Episode 1030

“You said you wouldn’t get angry…”

“Surprisingly, even the happiest person in the Empire can get angry. It’s possible only thanks to the most wicked wizard in the Empire.”

The Great Artist brushed aside the shattered black stone flower and spoke casually.

“So, you must be Lee Han of House Wardanaz, correct?”

“Yes.”

There was no use lying—the archmage had already guessed everything.

Lee Han answered calmly.

“The youngest of House Wardanaz, second year at Einrogard.”

“Yes.”

-Second year?
-Wasn’t he a fifth year?

There was muttering from the back, but Lee Han didn’t notice, focused on his opponent.

“The one fated to bear the Empire’s most tragic and pitiful destiny. A sacrificial wizard for the pyre, pitiable and soon to burn!”

“…That’s not really true.”

The other seemed to be mistaken.

But the Great Artist spoke as if truly glimpsing the future, wielding powerful words.

“You think not. But that’s how it’ll be, unless you run now!”

“No way… Hmm, maybe?”

Lee Han faltered as he tried to deny it.

Now that he thought about it, ever since he’d started learning magic from the Headmaster, he did feel like he’d run into more life hardships than his friends.

Noticing the Skull Headmaster’s youngest disciple was surprisingly rational, the Great Artist nodded.

There was still hope for this boy.

Before he went mad, or was corrupted and became a professor, or something even worse, he needed to be set on a new, shining path.

“There is much I must teach you. Come.”

Petrogard’s students watched with jealous eyes.

“What luck! To arrive and be able to speak privately and learn true wisdom from the Great Artist…”

“You should be grateful, wizard from House Wardanaz. Remember: listen to what your soul says. Don’t be swayed by your house’s demands. Even if the Empire forces you to work for reputation, just ignore it.”

‘Damn it. If it were Einrogard, I’d beat them up.’

Lee Han cursed them inwardly and followed the Great Artist.

• * *

The chamber where the Great Artist resided was smaller than Lee Han expected, and in a way, almost austere.

Seeing Lee Han’s surprise, the artist asked,

“Did you expect something more lavish?”

“A bit.”

“Chasing my own pleasures and happiness doesn’t mean it has to be tied to luxury. Sometimes that only leads further away.”

As he gazed at the plain interior, Lee Han spotted several paintings—including, to his shock, a familiar face.

Long, flowing hair and chiseled features like a statue from an ancient kingdom.

It was a portrait of the Skull Headmaster in human form.

“Can I ask something?”

“Go ahead. I brought you here to teach—what’s one more question?”

“Were you the Headmaster’s disciple?”

“No.”

“!”

Lee Han was shocked.

Was he a magical criminal???

‘How could I have been so careless…!’

“I was just a poor Einrogard student who was tricked by that vile, wicked one.”

“……”

So a disciple after all!

He clearly just had a roundabout way of saying he was the Headmaster’s disciple. It was like how Gainando hated to say, “I just goofed off and didn’t study.”

“Why do you suddenly ask? Didn’t you come here knowing?”

“Oh, I saw that portrait and wondered…”

He almost asked if it was out of lingering respect, but stopped himself.

He might have provoked the man unnecessarily.

“I paint him now and then.”

“Really??”

“Yes. For my own pleasure.”

Since the subject had come up, the Great Artist showed Lee Han what kind of pleasure he found in painting.

Fwoosh!

The portrait was burned to a crisp right away.

“Watching a painting burn makes even deepest hatred fade a bit.”

“……”

Lee Han was truly glad he hadn’t asked about lingering respect.

Had he asked, he might have been burned as well.

“Sit. I have things to tell you.”

Seeing his junior from Einrogard sit obediently, the Great Artist began to speak slowly.

“Where to begin… Well, you may not feel it yet. When I said your fate was tragic and you’d be the ceremonial offering—it doesn’t seem real, does it?”

“I guess I can kind of imagine.”

“?!”

Anyone learning magic under the Headmaster could find themselves up against clones, magical criminals, anti-magic zealots, even fighting the Headmaster’s clone himself.

So Lee Han could imagine what this senior was hinting at.

Of course, the Great Artist was surprised by his reaction.

For a mere second-year to react like that, it was amazing.

“You… can imagine that? No! It’s much more likely you’re mistaken.”

“Uh, magic criminals, anti-magic zealots, evil god cults, archdemons, dimensional monsters… Or fighting the Headmaster’s clone, right?”

