Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 493

“Is he… a wizard?” one of the mercenaries whispered, glancing nervously at Ianop. The air in the dimly lit harbor inn felt heavy, thick with the smell of stale ale and fish.

Silence. A quiet wizard was always the most dangerous.

“Wizard?” another asked, louder this time, fear creeping into his voice. He shuffled his feet on the rough wooden floor, his eyes darting around nervously. The other mercenaries did the same, their rough faces pale in the flickering lamplight. They knew what it meant when a wizard was silent like this. It meant power, and maybe anger.

Beneath his hood, Ianop’s eyes burned like torches.

Until now, his actions had been solely for Antagondalus’s orders and rewards.

When Ianop saw that small bit of magic, his eyes opened wide, and he thought differently.

‘That’s… definitely the stuff of a great wizard.’

The Empire’s magical criminals were wicked and corrupt, but their greed for magic was just like that of any other wizard.

Ianop was no different.

What other reason could there be for him to have bowed his head for so long under a dangerous and capricious figure like Antagondalus?

It was because of his greed for magic.

What if the boy became a powerful, evil wizard?

And what if, in the meantime, Ianop served as his faithful right hand?

He would be able to freely enjoy the magical secrets flowing from his side.

That was a reward he could never expect from a miserly man like Antagondalus.

Ianop was so certain that the boy was destined to be a great wizard that he was willing to risk his own life.

‘Instead of reporting to Antagondalus…’

Ianop decided to secretly monopolize the boy instead of handing him over to Antagondalus.

Making the boy his friend and helper was much better than just handing him over.

To the wizard of the Wodanaz family, who was born with great talent…

Ianop began to write a letter with great care.

He had completely abandoned the idea of approaching him by gradually revealing Antagondalus’s magic, as he had done until now.

Thinking again, he realised it was silly.

It was stupid to think a great wizard would be impressed by that. Especially a wizard who thought Antagondalus was nothing special.

…I am an old but experienced wizard. I know some magic that the Empire has forbidden due to its danger, and I have even set foot in areas forbidden by the Empire. But I have never seen a wizard with such great talent as you. Please allow me to serve you! So that I may offer you the insignificant knowledge and wisdom I possess, and become the cornerstone of your great magic…

Ianop wrote a letter so humble that the mercenaries would have been shocked if they had known.

It was rare for one wizard to send such a letter to another, offering to be his servant.

Ianop didn’t feel ashamed.

If he could somehow make contact, Ianop intended to corrupt the boy of the Wodanaz family with the wicked wisdom he knew.

In that process, kneeling and rubbing his forehead on the floor was nothing.

“Send this!”

“Yes, Wizard! We understand!”

The mercenaries, frightened by Ianop’s eerie voice, could not utter a word and ran out into the night streets.

The next day.

Ianop waited in a corner of the inn by the harbor, for the mercenaries to come back.

‘It will definitely work.’

No wizard could resist being intrigued by such a low bow.

Ianop was certain that the boy of the Wodanaz family would at least try to exchange a few words.

“Wizard!”

‘They’re here!’

As he heard the mercenary’s voice and the inn door opened, Ianop’s heart pounded.

But the mercenary’s expression was strange.

As if he was hiding something, as if he had committed a crime…

His face was awkward and uncomfortable.

Ianop felt something was wrong.

“Could it b…”

“Is that him?”

“Yes!”

At Lee Han’s question, the mercenary nodded hastily. Forgetting his anxiety for a moment, Ianop’s face brightened.

“Lord Wodanaz…”

“Professor! That’s the one!”

“?!”

The moment Lee Han pointed his finger, the wall behind the inn suddenly shattered, and a shadow rushed in savagely.

Rumble!

Ianop, as a wizard from the rough back alleys, was not without experience in magical combat.

As soon as he sensed something strange from behind, he was horrified and activated his artifact.

With intense enhancement magic, Ianop’s thoughts accelerated, and his vision widened.

At the same time, a transparent barrier of power appeared in front, and the defense was activated.

Bzzzt!

Finally, Ianop’s ring spun around once, dyeing Ianop’s hand purple.

It was a powerful enchantment that reversed the opponent’s regeneration upon contact.

This magic could defeat average wizards, but his enemy was too strong.

Professor Voladi was too fast. He moved quicker than Ianop. Before the magical shield appeared, Voladi was already in the air, above him.

As magic focused on his hand as Ianop’s ring activated, Professor Voladi did not hesitate and cut off the opponent’s arms. The scarf, enhanced with transformation magic and enchantment, severed the magical criminal’s arms like a fine sword.

Ianop screamed in pain and launched a final desperate attack. He intended to activate the scroll tied to his ankle, spread sulfurous mist around the area, and escape.

But Professor Voladi had already pierced Ianop’s body with his sword.

Plop!

As the petrification potion, made directly by Professor Thunderfoot and applied to the blade, spread throughout his body, Ianop turned to stone.

“Did you secure him?!”

“Secured.”

“Well done… You’ve worked hard!”

Professor Thunderfoot’s voice was heard anxiously from the shattered back wall of the inn.

He was so anxious that he even forgot the honorifics he usually used among professors.

“Are you alright, Wodanaz?!”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

“What a crazy bunch of lunatics!”

Professor Thunderfoot sighed, looking at the stone statue of Ianop with disbelief and annoyance.

This was no ordinary magical criminal. He was famous for being bad, judging by the magical items he had and the spells he tried to use.

