Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 1111

“I can’t help but think this is suspicious…”

“N-no, it’s not like that.”

Professor Garcia tried his best to explain. He couldn’t risk being mistaken for a worshiper of evil gods, especially with the Magic Tower wizards already mobilized and struggling because of his student.

“So, you’re saying the Magic Tower prepared all this to welcome a single guest?”

“That’s right!”

The adventurers behind Jute whispered among themselves.

“Isn’t this a trick?”

“It’s a very strange trick. I mean, who tells such ridiculous lies as part of a trick?”

Jute was just as confused as his companions. Even after hearing Professor Garcia’s explanation, it didn’t make much sense.

The wizards of the Magic Tower, who should be busy, were making a fuss over just one guest? Did that make sense? He knew the Magic Tower valued talent, but this seemed excessive.

“…I understand,” Jute said, nodding slowly. He was still confused, but the professor’s explanation was easier to believe than the idea of the Magic Tower worshiping evil gods. *Evil gods? That was ridiculous*, he thought.

“Then… I’ll go look for the knights.”

“Ah. Yes.”

Professor Garcia and his group bowed politely, as they had nothing more to add. What could he say to people giving him suspicious looks, wondering if he was secretly working with the Magic Tower wizards?

The adventurers also bowed politely, equally speechless. They, too, wondered if these wizards had a hidden reason for being here, but they weren’t naive enough to ask outright. If they were suspicious, they would investigate secretly. Who would answer honestly if asked directly?

“First… let’s find the knights,” Jute said, shaking his head slightly. He needed to focus despite his confusion.

His companions nodded in agreement.

“That’s right. The important thing is the artifact. Let’s find the knights first.”

“Even if this Magic Tower is a little… strange, that’s for the wizards here to handle.”

“…But are you really sure it’s okay?”

“I didn’t feel any evil energy… but I can’t be sure.” Jute, usually confident, sounded uncertain. The situation was so strange that his confidence had wavered. *Is this the beginning of the Daylily Magic Tower’s downfall?* he wondered.

The two groups reunited in front of the guest room where the White Poplar Knights were staying.

“…Oh, what brings you here?” Professor Garcia asked, puzzled, not yet knowing the knights were inside.

“We’ve come to find the knights.”

“The knights?” Professor Garcia paused and whispered to Yihan and Professor Voladi, “It seems the dangerous spirit is hiding among the knights.”

“Ah, I see. The White Poplar Knights must have brought the artifact containing the spirit,” Yihan replied, understanding immediately. If the spirit had been in the Magic Tower, Saratan would have noticed it upon arrival. It made more sense that the knights had brought the sealed artifact seeking help.

“This has become a bit troublesome.”

“Why is that?”

“It seems those adventurers are also tracking the spirit.” Professor Garcia guessed, observing their reactions. The most annoying thing for a wizard was having something they had tracked for a long time snatched away. After painstakingly researching ancient texts, how infuriating would it be if a rich noble, unaware of its value, simply bought it?

“Professor, I’m okay with giving it up. Preventing the danger is enough,” Yihan said generously.

“Yihan, my student!” Professor Garcia’s heart swelled, impressed by Yihan’s generosity. Many Einroguard students were skilled in magic, but few were so willing to give up something without expecting anything in return. *How could he be so kind?*

“So, if it’s okay with you, Professor, please forgive those adventurers as well.”

“…W-wait a minute. I’m not angry! Yihan, did you think I was upset about competing?” Professor Garcia was taken aback. It sounded like Yihan was trying to stop him from getting angry. *Must be my imagination?* If he encountered another wizard who had been tracking the artifact, Professor Garcia would gladly yield. He could be that generous as a fellow wizard.

“…Of course not! How could I ever think that?”

Professor Garcia glanced at Professor Voladi, noticing Yihan’s suspicious behavior. *Could I be getting this reputation because I’ve been working with Professor Baegreg lately?* He always tried to be a good role model for his students.

“…Okay, I understand for now. But just in case, we should watch how they handle it.” Professor Garcia planned to observe the adventurers, not because he was yielding, but to ensure they were capable. Regardless of who tracked it first, he couldn’t entrust a dangerous item to those who lacked the ability to handle it.

