Episode 1167

Just in case, Lee Han scanned for magical energies around him but detected nothing.

If someone, like Saratan, was residing in the tablet or even traces of magic remained, he should have clearly felt a ripple of magical power…?

“Senior.”

Lee Han called Catten.

Though confident in his own senses, Lee Han was never overconfident.

If it was someone at Catten’s level, he might have noticed something Lee Han had missed.

“Did you sense anything strange?”

“You mean my humble inability to interpret?”

Catten replied with a sullen face.

“No, I mean any changes in magical energy. In this vicinity.”

“I sensed nothing of the sort, Junior.”

‘Hmm.’

Lee Han wondered if he was mistaken.

He had been through so much lately, maybe he was just tired and heard things.

Maybe that voice he heard was a distorted echo of the Skull Headmaster’s voice?

“Saratan. You didn’t notice any fluctuations in magic or dimensional distortions, did you?”

-Nothing like that. Why?

Saratan thought this magician was talking nonsense.

If something like that had happened, how could a spirit like him not notice?

“Never mind. I guess it really was just my imagination.”

Of course it wasn’t a mistake, you fool! If you fidget again, I’ll fill your skull with gu poison.

“……”

Lee Han flinched.

He should have sensed something was off the moment Saratan was so confident…!

“Are you Baquantalana?”

Baquantalana? Who the… Oh, you must have mistaken me for the magician who received the tablet?

Along with the words, the voice drew out a transparent venomous bug from the rift between dimensions, trying to put it on Lee Han’s forehead.

When a mortal won’t keep still after being told, a light lesson is necessary.

But the bug struggled and failed to penetrate Lee Han’s magic, fleeing back into the dimensional gap.

The voice was speechless for a moment.

“Who’s there!”

Catten sprang up as if shocked, every hair standing on end.

It was a bizarre sensation, one he’d never experienced before in his life.

No kind of magical energy was felt—yet this spine-chilling eeriness.

What was going on?

“Junior. Were you attacked by someone?”

“Excuse me? No.”

“Hmm… Must have been studying magic too hard.”

Catten sat back and opened -Summoning Magic Basics Even First-Years Can Understand-, but his ears stayed perked and wary.

……

The voice felt even more baffled.

That mortal seemed to have nothing to do with magic—just a warrior—yet sensed the presence of gu poison?

…Baquantalana merely received magic from this granny. The tablet is proof of that.

“No way! Did Baquantalana really go so far as to shamelessly claim magic received from someone else as her own invention?!”

Lee Han cried in shock.

To boldly announce a spell learned from an extra-dimensional being as one’s own creation.

He hadn’t actually published it—but the thought made him a little disappointed.

Hadn’t Baquantalana said she’d completed it herself through late-years research?

A transparent staff materialized in the air, cracking Lee Han over the head. Startled by the sudden assault, Lee Han reeled.

The voice was also surprised.

Normally, a blow like that would shake someone’s mana and trigger all sorts of hallucinations and voices, but Lee Han didn’t even budge, like a boulder.

‘What in the world…’

“Come to think of it, this is!”

Catten jumped up again.

That noisy little warrior—let’s just get rid of him before continuing the conversation.

Growing tired of keeping the conversation unheard, the voice wrapped things in a thin veil of confusion, which Lee Han could perceive.

Outside the veil, Catten admired how diligently Lee Han analyzed the tablet—eyelids not even blinking, not even breathing. Yet, it somehow suited his junior.

I said she received magic, not that this was that magic. This granny told you not to fidget, didn’t she?

“Sorry.”

Now you’re being polite. Good. Could you return the tablet? That stone is originally mine.

‘I see.’

Maybe others wouldn’t know, but Lee Han, an Einrogard magician experienced in extra-dimensional beings, immediately understood the situation.

This tablet was a gift from some other-dimensional powerhouse currently conversing with him, who’d bestowed it upon Baquantalana.

Lee Han also had something similar: the blue stone from the Frost Giant King.

Thanks to that, every time the frost giants saw the stone, they’d say, “Ah, that challenger!” and…

‘…Maybe I should ditch that stone now?’

Lee Han briefly considered, but gave up quickly.

Even without the stone, his distinctive marks and spirit sigils were so well known, it wouldn’t help.

“Could you let me transcribe its contents before I return it?”

Fine. …Do you really intend to?

The voice sounded skeptical.

Artifacts from other dimensions were not things one would easily give up. Especially one given as a sign by an otherworldly being.

Besides, the opponent is a magician. To a magician, such objects are powerful tools or magical devices.

“Yes? Yes.”

If you’re thinking of swapping the tablet, don’t. It won’t end well.

“What, people actually tried that?!”

Lee Han was shocked as he copied the inscription.

‘Foolish, but creative. A lesson, too.’

There really were things to learn from Senior magicians.

“How did they try it? How did you find out?”

……

“Ah. I intend to return it. But I wanted to learn in case I ever need to trick—no, outwit another magician…”

Don’t lie about not being greedy. I can tell the difference. Don’t even try that with this granny.

