Published at 31st of March 2026 9:39 pm

Chapter 883

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

But even amid such fear, not a single adventurer stopped or tried to turn back.

Those who would turn back out of fear wouldnt have become adventurers in the first place.

These were people who overcame fear with desire, terror with greed.

Moreover, having worked under Antagondals for so long, their greed was certainly not weak.

Death Knights. Scrolls!

When Death Knights and bone wyvern flocks appeared in the sky above the forest, the adventurers belonging to Kangles Shadow all responded in unison.

Not only invisibility magic, but also magic that erased their presence and aura, and even caused confusion when the surroundings were observed.

Is it working?

Wait a moment. Death Knights can easily see through veils.

Even after the patrolling Death Knight disappeared, the adventurers cautiously held their ground.

Just as they were about to move again, more Death Knights appeared from another direction.

What the hell, does this damn territory have Death Knights in legions?

Death Knights were enemies that, if encountered even once in any decent ruins or dungeon, could be said to have received a years worth of bad luck all at once.

Yet here in Einrogards territory, Death Knights appeared and wandered around every few minutes. From the adventurers perspective, it was as chilling as having a cold blade slipped along their spines.

Alright. Were moving. Candlemaker. Have you confirmed the position?

Just a moment

The adventurer called Candlemaker took out a long brass telescope and carefully confirmed their position.

They had crossed Einrogards infamous barrier and entered the territory, but there was still a long way to go.

This territory was as vast as any decent region, so if they werent careful, they could easily get lost and stick their heads into extremely dangerous places.

Crack!

Suddenly the brass telescopes lens shattered and the Candlemaker collapsed forward.

The adventurers were horrified but couldnt even scream. The Archer quickly checked the Candlemakers pulse.

Wrong. His soul has been absorbed.

Cr-crazy These damn cursed mages. What kind of trap did they set up?

Probably looked in the wrong direction. Should have looked toward the mountain range, but seems like he looked at the mage tower where the mages stay.

The adventurer called Craftsman made a cold assessment.

Being the most experienced adventurer among them with the most knowledge about magic and artifacts, he could guess what had happened.

Mages always set up defensive magic to protect the treasures stored in their workshops or mage towers.

The mages of Einrogard here had certainly set up such magic too.

It was hard to believe that just observing from afar, not even approaching, had caused his soul to be absorbed

Thats impossible. No matter how notorious Einrogard is, its not some great labyrinth located on an isolated peak. Would they really set up such threatening magic within their territory? Outsiders wander around here too.

Its entirely possible. Lord Antagondals infiltrated, didnt he? It wouldnt be strange for them to be on guard.

Hmm!

In reality, it was because of the Insane Doppelganger, not Antagondals, that the territorys alert level had risen, but the adventurers didnt know that much.

We abandon the Candlemaker. Lets move quickly. Since his soul was absorbed, our location might have been discovered.

We havent confirmed the destination yet

Cant be helped. Well have to go with a temporary measure.

The Swordsman opened a silver cover and took out a compass. The needle spun around and then pointed in a direction.

This artifact that showed the destinations location with a fifty percent probability was less reliable than the Candlemakers telescope from earlier, but in the current situation, there was no choice.

Lets go!

The adventurers ran without even breathing. The fear that Death Knights might swarm from all directions if they hesitated even for a moment spurred them on.

How long had they walked?

The Swordsman thought to himself.

Strange. I dont see any pursuit teams.

Since the Candlemaker had his soul absorbed, there should have been pursuit teams coming out to find his body.

But whether he looked at the sky or outside the forest, there were no pursuit teams, just silence.

As if they wouldnt bother making a fuss over catching just one outside adventurer who happened to wander in.

That silence made the Swordsman even more afraid.

The mountain range!

When massive peaks revealed themselves before the adventurers who had escaped the dark forest, they breathed sighs of relief.

They had arrived at the mountain range within the territory that was their original destination, not the mages tower.

The place that Antagondals had indicated he was staying in his message.

Since it was a remote and barren place, now that they had come this far, they could catch their breath. If they started searching around the mountain range for Antagondals

Whoosh!

Will we be able to find those intruder bastards in the mountain range? What if theyve already gone deeper inside?

Of course thats possible. But the inner parts of this mountain range are tough even for Einrogard students. Those intruder bastards wont be able to endure it and will come down several times. Thats when well target them.

Einrogards mages were having an ominous conversation while setting up magic traps everywhere.

These were deadly magic traps that would activate the moment outsiders who werent Einrogard students stepped on them.

That wasnt all.

Tsk tsk. Those lazy bastards. Do they think apples will fall just by waiting under a tree?

Youre right, Hormashi. We need to actively pursue them. They cant step up at times like this because they dont properly care for their mounts usually.

-Grrrrowl

There were also mages searching for traces while leading three-headed dogs, Cerberus, that breathed sulfurous breath.

Anfargon. Isnt this device too expensive?

