Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 1006

“No. Why did you send these letters? If too many people see them, dangerous people will come looking for the Archmage.”

“Archmage Gonadaltes rarely goes out, so that’s fine. And it’s not exactly ‘widely’ spread.”

The Skull Archmage was already happy that the debt was cancelled.

Seeing his disciple so excited about the debt being cancelled made the Archmage even happier.

“Only the heads of families with a certain amount of influence would have received the letter. The officials of the Imperial Palace are bound by oaths of silence, so it won’t spread. Don’t worry too much.”

Ihan thought, “This is crazy.” Even if it’s not ‘widely’ spread, telling important families is still too much!

If the heads of noble families and the officials knew, it was already enough to worry about.

At that point, it wouldn’t be strange if Ihan heard, “Ah! Aren’t you the wizard who made a contract with a dragon recently!” everywhere he went.

It was touching that even dragons who hadn’t made a contract were protecting their contractors, but more than that…

‘…I must remember to disguise myself and use a pseudonym when doing bad things in the future.’

Ihan had a feeling he would use the name Steddle Nago again and again when he did bad things, and thought to himself.

-Indeed. Did Master calculate even that? That officials wouldn’t dare treat the newly appeared dragon contractor harshly…

“Hmph. It was just one of the reasons.”

-You are indeed my Master!

Ihan grumbled at the sight of the Death Knights and the Skull Archmage cheering excitedly.

He was feeling troubled, but seeing them so happy made him want to hit them from behind.

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Capital, trouble was brewing because of the Archmage’s letters.

Haidan, a member of the Dalcard family and Asan’s older sister, was currently staying in the Imperial Capital because of the guests who came from various noble families of the Empire.

“No matter how much Archmage Gonadaltes dedicates himself to the Empire, this time he has gone too far.”

“That’s right. We can’t just let this pass.”

To be precise, they were victims who came from various noble families of the Empire.

The families who had their treasures plundered by the Skull Archmage’s tyranny gathered together to accurately calculate and claim the damages.

As they came representing each family, their identities were by no means ordinary. Some families even had their heads come.

As such, Haidan had no choice but to come directly to the capital from the east.

“We believe in Haidan’s abilities.”

“The Dalcard family also suffered damage this time, so please handle it strictly.”

Several nobles gave Haidan expectant looks.

Haidan, from the Dalcard family, was a prodigy belonging to the Bronze Dwarf Bank of the East, recognized by those picky dwarves.

Such Haidan would be able to calculate the damages suffered by the Skull Archmage this time coldly and accurately.

Because it was taken so suddenly, each family was in a state where they had not even decided exactly how much to claim.

“But… isn’t Haidan’s younger sibling a member of Einroguard? People might think Haidan will help the Archmage because her brother is his student…”

One of the nobles participating as a family representative cautiously raised a question.

Anyone with a family member studying at Einroguard might side with the Skull Archmage.

However, other nobles rebuked the person who raised the question.

“Be careful with your words. Haidan is not the type to show leniency even to family, I tell you.”

“When Daihal of the Dalcard family visited the Bronze Dwarf Bank, Haidan chased him away without even seeing his face. Even if it’s family, she will cut them off mercilessly if it’s not beneficial.”

It sounded a bit like a curse, but Haidan was rather proud of it.

Daihal and Haidan both valued being logical and unemotional.

For them, ruining work with family and blood ties was an absolutely unacceptable behavior.

Haidan refused Daihal’s request, but Daihal did not feel unpleasant at all. Rather, he might have despised Haidan if she had accepted.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“By the way. Your younger sibling, Asan, also has quite excellent wizarding qualities.”

“He still has a long way to go. He needs to resemble at least half of his friend.”

‘How truly humble.’

Haidan was saying it sincerely, but the surrounding nobles simply understood it as a sign of modesty.

Just entering Einroguard was a great thing, but Asan was achieving quite high grades among them.

No one realized that Haidan was comparing him to his top-of-the-class friend.

“Then, please submit the list of treasures and reagents you have lent. I will calculate the damages.”

While Haidan was receiving the lists from several nobles, Yoaneen whispered to Mrs. Kraha as if she was annoyed to death.

Mrs. Kraha, Guinan’s mother, had a friendship with Yoaneen as her younger sibling had married someone from the Maykin family.

“Why do we have to do this?”

“Yoaneen. Don’t complain too much. Isn’t it something someone has to take on?”

The task of presenting the list of items stolen by each family and determining their price was not something that required high intelligence.

Moreover, isn’t the person from the Dalcard family taking on all the practical work?

However, that didn’t mean that there was no responsibility needed.

As they were discussing and making the final decision in this place, they needed virtually full authority.

Even if it wasn’t the head of the family, it was easier to make a decision if someone from the family’s direct line came.

Mrs. Kraha said with an elegant attitude.

“I heard that the Maykin family also lent several precious treasures.”

“I don’t care since they’re not my treasures anyway.”

Yoaneen was indifferent.

Unless it was a noble with a strong sense of belonging to the family, it was rare for a high-ranking wizard to be obsessed with the family’s pride.

Whether the family’s treasures were plundered by the Skull Archmage or not, managing the reagents in her workshop for tomorrow was much more important to her.

“More than that, Mrs. Kraha, you seemed to be generous to Archmage Gonadaltes, didn’t you?”

Yoaneen asked, tilting her head slightly.

This woman, who leads the Kraha family, which is always mentioned when talking about wealth in the Empire, has been the most generous patron of Einroguard from the past.

