Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 486

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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 486

“Y-yes. I understand.”

Professor Thunderstep was unconsciously overwhelmed by the sincere earnestness he felt in Lee Han’s voice.

“What were you doing, Professor? Don’t tell me you were taking a break…”

The disciple looked at his master with suspicious eyes.

If he had finished his work first and returned, he should be doing other work, so he suspected whether he might have been resting.

Seeing that look, Professor Thunderstep began to reflect on whether he had worked his disciples too harshly.

“…No. I was also doing my work. Look.”

Professor Thunderstep gestured and pointed outside the manor’s window.

In the garden arranged in typical southern style, several fruit trees were abundantly bearing fruit, and two servants below were clearing fallen leaves and cutting grass.

Seeing this, Lee Han asked with curiosity.

“Were you securing fruit?”

“…”

It was such a typical Einroguard student way of thinking that Professor Thunderstep was speechless.

“Not the trees! The other side! The opposite window!”

“Ah. You meant over there.”

Only then could Lee Han see the window Professor Thunderstep was pointing to.

Inside the spacious room of the manor on the opposite side, people from the Meikin Family and city alchemists were shaking hands.

From their expressions, it was clear that negotiations had ended satisfactorily for both sides.

“I was persuading the people from the Alchemist Guild. They’re the most reasonable ones to talk to, at least.”

“Do the Alchemist Guild people here have good personalities?”

At Lee Han’s question, Professor Thunderstep immediately answered as if asking what he was talking about.

“No. All guild people have bad personalities. Where are there guild people with good personalities? People with good personalities don’t join guilds.”

“…”

Since guilds were groups of people with the same purposes and directions, they didn’t easily compromise or make concessions.

The Alchemist Guild was the same.

“Then why did you say they were reasonable to talk to…”

“Because of the situation. First, this request was commissioned by the Meikin Family, and I’m also an alchemist from Einroguard.”

Professor Thunderstep said while lighting his pipe.

The Meikin Family was a great noble family that held significant weight in the Empire’s alchemy world, and Professor Thunderstep was also a famous alchemist in the Empire.

If they stubbornly refused or threatened such people’s proposals, they could face severe retaliation.

“Of course, since there are city people involved, the Meikin Family wouldn’t retaliate by cutting off the distribution of materials or reagents, but they’d still be mindful of it, wouldn’t they.”

“I see. Can you also retaliate, Professor?”

“Me? I can too.”

“!”

Lee Han was surprised.

Wasn’t Professor Thunderstep more of a renowned scholar type, strictly speaking?

Since he was distant from power or wealth, he didn’t seem to have the strength to retaliate in such situations.

“Perhaps you’d ask the Principal or Professor Bagrek to attack them?”

“…What crazy talk are you spouting!? I’d just block invitations to the Imperial Alchemy Society or something!”

“Aw…”

Lee Han was disappointed.

It was a bit modest for retaliation.

Of course, from Professor Thunderstep’s perspective, Lee Han seemed like a madman.

‘Shouldn’t I reduce the time he spends with the Principal?’

He’s only a 1st year, but if he’s like this now, what will happen later…

“That said, I didn’t make unreasonable proposals. The Meikin Family agreed to supply several rare reagents, and I also agreed to improve the formulas for three types of potions. Anyway, the Alchemist Guild said they’d cooperate with our mediation plan.”

“I see. That’s fortunate.”

“Now the other guilds are the problem.”

Professor Thunderstep said while puffing out smoke.

“The Fisherman Guild… well, you know how stubborn sailors are everywhere. Because of the deep emotional rift, even persuading them with benefits might not work. It’s a matter of pride…”

“About that.”

“And I don’t know what these Adventurer Guild people here are thinking. Adventurer Guild people are originally fickle and indecisive, but these ones are especially so… Even if the scale is small, they should present clear opinions. They need to tell us what they’re thinking so we can also…”

“So that’s…”

Professor Thunderstep, who had been enthusiastically venting for a while, finally noticed Lee Han and asked.

“What? Do you have something to say?”

“The Fisherman Guild said they’d cooperate.”

“…What? Why??”

If it had been another student, the reaction would have been ‘Did you sneak some alcohol from the storage while I wasn’t looking?’, but since it was Lee Han, the reaction was different.

Professor Thunderstep believed him first, then asked.

What happened?

“Uh… well, it’s not certain yet, but the Fisherman Guild said they were moved by seeing us work hard.”

“…Did the Shadow Patrol hunters risk their lives to save a drowning fisherman or something?”

Professor Thunderstep was very bewildered.

Unless it was something like that, he didn’t think the stubborn fishermen would be moved.

“That’s not it, they said they were moved by me risking my life to catch monsters. They said it was touching to see an Einroguard student not sparing his body to catch monsters…”

“…”

Professor Thunderstep was at a loss for words.

Hearing it, it did sound plausible.

‘Right, it only seems ordinary because it’s Einroguard, but outsiders would see it differently!’

“R-right. I’ll check on it. Thanks anyway.”

“And the Adventurer Guild…”

“You talked to the Adventurer Guild too!?”

Professor Thunderstep almost dropped his pipe.

He had spent all morning hunting and subjugating, and had just returned to the manor for lunch, so when did he have time to persuade them?

“Yes. The Adventurer Guild seemed to have some misunderstandings. They don’t want confrontation, and regardless of which side, they’d be satisfied if they could just receive appropriate compensation and participate in gathering requests. They didn’t have any particular greed.”

“Really? That’s surprising. Why were they silent then?”

“They seemed a bit intimidated by the reputation of Einroguard and the Meikin Family.”

“Ah… that’s understandable. Damn. I made a mistake.”

Professor Thunderstep clicked his tongue.

Thinking about it, this was his mistake.

