Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 626

“Are you really worried about *that*?” Gisele almost sighed, but looked up at her sister instead. Zicklin was her sister, after all.

“Just focus on my sword skills for now. More importantly, why do you need to show Wodanaz your swordsmanship?”

The training ground was empty. Zicklin relaxed her usual serious face. She answered her sister’s question in a softer voice. “Because I promised him I would.”

Gisele frowned, confused. “You did? When did you promise that? And *why* would you?”

“When I told him about fighting the giant swordsman, he clapped and said, ‘I’d love to see your sword skills sometime!’” Gisele thought, *Wasn’t that just being polite?*

Gisele knew Wodanaz could be very flattering. She thought, *He’s the type to say “Great idea!” even if the Headmaster punished someone important!*

“There will be other chances.”

“But don’t you hardly ever see him?” Gisele paused. *Her sister was right.*

“That’s good then!”

“Gisele.” Gisele’s eyes widened. *Oops.* She saw Zicklin’s face become serious. “You need to value your friends.”

“No…”

“Don’t be rude to your friends.”

“It’s not that! Cough. Okay, I was wrong.” Gisele knew Zicklin wouldn’t change her mind, so she gave up. Luckily, Zicklin nodded.

“But if you wanted to show off your sword skills, you already did that on the last hunt… Haven’t there been lots of chances?”

“That wasn’t a real showing, though.”

Zicklin tapped her sword case with her finger. “To really understand sword skills, you need to see them up close. And the best way to do that is a fight, even just a practice one.”

Gisele was shocked. *Was Zicklin really going to spar with someone from outside the family? Especially someone who wasn’t even a knight here?* “Th-that’s a little…”

“Gisele, value your friends…”

“No, I *am* saying this because I value them!” Gisele really didn’t want to defend Wodanaz like this. But she couldn’t just watch if Zicklin was going to hurt him badly!

“You have to take me with you, no matter what! Understand?”

“Alright, alright.” Zicklin looked at her sister’s slightly annoyed face with loving eyes. Gisele was so surprised by Zicklin’s look, she almost touched her own neck in confusion.

The conversation finished, and knights started coming into the training ground. Zicklin instantly changed. It was like the relaxed, friendly sister from moments ago had vanished. She became formal and polite.

“Gisele, show me your sword skills.”

“Yes… Wait, Sister.” Gisele paused. She had been thinking about swords, but now something else bothered her. “Why is Father keeping Wodanaz here anyway?” It was strange for the head of the family to spend so much time with a guest. What could they be talking about for so long?

“Gisele, focus on your sword skills.” Gisele rolled her eyes slightly. *Oh, come on, really?*

The attendant opened the office door and stopped, surprised. He had never seen the head of the family look like this. Usually, his face was cold and serious. But now, he was looking at the boy from the Wodanaz family with a happy, pleased expression. It was so different, it was almost unbelievable.

“Yes?” the head of the family asked, still looking at Wodanaz. The attendant hesitated. “Ah, yes! Zicklin said she needs to talk to you…” The head of the family waved his hand dismissively. “Tell her to wait unless it’s urgent. Now, Wodanaz, please continue. About the wind barrier on the northern cliff – can that be improved too?”

“I haven’t looked at it yet, but if it’s built the same way as the others, then yes, I think so.”

“That’s truly amazing! I’ve never heard of any other wizard doing this.”

“Well, it’s a trick that makes the wizard work harder, instead of using more materials. It’s not a common method.” *The head of the family thought,* *But didn’t Wodanaz say he used this method a lot back in Einrogard?* *If it makes the wizard work harder, shouldn’t they use it more often in a place like Einrogard?*

“Wodanaz, I can’t just take this help for free.”

“Haha, it’s really nothing.” *Actually, Leehane really wanted to be paid.* But this wasn’t Einrogard. Here, outside the school, things were different. He couldn’t just demand money from people. He was invited as a guest, like by the Headmaster back at school, so he couldn’t ask for payment for repairs.

“What if we ask your Headmaster to send an official request from Einrogard?”

“!” Leehane was really impressed. *Wow, as expected from the Moradi family!* He was polite, kind, and fair. Instead of just taking more free help, he was going to pay properly. *The Moradi family really deserved their good name.*

“Yes, I’ll wait for it.” Leehane answered, then paused. *Wait a minute,* he thought. *If they send a request, I’ll have to come back here.* *Is that okay?* *Actually, yes. I’ll be taking jobs anyway. It’s better to go somewhere I already know.* Even in his first year, Leehane had gone outside the school (he even fought a Sea Serpent!). From his second year, he often took jobs that came to Einrogard. Wizards needed money, after all.

“Great. Let’s do that then. Is there anything else you want to tell me?”

“Oh, no, sir…”

“Don’t be too humble, Wodanaz. Being too proud isn’t good in the Empire, but talented people should have some pride. It’s not arrogance, it’s confidence.” *He sounds just like the Headmaster,* Leehane thought, making a slightly annoyed face. He had heard that saying too many times.

