Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 601

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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 601

Even among the same beastfolk, there were bloodlines whose appearance was particularly close to animals.

These individuals were usually described as having “thick blood.”

And when that animal happened to be a generally appealing and cute creature, they could easily gain popularity that surpassed the typical handsome men and beautiful women of the Empire.

-Like Professor Verdus.

Indeed, Professor Verdus had a remarkably beaver-like cute appearance that stood out even among beaver beastfolk.

The fact that Professor Verdus had survived this long despite his personality was due to his magical skills, but one couldn’t help but suspect that his appearance also played a role to some degree.

“Then couldn’t we just take the Professor with us?”

-Are you out of your mind???

“Ah. I apologize.”

Lee Han immediately apologized. The Skeleton Principal also spoke with a softened expression.

“Compared to Professor Verdus, Penguerin is a shining star of the social hall.”

“I don’t want to go to the social hall though…”

Alsicle said while reading the mood.

Having been born with outstanding magical talent, Alsicle believed he was destined to devote himself to magic.

A mage with such destiny should dedicate himself to magic rather than waste time on pointless social activities at social halls.

“Oh my. I don’t want to be a magic school principal either. Penguerin. That’s what life is like. When you get caught infiltrating, you end up having to do things you don’t want to do. Now. Let’s depart.”

The Skeleton Principal dragged the two up to the surface.

Suddenly remembering another intruder, Lee Han asked.

“What happened to that intruder who had turned into a statue?”

“Ah. That spy bastard. The Duke sent him.”

“Which Duke?”

“Duke Ikalderen.”

“!”

Lee Han was startled.

It was a Duke he had met several times among the Empire’s great nobles.

“That fickle, eccentric, and stingy Duke? To think he would do such a thing!”

“…?”

The Skeleton Principal was puzzled by Lee Han’s words. Alsicle was also puzzled by Lee Han’s words.

‘He’s not stingy though?’

‘Isn’t he cold and thoroughly methodical in personality?’

“Duke Ikalderen isn’t stingy, is he? He’s not one to spare gold coins.”

“That’s right. I know several magic towers that Duke Ikalderen sponsors, and he’s not a demanding patron. And his personality is also a bit puzzling – I heard he’s so cold that not a drop of blood would come out even if pricked with a needle…”

At their words, Lee Han tilted his head.

Was that so?

“Weren’t the rumors exaggerated? He was a rather strange person.”

If Duke Ikalderen had heard this, he would have raged, ‘It’s because I was flustered because of you!’ but unfortunately, the Duke wasn’t present.

The Skeleton Principal and Alsicle took Lee Han’s opinion seriously.

“A person’s character can change.”

“That’s also true. His personality might have become eccentric and fickle, which is why he sent a spy.”

Duke Ikalderen had suddenly become an eccentric, fickle miser.

“There are few trustworthy people in the Empire. To think that someone who’s supposedly a Duke would do such a thing.”

“You’ve gained enlightenment. How many people truly care for this Empire? There’s probably only someone like me.”

“…”

“…Ah, yes.”

Though Alsicle and Lee Han’s responses were a bit delayed, the Skeleton Principal didn’t mind.

“Then will you meet with the Duke first on the way?”

“No. I have no intention of changing plans because of such a small fry.”

The Skeleton Principal waved his hand dismissively as if Duke Ikalderen’s matter was utterly trivial.

Even a renowned great noble of the Empire was just a brat who was lucky enough to be born into a decent family in the Skeleton Principal’s eyes.

Making a name in the Empire’s political circles or raising one’s reputation in high society were merely laughable matters.

He had no intention whatsoever of changing his schedule because of such people.

Like dessert placed on a table to be eaten when remembered, the Duke’s matter also belonged to that category.

“I’ll deal with it later when I remember.”

“Oh, I thought you were furious because of the intruder.”

“I was furious when we couldn’t catch him. At the incompetence, that is.”

The Death Knights driving the carriage in front flinched.

“But now that we’ve caught him, there’s no reason to be furious.”

The Skeleton Principal’s face was truly nonchalant.

So much so that it genuinely sounded like he was more angry about failing to catch the intruder than about the fact of the intrusion itself.

“That brat probably thinks he’s special. But such fools appear in Einroguard once every year. Those who think they’re special and are convinced they can take something from Einroguard.”

Having spoken, the Skeleton Principal looked at Alsicle.

Alsicle, pricked by his conscience, hastily made excuses.

“I didn’t go in to take anything, but to teach magic…”

“Shut up. Theft is theft all the same.”

Lee Han, who had been listening to the conversation, asked out of curiosity.

“What was the Duke trying to take?”

“Obviously trivial things. Treasures related to eternal life or immortality.”

‘Those don’t seem trivial though.’

Lee Han thought so, but refrained from saying it out loud since the Skeleton Principal would likely cast a contemptuous look.

Silence.

A quiet silence lingered in the carriage after the conversation ended. Only the distant sound of Death Knights flying while pulling the carriage could be heard from outside.

Whether bored or unable to bear the silence, Alsicle opened his mouth.

“Have you learned much ice magic?”

“Ah. I succeeded in contracting with a low-grade ice spirit.”

Lee Han, who had been writing letters to send to his friends in advance, answered proudly to Alsicle’s question.

“?”

“?”

Of course, both Alsicle and the Skeleton Principal looked at Lee Han with expressions that said ‘what is this kid talking about.’

Was he bragging about that because he had nothing else to brag about?

