Chapter 1262

“Your Highness. Your Highness.”

Flustered, Lee Han first went to stop Jowrin.

How could she just accept something like that?

“We aren't Senior Yukbeltire. We might fail.”

Although Yukbeltire's position in Lee Han's mind had come to occupy a place similar to Professor Verdus, he could not deny her magical ability as well.

If the commission required even a single spell that only Yukbeltire could cast, it would fail immediately.

But Jowrin answered confidently without the slightest change in expression.

“Jowrin knows that as well.”

“???”

“Even if it fails, neither Jowrin nor Lee Han will lose anything! This is Yukbeltire's responsibility!”

“......”

Had he really filled her with too much confidence?

Seeing Jowrin come up with the sort of idea only an Einroguard student would have, Lee Han unconsciously glanced around.

For some reason, he felt as though the dragons' court was flickering before his mind's eye.

“Mm! And if we succeed, Lee Han can even seize the payment.”

Jowrin felt proud of the perfect plan she had devised herself. The dragon did not notice in the slightest that her contractor was shuddering.

“...What was the commission?”

Suppressing a sigh, Lee Han asked the noble for the details so he could at least get the situation under control.

The noble in the thick coat had been anxiously watching the two whisper to each other, and only then let out a sigh of relief.

Geniuses were eccentric by nature.

And since Yukbeltire was a mage who had inherited the magical lineage of her master, she had inherited a similar degree of eccentricity as well.

No one dared say such a thing to her directly, since doing so might result in being immediately sued in an Imperial court (and there had, in fact, been precedents), but it was an undeniable fact.

That was why, even after saying she would accept a commission, there was always a chance she might immediately reverse herself and refuse it.

'Phew. It seems she's going to accept it.'

“You agreed to create an artifact in Your Highness's name. If you look here...”

When Lee Han saw the name of the workshop the noble presented, its facilities, and the composition of the mages affiliated with it, his memory returned.

This was definitely a commission Senior Yukbeltire had brought and shown him near the beginning of the semester.

“Lee H... no, Stedal. There is something strange about this commission.”

Jowrin tilted her head.

After spending time with the Einroguard students, Jowrin had seen all manner of different commission proposals.

Subduing rampaging spirits, obtaining monster eggs, purifying cursed artifacts, analyzing and measuring anomalies, and so on.

The commissions all had various individual characteristics, but their objectives were clear.

This proposal, however, was strange.

...Please freely create an artifact that will bring glory to Your Highness's name...

They had gone to the trouble of inviting a mage like Yukbeltire, yet were telling her to freely make an artifact without even a single requirement.

By Jowrin's common sense, it was an extremely strange proposal.

“Could it be a trap?!”

“It isn't a trap. It's closer to a commission for building connections.”

Yukbeltire could freely create an artifact while even receiving payment for it, while the other party gained the prestige of possessing an artifact made for them by Yukbeltire.

The noble standing before them now was not the actual client, but merely a messenger who had come to convey the communication.

In the first place, unless it was a house influential enough to use a lower noble as a messenger, it could not afford to commission something so expensive and extravagant.

'House Markang. Are they a great noble house?'

It was a great noble house Lee Han had heard mentioned several times, famous for the floriculture business in the southern Empire. Lee Han tended to remember houses that frequently appeared in the economic section of the Imperial newspapers.

“Ah! Lee Han's name is here too.”

Jowrin was surprised when she saw the names written in the commission proposal.

It contained not only Yukbeltire's name, but Lee Han's as well.

The noble in the coat spoke in a voice full of regret.

“Unfortunately, I don't think it will be possible to invite Wardanaz as well. From what I've heard, he has been so busy with work that he hasn't been able to leave Einroguard.”

“......”

“......”

More precisely, it was not because he was busy with work, but because he had been locked in the punishment area, but the two quietly kept their mouths shut.

Words spoken by day could be heard by Professor Garcia transformed into a bird, and words spoken by night could be heard by Professor Garcia commanding mice.

They could not afford to act suspiciously for no reason.

“It truly is regrettable. I had already thought him an extraordinary talent, but after this expedition as well...”

From the beginning, the plan had been to select the two most famous and promising talents in Einroguard's enchantment magic school and entrust them with the commission, but in the meantime Lee Han's reputation had multiplied several times over because of the expedition against the evil god, so naturally it was impossible not to regret his absence.

How wonderful would it have been if they could invite both of them and receive an artifact?

Jowrin suddenly grew curious and said,

“It seems your side would have expected more from Lee Han than Yukbeltire.”

“W-what... Your Highness! No! Absolutely not!”

The noble in the thick coat practically jumped.

He was terrified that the arrogant and cold Imperial princess might take offense for no reason and cancel the commission.

Of course, Yukbeltire's observation had been sharp. Both Yukbeltire and Wardanaz were extraordinary talents, but if one had to choose between them, naturally it would be the latter.

What House Markang truly wanted right now was not magical ability, but fame.

But the noble was not foolish enough to say that honestly.

“Your Highness. Your Highness is a fifth-year student. Your position is practically not far removed from that of Einroguard's professors, and the magic and works you have presented thus far have illuminated the Empire with the brilliant light of intellect! In comparison, Wardanaz may have luckily accumulated several achievements, but he is still only a second-year student. If I may be so bold, he could be called a novice.”

The noble quickly began flattering Yukbeltire because it seemed she was feeling competitive toward her junior.

Otherwise, why would she say something like, “It seems your side would have expected more from Lee Han”?

Jowrin reacted immediately to the flattery.

“You!”

When the noble disparaged her contractor, the enraged dragon prepared Jowrin's strike.

Lee Han hurriedly rushed over and grabbed Jowrin. The noble panicked and floundered.

