Episode 1033
Episode 1033
The Great Artist showed genuine concern at the youngest disciple's statement.
It wasn't something a sane person would say.
Considering all the enemies he'd faced so far, perhaps his mind had unknowingly been tainted by madness...
"I really have met him before."
Of course, Lee Han was extremely indignant.
Because he had truly used the <Scepter of Kairos> to meet the young skeleton headmaster from a past dimension.
When Lee Han shared his story about meeting the young skeleton headmaster during his human days, the Great Artist gagged.
"Guhk. Guh-hhk."
"......Ah, no. Are you actually going to vomit?"
"Does this look like fake gagging to you? My ears and soul feel insulted and contaminated."
The Great Artist shuddered and flicked his fingers. Immediately, the irritated mucous membranes from his stomach acid reflux returned to normal.
"Hah."
After letting out a sigh, the Great Artist paced around his quarters once.
Then he sighed again.
"Hah."
The Great Artist paced around his quarters twice...
"......Can I leave now?"
"Wait, just wait a moment."
The Great Artist stopped the youngest disciple from leaving and made a request.
Originally, the artist's plan had been to collect hundreds of artworks depicting the skeleton headmaster.
Even with the power of primitive magic based on artistic inspiration and his Unique World, breathing a soul into inanimate objects was no easy task.
To increase the probability and accuracy, one artwork wouldn't be enough. Perhaps thousands, even tens of thousands of pieces might be necessary.
"If that's the plan, do you need my help?"
"If I make them alone, the limitations will become even more apparent."
Moreover, those artworks needed perspectives beyond just the artist's own.
After all, the aspects of the skeleton headmaster that the artist could conceive of were inevitably limited.
Considering his long-held resentment, they might even be more biased.
If the completed being ended up as a grotesquely twisted entity with only one-sided traits, it would be better not to create it at all.
"As diverse and meticulous as possible. That way, the completeness will be higher."
"I see... Ah. Should we call the professors, then?"
Lee Han casually brought it up, concerned about the professors waiting outside.
Since they had all studied under the skeleton headmaster, they could surely contribute new aspects based on careful observations.
"No need to call them. I've already collected everything from them before."
'Damn.'
No wonder he was an archmage.
If there was anything to be gained from the traitors who had become the enemy's pawns, he had already extracted it all before cutting ties.
"So I was trying to hear your perspective on that madman... but I just can't believe it."
A skeleton headmaster who warmly welcomes and politely cares for disciples who flew in from a distant future dimension?
The artist felt his entire body contort and his brain shatter at the sheer horror of such a possibility.
"But... but. But, but—"
'How many times is he going to say "but"?'
"......If that aspect is true, it would greatly aid my work. After all, what I want is a kind and righteous ancient archmage."
Finally recovering from the shock, the Great Artist bit his lip hard enough to draw blood and steeled himself.
If Lee Han's words were true, it would undoubtedly be a tremendous help to the artist's project.
After constructing the hundreds of aspects that made up the skeleton headmaster, he would have to reinterpret them in a kind and righteous manner—but if there was already a near-perfect example...
It was hard to believe, but if it existed, he couldn't reject it.
"Then let's begin. Now... you said you talked about the magic academy when you met that young skeleton headmaster?"
"Yes."
"What kind of magic academy did he envision? One ruled by strict discipline, a school for righteous mages?"
The Great Artist made his best effort to guess.
"Uh. No. He thought of it as a warm and loving place."
"......I see. Next..."
"Are you alright?"
"There's no need to worry."
Yet the Great Artist staggered slightly. Lee Han couldn't help feeling concerned.
"What was the young Skeleton Principal doing back then? Was he waging wars to expand his kingdom's territory?"
"No. In fact, he was so ashamed of being royalty that he hid it. He formed a secret society to eliminate suffering across the continent, traveling to help the unfortunate..."
"Stop! Enough!"
The Great Artist let out a pained, shrill scream.
It was utterly unbelievable.
"To think even that madman had such a past. Then why did I have to meet the vicious madman? Had luck been on my side, I could've studied under a benevolent madman instead!"
"...I feel the same way!"
Lee Han found himself agreeing before he could stop himself.
Overcome with emotion, the Great Artist hugged Lee Han and wept bitterly.
"Such an absurd past... To think such an absurd past existed...! Then why did the other disciples have to suffer so much!"
"...Stay strong! Senior, you're accomplishing something no one else has. You're resolving the resentment of all your fellow disciples!"
The senior's anguish and heartfelt sorrow resonated deeply with Lee Han.
Hearing the junior's sincere encouragement, the Great Artist was profoundly moved.
This was the kind of comfort only those who'd shared the same hell could give.
"...Thank you. I won't forget this kindness. Even if you become a professor, I won't treat you as a traitor."
"......"
Wait, was that originally his plan?
As Lee Han stared in disbelief, the Artist collected himself and pressed on with his questions.
Indeed, hearing the junior's experiences brought a flood of inspiration like the rising tide.
And... 'How fascinating.' The Artist found himself marveling anew.
Many had studied magic under the Skeleton Principal—some even harboring ambitions—but he'd never heard of anyone who'd directly encountered the Headmaster's younger self.
Could this only happen to a mage walking the path of destiny, inheriting his legacy without a shred of personal ambition?
