Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 1012
“Which other friend are you referring to?”
“Pardon?”
Lee Han was flustered. He had not expected to be asked to name the friends specifically.
Indeed, an archmage’s insight was extraordinarily sharp.
“…Senior Diret and Lee Han of House Wardanaz…”
In his confusion, Lee Han made a choice he would never normally make.
He included his own name in the list of friends.
The Death Knight accompanying him felt sorry inside.
Young master. Adding your own name as if you were someone else only makes it feel more pathetic.
“Also… um… Stedal of House Nago.”
-…
The knights could not bear to look at their successor directly and had to turn their heads away.
The current conversation had enough force to make even undead who had lost their flesh feel embarrassed.
Erindarvel showed puzzlement at the unfamiliar name.
“There was such a person? I will have to ask Yukbeltire about this.”
“That mage has a very secretive nature. So she probably didn’t bother mentioning it.”
“That’s strange. Yukbeltire would not act out of respect for someone else’s personality.”
Damn it.
Lee Han cursed the absent senior.
How much trouble had she caused normally that she tormented her junior even when she was not present?
“…Senior has changed just a little.”
“If that is true, it would be truly surprising and joyful news. It might be thanks to her friend’s devotion.”
“I think that’s quite likely as well.”
Lee Han readily agreed.
If not for Senior Diret, that little Verdus might have starved to death or gone missing deep within Einroguard by now.
“An excellent mage should not keep causing trouble for friends.”
“I think so too!”
After answering, Lee Han worried that his reaction might have been too intense.
His voice had come out louder than he had intended without him realizing it.
But it could not be helped.
A chance to scold Senior Little Verdus with the authority of an archmage and mother?
However, Erindarvel did not pay much attention to Lee Han’s reaction. Instead, she raised her silver eyebrows, showing displeasure at her daughter’s behavior.
“I sent a letter, but there has been no change. It is truly regrettable.”
“What did you say?”
“I sent a letter saying that Yukbeltire would not be helpful for the student’s magical research, so abandon her and focus on your own duties.”
“?”
Lee Han tilted his head at the momentary sense of incongruity.
And then he realized it belatedly.
Surprisingly, this archmage had sent the letter to Diret, not Yukbeltire!
“Ah, no. Shouldn’t you have sent it to Senior Yukbeltire?”
“Yukbeltire does not listen even when spoken to, so there is no reason to send her a separate letter.”
“…”
Indeed, not just anyone could become an archmage. Lee Han had no choice but to accept it.
That’s certainly true. Convincing the people around her to avoid her would have a much higher chance of success than persuading Senior Yukbeltire.
“Wait. Then Senior Diret received the letter, so why does Senior Diret continue such trou… I mean, why continue such a friendship?”
Erindarvel let out a small sigh, as if she felt sorry.
“The reply said that one’s friends would be chosen personally.”
“Oh my!”
Lee Han also let out a sigh of regret.
But why?
Maybe the letter was too direct.
Even Lee Han felt that if someone sent him a letter saying, “Don’t be friends with Gainando,” he would reply, “Who are you to say that?” and protect Gainando even more.
Rather, a letter like, “Gainando has secured a month’s worth of snacks but is secretly eating them alone,” would have been much more effective.
“Since Lord Wardanaz also revealed himself as Yukbeltire’s friend…”
“Me!? …Of course I did.”
Lee Han recovered belatedly. Then he suffered.
Damn it. I should have put Moradi instead.
The question had come too suddenly, so his reaction had been delayed.
“…Please be careful not to get caught up with Yukbeltire and have your research disrupted. From a broader perspective, it is a tremendous loss when mages who must take responsibility for the Empire’s future cannot focus entirely on magic.”
Archmage Erindarvel had firm convictions, as most excellent mages did.
Talented mages had to be nurtured and supported so each could bloom.
…And sometimes, when one of those talented mages tried to torment other mages like weeds or poisonous mushrooms, strict isolation was also necessary…
Are her words not a bit too harsh?
Lee Han was slightly surprised by the thought that had just occurred to him.
It seemed he still had some protective feelings left for a fellow senior.
“How is Adenart?”
“Pardon? Ah…”
Lee Han, belatedly remembering that the mage before him was also Adenart’s mother, answered favorably.
“The Imperial Princess is very diligent.”
Indeed, unlike a certain upperclassman, Adenart was among the most diligent students in the Blue Dragon Tower.
“Is that so? From the contents of her letters, it seemed she was constantly forcing you to cook…”
Gasp.
At the sharp observation, Lee Han unconsciously drew in his breath.
He could not count how many times he had grown nervous while dealing with this archmage.
“…Blue Dragon Tower students divide and share tasks among themselves. So you must have misunderstood. Since I’m from the alchemy school, I often handle cooking.”
You also handle gathering, repairs, crafting, cleaning, and so on…
The Death Knight thought to himself.
Strictly speaking, saying he handled cooking because he was from the alchemy school was not a lie.
It was just that the other schools were listening too.
“I see. Adenart has such a small appetite that I was puzzled by the contents of the letters, but if all the other students eat together as well, that makes sense.”
“Yes… yes???”
Lee Han was shocked.
Could there possibly be two Adenarts in Einroguard?
***
“You all worked hard.”
