Chapter 1240

"No. What are you doing? Other people will misunderstand. Please get up quickly."

Lee Han called out to the Oculoguard mages.

Of course, Lee Han had sent a threatening letter, but that had been purely for the sake of negotiations. He had never actually intended to threaten them.

But if these mages flattened themselves on the floor like this, what would other people think?

"What's the point of worrying about that now..."

Gainando muttered from the side, only to get jabbed hard in the ribs. Eandurde glared fiercely at him and signaled for him to shut up.

'...I-I'm the upper-year student here...!'

Feeling wronged, Gainando asked Yonair.

"Why is that kid still here when he's not even a second-year?!"

"He has to attend lectures. It can't be helped."

"Ugh... the combat magic school is so annoying...!"

Gainando could do nothing but stamp his feet in frustration.

Perhaps because Lee Han had only one junior, he was far too lenient.

No matter what Eandurde did, Lee Han would just say things like, 'Come on, a junior can do that, haha!'

"More importantly, look at those foresight mages. They're not getting up."

"Could they be staying down because they're afraid Lee Han will attack them if they stand up?"

"......"

Yonair was about to tell him not to say nonsense, then hesitated for a moment.

...Surely that wasn't actually the reason?

Her friend had certainly become famous recently because of the evil-god subjugation, but surely they couldn't be that afraid...

"Why aren't you getting up?"

"We are measuring the designated time."

The foresight mage rose and brushed the dust off their clothes.

"The designated... time?"

"Even an apology has a clearly defined procedure. Neither the order nor the timing may be wrong."

Even while apologizing, the foresight mages of Oculoguard followed the procedure precisely.

Not a single step or a single moment could be wrong.

"...I-I see. I'm impressed by such a perfect apology. But I think there may be some misunderstanding. We merely invited you. Did you perhaps receive some strange letter?"

'He's my friend, but he's really shameless.'

'He's my junior, but he's truly shameless.'

'He's Jowrin's contractor, but this seems far too shameless...'

'He's my elder sister's contractor, but...'

Everyone present was thinking the same thing, but the mages from Oculoguard did not change their expressions in the slightest.

"We received it. And who sent it is not important. What matters is persuading the person involved so they do not destroy foresight."

"If you're talking about me, I have absolutely no intention of destroying another magic academy's foresight. If you would simply cooperate with exchanges between the magic academies..."

Lee Han had no intention of going out of his way to pick fights with another magic academy either.

Valdrogard might be another matter, but why would he interfere with mages who were each walking their own path?

And if he actually went there and heard something like, 'Aaaah! It's the mad rider of the apocalypse!' he thought it might hurt his feelings a little.

"Understood."

"!"

The mages present were startled. The golem upper-year student was especially shocked.

'That easily!?'

These people had ignored every attempt at persuasion, appeasement, bribery, and more, yet a single threatening letter had made them reverse their attitude like this.

It was so astonishing that the golem upper-year student almost felt betrayed.

'As expected, Professor Kraer's foresight is no ordinary thing...!'

The professor's personality might be somewhat evil, but there was no denying the professor's magical ability.

"But there is a condition."

"Don't worry. I won't even look in Oculoguard's direction."

Lee Han spoke generously.

Truthfully, he wondered whether it was really appropriate to phrase it as though he were 'letting them off,' but if that was what the other side wanted, what could he do?

"No. Exactly the opposite."

"???"

"Wardanaz, you will visit Oculoguard."

"...!!!"

Shock filled the room. A flustered Gainando whispered.

"W-why are they inviting Lee Han? Are they planning to assassinate him after inviting him?"

"There's no way they... probably aren't."

"What do you mean, probably! You suspect them too!"

An invitation from a magic academy that had absolutely no reason to invite Lee Han was highly suspicious.

On top of that, although Lee Han himself had not sent it, some mysterious threatening letter had already flown their way.

