“...I understand for now.”

Though bewildered and confused, an archmage was still an archmage.

He quickly regained his composure.

He still could not understand this youngest disciple, who revealed grand ambitions without possessing any ambition at all...

...but the Great Artist decided to accept things as they were for now.

“If you say you will shoulder the most tragic and pitiful fate in the Empire and become a sacrificial mage who burns himself, then what can I say?”

“...”

Lee Han looked at the artist with a displeased expression.

Despite saying he understood, his attitude did not seem accepting at all.

“I think you’ve already said quite a lot...”

“However, you must keep in mind that the disciples who challenged the same thing before you met miserable fates.”

The artist did not give up easily.

To simply say, “Yes, do your best,” after a single word from the other party was too much, given everything he had seen and experienced until now.

If the other party’s resolve was firm, then he could approach slowly, like spring sunlight melting winter ice and snow.

“Let me guess why you came. Since you came with two professors... you probably came at the request of the Valdrogard mages who found me suspicious, right?”

“!”

Lee Han was surprised by the sudden change of subject.

Thinking that denying it in front of someone so confident would only irritate the artist unnecessarily, Lee Han readily admitted it.

“I won’t deny it.”

“It’s natural for them to be worried. Most of the Skull Principal’s former disciples bring turmoil and upheaval wherever they go.”

The Great Artist was not angry at the Valdrogard mages.

Why would he be angry when the other party was not even the Skull Principal?

And since the Skull Principal’s former disciples all had somewhat unstable aspects, it was understandable for them to be worried.

“But there is no need to worry prematurely. I will leave anyway once I complete what I want. Rather, causing a commotion would be more dangerous.”

“A commotion?”

Lee Han wondered if the Skull Principal would hear about it and come flying over if a commotion broke out.

But the artist shook his head.

“Though I have clearly left the school, there are many who do not think so. There is no reason to reveal my identity and invite enemies here, is there?”

The Great Artist was more concerned about other enemies than the Skull Principal.

Starting with magical criminals, the Skull Principal had many enemies, and those enemies would not find it very convincing even if the artist declared, “I’m no longer a disciple!”

“I see. Wait, in that case, don’t you need to worry about the Principal either?”

“That is not the case.”

That is not the case...

Though the Skull Principal might not be as aggressive as the other enemies, there was nothing good about letting him know the artist was here.

Even if the artist himself thought there were no remaining debts between them, there was no knowing whether that eccentric would think the same.

“I have no intention of causing a commotion or creating fights. So if you want me to leave Valdrogard, there is only one way.”

As he spoke, the Great Artist pointed at Lee Han. Lee Han asked in a tense voice.

“A duel?”

“...Didn’t you just hear me say I have no intention of creating fights?”

“Ah. I’m sorry. It’s become a habit because of the professors.”

“You will help with my work.”

“Me?”

Lee Han was puzzled.

Setting aside the difficulty of helping with an archmage’s work, above all...

“Wouldn’t the professors be better?”

“I do not want to associate with those low-intelligence traitors for even a single second.”

“...Ah, yes.”

***

“Don’t worry too much. There was probably an error in the relocation.”

Dalseur consoled the two professors.

Especially in Professor Garcia’s case, since she cared for and worried about students so much, the shock would be greater.

However, in truth, there was not much reason to worry greatly in the current situation.

Wasn’t this merely an error in spatial magic that had occurred without any particular magic interfering, and without any enemy attack?

At most, he had probably emerged at another carriage entrance, so he was definitely somewhere within Valdrogard territory.

“I’m not worried about Student Lee Han. Honestly, Student Lee Han would manage his part wherever he was dropped.”

At Professor Garcia’s words, the students behind her were slightly taken aback.

Of course, they agreed too, but didn’t Professor Garcia usually worry a little more...

...about them?

“Isn’t she worrying too little?”

“Honestly, it might be Wardanaz’s own doing...”

While the students murmured among themselves, Professor Garcia continued speaking.

“What I’m worried about now is the Principal’s former disciple. If we make contact rashly without Student Lee Han present, we might all be kicked out immediately.”

“You’re exaggerating too much. Still, he’s a fellow alumnus, isn’t he?”

Dalseur thought Professor Garcia was exaggerating.

No matter what, would that Great Artist really refuse to listen to a single word and kick out junior alumni?

However, Professor Garcia and Professor Voladi Bagreg shook their heads with serious faces.

“...R-really??”

“Yes.”

Disciples who had defected from under the Skull Principal, whether before or after Einroguard’s establishment, did not particularly like the faculty.

They treated the faculty as the Skull Principal’s minions, lackeys, spies, and so on.

And in fact, it was not entirely wrong either.

“We need to find Student Lee Han quickly and go around together. Otherwise, everyone except Student Lee Han might get kicked out.”

-Did he say House Wardanaz? What a lucky guy. To have the opportunity for a private audience with such a Great Artist.

-The Artist must be trying to impart enlightenment. It’ll be a good opportunity for those barbarians from Einroguard.

“...”

“...Found him.”

The group breathed a sigh of relief for now.

Though it was curious how he had found his way there again, at least the immediate fire had been put out.

Tap tap-

Professor Voladi Bagreg lightly tapped Professor Garcia on the shoulder.

“What is it?”

“I think we should stop him.”

“?”

At the senior professor’s words, Garcia looked puzzled.

“Are you worried? But that person isn’t particularly dangerous.”

After entering Valdrogard and hearing additional explanations from the students, Professor Garcia was almost certain of the other person’s identity.

