Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 618

Ihan paused, hearing the knights’ words. “A good idea?” one of them had said.

Ihan considered Moradi a friend, but he knew friendships could be complicated. Some friendships were casual, but he felt he couldn’t just barge into Moradi’s house uninvited.

Ihan thought Moradi was a bit selfish and not very generous, so he expected a cold reception. *I hope this visit isn’t a mistake,* Ihan thought.

“Oh! Has Lord Moradi arrived?” someone asked.

“!”

Ihan was startled by the sudden appearance.

Just then, someone else from the Moradi family appeared.

“I am Balpatan Moradi of the Moradi family. Pleased to meet you,” he said.

‘Ah. It wasn’t him.’

It was Balpatan Moradi, a third-year student at Einroguard, the magic school. He’d heard that a magician from the Pengaerin family and a junior from Einroguard were visiting, and he was curious.

He already knew about Alsicl of the Pengaerin family, who was quite famous.

But the junior was different.

Wasn’t he from the Wodanaz family?

-Lord Inkan. Is he really from the Wodanaz family?

-Yes, he is.

-That’s great. There’s so much I wanted to ask!

It wasn’t just his family name. Rumors about the first-year student from the Wodanaz family were already spreading among the senior students at Einroguard.

-I heard he’s from the Buyeo magic school.

-They say he’s the ‘Skull crazy’s’ personal student. Isn’t he dangerous?

-I heard he’s close to Ilendil…

-Then he’s definitely dangerous, right?

-No, I heard he’s close to the black magic school.

-Then he’s really dangerous, isn’t he?

There were even rumors that he had fought the King of Ghouls and the King of Frost Giants, and that he went after magical criminals. It was impossible not to be curious.

Balpatan had one more question.

“Lord Pengaerin. Pleased to meet you,” Balpatan said, greeting the others. Then he looked at Ihan and asked, “…That, Gainando…?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about?” Ihan said, pretending not to know.

Ihan had many talents.

One of them was the ability to lie without showing any emotion.

People who believed him would think, ‘Oh, really?’

Balpatan was no exception.

“Ah. Is that so? Did I mishear it?”

“Yes. Gainando is my friend’s name. You probably mistook him because my friend was with me,” Ihan replied.

“Maybe. Oh. This is a bit embarrassing. For a senior to do this,” Balpatan said, feeling awkward.

Thinking about the misunderstandings made him even more embarrassed.

“Anyway, nice to meet you, Wodanaz! I’ve heard a lot about you,” Balpatan said.

This time, Ihan wasn’t surprised. He calmly smiled and asked, “I suppose you heard it from the knights of the Order?”

“I heard it from other Einroguard students?”

“…?!”

Ihan was slightly taken aback by the unexpected answer.

“From the black magic school seniors?”

“No. I’m not really close to those black magic guys. Just a few of my friends from the Tower were saying that a junior was working across several schools during the dimensional rift. Oh! You sliced up those penguin swordsmen from another dimension back then, right!? How did you do that?”

At Balpatan’s words, the knights straightened up. It was a very interesting story.

“It’s not really something I did, but rather I borrowed the power of another summon…”

“That’s right! I heard you were at the top of your class in swordsmanship! Everyone, I heard that Wodanaz is at the top of his class in swordsmanship! Surpassing the knights from other knight families!”

‘Is this person not listening to me?’ Ihan thought.

“Oh…!”

“Top of the class…”

The knights looked at Ihan with shining eyes. Ihan had nothing to say.

“I have been training in swordsmanship since I was young,” Ihan said.

“Let’s hear that story,” Balpatan said, pulling up a chair and sitting comfortably in front of Ihan. He seemed determined to hear everything that had happened at Einroguard.

‘Damn it. I would have ignored him if he wasn’t a senior,’ Ihan thought.

He had to explain the inflated rumors about himself in front of the knights. He would have stopped it if Balpatan wasn’t a senior!

“…That’s how I dealt with the anti-magic activists,” Ihan finished.

“Ah. Wait a moment. I’m getting a little teary,” Balpatan said, wiping his eyes with a handkerchief. The other knights also looked touched.

“It’s not to the point of crying, is it…?” Ihan asked.

“What are you talking about? How touching is it? Wow, that’s a really good story. I should tell my friends about it later,” Balpatan replied.

Balpatan and the knights seemed very impressed by the battle in which the young magicians fought back.

“That’s right. Are you close to Giselle? You seemed close since you fought together, is that true?” another knight asked.

“Yes. They said they were very close,” Balpatan answered.

“Is that so?”

“I didn’t say ‘very’…” Ihan mumbled.

“How fascinating,” Balpatan said.

Although he was related to Giselle, she wasn’t an easy person to get close to. As a direct descendant of the Moradi family, she had a ruthless personality.

Balpatan was easygoing because he was a distant relative, but Giselle, who had been taught as a direct descendant, was thorough.

