Episode 1038

“Let’s get out of here quickly. And by the way, it’s a secret that it was because of me that he left.”

“No way the Petrogarde guys will blame you, right?”

The friends asked, as if it was absurd.

They called in an outsider to remove a suspicious visitor, and Lee Han did just that—and they’d hold a grudge instead of being grateful?

Even in Baldrogard, that would never happen.

“They might blame me.”

“Yeah, they’re likely to blame you. Let’s ask the professors to keep it a secret and get out of here fast. Best to blame the knight.”

Lee Han looked at Professor Garcia with eyes full of respect.

Truly, the wisdom of a senior who graduated Einrogard first was extraordinary. His speed at finding the perfect scapegoat in a situation like this was six times faster than most.

“Anyone want to stay in Petrogarde longer?”

Just before leaving, Lee Han thought of his friends and asked.

He’d only considered himself. Thinking about it, maybe there were others who still wanted to hang out with students from another magic school they’d met for only the second time.

“The second time?”

Professor Garcia cocked his finger, confused.

Kalarogard, Baldrogard, Petrogarde would make this the third time, wouldn’t it?

“Wardanaz, what about you? Are you going straight back to the villa afterward?”

“No, I think it’s about time I visited the auction house.”

Lee Han, who had done an excellent job raising mandragora last semester, had received permission from Professor Willow to attend the -Imperial Horticulturist Club-’s internal auction.

To be permitted to attend an internal auction meant he was also permitted to join.

As a new club member, it would be proper etiquette to pay his respects first.

‘If I look polite, maybe they’ll buy my mandragora for more.’

Normally Lee Han didn’t like showing off his specialty, but this time was an exception.

He was seriously considering wearing a cloak covered with pictures of the Ghoul King or Frost Giant King for the occasion.

“The capital’s auction house… That’s in the Hall of Gold?”

“Yeah.”

Since auctions were basically about gathering expensive things and inviting high-status people, they weren’t held just anywhere.

Sure, there were rough-edged Einrogard-style auctions fought over potato sacks on dirt floors, but regular imperial auctions guaranteed a minimum of dignity.

If the auction was near the capital, there was a high likelihood it would be at the Hall of Gold.

A sacred place blessed with luck and wealth since before the empire.

In this hall, not only the Horticulturist Club but other auctions were held as well. The students’ eyes sparkled at the thought of various sought-after items.

Would they mingle with outstanding magicians from other imperial schools, or with greedy socialites who knew nothing about magic?

“It’s too bad, but nothing to be done. We’ll respect your schedule, Wardanaz.”

“We’ll meet the Petrogarde friends again someday. Or not. Either way.”

They answered right away.

To be honest, it probably wouldn’t be much fun to linger in Petrogarde.

The most fun they’d had here was when Gainando sprayed poison on a knight’s face…

“I’d like to keep painting a bit mo—mmph.”

Siana hastily covered Tijilling’s mouth. Lee Han turned his head.

“What was that just now?”

“Nothing! It’s nothing! Priest Tijilling is just looking forward to the trip!”

Other priests quickly covered for Siana. Professor Garcia thought inwardly,

‘…Is it okay for the Phoenix Tower to be like this?!’

While it was good that the priestly students had become lively and proactive, sometimes he had to wonder.

• * *

“Hmm. Hmmmm.”

“Mmmmm.”

The students, riding in a carriage with the professors, carefully traced ink across paper.

They were looking for auctions they could enter.

“Here! Maybe we could enter this one…”

A White Tiger Tower student handed a flyer to Giselle.

-Beechwood Auction-

Weapons for knights, by knights, for knights.

Only honorable knights may attend.

Lee Han answered for Giselle, without even looking.

“You can’t. Read further, it says only current members of knightly orders may attend.”

If not a current Imperial Knights member, attendance was forbidden…

“……”

The disappointed White Tiger Tower student asked, perplexed,

“Wardanaz, how did you know that?”

“I checked the rules once because I wanted to go. Couldn’t get in.”

“…”

But you’re from a great noble family!

The White Tiger Tower students were all dumbfounded.

Many imperial auctions restricted who could attend.

Even the internal auction for the -Imperial Horticulturist Club- required club membership, and orders-only or club-only rules were common enough.

“A shame, really. I don’t know why they put so many restrictions. Don’t they realize open attendance would make auctions more active? There are people who want to attend but can’t…”

“S-sorry, Wardanaz. My bad.”

When Lee Han suddenly started complaining in a torrent, the White Tiger Tower student shrank in fear.

Wardanaz was scariest at times like these.

He’d rather just get yelled at and cursed.

“So only mage auctions are left then.”

“Just be glad we’ve got those.”

The students checked any auctions they could enter and grumbled.

As Einrogard students, they qualified for plenty of mage-related auctions, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy their ambitions.

‘I want an artifact to help me draw star maps next semester.’

‘I need at least one relic for my research.’

‘Isn’t there an artifact for cheating on exams?’

The rarer, more expensive artifacts and relics usually only appeared at secret auctions.

