Episode 980

Yukveltire was deeply unsettled at having missed the chance to learn vision magic from the Mad Clone.

Direte spoke carefully.

“Enchantment Magic School juniors are all… a bit individualistic.”

‘And you’re the ringleader,’ she swallowed that last part out of friendship.

Frankly, Direte suspected the Enchantment Magic School’s culture at Einrogard was somewhat colored by Yukveltire’s influence.

“I meant the Wardanaz family junior.”

“Oh.”

Direte was momentarily at a loss for words.

Come to think of it, that junior was someone for whom the “individualism” excuse didn’t work at all.

“He probably didn’t have the presence of mind to call you, with the headmaster’s clone next to him.”

“I see. Still inexperienced.”

Direte’s junior, Ogoldos, rotated his finger at his temple just behind Yukveltire’s head.

Whether inside or outside Einrogard, that gesture meant only one thing:

—Is that senior crazy?

“……”

Direte shook her head.

Yukveltire wasn’t crazy. Just a little eccentric.

…Probably!

“Anyway, Yukveltire. Surely you see now that I was right? If you’d listened to me, you’d have five more dimensional visions by now.”

“That’s not logical…”

“No. It’s very logical.”

Just as she was about to shut her friend up and kick her out, Direte sensed something odd.

“Wait a second. The headmaster’s clone went to Professor Verdus’s class, too?”

“Shouldn’t that have been your first surprise, senior?”

“No. He came to my class, too.”

“?!!”

Ogoldos was stunned.

To think the headmaster’s clone had visited even Direte’s classroom.

“Did anything happen!?”

“Hm? Hm…”

“…Senior, you’re amazing!”

Ogoldos looked up with eyes full of respect.

A true backbone of Einrogard’s Dark Magic School. Her resourcefulness was nothing like certain professors.

“He’s not planning on following the junior to every class, is he?”

“I think that’s exactly the plan.”

For a moment, the mood grew heavy and oppressive.

It wasn’t because it was the Dark Magic School’s workshop—everyone simply sensed the junior’s pending tragic fate.

“So, if I follow the same classes as the Wardanaz junior, I can learn vision magic?”

“That’s right. But you’re a fifth-year, so you can’t. Only go when you’re teaching.”

“Audit is free at Einrogard…”

“You can’t audit old lectures you already took.”

Direte enacted the Direte Act on the spot.

Yukveltire protested, but her ruthless, illogical friend didn’t back down.

• * *

“I was surprised, master.”

“That kind of magician truly is impressive. Even in the old days, there weren’t many like that.”

Mad Clone nodded as if he understood his disciple perfectly.

Verdus certainly was extraordinary.

Even in ancient times, it was rare to see someone so stubbornly single-minded.

To uphold his desires even after all those artifacts were destroyed.

Had it been ancient days, he might have been a terrifying enemy.

“Excuse me? Oh, the professor? He wasn’t that surprising. He’s always like that. I was just shocked that you’d watch other people’s magic.”

After subduing Professor Verdus, Mad Clone had led the class.

The students weren’t especially impressed, but Lee Han was.

That Mad Clone would give a direct lecture!

To be honest, Lee Han had been nervous that Mad Clone would say, “You teach now, disciple.”

He’d much rather undertake harsh magical training than have to teach his seniors.

“I see. So there was such a method.”

“……”

Lee Han reflected deeply.

A mage who can’t control his own mouth will never amount to much…!

“The reason I lectured today is because royalty has a grand plan.”

“?”

At Mad Clone’s words, Lee Han was puzzled.

He had a plan?

What could…

‘Gasp. Could it be?’

Only one thing came to mind. Lee Han looked shocked and asked,

“Are you after the headmaster’s seat at Einrogard?”

“……”

Mad Clone looked at his disciple as if he were filth.

“Uh, well, nothing else comes to mind.”

“Why would royalty want to rule over this flea pit?”

Lee Han was called a flea on the spot, but didn’t flinch.

“It’s not a bad seat. It’s recognized by the empire, and being the lord comes with a high noble title…”

“Take it for yourself.”

“That’s harsh!”

For once, Lee Han retorted with anger.

His usually polite disciple snapping back left Mad Clone dumbfounded.

“Sorry. I lost my composure.”

“I hope you aren’t going mad. Now’s not the time to lose your mind.”

“Don’t worry. So what’s your plan?”

Mad Clone didn’t answer.

Instead, he seemed pensive.

‘????’

With the silence, Lee Han grew more flustered.

It was rare for Mad Clone, usually so forthcoming, to refuse an answer.

“I can’t tell you. You must not know this plan, disciple.”

“……”

Lee Han was aghast.

‘He really is after the headmaster’s seat, isn’t he?’

Nothing else made sense.

Teaching students who weren’t his disciples, hiding secrets from Lee Han…

“So where are we off to next?”

