Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 547

Professor Rogine smiled, holding up a stack of papers. “Okay everyone,” she said, “today we’re looking at job requests. We need to find the good ones and ignore the bad ones.”

Mages liked to think they were the smartest people in the Empire. They believed they were the brains of the whole place! But really, they weren’t always that clever.

Especially when it came to jobs and contracts.

If a mage met someone who was good at tricking people in the Empire – and there were many! – even the clever mages from Einroguard could be cheated quickly.

“Since these are actual commission requests, feel free to apply if any catch your eye!”

“Are these done during the holidays?”

“Yes, mostly holidays! Some students do them during the semester, but academics come first, of course.”

The professor’s explanation stirred a buzz among the students.

“Someone does them during the semester?”

“Are they mad?”

“Maybe they have to, you lot.”

Suddenly, Ethan defended them.

Ethan was working on a job for Professor Alpen. So, the idea that students doing jobs during school were ‘mad’ bothered him.

“Do you know how much lectures, experiments, and research cost? You have to earn every penny you can. Even if it’s during the semester, you might have to take on a commission.”

“Al-alright, Wodanaz. We were wrong.”

“Why are you getting so worked up? You’re not still angry about us cheering when you got hit in the arm, are you?”

The friends recoiled, flinching.

They were surprised Wodanaz defended them so strongly.

‘Even if you’re desperate, doing commissions during the semester is really not a good idea.’

‘It’s hard enough keeping up with studies as it is.’

Help Wanted!

Must be of the human race!

Must not have a drinking habit!

Must be healthy with no underlying conditions!

Must never have undergone magical experiments!

…”Gasp, Ethan, Ethan. This looks like a total freebie!”

Gainando was thrilled, having found a commission that seemed to fit Ethan’s usual desire for an ‘easy ride.’

Ethan carefully read Gainando’s request form, then called the professor over.

“Professor, I think we need to report this to the guard.”

“?!!”

Want to work at the Maykin family’s alchemy workshop?

-Preference given to those from the Alchemist Guild

-Preference given to those available for night shifts

-Preference given to those who can stay awake for more than a week

We offer the following benefits for long-term employment, so please show a lot of interest…

‘Shouldn’t this also be reported?’

Ethan thought for a moment.

It looked, without a doubt, like Yoanenne, Yoner’s sister, had posted it.

‘I might be working there again during the holidays, so I should let it slide.’

The students checked the commission requests with interest.

Having all worked during the summer holidays, they were interested in decent commissions.

“This one looks good.”

“I want this one.”

Unlike the strange commissions, the popular commissions among the students were all similar.

Grimoire Translation!

We would like to request the translation of a grimoire found in the ruins. Additional payment will be given if it sells for a high price.

Regarding Magical Education

We are looking for a mage who can teach 1st Circle magic, such as >Light Creation> or >Fire Creation>.

We politely decline those who impersonate mages without the skills to do so (retribution may follow if you fail).

‘Hang on. There are more good commissions than I thought?’

Ethan looked at Professor Rogine with respect.

Having struggled to find worthwhile work during the holidays, Ethan knew immediately how high-quality these commissions were.

Professor Rogine was from the government office. So, the jobs she found were much better than the ones Ethan usually found.

Of course, there were many strange commissions, but those were clearly brought in for the lecture…

‘I respect you, Professor.’

Professor Rogine, who was sitting and talking with Oriphyulas, was taken aback when Wodanaz suddenly sent her a look full of respect.

“What happened while we were talking?”

He must respect your magic lecture. Something to be proud of.

“What nonsense are you talking about? How many lectures is he even taking?”

Professor Rogine knew herself well.

There was no way Wodanaz, who was taking all the top-notch lectures at Einroguard, would give her such a look for a lecture on reviewing commission requests.

“Grimoire interpretation or translation seems good.”

“I’ll take tutoring. I think I can teach that much.”

Jobs where mages had to risk their lives in dangerous places like underground caves or old broken buildings were not popular.

There were plenty of safe and comfortable commissions, as there were many places that wanted a mage’s abilities.

Among them, grimoire translation or interpretation, or magic education, were golden opportunities to easily fill the impoverished pockets of Einroguard students.

“Who requested this, though?”

“A merchant, maybe?”

“Feels like a mage…”

Even if a grimoire wasn’t written in obscure characters, it couldn’t be easily understood by outsiders unless a mage who learned magic in the right way had personally deciphered and written it.

However, to sell it or assess its value, the contents had to be analyzed or interpreted.

That’s where properly trained mages like the students of Einroguard were popular.

“Alright, alright. These translation commissions are generally good! You’ve all chosen well. But keep in mind, if the commission is from a merchant or collector, it’s fine, but if it’s from another mage, refuse it! Most mages are morally bankrupt people!”

“…?”

“???”

The students tilted their heads, finding something odd about what they were hearing.

Of course, most of the Empire’s mages didn’t have the ability to interpret such grimoires.

Mages who had learned magic on their own without proper magical education only knew how to use their own magic.

And those mages, realizing their lack of skill or knowledge, were so obsessed with interpreted grimoires that they would do anything to get them.

