Episode 1029
Episode 1029
When her thoughts reached that point, Professor Garcia subtly cleared her throat.
"Lee Han. Did you know that quite a few students at Petrogard are interested in spellcraft?"
"?"
Lee Han couldn't understand what Professor Garcia meant by bringing this up.
Suddenly? 'What's this about? Is she telling me not to hate Petrogard students?' But that seemed too abrupt even for that. Just because they're interested in spellcraft doesn't mean one should hate them less.
"Ah, I see. Spells are important in magic."
For wizards, spells weren't merely tools for focusing that resonated with the soul.
Broadly speaking, they also served as powerful frameworks that defined the form of magic.
For wizards who used existing magic as is, this wasn't something to ponder deeply about. But for those seeking to create or improve magic, they always had to know how to compromise between infinite possibilities and reality.
While magic's potential might be limitless, the wizards casting it were bound by reality.
Thus, these spells served as anchors that protected wizards.
At times, they became barriers preventing wizards from unintentionally losing control or being overwhelmed by runaway possibilities.
"I'm also interested in spellcraft."
Lee Han preferred efficient and concise spells.
Ancient magic-related spells were particularly good - just speaking their names served as simple summaries, allowing quick focus and easier magic invocation.
"No, no. Petrogard students prefer the beauty of the spells themselves."
"Excuse me?"
"I mean the inherent rhythm and melody of spells, and the resulting magical effects they produce..."
As she spoke, Professor Garcia gave him a look that seemed to hope her student would realize something.
A bright student would recognize what branch of magic this connected to.
Music Magic - which created effects through the spells themselves!
"Wow. Do they really have that much free time?"
"......"
"My apologies, Professor. That slipped out."
"It's alright, Lee Han."
Professor Garcia looked slightly deflated.
Still, she wanted to leave a good impression of Petrogard since they'd come all this way, but it didn't seem easy.
"We've arrived."
Dalser pointed ahead.
On the flat plain before them, dozens of wagons with waterproof cloth covering their roofs were gathered in a circular formation. They looked more like wandering merchants or pioneers than wizards.
Yet there was something peculiar about the sight.
If they were merchants or pioneers, the circle of wagons should contain various goods, camping supplies, and lit campfires - but there was none of that.
"Please enter."
"Where to?"
"Ah. You can lift the cover of any wagon and go inside."
As they said this, the Petrogard wizards abruptly disappeared into nearby wagons.
Professor Garcia, Professor Voladi, and Alsicle moved as if this wasn't surprising at all. The students cautiously followed behind.
Whoosh!
Gainando was startled.
When they entered the wagon, a completely different landscape greeted them. 'The wagons are all magical passageways!' He'd wondered how a magic academy like Petrogard could travel throughout the Empire - now it made sense.
The academy's grounds existed as a separate magical space, with only the entrance wagons moving leisurely about.
Petrogard's grounds had a completely different atmosphere from Einrogard's.
For starters, there was no main building - just inconsistently constructed buildings scattered haphazardly across the grounds.
From buildings shaped like demon horns, to structures perched atop giant growing trees, floating buildings on lakes, and even tents simply labeled <Petrogard Classroom>.
Gainando called to Lee Han beside him.
"Truly peculiar. Don't you think, Lee Han? ...Lee Han?"
Gainando looked around. He could see the others, but Lee Han was nowhere in sight.
"Where'd Lee Han go?!?!"
"What are you talking about? We came in togeth... Wait, where did he go?!"
* * *
Initially, Lee Han thought Petrogard was truly a unique magic academy.
"The school is actually in the basement?!"
But that wasn't the case.
When the ghostly mage he'd met before suddenly materialized beside him, Lee Han realized something had gone terribly wrong.
-"You promised... to undo the magic..."
The ghost's voice seemed more intelligent and resentful than last time, prompting Lee Han to immediately offer an excuse.
"No, I'm working on it. It just takes time. Even other mages haven't solved this difficult problem, you know."
Who would've thought he'd get abruptly kidnapped just for not undoing the magic yet?
Trying not to provoke the ghost, Lee Han carefully continued,
"Is kidnapping me like this really necessary just because of that?"
-"Kidnap...?"
The ghost reacted as if it didn't understand the concept of kidnapping.
"You dragged me here, didn't you?... Wait, how? There were professors on either side of me!"
One had been Einrogard's Fist King and the other Professor Voladi—how had the ghost slipped past their notice?
-"I... didn't kidnap... You... visited..."
"...?!"
Lee Han grabbed the insane mage's ghost and bombarded it with questions to understand the situation.
Though difficult since rational conversation didn't work, the accumulating answers eventually painted a clearer picture.
So... 'While teleporting, I accidentally got pulled into this basement?'
Dimensional-traveling mages sometimes suffered from annoying curses—like monsters tracking their magical scent across dimensions, or their physical forms warping during transit...
Lee Han's case was slightly different but equally troublesome.
Getting randomly flung into this basement during teleportation?
Did that mean every future teleportation might dump him in this damned villa's basement?
He didn't teleport often, but this was still an irritating limitation.
'Did accepting the ghost's offer cause this?'
Lee Han wanted to identify the magical principle behind this mishap, but it proved difficult.
Given that other mages had given up and destroyed their research, tracing the connection to this spatial labyrinth was nearly impossible.