“…!!”

The Great Artist was even more shocked by the specific and precise answer.

No?

“And yet you’re not thinking about running away?”

“There’s a reason for that…”

“Wrong! You’ve still not come to your senses.”

The Great Artist cut Lee Han off, not listening.

Lee Han grumbled inwardly.

‘Isn’t he being a bit much, even for a senior?’

“Who is the wisest at Einrogard?”

“Professor Garcia?”

“Ha!”

The artist dismissed him with contempt. Lee Han grumbled internally.

“Then… Senior Direte?”

“…Who’s that? Never mind, I’ll tell you. The wisest person at Einrogard is someone who never enrolls in the first place.”

“……”

Lee Han was dumbfounded by the mean-spirited question.

Regardless, the artist went on.

“The next wisest graduates as fast as possible and never gets involved with Einrogard again.”

“After that?”

“After that, I wouldn’t call them wise. They’re foolish. A fool is someone who ever seeks the Headmaster’s teachings or learns even a little of that magic.”

‘You did, though…’

“Even among fools, there are shades. The least foolish are the ones who break free and run far away.”

“…So, is the most foolish… a professor?”

Counting through, Lee Han realized professor was all that was left.

“No, listen. Professors are, of course, foolish. Some stay behind and take up the yoke, a desperately stupid act. But there’s a kind even more foolish, who could be called the absolute foolish ones.”

After repeated absurdity, Lee Han found himself a bit curious.

‘Who’s left?’

If it wasn’t professors most foolish, then whom?

“And who’s that?”

“Those who go beyond learning the Headmaster’s magic and try to inherit every role and responsibility!”

The Great Artist spoke with real sincerity.

These ancient obligations laid upon archmages were no light thing.

A regular wizard would be crushed or burned alive by even a fraction.

But once in a while, the Headmaster’s students would show such ambition, and those truly were the most foolish and pitiable of all.

“I see! Good thing that’s not me.”

“…….”

Is he serious?

The Great Artist could hardly believe what the boy was saying.

Anyone who knew even a little about the long history of the Skull Headmaster’s school could see this boy was quietly marching right down that path, even as a second-year, already building a reputation famous enough to reach the artist’s ears—who knew what else he’d done inside the closed-off Einrogard?

If this kid isn’t a successor candidate, who is?

“You really don’t intend to inherit?”

“Huh? No.”

“Really? Then…”

It still didn’t seem real, but the Great Artist felt a bit relieved.

If this youngest had no intention of taking over, persuasion would be easier.

Just graduate, go far from Einrogard, and burn the letter if asked to become professor.

But the Artist’s relief was shattered by Lee Han’s next words.

“I just thought I might help out a little on the side…”

CRASH!

“!?”

The Great Artist, beside himself with rage, smashed yet another creation.

“Such careless words!”

“N-no, just helping out a little…”

“It’s not enough to keep your distance, and yet you want to stay beside them? That means you understood nothing of what I said!”

The mask and magic hid the artist’s face but the voice blazed with anger.

“Do you know what that means? That you intend to sacrifice yourself in ignorance for the sake of this continent’s strangers, at the cost of your own pleasure and happiness! No matter how you wrap it up in the mysteries of magic, it’s nonsense. Why should you perform such a sacrifice?”

“It’s not really that extreme…”

“Either you’re in or you’re out—nothing else! Don’t you understand? Look at those foolish traitor brats.”

“Who?”

“The professors.”

“……”

“Do you think they’d be able to research their own magic if they wanted? So long as they remain nearby, they’re inevitably dragged in!”

The Great Artist’s words were not just logical but filled with a conviction that overwhelmed Lee Han.

‘He… does have a point.’

Given the Headmaster’s work, “just helping on the side” might really be impossible.

If portals in the mountains started spewing demons, how could you offer a bit of casual help? You’d have to help with everything you had.

“Do you get it!”

“Yes…”

“Then you won’t talk so carelessly again. Do you at least feel like running after graduation?”

“No?”

“…Why???”

“Um, I already got too much from them… so I’ll just help out, even if it’s harder.”

“……”

In the midst of his angry worry, the Great Artist suddenly felt faint.

There had been plenty of disciples under the Skull Headmaster who tried to burn their master, themselves, or the continent, but none quite like this.

How can someone with so little ambition radiate such grand resolve?