Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 604

“Well… the children are kind.”

“Oh!”

“What do you mean, ‘Oh’?”

The Headmaster was dumbfounded.

Even if he disliked the Emperor’s position, such a reaction to the word ‘kind’ was a bit much.

To be kind meant to pity all things in the world, and if so, perhaps he had the qualifications of an Emperor…

“And they aren’t exactly kind either.”

The Headmaster mercilessly crushed the Emperor’s hope.

“Last time I saw them, they were stealing food from other students.”

“No, that’s just fair competition…”

Leihan defended Gainando without even realizing it.

“And the White Tiger Tower students stole a lot of Gainando’s food too.”

“I wasn’t talking about Gainando.”

“…Huh???”

Leihan was shocked by the words.

The Headmaster, not wanting to talk more about the students stealing food, changed the subject.

“It’s still a long way off.”

Still, wasn’t there an outstanding wizard here?

“Your Majesty…”

The Headmaster was pleased with the sudden praise.

“If you think so, please give us more funding. The fourth-year students need a pure gold golem to use for potions. It should be at least 15 meters tall and weigh over 20 tons…”

The Emperor wasn’t talking about you…

The Emperor blinked and pointed at Leihan.

“With you here, even those merely kind children can grow more.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? Does everyone grow just because they’re next to an outstanding wizard?”

Why, didn’t you also… Iactus, was it? Didn’t you make that child grow?

“Are you deliberately trying to insult me? That guy only did the things I told him not to do!”

“Be quiet. It’s good if they grow.”

The Emperor snorted, annoyed by the Headmaster.

“Anyway, I enjoyed our conversation today. Oh-soo, to think your disciple is so close to you. In fact, in some ways, this is the most surprising thing… I suppose the Dragon is getting old. I’ve become able to accept it calmly.”

“……”

“…It’s not that much.”

As if signaling the end of the conversation, the Emperor looked at Leihan with wise eyes.

“I have high expectations for you. Even if you don’t necessarily make your friends grow, grow up to be a fine wizard.”

“Yes. I will become a fine wizard and devote my loyalty as an official of the Empire.”

Leihan, seizing the opportunity, delivered a quick flattery.

How many chances would he get to face the Emperor like this?

He had to leave a good impression at times like this.

However, the Emperor’s reaction was more puzzled than pleased.

“Official…?”

Oh-soo’s disciple bringing up the story of an official, what was he talking about?

‘Ah, it must be about the Mana Spirit Officer.’

To already want to shoulder one of the Empire’s tasks that Oh-soo was carrying.

Despite his teacher’s eccentric personality, he was a truly commendable disciple.

Thinking about it, it was hard to believe that such a wizard was a child of Wodanaz.

It felt like only yesterday that he had come with Oh-soo, holding the sacred artifact, and plunged the Dragon into a cursed fate…

The Emperor closed his eyes.

Recalling the memories, anger soared rather than sadness.

He wanted to increase the Empire’s tasks that the head of the family would take on, but looking at the personality of the head of the Wodanaz family, it was a meaningless act.

Calmly suppressing his anger, the Emperor said with a smile.

“I’ll be waiting.”

“Yes!”

“You’ve worked hard.”

The Headmaster spoke with sincerity.

It wasn’t just empty words; this disciple had truly played a significant role.

If he had offended the Emperor, he would have had a headache all winter.

“It’s all thanks to the Headmaster’s guidance. Haha.”

Leihan answered politely.

“You rascal. No. This is all your merit. The power of your tongue makes even the most annoying and difficult people compliant.”

‘The expression sounds a bit like you’re cursing.’

“Now, then…”

The Headmaster took out a bundle of papers from his pocket. They were crumpled bundles of paper, each with different sizes and colors.

Leihan, puzzled by the sight of something that looked like it had been picked up from a garbage dump, asked.

“Where did you pick up this trash?”

“These are research proposals that your seniors asked me for.”

“Looking at them again, they seem to be filled with interesting energy.”

“Enough. Most of them are bad research, like music magic.”

The Headmaster glanced over the bundles of paper and once again looked disgusted.

Even though he already knew the contents, there were truly many useless studies.

-A study on the phenomena that appear when continuously taking recovery potions for a long time in a non-injured state.

-A study on how the most satisfying illusion magic varies depending on the region of the Empire.

-A study on the most efficient wand-wielding motion.

-A study on the races that trolls prefer as food…

“Ugh. It looks like trash again. Why would you need mental magic? Everyone would be vomiting blood just by waving these around.”

“……”

“Hoo. Let’s go. To squeeze the officials. I hope Peng-Erin has made the officials fall in love enough.”

“Are you going to request funding for these studies?”

“Yes. Even if they’re trash, it’s something I have to do.”

The Headmaster clicked his tongue and organized the bundles of paper.

He wanted to call the students and lock them up in the disciplinary room, but failure was necessary for achievement.

Extraordinary wizards like himself succeeded without failure, but the Headmaster knew well with his brilliant mind that not all wizards could be like him.

“Ah! I truly have a cursed fate. Where else would there be a great wizard as tormented as I am?”

‘He would have looked much cooler if he hadn’t said that last part.’