“Uh… -One Drop of Potion Instead of Complex Magic- class.”

“Alchemy? Is that magician like the last one?”

“Absolutely not. There may be one or two more like that in Einrogard, but not this professor.”

As he spoke, Lee Han began to feel a little sorry for Professor Thunderstep.

‘Still, there’s no way he’ll be that shocked.’

• * *

“In the future, please just talk out any problems you have!”

Seeing the headmaster’s clone simply seated in the classroom, the dwarf professor quickly pulled Lee Han aside.

Back in the faculty lounge, Professor Garcia had warned, ‘You should be careful,’ but he hadn’t realized what it meant—until now.

He knew this junior was resourceful, but never imagined he’d drag the mad headmaster’s clone into class to air his professor grievances.

“You misunderstand. I didn’t bring him on purpose.”

“They say he went to Professor Verdus’s class, too! How can you say it wasn’t on purpose!”

“…I did enjoy that a bit, but it was still my class.”

Lee Han’s explanation was sincere.

Of course, he’d enjoyed the hunt for Professor Verdus, but technically it was a lesson he was supposed to attend.

If Mad Clone was following him, how could Lee Han stop it?

At the explanation, Professor Thunderstep’s tone softened.

He understood Lee Han’s predicament. Not many mages could refuse the headmaster’s clone trailing behind them.

“In that case, I guess there was nothing you could do. You’ve had a rough… wait, didn’t you finish your staff? Why were you even in Professor Verdus’s class…”

Oops.

Mad Clone stepped in to help Lee Han.

“Wh-what is it?”

“You are admirable. You know the manners befitting a mage.”

“…?”

Professor Thunderstep was puzzled.

He considered himself only average in etiquette at best.

“I wondered if there might be another like that last magician… but it seems not.”

Oh.

Everything is relative in the end.

Any professor coming after Verdus would seem virtuous just for breathing normally.

‘Thank you, Professor Verdus. I won’t repay you, but I am grateful!’

Thunderstep offered thanks in his heart, but bowed his head.

“Any Einrogard professor should have etiquette, of course.”

“Didn’t seem like that to me… In any case, I have a job for you.”

“…?”

Professor Thunderstep hesitated.

Was this okay?

If the headmaster returned, would there be trouble?

Lee Han was just a student, and the skeleton headmaster’s favored one, so exceptions could be made.

But what if a professor took a request from the other side?

Would that be forgivable?

“What is it you want?”

“Swear an oath first. Secrecy is crucial.”

“Good idea. Secrets are important.”

Thunderstep agreed right away.

If possible, he’d keep secrets even if the skeleton headmaster returned.

• * *

After the conversation, Professor Thunderstep began the lecture as usual.

Strictly speaking, it was a little different today.

Today, Professor Thunderstep was the kind and gentle professor.

“Professor. The reagent’s contaminated.”

“Then go fetch new—! Hrm. Hrm hrm. No, that happens. You ironhead, you. Hm?”

“We’re not freshmen anymore, professor…”

“Shu—hrm. Hrm. Right, I forgot!”

The usual Thunderstep would have burst into flames at any slip, but today he soothed kindly, and Lee Han’s friends caught on immediately.

“Professor! I’d like to use more reagents!”

“Professor! I want to mix the solution in this pot—could you guide me?”

“Professor! Honestly, I melted the bottom of the pot last week!”

“……”

Professor Thunderstep shuddered at the antics of these students—einrogardian to the bone!

“Professor.”

“What now!”

When Lee Han called, Thunderstep snapped again.

Why was a student with nothing left to learn even calling out?

“I do have a question.”

“Oh. Really.”

Thunderstep looked a little sheepish.

He forgot often enough, but his junior here was still only a sophomore after all.

No law said every potion had to be a success the first time.

He checked Lee Han’s cauldron. The shimmering silver liquid radiated the energy of perfectly dissolved silver ore.

“…This is perfect.”

“It’s not about the potion… Did you discuss something with my master earlier?”

Lee Han asked quietly.

No matter how he looked at it, he didn’t like Mad Clone’s plotting.

Maybe Professor Thunderstep had a clue?

The professor nodded.

“So that’s what you’re curious about. Understood.”

Thunderstep pulled out a quill and, on a slip of paper, secretly wrote something.

Lee Han watched expectantly.

“Here you go.”

“Thank y— -Thunderstep’s Immersion Fragrance-? My master wanted this?”

It was the same perfume unique to Professor Thunderstep Lee Han had seen while prepping for previous exams.

Just glancing at the method was dizzying; even reading it made one’s eyes spin.

“No. You just looked free and idle, so I wanted you to practice making it.”

With that, Thunderstep turned and left.

Lee Han glared at the professor’s retreating back.

Such a petty professor!