Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 735

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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 735

When Lee Han gave up on escaping, the Death Knight who had been about to go outside with the complaint letter also subtly read the atmosphere and returned.

The Skeleton Principal glared at him with an obvious clicking sound.

You were really going to send it just because he told you to? Hm?

-I apologize, Master. As a former knight, I thought just in case…

Even so, to trust such a novice mage instead of an Imperial Mage Officer!

-…

-…

Even though he conveniently brought up his Imperial title only at times like this, the Death Knights who had been through thick and thin weren’t fooled.

Honestly, if the Skeleton Principal and the Principal’s unfortunate disciple were in conflict, the latter would probably have more justice on their side…

The Skeleton Principal turned his deep blue gaze to Lee Han and began to speak.

Fine. One of my insane doppelgangers has entered the territory.

“I almost died because of that insane doppelganger!”

What? Don’t tell me you encountered it?

The Skeleton Principal was puzzled.

If Lee Han had made contact, there was no way the Skeleton Principal wouldn’t have noticed.

At that reaction, Lee Han grumbled and spilled out everything that had happened.

“…If Senior Diret hadn’t been there, it would have been really dangerous.”

-But Lord Wardanaz.

One of the Death Knights who had been listening from the side asked a question.

“Yes?”

-Why didn’t you use the ring to summon Master?

The other Death Knights who heard the question also nodded as if they agreed.

Normally in such a situation, wouldn’t you call the Skeleton Principal?

“Oh. I didn’t think of it.”

-…

-…

Why are you all acting like that? Such independence is a virtue.

Surprisingly, the Skeleton Principal took Lee Han’s side.

Lee Han, who had been feeling awkward, also brightened up and asked.

“Is that so?”

Yes. Haha. You called me just because professors were fighting.

Lee Han cursed inwardly at the Skeleton Principal’s pettiness.

‘You’re the one who gave it to me to use.’

That was probably a test left by the doppelganger.

‘Did he misspeak about the trap?’

He suspected whether the Skeleton Principal was misunderstanding the meaning of the test.

If that were true, it would also explain Einroguard’s test difficulty.

It was left there for the same purpose as the illusion.

The Skeleton Principal explained in a calm voice. Since it was a doppelganger that had once been part of himself in the distant past, he understood its behavioral principles.

Just as he had made it so that qualified people could see the memory’s echo when they approached, he had also set it up so that after seeing the memory’s echo, a mass of mana would attack to test them.

“So if a qualified person approaches, they see an illusion, and after seeing the illusion completely, they’re also attacked as a test?”

That’s right.

“Is your doppelganger perhaps not in its right mind??”

Lee Han was shocked.

To think that wasn’t a trap but a test.

It is an insane doppelganger. But in ancient times, that level was a normal test.

“Yes…”

Lee Han, who had been answering with a reluctant expression, suddenly became curious and asked.

“But Principal. You said it was left for qualified people to see, but what is that qualification? I didn’t do anything.”

Didn’t do anything, my foot…

The Skeleton Principal spoke with a dubious attitude as if he couldn’t believe it.

The Death Knights also seemed to agree as they burst into laughter.

-As if you didn’t do anything!

-You must have done something!

‘Should I really send that complaint letter.’

Even if you really didn’t do anything, an Archmage who has reached that level has various ways to judge qualifications. He would have judged somehow.

“Did he check my mana amount?”

Well. That’s possible.

“Perhaps taking classes from all schools?”

That might be it.

“Or maybe because I contracted with powerful beings from another dimension?”

I thought you said you didn’t do anything?

“…”

Having gotten one over on his disciple, the Skeleton Principal slowly continued his explanation.

The reason I leave my doppelgangers alone is that the reason to deal with them is weak compared to the effort required to catch them.

The Skeleton Principal’s doppelgangers were basically split-off entities from the main body, so they had many restrictions.

Like beings from other dimensions, it was difficult for them to maintain their form in the material world for long periods, and they were strongly bound by the desires and emotions they had taken with them.

Rather than unnecessarily bringing out magic to clash with each other to completely eliminate them, it was most efficient to simply wait for them to naturally dissipate from the material world.

Moreover, there’s no reason to start such a fight within Einroguard territory.

“What could its purpose be?”

There are a few things I can guess, but they’re still just guesses. I’m not certain.

“Hmm. But isn’t this case a bit different? It even came in with a mage criminal. If that mage criminal corrupts or uses your doppelganger…”

Well. I doubt he has that ability.

The Skeleton Principal mocked Antagondals with an arrogant and cold attitude.

Despite being widely notorious among the Empire’s mage criminals, his attitude showed contempt for the man’s abilities.

Didn’t you see in that illusion how that bastard was begging and pleading? Just to pick up even a scrap of magic?

“It wasn’t quite to that extent.”

Leave it be. Among those who have presumptuously tried to use my doppelganger, none have avoided a tragic end.

Lee Han actually wanted to stop worrying about it, but it wasn’t easy to ignore when there was a mage criminal and an even more dangerous insane doppelganger in Einroguard’s territory.

“Can’t we just deal with the mage criminal?”

It would be easy if he showed himself, but the bastard is being quite careful too. Didn’t I ask earlier if you had met him?

From the moment he sensed that the insane doppelganger had entered Einroguard territory with a servant, the Skeleton Principal had woven a web-like surveillance network.

Naturally, both the insane doppelganger and the mage criminal knew this well, so instead of approaching near the main building, they kept moving around the most secluded outskirts of the territory.

If you’re interested, try drawing him out. If you can just draw him out, I’ll be able to catch him immediately.

“That doesn’t seem like something I can do.”

Don’t underestimate yourself. You’re originally a bit… no, never mind.

