Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 292

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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 292

“What did you say?”

“No. It’s nothing.”

Lee Han quickly changed the subject.

He didn’t want to worry the good-natured old knight unnecessarily.

“What are you planning to do during the vacation, Lord Lee Han? If there’s anything you need, this Alarlong will do his best to help you.”

“First… I’ll have to study.”

Lee Han said while looking at the books Ponrig was carrying on his back.

Just because they gave vacation didn’t mean ‘Ah, they want me to rest comfortably without worry.’

Giving vacation was closer to ‘It’s your freedom to rest, but study on your own – if you don’t, we’ll leave you behind.’

Especially in harsh schools like Einroguard, there was a high possibility that professors would say ‘You must have studied up to here, right? Then I’ll assume you know it and move on.’

Even students who took few lectures had to be careful about playing around, but for students like Lee Han who took many lectures, studying was not a choice but a necessity.

“That’s admirable.”

Alarlong, unaware of Lee Han’s desperate inner thoughts, was deeply impressed.

Not everyone from great noble families of the Empire was as sincere and diligent as Lee Han.

Rather, there were more who were dissolute or lazy. It was natural since their family environment provided solid support.

Yet Lee Han was devotedly focusing on magic without showing even a moment of laxness…

‘Indeed, Lord Lee Han is someone worthy of the Wardanaz Family bloodline.’

“But Lord Lee Han. Young peers gathering in one place to study together is not just for studying, but also to get to know each other and socialize. Studying is good, but wouldn’t it be a waste to spend the entire vacation just studying?”

“Of course I have other plans too.”

Lee Han spoke as if telling him not to worry. Alarlong’s face brightened once again.

“I’m thinking of earning gold coins. In Granden City, there should be quite a few places to work even short-term.”

“…?”

Alarlong was slightly flustered by Lee Han’s words.

It was a completely unexpected answer.

‘What is this…?’

Alarlong looked at his subordinate knights.

He thought that since the subordinate knights were much younger, they would better understand what Lee Han meant.

-We don’t know what he means either.

-Isn’t it a metaphor that only mages use?

-Doesn’t he really intend to earn gold coins?

-Don’t talk nonsense in front of Sir Alarlong. Why would Lord Lee Han do such a thing?

“I… see. That’s admirable.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

Alarlong supported him for now, not wanting to become a clueless old knight who couldn’t keep up with the trends of young mages these days.

But his inner thoughts were still confused.

“Still, don’t you have other things planned as… well?”

“Other plans?”

Lee Han tilted his head.

Besides studying and gold coins, he hadn’t really thought of anything else.

“Well, social activities with your friends…”

“Ah.”

At those words, Lee Han belatedly realized and nodded.

“I should meet my friends too.”

Alarlong inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

“You’ve thought well. If you want to hold gatherings or banquets, please let me know anytime. I’ll prepare them in a way that won’t shame the Wardanaz Family name.”

‘I don’t think we need to go that far.’

At Alarlong’s words, Lee Han thought to himself.

The reason Lee Han wanted to meet his friends was to collect the money he had lent them.

* * *

After arriving at his residence in Granden City (when spectators gathered at the castle gate due to the splendid carriage procession of Blue Dragon Tower students, Lee Han slipped out first), Lee Han first took a rest.

After sleeping soundly on the soft, fluffy bed and waking up, the events at the magic school suddenly felt like a long nightmare.

Of course, it wasn’t a dream.

Lee Han got up and estimated with his eyes the amount of silver coins written in his ledger.

Even with rough calculations, it seemed like it would be enough for at least twenty Empire gold coins.

It was such an impressive amount that it gave him baseless confidence in his own business abilities.

‘…No. Let me come to my senses.’

For a moment he thought about whether he should aim to become an Empire merchant rather than an Empire official, but Lee Han immediately came to his senses.

Earning twenty gold coins in one semester was tremendous income, but this was only thanks to the peculiar closed situation of the magic school.

Even by just the second year, this kind of business would become difficult to do.

‘I must be humble. If I act arrogantly, I could face ruin.’

Even so, the amount of twenty Empire gold coins couldn’t help but make his heart race.

One gold coin was what a farmer with a not-small plot of land could obtain only after working hard all year long…

“I’ll prepare breakfast for you, Lord Lee Han.”

A servant spoke from outside. Lee Han opened the door and said.

“Something simple to tide me over will be fine. Is Ratford awake by any chance?”

“Yes. He asked me to tell him when you coughed.”

“Sorry about that. Could you call him? Ah, wait.”

Lee Han stopped the servant who was about to leave and asked.

“Yesterday I entered Granden City through the White Sheep Gate, do you happen to know a small general store near the gate? It was quite bustling…”

“Yes. Is there something you need?”

“If I were to buy that general store, how much do you think it would cost?”

The servant pondered thoughtfully, then answered carefully.

“At the very least, wouldn’t it cost two hundred Empire gold coins?”

Lee Han had to tense his body to avoid staggering.

He didn’t think it would be cheap since it was one of the leading great cities, but for a general store of just that size…

‘I was being arrogant.’

To think he was confident enough to become a merchant himself after earning just that much.

It was nothing but embarrassing.

“Lord Lee Han?”

“…I see. Thank you for answering.”

Shortly after the servant left, Ratford came in.

Perhaps because the manor’s antique atmosphere felt quite awkward, Ratford’s face lit up when he saw Lee Han and came running over.

“Lord Wardanaz!”

“Did you rest well?”

“My body is comfortable, but my mind is a bit…”

“You’ll get used to it soon. Let’s eat breakfast first.”

