Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 1039

Chapter 1039

"Shouldn't he be running far away?"

Except for exceptions like Professor Ver, generally mages who couldn't keep promises would flee to remote mountains where no one knew them.

Naturally since the Great Artist had disappeared so quickly too, Yi-Han thought they would have gone far away by now...

"What are you saying, Yi-Han. If you get far from imperial cities, it becomes difficult to obtain needed materials."

Professor Garcia explained instead.

Though an outstanding disciple, his lack of experience showed at times like this.

As someone from Einroguard, even when fleeing because they couldn't keep promises, one should still take care of what needs to be taken care of.

"It also has the effect of catching people off guard."

"..."

Focused on explaining, Professor Garcia didn't notice her disciple looking at their senior with eyes like looking at trash.

"Tra... no, I understand why Senior didn't go far. Anyway, it's good since I needed to talk about the portrait."

When Yi-Han was about to call out, Professor Garcia quickly stopped him.

"Wait a moment, Yi-Han."

"?"

"Couldn't we tell them later?"

"What? Uh, they'd probably want to know right away. Are you worried they'll be shocked?"

Though even for the Great Artist, it would be hard to accept that one of their paintings they left behind had turned into the skull principal from his prince days.

But Yi-Han believed.

That an outstanding mage like the artist would accept the truth and make it their nourishment.

'Senior will surely be fine.'

"No, that's not it..."

Professor Garcia hesitated.

The other being shocked about the skull principal's portrait wasn't the professor's concern, rather...

"...Ugh!"

The Great Artist who had been wandering around the hall met Yi-Han's eyes.

After letting out a single scream, the Great Artist instantly disappeared among the people.

"...Since they ran away from Petroguard, meeting Yi-Han right away like this would be shameful even for Senior..."

"Ah."

Yi-Han belatedly realized.

Though he hadn't cared much, senior mages had their dignity.

"I hadn't thought of that at all. Indeed, their dignity..."

While thinking about senior mages, Yi-Han felt a strange sense of dissonance.

It felt like he was missing someone.

'What is it?'

However, before resolving that dissonance, the Great Artist appeared again.

With long flowing black hair, and features that replaced the original mask suggesting a noblewoman from an aristocratic family.

If not for the rest of their attire being the same, she might have been mistaken for someone else.

'Ah. I should respect Senior's wishes.'

Yi-Han spoke with the most foolish attitude possible.

"I really don't know who that person is, Professor."

"...No need for such cheap acting since I'm not trying to deceive you."

The artist glared at their junior and spoke.

Sometimes unnecessary consideration could hurt people more.

"Call me Lady Azirmo in this hall..."

Yi-Han wondered why the artist brought one of the most famous dragon names in the empire when there must be many better aliases.

"Is there a reason you chose the name Azirmo?"

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

Satisfied with the question, the artist readily explained.

Though the empire's various races each prided themselves as being the most outstanding, if picking one great race that no race could ignore, it could only be dragons.

The ancient race of the continent born naturally perfect.

"Dragons can choose everything themselves. Their name, gender, color, contractor, even whether to become the skull principal's disciple or not."

'Can't other races choose that last one too?'

Yi-Han thought inwardly but held back, thinking she would get angry if he said it.

"Therefore, when I escaped from that madman's grasp, I borrowed that name with the intent to choose everything myself like a dragon."

Names tend to carry magical power.

For the artist who discarded her old name and chose a new one with the intent to become master of her own fate, the empire's most famous dragon name seemed like a natural choice.

"Indeed I see."

"In a way, it's no exaggeration to say the dragon's name protects me."

"But Senior. One of the paintings you left behind turned into the skull principal from his young prince days."

"..."

The artist staggered far too much for someone protected by a dragon's name. Her complexion had turned as pale as lead.

"Are you alright?"

"Seriously? Are you seriously asking that? What mage could be alright after hearing such words?"

"That's right."

Professor Garcia nodded unconsciously.

No one from Einroguard could remain calm at those words.

To say it so casually like picking up a stone on the road...

"How on earth???"

"I'm not sure... Actually it seems to have turned into a moving painting by chance. When we were practicing."

"When practicing? But I didn't feel any changes then?"

"Because you said you weren't a disciple, he got sulky..."

Yi-Han tried to explain as thoroughly as possible.

Actually, the painting's transformation was so coincidental even the professors had trouble explaining it. There were clear limits to explaining.

But one thing was conveyed clearly.

The fact that the skull principal's painting from his prince days was thoroughly sulking at the artist!

"..."

The artist made an expression like she was about to vomit.

More disgusting than the evil skull principal was a sulking skull principal. It was completely unimaginable.

"Are you alright?"

"No. I feel like my mind is collapsing. I'll need to check my condition after today's auction ends."

"How about meeting him once..."

The artist shook her head at their junior's suggestion.

The shock was already too great. Even she couldn't guess what would happen if they met directly here.

"Just knowing it changed is valuable enough information. I express my thanks."