It would hardly be surprising if assassins lying in ambush on both sides rushed out the moment he crossed the main gate.

The golem upper-year student, who at least knew a little about Oculoguard, stepped in to defend them.

"O-Oculoguard isn't that kind of place. ...Probably."

"Then you transform into Lee Han and go instead."

Gainando grumbled back. The golem upper-year student looked toward Professor Voladi as though asking for help.

Surely a professor of a magic academy would clear up this misunderstanding about assassination...

"It would be best to accompany him, just in case."

"!!!"

"See! Even Professor Bagreg is saying that!!"

Professor Voladi's words caused not only Lee Han's friends, but even Jowrin, who had been listening quietly, to join in.

"Lee Han. If even Professor Bagreg says that, then it is extremely suspicious! You absolutely must not go!"

"...Let's hear the reason first. Why do I need to visit?"

"Wardanaz, you will cast a spell. No one else will do."

"What spell?"

"I cannot tell you. Confidentiality must be maintained."

"Hmph. I bet it's a spell where assassins jump out from every direction."

The Oculoguard mage's expression did not change even at Gainando's mockery.

Lee Han thought inwardly.

'Does the spell require my mana?'

He honestly did not think it would be an assassination.

...Probably!

Oculoguard was still an officially recognized magic academy of the Empire, and they were not some evil evil-god worshipers. Would they really invite someone over just to attack them?

There was probably a high chance they had invited Lee Han because they truly needed him for some magic.

"I don't exactly have no intention of visiting, but there is one problem."

"What problem?"

"I'm currently locked in a punishment room..."

The golem upper-year student somehow felt their face growing hot.

Even though that was a function a golem did not possess!

'Why do I feel so embarrassed?'

However, the Oculoguard mage showed no surprise or confusion at all.

"We know. 'The atrocious crime of completely ignoring the words of the principal and three professors and acting however you pleased.'"

"...That is a distorted rumor."

"We will wait until you leave the punishment room. It is not difficult."

"Here?!"

The Oculoguard mage shook their head. Fortunately, apparently not.

Instead, an Oculoguard student standing behind the mage stepped forward. Judging by the horns and eyes characteristic of the race, they appeared to be a demon half-blood.

"I look forward to working with you! My name is Paridim."

"He will eventually leave the punishment room. Accompany him when he does and return together."

"Yes!"

The student answered the master's instructions with great enthusiasm.

Of course, only Paridim reacted that way. The Einroguard students were doubting their ears.

"...W-wait. You're making him stay here because of Lee Han?"

"I look forward to working with you!"

"No. I mean, won't that be inconveni...ent?"

Gainando asked in confusion.

If the Skull Principal told Gainando to stay at Valdrogard for the rest of the semester because of a mission, Gainando would...

'Wait. Would that really be bad?'

For a moment, Gainando became torn between pride and practicality.

'No. It shouldn't be Valdrogard. I need to choose somewhere much worse. Kalarogard or Petroguard... No. Both of those seem a little better than Einroguard too...'

While Gainando floundered alone in his own swamp, Yonair finished asking the question instead.

"Even if it's only for the rest of the semester, what are you going to do about final exams and things like that if he stays here?"

"Ah. It doesn't matter. Exams aren't mandatory for us."

"......"

"......"

The students' reactions immediately turned cold. Gainando muttered.

"If Valdrogard doesn't have exams, Petroguard doesn't have exams, and Oculoguard doesn't have exams, aren't we just the weird ones?"

"...Petroguard does have exams. They're just a little different..."

Afraid his friends might attack the student from another magic academy, Lee Han hurriedly changed the subject.

"Um. Paridim. If exams aren't mandatory, that means you still have processes equivalent to exams, don't you?"

"That's right!"

Paridim readily explained.

Some Oculoguard lectures did have exams, but most did not favor such standardized forms of assessment.

What mattered more was discussing how a mage should foresee the future and how to change that future in a favorable direction.