He should have judged more coldly how the people who came with them would appear.

“I unnecessarily intimidated them. But it seems you resolved the misunderstanding well?”

Professor Thunderstep looked at Lee Han with pride.

Students who showed such social skills at Einroguard were truly rare.

Especially being from the Wardanaz Family yet clearing up misunderstandings and gaining the favor of intimidated people.

“Yes.”

“Indeed, misunderstandings would naturally clear up when talking directly with a young student. Einroguard mages are people too.”

“…”

Lee Han didn’t mention that the Adventurer Guild people had trembled and greeted him because of the Wardanaz Family and Professor Boladi.

Anyway, they had successfully concluded their communication with each other.

“Then I should talk to both of them right away. Thank you so much. Wardanaz! You’re the only one!”

“Yes, Professor. And…”

“?”

When his disciple seemed to have more to say, Professor Thunderstep turned his gaze.

“If word about the Sea Serpent traces reaches Professor Boladi’s ears, the request and negotiations will all turn into a muddy mess.”

“…A-alright. Calm down.”

* * *

After finishing negotiations with the two guilds that arrived late, Professor Thunderstep was so delighted his mouth stretched from ear to ear.

“Well done! Wardanaz! Well done!”

“I was just lucky.”

“You can rest! Rest well until we return. Is there anything else you want?”

“Um… couldn’t you give my friends some time to rest too?”

Professor Thunderstep hesitated.

“The work isn’t all finished yet.”

“If you calculate the schedule, there’s room to spare.”

“That’s true. But you know well too, don’t you? If anything happens, that spare time…”

Professor Thunderstep, who was about to speak, smacked his lips and nodded.

“Fine. I should grant a request like this.”

“Really?”

Lee Han was slightly surprised.

He hadn’t expected much.

“Yes. Honestly, I was thinking the persuasion might not work even by tomorrow… But you solved it like this, so how could I not grant such a request? Even if the schedule gets tangled, it’ll be plenty if the other professors sit down and work together.”

Since there was no need to go around persuading people, if Professor Thunderstep also sat down and worked together, there would be more than enough time.

Moreover, Professor Thunderstep wasn’t cold-hearted enough to refuse a request from a disciple who had achieved such merit.

And if he accumulated resentment with Lee Han, he was seriously worried about what would happen after graduation.

Someone like Professor Verdus wouldn’t think at all that he might get stabbed, but Professor Thunderstep was different.

“Let’s go together to deliver the news.”

“Yes.”

Professor Thunderstep and Lee Han walked down the corridor toward the workshop.

The professor flung open the door and shouted.

“Kids. There’s good news…!”

“…?”

Lee Han and the professor were slightly flustered.

The workshop was almost completely empty.

Only a few students were sitting in their seats, and the other students were nowhere to be seen.

“Where did everyone go? Meikin?”

Professor Thunderstep looked at Yoner and asked.

Yoner slightly averted his gaze and answered.

“I’m not sure, Professor.”

“…”

“…”

Both Lee Han and Professor Thunderstep could immediately grasp the situation.

The students had gone out to play!

Yoner and a few honor students remained thinking ‘We should still finish what needs to be done’…

“Have you ever seen such punishment room-bound fools!”

Professor Thunderstep jumped up and down in fury.

To secretly run away when the work wasn’t finished!

Meanwhile, Lee Han secretly asked Yoner.

“Yoner. What were they all thinking when they went out? The work isn’t finished…”

“Well… you said there was room in the schedule, Lee Han.”

“Ah.”

Lee Han finally remembered what he had told his friends about the schedule.

Learning this, the students thought ‘Oh? Then we could go out and come back?’ and attempted to go out.

‘I should keep this secret from the professor.’

“Wait. Yoner. There’s one more thing I’m curious about. Where did everyone get money? They shouldn’t have any.”

This was also part of why Professor Thunderstep had let his guard down.

Since the students had no silver coins, there wasn’t much they could enjoy even if they went out.

“A few borrowed some. They asked the people from the Meikin Family.”

“Ah. Did the Black Turtle Tower students borrow it?”

Lee Han thought that made sense.

Being practical and not caring about appearances, they could say ‘We’ll pay back with the commission reward later’ and borrow…

“No. The Blue Dragon Tower students did.”

Yoner answered with his face slightly reddening, as if somewhat embarrassed.

“…Huh? Really?”

“Yeah. It’s not easy to bring up asking for money unless you have connections with the family in the first place…”

How could Black Turtle Tower students easily make such a request when they had no connection with the Meikin Family?

It was only possible for Blue Dragon Tower students.

But…

“But the other kids wouldn’t be able to ask because of their pride, right?”

“Yeah. Kind of surprising, isn’t it?”

Yoner swallowed the rest of his words: ‘I think there were a few who gained courage from watching what you do, Lee Han.’

It was out of respect for his friend’s honor.

“Then what about the rest?”

“The rest just went out saying it was good enough just to go outside.”

“…”

Lee Han suddenly thought of the healing magic seniors and felt sad.

Professor Thunderstep finished jumping around and sighed before speaking.

“Wardanaz. Go tell them to play moderately and come back. Just tell them to return before tonight.”

“Thank you.”

“!?”

The remaining students were shocked when Thunderstep suddenly gave permission.

And that wasn’t even the end of it.

Professor Thunderstep took out his wallet and threw it to Lee Han.

“Buy something delicious to eat. Don’t buy strange artifacts or potions.”

“Thank you.”

“…!!”

Shock.

Murmuring.

While the students were getting up in confusion, Priest Siana approached Lee Han and whispered in a low voice in his ear.

“By any chance, by any chance…”

“Yes. I succeeded in the negotiation…”

“Did you threaten the professor?!”

“…No.”

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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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