Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 605
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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 605
Lee Han, who had been speechless from bewilderment, belatedly replied.
“No, using the school budget for such things…?”
“It’s not something done with the school budget though?”
“…”
If it was done with private funds, that would be even more absurd.
Lee Han wanted to ask what grudge he had against the new students to do such a thing.
“There’s a misunderstanding, disciple.”
The Dwarf Printer urgently interjected upon seeing Lee Han’s expression.
“We’re doing this for free. To repay Gonadaltes’ kindness.”
“By any chance, were you threatened to say that?”
“Huh? I don’t quite understand what you mean…”
The good-natured Dwarf Printer didn’t understand Einroguard’s characteristic black humor.
“Previously, when the printing shop’s spirit went berserk and an ink monster emerged, Gonadaltes helped us then.”
“If it weren’t for Gonadaltes, we might have all died.”
“Principal…”
Lee Han was slightly moved for the first time in a while.
“Why didn’t you tell me about such heartwarming deeds?”
“Ha. I have too many good deeds – if I told you all of them, even the sun in the sky would grow old and die.”
‘Really shameless.’
Having immediately dismissed his brief moment of being touched, Lee Han nodded.
“Moreover, if our small service can help block Einroguard’s intruders, how joyful would that be?”
“That’s right! It’s not difficult at all!”
“?”
Lee Han was puzzled.
Block intruders?
“Principal. That magic book… wasn’t it… made to bewitch the new students?”
Lee Han still remembered vividly.
The memory of that escape when the White Tiger Tower Students had studied about Einroguard in advance and were severely punished.
“Well, among the intruders, there might be some fools who get fooled by that.”
“…”
Lee Han couldn’t bring himself to tell the truth to the good-natured printers.
* * *
“Good work. Send them to the places I wrote down.”
The Skeleton Principal was very cunning and meticulous.
Among the confirmed first-year students, he specifically targeted Blue Dragon Tower and White Tiger Tower Students.
Since most of them had family backgrounds, placing the books plausibly in nearby bookstores always caught someone.
Lee Han could only shudder at that persistent and tenacious effort.
‘Is this really necessary?’
“Oh, is this 【Puppy Beastfolk Detective Toberiz】?”
Lee Han looked puzzled at the printed magazine. It was a mystery magazine that Gainando really liked.
“Yes. We’ve prepared next month’s issue in advance. The newspaper company said next month’s serialized content will be very decisive and exciting, so it should sell well.”
“Do you like that magazine?”
The Skeleton Principal looked at Lee Han as if surprised.
This guy who would probably only read the economy, business, and magic sections of the Empire newspaper?
“Gainando likes it.”
“Oh. Then how about reading it first and sending him the contents?”
“Ah. I didn’t have anything to write in my letter, so this works out well. Thank you.”
“…Right, right.”
The Skeleton Principal shuddered at his disciple’s calm madness.
It was a joke though…
Click-
After checking the time on his pocket watch, the Skeleton Principal nodded. After resting this much, those complacent bureaucrats would have returned to their seats.
“Let’s go. We need to try persuading them again.”
“Please wait a moment.”
Lee Han asked the printers several questions, took notes, and returned.
“What did you ask about?”
“I looked into simple gifts worth buying around here.”
“Do you have someone to give gifts to in the capital?”
“Yes? I was thinking of bringing them for the Treasury Department bureaucrats.”
“…Why!?”
The Skeleton Principal was genuinely disgusted.
Why would he need to give gifts to those parasite-like creatures whose only job was opposing magic?
“Usually when visiting someone to ask for favors, it’s good to win their favor, isn’t it?”
“Why?”
“…”
Lee Han just gave up on persuading him.
“I’m just going to buy and bring them myself.”
“Hmm… You do handle trash well, that’s for sure.”
“Isn’t it a bit too much to call my friends that?”
“I was talking about Beeble.”
‘Oops!’
The Skeleton Principal fell into thought for a moment.
Originally, what he had expected from this Wardanaz Family Boy was when meeting with sponsors in the capital.
-Einroguard is the Empire’s finest magic school. Students receive the best education. Students are not hungry. Students are happy.
-Seeing the Wardanaz Family Boy say that, we should provide more support to Einroguard!
But thinking about it, this guy originally treated even trash with patience. That was a talent even the Skeleton Principal himself lacked.
Perhaps this social ability might work on the bureaucrats!
“…Good! I’ll entrust it to you once.”
“Yes? What do you mean?”
“The persuasion.”
Lee Han was shocked by the Skeleton Principal’s absurd words.
“How can I handle that?? I don’t even know what’s involved?”
“Honestly, even if you knew, nothing would change. They’re such trashy research projects.”
“No…”
Taking the upperclassmen’s research proposals to secure funding.
Just hearing about it made his shoulders feel heavy.
Moreover, he’d be meeting those upperclassmen starting next year…
-That guy is the one who got our research proposals rejected?
-What an arrogant bastard. He’s a disgrace to Blue Dragon Tower!
…He didn’t want to start with such strange perceptions.
“I’d feel too sorry for the upperclassmen if I fail.”
“Talking about being sorry. The ones who should be sorry are those lying around in their mansions while leaving it to an underclassman. I’ll never mention your name, so do it comfortably. If you don’t want to do it, you can just tear up the proposals right here.”
The Skeleton Principal was indifferent.
Honestly speaking, the contributions this first-year student had made for Einroguard were higher than most upperclassmen.
Other students should look and reflect a bit.
“You really can’t say anything if I fail.”
“Yes. Yes. Do it with a light heart.”
Lee Han sighed and accepted the research proposal.
“How am I supposed to convince them about 【Research on Races That Trolls Prefer as Prey】…”
“Hey. Give up on that one.”