Each time they saw “Non-members not invited” or “Club-only,” their disappointment grew.

“Good. I’m done.”

With that, Gainando set his pen down. The friends beside him checked his list in confusion.

Western Mage Card Auction (join)

Eastern Mage Card Auction (join)

Southern Mage Card Auction (join)

…

‘Shouldn’t have looked.’

They ignored him. Yonere asked nervously,

“You’re only entering those kinds of auctions? What’ll you do later?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean if you blow all your gold on cards…”

Instead of raising her voice, Yonere just pointed at Lee Han.

If they blew all their gold on cards, they might end up having to sleep outside the tower next semester.

“I’m entering to sell cards.”

“…What?!”

Not just Yonere, but all the others were shocked. Lee Han warned his Blue Dragon Tower friends,

“Shh. Everyone’s working out their own plans here.”

“B-but Wardanaz—Gainando’s only entering to sell cards!”

“What?!?!!?!”

“…”

Gainando pouted at their reactions.

Lee Han tried to soothe him.

“Sorry. It just slipped out. But—selling cards? Are you being blackmailed by a magic criminal or cultist?”

“No! If I spot something I want to bid on at the auction, I’ll need gold!”

Auctions weren’t just for buyers—sellers could enter too.

Of course, you could sell items for gold…

‘Amazing!’

But selling Gainando’s own mage cards was another thing altogether. Even students from the other towers muttered in surprise.

“Should we be gathering more gold?”

“Maybe we should have taken more jobs…”

“They say you only really start that in second semester. No time during break.”

“We made some money with Wardanaz before, but I’m not sure it’ll be enough…”

“…How did you make that money??”

As students whispered, Professor Garcia cleared his throat to offer some senior advice.

“Everyone, it’s good to show interest in auctions. But you seem to have forgotten one thing, blinded by greed.”

‘Is he going to tell us to practice moderation?’

“Auction houses need magicians quite often—for appraisals, curse-breaking, potion-making, and so on. If you’re from Einrogard, you can pick up plenty of requests.”

‘Guess not!’

As Professor Garcia began sharing the tips he’d picked up as a student, the students gazed at him with awe.

If there was a true teacher in Einrogard, he was right here.

“Professor! What kind of requests…”

“Are there especially good ones for White Tiger Tower?”

“For the dark magic school, should we reveal our specialty or not?”

As his friends peppered him with questions, Lee Han remembered something and spoke up while checking for possible auctions outside gardening club.

“Professor. Professor.”

“?”

The quietly seated Professor Voladi turned to his student.

“How did you make gold when you were a student, Professor?”

“Bounties and duels.”

Professor Voladi answered kindly and waited for the next question.

Judging by how Garcia was being pestered with questions, his own student would soon be the same.

Given that burning curiosity and thirst for knowledge…

“Ah.”

Lee Han nodded and turned his eyes back to his paper.

Looked like he’d have to earn money another way.

“……”

• * *

The Hall of Gold, reminiscent of an ancient-style palace covered in dazzling light, bustled with crowds.

Lee Han could sense the strange power of magic flowing throughout the entire hall.

Its strength and age were such that it couldn’t be twisted even by considerable force.

“It’s a historic site, Lee Han. Can you feel it?”

Professor Garcia, guessing why Lee Han was staring, explained beside him.

The Hall of Gold had been a place of luck and wealth, blessed repeatedly since before the Empire.

That wasn’t just a metaphor. It had been repeatedly consecrated with massive holy magics.

As a result, several rules were enforced inside, like in a Small World.

No pickpocketing, no disguising items as something else, etc…

‘Woah. I was working out the gold weight value, though.’

Lee Han snapped out of it and commented on the mana flow.

“I think the mana here creates separate rules inside.”

“Exactly. Fascinating place. Some mages come not for treasure, but just to study this magic.”

Professor Garcia explained that the Hall of Gold likely wasn’t intentionally made this way.

The unexpected effects came from numerous priests and mages casting spells here, and those effects were preserved.

“Lee Han, didn’t you say you’d visit the Horticulturist Club first?”

“Yes. By the way, do you know what kind of gifts Horticulturist Club members like?”

“…You don’t need to bring anything. Just go.”

Lee Han grumbled inwardly.

Professor Garcia was so upright, he was of no help in matters like this.

“I’ll wait here with the professor. You all can look around however you like. If you have questions, come find… aagh!”

“???!”

Lee Han was startled.

Professor Garcia screamed as if he’d just seen the painting of the young Headmaster again.

There must be some huge danger nearby. Even Professor Voladi was tensing his mana in caution.

“…Lee Han. Do you see that? Over there?”

“You mean the elf in the turquoise-jeweled turban? Wearing Zenbaya’s enchanted items? Honestly, I think the gold trim ruins the value…”

“How in the world did you notice that? No, the other way! Next to them!”

“??”

“Senior.”

Lee Han stared in disbelief as the great artist who’d run away earlier now sauntered leisurely around the hall.