Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 1133

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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 1133

“L-Lee Han student. Just based on that alone, thinking they’re worshippers of evil gods is a bit…”

While the flustered Professor Garcia stammered, the enraged soldiers shouted.

“These crazy bastards! Do you know where this is! How dare you attack Count Bueuyong’s checkpoint!”

“Wait! Everyone run away!”

Professor Garcia was shocked to see them provoke further instead of quickly dropping their weapons and saying ‘we are not worshippers of evil gods.’

And the soldiers were also slightly surprised.

They weren’t scared even after revealing the Count’s status?

Even if they were crazy enough to ignore it, a reaction like ‘Everyone run away!’ was unexpected.

And the soldiers immediately understood why such a reaction came out.

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-bang!

Lee Han began smashing all the remaining barricades with water orbs.

When he launched magic with the momentum to break bones regardless of whether there were soldiers blocking the way, the soldiers on the bridge hurriedly jumped into the river.

Professor Garcia shouted to the soldiers who jumped into the river for clarification.

“We actually came from Einroguard! It seems you didn’t see our flag! Please understand!”

The soldiers who jumped into the river couldn’t hear as they were frantically spitting out water and swimming. Only a few soldiers remaining at the destroyed checkpoint wore dumbfounded expressions.

“E-even if you’re from a magic school… is it okay to act so arbitrarily?”

-It is.

-Don’t you know this happens when someone’s pissed off and you mess with them?

The knights spoke sarcastically and kicked the remaining soldiers into the river. The soldiers fell with screams.

Seeing this, Lee Han asked in a serious voice.

“Shouldn’t we interrogate them for traces of collusion with worshippers of evil gods?”

-…Ah. T-that’s right!

The knights quickly threw chains to pull the soldiers back up.

Who would have thought those words from earlier were serious…!

* * *

When the Empire was founded, the noble families that cooperated with the Emperor and Archmages were each guaranteed various different privileges.

Even if not quite at the level of great noble families, there were quite a few families that could be found with at least one privilege passed down through generations.

Among them, Count Bueuyong was a noble who possessed quite a few precious rights, including the right to collect tolls in an area encompassing about three villages.

Of course, one shouldn’t be mistaken about this.

The Empire’s nobles didn’t have the authority to act arbitrarily like nobles of the distant past.

Strictly speaking, the toll collection right wasn’t about putting money into one’s own pocket, but rather taking on the role of collecting tolls that should be paid to the Empire.

In fact, that alone was sufficient. Even if they couldn’t rule like absolute monarchs of old, they could make plenty of money.

Whether by sharing authority with collectors and receiving money, or raising tolls under various pretexts…

But this too required skill – namely, doing it tactfully and knowing one’s place.

No matter how vast the Empire was and how many petitions reached the capital’s bureaucrats, making the chances of getting caught infinitely low, clueless fools always crossed the line and made inspectors come looking.

Count Bueuyong took pride in this aspect.

Especially in accumulating maximum wealth without sullying his family’s honor and within limits that wouldn’t get him caught.

However, misfortune always strikes suddenly.

This sudden western drought and heat wave made even the Count panic.

“Of all times, a drought had to come this year. Of all times!”

The Count, who had grown gaunt, muttered as he continuously paced back and forth in his study. He was too anxious to stay still.

The Empire’s laws stipulated that each region must stockpile relief supplies above a certain amount in preparation for natural disasters, and Count Bueuyong himself was responsible for this.

Normally it wouldn’t matter. After requisitioning from nearby merchants, he could secretly replace those supplies with lower quality ones without getting caught.

But when such a sudden disaster struck, the story was different.

Moreover, this year the Count hadn’t just replaced the relief supplies with lower quality ones – he had completely embezzled them and converted them to cash!

He had recently made a big investment in the capital’s confectionery guild, but when they lost to the bakery guild, he had acted more boldly than usual to make up for it, never expecting a disaster to strike.

“Please calm down, Master. You’ll surely be able to handle it in time.”

The butler tried to soothe Count Bueuyong.

“Didn’t you order the soldiers to block the roads? Don’t forget that you have the authority to manage the bridge, Master.”

The Count nodded with an anxious face.

Currently, Count Bueuyong had used his authority to order the checkpoint soldiers to block anyone trying to enter this vicinity.

The checkpoint soldiers were practically private soldiers paid by the Count, so no one refused.

The reason could be made up later anyway. A bandit group appeared in the area so they blocked it for travelers’ safety, the epidemic was too severe so they blocked it temporarily…

“…We could even say worshippers of evil gods appeared.”

“That won’t do, Master! That could bring the knights!”

“R-right. I must not be thinking straight. You’re correct.”

Count Bueuyong quickly came to his senses.

Excuses should be plausible – what was this about worshippers of evil gods? It was an unlucky excuse.

Anyway, he had blocked entry for all outsiders who could cause problems – capital inspectors, regional officials, priests of the order – so what remained was securing relief supplies again.

Once the relief supplies were secured again, he could be confident no matter who came snooping around this area.

“I hear there have been particularly more priests in this vicinity lately – they won’t find it suspicious, will they? Or force their way through?”

“Master, it’s not like worshippers of evil gods appeared, so they wouldn’t make such a forceful breakthrough. You know the priests’ nature well.”

The priests of the order weren’t particularly violent people except for certain matters.

Even if forcibly blocked from entry, they would frown but choose to take another route.

Knowing this, the Count had given the order.

“Please, these merchant bastards. Hurry up and gather them! If I get discovered, I won’t let you bastards off either!”