The Skull Principal, who had belatedly shaken off the mages and come out, opened the carriage door and entered.
“Check whether there is any tracking magic, marking magic, parasitic magical creatures, interdimensional beings, or anything else others might have planted.”
The Skull Principal did not trust the mages of magic towers officially recognized by the Empire one bit.
It would not be strange at all if they had secretly planted some means of communication on his disciple’s collar or cloak hem while talking earlier.
-The young master already checked and destroyed them with magic power.
“…I, I see.”
The Principal shuddered inwardly.
Even Professor Garcia had not adapted this quickly.
What a terrifying fellow!
“Still, it is fortunate that you won’t be kidnapped by a magic tower. Let me see…”
The Skull Principal took out a pocket watch and checked the time and date.
“I plan to stay in the capital until next week. Since things ended much earlier than expected, you are free to do whatever you want during the remaining time.”
Although convincing the creditors was finished, he could not simply smile cheerfully and return to Einroguard immediately.
He had to personally explain what had happened to the Emperor and various other figures in the Empire.
The fact that one of the thought-forms that periodically descended upon the continent had permanently ascended was extremely important information.
“Ah. Then…”
“Wait. If you are planning to visit Prince Jowurin, forget it. It would be better to go together after I finish my schedule.”
“?”
When the Skull Principal firmly stopped him, Lee Han looked puzzled.
“Are you worried that His Majesty might get upset with you, Principal, if I go alone first?”
“…Haha. You rascal. You are as clever as giants. That’s right. So let us go together later.”
When his disciple, who had shown such high intelligence while casting magic in front of the magic tower mages, could only come up with such pathetic guesses, the Skull Principal looked at him with pity.
They said prophets originally could not predict their own future, but how could he be like this?
“I did need to buy gifts anyway… Ah. I received this from Lady Erindarvel.”
Lee Han pulled out a rolled-up scroll. The wax seal on it was still unbroken.
“Do you happen to know what this is?”
“I do. Erindarvel must think highly of you. Well, there is no reason not to think highly of you.”
At those words, Lee Han spoke as if he understood.
“She must want me to participate in her magical research.”
“What? No!”
The Skull Principal was dumbfounded by the ridiculous misunderstanding.
“Erindarvel is not that kind of person… Ah. Don’t tell me you’re thinking that because of Yukbeltire?”
“How could that be?”
“Don’t lie.”
“Actually, you’re right.”
“…Erindarvel likes giving gifts to talented mages. It is probably something that will help you.”
“Like participating in her magical research?”
“…”
The Skull Principal’s heart ached at his disciple’s distrust.
But what could he do?
Sometimes parents had to bear their child’s sins together.
“It is your choice not to open it, but if you are curious, go ahead and open it. You will not lose anything.”
When he said that much, Lee Han set aside his suspicions and broke the seal binding the scroll.
Inside were a map of the capital, places to visit, and explanations.
Sending this letter to a dear mage and future successor.
The magic we discussed is currently in progress at the following location.
I have left word in advance, so there should be no particular problem with your participation.
I look forward to your participation and achievements.
Erindarvel
“???”
Lee Han tilted his head at the contents of the scroll.
Seeing this, the Skull Principal asked.
“A banquet? Or an artifact shop? If you’re lucky, it might be the warehouse of a bankrupt noble family.”
Erindarvel usually invited mages to such places and let them take whatever artifacts they wanted.
It was such a generous occasion that even the Skull Principal would want to participate.
“It’s none of those three. It seems to be underground on the outskirts of the capital.”
“She must have discovered a hidden underground warehouse. If possible, try to steal something.”
“It says the magic we discussed is in progress, but I don’t remember discussing anything…”
“Right. Right. That would be the case. Go and discuss it, and the memory will come back to you.”
The Skull Principal did not listen carefully.
His disciple’s track record was already too spectacular.
There was a very high possibility that he simply did not even think of it as magic.
“She calls me a successor, but isn’t something wrong?”
“It is probably because those knight fellows forgot about chivalry and ran their mouths carelessly.”
At the Skull Principal’s words, the Death Knights averted their gazes once again.
“I will say this one last time, but Erindarvel is not a mage like Yukbeltire, who forces others to participate in research. You do not have to go if you do not feel like it, but don’t regret it later when you see the Imperial Newspaper.”
“I’ll go right away.”
Lee Han made his decision immediately.
If he later saw an article in the Imperial Newspaper like 【Hidden Ancient Warehouse Discovered Underground on Capital Outskirts】, he felt he would not be able to bear the agony.
***
Jinnon, who was considered the next successor of the Green Jade Magic Tower, received a letter from the archmage and fell into contemplation, unable to understand it.
“What’s wrong?”
“Ah. I received a letter from Lady Erindarvel, but I can’t understand it.”
Sending this letter to a dear mage and future successor.
Artifacts suitable for Einroguard students are being distributed at the following location.
I hope this can serve as some compensation for the trouble Yukbeltire has caused.
Thank you once again.
Erindarvel
“What does this mean? Artifacts suitable for Einroguard students.”
“It probably means they’re that good, don’t you think?”
“What about the trouble Princess Yukbeltire caused?”
“She must be referring to when she robbed the reagents that the Green Jade Magic Tower had purchased first last time.”
Is that it?
