Episode 1039
Episode 1039
"Shouldn't you be fleeing far away by now?"
Generally speaking—with exceptions like Professor Ber Mo—wizards who failed to keep their promises tended to flee to remote mountain valleys where no one would find them.
Naturally, given how swiftly the Great Artist had vanished, Lee Han had assumed he'd already fled far away by now...
"What nonsense are you talking about, Lee Han? It's difficult to procure necessary materials if you go too far from the Empire's major cities."
Professor Garcia explained in his stead. Even an outstanding student like him still showed his lack of experience at times like these.
If you were from Einrogard, even when fleeing after breaking a promise, you'd still make sure to take care of essentials.
"There's also the advantage of striking where they least expect you."
"......"
Too focused on her explanation, Professor Garcia failed to notice her student staring at the Senior with the same look one would give to trash.
"Trash—I mean, I understand why the Senior didn't go far. Anyway, we needed to talk about the portrait, so this works out well."
Just as Lee Han was about to call out to him, Professor Garcia quickly stopped him.
"Wait a moment, Lee Han."
"?"
"Wouldn't it be better to tell him later?"
"Huh? Oh, but I thought he'd want to know right away. Are you worried he might be shocked?"
It was true—no matter how great an artist he was, hearing that one of his abandoned paintings had transformed into the Skeleton Principal from his princely days would be hard to accept.
But Lee Han believed in him.
A wizard as exceptional as the Great Artist would accept the truth and turn it into nourishment for himself.
'If it's the Senior, he'll definitely be fine.'
"No, that's not it..."
Professor Garcia hesitated.
She couldn't care less whether the Skeleton Principal's portrait would shock the man—what concerned her more was...
"...Eek!"
The Great Artist, who had been wandering around the hall, suddenly locked eyes with Lee Han.
Letting out a short scream, he instantly vanished into the crowd.
"...After fleeing Petrogard, if he immediately runs into you like this, even the Senior would feel humiliated..."
"Ah."
Lee Han realized belatedly.
He hadn't paid it much mind, but senior wizards had their pride to consider.
"I hadn't thought of that at all. Definitely a matter of pride..."
As Lee Han pondered over senior wizards, he felt a strange sense of dissonance.
It was as if he was missing something.
'What is it?'
But before he could resolve that feeling, the Great Artist reappeared.
His long, flowing black hair and the refined facial features now visible in place of his mask made him resemble a noblewoman from a prestigious family.
Had his outfit not remained unchanged, Lee Han might have mistaken him for someone else entirely.
'Ah, right. I should respect the Senior's intentions.'
Lee Han put on his most clueless expression and said,
"I truly have no idea who that person is, Professor."
"...That pathetic act isn't necessary. I didn't disguise myself to fool you."
The Artist glared at his junior as he spoke.
Sometimes, unnecessary consideration hurt people more.
"Inside this hall, you shall address me as Lady Azirmo..."
There were far better aliases to choose from, so Lee Han was puzzled why the Artist had gone with one of the Empire's most famous dragon names.
"Is there a reason you chose the name Azirmo?"
"An excellent question. Indeed, the answer lies with the dragon race."
Pleased by the inquiry, the Artist readily explained.
Though the Empire's various races each prided themselves on being the most exceptional, if one had to name a single race whose greatness none could deny, it would have to be dragons.
The ancient race of the continent, born with innate perfection.
"Dragons can choose everything for themselves. Their names, their gender, their color, their contractors—even whether or not to become the Skeleton Principal's disciple. All of it is within their power to decide."
"'But couldn't other species also choose that last part?' Lee Han thought to himself, but held back from saying it aloud, fearing it might provoke anger."
"Thus, when I escaped from the madman's grasp, I borrowed that name with the intention of choosing everything for myself like a dragon does."
"A name inherently carries magical power."
"For an artist who abandoned their old name and chose a new one to become the master of their own destiny, borrowing the name of the Empire's most famous dragon seemed like the obvious choice."
"I see."
"In a way, it's no exaggeration to say the dragon's name protects me."
"But Senior... One of the paintings you left behind transformed into the Headmaster during his days as a young prince."
"......"
The artist staggered far more violently than what a dragon's name should protect against. His complexion had turned as pale as lead.
"Are you alright?"
"Seriously? Are you seriously asking that? What mage could possibly be fine after hearing such news?"
"That's true."
Professor Garcia nodded unconsciously.
No one from Einrogard could remain composed upon hearing that.
To mention it so casually, as if picking up a pebble on the roadside...
"How in the world...?"
"Well... I think it happened by accident when the painting started moving. During our practice session."
"During practice? But I didn't sense any changes back then."
"Because you said you weren't my mentor, and he got upset..."
Lee Han tried his best to explain in detail.
Truthfully, the painting's transformation was such a freak accident that even the professors would struggle to explain it. There were clear limits to how much he could clarify.
But one thing was conveyed accurately—the fact that the painting of the Skeleton Principal from his princely days was thoroughly offended at the artist!
"......"
The artist looked like he was about to vomit.
A sulking Skeleton Principal was even more revolting than an evil one. It was beyond imagination.
"Are you alright?"
"No. I feel like my mind is collapsing. After today's auction ends, I need to check my condition."
"Perhaps meeting him once—"
At his junior's suggestion, the artist shook his head.
