Damn. I got carried away.

Lee Han, having finally regained his senses, deeply reflected on his actions.

It wasn’t for nothing that old fairy tales always featured mages who fell into corruption and eventually destroyed themselves.

Evil power always came with a price.

“What are you talking about...?”

Ilendil panicked, wondering if his junior had already been affected by the artifact.

Anyone could see he had been trying to explain something—so why was he suddenly closing the artifact?

“...I was trying to explain, wasn’t I?”

“No.”

The moment he finished speaking, the Echo Stone forcibly activated again.

And the Insane Doppelganger’s projection flowed out.

The royal family will need to come personally. Tell me the location.

“Actually, it seems like all the problems have already been resolved.”

The Insane Doppelganger ignored Lee Han and spoke directly to Ilendil. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Where is it?

“Y-yes?”

Faced with the Skeleton Principal’s humanoid projection, Ilendil froze on the spot.

Every Einroguard student carried an instinctive fear of the Skeleton Principal deep in their bones.

And the humanoid form was even worse—far more unstable, far more dangerous.

The last time Ilendil had seen it, the Skeleton Principal had been tearing apart mage criminals who attempted to contact Einroguard students in the western regions of the Empire.

Freezing up was only natural.

I asked where it is.

“T-the Second Barracks of Granden City Guard...”

Understood.

The Insane Doppelganger cut the connection.

Then he turned his gaze to Lee Han.

So weak. A fourth-year, no less.

If it had been Senior Diret, she would have gritted her teeth and said, “You can kill me, but I won’t betray my junior!”

But not all seniors could be like Diret. That was unrealistic.

Lee Han sighed.

“You should all go back.”

“What? Why?”

His friends, who had been cutting usable cloth from the mercenaries’ uniforms, looked up in confusion.

“The next mage coming will be dangerous.”

“Wardanaz. What do you take us for?”

Their eyes burned with friendship.

They weren’t the type to retreat just because something dangerous was coming.

Wow. They really are close.

Ilendil watched the scene in genuine amazement.

How could students from different towers have such trust in each other?

“It’s the Principal’s Insane Doppelganger. Go back quickly.”

“...Still, ignoring your advice would be disrespectful. Got it!”

“It’s not that we’re scared. It’s just respect for your judgment, Wardanaz. You understand, right?”

They immediately changed tone.

In dangerous situations, ignoring a specialist’s warning could get everyone killed.

Watching them scatter obediently, Ilendil was stunned.

“...What exactly are those kids...?”

“They listen well. More importantly, let’s prepare for the Principal’s doppelganger.”

At his junior’s words, Ilendil nodded.

Even a doppelganger of the Principal was not something to take lightly.

And especially one that wasn’t in a normal state of mind.

It could be even more dangerous.

Swoosh—

Dozens of branches shot out of the ground like vines, wrapping around Ilendil and forming thick armor.

“...What are you doing?”

“Huh? You said to prepare.”

“....”

Lee Han stared at him in silence.

“Not that kind of preparation. He’s coming to teach magic. We can’t learn in a collapsed basement.”

“He’s... coming to teach magic?”

Ilendil blinked, suddenly sounding like a first-year student.

“What else would he come for?”

“Punishment... no, right. I understand. I’ll prepare properly!”

He quickly dismissed the armor and rushed to comply.

Lee Han thought, briefly:

Fourth-years can be even worse than Black Magic School students when it comes to common sense.

***

Will it really be okay...?

Ilendil couldn’t stay still.

He paced back and forth inside the private room that Daihal had lent them.

His junior had said, “He’s coming to teach magic,” but Ilendil couldn’t accept that easily.

Would the Skeleton Principal’s Insane Doppelganger really come just for that?

Should I run now?

Break the Echo Stone. Escape as far as possible.

Meanwhile, Lee Han watched him with a blank expression.

Why is he so restless?

Ilendil didn’t realize it, but his reputation in Lee Han’s mind was rapidly dropping.

It had started below Diret—but now it had fallen even below Yukveltire.

BANG.

“Have you arrived?”

“Yes.”

The Insane Doppelganger entered.

