Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 1069

A moment before Lee Han called his friends, Gaynando and the Blue Dragon Tower students were hiding in the mansion’s secret hideout, avoiding the Alhi.

“Gaynando, you sneaky rascal! How did you even find this place?”

His friends were surprised.

To think there was such a hidden space behind the closet at the west end of the mansion’s second floor.

It was quite common for such mansions to have several secret warehouses or spaces.

But finding a place concealed with magic was something else.

He really kept trying to find it!

“He found this secret place just because he wanted to have fun? Amazing!”

“Gaynando, I’m sometimes amazed by you.”

“Shhh. Keep your voice down! Peng-Erin might hear.”

Gaynando put a finger to his lips, silencing his friends.

He pressed his ear to the wall to check, and thankfully, they didn’t seem to be following.

“I’ve summoned and set up undead inside the armor decorations outside, so if we’re discovered, we’ll escape through the window. Got it?”

Behind stacks of dusty, cluttered wooden boxes, almost hidden in shadow, was a window. It was cleverly disguised as just another part of the wall, painted to match the old wallpaper, but it was there.

“Got it. Got it.”

“Honestly, what a hassle because of a first-year.”

“Their questions are tricky, aren’t they? For a second, I thought I couldn’t answer!”

The friends grumbled and unpacked their things.

Of course, it wasn’t luggage for studying. If they had intended to study in the first place, there would have been no reason to hide like this.

The Blue Dragon Tower students started playing games. Some played wizard cards, others played yut nori (a Korean board game), and some played chess.

“Three silver coins? Hey. I know how much you earned last time, and you’re betting three coins? Have you no conscience?!”

“You talk about conscience? You buy expensive Wodanaz snacks and still borrow money!”

“Both of you, be quiet. I want to bet on cleaning the stables next semester. If cleaning the stables is on the line, you’re doing it all.”

“Hmph. That was the proposal I wanted to make.”

“Ugh. My friends are so spoiled now.”

Gaynando looked at his friends with a displeased expression.

When they were first-years, they enjoyed the game purely, even when they were cold and hungry, but as they gained more leisure, they were becoming increasingly corrupt.

“What are you doing? Prince. Draw quickly.”

“Hmph. I’m drawing.”

But there was no choice.

Wizard cards couldn’t be played alone. Even if his friends were corrupt, he had to compromise to find an opponent.

“Gaynando, my turn next!” one friend said. “Let’s bet on Wodanaz snacks for next semester. Cream puffs, please!”

“Hey,” Gaynando said, raising an eyebrow. “You don’t think you’re going to win for sure, do you?”

Gaynando glared playfully. His friends quickly looked away, pretending to be busy. Everyone knew Gaynando was the king of card games when there were bets involved. His deck was famous – full of only the most powerful, expensive cards he loved. It was almost cheating, it was so easy for him to win.

“Wh-what are you talking about, Gaynando?” one friend stammered.

“Hmph,” Gaynando smirked. “This time will be different for you.”

“Wait a minute,” another friend said, looking worried. “It’s not that horrible curse deck again, is it? If it is, I’m out.”

“No, it’s not!” Gaynando protested. “And it’s a strategy! You just don’t understand good tactics!”

“Okay, okay,” the friend sighed. “But it’s still… unpleasant to play against.”

Gaynando, still annoyed that people didn’t appreciate his dark magic strategies, dramatically laid out his cards.

Three minutes later, Gaynando seized the advantage and pressed on.

“?!!?”

“!!!”

“Pri, Prince, you…”

“Isn’t that a fake Gaynando?!”

The friends were shocked by the sight of the cheap and efficient wizard cards [Rakshasa Ogre] and [Baldrogard Wizard] laid out on the floor.

Ugly cards that Gaynando would never use!

The other player was completely surprised and lost badly.

“Gaynando, how did you…?!”

“I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to pursue only victory now!”

