Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 1007

The nobles in the audience were even more astonished than before.

Haidan was one thing, but even Madam Kraha?

It was simply unbelievable. One of the nobles, trying to regain his senses, gulped down a cup of hot tea (which didn’t help much) and asked a question.

“M-Madam Kraha… Surely you said that even if Lord Gonadaltes is dedicated to the Empire, you wouldn’t let this pass easily this time.”

“That’s too much.”

The Skull Headmaster spoke from the side. He seemed disappointed. But none of the nobles reacted. They did not pay him any attention.

“I did say that.”

“But why?!”

“Well… I owe the Wardanaz family here a great deal. So, I can’t help it.”

‘The Wardanaz family?’

Only then did the nobles turn their attention to the Skull Headmaster’s disciple.

In fact, they were so shocked by Haidan and Madam Kraha’s remarks that they had overlooked the fact that the Skull Headmaster introducing his disciple was not something to be easily dismissed.

It was practically an introduction to the most outstanding and brilliantly mad student in Einrogard, essentially a future Archmage.

Moreover, if that disciple was of the Wardanaz bloodline, it was even more significant. The nobles struggled to digest the information they had just heard.

“So…”

“The Wardanaz family…”

“I heard they subjugated the King of Ghouls last year? I thought he was a graduate…”

“I think I also heard about Basilisk and Sea Serpent subjugations. Wait, if he’s a second-year student now, that means he was a first-year last year?”

The Skull Headmaster quickly signaled to the Death Knights.

It was a signal to quickly change the subject before the nobles realized Einrogard’s sinister secrets.

“Wait, is he the one the dragons were mentioning—?”

“Dragons?”

“It’s nothing.”

Among the reacting nobles, there was even a family head who had received a letter from a dragon.

The family head immediately understood as he recalled the memory.

‘Indeed.’

He could see why such excellent strategic minds like Haidan and Madam Kraha had reacted so kindly.

It wasn’t simply because he was the Skull Headmaster’s disciple.

Of course, the fact that he was the Skull Headmaster’s disciple was impressive enough, but that was actually a reason to keep him at a distance, not to get close.

There were very few benefits to be gained from being close to the Skull Headmaster or his disciple.

At best, you would have your supplies plundered or be forced to donate if something like this happened. It was best to keep your distance for a peaceful and comfortable life.

But if he was someone who had a contract with a dragon, the story was different.

If he was a contractor who hadn’t appeared for so long, there was reason to take the risk and show favor, no matter how much of a disciple of the Skull Headmaster he was.

‘They’re both extraordinary.’

“I will also accept if it is a request from your disciple.”

“I will do so as well.”

Nobles who had heard rumors about the youngest of the Wardanaz family and had thoughts of investing, or family heads who had received letters from dragons, or those who turned around cleverly after seeing the atmosphere, all agreed in turn.

However, quite a few people still hadn’t given up.

Nobles who were ignorant of the rumors, or those who were greedy, or those who wanted to somehow get Professor Verdus instead of gold coins on this occasion, couldn’t easily give up and clung on.

“Madam Kraha, please reconsider. Postponing such a large sum just because you owe a debt is…”

‘Foolish. Could it be that Madam Kraha did it for such a simple reason?’

The quick-witted nobles thought to themselves.

In fact, it was entirely for that reason, but the nobles couldn’t imagine it.

“It’s not that I owe a debt, but that Gainando owes a debt.”

“Just because he’s your child’s friend?”

“It’s not just that level, it’s really….”

The nobles didn’t quite understand even with Madam Kraha’s explanation.

What kind of debt could you possibly owe to another friend after entering magic school?

Slaves or servants would take care of meals and cleaning, and professors would teach magic.

Haidan was also giving an unconvincing explanation.

“Considering my brother’s change, I don’t regret it at all. It’s not enough to invest several times the gold coins of the Dalcard family.”

“?!?!?!”

The nobles wondered if the Skull Headmaster’s disciple was a professor instead of a second-year student.

There was no other explanation.

And the things he did last year…

“If it’s a request from Wardanaz, I can just erase the Kraha family’s debt this time.”

Madam Kraha said with affection.

If you were to summarize what the Wardanaz family’s boy had done for Gainando, you could actually invest several dozen times more than that.

“Is that really true?!”

The Skull Headmaster exclaimed in surprise.

The Death Knights, who were equally astonished, seemed to finally understand how their master’s successor had persuaded the officials.

Just going and talking to them would have been enough!

‘I lacked faith!’

‘That might be true magic.’

However, Ethan refused.

“No… I’d feel sorry about that. I’m grateful just for the extension.”

“Come here for a moment.”

The Skull Headmaster, who was about to rejoice, turned serious. He immediately took his disciple to a corner.

“Why are you doing this? Did the Baldrogard fellows secretly invite you?”

“Huh? Is it possible to transfer to Baldrogard?”

Ethan asked out of pure curiosity. The Death Knight answered instead.

-He’s asking if you were offered a position as a professor, not a student.

“Quiet! Madam is showing you favor, why are you refusing it? That is also impolite!”

“Well, Gainando’s wealth is also at stake, so I can’t just let it go.”

……

The Death Knights applauded silently. They were moved by his friendship.

Of course, from the Skull Headmaster’s perspective, it was just frustrating.

“Considering the Kraha family’s vault, it’s an amount that wouldn’t even make a dent…!”

“Can’t you just treat Gainando well and ask Madam separately?”

“That’s against the sacred rules of Einrogard.”

The Skull Headmaster refused firmly, but Ethan gave him a suspicious look.

