Episode 1132

Episode 1132

However, fortunately, unlike the knights’ worries, the birth of an unprecedented magical criminal did not occur.

Lee Han, who received a reply from the skull headmaster, glanced at it briefly before tossing it straight into the campfire.

‘There’s a lot of useless content here.’

For Lee Han, who had faced not only his teachers but also powerful beings from other dimensions, this kind of provocation wasn’t even enough to make him yawn.

He decided to retaliate against the skull headmaster later, and for now, Lee Han reviewed the contents of the reply.

‘…It should be fine, right?’

If it had truly been a dangerous situation, the skull headmaster would have taken action immediately rather than sending such a pointless reply.

He would have given Lee Han instructions on what to do…

The fact he didn’t meant the situation was still under the skull headmaster’s control. That made this sarcastic reply oddly reassuring.

‘Right. The professors are correct. Professor Baegrek’s underhanded fighting style wouldn’t be easily handled even by evil god worshippers.’

When it came to fighting dirty and foul, Professor Voladi was one of the few in Einrogard who was unmatched. Lee Han, who had endured it firsthand as his student, was confident.

-Heir. Are you all right?

“Huh? Didn’t I say I was fine earlier?”

When the knights kept expressing concern, Lee Han was puzzled.

The shock caused by Professor Voladi’s escape had mostly been handled, so why were they suddenly asking again?

-It’s just… usually, when students receive a letter from the master in situations like this, the probability of additional escapes increases…

“…If you know that, you should stop it.”

He was almost afraid to ask how many seniors had escaped before him.

---

‘Hmm.’

While the Blue Dragon Tower friend consulted with other professors about his teacher’s escape, Nigisor was deep in thought.

What on earth had that spirit from earlier been?

‘A spirit that powerful wouldn’t help for no reason.’

“Nigisor. Nigisor. Is it okay?”

“You mean calling Wardanaz ‘Hey, Wardanaz!’ earlier? I don’t think he heard…”

“…Not that.”

The snake folk priestess glared at her blazing dull friend.

Her memory was uselessly good!

“For the record, that’s a secret. If you tell, I’ll report to the inspector that you were involved in last time’s fire incident.”

“Don’t worry. Nigisor isn’t idle enough to bother telling. Then what are you worried about…”

“Of course, I mean Professor Baegrek.”

Unable to watch any longer, Tijilling stepped in to mediate. She was worried they might end up grabbing each other’s collars.

“Professor Baegrek?”

“What else? Honestly, I didn’t expect Lord Wardanaz to be that sad.”

Siana spoke honestly.

To be honest, among the Einrogard professors, there weren’t many whom students would be sad about if they disappeared.

Just look at Professors Verdus or Bendozol as examples (Professor Bendozol had actually disappeared before). No one missed them.

And in Siana’s eyes, Professor Baegrek was also…

‘Every time I saw Lord Wardanaz, it seemed like he was being beaten up?’

“There could be aspects of the teacher-student relationship that aren’t visible from the outside.”

Tijilling actually thought so a little, but kept it in check.

Lee Han had looked very depressed.

“Actually, I was surprised, too…”

“Sorry to keep you waiting. What were you talking about?”

“Eek.”

Siana, who was the most startled, began to hiccup. Lee Han asked curiously,

“Are you okay?”

“I-I’m totally fine. Hiccup.”

‘Looks just like Gainando when he gets caught secretly using the magician’s card.’

For a moment, Lee Han thought so to himself, but stopped being suspicious.

Siana Priestess wasn’t Gainando and wouldn’t do something like that. It was a disservice to his friend.

“We were pondering the spirit. I felt a strange spirit helping during the fight…”

“Hiccup. Maybe it was your imagination?”

Siana reacted negatively to her tower friend’s words.

In truth, priests often attracted spirits’ favor. They were all diligent and gentle, so spirits had little reason to dislike them.

But even so, Nigisor’s claim was rather unusual.

A spirit Lee Han hadn’t contracted with, who did not even show itself, bestowing favor?

Given what she knew about spirits, she realized just how nonsensical that was.

“Hiccup. Unless it’s a spirit with a truly grand scheme, I doubt it would do that.”

“Actually, it is a spirit with a truly grand scheme. Sorry. It’s a spirit called General Hwacheon, and it keeps following me.”

“……”

Siana’s hiccups instantly stopped in shock. While Siana stammered, Nigisor asked in surprise.

“Wait, if it’s a powerful spirit like General Hwacheon… was the Water Lily Tower’s request really to subdue a spirit?”

“That’s right?”

Not only Siana but the other two priests stared at Lee Han.

When the request first came up, and they asked, ‘Was the Water Lily Tower’s request really to subdue a spirit?’ hadn’t he insisted, ‘No! The Water Lily Tower’s request was just to… to recruit me!’

‘So it really was a spirit subjugation request!’

No matter what, the Water Lily Tower wouldn’t have summoned an Einrogard student for such a petty reason.

It was obvious now that it was a spirit subjugation request.

“…They really did call me to recruit me, but by accident, General Hwacheon was released.”

“……”

‘Damn. Even I sound like I’m lying.’

Feeling defeated, Lee Han changed the subject.

“That’s not important. Anyway, Nigisor. That spirit is extremely wicked and vile. Even if he’s nice, you must never trust him. If he tries to lure you into a contract, just ignore him.”

