Episode 1121

Episode 1121

Before anyone could stop him, the junior disappeared somewhere, leaving the students of the necromancy school bewildered.

What was that?

“Where is Wardanaz going?”

“Must have another lecture. Like summoning magic…”

“Illusion magic, enchantment magic, divination magic, transformation magic, things like that?”

“You have to add healing magic and alchemy too.”

Observing the conversation between Ogoldos and Direte, Dirimpa watched on with a bizarre expression.

What sort of conversation is that?

“Ah. Dirimpa. That was a joke just now, using the fact that the junior is attending multiple schools…”

“I, I see.”

Dirimpa thought that in the time they’d been away, the school had picked up some strange jokes.

Honestly, isn’t that more creepy than funny?

Flutter!

Meanwhile, suddenly a paper bird flew in.

Noticing that the paper, dyed dark blue by necromancy reagents, had been recycled, it was clear the paper bird was sent by Professor Mortum.

“What did the professor say?”

“…He says he’ll write the report himself?”

Direte blinked, feeling a touch confused.

Something was off. The juniors must have felt the same, as each gave their thoughts.

“Isn’t this a trap? If you say yes, he might sulk for an entire week…”

“That seriously feels so likely, it’s annoying.”

“Huff, huff huff. Did something happen?”

The disappeared junior had returned before anyone noticed.

Thanks to using both body enhancement magic and the knights’ secrets, he was nearly as fast as an arrow.

“Professor Mortum says he’ll write the report himself.”

“Wow. That’s really great news!”

Lee Han clapped his hands insincerely, without changing his expression.

By now, Professor Mortum was probably writing his report while cursing the empire’s totalitarian political system.

“…Something feels off…”

Direte glanced sideways at the junior.

He couldn’t put his finger on it, but the junior’s current attitude suggested he was hiding something.

Even the professor was doing things he usually wouldn’t.

“Let’s go see some demons together, senior. When it comes to squeezing information out of demons, no one in our school can compare to you.”

Ogoldos said in a respectful tone.

Of course, just because you spoke with respect didn’t mean everything sounded convincing.

‘I really sound like a bad person, don’t I.’

“No. As I said, I’ll just open the lock for you. Even if I don’t have to write the report for the professor, I’ve got other things to do.”

A fifth-year could be as busy or as free as they wanted.

And Direte, naturally, preferred the former.

Since he didn’t have to write the eastern region necromancy report, he intended to use the extra time to draft a warning about Nightmare Echo Forest for the juniors.

Whether it was thanks to the inspector or the fires that students had set because of the inspector, the frequency of evil spirit appearances nearby had sharply increased.

“What kind of work is it?”

“Hm? I’m going to write up warnings and countermeasures for the evil spirits appearing in Nightmare Echo Forest and distribute them on the 7th floor…”

Lee Han glanced at Ogoldos and Dirimpa. The question was whether this counted as necromancy school work as well.

Both, of course, shook their heads and mouthed silently.

‘Senior is just, being a pushover, for them.’

‘I honestly don’t, get, why he’s doing this.’

“You two. I can hear all that mouthing back there.”

Direte warned the juniors who were mouthing behind him.

By their fifth year, seniors could hear what juniors said without them even speaking out loud.

“Indeed. Understood. I’ll just step out for a moment.”

“……”

The junior shot out again like an arrow.

And soon, a paper bird arrived from Yukveltire.

It was a letter fiercely criticizing the authoritative behavior of the imperial inspector, who had ordered him to waste his time for the sake of these useless juniors.

‘…This is really weird!!’

---

Demon Orlakh whistled as he swept the basement dust with a broom.

If the other demons—full of vigor and never contracted with humans—saw this, their eyes would roll back and they’d probably cough up blood.

How could a demon who’d once been flag bearer in a duke’s duel bring himself to act so servile like this?

Most demons thought they’d rather die than do chores like that.

But Orlakh thought differently.

‘Heh. I’m different from those foolish demons.’

True to a demon who once worked under a certain family, Orlakh certainly had a unique perspective.

One was: ‘It’s better to do things first before you’re forced to by a beating.’

Thanks to this excellent perspective, both the Duke of Pride and Arsil had praised Orlakh before.

“Speaking of which…”

After finishing cleaning once, Orlakh scanned the basement.

Even upon second look, this place was a world apart from working at the family mansion.

Back there, there were plenty of dangerous artifacts, but it never felt poor, whereas here, for some reason…

…Apart from being chaotic and messy, there was a strong sense of destitution.

‘As expected of necromancers… No, that can’t be. Aren’t even Wardanaz family mages affiliated here?’

Orlakh steeled himself as his resolve wavered.

A wicked inner voice tempted him, ‘Remember how poor necromancers are,’ but Orlakh gritted his teeth and endured.

He had to work here anyway, so thinking like that wouldn’t help.

Gotta look at the bright side!

-Hey.

Suddenly, a squeaking sound came from under a basement shelf. Orlakh bent down, broom in hand.

“…What? A hamster?”

-Do I look like a hamster to you, demon? You must be quite the fool.

“Doesn’t matter if you used to be a wizard or a dragon who burned the sky, you’re a hamster now. What’s with the lame provocation?”

Another demon might have snapped, but Orlakh only snorted and laughed.

