Episode 1033

Episode 1033

The great artist showed genuine concern at the youngest apprentice’s words.

That wasn’t something someone in their right mind would say.

Considering the opponents he had faced so far, perhaps his sanity had already been stained with madness without him knowing…

“I really did meet him.”

Of course, Lee Han was quite frustrated.

He really had used the -Scepter of Kairos- to meet the young Headmaster from a previous dimension in the past.

When Lee Han told the story of meeting the young, human Headmaster, the great artist looked sick.

“Ugh. Uuugh.”

“…Wait, are you actually gagging?”

“Does it look fake to you? My ears and soul just felt insulted and defiled.”

The great artist shuddered and snapped his fingers. The momentarily agitated mucous membranes, disturbed by the stomach acid reflux, returned to normal.

“Phew.”

After sighing, the great artist walked around the room once.

And then sighed again.

“Phew.”

The great artist circled the room a second time…

“…May I leave now?”

“Wait, just wait a moment.”

The great artist stopped the youngest from leaving and pleaded with him.

Originally, the artist’s plan was to gather hundreds of works depicting the Headmaster.

Even by borrowing the power of primitive magic inspired by artistic inspiration and Personal Worlds, it was not easy to breathe a soul into an inanimate object.

To increase the odds and accuracy, a single work wouldn’t be enough. He might need thousands or even tens of thousands of pieces.

“If that’s your plan, do you need my help?”

“If I make them alone, the limitations become even clearer.”

Moreover, the works couldn’t just contain the artist’s perspective.

The sides of the Headmaster the artist envisioned would inevitably be limited.

Given past resentments, it could end up more biased.

If the completed being was strangely twisted, showing only one side, it would be better not to make it at all.

“As diverse and detailed as possible. That’s how the completion level rises.”

“True… Ah. In that case, shall I call the professors?”

Lee Han, concerned about the professors waiting outside, carefully suggested it.

Since they all studied under the Headmaster together, they could possibly offer new perspectives based on detailed observations.

“I already collected everything I needed from them, no need to call.”

‘Of course.’

His opponent was a Great Mage for a reason.

If you’re going to cut ties with traitors turned enemies’ minions, you should collect everything you need before cutting off contact.

“That’s why I wanted to hear from you what you think of that maniac… but I just can’t believe it.”

A Headmaster who, in a future dimension, warmly welcomed and courteously took care of disciples returning from afar?

The artist felt as if his body twisted and his brain shattered at such a horrifying possibility.

“But… but. But, but…”

‘How many times is he going to say “but?”’

“…If that side of him is real, it would be of great help for my work. What I want is a kind and righteous Grand Mage of the ancient times.”

Finally recovering from the shock, the artist bit his lip until it bled as he steeled himself.

If what Lee Han said was true, it was sure to be a huge help to the artist’s project.

After assembling hundreds of sides of the Headmaster, he needed to reinterpret them in a kind and just way—and if there was already an almost completed being…

…It was unbelievable, but if it existed, it shouldn’t be rejected.

“In that case, let’s get started. Now… you said you talked about magic school with the young Headmaster, right?”

“Yes.”

“What sort of magic school did he imagine? A school of righteous magicians governed by strict discipline?”

With all his effort, the great artist tried to guess.

“No. He thought of a warm and loving place.”

“…I see. Next…”

“Are you all right?”

“You don’t have to worry.”

However, the artist staggered. Lee Han grew slightly concerned.

“What was the young Headmaster doing there? Waging war to expand the kingdom’s territory?”

“No. In fact, he was embarrassed about being royalty and trying to hide it. He wanted to eradicate suffering from the continent, so he formed a secret society to help the unfortunate—”

“Enough! Stop!”

The artist screamed in a high, pain-stricken voice.

He just couldn’t believe it.

“That maniac had a time like that too…? Then why did I meet the cruel madman? If only I’d been lucky, maybe I could have learned under the gentle maniac!”

“…I feel the same way!”

Lee Han replied before he realized it.

Seized by emotion, the great artist hugged Lee Han and wept.

“For such an unbelievable past… for such an unbelievable past to exist…! Then why did all the other disciples have to suffer so much!”

“…Be strong! Senior, you are doing what no one else has ever managed. You are freeing the souls of all the disciples!”

The senior’s dreadful, desperate feelings were fully conveyed to Lee Han.

The great artist was deeply moved by the junior’s heartfelt encouragement.

It was the kind of comfort only someone who shared the same hell could offer.

“…Thank you. I’ll never forget this comfort. Even if you become a professor, I won’t treat you as a traitor.”

“……”

So he was planning to before?

While Lee Han stared, dumbfounded, the artist regained his composure and resumed the questions.

Hearing the junior’s story truly flooded him with wave after wave of inspiration.

And then…

‘How fascinating.’

The artist found it fascinating again.

There were quite a few disciples who learned magic under the Headmaster, and among them some harbored ambition, but he had never heard of anyone who actually encountered the young Headmaster directly.

Was it only possible because Lee Han’s destiny led him towards inheriting the legacy without ambition?

“What is it?”

