Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 631

“You’re… not joking, are you?”

“I don’t joke about anything related to Einrogaard.”

Karle thought for a moment. “Wait, I heard the Headmaster is really rich.”

“He does have a lot of gold,” Lee Han said. “But I don’t recommend robbing him. You will be in big trouble if you get caught.”

Karle asked, “Oh, if you get caught, do they send you to a jail outside the school?!”

“No. It’s the dungeon inside the school. There’s a punishment room. You go there if you’re caught stealing, or if your grades are bad.”

“……”

Karle seriously wondered if this senior was teasing him.

But the senior looked very serious. No one would think he was lying with that face.

“Like I said, your thinking might change once you learn magic. You might find a better way to get rich than stealing.”

Karle asked, “A bigger theft?”

“That could be a better way too. Just be patient and learn magic. You need to be patient now so you can be better later.”

Karle was lost in thought.

Unlike other priests who told him to forget his greed and have faith, this senior gave practical advice, which Karle liked.

He still didn’t know what Einrogaard was like, but he could wait if it meant getting in.

“Okay! I’ll try to be patient. Should I talk to the Bishop?”

“Yes. Good idea. I was going to tell you not to get caught even if you steal, but you probably will with your skills.”

“…?!!”

Karle was shocked.

Even though the senior looked like a noble, Karle couldn’t ignore what he said.

“W-what… what did you say? I must have heard wrong, right? Senior??”

“You heard right. The Bishop knows, doesn’t he? So you were caught. That’s not how you steal.”

“What do you know, Senior! I just didn’t hide it! I could have hidden it if I wanted…” Karle said, frustrated.

Lee Han slowly raised his fist and opened his palm. In his hand was Karle’s silver coin pouch.

He had taken it when he told Karle to sit down.

“You didn’t notice, did you? This is how you steal.”

“?!?!?!?”

“I used the skill I learned from my friend and added magic. You can steal cleanly this way.”

He used magic to help him steal. He used magic to move faster and know what would happen next. This made stealing very easy.

Karle couldn’t speak.

His pride as a thief was crushed. He felt angry, but also respect.

I want to learn!

Lee Han thought he had persuaded his junior and gave back the pouch. “I know you’re confident, but don’t be too confident until you’re really good. You understand, right?”

“I understand perfectly, Senior.”

Karle nodded and looked at Lee Han. His eyes sparkled with determination.

“I’ve decided. I won’t steal anything until I can steal Senior’s pouch! Just you wait!”

“Okay. By the way, my name is Gainando.”

“Yes! Senior Gainando!”

Lee Han almost told Karle that freshmen can’t meet seniors, but he stopped himself.

He didn’t want to ruin his motivation after persuading him so well.

‘Someday, he’ll learn a lesson when he finds out it’s a fake name.’

The lesson not to trust seniors was very important.

Lee Han was proud that he had taught his junior an important lesson.

“But, Senior,” Karle said.

“Hmm?”

“Senior, are you from a thieves’ guild instead of a noble family?” Karle asked carefully.

At first, he thought Lee Han was from a noble family because of how he looked, but now he seemed like someone similar to himself.

“Bishop, I’ve changed my mind. I won’t steal anymore and will focus on magic!” Karle announced.

“…!”

Bishop Ines was surprised. He looked at the Headmaster and asked, “Is this what you meant by doing it while grumbling?”

“That’s right. What did I say?”

“?”

Lee Han, who was listening, asked, “What are you talking about?”

“I said your hobby is doing everything while grumbling.”

“……”

Lee Han wondered if he should swing the chair again.

As Karle bowed and left, the Bishop thanked Lee Han.

“Thank you so much.”

“What? It’s nothing.”

“I’m saying that to Wodanaz, not Gonadaltez.”

“I know that too.”

The Bishop ignored the Headmaster and looked at Lee Han. “I can’t believe you persuaded Karle.”

“Um, Bishop, I didn’t completely change Karle,” Lee Han said, worried the Bishop might misunderstand.

But the old Bishop wasn’t surprised.

“I know. People don’t change all at once. I’m grateful that you made Karle interested in magic.”

The Bishop didn’t expect Karle to change instantly.

He just wanted him to try new things and not only focus on stealing. If that was magic, he would be happy.

Karle was serious about studying magic. The Bishop could feel his determination.