"But I think meeting would help more."

"Indeed the method seems not wrong."

The artist ignored this and changed the subject.

Though she couldn't grasp exactly what effect magic practice with the school's youngest disciple had, she felt confident the overall direction of her magic wasn't wrong.

If Yi-Han could change a painting to move alive, the artist herself could do it too.

'But I will absolutely not summon such a mage.'

The artist firmly resolved.

Even if she summoned the young skull principal, he should have a suitably dry and cold personality, not the appearance Yi-Han described...

...However, once imagined, the image wouldn't easily leave her mind.

"Ugh. Get out of my head! You evil spirit!"

"..."

When the artist screamed as if suffering from a headache, Yi-Han suddenly became worried.

Should he not have said it?

"Should I have just hidden it?"

"No. You did well telling her. She would have to know someday anyway. Overcoming it is Senior's job."

Professor Garcia was subtly cold.

Though she might worry about disciples, the professor wasn't free enough to worry about narrow-minded seniors too.

"Well then... I'll be going now."

Since he needed to meet the horticulturist club members too, Yi-Han opened his mouth.

Having said everything he needed to tell his senior, he needed to go do his work now.

Hearing those words, the artist emerged from her shock and spoke.

"Wait. Coming here means you're here to participate in auctions. Which auction do you plan to participate in?"

"First I was planning to participate in the horticulturist club auction."

Since other auctions weren't confirmed yet, Yi-Han mentioned what was confirmed.

"Perfect. I was planning to participate too."

The artist spoke as if this worked out well.

She had come after hearing rumors of rare plants appearing, and it seemed her junior had plans too.

"Let's go together."

"Oh."

Yi-Han was bewildered at the sudden words.

Though the Great Artist was certainly a respectable senior, if asked whether he wanted to go together when visiting the horticulturist club, that wasn't it.

He had learned this painfully through experience at Petroguard.

'Nothing good comes from going around with an enchantment mage.'

If something like 'Ah! Aren't you that mage who took my commission and ran away!' came out at the horticulturist club, Yi-Han standing beside the artist would automatically be recognized as 'that shameless mage's junior'.

It would be too harsh an initiation for a new club member.

"Um, Senior. You can't visit the horticulturist club without qualifications..."

"I know. Of course I have them."

Due to previously completing a mansion made of living trees, the artist had received earnest invitations from horticulturist club members.

Naturally they could attend meetings too.

"...Then let's go together..."

Yi-Han moved his feet in a slightly gloomy state.

Should have pretended not to know earlier!

"Yi-Han. Going with Senior?"

"Yes..."

At Professor Garcia's question, Yi-Han sent a slightly hopeful look.

Could the professor be trying to save him from this situation?

"That's great!"

"...?"

Yi-Han wondered for a moment what wrong he had done to Professor Garcia.

"Make sure to get a lot!"

"???"

  *

"What do you need?"

"Everything from here to here."

At the black-haired noblewoman's declaration, the manager made an expression like they might faint.

Not just anyone could buy things before the auction even started by offering a large premium.

Yi-Han wondered inwardly.

'Did they have items they didn't want competition for?'

Instead of meeting the horticulturist club members right away, the Great Artist casually dropped by another auction hall in the building on the way.

-Hmm. This should do.-

Eastern Gatherer Guild Reagent Auction (Large quantity of rare reagents in stock)

Then she made a declaration Yi-Han felt he could never make in his life.

"Did you have something you absolutely needed?"

"No. I just didn't want the hassle of competing by waiting for the auction. Send the purchased reagents to this Einroguard student's mansion."

"...?!!"

Yi-Han was as surprised as the manager.

"Senior. I don't have money to buy... well I do but I don't want to spend it on that."

"You say such absurd things well. Did you think I would force you to buy? Use them when you return to Einroguard. You're still second year, so you can never have too many reagents like these. Hmm. Let's stop there too. You're learning enchantment magic too, right? You'll need consumable gems."

Yi-Han was dragged along unable to come to his senses. He was so shocked he couldn't even point out the nonsensical term 'consumable gems'.

"Everything from here to here, bring it all out."

"B-but someone said they would buy this gem..."

"Call them."

"Pardon?"

"Call them and tell them I'll pay twice their offered price as compensation."

The problem was solved immediately.

Yi-Han felt a thrill similar to when he saw the skull principal casting unique worlds.

Wealth above a certain level produced effects similar to unique worlds.

'...So admirable!'

Only then could Yi-Han understand what Professor Garcia meant.

An enchantment mage who neither ran a school nor meaninglessly squandered wealth was truly an incarnation of immense riches.

He was just endlessly grateful that incarnation was his senior.

"Mage cards. Buy all of these now too."

"Senior. Why mage cards?"

"Hm? Don't you all play with them?"

The artist wondered.

Wasn't second year about the time to play with them?

"...I'll gratefully accept."

Yi-Han decided to just accept them and give them to Gainando.