Episode 973

Giving up on his unhelpful friend, Direte turned his gaze back to his junior.

Yukveltire’s stubbornness was annoyingly strong, so once he got like that, it was almost impossible to change his mind. It was easier just to leave him be.

“Sorry. It’s unfortunate, but that’s just how it is.”

“It’s alright. What would Senior Yukveltire know anyway?”

“Uh, no. Yukveltire can actually use Small World… and he’s probably even better than I am at handling it.”

Compared to Direte, a Dark Magic major, Yukveltire, as an Enchantment Magic major, had collected and analyzed a wide variety of artifacts.

Thanks to that, he also had a broad understanding of magical fields other than his specialty, so when it came to advising on Small World magic, Yukveltire might have been even more helpful for the junior.

“Nah, that can’t be right. Senior Direte is the best senior in the empire.”

“……”

Deeply moved Direte quickly turned his head so the junior wouldn’t see.

Good thing it was underground. The darkness would hide the tears at the corner of his eyes.

“Senior?”

“It’s nothing. So, tell me, what explanation did you get?”

“Actually, I was encouraged to learn it, but…”

“Ignore it.”

Direte replied instantly.

As expected, beings from other dimensions were dangerous ones you shouldn’t interact with lightly.

How could they shamelessly spout that nonsense to a sophomore junior without hesitation?

“To say such things. What a dangerous madman that is!”

‘Mm. The Headmaster said the same thing.’

To be precise, the Headmaster’s clone did too.

Lee Han calmed Direte and asked,

“Still, I should learn in advance just in case. What if I get kidnapped and can’t come out until I learn again?”

“I want to say that’s ridiculous, but… it’s sad that I can’t deny it…”

He wanted to retort that nobody would kidnap someone and force them to learn magic until they were released, but his junior had already experienced it once.

Giving up, Direte listened quietly.

Small World Basilios and its explanations had an alluring and fascinating aspect.

It was an ancient Small World magic of a completely different system, not the “relatively easy” Small World that upperclassmen at Einrogard cared about.

Concentrating, Direte spoke without thinking.

“…Could the condition be that only a good person can use it? More precisely, one who devotes themselves for others…”

As befits a fifth-year at Einrogard, Direte was surprisingly sharp.

The only things in common between the young, kind Headmaster (hard to believe) and the gentle junior were just about that much.

“That sounds totally bonkers, though.”

But the foolish junior couldn’t accept the senior’s wisdom. Direte tilted his head.

“Really? That’s all I can come up with… Still, instead of dismissing it as nonsense, how about you try a few experiments?”

If it were anyone else, Lee Han would have told them not to spout such nonsense, but this was the empire’s best senior.

Lee Han resolved to try simply to show his respect.

“Understood. I’ll give it a try.”

“Small World is all about qualifications, junior. If you’re not qualified, you can’t learn it at all. It’s like a staff that chooses its master…”

“What requirements did -Pentagrammaton- have for you, Senior?”

At the question, Direte spread his fingers wide.

Five.

“You have to subdue five high-ranked demons and inscribe five letters. Each letter seals a demon. It’s a magic that draws on the power flowing from those letters.”

-Pentagrammaton-, which breaks the limitations of magic at close range for Dark Mages and brings about a surge, required such difficult qualifications fitting its effects.

To subdue five high demons and inscribe the letters through that submission.

“Thinking about it, maybe this would be easier for you, junior…”

“…?!”

At Direte’s innocent remark, Lee Han’s eyes widened.

Just what was that supposed to mean?

“When you see that yacha guy again, ask him about this condition and watch how he reacts. If I’m right—No, even if you are, don’t rush. Even with the qualifications, it’s only the beginning.”

The crow beast-person senior offered sincere advice.

Even if you met the qualifications and conditions, that was only the start.

Even after Direte subdued the demons, it had taken plenty of time before he finished -Pentagrammaton-. It would likely be the same for his junior.

“I understand. If the situation arises, the other party could try to torment me in various ways—attack, threaten, bribe, persuade all to accelerate my magical training. It’s dangerous.”

“…You’re being super specific and thorough… But yes, that’s exactly what I meant.”

As they conversed, Yukveltire continued to observe.

To determine when the crown perched above his junior’s head would show itself again!

• * *

‘Hmmm.’

Back on the surface, Lee Han wondered if this was the right way to spend the last bit of his weekend.

-Wardanaz. Did you come to see us?

“Oh. Hello, everyone.”

The giants standing guard near the workshop waved when they saw Lee Han.

-Going to see the sheep?

“No. I’ll go later…”

-Oooh! That’s sad.

“Let’s go together next time.”

-A lamb knocked down the cliff again! Wardanaz should have seen it! It was hilarious!

“…Why was that funny?”

-There were other giants up on the cliff!

‘Yeah. I won’t be able to understand.’

Giving up quickly, Lee Han headed to Mad Clone’s workshop.

He opened the door and went inside (as a disciple, there was no particular restriction) and saw a hamster running on a wheel in a nearby pen.

“Hello.”

The hamster didn’t even answer anymore.

It seemed to want nothing to do with the Mad Clone or his disciple. Feeling a bit sorry, Lee Han tossed some food into the pen.

“Master, are you here?”

