Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 652
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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 652
“Why is everyone acting like this?”
Siana was flustered by the lukewarm reaction.
“Priest Siana. Did you happen to see any knights on your way here?”
“I did. They were guarding the western garden? They said something about golems causing trouble…”
“Still? Ah. Anyway, that’s not what’s important – those are all the people left in the manor to greet.”
“…”
“…”
Siana and Durgyu fell silent.
“You’re joking.”
“I’m not joking though…”
Lee Han became slightly dejected.
Should he have held onto Arsil?
But even then, it probably wouldn’t have made much difference. One more person wouldn’t make the place bustling with people.
“I’m not joking. Those people there are everyone.”
“We’ve been here the whole time too.”
“…What about visiting villages around the manor?”
“The Udamhwa village that Priest Siana stopped by on her way here was the last village.”
Siana, belatedly realizing the truth, moved her lips as if trying to say something, then clapped her hands.
“Maybe there just aren’t any villages!”
“It would be strange if there weren’t any…”
When Gainando spoke up from the side, Siana shot back sharply.
“Then Gainando, you should go home.”
“Ah, no. I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just strange… No. It’s not even strange. I have no complaints.”
Afraid of being kicked out alone, Gainando hurriedly changed his words.
“Still, it’s not that strange, right?”
Lee Han asked, looking around at his friends.
Of course, there were no villages in the territory and few people in the manor, but Lee Han had a bit of hope.
Among the countless families in the Empire, weren’t there at least a few more families stranger than the Wardanaz family?
“…Right! It’s not strange!”
“This could happen. The Empire’s virtue starts with respecting the traditions of families with different cultures and customs.”
Lee Han was relieved by his friends’ reactions.
Seeing this, it seemed it wasn’t that severe after all.
‘That’s a relief.’
“Still, leaving right away would be a bit much, so let’s stay for a few days before going.”
Siana suddenly became curious and asked.
“Then what have you all been doing here?”
“Studying magic.”
“Gathering herbs.”
“Exploring ruins.”
“…Should we just leave tomorrow?”
* * *
Three days later, Lee Han and his friends left the territory in a carriage under Alsicle’s guidance.
Actually, there were several disagreements in deciding the destination.
-How about Illeinas City? It’s a beautiful place where you can see the western sea of the Empire. The scenery is beautiful and the climate is warm, so nobles mainly visit there.
-Oh, Penguerin. If I remember correctly, isn’t that the city next to the magic school Baldrogard?
-That’s right?
-Ugh! Baldrogard!
-The place will be crawling with Baldrogard bastards, so is there any reason we need to go there?
-I don’t know about other things, but those Baldrogard students…
-…
Penguerin, who had recommended it without much thought, was flustered by the students’ intense reaction.
-Why? You haven’t even had any reason to fight with Baldrogard students yet…
-We just don’t like them!
-…
Surprisingly, the Einroguard students harbored resentment toward Baldrogard students for no reason.
While they were chewing and swallowing hard bread while being attacked by the Skeleton Principal, Baldrogard students were elegantly enjoying course meals and going on outings to the western coast of the Empire on weekends.
-How about Granden City?
-Ugh! We don’t want anywhere near Einroguard!
-Lee Han. I understand that Granden City is good for work, but there’s no reason to go to a city close to Einroguard during winter break.
-I agree. Lee Han. There are many bigger and more prosperous cities.
Various options came up: Isran City (the southern coastal city they visited last year that Yoner wanted to visit again), Shantma City (a transportation hub in the western Empire that all kinds of people visit, which Siana wanted to visit), and the Imperial Capital (Nilia wanted to see the Imperial Palace, but Lee Han stopped her). In the end, what was drawn in the lottery was Plaher City.
A brilliantly prosperous commercial city in central Empire and the city where Gainando’s family manor was located!
“Wow! Guys! Look at this road! Unlike other regions, Plaher City’s highways use black spirit stones! Thanks to that, carriages can travel comfortably without shaking!”
When Gainando made a fuss pointing outside the carriage, his friends were puzzled.
“The Wardanaz family carriage already has shock absorption magic…”
“Unlike other regions, Plaher City’s roadside trees have contracts with light spirits. So people can easily travel even in the evening. Lee Han. Isn’t that amazing?”
“…Y-yes. It’s amazing.”
The other friends subtly averted their gazes.
They judged that if they accidentally made eye contact with Gainando here, they might become sacrifices to the excited prince.
“Lee Han. Look at those people riding horses over there! That’s the bard Paparya! The most famous bard in Plaher City!”
‘Who’s that again?’
For Lee Han, who was already confused about Ifadur, one of the Empire’s leading bards, a city bard was a difficult person to remember.
“That’s ■■■ from the ■■■ family, and that’s ■■ from the ■■ guild, and that’s ■■…”
Lee Han felt that the stories weren’t entering his ears, as if his friend was using mental magic.
“What’s that?”
To change the topic, he pointed at something random, and at the end of his gesture was a flag emblem that looked familiar.
Alsicle, who was reading a book titled 【Music Magic, A Promising Future or Nonsense?】 beside him, spoke up.
“That’s a Baldrogard flag.”
“…”
“…Huh, why?!”
“What do you mean why? Baldrogard students wouldn’t want to stay in Illeinas City until winter break either. What’s strange about them coming to vacation in a big city like Plaher City?”
“…”
Gainando looked like he’d been caught off guard. His friends immediately poured out criticism.
“How dare you bring us to a place crawling with Baldrogard students!”
“I knew something was suspicious about this spy bastard!”
