Episode 873

Episode 873

Making a contract with a star was several times harder than finding one.

Under the Yaksha King’s harsh instruction, Lee Han barely managed to draw out a sliver of a star’s power.

Hmm. Looks like you could draw out a bit more.

“I think I’ll be heading back now.”

Aren’t you curious about this area while you’re here?

“I’ll be heading back now.”

That valley is where Osu got beaten up…

“I’ll be head— Wait. What did you say?”

Lee Han stopped short and stared at the Yaksha King.

‘Does he know everything and is playing around?’

But the Yaksha King pointed at the distant valley with an unreadable expression.

That’s where the Kinnaras and Gandharvas dwell. They respect me as a king, but don’t serve me. I likewise reign as king, but do not rule.

One Kinara music officer with the body of a half-man, half-bird noticed Lee Han and greeted him by playing music.

The uniquely magical music reminded Lee Han of a siren’s song, but its effect was the opposite. Lee Han felt his fatigue from focusing on the star melt away.

“They seem like pleasant folks… But why did you get beaten up?”

Hmm. I didn’t ask, but Osu probably thought their power was necessary. To reach the top above, even collecting all the wisdom and visions of this dimension wouldn’t be enough, so it wouldn’t be strange if he tried to gain the power of the native races.

“So when did he get beaten up?”

The Yaksha King ignored Lee Han’s question.

Osu, after recuperating here, went to see them. He told them this: “O you who sing music and burn incense, a magician who inherited the advancement of dragons speaks—help me obtain the truth above, and I shall grant you even greater freedom.”

“They beat him up just for saying that?”

Lee Han unwittingly took the Skull Headmaster’s side.

These days, the Skull Headmaster was another story, but in the past, he had at least tried to do good, so it felt harsh to treat him so roughly.

When Lee Han glared at the Kinara music officer in the valley, the music officer shrugged as if unaware.

No, they didn’t beat him just for saying that.

“Then why?”

When they ignored him, Osu used magic to try to earn their recognition by force. That’s when he got beaten up.

Even though the young Osu was an archmage who learned dragon magic, the Kinnaras and Gandharvas of that valley had faced countless outsiders over the ages.

The warriors, taking advantage of their familiarity with the environment, lunged, and Osu couldn’t endure and retreated to the Yaksha King’s palace.

“……”

Are you thinking of taking revenge for your teacher? If so, I can help.

‘Is this a trap?’

If you’re thinking I set a trap, I’d like to correct you. Of course, I’m their king, but I’ve never sworn absolute protection. If Osu’s disciple wishes…

“…No. It’s fine.”

Hmm. Is it your emotional attachment toward your teacher?

If anything, Lee Han felt more like hitting the Yaksha King than those races.

“If Teacher wanted revenge, he’d have done it himself. And wasn’t he the one who tried to overpower them first?”

Indeed. Still, it’s hard to accept. As a magician, isn’t it your duty to show your power in such a situation? I’ll say this in advance, they are impossible to persuade. They care for nothing but music and incense.

“If they can’t be persuaded, why not leave them alone and go elsewhere?”

Lee Han answered, thinking the Yaksha King was talking nonsense.

What does it change to subjugate such strong opponents by force?

If blades were to come from behind, so be it; with such a tough goal ahead, it wasn’t the move to make.

It would be the same elsewhere. Only a very few in this dimension offer outsiders their wisdom. Kings like me are a rare exception.

“Just because it’s all difficult doesn’t mean a foolish choice becomes a good one…”

Hmm.

Lee Han was surprised.

Surprisingly, the Yaksha King burst out laughing.

‘Is he laughing at the Skull Headmaster?’

His disciple exceeds him in some ways.

“Huh? What…”

It’s certainly not about magic, probably about character, Lee Han thought, but he hesitated.

If it were a match of character with the current Skull Headmaster, Lee Han would win every time, but with the old Skull Headmaster, he wasn’t so sure.

‘Honestly hard to believe, but objectively, there’s some possibility the Skull Headmaster used to be a little…quite…considerably…well, perhaps significantly a good person.’

So Lee Han might even lose that contest of character. He honestly couldn’t live like the old Skull Headmaster.

“In what way do you mean?”

If you didn’t have emotional grudges against your teacher, I’d tell you, but given the circumstances, I can’t.

‘This bastard.’

I’ll tell you another anecdote instead. Over there in the sky are demons, and Osu was deceived by them once.

“Really!?”

Yes. Here’s how…

The Yaksha King paused.

Behind the black book, a dimensional gate began to ripple.

Hmm. Is it time to return already? I look forward to your next visit.

“Wait, at least let me hear the story about how Teacher was tricked by demons…!”

But having spent so much time on celestial magic, the dimensional gate did not wait and swallowed Lee Han.

The black book bowed to the Yaksha King and followed him through the gate.

Left alone, the Yaksha King gave his respects.

A magician and disciple who reached the truth deserved the respect of a king.

• * *

“Gah.”

Woken by sunlight pouring in through the window, Lee Han groaned at the feeling of a massive dragon hugging him tightly. His telekinesis barrier was about to break.

After quickly reinforcing his magic and attempting to wake Joulin, Lee Han felt something in his pocket.

“!”

A familiar horn-shaped fragment.

