Episode 1018

It wasn’t exactly comforting to realize that some other-dimensional monster thought Lee Han looked appetizing—especially when even the baby basilisk now agreed.

The misunderstood baby basilisk whirled its tail behind it like a windmill, protesting.

-I never had such thoughts!

‘I haven’t even told you what I was thinking yet.’

-I think those bad monsters sensed Master’s mana.

The baby basilisk, being a fellow monster, could accurately guess the hunger of a foe it had never even seen.

Unlike the baby basilisk, who was always wrapped tightly around his master’s arm and had an abundant supply of mana, most other monsters suffered from constant hunger.

Given the amount of mana a powerful body required, there was simply never enough intake.

This was also why many formidable monsters were so violent in nature.

-If it’s a monster that strong, it must need an incredible amount of mana.

“Indeed.”

The baby basilisk was deeply indignant at monsters that would covet its master’s flesh and blood.

-No matter how hungry you are, you should eat mana politely, like me!

“Mm.”

Not wanting to lecture the young basilisk, Lee Han quickly steered the conversation elsewhere.

“There’s nothing like that!”

“Nothing? Then why have you been targeted so persistently?”

“Perhaps we seemed more threatening.”

‘Hmm.’

Kitarenanum flinched.

A moment ago, he wouldn’t have believed it, but he’d just witnessed the Pengerine family mage stop his secret technique with counter-magic.

Given the expedition’s numbers, maybe the monster genuinely saw them as the greater threat.

‘But for a monster that’s crossed dimensions, its strategy is strangely passive. If it’s so strong, it shouldn’t need to leave threats unattended. Just focusing on one side?’

The magic criminal shook his head.

Now was not the time to ponder such things.

“Alright. So how do you propose we cooperate? Should we join forces and move together?”

“Heh. Like hell we could.”

Alsicle snorted. Neither party was thinking along those lines.

If they joined up, before long they’d be stabbing each other in the back instead of the monster.

“We’ll split the escape routes. If we grouped up, it’d just devolve into a fight. You must know these tunnels well enough, since you snuck in here.”

Lee Han’s suggestion was rational.

They were on approximately the fourth basement level.

There were two main escape paths up the remaining three floors:

The relatively simple west corridor, and the more complex, winding east corridor.

If both groups tried to use the west corridor, infighting or a monster surge could result. Here and now, they’d split up and escape via different routes!

‘What the? Is he stupid?’

Kitarenanum was perplexed.

Right now, the monsters were actively pursuing the expedition. Even if they split up, odds were high most monsters would still go after one group.

At best, all Lee Han’s side stood to gain was avoiding a direct brawl with the criminals.

Pretty damn soft.

‘Then again, anything more and we’d just refuse. If we all go down together, they lose too.’

-Something’s off. Are they pulling something, magician? Don’t you always say—

-…Einrogard wizards may be tricky, but this is different.

Kitarenanum tried to reassure the demon.

Einrogard wizards were devious even by magic criminal standards, but Kitarenanum had a depravity of his own that no Einrogard graduate could match.

Innate evil!

Wizards from Einrogard always seemed wounded by slights, and said “Is it because Einrogard ignored you? I apologize on their behalf!”—but Kitarenanum took pride in being evil by birth.

True, natural darkness was a trait—and a strength—that any wizard ought to have.

-They have more people, more lives to safeguard. Naturally, they can’t take risks in negotiation. That’s their weakness.

-I see… Fine. I’ll trust your judgment.

‘Worthless has-been of a demon. All he does now is whine.’

The magic criminal insulted his contracted demon inwardly.

“Fine! But I’m not giving up the better corridor. We’re taking the west route.”

Beside him, Bashirmak nodded as if saying “well done.”

“No. We won’t give it up either. We’re taking the west route,” Lee Han said.

Alsicle looked at him worriedly.

“What if they refuse?”

“Don’t worry. With criminals, you actually need to push this hard or they get suspicious.”

‘Why does he know so much about criminals…?’

Alsicle looked at Lee Han with growing concern.

She wasn’t worried about the negotiation falling apart, but that a mere sophomore had already mastered criminal psychology.

…Can we really rely only on Lady Gonadaltes…?

‘Mm. Lady Gonadaltes is a great wizard, but all her apprentices are a little…’

“You know the monsters are after us. Forget about taking all the profits for yourself.”

“…Not complete fools, I see. Fine. We’ll take the east route.”

“What? Why? Are you nuts?”

Bashirmak was enraged.

Why back down from these imperial lapdogs?

“Calm down. You don’t want to die here, do you?”

“Threaten them! Intimidate them!”

Kitarenanum paid him no mind. There was no more time to waste.

“We’ll head to the fork first. Follow behind—but keep your distance.”

“Understood.”

The expedition moved first, making for the split where east and west corridors diverged.

Bashirmak complained, but didn’t neglect his role.

