Episode 1084

‘That crazy tyrant.’

Lee Han had never heard of a king so wicked. He couldn’t understand why there were no rebellions in the Yaksha King’s dimension.

-Why do you deny the wisdom of the king? Not even the most brutal beings of any dimension deny the king’s wisdom.

Apazragorn couldn’t understand Lee Han’s reaction.

The Yaksha King was a respected powerhouse across many dimensions. Even the demon dukes respected the king’s wisdom.

So why?

-You’ve been deceived!

Lee Han announced decisively.

No matter how wise and famous in all the dimensions, Lee Han had no intention of ever acknowledging him.

-You must not fall for his words. That guy is incredibly cunning!

-Amazing. I’ve never even considered such a novel opinion.

The angel listened to Lee Han’s words with interest.

Since the Yaksha King himself had sent him out for enlightenment, he had no reason not to listen closely to Lee Han.

Such a unique and radical opinion.

Was this the sophistication of one who walked the path of the ancient magician ahead of him?

-Could you teach me more? I will etch it deep into my soul and follow it.

-Don’t trust the Yaksha King, and don’t trust that ancient magician, ei—

Lee Han, about to rabble in anger, paused.

Wait, was this the right approach?

‘Hold on.’

Now that he thought about it, the angel seemed pretty desperate.

Lee Han didn’t know that much about angels, but he at least understood that these Celestials generally kept to themselves and rarely left their domains.

For one of them to come all the way out like this—they must be truly desperate.

Should he really speak so emotionally to someone who was trying to remember and weigh every word of advice Lee Han gave?

-…Come to think of it, you shouldn’t follow my words.

-Why is that?

The angel, who had planned to remember and obey every word, was puzzled.

-I’m not a magician worthy of teaching you. …Just don’t follow what I say! That’s my advice.

-I see.

Apazragorn was certainly a powerful angel.

Despite the magician’s utterly baffling words, he detected the mystery hidden within.

‘Do not rely on words, but learn from deeds.’

Communication by language is easily polluted and distorted in meaning.

Clearly this magician worried about such things, and that’s why he spoke as he did.

-Got it. I’ll learn on my own.

-Good.

-Before I met the king, I was performing training involving catching and imprisoning demons.

-……

Lee Han wanted to ask just where he was getting the model for such a practice, but was too scared to voice it.

-I had vowed to capture a set number of demons first, and then seek out the ancient magician’s disciple, but it seems I met you first. Perhaps this is fate.

-I think it’s just that there aren’t many demons like Orlach on the continent.

Apazragorn ignored Lee Han and continued speaking.

After all, he’d just been told not to follow the magician’s words.

-That was all I had to say. I’ll leave things in your hands from now on.

-Okay…

With those words, the angel withdrew the spirit world he had created. The view of burning souls was replaced with the awkwardly made human body once again.

Pop!

Having said his piece, Apazragorn turned into a bird and flew away.

Lee Han, who had watched in a daze, belatedly realized something strange.

“Wait, what do you mean ‘leave things in your hands from now on?!’ What does that mean?!”

Of course, even when he shouted, the angel didn’t come back from far away.

Direte, startled by the angel’s sudden departure and his junior’s frantic shout, asked,

“What’s wrong?”

“Well…”

Lee Han, his voice catching a bit, began lamenting the evil schemes of the wicked tyrant.

How many times had that bastard of this dimension tormented him!

“……”

Direte’s expression became strange as he listened.

‘…Just how does this kid keep attracting all these beings from beyond?’

He almost felt Lee Han would cry if he said it to his face, but wondered if this was just his fate.

“When he said ‘leave things in your hands from now on,’ I’m sure it’s just some celestial figure of speech, right?”

Lee Han made a face begging her to say it was just a figure of speech.

Still disguised as Stedal Nago, the look was rather fearsome.

Direte wanted to agree, but couldn’t. She slowly shook her head.

“I don’t think so.”

“……”

“I think it means he plans to follow you around from now on.”

Like other angels, Apazragorn possessed strong determination.

It was hard to believe such an angel would simply leave after hearing “don’t follow my words.”

Judging by “I’ll learn on my own” and “leave things in your hands,” they’d probably just follow the junior around and learn by watching…

“……”

Stedal Nago grew very dejected. Even being kidnapped by pirates hadn’t made him this down.

Direte hurried to comfort him.

“S-still, we don’t know how he’ll follow you. Maybe he’ll do his own thing and only come find you sometimes.”

“I’d hate that too.”

Lee Han shuddered.

It was better than being followed daily, but it was still awful.

Frankly, how was this different from Professor Verdus?

‘No. That was an unfair thought.’

Lee Han repented immediately.

The angel just wanted to follow and learn. How could he compare that to Professor Verdus?

“Should we try messaging him again? Wait, where did Senior Yukveltire go?”