Count Bueuyong cursed the merchants.

The merchants currently running around urgently were those who had deep connections with the Count.

After all, bad deeds are hard to do alone.

These merchants were the ones who had helped when the Count replaced supplies with lower quality ones, raised tolls, or cleverly exploited various rights.

As such, if problems arose from the embezzled relief supplies, they had to step up too. If the Count got caught, they would get caught as well.

Yet they still hadn’t secured them…

“These idiots, money-grubbing worms, to think I gave privileges to such bastards.”

Bang!

“Count! We’ve secured the supplies! As soon as we finished the contract with the northern trading company, we asked the Richmond folks for the fastest carriages, so they’ll arrive within a day!”

“Ooh!”

When the merchants burst through the door, Count Bueuyong’s face brightened considerably.

As if his cursing just moments ago was a lie, the Count showered the merchants with praise.

“You are truly the heroes of the territory and the talents that make the Empire’s blood flow!”

“Thank you, Count!”

The Count especially embraced Naseda, the leader of these merchants and the one responsible for this entire affair.

“Naseda, you are my right arm, my Gonadaltes!”

“What an honor!”

There was no surer praise than being called like the Archmage who helped found the Empire, who could rightfully be called the Emperor’s right arm.

Of course, if the Empire’s Emperor or the Archmage saw this, both would be very angry…

“As soon as the supplies arrive at the warehouse, everyone return to your original positions, and we must also cancel the order prohibiting passage. Oh right. Prepare donations. The priests might be upset.”

Bang!

Before the Count could finish his excited chatter, someone else burst through the door.

The messenger was drenched in sweat all over, as if he had run without rest upon receiving the news.

Though it was rude behavior, Count Bueuyong smiled instead of getting angry.

“Did you also hear the news about securing supplies?”

“This is terrible!! Einroguard’s mages have forcibly entered the territory!”

“…”

“…”

The air in the study suddenly turned cold as if doused with cold water.

The merchants were the first to cry out in panic.

“Why would Einroguard’s mages come here?! There must be some mistake!”

“Maybe they mistook them for other mages? Right, Baldroguard! It might be Baldroguard mages!”

“I hope they’re Baldroguard mages! I know some Baldroguard mages…”

The messenger shook his head vigorously and shouted.

“They say they’re definitely Einroguard’s mages. The southern bridge checkpoint has been completely destroyed…”

“Destroyed?”

Count Bueuyong hesitated.

While Einroguard had various privileges as the Empire’s magic school, including unrestricted passage rights, unrestricted destruction wasn’t among them.

No matter how much they blocked passage, this was their mistake!

Suddenly an idea flashed in the count’s mind. The merchants seemed to think similarly as they shouted.

“Count. Use this as an excuse to somehow tie them down.”

“Exactly! We only blocked the road briefly because of thieves, but destroying the checkpoint is too much – if you protest like that, you should be able to tie them down.”

It seemed there was some misunderstanding between both sides, so they could arrange a meeting place for direct dialogue, then if the count dragged out time and arrived late, they could somehow hold out.

If they could just hold out for one day, the relief supplies would arrive in the territory, and he could apologize to the mages later saying he made a mistake due to overzealousness… “Naseda, my right hand, my Go… no, can I entrust this to you?”

The count changed his words, having almost said Gonadaltes but feeling ominous about it.

The merchant laughed heartily. He was confident he could easily manipulate mages of that level.

“Don’t worry. I’ll tie them down without the mages noticing at all.”

Neither the count, nor the butler, nor the merchants noticed in their excitement over coming up with such a brilliant scheme.

The most important thing was accurately understanding why the Einroguard mages were acting so violently.

* * *

“Hmm. So they weren’t worshippers of evil gods after all.”

Lee Han muttered quietly.

When the knights began seriously questioning their connection to evil god worshippers, the soldiers realized the gravity of the situation and tearfully confessed the truth.

-We don’t believe in such things!

-I believe in the Plemang Order…! …Wait, wait. Priest. Aren’t you from the Plemang Order? I’m a believer of the Plemang Order! I even donated when I was young! Please speak for me!

-…I’m, I’m not from the Plemang Order. It’s… it’s the Prising Order.

-…Priest Siana…

-What can I do about scary things! Look at Wardanaz’s eyes!

Lee Han had hoped for remnants of the evil Seinguiros cult hiding among the soldiers, but no matter how thoroughly he searched, nothing like that emerged.

Instead, what came out was that orders had come down from the count who was in charge of tax collection.

“Could there really be bands of thieves roaming around?”

“I’m not sure, Professor Kim.”

Professor Kirmin didn’t completely trust the soldiers’ words.

After all, the count wouldn’t have told the exact reasons to mere soldiers.

“When disasters occur, thieves do increase… but people who give up toll fees and prohibit passage for travelers’ safety are rare, aren’t they.”

“That’s right, isn’t it? Count Bueuyong doesn’t seem like that type of person.”

“One thing is certain.”

“?”

“Whether they’re thieves or the count’s private soldiers, it would be better if they don’t notice us while we pass through here.”

“…Should I try to persuade student Lee Han?”

Glancing at his disciple who was casting murderous glances in all directions looking for hidden evil god worshippers, Professor Garcia whispered.

“That’s not necessary.”

“Pardon?”

“Wardanaz needs somewhere to vent his anger too. Thieves or the count’s soldiers would be better than Einroguard students, wouldn’t they.”

‘Oh right. This person was Professor Bagrek’s friend.’

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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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