“…”

When the Skeleton Principal started to say something but stopped, it was much more frightening than if he had continued.

He couldn’t even guess what the Principal had been about to say.

“…Anyway, thank you for explaining, Principal. Actually, since I’m still a student, I thought you might not tell me about this.”

Why wouldn’t I?

The Skeleton Principal was genuinely puzzled.

“Usually, don’t only professors know about things like this? To keep students from getting scared…”

What good does it do for only professors to know? And fear is always a good stimulus.

“…You didn’t tell the seniors about it.”

Because they didn’t ask.

“…”

At the confident answer, Lee Han was left speechless.

From his expression, it seemed he wanted to tell the upperclassmen, but there wouldn’t be much reaction even if he did. They’d have more important things to worry about.

“Yes… thank you.”

You should focus on magic instead of wasting time being interested in some petty mage criminal. Your upperclassman Diret is already implementing a small world, isn’t he?

Lee Han was dumbfounded by the Skeleton Principal comparing him to the 5th year Black Turtle Tower’s top student.

‘I’ll do my best.’

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

Ah. I almost forgot.

“?”

Don’t forget to retrieve that anonymous tip you left with someone else before coming here. Don’t accidentally let it get sent to His Majesty.

‘No way. How did he know?’

* * *

Erde from the Marcang family was spending his first week at Einroguard in the punishment room.

He wasn’t lonely. There were several other students locked up besides Erde.

They were students who had failed at smuggling or caused trouble from the very first day and got caught.

“Hey. I don’t think I saw you during smuggling. How did you end up here?”

“Palga of the Ukim family tried to escape, and I got caught because I was nearby. When I played dumb during interrogation, they sent me to the punishment room.”

“What about you in the adjacent room?”

“I also got caught because I was nearby when Palga of the Ukim family tried to escape.”

“Oh my. I guess you both came here for being stubborn.”

“No. I just snitched on him but they still sent me here. Damn it.”

“…What about you in the rightmost room?”

“I’m Palga of the Ukim family.”

A sigh echoed through the corridor.

After introductions were finished, the punishment room students quickly began exchanging information.

Even while in the punishment room, they still had to attend school.

“Hey. What do you think about this lecture? Will it proceed?”

“Honestly, I don’t think this lecture will be cancelled.”

“Excuse me, Guard sir! Could you contact the professor so we can at least do assignments in advance?”

The Death Knight walking through the corridor coldly passed by.

The students sighed at this sight.

While staying in the punishment room for a few days was something they were used to and not particularly difficult, missing lecture content was quite painful.

They’d have to make up for it harshly when they got out…

“I knew this would happen, so I brought a book when I got caught.”

“Ugh. I’m jealous.”

“The lecture I chose doesn’t have classes this week, but I still think I should prepare in advance…”

While the students were chattering noisily, someone shouted from another solitary cell.

“Is there anyone here who bought books?”

“!”

“Do you have any spare books?! Do you happen to have the 【Advanced Applications of Fire Elements】 book?”

“I do. Starting from basic elemental application textbooks to the latest Toberiz series, 【Monthly Dark Magic Trends】 and other magazines too.”

“…That guy’s from the Library Club!!”

“He got caught on purpose to do business! What a ruthless bastard!”

The students locked in the punishment room were shocked by the Library Club member’s madness.

To think he’d get caught on purpose to sell books.

“Haha. It’s a service for everyone. Won’t you buy any?”

“Ugh… Give me one 【Advanced Applications of Fire Elements】 book. How many times the original price?”

The experienced Einroguard students were already expecting it.

If someone came all the way to the punishment room to sell books, the price would probably jump several times.

“What are you talking about? Just pay the original price.”

“Huh? Really?”

“But you have to purchase and read this 【Life and Death of Jundaer Dolpram】 first.”

“…That much is fine…”

Unlike other clubs, the Library Club deserved respect just for not taking excessive profits here.

Purchasing one additional boring trash book was a perfectly manageable price to pay.

“Here you go.”

“Here’s the book. Please take it.”

“Thanks. Now sell me 【Advanced Applications of Fire Elements】 too.”

“What are you talking about? You have to read 【Life and Death of Jundaer Dolpram】 first.”

“…Huh, I bought it though?”

“Yes. You bought it and need to read it.”

“…”

Only then realizing something was wrong, the student asked in a flustered voice.

“Since I bought it, when I read it is my freedom, right? I’ll read it later, so hurry up and sell it to me!”

“No. Read it first. I’ll check.”

‘I let my guard down!’

Only then did the students realize they had underestimated the Library Club’s madness.

These guys were trying to force them to read books that normally wouldn’t get read!

“Do the magazines also have books I need to buy first?”

“Yes. There’s a book you need to read first. 【A Year Spent in the Frost Giant Dimension】.”

“Please… please give me a break on that one. I’ve read it before, and it was so boring I almost collapsed.”

“No. It’s a good book once you read it all.”

The students tried to negotiate by offering to pay higher prices, but the Library Club member was stubborn.

In the end, the punishment room students had no choice but to read books they normally wouldn’t, shedding tears.

“Ugh… I want to read something else.”

“…But reading this again, it’s actually kind of interesting?”

“Shut up.”

After the students bought books one by one, Erde also whispered cautiously.

“Hey. Hey.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t have gold coins right now. Actually, I’ve secured an enormous amount of smuggled goods outside.”

“No credit.”

“They’re really outside!”

Erde shouted in a voice full of injustice. However, none of the students believed him.

What smuggled goods could someone who got caught with them have?

“Is there a senior here?”

“???”

“Senior Erde from the Marcang family? Are you perhaps not in this corridor?”

“Here! Here!! I’m here!!!”

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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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