“Gainando, get out of the carriage and walk!”
“E-everyone. The prince also meant well…”
While his friends were cursing, Lee Han looked at the carriage with the Baldrogard flag with interest.
‘Baldrogard students certainly have a different culture.’
Lee Han didn’t carry around Einroguard flags when spending vacation outside school.
Apart from being embarrassing, it seemed like it would cause unnecessary trouble.
However, Baldrogard students truly seemed to love their school, hanging flags on their carriages, carving emblems on carriage walls, and even wearing uniforms and coats with emblems (not Einroguard’s rough ragged uniforms, but uniforms made from the finest velvet from the southern Empire).
Lee Han didn’t particularly hold any grudge against Baldrogard students.
It was Lee Han’s fault for being unluckily dragged to Einroguard, so what fault could Baldrogard students have?
However, seeing the Baldrogard students smiling brightly and acting refined, something boiled up from deep within his heart.
‘Was I such a narrow-minded person?’
“This time Professor Tosure suggested I collaborate on research with an external magic tower, and I was shocked. The mage from their side was actually a former slave! No matter what, asking me to conduct magical research with someone of slave origin. It’s a proposal that doesn’t consider my family’s honor and dignity at all!”
“How outrageous! I had no idea Professor Tosure was such a rude person.”
“I rejected it right on the spot.”
“Well done. Well done! By the way, did you get tickets for this ball game? This match is going to be truly spectacular. You absolutely can’t miss it! There are rumors that a Rock Drake will appear!”
“Don’t worry. I already got them.”
“Oh! How did you get them so quickly?”
“I dipped into some of the support funds I received from my family.”
“Hahaha! You really are something! What are you planning to research this year then?”
“Those who say they need gold coins to do research are incompetent mages! I can conduct research even without gold coins. Above all, if I miss the opportunity to watch a ball game with a friend, where would I find inspiration?”
“You’re absolutely right, absolutely right! What’s more important, magic or life?”
The Baldrogard mages left laughing.
Lee Han quietly turned his gaze inward.
Gainando, feeling wronged by his friends’ attack, tattled to Lee Han.
“Lee Han. Lee Han! Just because some Baldrogard students might appear in the city…”
“Hey. If Baldrogard students pick a fight, fight back immediately. Never back down.”
“…?!!”
Seeing Lee Han’s blazing eyes, his friends were startled.
What on earth had happened?!
* * *
Gainando’s main family was the Kraha family, one of the most prominent families even in the major city of Plahur.
As such, it was natural for his friends to stay at Gainando’s manor.
“Listen up, guys. When you wake up tomorrow, first we’ll play mage card games in the 3rd Mage Card Room, then watch a play in the 2nd Theater Viewing Room, listen to a performance in the 1st Performance Hall, then have a simple meal and go out with me…”
“…”
“…Meikin. Could we perhaps stay at the Meikin family manor instead?”
“No, no way! Absolutely not!”
When his friends tried to defect as a group from the start, Gainando threw his whole body to block them.
“What’s wrong with it!”
“It’s insanely packed…”
Nilia looked at Gainando as if she couldn’t believe it.
Even the Shadow Patrol hunters probably wouldn’t play this intensively.
“Fine. Fine! I’ll cut out the mage card games. Is that okay?!”
Gainando shouted as if he was making a real concession.
Of course, his friends weren’t fooled.
“Meikin.”
“Then, then everyone except Lee Han can go.”
At those words, Lee Han’s expression grew serious.
He didn’t want to handle that schedule alone without his friends.
“Wait, everyone calm down.”
Yoner calmed his friends down.
“Gainando won’t be able to play according to that plan anyway.”
“I will play like that?! Who are you to say!”
Gainando bristled.
He had been dreaming of this perfect plan since the punishment room, and his rude relative was trying to ruin it.
“In the afternoon, an illusion mage will come and we’ll play a game of finding hidden treasures!”
‘That won’t work on me though, will it?’
While Lee Han was thinking that, Yoner shrugged his shoulders.
“It would be better to stop even now.”
“I won’t stop. Even if the Principal blocks my way!”
Nilia muttered.
“If only he showed such courage when at school…”
“Then there’s no helping it.”
Yoner said nothing more. Gainando suddenly felt uneasy.
What was that about?
When the carriage arrived at the manor, Gainando’s mother, wearing a veil, walked out from inside as if she had been waiting.
It was to avoid sweeping the surroundings with brilliant light like last time.
“It’s truly wonderful to see you all. When Gainando said he was coming to the manor with friends, I never thought there would be this many… Are they all really friends?”
Gainando’s mother whispered to Yoner.
Yoner nodded. The parties involved might think differently, but for now, they all seemed to be friends.
Gainando’s mother was amazed by that answer.
It was already surprising that he had made friends with someone from the Wardanaz family, but to bring such a diverse group of friends.
She almost wondered if Gainando had awakened some ability even his mother didn’t know about.
“Oh. Kraha. About Gainando.”
Yoner reported Gainando’s evil plan from earlier exactly as it was.
Gainando’s mother stared intently at Gainando. Even through the veil, the pressure was palpable, and Gainando froze solid.
“Wh… why are you looking at me like that?”
Snap!
The household servants came out and grabbed Gainando’s arms. Sensing his miserable fate, Gainando called out to Lee Han.
“Lee Han! Lee Han! The villains here are trying to drag me away!”
“Welcome to the manor. I hope you all have a good time.”
“Thank you for welcoming us, Kraha.”
“Traitors! You traitors!!”
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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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