Episode 1040
Episode 1040
While the Empire's newly emerged millionaire was sweeping through the auction halls one by one, another mage who'd never been outdone in matters of wealth was making his entrance elsewhere.
It was Zandanni of the Aljadk family, a fourth-year student at Baldrogard.
"Senior. Isn't this too wasteful?"
"Wasteful, you say?"
When his junior from the Enchantment Magic department who specialized in gemstone magic expressed concern, Zandanni countered with a question of his own.
Wasteful.
Where exactly was the waste in what Zandanni had just done?
"Even so, paying extra to purchase items before the auction begins seems... rather wasteful..."
"Hahaha."
Zandanni laughed heartily.
This junior, though highly talented and well-regarded even within Baldrogard, often showed timidity disproportionate to his abilities.
-B-but shouldn't we be studying magic instead of hunting since exams are tomorrow?
-No need to worry. The professor is coming with us. Isn't camaraderie between students more important than magic anyway?
Given such a junior, his current reaction was understandable.
Paying exorbitant sums through pre-auction negotiations.
From certain perspectives, one might indeed call this wasteful.
"But it's not wasteful at all."
"For a Baldrogard student to enter an auction hall and engage in undignified haggling would be far more wasteful."
"I... see...."
The junior trailed off.
While his words suggested understanding, a closer look at his face revealed he was anything but convinced. 'Couldn't we just participate in the auction and save money?' The junior briefly considered asking students from other magic academies if he was the odd one here.
After all, students from other magic schools didn't seem to purchase things this expensively...
[Eastern Gatherers Guild Reagent Auction (Large Stock of Rare Reagents)]
"Oh!"
Spotting a promising auction in the hall, Zandanni adjusted his attire and approached the manager.
"I'd like to make a preemptive purcha—!"
"My apologies."
"?!"
Zandanni was startled.
There existed matters money couldn't solve?!
"For what reason? If it's about the gold coins required, please reconsider after seeing this crest."
"How could I dare doubt the credit of a distinguished guest from House Aljadk?"
The manager hastily explained without losing decorum.
"The reason it's impossible is because someone has already purchased it."
[Eastern Gatherers Guild Reagent Auction (Large Stock of Rare Reagents) (Completed)]
As he spoke, the manager hung the sign. Only then did Zandanni realize he'd been a step too late.
"How dare someone...!"
"Uh, isn't it fine if someone else does it?"
"I won't forgive this!"
Zandanni was genuinely incensed.
This was uncharacteristic of the good-natured fellow who never lost his temper under any circumstances, leaving his junior flustered.
"Think carefully. What if we can't obtain the gems we need because of that preempting bastard?"
"That would be... frustrating, sure... but isn't that just how it goes?"
Ignoring his junior's words, Zandanni sprang into action.
One setback was enough. As a Baldrogard student, he couldn't afford further defeats with his pride on the line.
Yet before long, Zandanni found himself frustrated again.
"My apologies."
"Another guest..."
"Already..."
"Grrr!"
What had felt so satisfying when he did it became unbearably irritating when done to him.
Zandanni stomped his feet as he scanned the surroundings.
Beyond wounded pride, this was becoming a serious practical issue. 'We need those consumables for second semester.' Though he'd normally dismiss such gems and reagents as cheap, failing to secure any would create its own set of problems.
Even if acquired through other connections, it would take time and the quantities would be insufficient.
"If I use them sparingly..."
"No! It absolutely won't do if I don't have enough!"
The world might call that 'wasteful,' but Zandanni didn't realize it. Passing by auctions for <Ancient Chess Relics>, <Wizard Card Trick Items>, <Southern Wine Auction>, <Petrogard Art Exhibition Auction>, and <Eastern Rider Guild Mount Auction>, Zandanni desperately searched for auctions focused on gems and reagents.
"!!!"
Midway through, Zandanni suddenly stopped in his tracks and widened his eyes.
A dazzling flyer had caught his attention.
"Senior! That's Bagni's Red Diamond!"
Even his junior exclaimed in shock upon seeing that a diamond crafted by a mage renowned centuries ago for his mastery of fire element magic was being auctioned.
At that moment, all the miscellaneous gems Zandanni had missed so far vanished from his mind.
'I have to get that!'
"Auctioneer! Auctioneer! I'll buy that! Five times the—"
"Did you say five times?"
"'I'm not too late!'"
"Yes!"
"Please wait a moment."
The auctioneer standing at the hall sent a paper bird to someone. After a brief pause, the auctioneer made an awkward expression.
Zandanni, who had briefly tasted victory, felt his heart plummet at that look.
"Wh-what?! Why are you making that face?!"
"Another party has placed a preemptive bid... and they've offered ten times the price. My apologies. According to the rules, the item goes to—"
"Grrrrrrrrgh!!!"
Zandanni let out a scream from the depths of his lungs, like an Einrogard student who had just failed an exam. It was utterly humiliating.
The most painful part? His own stinginess had cost him the prize!
—"Bagni's Red Diamond is already sold? The auction hasn't even started yet! The big spenders sure move fast."
—"That's right. I heard a mage from the Wardanaz family bought it."
—"Ah, that fifth-year from Einrogard?"
—"Fifth-year? Wasn't it a fourth-year?"
"!!!"
A bolt of realization struck Zandanni.
There was only one mage from the Wardanaz family who would be buying reagents here right now.
