Intarendals looked puzzled by how strangely polite Lee Han had suddenly become, but began explaining anyway.

“All beings possess both yin and yang. Good and evil coexist within everyone.”

“That’s true.”

Lee Han nodded for now, despite not yet understanding where the conversation was headed.

Human beings were complex by nature. Good and evil often existed side by side within the same person.

Take Gainando, for example. He would steal food from his friends one moment, then willingly hand over his own meal the next.

“T-that example feels slightly questionable... but in any case, your understanding is correct. Even great archmages like Lord Gonadaltes cannot escape this fate.”

Ordinary living beings naturally maintained balance between such opposing qualities.

But thought-entities—beings transformed into something closer to a law or concept—

For them, balance was impossible.

They could become only one thing.

Either good.

Or evil.

“At this moment, the evil within Lord Gonadaltes has awakened.”

“...Wait. Then are you saying he was benevolent until now?”

“You ask the obvious with remarkable confidence.”

“...”

The chamberlain looked at Lee Han as though wondering why he would even ask such a thing.

Lee Han was speechless.

Did this man think the insane duplicate had politely sent him an invitation letter before respectfully accepting him as a disciple?

“Lord Gonadaltes sought to eliminate the suffering of the world through the orthodox inheritance of secret arts. How could such a purpose not be righteous?”

True to his desire for honor, the insane duplicate’s goal had always been grand beyond reason.

He intended to pass down the secrets of ancient magic to his disciple and eventually fulfill the wish he had pursued throughout his existence.

By the standards of ancient mages, the idea itself was not especially strange. Even if the mage died, as long as the mage’s magic survived and was inherited, then in a sense, the mage lived on forever.

Of course, the scale of that wish bordered on impossibility.

And appearing personally as a thought-form to teach those secrets was extraordinary even by ancient standards.

By comparison, the current reversed version of the insane duplicate sought to conquer the continent personally and rule it through absolute authority.

‘...When compared like that, I suppose the former does sound more reasonable.’

Lee Han felt deeply frustrated, but he couldn’t deny the logic entirely.

The insane duplicate might have assaulted disciples and magical criminals regularly, but at least he had originally tried to solve things through magic rather than conquest.

Compared to that, the current version was openly attempting continental domination.

‘Wait a minute. Isn’t this ultimately the Skeleton Principal’s fault?’

A sudden surge of irritation rose within Lee Han toward the absent principal of Einroguard.

This desire for honor had originally split away from the Skull Principal himself.

Which meant—

The goals this fragment possessed were also goals the Skull Principal must once have possessed in his youth.

Meaning the Skull Principal had °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° genuinely gone through a phase of thinking:

Should I conquer the continent?

Looking at the present day, it seemed he had ultimately decided against it.

But the fact that such thoughts had existed at all was insane enough.

Why would anyone think like that in the first place?

Still, there was little point blaming someone who was not even here.

What mattered now was stopping the insane duplicate.

‘I always called him the insane duplicate, but who knew he could somehow become even more insane?’

“Lord Intarendals. We must stop him! Master originally disliked conflict and possessed a gentle disposition. For someone who pursued the highest realm of magic to fall into madness like this...”

-...

The hamster, who had been silently organizing his thoughts, stared at Lee Han in disbelief.

What kind of deranged nonsense was this?

A gentle disposition?

That tyrant?

‘...No. Still, he’s right. We need to stop this.’

Even from the perspective of a magical criminal, the current situation was disastrous.

To be fair, the previous situation hadn’t exactly been pleasant either, but if things escalated further here, the consequences would become far worse.

Even in the impossible event that continental conquest somehow succeeded, the insane duplicate would never release the hamster afterward.

And more realistically, the attempt would fail.

At which point no one in the Empire’s suppression forces would believe:

I’m merely an innocent magical criminal with no involvement whatsoever.

“I agree as well. Lee Han of House Wardanaz. This behavior is entirely unlike Lord Gonadaltes’ usual ideals. One could reasonably say he has lost his reason.”

Hearing Intarendals agree at least brought Lee Han some relief.

If the chamberlain had also begun speaking about loyalty and continental conquest, then things truly would have become hopeless.

“Thank you. Then how do we stop him?”

“...I do not know.”

“...”

-...

Both Lee Han and the hamster froze in shock.

If even the greatest expert on the insane duplicate present here had no answer—

“N-no. If even Lord Intarendals doesn’t know, then who possibly would?”

“My role has always been to serve Lord Gonadaltes loyally. I have never contemplated methods of changing Lord Gonadaltes according to someone else’s wishes.”

“True loyalty should involve correcting someone when they stray down the wrong path...”

Lee Han stopped mid-sentence.

There was no point arguing about Intarendals’ philosophy right now.

What mattered was finding a solution immediately.

“...Ah! What about this? Master feels indebted because he learned magic from a dragon. If His Majesty Jowurin persuaded him—”

“That would not work. At least, not on the current Lord Gonadaltes.”

The chamberlain predicted his master’s reasoning flawlessly.

-His conquest of the continent is for the sake of all living things. Once the dragon witnesses the peace established after subjugation, understanding will naturally follow.

‘What kind of absurd logic is that?’

Lee Han cursed inwardly.

Rule first, explain later?

There was nothing more unreasonable than that.

Which meant appealing through the Emperor’s race would also fail.

No matter how benevolent a dragon might be, the insane duplicate would likely decide the Emperor’s rule was too lenient and conclude that strict governance was necessary instead.

