Episode 880

“Be quiet, wretch.”

“Yes.”

At the Mad Clone’s glare, Lee Han immediately shut his mouth.

“This is why insignificant mages… know nothing of the value of truth or the importance of hardship.”

At the lament of the ancient archmage, Professor Zorzik cautiously offered his own opinion.

“Excuse me, Grand Mage. Do you know what my goal is?”

“Why should royalty know such a thing?”

“To become the next headmaster of Einrogard.”

“……”

Even the Mad Clone looked momentarily startled at the unexpected, shocking goal.

Professor Zorzik deserved such a look, since aspiring to that level was a feat of madness not easily attempted.

“Astonishing.”

“As a candidate for Einrogard’s next headmaster, I have a duty to protect the students.”

The Mad Clone looked at Lee Han as if she couldn’t believe it.

“Is that true?”

“Um… yes.”

Lee Han wasn’t sure he caught it exactly, but he thought he heard the Mad Clone mutter, “The dregs have gone mad…”

“The traditions of ancient magic, as you know, often treat disciples not just harshly but at times as expendable. We can’t help but suspect you see Student Wardanaz as disposable.”

“How dare you?”

Professor Zorzik and Professor Voladi immediately drew their staffs. A powerful presence was emanating from the Mad Clone.

It wasn’t just an outpouring of magical power, but the archmage’s unique way of controlling and dominating the space itself!

“With a gentle word, you show your arrogant nature. Does the teaching of royalty sound so cheap, passed out to mere expendables?”

The Mad Clone’s voice was level, without inflection, but it was all the more chilling for it.

Depending on what people said, this space could turn into a place of death at any moment—that was the dreadful aura exuding from her words.

Why do you call Lee Han “wretch”, then?

Joulin, hugging a disgruntled Eandurde and listening closely, spoke up.

The Mad Clone seemed slightly caught off guard by the dragon’s sudden intervention.

“…Because he’s of low status, I call him wretch.”

But Lee Han is a noble.

“I do not mean blood status, noble descendant.”

The Mad Clone explained the custom of the ancient mages.

Regardless of whether one was royalty or a slave, a disciple was, by default, a learner and thus an inferior being.

Joulin, confronted with the harsh educational environment of ancient times, was appalled.

In that case, the critique about treating them as expendable isn’t entirely off the mark!

“No, noble descendant. Just because the title is such doesn’t mean they are disposable…”

The Mad Clone continued calmly, never showing the slightest anger to Joulin.

But Joulin was indeed of dragon blood.

No matter how many ancient customs or laws were explained, she just shook her head.

Joulin doesn’t know about that! She just feels sorry for Lee Han!

“……”

The Mad Clone, after long and persistent persuasion, ultimately admitted defeat.

“…Understood. I will call you disciple, noble descendant.”

Wow!

Watching this scene, Lee Han was more moved than he had been earlier.

“Your Highness. I don’t think I’ve ever been prouder.”

Hehe. Joulin is… Wait. So you’ve never been proud until now?

‘Oops.’

Before Joulin could catch on, Professors Zorzik and Voladi cut in.

“Your Highness. Please ask for some other things, too.”

“You should also call out dangerous teachings.”

“……”

The professors, using Joulin as a shield to impart their own complaints, earned a look of contempt from the Mad Clone.

This continent truly was a degenerate place. The longer time went on, the worse it became.

• * *

After negotiations (more like Joulin’s stubbornness), a few changes occurred.

Lee Han’s title changed from “wretch” to “disciple.” This was a truly monumental change.

Additionally, the Mad Clone’s teachings shifted slightly. She agreed, for now, not to pass on any spells that carried risk of death.

The Mad Clone tried to argue, pointing out that “revival is always an option,” citing the custom of the ancients, but Joulin was adamant.

No! No way! Dying is painful!

“……”

Thanks to this, the Mad Clone’s mood, having lost out, seemed quite sour. Lee Han watched his master carefully.

Normally, Lee Han wouldn’t care whether his master was angry or sad, but when that master was the Mad Clone, it was a different story.

That “mad” in front of the title wasn’t just for show.

“Master, still, I have achieved a few things lately.”

The Mad Clone pretended not to hear, apparently still upset.

Lee Han, I think she’s sulking…

Being the one who pouted the most, Joulin had an expert’s sense for emotional knots.

Naturally, Lee Han couldn’t just agree.

“She’s not sulking. Just seems a little displeased.”

…Isn’t that the same…?

“Shh. More importantly, help me out. I need to tell her my achievements.”

Okay! Got it!

Joulin, feeling a bit guilty for her earlier stubbornness, nodded up and down.

“Look. I’ve completed this staff.”

“If you’d used a branch from the World Tree, it would be stronger. Wret… Disciple.”

“……”

Lee Han almost missed the times when the Mad Clone would snap and rage.

Pretending not to hear him at all was far more difficult to handle.

“Also, I completed that skeleton golem.”

“Reflect on how late it took you to finish. How could it take so long to finish a mere skeleton golem?”

While the Mad Clone spoke curtly, Professors Zorzik and Voladi conversed.

“Professor Baegrek, if I may say so carefully. I think Einrogard’s current method of magical instruction is far superior and more refined than the ancient style.”

