“Shouldn’t you be running far away?”

Except for exceptions like Professor Vermon, mages who failed to keep their promises usually fled to remote mountains and valleys where no one knew them.

Naturally, since the Great Artist had vanished in such a hurry as well, Lee Han had assumed the Artist would already be far away...

“What are you talking about, Student Lee Han? If you get too far from the Empire’s great cities, it becomes difficult to obtain necessary materials.”

Professor Garcia explained in the senior’s place.

The disciple was excellent, but the lack of experience showed at times like this.

If one was from Einroguard, then even when fleeing because of a broken promise, one still took care of what needed to be taken care of.

“There is also the effect of catching them off guard by doing the opposite.”

“...”

Professor Garcia, who was focused on explaining, did not notice that the disciple was looking at the senior with the eyes one used for trash.

“Tra... I mean, I understand why Senior didn’t go far. Anyway, I needed to talk about the portrait, so this worked out well.”

Just as Lee Han was about to call out, Professor Garcia quickly stopped him.

“Wait a moment, Student Lee Han.”

“?”

“Couldn’t you tell the senior later?”

“Huh? Oh, but Senior seems like someone who would want to know right away. Are you worried Senior will be shocked?”

The story that one of the paintings the Artist had left behind had transformed into the Skull Principal from his prince days was difficult even for the Great Artist to accept.

But Lee Han believed.

That an outstanding mage like the Artist would accept the truth and use it as nourishment.

Senior will definitely be fine.

“No, that’s not it...”

Professor Garcia hesitated.

It was not that the professor cared whether the other party would be shocked by the Skull Principal’s portrait. Rather...

“...Eek!”

The Great Artist, who had been wandering around inside the hall, made eye contact with Lee Han.

The Great Artist let out a single scream and instantly disappeared into the crowd.

“...The senior fled from Petroguard. Meeting Student Lee Han so directly like this would make even that senior feel ashamed...”

“Ah.”

Lee Han realized it belatedly.

Though he personally did not particularly care, senior mages had their pride.

“I didn’t think of that at all. Certainly, pride is...”

While thinking about senior mages, Lee Han felt a strange sense of unease.

It felt as if he was forgetting someone.

What is it?

However, before he could resolve that unease, the Great Artist appeared again.

This time, there was long, flowing black hair and a face in place of the original mask, reminiscent of a noblewoman from a distinguished family.

If the rest of the outfit had not remained the same, Lee Han might have mistaken the Artist for a different person.

Oh, right. I should respect Senior’s wishes.

Lee Han spoke with the most clueless attitude possible.

“I really don’t know who that person is, Professor.”

“...I’m not disguising myself to fool you, so there’s no need for such pathetic acting.”

The Artist glared at the junior while speaking.

Sometimes, unnecessary consideration hurt people more.

“Inside this hall, call me Lady Azirmo.”

Lee Han was puzzled by the Artist’s choice to use one of the most famous dragon names in the Empire when there were plenty of better aliases available.

“Is there a reason you chose the name Azirmo?”

“A very good question. Yes. The reason lies in the dragon race.”

The Artist seemed satisfied with the question and gladly began to explain.

Various races in the Empire each prided themselves on being the greatest, but if one had to choose a great race that no other race could ignore, there was only one answer: dragons.

The ancient race of the continent, born with innate perfection.

“Dragons can choose everything for themselves. Their own names, gender, color, contractors, and even whether or not to become the Skull Principal’s disciple.”

Isn’t the last one something other races can choose too?

Lee Han thought so, but held back, thinking the Artist might get angry if he said it aloud.

“Therefore, when I escaped from that madman’s clutches, I borrowed that name with the intention of choosing everything for myself like a dragon.”

Names carried magical power.

To the Artist, who had abandoned the old name and chosen a new one with the intention of becoming the master of the Artist’s own destiny, the name of the Empire’s most famous dragon seemed like a natural choice.

“I see.”

“In a way, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the dragon’s name protects me.”

“But Senior, one of the paintings you left behind transformed into the Principal from his young prince days.”

“...”

For someone protected by a dragon’s name, the Artist staggered far too badly. The complexion had gone as pale as lead.

“Are you all right?”

“Are you serious? Are you asking that seriously? What mage could possibly be all right after hearing something like that?”

That makes sense.

Professor Garcia found it impossible not to nod.

If one was from Einroguard, no one could remain calm after hearing those words.

To say it as if he had simply picked up a stone from the roadside...

“How on earth???”

“I’m not sure either... Actually, it seems to have accidentally transformed into a moving painting while we were practicing.”

“While practicing? But I didn’t feel any changes at the time.”

“Well, he became sulky because you said he wasn’t your disciple...”

Lee Han did his best to explain in detail.

In truth, the painting’s transformation had been such a coincidental event that even the professors would have difficulty explaining it. There were clear limits to any attempt at explanation.

But even so, one thing was conveyed clearly.

The fact that the painting of the Skull Principal from his prince days was thoroughly sulking at the Artist!

“...”

The Artist looked ready to vomit.

Something more disgusting than the evil Skull Principal was a sulking Skull Principal. It was impossible to imagine.

“Are you all right?”

“No. I feel as if my mind is collapsing. I’ll have to check the condition after today’s auction ends.”

“How about meeting him once...”

The Artist shook the head at the junior’s suggestion.

The shock was already too great. Even the Artist could not guess what might happen if there were a direct confrontation here.

