Episode 1118
by CristaeHe already planned to lecture the angel about Imperial law. At Lee Han’s words, Apazragon pretended to sit down.
Currently in a spirit form, the angel had no need to actually sit, but he did as he was told.
“First off, that wasn’t planned. That crazy spirit just attacked me.”
-I see.
Apazragon, fortunately, accepted that smoothly. Lee Han felt relieved.
Lately, after dealing with so many otherworldly beings who never understood what he was saying, he’d come to value anyone who would simply listen.
-But, Pioneer. Considering your previous records, didn’t you expect a spirit might become obsessed? Even if you didn’t, is there a chance you subconsciously hoped for it?
“…Sit back down.”
Lee Han, who had just begun to relax, became serious again.
This damn angel, huh?
“I don’t know what kind of crazy misunderstanding you have, but I seriously never saw it coming. Got it?”
He was already aggrieved, and the angel’s words made him even more so.
How was he supposed to predict the General of Fire Heaven would go nuts and charge at him?
-Hmm. Is that so. I find it hard to fully accept, but I’ll take your word for it.
Apazragon listened closely yet refused to drop his suspicions completely.
To have interacted with many strong figures from other dimensions and received such attention, but not to have foreseen it—even possessing marks from powerful spirits.
Perhaps Lee Han had unconsciously expected it.
Even if he denied it, mortals were said to be influenced by their bodies’ limitations. Not realizing one’s own mind—such capriciousness was part of being mortal.
‘This guy. He’s not convinced, is he.’
Lee Han glared at the angelic spirit form.
He wanted to interrogate him until he admitted what he was thinking, but now was not the time—he had more important things to do.
“More importantly, Apazragon, I want to talk to you about following people around at will.”
As the lecture on ‘why you shouldn’t follow people at will’ under Imperial law began, Apazragon looked as if he didn’t quite understand.
Indeed, mortal customs were strange and hard to grasp.
-I see. I think I get it.
“Good. So from now on, what should you do, Apazragon?”
-I should get permission before I follow?
“…Okay, let’s start over from the beginning.”
Lee Han patiently explained it again.
After repeating the message about five times, even the angel seemed to catch on.
-Wait. Are you saying I shouldn’t follow you at all?
“Yes! Exactly!”
Hearing Apazragon’s answer, Lee Han was delighted. It was like watching Gainando solve a tough problem.
-But I must observe the Pioneer’s actions and learn. Didn’t you tell me to do that?
‘When did I ever say that?’
Lee Han swore inwardly.
If the angel weren’t in a spirit form, he might have punched him.
The way he interpreted things for his own convenience… it wouldn’t be surprising if he showed up as an Einrogard professor next semester.
Still, Lee Han was patient. He knew, painfully, that rage or threats didn’t work on such beings.
‘Damn… Actually, I should thank the Yaksha King. At least my patience has grown.’
He didn’t give up—he kept persuading!
“I’m not saying don’t learn anything. How about this: when I’m at Einrogard, you can follow.”
-I see… but wait. That domain is currently hard for me to enter. What if you make improvements and I still can’t access it?
“…Apazragon, just trust me.”
-But you said you didn’t expect the General of Fire Heaven to become obsessed, either?
“……”
Lee Han shuddered at how sharp his opponent was.
He might be ignorant of the continent’s culture, but he wasn’t stupid.
‘Damn… not easy!’
-Then how about not following while you’re at your domain, but following when you’re outside?
He was turning the negotiation back!
“…Let’s at least keep distance. And, uh… stop using that Body-Light-Eraser dimension thing. Move in the spiritual world at the very least.”
When the angel wouldn’t give way, Lee Han conceded.
Even if he followed, at least he wanted Apazragon to do so where Lee Han could see him.
…And keep a bit more distance…
-Hmm. If I keep my distance, observation accuracy will drop.
“If you need to, you’ll just come and ask, right?”
-That’s true. I see your point.
After Lee Han’s unyielding persuasion, Apazragon finally agreed.
From now on, he would keep his distance, stop using the Body-Light-Eraser dimension, and observe only from the spiritual plane.
Once the angel’s spirit vanished, Lee Han let out a long sigh. Purely in terms of mental fatigue, this was even worse than facing the General of Fire Heaven.
“Lee Han.”
“Yes?”
“If you ever need a spell to banish angels, let me know.”
“…I’ll let you know if I think of one.”
Joulin had been the happiest leaving the Empire, but now that their task was over and they were returning, she grew gloomier by the minute.
Lee Han, unable to watch any longer, got Professor Voladi’s permission to lag behind for a moment (Professor Garcia watched with a schadenfreude-laden face) just to comfort her.
“Your Highness, you can just go out again next time.”
“It’s… I’m afraid Wuman might get angry…”
‘Ah.’
Lee Han realized his mistake.
When Joulin had left Einrogard, the conversation had gone something like this:
-But Your Highness. Are you sure the Inspector is okay with this? If he finds out you followed without permission, he’ll be disappointed…
-Mm! Joulin decided to worry about that later!