Although he had asked for something simple, the meal the servants brought was more generous than expected.

After cutting and eating the slightly spicy seasoned eggs, Lee Han let out a deep sigh.

“Is there something wrong?”

“It’s nothing much. I was thinking it might be nice to buy a small shop later, but the prices aren’t easy.”

At Lee Han’s words, Ratford, who was drinking cold milk from a bottle, nodded as if he understood.

“I understand.”

“What?”

“Weren’t you telling me to secure gold coins for you?”

“…Ratford. Theft outside the magic school is a crime.”

Actually, it was a crime inside too, but Lee Han thought that much could be considered extenuating circumstances.

Even among thieves, depending on their motives and purposes, they’re sometimes called righteous bandits.

In Lee Han’s opinion, stealing from the Skeleton Principal was definitely righteous banditry.

At Lee Han’s words, Ratford showed a confused expression.

“So… are you telling me not to do it? Or are you telling me to do it well without getting caught?”

“I’m telling you not to do it, Ratford. If I ask you to do something, I’ll ask very specifically without using metaphors, so never act rashly on your own.”

“Yes.”

Ratford looked slightly dejected.

To think he couldn’t show off his thieving skills.

With a clatter, Lee Han cleanly emptied his bowl of rice.

It was hard to prepare Eastern-style meals at Einroguard, so perhaps because it had been quite a while since he’d eaten one, it tasted especially delicious.

Ratford finished a piece of buttered toast and tilted his head slightly.

“Doesn’t it suit your taste?”

“Oh, no sir.”

“It doesn’t seem like ‘no.’ I’d really appreciate it if you could be honest since it’s really okay.”

“Well… what Wardanaz prepared seemed more delicious…”

At Ratford’s words, Lee Han laughed.

He was pleased by his friend’s compliment.

“Thank you. But that’s because of the special circumstances at Einroguard. In that situation, anything would taste better.”

Originally, anything tastes better when you eat it after starving.

Otherwise, there was no way Lee Han’s cooking could taste better than what the manor’s chefs made.

“Is that so?”

“That’s right.”

At Lee Han’s words, Ratford nodded, but inwardly he wasn’t completely convinced.

‘I think it objectively really was more delicious…’

“I think I’ll go out for a bit after eating. Do you have any plans today?”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m thinking of collecting some silver coins.”

Ratford asked with a slightly expectant voice.

“Perhaps…”

“I’m going to collect them, not steal them.”

“Yes. Still, I’ll come with you.”

Ratford was disappointed.

* * *

Asan of the Dalcard Family was tense, unable to breathe properly.

“I heard that a young master of the family entered Einroguard. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

The Dalcard Family estate located in Granden City had quite a long history, and accordingly there were many family members and guests staying at the manor.

Moreover, there happened to be a gathering today, so high-ranking people from Granden City were arriving one by one as guests.

Given the situation, the family student who had just returned from Einroguard yesterday couldn’t help but become a topic of conversation.

“An Einroguard graduate. The Dalcard Family’s name will shine even brighter.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m curious which school of magic he’s majoring in. May I ask after listening to today’s performance?”

“Please do so.”

‘Save me.’

Asan felt suffocated.

If he made even one mistake in front of these famous figures from Granden City gathered here, it would tarnish the family’s honor.

“Focus.”

Asan’s older brother, Daihal, approached.

Dressed in a wrinkle-free formal suit, Daihal was someone who wouldn’t shed a single drop of sweat even in the scorching heat of midsummer.

“You still make too many mistakes. You were a beat late when greeting earlier. And when answering…”

Hidan, who was Asan’s older sister and Daihal’s twin, also approached.

Like Daihal, she was someone who wouldn’t blink an eye even if a dragon appeared over the city.

“You don’t even notice dust on your cufflinks. That’s why you make so many mistakes. Think about the mistake you made seventeen months and four days ago.”

“We were embarrassed because you miscalculated.”

“It was really just one digit wrong at the end…”

“Be quiet. That complacent attitude is why you keep making mistakes.”

Asan closed his mouth at his brother and sister’s scolding.

If those two made mistakes while acting like that, he could at least argue back, but since they themselves were such perfect people, Asan could only shrink back.

Daihal had been selected as an Empire official and was rapidly advancing in his career, while Hidan had gotten a job at the Eastern Bronze Dwarf Bank and was impressing the picky dwarfs…

“That’s why you couldn’t take first or second place at the tower.”

“It’s not that I did poorly, but the first and second place students did too well…”

“Be quiet. Don’t keep making excuses.”

“Master Asan. A guest has come to see you.”

What saved Asan from his beating was a family servant.

He didn’t know who the guest was, but Asan was happy for now. He had an excuse to escape from this situation.

“Brother! Sister! It seems a friend has come to visit!”

“Why do you seem happy?”

“Well… how could I not be happy when a friend has come to visit?”

“…”

“…”

Daihal and Hidan stared piercingly at their unreliable younger brother.

“Since my brother’s friend has come to visit, I should go out and greet them.”

“I’ll come too.”

“What?! I can do it my…”

“Be quiet. Greeting guests who visit the manor is not your duty but mine.”

Asan made a tearful face and followed behind the two.

‘Please not Gainando. Please not Gainando.’

Given their personalities, if the visiting friend wasn’t satisfactory, there was a high chance they would peck at Asan like crazy.

Asan prayed that other friends had come to visit first, not Gainando.

“Good day.”

“!!!”

At the familiar face entering, Asan let out a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, his most reliable friend had visited first!

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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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