"May I receive your teachings again, as I did before? The examination is approaching, and I wish to be prepared," the student said, casually overlooking the significance of the name just mentioned. This left Baldoorn speechless.
He had intended to let it pass, but this was something he could not ignore.
"What did you just say?" Baldoorn inquired.
"I said I want to learn from you..."
"No, no, before that! You mentioned meeting a certain illusionist, didn't you?"
"It was Ogonin. But, Mr. Baldoorn, that's hardly important right now."
'How can that not be important!'
Baldoorn screamed internally.
Anyone in the Empire familiar with illusion magic would recognize the name Ogonin. He was renowned for creating highly refined, jewel-like masterpieces of illusion magic, and his grimoires were revered like scripture by young illusionists. Baldoorn had even invested his entire fortune to acquire a copy of Ogonin's grimoire.
If he could obtain even one spell being developed by the group of illusionists led by Ogonin, the Dream Mirage, Baldoorn would willingly sell his soul.
'Wait. Could it be someone with the same name? An impostor, perhaps.'
Baldoorn's mind raced.
It was unlikely that a freshman could survive an encounter with an illusionist like Ogonin. It must be a namesake or an imposter, or perhaps a misunderstanding!
"What magic did he use? Do you remember any spells?"
Baldoorn asked urgently, to which Asan expressed slight admiration.
"Your focus on magic first is truly remarkable."
"Yeah, it shows you're really serious about magic."
Ignoring the freshmen's murmurs, Baldoorn focused solely on Yi-Han.
"The spell was something like, 'May the illusion of another consume you!' or 'I shall dominate your mind!' It seemed like that."
Baldoorn's mouth fell open in disbelief.
'Impossible!'
Just hearing the spells, Baldoorn immediately recognized the nature of the magic. These specific spells were not something a freshman could fabricate. They were high-level illusion spells, powerful beyond Baldoorn's own daring.
'How on earth... How could he have met Mage Ogonin?'
While Baldoorn was in a state of panic, Yi-Han repeated his request.
"Mr. Baldoorn, if it's alright, may I ask for your teachings once more?"
"...Uh... Yes? Yes!"
"Thank you! Everyone, rejoice. He has agreed."
"Yes??"
Baldoorn, stunned and out of sorts, belatedly regained his senses.
The freshmen were clapping their hands in joy.
"Thank you!"
"No... no... I... I'm not qualified to teach anyone!"
How could he possibly teach a freshman who had bested Ogonin?
Baldoorn's face turned pale.
Then Asan expressed admiration again.
"So modest too..."
"He's different from the other professors, isn't he?"
"Right? Exceptional people are just different."
'I'm going mad.'
Baldoorn wanted to flee, but the freshmen of the Blue Dragon wouldn't let him go.
In the end, Baldoorn had no choice but to be dragged away like a prisoner being led to the gallows.
"...Never say you learned it from me."
"I wish our professors would learn from Mr. Baldoorn too!"
'I really shouldn't hit him, right?'
Baldoorn thought to himself as he looked at the endlessly chattering Gainando.
"Indeed..."
"Thank you. You've cleared up my confusion."
In the cafe, the Blue Dragon students each ordered a cup of chocolate and bombarded Baldoorn with various questions.
Baldoorn answered desperately, fighting for survival.
The students couldn't help but be satisfied with his earnest efforts.
'Ah, this person truly knows how to teach well!'
"I won't forget what I learned today."
"I'll make sure to review it when I return."
"Tha... That's really good..."
'Please, let me leave soon...'
Baldoorn's voice was already half-drained, a result of his intense nervousness.
Who would have thought he'd end up teaching illusion magic to the freshmen of Einroguard...
'Are the professors going to come out and kill me?'
While sipping his cup and organizing what he had learned, Yi-Han saw someone passing by and shouted.
"Priestess Tijiling!"
"!"
The priests of the Immortal Phoenix, walking by, paused at the sight of the students from the Blue Dragon inside the cafe.
"Where is everyone heading?"
"We're going to pay our respects at our respective temples..."
Unlike students from other towers, those from the Immortal Phoenix weren't bothered by the lack of money. They mostly didn't intend to spend any, as they could stay at their Order's temple in the town.
"But since you're out, why not have a drink? Come on, sit down."
Yi-Han led the Immortal Phoenix priests into the cafe.
He then smoothly ordered a succession of desserts and drinks.
By the time the priests realized what was happening, freshly baked cheesecake and hot chocolate were already served at the cafe table.
"There's no need to treat us like this..."
One of the priests said in a very apologetic voice. Yi-Han waved it off as if it were nothing.
"Treating friends is my pleasure."
Yi-Han didn't explicitly say, 'Speak well of me at your Order.' The priests, being kind, would do more than what they had received in return for the meal.
"And this is just tea or coffee. I understand they are often drunk at temples to stay awake."
The priests responded to Yi-Han's comment as if it were absurd.
