Episode 875

-They say even the wisest wizard is easily lost if tricked by an evil dragon, so do be careful…

J-Joulin is not evil!

Joulin flared up at the demons’ accusation.

As expected from demons, their deeds were mean and petty.

He’d only given advice for Lee Han’s sake, yet they dared to frame him like that.

Lee Han! Joulin advises you to forgive Professor Verdus and honor him as a teacher!

Joulin looked at Lee Han and the demons, snorting as if to say, “How about this?”

“Uh, no thanks. What are you even talking about?”

Of course, Lee Han replied as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Returning the borrowed artifact was one thing (and honestly, even that felt a bit excessive right now), but he had no intention of doing anything more.

….!

Realizing he’d been deceived by Lee Han’s chilly reaction, Joulin glared fiercely at the demons.

You wicked beings!!

• * *

From inside, Professor Verdus’s feeble voice came out.

-Let’s negotiate!

“All right, Professor. Let’s negotiate. Come out.”

Yukveltire stared coldly at the attic where Professor Verdus was hiding.

Yet her hands did not stop moving. The signals she sent were clear.

-Shoot the instant he comes out.

The Enchantment School students nodded from behind.

They could not allow a single opening against Professor Verdus. He must be immediately taken down.

-All right. Then just fall back behind the hall!

But Professor Verdus didn’t trust them either. He knew his own students could easily sell out their teacher.

“We can’t do that, Professor.”

-But you just said you wanted to negotiate?

“Yes. But you’ll summon other artifacts in the tower.”

The Hall of Sacred Engravings was Professor Verdus’s mage tower. On every floor, artifacts could be summoned with a single shout.

They’d only managed to lock him in the attic by surprise; if it was a straight-up fight, the students would have been wiped out.

-No! Trust me!

“We don’t trust you either. Please understand.”

-Yukveltire! I’ll pay you double what I promised!

The students started to murmur at Professor Verdus’s shout.

If they could get double the bounty that Professor Passelete had set, that was truly tempting.

But Yukveltire shook her head coldly.

“We don’t trust you.”

-I’ll pay in advance! I’ll tell you the vault location—take it!

“We don’t trust you.”

-Why are you being so stupid!?

Professor Verdus was flustered.

This royal-born disciple was selfish and didn’t help her master’s affairs much, but she was neither stupid nor emotional.

Why was she turning down this offer?

“I’m not being irrational at all. Open the door, Professor.”

-I refuse!

“Bring up the magic cannon.”

At Yukveltire’s command, the students quickly went into action. With a rolling sound of wheels, a huge bronze cannon engraved with countless magic circles appeared.

Inside, Professor Verdus fumed.

-That’s my property!!

“You were supposed to deliver it two years ago, Professor.”

-But it can still be improved—why! Why have you gotten so stupid!

Professor Verdus didn’t realize these words only increased his disciple’s hatred.

Yukveltire gazed up toward the attic and made her demand.

“Open the door, or we’ll commence the siege.”

-The artifacts here are enough for defense. You’ll never get through.

“Time is on our side. Who would come to your rescue?”

-O…Osu?

“The Headmaster is in the capital.”

-……

Pondering, Professor Verdus changed his tone to pleading.

-Two and a half times! Yukveltire! I’ll pay two and a half times!

“I don’t need it.”

-Staff? (Jip…?)

“I didn’t say anything.”

-No, you said staff, didn’t you?

“Begin the attack.”

The Enchantment School students gleefully loaded their spells. Professor Verdus anxiously looked around.

Of all times to be ambushed, he was in the attic—so there weren’t many artifacts in here.

What he had on hand were for defense or for his work.

The powerful artifacts capable of overpowering other magicians were mostly on lower floors, and the handful of strong artifacts left were neutralized first by Yukveltire in the attack.

Professor Verdus started frantically tearing apart his projects in the attic to create makeshift artifacts. The entrance defenses were strengthened; new interception spells were added.

Boommmmm!

“!!!”

“Professor, did he get more artifacts?!”

At the fierce spells flying as soon as they approached, the students yelled in surprise.

Such firepower—had Professor Verdus somehow acquired extra artifacts?

“Don’t let it shake you. He’s bluffing. He just improvised with what’s here.”

Yukveltire knew exactly how the attic resources were stacked up.

With the rest of the artifacts cut off, all Professor Verdus could use were the materials in the attic.

There were limits to what one could do improv.

Despite barrages of lightning and flame, the students slowly formed up and advanced, and Professor Verdus cursed them again.

“What mean, spiteful magicians you are! How dare you steal and use someone else’s artifacts without permission!”

“Professor, I’m here.”

Professor Verdus let out a typical beaver-person shriek and fell backward. Joulin looked at Lee Han in disbelief.

Is that really Professor Verdus? He looks so cute!?

“Haha. Another lesson learned, Your Highness. Don’t be fooled by appearances.”

• * *

After teaching Joulin, Lee Han checked out the situation below.

He hadn’t seen the outside scene, having come in through the secret path Professor Verdus had shared.

And was shocked.

‘Wait. Is this a war??’

Yukveltire and the Enchantment School seniors were savagely armed, laying out siege weapons.