The Skeleton Principal gave cold advice.
* * *
Silvas, who was working as a proud inspector of the Empire, was making a worried expression after hearing his colleagues’ words.
“Gonadaltes came?”
“Yes. But since he’s not visible, it seems he gave up.”
“Everyone worked hard. Really.”
“We protected the Empire’s gold and silver!”
The other bureaucrats were moved to tears with emotion.
But Silvas was still somewhat anxious.
‘What if he comes back when we let our guard down?’
Knock knock-
“Excuse me, is anyone there?”
“Oh. Please come in.”
Silvas straightened his posture at the sight of the boy entering through the door.
Guests visiting the Imperial Palace were people whose status was confirmed and proven by their very presence. Ordinary people couldn’t enter.
As such, even bureaucrats couldn’t throw their weight around here. Rather, visitors often acted arrogantly toward bureaucrats, trusting in their power.
-This land is a territory where I have judicial authority! Why won’t you allow territorial warfare! Are you planning to insult my family!
-I have to pay twice as much in taxes? Are you a bandit or a bureaucrat? I must meet His Imperial Majesty directly and speak to him. Tell him! I’ve brought a elixir to offer to His Majesty. His Majesty, who must be tired from his duties, will be pleased!
However, the entering boy greeted very politely. Silvas was amazed by the refreshing appearance of this guest.
“What brings you here?”
“Well. I’m a mage, and I came here because I wanted to request funding.”
“Ah! You’re a mage. Are you from a guild? Or a magic tower? Please sit here.”
Silvas pulled out a chair and pushed it toward the boy.
He was surprised by how different this was from ordinary mages, but more than that, he felt favorable toward him.
If only mages showed half the courtesy this boy did, work as a bureaucrat would be much happier!
‘Is he the youngest from a guild or magic tower?’
Usually they wouldn’t send someone young for such matters, but looking at the boy’s refined appearance, it was easy to guess he was from a great noble family.
If he was a noble skilled in etiquette, he could handle such tasks even if young.
Seeing him in person, his skillful composure without nervousness made it seem he wasn’t assigned this role for nothing.
“Oh. This is a gift.”
“What?! No… bribes are…”
“It’s not a bribe. You must have a lot of hardship handling the Empire’s affairs, so I brought this hoping you could rest a little.”
The fragrant aroma of coffee and the smell of freshly baked apple pie spread throughout the office.
The taste of custard cream and apples came to mind, and Silvas unconsciously swallowed his saliva.
“This is the first time I’ve received such a gift.”
‘??’
Lee Han was flustered.
To think no one had brought things like this before.
‘Isn’t this basic?’
Offering obvious bribes while making requests was amateur. Coming with nothing was intermediate. Bringing subtle gifts that leave a lasting impression was expert level.
Lee Han managed his expression. The Empire’s bureaucrats were people who might become Lee Han’s superiors someday, pushing and pulling for him.
He always had to leave a good impression.
“I bought this from 【Rock Spirit’s Apple Jam Cafe】 in front, but I hope it suits your taste…”
“I really love that place! You know your stuff!”
Silvas was delighted at the familiar cafe name.
That cafe had fragrant coffee and delicious apple pie, plus the stone soup wrapped by the rock spirit was really hearty.
To receive this like this.
“Everyone! Come have some snacks!”
“Where did snacks come from? We didn’t have time to go out?”
“This guest here was concerned about us and bought these.”
“!”
“!!”
The bureaucrats greeted him with looks of shock and emotion. Some bureaucrats even had tears slightly forming in their eyes.
“You’re not crying, are you?”
“The, the coffee was just spicy.”
Silvas asked in a much softer and kinder tone than before.
“What kind of matter do you want to request funding for, mage? The difficulty will vary depending on the issue. For natural disasters or dimensional calamities, funding and the Empire’s knights would be deployed immediately. It would be a bit more difficult, but for independent magical research, you’d need to prove its usefulness.”
Lee Han hesitated.
‘Should I just give up on 【Research on Races That Trolls Prefer as Prey】?’
No matter how he thought about it, it might be right to just give up on this and start over.
“Don’t be nervous and speak comfortably. Oh. I was so busy I forgot to ask about your family. Where are you from?”
“I’m Lee Han of Wardanaz Family.”
“Wardanaz Family…! Are you here to request help in the name of your family?!”
Even as he spoke, Silvas thought it probably wasn’t the case.
If Wardanaz Family needed help with something, it would have gone directly to His Imperial Majesty, not to a mere bureaucrat.
The boy shook his head.
“You came in the name of your affiliated organization. I’m surprised. To actually meet a mage from Wardanaz Family. I didn’t know there was someone so young.”
“I’m quite young for my age. Wait. Do you happen to be acquainted with Daihal?”
Lee Han focused on a photo placed on Silvas’s desk.
Silvas, Daihal, and several other young bureaucrats were smiling in the photo.
“Ah. That’s right. Do you know Daihal?”
“Yes. We’re quite close.”
Actually, Lee Han wasn’t sure whether they were that close or not, but Lee Han was also desperate right now.
【Research on Races That Trolls Prefer as Prey】 couldn’t be attempted without desperation.
“I was often invited to Dalcard Family.”
“I see. Since you’re from Wardanaz Family, that makes sense. I’ve always respected the Family Head of Dalcard Family. He’s my role model.”
“Actually… Asan, one of the boys from Dalcard Family, almost got attacked by a troll.”
“What!? Is he alright!?”
“Yes. Fortunately he was safe, but since then I’ve started wondering if the Empire isn’t too insensitive to the threat of trolls…”
At the young mage’s words, Silvas was unconsciously moved.
Compared to other mages who were obsessed with fields only they were interested in and demanded money, how noble was this mage’s reason!
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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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