Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 604

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 604

“Those… kids are kind.”

Oh!

“What do you mean ‘oh’?”

The Skeleton Principal was dumbfounded.

No matter how much he disliked the emperor position, that reaction to being called kind was a bit excessive.

Being kind meant having compassion for all things in the world, and if so, he might have the qualifications to be emperor…

“And he’s not particularly kind either.”

The ruthless lich mercilessly crushed the Gold Dragon’s hopes.

“I saw him stealing food from other tower students last time.”

“No, that was fair competition…”

Lee Han found himself defending Gainando without realizing it.

“And the White Tiger Tower students also stole a lot of Gainando’s food.”

“I wasn’t talking about Gainando.”

“…What???”

At the shocking words, Lee Han doubted his ears.

But the Skeleton Principal seemed unwilling to discuss the students’ lowly food procurement competition any further and changed the subject.

“There’s still a long way to go.”

But isn’t there an excellent mage here?

“Your Majesty…”

The Skeleton Principal was pleased by the sudden praise.

“If you think so, please give us more funding. The fourth-year students need pure gold golems to use as reagents. The height should be at least 15m and weight over 20 tons…”

The dragon wasn’t talking about you…

The Emperor blinked and pointed at Lee Han.

With you here, those merely kind kids can grow even more.

“What nonsense are you talking about? Do people all grow just by being next to an excellent mage?”

Why are you like that? You also made that… Ikaktus, was it, that child grow.

“Are you deliberately insulting me? That bastard only chose to do what I told him not to do!”

Be quiet. It’s good if they grow.

The Emperor seemed annoyed by the constantly complaining Skeleton Principal and snorted.

Anyway, today’s conversation was enjoyable. Osyu. To see your disciple being friendly with you. Actually, if you think about it, this is the most surprising thing… The dragon must be getting old. I’ve become able to accept it calmly.

“…”

“…It’s not that much.”

As if signaling the end of the conversation, the Emperor looked at Lee Han with wise eyes.

I have high expectations for you. Even if you don’t necessarily make your friends grow, grow excellently and become a good mage.

“Yes. I will become a good mage and serve with loyalty as an official of the Empire.”

Lee Han watched for an opportunity and struck like lightning with flattery.

How many chances would there be to face the Emperor like this?

At times like this, he had to leave a favorable impression.

However, the Emperor seemed puzzled rather than pleased.

Official…?

He wondered what this was about, hearing Osyu’s disciple bring up talk of officials.

‘Ah. Was it about the Demon Administrator?’

To think he already wanted to share one of the Empire’s tasks that Osyu was carrying.

Despite his master’s eccentric personality, he was truly a commendable disciple.

Come to think of it, it was hard to believe that such a mage was Wardanaz’s child.

It felt like just yesterday when he came with Osyu carrying divine artifacts and plunged the dragon into a cursed fate…

The dragon closed his eyes.

Recalling memories made anger surge rather than sentimentality.

He felt like increasing the Empire’s tasks for the Family Head, but given Wardanaz Family Head’s personality, it would be meaningless.

The Emperor calmly suppressed his anger and said with a smile.

I’ll be waiting.

“Yes!”

* * *

“You did well.”

The Skeleton Principal spoke with all sincerity.

It wasn’t empty words – this disciple had truly played a very important role.

If he had offended the Emperor, it would have been a headache all winter long.

“It’s all thanks to the Principal’s guidance and teaching. Haha.”

Lee Han answered slyly.

“You rascal. No. This is entirely your achievement. The power of a tongue that makes all sorts of annoying and difficult bastards docile.”

‘That expression sounds a bit like cursing.’

“Now then…”

The Skeleton Principal pulled out a bundle of papers from his chest. They were bundles of grimy papers of different sizes and colors.

Looking like something picked up from a garbage dump, Lee Han asked puzzledly.

“Where did you pick up such trash?”

“These are research proposals your upperclassmen asked me for.”

“Looking again, they seem to radiate truly auspicious energy.”

“Enough. Most of them are trash-like research anyway. Like music magic.”

The Skeleton Principal glanced through the paper bundles and grimaced once more.

Despite already knowing the contents, there were truly many trash-like research projects.

-Research on phenomena appearing when consistently taking recovery potions long-term in uninjured situations

-Research on how satisfactory illusion magic varies by region in the Empire

-Research on the most efficient wand-swinging motions

-Research on races that trolls prefer as food…

“Ugh. Still looks like trash. Why would mental magic be necessary? Everyone would cough up blood just from wielding this.”

“…”

“Sigh. Let’s go. To squeeze the bureaucrats. I hope Penguerin has made the officials sufficiently charmed.”

“Are you planning to request funding for these research projects?”

“Yes. Even if they’re trash, it’s work that must be done.”

The Skeleton Principal clicked his tongue and organized the paper bundles.

He felt like calling the students and throwing them in the punishment room, but failure was originally necessary for achievement.

An exceptional mage like himself succeeded without failure, but the Skeleton Principal knew well with his brilliant mind that not all mages could be like him.

“Ah! I truly have a cursed fate. Where else could there be an archmage as tormented as I?”

‘It would have been much cooler without that last comment.’

While Lee Han was thinking that, the Skeleton Principal strode forward and opened the door.

Inside the luxurious room, officials and Alsicle were sitting and having a conversation.

“So ice magic is…”

“As expected, Sir Penguerin. Each and every story is truly interesting and instructive!”

