Chapter Eighteen: Please, Spare Us

Because Han Shuo was injured, Fanny had no intention of tormenting him further today. After helping him bandage his wounds and making sure he was all right, she allowed him to leave. On his way back, Han Shuo felt a vague sense of unease. He hadn’t expected Lisa to see through his act of feigned madness so quickly.

Recently, he’d caused her no small amount of trouble, but since she thought he was a bit addled, she hadn’t taken it to heart. Now that she knew he’d been toying with her all along, she was bound to seek revenge. He was supposed to meet her behind the teaching building tonight, but who knew what she had prepared for him.

Lost in thought, Han Shuo soon found himself back at the storeroom where he lived. As he was about to go inside, he noticed Kelly and Borg standing awkwardly at the door, looking nervous.

These two had been the main instigators during the last trial and had suffered the worst beating from Han Shuo. Their faces were bruised and swollen, nearly unrecognizable.

Seeing them here, Han Shuo’s mind raced. He glanced around warily, suspecting they were here for payback, and wondered how many others might be lying in wait. He narrowed his eyes and silently observed the area before silently moving toward the washing area, picking up a hard stone. With a foolish grin, he said, “Are you here for another fight?”

Kelly and Borg both shuddered when they saw Han Shuo pick up a stone. Kelly hurriedly pleaded, “Bryan, please let us go. We know we wronged you before, it was all our fault. We’ll never do it again—please, just let us go!”

Borg, equally fearful, fumbled two silver coins from his pocket and hesitantly approached Han Shuo, offering them with trembling hands. “Bryan, this is our token of sincerity. Please, plead with Miss Fanny to spare us. Otherwise, the academy will expel us both. Our families are poor, and we depend on our chores at Babylon Magic and Martial Academy just to survive. Please, have mercy!”

So, they were begging for mercy. Han Shuo tossed the stone aside. The foolish look in his eyes faded, and he crossed his arms, regarding them at his leisure.

After a moment, he smiled faintly. “I don’t want your coins.”

Borg and Kelly exchanged a glance, then both dropped to one knee, pleading, “Bryan, please forgive us. We’ll never cross you again.”

“Get up, get up!” Han Shuo quickly moved to help them to their feet, smiling as he did so. “I don’t want your coins, but if you agree to one condition, I’ll speak to Miss Fanny on your behalf, and I won’t cause you trouble in the future.”

By this point, Borg and Kelly realized Han Shuo had only been pretending to be a fool all along. His ruthless methods during the trial had frightened them out of any thought of revenge. Han Shuo was now completely beyond anything they’d imagined.

“Whatever you ask, we’ll agree!” Borg replied desperately, staring at Han Shuo with hope.

Han Shuo nodded, relaxed and confident. “From now on, when it comes to our janitorial duties, I want you two to take care of my share—just do it diligently and quickly. If you do, I’ll put in a good word with Miss Fanny.”

“Absolutely, Bryan, don’t worry, we’ll handle it. We’ll do your tasks well.” Afraid Han Shuo might change his mind, Kelly agreed at once.

There were only four janitors in the Necromancy Department. If Kelly and Borg were expelled and replacements couldn’t be found, the leftover chores would fall to Han Shuo and Jack, leaving Han Shuo with no free time. That was not something he wanted.

Now, with Kelly and Borg agreeing to take care of his work, Han Shuo would have more energy for other pursuits. The tables had turned—Bryan had once done their extra work, but now fate had reversed, indirectly avenging the unfortunate Bryan.

Seeing that dusk was falling, Han Shuo remembered his meeting with Lisa was approaching. Growing impatient, he said, “Enough, I have to go behind the teaching building. If you have no business, go back. And remember—keep acting like you think I’m crazy. If you dare breathe a word of today, I’ll beat you so badly you won’t even recognize each other!”

Kelly and Borg quickly agreed, still cowed by his icy threat. Han Shuo’s merciless actions during the trial had left a deep impression; they would never dare retaliate.

