Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 1195

Lee Han couldn’t stand the professors arguing any longer, and he spoke up.

“Wouldn’t it be simpler to just ask me?”

“That would not be proper,” Professor Volardi stated firmly.

He explained that when judging a student’s magic, they couldn’t only trust what the student said. They needed solid proof from other people.

Lee Han pretended not to see Professor Kirmin making a rude gesture behind Professor Volardi’s back.

“Since he’s deserted, I don’t think asking the Headmaster would be a good idea.”

“Why is that?” Professor Volardi asked, looking confused. He thought that even if a professor had deserted, they would still share information about the school.

He believed the Lord of Einrogaard would do the right thing and separate personal feelings from public duties.

“Well, people usually don’t send letters after deserting…” one of the knights mumbled.

He explained that in Einrogaard’s history, many crazy things had happened, but no one had ever deserted and then sent a friendly letter.

“Should we just tell him to send a letter?” Lee Han asked, only half-joking. He wanted the Headmaster to understand how absurd the situation was.

“I wouldn’t recommend it. The Headmaster might add things you don’t want him to reveal in his reply,” one of the knights said.

Hearing that, Lee Han felt a chill.

“Indeed, you knights are wise veterans! You are far wiser than I!”

“I’m not sure why you’re saying that now… but thank you,” one of the Death Knights said, sounding awkward. They would have felt proud if they had been praised for defeating a monster or spotting a trap, but this felt strange.

While Lee Han was talking to the knights, Professor Kirmin explained the situation as quickly as he could.

“On the northern request, we met black mages, and we ended up making a deal with a hag…”

“Isn’t that dangerous?”

“Who told you to desert? The black mages invited me. The descendants of Ahrak and…”

Professor Volardi shook his head, not liking the sound of it.

“I don’t like it.”

“The legions of Oondorgu.”

“Even more so.”

“I’m not telling you this so you can choose, so be quiet.”

Professor Volardi went silent, perhaps sensing his friend’s seriousness. The conversation moved quickly to the topic of midterms.

“Professor Thunderfoot was very shocked.”

Professor Volardi stared at his friend, as if to say, ‘Why are you telling me something so unimportant?’

Professor Kirmin, usually so prickly, admitted he was wrong. “Well, this isn’t very important. I don’t know why I mentioned it.”

“When are you planning to talk about transformation magic?”

“Just wait. I’m about to do it now.”

The knights felt sorry for Professor Thunderfoot. These young professors were going too far.

“Transforming into a dragon is…”

“Professor, we need to keep moving. Lord Rambern’s people might not know the truth, but if this keeps happening, they might get suspicious.”

“I understand. But transforming into a dragon is…”

“Tell us who you’re targeting. We’ll help you defeat them!”

When they arrived at the hideout, Professor Volardi stared at Lee Han. Lee Han had become more shameless recently. He looked back at his master with a serious face, as if he didn’t understand the problem.

“Don’t change into a dragon unless you really have to,” Professor Volardi said.

Lee Han realized he had made a mistake, revealing his eagerness. ‘I should have interrupted him without pause,’ he thought.

“The magic power might be okay, but the other burdens are great,” Professor Volardi explained.

“I know. I won’t transform unless I’m facing a strong enemy or need physical strength.” Lee Han explained that the main advantage of transforming was his increased physical ability and the dragon’s defense.

He hadn’t yet learned to use the dragon’s other powers, which took decades to master. So, he only transformed when he needed strength or defense, or to surprise a powerful enemy.

Professor Kirmin wondered if the powerful enemy was Volardi, not an evil god worshiper.

“This hideout isn’t known yet, but we shouldn’t be careless. Professor Begreck, who is the target?” one of the Death Knights asked.

The hideout was used by the Death Knights, who spent more time outside the school. They had many hideouts outside the Empire, because power alone wasn’t enough. The hideouts were checked regularly and moved often, even if there were no problems.

Since this hideout had been used, it would be moved soon.

‘What a waste,’ Lee Han thought. The two-story building near the city gate must have cost a lot. It was hard to cast spells inside without anyone noticing. It needed more preparation than a wizard’s mansion, and they were replacing it every time.

He wondered if that was why the Headmaster always complained about money.

“The next target is the wizard Enster.”

Enster was known for making small and medium-sized golems, making him famous in Alquie. Wizards outside the West also knew him, so he must have been skilled.

Amrek, who had been listening, was surprised. “Wizard Enster… could there be a mistake?!”

He was surprised because Enster seemed like a good person. Rambern had been suspicious, but Enster actively helped other wizards and shared his knowledge. He was also kind to non-wizards, as shown by the beggars who visited his workshop.

Professor Volardi didn’t get angry at the young knight’s question. “It’s a disguise,” he said.

“A disguise…?”

The people related to Sanguinos were good at hiding. Those who weren’t were caught. Enster’s current life was a mask, hiding a sinister wizard who used the knowledge he got from Sanguinos.

“He is turning victims into combat golems by sacrificing them.”

Amrek shuddered. Even though the Order of Knights watched over a large area, he never imagined such a person was hiding under their noses. He realized he needed to be more careful.

“H-How did you find this out?” Amrek asked, curious. How did the professor learn Enster’s secret?

“I heard it from the demon Enster recently made a contract with.”

Amrek was confused. “Do demons even tell you such things…?” Demons weren’t helpful. If they answered questions willingly, they wouldn’t have such a bad reputation.

“Well, they tend to,” Professor Kirmin said, changing the subject. He knew his friend had probably caught the demon and forced it to talk.

“We have… special methods in Einrogaard,” Professor Kirmin said.

“Ah! I understand!” Amrek said, looking at Lee Han as if he understood. Professor Kirmin was embarrassed by that reaction.

“I heard it from my brother! He said that Wardanaz persuades demons and uses them like servants! Is that the secret art!” Amrek’s eyes lit up as he connected the dots.

Professor Kirmin and Lee Han lowered their heads, looking somber. Lee Han gritted his teeth, thinking, ‘That Bartrec…!’

If Bartrec was like this, he couldn’t imagine how many rumors the White Tiger Tower friends had spread when they returned home.

“Enster is more careful than Rambern,” one of the Death Knights said quietly. Rambern’s mistake was being too arrogant to give up his fame and wealth. He should have fled and never returned, but he settled in the Empire and acted like a nobleman.

Enster, on the other hand, didn’t flaunt or seclude himself.

“Is the workshop well defended?”

Professor Volardi nodded. The knights clicked their tongues. “Then he must have escape routes. Wizards who are good at running away are annoying.”

“That is indeed the case,” Lee Han agreed.

Professor Kirmin thought there was something meaningful in what Lee Han said, but he didn’t say anything.

“Let’s hear the Heir’s opinion. Do you have any ideas? It doesn’t have to be a complete plan,” one of the knights said.

Amrek wasn’t listening closely. He knew Wardanaz was a good wizard, but he was still a student. A knight should be the one to come up with a way to attack the workshop.

‘How can we make him careless or lure him out…?’

“Well, I can give limited orders to other evil god worshipers. If we send them, the opponent might be a careless.”

Amrek fell backward in his seat.