“She kept insisting you were plotting traitorous schemes against me and that she had to watch the spirit world, so I told her to get lost.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Lee Han felt bad, thinking his Stedal Nago identity had driven a wedge between the friends.

But Direte shook her head.

“Never apologize for things you don’t need to feel sorry about. And you did great making up Stedal Nago’s identity. Did you see how flustered Yukveltire got?”

“It is handy for robberies, raids, and theft.”

Direte decided to pretend she hadn’t heard that last bit.

A little later.

After calling Yukveltire again and sending another message to the angel, they received no reply this time.

‘…Maybe he’s ignoring me now that I said he doesn’t need to follow my words…’

Lee Han, unsettled, kept scanning the surroundings.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that the disguised angel was lurking somewhere in the packed crowds of the imperial capital boulevard.

“Let’s go back for now. We need to split the reward with the others.”

Direte pushed the burly combat magician and her friend toward the mansion. Yukveltire tilted her head.

“Split the reward?”

“?”

Lee Han found the senior’s reaction strange.

Of course you split the rewards—what else would you do?

‘Is it fine to tease her about this?’

There are requests in the Empire and upon completing them, you get paid. Maybe she didn’t know, but it’s customary for the participants to split the payment…

He’d made it up on the spot, but it was a good bit of teasing. Lee Han felt a bit proud.

‘…No…’

But Direte signaled not to.

There was nothing good to be gained from provoking Yukveltire with this.

“Why? Of course we should split the reward.”

“You mean with the Black Magic School students, too?”

“Of course…”

“Direte. Would you like to explain why the Black Magic School students don’t deserve a share of the reward?”

‘Damn it.’

Direte cursed inwardly.

Even if you don’t provoke her, the result’s the same!

‘Senior.’

The junior gave her another look. Was he about to start teasing again? Direte glared sidelong at him.

‘If you don’t want to hear it, let’s just run for it?’

It’s not like they’d need to contact the angel again anyway.

‘…Great idea.’

So that’s what they did.

• * *

“Huff, huff. The negotiations with the angel went well, it’s all wrapped up. We can take the demon now. The end!”

“Th-thank you. But why are you… Why are you so out of breath? It’s like you ran here as fast as you could…?”

The Black Magic School students were puzzled by the panting Direte.

“Did you fight with the angel?”

Everyone buzzed at Koholti’s question.

“Senior, did you really—”

“We didn’t fight.”

Direte denied it, but Koholti pushed further.

“Maybe Direte is just acting that way so we don’t get worried.”

“……”

“……”

When both Direte and Stedal stared at him, Koholti quickly shut his mouth.

Guess not!

-Sob. Thank you for driving that angel away.

Orlach, beside them, spoke with deep gratitude.

It really was a good thing to trust the Wardanaz family. There were few so trustworthy in such disputes.

-From now on, you have my absolute loyalty!

“Ah. About that.”

Lee Han hesitated.

He realized he still hadn’t explained the situation to the demon.

“You’re not my demon.”

-Huh?

“I mean, strictly speaking, you’re to help all the black magicians here from now on…”

-……

The joy and elation drained from the demon’s face, leaving it just as stiff as stone.

What nonsense was this?

-Black magicians? Aren’t they so poor they can’t even afford gruel? Are you really sending me somewhere so destitute??

‘This guy.’

Lee Han flared up a bit.

They could at least afford watery gruel!

Clueless that he was digging his own grave with the Wardanaz family’s young master, Orlach pleaded earnestly.

-Please take me as your direct servant! I’ll compose beautiful songs of praise every dawn and dusk and dedicate them to you!

Orlach was confident in the appeal of his offer.

Both the duke and Arsil had been highly satisfied with such tributes; surely this young master would be moved.

Of course, Lee Han ignored him immediately.

“No need. Either agree to the contract or I’ll call the angel back. Take your pick.”

-Oh, nooo!

Orlach sobbed pitifully, making even the other students feel slightly sorry for him.

“Do you hate our school that much?”

“But still, the Einrogard Black Magic School is better than other black magicians…”

Regardless, Stedal Nago squeezed Orlach dry without mercy—coldly befitting a fierce combat magician.

Eventually, Orlach, bitterly crying, caved in to the pressure and signed.

-Sob, sob…

Having gotten what he wanted, Lee Han tried to comfort him.

“Still, Einrogard Black Magic School is better than the other black magicians.”

-But they’re still black magicians…

“…I said it’s better, you brat.”

Unable to contain himself, Lee Han grabbed Orlach by the scruff. The demon screamed in a panic.

-I was wrong! I was wrong!

“P-please calm down, Nago! Why are you doing this?!”

“This demon brat keeps insulting the Black Magic School!”

“!”

Koholti was moved once again.

How can someone have such a magnanimous heart?

“……”

Direte bowed her head. She couldn’t bear to watch her friend’s idiocy any longer. She felt embarrassed just standing there.