Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 1012

Ihan stood in the Grand Sorceress Erlindarbell’s study, feeling smaller than usual. Bookshelves filled with ancient tomes towered around him, and strange, glowing vials lined the walls. Erlindarbell herself sat behind a large desk, her silver eyes fixed on him. Her voice, though soft, held a sharp edge.

“Who are you referring to when you say ‘other friends’, Ihan?” she asked, her silver eyebrows raised slightly.

“Pardon?” Ihan stammered, his heart skipping a beat. He hadn’t expected her to press him on that. The Grand Sorceress’s mind was as sharp as any enchanted blade.

“…Dirett, and Ihan of the Wodanaz family…”

Ihan’s cheeks flushed. He hadn’t expected such a direct question. Usually, he was careful and considered, but now, feeling cornered, he blurted out a name.

He included his own name in the list of friends.

The Death Knight accompanying him inwardly lamented.

‘Heir, adding your own name among others only makes it sound more pathetic.’

“And… um… Stedal of the Nago family.”

The knights couldn’t bear to look at their heir and had to turn their heads.

The current conversation had the power to shame even the undead who had lost their physical bodies.

Erlindarbell looked puzzled at the name she didn’t know.

“Was there such a person? I’ll have to ask Yukbeltire.”

“That wizard has a strong tendency towards secrecy, so he probably didn’t mention it.”

“That’s strange. Yukbeltire isn’t known for respecting other people’s wishes.”

‘Agh.’

Ihan cursed his absent senior.

How annoying was Senior Yukbeltire that he could still cause trouble even when he wasn’t here?

“…Senior has changed a little bit too.”

“If that’s the case, it would be truly surprising and delightful. It might be thanks to a friend’s dedication.”

“I think that’s highly likely as well.”

Ihan readily agreed.

If Dirett wasn’t around, Yukbeltire would probably be starving or completely lost in Einroguard by now.

“A talented wizard shouldn’t keep causing trouble for their friends, though.”

“I think so too!”

After answering, Ihan worried that his reaction might have been too intense.

For a moment, his voice had unintentionally risen.

But he couldn’t help it.

An opportunity to scold So Verduz, with the help of the Grand Sorceress and his mother’s power?

However, Erlindarbell didn’t seem to pay much attention to Ihan’s reaction. Instead, she raised her silver eyebrows, displeased with her daughter’s actions.

“It’s truly regrettable that she hasn’t changed even after I sent a letter.”

“What did you say?”

“I sent a letter saying that Yukbeltire wouldn’t be helpful for her magical research, so she should abandon him and do her own work.”

“?”

Ihan tilted his head, feeling a sense of unease.

And then he belatedly realized.

Surprisingly, the Grand Sorceress had sent the letter to Dirett, not Yukbeltire!

“Ah, no. Shouldn’t you send it to Yukbeltire?”

“Yukbeltire doesn’t listen even if you talk to him, so there’s no reason to send him a separate letter.”

“……”

Indeed, not just anyone could become a Grand Sorceress. Ihan had no choice but to concede.

‘That’s definitely true. Telling the people around Yukbeltire to avoid him is much more likely to work than trying to persuade Yukbeltire himself.’

“Wait. So Dirett received the letter, but why is he still being such a… a friend to Yukbeltire?”

Erlindarbell sighed softly, as if feeling sorry for him.

“He replied that he would choose his own friends.”

“Oh dear!”

Ihan let out a sigh of pity as well.

Why on earth?

‘Perhaps the letter was too direct.’

If someone sent Ihan a letter saying, ‘Don’t associate with Gainando,’ he would probably defend Gainando even more, thinking, ‘Who are you to tell me what to do?’

A letter saying, ‘Yukbeltire is secretly using all the best research equipment and not sharing with anyone,’ might be more effective.

“Since you, Wodanaz, have also revealed yourself to be Yukbeltire’s friend…”

“Me!? …Well, I was.”

Ihan belatedly tried to salvage the situation. Then, he was filled with anguish.

‘Damn it. I should have put Moradi instead.’

The question had been too sudden, and his reaction was delayed.

“…Be careful not to let Yukbeltire interfere with your research. It would be a great loss from a grand perspective if the wizards who should be responsible for the future of the Empire cannot fully concentrate on magic.”

Grand Sorceress Erlindarbell, like most outstanding wizards, held firm beliefs.

Help talented wizards grow and succeed.

…And sometimes, if a talented wizard becomes like a harmful weed, causing trouble for others, you need to stop them.

‘Aren’t you being too harsh?’

Ihan was slightly surprised by his own thoughts just now.

It seemed that he still had some lingering feelings of defending his senior.

“How is Adenart?”

“Yes? Ah…”

Belatedly realizing that the wizard in front of him was also Adenart’s mother, Ihan gave a positive answer.

“The Princess is very diligent.”

In fact, unlike Senior Yu, Adenart was one of the most diligent students in the Blue Dragon Tower.

“Is that so? According to the letter, it seemed that she was constantly forcing you to cook…”

‘Gasp.’

At the sharp remark, Ihan inhaled without realizing it.

He couldn’t keep track of how many times he had been nervous while dealing with this Grand Sorceress.

“…The students in the Blue Dragon Tower divide the work among themselves. So, you must have misunderstood. I’m in the Alchemy School, so I often take on cooking duties.”

‘Gathering, repairing, crafting, cleaning, and so on, you’re taking on all of those duties…’

The Death Knight thought inwardly.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a lie that he was in charge of cooking because he was in the Alchemy School.

