Episode 1080

Lee Han, instead of making excuses, flashed a confident smile.

Of course, his fierce and rough aura made it far less effective. Dirimpa thought to herself,

‘How did Senior Direte end up befriending such a savage mage?’

Actually, Direte had always been adept at summoning and contracting with fierce undead monsters and demons.

But for it to apply to mages as well?

‘Then again, seeing how she gets along with that weird princess, I guess she could get along with anyone.’

• * *

Having made his appearance at the gathering (including asking Alsicle not to send him any more letters since they weren’t that close), Lee Han, together with the Black Magic School students, left the venue.

The count’s nephew watched longingly as Lee Han—Stedal—walked away, as if he would follow after him if not for the rest of the party.

“Senior, how long do I have to stay in disguise? Can I undo it now?”

“After this, might as well keep it up to the end.”

“!?”

Direte was firm.

Given Koholt’s personality, if he found out Stedal was really his junior, he’d probably roll around in self-loathing for days.

“Direte, could you ask Master Nago when we might meet again?”

Unaware of his friend’s inner turmoil, Koholt asked quietly.

It looked like they were on familiar terms, and with Direte’s help, he might be able to get close to Stedal Nago too.

“No.”

“I see. That’s the way of a mage who freely wanders the Empire—they dislike setting appointments. Then, could you at least ask for a mark so I could send a paper bird message?”

“No.”

“Ah, because receiving paper birds would disturb his meditations. I wasn’t thinking. How shallow of me.”

“…”

Direte looked at her friend with a mix of contempt and shock.

Normally, he’d be argumentative—“Why not!”—but in front of his disguised junior, he was shy as could be.

‘If only he had been this obedient while we were at school…’

Despite all the rejections, Koholt didn’t stop gazing admiringly at Stedal.

He wanted to get closer!

“Koholt, give it a rest already.”

Dirimpa spoke in exasperation.

If you wanted to be friends with someone, you should do it yourself instead of always trying to use Senior Direte as a go-between.

“Dirimpa. Maybe you could ask instead—”

“I just met him today, too! And keep pestering, and I’ll take back what I did to help earlier.”

Koholt shut his mouth.

He was worried Stedal might overhear their conversation.

“If you want to be friends, just show what you can do when we go catch the demon.”

“Right… but, catching the demon is only good for the Black Magic kids from Einrogard, isn’t it… No benefit to me…”

“Then you can just leave, Mr. Koholt?”

“Stop calling me ‘Mr.’! Fine, I get it.”

Koholt muttered about how he’d ended up with nothing after opening his mouth.

But, considering the help he’d gotten today from friends and juniors, doing his bit now was only fair.

With luck, he might even get to show off in front of Stedal Nago.

“By the way, Senior, I don’t see that one you always favor?”

“All the second-years are gone.”

Direte shrugged.

The third- and fourth-years were working with her on various commissions and research, but she hadn’t called the second-years.

No need to traumatize those juniors before their time.

“But wasn’t that one supposed to be near fourth-year level?”

‘Right?’

Other Black Magic students paused at Dirimpa’s logic.

“No matter how skilled, you shouldn’t disregard their year.”

Stedal cautioned in a grave voice.

Though an outsider, hearing the famed Einrogard students talk made him want to offer advice.

“True. Juniors need time with their same-year friends, too.”

“Master Nago is correct.”

The Black Magic students nodded, Koholt in particular joining in.

Such thoughtful advice!

“…”

Direte stared at her junior, who dodged her eye.

“But…”

Although they’d agreed, Dirimpa spoke up again, drawing a wary glance from Lee Han.

What now?

“…But if she’s helping some strange mage during break, isn’t it true she won’t get time with friends anyway?”

“Yukveltire’s not that strange.”

Direte defended her friend. Lee Han thought to himself,

‘So she wasn’t talking about the Skeletal Headmaster.’

At first, Lee Han thought Dirimpa knew about his time helping the headmaster. But, apparently, it was about Yukveltire.

With so many strange people at Einrogard, it was hard to guess just from “strange.”

‘How did Senior Direte instantly know she meant Senior Yukveltire?’

“And Yukveltire couldn’t take her this break anyway. The headmaster got her first.”

“Hmm.”

Lee Han debated whether he should explain, since Yukveltire did end up following in the end…

“You mean, the headmaster took her for the break?”

“…Which is worse, spending break with Yukveltire or with the Headmaster?”

“That’s a really hard question.”

The Black Magic students murmured.

Would you rather spend break with Senior Yukveltire, or with the Skeletal Headmaster?

Both options were truly dreadful.

“If the Headmaster got her first, nothing to be done, but Senior Direte, you’re too soft on that strange one.”

“That’s true.”

“I agree, Direte.”

Not just the juniors—even Koholt chimed in.

Show that affection to your Black Magic juniors instead!

“I thought so, too… I mean, friendship is a personal choice. Mm.”

