Published at 31st of March 2026 9:13 pm

Chapter 796

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Ragesa and the chain pirates drew their weapons and prepared for an ambush.

There was a solemn atmosphere about them, like hunters waiting for prey to appear on its usual path.

Even professional-looking.

To Lee Hans eyes, already filled with respect, that sight only looked even more admirable.

Professor Verdus walked leisurely with a nonchalant expression, unaware that danger was stirring nearby.

That fool Gonadaltes. Did I ask for much? Just give me five boxes of diamonds to use as fuel, but he refuses! Is he even a mage!?

Attack! Crush that debt-collecting scammer!!!

With Ragesas shout, the pirates burst out from the corridor. Professor Verdus was startled and cried out.

What!? Whats going on!?

Give me back my gold coins, you scammer bastard!

In-investment failure is the investors responsibility!

Professor Verdus reacted without panic even to the Empire archipelago pirates attack. He had experienced such attacks far too many times.

The belt and amulet the professor was wearing linked together and emitted light, creating a powerful force field.

Instantly, the distance between Professor Verdus and the pirates greatly increased.

You scammer bastard. What? Youd make me a flying pirate ship? Where is that pirate ship!

Great magic requires trial and error!

Lee Han, having grasped the situation, wore a complicated expression.

Before him was someone with lower status than pirates in the Empire. That was a scammer.

To scam pirates of all people.

Whii-ik!

Professor Verduss skin turned pale and swelled blue. Ragesa had interfered with the professors blood, stopping its flow.

The professor gasped for breath and barely managed to move the tip of his boot. Then Wave of Curse Banishment activated and the interference disappeared.

Meanwhile, pirates wrapped in chains charged forward.

Ragesa shouted loudly.

Whoever captures him first will be set free!

At those words, the pirates eyes blazed even more fiercely.

For those who had been caught pirating in the archipelago and forced into service, freedom was a blessing they dreamed of even in sleep.

Items with magic resistance.

Lee Han realized this as he watched the pirates endure Professor Verduss magic bullets and advance.

Those chains served as shields protecting the pirates from external magic while simultaneously restraining them. It was a unique artifact rarely seen even in Einroguard.

Clang!

The pirates swung enchanted axes and cutlasses, trying to break through the force field.

Professor Verdus urgently shouted from inside.

Inside Einroguard, Im protected by territorial law, not Empire law! You cant do this!

I nominally got the lords permission too, you scammer. Drop the force field! Ill just beat you up a few times and take what you have!

Who called this pirate here?!

Professor Verdus grumbled as he began summoning artifacts from subspace.

Fortunately, having recently experienced betrayal and attacks from wicked colleague professors, his defensive preparations were heightened.

Seeing this, Ragesa became even more enraged.

How much scamming have you been doing to go around this heavily armed!

Someone unfamiliar with magic might think mages could easily produce magic.

They might think one could summon flying swords and shields with a single gesture.

But behind flashy magic, equivalent effort was required.

Such artifacts needed daily maintenance, charging, and checking.

Waking up in the morning to inspect artifacts one by one, preparing them for whatever might happen today, worrying about combinations since artifacts could conflict with each other

Right now Professor Verdus was more thoroughly defended than most pirate captains.

Seeing how thoroughly he defended himself when he couldnt even make a single sail for the pirate ship after receiving investment made her even more furious.

Mana, swirl and shake the magic!

The pirate crone swung her sword while chanting a spell.

Lee Hans eyes widened at that amazing sight.

The magic is getting mixed up!

The mana flow of any space was supposed to flow according to certain rules.

Mages read and drew upon that flow to cast magic based on that premise.

But now Ragesa deliberately made that flow irregular, turning the surroundings into chaos.

Then the cast spells began mixing up chaotically and becoming confused.

The sword Professor Verdus had summoned, which shot light wedges to seal enemies, staggered and lost direction before embedding in the ceiling. The magic bullets he was firing also twisted strangely in trajectory before embedding in walls and floor.

That wasnt all. The force fields protecting the professor collided with each other, making creaking sounds and creating gaps. Professor Verdus was shocked and began reinforcing them.

I think I understand why Professor Bagrek called her.

Ragesas magical combat was quite unique.

To put it positively, it was irregular and ingenious; to put it negatively, it lacked system and was haphazard.

If Yumidifus had attacked Professor Verdus, he would have cast counter-magic to temporarily neutralize artifacts or engaged in a frontal power struggle to break through them.

But Ragesa dragged opponents into chaotic muddy melees rather than such frontal battles.

In such cases, it could become disadvantageous for herself too. The magic mixing just now could easily have backfired.

But like a seasoned pirate, this crone didnt mind such things at all and actually enjoyed them. The more chaotic it became, the more advantageous she clearly thought it was for her.

When fighting the Skeleton Principal whos stronger than me, no. I dont know why the Skeleton Principals name came to mind momentarily. Anyway, when fighting a mage stronger than me, there are many points to reference.

When fighting someone stronger than oneself, victory through frontal confrontation was impossible. One had to somehow shake up the situation and create variables.