"Tea and coffee are different from such precious desserts. Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family."
"That's right. We appreciate it, but such desserts are different from tea or coffee. Eating them often could be criticized as extravagant and wasteful."
"..."
Priestess Tijiling, eating cake beside them, flinched and then looked at Yi-Han. Yi-Han ignored her.
"But who is this person?"
Before Yi-Han could answer, Asan and Gainando excitedly spoke up.
"This is Mr. Baldoorn, a master of illusion magic..."
"No, I'm not! I'm not!!"
"Modest and intellectual."
"I'm not..."
"Could we also receive your teachings?"
"..."
Under the hopeful gazes of the gathered students, Baldoorn couldn't bring himself to refuse.
'Why did I even go out today...'
One hour later.
"Thank you!"
"I had many concerns about learning illusion magic, but..."
"You really mustn't say you learned from me... Really...!"
"Don't worry, Mr. Baldoorn. We will honor your wishes."
As the priests finished their questions, Yi-Han, who had finished tidying up, spoke.
"Mr. Baldoorn, by the way, where were you headed today?"
"I was going to buy some dinner and get a useful artifact from a workshop..."
Baldoorn, who had spoken without much thought, realized he had made a mistake.
The first-year students were all listening with intense interest.
"May we visit as well?"
"..."
'I should have just said I was going home...'
Baldoorn felt like crying.
…
"...None."
"..."
The White Tiger students were the last to grasp the situation.
Realizing the harsh reality that not a single family estate was left, the students from the White Tiger trembled with shock and anger.
"Why has it come to this...!"
"Have they gone mad?!"
"Why insult knights to such an extent! We'll see after graduation! Really!"
In front of the trembling White Tiger students, the Black Tortoise students appeared.
Surprisingly, each student from the Black Tortoise was holding a large lollipop, a luxurious symbol of wealth.
"What...?!"
"Tsk tsk. Looks like they couldn't get any money."
Bandur, one of Salko's gang, clicked his tongue in a pitying manner. The eyebrows of the White Tiger students raised.
"The high prestige of families... the shining honor... What use are these without money. Ha ha ha!"
"This guy?!"
"Hold back. We're in the town."
Friends stopped a White Tiger student who was about to react.
Anglago asked in disbelief.
"Where did you get the money? You didn't steal it, did you?"
"What? Steal? As always, White Tiger guys can only think that way."
The Black Tortoise students looked offended.
How dare they suspect theft first.
"We got our money through legitimate and honorable trade."
"Trade?! How!?"
"Why should I tell you? Even if I did, you wouldn't be able to do it."
Bandur spoke with a voice full of pride.
The Black Tortoise students were known for operating a black market within the academy and for being adept at finding discarded artifacts.
Bandur had exchanged these artifacts for money. Even damaged and incomplete artifacts were valuable outside.
"This... profit."
"Don't fall for it. It's a useless provocation."
Jijel realized arguing further would only please the opponent. There was no need to respond to such provocation.
Someday, they would get their revenge.
"Should we borrow money using our family's name?"
"Anglago. Hold back. That's what beggars do...!"
Meanwhile, the group of freshmen surrounding Baldoorn appeared on the opposite side of the street.
"!"
"Are those from the Blue Dragon... and the Immortal Phoenix priests?"
Bandur was pleased to see the group of freshmen.
Even if Wardanaz was the top of their year, he wouldn't have managed to get money like Bandur and his friends.
That was something the high nobility couldn't do.
"Wardanaz! Need money?! I can lend you some!"
"No, I'm good. I have plenty."
"...?!"
Bandur was taken aback.
Looking closely, he saw that Yi-Han and the other students were also holding lollipops, each twice as big as those of the Black Tortoise students.
Gainando looked at the candy in Bandur's hand, then at his own, and smirked. Bandur felt very annoyed.
"How did you...?"
"Where did you get it?"
Responding to Yi-Han's question, Bandur answered meekly.
"We, we exchanged artifacts we found before."
"Which shop did you exchange them at?"
"At the <Dancing Rat of Yurang> shop..."
"Ah, you suffered a loss there. Don't exchange at that place next time. I've heard they buy artifacts a bit cheaply. There are better places than that..."
Bandur was captivated by Yi-Han's words.
Yi-Han's voice held a savvy that resembled that of a guild member who had roamed this town for a long time.
"...Got it?"
"I get it, thanks. ...But how do you know all this?"
"I looked into it when I was planning to exchange artifacts myself."
"..."
'I've lost!'
Bandur had never felt this way before, not even when Yi-Han was praised as the top student of their year, nor when he displayed magic that other students couldn't replicate.
Deep inside, Bandur had to admit to himself.
'I've been bested...!'
"But who is this person?"
Yi-Han's friends answered first.
"The greatest illusionist."
"A master of illusion magic."
"And he said he would show us to the artifact shop."
'I never said that...'