Jute flinched as the professor explained their conversation. *He was a wizard from Einroguard!* Jute had thought he wasn’t a Magic Tower wizard, but he was a professor from another magic school. Jute felt intimidated. A professor from Einroguard was someone who had achieved great fame in the Empire.

*Wait. If he’s a professor from Einroguard, did the Daylily Magic Tower put on that whole show to impress him?* Jute thought it was plausible. Bringing in an Einroguard professor would justify the earlier spectacle. Of course, he doubted its effectiveness. An Einroguard professor wouldn’t be tempted by a comfortable rest and a fancy event. *It would probably fool a lower-grade student, not a professor…*

“Thank you for your consideration. I’m a bit nervous, as it seems I’ll be displaying my inadequate skills.”

“What are you talking about? I’m looking forward to it.”

With that, the wizards knocked on the guest room door. The knights, who had been anxiously waiting, were delighted and jumped up.

“It’s finally over… Wait, where did all the Magic Tower wizards go?” The knights were surprised to see unfamiliar faces instead of Magic Tower wizards.

“You don’t have to worry. We’ve come to solve the problem,” Jute said politely, but with confidence.

In fact, he knew more about the artifact sealed with the chain than anyone else in the room. He had been collecting data and preparing to deal with it for a long time.

“Who are you? You don’t seem like a wizard from the Magic Tower.”

“I am Jute, leader of the adventurer party.”

“Ah! That party. I’ve heard of you.” The White Poplar Knights were well-traveled and knowledgeable. They had heard of the party, which had been quite active recently.

“We’ve been tracking this artifact for a long time because it contains an extremely dangerous being.”

“Indeed!” The old knight reacted favorably, impressed by Jute’s preparation.

Professor Garcia, watching from behind, nodded. “He’s definitely well-prepared and has done his research.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“But the literature you referred to needs some improvement. There are many forgeries in Arlmergen’s writings. Believing them completely can be dangerous.”

*That’s strange. He’s clearly a graduate,* Yihan thought. He wasn’t an Einroguard student, yet Professor Garcia was evaluating him. It was fortunate the other person couldn’t hear him.

“I understand. I appreciate your thorough preparation. May I ask one question?” Barvandam asked, and Jute readily nodded.

“Yes, please ask me anything.”

“You said you would defeat this spirit. What method will you use to reverse summon it?” Spirits were highly resistant to normal attacks, especially high-ranking ones. Without a proper way to reverse summon the spirit, breaking the seal recklessly could cause a disaster.

“Would you like to take a look at this?”

The knights, Professor Garcia, and Yihan were surprised by the item Jute produced. It was no ordinary item.

“That’s… a sword from another dimension, isn’t it?” Professor Garcia and Yihan recognized it easily. The energy from another dimension had a distinct texture.

“This is a sword made by an angel. According to the documents, the weakness of this spirit is a sword made by an angel.”

“Oh…!” The knights were impressed, and so was Yihan. A sword made by an angel. The skills of these adventurers were exceeding expectations.

“How did you get something like that?” Yihan asked, surprised.

Jute smiled, feeling proud that even the wizards from Einroguard were impressed. “I explained the situation to a noble family I owed a favor to, and they lent it to me.”

“That’s amazing. No family would easily lend such a sword. You must have accomplished a lot as an Imperial adventurer…”

“Hahaha. You flatter me.” As Jute enjoyed the praise, his companions looked at him with pity. *Maybe we should have gone to Einroguard instead of Kalarogard,* they thought.

Suddenly, Yihan felt his vision shake. It wasn’t his vision, but a sense of incongruity caused by a change in the spirit world. In the monochrome world, Apazragon, the angel he had met before, appeared.

Professor Garcia and Professor Voladi noticed the stranger, but the others hadn’t. Yihan asked, flustered, “What is it? What’s going on?”

-I have something to tell you.

-???

-That is not an angel’s sword. The wizard is mistaken. Goodbye.

-…W-wait a minute! Yihan felt goosebumps as the angel coolly gave advice and tried to leave. Appearing so accurately, as if he had been watching. *What was he doing and where was he until just now?*