“What did you say to Senior Yukveltire? Did you tease her about the staff or something?”

For someone so coldheaded to be trying to kill her teacher outright—it seemed Verdus must have pushed further than Lee Han realized.

Of course, Professor Verdus was deeply wronged.

“I didn’t! Why would I do anything so pointless! And what staff?!”

“Think carefully, Professor. Even if you didn’t mean to, maybe Senior felt that way…”

“I really didn’t! More importantly, we need to get out! Yukveltire is trying to kill me! She’s gone insane—totally mad!”

Yukveltire isn’t that kind of magician…

When Joulin timidly defended Yukveltire, Professor Verdus finally noticed the dragon.

“Dragon!”

“Yes, this is Lord Joulin.”

“Then claws, scales, tears, blood…”

Professor Verdus was about to recite all 365 magical ingredients one could get from a dragon, starting with tendons and ending with molars.

But he didn’t get through it. Professor Bendozol leapt forward and started choking him.

“I’ll kill you right here!!”

“Ghk… Wardanaz!”

Ambushed, Professor Verdus desperately called out the only trustworthy pupil’s name.

‘Why did I come here…’

Lee Han sighed, not wanting to get involved. Beside him, Eandurde gazed at his senior with sympathy.

Never knew a senior could suffer such torment from professors!

“Everyone, calm down! Professor Verdus, you’re not seriously coveting dragon flesh, are you? That would earn you eternal curse and exile.”

“What if the dragon gives it himself?”

“Don’t talk nonsense! I’ll kill you before you even try!”

Professor Bendozol rolled his eyes furiously. Even Professor Verdus flinched and shrank back at that murderous aura.

“You think a dragon would graciously give even a scrap of their flesh to mere mortals?!”

Lee Han saw Joulin dodge his gaze in embarrassment.

‘It’s all right, Your Highness. No one will ever know.’

‘R-Right?’

“More importantly, Professor, can we escape through the secret route we used to get in?”

“Yukveltire put a tracking mark on my tail. If we use the secret route, she’ll notice.”

At this, Professor Bendozol grumbled.

“So just cut it off.”

“It’s a curse that regrows if you cut it off.”

“Then cut it again!”

“Are you an idiot? That’s not how it works…”

Stop fighting! Joulin’s had enough!

Joulin slammed his forepaw on the ground in frustration. Eandurde gave the dragon’s tail a pat, clearly approving.

“S-Sorry, Lord Dragon! It’s all that bastard’s fault!”

“Yeah! It’s that guy… mff.”

Lee Han quickly clamped Professor Verdus’s mouth shut.

“Can’t you dispel the spell?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“Bring the artifact that cast the spell, or a dispel artifact.”

“And where are those?”

“Yukveltire has both.”

“……”

Lee Han had to admit that Professor Verdus’s star disciple was very thorough.

‘Maybe she’s been planning to assassinate Professor Verdus for a while now?’

“What if you made one?”

“I could if I had the reagents and materials…”

“And does Senior Yukveltire have those too?”

“Yes.”

‘Should I just turn him in?’

For a moment, Lee Han hesitated. But it had all happened because of the artifact he’d taken.

“…I guess persuasion is our only option. Here’s your -Star Guide-. Once Professor Craer gets this back, the bounty should be lifted.”

“!”

Professor Verdus stared wide-eyed at the artifact Lee Han pulled out.

“You got it back?!”

“…Yes, sir.”

“Isn’t that a little strange?”

Professor Bendozol, noticing, raised an eyebrow.

The artifact disappeared from Professor Verdus’s workshop, and now it was brought back so fast.

At Einrogard, that usually meant the thief was…

“It’s simple, really.”

Happily handling the artifact, Professor Verdus answered with pride.

“What is it?”

“He respects me so much, he hurried to get it back!”

“……”

Lee Han almost kicked Professor Verdus’s tail on reflex.

‘I caused this by borrowing the artifact. I caused this by borrowing the artifact.’

“You call that a sensible thing to say?”

Professor Bendozol was dumbfounded.

That a student got the artifact back so quickly out of respect for his teacher—unthinkable at Einrogard except in its final days.

No! Joulin will vouch for him!

Realizing Lee Han was under suspicion, Joulin rushed to make excuses. Professor Bendozol looked like he wanted to hang himself.

“Is that true!?”

“Yes… out of respect, of course…”

Lee Han said it, having no other choice. For some reason, Professor Verdus’s smug look really bothered him.

“Wardanaz has always respected me, even helping out during school breaks.”

“…Ugh.”

Lee Han let out a groan of agony.

It was harder to endure than almost any curse.

‘If I stay any longer, I might really go crazy.’

“Professor, I’ll try to persuade Senior Yukveltire. Now that the artifact’s returned, the bounty should disappear soon, right?”

“Yes. Be careful. She’s truly gone mad.”

“She’s not like that. Senior Yukveltire! This is Lee Han—”

“Trying to fool me with a fake voice?”

With that reply came a killing intent-filled attack. Lee Han dodged, cursing Professor Verdus.

“What on earth did you do?!”

“I swear I did nothing!”