“Just the fact that it changed is valuable enough information. I express my gratitude.”

“Still, I think meeting him would be more helpful.”

“It seems the method isn’t wrong after all.”

The Artist pretended not to hear him and changed the subject.

Though the Artist could not precisely grasp what influence the magic practice with the school’s youngest disciple had exerted, it did bring confidence that the overall direction of the magic was not wrong.

If Lee Han had changed the painting and made it move as if alive, then the Artist could do it too.

But I will absolutely never summon that kind of mage.

The Artist firmly resolved that.

Even if the young Skull Principal were summoned, it would be with a moderately dry and cold personality, not the version Lee Han had described...

...However, once that image had been heard, it did not easily disappear from the mind.

“Ugh. Get out of my head! You evil spirit!”

“...”

Lee Han suddenly became worried when the Artist screamed as if suffering from a headache.

Should he not have said anything?

“Should I have just kept it hidden?”

“No. You did well to say it. The senior would have had to find out someday anyway. Overcoming it is something that senior must handle personally.”

Professor Garcia was subtly cold.

The professor was not idle enough to worry about a narrow-minded senior, let alone a disciple.

“Anyway, then... I’ll be going now.”

Since he also had to meet the members of the Imperial Gardeners Club, Lee Han spoke up.

He had said everything he needed to say to his senior, so now he had to do what he had come here to do.

Hearing those words, the Artist emerged from the shock and spoke.

“Wait. If you came here, it must be to participate in an auction. Which auction are you planning to attend?”

“I was thinking of participating in the Imperial Gardeners Club auction first.”

Since the other auctions were not yet confirmed, Lee Han mentioned the confirmed one first.

“That works out well. I was planning to participate too.”

The Artist sounded pleased.

The Artist had come after hearing rumors that rare plants would appear, and it seemed the junior had plans as well.

“Let’s go together.”

“Oh.”

Lee Han was flustered by the sudden suggestion.

The Great Artist was certainly a respectable senior, but being asked whether he wanted to visit the Imperial Gardeners Club together was a different matter.

He had already learned this painfully through his experience at Petroguard.

Nothing good comes from traveling with a divination mage.

If someone at the Imperial Gardeners Club shouted, “Wait! Aren’t you that mage who ran away after accepting my commission?” then Lee Han, standing next to the Artist, would automatically be recognized as “that shameless mage’s junior.”

It would be far too harsh an initiation for a newly joined club member.

“Um, Senior. You can’t visit the Imperial Gardeners Club without proper qualifications.”

“I know. Of course I have them.”

Having once completed a manor made of living trees, the Artist had received earnest invitations from members of the Imperial Gardeners Club.

Naturally, the Artist could attend their gatherings.

“...Then let’s go together...”

Lee Han moved with slightly dejected steps.

He should not have acknowledged the Artist earlier!

“Student Lee Han. Are you going with your senior?”

“Yes...”

At Professor Garcia’s question, Lee Han sent over a slightly hopeful look.

Was the professor perhaps going to save him from this situation?

“That’s great!”

“...?” 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

For a moment, Lee Han wondered what he had done wrong to Professor Garcia.

“Make sure to bring back plenty.”

“???”

***

“What do you need?”

“Everything from here to here.”

At the black-haired noblewoman’s declaration, the manager looked ready to faint.

Not just anyone could afford to buy items before an auction even began by paying huge premiums.

Lee Han wondered inwardly.

Was there something there that couldn’t be risked in competition?

Instead of meeting the Imperial Gardeners Club members right away, the Great Artist casually stopped by another auction house in a hall along the way.

“Hmm. This should be fine.”

Eastern Gatherers’ Guild Reagent Auction — Large Stock of Rare Reagents

Then the Artist made a declaration that Lee Han felt he would never be able to make in his life.

“Was there something you absolutely needed?”

“No. I didn’t want to wait for the auction and deal with annoying competition. Send the purchased reagents to this Einroguard student’s manor.”

“...?!!”

Lee Han was just as shocked as the manager.

“Senior. I don’t have the money to buy that... well, I’m not broke, but I don’t want to spend it on that.”

“What nonsense are you saying? Do you think I’d force you to buy it? Use it when you return to Einroguard. Since you’re still a second-year, you can never have too many of these reagents. Hmm. Let’s stop by there too. You said you’re learning divination magic as well, didn’t you? You’ll need some decent consumable gems.”

Lee Han was dragged along in a daze. The shock was so great that even when he heard the absurd phrase “consumable gems,” he could not bring himself to point it out.

“Bring out everything from here to here.”

“B-but this gem already has someone who said they would buy it...”

“Call that person.”

“Pardon?”

“Call and say I’ll pay double the offered price as compensation.”

The problem was resolved immediately.

Lee Han felt a thrill similar to the one he had felt when watching the Skull Principal cast his Personal World.

Wealth above a certain level produced effects similar to a Personal World.

...How admirable!

Only then did Lee Han understand what Professor Garcia had meant.

A divination mage who did not run a school and did not meaninglessly squander wealth was truly an incarnation of immense riches.

He was endlessly grateful that this incarnation was his senior.

“Mage Cards. Let’s buy all of these now too.”

“Senior. Why Mage Cards?”

“Hmm? Don’t you all play with them?”

The Artist was puzzled.

Wasn’t second year about the time students played with them?

“...I’ll gratefully accept them.”

Lee Han decided he would simply accept them and give them to Gainando later.