Episode 830
by CristaeLee Han answered Perkuntra’s remark—which was even more annoying than an insult—gruffly.
Perkuntra, flustered, asked again.
You mean the Duke of Pride didn’t send a letter?
“Why would a demon send a letter?”
Don’t be clueless. Maybe for a low-ranking demon, but a demon duke—especially if he recognizes you as a worthy opponent—never attacks unannounced. Always sends warning if he acknowledges you.
“Oh… So if you never get the letter, he’ll never attack?”
……
Perkuntra looked at Lee Han with pity.
Suddenly the thunder faded, dark clouds lingered pitifully across the ceiling, and the students grew anxious.
‘What was that? Did Wardanaz say something sad?’
‘Did he say he’s doing all disciplines? If I were a spirit, I’d cry for him, too.’
If the Duke of Pride knew you were scheming like this, that would be a face worth seeing.
If a wizard he acknowledged as a rival asked, “Wait, if I just keep not receiving a letter, can we just never fight again?”—If the Duke ever learned of this, he’d shudder at the pettiness of wizards.
“Well, he’s a demon duke and I’m just a student wizard. Why would I receive a challenge? If I were a magic duke and he a low demon, I’d expect a challenge.”
From Lee Han’s perspective, it was absurd.
Why the Duke of Pride would consider him a rival—whether for revenge or not—he couldn’t care less.
If you’re a demon duke, go pick on other demon dukes or at least on an imperial duke, not a student in Einrogard!
‘And then if you refuse, he calls you dishonorable. Demons really are shameless.’
…Don’t you know any old stories? Wizards who defeat demons are always given treasures and powers in exchange… Wait, you’re not even listening.
“I’m listening.”
Your eyes say you don’t care at all.
Usually so sharp, the wizard before him was flatly uninterested.
Perkuntra couldn’t understand.
To be acknowledged by a strong demon as a rival was an opportunity and an honor for wizards.
Sure, if you lost, you might suffer horribly, but if you thought like that, you shouldn’t be a wizard anyway.
You ought to welcome the challenge and seize a new power at the next match!
And this boy wasn’t even weak…
Never mind. If you didn’t get a letter, you didn’t get one. Why are you here, then?
“I was hoping for an introduction to a spirit.”
The clouds drifting sadly along the ceiling thickened and began to drizzle softly.
The White Tiger Tower students were convinced Lee Han just told him he was an all-discipline student.
Or maybe said that he was babysitting all the losers in his tower.
Lagesa, intrigued, asked from behind.
“What on earth did you say to make a spirit pity you like that?”
Shouldn’t you just give up at some point?
When every low spirit runs at the sight of you, it’s not a problem you can fix with brute force. You may as well just go around forcibly subduing and collecting them. Spirits will talk, but…
“…I didn’t mean that spirit.”
Lee Han glared.
He explained that he wanted to make a new staff, that he was planning to use black magnetite, that only wood was suitable to withstand such a thing, but such a branch…
“Ah, could you perhaps take care of this personally, Lord Perkuntra?”
Me? I wield thunder and lightning and rule fear, but I don’t make staves.
“……”
He hadn’t expected much, since Yukveltire explained it already—but hearing it in person was still a disappointment.
Why did he have to meet the Thunder Emperor and not the Forest King or Divine Tree King?
Wood element spirit kings would have made things far easier…
Spirit powers aren’t ranked. I may command earth-shattering destruction, but tree spirits don’t use that power…
“I see.”
……
Awkward silence. Lee Han quickly changed the subject.
“So… could you introduce me to someone?”
Hmm. A spirit who channels wood… There’s Sammu-knosonggong. Master of a truly beautiful forest.
‘A “gong” [duke]?!’
That alone meant a high title.
Excited, Lee Han asked, “Who are they?”
Long ago, one who attacked me and was heavily defeated. He hid deep underground to avoid my lightning.
“…Anyone else?”
There’s Jangsaengjanggun. He commanded all the flora as his servants.
“Did you fight him, too?”
How did you know?
“……”
Lee Han was starting to regret things.
He hadn’t expected Perkuntra to have so many bad relationships with spirits.
‘Is he actually closer with demons than other great spirits…?’
Almost seemed like he was closer to the Duke of Pride than any other high spirits.
Sensing his contractor’s blasphemous thoughts, Perkuntra dug deep into memory and power.
Wait a bit.
The once quiet corridor grew noisy again. As thunder and lightning roared, Lagesa shouted sternly to the frightened students.
“Keep still, you idiot brats! Can’t you tell an attack spell from a harmless spell? Look! When will you ever see something like this again!”
“…!”
At her words, the students lifted their heads to observe the scene.
‘A spirit!’
Rifts connecting to the spirit realm appeared and disappeared in the air. Thunderbolts shot into the rifts as Perkuntra sent messages.
Students closely linked with contracted spirits could sense what was happening.
“Wardanaz is searching for a dimension he can visit by borrowing a spirit’s power!”
“Uh, is it normally this intense?”
A summoning magic student asked in confusion.
Normally, preparing to open a new dimension never got this dramatic.
You’d use maps and records to calmly scan for dimensions, then use all sorts of spells to connect and slip in quietly—
But the cracks opening in the air now felt different.