“Thank you again. I’m counting on you to take care of Karle.”

“Freshmen can’t meet sophomores.”

The Bishop and Lee Han ignored him. They understood each other without speaking.

As he left the temple, the Headmaster asked, “How did you persuade him? He seemed stubborn.”

“Um, I told him, ‘If you want to steal, steal from Einrogaard. You’re not good enough to steal outside yet.'”

“……”

The Headmaster looked at Lee Han like he was trash.

“…I got the last letter. Wodanaz. I accidentally mentioned the letter to Yoner. Sorry! It just came out. You’re still sending letters, right? I’m really sorry!”

“I heard you went to the Northern Mountains. Thanks for talking to the patrol hunters. The hunters say you’re close to Moradi. I don’t know how those rumors started. That’s not true. You’re still sending letters, right?”

“The Maykin family’s mansion is comfortable. The tablecloth is more expensive than my blanket. I’m not used to the maids changing my clothes… You’re still sending letters, right?”

“Oh. I met Yoner’s older sister. I should avoid her for a while. Oh. You’re going to send a letter, right?…”

‘…I need to write back now.’

Lee Han felt bad for Nilia’s letter.

“…I hope you are doing well. Wodanaz. I’m carving obelisks with the guild’s craftsmen. I’m happy the magic I learned at school is useful.”

“I want to build the greatest building in the Empire someday. I hope you can help…”

‘Salco, you need to find investors to build a great building.’

Lee Han started calculating as soon as he heard his friend’s dream.

Someone had to be realistic.

“…Today there was an event for nobles in the capital. It reminded me of something Imperial Chancellor Valdante said seventy-seven years ago…”

“?”

Lee Han checked the letter again.

Who sent it?

It was Adenart.

‘Is he bored?’

“…The bouillabaisse was excellent. I want to treat Wodanaz someday. The last letter arrived, but I haven’t gotten a reply, so I’m worried. Maybe something happened? My friends don’t send letters. I’m not sad. I’m glad Wodanaz sent it…”

‘I need to tell my followers to send letters now.’

The followers probably thought it was rude to send a letter first.

If he didn’t do anything, a letter bomb would arrive!

“Wait here.”

“Yes.”

The carriage stopped, and the Headmaster jumped out. Lee Han wasn’t surprised.

This had happened before.

Alsicle yawned and asked, “Wodanaz, are you going to your family’s mansion now?”

“Yes. I’m going to greet them and invite my friends. Then I’m going to work.”

“Your work is magic research?”

“No. I’m going to take on requests.”

“Adventurer requests? Why? Do you need something for magic?”

“Because it makes money?”

“…Oh, I see.”

Alsicle was shocked. The reason was more simple than he thought.

‘Is he raising money for magic research?’

If it was Wodanaz, his magic research would be huge.

The costs would be different.

He needed to start collecting money now.

“…Work hard! I’ll support you!”

“Thank you.”

The Headmaster returned with a bundle the size of a person.

“What is that? It looks like a person.”

“It’s a person.”

The Headmaster threw the bundle into the carriage. A familiar nobleman, tied up, popped out. Lee Han had met him before.

“D-Duke Icardoren!”

“What!? Who!?”

Alsicle dropped his sardines.

The Headmaster often kidnapped people, but he didn’t know he would kidnap a Duke.

Duke Icardoren struggled and looked at the Headmaster.

“Uuuh! Uuuh!”

“Gonadaltez! Is Wodanaz right?! You can’t just kidnap a Duke!”

“Don’t worry. He has a lot of secrets, so he won’t talk.”

“But…”

“Think about it. Peng Erin, have I kidnapped people before? I wouldn’t bring the Duke without a plan.”

‘That’s right!’

Alsicle was persuaded.

Gonadaltez wasn’t the type to do something without thinking.

“Here, Wodanaz. Take this. You worked hard on this trip.”

The Headmaster threw a bag of gold coins. It had more gold than Lee Han had earned this year.

“…!”

“I put in enough.”

“Headmaster!”

“Why?”

“Do you have any more Dukes to bring on the carriage?”

The Headmaster looked at Alsicle and said, “Do you know that sometimes, even though he’s my disciple, he creeps me out?”

‘Who else would I have learned from?’ Alsicle thought.