Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 1077

Lee Han stepped forward, but the older student’s face was blank.

“‘What brings you here?’ the senior asked, his voice cold.”

Lee Han paused.

“‘…Who are you?’ the senior added, squinting.”

Lee Han felt a jolt of surprise.

Lee Han was surprised by how cold his senior was acting.

Could it be that Senior Yookvelteere was in disguise?

‘Ah. No, it isn’t.’

On second thought, it was he who was disguised. Dirett did not know Steddle was Lee Han, so he was very confused.

“‘It’s me, Lee Han, Senior. A junior from the Black Magic Department.'”

“……”

For a moment, Dirett almost said, ‘I don’t have such a junior.’

What on earth was he doing here?

“‘…What are you doing?!'”

“‘Well, it’s a bit of a long story.'”

Lee Han explained what had happened, summarizing as much as possible.

So, to lure away students belonging to the club, he created a fake identity…

“‘It turned out to be quite useful, so I came all the way here.'”

‘Quite useful is an understatement.’

Even amidst the confusion, Dirett focused his mind, as befitted a fifth-year student of Einroguard.

It was still hard to fully grasp, but he could understand the main points to some extent.

So, there was this identity called Steddle Nago that his junior had created, and roughly…

Pirates, treasure maps, fortunes from flower speculation, fighting evil gods, raiding rich people, even Professor Verdus! Dirett’s mind spun. Had Lee Han really done all this?

‘Did my junior perhaps graduate without me knowing?’

Even when he understood the main points, he was still confused.

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t figure out when he had done all that.

“‘Did you really… do all that yourself?'”

“‘Huh? Of course not. Some of it is a lie. People were deceived and spread rumors.'”

“‘Ah.'”

Dirett breathed a sigh of relief.

And then he paused.

If some of it was a lie, then he really did some of the other things?!

“‘Senior, you can use this alias later if you need it. Should I write down the detailed personal information for you?'”

“‘Ah, no. It’s alright. I appreciate the thought. More importantly, why did you come here?'”

“‘I received an invitation.'”

Lee Han explained that he had recently received an invitation from Count Jau by chance, and he couldn’t refuse it, so he came here.

‘What kind of business did he get invited for?’

Dirett was curious about the reason for the invitation, but there were other questions he needed to ask now.

“‘Junior, tell me again about the things you actually did, the people who hold grudges because of it, and the people you met. I’ll organize the things you need to be careful about and let you know…'”

What Dirett was most worried about now were the enemies who hated his junior, or rather, the fake identity his junior had created.

Having caused so many incidents and become a hot topic recently, there were bound to be quite a few people in the Empire who disliked him.

Enemies weren’t always people you could never be friends with again. Those who envied, suspected, and tried to hinder him were also enemies.

Since Count Jau had a wide network of connections, all sorts of guests would be at the mansion, so he had to be careful in advance.

“‘Lord Nago!'”

A nobleman who had arrived from behind discovered Lee Han and greeted him loudly.

“‘You accepted the invitation. I’m truly delighted! I would be so happy if I could hear the story of the Verdus Professor hunt in detail today!'”

“‘Hmph. You can look forward to it.'”

‘Is he crazy?!’

Dirett was shocked by how rude his junior was being.

This wasn’t Einroguard, and what would happen if he treated another nobleman like that in front of the mansion he was invited to?

“‘Haha! That’s just like Lord Nago! I’ll be looking forward to it!'”

However, the other nobleman actually smiled, pleased with the short reply.

That was how a rough and fierce wizard who could plunder Professor Verdus would act!

“‘Ah, these people are…?'”

“‘From the Einroguard Black Magic Department.'”

“‘Indeed. You were looking for some potent poison or curse to use against your enemies.'”

“‘Heh heh. That’s right.'”

“……”

Dirett said with a bewildered look, ‘What do you mean, that’s right!’

Did they think that all black mages talked about were evil things?

“‘Then, I’ll see you inside!'”

As soon as the nobleman walked away, Lee Han immediately apologized.

