Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 1052
“No. I’m saying the right thing.”
The Skull Principal was dumbfounded by the way his disciple was siding with her like a true dragon’s contractor.
“You’re spouting nonsense that only sounds reasonable. There are over a hundred safe places in the Empire, so why specifically Einroguard?”
“There are many mages, the Imperial Mage Marshal is there, and it starts with ‘E.’”
“Then we should send her to Erindarvel’s manor.”
“But you won’t be there, Principal.”
The Skull Principal swung his staff to strike his annoying disciple, but Lee Han had already predicted this and put distance between them.
Teaching an excellent disciple was a master’s joy, but sometimes, when that disciple was too excellent, that joy turned into anger.
The Skull Principal controlled his emotions and said,
“Fine. It doesn’t matter even if you insist.”
“?”
“His Majesty won’t allow it.”
Originally, the Emperor was not keen on sending Jowrin to Einroguard. He judged that it would interfere with the Einroguard students’ education.
“It doesn’t really seem like…”
“Be quiet.”
Certainly, Jowrin, as both a dragon and a member of the Imperial Family, could disrupt Einroguard’s diligent and sincere atmosphere.
Moreover, had Jowrin not used deception last semester that would go down in Imperial history?
“If His Majesty refuses, we’ll have to move her somewhere else. The Imperial Palace would be good. You try persuading her.”
“Does she dislike going to the Imperial Palace?”
Lee Han was puzzled.
If going to Einroguard was rejected, the Imperial Palace seemed like the best option.
It was in the same capital, so the distance was short. There were powerful allies and support forces there, and most importantly, her family was there.
“Of course she’d hate going there. If she went there, all she’d do is study.”
The Emperor absolutely would not tolerate his children acting recklessly or tyrannically, even if they were his own children.
Currently, the Imperial Palace in the capital was like the heart of Imperial administration, with countless bureaucrats coming and going.
In a place like that, if she simply opened any room and said, “Let’s play with Jowrin!” she would inevitably receive a severe scolding.
The only books available to read were ancient texts and administrative reports, and the only thing to do was enjoyable document analysis with the bureaucrats…
No wonder she’d hate going there.
“If I send her to a place like that, she’ll probably resent me later. Isn’t there somewhere more enjoyable?”
“You’re talking nonsense. There is nothing good about letting His Majesty come into contact with the Empire’s ambitious people.”
The Skull Principal spoke seriously.
Even the Emperor’s children who were not of pure blood had ambitious people flocking to them like this, so in Jowrin’s case, it went without saying.
“And this is advice for you too. If His Majesty becomes widely known, who do you think people will target?”
“You, Principal?”
“…Did you make the contract, or did I?”
The Skull Principal restrained the urge to punch his disciple and explained. Only then did Lee Han realize.
Oh right. That’s certainly true.
In terms of fame alone, Lee Han had thought people would flock to the Skull Principal, since the Skull Principal was so famous. But thinking about it, Lee Han was the contractor.
If they wanted to draw Jowrin into their faction, they were more likely to contact Lee Han himself than the Skull Principal.
“Hmm. But still, forcibly sending her somewhere boring is a bit…”
As he spoke, a paper bird flew over. It was a reply to the message sent to the Emperor.
The Skull Principal unfolded the letter and showed it to Jowrin.
“Look here, Your Majesty. His Majesty says it’s not allowed…”
?
“?”
—?
Everyone nearby was puzzled. Jowrin blinked and asked,
Doesn’t it say it’s allowed?
Surprisingly, permission was written on the letter in elegant handwriting. The Skull Principal’s smooth face crumpled like paper.
“…His Majesty must have lost his mind.”
“Principal. Your inner thoughts are leaking out.”
“They’re not inner thoughts.”
“…”
Usually, the Skull Principal showed respect toward the Emperor, since the Emperor had brought him in, but this time was different.
Why on earth would he allow her to be sent to Einroguard?
“Couldn’t it be because Student Lee Han is there?”
Professor Garcia cautiously offered an opinion.
Recently, Jowrin had been growing mentally at a rapid pace.
With even a contractor present, would she not interfere with the Einroguard students that much?
“No. His Majesty would surely have considered Wardanaz too.”
The Skull Principal disagreed.
Of course, the fact that Jowrin was becoming smarter was something the Skull Principal also acknowledged.
With her contractor present, she would not cause any major incidents.
But it placed quite a burden on the contractor who had to look after Jowrin.
The Emperor was not someone who would sacrifice a student for his child’s enjoyment.
Not even a single one.
“What if His Majesty thought that level of burden wouldn’t be much of a burden, given Student Lee Han’s abilities?”
“…Professor…”
Lee Han was incredulous.
What kind of ridiculous speculation was that?
“It sounds plausible, but His Majesty doesn’t seem like the sort to do that. Strange. There’s something I don’t know…”
The Skull Principal pondered with a serious expression. He looked several times more serious than he had when discussing the evil god cult that had appeared earlier.
No. Is Jowrin going to Einroguard really something to worry about this seriously?
Regardless, Jowrin flapped her wings excitedly.
Exciting! Going to Einroguard!
“It’s not over yet, Your Majesty. I’ll go directly to His Majesty and confirm.”
The Skull Principal stubbornly persisted.
He wondered if there might be some trick in the letter, like last time.
Of course, Jowrin did not care at all.
Einroguard!! Isn’t Lee Han excited too?!
“Yes, yes.”
Wow! Einroguard!
“Your Majesty. Please don’t pull the chain. Your Majesty?”
Jowrin excitedly grabbed the chain connected to Lee Han’s still-unlocked handcuffs and walked forward.
