Episode 165

Episode 165

“Why are you doing this!”

“Hmph. Do you think I don’t know the lecherous thoughts in your gaze just now?”

“No, how did you know…”

“Die!”

“Stop it.”

Lee Han stopped Gainando and Ahsan.

The Death Knight stood still, guarding his place, whether the two fought or not.

“If we just offer one person?”

Right.

“What happens to the student who’s offered?”

They’ll probably go to the underground prison.

“U… underground prison??”

Gainando was more frightened than necessary. At that reaction, Lee Han kindly explained.

“Don’t worry, Gainando. It just means the underground punishment room.”

“…How is that not something to worry about, Lee Han?”

Instead of answering, Lee Han looked at the Death Knight again.

“If we really offer someone, will you let us pass?”

Student, though I lost my life and am far from the world of the living, I have not lost the honor I hold in my heart. I swear on my honor.

“If you really cared about honor, I don’t think you’d be blocking the road like this…”

“Shh. Yoner. When you poke someone’s sore spot, they get angry.”

Lee Han covered Yoner’s mouth.

If the Death Knight got spiteful, it would be hard to handle.

‘The problem is…’

It didn’t seem like the Death Knight was lying. The problem was elsewhere.

There were more ways to deceive someone without lying than one might think.

“By any chance, after letting us pass, are you planning to run ahead and demand another student be offered?”

……

The Death Knight was at a loss for words.

He lowered his helmet deeply and couldn’t answer.

‘So I was right.’

“You talk about honor…!”

“Shh. Gainando. I told you, people get angry when you poke their sore spot.”

Lee Han wasn’t particularly disappointed or surprised. Knowing the skeleton principal’s personality, it would have been more surprising if he had just let them through after offering one person.

Traditionally, evil people don’t back down easily just because you give them a rice cake; they keep chasing after you.

“There’s no helping it.”

“Do you have a plan?”

The priests were amazed at Lee Han’s reaction.

To be so calm and composed even in the face of the Death Knight’s appearance.

They knew Wardanaz was impressive, but really…

“You guys. Go back and wake up the White Tiger Tower and Black Turtle Tower students and bring them here.”

“……”

“……”

Surely you don’t mean what we’re thinking, right?

• * *

Ahsan and Gainando woke up the Black Turtle Tower and White Tiger Tower students who were sleeping at the inn.

Naturally, the students’ reactions were not good.

-Dalkard. No matter what, saying there’s a Death Knight is just too ridiculous.

-Prince. Do you think we won’t touch you just because you’re a prince? This is Einrogard. Well, we’re outside, but after a day it’ll be Einrogard… Ugh! It’s a Death Knight!!

The students, rubbing their sleepy eyes and half in doubt, recoiled in shock.

A knight of death was staring at them from the darkness.

“W-what is this??”

“Everyone, calm down. I already knew the principal wouldn’t let us in so easily. That’s why I came out to scout in advance like this.”

Actually, the plan was to leave the two tower students as bait and have Lee Han and his friends go in first, but that wasn’t important.

The other tower students were overwhelmed by Lee Han’s serious tone and nodded.

Giselle, who was listening, tilted her head, sensing something odd.

‘Hmm?’

Did that Wardanaz guy have any reason to take the initiative like this?

“Now that we’ve confirmed there’s a Death Knight, we need to come up with a plan. If we’re not careful, we might not get back before sunrise.”

“Indeed…”

“I guess there’s no other way.”

After hearing the detailed explanation, the other tower students nodded, now fully awake.

It definitely wasn’t the time to be sleeping.

Seeing that everyone was convinced, Lee Han continued.

“Right. Let’s draw lots…”

“Come at me, Death Knight!”

“!?”

Lee Han was startled.

Angrago drew his sword and began charging at the Death Knight.

“Angrago, wait…”

Before he could stop him, Angrago had already closed the distance.

Lee Han sighed.

‘This is why you can’t do big things with knight guys!’

He was going to rig the lots, but they couldn’t hold back and just rushed in.

The Death Knight, not at all surprised, opened one gauntleted hand.

Young knight. Your courage is admirable, but your arrogance is excessive.

The Death Knight didn’t even draw his sword. He blocked Angrago’s blow with his metal-covered arm.

“!”

Angrago was shocked when his attack was blocked.

He was surprised that his confident strike was blocked, but even more surprising was…

‘My… my breath!’

Angrago had attacked, but it was he who found his breath cut off.

The Death Knight’s aura of the dead began to press down on Angrago’s life force.

“Ugh!”

Angrago dropped to one knee. The Death Knight looked down at him. Blue light flashed in the helmet.

‘Wait. Isn’t this resolved?’

Lee Han realized as he looked at Angrago kneeling.

Since they’d offered one person, they could pass this road, and at the next road, have another White Tiger Tower knight provoked to go out…

Maybe this wasn’t so bad?

Everyone, come at me.

“……”

But Lee Han’s idea vanished with the Death Knight’s violent declaration.

The Death Knight was waiting for all the students to attack.

“Wait…”

Lee Han tried to say there was a misunderstanding.

The students here weren’t all from the same tower, but from different towers.

So if they had to take collective responsibility, couldn’t just the White Tiger Tower guys fight?

But before he could get an answer, his friends started attacking.