The shock was already overwhelming. If he were to face him directly now, even the artist himself couldn't predict what might happen.
"Just knowing he's changed is valuable information enough. I appreciate it."
"Still, meeting him in person might be more helpful."
"It seems the method wasn't entirely wrong, at least."
The artist deliberately changed the subject, pretending not to hear.
Though he couldn't pinpoint exactly how practicing magic with the youngest disciple of his school had influenced things, it gave him confidence that the overall direction of his magic wasn't flawed.
If Lee Han had managed to make the painting come alive, then the artist could do it too.
'But I will absolutely never summon that kind of mage.' The artist firmly resolved.
Even if he were to summon the young Skeleton Principal, he'd prefer a suitably dry and cold personality—not whatever Lee Han had described...
Yet once planted, the image refused to fade from his mind.
"Ugh. Get out of my head, you fiend!"
"......"
Lee Han grew concerned when the artist let out a pained scream, as if suffering from a migraine.
Had he spoken unnecessarily?
"Should I have kept it hidden?"
"No. You did well. He would've found out eventually anyway. Overcoming it is the Senior's own problem to deal with."
Professor Garcia was subtly ruthless.
As a professor, she had no time to worry about narrow-minded seniors—only her students.
"Well then... I should get going."
Since he still had to meet with the Gardeners' Club members, Lee Han spoke up.
Having relayed everything to his senior, it was time to attend to his duties.
Hearing this, the artist snapped out of his daze and spoke.
"Wait. You being here means you're participating in the auction. Which one are you planning to attend?"
"First, I was thinking of attending the Gardeners' Club auction."
Since the other auctions weren't confirmed yet, Lee Han started with the definite one.
"Perfect. I was planning to attend that too."
The Great Artist spoke as if this was fortunate. He had come after hearing rumors of rare plants being auctioned, and it seemed his junior had the same plans.
"Let's go together."
"Eh?"
Lee Han was taken aback by the sudden suggestion. While the Great Artist was undoubtedly a respected senior, accompanying him to the Gardeners' Club was another matter entirely. His previous experiences with Petrogard had taught him one thing: 'Nothing good comes from tagging along with an enchanter.' If someone at the club were to shout, "Wait! Aren't you that mage who took my commission and ran away?" Lee Han, standing beside the Great Artist, would instantly be labeled as 'that unscrupulous mage's junior.' For a new club member, that would be an excessively harsh initiation.
"Um, Senior. The Gardeners' Club doesn't allow visitors without qualifications..."
"I know. Of course I have them."
Having once completed a mansion made of living trees, the Great Artist had received an enthusiastic invitation from the Gardeners' Club members. Naturally, he still had access.
"...Then let's go together..."
Lee Han reluctantly shuffled his feet, sulking slightly. 'I shouldn't have acted familiar earlier!'
"Lee Han. Are you going with your senior?"
"Yes..."
Lee Han glanced at Professor Garcia with a faint glimmer of hope. Was she perhaps about to rescue him from this situation?
"How wonderful!"
"...?"
For a moment, Lee Han wondered if he had done something to offend Professor Garcia.
"Make sure to get plenty!"
"???"
"What do you need?"
"Everything from here to here."
At the noblewoman's declaration, the manager looked like he might faint. Paying a premium to buy out items before the auction even began wasn't something just anyone could do.
Lee Han was puzzled. 'Was there something she couldn't afford to lose in a bidding war?' Instead of heading straight to meet the Gardeners' Club members, the Great Artist had casually stopped by another auction hall along the way.
"Hmm. This will do."
Eastern Gatherers' Guild Reagent Auction (Large Stock of Rare Reagents)
Then, she made a declaration Lee Han could never imagine making in his lifetime.
"Was there something you urgently needed?"
"No. I just didn't want to wait for the auction and bother with bidding. Have the purchased reagents delivered to this Einrogard student's residence."
"...?!!"
Lee Han was just as shocked as the manager.
"Senior. I don't have the money to— Well, I do, but I don't want to spend it on that."
"What nonsense. Do you think I'd force you to buy them? Use them when you return to Einrogard. As a second-year, no amount of these reagents will ever be enough. Hmm. Let's stop by there too. You're studying Enchantment Magic, right? You'll need expendable gemstones."
Lee Han, still dazed, was dragged along without protest. So stunned was he that he didn't even question the absurd term 'expendable gemstones.'
"From here to here, hand over everything."
"B-but these gemstones are reserved for someone who—"
"Call them."
"Excuse me?"
"Call them and tell them I'll pay double their offer as compensation."
The issue was resolved instantly.
Lee Han felt a shudder similar to when he'd seen the Skeleton Principal cast his Unique World. Wealth beyond a certain threshold produced effects akin to a Unique World.
'...Respectable!'
Only then did Lee Han understand what Professor Garcia had meant. An enchanter who neither ran a school nor squandered wealth meaninglessly was truly the embodiment of vast fortune. And the fact that such a being was his senior filled him with endless gratitude.
"Wizard Cards. I'll buy all of these too."
"Senior, why Wizard Cards?"
"Hm? Don't you all play with them?"
The Great Artist seemed puzzled. Shouldn't second-years be at the age where they played with them?
"...I'll gratefully accept them."
Lee Han decided he'd just take them and later give them to Gainando.