Episode 1031
Episode 1031
"......Very well, I understand."
Though flustered and confused, a grand mage was indeed different from others in some way.
He had regained his composure in an instant.
While he still couldn't quite comprehend his youngest disciple's grand ambitions despite claiming to have no ambition of his own...
The Great Artist decided to accept things as they were for now.
"If you say you'll shoulder the most tragic and pitiable fate in the Empire and become a sacrificial mage who burns himself alive, who am I to stop you?"
"......"
Lee Han stared at the Artist with a complicated expression.
Despite saying he understood, his attitude showed no signs of actual acceptance.
"You seem to have already said plenty..."
"But you must remember—many disciples before you who took on the same challenge met miserable fates."
The Artist refused to give up easily.
After all he had witnessed and experienced, he couldn't simply say, "Alright, do your best," based on a single statement.
If the other's resolve was stubborn, he would approach it slowly, like spring sunlight melting winter's ice.
"Let me guess why you're here. Since you came with two professors... You must have been asked by the suspicious mages of Petrogard to investigate me, no?"
"!"
Lee Han was startled by the sudden change in topic.
Denying it in front of someone so certain would only provoke unnecessary irritation, so Lee Han readily admitted it.
"I won't deny it."
"It's only natural they'd be concerned. Most of the Skeleton Principal's former disciples bring chaos and turbulence wherever they go."
The Great Artist wasn't angry at the Petrogard mages.
Why would he be? It wasn't as if they were the Skeleton Principal himself.
Besides, all of the Skeleton Principal's former disciples had their own unstable quirks, so their concerns were understandable.
"Still, there's no need to worry prematurely. I'll leave once I complete what I want anyway. Causing a commotion would only be more dangerous."
"A commotion?"
Lee Han wondered if the Skeleton Principal would hear about it and come flying over.
But the Artist shook his head.
"Though I've officially left the school, many don't see it that way. There's no reason to reveal my identity and invite enemies, is there?"
The Great Artist was actually more wary of other enemies than the Skeleton Principal.
From magic criminals onward, the Skeleton Principal had many foes, and these enemies weren't particularly convinced even when the Artist declared, "I'm no longer his disciple!"
"That makes sense. Wait—does that mean we don't have to worry about the Principal?"
"Not exactly."
'So not exactly...'
Unlike other enemies, he might not be actively hostile, but there was no benefit in letting the Skeleton Principal know he was here.
Even if the Artist himself believed he owed nothing, there was no telling if that eccentric old man would think the same.
"I have absolutely no intention of causing a commotion or picking fights. So if you want me to leave Petrogard, there's only one way."
As he spoke, the Great Artist pointed at Lee Han.
Lee Han asked in a tense voice:
"A duel?"
"......Did you not hear me say I have no intention of picking fights just now?"
"Ah. My apologies. Force of habit, thanks to the professors."
"You'll assist me with my work."
"Me?"
Lee Han was puzzled.
Setting aside the difficulty of assisting a grand mage's work, above all...
"Wouldn't the professors be better suited?"
"I have no desire to spend even a single second with those dim-witted traitors."
"...Ah. Right."
* * *
"Don't worry too much. It was probably just a spatial teleportation error."
Dalser reassured the two professors.
Especially in Professor Garcia's case—since she cared deeply for her students, the shock must have been greater.
But in truth, there was no real reason to worry in this situation.
It was merely a spatial magic error—no outside interference, no enemy ambush.
At worst, they might have exited through another carriage's entrance, so they were likely somewhere within Petrogard's territory.
"I'm not worried about Lee Han. Honestly, wherever he ends up, he'll be able to handle his own business."
The students behind Professor Garcia were slightly taken aback by her words.
Of course, they agreed, but Professor Garcia was usually a bit more...
Didn't she used to show more concern?
"Isn't she being a bit too unconcerned?"
"Honestly, it might be Wardanaz's own fault..."
As the students whispered among themselves, Professor Garcia continued.
"What I'm worried about right now is the Headmaster's former disciple. If we rashly make contact without Lee Han present, we might all get kicked out immediately."
"That's too much of an exaggeration. They're still alumni, aren't they?"
Dalser thought Professor Garcia was overstating things.
No matter what, would the Great Artist really dismiss fellow alumni without even hearing them out?
But Professor Garcia and Professor Voladi shook their heads with serious expressions.
"...R-really?"
"Yes."
Disciples who had fled under the Skeleton Principal's rule—whether they were from before or after Einrogard—generally didn't think highly of the faculty.
They tended to see them as the Headmaster's lackeys, henchmen, spies, and the like.
And to be fair, it wasn't entirely untrue.
"We need to find Lee Han quickly and stick together. Otherwise, we might all get kicked out while Lee Han gets to stay."
-Is that the Wardanaz family? What luck. To have the chance for a private audience with such a Great Artist.
-The Artist must be trying to impart enlightenment. It'll be a great opportunity for these barbarians from Einrogard.
"......"
"...Found him."
The group collectively sighed in relief.
It was impressive how he'd managed to disappear like that, but at least the immediate crisis was averted.
Tap tap
-Professor Voladi lightly tapped Professor Garcia's shoulder.
"What is it?"
"I think we should intervene."
"?"
Garcia was puzzled by the senior professor's words.
"Are you worried? But if it's that person, they're not really dangerous."
