Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 1003

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 1003

 

“Are there no creditors who didn’t threaten roughly?”

 

“There are a few who threatened gently though.”

 

“…Are there no creditors who didn’t threaten at all?”

 

The Skeleton Principal slowly shrugged his shoulders at those words.

 

“Your magic has improved a lot, but you’re still asking stupid questions. In that situation, who would willingly hand over gold and cooperate?”

 

The Empire people weren’t fools. No matter how much the Skeleton Principal was the Emperor’s Marryongwan and guardian of the magical barrier protecting the Empire, they wouldn’t just offer up gold.

 

Especially when the Skeleton Principal’s projection appeared in Einrogard territory with the purpose of permanently confining this projection to another dimension instead of reverse-summoning it, it was hard to gain support.

 

It would be easier to find people wanting to invest in Professor Verdus’s new artifacts…

 

“That’s ridiculous! How could!”

 

“It’s true. Beeble, regardless of his character, is a highly renowned artifact craftsman in the Empire. For those who want masterpieces, what does it matter if the craftsman’s personality is eccentric? If anything, it only increases their value.”

 

“Gah! These stupid people!”

 

When his disciple became angry at the foolishness of the Empire people, the Skeleton Principal was satisfied for once.

 

Any outstanding mage was bound to feel indignation toward the Empire people.

 

Right now, the Wardanaz Family Boy was passing through a path he rightfully had to traverse.

 

“I’ll create printing type and spread books. Warning people not to be deceived by Professor Verdus!”

 

“…Do that later on your own, but for now let’s think about the creditors first.”

 

“Ah. Right.”

 

Lee Han returned to his senses.

 

‘Hmm. I wonder if there’s some way with the noble families.’

 

Why else would the term ‘school connections’ exist?

 

Fortunately, Einrogard had various students from noble families who were on friendly terms with Lee Han.

 

Of course, these families had refused the Skeleton Principal’s request.

 

But Lee Han felt he would have done the same.

 

‘I probably would have refused such a request too.’

 

If the Skeleton Principal, who usually made suspicious requests for sponsorship and investment, came flying over asking for gold coins to permanently confine a projection, Lee Han would have felt reluctant too.

 

But what he was trying to do now wasn’t requesting additional gold coins, but extending the deadline.

 

It was a much more persuasive situation.

 

…Though the Skeleton Principal had threatened roughly…

 

“I’m counting on your ability to persuade the noble families.”

 

“!”

 

At the Skeleton Principal’s words, Lee Han realized they were thinking the same thing.

 

“Do you think I can do it?”

 

“Haha.”

 

The master smiled at his disciple’s question.

 

Then he answered with a serious expression.

 

“It’s not a matter of whether you can or can’t, but that you must. Otherwise, your upperclassmen will have to conduct magical research with only mud, stones, and tree branches next semester.”

 

“…”

 

Lee Han felt the heavy weight of responsibility pressing down on his shoulders.

 

Then he hesitated.

 

“Uh, but why aren’t any of the other upperclassmen…?”

 

Originally at Einrogard, higher grades came with higher responsibilities.

 

But why was only Lee Han, a second year, bearing this responsibility?

 

The Skeleton Principal kindly answered.

 

“Should I call Yukveltire, or should I call Catten? Tell me which upperclassman you want. I’ll summon them if needed.”

 

“…At least Diret or Illeg…”

 

Lee Han grumbled at the Skeleton Principal’s attitude of meanly mentioning only unhelpful upperclassmen.

 

However, the Skeleton Principal shook his head.

 

“Those two aren’t well-suited for persuasion because of their good nature.”

 

“I see… Wait a moment.”

 

Lee Han felt something was off.

 

Then what about me?

 

“And those two are needed to clean up this situation.”

 

“That’s true. All the professors must be busy too.”

 

Indeed, when he thought about it, there really wasn’t anyone to call.

 

The professors and fifth years were either busy or unhelpful, and the fourth year upperclassmen were currently the busiest grade…

 

“I’ll try persuading the noble families… but how should I persuade the officials?”