“Nothing. I just suddenly thought… Maybe you really could be the true successor and inheritor…”

“…What did I do to deserve this?”

Annoyed to the end, the junior glared. The artist grew flustered.

This time, he really hadn’t meant anything by it.

• * *

“Well done. Once I organize what I heard today, it’ll also be time to part ways with Petrogarde.”

The great artist put the works back in one place as he spoke.

He didn’t know how many pieces would come of today’s conversation, but he was sure it would greatly advance the work that had been stalled for a while.

“So is the magic complete?”

“It’s not that easy. No way to know when it’ll be done.”

The artist smiled sardonically behind his mask.

That even after today’s progress, he still couldn’t be certain—that was the difficulty of magic.

“If I ever finish it, I’ll send you a letter. Now. Since you helped me, I have to repay you as your senior, don’t I?”

“!”

Lee Han was deeply moved by the senior’s words.

Indeed, there was always a strong bond between those of the same school.

Of course, there were exceptions like the Einrogard School of Enchantment, but…

“I’ll help you with magic.”

“……”

Lee Han wilted a little.

He’d been hoping for a valuable gift of art.

“They say you have talent for music magic?”

“Yes. But rather than talent, it’s more like the power of my mana…”

“It’s all the same.”

The artist waved his hand, as if to say stop being so humble and making distinctions.

“You probably already suspect this, but music magic is also a path to Spell Word Magic. But that lunatic probably didn’t teach you step by step, did he?”

“How did you know?”

Lee Han was shocked.

The Headmaster, whether in person or as a clone, always demanded he go straight to Spell Word Magic—the goal was always set high.

The artist sighed lightly.

“Not surprising at all. The sort to toss you off a cliff and tell you to figure it out yourself if you don’t want to die… But as your senior, I want to teach you what I learned first. If you’ve learned music magic, start incorporating it into your spells. That way, the road to Spell Word Magic will open naturally.”

Lee Han didn’t immediately understand.

That’s how obscure the artist’s words were, and how unusual the field of magic he handled.

Originally, music magic—as a primitive magic—wasn’t something many mages even cared about…

“Like this. Craving light, cast in water, but the water vanished, regret remains.”

The artist didn’t do anything else.

There were no special reagents, not even the usual movements of mana for spellcasting.

Yet watery clones appeared in the air. Very high-quality clones.

‘How?!’

He didn’t deny the importance of incantations, but for a spell to be realized with just the incantation, stripping out all other elements—

“Is that Spell Word Magic?!”

“You’re clever as always. But it isn’t. Spell Word Magic is far more complete and condensed… Think of this as magic that bridges the gap.”

The great artist’s spell contained musical rhythm.

He had infused the primitive music magic method into the incantation to amplify its power.

Despite not quite being Spell Word Magic, its power was amazing.

“Just to note, it’s less convenient than Spell Word. If you’ve been using music magic, you’ll know that it’s hard to amplify with short incantations. It works best with spells that require longer incantations.”

This technique was especially suited for Artifact Masters who dealt in enchantment magic.

Those mages used multiple spells in a row, so the length of the incantation could be extended as necessary.

“But senior, I can hardly perform many music spells.”

Lee Han mentioned a worry.

Like most primitive magic, this really depended on the caster’s aptitude.

Lee Han struggled with tunes that didn’t suit his mood, so he worried about applying this method broadly.

The artist assured him.

“Don’t worry. There’s a secret spell cast here for you and me—mages who use music magic.”

A kind of secret domain magic, almost a Small World, that forced the rhythm into the incantation to guarantee success.

Lee Han was greatly surprised at those words. He hadn’t noticed at all.

“Such a magic exists?”

“Yes. I’ll teach you little by little, so just memorize the incantation for now.”

After hesitating, Lee Han carefully chose a spell.

If it was a long, complicated spell—one where he’d need extra help—

“In Verdus’ name, I swing the staff…”

“Why that of all things? No, it’s fine. Go on.”

Lee Han tried the 5th-circle complex enchantment magic, -Bible’s Flying Sword-, which he had practiced a few times but always failed.

When he failed practicing in the professor’s workshop, Professor Verdus would always gripe, “Is that hard for you?”—so Lee Han had to practice it in secret.

‘-Bible’s Flight Enchantment-, -Bible’s Piercing Enchantment-, -Bible’s Detect Enemy-…’

He had to quickly cast all the required spells in succession within the time limit, never letting their balance break.

Lee Han infused the incantation with rhythm. His determination to succeed made the incantation even fiercer.

Whoosh!

The sword on the ground shot up as if moving on its own. No need to ask—he knew. It was a success.

“Did—did I do it?!”

“Yes.”

“What kind of secret magic is this?!”

Even in his amazement, Lee Han asked.

Just what kind of magic could so drastically boost music magic’s power?

Had the great artist created his own Small World?

‘If so, I want to learn it.’

“In truth, there’s nothing cast at all.”

“What?”

“Nothing at all. I just lied because I thought you’d be able to do it.”

“……”

Now Lee Han understood why Professor Garcia wasn’t fond of the seniors.