Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 371

To Lee Han’s surprise, the knights actually agreed.

“You know,” one of the knights said, puffing out his chest a little, “my family is part of the Beechwood Knights.”

Lee Han smiled. “Wow, really? What a small world! Funny you should say that, because I just got an invitation from the Beechwood Knights myself!”

“You did?” another knight asked, his eyebrows going up.

The knights looked very surprised at what Lee Han had just said.

Wizards were not often invited to knight families’ parties. It only happened if the wizards owed them a very big favor.

“The Beechwood Knights are really great. They really wanted to thank me for being kind, you see…”

“That’s just how our order is,” said the knight, his face softening at Lee Han’s praise.

Of course, Lee Han was inwardly cursing the knight.

What do you mean, that’s how it is!

“We didn’t know you were such good friends with the knights, wizard.”

“Indeed. Had we known, we would have invited you as soon as we arrived in the village.”

Befriending one knight could lead to friendships with others in their circle.

From the knights’ perspective, there was no reason not to welcome Lee Han, who seemed to have close ties not only with their comrade but also with the entire Beechwood Knights order.

After talking politely for a while, Lee Han quietly asked his seniors,

“So, what is it you wanted to ask for?”

“Ah, to strongly deal with any suspicious individuals in the village and chase them out…”

‘Indeed.’

Even if it sounded a bit unfair, the knights could easily do it if they wanted to.

The reason the knights didn’t chase away travelers flocking to the village wasn’t due to a lack of ability or authority, but rather because they didn’t want to create unnecessary disturbances.

If the expelled travelers spread bad rumors or caused trouble, it would only lead to more headaches. So, those who had received permission were generally allowed to pass.

As such, it would be easy to find an excuse to chase them out if they really wanted to.

The seniors weren’t asking to chase away all the travelers, but only those who were openly suspicious. So, this much…

“…and they asked if we could prevent other travelers from entering while we’re going in.”

“…Should we ask again, leaving that part out?”

Lee Han was appalled by the audacity of his seniors.

Surprisingly, the knights granted even this shameless request.

“We must do at least that much for the benefactors of the Beechwood Knights.”

“What is a knight’s honor for, after all?”

‘This feels more like corruption than honor…’ Lee Han thought, but he quietly kept his mouth shut since he was the one benefiting.

He never expected they would grant even that request.

“As wizards, you must naturally be concerned about suspicious travelers.”

“We will send them outside the village and adjust the order of entry for you.”

The knights escorted Lee Han and his party to the village square. The seniors, watching the knights wave and shout for them to enter safely, remarked,

“Could the Wodanaz family have bribed these knights?”

“Even if they did, I don’t think it would be to this extent…”

“No, we’re just acquaintances.”

“That’s what you call acquaintances…!?”

“Ah, I didn’t realize acquaintances were this powerful?”

The seniors were thrown into confusion by Lee Han’s unconvincing excuse.

If that was what being acquaintances meant, what had they been doing all this time?

“Anyway, well done, junior. Thanks to you, we can enter comfortably.”

“Why don’t you play around in the village like the other first-years? It’s originally our job, but since you’re doing it all, I feel bad…”

-Dare you use a dark magic curse deck!? Are you looking down on me!?

-What’s it to you what cards I use! Don’t make excuses after losing!

“…Don’t play like that, though.”

“Go stop them quickly!”

At Dirette’s shout, the seniors rushed out.

Park Deok-geul was dressed like a traveler who was looking for fun. He sat downstairs in the Chirping Sparrow Inn.

Like other wizards and travelers, Park Deok-geul had rented the entire inn.

It was not only more convenient for his activities but also because anti-magic advocates were generally not welcome guests in the Empire.

Park Deok-geul sat there, bewildered.

“Expelled, you say?”

“Yes…”

“Say it again.”

“So, that is…” The subordinate, also quite flustered, calmly explained again.

Two parties were expelled from the village by the knights for being suspicious, and another party was kicked out after a big argument during a wizard card game.

Park Deok-geul’s mouth fell open.

He had gone to the trouble of hiring the parties, obtaining permission for them to enter the dimension, and now he just had to wait for them to go in…

Three out of four parties were expelled.

He was so dumbfounded that he couldn’t believe it.

Park Deok-geul scratched his cheek and lowered his voice.

“We weren’t found out, were we?”

“Th-that’s absolutely not the case.” The subordinate hurriedly denied it.

The subordinate knew that even though Park Deok-geul looked relaxed and rich, he was actually a cruel man who could kill his helpers at any time.

“If we had been found out, there would be no reason not to touch us and only expel the other parties, would there? It would only raise unnecessary suspicion!”

“I suppose…” Park Deok-geul thought his subordinate’s words made sense.

If their identity as anti-magic advocates had been discovered, they would have immediately surrounded the inn, rather than expelling the other lackeys and raising suspicion.

It was definitely a coincidence.

“It seems the knights’ superior came, or they’re finding fault for some other reason. This is…” Park Deok-geul fell silent and pondered what to do.

The most urgent task for Park Deok-geul’s gang was to gather as many Sanhwan mushrooms as possible.

A mountain of these rare mushrooms was needed for the grand plan.