Yoaneen had once seen the Skull Archmage turn a noble who had insulted the Kraha family into a frog and throw him deep into the swamp. Such affection did not come without considerable donations.

“That’s right. But Archmage Gonadaltes clearly said he would repay it and borrowed it.”

Mrs. Kraha drew a firm line.

She had been steadily sending donations to the Skull Archmage for his dedication to the Empire (Mrs. Kraha still slightly suspected that the donations had an influence on Guinan’s admission), but that didn’t mean she was such a pushover that she would side with all his eccentric behaviors.

“Then wouldn’t it be natural to receive it back?”

“This is just my calculation, but I don’t think Archmage Gonadaltes will be able to repay it on time.”

As expected of an excellent alchemist, Yoaneen showed a sharp prediction.

The gold coins that the madmen of Einroguard squander in a year.

If you roughly calculate the gold coins supported by the Empire and the gold coins sponsored from various places…

…The Skull Archmage’s vault could never be sufficient. Unexpected and radical expenditures like this incident were especially fatal.

“That is also something Archmage Gonadaltes has taken into account. It’s not something Yoaneen needs to worry about. He will come with some kind of countermeasure.”

“…I’m worried we’ll have to stay for a long time…”

Yoaneen let out a sigh filled with frustration.

As Mrs. Kraha said, the Skull Archmage was definitely the type of person to come up with various countermeasures.

However, Mrs. Kraha, who was right next to her, and that bloodless gold coin collector from the Dalcard family were absolutely not easy to deal with.

Since the Skull Archmage was not a person who generously gave away things, the negotiation was likely to be a tedious push and pull.

What a waste of time.

‘If Einroguard was on vacation, I would have asked Yoner.’

Yoaneen had an absurd thought.

No matter how much the Maykin family trusted Yoner, they would not send their youngest sibling to such a thing.

‘I hope Archmage Gonadaltes comes with a useful countermeasure…’

“Is everyone doing well!”

“!”

The nobles gathered in the large hall were surprised to see the human-shaped Skull Archmage who appeared with a cheerful voice.

Some nobles had hopeful expressions on their faces at the sight.

“Isn’t it a positive sign that His Excellency is acting like that?”

“That’s right. It seems he has secured compensation!”

The Skull Archmage was always in a moderately bad mood.

Moreover, in a situation like now, it wouldn’t be strange if he was even worse. But such a cheerful attitude.

It couldn’t be explained unless something had happened.

“It doesn’t make sense…”

“I heard rumors that he borrowed gold coins from the officials as well. They are not people who can be persuaded unless their heads are cut off.”

Of course, there were also skeptical nobles.

While everyone was whispering to each other, the Skull Archmage opened his mouth.

“Everyone, I sincerely express my gratitude for lending your strength to the sealing of the thought entity this time.”

“……”

“Yes… well…”

The nobles in the room nodded slowly, their faces showing they were not happy but knew they had to agree.

Strictly speaking, it was closer to the Skull Archmage coming and threatening them with a staff, but isn’t it all in the past now.

From the nobles’ point of view, the expression that they voluntarily stepped forward sounded better.

“Has compensation been prepared for the items you borrowed?”

Haidan didn’t care if the Archmage was happy or sad. She just asked directly, “What about the compensation?”

As the bloodline of the Dalcard family, who had always tormented him, aimed an arrow at him, the Skull Archmage sighed.

“Compensation. Compensation, you say…”

“I believe in Archmage Gonadaltes.”

As Mrs. Kraha joined in, the Skull Archmage was even more overwhelmed.

“Of course, I know that you have some dissatisfaction with me.”

‘Some?’

The nobles flinched inwardly but couldn’t say it out loud.

The other party was a debtor, but at the same time, he was the most outstanding archmage in the Empire.

If they needlessly picked a fight, they could disappear from the Empire forever.

“It can’t be helped since I’ve disappointed you not just once or twice.”

“Archmage Gonadaltes. To be honest, if you just hand over that Verdus guy, I’m willing to pay any price, even a castle…”

One of the family heads said, grinding his teeth, but the Skull Archmage pretended not to hear.

It was a really unfortunate, but that was a request he couldn’t grant.

“But here, wouldn’t it be a little different if it’s my disciple’s request? Huh?”

The door opened again, and the Death Knights brought their disciple in with a rush.

Ta-da!

Ihan had to make superhuman efforts to hide the feeling that he was ashamed to death of his teacher.

There were even a few familiar faces in the audience, which made it even more painful.

“Can’t you show mercy even if it’s for the sake of my disciple’s face here?”

One of the nobles was dumbfounded.

“Your Excellency… Isn’t there no way we would listen just because your disciple asks? Are you mocking us?”

It was a natural question.

The Skull Archmage would barely be listened to even if he begged, but his disciple would be listened to if he asked.

Other nobles who had similar thoughts looked at Haidan.

The bloodline of the Dalcard family would point out sharply as befits its reputation!

“If it’s your disciple’s request, I understand. It’s understandable.”

“????!??!?!?”

The nobles in the room almost fell backward.

Could it be that the one there is not Haidan but an Einroguard professor disguised as Haidan?

As the pillar they had believed in collapsed, the nobles instinctively looked at Mrs. Kraha.

The only person they could trust now was this woman who leads the Kraha family.

However, Mrs. Kraha said with a sorry expression (her expression was not visible to others because of the veil).

“What should I do? I have no choice but to listen to the requests of my disciple…”

“!?!?!?!??!?!?!?”