Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 939

-I have no intention of stopping the play.

The Death Knights said firmly, their blue eyes gleaming.

Some Death Knights sighed, worried. Others said loudly that stopping the play would be wrong.

-If we stop our plans because of these bad people’s evil tricks, it will be even worse for us.

The Death Knights learned bits of information by asking questions to the evil god worshippers.

The evil god worshippers followed a god called Prahgal. They wanted to attack the palace. One of them, Madph, had secretly gotten inside. He was waiting for a sign to make trouble.

Even Madph did not know exactly when or how the attack would happen. These evil worshippers had hidden in the empire for a long time. They were very careful so that no one person knew all the plans.

‘It’s bad to cancel the play just because we want to. But it’s even worse if the evil worshippers run away.’

The Death Knights wanted to use the play to trick the evil worshippers into coming out so they could stop them completely.

If the play stops now, the evil worshippers will feel something is wrong and hide again. Then we won’t know when or where they will attack next.

‘Very brave,’ someone said. ‘Just like the Duke’s knights should be.’

Alsicl, like Ethan, also understood what the Death Knights were planning.

They said it was to protect the play’s good name. But really, they felt they had to catch the evil worshippers.

Indeed, they were knights of the Mana Authority.

“…Wait, what about the illusion magic we prepared?”

“We have to cancel it. Do you even need to ask?”

Ethan whispered sternly.

It would be wrong to try and surprise people with a play when evil worshippers could attack at any moment.

They could be mistaken for accomplices of the evil god worshippers.

“I worked so hard to prepare…”

Alsicl wore a face like a penguin that had lost all the sardines it had fished for all day.

Ethan felt sorry for him when he saw that expression, but there was nothing he could do.

“Forget about it and just think about the evil god worshippers.”

“What about the escape?”

“The escape… we’ll have to give up on that too.”

Ethan said after thinking for a moment.

The drama club students would be very sad, but right now, all plans were stopped.

With evil god worshippers lurking around, what escape could they make by scattering?

‘Fortunately, I can get out.’

The only fortunate thing was that even if the drama club students couldn’t go out, Ethan could.

The drama club students would realize in time that they had joined the wrong club.

-Nago. Pengaerin.

“Yes.”

-I want you two to find any suspicious people among the audience members who have entered the palace.

Alsicl and Stedal were good at finding hidden people. Alsicl was from the Pengaerin family, and Stedal from the Nago family. The Death Knights knew they were skilled.

If there were any additional infiltrators, these two would be able to catch them.

“Leave it to us.”

“It’s an honor!”

-Clvik. Could you ask the illusion mages to make the palace’s magic defenses stronger?

“I can do that anytime! However, the illusion mages here aren’t that skilled. Don’t expect too much.”

-Of course. If you just let us know what magic is installed, our knights will take note.

‘How modest.’

To be so humble when they were mages, including Baldororn.

-Einrogard students, split into groups and be ready for anything.

“We’ll make potions for emergencies.”

“We’ll find safe ways to get the nobles out of the palace if we need to escape.”

“We’ll make secret tunnels to sneak the nobles away without anyone seeing.”

-…Students!

The Death Knights were deeply moved.

When had the Einrogard students grown up so much?

The Death Knights were surprised and touched. These students, who usually complained and grumbled, were now working together quickly and silently.

The students bowed their heads, looking serious, even though the Death Knights were emotional.

It looked like they felt very responsible, like good students from the best magic school in the empire should.

‘Surely they didn’t notice.’

‘They wouldn’t have noticed. …Probably.’

‘Wait a minute. The escape isn’t going to be ruined because of the evil god worshippers, is it? We’re still doing the escape as planned, right?’

‘No. I think it’s on hold.’

‘…I’ll kill them if they come looking for me!’

“I don’t see anyone suspicious.”

“I don’t either. Me neither.”

Alsicl lightly shook a pendulum with an ice crystal hanging from it.

He couldn’t see souls as well as Ethan, but this cold magic could sense bad feelings or evil plans.

Ethan knew divination magic was not easy and had limits. He asked, interested.

“Can I learn this divination?”

“This? You could do it.”

Alsicl asked what kind of divination Ethan had learned, just in case.

Everyone knew Wodanaz was a genius, almost like a magic prodigy. But divination magic was also known to be the most dangerous magic, and could cause problems quickly.

This was especially true for talented magic users. The more you looked into the future, the more you had to give up, and the worse the bad effects would be.

The most important thing for a good divination mage was not just talent, but being humble and careful.

“I’ve learned crystal spinning tops, spirit gold coins, and the five demons.”

“That should be fine.”

Alsicl nodded.

If Ethan had used such divination safely, he must have used it with control.

“Wait a minute. Isn’t the price for crystal spinning top divination mana?”

“That’s right.”

“…You cowardly bastard.”

“! ?”

Alsicl grumbled and started to explain. He saw that even in divination, his junior was showing amazing talent.

This pendulum divination required a diamond cut in the shape of a water droplet as a price.

