Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 602

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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 602

“What’s so fascinating that you keep looking around like that?”

The Skeleton Principal, who was walking ahead, looked at Lee Han and asked.

Of course, the capital was the most beautiful and splendid place in the Empire, and the Emperor’s palace located at its heart was the essence of majesty.

For ordinary Imperial citizens, just entering the capital and seeing the Emperor’s palace from afar would provide a lifetime’s worth of stories to tell.

However, this Wardanaz Family boy wasn’t the type to be greatly concerned with such luxury.

He’d be more likely to ask ‘How many gold coins would we get if we melted down those decorations?’…

“Ah. This is His Imperial Majesty’s palace, but it seems like Imperial officials are using it more.”

Right now, the two had passed through the capital’s gates and arrived at the central Imperial Palace using the shortest route via teleportation.

Alsicle, who had passed through the main gate with them, had already headed off first toward the government office where Imperial financial officials stayed, which was also located within the palace.

At first, Lee Han thought the officials were using an annex within the palace, but that wasn’t it either.

As he followed the Skeleton Principal through the palace corridors, every room they passed had Imperial officials immersed in their work with the most tired and exhausted faces in the world.

Weren’t palaces usually where Imperial Family members lived?

“So that’s what you were curious about. I suppose that makes sense.”

The Skeleton Principal understood Lee Han’s curiosity.

Being intelligent, he would inevitably notice the incongruity faster.

Why were there no Imperial Family members in this palace as vast as a small city, with only officials walking around?

If it had been the old Three Kingdoms era, the palace would have been a space exclusively for Imperial Family members.

The Royal Guard would have guarded the outside of the palace like an iron fortress, while inside, only the Emperor’s relatives and serving court officials would have lived.

And even if it had been the Seven Kingdoms era, officials wouldn’t have been able to scatter piles of documents on the floor.

Back then, the palace would probably have become a salon-like place where nobles from across the kingdom who wanted to meet the king would visit, and balls or banquets would be held day after day.

However, the current Empire’s palace was the most peculiar form the Skeleton Principal had seen in all the history he’d witnessed.

The places the Emperor used were extremely limited, and the rest were all being used as government offices by Imperial officials.

While people in the capital who had grown accustomed to it might think it natural, someone as knowledgeable as Wardanaz, who could get a perfect score on an Imperial history exam right now, couldn’t help but find it strange.

“Has the Family Head ever told you about His Imperial Majesty?”

“Uh… no, he hasn’t.”

Lee Han searched his memory and answered.

In fact, the Family Head—that is, Lee Han’s father—was himself a great noble, but he never talked about Imperial politics or current affairs.

Usually he talked about magic, or magic, or magic.

Or cursed divine magic…

“I thought so. That despicable bastard. The little brat devotes himself to magic alone and leaves the troublesome work to me.”

“…”

“I’m sorry. I sincerely apologize.”

The Skeleton Principal apologized as a dignified Imperial noble.

No matter how much anger had built up over the years, those weren’t words to say to that family’s son.

Of course, every time he had to manage the Empire’s magical barrier alone, the urge to visit the Wardanaz Family would surge, but still…

“I didn’t hear anything. But why did you ask about His Imperial Majesty?”

“Because I thought you’d be surprised if you just met His Majesty without warning.”

Surprisingly, the Skeleton Principal seemed slightly hesitant.

He appeared to be pondering how much he should tell Lee Han before the meeting.

Lee Han didn’t understand.

“Come on, I’ve spent a year at Einroguard—how could I be surprised just by meeting someone?”

“…I apologized, didn’t I? Do you have to be so sarcastic to be happy?”

“I wasn’t being sarcastic…”

Realizing that Lee Han was genuinely sincere made the Skeleton Principal even more annoyed.

“Even among the officials, very few have actually met His Majesty in person.”

“Is it really okay for me to monopolize such an honorable position?”

Lee Han was more worried than happy.

What if the senior officials, who were like gods to him, thought of Lee Han as an impudent junior?

“It’s not really an honorable position—His Majesty is just lazy.”

“…?”

“Anyway, that’s why even among the officials, few people know much about His Majesty. What do you know about His Majesty?”

“I only know that he’s someone who has reigned for a long time.”

The current Emperor had truly lived for a very long time.

So long that no one knew exactly when he had ascended to the throne.

Imperial newspapers and various books didn’t dare mention the Emperor carelessly.

Unlike other historical records, outsiders who weren’t part of the Imperial Family couldn’t make systematic calculations or estimates.

But even considering that, it was possible to guess that the Emperor had reigned from the throne for at least one or two hundred years. If the Emperor had changed during that time, there would have been indirect mentions no matter how much they tried to hide it.

“And I think he must be an excellent mage?”

“Why’s that?”

“Because he’s lived so long?”

While ordinary people could extend their lifespan with various potions and artifacts, there were ultimately limits, and the more they extended it, the more unstable it became.

Sometimes you could gauge someone’s skill just from their lifespan.

Besides, seeing how the Skeleton Principal followed the Emperor’s words despite grumbling suggested he must be an exceptional mage.

“Interesting. Both are correct. I didn’t expect you to deduce it this way.”

‘Just what kind of person is he?’

An Archdemon perhaps?

But if it were an Archdemon, Lee Han probably wouldn’t be surprised.

Lee Han was curious enough about what the Emperor’s true identity could be to make the Skeleton Principal act this way.

“Perhaps… like a chimera that you created, Principal?”

“…You’re even more insane than the Wardanaz Family Head…!”

Even though no one was listening, the Skeleton Principal was shocked by the audacity of proposing the ‘Emperor chimera theory’ in the palace corridors.

Lee Han looked dejected.

