Episode 1174
by Cristae‘He’s right.’
Catten nodded absentmindedly. The Heir of Ahrak glared at him for it.
“People are bound to make mistakes in life. Even more so for magicians.”
“?”
“??”
Really?
Lee Han and Catten exchanged puzzled looks.
No matter how long they lived, it still didn’t seem like a mistake this disgraceful was inevitable.
“You kids just haven’t tasted the bitterness of magic yet! As time goes on, you’ll understand what I mean.”
“Ah. Yes. Then I’ll let you know when that time comes.”
With that, Lee Han tried to usher the Heir of Ahrak out.
He already had enough to do—spending time with such a bothersome black magician was a waste.
The Heir of Ahrak resisted with a whine.
“Think about it! Do you really want to live like a slave at the Einrogard School of Black Magic?! If you stay, kid, you’ll only ever do chores looking after incompetent seniors! You! You’re a senior, aren’t you? Don’t you feel sorry for your junior?!”
“Hm.”
“…Senior, you’re not actually swayed by that, are you?”
Lee Han, who was trying to push out the Heir of Ahrak, was appalled by Catten’s reaction.
How could the person preaching caution about power just now be swayed by nonsense like that?
“Ah, Junior. I don’t think you should actually join the Heirs of Ahrak. It’s just…”
“Just?”
“The criticism of the Einrogard School of Black Magic is somewhat valid, isn’t it…”
“……”
Catten, being another fifth-year, had heard plenty from Direte and Yukveltire about the Einrogard School of Black Magic.
Direte’s complaints and Yukveltire’s criticisms were not all that different.
In the end, the conclusion was the same.
Just how tough and poor the conditions were at the Einrogard School of Black Magic.
The Heir of Ahrak grinned. At last, a kid with his head screwed on straight!
“Yes! Finally, at least one kid has come to his senses. A talented magician should find a place to make the most of his gifts. Why do grunt work for a dusty old school with nothing but cobwebs in its vault?”
“I’m not joining a group that disguises itself to steal questions.”
“If you join the Heirs of Ahrak, you can do anything you want. No one will interfere. You’ll walk your own path!”
“I’m already walking my own path. And senior, I appreciate your concern, but aren’t you also wholeheartedly dedicated to a magic others warn against?”
“!”
Catten was stunned by that.
It was true.
“It’s not how rough it is that matters, but whether I want to walk that path.”
“…Well said, Junior. I’m ashamed. You really do want to follow the Einrogard School of Black Magic.”
Lee Han hesitated for a beat.
Catten and the Heir of Ahrak stared at him.
…Didn’t he just hesitate?
“Yes… That’s right. Sure.”
“Don’t lie! You hesitated!”
“I did not. And if you keep this up, I’ll have Senior Catten escort you out. Please leave while I’m asking nicely.”
Lee Han, annoyed by the pesky senior always telling the truth, tried to chase him out.
Whispering the truth in someone’s ear like that—such a despicable fellow.
Knock knock knock—
“See? The professor’s here while you’re doing this.”
“Hmph.”
Lee Han glared at the Heir of Ahrak and opened the door.
It was Professor Taswhan of Kalarogard again, holding up a slate and smiling kindly.
Sorry. I accidentally inhaled toxic fumes just now and can’t speak.
“……”
“……”
“How insincere.”
The Heir of Ahrak muttered, and Catten punched the professor’s face.
The undead of the Legion of Oondorgu cried in pain.
“Krrrururuk (That’s too much)!”
“You both arrived first—uhh??”
The magician from the Obsidian Tower looked in puzzlement at the two senior black magicians.
Why are they both bleeding from the nose?
“It happens, kid.”
“Krrrk (The early-rising black magician gets the freshly buried corpse).”
“Were you attacked by someone?”
“…I tripped on the way here. The fortress hallways are bumpy.”
“Krrk (I tripped too).”
The magician paid no mind to the halfhearted excuses.
He had little interest in either of them, anyway.
“Lee Han of the Wardanaz family. I’ve come with an official offer in the name of the Obsidian Tower. I hope you’ll consider it favorably.”
The black magician politely handed over the proposal. Lee Han glanced out the open door.
“Is there… anything else?”
“?”
“You can be frank with me. You know. That.”
“???”
The Obsidian Tower magician was puzzled.
‘Is he talking about a bribe?’
The proposal itself was full of perks for the magician—what more could he want?
But if the other party wanted something, now was the time to oblige. The magician cleared his throat.
“If you put it that way, I’ll state it verbally. Our Obsidian Tower will this time—”
“S-sorry I’m late, everyone.”
Professor Taswhan entered, panting.
He’d arrived late after consoling his students, who were feeling dejected compared to those from other magic schools.
Seeing him, the Heir of Ahrak and the Legion of Oondorgu cried out knowingly.
“Aha! Knew it! You cunning little brat. Playing innocent and planning two steps ahead?”
“Krrk (I knew it)!”
“…Pardon?”
“What is this about?”
Even Professor Taswhan and the Obsidian Tower magician were bewildered.
Was this some form of madness that besets all magicians of experience?
“That’s enough! I’ll show you by action. Vengeful spirit, return his soul to its true form!”
