Episode 1038
Episode 1038
"Let's get out of here quickly. Oh, and keep it a secret that you're leaving because of me."
"..."
"You don't think those Petrogard bastards will try to blame Lee Han, do you?"
His friends asked as if the idea was absurd.
They'd called him to deal with suspicious outsiders, and now they'd hold a grudge instead of being grateful? Even Baldrogard wouldn't stoop that low.
"They probably will."
"That's right. There's a high chance they will. Let's ask the professors to keep it secret and leave quickly. It'd be best to shift the blame to the knight."
Lee Han looked at Professor Garcia with eyes full of admiration.
Truly, the wisdom of a senior who graduated from Einrogard first was extraordinary. Her speed at finding the optimal scapegoat in this situation was five or six times faster than anyone else's.
"By the way, does anyone want to stay longer in Petrogard?"
As Lee Han was about to leave, he suddenly thought of his friends and asked.
He'd only been thinking of himself. Upon reflection, some of his friends might want to spend more time with the magic school students they were meeting for the second time.
"Second time?"
Professor Garcia tilted her head in confusion and counted on her fingers.
"Kallarogard, Baldrogard, Petrogard—wouldn't this be the third time?"
"Wardanaz, what about you? Are you going straight back to the villa when this is over?"
"No. I think I should visit the auction house soon."
Having successfully cultivated mandragoras last semester, Lee Han had received Professor Willow's recommendation to participate in the <Imperial Gardeners' Club>'s private auction.
Being allowed to participate in the private auction essentially meant he was also granted membership.
As a new club member, it would be polite to visit and introduce himself first. 'If I appear polite, I might even sell the mandragoras at a higher price.' Though he normally disliked boasting about his major, this time was an exception.
Lee Han was seriously considering whether to wear a cloak embroidered with the Ghoul King or the King of Frost Giants when visiting the club.
"If it's the capital's auction house... would it be held at the Hall of Gold?"
"Yeah."
Since auctions fundamentally involved gathering expensive items and inviting distinguished guests, they weren't held just anywhere.
Of course, there were Einrogard-style auctions where people haggled over sacks of potatoes on dirt floors, but generally, imperial auctions maintained at least a minimum level of decorum.
In that regard, if an auction was held near the imperial capital, it was most likely to take place at the Hall of Gold.
A sacred place that had been blessed with layers upon layers of fortune and wealth since before the Empire's founding.
In this hall, not only the Gardeners' Club but various other auctions were held simultaneously. The students' eyes sparkled as they thought of the items they desired.
Would they interact more with outstanding mages from other imperial magic schools, or mingle with greedy connoisseurs who knew nothing about magic?
"It's a shame, but what can we do? We'll respect Wardanaz's schedule."
"You'll have another chance to meet the Petrogard friends someday. Or not."
His friends answered immediately.
Honestly, staying longer in Petrogard didn't seem like it would be much fun.
The most entertaining thing here had been Gainando spraying poison on the knight's face...
"I'd like to draw a bit more... Ugh!"
Siana hastily covered Dijiling's mouth. Lee Han turned his head.
"What did you just say?"
"Nothing! Absolutely nothing! Priestess Dijiling says she's excited too!"
The other priests quickly backed Siana up. Watching this, Professor Garcia thought to herself, '...Is it really okay for the Phoenix Tower to be like this?!' It was good that the priest students had become more active and enthusiastic, but sometimes she wondered if this was going too far.
"Hmm. Hmmmm."
"Ummm."
The students who had left with the professors in the carriage carefully drew lines on paper with their quills.
They were currently searching for auctions they could participate in.
"Here! This auction might be one we can join..."
A White Tiger Tower student eagerly handed a flyer to Giselle.
<Oak Tree Auction>
By knights, for knights, of knightly equipment sales.
Only honorable knights may attend.
Without even looking, Lee Han spoke up instead of Giselle.
"We can't participate in that one. If you read further down, it says only current knight order members are allowed."
"...Attendees must be active members of the Imperial Knight Order..."
"......"
The disappointed White Tiger Tower student suddenly asked in confusion.
"Wardanaz, how did you know about this?"
"I once checked the requirements because I wanted to attend. Didn't qualify."
"......"
"But you're from a great noble family!"
The White Tiger Tower students all inwardly found this absurd.
Many imperial auctions had participant restrictions.
Even the internal auctions of the <Imperial Gardeners' Club>, which Lee Han attended, were closed to non-members. Restrictions like knight order affiliation or club membership were quite common.
"What a shame. I don't understand why they impose such limitations. Don't they realize open participation would make auctions more vibrant? People who want to attend but can't..."
"S-sorry, Wardanaz. My bad."
When Lee Han suddenly began grumbling like a waterfall, the White Tiger Tower student grew frightened.
This side of Wardanaz was the most terrifying.
He'd rather he just got angry and swore!
"Guess we're left with only mage auctions then."
"We should be grateful even for those."
The students grumbled as they checked the list of accessible auctions.
As Einrogard students, they could join many mage auctions, but it still wasn't enough to satisfy their greed.
'I need an artifact to chart star maps next semester.'
'For my research, I should secure at least one relic.'
'Isn't there an artifact to cheat during exams?'
The rarer and more expensive relics or artifacts tended to appear in secret auctions.
Every time they saw notices like "<Club-Only Auction - No Outsiders>," the students felt profound frustration.
"Alright. Done."
Amid this, Gainando neatly set down his quill. His friends curiously checked his paper.