“You said I’d be surprised, so I was just guessing.”

“Y-yes. It is surprising. I’m surprised myself…”

While they were talking, Lee Han realized that at some point, the surroundings had become very quiet.

He couldn’t sense any human presence at all, but the palace scenery remained the same.

Countless famous paintings and sculptures. Ceilings and walls decorated with gold and silver.

Stained glass made from amethyst, malachite, beryl, and other gems instead of windows.

Normally, one would think they had gone deep inside where there were no people, but Lee Han’s keen instincts made him notice another possibility.

“Don’t tell me this place is hidden by magic?”

“!”

The Skeleton Principal was startled while chattering.

He hadn’t expected this youngster to notice.

“That’s right. Impressive!”

“Haha. Do you know how much I wandered around Einroguard’s punishment rooms?”

“…This isn’t comparable to that level. Stop talking nonsense.”

This palace within a palace, the outer maze protecting the Emperor’s inner palace, was a masterpiece created by the Empire’s most outstanding mages working together.

The Emperor, who didn’t want to waste his expensive palace, let officials work here, but at the same time wanted to prevent them from getting lost and entering his residence.

Using violent and coercive means would have been much easier, but the Emperor didn’t want to hurt people that way…

So the mages had to put even more effort into it.

Thanks to that, this outer maze was completed as a beautiful magical masterpiece that would make past Archmages feel ecstatic.

As if the space itself were alive, it responded and only let in people the Emperor was willing to meet.

There was no sense of discomfort or confusion in the process. Even if two people walked down the corridor together, when they came to their senses, one person would have arrived at the inner palace while the other was still wandering the palace corridors.

“I felt like there was some kind of magic at work.”

“You little…”

The Skeleton Principal looked unusually pleased.

Originally, the greatest reward a student could give a teacher was to exceed the teacher’s expectations.

Things like taking all first-years on an outing also exceeded expectations, but that didn’t count…

What the Wardanaz family boy had just shown was exactly the kind of thing that made the Skeleton Principal happy.

The kind of thing that made running this damn Einroguard just a little bit worthwhile!

“We’ve arrived. His Imperial Majesty – you should meet him directly and judge for yourself. But before we go in, let me give you a few warnings. Originally, people who meet His Imperial Majesty are bound by a gag order. So they can’t talk about His Imperial Majesty outside.”

“Like Einroguard?”

The Skeleton Principal struck Lee Han’s head once with the staff he was holding.

“Yes. Got it?”

“Yes…”

“But we can’t put a gag order on you. Just like at Einroguard, we can’t spend half the Empire’s annual budget just to put one gag order on you.”

“That’s too much of an exaggeration.”

“It’s not an exaggeration though?”

“…”

“Anyway, I’m telling you to watch your mouth. If you talk about His Imperial Majesty outside…”

“What happens?”

Lee Han tensed up slightly.

Would he be punished according to imperial law for something like lese majeste?

“His Imperial Majesty will sulk.”

“Uh, are you joking?”

“I’m not joking. And keep in mind that when His Imperial Majesty sulks, it’ll be much more troublesome than you think. Now. Are you ready?”

“…Yes!”

Lee Han took a deep breath and nodded.

Even if the person before his eyes was a chimera created by the Skeleton Principal, he was prepared not to be surprised and to kiss his feet while saying ‘Your Imperial Majesty! Your humble servant has arrived here!’

“Good. Let’s go in.”

The Skeleton Principal opened the door.

* * *

The Emperor’s quarters really had nothing at all.

No paintings, no sculptures, no decorations, no jewels.

The inside looked more like a giant cave than a palace. If someone threw Lee Han into this place and Einroguard’s giant cave and asked him to find the differences, he probably wouldn’t be able to find them right away.

However, Lee Han couldn’t pay any attention to the appearance of these bleak quarters.

It was because of the amazing majesty of the Emperor positioned in the center of the quarters.

A massive body that seemed to fill the vast quarters completely.

Dignified wings that could dare be called more beautiful than any gold.

Even the wise and benevolent eyes that slowly blinked while looking at Lee Han and the Skeleton Principal.

The Emperor was a Gold Dragon.

“…”

Lee Han was so surprised he couldn’t even speak.

The Skeleton Principal lightly patted Lee Han’s shoulder as if understanding, then greeted on his behalf.

“Your Majesty. Following your command, I have brought Lee Han of the Wardanaz family.”

Gongsoo…

The Emperor looked at the Skeleton Principal and spoke.

It seems the stories the dragon shared with you half a year ago weren’t very important to you…

This was the first time Lee Han had seen the Skeleton Principal look nervous.

“There’s a misunderstanding. Your Majesty.”

Is your name Gongsoo or Misunderstanding?

“Haha! Your Majesty’s sense of humor makes even a mage who has lived as long as I have laugh.”

“…”

Lee Han was dumbfounded.

A mage who has lived long, what… You’re still young. Bright green young. Look at the dragon in comparison. He has lived longer than mountain ranges and rivers. Even when other dragons ascended, he couldn’t leave. Because of a vile oath.

“There you go again. Your Majesty. It’s an oath you made yourself.”

The dragon made the oath with good intentions. He trusted people… But people deceived the dragon and are exploiting him. Such vile people must be the first since mountain ranges and rivers were born.

The Skeleton Principal’s expression became grim.

Lee Han felt a familiar emotion from that expression.

It was close to the expression disciples made when a professor got drunk and talked about his difficult life.

To put it crudely, it was the expression of ‘here we go again.’

“Your Majesty. A bright green young mage is listening.”

Ah… right. Sorry. I really should watch my words in front of a young mage. Are you enjoying life at Einroguard?

“Yes.”

Don’t lie.

“…”

“…”

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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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