Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 500

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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 500

“Asan. I think that song…”

Lee Han was about to tell his friend, ‘Shouldn’t we ban that song?’

“If it’s that song, it’s definitely worth showing.”

“Ugh. How frustrating. If I had composed a decent song, I would have shown it to him too. The Professor gave harsh criticism to my 【A Day in the Punishment Room】.”

“Cheer up. You can just compose a good song next time.”

“…”

Lee Han decided to just keep his mouth shut.

‘He really must be as famous as I thought.’

He looked around, but unfortunately Yoner wasn’t among the idle guys who had come out here.

‘If Yoner were here, we could have shared the sense of alienation together.’

Wouldn’t two people be better than being the only antisocial person?

Lee Han had a very rude thought about Yoner.

Creeeeak-

“!”

At the sound of the door opening, all the students crouched down. Everyone’s eyes except Lee Han’s were sparkling with anticipation.

‘Huh? Did he really come?’

Actually, Lee Han didn’t really believe his friends’ words.

There were so many false rumors at Einroguard.

-Guys! Next week His Imperial Majesty’s army will defeat the Principal and liberate the school!

-Guys! Next week a new Principal is coming and the school rules will change!

-Guys! Starting next week, meat will be added to the menu!

…Such false rumors were usually never right. And when asked, no one could remember who started them first.

However, surprisingly, what entered through the opened door was an unfamiliar outsider he’d never seen before.

The elderly turtle beastman, wrapped in a slightly worn but thick coat, set down his instrument bag and looked around the main building as if observing it carefully.

From his appearance, one could feel the leisure and dignity that only someone who had been active as a bard for a long time could possess.

Even though Lee Han had never seen Ifadur’s face, he could be certain that this person was Ifadur.

‘Famous people really do have a different aura.’

“This is truly a beautiful place. Duke Gonadaltes.”

Haha. The great Sir Ifadur seems too generous. Someone who has seen all the spring flowers and autumn moons throughout the Empire.

“No. The history embedded in this building overwhelms me.”

“…”

“…”

The students crouched down so low they were practically pressed flat against the floor. Lee Han looked at them as if he found them pathetic.

‘These idiots are doing this without even checking the Skeleton Principal’s location.’

Come to think of it, when a famous person came from outside, wouldn’t there be a high probability that the Skeleton Principal would appear?

The basics were to either track the Skeleton Principal’s location, or if that was difficult, set fire near the Principal’s office to lure the Skeleton Principal in that direction.

‘I’ve been caught.’

When the Skeleton Principal turned his gaze, Lee Han instinctively knew he’d been caught.

Well, given the number of friends, it would have been hard not to get caught.

‘Trying to hide here would be what amateurs do. I need to trust the outsider and go strong.’

“Principal! Good evening!”

“!?!”

“????”

The friends lying flat on the floor thought Lee Han had gone crazy.

Even the Skeleton Principal seemed not to have expected Lee Han to openly pop out, throwing him a displeased look.

Ah, yes. It’s a good night. What are you doing there?

“While passing by, I felt sorry that the honorable Einroguard’s floor was dirty, so I was cleaning it.”

“…Right, that’s right.”

“That’s what we were doing.”

The friends lying on the floor wiped the floor with their whole bodies to show they had been cleaning.

The Skeleton Principal clicked his tongue seeing the first-year students who had snuck away from their duties making such ridiculous excuses.

That heart of yours is so admirable it’s hard to believe. Is Professor Verdus coming out to clean tomorrow?

“Thank you. If it wouldn’t be rude, may I also greet the guest?”

“Rather, it would be an honor. I am Ifadur.”

“Gasp!” “Eek!” “Gah!”

“?”

Lee Han was confused when his friends, who were trying to get up, screamed and collapsed.

‘Is it magic?’

However, his friends hadn’t been hit by magic. They were trembling, not knowing what to do because they were so happy.

While Lee Han was at a confused level, the Skeleton Principal was looking at them with contemptuous eyes thinking ‘How can such blockheads be Einroguard students?’

Instead of doing magic as they should, they’re only interested in tricks.

“I apologize. Duke Gonadaltes.”

Ifadur, seemingly accustomed to his followers showing such behavior, apologized with a slight smile.

There’s nothing for you to apologize for, Sir. You guys should learn from Wardanaz over there. Except for the bad habit of preparing meals for you guys, doesn’t he focus only on magic?

‘Why is that a bad habit…’

‘If you focus like Wardanaz, don’t people die?’

Let’s go. Sir.

“Wait, wait a moment!”

Originally, except for Lee Han, first-year students could hardly bring themselves to speak in front of the Skeleton Principal.

Even excluding the tremendous status the Skeleton Principal held, the intense aura he emanated as an Archmage intimidated the first-year students.

However, sometimes love conquers fear.

With strong affection for Ifadur, the first-year students pushed away their fear.

“I-Ifadur sir! Could… could you please listen to a song I composed?”

You…

The Skeleton Principal felt embarrassed for the first time in a while.

He had invited Ifadur purely for magical research.

While music held a quite important position in ancient magic, primitive magic, or divine magic, it wasn’t the case in current Imperial magic.

Magic using music was considered quite niche.

Although mages projected an image of being detached from reality, they actually couldn’t be. They were naturally influenced by realistic elements.

Magic using music was a representative magical branch that was difficult to theorize due to its variability that changed according to the caster and their emotions on any given day.