“……”

Ethan stared at Alsicl with an expression of bewilderment and shock. But Alsicl didn’t notice and continued to explain.

“If you use cold air to purify this diamond and give it as an offering, you can make a temporary ice pendulum like this. It will take the risk of looking into the future for you… Why? What’s wrong?”

“I was surprised because the price is too absurd.”

“What are you talking about? This is a good deal. It’s not like you’re offering your hands or feet.”

Alsicl was rather dumbfounded.

There were many divination magics that required more evil and powerful prices, so a jewel was a cheap price to pay.

‘That’s why he’s always short of research funds.’

Ethan thought to himself, a little unkindly.

In the meantime, the two had checked everyone inside.

No one appeared to have a strange soul or a shaking pendulum.

“Looks like there’s no one else. I didn’t think they’d infiltrate multiple evil god worshippers.”

“Then let’s move to the stage area.”

The upper area was easier to monitor the surroundings and respond to situations while the play was in progress.

Alsicl asked with a lingering voice.

“Isn’t there anything we can do with the illusion magic we prepared?”

“I told you there isn’t. Take it home.”

“What am I going to do with this at home! It’ll scare the kids to death.”

As Ethan was walking, he found Baldororn groaning and moaning near the palace stairs.

“Is that elastic maze magic?”

“Yes. I’m about halfway done.”

Both Alsicl and Ethan immediately knew what magic he was preparing.

It was Elastic Maze Summoning, a magic spell of medium difficulty. It made an illusion maze that was good at stopping people using physical attacks.

It wasn’t a very easy magic, but it wasn’t so difficult that the two of them couldn’t do it. Alsicl asked.

“Why is he groaning over that?”

“He’s probably worried that the magic is trite and terrible. But if he casts a high-circle magic by himself, it won’t be balanced and he’ll run out of reagents.”

Ethan nodded.

Since it wasn’t a solo job, he couldn’t change the magic as he pleased, even if he didn’t like it.

He had to balance it with the other mages.

Baldororn was clearly looking for a better way within those limitations.

“Let’s go. Let’s not get in the way.”

“Okay.”

As the two walked away without stopping, Baldororn grumbled to himself.

‘If they’re such great mages, they could at least help me…!’

He had heard that they were both great mages, but they just walked away without giving him any advice on the parts he was stuck on.

Since they were preparing the palace’s defenses together, shouldn’t they have given a junior mage who was stuck and groaning at least a piece of advice?

As expected, all great mages were eccentric.

“Something’s wrong.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Hasn’t the atmosphere in the palace become sharper?”

“Maybe. But nothing changes.”

This priest with the beetle mark was one of these changed beings. He had given everything to the evil god long ago, even his name. Now, only the beetle mark was left.

The other priests, with tree and sun marks, were the same.

“The Defiler will descend and Prahgal will be pleased.”

“The Defiler will descend and Prahgal will be pleased!”

With an eerie incantation, the priests’ figures began to shrink.

Even though they were smaller than children, the shrinking did not stop. Soon, the priests seemed to melt into small puddles and vanish.

No one noticed that this ritual was quietly taking place on a hill far from the palace.

But something in the empty space above the palace felt it. A creature from the land of the dead, who got the offering, was happy and started to do what it promised.

-Wida!

-How!?

The Death Knights reacted immediately.

They had been thinking about how to approach the palace, but summoning from the void?

‘Unbelievable! They’re summoning such a powerful being without any approach or preparation?’

The Death Knights were surprised, but they reacted quickly.

Like their leader, they were knights, but they were also good at magic.

Magic wasn’t all-powerful. It was a strict skill that always needed something in return.

The energy from the empty space felt very strong, like it came from a powerful being.

How could they summon such a powerful being without any approach or ritual?

-Did they maybe give themselves as sacrifices? They are known for doing that!

-No way. No matter how much human sacrifice they do, this would require several high priests…

The Death Knight trailed off.

Thinking normally, it was crazy to sacrifice several high priests to attack a palace where a play was being performed.

But the evil worshippers didn’t think like normal people. They believed in a big plan that only they knew.

They might really sacrifice high priests for the sake of the grand plan.

-What for? What for?

-I don’t even want to know what that crazy evil god is thinking! Prepare for battle! Evacuate the lower area!

The Death Knight clicked his tongue.

He thought the attack would be sneaky, but this was just a simple, scary attack.

He realized they should have just evacuated people, not spent time on careful plans.

Bzzzzzt!

Chains of sound energy wrapped around the opening in space. The Death Knights’ weapons started to fire.

A fierce attack was poured out beyond the dimensional gate that had opened in the void.

But the summoning of the undead did not stop. The Death Knights spat out curses at the disgusting smell.

-It’s the Defiler! Of all things, it’s a tough one!

-Buy time! It’ll be a pain if he takes an interest in the lower area!

Hee hee hee!

The Death Knights got ready as the undead creatures, bringing death and rot with them, tried to climb out.

Just then, a giant dragon shot out from the palace below.

-!!!?!

D, dragon?!

The Defiler was so surprised that he quickly retreated.