Western Wizard Card Auction (Participating)
Eastern Wizard Card Auction (Participating)
Southern Wizard Card Auction (Participating)...
'Shouldn't have looked.'
His friends ignored it and turned away. Yoner asked worriedly.
"What are you planning to do if you only join those?"
"What do you mean?"
"What do I mean? If you blow all your gold coins on cards..."
As his cousin, Yoner subtly pointed at Lee Han instead of raising her voice.
If he wasted his hard-earned coins on cards, he might genuinely end up sleeping outside the tower next semester.
"I'm joining to sell cards, though?"
"...What?!!"
Yoner and the others were stunned. Lee Han glanced at the Blue Dragon Tower students and warned.
"Shh. Everyone's making plans here."
"B-but Wardanaz. Gainando is joining auctions to sell cards."
"What?!?!!?"
"......"
Gainando pouted at his friends' reactions.
Lee Han placated him and asked.
"Sorry, that slipped out. But selling cards? Are magic criminals or evil god worshippers blackmailing you lately?"
"...No?! If something I want appears at auction, I'll need gold coins, won't I?"
Auctions allowed participation not just as buyers but as sellers.
Of course, one could sell items to raise funds, but...
'This is truly shocking!'
When it came to Gainando and Wizard Cards, the story was different. Even students from other towers were whispering in surprise.
"Should we try to earn more gold coins too?"
"..."
"Maybe we should have taken on more commissions..."
"..."
"You know we won't start doing those properly until the second semester. We didn't have time during vacation."
"..."
"Well, there's the money we earned with Wardanaz last time, but I'm not sure if that'll be enough."
"..."
"How on earth did you two even earn that??"
As the students whispered among themselves, Professor Garcia cleared her throat to offer some senior advice.
"Everyone. It's good that you're all showing interest in the auction. However, it seems you're getting so caught up in greed that you're forgetting one thing."
'Is she telling us to restrain ourselves?'
"There are far more opportunities for mages at the auction than you'd think. From appraisals to curse-breaking, potion brewing, and so on. As Einrogard students, you're more than qualified to take on such commissions."
'Oh, that wasn't it!' The students gazed at Professor Garcia with newfound respect as she shared her tried-and-true methods from her own student days for earning gold coins. If there was ever a true mentor at Einrogard, it was the professor standing before them now.
"Professor! What kind of commissions—"
"Are there any particularly good ones for White Tiger Tower students?"
"Should we disclose that we specialize in Black Magic or keep it hidden?"
While his friends bombarded her with questions, Lee Han—who had been scanning the auction listings for anything worthwhile besides the Gardeners' Club—suddenly had a thought and spoke up.
"Professor. Professor."
"Hm?"
Professor Voladi, who had been sitting quietly, turned his gaze toward his student at the call.
"How did you earn gold coins during your student days, Professor?"
"Bounties and duels."
Professor Voladi answered amiably and waited for his student's follow-up questions. Just as Professor Garcia was fielding all sorts of inquiries, he expected this pupil to press him further—especially given the boy's notorious curiosity and thirst for knowledge.
"I see."
Lee Han nodded and turned his attention back to the papers. It seemed he'd have to find another way to earn money.
The Hall of Gold, a palace-like structure of ancient design bathed in resplendent light, was bustling with crowds. Lee Han could feel the peculiar flow of magical energy coursing through the entire hall—a power so strong and ancient that it would be impossible to disrupt with ordinary means.
"A historic place, isn't it, Lee Han? Can you feel it?"
Professor Garcia, as if understanding why Lee Han was staring, explained from beside him. The Hall of Gold had been a place blessed with layers upon layers of fortune and wealth since even before the Empire's founding.
This wasn't just a metaphor. It meant that large-scale Divine Magic rituals had been performed here multiple times.
Thanks to that, certain rules were enforced within these walls, much like in a Small World—no pickpocketing, no disguising items as other items...
'Ugh. I was just calculating the weight of the gold.'
Lee Han quickly snapped back to attention and commented on the flow of magic.
"It seems these magical energies are creating separate rules inside."
"Indeed. It's a fascinating place. Some mages even come here just to study this magic, not necessarily for the treasures."
Professor Garcia speculated that the Hall of Gold likely hadn't been intentionally designed this way. Instead, the spells cast by numerous priests and mages had produced unexpected effects, and over time, those effects had been preserved in this manner.
"Lee Han, you mentioned you'd visit the Gardeners' Club first, right?"
"Yes. Do you happen to know what kind of gifts Gardeners' Club members prefer?"
"..."
"Just go. You'll be fine as you are."
Lee Han sighed inwardly. Professor Garcia was too upright to be of much help in matters like this.
"Professor Voladi and I will wait here, so feel free to explore. If you have any questions, come find— Aaah!"
"??!"
Lee Han jumped in shock. Professor Garcia had let out a scream—just like when she'd spotted the portrait of the Young Skeleton Principal.
There was clearly some immense danger nearby. In fact, Professor Voladi was already channeling his mana, visibly on guard.
"... Lee Han. Do you see that? Over there?"
"The elf wearing the turban embedded with sapphires? The one with Zenbaya's enchantments? The gold ornaments that ironically seem like they'd lower the price—"
"How on earth did you notice that? Not him—next to him! Next to him!"
"??"
"It's the Senior."
Lee Han was dumbfounded as he spotted the Great Artist, who had fled earlier, now loitering around the hall.