Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 347

“But still,” Gainando mumbled, “shouldn’t we at least take a look around?”

Professor Garcia pretended not to hear him and turned to Leihan. “Everyone, if you were thinking of exploring the shops, I’ll treat you all.”

“Really, Professor?” Leihan asked, surprised. He looked at Professor Garcia, puzzled. At Einroguard, professors didn’t usually buy things for students. *Is this allowed?* Leihan wondered.

“It’s not normal, no,” Professor Garcia admitted. “But there are exceptions sometimes. Think of this as a one-time treat from me.” He gave Nilia a knowing look. Nilia nodded slowly, as if she understood there was more to this treat than just kindness.

“Is it because Leihan is such a brilliant student that you’re making an exception?” Nilia asked, her eyes wide.

“No,” Professor Garcia said, his voice flat. “It’s because he’s an exceptionally *pitiful* student that I’m making an exception.”

Leihan’s face fell. He went quiet and followed Professor Garcia, feeling a little gloomy. Nilia, feeling sorry for him, gently patted Leihan’s shoulder.

Granden City’s streets were full of people of all kinds. But even here, Professor Garcia stood out.

Because Granden City was a big city, people didn’t run away in a naive way when they saw Professor Garcia. They didn’t shout, ‘A troll! A troll is in the city!’

Instead, they nodded calmly.

“Hmm. A walking troll, I see.”

“Maybe he had a magical experiment or he’s a wizard who turned into a troll.”

“Hey, are you scared? Your legs are shaking.”

“What are you talking about? Why won’t you look at me?”

Even if they didn’t run away or shout, people still tensed up.

“Professor.”

Leihan whispered, and Professor Garcia answered like it was nothing.

“Leihan, don’t worry. I’m used to people acting like that.”

“Ah. That’s… I wasn’t worried. I was going to ask if I could shut those people up.”

Instead of worrying about the professor, shutting up those who insulted him might be the mark of a true disciple.

But Professor Garcia didn’t agree.

“…No.”

“No?”

“No. Take your hand off your wand.”

Professor Garcia said sternly.

Well… No, Professor Garcia was worried that Leihan was relying too much on power.

“But those guys will keep talking.”

“I said it doesn’t matter. Here. The steak sandwiches at this restaurant are really delicious. I’ll buy them for everyone, so let’s go inside.”

Professor Garcia pointed to a three-story building next to the main street.

A worn brass sign with food pictures hung at the entrance of the red brick building. There was a long line in front.

‘Looks like a famous place,’ Leihan thought.

As Professor Garcia stood at the end of the line, the people in front suddenly gave way.

“Ah, oops… I suddenly have an appointment… Please, go ahead.”

“I once received a favor from a wizard, so I always give up my seat when I meet wizards.”

The students were speechless with disbelief.

‘What nonsense…’

However, Professor Garcia shrugged. He had seen it so many times that he wasn’t surprised.

“Everyone’s giving way. That’s good. Shall we go in?”

‘Sometimes the Professor seems like he’s from Einroguard, too,’ Leihan thought.

Leihan took a step, thinking that Professor Garcia might be hurt.

As the professor said, the steak sandwich was delicious. Well-grilled, thick steak, onions, tomatoes, and sauce were packed between crispy bread. Each bite was very satisfying.

Gainando looked at Professor Garcia with respectful eyes. He was impressed that they easily entered this popular restaurant without waiting in line.

“Professor, you’re amazing.”

‘Is Gainando really this clueless?’ Leihan thought.

Leihan thought about splashing the drink in front of him.

Fortunately, Professor Garcia didn’t get angry and answered with a smile.

“It’s one of the few advantages of being a troll hybrid.”

“Can I become a troll hybrid too?”

“If you practice transformation magic a lot, it’s possible.”

Professor Garcia encouraged Gainando.

Even if the reason was a bit strange, Professor Garcia always supported students who wanted to study magic.

“But I don’t want to learn transformation magic.”

“Then it would be difficult, right?”

“Is other magic really impossible?”

Professor Garcia paused, thinking.

He was trying to remember what magic Gainando had learned.

Soon, Professor Garcia remembered black magic and spoke again.

“Even if you’re not a troll hybrid, people avoid black magicians… Ah. Never mind.”

Professor Garcia realized he had made a mistake.

He didn’t need to tell a student learning black magic about the sad truth about black magicians.

Gainando didn’t notice, but Leihan understood.

‘I understand, Professor,’ Leihan thought.

Leihan gave him a knowing look. Professor Garcia felt very sorry.

“…Eat your sandwich, Leihan. Drink your drink too. Would you like a vanilla egg cream? Or a soda ice cream?”

“I’m really okay.”

Leihan felt sorry that Professor Garcia was feeling sorry.

The other professors were at fault, so why was Professor Garcia acting like this?