“‘I’m sorry!'”

“‘It’s fine. Just lower your voice so no one can hear.'”

Dirett said in a slightly tired voice.

It wasn’t just one or two people who thought that way about the Black Magic Department, and nothing would change now.

What bothered him more was that his junior’s fake identity was too popular.

“‘Lord Nago! You’ve arrived!'”

“‘Lord Nago, please give my nephew a blessing! Tell him to become a wizard like Lord Nago!'”

Why was he so popular?

Dirett, who had entered the mansion, immediately understood the reason.

‘No wonder his voice got a little quieter when he talked about Professor Verdus.’

Anyway, if that was the case, he could understand why he was popular.

There were many who held grudges against Professor Verdus and were waiting for an opportunity, but very few succeeded.

To them, his junior must have seemed like an object of admiration.

“‘How on earth was he able to increase his wealth during the Bonesal Flower craze?'”

“‘That’s what wisdom is.'”

“……”

Wasn’t it?

Dirett wondered if he had misjudged.

Perhaps other factors were the reason for his popularity…

“‘Hmph. Why did the Count invite such a rude person?'”

“‘Listen here. Lord Steddle of the Nago family isn’t rude, he’s just wary because he was captured by pirates in the southern part of the Empire. It’s proof that he’s an excellent combat mage.'”

“‘That’s right, that’s right! Are you saying that the Count has misjudged and invited the wrong person!'”

Even if someone tried to be jealous of his junior’s popularity and find fault with him, they had to shut their mouths because of the fierce attacks coming from all directions.

It was rare to see someone bring so many big fans to a noble gathering.

‘What on earth has my junior been up to…?!’

“‘Dirett. Dirett. Look at me. Does anything look strange? You guys take a look too.'”

Koholti, unaware of his friend’s complicated feelings, spoke to him.

Since he had to go to Count Jau and apologize, not even a speck of dust could be on his clothes.

“‘I’m busy right now, so ask the other juniors to take a look.'”

“‘Why are you busy? What’s going on?'”

Koholti didn’t understand his friend’s words.

It was a natural reaction since he didn’t know who Steddle Nago was.

“‘Do you see that wizard over there?'”

“‘Ah. The wizard from the Nago family who increased his wealth during the Bonesal Flower craze? I’m thinking of asking him to invest in my research later.'”

Koholti spoke innocently, not realizing who the other person was at all.

And then he looked at Dirett as if he had belatedly realized something.

“‘You’re trying to get an investment too! No wonder! Were you talking about that just now…?!'”

“‘…No. Never mind.'”

“‘Hey. My research looks bad compared to yours, Dirett.'”

Koholti said as if he felt wronged.

It was already difficult to get investments if the same Black Magic Department overlapped (unlike other magic departments, it was difficult for both to receive investments if the Black Magic Department overlapped), and compared to Dirett, Koholti’s curse specialization research was…

“‘I’m telling you, it’s not like that. Just focus on meeting the Count.'”

“‘Ah, okay. There’s nothing weird, right?'”

Dirett nodded, saying it was okay, but the other juniors were cold.

“‘Your cloak looks a bit cheap. It looks like something you’d wear in Einroguard.'”

“‘How about changing your bracelet? It looks like you’re from the Black Magic Department, so…'”

“‘I’m an idiot for asking you guys. Never mind. I’m going!'”

Koholti got angry at the juniors and then turned around. He wanted to take back the ice cream he had given them earlier.

‘Hoo. Let’s not be nervous.’

Count Jau’s mansion, located in the Imperial Capital, boasted a subtle and sophisticated beauty. The mansion smelled of old wood and flowers, with soft music playing in the background.

The artifacts and furniture that decorated the hall where the party was being held all seemed to be decades old, but the fact that they still shone with old beauty without a single scratch further revealed their dignity.

There weren’t many people who could boast of their dignity without showing off in this way.

There were quite a few newly rich people in the Empire who had quickly scraped together their fortunes, but no matter how quickly they hired servants and invited people, it only led to gossip, not admiration.

