Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 800

Chapter 800

At that moment, all the members of <Sentinels of Einroguard> who were watching the conversation had the same thought.

...Is this bastard really not the skull principal?

However, Yi-Han wasn't flustered. Hadn't he already received such suspicions several times?

Gonadaltes:How do I know? I'm more interested in and active about the school than you, so of course I'd know.

Eaktus:Like sending students to the punishment room?

Gonadaltes:Eaktus. Stop saying nonsense. If I were really the principal, why would I keep doing this here? I'd just capture you all. Have I ever asked to meet you?

Baqwantallana:A valid point. We must admit we're being overly suspicious because of Gonadaltes's nickname.

The members honestly admitted it.

If the new member's nickname had been something like <Cool 4th Year> instead of Gonadaltes, they probably would have been less suspicious.

However, as long as he had the nickname Gonadaltes, it was inevitable that even ordinary words would feel suspicious.

'Damn it. I'm troubled too.'

'Is he really not the skull principal?'

'What kind of crazy student is he?'

Rationally, everyone knew the skull principal wouldn't do such bothersome things.

There were also a few contradictory circumstances if they assumed the skull principal had infiltrated.

But...

Every Einroguard student felt it to their bones.

The skull principal's madness was something beyond their ability to measure!

What if all this was part of a grand plan the skull principal was drawing, and they were being played?

Who could say there was absolutely no possibility of that?

Gonadaltes:Honorable members of the Sentinels! Shouldn't mages make cool and rational judgments instead of being scared by infinitesimally low possibilities? If we drive each other like this, only distrust will circulate in the club and quality information won't be shared.

Eaktus:You're right... I'm sorry. For saying unnecessary things.

Immortal:That's right. I agree. And there's no way a professor would be here. It's nonsense.

As everyone seemed to have calmed down, Yi-Han drove the final nail.

Gonadaltes:I happened to witness Duke Icaldoren this year. I heard he was caught trying to steal Einroguard's treasures.

Baqwantallana:What about the possibility it was someone else? Even so, to imprison a great noble and duke of the empire in Einroguard.

Immortal:The principal could do it... He could.

Eaktus:I agree too. I don't believe it, but that's why it's more credible. So is Duke Icaldoren participating as a guest? Why?

Immortal:As far as I know, he's spending gold coins as a form of atonement.

'No. Who is this senior?'

Yi-Han was quite surprised by Immortal's information.

The other seniors hadn't noticed, but Yi-Han knew well that information about Duke Icaldoren was quite secret even within Einroguard.

Even if they were a senior who had accidentally seen him imprisoned, as Yi-Han had used as an excuse...

...Could they know the reason for participating as a guest?

'Could this senior be in continuous contact with Duke Icaldoren? It's not impossible.'

Hadn't Yi-Han himself built a friendship with the punishment room management spirit and secretly received a free pass?

Although Einroguard's rules were strict, there were exceptions if one became friendly with the guards.

If this senior had found where Duke Icaldoren was imprisoned and figured out how to approach...

'They're amazing. For someone of the duke's level, even the skull principal would have set up considerable security. How did they approach?'

Eaktus:As a form of atonement...

Baqwantallana:They probably told him to spend money on students as the price of reducing his sentence. Typical of the principal.

Gonadaltes:Thanks for the compliment.

Eaktus:...

Baqwantallana:...

Gonadaltes:It was a joke. Sorry.

Eaktus:Don't make such shitty jokes ever again.

'These seniors with no sense of humor.'

Yi-Han grumbled inwardly.

To react so violently to a joke casually thrown to change the mood...

Baqwantallana:Thanks for the good information. To think the duke is participating.

Immortal:Everyone, as honorable Sentinel members, you won't kidnap the duke or try to persuade him with violent methods, right? Promise me.

Eaktus:Immortal. You don't need to tell us not to kidnap him because we're going to kidnap him anyway.

Immortal:Hey!

Gonadaltes:Is it okay to kidnap him?

Eaktus:What else could it mean for the principal to let him out for a bit?

Einroguard students had outstanding talent in grasping the skull principal's true intentions.

As soon as they heard that Duke Icaldoren was participating as a form of atonement, the members understood it as 'Ah, the principal is allowing us to completely fleece the duke'.

Of course, they couldn't know if that true intention was real...

'Then I can't not do it either.'

Yi-Han made a note not to forget to kidnap Duke Icaldoren too.

He couldn't just let the seniors have all the good things, could he?

  *

"Senior. Is it true that the kitchen club invited people from the capital's baking guild and butchers' guild this time?"

"Puhoo! How did you know that?!"

The large pot-bellied senior, Falcrius, looked around in surprise.

"It's a secret. If other guys find out, they'll try to intercept them before they even reach the 7th floor here!"

"Could I perhaps get some support for my research too?"

"Hmm."

Falcrius, who had been boiling plain water soup while guffawing, seriously pondered the junior's question.

"That... I find it hard to answer too. Extorting, no, receiving gifts of other people's gold coins has always been difficult."

Falcrius, who had been cheerful even when throwing punches and swinging kitchen knives at seniors from other clubs, became very serious when talk of gold coins and support came up.

As a mage, this was a task Falcrius had to carry for life too.