Its a reasonable price. Its much better to observe like this than to have people run around directly. If there are intruders who entered from outside, itll catch them right away.

That Wardanaz kid. He makes such strange requests. Im doing it because I owe him something, but why does he want to catch thieves who entered from outside?

Still other mages were floating magic devices in the air, attempting to observe the surroundings

Seeing more mages than expected combing through the area near the mountain range like catching mice, the adventurers froze solid.

No matter how experienced the adventurers were, having been through all sorts of battles, and no matter how young and inexperienced the opposing mages were, when the numbers differed this much, they couldnt even think of doing anything.

This was the mages territory, after all.

Our location was discovered when the soul was absorbed earlier. No doubt about it.

Gah!

The adventurers let out deep, dark groans.

They never ould have imagined that regardless of any traps, some student was going around making requests.

***

After posting giants as guards, receiving some praise from the Insane Doppelganger, and petting the hamster once (the hamster tried to bite him), Lee Han returned to school and asked his upperclassmen.

Senior. Ill take care of my own exams, submit exam materials to the club, and help a lot with regular club work, so could you please grant me one request?

Haha, Wardanaz! Even if you said just one of those three things, wed have no choice but to grant your request!

Intruders have entered the school, so could we possibly mobilize club members to catch them?

Its not difficult, but why?

Excuse me?

Why are you, Wardanaz, doing this?

Falkrious tilted his head.

Intruders entering Einrogard was something that happened constantly.

And catching them was the job of the Skeleton Principal, his minions, or the professors.

It wasnt a problem for a second-year student who would be taking midterms in a few days to worry about.

Well you see

Lee Han hesitated because it was hard to say that he had scammed a mage criminal and mocked his hamster state.

Then Falkrious nodded as if he understood.

Haha. I think I know without you saying.

Really?

Yeah. Its because youre the Principals disciple, right? The Principal is really too much. Making you do such things.

Thats not it!

When Falkrious made a strange misunderstanding, Lee Han immediately began explaining.

Though it was somewhat doubtful whether he was convinced, Falkrious promised to ask club members and friendly underclassmen to search the surroundings.

Lee Han hadnt only asked Falkrious for help.

Senior Hormashi. Im taking care of a baby basilisk, unicorn, griffin, and His Majesty Jowurin, so could you possibly help me out?

By any chance, are you asking me to guarantee something in my familys name?

Karnella was horrified.

What kind of request could he possibly be making to start with such a story?

No. There are intruders

Why are you, a junior, handling that?

Well, you see

Ah. Never mind. I think I know without you saying.

Youre not thinking its because Im the Principals disciple, are you?

Thats right? What? How did you read my mind?

The requests continued after that.

Various club seniors.

And the seniors from Lee Hans academy (practically most of them) readily nodded at their rare juniors request.

Diret, who had promised to patrol with the Black Magic Academy underclassmen, suddenly became curious and asked.

But junior.

Im not doing this because Im the Principals disciple!

Ah, no. What are you talking about?

Diret was flustered.

He hadnt particularly thought Lee Hans current search for intruders was related to the Skeleton Principal.

If anything was related, wouldnt it be connected to the Insane Doppelganger instead?

Youre right. Senior. Senior Diret is Einroguards greatest senior!

Lee Han exclaimed with slight emotion. At those words, Diret became rather embarrassed instead.

That much? There must be many seniors better than me.

Who exactly? Just name one person

Pretending not to hear his juniors words, Diret returned to the main topic.

What I was going to ask about was the Divination Magic Guild seniors.

Ah. I didnt ask them.

Why actually, I can guess without asking.

Diret could guess why his junior hadnt asked without needing to inquire.

Unlike other magic academies, since they didnt particularly care what their junior did, there was no need to ask.

Theres a way.

Really?

Yeah. Just say the intruders have expensive reagents or artifacts.

Huh? I dont know what the intruders have though.

Right. I dont know either. But it doesnt matter.

Lee Han was flustered by the bold suggestion to lie.

Could it be that Senior Yukveltire was sitting there in disguise instead of Senior Diret?

Perhaps noticing his juniors gaze, Diret hurriedly began explaining. If he left it like this, he might lose his position as Einroguards greatest senior.

No! I dont usually lie like this either. But its okay to do it to the Divination Magic Guild kids! It sounds strange, but its true!

As Diret spoke, he felt like he was sinking deeper into a quagmire.

The more he spoke, the stranger it sounded.

But Lee Han was indeed an excellent junior. He immediately understood Direts meaning.

I see. I understand. Since the Divination Magic Guild seniors usually dont give me any reward even when I work hard for the academy, its a kind of self-defense if I deceive them.

Uh thats true, but how did you understand that from what I just said?

Thank you. Senior Diret. Ill do that. You really are Einroguards greatest senior!

Hey. Its nothing. Its not a big deal.

While waving his hand pretending to be nonchalant, but secretly fluttering with pride behind him, Lee Han thought to himself that he should give him a cup with Einroguards Greatest Senior written on it as a year-end gift.

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