He suspected that it wasn’t because of equality, but just because he wanted to torment the students.

“Anyway, I’ve done what you asked. Isn’t an indefinite extension good enough?”

Instead of answering, the Skull Headmaster grumbled in an ancient language. Thanks to learning under the Mad Doppelganger, Ethan could understand the words ‘Raising a disciple is useless’.

“Then I’ll go and persuade them some more…”

” ? ”

The Skull Headmaster didn’t understand his disciple’s words for a moment.

Persuade them some more?

Of course, there were still nobles who were stubbornly insisting, but they couldn’t be persuaded separately.

He thought he would just push through with the number of nobles who currently agreed and convince them…

The knights were also puzzled, thinking the same thing.

-How is he going to persuade them?

-Isn’t he going to hand over Professor Verdus?

-Could it be… but if that’s really the plan, I might want to see it a little.

“Everyone. The Headmaster made an unreasonable request, but I never intended to just ask for it.”

“!”

The nobles stirred at Ethan’s words.

“You can just ask…”

“Be quiet, Madam Kraha.”

Yoanen covered Madam Kraha’s mouth. He was curious about what she was going to say.

“Then?”

“Actually, I happened to meet an ancient undead and heard about the locations of several families’ lost ancient tombs. If it’s alright with you, I’ll tell you, so could you generously show mercy and…”

“Come here for a moment.”

The Skull Headmaster turned serious again. The startled nobles tried to listen to the rest of the words, but the Skull Headmaster was one step faster.

“What are you talking about? How do you know the locations of the lost ancient tombs?”

“The Chief Secretary wrote them down for me.”

‘Intarendals!’

The Skull Headmaster, realizing the culprit, tightly closed his eyes.

Ever since the Chief Secretary of the Three Kingdoms era pledged allegiance to the Thoughtform of Desire once, he had been showing an excellent talent for turning the Skull Headmaster inside out.

Regretting that he shouldn’t have accepted him in the distant past, the Skull Headmaster opened his mouth.

“Disciple. Haven’t you ever thought about this? Those who don’t even know where their ancestors’ ancient tombs are, do they really have the right to take care of them? Have you ever thought about this?”

“I haven’t.”

“Those ancient, evil artifacts inside… Isn’t it the responsibility of a wizard to take responsibility and control these artifacts? Have you ever thought about this?”

“Can’t you just go as a reference when we go in together?”

……

There were many cases where a disciple turned his master inside out if he was smart.

It was twice as bad if the disciple was smart and kind.

Ethan said honestly.

“Actually, I couldn’t tell you because the Chief Secretary wrote something down separately.”

Intarendals, while flipping through the Mad Doppelganger’s books, separately organized the reagents and items left in the workshop and handed them over to Ethan.

Among them was a note he wrote himself.

Several families’ old tombs that might be helpful to the disciple, or the Dalcard family’s old tomb (the Chief Secretary allowed him to just take it and use it), etc.

And at the end, it was written like this.

…Even if you return it to the descendants of each family, never hand it over to the lord of Einrogard…

……

The Skull Headmaster sighed deeply.

Then, as if he really didn’t understand, he asked the knights.

“Was I so harsh to Intarendals? Is refusing to conquer the continent something to retaliate against until the end of the world?”

-We, we don’t know…

The Death Knights avoided eye contact.

This was really not a topic they could add anything to.

Eulangdam, the Archmage who leads the Daylily Magic Tower, narrowed his eyes at the Skull Headmaster’s request for a visit.

“For what reason is Lord Gonadaltes coming?”

“Is he perhaps coming to apologize for his rudeness last time?”

The wizards of the Daylily Magic Tower had visited the Einrogard territory to confine the Thoughtform, but they were suddenly told to get lost and were chased away.

From the perspective of the wizards who had hastily finished their harsh training for the Great Magic, it was an absurd treatment.

But the Skull Headmaster is visiting with his disciple, so is he perhaps coming to apologize?

“There’s no way His Excellency would do that.”

Eulangdam, who looked like an old man from the countryside except for the clothes he was wearing, deepened the wrinkles on his face and lit his long pipe.

As befitting an Archmage, Eulangdam coldly guessed, unlike his subordinate wizards.

“He’s probably trying to postpone the debt. Wizards are always strapped for cash, you see.”

In fact, the madmen weren’t just in Einrogard.

There were many madmen in the Magic Tower as well, and thanks to that, they were always struggling with their budget.

It’s just that Einrogard’s scale is overwhelmingly large!

“How dare he…! No matter what, he can’t give us such an insult!”

“That’s right.”

Eulangdam puffed out smoke. The old Archmage, staring at the empty air with cloudy eyes, asked as if he didn’t understand.

“But he’s not someone who would come without any schemes, so I’m curious about what he’s thinking.”

“He said he’s visiting with his disciple… Is he perhaps trying to use the method he used with Professor Kim again?”

At those words, the faces of all the wizards in the room changed.

The Professor Garcia incident was a painful memory for everyone.

Everyone was deceived by the Skull Headmaster’s persuasive words and gave like crazy, saying ‘That wizard might come to our Magic Tower!’

“…Surely not. Would His Excellency use such a method twice? Unless he thinks we’re idiots.”

“But I heard that his disciple is an excellent wizard.”

“Stop. Be quiet. I don’t want to hear it at all.”

“I, I’m sorry.”

A moment of silence.

The hesitating Archmage asked cautiously.

“How excellent of a wizard is he?”

‘…Maybe we are idiots…’