Episode 913

Lee Han truly left to submit his assignment.

Since it was the product of a struggle aided by the power of the nefarious magic criminal, it would’ve been such a waste to just let it go.

Of course, the magic criminal hamster beside him saw this as the height of madness.

-…Even with that tyrant trapped in the workshop, you’re thinking about turning in homework??

“Not turning this in isn’t going to bring my master back to his senses, is it?”

-……

The caged hamster realized there was no point in saying more.

‘If some new magic criminals boast about their madness, I should just bury them under their own words…’

Newly renowned magic criminals often showcased their “madness” to leave a strong impression on their seniors.

But to the hamster it all just felt like silly bravado.

True madness should radiate quietly and deeply, just like that.

Enough to make even his own fur stand on end!

“What’s wrong?”

-…Nothing.

“By the way, the Yaksha King recommended -Gonadaltes’ Fall-. What do you think of that?”

-What do I think?

The hamster squeaked, perplexed.

Even among magic criminals like him, there was no disagreement about the Yaksha King’s power and abilities.

If -Gonadaltes’ Fall- really was the best solution, that was surely true.

“Do you have any other advice? Anything to beware of, or something to focus on…”

-Hmm.

Flicking his whiskers, the hamster suddenly realized the strangeness.

Why was he being asked about this?

-Why are you asking me? Am I your master, or something?

Thinking about it, it was absurd.

If he was going to ask anyone, it should be the Mad Clone himself—not someone helplessly caged as a hamster.

And when had Lee Han ever helped him while he was trapped like this?

‘Well, he did give me grapes.’

“Ah, come on. We have to cooperate if we want to get through this crisis quickly. We can’t escape unless my master comes to his senses—no breaking the magic while he’s like this.”

Lee Han, ever his master’s disciple, sharply spotted the hamster’s predicament and hit where it hurt.

The hamster had originally planned to wait for the Mad Clone to be driven out temporarily, so the binding magic would disappear and he could escape during the confusion.

But not only had the Mad Clone not been driven out, he was now rampaging even harder in a reversed state—no way would the bindings break now.

Even worse, if things kept up, the Yaksha King would be overwhelmed and reverse-summoned, letting the Mad Clone regain control.

If the Mad Clone got the upper hand, at least his disciple would be the commander; the hamster stuck as a slave could end up as a sacrifice.

‘If new magic criminals boast about wickedness, I’ll sew their arms and legs on backwards…’

Lee Han, who had unknowingly raised the bar for magic criminals everywhere, was then asked by the hamster:

-For someone who gets it this well, why are you wasting time? Don’t tell me you plan to finish all your remaining exams before dealing with the tyrant?

“This is the last one I need to submit. I already took the rest ahead of time.”

-……

‘If any new magic criminals boast about planning skills, I’ll sew their mouths shut.’

• * *

While Lee Han was turning in his assignment, Professors Garcia and Voladi were in deep magical discussion.

“-Gonadaltes’ Fall- is really a unique spell. I found that in ancient times it was used for offense.”

“Yes. A real pity.”

“You’re not interested in this magic, Professor?”

Professor Voladi shook his head slowly.

Being a combat mage with extensive experience and theory, he was very selective when adopting new magic.

“It’s not suitable for combat.”

Black magicians during the Three Kingdoms era tried to adapt this spell for offense, but Voladi found it inefficient.

Since the magic was meant to transfer someone’s decline to oneself, it had limits as an offensive tool.

“That’s true. Plus, the conditions are so tricky… What do you think about what ‘that person’ said?”

The “person” here referred, of course, to the Yaksha King.

To Lee Han, “that guy” or “that jerk” would have been likely, but to Garcia, the Yaksha King deserved respect as a being from another dimension.

Very few beings would go all out to help with something unrelated to themselves, just because of some connection.

“I suppose he’s right.”

“Hmm. As I thought.”

Professor Garcia murmured, troubled.

Their current dilemma was simple.

The Yaksha King had recommended Fall as a solution, and had strongly suggested Lee Han perform it personally—not just a gentle suggestion, but something close to an imperative.

• * *

-Hmm. The way I see it, it’s best if Osu’s disciple is the one to cast it.

-But this magic could be fully learned by me or Professor Baegrek, right?

-Learning the magic is easy enough. But the real essence is not in merely learning and casting it.

The Yaksha King explained as much as he knew about the spell.

For things like pain, wounds, or curses, just learning and casting the spell was enough for them to be transferred.

That was something even regular mages already understood well.

But if what needed to be transferred was an archmage’s ancient aspiration… that was different.

If the mage didn’t really understand what he was trying to transfer—or only pretended to, on a superficial level…

-Do you think Osu would surrender his will so easily?

The two professors shuddered as they grasped the intent behind the Yaksha King’s words.

