Episode 1218
by CristaeEpisode 1218
There was a cracking sound. It was the sound of Whidor accurately striking the evil god’s clone and crushing it deep into its soul.
But the evil god did not fall. On the contrary, the blood-red aura emanating from it grew even stronger.
-He’s down!
Be careful, disciple of Osu!
Those who were battling other clones elsewhere also noticed the anomaly.
The clones they were facing were destroyed all at once.
It was clear the desperate evil god was squeezing out even the last dregs of strength, even at great cost.
Absorbing the clones back in such haste must have brought significant loss.
The sky of the domain, once stained crimson, returned to its original color, and the twisted areas regained order.
The evil god was even absorbing the power that was used to control the domain.
‘So that’s why it endured!’
Lee Han was glad he had delayed launching the thunder spear.
The vision of the future had just warned him.
He saw the evil god, who after being struck with the thunder spear, still charged straight ahead like a wild boar!
He wondered how it could withstand such a blow, but apparently it clung to its last scraps, converting everything to stamina.
■■■■■■…!
The evil god no longer even emitted thought-waves that mortals could understand.
It threw away the proud self-identity it once boasted, fixated solely on primal power, snarling.
Feeling threatened, Saratan roared.
-He’s coming at you! Thrust the thunder spear!
“Not yet. Wait a bit more.”
-He’s trying to break through space now!
Saratan sensed that the evil god’s power was shaking off the Small World’s constraint and trying to break through space.
The raving enemy was truly terrifying. Even after being hit by Whidor, it kept pushing onward.
But instead of thrusting the thunder spear, this contractor gathered even more strength. He drained the enemy and increased his own destructive power, waiting to strike for an instant kill.
-You damned brat!
In the end, Saratan gave up trying to persuade him and decided to act directly.
Before being sealed, this hornbeam spirit had taken pride in its toughness, impervious to any attack.
Now, though most of its real power was lost, a few fragments remained, and one of those was the Authority of Tenacity.
The ironclad power to withstand any attack!
Suddenly, dozens of branches burst out in front of Lee Han’s staff, forming a shield of vines.
The vines suppressed the advancing evil god, who responded with a murderous roar. Saratan, enraged in turn, shouted back.
-Just hurry up and die, you beast!
■■■■…
The young prince let out a sigh.
The situation was not good.
That tree spirit, already weakened, had pushed itself too far and would not be able to withstand the evil god’s charge.
To help his disciple at a critical moment, the young prince quietly conserved even the strength for a single word.
That he now had to use that strength for such an evil spirit.
The prince did not like that spirit. In fact, he disliked all evil beings, not just Saratan.
There were too many bad ones, and they seemed never to tire but to prosper endlessly. Show them mercy and they never feel grateful, only ever rolling their eyes for opportunity.
But now…
He could not deny that, at his disciple’s side, the last remaining loyal servant until the end was this spirit.
This spirit may have been evil, but it was not a coward. Unlike the prince, who would disappear as the power of the painting faded, this spirit would still help his disciple.
Perhaps fate had sent the young prince here just for that lesson.
That there was no need to hate evil ones too emotionally.
The young prince raised his hand.
Their first meeting had been a miracle, and now the second had happened the same way.
Then perhaps a third was not impossible either.
“Be freed!”
-!?
Saratan was startled by the sudden surge of power.
He knew much of his strength was sealed in the core of this staff, but he hadn’t expected it to return like this.
Had his resonance with the contractor broken open several layers of seals and restored his power?
Though it was annoying to admit, he couldn’t deny it. Especially considering what this contractor had been through recently.
Either way, it was something to be thankful for. Saratan roared even louder against the evil god, wielding even more strength.
-It’s time. Die!
Any further would really be dangerous! Even if you don’t kill him, just stab him!
Perkuntra shouted.
Now, it was no longer a question of whether the thunder spear could finish off the enemy, but whether the contractor’s body could endure.
With the reins off thanks to Small World Dunamis, the contractor was piling up magic without limit.
Was this really okay?
Lee Han was aware of the spirit’s concern. Indeed, the thunder spear had become dangerously powerful, almost uncontrollable.
Of course, he had a plan.
‘I’ll just use Dunamis one more time.’
He’d said three times at the start, so he figured he had one left.
Neither Perkuntra nor Mahuda agreed to three, but Lee Han rationalized it the Einrogard way.
At that moment, Professor Voladi appeared behind Lee Han.
Lee Han panicked, worried the professor had read his mind and would knock him out and send him to the rear, but fortunately, that was not Voladi’s intention when teleporting.
Professor Voladi grabbed the thunder spear with one hand, trying to help control it.
The immense mana tried to burn away any unworthy, but Professor Voladi calmly sacrificed his arm and commanded,
“Now.”
