Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 935

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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 935

‘I still have a lot of prepared material left.’

Lee Han smacked his lips in disappointment at the merchant’s cold demeanor.

He had wanted to tell the story of how Stedal Nago chose stable miner guild investments over uncertain magic tower investments after the speculation wave and achieved great success.

This story would have shown people that Stedal Nago was wise enough not to trust mages.

Magic towers and mage guilds weren’t fundamentally good places to invest in!

“We’ll wait here for a moment. Another noble will be boarding soon.”

“Who might that be?”

“Hmm. This person is difficult to deal with. They have arrogant and self-righteous tendencies. It might be better to just exchange light greetings and talk with other people after arriving at the palace.”

Amur, who was beside them, asked in puzzlement.

“Why are we traveling with such a person?”

“A merchant can’t just associate with people they like. In this person’s case, they’re looking for a patron, and I’ve taken on the role of helping them.”

The Kaako Trading Company was quite large in scale within the Empire, and Arien, who belonged to it, handled various different tasks.

Among these was fulfilling requests like this one.

Introducing young nobles seeking patrons to social gatherings and facilitating a smooth atmosphere.

In return, the trading company could build connections with noble families and even put them in their debt.

“Oh my. They must be a person with a nasty personality. It seems like they’ll be difficult to deal with.”

“It’ll be sufficient if we don’t initiate conversation and just talk among ourselves.”

“Thank you, Amur. As expected, there’s no one but Amur…”

Just then, the carriage door opened and a penguin beastman mage wearing a splendid coat embroidered with silver snowflake patterns entered.

It was Alsicle of the Penguerin family.

“…”

“Good day.”

“Pleased to meet you, Penguerin.”

“Yes. I look forward to working with you. And this person is…”

“This is Stedal of the Nago family.”

“I see.”

Alsicle answered with an indifferent attitude and plopped down heavily on the long carriage seat.

Then he clicked his beak and muttered.

“I don’t want to go…”

“Penguerin!”

“…S-sorry.”

At Arien’s sharp reprimand, Alsicle straightened his posture.

Come to think of it, the gathering was practically starting now. Weren’t the other people in the carriage also participants in the gathering?

“But… these people aren’t patrons.”

“That’s correct. But you never know when or where rumors might leak out. Though these people are tight-lipped, you should also be careful, Penguerin.”

“…Why exactly do patrons only gather for theater meetings? Couldn’t they gather to watch magic experiments at magic towers?”

Alsicle spoke with a voice filled with deep resentment.

There was only one reason why Alsicle, an arrogant and self-righteous penguin beastman mage, would bother participating in such theater gatherings.

Because that’s where the patrons were!

Alsicle, who needed to find patrons for new research, was forced to participate even though he found theater boring and uninteresting.

‘Sob sob. I really don’t want to go.’

Amur whispered in puzzlement from beside him.

“Aren’t magic experiments popular too? I think I saw something about it in the Empire newspaper?”

Amur definitely remembered seeing articles in the Empire newspaper like 【All patrons who gathered to watch magic experiments at Treeroot Magic Tower had their hair turned into tree branches!】

Magic experiments were surprisingly entertaining to watch, popular enough that people continued gathering even after such accidents.

“They are popular, but it varies greatly depending on the magic.”

“Ah.”

Typically, schools like black magic didn’t attract many visitors even when they offered to show experiments.

Occasionally undertakers or a few others would come asking if there was any work available?

And in Lee Han’s view, Alsicle’s research wasn’t likely to be very popular either.

First of all, it was too cold.

‘Rich Empire people wouldn’t have reason to pay money and go to remote places just to shiver in the cold.’

Snowflakes were pretty when viewed up close, but watching them fall from a distance got boring quickly.

Seeing the two whispering, Alsicle became curious and asked Arien.

“By any chance, is Nago quite wealthy?”

“…Well, Nago was once captured by pirates in the southern Empire and rescued by Ragesa, Torgerd’s daughter who leads a privateer fleet. He found a treasure map he obtained while captured by the pirates and amassed great wealth. After that, he devoted himself to alchemy, created several potions, and accumulated even more wealth…”

“!”

Alsicle’s eyes widened at Arien’s flowing explanation.

He had thought this was just some idle noble going to watch theater, but he was such a wealthy person!

Alsicle checked his appearance.

‘I should have brought canned sardines.’

Hoping there would be sardines at the palace, Alsicle opened his mouth.

“Nago. I was truly amazed by your natural luck and insight. I was even more surprised to hear you made wealth during the Bone Flower speculation wave. By any chance, are you interested in cold magic research…”

“Alsicle. I’m Wardanaz in disguise.”

“…Hey!!!”

Frustrated, Alsicle shouted.

How dare he toy with his earnest feelings!

* * *

“Why exactly are you disguised like that?”

“To help Einroguard theater club students escape.”

“…I was wrong to ask.”

Alsicle deeply reflected.

Unlike himself, who was reluctant to go watch theater, this Wardanaz family boy was doing his best to help his friends.

“Why exactly does Einroguard torment students to such an extent?”

“I wonder about that too. More importantly, Alsicle. Do you know much about theater?”

At Lee Han’s question, Alsicle’s expression immediately darkened.

Alsicle also wasn’t someone with deep knowledge of cultural arts.

“I’m not very confident about it.”

“That’s fine. I came prepared.”

“!”

Alsicle’s expression brightened again.