That’s why he brought adventurers and mercenaries, but his hands and feet were being cut off before they even started.

“It can’t be helped. Send a message to the people waiting outside for now.”

“What should I tell them?”

“To recover the gold from those who were expelled.”

“Park Deok-geul, considering the personalities of those we hired, I don’t think they’ll give it up willingly in this situation…”

Usually, those who take on such requests are suspicious and rough individuals, so even if they fail the request due to their own mistakes, they often refuse to return the deposit.

“Of course, we shouldn’t just ask them to hand it over. Tell them to kill them and take it.”

“S-sorry.”

“We’ll have to go in with just one party… More than that, I can understand the knights finding fault, but what’s with that guy who got kicked out for playing a wizard card game? Tell them to kill him in a particularly painful way.”

“He was angry because the opponent used a dark magic curse deck and won.”

“…Oh dear… He’s just terribly unlucky. To meet such a despicable guy in this remote village.”

“Yes. It’s truly unbelievable.”

“Alright. Then just tell them to kill him comfortably.” Park Deok-geul retracted his previous statement.

If he met such an opponent, he could understand causing a ruckus to some extent.

“You know I won’t forgive you if things get any more complicated, right? There must be no more mistakes.”

“I-I’m keeping that in mind. Don’t worry! We’ve already buttered up the knights properly. They’ll let us know at least a day before anyone else!”

“Shhh. Everyone, come out quietly. The dimension is getting closer. It will open within an hour.”

Professor Mortoom was surprised when the knights quietly knocked on the inn door in the middle of the night and whispered.

He then looked at the dark magic school students and asked,

“Cough… How much money did you give them? You didn’t use up all the public funds, did you?”

“No, Professor.”

“Our junior here persuaded them.”

Professor Mortoom looked at Lee Han as if he were a monster and nodded.

“It’s good that they’re letting us know in advance. Cough. Let’s go in.”

As the wizards came outside, the knights said with confidence,

“We’ll try to hide this fact from the others as much as possible. If we do well, we can earn more than two days.”

“…Is that really okay?” Lee Han, who had been trying to hold back, couldn’t help but ask.

Is this really okay??

“This much is nothing for the sake of honor.”

“Have a safe trip.”

Lee Han moved his feet, wondering what a knight’s honor was.

It wasn’t even dawn yet, so the students walked along the path, yawning.

“!” Lee Han’s expression hardened first. Professor Mortoom, seeing that, said as if he was impressed,

“You’ve already sensed the magic? I haven’t even done it yet?”

“Ah, Gainando ate all of his share of snacks…”

Professor Mortoom felt embarrassed for no reason.

And the group walked again.

“!!”

“…Perhaps you sensed the magic…”

“Yes.”

“Cough, excellent!” Professor Mortoom praised Lee Han. Fortunately, this time he really did sense the magic.

“Dark magic is gathering, is this the overlapping?”

“That’s right. The stagnant magic is affected by the surrounding environment, causing explosive anomalies.” Professor Mortoom pointed ahead.

It was already dark, but the wizards could feel an even darker darkness settling on top of it.

“It’s coming.”

“Juniors, stay in the back. Don’t get hurt by being in the front.”

Boom!

A powerful wave of magic that only wizards could feel burst out.

It was so powerful that the seniors around them staggered, stumbled, or knelt.

Dirette barely managed to keep his balance and looked at the first-years behind him.

“Everyone okay… They’re okay.”

“Only Lee Han is okay…!”

Gainando, who had tripped over Raphaelle, grumbled as he got up.

Everyone except Lee Han was rolling on the ground.

“It’s open. Everyone, let’s go in!”

“Yes!”

“For gold! For abundant dark magic research!”

The seniors shouted slogans that they were ashamed to shout in front of others and started running.

The knights tilted their heads and asked,

“What kind of magic was that just now…”

“Then, see you next time!” Lee Han also took his friends and rushed in.

“Damn it. It’s a cave.”

“Bad luck.”

“Think positively. Mushrooms actually come out more often in caves.”

The dark magic school students who passed through the dimensional gate grumbled.

Originally, the terrain of another dimension didn’t come out as the wizard wanted. Luck had to be on their side to some extent.

The best thing was an open and easy-to-move terrain…

Dark, narrow, and complex cave-like terrain wasn’t very good.

“Cough. Everyone, remember what you learned. Use magic as carefully as possible. Be even more careful with dark magic. Avoid fighting if possible…” With those words, Professor Mortoom waved his wand. He made everyone see in the dark with magic.

“…Move slowly. Don’t make loud noises. Don’t warm up your body.”

“Professor. I have a question.” Lee Han asked carefully.

“Cough. What is it?”

“Is my magic okay? Because I have a lot of magic…”

At Lee Han’s words, one of the seniors next to him said as if it was okay,

“If you have a lot of magic, it gets a bit more twisted, but it’s okay. I’ll apply some medicine.”

“Cough. That won’t work for him.”

“And it doesn’t matter. With your level of magic, the undead in Zone 1 will run away.”

The seniors were shocked.

Of course, they had learned that having a little more magic than average could give off a sense of intimidation, but… they never thought they would actually see it!

“Senior?”

“Why, why are you calling me, junior?”