“They’re coming up from below again. God, these bugs… How many can be left after we killed so many?!”

“They reproduced more. Forget it. We just need to slip east at the fork before the monsters catch up.”

Kitarenanum ignored the replenishing waves of spiders crawling up from below.

Once they split up at the fork, most monsters would probably go after the other side anyway.

“Hey!”

“?”

Suddenly, someone from the expedition called out. Sounded like that Einrogard wizard again.

“What?”

“Bashirmak! Magic criminal Kitarenanum sacrificed ninety-nine giant hearts to contract his archdemon!”

“……”

“……”

“We’re off!”

Kitarenanum froze as if stabbed with an icicle.

Beside him, half-giant Bashirmak was giving him a cold look.

It was so different from his usual hot temper, it was even scarier.

“Nonsense! They’re just trying to drive a wedge between us!”

“I knew you made a contract with a demon. The stench is obvious.”

“…!”

“Then tell me—what did you pay as the price?”

-Ha ha ha ha!

The demon cackled in delight.

There was a clause in their contract that forbade Kitarenanum from revealing what he used as sacrifice.

If he ever spoke of it, the contract would break and he’d be the demon’s eternal slave.

“I can’t say—that’s part of the deal.”

“I see.”

“Don’t let them fool you! Typical Einrogard trickery…”

Even as he spoke, Kitarenanum was baffled.

That one line had just bound the two of them together—something only someone familiar with their relationship could attempt.

How could that upstart Einrogard even know to try it, without ever meeting them in person?

“I trust you, Kitarenanum.”

“Thank you!”

And then, simultaneously, they turned their attacks on one another.

Magic exploded from Kitarenanum’s body; Bashirmak’s greatsword burst with aura. The surrounding passage instantly collapsed.

Below, spider monsters were climbing madly up, but the two ignored them, fixated solely on each other’s throats.

• * *

“Impressive. He won’t go berserk.”

Lee Han felt weirdly unsettled by an evil-god cultist’s praise.

“…How did you know how to turn them against each other? Was it prophecy magic?”

“Yes. Power from the Great Prophet.”

“Still, I didn’t expect them to start fighting that fast. Have giants been attacked before?”

“Yes. The cult’s warriors once raided Bashirmak’s tribe and stole ninety-nine hearts.”

“……”

“……”

No wonder the violence started instantly!

Lee Han and Alsicle shared an exasperated look. Clearly, you could never get too close to evil-god worshipers.

“One floor left!”

“Buff us for speed!”

“Even if there are side effects?”

“I’ll take anything you’ve got!”

As the expedition gave Lee Han the go, he drew his staff.

Normally, the enhancement spells the Black Book taught were too harsh on the body to cast on non-Einrogard students, but in this emergency—with everyone’s consent—it was a different story.

After all, only one floor remained…

-■■■■■■!

“They’re catching up!”

“Break through! We’re almost out!”

The explorers burned with fighting spirit.

They weren’t fleeing because they lacked strength—only because they didn’t want to waste time on pointless deep battles.

Bang!

Suddenly, a sound of space collapsing echoed.

From above—not below.

“????”

…Is everyone alright!

A familiar giant skeleton swooped down, voice unusually urgent.

Beside him was Archmage Erindarbel, also looking rattled and sweating pale.

“Lady Gonadaltes! You came to help!”

“And Lady Erindarbel! You must have foreseen the danger of this expedition!”

Uh… Um, yes, exactly.

“Y-yes.”

The two archmages hurried to check on Lee Han. Seeing the young wizard alive and well, they both sighed with relief.

The skeleton headmaster glared at the other archmage.

This one always made his non-existent heart sink by pulling impossible stunts.

Lee Han, puzzled, asked,

“How did you get here? Prophecy magic?”

I already guessed the danger of this expedition.

“????”

That made even less sense.

The headmaster had definitely said this would be just a chance to share some artifacts from a secret vault.

Lee Han asked again.

“Didn’t you say this would be some hidden vault for artifacts?”

The monsters are coming.

The headmaster changed the subject instantly.

“These monsters are on another level.”

That much is true. Good thing we realized before coming out.

The two archmages fully intended to burn this entire eroded space down.

It was impossible to know what might happen if such monsters escaped outside.

If I erase the space, can you anchor the surrounding area?

“Yes. I’ll hold the periphery stable.”

Alright, let’s begin.

The headmaster began casting at once. This was no time to waste.

Right then, a paper bird fluttered up to the headmaster. Whatever it chirped made his eyes widen in shock.

“Is something wrong? Did the monster escape?”

…Come here for a moment.

“???”

When the headmaster called, Lee Han only grew more anxious.

What could be so serious for him to be called aside with such a look?

Professor Voladi has arrived at the Green Jade Tower.

“Uh? Oh. He said he knows you.”

…You were never here today.

“????”