"Why do you ask?"
"Nothing. It just occurred to me... You might truly become his rightful successor and heir..."
"...What did I do wrong to deserve this?"
Unable to hold back any longer, the junior glared, making the Artist fluster.
This time, he genuinely hadn't meant anything by it.
"You've done well. Once I refine what I've heard today, it'll be time to bid farewell to Petrogard."
The Great Artist stored his creations away as he spoke.
Though he couldn't predict how many works today's revelations would inspire, he was certain they'd bring significant progress to his long-stalled projects.
"Then... is the magic complete?"
"Not that easily. I can't say when it'll be finished."
The Artist gave a bitter laugh behind his mask.
Even with today's progress, uncertainty remained—such was the difficulty of magic.
"If it's ever completed, I'll send you a letter. Now, as your senior, I can't let your help go unrewarded, can I?"
"!"
Lee Han was deeply moved by his senior's words.
As expected, bonds within the same school ran deep.
Of course, exceptions like Einrogard's Enchantment Magic faction existed, but those were truly rare...
"I'll help you with magic."
"......"
Lee Han's face fell slightly.
He'd expected an expensive artwork as a gift.
"You said you had talent in Music Magic, right?"
"Yes. Though it's less talent and more the force of magical power..."
"That's the same thing."
The Artist waved dismissively, as if telling the modest junior not to split hairs.
"You've probably guessed already, but Music Magic is also a path to Word Magic. But that madman wouldn't have taught you the connections meticulously, would he?"
"How did you know?"
Lee Han was startled.
The Skeleton Principal, whether it was him or his clones, had always whined about learning Word Magic first, showing just how lofty his goals were.
The Great Artist let out a faint sigh.
"Not surprising at all. That guy throws you off a cliff and tells you to figure it out yourself if you don't want to die... But as your senior, I want to share what I've learned first. If you've studied Music Magic, start applying it to your spells. That will naturally open the path to Word Magic."
Lee Han didn't understand right away.
The Great Artist's words were cryptic, and the magic he wielded was bizarre to begin with.
After all, Music Magic, which fell under Primitive Magic, wasn't something many mages even cared about...
"Like this. 'Lusting for light, I trapped it in water, but the water vanished, leaving only regret.'"
The Great Artist didn't perform any additional gestures after that.
There was no reagent infusion, not even the basic movement of mana that was fundamental to magic.
Yet, multiple water clones appeared in midair—highly refined ones at that.
'How?!'
Though he didn't deny the role of incantations, to manifest magic purely through them while stripping away all other elements was astounding.
"Is this Word Magic?!"
"You're sharp. But no, it's not Word Magic. Word Magic is far more refined and compressed... Think of this as the magic in between."
The Great Artist's incantation had carried a melody.
He had amplified its power by imposing the techniques of Primitive Music Magic onto the spell.
Even if it wasn't quite Word Magic, the effect was astonishing.
"Let me warn you—it's not as convenient as Word Magic. If you've used Music Magic before, you know shorter incantations are harder to amplify. This works best with spells that have some length to them."
This method was particularly suited to artifact craftsmen who specialized in Enchantment Magic.
Such mages often cast multiple spells in succession, so the length of their incantations could stretch as needed.
"But, Senior, I only know a handful of Music Magic spells."
Lee Han pointed out his concern.
Like most Primitive Magic, this heavily depended on the caster's affinity.
Lee Han already struggled with pieces that didn't resonate with him emotionally—he worried whether he could apply this so broadly to incantations.
The Great Artist waved off his concern.
"Don't worry. There's a secret magic at play here. A magic meant for mages like you and me."
A secret akin to a Small World, one that forcibly anchored melody into incantations to ensure success.
Hearing this, Lee Han was stunned. He hadn't noticed it at all.
"Such magic exists?"
"Yes. I'll teach you in time, but for now, try memorizing the incantation first."
Lee Han, deep in thought, carefully selected his spell.
If it had to be a long, high-difficulty spell requiring external assistance...
"By Verdus's name, I swing my staff—"
"Why him of all—? Ah, never mind. Go on."
Lee Han chose the 5th Circle composite Enchantment Magic, Vible's Flying Sword, a spell he had practiced a few times before but failed at.
Back in the professor's workshop, whenever he'd attempted it out of curiosity and failed, Professor Verdus would scoff, "That's too hard for you?" and grate on his nerves, forcing him to practice in secret.
'Vible's Flight Enchantment, Vible's Piercing Enchantment, Vible's Enemy Detection...'
He had to cast the required spells in rapid succession within the time limit without disrupting their balance.
Lee Han infused the incantation with melody. His determination to succeed made the spell even more intense.
Whoosh!
The sword lying on the ground surged as if alive. He didn't need to ask—he knew. It was a success.
"D-Did I succeed?!"
"You did."
"What kind of secret magic is this?"
Even in his astonishment, Lee Han couldn't help but ask.
What kind of magic could amplify the power of Music Magic like this?
Was it a Small World created by the Great Artist himself?
If so, I want to learn it.
"Actually, there's nothing at all."
"...What?"
"Nothing's at play. I just lied a little because I thought you could pull it off."
"......"
Lee Han now understood why Professor Garcia didn't particularly like her seniors.