“Understood!”
With control regained, the thunder spear coiled like a dragon, condensing its trajectory.
Aimed at the evil god’s glabella, who was trying to escape the bog of countless spells, the thunder spear charged. The mages present felt as though time had stopped momentarily.
And the thunder spear struck the evil god directly.
Professor Voladi sensed victory. The fiercely blazing light seemed to burn everything, coloring and vibrating the air.
Normally, concentration was required.
He had to observe the enemy, ready to strike again if it survived.
But suddenly, a memory from the past flashed through Professor Voladi’s mind—an unstoppable thought.
“The western vampire families inside the fortress are all annihilated. They said they’d never surrender to that emperor’s bastard, so I let them have it their way.”
“……”
“I searched the fortress and found the remains of your family. Tell the knights they did well later. I’ll take care of the funerals.”
“……”
“I suppose you resent me.”
The skeleton headmaster, in human form, spoke to the disciple lying in bed.
Strictly speaking, it was more like a combination of bed and cell.
On one side were potions to heal the magician, worn out and exhausted from long assassinations; on the other side were restraints to prevent escape.
“Yes.”
“Then I resent you, too, so it’s even. Resent as much as you like there. I’ll resent you while freely roaming about. Actually, it’s not even; I win.”
Voladi Baegrek paused, considering his words, then asked,
“Why is that?”
“Hmm?”
“Why do you resent me?”
Voladi Baegrek had plenty of reasons to resent the skeleton headmaster.
He had interfered countless times during his revenge, causing him to miss the fortress subjugation entirely.
But the skeleton headmaster resenting Voladi Baegrek made no logical sense.
For one who hindered to resent the one hindered.
“Most of my disciples have been shameless, but you’re really the worst. Who saved you, locked up in the underground fortress prison? Someone would think you escaped on your own!”
The skeleton headmaster scolded his disciple as if exasperated.
It was one thing to have riled the enemy’s vigilance by running wild like a madman.
But instead of taking a break afterwards to make them drop their guard, he ran straight into the fortress, just because there were many to kill?
Because of that, the skeleton headmaster had had to agonize over a rescue plan even before the subjugation.
This guy—who knows what he learned at Einrogard or from me. Sometimes he wanted to deny he was even his disciple if asked.
“I never asked to be—”
“‘I never asked to be saved.’ Yes, you were going to say that!”
The skeleton headmaster raised both hands, mocking the disciple. Voladi Baegrek, caught out, faltered.
“Don’t spout clichés. You’re not the first or last disciple like that. People you save from drowning then get mad at you for saving them! Why do I resent you? Why even ask if you wouldn’t understand?”
“You still haven’t answered my question.”
“I don’t want to. When you take on a disciple just as shameless as you, ask yourself. All I have to say to you now is this.”
“What…”
“As soon as you recover, it’s straight to the punishment room!”
With those words, the skeleton headmaster threw a sliced fruit in the disciple’s face and left.
After that, no accusation or investigation regarding the western incident ever reached Professor Voladi.
Despite having violated imperial law as much as the western vampire families.
Though nothing was said, Professor Voladi sensed the skeleton headmaster had pulled something.
Every so often, knights from the west would visit Einrogard only to be chased out naked.
After the knight captains who came to protest were chased out naked a few more times, even the most stubborn imperial officials stopped asking any questions about the western rebellion.
Even events that seemed unforgettable were eventually consumed by time.
After leaving the punishment room, Professor Voladi finished a few more papers on magical combat, then wandered the empire to perfect his magic.
During that time, the skeleton headmaster surprisingly offered for him to return to Einrogard.
Kirmin welcomed back his old friend, but Professor Voladi always had one unresolved question.
Why had the skeleton headmaster invited someone like him to be a professor?
There were many excellent combat magicians in the Empire. There was no one among them less able to teach than him.
But the skeleton headmaster never said a word.
Even if Voladi failed to teach a single student all year, he let it pass. So much that even Professor Verdus complained about favoritism.
He never asked then, but now he thought he understood a little. He also thought he understood why the skeleton headmaster had said he resented him.
“Wardanaz.”
Professor Voladi looked at his student.
Bloody and with not a single unscathed spot, yet his eyes were triumphant and a faint smile hung on his lips.
For a moment, Professor Voladi felt deep apology toward the skeleton headmaster.
Why is it that some things can’t truly be known until you experience them yourself?
“Thank you.”
“…It was nothing, Professor.”
Lee Han grinned and said. Professor Voladi nodded slightly.
“And…”
“?”
Spending a moment in thought, Professor Voladi finally made up his mind.
In a way, it was like spitting on his own face, but this was something he had to say.
“As soon as you recover, straight to the punishment room.”
“……”