Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 291

‘A pity.’

Lee Han regretted that the Skull Headmaster had seen through his thoughts.

Lee Han was annoyed he couldn’t even joke around when there was only one person he suspected.

The Skull Headmaster narrowed his blue eyes and stared at Lee Han.

‘He looks like he’s thinking something suspicious…’

“No, sir.”

“He probably doesn’t have time for silly rumors anyway. Enjoy your vacation,” Lee Han said, trying to sound like he meant it.

Lee Han felt uneasy. The Skull Headmaster gave up too easily.

‘What is it? Is he planning to send undead during the vacation?’

Inside the school, sending undead to attack the tower at night might be ignored. But in a city, it would be a big problem.

But even considering that, he couldn’t rest easy with the Skull Headmaster.

Lee Han stepped back with a questioning look.

‘Surely not.’

Over the weekend, students who had finished preparing for the vacation walked towards the main gate, carrying their luggage. Even though it was heavy and uncomfortable, all the students were smiling.

“Ponryg. Thanks.”

Lee Han thanked Ponryg, who had a bundle of books on his back. Ponryg tapped his hooves as if it were nothing.

“Ah, I need to take this too. Is it okay to put these books on as well?”

-Neigh.

“Thanks. Just a moment. This book too…”

-……

Ponryg gave Lee Han a pointed look, his nostrils flaring.

Meanwhile, a song could be heard from the side.

“Einrogard. Einrogard. It’s so good.”

Asan was humming. It was a song he composed for his Basic Music class assignment.

“A place with warm meals and a fluffy bed. Einrogard.”

“A place with warm meals and a fluffy bed. Einrogard.”

The other tower friends, who would normally have teased, ‘Blue Dragon Tower guys, don’t sing fake songs,’ were also in a good mood and started singing along.

“Our juniors will soon come and enjoy this paradise. Einrogard.”

“Just thinking about it makes me excited.”

“Juniors aren’t coming in the second semester.”

“Damn it. Why aren’t they coming?”

‘Are these the same guys who were cursing the seniors yesterday?’

“There once was a noble prince…”

“……”

“Why? I’m going to sing the song I want to sing too.”

At Gainando’s words, the students looked at each other.

Thinking about it, he was right.

“One spirit, two spirits, three spirits, four spirits…”

“There once was an honorable wizard who always prepared meals…”

“When the evil lich attacked, the knights blew their trumpets…”

‘What a mess.’

It was hard to believe that a chorus had been going on just a moment ago, as the songs mixed and the rhythms went awry.

Lee Han stroked Ponryg once and hummed.

“Einrogard. Einrogard. It’s so good.”

“A place with warm meals and a fluffy bed. Einrogard.”

The Skull Headmaster and the professors were watching the first-year students heading towards the main gate with kind eyes.

Professor Garcia, with slightly reddened eyes, looked at the Skull Headmaster. The Skull Headmaster was talking to Professor Verdus.

“Why don’t you tell me?”

If you promise to listen to me from now on, I can tell you where I’m staying.

“I promise!”

Not vaguely!

“Excuse me. Headmaster?”

“Ah. Professor Garcia.”

The Skull Headmaster stopped the conversation as Professor Garcia approached.

“What were you talking about just now…?”

It was nothing much.

“Why only to m…”

As Professor Verdus tried to speak, the Skull Headmaster summoned a huge piece of bark and stuffed it into the professor’s mouth.

So, what brings you here?

“Ah. I just wanted to say you worked hard during the semester.”

The Skull Headmaster’s eyes became gentle, like moonlight on snow.

How could it be my achievement alone? All the other professors…

The Skull Headmaster stopped talking when he saw Professors Verdus and Volardy.

…not all of them, but anyway, Professor Garcia, you worked hard too.

“That’s right. Everyone really worked hard.”

The Imperial official, Lee Unrade, who had come for the final exams, agreed.

When I was a student, I just thought I wanted the professors to drop dead, but after graduating and coming back, I still felt the same way. But I could feel that everyone was working hard to maintain this Einrogard.

The Skull Headmaster smiled knowingly, as if he had read Lee Unrade’s thoughts.

Thank you for thinking that way.

“Ah, right. Headmaster.”

Lee Unrade hesitated, watching the Skull Headmaster’s expression.

He seemed to be in a good mood, so it seemed like it would be okay to bring it up.

What is it?

“Well… I received a message yesterday. His Majesty the Emperor wishes to have a private meeting with you, Headmaster. It seems you need to go to the capital as soon as possible.”

……

As the Skull Headmaster’s soul flickered, the surrounding temperature dropped, and frost began to form instantly.

Lee Unrade, thinking he might be dragged to the mountains behind Einrogard by a crazy archmage and buried, desperately made excuses.

“I… I didn’t say anything, Headmaster.”

If you didn’t say anything, why would he want a private meeting? I don’t understand. It’s not the time to meet right now, is it? Tell me honestly. Did you really not say anything?

“I don’t know either… Headmaster! It’s been years since I graduated, you can’t put me in the punishment room! You can’t do this!”

Haha. I think there’s a misunderstanding. I wouldn’t put an Imperial official in the punishment room.

Despite the Skull Headmaster’s kind words, Lee Unrade was not relieved.

“It hasn’t been decided yet! He might be calling you to give you an award!”

An award, you say. There’s no way.

The Skull Headmaster was extremely realistic.

Usually, the only things to talk about when meeting the Emperor were either a wizard who graduated from Einrogard caused an accident, or a wizard currently enrolled in Einrogard caused an accident.