'Ugh. Should've studied spacetime magic more.'
With that absurd thought, Lee Han surveyed his surroundings.
From outside, there'd been no visible entrance to this basement, yet inside it looked utterly ordinary.
"Is there any way out of here?"
-"What... nonsense... Just take... the stairs..."
"?!"
Lee Han was stunned by the blatantly obvious answer.
True, entering from outside had been impossible, but that didn't mean leaving was too.
Cautiously, he stepped onto the stairs—
And instantly, space warped again.
Lee Han abruptly dropped back into Petrogard's territory.
Lately, a significant number of Petrogard students had become obsessed with someone called the "Great Artist."
No one knew his name, status, age, gender, or even appearance—but none of that mattered.
His displayed power and charisma were more than enough to captivate Petrogard's students.
"Thus shall you thrive happily upon this land!... This is both your right and your duty!"
The Great Artist's languid yet overwhelmingly powerful voice dominated the hall.
"To reach the pinnacle of magical artistry, you must think solely of yourself—your own self. Sheer selfishness is the purest virtue. Nothing else warrants consideration. Understood?"
One listening mage raised a hand.
"G-Great Artist! My family barely covers my tuition, and I've squandered all the money they send... Is that still acceptable?"
"It is. I absolve you. If that's your desire, then it is good."
Another cried out,
"Great Artist! My family demands I build a mage's career quickly and join a respectable office or guild, but I refuse! My art would die the moment I worked in such places!"
"It is acceptable. If you don't wish to work, then don't. If that's your desire, then it too is good."
A passionate cheer erupted from the gathered students, resembling the fervor of fanatical devotees.
With a light gesture, the Great Artist touched the Black Magnetite placed at the center.
Despite its Mana Absorption property, which made it resistant to ordinary smelting methods, the hard ore began to bloom like a flower at his mere touch, elegantly unfolding its form.
The sheer beauty of this masterpiece—so incomprehensible that one couldn't even guess what magic had been used—drew stomping feet and wild cries from the students.
Just then, a student quickly turned around and whispered.
He was one whom the Great Artist had preemptively recruited, tasked with reporting any unusual occurrences at the school (such as floating skeletons appearing out of nowhere).
"Great Artist, sir. Guests have arrived at the school."
"What kind of guests?"
"They say they're visitors from Einrogard."
"!"
Though his face was hidden behind a mask, the Great Artist visibly flinched.
"Was there a flying skeleton among them?"
"No, there wasn't."
"...Then it's fine. Wait a moment. If it's not the skeleton, who dares visit this land of blissful hedonists?"
"I heard it was Professors Garcia, Kim, and Voladi Bagrak."
"Those traitorous brats...!"
"Pardon?"
"Never mind. It doesn't matter anyway. Those brats can't persuade me."
Crash!
"???"
The sudden commotion drew the Great Artist's attention.
A mage who clearly didn't belong here was apologizing amidst the Petrogard students.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't expect to suddenly drop in here."
"Did the carriage's spatial gate malfunction? Well, no matter. Don't worry about it. In fact, this is perfect. You've arrived at just the right moment."
"Huh?"
"The Great Artist—a grand mage who has come to teach us true art—was just delivering a lecture. Do you know what he told me? He said I never have to work a day in my life."
"...Uh, that was a lecture?"
Lee Han was baffled.
What kind of 'Great Artist's lecture' was this—on par with Gainando's nonsense?
No, even Gainando wasn't this bad. 'If Gainando slacked off for a week, he'd at least nervously ask if there was any studying to do.'
"Are you the visitor from Einrogard?"
The Great Artist called out to Lee Han in a languid, melodious voice.
Facing the grand mage—whose identity was completely concealed by a mask, a voluminous cloak, and surrounding magic—Lee Han tensed slightly.
"Yes. That's correct."
"Everyone, let's welcome our guest from Einrogard! The mages of Einrogard are pitiable souls of the Empire, deserving of our sympathy."
Another person might have felt slightly insulted, but Lee Han reacted differently.
He was, in fact, a little moved. 'Is he a good person?'
"These people learn magic for absurd, nonsensical purposes. They throw themselves into its mysteries and devote themselves entirely. And what do they have to show for it? A handful of useless magic."
"W-well, I don't think it's quite that bad..."
Lee Han was flustered by the absurdly high praise.
After all, Einrogard did have its fair share of students who slacked off in magic studies.
The Great Artist, perhaps aware of this, didn't deny it.
"Sharp words! You're right. Not all Einrogard mages are like that. There's still hope. Any mage in their right mind would try to graduate as quickly as possible and never set foot on that cursed land again."
"Actually... I used to think that way too."
"Is that really true?"
The Great Artist responded with great enthusiasm to Lee Han's agreement.
"But that was in the past. Lately, my thoughts have changed a bit..."
"Why? How so?"
"Well..."
Lee Han hesitated as he was about to explain his experiences with the Skeleton Principal's avatar.
If this man was the Skeleton Principal's former disciple, he might fly into a rage.
"You won't get angry if I tell you, right?"
The Great Artist burst into laughter.
"Me? I never get angry. Do you know why? Because I live solely for my own pleasure. Such a person has no room for anger."
"Well, I actually learned magic from the Principal and his avat—"
CRASH!
Unable to contain his fury, the Great Artist hurled the Black Magnetite flower to the ground.