Episode 381

“Isn’t that obviously important?”

Lee Han replied, completely serious.

Seeing this normally polite junior suddenly turn so serious, Ogoldos couldn’t help but feel as if he’d made a terrible mistake.

“Uh… is it?”

By Ogoldos’s standards, wouldn’t it be better to arrive late at Einrogard?

If you got there early, wouldn’t the skeletal headmaster just torment you more?

“Ah. Is it because of the punishment room? Of course, I understand that as a first-year you might be extra afraid of the punishment room, but after a while at Einrogard, you’ll get used to it. The punishment room isn’t as bad as people think. Once you’re used to it, it’s sometimes more comfortable than the dorms.”

First years always feared the punishment room more than necessary, but that was all because of the skeletal headmaster’s trickery.

Fearing the punishment room too much meant you couldn’t survive at Einrogard.

“I’ve been to the punishment room a few times. What I’m worried about is missing classes.”

“……”

“It can’t be helped then, senior.”

“H-huh?”

“Could you help me study, then?”

When Lee Han pulled out a book, Ogoldos was appalled.

‘Madman…’

To be trapped with the King of Ghouls in the depths of the Undead Dimension and be worrying about second semester grades—Ogoldos literally shivered.

He’d seen plenty of people who seemed crazy at school, but this wasn’t just crazy.

A truly insane person was right here in front of him.

• * *

“How long do you think has passed?”

“Who knows? In another dimension, time isn’t reliable. A week?”

“I can catch up if it’s only been a week, right?”

“For someone like you, definitely.”

“What do you mean, ‘definitely’?! Don’t say it like it’s easy!”

Lee Han snapped irritably.

Then quickly apologized.

“Sorry, senior. I shouldn’t take it out on you.”

“N-no, it’s fine.”

Ogoldos shook his head internally, seeing a junior who was polite no matter how insulted, but suddenly sharp when it came to classes.

Just what kind of first years was Einrogard taking in?

“So, senior. Back to bone element magic…”

Bone element magic might seem less promising than other element magics, but if you dug deep, it was a magic with nearly infinite depth.

It wasn’t just summoning and firing bones or restraining enemies—with further study, you could reinforce, transform, and fuse bones, even venturing into areas related to alchemy and enchantment.

“One of the hallmarks is that the more you prepare in advance, the stronger bone element magic becomes, right?”

“That’s right.”

If you pre-reinforced the bones with curses, poison, or dark element, the magic’s power was greatly amplified.

“In the end, bone element magic is just corpse magic. The essence of a corpse is the bone. A mage who masters bone element magic can make a single withered corpse into a monster that can contend with an imperial knight or two.”

“Yes. But what I’m curious about is, if I want to preload the bone with a cold curse, multi-layered venom, and dark element, the bone doesn’t hold up. Is there a way?”

“……”

Lee Han was asking, totally innocently, a question that would make even fourth-year Direte go, “Let me bring the professor for a moment.”

What hurt most was that his junior asked with absolutely no malice, only curiosity.

“I… don’t really know about that.”

“Really? That’s too bad.”

Lee Han turned the page, disappointed.

Ogoldos glanced at the book.

It definitely said “You can reinforce bone with extra magic,” but nowhere did it say “Let’s try reinforcing with a cold curse, multi-layered venom, and dark element.”

‘If I told this kid to try undead summoning, he’d probably end up summoning a bone dragon.’

“Senior.”

“H-huh?”

Lee Han’s calls were starting to scare him.

“If you combine bone element magic, you can power up summoned undead, right?”

“That’s right.”

Giving extra bone armor or weapons was the most basic trick. Skilled mages used blood, poison, flesh, spirit forms—many means for reinforcement.

“Could I see how you do it, senior? I’d like to learn…”

“…Hang on. I think I should keep searching around here a bit more.”

Ogoldos got up in a hurry.

Seeing how Lee Han had previously merged all his skeleton warriors into one, Ogoldos thought he’d only disappoint if Lee Han saw his own undead summons.

“Searching again? Isn’t that pushing yourself too far?”

“How is this pushing myself? Don’t worry.”

As Ogoldos rose, Lee Han closed his book with regret.

‘I’ll just read something else until he comes back.’

Lee Han pulled out -On Basic Lightning Elemental Magic and Its Applications- and studied how to increase the power of lightning element magic.

Despite Perkuntra’s claim that “The lightning element is the strongest,” Lee Han had lately been frustrated at its lack of power.

…You planning to stay trapped here forever?

“The more you condense lightning… I don’t get it. It seemed like I condensed it a lot already. Do I really need to go further?”

…You must feel it too. The fear rising in your heart.

“Next page…wait—is there a transformation?”

Lee Han was surprised.

Contrary to what many mages believe, transformation of the lightning element isn’t impossible. Of course, it’s harder than other elements. The biggest mistake rookie mages make is attempting lightning transformation half-heartedly, only to run out of mana…

Professor Voladi, at least by book, was very kind. Instead of forcing impossible magic, he strongly encouraged building up the basics.

