Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 1125

Ethan thought, “Maybe giving the Headmaster the Illusion Magic work isn’t so bad.”

“People say you get old fast if you stop working, right? Even though the Headmaster is a powerful wizard and doesn’t really age, he needs something to do. He was complaining about the inspector coming… If he’s busy, he might forget about King Wooman taking away his power.”

“Or,” Ethan thought, “it might make him even angrier, but at least he’ll be angry at Professor Kirmin, not me.”

Ethan smiled. “Thank you, Professor.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Professor Kirmin replied.

“Oh, Professor,” Ethan asked, “will you give us extra lessons when we go?”

Professor Kirmin looked confused. “What are you talking about? Wait – do other professors give lessons when they leave the school?! Maybe Professor Voladía,” he thought, “but even Professor Garcia?”

Professor Kirmin looked completely surprised. “Has he learned bad habits from them?” Ethan worried. “I hope my kind professor doesn’t become mean because of his friends.”

Ethan carefully picked his next job. It was from the Order itself. It wasn’t for a big reward. The Orders in the Empire weren’t very rich. Big noble families, the royal family, and rich merchants had much more money. But Ethan took the Order’s job right away. He felt a little responsible.

“Well, I did join a few Orders and get Holy Magic.” It’s not like he wanted Holy Magic, but he got it by accident. So, he felt he should help.

The royal family’s jobs sounded too good to be true, which made him nervous. They promised him all sorts of things if he just came. But who knew what would really happen? He might have to meet the very distant relatives of the royal family! The next day, the newspaper might say, “Ethan Wodanaz Supports the Royals! Shocking!”

The Order’s job felt safer. They said it was okay if he couldn’t come, and they seemed really serious about it. They wanted help with the drought and heatwave in the west. Just hearing about it made it sound like a real problem.

The problem was…

“Why are you all here?” Ethan asked, surprised.

“Well, we’re priests too, in a way, Mr. Wodanaz,” Siana said, a little embarrassed. It’s an Order job, of course there would be other priests! Ethan thought, realizing he’d missed something obvious.

“Oh, I see…” He’d forgotten his friends could also take jobs. I wasn’t thinking clearly. He thought he’d be alone, not like the job with Moradi they did together before. But now that he thought about it, the Order wouldn’t leave anyone behind if they could help. It made sense to call them.

“Is there a reason we can’t come with you?” Siana asked, looking at him suspiciously. Ethan was acting weird, even for him. Wodanaz was always a bit strange, but this was extra strange.

“Well… um…” Ethan looked at his priest friends. Nigisor and Tiziling were staring at him, confused.

“Okay, okay, I’ll tell you,” Ethan said. “The truth is, I have a problem with an evil god group. I can’t say their name.”

“Is it the Prahgal Order?” Siana guessed.

“No.”

“Is it the Ksaksarigol Order?” Nigisor asked.

“I said no!” Ethan replied.

“Then…” Tiziling started.

“…I can’t tell you the name,” Ethan finished. He looked at his friends, speechless. Did they think this was a game? Guess the Evil God Order I Hate?

The priests whispered, disappointed. “I thought we could guess it…”

“Maybe we did guess it, but he’s pretending we didn’t. Mr. Wodanaz is good at that,” Nigisor said.

“I still think it’s probably the Ksaksarigol Order…” Tiziling mumbled.

Ethan slammed his staff on the ground, making a loud BANG. The priests stopped talking at once.

“Anyway,” Ethan said, “I have a problem with this evil god group, and I don’t want you guys to get involved.” He wouldn’t mind if it was the White Tiger Tower people, but these were his kind friends.

Hearing this, Siana raised her hand. “I have a question.”

“Okay,” Ethan sighed. “But no asking about the evil god order’s name.”

“That’s not it,” Siana said. “Um… isn’t it true that Mr. Wodanaz always gets into trouble, even without a grudge?”

Siana’s question was like a sudden, cold splash of water. Nigisor and Tiziling gasped. It was a bit mean to say to a friend.

“Ah, Siana, that’s too much!” Tiziling said.

“Yeah, it’s not like Mr. Wodanaz wants to get into trouble,” Nigisor agreed.

“Well…” Siana said, “but it’s true, isn’t it?” Siana didn’t back down, even though her friends were scolding her. If she worried about being polite all the time, she couldn’t be friends with Wodanaz. And besides the evil god group, Wodanaz had lots of enemies already. From people who hated magic to real criminals, there was a long list. Why worry about one more thing?

Ethan’s face fell. He looked sad. Siana realized she’d gone too far.

“Ah, no, I didn’t mean it’s Mr. Wodanaz’s fault!” she quickly said.

“See? I told you it was too much!” Tiziling said again.

“Cheer him up!” Nigisor urged.

“It’s not your fault, Mr. Wodanaz! Want some mood potion?” Siana pulled out a small bottle. Inside was her precious ice cream float. This drink, kept in a potion bottle, was so forbidden now because of the inspector that just having it could get you in trouble.

“…That’s not the point,” Ethan mumbled, trying to change the subject.

He’s changing the subject, Nigisor thought. Yep, he’s changing the subject, Tiziling agreed in his mind. Subject changed, Siana also thought.

“Even if we go together,” Ethan said louder, “we need to be careful of these evil god worshippers.” He gave up on stopping them from coming. He knew they wouldn’t stay behind just because he told them to. And it wasn’t fair to stop them because of his problems. So, he had to make sure they were safe.

“If you hear anyone whispering strange things outside, don’t talk to them. Tell me right away.”