Gaynando was angry about what the Skull Headmaster said. He wanted to prove himself now!

Of course, that was that, and the Blue Dragon Tower students were just dumbfounded.

“My snack!”

“We’re doomed. I thought I’d win for sure.”

“Well, it was about time Gaynando changed his strategy.”

Unlike the students talking from behind, the opponent with the bet on the line felt a different kind of pressure.

He tried to shake Gaynando somehow to get out of the situation.

“Gaynando! Are you really going to use cards like the Baldrogard Wizard? That’s not the real you!”

“Wow. That’s pathetic.”

“Who would fall for that kind of trick?”

“Everyone, be quiet! Are you going to work for me instead?!”

At that moment, a magical shout echoed throughout the mansion from outside.

-Anyone want to see Professor Verdus crawl on all fours!!

“…!!!”

The students looked at each other in surprise.

That was Wodanaz’s voice.

“Fi, finally…!”

“Finally, Wodanaz has attacked Professor Verdus! I knew it!”

“Let’s go!”

Without waiting for anyone to say anything, the students opened the window and jumped out. The player who was about to lose saw what was happening and ran out too.

“Hey!”

Gaynando jumped lightly from the window and landed in the cool courtyard air. He looked up and froze. Standing in front of him were familiar faces, but their expressions were not friendly. Lee Han and Alsicl stood there, with the Alhi first-years behind them, all staring.

“L, Lee Han! Is the magic all done?”

“Why are you all jumping out of the wall over there?”

“That’s… we were… practicing magic to make windows in the wall…”

“Alright, everyone who came out of the wall, stand over there.”

Lee Han ordered in a chilly voice. The White Tiger Tower students arrived later. They understood what was happening and laughed. They thought it was funny.

“Like a bunch of fools. We did everything we had to do and played.”

“To think they’d be so foolish!”

“…?”

The Alhi tilted their heads.

They are so happy after finishing their work and playing games?

Are the White Tiger Tower seniors all like that?

Jisele, noticing the first-year student’s bewilderment, kicked her friends’ shins and calves in anger.

Please, have some shame!

“Is everyone here?”

“Wodanaz. Where’s Professor Verdus?”

“We’re going to meet him now.”

“You didn’t attack and kidnap him?”

“…No.”

The friends were slightly disappointed.

They wanted to see Professor Verdus crying while hanging upside down again.

‘These guys. What were they expecting?’

Lee Han explained what had happened to clear up his friends’ misunderstanding.

Professor Verdus had made a reckless bet, and he had completed the magic…

“…The professor happened to be coming to the capital, so we’re going to meet him. Don’t have any strange misunderstandings.”

‘In the end, you’re going to make him crawl on all fours, so is there really a misunderstanding?’

Yoner thought inwardly.

Honestly, it didn’t feel much different.

“Can I ask a few questions, Wodanaz?”

“Ask away.”

“Why is the senior like that?”

Salco asked, pointing to Yukbertire in the back.

Yukbertire was standing dejectedly, as if half of his soul had disappeared.

“He’s tired from casting magic. Next.”

“Why is Professor Begreck going with you? Is he going to subdue Professor Verdus?”

“No. The professor is just going as an escort.”

The fact that Professor Voladi was moving with them was actually because of the evil god worshippers.

Professor Voladi had warned them to be careful because of rumors of evil god worshippers in the capital. It was better to be safe.

But to the students who didn’t know that, it just looked like he wanted to beat up Professor Verdus and was tagging along.

“Shhh. Let’s not ask unnecessary questions.”

“That’s right. I think I understand the professor’s feelings.”

The students nodded with considerate faces.

How could a professor say that they wanted to punch another colleague in the face?

“Umm, senior. Can I ask one last question?”

The last question was asked by the Alhi. Lee Han nodded.

“Go ahead.”

“…Why is Alsicl standing over there?”

