Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 483

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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 483

Although one unfortunate student suffered, the work progress was definitely fast.

Professor Thunderstep found the location of the Sangoria flowers in an instant, and the Shadow Patrol hunters caught the monsters in the sea routes as if they were going to wipe them out completely.

And Professor Boladi and the professor’s outstanding top student dealt with the monsters hiding on islands or reefs.

“…Let’s stop here for today and go back to rest.”

Professor Thunderstep said to the sailors.

The sailors were slightly puzzled but nodded their heads.

“Understood.”

‘It seems like we could do more…’

‘The mage must have something in mind. Well, since he rushed here, he might not have recovered from the travel fatigue yet.’

Since the work was done quickly, the sailors were in a less exhausted state.

They could still sail the ship more, but judging that the mage’s instruction must have a reason, they turned the bow without hesitation.

Professor Lightningstep asked as if he didn’t understand.

“Are you tired or something?”

“Oh, no.”

“Then why? If we push a little, we could finish this entire area today.”

“I feel sorry for Wardanaz…”

“…”

Professor Lightningstep looked at Lee Han walking out from the island with Boladi.

And he nodded his head.

“You’re right!”

* * *

Among the foreigners in Isran, there were several suspicious individuals whose identities were hard to guess.

It would be stranger if there weren’t such suspicious individuals in a port open to everywhere.

However, the suspicious person currently at the shabby and fishy-smelling 【Cloudy Fish Eye】 inn, located around the western dock area of the port, was somewhat special.

A former mage wanted as an imperial magic criminal, who had reached the pinnacle of infamy that an imperial mage could achieve.

Magic criminal Ianop was sitting in a corner of the inn, listening to rumors.

“Those Einroguard bastards came… it’s not a false rumor, is it?”

“Oh my. Mage sir. What nerve would I have to deceive you?”

The retired sailor rubbed his palms together flatteringly and bowed his head.

Mages were a welcomed profession anywhere in the Empire, and the same was true in the Empire’s dark back alleys.

Even to those living in the shadows, a mage like Ianop was an object of respect and fear.

It didn’t matter that Ianop’s identity was uncertain and suspicious. Most of the people around here had one or two suspicious aspects anyway.

“That’s right. If it’s a false rumor, I’ll pluck out your eyeballs and tongue.”

“…”

Cold sweat ran down the retired sailor’s spine.

He knew well that this mage wasn’t joking right now.

What had happened to those mercenary bastards who attacked last time, targeting the mage’s thick purse of gold coins?

They dried up like withered old trees and died.

‘He’s definitely a dark mage.’

The sailor didn’t know much about magic, but he was certain that Ianop was a dark mage.

Otherwise, how could he use such evil curses?

“I knew there was chaos because of the Sangoria flowers… but those Einroguard bastards coming was unexpected. Don’t tell me calling the Shadow Patrol was also their idea?”

“Huh? How do you know that?”

At the sailor’s question, Ianop cast a light look of contempt.

“Then would the guild bastards here have hugged each other and called the Shadow Patrol?”

“They could have called…”

The sailor trailed off.

Ianop didn’t explain further.

What would be the point of explaining the friction and disputes between the city guilds here, the complex entangled interest issues related to the Sangoria flowers, and how they couldn’t choose the bold method of calling the Shadow Patrol to solve the problem first because of all these things?

He wouldn’t understand anyway.

“Anyway, are you going to curse those Einroguard bastards? If you’re going to curse them, I’ll get the necessary items.”

The retired sailor made the wrinkles carved on his face even deeper and grinned wickedly.

In that greedy smile flashed the desire to take a solid share.

“Cursing those Einroguard bastards… just how many livers and lives do you have? No matter how much of an idiot and moron you are, stuff some roadside straw into your head and carry it around.”

Ianop laughed as if absurd at the sailor’s suggestion to mess with the Einroguard mages.

While occasionally fearless anti-magic extremists who were crazy to die would act up, Ianop was very rational and sane.

And a rational and sane mage wouldn’t mess with Einroguard’s mages.

“You were a sailor. What did you do when a storm approached while catching fish in the distant sea?”

“Well… we avoided the storm…”

“Right. Think of those Einroguard bastards as a storm. After the storm passes, it’s not too late to take a share from what remains.”

Ianop leaned back leisurely. The retired sailor looked dissatisfied that his chance to take a share had disappeared, but he was too afraid of the mage to open his mouth further.

“Don’t look so dissatisfied. Should I pluck out your eyeballs?”

“N-n-no!”

“I have a task for you. If you accomplish this, I’ll reward you greatly.”

“!”

“Tell all the mercenary bastards around here too. If Einroguard’s mages are out, there should be students too, so if there’s an outstanding one among them, let me know.”

“An outstanding one… you mean.”

The retired sailor hesitated.

He wondered if he could distinguish the skills of mages.

“Don’t worry too much. You’ll hear through rumors. Mages’ achievements tend to spread as rumors even if you stay still. I don’t need mediocre ones. If you hear something so amazing that it sounds impossible even to you, then tell me. Einroguard produces one or two such geniuses.”

“Yes… understood.”

The sailor couldn’t understand Ianop’s thinking.

He said Einroguard was a storm to be avoided, yet he wanted to know about outstanding students.

Was he planning to kidnap them?

‘But… wouldn’t that be the complete opposite of what he just said?’

Ianop poured cheap liquor into a tin cup and chuckled.

Someone who didn’t know about magic couldn’t possibly guess Ianop’s thoughts.

‘The more outstanding they are, the easier they are to corrupt.’