He glanced around the room, then spoke coldly to a servant:

“To offer a room like a pigsty to a royal disciple... report this to the owner. If proper accommodation is not provided, I will hold them responsible.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

As the frightened servant tried to leave, Lee Han rushed forward to stop him.

“W-wait! I chose this room myself!”

“Have you developed a hobby of living like a beggar? Judging by your behavior at the academy, it’s plausible.”

That’s your fault.

Lee Han felt wronged, though only halfway.

“I chose this place because I needed something discreet.”

The Dalcard heir had even offered the largest room and removal of other occupants, but Lee Han had refused.

He didn’t want headlines like:

“Arrogant Einroguard Student Causes International Incident”

And with the Skeleton Principal involved, discretion was necessary.

If the Principal’s reputation was damaged too much, Lee Han might be the one blamed later.

The Insane Doppelganger sighed deeply, as if overwhelmed.

“To think you’re this foolish... should I have assigned etiquette training separately?”

“...Huh?”

Suddenly, he turned toward Ilendil.

Ilendil froze.

He had been hiding quietly in the corner since earlier.

He °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° had been too afraid to even follow the conversation properly.

“I asked your opinion. Is this disgraceful behavior acceptable for a royal disciple—refusing proper accommodations just to study magic in a ruin?”

“I... is it... bad?”

“Yes.”

The Doppelganger nodded decisively.

Ilendil exhaled in relief.

But he failed to notice something.

The contempt in Lee Han’s gaze toward him had deepened.

So he really is just scared of everything...

Lee Han sighed.

“I like it here. I’m used to worse conditions at Einroguard.”

“Stop saying nonsense.”

THUD.

He flopped down onto the sofa.

Ilendil trembled even harder.

The opponent was an Archmage who could kill people without hesitation.

“Pl-please... don’t provoke him...”

“...Fine. Sit properly.”

In the end, the Doppelganger backed down first.

There was no time for nonsense.

The artifact lay in the center of the room.

【Echo of the Demigod】

“I see it.”

“Yes.”

Lee Han nodded.

Three layers of sealing artifacts and suppression circles were already placed around it.

Even so, faint corruption leaked out.

The Doppelganger raised his hand.

Snap.

All seals were erased instantly.

Ilendil flinched.

Even if he was an Archmage... removing everything at once?

Without hesitation, he grabbed the artifact barehanded.

“It’s corrupted.”

“W-what?!”

He examined it briefly, then casually threw it back to Lee Han.

Ilendil screamed and nearly collapsed.

What is this situation?!

“You’re overreacting.”

“...?”

“Why is he like that?”

“He’s just not feeling well.”

Ilendil clung to his fading sanity.

He was beginning to truly understand something:

This junior... was not normal.

Not at all.

***

“I can hear the voice of the evil god, but it cannot interfere beyond a certain level.”

“That’s expected. Remove the worshippers, and gods lose most of their influence. Sit. I’ll explain.”

Lee Han sat.

Then he turned to Ilendil.

“Senior, sit too.”

Ilendil obeyed silently.

To him, sitting here felt like sitting on a burning throne.

“Black Prison.”

“...Yes.”

Ilendil flinched again.

“It’s a spell created to imprison artificially created demigods.”

“...How do you know that?”

“I helped once.”

“....”

The distance in Ilendil’s mind widened again.

From “kind junior who likes spirits” to:

“Junior who casually assists in forbidden ancient magic under the Skeleton Principal’s doppelganger.”

“You can adapt this artifact. If purified properly, it can function as an auxiliary tool for Black Prison.”

Then Lee Han turned.

“Senior, did you hear that?”

“....”

Ilendil looked like he wanted to disappear.

***

Knock knock.

“Excuse me.”

“What is it?”

“We’d like to ask about the mercenaries.”

The Doppelganger sighed.

“Tell them to leave.”

“Please come in!”

“....”

“....”

Granden City officials entered awkwardly.

One of them immediately bowed.

“Lord Gonadaltes...!”

“I-it is an honor!”

Lee Han translated smoothly:

“He says he is pleased to meet you.”

The Doppelganger said nothing.

Ilendil stared at him.

And finally thought something terrifying:

...Maybe this one is actually the sane version.