While Leihan was thinking that, the Headmaster strode forward and opened the door.

Inside the ornate room, officials and Alsicle were sitting and talking.

“So, ice magic is…”

“As expected, Peng-Erin. Each and every story is so interesting and instructive!”

Every time Alsicle spoke, the officials chuckled and admired.

However, Leihan didn’t think it was that interesting. He suspected it was honestly because of Alsicle’s appearance.

“More than that, Peng-Erin, aren’t you hungry?”

“I’m fine.”

“I’ll call the chef and have him bring sardines.”

“Perhaps you all want to see me swallow sardines, so you’re doing this…”

“Ah, no? That’s not it!”

The officials hurriedly denied it. Alsicle grumbled and said.

“More than that, please reconsider Einrogard. Einrogard is the best magic school in the Empire. The students are receiving the best education. The students are not hungry. The students are happy.”

“Is that a phrase written by Headmaster Gonadaltes?”

No matter how cute Alsicle was, the officials came to their senses when the name of Einrogard came up.

The Headmaster clicked his tongue and went inside.

“To dare slander someone.”

“Hick!!”

“Headmaster Gonadaltes!!”

The officials quickly got up and started running to the corner of the room.

“?”

Leihan tilted his head, not understanding why they were doing that.

The reason was soon revealed.

Creak!

The officials opened a secret door and ran into the next room. The Headmaster sighed and twisted space. The officials immediately returned to their original positions.

“Y-Your Excellency Gonadaltes. This is His Majesty’s palace. And there are many other people around. And there’s the Knights Order at the main gate…”

“Shut up. A little. I’m not going to hurt you.”

“You said that last time and then attacked us…”

“How long are you going to keep those things from years ago in your memory? Why are you so narrow-minded!”

The Headmaster shouted, hitting the floor with his staff.

He was frustrated that the officials were so caught up in these trivial matters.

‘Wait…’

Leihan was dumbfounded.

He really attacked them?

“No matter how much you attack us, we can’t give you any more budget.”

The officials trembled, but held each other’s hands firmly and said. The Headmaster sighed.

“Can’t you at least listen to the story? Here are plans diligently written by the young wizards of the Empire. Please listen. You might find them appealing.”

“…Yes…”

The officials nodded, making it clear that they didn’t want to listen. If the other party wasn’t the Headmaster, they would have immediately ordered him out.

The research plans put forward by Einrogard students were always very expensive.

Even now, a huge budget was going into Einrogard by order of the Emperor, so how deprived would other magic schools or wizard guilds feel if even more budget went in here?

Perhaps blocking these plans was the mission of the Imperial Ministry of Finance.

“Now, listen. First, about the research on the races that trolls prefer as food…”

“……”

The officials were serious from the start.

Just hearing how they were going to do that research was frightening.

“It’s not easy.”

The Headmaster clicked his tongue and left the room.

The officials who heard about the research on the races that trolls prefer as food were disgusted and tried not to give in.

Even Leihan thought this was definitely not going to be easy.

“What are you going to do?”

“I’ll have to persuade some more officials.”

“What about contacting the higher-ups directly?”

“First, you have to win over a few useful guys from the bottom. The higher-ups are even more stubborn.”

When trying to get this additional budget, you had to persuade at least a few people from below and take them with you, but suddenly pushing it to the people above had little effect.

From the beginning, they were the kind of guys who thought about not giving a budget when the Headmaster spoke.

“The rumors must have spread by now, so they must be hiding. Let’s give them some time to let their guard down.”

“……”

Leihan stared at the Headmaster, speechless, but the Headmaster checked his pocket watch without a care.

“Follow me.”

“Where are we going this time?”

“The printing house.”

“Ah, are you printing the books you need for next year?”

“You’re quick-witted. Yes. That’s right.”

The Headmaster left the Imperial Palace and went down the road of the capital.

The printing house, filled with the smell of ink and hot paper being printed, revealed itself deep in the alley.

“How have you been?”

“Gonadaltes! It’s an honor. You’ve come again this year!”

“Yes. I’m glad to see you’re healthy.”

Leihan was amazed at the sight of the dwarf printer taking off his hat and welcoming the Headmaster.

Come to think of it, there was no reason to be so afraid of the Headmaster unless you were an official.

Besides, if it was a printing house, wouldn’t the Headmaster be a kind of big customer? Anyone would be happy to see such a customer come.

“Is this person your disciple?”

“That’s right. Is what I told you about ready?”

“Yes, of course. Hey! Get ready!”

The dwarf printer began typesetting with his staff.

The magic-infused metal typefaces were typeset one by one as if they were alive, and soon formed a composition.

The Headmaster completely grasped the contents with just one glance and nodded.

“Proceed.”

With a clattering sound, the prepared paper began to turn into pages of a book.

Skilled printers moved the completed pages and asked the spirits on the magic circle to do additional work.

Leihan, who was watching the scene with a sense of pride even though he hadn’t prepared it himself, suddenly became curious and asked.

“But what kind of magic book is this?”

The Headmaster read one of the completed books and answered.

“It’s a magic book with fake maps. I’m going to spread it all over the Empire to trick your juniors.”

“……”