Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 652

“Why is everyone acting like this?” Siana asked, confused by the unenthusiastic response.

“Siana, didn’t you see the knights on your way here?” Deorgyu asked.

“I did. They were guarding the west garden. They said a golem was causing trouble…”

“Still? Ah. Anyway, that’s not important. Those are all the people you’ll be greeting in the mansion now,” Deorgyu said.

“……”

“……”

Siana and Deorgyu were silent.

“Don’t joke around,” Siana said.

“I’m not joking…” Leehan looked a little sad.

Should he have kept Arsil around?

But even if he had, it probably wouldn’t have made much difference. Adding one more person wouldn’t exactly make the place bustling.

“I’m not joking. Those are all the people there are.”

“We’ve been here the whole time too.”

“…What about visiting the villages around the mansion?”

“Udamhwa Village, which Siana passed through on her way here, was the last village.”

Siana understood slowly. She mumbled to herself, then clapped her hands.

“Maybe there just aren’t any villages!”

“It would be strange if there weren’t…”

Gainando said from the side, and Siana replied quickly and a bit angrily, “Then Gainando, you can go home.”

“Ah, no. That’s not what I meant. I just meant it’s strange… No. It’s not strange at all. I have no complaints.” Fearing he might be kicked out, Gainando quickly changed what he was saying.

“But it’s not that strange, right?” Leehan asked, looking around at his friends.

Of course, there were no villages within the territory and few people in the mansion, but Leehan had a glimmer of hope.

Among the countless families in the Empire, surely there were a few more peculiar than the Wodanaaz family?

“…That’s right! It’s not strange!”

“It could happen. The virtue of the Empire starts with respecting the traditions of families with different cultures and customs.”

Leehan was relieved by his friends’ reactions.

Seeing this, it seemed it wasn’t so bad after all.

‘That’s a relief.’

“Still, let’s not leave right away. Let’s stay for a few days.”

Siana suddenly became curious and asked, “So, what have you all been doing here?”

“Studying magic.”

“Collecting herbs.”

“Exploring ruins.”

“…Should we just leave tomorrow?”

Three days later, Leehan and his friends, guided by Alsicle, left the territory in a carriage.

In fact, there were several disagreements about deciding on a destination.

-How about Ileinas City? It’s a beautiful place where you can see the western sea of the Empire. The scenery is beautiful and the climate is warm, so nobles often come.

-Oh, Peng-Erin. If my memory serves me right, isn’t that the city next to the Valdrogard magic school?

-That’s right?

-Oooooh! Valdrogard!

-Valdrogard guys will be swarming there. Is there any reason to go?

-I don’t know about anything else, but especially Valdrogard students…

Peng-Erin, who had recommended it without much thought, was embarrassed by the students’ fierce reaction.

-Why? You guys haven’t even had a chance to fight with Valdrogard students yet…

-I just don’t like them!

Surprisingly, Einrogard students disliked Valdrogard students for no real reason.

They felt it was unfair. Einrogard students ate hard bread and were always in danger, while Valdrogard students enjoyed good food and trips.

-How about Granden City?

-Oooooh! I don’t like being near Einrogard!

-Leehan. I know Granden City is a good place to work, but I don’t think there’s any reason to go to a city close to Einrogard during winter break.

-I agree, Leehan. There are many bigger and more prosperous cities.

Isran City (a southern coastal city visited last year that Yoner wanted to visit again), Chantma City (a transportation hub in the western Empire visited by all kinds of people that Siana wanted to visit), the Imperial Capital (Nilia wanted to see the Imperial Palace, but Leehan stopped her), and other options were suggested, but in the end, Plah City was chosen in a lottery.

A dazzlingly prosperous commercial city in the central Empire and the city where Gainando’s main family mansion was located!

“Wow! Guys! Look at this road! Unlike other regions, Plah City’s roads use black spirit stones! Thanks to that, the carriage can travel comfortably without shaking!” Gainando pointed excitedly outside the carriage, and his friends were puzzled.

“This Wodanaaz family carriage already has shock-absorbing magic…”

“Unlike other regions, the roadside trees in Plah City have contracts with light spirits. So people can easily travel even in the evening. Leehan. Isn’t it amazing?”

“…Y-Yeah. It’s amazing.” The other friends quietly looked away from Gainando.

They judged that if they accidentally made eye contact with Gainando here, they might become a sacrifice to the excited prince.

“Leehan. Look at the people riding horses over there! That’s the minstrel Papar! The most famous minstrel in Plah City!”

‘Who is that again?’

For Leehan, who was confused even by Ipadur, one of the Empire’s top minstrels, it was difficult to remember a city minstrel.

“That’s ■■ from the ■■■ family, that’s ■■ from the ■■ guild, that’s ■■…”

Leehan felt like he wasn’t hearing anything Gainando said, as if it was magic.

“What’s that?” To change the subject, he pointed at anything and reached out, and at the end of it was a flag pattern that looked familiar.

Alsicle, who was reading the book >Music Magic, a Possible Future or Nonsense?> next to him, opened his mouth.

“That’s the Valdrogard flag.”

“……”

“…Uh, why?!”

“Why what? Valdrogard students wouldn’t want to stay in Ileinas City until winter break either. What’s so strange about coming to a big city like Plah City for vacation?”

“……” Gainando had a look of being caught off guard. The friends immediately poured out accusations.

“To bring us to a place swarming with Valdrogard students!”

“I knew something was suspicious, you spy!”