Just as Han Shuo was about to leave, Borg suddenly recalled something and called out, “Bryan, when you go behind the teaching building, don’t take the path by the rockery! Lisa just had Kelly and me set up three traps over there—noose, net, and pitfall. She said it was to test summoned creatures’ intelligence, but don’t stumble into them by accident!”

Han Shuo was taken aback, then quickly understood. Lisa was clearly prepared; she wasn’t testing summoned creatures at all—she was targeting him specifically.

“Tell me exactly where you set the traps, so I don’t blunder into them in the dark,” Han Shuo said, frowning.

The two, not knowing Lisa’s true intentions and eager to curry favor with Han Shuo, described the locations of all three traps in detail.

“Good. See you tomorrow. Remember to wipe the statues along the path in the morning—I want to sleep in,” Han Shuo said breezily, then set off toward the rockery behind the teaching building as if nothing had happened.

Behind the Necromancy Department’s teaching building, at the corner near the rockery, Lisa—the little witch—hid behind the stones, a sly smile curving her lips. Her eyes shone with excitement as she watched Han Shuo approach from afar.

Damn Bryan, daring to feign madness and make a fool of me—not only playing dead to scare me, kicking my backside during the trial, but also forcing me to make disgusting potions! This time, I’ll make you pay, Lisa thought hatefully, tightening her grip on the rope in her hands.

One end of the rope was looped on Han Shuo’s path; as soon as both his feet entered the circle, Lisa would yank the rope and bring him down. Above, a large net was spread between two rocks, ready to drop as soon as he was caught.

Lisa watched as Han Shuo wandered over, looking around suspiciously, moving slowly and calling out, “Lisa, where are you? Come out.”

“I’m here—come over, I have something to say to you. If you don’t, you’re dead!” Lisa called from behind the rocks, her voice imperious.

Han Shuo glanced around as if clueless, then moved toward the trap. Lisa, excited, tightened her grip on the rope, concentrating on the moment when both his feet would step into the loop.

Just as one of Han Shuo’s feet was about to enter the snare, he suddenly stopped and called out again, “Lisa, where are you hiding?”

The noose lay mere inches ahead of him. Lisa nearly sprang the trap, but his abrupt stop caught her off guard. As she relaxed and was about to reply, Han Shuo suddenly quickened his pace, taking two swift steps that carried him over the snare, moving forward while muttering, “Lisa, what are you up to?”

In this way, Han Shuo dodged both the snare and the net with a seemingly accidental pause and a sudden dash. Lisa was left frustrated, cursing under her breath, never suspecting Han Shuo saw through everything.

“I’m here! Why are you so late?” Lisa emerged from behind the rocks, gnashing her teeth in annoyance.

“Oh, nothing—my back still hurts a bit, so I went to rest for a while. Thanks for helping me bandage my wounds today,” Han Shuo replied expressionlessly, walking straight toward her.

Suddenly, there was a cracking sound, as if a brittle raft had broken. Han Shuo gave a startled yell as his body vanished, but groans of pain echoed from a newly revealed dark pit.

“Haha! Damn Bryan, you finally fell for it! Now I’ll teach you a lesson for daring to bully the future Grand Magus of Necromancy!” Lisa, who had just been disappointed, now laughed in triumph as she dashed from behind the rocks to the edge of the pit where Han Shuo had disappeared.

Gleefully, she began to curse at Han Shuo and picked up a stone, intending to hurl it at him to avenge herself for his recent mischief.

Suddenly, Lisa felt a hand grip her right ankle. She looked down in terror to see Han Shuo’s left hand grasping the edge of the pit and his right hand clutching her ankle. He hadn’t fallen in at all, and now he looked up at her with a wicked grin.

“Down you go!” Han Shuo chuckled darkly. Taking advantage of Lisa’s panic, he gave a sharp pull, and the scheming Lisa—arms flailing, shrieking in terror—plummeted into the pit she had so carefully laid.