Free Web NovelLee Han was dumbfounded.
Was the angel perhaps a little stupid?
“Does it make sense to react like that just from hearing a family name?”
“It... does make sense, doesn’t it?”
Unlike the dumbfounded junior, Diret had spoken those words with a certain amount of confidence.
Among all mage families, House Wardanaz was the one that had delved most deeply into dimensions.
Since the family head personally spent most of his time in other dimensions, there was no comparison with other families. No other mage family neglected Imperial affairs to such an extent in order to devote itself to dimensions.
So Diret had thought that even secluded celestials might know the name of House Wardanaz, and that calculation had paid off.
I don’t want to admit it.
Lee Han grumbled inwardly.
No matter how excellent his senior’s strategy was, he still did not want to accept it as reality.
What kind of angel was this?
/I request a face-to-face meeting./
“!”
At the additional reply, the students stirred again. Dirimpa asked worriedly.
“Isn’t it a trap?”
“That... probably won’t be the case.”
Diret denied it.
The juniors could react like this because they did not know the name of House Wardanaz had been revealed.
Would an angel really set a trap after the name of House Wardanaz had been brought up? Angels did not like escalating matters unnecessarily.
“We should meet at least once. After all, we are being given the demon the angel was chasing as a concession.”
-Won’t it be dangerous?
Orlagh was worried.
If the young master of House Wardanaz was hurt after making contact with an angel they could not communicate with...
-Ah! Just send that dark mage alone!
Orlagh, having come up with a good idea, whispered cunningly.
If Lee Han stayed here and only that crow beastman went out, it would not matter even if problems arose.
“You trash bastard.”
Naturally, Lee Han looked at the demon with eyes full of contempt.
What did this demon take the Einroguard dark magic school for, to make such a cowardly proposal?
-?!!
Orlagh could not understand what had been done wrong.
Why?!
***
Lee Han headed to the place designated by the angel together with Diret.
The mausoleum district north of the capital was lined with white, beautiful towers. Travelers from all across the Empire climbed those towers to take in the capital’s scenery.
Among those towers, the largest and most beautiful was Saint Iactus’s Tower, where they were to meet the angel. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
“Contrary to its nickname, the prevailing theory is that Saint Iactus did not personally take part in the construction of Saint Iactus’s Tower.”
“...”
“...”
At Princess Yukbeltire’s explanation, Lee Han and Diret looked at each other.
“Why did that person follow us anyway?”
“...Maybe out of concern for me.”
Diret offered the most charitable interpretation possible.
In truth, there was no particular reason for Princess Yukbeltire to come along to meet the angel.
Princess Yukbeltire was not a battle mage, and they already had Lee Han’s junior—no, Stedal Nago—as a guard.
The reason she had followed was probably because she was worried about Diret.
From Princess Yukbeltire’s perspective, Stedal Nago must have seemed like an extremely wicked and unbearably rude mage...
“Diret.”
“Yeah?”
“I think you shouldn’t trust that mage so much. Every single action is rough and rude.”
“You didn’t come because you were worried. You came to drive a wedge between us?!”
Diret was shocked upon realizing the friend’s true intention.
Diret had even defended Princess Yukbeltire in front of a junior, and this was the disgraceful behavior received in return.
The tip of Princess Yukbeltire’s eyebrow rose faintly. It was the expression of someone who could not accept what Diret had just said.
“A wedge? I can’t let that pass. Diret, the points you’re missing are...”
“Enough. Just finish your explanation. We’re going back after meeting the angel.”
Princess Yukbeltire looked sorry for the friend’s reaction.
Diret was a brilliant mage, but sometimes made irrational judgments, and now was exactly one of those times.
To trust such a rude mage.
“What do you mean, Saint Iactus didn’t participate in the construction personally?”
“To complete a tower like this, excellent magic is required, but Saint Iactus himself was not that great a mage. He probably received help from other mages.”
“The names of the mages who actually built the tower disappear, while only the famous person’s name remains!”
Lee Han was indignant.
Diret was flustered when the junior reacted so intensely to a story brought up casually to pass the time while they climbed the tower.
“Isn’t that... common?”
“No. That is absolutely intolerable. The records of all artifacts should rightfully include the names of the mages who created them.”
I really shouldn’t have brought her.
When even Princess Yukbeltire began complaining from the side, Diret sighed inwardly.
“Look outside. Isn’t the capital beautiful?”
The group was currently ascending with their feet on a round, disc-shaped platform.
Below them, the sound of flowing water continued without pause. The tower had been designed so that one could easily ascend by using the power of water.
“They say inspections and maintenance are being carried out, but it’s amazing that this magic has been maintained for hundreds of years.”
“The secret lies in the internal design. Unlike ordinary magic, this tower...”
Should I just make them fight again?
Stedal Nago and Princess Yukbeltire normally got along surprisingly well. Diret considered simply making them fight like last time.
Just then, the disc reached the top and stopped.
No one was on the tower’s summit. Only empty marble walls, reliefs, pillars, and railings were visible.
“It seems the angel hasn’t arrived yet?”
Flap!
With the sound of beating wings, a large bird flew onto the top of the tower. It was a strange bird of a kind they had never seen before.
The bird changed form in an instant, like an excellent transformation mage. From bird to a giant rotating sphere, and from sphere to human form.
“...”
“...”
Lee Han and Diret were at a loss for words.
It was not because the other party’s magic was too astonishing. Such magic could be seen by visiting the transformation magic school.
