Episode 1060

“Then, Ibinta. Next question. Among the bandits, has anyone been acting suspiciously lately? By ‘suspiciously,’ I mean actions like constantly seeking blood, or hiding cuts of raw meat ‘for some use’…”

‘I already told you there aren’t any!’

Ibinta ground his teeth.

Given how bandit gangs were as common as stones in the Empire, it only made sense for a Wardanaz mage to disregard a bandit boss.

But Ibinta had pride in his own abilities.

Establishing and maintaining an underground fortress this close to the Imperial Capital was no easy feat.

A bandit gang was nothing like a knight order with tight regulations. Unless you satisfied their greed, bandits would quickly desert or backstab.

Managing these kinds of trash and keeping secrets required constant vigilance and suspicion.

‘…Gotta keep my cool.’

Ibinta suppressed his anger and instead calmly explained his logic.

Just thinking about the other’s family made his rage naturally cool.

“…That’s why, if there’d been any evil god cultist in the fortress, I would’ve found out quickly. If you don’t believe me, you can split open the bellies of the ones sprawled around inside to check.”

As the other was behaving overly emotional, Lee Han whispered so only Giselle could hear.

“Isn’t he a bit too emotional?”

“Wouldn’t anyone act that way if all their subordinates and their fortress got wrecked?”

‘Says the guy who did half the wrecking himself.’

Lee Han grumbled inwardly.

Sure, he had set the goal and summoned the brute force, but still…

“Fair enough, Ibinta. I’ll check the rest myself. Must’ve been hard controlling subordinates who don’t listen.”

“…It wasn’t that hard.”

“No, it’s not something just anyone can do. I’ve handled unruly types and it’s no easy task.”

“……”

Giselle shot him a wary look.

Surely he didn’t mean White Tiger Tower by ‘unruly types’?

“Bandits really don’t listen for crap. And to be honest, the only reason we took in Kitarenanum was some others were greedy for his gold. I didn’t even want the guy…”

“I get it. Seriously, they’re unbelievably greedy.”

As the conversation continued, Ibinta found himself oddly persuaded.

He even felt like the mage in front of him really understood him.

‘What the…?’

Ibinta was confused.

Had he been caught by a mental magic without realizing it?

Otherwise, why would a monster from the Wardanaz clan make him feel this way…?

• * *

Knew it!

‘Then you should’ve stopped him.’

Professor Garcia swallowed the words she wanted to say.

The two of them had rushed here urgently after hearing the news. As much as she trusted her student, she had not expected him to take down a large underground bandit gang.

“If Lee Han gets hurt, it’s all your fault, Headmaster.”

No, you should be worrying about something else.

“Huh?”

Do you really not know, Professor Garcia?

The Skull Headmaster was baffled by her reaction.

Sure, she doted on her student a bit too much, but to be so one-sided…

You should be worried about collateral damage! Wardanaz has at least four or five abilities that could kill both friend and foe indiscriminately!

There is no such thing as certainty in battle, so of course Wardanaz could get hurt if caught off-guard.

And if the enemy was truly prepared, he could even be cornered.

But if that happened, it wouldn’t be Wardanaz who was in actual danger—it’d be the bandits.

If he ever, in desperation, started pulling out magic he usually kept locked away…

“Well, yes, Lee Han is extremely powerful for his year, but aren’t you overestimating him a bit?”

Please, Perkuntra, please, Perkuntra, please—Oh! Fortune smiles on me today, lucky skull!

Arriving at the ruins, the Skull Headmaster grinned in relief.

Thankfully, his brilliant student had chosen the most moderate option available. That thunder freak Perkuntra was not one to randomly blast everything in sight.

If he’d used something like the Bracelet of Ten Thousand Demons and summoned a trapped demon, the whole underground fortress—and the woods and road beyond—could’ve been ruined.

“Hurry up and let’s go in!”

See, Professor Garcia? Anyone can tell a spirit rampaged through here.

The Skull Headmaster pointed at the obvious traces left above. If you could see such mighty lightning from the surface, you could guess what happened below.

“Come on already. Huh? Who made this hole?”

Wardanaz must have.

“No, it’s not really Lee Han’s style. Did he have a summon like this?”

Probably just tamed another by force.

“……”

Professor Garcia found herself slightly disgusted at her inability to argue with that.

“Why isn’t Professor Baegrek around?”

Ominous.

“Didn’t I tell you so! Find Lee Han’s location—quick!”

Wardanaz isn’t the ominous one… He’s just fine. Calm down. Actually, it’s Voladi who’s ominous right now.

There was a reason the Skull Headmaster said that.

He’d expected Lee Han to wipe out the fortress (with as little collateral as possible), and then Voladi would be late to the scolding.

But as he scanned the location with magic, Lee Han was wandering around the west of the fortress with some bandit, while Voladi was methodically combing through sealed sectors in the east with Gainando.

‘This kid. Did he get caught?’

The Skull Headmaster felt a little anxious.

Wardanaz was a naturally talented liar, but still made childish mistakes from guilt.