It’s just that the other schools were also listening.

“Is that so? Adenart has such a small appetite that I was puzzled by the contents of the letter, but if other students are eating together, it makes sense.”

“Yes… Yes???”

Ihan was startled.

Could there be two Adenarts in Einroguard?

“Everyone has worked hard.”

The skeletal headmaster, finally free from the wizards, opened the carriage door and stepped inside.

“Check for tracking magic, branding magic, parasitic magical lifeforms, other-dimensional creatures, anything that others might have planted.”

The skeletal headmaster didn’t trust the wizards of the magic tower officially recognized by the Empire in the slightest.

It wouldn’t be strange at all if they had secretly planted a means of communication on his disciple’s collar or cloak while they were talking.

-Our disciple already checked and destroyed them with magic.

“…Oh, really.”

The headmaster shuddered inwardly.

Even Professor Garcia hadn’t adapted this quickly.

What a terrifying fellow!

“At least it’s a relief that you won’t be kidnapped by the magic tower. Let’s see…”

The skeletal headmaster took out his pocket watch and checked the time and date.

“I plan to stay in the capital until next week. It ended much earlier than expected, so you’re free to do whatever you want during the remaining time.”

He had finished persuading the debtors, but he couldn’t just return to Einroguard with a beaming smile.

He had to directly explain the events to the Emperor and various figures of the Empire.

The fact that one of the powerful beings that sometimes came to this world had now left for good was very important news.

“Ah. Then…”

“Wait. If you’re going to see His Highness Jaurin, give it up. It would be better to go together after I finish my schedule.”

“?”

Ihan was puzzled by the skeletal headmaster’s firm dissuasion.

“Are you worried that His Highness will be upset with you if I go alone first?”

“…Haha. You rascal. You’re very clever. That’s right. So, let’s go together later.”

The skeletal headmaster looked at his disciple with pity, who had shown such high intelligence when casting magic in front of the magic tower wizards, but was now only making pathetic guesses.

‘It’s strange that someone so smart about magic can be so clueless about this situation.’

“I had to buy a gift anyway… Ah. I received this from Erlindarbell.”

Ihan took out a rolled-up scroll. It was still sealed with wax.

“Do you happen to know what this is?”

“I know. Erlindarbell must have evaluated you highly. Well, there’s no reason not to.”

At those words, Ihan spoke as if he understood.

“She’s probably trying to get me to participate in her magical research.”

“What? No!”

The skeletal headmaster was dumbfounded by the absurd misunderstanding.

“Erlindarbell isn’t that kind of person… Ah. Could it be that you thought that because of Yukbeltire?”

“Of course not.”

“Don’t lie.”

“Actually, that’s right.”

“…Erlindarbell likes to give gifts to talented wizards. It’s probably something that will be helpful to you.”

“Like participating in her magical research?”

“……”

The skeletal headmaster’s heart ached at his disciple’s distrust.

But what could he do?

Sometimes, parents had to bear the sins of their children together.

“It’s your freedom not to open it, but if you’re curious, open it. You have nothing to lose.”

After hearing those words, Ihan dispelled his suspicion and broke the seal on the scroll.

Inside, there was a map of the capital, the place to go, and an explanation.

To my dear wizard and future heir,

The magic we discussed with you is in progress at the following location.

I have left word in advance, so there should be no problem with your participation.

I look forward to your participation and achievements.

Erlindarbell

“???”

Ihan tilted his head at the contents of the scroll.

The skeletal headmaster saw his expression and asked.

“Is it a banquet? Or an artifact shop? If you’re lucky, it might be the family vault of a bankrupt noble.”

Erlindarbell often invites wizards to places like that and lets them take magical items they want.

It was such a generous occasion that even the skeletal headmaster wanted to participate.

“It’s none of those? It seems to be an underground area on the outskirts of the capital.”

“Did she discover a hidden underground vault? If possible, steal something.”

“It says that the magic we discussed with me is in progress, but I don’t remember discussing anyth…”

“Yes. Yes. That’s right. If you go and talk, you’ll remember.”

The skeletal headmaster didn’t listen carefully.

His disciple’s track record was already too impressive.

There was a very high possibility that he didn’t even think of it as magic.

“She’s calling me the heir, isn’t something wrong?”

“Perhaps those knights forgot their chivalry and blabbered on.”

At the skeletal headmaster’s words, the Death Knights once again averted their gaze.

“As a final word, Erlindarbell is not a wizard like Yukbeltire who forces others to participate in research. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to, but don’t regret it later when you see the Imperial newspaper.”

“I’ll go right away.”

Ihan made an immediate decision.

If he later saw an article in the Imperial newspaper like [Hidden Ancient Vault Discovered on the Outskirts of the Capital], he wouldn’t be able to bear the torment.

Meanwhile, in the Green Luster Magic Tower, Zinon, who everyone thought would be the next leader, frowned at a letter. It was from the Grand Sorceress Erlindarbell, and he couldn’t understand it.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah. I received a letter from Erlindarbell, but I can’t understand it.”

To my dear wizard and future heir,

We are distributing artifacts suitable for Einroguard students at the following location.

I hope this will be some compensation for the trouble caused by Yukbeltire.

Thank you once again.

Erlindarbell

“What does this mean? Artifacts suitable for Einroguard students.”

“Perhaps it means they are that good of artifacts?”

“What about the trouble caused by Princess Yukbeltire?”

“She must be referring to the time when the Green Luster Magic Tower stole the potion that they had purchased first.”

‘Is that so?’