So, what award could there be?

The Skull Headmaster sighed deeply.

Just thinking about which guy caused what accident this time and how much the budget would be cut already made his soul feel cold.

“It’ll… it’ll be alright.”

Lee Unrade cautiously spoke as the Skull Headmaster seemed to have calmed down a bit.

Do you really think so? If that’s the case, then if the budget is cut, you should donate your salary to Einrogard.

“M… my salary is just a drop in the ocean compared to the vast ocean…”

Forget it. What difference would that make?

The Skull Headmaster clicked his tongue.

Seeing that Lee Unrade really looked wronged, it didn’t seem to be because of the report…

He wondered if an Einrogard graduate had caused an accident without him knowing. That seemed like the most likely possibility.

I’ll have to go see His Majesty the Emperor.

“Then, please ask for some research funding for our school.”

“Me too! I need gems for the new artifacts…”

“I need monsters for combat training…”

The Skull Headmaster shuddered at the sight of the professors worrying about their magic in this situation.

The Skull Headmaster shook his head. They were certainly… dedicated professors, no matter who had trained *them*.

The Skull Headmaster’s undead army escorted the students who had passed through the main gate. Their goal was to safely escort the students to Granden City.

Since it was quite a distance, it would be impossible to go without an escort…

…but other people were already waiting in front of the main gate.

“Young Master. This way!”

“You’ve worked so hard. Good heavens. Even if you’re frugal, how could you wear such rags!”

“Your face has become half its size!”

The guards from each family, who had been waiting for the Blue Dragon Tower students, rushed over. The other tower students shook their heads at the sight of them being washed, undressed, redressed, and even having snacks put in their mouths in an instant.

“Why are they even attending Einrogard if they’re going to be like that?”

“That’s right. It’s an act that destroys the teachings of Einrogard.”

“Lee Han. We’ve come to escort you.”

The old knight, Alarron, called Lee Han with the guards, but Lee Han pretended not to hear.

“Lee Han?”

“Shh. Don’t shout so loudly. Sir.”

Lee Han covered Alarron’s mouth. Behind Alarron, knights from familiar families were waiting on horseback.

“Did you bring a carriage too?”

“A carriage? I thought it would be too fancy, so I didn’t bring one. I apologize. Even now…”

“No. It’s alright. I’m glad you didn’t bring one.”

They would probably be going to Granden City in this procession, and it seemed like he would stand out if he were in a carriage. He didn’t care about the other friends in the same tower, but…

“Lee Han! Want a ride?”

Gainando, already inside a splendid carriage, lying on a cushion, waved and called Lee Han. Lee Han ignored him, pretending not to hear.

“Is that Lee Han’s friend?”

“I don’t know him. I heard that the mansion I got in the village was moved to Granden City, is that right?”

“That’s right. Someone from the school came out.”

Alarron stroked his mustache and said.

Alarron explained that Einrogard moved the student mansions to the city. This was to stop students from getting money by visiting villages nearby!

“I wish you had told me in advance.”

“…That’s what I’m saying. Einrogard is really something. Can I see the mansion I got?”

“I’m sorry it’s not a very good place.”

Alarron unfolded a map of the city and pointed to the location with his finger. It was a mansion located in the noble district in the center of the city, occupying a large site at a glance.

‘If this isn’t a good place, what is a good place according to Alarron’s standards?’

Lee Han stopped himself from asking if he could save the money for this mansion and just give it to him. It wasn’t Alarron’s fault.

“How was school life?”

“It was much stranger than I ever imagined.”

Alarron chuckled at Lee Han’s words.

“That’s how all places of learning are, no matter the field.”

“That’s true, but…”

Einrogard seemed too different.

Lee Han didn’t know about all the educational facilities in the Empire, but he found it hard to believe that there was a more eccentric place than Einrogard.

“Were there any lectures you liked among the ones you heard?”

“Hmm. There were many I was forced to listen to.”

“Hahaha… I was like that too when I was in the Knights. I only wanted to wield a sword, but they made me learn the Seven Arts to maintain the dignity and pride of a knight.”

“It’s a bit different from that…”

Lee Han trailed off.

Learning poetry, music, and dance as a knight was a bit different from being forced to learn magic at Einrogard.

“Ah, right. Thanks to you, I was able to take the swordsmanship class. Thank you.”

“There was a swordsmanship class? Well, not only knight families but also other noble families would learn swordsmanship as a hobby…”

‘It suddenly hit Lee Han. Everyone in the swordsmanship class, except him, was from the White Tiger Tower.’

“It must have been difficult because there were many from knight families.”

“No. It was better than I thought.”

“Indeed… Well, everyone is from a knight family, so they must have been considerate of you, Lee Han.”

“…?”

Lee Han paused.

Were they considerate?

“……”

“……”

The White Tiger Tower students who were passing by also paused at those words. They weren’t…

“Um. If you really want to be picky, it seems like they were considerate.”

“Excellent. That’s what a knight should be. If you try to trample on others just because you’ve learned a little more swordsmanship, then you haven’t learned it properly.”

Lee Han stared intently at the White Tiger Tower students who were passing by. The White Tiger Tower students hurried away.

“Are they your friends?”

“No. I don’t know them.”

“Is that so? Which school of magic are you planning to specialize in during your first year, Lee Han?”

“…I haven’t decided yet.”

Alarron, misunderstanding that Lee Han hadn’t made a decision yet, said as if it was okay.

“It’s alright. There’s still plenty of time left, so you can make a decision after listening to more lectures you haven’t heard.”

“Do I really have to do that…”