Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 371
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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 371
Surprisingly, there was.
“My family is affiliated with the Chestnut Knights…”
“What a connection! I just happened to receive an invitation from the Knights of the Hornbeam Knight Order!”
“You received an invitation?”
The knights were quite surprised by Lee Han’s words.
It was rare for knight families’ gatherings to invite mages.
Unless they owed a really great debt…
“The Knights of the Hornbeam Knight Order were truly excellent knights. They were so insistent about repaying their debt to me…”
“Our knight order is like that.”
The knight who heard Lee Han’s praise spoke with a relaxed expression.
Of course, Lee Han cursed that knight inwardly.
Like that, what do you mean like that!
“I didn’t know you were a mage so close to the knight order.”
“That’s right. If we had known, we would have invited you as soon as we arrived in the village.”
When you become friends with one knight, you could also become friends with other knights around him.
From the knights’ perspective, there was no reason not to welcome Lee Han, who seemed to have great friendship not only with their colleague but also with the Chestnut Knights.
After some appropriate conversation, Lee Han casually asked the upperclassmen.
“But what were you trying to ask them?”
“Ah. To drive out suspicious people from the village, even if they have to be a bit forceful…”
‘As expected.’
Even if it sounded like a somewhat unreasonable request, it was something the knights could easily do if they set their minds to it.
The reason knights didn’t drive away travelers flocking to the village wasn’t because they lacked the ability or authority, but because they didn’t want to create unnecessary commotion.
If the expelled travelers spread bad rumors here and there and caused trouble, it would become needlessly bothersome, so they would let those who came with permits pass through for now.
As such, if they set their minds to it, it was easy to find excuses and drive people away.
The upperclassmen hadn’t asked to drive away all other travelers, but only to drive away obviously suspicious people, so this much…
“…And we asked if they could block other travelers from entering while we go in.”
“…Let’s ask again excluding that part?”
Lee Han was shocked by these shameless upperclassmen.
* * *
Surprisingly, the knights even granted the shameless request.
“Since you’re a benefactor of the Chestnut Knights, we should do at least that much.”
“What else would a knight’s honor be?”
‘This isn’t honor, it’s more like corruption…’
Lee Han thought so, but since he was benefiting from it, he quietly kept his mouth shut.
Who would have thought they’d even grant that request.
“From the mages’ perspective, if there are suspicious travelers, you can’t help but be concerned.”
“We’ll send them out of the village and adjust the entry order for you.”
The knights escorted Lee Han’s group to the clearing in the middle of the village. Seeing the knights waving and shouting to enter carefully, the upperclassmen said.
“Did the Wardanaz Family perhaps bribe those knights?”
“Even if they were bribed, it wouldn’t be to this extent…”
“No. We’re just acquaintances.”
“That’s what you call acquaintances…!?”
“Ah, were acquaintances this powerful?”
The upperclassmen fell into confusion at Lee Han’s unbelievable excuse.
If that was being acquaintances, then what had they been doing all this time?
“Anyway, you really did well, junior. Thanks to you, we can enter comfortably.”
“Why don’t you play around in the village like other 1st year students? This was originally our job, but you did it all, so I feel sorry…”
-How dare you use a dark magic curse deck!? Are you ignoring me!?
-What business is it of yours what cards I use! Don’t make excuses after losing!
“…Don’t play like that.”
“Hurry and go stop them!”
At Diret’s shout, the upperclassmen rushed out.
* * *
Bakdeggul, dressed like a wealthy person enjoying travel, was sitting on the first floor of the 【Chirping Sparrow】 inn.
Like other mages and travelers, Bakdeggul had also rented the entire inn.
Not only was it convenient for activities…
…but anti-magic extremists weren’t usually welcome guests in the Empire.
Such Bakdeggul sat there, bewildered.
“They were expelled?”
“Yes…”
“Tell me again.”
“So, well.”
The subordinate, also quite bewildered, explained again calmly.
First, two parties were expelled from the village by knights for being suspicious, and another party was driven out after getting into a big fight over some mage card game.
Bakdeggul’s mouth opened wide.
After hiring parties with great effort, getting permits for these parties to enter the dimension, and now just having to wait and enter…
Three out of four parties were driven out.
It was so absurd he couldn’t believe it.
Bakdeggul scratched his cheek and lowered his voice.
“We weren’t discovered, were we?”
“Th-that’s absolutely not it.”
The subordinate hastily denied it.
Even though he looked like a well-off idler lounging around on the surface, he knew well that inside that appearance was a cold-blooded person who could kill his subordinates at any time.
“If we were discovered, there would be no reason to only drive away other parties without touching us, right? It would only raise suspicion!”
“That’s true…”
Bakdeggul thought his subordinate’s words made sense.
If their identity as anti-magic extremists had been discovered, they would be surrounding the inn right now, not driving away other pawns to raise suspicion.
It must really be a coincidence.
“Maybe a superior of those knights came, or there’s some other reason they’re finding fault. This is really…”
Bakdeggul closed his mouth and pondered what to do.
The task that Bakdeggul’s gang was most prioritizing right now was collecting as many mountain ring mushrooms as possible.
For the grand plan, they needed mountains of these rare mushrooms.
So they brought adventurers and mercenaries, but their hands and feet were being cut off before they even started.