However, recently several upperclassmen at Einroguard had become interested in this magic and were researching it.

Moreover, when some second-year students began seriously considering this magic under the influence of their seniors, the Skeleton Principal could no longer just sit by.

When mages with purpose gathered, it was the duty of Einroguard’s lord to pave the way for them.

That’s why he had invited Ifadur.

To converse with an excellent bard and try to create a curriculum for music-based magic.

Otherwise, there would be no reason for the Skeleton Principal to invite a bard into Einroguard.

If he created some satirical song and spread it throughout the Empire, dealing with the aftermath would be troublesome…

Anyway, while the master was making efforts, enduring annoyance and trouble for his disciples, they were asking for evaluation of some trivial song, which was absolutely outrageous.

‘If there weren’t eyes watching, it would be the punishment room.’

Do you think I called him to evaluate songs? Get out of the way. Don’t interfere.

“Duke Gonadaltes. Since this is also fate, couldn’t you listen just once before leaving?”

…

The Skeleton Principal gritted his teeth internally and nodded.

Before extracting what he needed from Ifadur (even a professor contract seal if necessary), he couldn’t reveal his true nature.

Until then, he had to be a benevolent and great Archmage.

Sing it. Sing. You stupid…

“Principal. We have a guest.”

At Lee Han’s whisper, the Skeleton Principal came to his senses.

The blockheads’ anger provocation almost made his usual habits surface for a moment.

Thank you.

“No, it’s not.”

But why are you here? You probably don’t even know who Sir Ifadur is.

Lee Han was hurt by the Skeleton Principal’s cutting words.

Of course, he didn’t know who he was, but hearing this from the Skeleton Principal made him feel bad for no reason.

“That’s not true. How could I not know Sir Ifadur, the Empire’s famous bard? What do you take me for?”

Tell me even one song that Sir Ifadur sang.

“…Oh. Asan is singing.”

When Lee Han changed the subject, the Skeleton Principal clicked his tongue as if he had expected this.

If all students were crazy about magic like this Wardanaz, running Einroguard would be much easier.

“Einroguard. Einroguard. How wonderful it is.”

“…”

…

Lee Han could clearly feel the atmosphere turning cold, just like when Penguerin used frost magic.

“A place with warm meals and soft beds. Einroguard.”

Why is that blockhead singing such a vulgar song in front of an outsider? Anyone who sees this will think I ordered it!

“I don’t think so.”

But Ifadur was already looking at Asan with a bewildered face, then looking at the Skeleton Principal.

Being an experienced bard, he immediately realized that it was somewhat strange for a group’s newcomer to be singing a praise song.

“Surely Duke Gonadaltes didn’t…?”

No! Why would I!

“Asan just composed it out of pure inspiration.”

Lee Han, unable to watch any longer, stepped forward.

If he left things as they were, Asan might be dragged to the punishment room for defaming the principal’s honor after this was over.

“Are you saying someone from a great noble family was impressed by warm meals and soft beds?”

Ifadur asked incredulously.

No matter how he thought about it, he suspected it was a song made through coercion and pressure.

Lee Han gritted his teeth and hastily made up a reason.

“…There’s actually a story behind that. You see, friends who enter Einroguard come in terrified by all sorts of rumors. In the midst of that, realizing the rumors were wrong, he created that song.”

“Aha!”

“…”

“…”

The friends next to Lee Han had very complicated expressions.

The words ‘No, there are no warm meals or soft beds’ had risen to their throats.

“I misunderstood. I apologize, Duke Gonadaltes.”

It’s fine. That can happen.

“The melody is excellent, but the lyrics are a bit too… they could be misunderstood as blatant praise. Wouldn’t subtle metaphors be better?”

While Ifadur was critiquing Asan’s song, the Skeleton Principal looked at Lee Han and said.

Have I ever told you that I truly cherish you?

“Oh. Are you going to give me something?”

…I was just asking.

Lee Han glared at the Skeleton Principal.

* * *

After listening to the 1st year students’ songs, correcting them, and even giving autographs, Ifadur said to the Skeleton Principal.

“Duke Gonadaltes. Actually, I have a favor to ask.”

Say anything.

“Could I perhaps take a look around the school’s scenery? If I could do that, it would be of great help to my poetic inspiration.”

Are you going to compose a song about Einroguard?

The Skeleton Principal tried not to show his emotions, but Lee Han could sense the hidden reluctance within.

Of course, having a song composed about Einroguard wasn’t a bad thing.

If Ifadur would just create a song of praise, how abundant would that year’s donations and investments become?

However, the Skeleton Principal knew well that a bard’s mouth basically couldn’t be controlled as desired.

If he just doesn’t compose a song, there would be no worries…

“That’s right!”

I understand. Let’s take a look around together.

“I’m truly sorry, but could one of the students also accompany us? I feel like they would show a different perspective from what you see…”

At Ifadur’s words, the friends looked like they were about to have heart attacks.

They silently screamed at each other, grabbing collars and stomping on feet as they tried to step forward.

Wardanaz. Come out.

“Yes? Principal. I was going to go back and sleep…”

The Skeleton Principal used extraordinary space magic to transfer an outing pass into Lee Han’s coat front pocket.

Lee Han nodded with an expression impressed by the beautiful magic.

“Serving a guest would be an honor for us students as well.”

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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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