Episode 1041
Episode 1041
Feeling deeply wronged, Lee Han protested.
"'I truly raised it with dragon breath. Here's the record to prove it."
Lee Han pulled out the records he had personally prepared.
It was all thanks to Professor Willow, who had instructed him to keep records in anticipation of joining the Gardeners' Club.
The Great Artist took the records with a serious expression and silently read through them.
"Hmm... Indeed... I see... If that's the case... Wait a minute. Why Einrogard... Did you really grow this yourself?!"
The artist was so startled he nearly dropped the records.
He seemed even more shocked than when he'd first heard that the Skeleton Principal had taken on a new youngest disciple.
"Yes. If I hadn't grown this myself, how would a mere student like me have been invited to the Gardeners' Club?"
"I just assumed you were invited because you're the Principal's disciple."
"......"
Lee Han stared at him incredulously, but the Great Artist ignored him.
Truthfully, the one who should be dumbfounded right now was himself.
'Well, the Gardeners' Club isn't the kind of place that just lets anyone in. They wouldn't have admitted him just because he's a madman's disciple.'
"Where did you get the dragon breath? Did you steal it from that lunatic's vault?"
"No. I have a contracted dragon."
"......"
The Great Artist was even more astonished.
"Who?! Wait, let me guess...Could it be His Highness Uman??"
Even in his shock, the Great Artist displayed sharp deductive reasoning.
Dragons weren't a species one could easily encounter. Especially not in the current Empire, which was far from ancient times.
In that case, the most likely candidates for a contract would be the Emperor's own offspring.
And among them, the one most actively involved in the world and whose personality would mesh well with the youngest...
'It's most likely the Fourth Prince, His Highness Uman.'
A dragon of valor who despised injustice and the Skeleton Principal, upholding righteousness.
If it were him, there was a decent chance he might have formed a contract with the youngest...
"No. It's His Highness Jowurin."
"WHY?????"
"Even if you ask why, it wasn't my choice."
Well, that's true!
The Great Artist quickly accepted that.
No matter how much a mage might want a contract, it wasn't up to them. Contracts with dragons were entirely at the dragon's discretion.
"I thought for sure that dragon was a recluse like the others..."
'A recluse?'
Lee Han tilted his head in confusion.
It seemed that, given how little information about dragons was widely known, even great mages like the Great Artist had misunderstandings.
"It's shocking, but not entirely unbelievable, I suppose. Being a dragon, he must have recognized your magical talent and destiny?"
"Not exactly... More like I play with hi—"
"I'd heard many stories from His Highness Uman, but I never imagined this connection. Truly astonishing."
'Could that dragon be the culprit?'
Lee Han felt a slight suspicion toward the absent Black Dragon.
No matter how he thought about it, the Great Artist seemed to have some kind of misconception about Jowurin.
"Anyway, let's save the dragon contract talk for later. The other club members are waiting."
The club members had been waiting impatiently, practically dying of curiosity.
As the Great Artist and Lee Han whispered among themselves, the atmosphere grew thick with the possibility that the mandragora might actually be real.
"Is it really genuine?"
"I said it was impossible."
"But if it's impossible, why would they be talking for so long—"
Having finished his conversation, the Great Artist declared firmly:
"Listen, everyone. I've reviewed the records."
"What is your judgment, esteemed Senior?"
"Before that, there's one thing I'd like to say."
"?"
Lee Han looked at the senior, puzzled.
What was he trying to say now?
"I get first dibs on buying this mandragora, right?"
"......"
"......"
The gardeners stared at the Great Artist's shameless expression in disbelief.
So it really is real!
Clink!
"It's open."
"Excellent work, Ratford. I'm impressed every time I see you."
Salko nodded in approval, praising his friend's skills.
Though he had always been an exceptional technician, Ratford's skills had improved by leaps and bounds since enrolling at Einrogard.
Beyond ordinary locks, he could now effortlessly dismantle all sorts of magical locks and seals.
Thanks to that, they could easily find work at the auction house. There were quite a few vaults and chests that adventurers had excavated but hadn't been able to open yet.
"Those White Tiger Tower brats couldn't even dream of pulling this off."
As he carefully chiseled away at the broken statue, Salko spoke proudly.
If noble knightly bloodlines were White Tiger Tower's pride, then adaptability in situations like this was Black Turtle Tower's pride.
No one else could secure jobs faster than them in circumstances like these...
"......"
"......"
Ratford dropped the magical lockpick he was holding. Salko also let the enchanted hammer slip from his grip.
Right before their eyes, Gainando was walking by, decked out in all sorts of flashy accessories.
"...Have you finally lost your mind?"
"Huh? No! I bought these with my own money!"
Gainando bristled at the sudden accusation.
But Ratford gave him a serious piece of advice.
"Even now, you should exchange whatever you can for money and turn yourself in. That would still be the better option."
"...Why are you like this too! I really earned it! All the Wizard Cards I put up for sale sold out! And at high prices too!"
"What?"
Salko couldn't believe it.
That childish toy-like stuff had sold for high prices?
"People are truly incomprehensible. That kind of thing selling for high prices..."
"Hmph. Jealousy won't do you any good."
"It is certainly strange. The cards you put up, Lord Gainando, shouldn't have had such high market value."
True to his guild background, Ratford didn't dismiss the value of Wizard Cards.