“Is it an evil god who controls fire?” Nigisor asked, his eyes shining. If it is, he thought, maybe I can steal some fire from their followers!

“…No,” Ethan said flatly.

“Maybe it’s about alchemy…” Tiziling wondered quietly.

“Do you guys think evil gods are like… sellers?” Ethan asked, glaring at them.

The priests quickly shook their heads, waving their hands. “No! We will never listen to strange whispers! We’ll stay away from anyone who looks suspicious!” Siana said loudly.

“Me too!” Nigisor added.

“Right, Tiziling?”

“Huh? Oh, right!” Tiziling said, feeling a little confused. I wasn’t even thinking about talking to evil god people… he thought, feeling a bit unfairly accused.

“Oh! Professor Garcia!” Siana suddenly called out.

Professor Garcia, the first professor to arrive, smiled brightly at them. “Hello everyone! Good to see you all! Oh, Ethan, the Headmaster said there’s some news. He wants you to hear it directly.”

“Me? Why?” Ethan asked.

“Who knows?” Professor Garcia shrugged. “Maybe someone sent a letter asking the Headmaster to give you the Illusion Magic Department work?”

“…Ah,” Ethan said, remembering. Instead of talking more about that, Ethan quickly told Professor Garcia about the Sanguiros Order and his name being on their list.

“Is it because of the Ghoul King? Or the Frost Giant King? Anti-magic people? Magic criminals? Maybe it’s because of the contract with King Zo-Urin…” Professor Garcia listed possibilities quickly.

“…Professor,” Ethan interrupted, “aren’t you surprised?”

Oh! Professor Garcia suddenly realized she’d made a mistake. Wait, the right thing for a professor to say is, ‘Evil god worshippers! How dare they threaten my student!’

“I… I’m very surprised!” she said, sounding much more serious. “Those terrible people! If I see them, they won’t get away with it!”

“…Thank you,” Ethan said, a little awkwardly.

“Oh, is Professor Ku coming to give a lecture too?” Professor Garcia asked, as if it was the most normal thing. She just assumed that if a professor came along, there would be a lesson.

“No,” Ethan said.

“Why? Is something wrong?” Professor Garcia asked, confused.

“Professor…” Ethan said gently, “you don’t always have to give a lecture…”

“…?!!!” Professor Garcia’s eyes went wide. Wait… Is that true?!

The group rode in two carriages, going very fast, like they were flying. Maybe because Professor Garcia was still surprised by what happened earlier, or maybe she just wanted Ethan to have fun with his friends, she grabbed Professor Voladía and pulled him into the back carriage. Professor Baegreuk, you can always catch up on lessons later! she called. That’s right, Professor Baegreuk! Professor Voladía added. Let the students talk!

Ethan looked at his friends. Wow, friendship is powerful. If it got any stronger, they might actually be able to beat an evil god!

“Mr. Wodanaz,” Nigisor said.

“What is it, Priest Nigisor?” Ethan asked.

“I heard you defeated a strong fire spirit recently…” Nigisor said casually.

Cough! Cough! Ethan choked, coughing on the ice cream potion Siana had given him. It was a surprise attack! How did he know about that?!

“Wh-what are you talking about?” Ethan stammered.

“Wasn’t the Daylily Magic Tower job to catch a spirit?” Nigisor looked confused. Why was Ethan so nervous about something he should be proud of?

Ethan was just speechless. First, the rumor had spread so fast… And second, wasn’t it obvious why Nigisor was asking? I don’t want to tell him, whatever he wants. Whether it was introducing him to General Hwacheon or something else, Ethan wanted to stop it. He pretended he didn’t know anything.

“No,” Ethan said. “The Daylily Magic Tower job was just…”

“Just what?” Nigisor pressed.

“…They invited me to make a good impression,” Ethan said quickly. “Like a fancy dinner, or a party. They want me to join the Magic Tower after I graduate.”

Silence. Tiziling, being kind, nodded like he believed it. But Siana and Nigisor? They looked at each other, raising their eyebrows. That’s a lie, Siana thought. Definitely a lie, Nigisor agreed in his head.

Even if Wodanaz was talented, would a big group like the Daylily Magic Tower try to bribe someone like that? Magic Towers invited wizards based on their skills and achievements, not by offering them treats.

Nigisor leaned forward, trying to get more information. “What kind of events did they have?” he asked, pretending to be curious.

“Well, first there was a big dinner party,” Ethan started, making it up as he went along. “Then they hired famous musicians to play music. And then there was a quiet meditation thing by a lake…”

More silence.

“…You guys don’t believe me, do you?” Ethan asked, giving up.

“Ah, no! We believe you!” Siana said, a little too quickly.

“Of course we believe Mr. Wodanaz!” Nigisor added, also sounding fake.

Seeing their faces, Ethan wished he had brought Zo-Urin with him. Should I have just brought him? he thought.

“No, really, it happened!” Ethan insisted. “If you don’t believe me, ask the Magic Tower later… No, wait, they’ll probably deny it. There were adventurers and knights there too… No, forget it.” If he asked the adventurers or knights, they’d definitely mention General Hwacheon. Ethan waved his hand dismissively.

“Okay, fine! Professor! When we get there, you can ask the professors!”

Professor Garcia just looked at him, confused.

“…Maybe, Priest Siana,” Ethan said, turning to her, “you don’t think I can bribe the professors too, do you?”

Siana gasped, pretending to be shocked. “H-how did you know?” she asked, playing along.