Ianop wasn’t from Einroguard, but he had seen magic criminals who were Einroguard graduates.

It was decades ago, but that memory was still vivid.

A genius who completely surpassed Ianop’s level, who thought he wouldn’t lose in magical talent anywhere, inheriting the essence of imperial magic.

Just making eye contact felt intimidating.

Every spell he spoke was brilliant, the structure of magic was perfect without lacking in any part…

And he was more arrogant than anyone.

Ianop couldn’t understand and asked the great and evil Archmage Antagondals:

-What could an Einroguard graduate possibly lack to act like that?

-A foolish question. Originally, the more outstanding a mage is, the easier they are to corrupt. Well, you who have never been outstanding wouldn’t know that.

The more outstanding one was in magic, the more trivial reality seemed, and all the rules and restraints blocking oneself felt futile.

When trying to see the end of sublime truth and principles, what did it matter if hundreds of insects died?

No matter how much the Empire’s glory and fame awaited mages, the greatest temptation for outstanding mages was truth itself.

-Ianop. Think about it. That shining… incomparably greater magical intellect than someone like you, falling into corruption.

-An… Antagondals sir.

-Was that too vague? Alright. Then how about this? If you succeed even once, I’ll take you as my disciple.

-…!!!

For a mage like Ianop who had hit his limits, the possibility of becoming a disciple of an archmage like Antagondals was an irresistible temptation.

Even after decades had passed, that desire hadn’t disappeared.

‘I don’t have high expectations though…’

Since then, there had been several opportunities to make contact with mages from Einroguard, but unfortunately, they weren’t as outstanding as Ianop had hoped.

No matter how much they were from Einroguard, moderately talented geniuses wouldn’t easily fall for Ianop’s temptations.

Only arrogant geniuses who would do anything for the truth would fall for such temptations.

Ianop earnestly prayed that there would be such a genius among these Einroguard bastards this time.

* * *

Evening.

The faces of the students sitting at the manor’s dining table were haggard and weary.

Lee Han was startled to see the Imperial Princess sitting next to him nodding off while holding her spoon.

‘Good heavens!’

He had seen a similar phenomenon before.

Even Gainando, who displayed extraordinary abilities when it came to food, couldn’t overcome fatigue and had once dozed off during a meal.

Gainando was so shocked by that fact that he tried to stay alert during meals afterward, even if it meant stabbing his thigh with a needle.

As this showed, when a member of the Imperial Family dozed off during a meal, it meant they were extremely tired.

“Your Highness. Please wake up.”

“…!”

Adenart opened her eyes wide.

“You must eat. If you can’t eat because you’re dozing off, you’ll regret it.”

“Thank y…”

The Imperial Princess, who was about to express her gratitude while still half-asleep, felt something was strange.

…No, I wouldn’t regret it over just one meal, would I?

“Wardanaz…”

She was about to question what was going on, but Lee Han was already talking to someone else.

“Wardanaz. I heard you swept away all the monsters on the island.”

“…What? How do you know that?”

When Bartrek from the Bak family of the White Tiger Tower spoke, Lee Han was startled.

How would guys who had been locked up in the manor workshop the whole time know?

“The servants told us?”

“…No. No. Wait.”

Lee Han couldn’t understand.

“Could you come here for a moment?”

“What’s the matter…”

A servant who had been attending rushed over in confusion.

“Perhaps the drinks don’t suit your taste? They’re southern-style drinks…”

“No. That’s not it. About me sweeping away all the monsters… I didn’t do it alone, but anyway, where did you hear that rumor?”

“There’s a fish merchant I deal with at the harbor, and I heard it from that merchant.”

“…Do you happen to know where that merchant heard it?”

“He said he heard it from the fishermen who went out to cast nets today…? The, the hunters told the fishermen, didn’t they?”

“…”

The speed of transmission was faster than the communication network among Einroguard professors.

While Lee Han was hunting on the island, the Shadow Patrol had been catching sea monsters in the surrounding waters while spreading rumors to passing fishermen like ‘That boy from the Wardanaz Family is really good at catching monsters.’

It was an unbelievable multitasking ability.

‘Indeed, they’re not masters of hunting for nothing…’

“Did I make some mistake?”

“Oh, no. Actually, the reason I called you was because the meal was so delicious. Could you bring another plate of plover dish for Her Highness here?”

“Understood.”

The servant withdrew happily.

The Imperial Princess, who had woken up and was eating, looked at Lee Han again with a dumbfounded expression.

No…!

“What…?!”

Of course, she had been thinking about wanting another plate, but that was just a thought.

Adenart was about to grab Lee Han’s shoulder with the intention of protesting firmly and gracefully.

“…Wardanaz. How was the Shadow Patrol today?”

But once again, an interruption came.

Nilia asked the question while looking around worriedly with a face full of concern.

She clearly looked worried that he might have caused some trouble.

Lee Han held back from saying ‘The hunters kept not believing that I’m close with you and thought you threatened them with a bow. And they kept offering me liquor, wouldn’t listen when I explained magic, and were as annoying as Gainando.’

And he opened his mouth for his friend.

“…I felt honored to meet what seemed like the most outstanding and capable hunters in the Empire. I wondered if there would be another opportunity like this.”

Yoner, who had heard the story roughly from the Meikin Family people, looked at Lee Han sympathetically, then picked up the apple tart plate in front of Bartrek and slid it in front of Lee Han.

Bartrek felt wronged but endured it.

If Wardanaz brought up the amount of work done, there was nothing he could say.

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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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