"There were times when I thought I was 100% certain but didn't receive gold coins, and times when I thought I was completely wrong but received gold coins. The psychology of those with gold coins seems too difficult. More difficult than great magic."

"I agree, Senior."

Yi-Han nodded in strong agreement.

Originally, receiving support from others' money as a researcher was truly difficult.

Money was limited, but those wanting to research overflowed, so they had no choice but to fight fiercely among themselves.

"Puhoo. There's only one thing I can tell you. If you sincerely prepare for research..."

"...The people who come will surely understand, right?"

"Huh? No. If you sincerely prepare for research, people won't be interested, so you need to deceive them with flashy tricks."

"...Thank you. I learned something."

"Puhuhu. I'm glad!"

Yi-Han came to his senses at Falcrius's words.

Come to think of it, there was nothing more stupid than trying to use a direct approach on those with gold coins.

'That's right. I need to sell flashiness.'

Yi-Han fell into deep thought.

How could Yi-Han, who was still learning magic with his body without any proper research, display flashy tricks?

Seeing Yi-Han scribbling with his quill pen while sitting at a kitchen club dining table, his same-year friends were puzzled.

"What's Yi-Han doing?"

"He says he's preparing for next week."

"Ah. Club week!"

Gainando's face brightened slightly, then darkened.

It was enjoyable to have guests come from outside, but the club Gainando currently belonged to wasn't the one he wanted.

"Who's coming to your club, Gainando?"

"I heard some famous collector is coming... I don't know. I'm not interested."

"Why aren't you interested? It would be good to get close and receive support for magic research."

"Ugh. I don't want to receive dirty money earned from mage cards..."

"..."

"..."

The Blue Dragon Tower friends exchanged glances. One of them tapped his head with his finger.

'Is he crazy?'

'Leave him be. Wardanaz will take care of him.'

Ignoring Gainando, the friends approached Yi-Han.

"Wardanaz. What are you doing now? Need help?"

"Ah. I was preparing a self-introduction to use as a greeting when outside guests come next week. It's roughly complete, want to listen?"

"Oh...!"

"Self-introductions are important."

The friends nodded.

When meeting someone for the first time, a mage had to introduce who they were. Even more so if there were gold coins to extract from that person.

Which school they belonged to, under whom they learned, what achievements they had...

In the end, imperial people liked numbers.

'I've been researching troll transformation magic skin color changes for a whole month!' doesn't work as well as 'I'm second in the transformation magic school!'

As expected of Wardanaz, he seemed to be preparing already before the weekend even started.

"I am Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family..."

-I want to give bonus points already.-

-But won't the Wardanaz family feel a bit dangerous?-

-It's dangerous, but worth revealing. There will surely be people who rely on the name of a prestigious magic family.-

The friends coldly scored points. Yonaire thought inwardly.

'He didn't usually use the family name much.'

It hurt to see a friend who usually didn't care about the family name immediately bring it out when it came to gold coin-related matters.

It seemed he really intended to use any means necessary.

"I am the top student of Einroguard's 2nd year."

-It's a bit hateful, but I'll give additional points for this too.-

-This is something everyone has to acknowledge.-

The Blue Dragon Tower friends added points with a bit of jealousy.

"Not only that, I am taking all schools at Einroguard."

-Doesn't this feel a bit unrealistic?-

-But there's a lot of evidence for this, so it's fine. And it only feels unrealistic to mages, it will actually work on ordinary people.-

-Indeed.-

"I ranked first in all schools too..."

-...-

-...-

"Last year, I helped with work at Master Puyo's staff workshop, Lady Yoanen Maykin's alchemy workshop, and so on."

-...Maykin. What did you make your friend do? Isn't Lady Yoanen Maykin that person? The one who drove thirteen alchemists mad...-

-I think there's a misunderstanding. First of all, it wasn't thirteen but fourteen, and Yi-Han...-

Yi-Han frowned as his friends talked unnecessarily.

"Can't you focus?"

-S-sorry.-

-We'll focus. Continue.-

"Last year, I faced the following enemies. Rock Drake, King of Frost Giants, King of Ghouls, Basilisk, Sea Serpent, and so on..."

-...-

-Wait. Wait a moment.-

"Yes?"

Yi-Han was puzzled when his friends stopped him.

"Is there a problem?"

"Just now, it was a bit too..."

"...Fantastical? Sounds like a lie? Exaggerated?"

"Th-that's right. It might sound a bit strange."

"But it's all true experiences."

Yi-Han felt slightly wronged.

He hadn't even started exaggerating yet, but to hear such words already.

"W-we believe you, Wardanaz. We believe you!"

"Actually, hearing it summarized does make it hard to believe... Anyway, we mean it might be a bit shocking to outsiders."

When his friends spoke seriously without backing down, Yi-Han wavered.

"Really? Then which parts should I fix?"

"Rock Drake, King of Ghouls, Basilisk, Sea Serpent."

"Just leave those?"

"No. Let's remove all of those. Just the King of Frost Giants alone should be shocking enough."

"..."

Yi-Han made a dissatisfied expression but removed them according to his friends' advice for now.

"Last year, I faced the King of Frost Giants and passed the trial. This is the evidence."

-Good!-

-Concise and excellent!-

"And this year, I met the magic criminal Antagondal, and the mad doppelganger of an ancient great mage..."

-...-

-...-