Episode 1030
Episode 1030
"You said you wouldn't get angry..."
"Surprisingly, even the happiest person in the Empire can get angry. It's something only the most wicked mage in the Empire can make happen."
The Great Artist casually brushed aside the shattered Black Magnetite flower and spoke as if it were nothing.
"Then you must be Lee Han of the Wardanaz Family. Am I correct?"
"Yes."
There was no point in making clumsy lies to a Grand Mage who had already guessed everything.
Lee Han answered calmly.
"The youngest of the Wardanaz Family and a second-year at Einrogard."
"Yes."
—Second-year? Wasn't he a fifth-year?
A murmuring voice came from behind, but Lee Han was too focused on his opponent to hear it.
"The sacrificial lamb destined to bear the most tragic and pitiful fate in the Empire. A mage for the burnt offering. Soon to be a wretched soul set ablaze!"
"...Uh, that's not it."
It seemed the other party was mistaken.
Yet the Great Artist spoke with a powerful voice, as if he could see the future itself.
"You may think not. But soon, it will be so. Unless you flee this very moment!"
"That can't be... Wait. Or can it?"
Lee Han, who had been about to deny it outright, wavered slightly.
Come to think of it, ever since he started learning magic separately from the Skeleton Principal—unlike his other friends—he had felt like his life had become unusually fraught with difficulties.
Seeing that the youngest disciple under the Skeleton Principal was more reasonable than expected, the Great Artist nodded.
There was still hope for this boy.
Before he could go mad, or worse, become corrupted into a professor—or something even more dreadful—he had to guide him onto the bright path bathed in light.
"I have much to teach you. Follow me."
At the artist's words, the students of Petrogard murmured with envy-filled expressions.
"Such luck! To be granted a private audience with the Great Artist and learn his truths right away..."
"You should be grateful, mage from the Wardanaz Family. Remember this well. Listen to the voice of your soul. Do not waver at the demands of your family. Even if they force you to act for the sake of the Empire's dignity, ignore them."
'Damn. If this were Einrogard, I would've punched them by now.'
Lee Han cursed the Petrogard students inwardly as he followed the Great Artist.
The Great Artist's dwelling was smaller than expected and, in some ways, even exuded a frugal atmosphere.
Noticing Lee Han's surprise, the artist asked,
"Did you expect something far more extravagant?"
"A little, yes."
"I pursue only my own pleasure and happiness, but that doesn't necessarily equate to luxury. In fact, it might even lead you further away from it."
As Lee Han glanced around the austere interior, he spotted several paintings. Among them, to his astonishment, was a familiar figure.
Long, flowing hair and perfectly sculpted features that wouldn't be out of place on an ancient kingdom's statue.
It was a portrait of the Skeleton Principal in human form.
"May I ask you something?"
"By all means. I brought you here to teach you—would I refuse a single question?"
"Then... were you also a disciple of the Headmaster?"
"No."
"!"
Lee Han was stunned.
Was he a Magic Criminal???
'Good grief. How could I act so carelessly...!'
"I was merely a pitiful student of Einrogard, deceived and led astray by that vile and wicked man."
"......"
You were his disciple!
It seemed the other party had a habit of speaking in roundabout ways about being the Skeleton Principal's disciple—much like how Gainando would twist his words to avoid admitting he hadn't studied.
"But why do you ask so suddenly? Did you not already know?"
"Ah. Seeing that portrait reminded me of something..."
Lee Han was about to ask if he still painted out of lingering respect, but he hesitated.
It might have unnecessarily provoked the other.
"I paint occasionally."
"Is that so??"
"Yes. For my own pleasure."
Seizing the moment, the Great Artist demonstrated how he pursued pleasure through painting.
Whoosh!
He immediately set the portrait ablaze.
"Watching a burning painting makes even the most intense hatred grow slightly faint."
"......"
Lee Han sincerely felt relieved he hadn't asked about respect earlier.
Had he asked, he might have ended up burning just like that painting.
"Sit. I have something to tell you."
As the junior from Einrogard obediently took a seat, the Great Artist slowly began to speak.
"Where should I begin... Well, you wouldn't fully grasp it yet. Not even the fact that your fate is unfortunate and that you'll soon be offered as a sacrificial offering."
"Actually, I can somewhat guess that part."
"?!"
Just studying magic under the Skeleton Principal meant the second clone could appear at any moment, or a Magic Criminal, an Anti-Magic Zealot, or even an Evil God Worshipper could show up and drag you into a fight.
Given that, Lee Han could roughly guess what this senior meant by such words.
Of course, the Great Artist seemed slightly surprised by Lee Han's reaction.
It was only natural to be startled when a mere second-year responded like this.
"You can guess? No! The chances of you misunderstanding are far higher."
"Uh, Magic Criminals, Anti-Magic Zealots, Evil God Worshippers, Greater Demons, dimensional monsters... or having to fight the Principal's clone—that kind of thing, right?"
"...!!"
The answer was far more specific and sharp than expected, leaving the Great Artist even more astonished.
