Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 263

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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 263

“Grrrr…”

Doig couldn’t believe it.

They had clearly moved at the same time, yet he and his brother were slower than that mage.

It was simultaneous in name only – while the mage concentrated on swinging his staff and chanting incantations, the two of them just had to shoot their crossbows and be done…

Thud!

The two adventurers collapsed just like that.

Lee Han, unaware of this, asked Professor Boladi again.

“They must have been wearing defensive equipment, wouldn’t that be insufficient?”

“It’s sufficient.”

In fact, among adventurers, those properly equipped with anti-magic gear were extremely rare.

If you had expensive artifacts worth as much as a castle, you’d just sell them and retire – why risk your life doing dangerous work?

The 【Maple Snake】 that Lee Han had encountered before was an exceptionally unusual case, and normally it was hard to meet adventurers equipped with such gear.

Moreover, both Doig and Gido traveled as lightly as possible for speed…

‘What? Were they just weird guys?’

Of course, from Lee Han’s perspective, not knowing the circumstances of the adventurers who had just attacked, it was quite bewildering.

What kind of guys attack a mage while being so carelessly prepared?

* * *

“Both had bounties on their heads. Thank you for your hard work.”

Even so, a fight had occurred in the village and couldn’t just be overlooked.

Lee Han and Professor Boladi went to find the Imperial administrator in charge of Philone Village.

The administrator didn’t particularly suspect or blame the two mages. From the start, mages affiliated with Einroguard and bounty-hunting adventurers were incomparable in status.

“They even had bounties on them?”

Lee Han was surprised.

The Empire was vastly wide, and once troublemakers fled far away, they weren’t easy to catch.

The Empire placed bounties on such people, and naturally, not just anyone qualified.

‘For guys with bounties, aren’t they too stupid? How haven’t they been caught yet?’

‘Truly befitting an Einroguard mage.’

The administrator tried to hide his amazement and maintain a calm expression.

He knew that all Einroguard students were among the Empire’s finest geniuses, but to this extent.

He didn’t look that old either, yet after catching the Doig and Gido brothers, he acted so nonchalantly.

The question of why such weak guys had bounties on them was an answer so confidently delivered it was almost admirable.

“That’s right. You’re truly an Einroguard student. I look forward to your continued great achievements.”

“Thank you.”

Lee Han answered first, then hesitated.

‘What achievements is he expecting?’

It was praise, but strangely it made him feel bad.

Is he cursing me to encounter more criminals?

But when he received the pouch heavy with silver coins, his mood improved again.

Lee Han bowed his head politely and greeted respectfully.

“Thank you. Farewell.”

The administrator was surprised again.

It was humility completely opposite to the confident appearance he had just shown.

‘Must be from a great noble family…’

Whatever family he was from, he was certainly from an ancient great noble house.

The administrator was deeply impressed without realizing it.

Magic, that abstruse field of study that ordinary people could hardly dare approach.

Such a boy who was arrogantly confident in his talents yet never lost his manners might be the kind of person who should walk the path of such learning.

‘Good luck.’

The administrator cheered for Lee Han.

It was the administrator’s job to ensure students like that boy could focus solely on magic.

Troublesome and tedious work like Imperial administration should be done by people like administrators.

* * *

“…Would you like to share?”

“No.”

Lee Han, who was gauging the weight of the silver pouch, noticed Professor Boladi beside him and asked.

Fortunately, Professor Boladi had no interest in his disciple’s money pouch.

‘He doesn’t seem to be in a good mood.’

Even without using Ogonin’s magic, Lee Han had an exceptional sense for reading professors’ emotions.

‘It’s probably not about the silver coins…’

“Is it perhaps about the deal?”

Professor Boladi nodded.

He had received quite a few letters, but they were all from scammers.

Professor Boladi, who had hoped at least one would bring something useful, couldn’t help but be disappointed.

Lee Han tried to manage his expression.

‘Don’t laugh. If I laugh, I die.’

Professor Boladi wasn’t someone who took emotional revenge like the Skeleton Principal, but if a disciple laughed while the professor had failed, nothing good would come of it.

Moreover, wasn’t Professor Boladi also a master of close combat?

“It’s fine. If it could be obtained so easily, would it be a rare monster? I’m fine without it.”

Lee Han spoke with benevolent eyes.

At those words, Professor Boladi slightly furrowed his brow.

As his disciple declined like that, a faint emotion welled up from deep in his heart.

It was frustration.

The frustration felt when unable to accomplish what should be done as a master.

Professor Boladi had to frown even more to control this emotion he was feeling for the first time.

‘…Is this really okay?’

As Professor Boladi’s expression grew more stern, Lee Han felt ominous.

Surely he wouldn’t say something ridiculous like ‘Since there’s no monster, I’ll substitute as the monster myself’?

“Professor?”

“Yes.”

As Professor Boladi’s face returned to normal, Lee Han inwardly sighed in relief.

“But there’s still time until the final exam, so I’ll try to find more.”

‘Damn.’

Lee Han cursed Professor Boladi.

Why was he only passionate about such useless things?

In that time, couldn’t he worry about ‘Why is there only one student in my lecture hall?’

“Are you mages from Einroguard?”

“!”

Lee Han looked up.

It was someone he’d never seen before, but he could guess they were a noble of considerably high status.

From their accent and behavior to their clothing, accessories, and the guards standing around them.

‘Who is this?’

“That’s correct. Excuse me, but who are you?”

Instead of the noble, a guard beside him answered.

“This is His Grace Duke Ikalderen. Please identify yourselves.”

“Lee Han of Wardanaz Family.”