At his precise analysis, Gainando subtly tucked the remaining bundle of cards deep into his pocket and said,
"I must've gotten lucky. Plus, I've lived virtuously, haven't I?"
"......"
As veins bulged on Salko's fist gripping the enchanted hammer, Ratford hastily intervened.
"P-please calm down."
"I am calm. I'm just going to coldly punch him once."
While the two muttered among themselves, Gainando spread his arms wide in a magnanimous gesture and declared,
"Look! Since I've made so much, I'll share generously with you guys too!"
"Is that really true?"
"Of course! We're all from Einrogard, after all."
"......"
Salko's expression softened slightly. The hand holding the hammer also relaxed.
"Don't waste it all. No matter how much you've earned, it'll disappear in an instant if you squander it."
"Don't worry. I've already calculated everything."
Showing the intellect befitting a Blue Dragon Tower student, Gainando laid out his plan.
"First, I'll reinvest a third back into Wizard Cards. It seems more profitable than I thought."
"...Well, alright. Fine."
"And another third is for me to spend."
Pointing at his dangling accessories, Gainando declared. Salko had to suppress the urge to gouge his own eyes out at the sight.
"The last third is for buying Lee Han a gift."
"...?"
"???"
Salko and Ratford exchanged glances.
The math didn't add up.
"Then I'll use the rest to buy gifts for my friends."
"...There's nothing left?"
"Huh?"
Gainando paused.
Counting the gold coins, he realized there really was nothing left.
"Ah. My mistake. I started with a quarter at first, then changed it to a third. Must've messed up the calculation."
"Of course you did."
"Can't be helped. I'll have to cancel sharing with you guys."
"......"
"Did you just hear the Young Master scream?"
"I didn't...?"
'Did I mishear?' Siana tilted her head in confusion.
Then again, this wasn't even Einrogard, so there was no reason Gainando's scream would be audible here.
"This is a cursed item."
"Indeed! Could you perhaps take a look at this one too, Priest?"
"This is just a mage who messed up the enchantment, making it scream."
"Damn it! No wonder it seemed suspicious!"
The Prisinga Order was one of the Empire's foremost groups of curse specialists, and quite a few people sought out Dijiling, who wore the order's priestly robes, to handle their business.
As Dijiling sorted between genuinely cursed items and those that merely appeared cursed due to incorrectly engraved runes, she asked,
"But Siana, are you sure it's alright for you to keep staying here?"
"Ah. If I'm disturbing your focus..."
"That's not it. I was just wondering if you wouldn't rather be handling Flemeng Order business."
The Flemeng Order was no less in demand in places like this.
Since all their priests were alchemy experts, those in need of reagents would summon them immediately.
However, Siana shook her head.
"I originally intended to, but..."
"?"
"...Some crazy nouveau riche bought up all the reagents even before the auction started!"
Siana spoke as if she was still furious.
While it was true that misfortune sometimes led to losses, this was truly a bolt from the blue.
Because some upstart had swept up all the reagents, her work had vanished along with them.
And that wasn't all. Her plan to replenish useful reagents by participating in the auction after finishing her work had also been ruined.
"Wouldn't it be more enjoyable to go around with the other priests?"
"No. I'm happier here."
Dijiling, usually reserved and expressionless, showed a faintly pleased look.
Siana thought to herself, 'I don't want to go to the other priests...!'
Both Sharukal, the shark beastman, and Nigisor, the fire spirit hybrid, were excessively strong personalities.
One kept searching only for items related to the sea, while the other obsessively sought ways to boost the power of fire elements to a suspicious degree...
And the most terrifying part was that after becoming friends with Wardanaz, they had grown even more proactive.
If they were like this in their second year, by third year they might connect the tower lounge to the deep sea or summon eternal flames into the fireplace.
Siana had thought she stood out quite a bit in her order, but compared to those two priests, she was utterly ordinary.
Once again, Siana felt grateful to Dijiling. The Phoenix Tower needed a steady priest like him.
But no sooner had she finished speaking than Nigisor appeared.
The priest student, radiating scorching heat, held out a newly acquired lantern and asked,
"Ah, Siana. I found a rather decent lantern... Could you recommend a reagent to fill it with?"
"What's the purpose?"
"I intend to trap demonic flames inside."
"Demonic flames...You obtained some?"
"No. But I believe Wardanaz could get them for me. I heard his family has quite a few."
"......"
"To keep those flames from extinguishing, I'll need to replenish the lantern's power, so if you could recommend—"
"Ah! Come to think of it, I have an appointment with the order priests!"
Siana sprang to her feet.
The moment she made a recommendation, she'd have to go with Nigisor to Lee Han and say, 'Lend us some demons.'
And she really, really didn't want to do that.
"Must you reject me so coldly? Why not just promise?"
True to being the Skeleton Principal's former student, the artist spoke shamelessly.
After a fierce battle (of gold coins and gems exchanging hands), the artist had ultimately obtained the mandragora.
Naturally, the members were curious when the next mandragora would appear, but...
Lee Han couldn't promise that.
Because growing them required Jowurin!
"You can't just use it however you want."
"What does it matter? We made a contract. It's not like the other party won't act just as arbitrarily."
"......"
For a moment, Lee Han was almost persuaded.
Indeed, contracts with dragons did have that aspect. '...
No. I mustn't waver!'