If he’d lost his composure and slipped up in front of his master…

Voladi!

The Skull Headmaster zipped over to Professor Voladi first to get to the root of the oddness.

“Huff, huff—Headmaster! What took you so long!”

Gainando, stumbling along behind Voladi, panted his complaint.

Did thieves attack you? Voladi doesn’t seem like one to get hurt by them.

“No! I’m tired! Professor hasn’t rested at all since earlier!”

The Skull Headmaster was impressed by Gainando’s nerve.

To file such a complaint about something unrelated—second years would have to be exceptionally brave.

What’s going on, Voladi? Why are you wandering around like this?

“He’s looking for traces of evil god cultists.”

……

“……”

At Gainando’s offhand answer, the Skull Headmaster and Professor Garcia’s faces changed.

No way?

Evil god cultists? If it was the Ksaksarigol cult, just forget it. Voladi, last time was a mistake.

“What do you mean?”

Professor Garcia sounded suspicious.

Joining Ksaksarigol cult—last time, as well, that was all a little odd.

She and the Skull Headmaster had always brushed it off as “totally Ksaksarigol,” but in hindsight, there was no record of her student ever having dealt with that cult.

Could it be?

“It’s not Ksaksarigol.”

Gainando shook his head and started explaining his deduction.

Lately, Lee Han had seemed obsessed with finding evil god cultists—it wasn’t Prahgall, wasn’t Ksaksarigol, so…

“……”

……

Now Professor Garcia and the Skull Headmaster were truly aghast.

What???

“Headmaster. What do we do? Gainando never even saw this coming.”

Honestly, neither did I.

They were more shocked than ever that the prince of all people had figured it out.

His true identity hadn’t been revealed, but it was only a matter of time.

“Looks like you have a guess, Professor Garcia.”

“Uh, yes? Well, um…”

As Professor Voladi flatly questioned, Professor Garcia floundered. The Skull Headmaster quickly signaled her back.

Her character was too submissive before senior professors—left alone, she’d cave in.

“If you tell me what you know, I’ll share information too.”

“Oh… What information?”

“Answers to your existing questions about Ksaksarigol cult.”

“…….”

For a second, Professor Garcia almost caved.

It had felt since last time like Lee Han and the Skull Headmaster were up to tricks together…

…Was he finally offering to tell the truth?

Professor Garcia! Are you going to betray us to the enemy?

“People will misunderstand if they hear that.”

Even so, Professor Garcia’s eyes flickered slyly. The Skull Headmaster sighed, accepting defeat.

Fine. I’ll go first. Actually, this break there was an expedition organized to hunt a monster from the outer void.

“You’re telling me Lee Han participated in that? Please say no.”

It was a truly cursed tragedy.

“I told you, please say no??”

The blame falls first on that Pengerine bastard…

“……”

He was there, wasn’t he!

Professor Garcia knew by instinct. Gainando, too, objected in disbelief.

“So that’s why Lee Han claimed he didn’t want to hang out—he was just ‘busy’?!”

No. Wardanaz doesn’t like hanging out with you because you always insist on using the same losing magic card deck, you stubborn fool.

“……”

With a wicked mood, the Skull Headmaster shattered Gainando’s worldview, then continued his excuses.

Along the way, he got mixed up with all sorts, including the Ksaksarigol cult. But all’s well that ends well—be grateful, Professor Garcia. Forget the tattle. Let’s just drop it.

“Try saying that in front of His Majesty.”

And Voladi, it was all for your sake. Garcia, you’d agree.

“Uh… well… I suppose that’s right.”

Professor Garcia mumbled, ducking Voladi’s gaze, but she didn’t actually back down.

She honestly worried how Voladi would react to hearing the evil god’s name.

“Understood.”

Doesn’t look like you ‘understand’ at all…

‘How can he tell from my face?’

Professor Garcia found it curious.

His face was always blank, so how did the Skull Headmaster notice?

Seeing the other would stop at nothing, the Skull Headmaster finally gave in.

Fine. Given the situation, can’t be helped. I’ll tell you the truth. But you must swear not to act rashly.

Voladi immediately swore on his honor as an Einrogard professor.

And again, on his students.

And again.

“…How long are you going to keep doing that?”

Honestly, the more obedient he is, the more suspicious it gets!

Professor Garcia had no choice but to agree with the Skull Headmaster.

You’ll also accept being watched by me or Professor Garcia from now on.

“Understood.”

Damn. If I didn’t have students, I’d have stuck him in the punishment room for a while.

The Skull Headmaster muttered, then revealed the truth.

The cult of Sengguiros had revived, and followers had been sighted.

…Wardanaz was acting under our orders, so don’t be too harsh with him.

“Our?”

…My orders. Satisfied? Really, Professor Garcia, is that important now?

As they squabbled, Professor Voladi quietly answered.

“Understood.”

……

“……”

At that instant reply, both the Skull Headmaster and Professor Garcia felt extremely awkward.

Even Gainando was muttering next to them.

“Isn’t that too suspicious?”

Be quiet, you perennially losing magic card fool.