Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 1137

The knights murmured in surprise, noticing something odd among them.

Undead figures dressed as wizards stood among them.

-No. How long have they been standing there?

-Quite resourceful.

The Phoenix Tower students stood brazenly, despite the gazes and whispers from all directions. Nigisor and Siana were particularly bold, while Tizling hung his head in embarrassment.

Lee Han asked, puzzled, “How did you all know?” He had prepared everything in secret. ‘Did the plan leak?’

The knights stared intently at Ibinta, suspecting him. As a thief, he was likely to talk.

“Ah, no!” Ibinta blurted out.

-What do you mean, no? We haven’t asked anything yet?

While Ibinta cursed the knights, Siana explained, “No one told us. We just figured you’d sneak out at night, so we’ve been waiting outside.”

Lee Han felt a twinge of embarrassment. He thought he was being secretive, but his friends had anticipated his actions. ‘Was I too obvious?’

“If you leave us behind, we’ll tell the professors…” Nigisor threatened.

“Alright, alright. You can come with me,” Lee Han conceded, waving his hand. He knew Nigisor saw through his plan to leave them behind.

“It’s not like I wanted to leave you behind. I was going to wake you up anyway. I was just worried you’d be tired.”

‘He’s lying.’

‘Seems like a lie.’

“It’s obviously a lie… Oops,” Siana said, realizing she had spoken aloud.

How cheap!

“Anyway, let’s get going. We only have a few days in the city, so we need to move efficiently.”

Nigisor thought, ‘If we only have a few days, shouldn’t we give up on finding the evil god worshippers?’ but kept it to himself. When someone was passionate, it was often useless to argue. It might be better to let it burn out. If the evil god worshippers didn’t appear, Lee Han would give up anyway.

“But what if they do show up?”

“Eh. I doubt they will.”

Jandan and his junior sat in a coffeehouse in Bepaim City, discussing the day’s events. The Valdrogard students, refined nobles, valued their leisure, disaster or not.

The coffeehouse wasn’t as grand as Valdrogard’s, but the students were too wise and generous to complain.

“So, senior, you shouldn’t act so recklessly,” Jangbir advised.

“But I think we should be able to act that way when necessary,” Jandan replied.

“Even if I concede that radical actions may be necessary, acting like Wodanaz is not the way!” Jangbir insisted.

Equipped with common sense, Jangbir, a third-year student, was firm. He admired powerful wizards, but they were nobles first. Smashing a count’s mansion was unacceptable.

‘I must persuade my senior to come to his senses.’

Bang!

Startled, they looked down as someone crashed through the air from the street below. People ran from the tavern in horror.

-Aargh! They’re lunatics!

-Everyone, run away!

“Is the city so lively that people are fighting again?” Jandan wondered.

“That could be the case. You need energy to fight…” Jangbir mused.

-Stop! Catch them so they can’t escape!

When Lee Han and the knights rushed out, the Valdrogard students spat out their coffee.

…What are you doing?! Seriously?!

‘What am I doing?’ Ibinta wondered, looking at the tavern being smashed to pieces. He felt like he was in a nightmare. None of this made sense.

Before entering, Ibinta had spoken with Lee Han.

-Heir. Do you recognize this mark?

-I don’t know. And don’t call me Heir.

-Ah, yes. That’s… the Thieves’ Guild mark.

The Thieves’ Guild wasn’t a systematic organization. Why steal if they could organize across the Empire? It was just a loose group of thieves in each region, not really connected.

But those in the shadows needed to communicate. How else could they find work or partners? A mercenary couldn’t just advertise for illegal jobs. So, they used these marks.

Drawing the mark meant thieves gathered there. Recognize it, and you could join them.

-Indeed. I’ll keep that in mind.

-There are many variations, so just memorize the general rules. Anyway, there will be suspicious people in this tavern… What are you going to do? Should I question them?

-Yes. Question them.

Ibinta nodded, thinking he could show off his skills. He should have noticed the oddness of ‘Question them’ instead of ‘Please question them.’