General Hwacheon would have been furious if he’d heard that.

He kept following Lee Han because of his peculiar tastes, but General Hwacheon was a spirit who never took on contractors.

Why would such a violent spirit want to contract with a rookie priest like Nigisor? Such talk was an insult to General Hwacheon.

“Lord Wardanaz. That’s not a very convincing argument.”

“You didn’t have to say all that…”

Siana and Tijilling stopped Lee Han at the same time. They showed not a shred of trust in their friend.

Nigisor protested indignantly.

“Why shouldn’t I be told?”

“Why do you think? All the other priests know why except you.”

“I-I mean… I just worry you might act rashly…”

While two priest friends criticized sharply, Lee Han spoke again.

“No. I believe in you, Priest Nigisor.”

“Huh? Really? You might want to think that over?”

“…That, and if we don’t tell you, you might waver if the spirit tries to tempt you.”

As Lee Han whispered, Siana finally understood. She hadn’t thought of that.

Although General Hwacheon wasn’t thinking that at all…

Feeling a bit emotional, Nigisor cried out,

“Hmph! I promise, even if the spirit approaches, I won’t respond at all.”

“Even if he tries to tempt you with fire?”

“Of course!”

“Even if he tries to give you a truly great, powerful flame? A flame as endless as Lord Wardanaz’s magic power?”

“Siana Priestess…”

Lee Han looked at his friend with a sour expression.

Why did she have to mention his name there?

“Y-yes, of course.”

Even so, Nigisor almost faltered. Lee Han sighed, but still decided to trust his friend.

…At least he refused for now…

“Okay. I’ll trust you. We’ll be departing again shortly—everyone good?”

“We’re fine, but Lord Wardanaz…”

“Don’t worry, Priest Tijilling. I’m fine too.”

‘Doesn’t really look fine.’

‘Honestly, I’m a bit worried.’

Siana and Tijilling exchanged glances and nodded.

Wouldn’t it be better to just let him rest at school?

“By the way.”

Lee Han, about to walk away, stopped and looked back at his friends.

“If you see anyone suspicious on the way, make sure to tell me first, okay?”

“…F-for what reason?”

Feeling a strange killing intent, Siana asked nervously.

“What reason… After something like this, we should be more careful about safety on these jobs. What, would you rather tell the professor before telling me?”

“Oh! I thought you…”

“Thought?”

“…Nothing! Haha. Ha… Hiccup.”

Siana closed her mouth, having almost said, ‘I thought you were going to hunt down and crush the evil god worshippers first.’

“You get hiccups a lot. Are you sure you’re not tired?”

“Of course not.”

“That’s settled then.”

With that, Lee Han truly left to report the situation to the professors.

The three priests looked at each other.

“…Shouldn’t we really send him back? If he’s going to attack the evil god worshippers first…”

“There’s no way he would.”

“……”

---

After wrapping up matters in the village and persuading the fire giants, the heat quickly faded.

With everyone’s thanks, Lee Han’s group set out once more.

-Please have some drinks as you go. I mixed juice and sugar with ice.

“Thank y… ou?”

The knights’ oddly kind attitude was a bonus.

It was hard to believe there was a rule that students out on assignments must not snack against school regulations.

“Lord Wardanaz. I heard from the mercenaries earlier that, if you go about 30 minutes ahead, there’s a restaurant famous for a fantastic mushroom quiche.”

“No… I’m fine.”

“W-why not?! Do you dislike pie?”

“It’s just, that town wasn’t affected.”

Lee Han answered as if in disbelief.

They were on an assignment, not here to sample the fine cuisine of the empire’s west.

Evenita realized his mistake. The knights clicked their tongues disapprovingly beside him.

-You dumbass. Didn’t you learn anything even while thieving, can’t even flatter?

-If the Heir changes his mind because of your slip and reports it as a mistake, will you take responsibility?

“……”

Evenita, who had been happy just to be alive after earlier, cursed the knights inwardly.

He wasn’t the only one at fault, but only he was getting scolded by the knights.

‘So much for honor, my ass…!’

For all he knew, these people might have been bandits in life. At minimum, their consciences certainly were.

Professor Garcia, sipping a cold apple-juice drink through a reed straw, spoke to his colleague.

“Should we buy Student Lee Han something when we get to the next village?”

‘He’s not a child; he won’t cheer up because of that…’

Professor Kirmin thought so, but nodded.

That might be better. Not for Wardanaz, but at least for Professor Garcia’s peace of mind in caring for Wardanaz.

“You don’t have to worry. Professor Kim. Wardanaz is a strong enough magician to handle situations like this without faltering.”

“You think so?”

-Halt!

From far ahead, someone at the checkpoint in front of a wooden bridge shouted when they saw the carriage.

Even though they were flying the mage school’s flag on the carriage, which granted passage anywhere in the empire, the officials ordering them to stop baffled the professors.

“What is it?”

“We can’t tell you! Get lost, now!”

“What the…”

-Are they crazy?

As the knights were bewildered as well, Lee Han suddenly stuck his head out of the carriage.

He waved his staff and cast magic instantly. The soldiers recoiled in shock.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

Not just the checkpoint, but even the barricade was blown apart, leaving the checkpoint soldiers aghast.

They never expected their opponent to act this way.

“How dare you…?!”

“If you disregard imperial law like this, you must be evil god worshippers. Let’s subdue them first, shall we?”

“……”