“I agree.”

“Even if we study ancient magic, there’s no need to follow its teaching methods.”

‘Would they say that somewhere else instead?’

The two professors were having a legitimate discussion about magic and teaching methods, but Lee Han found it unhelpful.

At last, Joulin jumped in to help.

Lee Han has acquired a backpack with spatial magic and learned magic for making airships!

“How wonderful. You should enter the guild workshop and work as an artisan.”

At the Mad Clone’s chilly tone, Joulin’s shoulders drooped.

But Lee Han wondered.

‘Isn’t that a compliment?’

The more he thought about it, the more it sounded like a blessing. For a moment, he wondered if the Mad Clone’s anger had faded.

But the Mad Clone’s expression was as icy as ever. Lee Han realized he still had a long way to go.

“Um… I visited the Heaven’s Nine Oceans dimension. Met the Yaksha King, spoke with him, and made a star contract…”

While talking, Lee Han glanced at his master for signs that her anger might have eased.

He was shocked.

“…?!!”

The Mad Clone looked at him with a never-before-seen expression.

Her face was a mix of shock, awe, and emotion, so much so it was hard to read.

“Keep talking.”

“Pardon? That’s all I said.”

“Do you not know the word ‘in detail’? In detail. Don’t leave anything out.”

There was clear pressure—if he did not explain everything, he’d be turned into a hamster and tossed in the cage with the criminal. Lee Han hurriedly described what happened in detail.

How he crossed the dimensional gate, how he met the Yaksha King, the tricks of the Yaksha King (The Mad Clone waved this aside as bothersome to recount)…

Even down to the name of the star he contracted with. At this, the Mad Clone fell silent for a moment.

“You…”

“?”

“I am proud of you. You are worthy to be called my disciple.”

Lee Han realized one thing.

When the ancient Mad Archmage looked deeply moved and full of expectation, it was far more terrifying than when she raged or acted cold.

• * *

In contrast to Lee Han’s fear and shock, the Mad Clone seemed delighted and even treated the two professors kindly.

She answered Professor Zorzik’s magical questions graciously, and promised to consider Professor Voladi’s criticisms about teaching.

“But, Master, didn’t you say you’d prepare for the intruders?”

“Ah, right. That. Such a trivial thing, I’d forgotten.”

“……”

Neither professor objected.

Because of its fame, Einrogard constantly attracted intruders. But of those, very few ever managed to leave alive.

Most didn’t even make it past the demesne’s barriers, and even those who did simply disappeared inside, without a trace.

And now, to break in just to save a hamster—well, a magical criminal—in a workshop deep in the mountains…

Of course the professors dismissed it as trivial.

“To protect the workshop’s items, I’ll need underlings after all.”

Even an archmage was vulnerable to thieves during their absence from the workshop.

No matter how powerful or advanced one’s magic, there were always loopholes.

It was for this reason mages stationed minions at their workshops.

At this, Lee Han cocked his head.

“Still, if Master really fortified it, it couldn’t be attacked under normal circumstances, right?”

In theory, breaking through the headmaster’s defensive spells on his office would be impossible no matter how many Gainandos you threw at it.

There were limits to the difference in skill…

The Mad Clone replied coldly.

“Why would I use such magic to protect a lowly slave?”

“…Ah. I see.”

Lee Han found it absurd, but the professors seemed to understand.

“It really would be a waste of secret arts for one criminal.”

“If there’s magic to spare, it should be used for disciples.”

‘Maybe I shouldn’t have brought these two.’

Just bringing Joulin might have been much better.

“Shall I stand guard? Prince Joulin and Eandurde can help too…”

“Getting arrogant, are we? Just because you met the Yaksha King and contracted a star. You don’t have enough time for your own practice.”

‘Then why call me in the first place?’

Lee Han cursed his master inwardly.

The Mad Clone continued lecturing, oblivious.

“To have a noble descendant do such menial work—how many times must I teach you decorum?”

Joulin’s fine with it!

The Mad Clone pretended not to hear. Joulin pouted.

“And having such inferior juniors do it is equally improper. They need years more training.”

“!”

Eandurde looked at Lee Han and Professor Voladi with deep shock.

Was he really that unskilled?

“No, Eandurde. Don’t fall for it. She’s just strict.”

“You’re doing just fine.”

Both tried to comfort Eandurde. Then Lee Han asked again.

“Then, is there a good way?”

“As I said, you need underlings. So go find some nearby.”

“I see—you mean the upperclassmen of Einrogard.”

“……”

Even the Mad Clone and professors cast stunned looks at Lee Han. Even Professor Voladi was a little surprised.

“Uh, isn’t that right?”

Lee Han… Joulin thinks by ‘nearby’ she means the other local races…

“You are indeed the descendant of nobility. What a hopeless disciple. There are several races in these mountains.”

“Even so, if you paid the upperclassmen in gold, they’d work quite hard…”

The group ignored Lee Han’s comment.

“The most suitable of them are the giants. As a royal disciple, I’ll give you full authority—go visit the giants with Intarendals. Giants are wild and unruly, so be extra careful with your attitude. Don’t act arrogantly just because you can offer generous rewards. Their anger is not something trifling.”

“?”

Are there other giants in these mountains?