Seeing that terrible sight, Professor Garcia firmly resolved to confiscate the handcuffs immediately once they were unlocked.
***
The bizarre mansion in the capital that had recently been transferred to the boy from House Wardanaz.
Originally, it had been a place where not a soul stirred and only the sounds of ghosts and evil spirits could be heard, but now it was different.
A lively bustle from the work of various mages flowed throughout the entire mansion.
“Is the repair of the end room on the second floor finished?”
“The water isn’t coming out. There seems to be a mistake in the connection.”
“Can’t we just use magic to summon water whenever we need it?”
“Are you crazy? Hanging around with Wardanaz must have driven you insane. Do you want to collapse from exhaustion making water?”
“…Just connect it. Just connect it!”
As the White Tiger Tower student grumbled and went downstairs, Salco looked around the mansion building from outside with a pleased expression.
The building, which had been so bizarre at first, was gradually regaining a more decent appearance.
After finishing the repair of the end room on the second floor, I need to repaint beside the chimney. That looks like traces of magical contamination, so should I make a new potion…
“Tutanta. Have you heard about this metallurgy workshop nearby? Would it be all right to take on a commission there?”
“The pay there isn’t very good. The nearby carpentry guild would be better.”
“Oh no. I was hoping to handle commissions here during the second semester too…”
“Granden City would be better. Places closer in distance would naturally be more advantageous.”
Commissions coming into Einroguard were broadly divided into two types.
One was commissions where outsiders visited directly, entrusted tasks to students, and came back to collect them. Mainly crafting or analysis requests fell into this category.
The other was commissions where Einroguard students had to go out directly to find them. Usually, search or subjugation requests fell into this type.
Naturally, there were far more of the former. Shrewd students were already trying to secure such commissions in advance.
“That’s true. Since the guilds in Granden City are close, they’d probably entrust us with work more often?”
“That’s right.”
“But if they’re guilds in Granden City, wouldn’t they entrust the work to Wardanaz?”
“…”
Salco flinched at the unexpected observation.
And it sounded quite plausible.
…Is that so?!
Granden City, which was close to Einroguard, was already in a state where rumors about Lee Han had spread far and wide.
“What nonsense are you talking about? Does Wardanaz have a hundred bodies or something? How would he take all of that on?”
Asan, who was passing by, spoke as if the idea was ridiculous.
Hearing that, Salco came to Salco’s senses. Certainly, thinking about it, it was nonsense.
I can’t believe I stupidly fell for what that White Tiger Tower guy said!
“But Wardanaz takes classes from every school. Then couldn’t he take on every commission too…”
“…”
“…”
Salco and Asan could not accept the fact that a mere White Tiger Tower student had left them speechless.
How could this be?
“I’m back.”
Fortunately, Lee Han came to their rescue.
Having finished his outing and returned, Lee Han opened the main gate and entered.
“Wardanaz!”
“Wow. You fixed all of this? That’s amazing.”
Lee Han was greatly surprised by the exterior of the villa manor, which had changed again in the meantime.
He had not expected the repairs to be completed this quickly.
…Wait. Do I need to pay wages?
He wondered if it was all right to simply let it slide when his friends had worked so hard.
How much should I pay? Surely the standard rate is…
“…Ahhh!!!”
When Asan screamed, Lee Han was startled.
Had his shabby inner thoughts about trying to save on wages somehow been exposed?
“Th-there…! Over there! Wardanaz!”
“Ah.”
Lee Han understood why his friend had screamed.
Jowrin, in human form, had followed behind with Professor Garcia and now revealed herself.
“I understand you’re surprised. When I visited the manor, she said she wanted to come play.”
“Not that! Behind her!”
Asan shouted in frustration.
Asan had not screamed because he was surprised by Jowrin.
Of course, he was surprised, but since he had already met her last semester, he was not that shocked.
The reason Asan was surprised was right behind her.
The Principal of Einroguard, in skeleton form, was floating in.
“Ah. The Principal? I met him at the manor and we came together.”
“…There are other things you could come together with…!”
Asan shuddered.
Seeing his friend speak so casually, as if he had picked up a pebble on the roadside, made him want to grab Lee Han by the collar.
Even if it’s Wardanaz, isn’t this crazy?!
“Ahhh!”
“Kyaaah!”
“Kyaaaah!”
Friends who belatedly discovered the skeleton burst into screams from various parts of the manor.
This was the worst opponent they could possibly see in this villa.
I thought there would be nothing enjoyable today, but I was wrong. All the idiots of the Empire are gathered here.
The Skull Principal thought that quite a lot of them had gathered and sneered.
Einroguard students were like grains of sand, so it was very rare to see them clustered together like this.
Where is Professor Voladi?
“Professor Voladi went out for a moment.”
Where to?
“Uh… I think Professor Voladi said something about going to get new wanted posters, since they had all run out.”
…
The Skull Principal inwardly sighed at the sight of the professor who had left the post in the meantime.
What an annoyingly diligent disciple.
Follow Professor Voladi. Wardanaz.
“Me? You mean me?”
…Have you already forgotten what you said earlier? Then who should follow? Should that blockhead follow?
When the Skull Principal pointed at Gainando, Gainando grumbled.
“I’m not a blockhead anymore.”
“If I suddenly follow Professor Bagreg now, even Professor Bagreg would find it suspicious…”
?
“?”
The Skull Principal and Gainando simultaneously looked puzzled.
What would Professor Bagreg find suspicious?
“What would Professor Bagreg find suspicious, Lee Han?”
“…Well, if I suddenly show interest in bounty hunting, I think Professor Bagreg would find it suspicious…”
The Skull Principal and Gainando burst into laughter at the same time.
Lee Han glared at Gainando with a gaze full of betrayal.