Instead of answering, Lee Han waved his staff. The stone from the Frost Giant King glowed blue.

Ice-brained fool?

Not stopping, Lee Han displayed his spirit sigils. The voice shouted in shock.

Thunder-crashing wild brat too?

‘This is a little fun.’

Lee Han found it amusing.

Every time he showed something, the voice invented a fresh insult.

Could you perhaps introduce me to the Skull Headmaster?

“I also have the wicked king of the Yaksha.”

Ah, that clever young fellow!

“……”

Lee Han suddenly felt a pang of disappointment.

Among all those names, wasn’t the Yaksha King the most wicked and underhanded?

‘Hmm. Maybe this voice is just as eccentric and vicious as the Yaksha King.’

Lee Han didn’t realize he’d almost hit the truth.

“To be honest, I’m already carrying burdens I can barely handle; I can’t shoulder this tablet too.”

Seems so. You smell of stars—have you made a contract with a star, too? Which Star’s Oath are you bound by?

“…Wandering Star…”

Can’t hear you! Want me to whack you again, brat?

“…The Wandering Star, Arna… you don’t know her, do you?”

Suddenly the voice fell silent. Lee Han grew nervous.

…I shouldn’t have hit this poor kid! He’s going to burn out on his own anyway!

“……”

Lee Han stared at the tablet.

‘Should I just destroy it instead?’

Sensing his irreverent thoughts, the voice consoled him kindly.

A contract with a star isn’t all bad. You might lead a pitiful life, but your name will go down in history. Heeheehee.

“I haven’t handed it over yet.”

A fiery temperament, too? There must be a reason the Star likes you.

‘Patience. I already have too many enemies.’

Extra-dimensional beings, various nemesis evil gods—

No use getting new ones. Besides, this one seemed as eccentric as the Yaksha King.

Very well! You made this granny laugh, so I’ll give you advice in return.

Black magicians elsewhere in the citadel would have fainted if they heard this.

This upstart junior had so casually received the privilege they so longed for.

Of course, from Lee Han’s perspective, he’d just mutter, “If you’re jealous, go contract with a Star yourself…”

“If it’s advice… is it possible to cancel my Star contract?”

Enough jokes. Don’t be too greedy.

‘Hmm. Even seriously, I guess it’s not possible.’

Lee Han quietly canceled the thought in his heart. Looks impossible.

“Do you know a lot about dimensional-strong beings?”

If you hadn’t made me laugh or bounced that bug, I’d have given you a solid thrashing.

“Bug?”

Doesn’t matter. Anyway, yes, I know a lot. Entertaining guests for tea is my hobby.

‘Don’t tell me Arsil has been to one of her tea parties…’

Afraid it would make him sad if he asked, Lee Han quickly changed the subject.

“I have a dilemma these days. Could you give wise advice?”

If there’s one thing this granny excels at, it’s that. Go on, tell me.

“One of my masters deserted us.”

…I expected some magic question at least. Go on nonetheless.

The voice sounded dumbfounded.

She’d thought the question would be about black magic—or at least some other magic—but it turned out to be a life consultation?

---

I see. So, you’re troubled because you’ve made enemies of both the Robbers and the Tentacle Ones… Instead of just one, you’ve managed to grapple with both?

As Lee Han confessed about wanting to wipe out the Sanguiros Order, but being burdened by various disasters and the interference of the Prahgal Order, the voice immediately understood.

At first, she thought he must have stolen his master’s belongings (in which case, wouldn’t the disciple be the runaway?), but at this level, it was an interesting question.

Now she could see why this mortal had been able to contract with a Star.

Ordinary magicians would bide their time and build strength, but here was a disciple who wanted to actively step forward and help his teacher.

Two enemies? That’s not so hard!

‘I’m skipping the Kraksasarigol story.’

Lee Han decided not to bring up the Kraksasarigol Order. The other party might find him too strange.

All right! I’ve got a good idea.

“What is it?”

First, don’t worry too much about the disasters. They’re caused by mana and dimensional twists and will settle soon.

The disasters in the West will naturally subside in time, and the ones in the North should fade once this tablet is reclaimed, so it wasn’t a lie.

“‘Soon’ being when exactly…?”

The important thing is, it’s these Robber and Tentacle Ones that are the real nuisance, right?

“That’s true.”

When she raises bugs, this granny is always thinking how to make them plump and strong. One method is making them fight each other.

“Ah. I learned that in black magic. If you pen bugs together and let them kill eac—”

A transparent staff materialized in the air like before, about to bonk Lee Han, but hesitated.

No point hitting him—he probably wouldn’t feel it…

If you interrupt granny once more, I’ll introduce you to a whole new evil god. You wouldn’t want to get tangled up with a blind, raving mad one, would you?

“Sorry.”

Lee Han again felt grateful he’d held back on mentioning the Kraksasarigol Order.

Yes, the advice is: join hands with one side to strike the other.

“…I may be someone who met the Frost Giant King and contracted with a Star, but I’m definitely not an evil magician. This is a misunderstanding, really—”

Unable to resist, the voice cracked him on the head with her transparent staff once more.