Alsicl stood as far away from Professor Voladi as he could manage without actually leaving. He kept glancing nervously at the Professor, fidgeting with his robes and trying to look invisible.

It was an odd choice of position no matter who looked at it.

“I… don’t mind me.”

“That’s right. Don’t mind Alsicl. He must be feeling a bit hot.”

“……”

The Alhi were confused.

The Alhi first-years couldn’t understand what the Einrogard seniors were thinking.

Meanwhile, miles away on the road to the capital…

-Check ahead.

-Yes.

The death knights rode their skeletal horses and checked behind the hill located next to the road.

-No ambush.

-What about underground?

-Nothing underground either.

“I told you it’s fine!”

Professor Verdus grumbled from inside the carriage.

He wanted to go to the capital quickly and finish the necessary work, but these Death Knights were handling things too slowly.

-Professor Verdus. Please be quiet.

“It’s because you guys are too slow.”

At the beaver beastman’s words, the knights’ blue eyes flared up.

Someone’s gauntlet twitched and moved towards the scabbard.

If it weren’t for the Skull Headmaster’s order to escort him well, they would have buried him under that hill long ago!

-How much further?

-We’ll arrive in half a day.

-I’d rather fight an evil dragon.

-Agreed.

Even Death Knights who had seen many battles didn’t want to escort Professor Verdus because it was so awful.

The assassins who were after the bounty on the professor’s head were one thing, but Professor Verdus, the person they had to protect, was making the escorts very tired.

He kept complaining that they were checking too slowly. He said it was because he had so many enemies.

If these knights were living, they would have lost their temper and attacked him many times!

-Professor. Please remember. You must never come out of the carriage. Once we enter the capital, you must only handle the work you need to do and leave.

“I know. I don’t want to wander around either.”

The desire to finish as quickly as possible and return was mutual.

Professor Verdus had come to the capital like this to meet some outstanding enchantment magic school wizards.

Originally, he would have handled it by letter or invited them to Einrogard, but he couldn’t do that every time. Professor Verdus didn’t want to leave Einrogard, but he had to come here anyway.

-I hope the information hasn’t leaked.

-They wouldn’t be the kind of wizards to do that. …Probably.

The knights prayed that the opposing wizards wouldn’t sell Professor Verdus’s information.

In fact, they wouldn’t be surprised at all if they did sell it.

-Aren’t those Einrogard students over there?

-What? What do you mean… No, it really is?!

The knights driving the carriage were startled by the sight of a group of students gathered far away.

The way they were gathered on both sides of the road looked like they were waiting for someone.

-Could the students be planning to attack?

-Hmm. It’s possible enough.

It wouldn’t be strange at all for Einrogard students who had built up their skills to attack a professor outside during vacation.

-Still, let’s all act calmly. They might not know Professor Verdus is here.

“Is Professor Verdus inside by any chance?”

-……

The knights were flustered.

Is this a leading question?

But if they suspect Professor Verdus right away, it means someone told them he was coming…

-Professor Verdus. Who else knows you’re coming to the capital?

“Huh? Uh… I don’t think anyone knows? Besides Gonadaltez?”

-…What about your school’s disciples?

Professor Verdus pondered at the death knight’s question.

He had written his travel schedule in his workshop and often had his school’s disciples do errands…

“Ah! They might know.”

-Hold it in, hold it in!

As the knight with relatively weak patience tried to charge, the other knights quickly stopped him.

-Still, it’s fortunate in a way. If they’re from the same school, it probably won’t be an assassination.

-Are you sure about that…

Anyway, after finishing the conversation, the knights answered the students.

-He is. What brings you wizards here?

“We came because of a bet we had with Professor Verdus.”

-What bet…?

“We completed a magic that the professor said he could never do. The professor said he’d crawl on all fours.”

“Tell them I’m not here!!”

Professor Verdus quickly whispered. The knights looked at the beaver beastman wizard as if they were dumbfounded.