Asked if it was really okay to tag along on the student’s quest, Joulin had heartily replied, “I’ll just worry about that later!”
And now that “later” had come, of course she was gloomy.
“But the Inspector cares for you so much, he wouldn’t actually get angry.”
“R-really?”
Joulin’s face brightened.
“Of course, he might ban you from going out for a while…”
“……”
Joulin glared at Lee Han.
How was that any different from being angry?
-Welcome back, Professor!
On the castle wall, the Death Knights greeted the party as they returned.
“Hello, everyone. Everything alright?”
-Not at all. Inspector has been ruling the school.
“……”
Professor Garcia slightly regretted her casual greeting. She noticed Joulin’s mood.
No matter her personal feelings toward Wuman, he was still Joulin’s brother. You couldn’t just talk badly about Wuman in front of her.
In fact, when Joulin quietly started to speak, Professor Garcia felt her heart plummet.
“Um…”
“Ah, yes, Your Highness. Is something wrong? Whatever you just heard, don’t worry abou—”
“The knights are so angry, I’m thinking about driving Wuman out of Einrogard by force.”
“……”
Professor Garcia was left speechless.
Wait…!
‘Did she learn this from Lee Han?’
“If you don’t have enough soldiers, Joulin could just hire mercenaries…”
“T-that’s not the problem, Your Highness. You can’t just expel the Inspector Emperor sent with force!”
“Even if Joulin fakes the situation?”
“All the more no!”
While they were talking, Einrogard’s gate opened. A knight who came to guide them suddenly asked, having remembered:
-By the way, Professor. Why did the Tower folks call our successor anyway?
“…To defeat the General of Fire Heaven.”
-I see… Sorry, what?!
The Death Knight was shocked.
Were those Ascension Lily Tower folks out of their minds?!!
Upon returning to Einrogard, Lee Han couldn’t go straight to the dormitory.
No sooner had he arrived than a message from Wuman reached him.
-Lord Wardanaz. The Inspector is waiting for you.
Joulin’s face went pale.
She’d been holding out hope that maybe Wuman, busy, hadn’t noticed—but with those words, that hope was dashed.
-Joulin is waiting too.
“Uwaaah!”
“Calm down. It’s not certain you’ll be punished yet.”
“Wuman is so mean! To ban me from going out…”
Joulin already acted as if the ban was certain.
Thinking about her help only reminded her of her heroic actions on this quest!
But when they reached Wuman’s office, they found an entirely different scene.
“……”
“……”
“Uh, did the Headmaster curse him or something?”
Lee Han whispered to Joulin in confusion.
He couldn’t help it. Right in the middle of the Inspector’s office, a huge Black Dragon was collapsed and lying flat.
Even someone who knew nothing about dragons could see how depressed this one was—far worse off than Joulin herself had been.
For the Inspector, who usually moved about in human form, suddenly to become such a mournful dragon—Lee Han could only imagine some nasty scheme by the Skull Headmaster.
“Normally, when Wuman gets sad, he returns to dragon form.”
“I knew it. So the Headmaster cursed him!”
“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant…”
Joulin wavered.
She didn’t think Gonadaltes would do such a thing.
Ah. Sister. You’ve come…
Wuman blinked his huge eyes. His enormous wings drooped weakly.
Joulin, who had been dreading her brother’s anger, cried out in surprise.
“What’s wrong?! What happened?!”
Sister. The students…
“The students?!”
…don’t like Wuman…
“……”
“……”
A heavy silence hung in the air. Lee Han quickly nudged Joulin. You had to lie quickly at a time like this.
“No, no! The students like you a lot!”
Sister. You are so kind. But you don’t have to force yourself to comfort me.
Wuman spoke in a hollow voice.
Recent incidents had been standard fare for Einrogard students, but to Wuman, they were a huge shock.
Students had set fires, raided warehouses, gone on hunger strikes.
Given how harshly Wuman had criticized the Skull Headmaster’s leadership, he was even more ashamed. He couldn’t face anyone.
He’d tried so hard…
‘Trying too hard was the problem,’ Lee Han thought.
If Wuman hadn’t tried so hard, he really might have become the next Headmaster.
It was actually very easy to please Einrogard students:
Bullying the Skull Headmaster, bullying Professor Verdus, and providing plenty of food.
Now Joulin nudged Lee Han. She wanted her contractor to speak.
“Your Highness, at least I was really glad you came.”
Wuman’s wings lifted slightly but then drooped again.
…Don’t lie. You’re just trying to comfort me.
“It’s true. Thanks to you, my work decreased so much.”
This wasn’t a lie, so Lee Han spoke confidently.
“Yeah! Thanks to Wuman, Lee Han has gotten much happier! But this is…?”
While comforting her brother, Joulin noticed the letter on the desk with a puzzled look.
I was writing a letter to His Majesty resigning as Inspector.
“Gasp. Really? When?”
Lee Han nudged Joulin again. She hastily shouted,
“You absolutely must not do that!”