The fierce battle mage tried to toss in a word but quickly shut his mouth.

Direte seemed ready to stomp on his foot with her boot heel.

“Anyway, she’s supposed to be an amazing combat mage, right? Too bad she’s not here.”

‘Maybe she’s nicer than I thought.’

With Dirimpa’s praise, Lee Han let down his guard slightly.

Having heard she spent all her time underground and sometimes tossed gems away, he’d assumed she was crazy…

“That junior really is incredible.”

Koholt agreed.

He’d received help from Lee Han as a first-year, and had a high opinion of this junior.

‘Senior Koholt.’

Lee Han felt a little touched.

The bond with a fellow Black Magic School mage was not easily erased.

“When I heard she was taking all the classes, I figured she was nuts? But she’s actually diligent and decent.”

“So, actually normal?”

“Nah, she’s nuts! Who takes all the classes, haha!”

Koholt, thinking his junior was not present, joked more boldly.

Who could imagine that the disguised junior was right there?

‘Hm. Maybe I shouldn’t have helped Mr. Koholt.’

• * *

Bulserrek of the Gral family was a rather wealthy capital noble, and like many nobles, had a collector’s passion.

Once this passion deepened, he started walking the boundary between the legal and the illicit.

He even attended secret auctions where stolen goods and items of uncertain origin appeared.

“I’m so sorry, so sorry!”

The stout noble repeatedly bowed his head in apology.

He must have felt awkward facing the mages, knowing trouble had sprung from buying dangerous items at unlicensed auctions.

“I’ll never attend such an auction again.”

“Hmm.”

“Well…”

The Black Magic students exchanged awkward glances.

In truth, Einrogard mages also attended such secret auctions.

When a vital item came up, whether legal or not, securing it was a mage’s duty.

“Better if you don’t go anymore!”

“Yes! Hahaha!”

The students quickly tried to laugh it off.

Guilt wouldn’t let them speak further.

“Thank you for understanding. I was so worried, after hearing the rumors… Einrogard mages are much more lenient than I’d heard!”

Bulserrek was moved.

He’d been bracing for the infamous stormy reaction of Einrogard mages—but they were so kind!

“Heh. Especially Black Magic School is lenien—”

Direte struck Stedal’s back out of Bulserrek’s sight.

Her disguise-masked junior had been standing out a little too much.

“We’re not too harsh on victims who didn’t intend harm. Will you show us inside?”

“This way!”

Bulserrek quickly led the party further into the manor.

After the demon incident, he’d sent all but a few trusted veteran servants home—afraid the rumors might spread.

“Not as bad as I pictured.”

“No odd magic power, either.”

“Seems it’s not a very strong demon…”

The students were disappointed by the spotless, antique white-papered halls.

If a strong demon really were lurking, signs would appear everywhere.

Distorted magic flow, ambient warping, and so on.

Direte called upon the one with the most experience handling high-class demons, aside from herself.

“Do you sense anything off?”

“…I don’t yet, but why are you asking me?”

Lee Han was confused.

Why him, when there were trustworthy seniors and a graduate here?

“In terms of high-class demon experience, there aren’t many mages ahead of you.”

“That can’t be…”

He was about to protest—then paused.

…Was it?

Now that he thought about it, hadn’t he already faced the Duke of Pride and the Duke of Wrath? Two archduke-level demons.

Counting other powerful demons, too…

“And honestly, I trust your senses the most. No one can match yours for that.”

“Senior!”

“Don’t call me senior with that face.”

Direte drew a firm line.

It was deeply unsettling to have what looked like a hardened battle mage call her “senior”.

“No strange feeling. It’s either a weak demon or one very skilled at hiding.”

‘Surely it didn’t hide just because of him?’

Direte wondered.

Demons could be quick to share information. The Wardanaz name, in particular, was infamous even among demons.

If this manor demon was hiding sensing the Wardanaz bloodline, drawing it out could be a pain.

“Let’s get started.”

“Okay.”

At her juniors’ words, Direte nodded. With no apparent dangers, they continued with the plan.

The black magicians took out censers filled with ashes, lit them, and began to chant.

The smoke had powerful binding effects on demons, and it didn’t just spread physically; it extended into other dimensions.

It flowed into mirrors, portraits, garden fountains—countless quasi-dimensional spaces.

Swish!

A black shape flickered past inside a mirror. The demon was starting to move.

“Come out quietly and we’ll shave time off your sentence, demon!”

One student gave a sly warning.

It was a nasty threat, but fair, since no demon came kindly to the continent anyway.

Clack!

Dirimpa signaled. After sealing several portraits, they were closing in on the demon.

Once it was trapped in the manor, the demon’s fate was sealed—it couldn’t escape before the magicians arrived.

‘Should catch it soon.’

Lee Han calmly waited to see what sort of demon it would be.

Then, suddenly, a demon manifested in the mirror before Lee Han, calling out:

-Help me!

“…Is it a crazy demon?”