Showing off the power for which he was famous, the Heir of Ahrak invoked powerful black magic.
A well-cultivated vengeful spirit emerged from his sleeve to seek out traces of an artificially altered soul.
It circled Professor Taswhan once, then returned to its master’s sleeve.
“……”
“Krrk (Are you an idiot)?”
“Huh? That’s strange. Vengeful spirit, return his soul to its true form!”
The vengeful spirit howled pitifully inside his sleeve.
It was insisting that there was no sign of an altered soul.
“……”
“……”
“He really seems to be Professor Taswhan.”
At Lee Han’s words, the latecomers were left speechless.
“If that’s real, was there a fake before?”
“…Wardanaz, did you see an impersonator?”
If there had been an imposter around now—
“Now, let’s get back to the point. Black magicians should speak through magic, not idle chatter.”
Suddenly, the Heir of Ahrak got serious. His undead friend was impressed by such shamelessness.
‘It’s not easy to be that revolting.’
“…Yes. Good idea, cutting to the chase. Since you’re all here, I’ve already made my decision.”
Instead of quibbling, Lee Han decided to get straight to the point.
From experience, nothing good came from talking too long with shameless magicians.
‘Is it us?’
‘It might be us.’
‘Of course it is.’
While the black magicians looked on expectantly, Lee Han replied calmly.
“All of you except the professor should send formal proposals to the Einrogard School of Black Magic.”
“……”
“……”
At the utterly unexpected answer, the black magicians fell silent.
“Wh-why would you do that?!”
“I’m from the Einrogard School of Black Magic.”
“So why do that?!”
‘Is he even listening to me?’
Leaving the Heir of Ahrak, who rejected the truth, aside, the magician from the Obsidian Tower was deep in thought.
Sending an official proposal wasn’t so bad.
At worst, it just meant Lee Han couldn’t monopolize the rewards—he’d still get a share, and that was his choice.
So the Obsidian Tower had no reason to object.
The problem was…
“I’m only worried that Professor Mortum might act somewhat irrationally.”
“Krrrurururuk (If he finds out you didn’t invite him, he’ll block your letters for years).”
Of all people, the school’s head was the black magician they’d just excluded. That was especially awkward.
Wouldn’t he just burn the letter immediately?
“Oh. Don’t propose to Professor Mortum. Propose to Senior Direte.”
“Can we do that?”
“Krrk (That’s good)!”
The black magicians were all delighted.
That student was much more approachable.
Even the usually gruff Heir of Ahrak half agreed.
“Well… that young friend is fine.”
Catten whispered to Lee Han.
“Do you think Professor Mortum actually attacked these people?”
“Come on… at most, theft or fraud.”
“……”
He might have, though??
Even though terms were roughly agreed, the black magicians didn’t leave the lodgings.
The Heir of Ahrak, prowling around with a regretful look, spotted the blueprints Lee Han had been flipping through and asked:
“What’s this?”
“I’ve been commissioned to repair and improve the fortress.”
“You handled both the northern anomaly and this? The patriarch works you harder than I thought.”
Lee Han was about to protest that only one job was his, but refrained.
Why add insult to injury for the already wounded magicians?
“It’s a bit rough and outdated, though.”
“It’s an old piece. They couldn’t use first-rate magicians on the job.”
“Nobles—always skimping on party and banquet funds instead of hiring magicians.”
The Heir of Ahrak turned a few pages and looked over Lee Han’s notes.
It seemed he was planning to boost the district’s defenses and step up surveillance for possible intruders.
“Isn’t this a huge waste of mana?”
“That’s just my style.”
“The nerve on this kid… What’s this, then? If you break out through this side path, the surveillance stops.”
“Krrk (That’s just sloppy).”
At their criticism, Lee Han replied, dumbfounded.
“I haven’t even finished building that side yet, of course it’s like that.”
“People with no skill always make those excuses when criticized. Look, you don’t need to cast the magic this big. Let me teach you a wide-reaching spell: -Eye of Ahrak-. That one spell handles everything here.”
“Krrk (Good idea).”
The undead friend approved.
He scribbled in improvements with a quill.
“Krrururuk (If you built the outer wall from top-grade bone, it would work even better).”
“You’re sharp today. What if we place a demon here? Got a good one sealed in a book.”
The two planned an entire district however they pleased, leaving Professor Taswhan bewildered.
Is that okay?
It’s Wardanaz’s commission, but they’re doing whatever they want…
“Are you sure this is allowed?”
The senior magician from the Obsidian Tower nodded at Professor Taswhan’s comment.
“You’re wasting way too much. Both of you—stop immediately. If you build it like this, no one in the Empire will approve it.”
“What? Has this kid lost his mind?!”
“Krrk (Do you even know anything about magical construction)?!”
The black magicians kept arguing as they “finished” Lee Han’s commission however they wanted.
Their magical prowess made it even more intense.
Catten asked, surprised:
“Should we just leave them to it?”
“I never agreed to use it anyway.”
Lee Han answered coolly.
They’d cobbled together something with obscure magic only they knew—why should Lee Han use that?
No matter how well made, he never intended to.