“Be paralyzed!”

“Fire!”

‘Damn. I should have said something in advance.’

Lee Han regretted not telling his friends, ‘If the White Tiger Tower or Black Turtle Tower students get caught by the Death Knight, just stay put.’

But what could he do?

The fight had already started.

“Lord Wardanaz! Thank you!”

“For what?!”

“For giving us this opportunity!”

‘I want to punch him.’

Lee Han was a little irritated at the sight of Nigisor, the priest with the blood of the fire spirit, running out excitedly.

He usually didn’t hold a grudge against the Phoenix Tower priests, but…

“Burn and fly!”

“Swirl!”

“Become heavier and sharper!”

Spells were fired from all directions and elements clashed in flashes.

The White Tiger Tower students, having learned somewhere, cast enhancement spells on their blades and charged.

Lee Han thought as he watched.

‘Somehow, it feels like they were planning to use that on me…’

“Wardanaz! Watch out!”

At Ahsan’s shout, Lee Han ducked his head.

Because the Death Knight had grabbed a White Tiger Tower student by the collar and thrown him, a friend was flying toward him.

“Sharkan. Go!”

Lee Han called Sharkan, summoned water, and threw the green beryl solution.

Sharkan, whose body was now an emerald color unlike usual, let out a happy cry.

-Grrrrng…

“Sharkan. Don’t engage head-on, just confuse him!”

At the urgency in Lee Han’s voice, Sharkan charged as if he understood.

Even the Death Knight, who had been treating the students lightly, moved cautiously with Sharkan.

Has the dead one who serves his master come? Since we are in the same position, I will not go easy on you.

A sword was quickly drawn from the Death Knight’s empty hand. It was rusty and dark, but the aura of death emanating from its blade was terrifying.

Bang!

When he struck the ground, the earth around turned black. But Sharkan dodged just ahead of time. At the unexpectedly quick movement, the Death Knight spoke in a murky voice.

Is it the power of insight from the green beryl? Annoying.

The Death Knight unleashed a series of sword techniques to block Sharkan’s escape route.

The students’ magic rained down on top of that. Perhaps thinking he couldn’t just keep taking hits, the Death Knight raised his shield.

“Lee Han. Should we just run away and leave them?”

“Hey…!”

Ahsan was flustered by Gainando’s refreshingly bold question.

What if the others hear!

“If there’s no way, we have to run!”

“There is a way.”

“And?”

“I’m just not sure about it…”

“???”

“Never mind. Let’s just try calling.”

Lee Han chanted a spell, empowering the mark left by Perkuntra.

The Death Knight was a very tricky opponent.

Illusion magic didn’t work, and he had high resistance to most elemental magic.

Even if he bombarded him with dozens of water orbs, it wouldn’t be easy to break through his defenses.

Even if he tried to increase the destructive power by making the water huge, the Death Knight wouldn’t just stand there and let him.

There was only one thing left.

“Sing thunder, oh spirit!”

Perkuntra.

Perkuntra, the powerful spirit of lightning, definitely had a chance against the Death Knight.

But there was a reason Lee Han was reluctant to summon Perkuntra.

Every time he’d summoned him so far…

‘I don’t think it’s ever gone well…’

-Do you think I can’t feel your distrust of me!

Lightning struck from the sky and at the same time, Perkuntra’s roar echoed in Lee Han’s head.

-It’s a misunderstanding!

-Don’t give me that misunderstanding nonsense!

Perkuntra was dumbfounded.

How could a magic school freshman have such genuine distrust for him?

No matter how messed up things were…

-Then show your ability by defeating the death knight blocking the road!

-I’m not a spirit who responds to such low-level provocations. But just this once! Because of your ridiculous suspicion, just this once! I’ll show you my ability for sure!

Perkuntra swelled up.

A bolt of lightning from the sky struck Perkuntra, making him even stronger.

A powerful spirit never made excuses, but Perkuntra had no choice.

The first time they met was in the skeleton principal’s punishment room, and the next time, he was bound by a ridiculous command and his power was limited.

Originally, Perkuntra was the kind of spirit that would only appear if the summoner gave him immense gratitude and respect every time.

But to be summoned with this arrogant ‘Should I summon him or not’ attitude…

Behold, and tremble!

I have lost. Oh great spirit of lightning.

The Death Knight stopped attacking Sharkan, sheathed his sword, and bowed his head.

Perkuntra, who had been crackling with lightning, hesitated.

…What?

With the power I have, I cannot possibly defeat you. I have lost.

As the skeleton principal’s summoned beast, the Death Knight naturally knew Perkuntra’s identity.

Since they worked together, there was no need to waste energy fighting a stronger spirit.

Magic school students. You have passed my test with your skill. You may pass without offering a sacrifice!

“…!”

“!!!”

At the Death Knight’s declaration, the students’ eyes widened.

To think the road would really open like this.

The Death Knight looked at Lee Han and spoke.

I will remember your name, student.

Leaving your name with the skeleton principal’s undead summons was not a good thing.

Lee Han looked at Giselle.

Giselle, holding her twin swords, glared back, wondering why that Wardanaz guy was suddenly looking at her.

‘Hmm. Too many people are listening, so impersonation is impossible.’

Lee Han gave up. It was a shame.