“Gainando, please get out of the carriage and walk!”

“E-Everyone. The prince also meant well…”

While his friends were cursing, Leehan looked at the carriage with the Valdrogard flag with interest.

‘Certainly, Valdrogard students have a bit of a different culture.’

Leehan didn’t carry the Einrogard flag when he spent his vacation outside of school.

Besides feeling silly, it seemed like it would cause problems for no good reason.

However, Valdrogard students truly loved their school, putting flags on their carriages, engraving patterns on the carriage walls, and even wearing uniforms and coats with patterns (not Einrogard’s rough rag uniforms, but uniforms made of the finest velvet from the southern Empire).

Leehan didn’t particularly have a grudge against Valdrogard students.

It was Leehan’s fault for being unlucky enough to be dragged to Einrogard. What fault did the Valdrogard students have?

However, seeing the Valdrogard students smiling brightly and acting politely, a feeling he didn’t understand grew in his heart.

‘Was I such a narrow-minded person?’

“Professor Tosre told me to conduct research with an external magic tower this time, and I was so surprised. The magician on that side was even a slave! Even so, to have me do magic research with a slave. It’s a proposal that doesn’t even consider my family’s honor and face!”

“That’s too much! I didn’t know Professor Tosre was such a rude person.”

“I refused right there.”

“You did well! You did well! Oh, did you get tickets for the Gyeokgu match this time? This game is going to be amazing. You absolutely can’t miss it! There’s a rumor that a Rock Drake will be there!”

“Don’t worry. I already got them.”

“Oh! How did you get them so quickly?”

“I took out some of the support money I received from the family.”

“Haha! You too! What are you going to do for research this year then?”

“Anyone who says you need money for research just isn’t a good magician! I can do research even without gold. More than anything, if I miss the opportunity to watch a Gyeokgu match with a friend, where would I get inspiration?”

“That’s right, that’s right! Is magic important? Life is important!” The Valdrogard magicians laughed and left.

Leehan quietly turned his gaze inward.

Gainando felt unfairly treated by his friends and complained to Leehan.

“Leehan. Leehan! Valdrogard students might come out in the city, what’s wrong with that…”

“Hey. If Valdrogard students pick a fight, fight back immediately. Never back down.”

“…?!!” The friends were startled by Leehan’s eyes, which were burning fiercely.

What on earth happened?!

Gainando’s family, the Kraha family, was very important in Plah City. They were one of the most powerful families there.

As such, it was only natural for his friends to stay at Gainando’s mansion.

“Guys. Listen carefully. When you wake up tomorrow, first we’ll play magician card games in the 3rd Magician Card Room, then we’ll watch a play in the 2nd Theater Viewing Room, then we’ll listen to a performance in the 1st Performance Room, and then we’ll have a simple meal before going out with me…”

“……”

“…Meikin, may I stay at the Meikin family’s mansion?”

“Ah, no! No!” As soon as his friends wanted to leave, Gainando desperately tried to block them.

“What’s the problem!”

“It’s crazily packed…” Nilia looked at Gainando as if he was dumbfounded.

Even Shadow Patrol hunters wouldn’t play this hard.

“Okay. Okay! I’ll take out the magician card game. Is that okay?!” Gainando shouted as if he was giving up something really important.

Of course, his friends weren’t fooled.

“Meikin.”

“T-Then everyone except Leehan can go.”

Leehan’s expression turned serious at those words.

He didn’t want to handle that schedule alone without his friends.

“Wait, everyone calm down.” Yoner calmed his friends down.

“Gainando won’t be able to play according to those words.”

“I will play! Who are you to say that!” Gainando flared up.

He had been dreaming of this perfect plan since the punishment room, and a rude relative was trying to ruin it.

“In the afternoon, an illusion magician will come and we’ll play a game of finding hidden treasures!”

‘Doesn’t that not work on me?’

While Leehan was thinking that, Yoner shrugged his shoulders.

“You should stop now, even if it’s too late.”

“I won’t stop. Even if the headmaster blocks my way!” Nilia muttered.

“Show that courage when you’re at school…”

“Then there’s nothing I can do.” Yoner didn’t say anything more. Gainando suddenly became uneasy.

What is it?

When the carriage arrived at the mansion, Gainando’s mother, wearing a veil, walked out from inside as if she had been waiting.

It was to avoid sweeping the surroundings with brilliant light like last time. (She remembered the last time her magic had been too bright.)

“Everyone, I’m so glad to see you. When Gainando said he was coming to the mansion with his friends, I didn’t expect there to be so many… Are you all really friends?” Gainando’s mother whispered to Yoner.

Yoner nodded. The people involved might have different thoughts, but for now, it seemed like they were all friends.

Gainando’s mother was surprised by that answer.

It was surprising that Gainando had made friends from the Wodanaaz family, but to bring such a diverse group of friends.

It seemed like Gainando had suddenly become good at making friends, something even his mother hadn’t expected.

“Oh, Kraha. Gainando.” Yoner told Gainando’s mother exactly what Gainando had planned.

Gainando’s mother stared intently at Gainando. Gainando froze, feeling his mother’s serious gaze even though she wore a veil.

“W-What’s wrong?”

“Thwack!”

The family’s servants came out and grabbed Gainando’s arms. Gainando sensed his miserable fate and called out to Leehan.

“Leehan! Leehan! These villains are trying to drag me away!”

“Welcome to the mansion. I hope everyone has a good time.”

“Thank you for welcoming us, Kraha.”

“Traitors!”