Episode 1171
by CristaeEpisode 1171
As seasoned black magicians, the Heirs sensed the hidden danger in the question.
Even though it seemed like an ordinary question, there was something strangely chilling about it.
“…Why do you ask that?”
“Because I’m from the Einrogard School of Black Magic?”
“!!!”
The Heirs were appalled by that answer.
A brat before their eyes, from the Einrogard School of Black Magic.
So does that mean…?!
“Don’t tell me, you’re Lee Han of the Wardanaz family?! The one Professor Mortum bragged about endlessly?!”
“……”
This time, it was Lee Han’s turn to be at a loss for words.
‘Professor…!’
He had never felt ashamed of being from the School of Black Magic before, but today, he felt a bit embarrassed.
“That’s correct. …Professor Mortum only did that because he really cares about his students.”
“Huh? Did Raphadael praise you too?”
Angrago, who had been listening from the side, asked curiously. Lee Han immediately retorted.
“Be quiet.”
‘No…!’
He only asked because he thought he cared about ‘students’ in the plural!
“If you have the skills to make contact with the Most Cantankerous Hag, then it’s understandable that Mortum would boast.”
The Heirs admitted in a voice full of frustration.
With this level of skill, it almost seemed that Mortum’s boasting had actually been an understatement.
To be honest, a lot of Mortum’s bragging was a bit pointless. Why did he keep repeating things like how the School of Black Magic’s vault was full?
“I agree. Mortum really had an amazing student.”
“…No. Why are you going off on a different tangent? I’m asking what you mean by not inviting or ostracizing the Einrogard School of Black Magic?”
“Ah.”
The Heirs, who had been chatting in shock, came to their senses.
Come to think of it, the guilt of what they did was still hanging over them.
The undead from the Legion of Oondorgu, who had been quietly watching the conversation from the side, answered promptly.
“Krururururuk (The Heirs of Ahrak promised to invite the Einrogard School of Black Magic, and deliberately left them out).”
“……”
“Are you kidding me? You traitors?”
The Heirs protested in disbelief. Undaunted, the undead just shrugged.
“Krrk (The living must survive).”
Even if the Heirs of Ahrak couldn’t ask, the other black magicians still needed to.
“That’s reasonable. We agree as well.”
The Obsidian Tower quickly agreed.
In fact, even if it hadn’t been reasonable, they were ready to stab someone in the back at a moment’s notice.
So long as they could ask questions, they didn’t care whether the Heirs of Ahrak or the Legion of Oondorgu got the short end of the stick.
Yet, this chaotic infighting among the black magicians had a negative effect.
Lee Han was already angry at the fact that Senior Direte hadn’t been invited, and now, instead of reflecting, they were passing the blame!
To Lee Han, all these black magicians appeared the same bunch.
“…Enough! Aren’t you all the same?”
“Krrk (No, we’re not)?!”
“It really was the Heirs of Ahrak who forgot to invite. We can prove it.”
The black magicians, flustered, tried to explain.
But Lee Han pointed out coldly.
“When you realized one group had not been invited, did any of you at least try to invite them later?”
“……”
The black magicians were at a loss for words, struck by the pointed remark.
That was certainly…
“I’m wondering why I should offer kindness to people who treat the Einrogard School of Black Magic with such disregard. I retract what I just said.”
“Ah, no!”
“Kruruk (Think again)!”
The black magicians screamed and tried to persuade him, but Lee Han had already made up his mind.
He looked at the only person among them he could trust.
“Professor Taswhan, if you have any questions for the Most Cantankerous Hag, please let me know. I’ll try to ask if I can.”
“…M-me?!”
Professor Taswhan, who had been watching his seniors’ disgraceful bickering, was startled at being named.
Then, belatedly, he tried to regain his composure with a cough.
“…Thank you! Student Wardanaz!”
“No!! Why is that brat getting everything!”
The Heirs of Ahrak screamed in utter disbelief.
If no one could ask, that would have been fine.
But for the kid from Kalarogard to get a special privilege—
Why on earth?
‘Absolutely unacceptable!’
The other black magicians seemed to feel the same, glaring at Lee Han with burning eyes.
With magic, experience, or prestige, they were sure they could argue back with any reason.
“You’re saying you don’t know why?”
“Yeah! So what’s the reason?”
“Kalarogard is close with Einrogard, aren’t they?”
“……”
The unexpected reason silenced all the black magicians.
It was shameless and bold, yet undeniably convincing.
If they’re close, then there’s nothing you can do…
The black magicians gathered there dispersed in vain.
Driven by their desire regarding the Most Cantankerous Hag, they didn’t leave the stronghold, but there was little else they could do by staying in the audience room.
‘Hmf. Persuading a young brat isn’t hard. I’ll definitely convince him to give me rights to ask my questions.’
‘Kruruk.’
‘I’ll have to formulate a negotiation plan for the Einrogard School of Black Magic and make contact.’
Of course, the black magicians weren’t simply retreating.
Each of them withdrew, thinking, ‘Even if the others can’t, I surely can.’
“I apologize, Patriarch.”
Feeling ashamed over the disgraceful bickering, Lee Han apologized.
It made him wonder if the negative reputation of the imperial black magic school was actually justified.
He wasn’t sure about other schools, but at least such disgraceful fights didn’t seem to happen in their audience rooms.
