The Death Knights awkwardly lowered the swords they had been about to draw. Since they still did not fully trust Intarendals, they did not sheathe them completely.

—Is that really true?

—How strange. Does he have no pride? Even if he is our master’s duplicate?

—Perhaps it is not the duplicate that pursues honor, but a different one? The one that seeks sleep, for example...

—No. It is definitely the honor one. We confirmed that several times.

The Death Knights’ combat abilities varied greatly depending on how much preparation they had made beforehand.

Their strength differed enormously based on which spells they drew from the territory’s reserves and which weapons they activated.

Naturally, when facing the Skull Principal’s insane duplicate, they had brought out the most powerful magic available.

Even with the territory’s support, they could not afford to be careless against an archmage.

After subduing Intarendals with ease, they had been ready to show what they could do if the Skull Principal’s insane duplicate appeared...

...but things had ended far more peacefully than expected.

Permission had simply been granted?

“Did he really give permission?”

Lee Han was thinking the same thing as the Death Knights.

No matter how he looked at it, that did not suit the insane duplicate’s character.

Could this be a trap?

“Yes. Of course!”

“He didn’t get angry, fly into a rage, destroy the surroundings, or eliminate all life?”

“My master is a noble person who understands honor. He would never do such things.”

Intarendals spoke firmly, as if asking what nonsense Lee Han was talking about.

“Look at me. There is not a single wound on my body.”

—Indeed...

—Didn’t he beat Intarendals and then heal the wounds?

The Death Knights murmured among themselves, but they had to acknowledge that Intarendals did not appear to have been struck even once.

For someone who had delivered such news, Intarendals looked perfectly fine.

“Then is Antagondals safe too?”

“Who is Antagondals?”

“...The magical criminal in the territory... I mentioned him earlier. The one working as a slave...”

“Ah. My apologies. I do not bother remembering worthless and insignificant beings.”

Intarendals apologized sincerely and politely, but that did not make the words sound any kinder or warmer.

Lee Han thought it was fortunate Antagondals could not hear this. Even a heinous magical criminal deserved some minimal dignity, did they not?

“That slave... I believe my master killed him a few times... I’m not certain. As I said, I do not pay attention to worthless and insignificant beings or remember them.”

“...”

So the insane duplicate had been angry after all!

Lee Han was speechless at Intarendals’s absurd statement.

If the insane duplicate had killed Antagondals several times to vent anger after hearing the news, then that was not calmness. That was rage. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

“Here. Please accept this.”

“...What is this?”

Lee Han looked warily at the strange little stone Intarendals held out.

The moment he grabbed that stone, he might be cursed by evil magic, burned in hellfire, poisoned until his body rotted away, or, in the worst case, transported straight to the Skull Principal’s insane duplicate.

“Did you not say this, Lee Han? That you sincerely wish to receive my master’s teachings, but the trash-like lessons you are currently receiving here make it difficult in terms of time.”

“I don’t think I said it exactly like that...”

“Here. Look at this.”

Suddenly, the strange little stone flew over and settled at the tip of Lee Han’s staff.

Then a mirage-like illusion flowed out from the staff.

The Skull Principal’s insane duplicate revealed himself.

What an insolent wretch.

—Ho, how did he penetrate Einroguard’s defenses?!

—Truly amazing...!

As the Death Knights marveled at the magic that had slipped through Einroguard’s defenses and entered as an illusion, the duplicate spat coldly.

Noisy, ignorant trash. Fools who interfere with great work after being deceived by the words of a false duplicate.

—Your words are harsh.

—Do you know how irritated the people of the Empire become every time you periodically appear?

—The sleep-seeking duplicate that appeared last time was better!

No matter how much the Death Knights jeered, the duplicate remained unshaken.

The illusion spun around and looked at Lee Han. Lee Han considered throwing the staff away, but stopped the moment their eyes met.

How dare you run away on your own and then ignore my summons? Trusting in those meager skills of yours...

“There were circumstances, Master!”

Lee Han quickly made excuses.

He had lectures to attend at Einroguard, assignments to complete, clubs to participate in, and many other obligations, so he had had no choice but to come out...

To obsess over such trivial matters. Your foolishness disturbs me to this degree, wretch.

If I keep disturbing him, could I exorcise him?

For the first and last time, this noble one shall make a concession. Wretch, you must not forget this matter, and you must pass it down through the generations.

“Yes. I will keep it in mind.”

Lee Han resolved that if he ever had children, he would tell them, “Beware of insane duplicates.”

Having said what he wanted to say, the duplicate nodded arrogantly and spoke.

Then prepare yourself.

“...Prepare °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° for what?”

The duplicate let out a deep sigh.

It was a sigh heavy with contempt, scorn, and insult. Without a single word, it seemed to say, “I have to teach such a fool as my disciple?”

Have you already forgotten what you completed last time?

“No. I learned some telekinesis magic.”

Lee Han spoke casually, hoping there might be some confusion in the other party’s memory.

Unfortunately, the other party’s memory was sharp and accurate.

It was fifth-circle magic. Start the next fifth-circle spell immediately. You have a long way to go.

—Fifth-circle magic? Already?

—I heard it was fifth-circle telekinesis magic. Fifth-circle, based on incantationless casting.

—That’s impossible! Isn’t that too fast? He is only a second-year student!

—I actually think this pace is just right. In some ways, you could even call it slow.

—Even so, incantationless telekinesis is not even one of the relatively easier fifth-circle spells.