Hearing it like that, it sounded much tougher than they expected.

Einrogard students would be outraged—“What are you even talking about, that’s ridiculous!”—but real magic was always easiest when it was just theory and numbers and diagrams.

The moment you brought in soul, conviction, and intent, it became a realm even the greatest mage could miss out of sheer bad luck.

To cast the spell, one would have to deeply understand the Skull Headmaster’s youthful convictions.

…How could that even be possible?

-Can’t we just kill him instead?

-Hmm. Judging by your destructive energy, it seems you serve as the land’s chief of security and guardian. But no.

-……

Feeling embarrassed for having even asked, Professor Garcia closed his mouth.

Professor Voladi listened silently, then spoke up.

-I’ll try to understand the Headmaster. Wake him up.

-Hmm. Are you close to Osu?

-Uh… well… kind of… I guess…

Professor Garcia was unsure.

Professor Voladi was quite close to the Skull Headmaster—if you compared him to the other professors.

But was that really “close”?

-Got it. I’ll try waking him for a moment. Everyone be cautious.

The Yaksha King, still restraining the Mad Clone, closed his eyes and woke the Mad Clone.

Awakening from suspended consciousness, the Mad Clone asked, bored,

“Have you come to announce your surrender, Yaksha King?”

-No. This mage here says he wants to understand you.

“Get lost.”

After saying that, the Mad Clone re-froze his own mind, saving his strength until the Yaksha King’s power wore off.

-Failed.

Professor Voladi said it without a hint of emotion. Professor Garcia was more embarrassed for himself and quickly tried to console him.

-T-the Headmaster is in his younger days, that’s why! If this was recent, he might have heard you out!

-That makes sense. Osu’s obsessed with honor right now. He won’t listen to outsiders. It’s better to just leave it to Osu’s disciple.

-Uh, Your Majesty, you may not realize it, but Lee Han is still a fairly inexperienced mage.

-Hmm. But didn’t this mage already show sufficient ability by contracting with a guest star last time…? Are you perhaps being overprotective, projecting your old self onto your disciple?

-N-no! Not at all!

-Hmm. The way you just got mad makes your previous slip even more convincing. Anyway, let Osu’s disciple handle it. Just let things flow naturally, and don’t mention this conversation. If he knows, it’ll only put more pressure on him.

• * *

“Still, maybe I could somehow manage to understand?”

Professor Voladi shook his head again.

Professor Garcia, having wanted to get what information he could from Lee Han and handle the Fall himself, was now realizing that the bond of master and student isn’t easily replicated by an outsider.

Most Einrogard students struggled to accept Voladi’s teachings, but Lee Han could because he trusted his teacher.

The same went for the Mad Clone.

“Nnngh…”

As Professor Baegrek kept giving negative answers, Professor Garcia hummed, troubled.

After much agonizing, he finally asked, resigned,

“Alright. If Lee Han has to handle it, how can we help him understand? Honestly, following the Headmaster clone’s thought process is not an easy thing.”

Truly comprehending the mindset of wanting to conquer and rule the world to end suffering was tough.

If Lee Han instantly understood, Professor Garcia figured he would have to see Lee Han in a completely new light.

“After much thought, I think the best method is time magic.”

“Time magic… ah!”

Seeing Professor Baegrek discuss his specialty, Garcia finally caught on.

Time magic wasn’t just about pulling or twisting present time. Peeking at the past was part of it too.

Nothing aids understanding like experience and vicarious insight.

And Garcia just happened to have an artifact suited to this situation.

“If we use -Scepter of Kairos-, Lee Han can see and experience the past directly. The rest of us can accompany and support him too.”

“…You too, Professor Garcia?”

Professor Voladi looked at him with concern. Garcia, regretting not practicing more magical combat, exclaimed,

“I—if I prepare a lot, it’ll be fine! If we’re ready, we can manage even if there’s a fight!”

Voladi still hesitated.

Garcia was gentle by nature, not even able to kill a bug.

Peeking into real history was a bit like visiting another world, so you needed to be ready to fight hard, if needed…

After mulling it over, Professor Voladi finally nodded.

If it got dangerous, he could have Lee Han protect Garcia.

“Thank you, Professor!”

“The thanks are mine.”

• * *

-Perfect score, Lee Han! Amazing! But I do have one question…

-Uh, was there a mistake?

-N-not at all, Lee Han! It’s just—why did you write it in such an old-fashioned style? It really reads like an elderly scholar wrote it. The model essay was quite light and modern. Did you use an old dictionary by any chance?

-……

Having received a perfect score and headed back to the two professors, Lee Han grumbled all the way.

“What kind of interpretation is that…”

-……

Annoyed, the hamster burrowed deep into his cage bedding, hiding himself away.