The reason they were speechless was that the human form the other party had created was far too strange.
The nose was where the eyes should have been, the eyes were where the ears should have been, and only the mouth was roughly in its proper place.
It felt less like a human and more like a monster imitating a human form.
“What is wrong?”
The angel asked, apparently sensing that their reaction was strange.
“Your facial features are strange.”
“Um, your arms and legs also seem to be switched...”
“Ah. How troublesome.”
After hearing the criticism, the angel belatedly took out a mirror and began checking.
Then the angel rearranged the facial features and limbs.
“How is it now?”
“If you move the eyes down just a little, that should be fine.”
“I see. Thank you. I do not visit the mortal realm often, so I make many mistakes.”
The angel apologized.
Celestials had little desire beyond their purpose and preferred to exist as spiritual entities in pure soul form.
Because of that, they found even simple tasks difficult, such as creating physical bodies suitable for mingling with mortals.
A demon would never have trouble with something like this.
“So this is the one! Nice to meet you.”
The angel recognized Lee Han and greeted him.
This seemed to be the descendant of House Wardanaz.
“Uh... nice to meet you?”
Lee Han reacted a beat late to the unexpectedly friendly greeting. The fact that he was disguised as Stedal Nago made it even more awkward.
“I requested this meeting because I have something to discuss with you.”
“Wait. Wait. Don’t speak privately with just the two of us.”
Worried that the other party might bring up House Wardanaz, Lee Han spoke urgently.
At those words, Princess Yukbeltire pointed as if to say, See?
That vicious battle mage was finally showing his greed!
“Diret. I clearly told you...”
“Yeah, yeah. I got it.”
Diret, knowing why the junior was acting that way, answered listlessly.
Princess Yukbeltire was even more shocked by that reaction.
How could this be happening?
Taking the side of a battle mage she had never seen before instead of her!
Pop!
In that instant, the scenery changed.
The top of the tower remained the same, but all color had vanished. Lee Han, startled by the nightmare-like scene, belatedly realized what it was from the soul energy he sensed from the other party.
The world of souls!
Another dimension commonly described as the spirit realm.
Strictly speaking, rather than being a separate dimension, this was closer to maximizing the domain of the spirit realm that overlapped with reality.
It was not conversation through voices produced by mortal bodies, but a method of communicating directly from soul to soul.
Indeed, the angel was facing Lee Han in the form of a blazing soul, not the forced-looking human body from before.
Amazing. I knew angels were skilled at handling souls, but to think it was to this extent...
He had never imagined it would be possible to locally open only the world of souls and invite someone into it.
...Wait. Wouldn’t this be meaningless if I couldn’t see souls? What was the angel planning to do if I couldn’t see them?
Lee Han suddenly had a question.
The ability to see souls was not something all that many mages cultivated, so what exactly had this angel trusted when extending the invitation?
-Did you know I could see souls? Is that perhaps an angel’s ability?
-What are you talking about?
The angel was puzzled by Lee Han’s question.
If he was from House Wardanaz, should he not naturally be able to open the spirit realm?
-...
Lee Han regretted asking for no reason.
Indeed, what use would there be in saying, I’m still only a second-year at Einroguard, to an angel that even struggled to maintain human form?
-Let’s get to the point. Why did you want to meet? Is this about payment for the demon?
A little worried, Lee Han asked cautiously.
The dark magic school could not pay much compensation, since it had no money.
Would he have to give up the reward he was supposed to receive from Bulserec, the manor’s owner, for this incident?
Ugh. I really don’t want to give it up. If I just had that, the dark magic school’s finances would improve dramatically.
-Payment? No.
The angel reacted as if Lee Han’s words were absurd.
Even if an angel received mortal currency, where would it be used?
Such things had no value whatsoever.
Then what?
Lee Han became even more confused by the other party’s words.
If no payment was involved, then why had the angel wanted to meet?
Had the angel contacted him to check what level the mage from House Wardanaz had reached?
-First, allow me to reveal my name. I am Apazragon. The discipline and law I have set for myself is the path of the ancient mage. I seek to follow that person’s path and gain enlightenment.
“...???”
Lee Han felt the greatest confusion he had experienced all day.
What am I supposed to do about that?
If the angel wanted to walk that path, then the angel could simply walk it. Why meet Lee Han?
-Sorry. I don’t understand... What does that mage’s path have to do with me?
-Are you not also a mage walking that path?
This time, the angel showed puzzlement.
The angel could not understand why the other party was denying it.
-What...? Not all mages walk the same path. There seems to be a misunderstanding.
-Is that so? A mage of House Wardanaz currently on the continent, a mage contracted with Akseong Arna. Is that not correct? I definitely heard it from the king. That you are a disciple walking the path of the ancient mage who ascended from the nine mountains and eight seas.
Angel Apazragon had visited the Wise King, renowned for wisdom, in order to walk the path of discipline and law set for itself.
The king had presented seventy-seven menial tasks as conditions, but the angel had thrown itself into them without hesitation. If advice could be obtained, any hardship was insignificant.
When every task had been completed perfectly, the king blessed the angel and offered counsel.
‘One of the bloodline of House Wardanaz walks ahead on that path. If you meet that person someday, you will be able to gain learning as a practitioner walking the same path.’
‘Thank you. Wise King...’
-What Wise King?!
In the middle of the angel’s explanation, an extremely enraged Lee Han interrupted.
That crazy king was selling him out without permission!