After entering Petrogard and hearing additional explanations from the students, Professor Garcia was almost certain about the other party's identity.
If she was right, they weren't the type to do anything threatening. If anything, they'd pity the Einrogard students and might even help them.
"Wardanaz might be persuaded."
"...Uh..."
Professor Garcia was momentarily speechless at the unexpected observation.
Until now, she'd only been thinking about how to persuade the other party to leave Petrogard. But now she realized the other party could also persuade them.
Especially if the professors weren't around. Wasn't 'that Artist' the type of senior who considered it his life's mission and sacred duty to help Einrogard students escape?
What if Lee Han got persuaded and suddenly declared, "Goodbye, professors. I've found my happiness and am leaving Einrogard," before vanishing?
Alsicle, who had been listening nearby, suddenly widened his eyes and spoke.
"...Wait, wouldn't that be a good thing? It'd make Wardanaz happy, wouldn't... W-why are you looking at me like that, Voladi Bagrak?"
Alsicle shrank back behind Professor Garcia under Professor Voladi's glare.
With an annoyed expression, Professor Garcia picked Alsicle up and placed him back in his original spot.
"Petrogard is more boring than I expected."
"Shh. Keep it down. You're showing your lack of culture."
The White Tiger Tower students struggled to hide their boredom during the Petrogard tour.
Though they loved swords more than books, there was no need to flaunt it.
"But those Blue Dragon Tower guys are acting the same way."
-Ah! This is so damn boring!
Gainando rolled back and forth on the grass, shouting.
Adenart distanced herself as much as possible. She genuinely didn't want to be associated with Gainando.
"There were some decent paintings and sculptures to see."
Yoner, who had toured the area with Nilia, chimed in.
But Gainando just snorted in response.
"Rather than looking at that stuff, I'd rather read a magazine one more time."
"Bored, are you?"
"!"
Gainando opened his eyes wide in surprise at the Petrogard student who suddenly addressed him.
Upon closer look, it was the same Petrogard student he'd mistaken for a corpse on their way here.
"Y-you...you're..."
"Bunarjo."
"I-I'm Gainando. Imperial royalty."
Adenart, who had been glancing around nervously, quickly pulled her hood over her head.
She was worried Gainando might blurt out something like 'She's royalty too.'
"I see. Gainando."
"You were playing outside the whole time. Why'd you come back?"
"Why are you angry?"
"I'm not angry!"
Bunarjo couldn't understand why the Einrogard students were getting upset.
Apparently there existed strange magic academy students who got angry just from seeing others having fun.
"Strange fellow. I came back because I got everything I wanted."
As he finished speaking, Bunarjo began rummaging through his equipment.
Chisels, awls, hammers and saws - various sculpting magic items clattered into view.
The idle Einrogard students, having nothing better to do, began gathering around out of curiosity.
Would Petrogard truly live up to its reputation? What kind of enchantment magic would they demonstrate?
"Your Highness. What do you think of that sculpture?"
"It's excellent. Though it seems rather crude..."
Bunarjo responded to that comment.
"That's my style."
"But isn't it too rough?"
The Petrogard student just shrugged and returned to his work.
The wyvern sculpture, looking far more rugged and fierce than its original form, quickly took shape.
"...Wait. Did you see that just now? Nilia?"
"Huh? Huh? I wasn't sleeping."
Nilia flustered at her friend's question. Yoner pointed at the wings and asked:
"Look at those wings."
"Wings? Uh...wyvern wings don't look like that. That's inefficient. Haven't you seen a wyvern before?"
"...I-it looks cooler this way."
Bunarjo, who hadn't shown any emotion all day, stammered slightly.
But Yoner wasn't paying attention. That wasn't the important thing right now.
"Did those wings just move?"
"How could they move when he hasn't even cast any magic yet?"
Other nearby students looked puzzled.
The Petrogard student had only been sculpting so far - he hadn't cast any spells yet. A mere stone wyvern couldn't possibly move.
"It can move."
Bunarjo answered as if annoyed.
"What?"
"I said it can move. Sometimes when inspiration is overflowing, the works become magic themselves without any spells being cast."
'...'
Primitive magic!?'
Gainando made disbelieving noises as if to say 'Don't lie,' but some quick-witted students realized what was being discussed and were astonished.
Magic that operated differently from current Imperial magic.
Yoner thought to herself:
'That's impossible. For a statue that size to move, you'd need to layer enchantment magic with transmutation magic multiple times...'
There were reasons primitive magic hadn't been incorporated into Imperial magic.
Its power was either too weak, inconsistent or unstable - not worth the effort.
"Today's going pretty well. You all might get to see it."
"See what... gasp!"
All the Einrogard students stood up from their seats.
The half-completed wyvern sculpture was slowly flapping its wings and moving.
Bunarjo declared with pride:
"True magic should be able to invoke spells the caster themselves can't perform or even imagine. Like this."
Bunarjo himself didn't know how to cast the magic that brought the wyvern sculpture to life.
But sometimes, when inspiration and luck aligned, he could accidentally manifest such magic.
The wyvern sculpture slowly turned back to stone. Bunarjo patted it and said:
"I can only do this much, but there are greater mages. They manifest far more powerful and difficult magic. Especially that artist who's visiting this time - it's beyond imagination."
"Beyond imagination?"
"He's trying to breathe eternal life into his works."
"...Sh-shouldn't we call Wardanaz?"