Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 1159

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

Chapter 1159

If it had been anyone else, they might have thought she was joking, but unfortunately it was Jicklin who was speaking.

The knights lost their words and nodded their heads.

“In, indeed.”

‘What kind of advice could she possibly be seeking?’

Since Jicklin hadn’t specified what kind of advice it was, the knights could only imagine.

No matter how famous the Wardanaz family boy was as a genius, he was still only a second-year student, so what kind of advice could she be seeking?

‘Perhaps it’s advice that requires the Wardanaz family’s secret magic?’

“Then Lady Moradi. Why are Einroguard’s mages subjugating bandit groups like that?”

“Isn’t it because they’re faithfully performing a knight’s duty?”

“Indeed… No, the Wardanaz family isn’t a knight family…”

Even giving them the benefit of the doubt, while mages from knight families might do such things, Wardanaz was definitely not a knight family.

The knights fell into even greater confusion.

Regardless, Jicklin focused on her work. Even if she was welcoming guests from Einroguard, there were things that needed to be done first.

“Is this where the ruins were discovered?”

“Yes. They say an entrance was found in a cave located on the mountainside.”

The Empire was vast and dangerous places were discovered just by breathing. One of the tasks of the families established in each region was to discover and manage such places.

What tremendous damage would occur if a lich sealed thousands of years ago awakened and swept through the surroundings with an undead army?

In the worst case, that lich might even establish a magic school and proclaim itself the new principal.

“Hasn’t it been confirmed what era the ruins are from?”

“I’m sorry. Our mages are people who are quite distant from such archaeology…”

The mages who worked alongside the knights were practically half battle-mages.

While they were skilled in healing magic and enhancement magic, mages who could look at objects and deduce their era from their age were rare.

Jicklin skillfully used mana to enhance her eyesight. She could see people already gathering below the cave on the distant mountainside.

The sight reminded her of a frontier settlement.

Quick-witted northern merchants were selling daily necessities and items needed for ruins exploration under tents, while adventurers and explorers spread out their sleeping bags nearby, exchanging information.

Experienced knights could estimate the value of ruins just by looking at how many people had gathered.

“It seems the items coming out from inside are quite decent. To think so many would flock here already.”

“I don’t see any injured people yet. That’s fortunate at least.”

“I’ll go check and record the personnel.”

Jicklin spoke firmly.

For now, she had no intention of controlling or blocking the ruins, but she couldn’t just leave it alone either.

Given how chaotic the north had been recently, suspicious individuals might mix in there.

Of course, the people gathered there would definitely hate it. Who would want to explore ruins while reporting everything to the nearby knight families?

The moment any suspicious item appeared, they’d have to get it verified first, and if it was a prohibited item, they’d have to give it up for a pittance.

“No! We’ll go!”

“Such unpleasant work is our share!”

The knights cried out urgently.

This kind of work absolutely could not be left to Jicklin. If even one ill-tempered adventurer acted arrogantly, the surroundings would literally be devastated.

“Why is it your share?”

‘Oh no.’

The knights belatedly realized they had made a mistake in their urgency.

To make such a mistake with someone who would never accept flimsy excuses!

“Well… unpleasant work is… for those of lower status…”

“Do you think your status is low? Why do you think so?”

Jicklin’s face became serious.

For knights serving in the territory to think of themselves as lowly.

This was not something to be taken lightly.

Perhaps recently the Family Head had been treating the knights too harshly…

“…I’m sorry. We don’t actually think that way.”

“Then? Why did you say such a thing?”

“Well… *sob*.”

Tears welled up in the eyes of the veteran knight who wouldn’t change expression even after being trapped in glacial regions for three days fighting bloody battles with monsters.

How did it come to this?

“Look! It’s the Einroguard students!!”

“!”

The knights turned their heads with greatly brightened faces. The knight from the Dulark family who had been swinging his sword behind them also burst out with a joyful cheer.

“Truly the Empire’s greatest magic school!”

“Let’s go welcome the students!”

* * *

“The knights are running toward us?”

Lee Han made a serious expression.

Of course, welcoming northern guests was natural work for knights, but their momentum was too tremendous.

As Lee Han who had committed sins, he couldn’t help but feel slightly guilty.

“Moradi. We haven’t been found out, have we? The fact that I advised that quarantine and nighttime curfew…”

“How would I know?”

Giselle replied as if it was absurd.

Until recently, she had been inside Einroguard!

“Judge by what you see on the surface. They’re knights working for your family.”

“Strictly speaking, they’re from various northern families… never mind.”

Giving up on what she was about to point out, Giselle narrowed her eyes. The knights’ speed was certainly not ordinary.

“Either the knights have some urgent business, or you’ve been found out, Wardanaz.”

“If I’m discovered, I’ll say you also gave advice.”

“…”

When people hear insults beyond their expectations, they usually find it hard to react. That was exactly Giselle’s situation.

What kind of…?

“Why are you dragging others into this?!”

“Since the Family Head asked and I answered, naturally your family also bears responsibility.”

“You call that an argument…”

“Welcome! We welcome your visit!”

“We also heard about the bandit subjugation!”