"See, Gainando. That sounds plenty difficult too. It might even be harder than final exams."

"It isn't rea..."

"Please be quiet."

Lee Han quickly covered Paridim's mouth.

If he did not calm Gainando down here, the boy might spread rumors among the other students like, 'Those Oculoguard bastards live like the Valdrogard bastards.'

No matter how long Oculoguard had ignored their attempts at contact, Lee Han could not allow a student who had come all this way to be attacked.

"Hmph. I'm good at talking about how to change the future too."

"I'd like to hear it! Please tell me."

"Huh? Uh..."

Gainando was caught off guard by the Oculoguard student's enthusiastic response.

He had not expected that.

"So... uh... if I ever come to rule the Empire..."

"If you do?"

"...I-I'll give Lee Han the position of Regent and ask him to do it instead."

"......"

"......"

Not only Lee Han, but Uman and Jowrin as well, looked at him with contempt.

How could anyone come up with such a garbage idea?

Paridim apparently did not think much differently. The student answered immediately.

"That is a complacent and trivial opinion with not even the slightest consideration of foresight magic."

"...W-what?! You Oculoguard bastard, how dare you insult Einroguard!"

"I wasn't insulting it. I was pointing something out. Changing the future through foresight magic must be done with precision. You have to identify numerous omens and deeply consider how they can be twisted in order to alter fate by even the slightest amount. Isn't an opinion like that far too complacent?"

"...Lee Han. Can't you crush that bastard's pride in a foresight magic match? Let's show them the power of mana."

Realizing he could not win through magical theory, Gainando immediately changed strategies.

Then they could settle this through divination!

"Stop it. They didn't come here to fight."

After restraining Gainando, Lee Han composed himself and spoke politely again.

"I understand that you're fine staying here for the rest of the semester. There is a village on the fifth floor of the main building where guests stay..."

"Ah. I intend to stay here."

"?"

Everyone present looked puzzled.

Jowrin whispered.

"Perhaps the punishment rooms have become a popular lodging place without Jowrin knowing."

"That's... that's not the case..."

Unable to understand, Lee Han offered again.

"This is a punishment room for prisoners. There is no need for you to stay here."

Truthfully, if a guest from outside stayed in the solitary cell across from him, Lee Han thought he might be the one who felt more uncomfortable.

However, Paridim refused again.

"This is an Oculoguard school rule."

"What?! You have a school rule saying that when you go outside, you have to stay in prison?!"

Gainando was shocked.

Until now, he had thought Einroguard was the worst magic academy in the Empire, but perhaps there was one even below it.

"No. It is a school rule that when visiting somewhere, one must not accept more hospitality than necessary."

Paridim explained the school rule.

If a mage received more hospitality than necessary while visiting, they could become corrupted.

If that happened, their foresight and will could also collapse, so they had to discipline themselves strictly from the outset to prevent such a thing from happening.

"...Providing lodging isn't excessive hospitality, though?"

"You're all staying here, aren't you?"

"That is... true."

Of course, there were a few people who had come simply to visit, but fundamentally, everyone was staying in the punishment area.

"Then I will stay here as well."

"......"

"Well... if that's what you want, what can we do?"

In the end, Lee Han gave up.

What could he do if the other person insisted on staying?

The Oculoguard student unpacked a modest amount of luggage in one of the remaining solitary cells. Then Paridim called Lee Han over again.

"Could I ask you for one favor?"

"Ah. Yes. What do you need?"

Lee Han wondered if he should lend Paridim a dragon tooth.

Once someone entered a punishment room, anyone would feel the urge to break a hole into the room next door.

"It is almost time for me to practice foresight magic, but since I am not inside Oculoguard, it is difficult to find someone to practice with. Would you help me?"

"Ah. I was studying magic from another school right now... but that's fine. I'll help."

"Another school? Which school's magic were you studying?"

The Oculoguard student was genuinely curious about what additional school of magic the other person was studying for the sake of foresight.