If she was right, he was not someone who would do anything threatening. Rather, if anything happened, he would pity the Einroguard students and help them.

“Wardanaz might be persuaded.”

“...Uh...”

Professor Garcia was momentarily speechless at this unexpected point.

Until now, she had only thought about how to persuade the other party to leave Valdrogard, but now that she thought about it, the other party could also persuade their side.

Especially if the professors were not nearby.

Wasn’t “that artist” a senior who regarded persuading Einroguard students to defect as his life’s mission and noble duty?

If Student Lee Han was persuaded and said, “Farewell, professors. I’m quitting Einroguard to find happiness in my life,” and left...

Alshicle Pengerine, who had been listening nearby, widened his eyes and said,

“...Wait, wouldn’t that be good? It would be a happy thing for Wardanaz... Why, why are you looking at me like that, Professor Voladi Bagreg?”

Alshicle Pengerine cowered under Professor Voladi Bagreg’s gaze and slipped behind Professor Garcia to hide.

Professor Garcia grabbed Alshicle Pengerine with an annoyed expression and sent him back to the original spot.

***

“Valdrogard is more boring than I thought.”

“Shh. Keep your voice down. You’ll show how uncultured you are.”

The White Tiger Tower students tried to hide their boredom with the Valdrogard field trip.

Though they loved swords more than books, there was no need to go around advertising that fact.

“But look, even those Blue Dragon Tower guys are doing the same thing.”

-Agh! This is damn boring!

Gainando rolled back and forth on the grass, shouting.

Adenart kept as much distance as possible. She truly did not want to be thought of as being in the same group as Gainando.

“There were some decent paintings and sculptures to see.”

Yonair, who had gone around sightseeing with Nillia, said.

However, Gainando scoffed.

“I’d rather read a magazine one more time than look at that stuff.”

“Are you bored?”

“!”

Gainando opened his eyes in surprise at the sight of a Valdrogard student approaching him.

Looking closely, it was the Valdrogard student he had met on the way here, the one he had mistaken for a corpse.

“You, you’re...”

“I’m Bunaljo.”

“Ga, Gainando. I’m of the Imperial Family.”

Adenart looked around and quickly pulled her cloak over her head.

She was worried Gainando might say something like, “She’s of the Imperial Family too.”

“I see. Gainando.”

“You were playing outside the whole time. Why did you come back?”

“Why are you angry?”

“I’m not angry!”

Bunaljo could not understand why the Einroguard students were getting angry.

There were strange magic school students in the world who got angry just from watching others have fun.

“What a strange fellow. I came back because I got everything I wanted.”

After finishing those words, Bunaljo rummaged around and pulled out the equipment.

Chisels and awls, hammers and saws—various magical items for sculpting took shape with a clatter.

The Einroguard students, who had been idling around with nothing to do, gathered one by one, perhaps out of boredom.

What kind of enchantment magic would Valdrogard show, worthy of its reputation?

“Your Highness. What do you think of that sculpture?”

“It’s excellent. However, it seems too rough...”

Bunaljo heard this and replied,

“This is my taste.”

“Still, isn’t it too rough?”

The Valdrogard student shrugged and focused on the work again.

The wyvern statue, much rougher and more fierce-looking than its original form, quickly took on an imposing appearance.

“...Wait. Did you just see that, Nillia?”

“Huh? Huh? I wasn’t dozing off.”

At her friend’s question, Nillia answered frantically. Yonair pointed at the wings and asked,

“Look at those wings.”

“Wings? Uh... wyvern wings don’t look like that. That’s inefficient. Haven’t you seen a wyvern?”

“...Th-this looks cooler.”

Bunaljo, who had not shown any emotion all day, stammered.

However, Yonair did not care. That was not what mattered right now.

“Didn’t those wings move?”

“How could they move when no magic has been cast yet?”

The other friends nearby looked puzzled.

Right now, that Valdrogard student had only been sculpting and had not cast any magic yet. A wyvern that was just a lump of stone could not move.

“It can move.”

Bunaljo answered as if annoyed.

“What?”

“I said it can move. Sometimes, when inspiration is abundant, works become magic itself without using magic.”

...Primitive magic!?

Gainando grumbled as if to say, “Don’t lie,” but a few perceptive students realized what the other person was talking about and were shocked.

A form of magic that operated differently from current Imperial magic.

Yonair thought to herself.

That’s impossible. For a statue of that level to move, you’d need to layer enchantment magic with transformation magic several times...

There were reasons why primitive magic had not been incorporated into Imperial magic.

Since its power was weak, inconsistent, or unstable, there was no particular reason to use it.

“Today is pretty good. You guys should be able to see it too.”

“What can we see... Gasp!”

All the Einroguard students rose from their seats.

The half-completed wyvern statue was slowly flapping its wings and moving.

Bunaljo said with pride,

“Real magic should be able to summon magic that the mage cannot use or even imagine. Like this.”

Bunaljo did not know how to implement magic that would make a wyvern statue come alive and move.

However, sometimes, when inspiration and luck followed, Bunaljo would accidentally implement such magic.

The wyvern statue slowly turned back to stone. Bunaljo tapped the statue and said,

“I’m only at this level, but there are more amazing mages. They implement much more powerful and difficult magic. Especially that artist who came this time is beyond imagination.”

“Beyond imagination?”

“He’s trying to breathe eternal life into his works.”

“...Sh-shouldn’t we call Wardanaz?”