The head of the family kept talking, not noticing that Leehane was a little less impressed now. “Guests like you don’t come around often. I’m just curious to hear your thoughts. Don’t be shy, tell me anything. It doesn’t have to be about magic.” The head of the family looked at Leehane, his eyes shining with hope and admiration. *A first-year student who could improve the magic of the whole territory!* He had wondered if it was just because Wodanaz was from the famous Wodanaz family, but now he knew it was real! With such a smart person, he could get great ideas about everything, not just magic!

“Um, actually, I was thinking about something. You have lots of young knights from other families training here, right?”

“That’s correct.” Many young people from other knight families came to train and learn at the Moradi family’s territory. It cost money, of course, but it was worth it because the Moradi family was becoming stronger and more famous in the North.

“In my opinion, these young knights have too much free time.”

“Too much free time?” The head of the family’s face changed. He became very interested and leaned closer to listen.

“Yes. They just wander around, chat, and bother the guests…”

“Hmm, but knights need to meet and talk to knights from other families, it’s important.”

“I know, it’s important to make connections. But they’re wasting too much time using that as an excuse!” Leehane sounded very serious. He was annoyed by all the knights who kept bothering him when they were bored. The head of the family could hear how sincere he was.

*He’s right!* The head of the family always wanted things to be efficient and logical. This young Wodanaz boy’s words were like a sharp slap. He was being told by someone from outside that he had missed something important, something he should have fixed himself.

“Except for their scheduled times, they shouldn’t be allowed to wander around without a reason. Like they do in Einrogard.”

“Tell me more about that.” Because it was the “Einrogard method,” it sounded even better and more likely to work.

Leehane nodded and pointed to the map, to the area where the young knights were staying. “See, these towers are too close to everything. It’s too easy for them to sneak out and go have fun. I think all these towers should be moved over here, to the cliff edge. Then they won’t even think about sneaking out…” The head of the family looked at Leehane, his eyes intense. It was the first time he had ever wanted to make a young person his top advisor. If it wasn’t for Leehane’s family and school, he would have offered him anything to stay and work by his side!

“What did you talk about for *so long*?”

“Oh, nothing much?” It felt like he had just been eating, sleeping, and talking with the head of the family for days. Leehane put pickled herring and fried onions on rye bread and took a big bite. He could finally relax and eat properly, unlike when he was with the head of the family and felt a bit nervous.

Alsicle, sitting next to him, laughed. “Moradi, don’t believe him! Whenever Wodanaz says ‘I didn’t do anything,’ you know something big happened.”

“Oh, Alsicle Pengaerin, who ran off and left me to fix the ice wall! I’m so sorry! I didn’t realize you thought of me that way!”

“…Hey… I said sorry…” Alsicle looked embarrassed when Leehane spoke so formally. “Just call me Alsicle! Like always!”

“I have no idea what you mean, Alsicle Pengaerin.”

“I won’t run away again, okay?! I’m really sorry! It wasn’t on purpose! Look, I’ll do anything for you next time! Anything! I’ll even eat a hundred sardines!”

“Haha, Alsicle, I’m just joking. I’ve always called you Alsicle, haven’t I?”

Gisele watched them joking around, then yawned and asked again. “So, seriously, what did you talk about?”

“Nothing special. Just about how nice the territory is, you know. Oh, and the head of the family said he’s going to send a job request to Einrogard. He said he’ll come during the school term. Do you want to work on it together?”

“What? No way.” Leehane looked confused. “Why? Can’t you send requests to Einrogard?”

“Because it costs too much.”

“……” Leehane wondered for a second if Gisele was joking. The reason was so simple and practical. But Alsicle nodded, understanding. “Yeah, Einrogard is really expensive.”

“Is it *that* bad?”

“I sometimes think about asking an Einrogard student for help with magic experiments, but then I see the price and forget about it.”

“Wait, is Einrogard short of money?”

“Well, magic experiments cost a lot more.” *What are the older students spending all their money on?* Even if they were swimming in gold, they shouldn’t be this broke…

“Did it take so long because you were talking about magic?”

“Maybe. But why is it so loud outside?”

“They moved the towers where the visiting knights are staying. To the cliff edge.” Gisele answered Alsicle without really thinking about it. Leehane suddenly felt uneasy. *Did I go too far?*

“Why?” Alsicle asked.

“Well, they said it’s to improve the knights’ training…” Gisele said. “Wodanaz, something big happened while you were chatting for days.”

“Is it about the banquet tomorrow night? I know, don’t worry.”

“No,” Gisele said, a small smile playing on her lips. “My sister is going to duel you tomorrow morning.”

“…That’s just mean, Moradi. Why would you do this to me?”

“…Hey!” Gisele laughed.