And the truly horrifying part was—

The Emperor himself might actually agree.

‘...Surely not. No matter what... surely not...’

Unfortunately, Lee Han wasn’t close enough to the Emperor to feel certain.

If the insane duplicate appeared demanding the throne, would the Emperor firmly reject him?

Especially while currently trapped under endless exploitative contracts forced upon him by the Empire’s noble houses?

‘...Dragons are generally wise and benevolent creatures... Damn it. I genuinely can’t be certain.’

Wooooooong—

A terrifying wave of mana erupted from outside the workshop.

Intarendals cried out urgently.

“Lord Gonadaltes is attempting to summon a demigod legion!”

“...”

A chill raced down Lee Han’s spine.

His instincts screamed that if they failed to stop things now, the situation would become irreversible.

‘A demigod legion? Something like the Black Crown magic he used before? Can that really be summoned on that scale? How?’

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but Lee Han forced himself to focus on what resources he actually had available.

Calling professors or upperclassmen would probably take too long.

And worse, he had no idea how the insane duplicate might react to outside interference.

‘Someone powerful enough to speak to him directly... if such a person even exists...’

Suddenly, Lee Han touched Perkuntra’s emblem.

A Spirit King-level existence should at least be capable of shouting down the insane duplicate.

‘No!’

Just as he was about to call Perkuntra, a better idea struck him.

Last time, when he had been dragged into the Nine Mountains and Eight Seas—

Hadn’t he met someone there?

Lee Han immediately pulled out the Yachaowang’s horn fragment.

Perkuntra was reliable, but in the current situation, the Yachaowang felt more appropriate.

Gripping the fragment desperately while pouring mana into it, the incantation emerged naturally from his lips.

“Please aid me, O King of Golden Eyes. A mortal seeks your wisdom!”

Even while reciting the spell, Lee Han felt uncertain.

The Yachaowang existed in a distant dimension.

He shared no contract with Lee Han and possessed no special ties to this continent.

Could he really descend here through a mere horn fragment?

Hmm. You called sooner than I expected. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

“!!!”

To Lee Han’s shock, the Yachaowang appeared instantly out of thin air.

There was no magical disturbance.

No grand summoning.

Nothing at all.

That effortless arrival only made it more terrifying.

Even the hamster was stunned enough to squeak instead of speaking human language.

For a being from another dimension to cross worlds this casually—

‘What exactly is this monster?’

Osu’s disciple. I anticipated something like this.

The Yachaowang’s voice carried the strange weight unique to beings capable of glimpsing fate itself.

Lee Han found himself completely overwhelmed.

Forgetting even his resentment from being deceived by the star guide last time, he instinctively asked respectfully,

“You predicted this situation?”

Indeed! It wasn’t difficult. Demon assassins targeting Osu’s disciple was the obvious outcome.

“...”

-...

For a brief moment, both Lee Han and the hamster felt embarrassed.

Embarrassed that they had nearly been overwhelmed by a complete lunatic from another dimension.

“No.”

Hmm?

“This isn’t a situation involving demon assassins.”

Suppressing his irritation, Lee Han explained as quickly as possible.

There was no time to waste on anger.

Fortunately, the Yachaowang understood immediately.

Hmm. Then my prediction was slightly mistaken. It appears your status as Osu’s disciple created an unexpected variable.

“...Please stop making excuses and help us already! You were close to the Principal in his youth, weren’t you? Didn’t he ever go mad like this before?”

Osu’s disciple. I believe you fundamentally misunderstand your master...

The Yachaowang seemed troubled by Lee Han’s tendency to treat the Skull Principal as some sort of deranged lunatic.

The Skull Principal was not that kind of madman.

Of course, the current insane duplicate definitely needed to be stopped.

Hmm. Let us solve the immediate problem first. Osu’s disciple, I require your assistance.

“What should I do?”

Rather than waste time arguing over details, Lee Han asked directly.

Summon your master. Not Osu himself, but Osu’s Doppelganger. Hmm... rather than merely calling him, phrase it this way. Tell him you discovered new possibilities within the Vision of Dynamus and wish to challenge Yeongnak once more. Also say that you intend to attempt casting Despotis.

“...????”

Several unfamiliar ancient spells appeared one after another.

Judging purely from instinct, each sounded like magic on the level of miniature worlds or higher.

‘Is it really okay to bluff about magic I know absolutely nothing about?’

But the overwhelming pressure building outside left no room for hesitation.

Lee Han immediately pulled out the <Echo Stone> and contacted the insane duplicate.

I am occupied. Lead the vanguard immediately.

“Master. I discovered new possibilities within the Vision of Dynamus. I wish to challenge Yeongnak once again. And I also wish to attempt casting Despotis—”

Before Lee Han could finish, the <Echo Stone> cut out.

An instant later—

BOOM!

The workshop doors exploded open.

The insane duplicate burst inside with blazing eyes.

“Is that truly true?!”

Hiyah!

The Yachaowang immediately ambushed him the moment his guard dropped.

The giant yacha, clad in crimson armor and helmet flashing with light, locked both arms around the Archmage and restrained him.

The insane duplicate shouted in shock.

“Who are you?!”

It has been a long time, Osu.

“The King of Yachas...! Even accounting for old debts, how dare you interfere with royalty?”

The sheer insolence of the act filled the insane duplicate’s eyes with fury and contempt.

Then those burning eyes shifted toward his disciple.

“Disciple. Do you dare betray your master?”

“...Your Majesty. This can still be fixed, right? Please tell me it can.”