“Th, that’s amazing! Contracting with an ice spirit is also a wonderful achievement!”

Alsicle shook his beak and tried his best to agree somehow.

The Skeleton Principal was even more dumbfounded.

“Did you lose your mind in the punishment room, Penguerin?”

“Spirit contracts are also quite remarkable achievements…”

“Even coddling has its limits.”

“Is there nothing else?”

Alsicle changed the topic to shift the conversation.

“I was so busy that I couldn’t learn much… Oh right. I succeeded in creating one ice elemental clone.”

“Cough.”

At the merciless genius’s words, Alsicle lost his words and staggered.

* * *

The Empire’s capital was a place where the title “capital” had become more familiar than the city’s original name.

The most beautiful city in the Empire, the largest city in the Empire, the most prosperous city in the Empire…

A place that even the Empire’s people, who took great pride in their home regions throughout the vast Empire lands, had no choice but to acknowledge with frowning faces when its name came up.

That was the Empire’s capital.

At the dozens of city gates, countless visitors were already lined up waiting.

The castle walls, with a history rivaling Einroguard’s barriers, looked down upon such visitors.

The countless spells cast on the walls made the waiting mages gasp in admiration. There were even mages who had come up specifically to admire the walls themselves.

“Is that Lake Anita? The one that grants blessings?”

“People are already crowding there.”

“Look at the top of the walls! The illusion mages are showing new magic!”

“By His Imperial Majesty’s grace, it’s truly beautiful!”

If this had been any other city or castle, there would have been people complaining while waiting outside like this, but such people were hard to find in the capital.

Not only were there so many splendid sights that one’s eyes couldn’t rest even while standing still…

…but more importantly, if anyone caused even the slightest disturbance, they would immediately have to face His Imperial Majesty’s royal guard.

No matter how reckless a person might be, they wouldn’t cause trouble in the Empire’s capital.

Boooooooo-

With a loud trumpet sound, a carriage shrouded in the gloom of death began approaching.

Experienced mages and warriors shuddered at the powerful aura emanating from the carriage.

Boooooooo-

-Stand back. Stand back! His Excellency Gonadaltes, His Imperial Majesty’s necromancer and guardian of the Empire’s magical barriers!

The Death Knights blew their horns, signaling to the people gathered at the castle gate.

Those who heard Gonadaltes’ name began frantically making way.

“Hey, move aside! It’s Lord Gonadaltes! That great archmage!”

“By my beard, I never dreamed I’d see the Empire’s greatest archmage here!”

“Don’t stare at the carriage! Do you want to become a toad!”

People panicked due to various rumors and misconceptions about the archmage.

Fear, respect, curiosity…

Various emotions flickered across the faces of the gathered people.

Lee Han, watching this from inside, hung his head in embarrassment.

Though they couldn’t see inside the carriage from outside, he instinctively covered his face.

“Do we really have to enter so loudly?”

“Should we fly over the castle walls with the carriage instead? Everything has its proper procedures.”

The Skeleton Principal went outside the carriage and waved his hand.

Thunderous cheers erupted.

“Long live the great archmage!”

“I hope my child becomes an outstanding hero like the great archmage!”

‘Oh no.’

Lee Han felt genuinely sorry.

No matter what, wanting their child to follow the Skeleton Principal’s example!

It was a tragedy that occurred because the truth was hidden.

“Your Excellency Gonadaltes. Thank you.”

The knight captain in charge of the gate area came running after hearing the news.

Unlike ordinary visitors, Gonadaltes’ visit was a major event that put all the capital’s knights on edge.

“We sincerely thank you for not flying over the walls to enter this time.”

“…”

“…”

Lee Han and Alsicle inside were dumbfounded.

He flew over the Empire’s capital walls to enter??

The Skeleton Principal snorted and replied.

“I’ve been flying over this city to enter for hundreds of years. Since before you lot were born.”

“You know very well it wasn’t my order.”

The knight captain looked at Gonadaltes with pleading eyes that said ‘please don’t cause any trouble.’

The ones who had stopped the Skeleton Principal from flying in weren’t the knights, but the Empire’s bureaucrats.

After sweating blood to create the Empire’s laws and regulations, how humiliated must they have felt when some ancient archmage came sneering and flying in.

The moment the Skeleton Principal flew in once, the bureaucrats would scurry to the Emperor and start whining.

“I know. I know. Those guys are annoying, so fine. May I enter?”

“Yes. Please come in.”

The knights opened the way.

After passing through the castle gate, Lee Han was amazed to see the grand avenue the Skeleton Principal’s carriage entered.

The Empire’s capital had various roads laid out like blood vessels matching its scale, and among them were roads that only certain classes could use.

And the road the Skeleton Principal’s carriage had entered was the imperial road that only the Emperor could use. Despite the surrounding area being crowded with people, not even an ant could be seen on the road.

“…Is it okay to use this road?”

“Hey. With all the achievements Lord Gonadaltes has accumulated, he should be able to use this much. …Probably.”

Alsicle tried to maintain his noble dignity in front of Lee Han.

But he couldn’t help his beak trembling.

Fortunately, no knights came running. It seemed permission had truly been granted.

“Penguerin. I’ll take Wardanaz for a private audience with His Majesty. You…”

“I have relatives nearby, so I can stay there.”

“No. Go meet with the bureaucrats and praise Einroguard a bit.”

“…Yes…”

Alsicle had many things he wanted to say, but obediently nodded his head.

Since the effects of the punishment room hadn’t worn off yet, refusing was impossible.

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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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