“So, Moradi is a bit rude and lacks social skills?” Ihan asked.

“Ah, no. I didn’t say it that way?” Balpatan said, flustered.

“He’s just a bit cold and strict. He’s not someone who can easily build friendships with just anyone,” one of the knights added.

“But wouldn’t the Wodanaz family be qualified to build a friendship?”

“Hmm. Maybe,” Balpatan said, thinking it was plausible.

The Wodanaz family had an outstanding reputation. The fact that their reputation continued even though they weren’t involved in politics proved their power.

The purest bloodline of magic.

It was likely that Giselle had built a friendship with that in mind.

A friendship that would not tarnish each other’s family reputation.

“As expected of Giselle. She’s very smart,” Balpatan said.

“I’m impressed. You don’t make friends in an ordinary way, even when making friends,” a knight said.

“…?”

Ihan tilted his head. It seemed much to say that Moradi had built a friendship with that in mind…

‘It seemed like he was just being a jerk,’ Ihan thought.

Still, as it was Moradi’s family, Ihan decided to praise his friend. “Indeed! No wonder he respected my bloodline…”

“I knew it. Wow. Amazing. I should brag to my friends later,” Balpatan said, proud of how wide the Moradi family’s bloodline was.

Alsicl asked, “I don’t know much, but that friend seems like a very dignified nobleman even though he’s from a knight family?”

“Oh, well, um. What…” Balpatan said, clearing his throat and sitting up straight again.

Ihan felt a sense of foreboding.

“But the King of Ghouls…”

‘Is this a new kind of torture?’ Ihan thought, shuddering at the sight of the knights happily listening to the same stories over and over again.

Bang!

“Lord Moradi is coming!” a knight shouted urgently.

“…?”

“There’s more than one Lord Moradi,” Ihan said.

“I’m also a Moradi,” Balpatan added.

The knight caught his breath and shouted again, “Lord Ziklin of the Moradi family!!”

“!!!!”

The knights suddenly stood up. Balpatan also jumped up in shock.

“Get out of the way!”

“Can’t you let go of this? Don’t you have any seniors?”

“I’ll be in big trouble if I get caught today!”

The knights ran out, each trying to get ahead of the other.

Balpatan also tried to escape, but his movements were delayed.

The servant said, “Lord Alsicl of the Pengaerin family. Lord Ihan of the Wodanaz family. Is that correct? Oh. Lord Balpatan is also here.”

“…I, I was going to leave…” Balpatan stammered.

“Then I will tell Lady Ziklin,” the servant replied.

“Ah, no! I’ll stay. On second thought, it’s nothing,” Balpatan said quickly.

“Is that so? I understand. In any case, Lady Ziklin will be visiting soon with gifts. Is that alright?”

Alsicl and Ihan looked at each other. Asking for their opinion was something that only those who valued etiquette would do.

“Is it alright?” the servant asked.

“Yes. Thank you. I will tell her that,” Alsicl replied.

As the servant left, Balpatan let out a deep sigh.

“Who is Lady Ziklin?” Ihan asked.

“Oh, haven’t you heard from Giselle? She’s Giselle’s older sister,” Balpatan replied.

“Indeed. …Older sister?”

“What are you talking about?” Balpatan asked.

Ihan also looked confused.

“That’s not what’s important right now. Lord Pengaerin. If I have committed any rude behavior, please tell me now!” Balpatan said.

Alsicl glanced at the plate of sardines and said, “…There wasn’t anything in particular.”

“That’s a relief. Wodanaz. If I have committed any rude behavior…”

“Haha. Senior. There was nothing at all. But you just said Giselle’s older sister…” Ihan said.

“Phew… Okay. That’s a relief,” Balpatan said, fidgeting and straightening his clothes.

Alsicl was puzzled. “What kind of person is Lady Ziklin of the Moradi family?”

“Ah. It has nothing to do with the two of you. But it does have to do with me. She’s strict with rules and laws…” Balpatan said.

Balpatan didn’t fit in with the Moradi family customs, and Ziklin was even more unusual. Even though she was a direct descendant.

Loyalty, righteousness, honor, chivalry…

Few knights followed these virtues. The Imperial Knights had become secularized.

But Ziklin was the epitome of these virtues. She was like a knight from old stories, very honorable and strict.

“There are still people like that!” Alsicl said, impressed.

To think that there would still be such an old-fashioned knight even though she was a direct descendant of the Moradi family.

It was admirable and respectable.

“We’re having a hard time,” Balpatan grumbled.

Knights couldn’t just swing their swords and train every day. Sometimes they had to socialize.

“But why did the knights leave just now?” Ihan asked.

“Because they’ll get scolded if they get caught meeting guests instead of training. I’m okay because I did my training for today. Probably,” Balpatan said.

“……”

Ihan looked at Balpatan with the same expression he had when looking at Gainando.