"This is so unfair...! If I'd known it was the Wardanaz family, I would've acted accordingly!"
Had he known his opponent was from one of the great noble houses, Zandanni would never have let his guard down. He would have anticipated their immense wealth and acted accordingly.
'Just you wait. Next time, I won't lose. I swear on Baldrogard's pride!'
"Not bad! We got something useful after all!"
Lady Azirmo—no, the Great Artist—looked thoroughly pleased. Who would've thought they'd snag Bagni's Red Diamond here?
Bagni, an exceptional fire mage, often inscribed his spells into gems rather than spellbooks. With bad luck, it might just contain a known spell, but with good fortune, they might uncover a rare, undiscovered spell of Bagni's.
"Have it shattered later and examine it."
"Understood... Wait, what????"
Today, Lee Han's mind was unusually sluggish, and his response came two beats too late.
What did he just say to do?
"Huh?"
"Did you just say... shatter it?"
"Of course you shatter it... Why do you think it's called the 'Red' Diamond?"
"Isn't it because people who shattered it cried tears of regret until their eyes bled?"
The Great Artist ignored his junior's nonsense and replied,
"It's hard to glimpse the magic inside without breaking it. Bagni wasn't the kind of mage to make things easy... Wait. Don't tell me you're hesitating because you don't want to break it?"
The Great Artist paused mid-sentence, suddenly suspicious. Even earlier, when buying gems, this junior's attitude had felt... off.
For someone descended from the Blue Dragon and born into a great noble house...?
"Th-th-that's ridiculous!"
"Don't tell me you're already in debt?"
The Great Artist's eyes narrowed with suspicion.
In truth, debt wasn't particularly surprising for a mage from Einrogard. After all, wasn't one of their very professors among the Empire's most notorious debtors?
When a mage yearns for a certain magic but lacks the means to prepare for it in reality, they face a choice: take on debt to obtain the magic now, or postpone it for later?
Einrogard mages usually chose the former. The more exceptional their skills, the more inevitable the temptation of debt became.
And considering the junior's abilities...
"Do you take me for Professor Verdus? I am not."
"The stronger your denial, the more suspicious it gets. You're oddly stingy when it comes to spending gold in strange places—that makes you even more suspect."
"Considering I have several more years to spend at Einrogard, wouldn't developing wasteful habits be the stranger choice?"
Lee Han's words held reason.
The strict Skeleton Principal didn't tolerate wealthy students bringing their fortunes to school recklessly.
If the wealthy indulged in wasteful habits, they'd only suffer upon returning to Einrogard.
Yet the artist shook his head.
"If that's your concern, then instead of acting like a miser, learn the knack for accumulating gold. Even that madman is lenient with what you earn within the semester."
If the artist had two pieces of advice for an Einrogard junior, they would be labor and smuggling.
The latter was too dependent on circumstances and location to advise recklessly, but increasing income within the semester was fair game.
"Hmm. I have been diligently saving, but..."
The artist chuckled at the junior's adorable remark.
What could a mere second-year, having spent only one semester at Einrogard, have possibly saved up by now?
"Go on, then. I'll listen and offer advice."
"Well, starting with what I earned during Club Week, plus the gold coins from break..."
Lee Han tallied up the commissions he had steadily taken on during his spare time and their rewards.
Even without including the inheritance from the Chamberlain or the silver coins from friends, the artist's face twisted in shock.
How could someone who'd already saved that much still act so miserly!?
"I plan to start taking commissions seriously from the second semester. What do you think would be best?"
"Hmph. You're already doing well on your own."
"!?"
"How on earth could the mandragora have grown so much in such a short time?"
"I can't believe it. No matter how I think about it, it must be a trick."
"Mind your words. Are you insulting Professor Willow's honor?"
"...That's not it, but even Professor Willow is human—he can make mistakes, can't he?"
The sole question plaguing the Gardeners' Club members gathered in the hall was this:
What method could have possibly grown the mandragora so much in such a short time?
"Ahrag's Violet Poison?"
"That has its limits. It wouldn't be enough."
"Arlkan's Growth Elixir?"
"That would leave traces."
"Dragon's Flame?"
"Stop spouting nonsense. Why not just say it was grown with an ancient, mystical watering can relic?"
Even those who prided themselves as plant specialists couldn't begin to guess, which only deepened their frustration.
How frustrated must they be for something as absurd as a dragon's breath to be proposed as a hypothesis?
"Lady Azirmo is attending as well. It seems she's interested in the mandragora."
"Naturally. That makes sense."
The mandragora that had appeared this time was certainly worth the attention.
Beyond its effects, such a mysterious specimen was unprecedented.
"She might know. She is an exceptionally skilled mage, after all."
"Certainly...! That's a good idea."
Just then, the noblewoman was seen entering the hall. The Empire's gardeners greeted her warmly before immediately bombarding her with questions.
"Ah, Lady Azirmo! Have you seen this mandragora?"
"Yes. I came because I heard the rumors."
"Do you have any idea how it was grown?"
"Hmm? Do you have any guesses?"
The artist, tilting his head, even asked Lee Han.
Perhaps the junior would offer a novel perspective.
Lee Han answered without much thought.
"It was grown by substituting sunlight with a dragon's breath to accelerate its growth."
"Stop talking nonsense. Might as well say it was grown with an ancient, mystical watering can relic."
The artist bluntly chastised his junior.