Episode 841
by CristaeEpisode 841
‘Did I really come across that way?’
Flustered by his reputation having fallen so low without him noticing, Lee Han tried to persuade Professor Garcia.
“Professor. Please believe me.”
“Yes. Yes. I believe you.”
“……”
When Lee Han looked up with sad eyes, only then did Professor Garcia’s heart soften a little.
“What am I saying… I’m sorry, Student Lee Han. You probably didn’t want this either. Right?”
“That’s correct, Professor.”
Echoing the Professor’s words, Lee Han slyly spun his staff while glancing at the Echo Stone affixed to its end.
‘This is a rather exceptional situation, so I’ll have to set it aside as special.’
“To be honest, if a student only ever follows the path the master desires, that’s not a good disciple. A good disciple is supposed to stray from the master’s path now and then.”
“That’s not true, I only want to follow the path you lay out, Professor Garcia.”
“……”
At the preposterous flattery of his student, Professor Garcia was at a loss for words.
Did the student really have no conscience, saying things like that?
“…Just be careful, Student Lee Han. That clone is a kind of thoughtform. It’s not a living being, but something like a law or a calamity. The persistence of such beings is something that goes beyond the common sense of us mortals.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“All right. Then let’s go see Professor Verdus.”
Professor Garcia checked the time and stood up.
To be honest, he would have liked to lecture Lee Han for at least another hour about being careful, but half given up, he concluded it would be pointless.
If his disciple knew this, it would have broken his heart.
“Oh, Student Lee Han.”
“Yes?”
“Do students these days not use exclamation points much when writing letters?”
“I think most just write normally. Is there a reason to use lots of exclamation points?”
“Uh… well… maybe it’s a trend?”
“I haven’t heard of such a trend.”
“……”
Professor Garcia had a shocked expression.
Mumbling things like ‘No way’ or ‘I can’t believe that trend is already over,’ Lee Han asked in confusion.
“Are you sending a letter to a student?”
“Ah… no. Just curious.”
‘He seems a bit too shocked for just being curious about that.’
- * *
The security at the Mage Tower, the Hall of Sacred Horns, where Professor Verdus stayed, was far more intimidating than usual.
They hadn’t even reached the entrance, yet a walking small bronze golem approached, its aquamarine lenses shining.
Access by outsiders is not permitted. Access by outsiders is not permitted.
“I’m Professor Garcia.”
“I’m Lee Han.”
-Confirmed as an Einrogard member. Proceeding to next verification. Have you ever received a commission from an outsider to kidnap or similarly act against Bible Verdus? Please answer.
“……”
“……”
From the bronze golem emanated a strangely warped magical power.
Though it was a spell he’d never seen, Lee Han guessed what kind of magic it was.
‘A lie-detecting spell, I bet…’
There was only one reason to install such an expensive spell on the bronze golem and put it on tower security duty.
That was because, currently, in Einrogard, there was a certain pirate La Mo, grinding his teeth after being swindled by Professor Verdus.
“I haven’t…”
“Me neither.”
-Confirmed as the truth. You may enter.
‘Should I just smash it to bits…’
Professor Garcia muttered to himself inwardly as he walked on.
If only they spent less time making things like that and taught students even a little bit more, or gave them one more material, what could possibly be lost?
On the first floor of the Hall of Sacred Horns, a few students from various enchantment magic schools were sitting in deep discussion.
That sight made Professor Garcia’s heart ache even more.
‘They should be learning properly under the professor, and yet they have to study all by themselves like that.’
If there was any way he could help, Professor Garcia thought, he would.
“I think right now we should kidnap Professor Verdus and sell him. If we wait a few more days, the patrons might give up and leave.”
“No, we have to think carefully. If anything, as the weekend approaches, the value of Professor Verdus might go up.”
“I think it’s more important to consider how to kidnap and sell him rather than when to. Haven’t you all forgotten? The moment we make a decision and accept a commission, those golems will come to stop us.”
“……”
Seeing the students seriously plotting to kidnap a professor after taking an outside commission, Professor Garcia let out a sigh that seemed to sink into the floor.
“Oh. Professor Garcia. Hello.”
“Not very well, I’m afraid…”
“Is something the matter?”
“…Never mind. Keep working hard.”
Professor Garcia started to say something, but gave up.
This, in a sense, was Professor Verdus’s just deserts.
‘It’s not my place to interfere.’
Trudging along, Professor Garcia suddenly felt that something was odd.
Lee Han was nowhere to be seen beside him.
“Seniors, exactly who is it that wants to kidnap Professor Verdus?”
“Student Lee Han!”
“Sorry.”
Lee Han hurriedly apologized and ran over.
“You’re asking them that right now?”
“You never know when it might be useful…”
“…Just follow me.”
Professor Garcia ascended the spiral stairs of the Hall of Sacred Horns.
And then, in an annoyed voice, he shouted,
“They’ve cast unnecessary spells here again. Professor Verdus! Open up!”
“Professor Verdus never listens when you just ask, does he?”
Lee Han thought Professor Garcia was unnecessarily wasting energy.
At a time like this, it would be faster just to break through the spell and climb up to Professor Verdus’s quarters…
-Got it. Calm down!
“?!”
But to Lee Han’s shock, Professor Verdus’s voice returned from above.
Lee Han was truly taken aback.
‘Professor Verdus actually listened?’
Unable to believe it, Lee Han looked over Professor Garcia once more. For some reason, the tightly clenched fist caught his attention.
‘Could it be because of that?’