What?
"You know all that, yet you're not even thinking of running away?"
"Well, there's a bit of a backstory to that..."
"Wrong! You still haven't come to your senses."
The Great Artist cut him off without even listening.
Lee Han grumbled inwardly.
'Isn't this a bit too much, even for a senior?'
"Do you know who the wisest person in Einrogard is?"
"Professor Garcia?"
"Ha!"
The Artist responded with a scornful scoff. Lee Han grumbled again in his mind.
"Then... Senior Diret?"
"...Who is that? Since you clearly don't know the answer, I'll tell you. The wisest person in Einrogard is the one who never enrolled in the first place."
"......"
Lee Han found the question cheap and ridiculous.
Regardless, the Artist continued.
"The second wisest are those who enrolled but graduated as quickly as possible and never got involved with Einrogard again."
"Then who's the third wisest?"
"From that point onward, they can hardly be called wise. Foolish would be more accurate. The foolish are those who seek the Skeleton Principal's teachings and inherit even a fraction of his magic."
'Even though you did the same...'
"But even among fools, fragments of wisdom can be found. The least foolish choose to sever the chains of slavery and flee far away."
"...Wait, does that mean the most foolish are the professors?"
Listening carefully, the only ones left were the professors.
"No. Hear me out. Of course, professors are indeed more foolish. Some, instead of fleeing, stay at Einrogard and willingly shoulder the yoke of teaching. A terribly foolish act. But there exists someone even more foolish than that—so foolish they could be called the most foolish of all."
Even nonsense becomes intriguing when repeated enough.
Lee Han was no exception.
'Is there still someone left?'
If even the professors weren't the most foolish, then who?
"Then who on earth is it?"
"It's the one who dares not only to inherit the Skeleton Principal's magic but also to take on all his duties and responsibilities!"
The Great Artist spoke with utter sincerity.
The obligations and tasks borne by this ancient archmage were anything but light.
For an ordinary mage, even inheriting a fraction of these would crush or burn them to death.
Yet among the disciples who learned magic from the Skeleton Principal, there were occasionally those who revealed such ambitions.
These individuals could truly be called the most foolish and pitiable of all.
"Exactly! What a relief. That definitely doesn't apply to me."
"......"
Is he in his right mind?
For a moment, the Great Artist couldn't comprehend Lee Han's words and doubted his own ears.
Anyone with even the slightest knowledge of the Skeleton Principal's long lineage would see it plainly—this boy before him was calmly walking the very path of that final, most foolish case.
Despite being only a second-year, he'd already achieved feats grand enough to reach the Artist's own ears. Who knew how much more he'd accomplished within the closed walls of Einrogard?
If such a disciple wouldn't challenge for succession, then who would?
"You mean you have no intention of inheriting it?"
"Huh? Yes."
"Truly? In that case..."
Though not entirely convinced, the Great Artist felt somewhat relieved.
If this youngest disciple truly had no intention of inheriting, persuasion would become easier.
After graduation, he could stay as far from Einrogard as possible. Even if he received letters asking if he wanted to become a professor, he could just burn them.
But that relief shattered instantly because of what Lee Han said next.
"I was just thinking of helping out a little on the side—"
CRASH!
"!?"
In his extreme fury, the Great Artist destroyed another artwork.
"Such complacent nonsense!"
"N-no! Just helping a little—"
"You think you can 'help on the side' when keeping your distance wouldn't even be enough? You've understood nothing of the lesson I just taught you!"
Though concealed by his mask and magic, the Artist's voice burned with palpable rage.
"Do you know what that means? It means sacrificing your own pleasures and happiness for the sake of strangers across the continent you'll never even know. No matter how beautifully wrapped in mystical secrets, it's utter nonsense! Why should you make such sacrifices?"
"It's not that extreme—"
"There is no 'on the side'! There's only being involved or not involved! You still don't understand. Look at those foolish little traitors."
"Who?"
"The professors."
"......"
"Do you think those professors could just research their own magic if they wanted? Once you're involved, you get dragged in whether you like it or not!"
The Great Artist's argument carried not just logic but unshakable conviction.
Lee Han couldn't help but be overwhelmed by that conviction. 'There's definitely some truth to that.' Given the nature of the Skeleton Principal's work, casually helping from the sidelines was likely impossible.
When a portal to the demon realm opens on the back mountain and demons come pouring out, there's no leisurely way to "help a little." You'd have to throw yourself into the fray desperately.
"Do you understand now?!"
"Yes..."
"Then you won't spout such complacent nonsense again. Have you decided to flee after graduation?"
"No?"
"......Why???"
"Well... I've already received so much... I'll just prepare to work harder and help out."
"......"
Amidst his anger and concern for his youngest disciple, the Great Artist suddenly felt his mind go blank.
Among the Skeleton Principal's disciples, there had been those who sought to burn their master, burn themselves, or burn the continent—but this type was entirely new.
How could someone display such grand ambitions without a shred of personal ambition?