“I am pleased to see everyone so interested in Lee Han of House Wardanaz. If I may humbly offer advice, since he has already succeeded once, he can certainly take on the challenge...”

Why is it so noisy back there?

Lee Han frowned, wishing the Death Knights and Intarendals would disappear.

He would not be attacked, but just conversing with the illusion of the insane duplicate was disturbing enough.

This was a situation about whether or not he had to learn the next fifth-circle spell, and they were babbling nonsense behind him...

“I’m not sure what the next fifth-circle spell should be right now.”

From fifth-circle magic onward, one could not simply follow along and memorize spells. Even in very narrow fields, complete understanding was required.

A mage could not learn such magic just because the mage wanted to. One had to be prepared to dig seriously and deeply into that branch of magic.

After hearing Lee Han’s excuse, the duplicate gave cold advice.

Visit the territory, wretch. Those trash-like lessons are lowering your intelligence.

“Hmm. I’ll think about it more.”

Knowing full well that a direct visit would result in being attacked until death—or until he died while trying to recall magic—Lee Han dodged the issue.

“But aside from telekinesis, I don’t have any magic I’m confident in...”

“Lee Han is exceptionally talented overall, but among those talents, he has dealt extensively with lightning elements, frost elements, and dark elements.”

“...”

Lee Han regretted his decision not to strike Intarendals in the neck.

He should have turned Intarendals back into dirt immediately!

In that short time, Intarendals had gathered a considerable amount of information about Lee Han.

Your taste in choosing elements is somewhat tolerable. You may take pride in not selecting trash-tier elements.

“Yes... thank you.”

Even receiving praise did not make Lee Han particularly happy. He regretted not learning ordinary elements first instead.

“Ah. I’m also good with the water element.”

Are you claiming you will complete fifth-circle magic with the water element as well? You have quite the enthusiasm. I suspected you were avoiding my teachings, but it seems that was a misunderstanding.

“...”

Lee Han felt frustrated after creating another problem while trying to remove one.

The Death Knights behind him interjected.

—Compared to lightning, ice, or dark elements, the water element might seem ordinary. But Lord Wardanaz has delved much more deeply into that water element!

—That’s right. To underestimate it simply by looking at common magical applications. And you call yourself an archmage?

Hmph. Knights who know nothing about magic are babbling.

The insane duplicate lightly ignored the Death Knights’ protests, but accepted part of what they said.

Very well. Let me observe what kind of fifth-circle spell you use with the water element. Prove what you mean by having delved deeper than with other fifth-circle magic.

“...Actually, I’m not good with the water element. My applications are quite ordinary and general.”

Lee Han spoke, but the duplicate did not listen.

There was no time to waste on the disciple’s pointless modesty.

Start with lightning.

“Pardon?”

...

The insane duplicate fell silent for a moment, and the illusion blurred.

From beyond the illusion came the pitiful screams of a familiar-sounding magical criminal. The insane duplicate returned and clicked his tongue.

Use lightning magic, I said. All those pathetic lightning spells you have learned. It would be fine to use them on those rotting knights too.

—That is not a bad idea. I will be your opponent.

One of the Death Knights enthusiastically raised a shield and stepped forward.

What would a knight not do if it helped the successor learn?

Of course, the insane duplicate’s running mouth was rude and arrogant, but Einroguard was full of that sort of person anyway.

The knight could simply think of the insane duplicate as Professor Bivle’s newly arrived twin and let it pass.

“Why are you so enthusiastic... Never mind. <Lightning Spear>!”

Lee Han gave up and chanted the incantation.

Along with the lightning spear, he chanted an additional spell, and a lightning cloak began wrapping around his body.

Since this type of form transformation was the most difficult aspect of the lightning element, the Death Knights praised Lee Han for maintaining both the lightning spear and the cloak stably.

—Excellent!

—Mages who can handle the lightning element this stably are rare!

Shut up. You are noisy. Why are you babbling when you know nothing about magic?

The insane duplicate showed displeasure at the Death Knights’ praise.

Lee Han was still at the level of barely taking his first steps. If they praised him like that, the already inexperienced disciple might become arrogant.

BANG!

Lee Han clashed with the Death Knight, swinging the lightning spear.

The Death Knight pushed back against Lee Han, wielding a shield imbued with powerful magic.

As the lightning cloak roared and tried to sweep through the surroundings, the Death Knight quickly hid behind the shield and continued to endure.

When the fight paused briefly and Lee Han caught his breath, the duplicate spoke.

You felt it just now, didn’t you?

“Yes. Death Knights are overpowered undead.”

—Hehe.

The insane duplicate killed Antagondals once more to suppress anger at the disciple’s pathetic answer, then spoke.

Your attacks using the lightning element are too flat. It is like using a famous sword to butcher chickens. What you need to learn is the lightning element itself.

—What do you mean by “itself”?

One Death Knight expressed confusion, but Lee Han quickly understood what the duplicate meant.

“High-level lightning spirits can become lightning itself even while borrowing a human body. You want me to temporarily implement that.”

The Thunderbolt that Perkuntra had shown before—becoming lightning itself.

If Lee Han could use that tremendous ability even for a moment, the applications would be enormous.

Correct. You are not completely without intelligence.

—...

At this conversation where one could understand ten things without being told even one, the Death Knights watching from behind suddenly thought:

Actually, was the boy from House Wardanaz not somewhat responsible for this situation too?