 

“I’m counting on your ability to persuade the officials.”

 

“…”

 

Lee Han wondered if he had heard wrong.

 

But the Skeleton Principal was serious.

 

“No matter how iron-blooded those bastards are, they won’t be cold-hearted when a young pillar who will support the Empire comes to ask.”

 

“…I understand for now.”

 

It was somewhat absurd, but it wasn’t completely incomprehensible.

 

Just last year, hadn’t Lee Han been the one to deal with the officials?

 

Basically, the Empire’s officials didn’t particularly like the Skeleton Principal.

 

How could they like an archmage who wouldn’t hesitate to uproot the Empire’s very foundations for Einrogard’s sake?

 

There were several officials who would foam at the mouth and collapse just from seeing him, even without being threatened.

 

However, surprisingly, these officials were generous toward students.

 

Unlike the evil Skeleton Principal, Einrogard students were talents who would be active throughout the Empire after graduation.

 

“Persuading noble families… I’ll do, persuading officials… I’ll do. Who else did you threaten?”

 

“I think I went around a few more magic towers and mage guilds. I needed manpower.”

 

Great magic wasn’t completed with gold alone. Even if all the necessary reagents were prepared, it required more manpower than expected.

 

It wasn’t for nothing that mages gathered together to build magic towers and establish guilds to refine their skills.

 

“The ones I gathered that way prepared magic separately. Among them, I selected the skilled ones and brought them to Einrogard.”

 

“Huh. I haven’t seen them.”

 

“They were waiting below. There was no reason to make them directly confront the projection.”

 

“Ah. They must have returned while I was unconscious.”

 

“That’s not entirely wrong.”

 

The Death Knight glanced at his master.

 

More precisely, after the fight ended, when the mages kept asking ‘Why didn’t you use the magic we prepared?’, the Skeleton Principal had told them to get lost and chased them away.

 

How could he package it like that?

 

“…Wait. ‘Not entirely wrong.’ Something’s strange. Is there something you’re not telling me?”

 

‘As expected of the disciple.’

 

The knight was pleased inwardly.

 

A mage should originally know how to find clues even in disorderly chaos!

 

* * *

 

By the time they arrived at the Empire’s capital, Lee Han could perfectly grasp the information about the creditors involved in this incident.

 

First, the Imperial officials.

 

Thanks to the Skeleton Principal’s rough threats, the treasurer and his subordinate officials eventually opened the treasury and handed over gold coins.

 

These were the ones Lee Han had to persuade.

 

Next were various noble families.

 

Thanks to the Skeleton Principal’s rough threats, the family heads eventually opened their treasuries and provided the necessary reagents.

 

These were also ones Lee Han had to persuade.

 

Finally, magic towers and mage guilds throughout the Empire.

 

Thanks to the Skeleton Principal’s rough threats, they stopped their ongoing research and magic and all came to help.

 

These were also ones Lee Han had to persuade…

 

“…”

 

After finishing his organization, Lee Han stared intently at the Skeleton Principal.

 

‘Isn’t the work distribution a bit strange?’

 

He thought the Skeleton Principal should handle at least one of the three tasks.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“Wouldn’t it be better if you persuaded the mages yourself, Principal?”

 

While he might be a lord of terror and brutality to Einroguard students, to outside mages the Skeleton Principal was the most respected Archmage.

 

Among those currently called Archmages in the Empire, he was the wisest and most wicked— no, most sagacious.

 

For people like these, it might be better for the Skeleton Principal to approach them and persuade them with his authority.

 

“How so?”

 

“You could teach them lost secrets from the past, or give advice on magic that’s made no progress…”

 

“Those are methods I’ve already used before, so they don’t work anymore.”

 

“…”

 

Just as the Skeleton Principal had a long history, the methods he’d used had also run dry.

 

Now the magic towers and guilds were too experienced to be swayed by respectful admiration for the Archmage’s wise counsel.

 

“Rather than that, introducing outstanding mages is much more effective. I’ve taken Professor Garcia with me before.”

 

The Skeleton Principal recalled old times.