Koholti knew that well, so he couldn’t help but be more nervous. He would have felt a little lighter if the other person had been a newly rich person who was showing off.

“‘C-Count. Good evening.'”

“‘Welcome! Are you a wizard from the Wasteland Starcatchers?'”

“‘Y-yes. I’m Koholti, a Wasteland Starcatcher wizard from Einroguard.'”

The Count, with his kind face, offered Koholti a drink and asked about his research.

“‘To think I would meet such a young talent who is dedicated to the Empire like this. It’s an honor.'”

The benevolent old Count spoke with sincerity.

If he was from Einroguard and working for the Wasteland Starcatchers, he had to be a person with a strong sense of duty.

Who else would volunteer for such hardship?

Feeling his sincerity, Koholti was deeply moved.

“‘Thank you! The honor is mine as well.'”

“‘Is there anything this old man can help you with?'”

Count Jau was as insightful as he was kind. He realized that the other wizard had come because he had something to say.

“‘W-well, that is.'”

Calming his nervous voice, Koholti brought up the main point.

While working as a Wasteland Starcatcher, he made a slight mistake because of his sense of duty…

“‘I wanted to apologize since it’s the Count’s family, so I came here like this.'”

“‘Ah.'”

The old Count understood the meaning behind his words and smiled.

He said he came to apologize, but he clearly came to ask for mediation.

“‘I understand. I understand. It’s clearly my nephew’s fault. The Starcatchers warned him that it was a dangerous item, but he didn’t throw it away.'”

“‘Count…!'”

“‘Since my nephew is here, I’ll have him called.'”

The Count shook a small bell and ordered his nephew to be summoned. Koholti waited peacefully, filled with emotion and relief.

However, the nephew’s reaction was the opposite of what he expected.

“‘I refuse.'”

“‘!!'”

The old Count glared at his nephew with an angry face.

He was a troublemaker who had been causing problems with his wild way of living, but to think he would be stubborn and make him look bad even in a place like this.

“‘What did you say? Say it again!'”

“‘Why do you always take the side of people from other families, Uncle! That wizard came into my house without permission and tried to break things!'”

“……”

Koholti had nothing to say even if he had ten mouths.

‘It would be not helpful to say that it’s normal to do that in Einroguard, right?’

The Count’s nephew glared at Koholti, breathing heavily.

“‘I wanted to get at least half of the money I paid for it as compensation, but he refused!'”

“‘Ah, no. The Starcatcher budget isn’t that generous, so…'”

“‘That’s right. Apologize to him! How rude of you to treat someone who is sacrificing himself and working for the Empire!'”

“‘Hmph!'”

The nephew didn’t give in despite the Count’s words.

Koholti became anxious as it seemed like a new problem would arise within the Count’s family instead of solving the problem.

“‘What’s going on?'”

At that moment, a rough voice was heard from behind.

It was Steddle Nago, the only wizard in this gathering, which even wizards like Koholti attended dressed as neatly as possible, who was dressed like a wanderer.

The Count’s nephew jumped as if he had shown a shameful appearance to someone he admired, his eyes wide with surprise.

“‘Let’s go over there! Tell me more about the pirates from earlier!'”

“‘To become a wizard strong enough to bring Professor Verdus to his knees, you must be bold.'”

Steddle spat out in a fierce voice. Even though it was a light remark, it felt like it was vibrating throughout the hall.

“‘If you smashed a bad item, you should boldly express your gratitude. Otherwise, who would go with you to catch Professor Verdus?'”

Perhaps the nephew admired Steddle and wanted to be like him, listening to the rumors and wanting to emulate his boldness.

“‘…You’re right…!'”

The Count’s nephew nodded as if he was possessed.

And he turned his gaze to Koholti and apologized.

“‘I’m sorry. I was greedy and made a mistake.'”

“‘Ah, no. It’s okay. I was too hasty too…'”

Koholti looked at Steddle with eyes full of emotion.

This wizard, he’s really a cool person!