Thunder would hit a crack and disappear, then a wooden spear would fly out from inside to attack Perkuntra.
Perkuntra swore.
Bastards! If they don’t want to answer, just ignore me—but do they have to answer like this?
“……”
Lee Han almost commented, ‘If you throw thunder into someone’s territory to send a message, anyone would get angry,’ but held back.
At least Perkuntra was doing his best for Lee Han.
“…Wardanaz. Not that I don’t trust your magic, but are you really going to be alright?”
Giselle asked cautiously.
She didn’t want to be the idiot who distracted someone in the middle of a spell, but something felt off.
Why was visiting another dimension so violent?
It was more like “invading” another dimension.
“It’s because he’s a lightning spirit. Lightning spirits are always this intense, even just to send a message.”
“?”
Lagesa looked at Lee Han like he was crazy.
“What is that bull…”
“Sorry! He says to concentrate!”
Lee Han pretended to be called by Perkuntra and hurriedly dodged Lagesa’s gaze.
Flash!
A beam of lightning entered one crack; this time, a butterfly returned.
Perkuntra seemed quite pleased.
We got a reply!
“Really?!”
Yes, congratulations. Your contact is… uh…
Perkuntra, who always thundered boldly, suddenly hesitated and Lee Han grew uneasy.
“The Duke of Pride?”
…Didn’t I say I was talking to a spirit! Why would it be the Duke of Pride!
‘You’re the one who brought him up…’
Lee Han grumbled inwardly.
Why this one… Ugh… Fine, I’ll just say it. Of all the high-level tree spirits I know, the one who answered is the Mad Tree King.
“Gwangmok (狂木, Mad Wood)?”
The King of Mad Wood, Lee Han shivered at the title.
Perkuntra sensed his contractor’s unease and hurriedly explained.
I’m not telling you to go. I don’t really like the guy myself. He’s weird and eccentric. But he’s the only one who sent an invitation. The rift will remain open for a week, so you’re invited if you want to go.
“If I visit, will I get ambushed, attacked, or assassinated?”
In the worst case he could be forced to become a disciple. Lee Han’s eyes were watchful.
No. If he invited you, you’re protected by the Law of Hospitality.
‘Huh?’
Lee Han thought this was pretty good.
So long as the rules protected him, he could easily fulfill Professor Ingeldel’s assignment and maybe get his staff material…
“If I’m protected by rules, isn’t this absolutely to my advantage? Is there any reason I shouldn’t go?”
Like I said, he’s just really weird and unpredictable.
“…How so?”
Perkuntra showed rare reluctance.
Can’t say more. The two of us swore to protect each other’s True Names.
Some high spirits made pacts never to leak info about one another to prevent information on them from slipping to beings in other dimensions.
Ironically, the only ones who really know spirits are other spirits.
So if a wizard ever shows suspiciously deep knowledge, they likely dug it up in old books or heard it from another spirit who knew.
“…Let me discuss it with my friends for a moment.”
As you wish. I won’t force you.
“No other replies at all?”
……
Feeling the rare disappointment of a usually proud Perkuntra, Lee Han felt guilty.
It’s as rude as asking a friendless person if they have no friends—not cool.
He himself would get annoyed if people asked, “Wardanaz, why do all spirits flee from you?”
“It’s alright. Just being invited by a spirit king is a huge honor. I’m sincerely grateful.”
You’ve grown, wizard.
Soothing Perkuntra, Lee Han hurried his friends together. Lagesa listened in hungrily, although she hadn’t been called.
“Everyone. There’s good news and bad news.”
“!”
“First, we’ve been invited to a spirit king’s domain.”
A short gasp broke from the crowd.
Even Lagesa was impressed.
Even if it was “only” an invitation, not a contract, it was a great achievement. There were plenty of wizards who died old, never meeting a king-class spirit in their lives.
Even upperclassmen at Einrogard would offer ancient relics or the equivalent just to speak to such a being. Yet this boy had succeeded with his own strength.
“What’s the bad news?!”
“That’s the bad news.”
“…?”
“???”
Everyone looked blank.
Giselle, staying calm, asked, “What’s the good news?”
“That we don’t have to go.”
“……”
At her friend’s deadpan answer, Giselle shivered as if an ice giant’s blade touched her back.
‘For Wardanaz to act like this—it’s not just joy…’
“What nonsense? Just being invited to a spirit king’s realm is good enough, isn’t it?”
“Shut that idiot’s mouth,” Giselle ordered.
The White Tiger Tower friends hurried to muffle Angrago.
“Mmph!”
“Sorry, Angrago.”
“He’s not wrong, though. Normally, an invitation is a huge chance.”
Lagesa said with a sly grin, but Giselle retorted flatly,
“If Wardanaz is that cautious, it’s definitely not just an opportunity.”
“That brat is always cautious… I’m disappointed, though.”
“?”
“I thought since she’s Ziklin’s sister, she’d be just as bold. Maybe I misjudged, even if I am Torgard’s daughter.”
“…Who says I won’t go? Move, Wardanaz!”
“M-Moradi, why you—”
Lee Han, flustered, tried to stop Giselle—a rare sight.