-Hey.

-?

-There’s been a lot of trouble around here lately. Is there any work to be done?

-The rich guys who piled up gold have run away in fear, so what work is there to be done?

-What? The more that happens, the more work there is to be done. You can always make a fortune at times like these.

-Hmm… I don’t usually make offers to strangers, but you look trustworthy.

-……

-They said they needed one more person anyway. Are you interested?

-Of course. Just introduce me. …There’s nothing else going on around here, right? No suspicious people?

-Asking that makes you sound suspicious. Why are you asking that?

-Tsk. I’ll let it slide this once. If you knew my name, you wouldn’t say that again.

-So who are you?

-Ibinta. Haven’t you heard of Iron Mantle Ibinta?

-Iron Mantle Ibinta! I thought your face looked vicious… Indeed. I’ve heard of you. Weren’t you Kangla’s lackey? Why are you wandering around alone like this?

-It’s a long story. I met a crazy archmage.

This was not a lie. Ibinta shuddered, thinking of the eldest son of the Wodanaz family.

-I’m still running away, just in case.

-If it’s Ibinta, they’ll be relieved. They’ll welcome you.

The tavern owner’s attitude changed when Ibinta revealed his identity. A good reputation was valuable, even among mercenaries.

-So? Any suspicious people?

-No. There are a lot of guys who bring stolen goods to sell, but they’re the same guys who always do that.

-Think a little harder.

-I don’t know. I’m just a person who arranges jobs, not an Imperial peace officer who finds and catches suspicious people…

-Everyone, don’t move!!!

-???

-???

-Everyone, put your heads on the floor! If anyone lifts their head, the Heir will not forgive you!

-Put down your weapons! If anyone raises a weapon, be prepared to lose a limb!

The thieves were startled as the merchants threw off their clothes, revealing heavy armor.

-How dare you… Ack!

-I told you to put your head on the floor!

The knights swung their chairs, knocking the thieves down. Some tried to run, but Lee Han and the knights caught them.

And now.

“Mr. Ibinta.”

“……”

“Mr. Ibinta?”

“Yes? Ah, yes!”

“Thank you for your hard work. You did a good job,” Lee Han said.

Ibinta, still confused, asked, “Wh-What did I do well?”

“You bought us time while we surrounded the area, didn’t you?”

“……”

The tavern owner glared at Ibinta, thinking, You traitor!

Ibinta was dumbfounded. “Ah, no. Th-That… I thought you were searching… questioning… gathering rumors… or something like that?”

“Ah. Of course, that’s one way, but I’m short on time,” Lee Han explained. He preferred action over waiting.

“Now. I’ll ask again. Was there anyone suspicious?” Lee Han asked the captured tavern owner.

The tavern owner was intimidated by the glowing eyes of the Death Knights. “I… I really can’t think of anything…”

Lee Han used illusion magic to check his soul. He wasn’t lying. Not only the owner but also the innocent thieves were dragged away for questioning, but no evil god worshippers were found.

“Nothing.”

-That’s unfortunate.

“It can’t be helped. Let’s go to the next place. We need to visit a few more places.”

“……”

The tavern owner was blank, then turned blue. He’s going to do this in other places too?? Lee Han turned back. “Oh, right. I’ll come back tomorrow. Please check by then.”

‘He’s coming back tomorrow???!!?’ This was more shocking than doing it elsewhere.

What is he coming back for?

“Th-Th-Th-That is… You’re coming back tomorrow… It’s not like new information will appear…”

“The personnel might change, information might arise, or you might have lied. Are you perhaps hiding something?”

“Ah, no, of course not! No! No!” The tavern owner bowed as Lee Han left.

As the group left, a terrible silence fell. The tavern owner downed a bottle of wine and shouted, “…Find them!”

“Wh-What do you mean?”

“The evil god worshippers! Contact everyone, find out who’s new or can’t be verified, and catch anyone suspicious! Even if you have to make them up, bring them to me!!!”