“It can’t be helped. First, send word to the people waiting outside.”
“What should I tell them?”
“Tell them to recover the gold coins from those who were expelled.”
“Bakdeggul sir. Given the nature of those we hired, they probably won’t hand it over obediently in this situation…”
Since those who usually take on such requests are somewhat suspicious and rough people, they often don’t obediently hand over contract money even when they fail the request due to their own mistakes.
“Of course they won’t hand it over if we just ask with words. Tell them to kill and take it.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“We have no choice but to enter with one party… But while I can understand knights finding fault, what the hell was that bastard who got kicked out for playing mage card games doing? Tell them to kill him especially painfully.”
“It seems he got angry because his opponent used a dark magic curse deck and won.”
“…Good grief… Even if luck is bad, it’s really damn awful. To meet such a vulgar bastard in this remote village.”
“Yes. It’s truly unbelievable.”
“Fine. Then just tell them to kill me comfortably.”
Bakdeggul took back what he had said.
If they had met such an opponent, he could understand causing a ruckus a little.
“You know that if things get any more tangled up, I won’t be able to forgive you, right? No more mistakes can happen now.”
“I… I’m keeping it in mind. Don’t worry! I’ve already properly grilled the knights. They’ll inform us at least a day before anyone else!”
* * *
“Shh. Everyone come out quietly. The dimension is approaching. It will open within an hour.”
When the knights carefully knocked on the inn door in the middle of the night and came in whispering, Professor Mortum was flustered.
Then he looked at the dark magic school students and asked.
“Cough… How much money did you give them? Don’t tell me you used up all the public funds?”
“No, Professor.”
“This junior here persuaded them.”
Professor Mortum looked at Lee Han like he was looking at a monster, then nodded his head.
“Good that they’re telling us in advance. Cough. Let’s go in.”
When the mages came outside, the knights spoke with a confident attitude.
“We’ll try to hide this fact from other people as much as possible. If we do well, we can gain more than two days.”
“…Is this really okay?”
Lee Han had been trying to endure it, but eventually couldn’t hold back and asked the question.
Is this really okay??
“For the sake of honor, this much is nothing.”
“Have a safe trip.”
“…”
Lee Han walked while thinking about what a knight’s honor really was.
Since it wasn’t even dawn yet, the students walked along the forest path while yawning.
“!”
Lee Han’s expression hardened first. Professor Mortum saw this and spoke as if impressed.
“You already sensed mana? I haven’t even done so yet?”
“Ah. Gainando ate all of his share of snacks…”
“…”
Professor Mortum felt unnecessarily embarrassed.
And the group walked again.
“!!”
“…Did you perhaps really sense mana…”
“Yes.”
“Cough, excellent!”
Professor Mortum praised Lee Han. Fortunately, this time he had really sensed mana correctly.
“Negative mana is rushing in, is this that overlap?”
“That’s right. Stagnant mana receives environmental influence from the surroundings and explosively causes abnormal phenomena.”
Professor Mortum pointed ahead.
It was already dark, but the mages could feel an even deeper darkness settling above that darkness.
“It’s coming.”
“Juniors stay in the back. Don’t get hurt by being in front for no reason.”
Bang!
A powerful wave of mana that only mages could feel burst out.
It was so powerful that the upperclassmen nearby staggered or stumbled and fell to their knees.
Diret barely maintained his balance and looked at the first years behind him.
“Is everyone alri… you’re fine.”
“Only Lee Han is fine…!”
Gainando, who had fallen on top of Raphadael, grumbled as he got up.
Everyone except Lee Han was rolling around on the ground.
“It’s open. Everyone let’s go in!”
“Yes!”
“For gold coins! For abundant dark magic research!”
Shouting slogans that were embarrassing to yell in front of others, the upperclassmen started running.
The knights tilted their heads and asked.
“What magic was that just now…”
“Then we’ll see you next time!”
Lee Han also took his friends and hurriedly went in.
* * *
“Damn it. It’s a cave.”
“No luck either.”
“Think positively. Rather, mushrooms appear more often in caves.”
The dark magic school students who passed through the dimensional gate grumbled.
Originally, the terrain of other dimensions didn’t come out as mages wanted. Luck had to follow to some extent.
The best was open terrain that was good for movement…
Terrain like caves that were dark, narrow, and had complex paths wasn’t very good.
“Cough. Everyone remember what you learned. Use magic as carefully as possible. Be even more careful with dark magic. Avoid fights if possible…”
Along with his words, Professor Mortum waved his staff. Dark vision magic was cast on everyone present.
“…Move slowly. Don’t make loud noises. Don’t heat up your bodies.”
“Professor. I have a question.”
Lee Han asked carefully.
“Cough. What is it?”
“Is my mana okay? Since I have a lot of mana…”
At Lee Han’s words, one of the upperclassmen nearby spoke as if it was fine.
“If you have a lot of mana, it gets a bit more tangled, but it’s okay. I’ll apply medicine for you.”
“Cough. That won’t work on him.”
“…”
“…”
“And it doesn’t matter. With your level of mana, the Zone 1 undead will run away.”
The upperclassmen were shocked.
Of course, they had learned that if mana was overwhelmingly abundant beyond just being a little much, it would give off intimidation…
…but to actually see it!
“Senior?”
“Why, why are you calling me, junior sir?”
“…”
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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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