However, contrary to their worries, the arriving knights showered them only with praise instead of angry retaliation.

Even Lee Han, who hadn’t lowered his guard, nodded in acknowledgment.

“Fortunately. It seems we weren’t found out.”

“…”

“But why are they being so kind?”

“The north is always short-handed.”

With vast lands, few inhabitants, but many incidents occurring, the Empire’s north had always become a place where only the strong survived.

The knights who came to greet them poured out their troubles as if complaining.

“???”

Lee Han didn’t understand.

“Why wouldn’t it work if Lady Jicklin does it?”

“You have no idea.”

When Giselle spoke as if it was pathetic, the other knights nodded. Unfortunately, this was something only northern knights could know.

No matter how excellent wisdom an outsider might possess…

‘Aren’t the northern people being too much?’

While Lee Han grumbled inwardly, suddenly a voice came from inside his staff.

-Don’t miss those ruins!

“!”

It was Sarataan’s voice.

-It may look ordinary, but that’s definitely not a normal ruin. I’ll explain later, so get inside that ruin as quickly as possible!

“…Indeed.”

Lee Han nodded at the sincere advice from the imprisoned spirit.

And he suggested to the knights.

“Then we’ll record those gathered around the ruins.”

-Yes! Use that as an excuse to chase away the other guys and…

“After recording, let’s depart immediately for the Moradi family’s stronghold.”

-Huh? Wait, wait. Then you can’t enter the ruins!

Sarataan was flustered.

He thought his advice had been accepted, but this mage’s actions were completely incomprehensible.

Lee Han spoke honestly.

“You were wrong last time too.”

-…

While Sarataan had correctly guessed that a spirit was trapped in the artifact, he hadn’t been able to predict that there would be a powerful spirit like Hwacheon General inside.

If Sarataan had given proper information, they could have suffered much less.

-Th-that was… because the opponent was such an extraordinary existence…! And my warning was helpful!

“Strictly speaking, your warning wasn’t very meaningful… It wasn’t much different from the warning the adventurer party we brought gave us.”

-…That ruin isn’t an ordinary ruin!!

* * *

Despite the spirit’s outcry, Lee Han methodically did what needed to be done first.

He called the people gathered targeting the ruins at the mountain entrance and announced he would verify their identities.

Several people got angry and tried to protest, but when some people from the western region saw the Einroguard flag hanging on the carriage, they turned pale and stepped in to persuade the others instead.

-So… not a single one survived…

-Is that really… no… that can’t be possible under imperial law…

-Some of them… have extralegal authority…

-The Empire is… truly terrifying…

“Yes! We’ll cooperate as much as possible!”

“Thank you all.”

Lee Han and the White Tiger Tower students verified the identities of the gathered people and inspected their belongings.

They had to prevent any forbidden magical items in advance.

“Wardanaz. Why did you confiscate this Lanberia flower?”

“It’s highly toxic, so it’s prohibited by imperial law.”

“But they grow them at Einroguard? I’m sure in Professor Thunderstep’s vegetable garden… Ack!”

“I think you’re mistaken? Say that again.”

“…Now that I think about it, it probably wasn’t a Lanberia flower.”

The more Lee Han calmly focused on his work, the more anxious Sarataan became.

Knowing what he knew, he couldn’t help but feel more impatient.

And in Sarataan’s mind, if problems arose later due to delays, this mage would probably get angry at him.

Something like ‘If it was really important, you should have told me accurately by any means necessary!’

-Listen. You might think that ruin is an ordinary ruin, but that’s a disguise. That ruin is the ruin of the mage Bakwantalana!

“?!”

Lee Han turned his gaze in surprise.

The name Bakwantalana was better known to mages than to spirits.

It was the name of an outstanding enchantment mage who had enjoyed fame long ago.

Especially considering that Professor Verdus also favored using several of this Bakwantalana’s spells, one could understand his greatness.

Even someone who modified almost all spells to use his own versions left these unchanged.

But to think it was Bakwantalana’s ruin.

It was even more bewildering that Sarataan, a spirit, was telling him this.

“How do you know about Bakwantalana?”

-…I met him before.

Sarataan trailed off and hesitated. Something suspicious could be felt in that attitude.

Having already witnessed this spirit’s mistakes several times, he couldn’t just let it pass. Lee Han spoke in a stern voice.

“If you don’t speak properly, I won’t enter even if that place is the Principal’s ruin, let alone Bakwantalana’s.”

-If it were that crazy archmage’s ruin, you obviously shouldn’t enter. What are you talking about?

Sarataan grumbled but eventually gave up and opened his mouth.

Having said this much, that mage wouldn’t stay still even if he insisted on keeping quiet.

-Actually… I worked under Bakwantalana before.

“You made a contract?”

-…No. I said I worked there.

“??”

Lee Han became even more confused.

Usually when a spirit works under a mage, there’s either a contract or…

“…Don’t tell me you were forcibly captured and made to work?”

-…

Sarataan said nothing. That reaction was as good as an answer.

‘Bakwantalana, he really was an amazing mage!’

Lee Han felt respect welling up for the old mage senior whose face he didn’t even know.

Somehow it seemed like he probably wasn’t on good terms with spirits.

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