Of course, Professor Garcia had some responsibility, but compared to the other professors, Professor Garcia was like an angel.

“I’m having so much fun right now. Aren’t I? Nilia?”

“Huh? Uh. Ye, yes, fun. It’s fun, isn’t it? Wow. It’s really fun.”

Nilia, who was drinking a milkshake, answered in a fluster. She almost spilled her glass.

At that moment, Professor Garcia’s expression suddenly changed.

“Everyone, keep eating. I’ll be right back.”

As Professor Garcia quickly walked out of the store, the friends looked at Nilia and said,

“Why did you answer like that!”

“I, it’s because you asked me so suddenly! I couldn’t think!”

“Isn’t the Professor angry?”

“…Yoner. Let’s switch seats. I want to sit next to Leihan.”

“Don’t talk nonsense and sit still, Gainando.”

Leihan became curious.

Why did Professor Garcia suddenly walk outside?

‘Did he find someone he knew?’

But his expression was a bit stiff for that.

“Professor Krauer, hurry! Quickly!”

“Ah, if you keep being annoying, I’ll shove tree bark down your throat instead of making any deals, you fool!” Professor Krauer said, annoyed.

He wasn’t usually close to Professor Verdus, but right now, Professor Krauer was very ill-tempered. He had no patience for Professor Verdus’s whining.

However, Professor Verdus was not someone to ignore.

“I get it, so hurry up. You can shove it in later, so just find him quickly.”

Professor Krauer held back his curses and tried to take a counting rod from the divination rods.

The range had been getting smaller, so he was almost there.

Just a couple more times and…

“What the devil are you two doing here?”

Even Professor Verdus flinched as the voice came from behind. At that voice, Professor Krauer became less ill-tempered.

The timid persona, forced out, cursed the other persona and began to make excuses.

“P, Professor Garcia…”

“Aren’t you going to bring out the other persona right now?”

The ill-tempered persona reappeared.

Professor Garcia glared at them and asked,

“What were you doing here?”

“We were divining…” Professor Verdus mumbled.

“What kind of divination?”

“Divination with rods…”

Divination that reads the future by drawing counting rods from a container, and skilled divination mages could read all sorts of omens with this method.

If it was Professor Passelet Krauer, a master among masters, he should be able to find the location of a single student.

“I was wrong! I was wrong! Professor Garcia! Please forgive me! Aren’t we friends!”

“My friend is the other persona, not you, so shut your mouth.”

Professor Krauer shut his mouth. He was afraid of Professor Garcia’s fist.

“Were you promised a reward for finding a student?”

Professor Garcia already guessed the situation.

Professor Verdus had many special objects, so he could have offered one for Professor Krauer’s help.

Even if Professor Krauer’s sane persona wouldn’t accept such a dangerous offer, all the other personas couldn’t be the same.

The ill-tempered persona had probably accepted the offer.

“Yeah…”

“What did I say when I sent him back last time?”

“To meet him after the semester starts…”

“Then why?”

“I don’t know…”

Professor Garcia was speechless at Professor Verdus’s shameless answer.

Threats wouldn’t work on a madman who said whatever he wanted, even in front of the Skull Headmaster.

It was good that he was pretending to listen to Professor Garcia now.

“Go back. You can meet him after the semester starts.”

“But then the other guys will try to divide the time.”

“Not the other guys, but the other professors. And dividing the time is normal, right?”

“But my magic is more important than the magic of the other guys…”

“Please, just shut your mouth,” Professor Krauer’s ill-tempered persona whispered.

Professor Verdus might not care about his life, but Professor Krauer’s ill-tempered persona valued his life.

“I’m really begging you. Both of you. Please go back quickly.”

As soon as he could, Professor Krauer quickly turned around, taking Professor Verdus with him.

He was afraid that Professor Garcia might change his mind and get angry.

Professor Garcia sighed as he watched them leave.

He thought Professor Verdus wouldn’t listen, but he didn’t expect him to move so quickly.

‘Are the other professors doing this too?’

“Ah, you’re back, Professor Garcia. Did something happen?” the students asked, worried.

Professor Garcia lied.

“I just ran into someone I knew and talked for a bit.”

“Wow, you have a lot of friends, Professor,” Nilia said.

Could professors know at least one person among the people on the main street of Granden City?

“Not that many. If everyone’s eaten, let’s get up. What would you like to drink? Alcohol? Coffee? Tea?”

“Tea would be nice,” Leihan said.

“That’s good. I’ll take you to a nice tea house.”

Professor Garcia took the students to his favorite tea house.

Unlike the restaurant, it was in a quiet alley. The aroma of tea came from the ivy-covered wooden walls.

“I like green tea here. Everyone should try it sometime… Wait. Everyone, keep drinking. I’ll be right back.”

As Professor Garcia got up and headed outside again, the students looked at each other, confused.

What was going on?