Episode 978

“Mm!”

Blocked by a lack of wisdom right from the start, the golem senior groaned.

No sooner had he told Lee Han to rely on wisdom, not magic, than this happened.

He already felt like turning to magic.

‘No. If I try to solve this with magic, there’s no way out.’

If it were a weaker prophecy, a few taboos might have diverted the disaster, but that was impossible in the current situation.

Twisting this with magic could easily result in a bizarre taboo: something like “transform into a dragon, walk only with the front left foot, never be seen by any mage, and never open your mouth.”

“…Wait. You said you made a contract with a star?”

Deep in thought, the golem senior suddenly snapped out of it in shock.

He’d overlooked it while stuck, but this wasn’t something he could let slide.

His junior let out a heavy sigh, just as before.

“Senior, is that really impor—”

“It is important!”

This time, the golem senior didn’t move on.

No matter how threatening the future, some things had to be addressed.

A mere second-year making a star contract!

“Which star did you contract with?”

“The guest star, Arna.”

“I see!”

The golem senior nodded calmly. Lee Han marveled at that.

‘As expected of a fourth-year. Not even surprised.’

When Lee Han learned what kind of star it was, he’d rolled around in frustration, but the senior was just different.

“I see.”

“?”

Hearing the senior repeat the same phrase like a broken phonograph, Lee Han felt uneasy.

Glancing down, he realized the distance between them had suddenly grown. The senior had stealthily retreated in an incredibly quiet way.

“I see…”

“Senior, you’re not running away, are you?”

“N-no.”

But the senior’s gaze was restlessly scanning for Professor Paselete in the distance.

Normally, a teacher should have taken care of such a dangerous fate!

‘I really have much to learn. When the professor went down for feeling danger, I should have run for it too.’

Only now did the golem senior realize the truth.

Genuine wisdom meant pretending to faint.

Of course, Lee Han didn’t let the senior get away. He dashed over and clung to him.

“Senior, the dangers of the guest star Arna are largely exaggerated. The old records are mostly obsolete and often embellished.”

“If that’s what’s left after what’s been lost to history, it’s probably not exaggerated…”

“If you don’t help me, I’ll come find you every day.”

“Junior. I’ll do my best to wring out my wisdom. Please trust me!”

Scared stiff, the golem senior looked back at the drawing.

There was nothing more dangerous than a junior with a contract to Arna coming to him every day.

“Let’s see… You’re wearing a crown. A crown usually symbolizes victory, glory, power, authority, or immortality. Maybe you’ll win the duel and seize power—if it’s the headmaster’s power, then you’ll become…”

“…Actually, that’s Small World magic.”

Lee Han explained, a bit apologetically.

Anyone could tell that the simple crown was the Small World Basilios magic.

“……”

The golem senior looked at Lee Han as if to ask, “Why are you doing this to me?”

“How interesting.”

“!”

A voice from behind made Lee Han jump. Like a seasoned martial artist, he leapt impressively high. The golem senior stared in wonder.

‘Did he cast an enhancement spell on himself?’

“Master, you’re here!”

“Your voice is loud. Mind your manners.”

“Master, you’re here.”

“……”

Mad Clone narrowed his eyes.

It was as if he was judging whether or not his disciple was defying him.

Thankfully, he must have decided Lee Han was just startled, not disrespectful.

“Is this the disciple’s prophecy?”

“Yes…”

“Hmm.”

Mad Clone studied the drawing made with black powder carefully.

Neither student dared even breathe, only exchanging glances.

‘Senior. If you have a trump card, use it now.’

‘If I had one, I’d be the professor, not a student…!’

“The picture is informative. I’ll have to be careful.”

“Huh?”

Lee Han felt an urge to both ask and not ask what sort of caution his master meant.

Was there an ancient custom in the old kingdom where masters preemptively punished disciples who plotted against them?

“It’s time. Aren’t you moving to your next class?”

Mad Clone checked the time and prompted them. Looking dazed, Lee Han nodded.

“I do have another class…”

“Then let’s move.”

• * *

A madman was scariest when acting normal.

Walking the hall alongside Mad Clone, Lee Han felt deep fear.

The other party said nothing at all.

There was no “Why are you only following the order to watch the comet’s movement when royalty told you to master Small World as well?”—no usual, nonsensical scolding; no anger about daring to oppose royalty.

He simply walked along, silent and deep in thought.

It was so unlike him that Lee Han almost forgot he was heading to Professor Verdus’ classroom.

Normally, the very thought of bringing Mad Clone to Professor Verdus would’ve made Lee Han’s heart pound with excitement…

“Master?”

“What’s the reason for summoning royalty?”

“You seemed lost in thought.”

“…As a disciple, do you think you must always disturb your master’s meditation?”

Mad Clone looked at him with a blend of disbelief and contempt.

When that familiar look returned, Lee Han sighed in relief.

“Thank goodness. I was worried, you know.”

“…Have you lost your mind? What are you babbling about…?”

Seeing his disciple spout nonsense back-to-back, Mad Clone was baffled.

“By the way, you’ll be satisfied with the class we’re going to.”