Chwarururuk–
Several confusion spells disappeared and the hidden traps on the stairs were released. A new path was created along the wall and a door appeared on the ceiling.
“Can we go up now?”
“We’re not done yet, Student Lee Han.”
Clatter, clatter!
From behind the ceiling door came an uproarious noise. Professor Garcia spoke in a voice full of irritation.
“How long do I have to wait??”
-Just a sec! I tied up too many chains! Just a bit longer!
It was quite rare for Professor Verdus to cry out so urgently.
As he clattered away, undoing the chains, Professor Verdus seemed worried and shouted.
-Don’t break it! Professor Garcia!
“……”
At Lee Han’s stare, Professor Garcia blushed slightly.
“I don’t usually break things, Student Lee Han. Last time was an accident.”
“Professor. If you ever collapse the entire Hall of Sacred Horns, I’d respect you all the more.”
‘Please don’t respect me for that…’
In a flurry, Professor Verdus finished unlocking and opened the ceiling door, extending a magical ladder.
He’d hurried so much he was drenched in sweat.
“Here! See, I didn’t break anything, right?”
“If anyone saw me, they’d think I go around breaking everything, Professor Verdus.”
“You do go around breaking everything… Ack!”
Relaxing when Professor Garcia came close was a big mistake for Professor Verdus.
With innate instinct, talent, and wisdom, Professor Garcia dove past Professor Verdus’s magical defense field and gripped his shoulder tightly.
The pain was enough to bring tears to Professor Verdus’s eyes, and he castigated himself for being so foolish and trusting.
‘To be tricked again! Even with Professor Garcia, I shouldn’t have let my guard down!’
“Don’t say strange things. Got it?”
“Yes! Yes!”
At this rather brilliant display of force, Lee Han looked at Professor Garcia with his most admiring gaze of the year.
‘I want to be like Professor Garcia.’
Neither the skull principal nor the mad clone mattered. Maybe this was what it really meant to be a wizard.
Once upstairs, both were surprised by the interior.
Up here, this was not the magical workshop Professor Verdus normally used, but rather the attic.
There were few magical tools or devices, the space was small, and it was much more disorganized and cramped. Professor Verdus, picking up the artifact he’d been making earlier, asked,
“What do you need? But can you let go of my shoulder?”
“Professor Verdus. I came to ask a favor.”
“All right. But really, could you let go of my shoulder?”
With a naturally cute beastfolk voice and face, Professor Verdus didn’t have to try to be endearing, but Professor Garcia shook his head.
If he let him go out of pity, things would get troublesome.
“Could you process this black magnetite for Student Lee Han?”
“Huh? No.”
Violence and surrender
With a cracking sound from Professor Verdus’s clavicle, a healing spell was cast.
“Fine! I’ll do it!”
“Thank you, Professor. I’ll forget about how last time I did your patrol, graded your tests, prepped your assignments, made an artifact for you to use on a criminal, and managed your materials… just for this.”
“You’re a complete extortionist…”
As Professor Verdus muttered, Professor Garcia wanted to apply a bit more pressure, but restrained himself.
For his disciple, perhaps, but he didn’t want to expend energy on his own fleeting emotions.
“Did you bring the black magnetite?”
“You have it, Professor.”
“……”
Professor Verdus pulled a face, but Professor Garcia shook his head coldly.
Sniffling, Professor Verdus fished the black magnetite ingot out of his pocket.
‘So the Professor carries a spatial pocket and backpack on his clothes all the time.’
Lee Han made an acute mental note of Professor Verdus’s item inventory, just in case for the future.
“Are you worse than Gonadaltes now?”
“……”
Professor Garcia endured the insult with superhuman patience.
“Look at this. See? Judging by this staff shape…”
“Specialized for ancient magic? Did Gonadaltes request it?”
“No. I said it’s for Student Lee Han’s staff. You didn’t listen to me?”
“I mean… Gonadaltes could request a Wardanaz staff too, couldn’t he…”
Under Professor Garcia’s glare, Professor Verdus faltered and stammered.
It was surprisingly astute, and Professor Garcia was a bit taken aback.
‘That’s true, huh?’
Now that he thought about it, even the skull principal could have ordered a staff for Student Lee Han. That was surprisingly sharp for Professor Verdus.
“That may be true, but anyway, it’s not the case. Here, can you feel the wood?”
“A royal-class spirit? How’d you get it?”
Professor Verdus was now showing interest.
Unlike boring, repetitive work, this staff had several fresh features.
“I’ll tell you once you’re done.”
“Wait. Did you get this from the Mad Tree King’s Forest!? How did you get in there!?”
Professor Verdus asked in surprise.
A branch from the Mad Tree King’s Forest.
He’d been after it for ages!
“Just listen.”
“Ack!”
“You need to finish the staff according to this.”
“Got it…”
“Are you sure you can do it?”
“Yeah. Seems like fun.”
Professor Garcia was relieved by Professor Verdus’s words.
He never trusted words like ‘I’ll give it a shot,’ ‘I’ll do it,’ or ‘I’ll do my best,’ but when Professor Verdus said, ‘It sounds fun,’ he could believe him.
Because if it was fun to him, Professor Verdus worked harder than anyone.
“Then I’ll do what Gonadaltes requested later. I wasn’t having much fun with it anyway.”
“Go ahead.”
“?”
Lee Han, watching from the side, whispered nervously.
“Um, professor. Is that okay? If you miss the deadline, Professor Verdus…”
“So what. That’s his responsibility. Who told him to miss the deadline?”
“……”