Every time Alsicle spoke, the officials chuckled and admired.

However, to Lee Han’s eyes, it wasn’t particularly interesting. Honestly, he suspected it was because of Alsicle’s appearance.

“More importantly, Sir Penguerin. Aren’t you hungry?”

“I’m fine.”

“I’ll call the chefs to bring some sardines.”

“Are you all doing this because you want to see me swallow sardines…”

“No, no! That’s not it!”

The bureaucrats hastily denied it. Alsicle grumbled as he spoke.

“More importantly, please reconsider Einroguard. Einroguard is the Empire’s finest magic school. The students receive the best education. The students are not hungry. The students are happy.”

“By any chance, is this a phrase written by Lord Gonadaltes?”

No matter how cute Alsicle was, the bureaucrats came to their senses when Einroguard’s name came up.

The Skeleton Principal clicked his tongue and went inside.

“How dare you slander someone.”

“Hik!!”

“Lord Gonadaltes!!”

The bureaucrats quickly stood up and began running to the corners of the room.

“?”

Lee Han tilted his head, not understanding why they were acting like that.

He soon found out the reason.

Click!

The bureaucrats opened a secret door and fled to the adjacent room. The Skeleton Principal sighed and twisted space. The bureaucrats immediately returned to their original positions.

“L-Lord Gonadaltes. This is His Majesty’s palace. There are also many other people around. And there are knights at the main gate too…”

“Shut up. I won’t harm you.”

“You said that last time too, but then you attacked…”

“How long are you going to keep remembering something from years ago? Why are you all so petty!”

The Skeleton Principal struck the floor with his staff and shouted.

It was utterly frustrating that these so-called Empire bureaucrats kept clinging to such trivial matters for so long, making things troublesome.

‘No way…’

Lee Han was dumbfounded.

Had he really attacked them?

“No matter how much you attack us, we cannot provide any more budget.”

The bureaucrats trembled while firmly holding each other’s hands as they spoke. The Skeleton Principal sighed.

“Can’t you at least listen to the story? Here’s a proposal carefully written by young mages of the Empire. Just listen to it. You might find it appealing.”

“…Yes…”

The bureaucrats nodded with expressions clearly showing they didn’t want to listen. If their opponent hadn’t been the Skeleton Principal, they would have immediately issued an eviction order.

Research proposals from Einroguard students were always mostly absurd and expensive things.

Already, enormous budgets were going to Einroguard by the Emperor’s orders, and if more budget went there, how deprived would other sound magic towers and mage guilds feel?

Perhaps blocking such proposals was truly the mission of the Empire’s Treasury Department.

“Now. Listen. First, regarding the 【Research on Races Preferred as Food by Trolls】…”

“…”

The bureaucrats looked serious from the very beginning.

Just hearing about it made them afraid of how they planned to conduct that research.

* * *

“Not easy.”

The Skeleton Principal clicked his tongue as he left the room.

The bureaucrats who heard about the 【Research on Races Preferred as Food by Trolls】 were disgusted and absolutely refused to go along with it.

Even from Lee Han’s perspective, this definitely didn’t look easy.

“What will you do?”

“I’ll have to persuade some other bureaucrats.”

“What about contacting higher-ups directly?”

“First, I need to win over some useful ones among the lower ranks. The higher-ups are even more stubborn.”

When trying to secure such additional budgets, you had to persuade and bring along at least a few from the bottom ranks first – there was little effect from suddenly pushing it to those at the top.

From the beginning, they were the type who would think of not giving budgets the moment the Skeleton Principal spoke.

“Now that rumors have spread, they’ll be hiding. Let’s give them some time to let their guard down.”

“…”

Lee Han was at a loss for words as he looked at the Skeleton Principal, but the Skeleton Principal nonchalantly checked his pocket watch.

“Follow me.”

“Where to this time?”

“The printing house.”

“Ah. Are you printing the books needed for next year?”

“You’re quick to catch on. Yes. That’s right.”

The Skeleton Principal left the Imperial Palace and went down the capital’s streets.

A printing house reeking of ink and hot pressed paper revealed itself deep in an alley.

“Have you been well?”

“Lord Gonadaltes! It’s an honor. You’ve come again this year!”

“Yes. I’m pleased to see you’re healthy.”

Lee Han was amazed to see the dwarf printer take off his hat and welcome the Skeleton Principal warmly.

Come to think of it, if you weren’t a bureaucrat, there was no particular reason to fear the Skeleton Principal.

Besides, wouldn’t the Skeleton Principal be a kind of big customer for a printing house? Anyone would be happy when such a client came.

“Is this person your disciple?”

“That’s right. Is what I mentioned ready?”

“Yes. Of course. Hey! Get it ready!”

The dwarf printer began typesetting with metal type alongside his staff.

The magic-imbued metal type arranged itself in order as if alive, quickly forming a composition.

The Skeleton Principal completely grasped the content with just one glance and nodded.

“Proceed.”

With clattering sounds, the prepared paper began transforming into book pages.

The skilled printers moved the completed pages and asked spirits on magic circles to provide additional finishing touches.

Lee Han, who was watching the scene with a sense of pride despite not having prepared it himself, suddenly became curious and asked.

“But what kind of magic tome is this?”

The Skeleton Principal answered while reading through one of the completed books.

“It’s a magic tome with fake maps. I’ll spread it throughout the Empire to deceive your underclassmen.”

“…”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————