendil had always seemed friendless, like Yukveltire. Aside from his alchemy Juniors, he didn’t seem to have many connections.

But, thinking about it, even Yukveltire had a friend in Direte. Ellendil could certainly have friends too.

‘Surely it’s not Senior Direte, is it?’

If even Ellendil’s friend was Direte, Lee Han might have teared up a little.

“What sort of help?”

“A special glass bottle…”

Ellendil explained in his slow voice.

It was a spell for hiding in a glass bottle, and using this magic, it was also possible to escape Einrogard.

Of course, it only worked during periods when other students were allowed out, but Ellendil never really liked going out. If not for this ancient artifact business, he wouldn’t have left at all.

“I see. Where is your friend, then?”

“?”

At his Junior’s question, Ellendil tilted his head.

“I don’t know…?”

“…Oh, aren’t you supposed to meet up and return together? Do you have another way back?”

“I’ll just find another student.”

“…!!”

Suddenly, Lee Han felt a chilling realization come over him.

“Were you virtually strangers with the student you left with?”

“Hmm? Yeah…”

‘That’s not receiving help!!’

Sneaking into someone else’s bag uninvited was not usually called ‘receiving help.’

Lee Han was reminded yet again that this was an Einrogard Senior. If you didn’t have a twisted streak, you couldn’t be a Senior at Einrogard.

“I see. So you’re leaving like that. Could I ask you to carry our luggage too, maybe?”

Lee Han and his friends had some tricks for hiding their belongings, but nothing was foolproof.

If the Death Knights got picky again like at the start of the school year, things could go south.

If they left things with Ellendil in advance, it’d reduce risk and make moving belongings easier.

“……”

Ellendil looked glum. Noticing his Senior’s face, Lee Han said again,

“If it’s a hassle or uncomfortable, you don’t have to.”

“No… I can do it. There’s just one problem…”

“If it’s a magical problem, I’ll help you.”

Aside from this, Lee Han was willing to help as much as needed.

Since it was about transporting the belongings for the Lee Han group, he couldn’t just leave it all to someone else.

“…It’s just, I hate running into Juniors again…”

“……”

The thought of having to meet several unfamiliar Juniors again made Ellendil sigh deeply.

Lee Han pretended not to hear.

‘Guess I worried for nothing.’

• * *

“Thank you, Senior!”

“K-keep it down…”

“Thank you so much, Senior. We’re counting on you.”

In the end, Ellendil left hauling bag after bag. The 2nd-years commented that they’d misjudged his character—he got good reviews.

“I never thought that Senior would do us this favor.”

“Right. He’s the one who summoned artificial spirits in the forest, after all. But to think he’d help us like this.”

‘Surely that reputation won’t last forever.’

Lee Han worried that even after graduation, whenever Ellendil’s name came up, people would say, “That’s the one who unleashed artificial spirits in the forest, right?”

He’d done plenty of good as well…

“Yoner, have you seen Angrago and Salko? Where’d they go?”

“They said they’d go out for a bit earlier… Wait, where are you headed?”

Yoner looked curiously at her friend’s attire.

It was neither the usual Einrogard beggar wear nor the normal mage’s outfit for outings, but with those arm and leg guards and gear she looked more like a polo player…?

“I’m going for some baguk (polo) practice.”

“What!? Why!?”

Yoner was shocked, as that was the least likely thing for her friend to do.

“…Because I’m in the Baguk Club?”

“Ah.”

Only then did Yoner recall her friend was in several clubs.

Lee Han said with a bitter smile,

“Actually, I’m not that confident but…”

“As a 2nd-year, do you really have to play?”

“I keep rare mounts… If I skip, a few Seniors who live for baguk might drop dead on the spot.”

From griffons and other rare creatures, Lee Han’s not competing would drive a few baguk-obsessed Seniors into cardiac arrest.

He couldn’t say how much he’d help, but he planned to cram for the club match as best he could before the game.

“Your gear looks perfect. If I saw you at the stadium, I’d think you were a top player.”

“That’s right, Young Master. And there’s no need to be so tense. I’m sure you’ll show great talent in baguk as you do in everything else.”

Amur and Arian praised Lee Han, ignorant of his worries.

‘Not sure things will go well.’

The baguk Lee Han had played a few times at Einrogard relied on his mount’s and magic’s power—an unorthodox version.

Seniors like Carnella had pinned their hopes on Lee Han, but real baguk professionals would be on another level.

Wouldn’t be strange if he got completely schooled.

“I’d like to come cheer you on at the game, but we’ll probably be gone before then.”

“What! Wardanaz is competing?”

His friends were very disappointed.

A fellow 2nd-year was playing as a club representative. If you don’t cheer now, when will you?

But the drama club outing was ending, and it was about time to head back to the Death Knights and insist, “We returned precisely on time, phew, we helped people out with that monster in the imperial palace.”

“Can’t you just stubbornly refuse to go back?”

“Sure way to end up in the punishment room. Don’t say nonsense.”

“Ahsan’s right. Getting punishment room time for a match—makes no sense.”

Lee Han told his friends to return on time and got some crash baguk lessons from Amur and Arian.

The others regretfully got ready to go back.

They packed and hid new items, checked if they’d forgotten anything, memorized tools and equipment so they could do potion work at school…

…And until all that was done, Angrago and Salko did not return.

“……”

Lee Han took out his artifact.

-Angrago, were you kidnapped or something?

-What? I wasn’t kidnapped! You guys go on ahead. I’ve still got business here.

-…You’re not playing hooky just to watch the baguk match, are you?

-Noooo! What are you talking about?

-What ARE you two talking about?

Giselle was appalled.

Just what were these idiots doing outside?