It was surprising that such a person had contacted Wodanaz, but even more surprising was…

“…weren’t you even a little curious about this?” Professor Thunderfoot asked, holding up the letter Ihan had given him.

If he were younger, Professor Thunderfoot would have considered meeting the writer of this letter.

What wizard who respects himself and is curious wouldn’t want to meet someone offering wisdom and to be their servant? Someone willing to lower themselves like that must have something interesting to offer.

He would have met him, no matter what.

But Wodanaz, after getting the letter, immediately ran to him, saying, ‘Professor! Professor! Some suspicious criminal sent me a letter!’

Because of that, things were resolved smoothly without any problems, but he was a little surprised.

…did this kid have no ambition?

“What is there to be curious about?” Ihan looked puzzled.

When some suspicious wizard offered his wisdom and servitude, shouldn’t one be thinking, ‘What’s this? A con artist?’ Why would anyone agree to meet him?

Especially when he was with the professors of Einrogard; he should have called them to handle it.

They were always bothering him anyway; shouldn’t he at least use them sometimes to get his money’s worth?

“No… well… aren’t you curious about unknown magic or knowledge from the Empire or something?”

“It’s not good to learn magic in a messy or unplanned way. There’s lots to learn from magic that is already checked and approved.”

“……”

Are you even a wizard?

The criminal trapped in stone was dumped like luggage, and the students got ready to leave.

Having finished the job on time, Professor Thunderfoot and the students were smiling.

Bartrec nudged Wodanaz with his elbow. “Hey, didn’t see you this morning. Where’d you vanish to?”

“Professor and I went to deal with a magical criminal. He sent me a strange letter.”

“…just say you don’t want to tell me, you little brat,” Bartrec grumbled.

Wodanaz had probably gone to a secret shop in the city that only he knew about.

A shop that sold precious items like the Mirror That Reveals the Future or the Quill That Writes the Answers.

If it was that kind of shop, it was understandable that Wodanaz wouldn’t tell him.

Instead of hitting Bartrec, Ihan kindly asked a question.

“Bartrec, if you received a letter from an unknown wizard praising your talents and offering to serve you as a slave, what would you do?”

“What?” Bartrec acted like he didn’t understand, but soon got lost in thought.

‘This kid’s really enjoying this.’

Ihan was speechless.

He said it wasn’t realistic, but he was rolling his eyes and seriously thinking about it.

It was like Gainando seriously thinking, ‘What if I fell into the Toveriz series world and became an assistant?’ or ‘What would I do if I became a Magical Card Champion?’

“I’d have to meet him and give him some guidance, right? He seems so desperate to see me?”

“…let’s say that the person is suspicious and has a history of committing crimes. Even then?”

“A criminal? Uuuuhm.”

Bartrec thought about it again.

“Still, he’s offering to be my slave…”

“Ugh.”

Thwack!

Ihan smacked Bartrec on the back of the head.

It seemed he would have to tell Headmaster Skull to add this as a case study in character education when they returned to Einrogard.

‘Are Einrogard students too easily tricked?’

They should be suspicious first when receiving such letters…

“What!? What did I say wrong!?” Bartrec was annoyed, not understanding why he had been hit.

Meanwhile, the city guild members and the Meikin family gathered to see the group off. The city guild members, their faces still tired but relieved, gathered to see them off in the bustling marketplace.

“Thank you so much for your hard work. You could have rested a little longer…”

The students glanced at Professor Thunderfoot, tempted by the offer.

The city people were trying to hold them back and treat them so well; wouldn’t it be okay to stay for another day or two?

‘I haven’t even seen the Water Statue Festival yet.’

‘There are still so many streets I haven’t visited.’

“No, we must return. We came out during our studies, so the students will want to go back and focus on their studies,” Professor Thunderfoot answered with a fake chuckle.

The people there admired him.

“Indeed…!”

“We were too inconsiderate with our request! We apologize.”

The Shadow Patrol hunters tilted their heads as if they didn’t understand.

“Does that make sense? When I was training, once I went down to the village, I never wanted to go back.”

“The wizards must be wired differently.”

The students glared at the back of Professor Thunderfoot’s head as if trying to bore a hole through it.

However, Professor Thunderfoot didn’t notice their burning gaze.

“I will not forget your welcome and hospitality. Thank you once again for the consideration and generous payment from the Meikin family. It will be a great help to the students’ training.”

The Meikin family members humbly said it was nothing.

“We are only sorry that we couldn’t provide more. Students usually need a lot of gold coins for their research.”

“Haha… it’s alright.”

“Ah, Professor. Last time, a third-year student, Balpatan, left his sword as collateral and bought some potions. Could you please tell him that he can pay it back slowly? We told him he could pay it back slowly, but he keeps sending letters of apology…”

As one of the Meikin family members cautiously brought up the topic, Professor Thunderfoot’s ears went red, and the color crept up his neck to his cheeks as he heard about Balpatan’s debt.

“…I’ll let him know.”

The first-year students, having heard their senior’s shabby begging, whispered among themselves.

“What’s that senior doing? Is he from the Thieves’ Guild or something?”

“The Thieves’ Guild steals with dignity; they don’t do such shabby things.”

“Quiet! Quiet! Do you think you’re any different!” Professor Thunderfoot scolded the students who were criticizing their senior with an impatient voice.

They might be looking at their own future, yet they were just cursing him like that!