“What are you saying, Wardanaz lad. If a magician who solved the North’s problems said that, the northern families would be the ones ashamed.”
Ziderf looked at Lee Han with eyes full of affection.
Who would have imagined that the boy from the Wardanaz family, invited for other reasons, would solve even this problem?
‘I don’t think even I’ve seen Father look at someone like that…’
Giselle murmured inwardly.
Her father, always cold and strict, could look at someone with that expression—
It was hard to tell who was from Wardanaz and who was from the Moradi family.
“I’ll let you know once negotiations about the Most Cantankerous Hag are finalized.”
“If the black magicians become bothersome, tell me.”
Before the matter was settled, they were distinguished guests, but now that it was, black magicians could be expelled at any time.
Knowing this, the black magicians had withdrawn quietly rather than whine in the audience room.
They were all well aware that, like last time, whining in the audience room would lead to immediate expulsion.
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“If the knights give you trouble, let me know as well.”
Ziderf quickly glanced over the White Tiger Tower students, then turned his gaze back.
“……”
Giselle realized the “knights” just mentioned didn’t refer only to the territory’s knights.
But the White Tiger Tower students, oblivious, shouted with enthusiasm.
“We’ll protect Wardanaz! Please leave it to us!”
“…Yes, thank you all. You must be tired after the journey, so let’s call it a day and get some rest.”
The students bowed politely and left one by one.
After Giselle, who walked out last, the chamberlain quietly followed.
“There’s something I’d like to ask, Lady Giselle.”
“Please tell them I’ll handle the White Tiger Tower students.”
Giselle answered as if she had expected it.
The chamberlain was obviously conveying her father’s wishes by following her like this.
Naturally, he wouldn’t insult her friends in front of them.
“No, that’s not what the Patriarch asked. Everyone knows Lady Giselle will handle it well, so why would he need to ask?”
“Then what is it…?”
“What spell did the Alpha family magician cast on the horn? If it’s okay, I’d like to inform the other chamberlains as well.”
“…I’ll ask Wardanaz about it later…”
Giselle replied with a sigh of relief.
The Most Cantankerous Hag sent the great toad death god beyond the dimension.
It was rare for the benevolent beings of the dimension to stay in contact with evil god worshipers, but things were different for a neutral being like the Most Cantankerous Hag.
Whether it was a good guy or a bad guy, what mattered was whether it was interesting.
How much time had passed in the distortion between dimensions?
By one measure, less than a second; by another, decades had gone by when a reply arrived.
Why is the Most Wise Hag asking to meet?
The handwriting was that of an immortal, one of the bishops of the Prahgal Cult.
The Hag giggled, then wrote on the back of another great toad with the tip of a ladle.
This primitive magic could pierce through distortions and interference between dimensions for instant communication.
I have a proposal for you.
Sorry, I’m not in the mood.
‘Hmm.’
Despite the curt and arrogant attitude, the Hag did not get angry.
If it had been just a mere mortal with that attitude, she would have instantly turned them into firewood for her cauldron or tossed them inside.
But with evil god worshipers, it was different. Were they not all somewhat crazy, after all?
Getting angry over their rudeness was meaningless. The Most Cantankerous Hag could be generous when she wished.
‘Something must have happened.’
Evil god worshipers, always disadvantaged in the Material Realm, were often favorable to offers from outside the dimension.
Yet to see such a prickly attitude—
It had to be one of two things.
Either they had just enjoyed a great success, or suffered a great defeat.
Judging by the emotion in the handwriting, the Hag bet on the latter.
Yes, yes! I heard about that failure as well. No wonder you’re embarrassed. But can you just hide under a blanket and cry forever, now that you’re grown?
Did you send the death god just to mock me? Or do you want to brag about how fast rumors travel?
The Hag smiled again. Seeing the overreaction, it seemed she’d struck a nerve.
Of course, I sent them to help you! Otherwise, would I have bothered sending a toad your way? So stop crying and talk to me. I’ll help you get revenge.
Come to think of it, you handle insects well too… fine. Let’s trade. If you answer my question, I’ll pay your price. Will a hundred sacrifices be enough?
The price depends on the question. Do you take me for a fool?
My apologies. It’s just, I’m so shocked… You must know about the Regenerator’s insect as well.
The Most Cantankerous Hag waited quietly.
The Regenerator—the insect of Prahgal—was familiar even to the Hag, who used insect powers.
Though their powers were of different branches, there was overlap and things to learn from each other.
Do you think it’s possible for an outsider to steal the power of that insect?
‘?!’
The Most Cantankerous Hag was surprised.
Did that mean someone had actually stolen the Prahgal Cult’s power and used it?!
‘Is it finally time for those cult lunatics to be destroyed?’
In all her years in the dimension, she had never heard of an outsider stealing a cult’s power and using it.
You mean not replicated with magic?
Who do you take for the fool now?
That’s my mistake. True, you wouldn’t be unable to distinguish that.
There was a clear difference between recreating it through magic and actually stealing the power.
Anyone too dumb to tell them apart would have been caught and executed in the Material Realm long ago.
The Most Cantankerous Hag, who had come to make a proposal, was now thoroughly engrossed in this interesting mystery.
Who, and how, managed to steal the power?
‘How fascinating!’