“……”

Regardless of the suspicion in his master’s gaze, Lee Han continued, now reassured.

Originally, Lee Han didn’t really have to attend -Staff Materials and Magic Amplification-.

He’d already finished his final exam by completing his staff, and Professor Verdus wouldn’t care if Lee Han came or not. He might not even notice his own attendance.

But Lee Han hurried to the classroom, his heart pounding. He’d never been so excited.

‘To think I’d ever be this happy to see Professor Verdus.’

“…If royalty will be satisfied, does that mean it’s a particularly high-level class?”

“Yes! And if not, you may punish the professor.”

“Hmph. You need to learn humility from the ground up. Arrogance is an unhealthy habit. As you have declared it, royalty will not be merciful in judgment!”

No leniency would enter into the assessment after such a boast.

If it fell below standard, the professor would be punished.

“Excellent, Professor! I’m here!”

Slam!

Lee Han burst through the door of the lecture hall.

His voice was so full of excitement that seniors were baffled.

Did they mishear?

“Wardanaz, you didn’t mistake the class, did you?”

“Why… do you sound so excited?”

“I always get excited coming into class.”

‘He’s finally snapped!’

The seniors were appalled.

Students from other departments assumed the Enchantment Magic School had finally driven Lee Han mad.

‘Well, it’s not that surprising!’

“Master, please come in.”

“?”

The students looked at the person walking in behind Lee Han.

Professor Verdus, who had been looking at his artifact and didn’t care whether anyone came in or not, glanced up on sudden animal instinct.

And screamed.

“Gah!”

“?!”

The students jumped in surprise as Professor Verdus, who could stay absorbed in his work even if the lecture hall collapsed, suddenly shrieked.

“Why?”

“Go—Gonadaltes…!”

“Not the headmaster, but his clone.”

“Ah!”

Professor Verdus, with the cute face typical of a beaver beast-person, let out a rapid sigh of relief.

“I thought you came to punish me for being lazy with class!”

‘So he does know.’

Lee Han and the students glared at Professor Verdus.

Apparently, it wasn’t just the students who celebrated the headmaster’s absence from Einrogard. Professor Verdus also seemed very happy about it.

Normally, he’d have to worry about the punishment room and slack off his lectures anxiously, but now he could laze around with impunity.

“…Wait. If it’s a clone, why…”

The relieved Professor Verdus suddenly realized the oddity.

If it was Mad Clone, shouldn’t he be kidnapping Lee Han instead of wandering around Einrogard classrooms?

“He wants to observe the class.”

“Why?”

Professor Verdus asked Lee Han.

Lee Han looked to his master.

Mad Clone shot the professor a frosty gaze.

“Must royalty ask your permission?”

“N-no… Go ahead, listen all you want.”

Mad Clone was just like Gonadaltes, but strictly speaking, there was a difference.

Gonadaltes, even if angry, wouldn’t kill Verdus, but Mad Clone might.

“Then… I’ll begin the lecture…”

Professor Verdus glanced around, then returned to fiddling with his artifact.

The students silently resumed assembling their staffs.

“…?”

Mad Clone’s eyes went wide at the unprecedented scene.

This was supposed to be a lecture?

“You said this was teaching?”

“Yes.”

“Where is the instruction?”

“You just watch the professor’s work and steal his technique.”

“……”

Mad Clone fell silent for a moment.

Then he raised his hand at once.

“Gah!”

Professor Verdus, apparently having prepared ever since he spotted the clone, leapt aside.

Any Einrogard professor needs to be ready to fight the moment Gonadaltes’ face appears.

Click!

The small world -Magnum Opus- within the cube glass pendant started to activate.

But Mad Clone was a step ahead, already expecting such resistance from a mage of Verdus’ level. Anyone who survived ancient times wouldn’t fall for such a trick.

“Turn masterpiece to lead.”

With those words, Verdus’ small world was canceled immediately.

The beaver beast-person’s huge, adorable eyes trembled with shock. Even if he hadn’t set up his archmagic, he couldn’t believe his small world could be unmade in one go.

Mad Clone had instantly read the structure of an unfamiliar small world and cast a counterspell.

By words alone!

“Ri… Liberum Beto!”

Click!

Professor Verdus tried to activate his backup small world magic hidden in his boot heel with a frantic squeak.

This was his last lifeline, set aside for tough enemies like Lagesa.

“Cause and effect shall be reversed.”

“!”

Instead of activating in Professor Verdus’ hands, his second small world artifact was now in the opponent’s.

As if it had been Mad Clone’s treasure from the very beginning.

“The guilty shall be imprisoned!”

And Professor Verdus, fully disarmed, was hung upside down.

All his artifacts and magic were neutralized in an instant, robbing him of all his power.

“Worthless worm.”

Mad Clone gazed down at Professor Verdus as if looking at a hamster.

He’d been lenient with past insolence over runaway disciples and other mischief—yet Verdus was still so shameless!

“…Woooooooow!”

“Long live the headmaster’s clone!!!”

Students jumped up, knocking over desks and chairs, clapping in ovation. Even the Enchantment Magic School students joined in with slow applause.

“…?!”