Reacting to that sort of provocation, you’d never make it working for that family.

‘…Impressive, this demon.’

Magical criminal hamster Antagondals was impressed.

A skilled wizard could assess a demon’s caliber just through a few exchanges.

If he’d snapped at being called foolish, he’d be an easy-to-toy-with, petty demon.

Instead, this one remained composed. Sign of a demon with ability.

-All right, all right. I take back the fool part. But your current situation isn’t great either, is it? A demon trapped in the basement means you’re bound by contract, right?

There wasn’t much to hide, so Orlakh admitted it plainly.

It wasn’t hard to figure out anyway. What else does a demon wandering in a magic tower mean?

“What are you trying to say?”

-It means we can cooperate. Help each other escape.

“Oh?”

Orlakh immediately showed understanding. The hamster cheered inwardly.

This is why it’s easier dealing with capable demons.

A demon who’s only prideful and dumb would whine, ‘Why should I join hands with a mortal like you?’ and be a hassle, but a clever demon skips the useless pride battle and gets right to the point.

Of course, this convenience vanishes once both parties achieve their goals. The smarter, the more quickly they’ll betray.

But the hamster intended to do the same. Once he escaped, he’d stab the demon and recover the power he lost.

“If we’re cooperating, what exactly do you want? I’ll say up front, there’s not much I can do, hamster.”

-I’m not asking for much either. Just a little potion and some magic. Gotta break this curse.

A little, he says, but it was by no means a little. But neither pointed it out—they already both suspected as much.

“A curse… Looks like a very powerful one at that.”

-Yeah. That’s why I’m like this right now!

The hamster momentarily lost control of his emotions and growled.

If he could go back, no matter how tempting the power of ancient magic, he’d never have actually entered Einrogard.

He’d thought no matter what happened, he could just destroy his body and escape as a soul. Who could have predicted this kind of binding?

A truly grave lesson learned, and the price was severe.

Reduced to a hamster, rolling around among dumb students.

Even worse, the wizard boy who inherited the hamster from the mad clone didn’t cherish it or seek its wisdom, but just left it in the magic tower’s basement.

These days, the hamster even suspected the wizard boy had forgotten about him.

No way…

-If this curse is broken, I’ll personally find and destroy your contract. I can swear to that right now.

The hamster spoke slyly.

If the curse was broken, he’d collapse his own body on the spot and escape. Breaking the oath’s price would be paid by the body instead.

“Tempting. Very tempting!”

Orlakh nodded repeatedly, half convinced.

“Can you explain more? How much of the plan have you set up?”

-Look.

The hamster used gathered seeds and carrot pieces to make a map.

Even trapped in the basement and unable to go outside, he’d mapped out the tower as best he could by sound and magic waves. Truly a marvelous skill.

-The study about two floors up from here. Next to it is a hidden storeroom. That’s the first place we break into. Somehow, you’ll have to get access privileges when the chance comes. Looks like there’s black spirit gold in there.

“Indeed. Indeed.”

-Then we need to get the mermaid’s tear… wait! Someone’s coming.

Hearing footsteps, the hamster squeaked. Both hastily returned to their original spots.

Click!

With the sound of the lock turning, light seeped into the tower’s basement. The hamster quietly slipped back under the shelf corner.

Once they were gone, he’d hatch a new plan.

“My lord! This hamster bastard is preparing an escape plan!! He’s a very bad bastard!!”

-!!

As soon as the door opened, Orlakh hurried over and tattled to Lee Han about what just happened.

The hamster’s pupils shook as if an earthquake had struck them.

Though the hamster prided himself on knowing demons well, even he had his limits.

The craftiness of a demon who’d worked long under that family surpassed common sense.

If the other party was scheming, you should both egg them on and prepare to rat them out at the same time.

That was the iron rule for a demon in service to that family.

---

“……”

-……

Lee Han stared intently at the hamster in the cage. The hamster said nothing.

Orlakh whispered chattily beside him.

“I was shocked at how cunning that hamster is.”

-…Didn’t you promise you’d release me then leave me high and dry?!

At last, the hamster exploded and squeaked out loud.

“I don’t think I actually promised that…”

“You! Hamster! How dare you raise your voice here, of all safe places!”

Orlakh scolded, feigning great rage.

Such rudeness toward a scion of the Wardanaz family!

Had Arsil been present, that hamster would have been executed on the spot.

“Um, look, Orlakh.”

“Yes!”

“You’re kind of going overboard…”

“?!”

Orlakh was startled.

What?!

“In what way?”

“Just… in every way, really. Oh, and by the way, meeting me during vacation is a secret. Today’s the first time we met.”

“What about our Wardanaz family connection? Is that a secret too?”

“That… yeah, let’s keep that a secret too, because it’s embarrassing. Anyway, enough.”

If Orlakh aired ‘Do you know who this is?!’ before the necromancy school seniors, Lee Han knew he wouldn’t be able to show his face in Black Dark Hall for a couple of days.

He had to preemptively block such humiliation.

As the two rambled on pointlessly, the hamster erupted in anger once again.

-Answer me already!

“Ah. My apologies. I’ve been a little busy. Still, I left you plenty of food…”

‘A masterful taunt.’

Orlakh was impressed.

As a former grand duke’s jester, the ridicule now shown by the young master of the Wardanaz family was truly high-level.