Since the Wardanaz family boy was saying that, it felt quite reassuring.

He was already from a great noble family, and if he was confident enough to say that…

“I’ll tell you about a few simple plays now. The heirs of two feuding families fall in love…”

“They both die and a lich comes out to resurrect them? I know that one.”

“…”

Lee Han looked at Alsicle with an expression full of shock and betrayal.

Why did he pretend not to know when he was well-versed in theater?

‘How can a person be so cowardly?’

“N-no…! This is like basic common knowledge! Who hasn’t seen this!”

“…Do you also know this one? A poor girl wanted to go to a ball and was crying…”

“You mean the one where a lich appears and gives her a dress and glass sword? Where she kills the demon disguised as a prince? Later the real prince identifies the girl by her sword-wielding form…”

“It seems I don’t need to help you, Alsicle.”

“Y-yes.”

Alsicle was more shocked that a mage like Wardanaz was saying such things.

Even a woodcutter living in the northern mountains would have probably seen those plays when going down to the village…

The destination was finally starting to come into view in the distance.

It was a famous landmark of Granden City called the 【Old King’s Palace】, which had been a palace during the kingdom era but was now used as a venue for the city people’s banquets.

Several splendid carriages that had arrived earlier were already visible. Alsicle whispered to Lee Han.

“If you see anyone who might invest in my research, could you let me know?”

“Then could you also help me with getting my friends to escape, Alsicle?”

The two mages shook hands firmly. Arien and Amur watched with satisfaction.

“Well then, have a good time. We’ll wait here.”

Receiving their send-off, the two mages took determined steps forward.

Lee Han looked around, checking for useful people.

“Alsicle. That person over there looks like a mage from the Phantom’s Embrace.”

“Wardanaz.”

“Yes?”

“Mages are all broke bastards, so I’m not interested! Find patrons!”

‘Though there are exceptions like Baldrogard.’

Lee Han grumbled inwardly while nodding his head.

Well, even from Lee Han’s perspective, there was no particular reason to get close to mages here.

It would be hard to get sponsorship from them, and they might interfere when Lee Han caused trouble later…

“Clevik. How should we coordinate the timing when the play begins?”

“Effort and repetition! All the mages gathered here have talent, but blood and sweat are needed to make that talent bloom.”

Clevik spoke seriously while looking at the illusion mages.

The reason Clevik had come to this palace today was not only to provide magic needed for the play but also to teach the illusion mages he was currently mentoring.

If there were magic towers that shared information exclusively among themselves, there were also organizations that traveled the Empire spreading information to enhance the capabilities of entire schools.

The Phantom’s Embrace that Clevik belonged to was closer to the latter. It was natural since Ogonin himself was a big shot in the illusion magic school.

Currently, Clevik was teaching the nearby illusion mages gathered in Granden City without any compensation. Thanks to this, the illusion mages’ eyes sparkled with respect.

“Even so, don’t worry too much. This Clevik will check everything from one to ten. Everyone prepare the magic you’re assigned!”

Lee Han became interested in the illusion mages’ conversation.

From what he heard, they seemed to be preparing magic needed for a play, and if he could participate in that, wouldn’t it be good for helping students escape later?

“It looks like they’re preparing magic needed for a play? I’d like to participate in that.”

“Ugh. I told you there’s no money in it…”

Though Alsicle complained, he didn’t oppose Lee Han’s suggestion.

Certainly, to help Einroguard students escape, participating in such play preparations would seem effective.

Since the surveillance was so thorough, they’d need to exploit gaps several times to see any chance of success.

“It would be better for Alsicle of the Penguerin family to ask rather than Stedalbo of the Nago family. By the way, that alias sounds familiar – is it a real family?”

“No. It’s the Principal’s name backwards.”

“…”

Alsicle made an expression like he’d seen every kind of crazy person, then approached the mages.

Upon hearing Alsicle’s family name and title, Clevik readily accepted.

“It would be an honor! I’d be happy to help in any way. You could even teach these mages here!”

“Thank you. …That’s settled, right?”

Alsicle returned and spoke to Lee Han.

However, Lee Han’s expression was colored with shock and dismay.

“What’s wrong? Is there some problem?”

“Baldoron is over there!”

Though most of his face was covered and only his eyes were visible, Lee Han recognized him immediately.

That was Baldoron, the great illusion mage of Philone Village.

“…Huh? Really?!”

Alsicle was startled and looked up.

Alsicle had also heard the name during vacation of the illusion mage who had taught Wardanaz magic.

-So Baldoron…

-Now that I think about it, Baldoron…

-Honestly, doesn’t Baldoron seem more amazing than Ogonin?

-You’re free to think that, but it’s probably better not to say that in front of people from the illusion magic school.

“Who is it? That person? No, he looks ordinary though?”

“Isn’t it that the extraordinary is usually hidden within the ordinary?”

Lee Han spoke with a voice slightly mixed with respect.

Truly strong people hide their claws.

“I was already pondering a few things about magic anyway, so I should have a conversation with him.”

“Wait. Wait. Alsicle. Look at Baldoron right now.”

Lee Han pointed at the other person.

The other person had his face almost completely covered, as if he didn’t want to meet anyone he knew.

In other words, he had a different purpose.

“He probably has a different purpose like us. Let’s not interfere unnecessarily.”

“I see… That’s unfortunate. I wanted to have a conversation with him. But what purpose could he have for doing such menial work?”

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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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