Damn it!

Professor Verdus, realizing the situation was unfavorable, quickly reached into the air and into subspace.

Then he grabbed whatever was inside and threw it out indiscriminately.

Clatter!

Empire gold coins and gems, various rare reagents and artifacts were thrown on the floor.

Like a lizard cutting off its tail, Professor Verdus scattered treasure on the floor and frantically fled the way he came. At that sight, Ragesa snorted.

Hmph. No need to chase. Ill forgive him this much today.

Truly magnanimous.

Lee Han quickly flattered her.

If he made a good impression, couldnt he call her to the lecture hall for the next Professor Verdus lecture too?

Id like to show this to the upperclassmen.

Kihihi. You have a good eye. Wait. Why didnt the necklace activate?

The pirate crone was surprised to realize Lee Han hadnt activated the necklace hed received.

You told me to wear it.

Usually ou wear it and activate it too. You brat! If I tell you to eat, would you just stuff bread in your throat and not drink?

Ragesa was dumbfounded by Lee Hans answer.

When Ragesa had mixed up the spaces magic just now, any mage would have felt considerable dizziness.

Few mages wouldnt feel dizzy when surrounding mana changed chaotically.

But this young boy stood with a calm face without even activating the necklace.

Ill activate it next time too.

Yes! Good, good!

Ragesa, impressed by his talent, burst into loud laughter and vigorously patted Lee Hans back. Lee Han swayed back and forth, thinking to himself.

Whats so good about it?

***

Um. I have something Im curious about. Lady Ragesa.

I know. I know.

The pirate crone nodded.

She had already noticed his great interest in her magic, so after seeing such magical combat, it would be hard to contain himself.

Originally, she would have confirmed a challengers talent through trials and tests, but Ragesa decided to skip that this time.

She was pleased that he was a disciple of Yumidifus and Baegreck, and she liked his clever and cunning nature.

I have no choice! Ill have to explain the magic I showed you today.

Huh? Thats not it, I was curious about how much Professor Verdus scammed you

Ragesa looked at Lee Han as if dumbfounded.

The chained pirates following behind also wore bewildered expressions.

Is that what hes curious about right now?

Ah. Sorry. Ill just call him Verdus.

Thats not why Im surprised! Are you seriously curious about that? Hmm. Bibble took roughly twenty chests of Empire gold coins? Something like that.

Lee Hans pupils trembled with shock and horror.

B-but you let him live?

I didnt know back then. I thought the flying pirate ship would come out soon.

Ragesa grumbled, deepening the wrinkles on her face. She still seemed bitter about it.

By the time I realized Id been deceived, he had already fled to Einroguard!

Do I need to search Einroguard instead of the Empire to catch mage criminals?

Dont invest carelessly either.

Yes. Ill be the one receiving investments.

Kehe. Right. Youre different from that Bibble, so youll probably do it faithfully.

Lee Han momentarily averted his gaze. Fortunately, this great pirate didnt notice.

So about the magic you asked about. Let me see what should I tell you first?

?

Lee Han tilted his head at Ragesas words.

Did I ask about that?

He didnt think he had

But Lee Han stayed quiet. The pirate seemed to be in a good mood.

Do you remember how I cast magic with just one or two syllables in the underground classroom earlier?

Yes.

What do you think that was?

Incantation abbreviation wasnt it?

At Lee Hans words, the pirate crone burst into laughter as if shed been waiting for it. The old woman clapped her hands and stamped her feet, barely stopping her cackling before speaking.

Yes, yes! I knew youd think that! All mages who see it for the first time think so. But no. This is pirate magic, the pride of our family.

Incantation abbreviation, which compressed spells into short utterances, was fundamentally different from the magic Ragesa cast with incantations like E-ha or Ai-ya.

Now that I hear it, thats definitely true.

Even with incantation abbreviation, there would usually be words or abbreviations symbolizing that magic.

Since incantations were originally tools to help mages concentrate, they couldnt be completely unrelated.

But incantations like E-ha or Ai-ya seemed to have little connection to transforming chairs into flocks of parrots or changing back doors into walls.

While Empire mages rack their brains binding and weaving mana with all sorts of trouble, my ancestors simply entrusted themselves to the flow of mana. And then they cried out like true pirates.

?

Lee Hans expression began to turn strange as he listened to the explanation.

So right now?

Dont tell me its random magic?

Magic always required thorough calculation and control.

Otherwise, the magic could turn against the mage themselves.

But Ragesa was surprisingly denying the very foundation of Empire magic.

Casually, roughly, draw out mana and throw it freely!

Uh, then doesnt the magic come out somewhat randomly?

It does tend to be like that. Actually, I was hoping for bald eagles earlier, but parrots came out. But parrots are good birds too, arent they? Theyre pirates friends.

What if the magic flows in an unexpected direction?

You have to enjoy that flow! Even ordinary magic sometimes flows in unexpected directions, right?

Lee Han recalled times when his fire magic had tried to flow in unexpected directions.

How can anyone enjoy this?

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