Naturally, there was no good that could come from getting involved with such mages, so it was right to refuse…

But why did it feel a little strange to hear that?

“What about these education commissions?”

“Ah. Good! It’s always a good thing that many people in the Empire are interested in magic.”

Mages were seen as important and smart.

Naturally, among the Empire’s noble families and newly rich families, there were quite a few who wanted their children to become mages.

But some families were worried about sending their children to schools where students live.

For these people, mages who acted as tutors often appeared.

They would stay in the mansion or territory and teach magic to the people of that family.

“These commissions are also generally good! You’ve all chosen well. But keep in mind that you should check the reputation of the family first. What do you think will happen if you take on work from a family with a bad reputation?”

“Gasp. Do they violate the gold payment?”

Ethan said in a terrified voice.

Professor Rogine shook her head.

“Of course, they may not pay, but that’s a minor issue.”

‘How is that a minor issue?’

“If you’re not careful, you might be forcibly held in the mansion and have to keep teaching magic. So be careful! The people who want to learn magic are usually not easy to deal with.”

The students, having heard the professor’s explanation, were amazed and whispered among themselves.

As it was difficult to find mages who were excellent at teaching, there were bound to be people who would try to hold onto such mages if they found them.

But hearing it directly was a great shock.

“E, Ethan. What if I get caught when I visit?”

“Hmm, Gainando. Dark magic is usually not very…”

Ethan was about to say, ‘People don’t usually ask to be taught dark magic,’ to reassure Gainando’s fears.

“What if they lock me up and only give me chocolate? Should I pretend I can’t resist the blackmail??”

“Anyway, if you don’t return by the end of the holidays, the headmaster will come looking for you, won’t he…”

Ethan, along with his friends, picked out as many strange commission requests as possible and took a few grimoire interpretation and education requests that seemed worthwhile.

‘Heh heh. I should deal with these when the holidays come.’

However, Ethan’s face soon hardened.

The other friends also started taking the same commission requests that Ethan had chosen.

It was only natural, as good commissions were bound to overlap.

“…Should I apply first…”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“It’s nothing, Gainando.”

Ethan snatched the >Seeking Master of Mage Cards< request from Gainando’s grasp and tossed it away lightly. As Wednesday passed, the snow began to fall even harder. The students’ expressions became complicated as they watched the snow rapidly accumulate. Having already experienced it during the first semester, they knew how painful it was when the school was covered in snow. "Get the sleds from inside!" "One, two! One, two!" Fortunately, Ethan and his friends had worked hard during the enchantment magic lecture, so they were prepared with sleds, thick coats, and magically warmed boots. However, none of the students thought that this level of preparation would be enough. "Why are those White Tiger Tower guys taking out sleds? Surely they’re not thinking of taking out horses to pull the sleds?" "Horses are dangerous in this weather… Th-those guys! They’re pulling it themselves!" From the White Tiger Tower students, who divided into groups, one pulling the sled and the other riding on it, to the Black Tortoise Tower students, who connected ropes and poles to the outside of the dormitory tower to create a path, the students did not collapse, even if they wavered or cursed. "You’re working hard. You’re working hard." Professor Thundercrash came down on long skis, looked around, and clicked his tongue. "I should reduce the amount of lectures a bit. They won’t have time to study with all the work they’re doing." "Professor…!" Ethan looked at Professor Thundercrash again with the same look he had given Professor Rogine earlier. Is it true that a person’s true character comes out in times of crisis? "Oh, right. We keep getting unwanted guests in the garden, so I need you to help out a bit, Wodanaz." "...Didn’t you just say the students don’t have time to study?" Ethan said, dumbfounded. He had just worried about the students and now he was asking Ethan for additional work. Was Ethan not a student? "Ah, that’s right. Sorry, Wodanaz. I unconsciously thought of you separately." "……" "I’ve prepared food for you." "So, what’s the matter?" Ethan got to the point instead of complaining about small details. The amount of food being harvested from the garden was decreasing due to the heavy snowfall these days. Some vegetables and eggs that were resistant to the cold were fine, but the rest were blocked. Professor Thundercrash, who always brought plenty of groceries from the kitchen or outside, would be a great help. "Unwanted guests? If they’re too strong, it’ll be hard for me to deal with them." "They’re not strong." Professor Thundercrash, who was moving his feet as he spoke, suddenly became curious and asked again. "But how strong is strong to you? I’m asking because my standards might be a little different." "...Just tell me what they are." "It’s a spirit. A spirit. A mischievous spirit of ice and wind." "!" Ethan’s face lit up at those words. As winter came and the cold energy grew stronger, spirits would ride the snow and come, or so he’d heard. To think that a frost spirit would really appear nearby! If Ethan went to the spirit realm, the spirits would run away, but the reality was the opposite. Since the spirit was coming directly, it wouldn’t be easy to escape even if it realized too late that Ethan was there. "If it’s a frost spirit, is it like the spirits that the professor showed us?" "That’s right." "They were very capable in many ways." "Indeed." "Could I possibly make a contract this time?" "That’s impossible." "……" Ethan glared at Professor Thundercrash.