While reading, Lee Han wondered—

‘Why does he treat me differently, then?’

Anyway, the theory was: compress your lightning with mana until it has mass, and then transform it like other elements.

Given the mana cost and difficulty, no wonder mages usually didn’t attempt it.

Magic may be a miracle, but mages are always after efficiency.

Don’t deny it! That fear! The fear inside you! You must feel it!

“Like this—oh.”

Sizzle!

“Harder than I thought.”

A stray lightning bolt flew at the King of Ghouls. Lee Han clicked his tongue and refocused.

Based on the book, Professor Voladi was likely to say, “Do it or die!” next semester.

Ignoring it won’t change anything!

“Hmm?”

Lee Han put down his staff and turned his gaze.

“Ah. Sorry. You were so noisy I unconsciously tuned you out. So, what did you want?”

The King of Ghouls had crushed countless foes in the Undead Dimension and made them kneel, but never had he been so humiliated as by this young mage.

He was so angry, he could barely breathe.

Fear! You! You feel it! You’re going to be trapped here forever! Just compromise…

“Still on that?”

Lee Han looked at the King of Ghouls as if dumbfounded.

“I think you’re confused. My situation is different from yours.”

How so?

“There are people who’ll come drag me away if I just sit here.”

He said ‘drag,’ not ‘rescue,’ but the King of Ghouls was too angry to notice.

That’s your misunderstanding. You think my palace is so easy? This palace, deep in the dimension, could never…

‘Boasting much, aren’t you.’

The King of Ghouls spoke from the heart, but Lee Han wasn’t buying it.

Honestly, the skeletal headmaster seemed stronger.

If Professor Mortum couldn’t find him, she’d tell the skeletal headmaster, who would then come himself.

And then, back to the punishment room…

“Now I’m just getting mad thinking about it.”

Lee Han threw an empty snack wrapper at the King of Ghouls.

If not for this idiot sitting cluelessly on his throne, this mess wouldn’t have happened.

If not for him, he could have explored the palace, left, and made a fortune selling things…

Now you show your true colors! I know you’re getting anxious, too!

“Think what you like.”

Compromise! Just do it! Stop denying it!

“Compromise means turning you over to the headmaster to shave some days off my punishment. Oh, wait.”

A question came to Lee Han’s mind.

At this point, the King of Ghouls had nothing to offer Lee Han.

So what exactly was he trying to do?

“Hm. Tell me. What kind of compromise do you want?”

Obviously, dissolving this magic circle.

Feeling Lee Han was finally showing interest, the king’s voice softened, slyly.

He hadn’t used subtle tricks like this often after gaining strength, but the King of Ghouls could turn cunning as much as needed.

“How do I know I can trust you?”

Of course you’d wonder. But think about it. If we both insist, we’ll just go around in circles forever. If you don’t want to be trapped here forever with me, you need some trust. Naturally, it’s not easy to just trust, but I swear on my honor as king: even if I get out, I’ll never lay a hand on you!

‘Even Gainando wouldn’t fall for such crap.’

Lee Han looked at the King of Ghouls pitifully.

What’s the value of a king’s honor like his? Judging by how he talked earlier, not much.

Lee Han himself was the type to wager everything from academic honors to family name if needed, so it meant nothing here.

But…

“So…”

Pretending to seriously consider it, Lee Han hesitated.

He actually wanted to ask a question.

“Really?”

Of course!

“But it’s hard to believe…”

Trust me!

“If you could just show a little more sincerity, maybe I could believe you.”

What do you want?

“Is there any more treasure hidden here?”

……

The King of Ghouls instinctively felt this was off, but suppressed it out of desperation.

“You’re not hiding anything, are you? Didn’t you say we need to trust each other?”

…Fine. I’ll tell you one thing.

“Great. That’s more like it. Now you’re trustworthy.”

• * *

‘Still need to find something else…’

Ogoldos carefully read the markings on the wall. He regretted not attending more ancient script classes at Einrogard.

‘The professor said all study proves useful someday, and he was right after all.’

“Senior!”

“I’m, I’m searching! Just a little longer!”

Ogoldos shouted hastily.

Not knowing what question Lee Han would pull out next if he stopped to check his black magic notes, he was scared.

“Let’s try checking behind the third pillar on the left.”

“What?”

Ogoldos was perplexed.

“Why?”

“The King of Ghouls told me.”

“You… Hold on. You talked to him? While I was gone?!”

Ogoldos was stunned.

Spending time talking to a powerful being from another dimension wasn’t a good idea.

For an inexperienced, young mage, it was all too easy to be tricked into a grave mistake.

Even imprisoned in the magic circle, the King of Ghouls was a dangerous beast—if anything, more dangerous for being caged.

He’d only try to persuade you even more desperately…

“…On second thought, you’ll probably be fine.”

‘Didn’t he hesitate a little too much just now?’

Lee Han glanced suspiciously at Ogoldos.

Was I overthinking…?