“Haha. Lady Yukbeltire cares very deeply for her junior... very deeply. It would be best to refrain from saying such things.”

Even as Lee Han spoke, the lie was so absurd that it made him feel nauseous, but he forced himself to endure it.

The noble in the coat turned pale, apologized, and left. Lee Han let out a sigh of relief.

'Strange. I feel like this is more exhausting than working on dozens of magic circles.'

“Jowrin wishes to know that noble's name.”

Jowrin stared piercingly at the departing noble's back. Lee Han felt he knew exactly what she intended to do without even having to ask.

“...Your Highness. Revenge produces nothing.”

“But Lee Han definitely said last time that revenge is best carried out quickly before you forget...”

“Now! Let's think about the artifact together.”

Lee Han changed the subject. Fortunately, Jowrin did not become suspicious. Making an artifact looked quite fun.

“Making an artifact seems very difficult.”

“There is a bit of a prejudice like that. But in truth, artifact creation is... hm. Now that I think about it, it really is difficult.”

Lee Han, who had been about to reassure her thoughtlessly the way he did with his friends, quickly reflected on himself.

No matter what, he could not lie in a situation like this.

“But with Your Highness's talent, I'm sure you'll be able to do the work of one person just fine. We aren't planning to make a particularly difficult artifact in the first place.”

This commission required several conditions.

It could not be too difficult. Since Jowrin would be making it with him, she might end up being left out.

It could not take too long. Since they needed to return before Professor Garcia, they had to finish it during this festival.

And if possible, there was also the condition that they should not ruin Senior Yukbeltire's reputation...

'Hm. That seems impossible. I'll just give up on it.'

Lee Han cleanly abandoned the last of the three conditions. He was not confident he could manage even that on top of everything else.

Senior Yukbeltire must have made dozens of artifacts by now. Surely it would be fine if just one of them was a mediocre work!

“The workshop is located in the capital, so I'll tell them to bring the mages and reagents over here.”

“Ah. We aren't going there to make it?”

“His Highness Uman is working hard to help with the festival, so we can't leave. They'll probably be short on hands.”

“......”

Jowrin became dejected upon realizing she had missed the opportunity to leave this oak hill and go play in the streets of the capital.

Because of her younger brother!

“First, let's decide on the shape. Your Highness.”

“Jowrin does not really know where to begin...”

“That's all right. They said we could make whatever we wanted anyway.”

Lee Han encouraged Jowrin.

Now that things had turned out this way, he intended to use this commission as an opportunity to teach Jowrin the joy of magic.

“Now. Watch.”

With delicate telekinetic force, nearby soil was carved into the shape of a dragon.

Jowrin was delighted by the majestic dragon, then suddenly paused.

“That is not Jowrin.”

“...That's His Majesty. Isn't it impressive?”

“Yes. But it is not Jowrin.”

Jowrin stared at him.

Feeling the pressure, Lee Han quickly collapsed the dragon and made another one. This time, its form closely resembled Jowrin's true body.

“There is absolutely nothing wrong with making a statue or decorative object like this the form of the artifact. Freely choose whatever shape you like.”

“!”

Having discovered the joy of artifact creation, Jowrin looked excited as all sorts of creative ideas came to mind.

“Jowrin has an idea!”

“Tell me.”

“Jowrin shall make an artifact depicting Lee Han riding Jowrin while fighting against the evil god!”

“...Anything but that!”

Horrified, Lee Han stopped Jowrin.

For one thing, it distorted the facts (Jowrin had not been there), and this was an artifact meant to be given to another noble house. If the artifact took the form of Lee Han riding a dragon, what would people who saw it say?

-The form of the artifact displayed in that exhibition room is remarkable. Is that perhaps a mage of House Wardanaz? Why is he riding a dragon?

-Surely he couldn't have formed a contract with a dragon... ...Did he actually make a contract? There was a dragon's contractor??

Just imagining it was horrifying. At Lee Han's request, Jowrin looked extremely disappointed.

“If we made it well, Jowrin could have tricked the bards into believing Jowrin was there too...”

'You were thinking that!?'

Lee Han was horrified by the absurd idea.

He had the growing feeling that Jowrin's thoughts were increasingly straying beyond his predictions.

After thinking for a while, Jowrin compromised by removing Lee Han and keeping the rest of the design. In other words, it became a statue artifact in the shape of a dragon.

“Well done.”

“But this is only the frame. The important magic inside is completely empty...”

“We can fill in the magic one by one now. Think about what kind of magic you want. Statues usually have spells related to protection, purification, vigilance, or repair.”

Since magical statues were usually installed in mansions, they were often equipped with magic that protected or purified the surrounding area.

Lee Han was confident he could draw in spells of that level in an instant.

'At most, they'd probably be fourth-circle or below, so that's easy enough.'

The moment he thought that, Lee Han was horrified by his own sense of scale.

How had fourth-circle magic become something he could take this lightly?!

“Lee Han?”

“H-haha. It's nothing. I'll go around the other areas for a bit and help with the work, so while I'm gone, think about what magic you want to put into it. If someone speaks to you, don't answer at length. Just act as arrogantly and rudely as possible and say only what you want to say. That should make you roughly similar.”

“......”

-......

After asking the noble from earlier to bring the workshop's reagents, equipment, and mages over here, Lee Han headed off to help the others.

Left alone with the baby basilisk, Jowrin quietly asked,

“It seems Lee Han dislikes Yukbeltire.”

-She does torment Master quite a lot.

“Th-then why did you just stand by and do nothing?!”

Jowrin stared at the baby basilisk in great surprise.

She should have immediately told a professor or the Skull Principal!

-...Those people torment Master too...

“......”