A Yaksha horn fragment he had once received within Einrogard’s territory. The difference was that this one held a much deeper and richer aura.

If Lee Han’s memory served, this was an item for requesting help.

‘…Wait, but can he really come?’

Unlike the nearby Yaksha, the Yaksha King resided in a far, far away dimension.

He hadn’t made a contract with Lee Han or had any special connection here—could he appear with just a horn piece?

Tak—

While Lee Han pondered, there was a tapping sound outside the window.

Looking up, he saw a paper bird. It slipped in through a small gap and flew up to Lee Han. It then released the voice stored inside…

-Help—

Whack!

…but it didn’t finish. Still groggy, Joulin crushed the paper bird in annoyance.

‘That voice just now sounded like Professor Verdus?’

As Lee Han hesitated, a few more paper birds flew in. Joulin ably intercepted them with his wings and tail.

No wonder he was a dragon; Lee Han admired Joulin’s abilities anew.

“Your Highness. Your Highness.”

Huh?

Still half-asleep, Joulin half-opened one eye and looked around at Lee Han’s voice.

He heard Lee Han, but couldn’t see him.

“I’m right here.”

…Ahhhh, no!

Joulin let out a shriek that shook the dorm tower.

He’d smothered Lee Han in his sleep!

Lee Han! Don’t die! Don’t die!

“I’m fine…”

“What’s going on?”

Eandurde, who had brought fruit early for Joulin, was startled by the scream.

Joulin crushed Lee Han!!

“…Grrr!”

Eandurde showed hostility and glared at Joulin. Joulin hurried to explain.

I-I didn’t do it on purpose…! I was sleeping…!

“Grrrrrrrr!”

“I’m not dead.”

Amplifying his telekinesis, Lee Han lifted Joulin’s foreleg and escaped. Joulin, teary, blinked at Lee Han’s unharmed state.

Is Lee Han just really sturdy?

“Absolutely not. It was protected by magic.”

Lee Han answered quickly, anxious that an innocent misunderstanding might make Joulin hug him for real next time.

Despite that, Eandurde’s hostility toward Joulin persisted as if confronting an upperclassman-killer. Joulin pleaded tearfully.

I-it wasn’t on purpose…

“Grrr.”

It wasn’t on purpose!

“Grrr!”

“Eandurde, calm down. If it were really dangerous, I would’ve said so. More importantly…”

“What’s going on?!”

Even before Lee Han could start mentioning Professor Verdus, Professor Bendozol rushed inside, alarmed by the earlier scream while camping outside the Blue Dragon Tower.

“What happened! Dragon! Who are the cursed rascals who startled you?!”

Joulin crushed Lee Han.

“This brat! Making Dragon doubt a friend like that!?”

Don’t be mad at Lee Han!

Joulin growled at Bendozol in warning. Bendozol gave a look like he wanted to wring his own neck.

“It’s all my fault! Please calm down!”

All right. Fine.

“I’ve prepared breakfast. Shall I bring it in?”

Um, Joulin wanted to try breakfast with friends here at Einrogard…

“Ha ha. Please don’t!”

Lee Han stopped him firmly.

If Joulin ate the food served at Einrogard, he could evolve into a tyrant dragon or demon dragon.

After persuasion, Joulin nodded, and Bendozol began to bring in the food one by one.

“Hey! Bring the food!”

The demons working at Einrogard complained as they carried the food.

What senseless trouble, all because of that crazy professor!

On the huge banquet table, it seemed nearly every dish an Einrogard student could imagine was laid out.

Pumpkin or potato potage, gratin and salad, southern imperial-style sauté, pork and turkey meat stacked like a tower, whole roasted and stuffed veal, lake-like fish dishes covered in sauce, custards and tarts, soufflés and chocolates, puddings and creams…

Yoner, rubbing sleepy eyes, paused, thinking he’d been caught in an illusion spell.

“W-What is this?”

“The breakfast the professor prepared.”

“Does Your Highness usually eat like this?”

Joulin shook his head awkwardly.

He didn’t even eat this much to begin with.

“Professor, can I invite the other students to eat too?”

“Are you crazy??”

“Your Highness, can I invite the other students to eat too?”

Yes.

After giving Lee Han a glare, Professor Bendozol went to call the other students.

At first, students from the other towers were confused, but then, realizing what was going on, they hurried to invite their friends.

“All hail Your Highness!”

“Long live Lord Joulin! Praise the true grace of royalty!”

“…Hey.”

Except a few displeased royal students, everyone enjoyed themselves. Especially Joulin, delighted by all the sudden praise.

Could we be treated like this tomorrow, too?

“Of course, Dragon!”

Professor Bendozol happily grinned as he replied.

His complaints about the students eating all the food had long disappeared.

Lee Han could see the faces of the demons hauling food from below the tower twisting with frustration.

‘Isn’t the professor going to get attacked later?’

Excited, Joulin chattered to Lee Han.

Oh, right! In a dream, Joulin caught the bug that was after Lee Han! So Lee Han can rest easy. Joulin will protect him in the real world, too.

“I’m reassured, Your Highness… Ah.”

Just then, Lee Han remembered the paper birds.

‘Well. I’ll finish eating first and talk after.’

Lee Han nodded to Gainando, tugging on his sleeve, and cut his steak.