“Did you come to ask about Black Dark Hall?”

“Huh? Uh… No.”

“Then is it about Small World?”

“I do need to ask about Small World too, but… not right now.”

“Good. Then what high magic are you curious about?”

“Not that either.”

“…Then why did you come?”

Before his master could start swearing, Lee Han quickly got to the point.

“I came to ask about orichalcum!”

Realizing it wasn’t easy to find trustworthy people around him, Lee Han opted for the fastest, strongest option.

The Mad Clone.

Surely an honorable ancient noble wouldn’t take away a disciple’s orichalcum.

“I found some orichalcum.”

“Good. Refine and use it properly.”

The Mad Clone’s response was rather indifferent.

Indeed, unlike those students at Einrogard who came running down with their eyes blazing, he wasn’t excited just hearing the name orichalcum—a dignity befitting someone who’d collected all sorts of riches and treasures.

“Could you help me with the mining?”

The Mad Clone slowly shook his head.

“I’m disappointed. I don’t believe you’re asking for your master’s help just because you can’t mine a simple bit of orichalcum.”

“Well, I could if it were fully matured orichalcum, but I heard something odd…”

“!”

The Mad Clone paused.

Could it be?

“Don’t tell me you found orichalcum that’s not yet fully crystallized.”

“I did.”

“Why are you acting so foolishly? Don’t you realize that if you don’t lock such treasure away, other greedy ones will covet it?”

“……”

Suddenly being scolded for dallying, Lee Han was speechless.

He’d come almost immediately!

“I came nearly right away after hearing…”

“I don’t want to hear it. Move. I need to check for myself.”

“I just got up from underground. How about taking a day or two to rest before we go?”

Without a word, the Mad Clone grabbed his disciple by the ear and dragged him off. Lee Han had no choice but to be pulled along.

• * *

‘My master might be a mining genius.’

Back underground not long after coming up, Lee Han had a blasphemous thought.

Even when moving around with the Enchantment Magic School or Transmutation Magic School seniors, Lee Han hadn’t felt this uncomfortable.

Because there were so many outstanding mages, most problems were easily taken care of.

Monsters that appeared underground were avoided through early detection (sometimes they’d fight head-on), if there weren’t any paths, footholds would be conjured in the air or the rock would be transformed, and for darkness, there was light enchantment and dark vision…

But moving with the Mad Clone made all those measures seem trivial.

Pop!

With a single motion, the Mad Clone altered the map of the underground mining zone.

The intricate, maze-like network of underground bedrock twisted and shifted, creating a direct path.

There was no need to worry about where the cliffs or drop-offs or shortcuts were.

The Mad Clone grabbed the entire area leading to their destination like a lump of clay and simply tunneled through it.

“Let’s go.”

‘…Uh, will the seniors be okay after this?’

Stepping into the hastily smoothed, polished passage that did not fit the underground at all, Lee Han wondered.

This part of the mine was one the seniors had spent so much time making their own maps for.

But the Mad Clone had just conveniently reshaped the whole area.

‘Not my fault. This has nothing to do with me.’

As a result, their travel time was dramatically reduced.

Having already memorized the map, the Mad Clone nodded.

“It really exists.”

“!”

Lee Han was a bit surprised.

He’d been half-doubting it would exist, but it really was there.

“I’m surprised.”

“Why is that?”

“Th-the person who told me was a bit greedy, so…”

The Mad Clone, looking satisfied for once, revealed a rare, pleased expression.

“The answer is simple.”

“What is it?”

“Your dignity as my disciple overwhelmed that greedy one.”

“……”

Lee Han didn’t agree, but he wisely held his tongue.

“This is it. Let’s head in.”

“Master. Actually, a mage who came before got trapped in the ore vein…!”

As Lee Han spoke, he gasped.

The Mad Clone grabbed him by the back of the neck and shoved him forward.

“Are you finally revealing your tr—…Huh?”

Lee Han realized he hadn’t bumped into stone or gotten trapped inside.

What he thought was solid rock was just a camouflage created by the orichalcum.

“I thought you said something just now.”

“The disciple must’ve been talking nonsense out of exhaustion. More importantly, wasn’t the orichalcum supposed to repel outsiders?”

“It only repels the corrupted and greedy.”

The Mad Clone said, looking at his disciple.

Lee Han replied as if to reassure his master.

“Then why me?”

“…Be quiet and fetch the orichalcum.”

Sensing his master’s mood sour, Lee Han shut his mouth and moved.

He felt all the surrounding mana and energy gathering on a single point of will. At the end of it sat the orichalcum.

‘…It looks plainer than I thought.’

Reminiscent of a wildflower, a white fist-sized ore floated in the air.

For all its renown, the light it emitted wasn’t much: to others, it might have looked like a worthless stone.

“But Master. Is it really okay to handle orichalcum that’s been crystallizing here for so long like this?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

‘I see.’

While his master might attack him, he never lied. Lee Han confidently grabbed the orichalcum.

Sure enough, the orichalcum followed without any resistance at all. Even Lee Han wondered if it should really be this easy.

“I’ve got it.”

“Don’t let it leave your side. For it to be completed, it needs to absorb the mana of nature.”

“……”

As Lee Han stood dumbfounded, a baby basilisk hissed menacingly at him.