 

When mages from the Accumulated Rain Tower, the Daylily Tower, the Olivine Tower, and others saw young Professor Garcia, their eyes gleamed like Einroguard students discovering candy.

 

Any mage tower mage who didn’t covet a genius attending all schools wasn’t qualified to be a tower mage.

 

-…Your Excellency! Please, when Student Kim graduates, to our tower…! You don’t even need to force it. Just say a few good words about our Accumulated Rain Tower!

 

-Lord Gonadaltes! If you send Student Kim to our tower, we’ll give you the full amount of gold coins the Empire supports this year!

 

The Skeleton Principal’s eyes softened with fond memories.

 

“Thanks to that, I received quite generously back then…”

 

“…Wait, Professor Garcia came to Einroguard, didn’t she? Did she perhaps help other towers before coming?”

 

“No. She came straight here. Because she’s smart.”

 

Professor Garcia was a mage who had walked the path of a pure-blood Einroguard mage.

 

Einroguard admission, advancing to 5th year instead of graduating, promotion to professor instead of graduating…

 

Lee Han felt a heavy feeling in his chest for no reason.

 

“Then didn’t the other tower mages protest?”

 

“They did protest. But what could they do? Professor Garcia had made her choice.”

 

The Skeleton Principal shrugged his shoulders lightly.

 

Even an Archmage couldn’t change a person’s will.

 

Various towers had sent gifts to curry favor, but that was their choice.

 

When they failed, the responsibility was naturally theirs as well.

 

“…”

 

Lee Han sent him a look of contempt, but the Skeleton Principal ignored it and said,

 

“It’ll work a second time. I think it’ll work up to three times.”

 

“I’m a bit worried whether I can do as well as Professor Garcia. As you know, I’m much more lacking than the Professor.”

 

-?

 

“?”

 

From the Death Knights to the Skeleton Principal, everyone looked puzzled.

 

Was there anything that bastard Wardanaz was much more lacking in compared to young Professor Garcia?

 

‘Arrogance?’

 

‘Rudeness perhaps? But he’s already rude enough.’

 

“I’m not a troll hybrid, so my physical strength…”

 

“…Don’t worry about that.”

 

The Skeleton Principal was dumbfounded by his disciple worrying about the most useless aspect.

 

What use was physical strength when visiting magic towers…

 

“Then let’s go knock dow— I mean, persuade the bureaucrats first.”

 

Passing through the castle gate, the Skeleton Principal gave instructions to the knights acting as coachmen. Lee Han suddenly remembered something and asked,

 

“Oh right. Could I meet Prince Jowurin?”

 

“That won’t do.”

 

“Ah. He must be under house arrest.”

 

Come to think of it, Jowrin had achieved the unprecedented feat of deceiving both the Emperor and the Skeleton Principal and escaping.

 

Given that, it wouldn’t be strange if he was under house arrest at home.

 

“No, he’s not?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“House arrest, what house arrest. He rarely goes out anyway unless there’s something special. Don’t judge His Majesty’s pure-blood children by the Empire’s laws.”

 

“Then why can’t I meet him?”

 

“Because if you visit him, he’ll hold onto you and not let you go until the vacation ends.”

 

“…”

 

“Maybe he won’t let you go even after vacation ends.”

 

“Come on. His Majesty isn’t the type to be so wickedly stubborn.”

 

“Haha. Look who’s become a dragon expert. Anyway, if you’re going to meet him, do it after everything’s done. I’ve clearly warned you. Turn right. The front is blocked.”

 

-Would you rather fly there?

 

“No. This month I need to show a humble and reflective attitude. I cut through the castle walls last time because I was in a hurry.”

 

At those words, Lee Han unconsciously cast his gaze outside the carriage.

 

One corner of the capital’s castle walls was cut in a straight line as if sliced by a sharp blade.

 

He was truly curious about what had happened, but Lee Han endured with superhuman patience.

 

‘Let’s not ask. Nothing good will come from hearing about it.’

 

Lee Han reorganized what he would say when meeting the bureaucrats. It would start with ‘I’m truly sorry about our Principal.’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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