“Boladi of Bagrek Family.”

Unlike the Bagrek Family, the Wardanaz Family was a great noble house that even imperial dukes couldn’t treat carelessly. The guard’s attitude became even more cautious.

‘Duke Ikalderen…’

While Lee Han didn’t know all the nobles of the Empire, he inevitably heard about the famous families through word of mouth.

Duke Ikalderen was quite a famous person whom Lee Han had heard rumors about several times and had even seen in imperial newspapers.

‘Though they weren’t particularly good rumors.’

While few nobles escaped talk of being cunning or having unknown schemes, even considering that, Duke Ikalderen’s reputation was rather severe.

Being cunning and full of ulterior motives, Lee Han couldn’t help but feel slightly tense.

Having Professor Boladi beside him didn’t make him feel less nervous. In fact, Professor Boladi was a more worrying factor in this situation.

‘Even if Professor Boladi insults Duke Ikalderen, the Skeleton Principal would step in, right? He’s still a member of the magic school, after all?’

Having thoughts that would make the Skeleton Principal curse if he heard them, Lee Han bowed his head.

“Well. It’s an honor to meet you.”

Duke Ikalderen appeared to be only around forty years old.

His actual age would probably be twice that, making it a very young face for a human. It was undoubtedly thanks to all sorts of alchemical elixirs.

“A few days ago, a mage prophesied that I would have a precious encounter, and I think that encounter might be this one. Who would have thought I’d meet outstanding mages from Einroguard in the village.”

One of the duke’s guards glared at Lee Han, then whispered to the duke.

“Your Grace. As far as I know, students from the magic school are forbidden from going out. Isn’t this suspicious?”

Noble guards basically had paranoid personalities.

They assumed anyone approaching their master was a disguised assassin.

“Aren’t you ashamed to spout such foolish words? Coming out with a professor would naturally be permitted. I won’t tolerate any more rude remarks. Step back immediately.”

Duke Ikalderen strongly reprimanded his guard. The guard bowed his head and stepped back.

Lee Han felt guilty inside.

‘That guard. He’s sharp. How did he know?’

“Forgive me if this might be rude. But from what I heard earlier, it seems you two mages are looking for something? I’d like to help.”

“!”

Lee Han’s face hardened.

‘The rumors were indeed accurate!’

They said he was cunning and full of schemes, and that was true.

To try to send an innocent student to their doom.

“We’re looking for a rare monster.”

“Are there any conditions?”

“It has immunity to fire, water, and lightning attributes, possesses strong magic resistance, and has a speed of over 60 km per hour…”

Even after hearing Professor Boladi’s nonsense, Duke Ikalderen showed no change in expression.

He called over a nearby guard and asked.

“Can you obtain one?”

“I’ll look into it.”

“Please do. While we wait, may I offer you something to drink?”

Realizing things had gone wrong, Lee Han suppressed a sigh and answered.

“Tea would be appreciated, if possible.”

“Excellent taste.”

* * *

“Your Grace. Even though they’re from the Wardanaz Family and a professor from Einroguard, isn’t this too much of an investment…”

Duke Ikalderen lightly tapped his fingers. The subordinate quickly shut his mouth.

No subordinate would keep talking after receiving that warning.

The duke muttered coldly.

“I know what you’re trying to say.”

The monster the mages wanted was more rare and difficult than expected.

In comparison, it was unclear what position those two mages held within Einroguard.

One might be a professor, but he didn’t know what level of professor, and the other seemed like a lower-year student…

At that level, there was a high possibility of not gaining much even if they became friendly.

The chances of a professor or student being close to the principal weren’t very high.

However, Duke Ikalderen decided to invest even considering that.

Right now, he needed to extend multiple tentacles into the magic school without worrying about efficiency.

‘I must somehow find out the situation inside Einroguard.’

The duke’s face was calm, but his mind was complex. Recently, one of the duke’s trusted subordinates had entered Einroguard and lost contact.

If his subordinate had been captured by Gonadaltes, he needed to quickly assess the situation.

With that personality, if he figured out the truth, he would never let it slide.

Even if he didn’t like the two mages, he had no choice. Right now, he had to gradually build up connections.

“Do you like the tea?”

Duke Ikalderen asked as he stepped into the reception room. Lee Han and Professor Boladi were sipping tea.

“It’s excellent. Thank you, Your Grace.”

The contrast was quite striking between Lee Han answering politely and Professor Boladi just nodding his head.

Though the duke let it slide due to his desperate situation, he couldn’t help feeling annoyed.

‘These damn mages, really.’

They were single-minded fools who only focused on fields they were interested in.

In comparison, Lee Han’s behavior was quite refreshing.

He had expected basic rudeness from someone from the Wardanaz Family, but…

“I feel sorry for making a student who should be concentrating on magic drink such cheap stuff.”

“Not at all. I’d like to pack some to take with me when I leave, if that’s alright.”

“Hahaha… I’ll have it prepared.”

“I would greatly appreciate it.”

‘Is this really… the Wardanaz Family?’

Duke Ikalderen was seeing his first member of the Wardanaz Family who knew how to converse without being unpleasant.

And even making such jokes.

It was truly surprising.

“Come to think of it, if you’re studying at Einroguard, you must have met Gonadaltes as well.”

“Yes. I have met him.”

“Do you happen to have a friendly relationship?”

“How could that be possible?”

Lee Han answered with disgust.

What kind of friendly relationship would that be.

A relationship of hatred or pain, maybe.

‘Unfortunate.’

Duke Ikalderen felt deeply disappointed inside. He had expected it, but it was still a bitter result.

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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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