Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 819

Duke Icardoren was completely scared. He quickly grabbed a pen, his hand shaking, and started to sign the paper. “I will pay for Yukbertire’s research on artificial dimensions,” he wrote.

His usual confidence was completely gone. Normally, Duke Icardoren was very sure of himself, especially when he was secretly controlling things behind the scenes in the Empire. But now, he looked like a broken man.

He was like a rich businessman who had lost all his money and was now sadly writing his last will, his hand trembling so much the ink blotched the page.

Lee Han and Yukbertire watched with satisfaction. Dirett, thankfully still thinking clearly, grabbed their shoulders and whispered.

“Hey. Hold on a minute.”

“What?”

“?”

They looked at Dirett, wondering what was wrong.

“…I told you to at least be polite.”

‘Isn’t it settled? We just keep him locked up until the end of the week.’

“Don’t worry, Senior. I’ll make sure he eats well.”

Dirett’s friend was internally screaming, and his junior was cluelessly saying something else entirely. Dirett gritted his teeth and tried to stay calm.

“Mumble mumble…”

“Dirett, speak properly. Don’t be so undignified.”

“I think he said, ‘Even so, this is too much’…”

Lee Han took a step back as he spoke. Yukbertire was puzzled why his junior was retreating.

Thwack!

Dirett hit his friend’s head with the end of his staff.

Yukbertire blinked, looking utterly betrayed, as if the world was ending.

“Why?”

“Are you crazy? He’ll be back! Do you want all the nobles to hate us?”

“But…”

Yukbertire tried to argue.

There were many powerful nobles in the Empire. Even if Duke Icardoren held a grudge and spread rumors, someone with great magical skills would always find nobles willing to offer support.

Thwack!

“And you’re making your junior spill blood for your research money! Are you even human!”

“That’s…”

Yukbertire tried to argue again.

Lee Han’s threats weren’t directly ordered by Yukbertire, were they?

But Yukbertire stayed silent.

He felt that if he spoke, a curse would come flying instead of the staff.

He regretted not preparing for a close-range curse, trusting Dirett too much. Yukbertire realized his mistake.

“Senior, calm down.”

Lee Han hid behind Yukbertire and tried to explain.

“Honestly, that Duke was impossible to persuade. You know that too, Senior.”

“…He was a bit frightened and rambling… Still, persuasion… Wait. Have you two met before? What happened?”

“I’ve only received a few invitations.”

“Really? You seem a bit too upset for just that.”

“I did end up going to arrest him with the Headmaster at the end…”

Dirett glared at his junior.

Shouldn’t he have mentioned that earlier?

“I wondered about the Spirit Master’s disciple thing… Sigh. It’s never good to make enemies if you want a long career in magic.”

“Even if Duke Icardoren holds a grudge and spreads rumors, someone with great magical skills can overcome it…”

“Be quiet,” Dirett said, silencing his friend, who was irritating him further. He sighed.

He didn’t care if Yukbertire made enemies, but he was worried that his junior had already made an enemy of an Imperial Duke.

Having many enemies was never good for a mage’s future.

Even the skeletal Headmaster should know that, yet he took Lee Han along to arrest him.

It was clearly meant to spread rumors, a truly nasty intention.

Lee Han was slightly worried as Dirett sighed deeply.

“Is the rumor of being the Spirit Master’s disciple that dangerous…?”

“No… You’ll be respected, in a way.”

“But you’ll also be hated just as much.”

“Senior, please, calm down!”

Lee Han hurriedly grabbed Dirett’s arm and stopped him. Seeing the green glint in his eyes, he knew a poisoned curse was being prepared.

Yukbertire asked, as if he didn’t understand.

“Why is he acting like that when I explained it?”

“I think I understand… Anyway, it seems the rumor of being the Spirit Master’s disciple is a bit of a double-edged sword.”

Dirett wanted to say, ‘It’s closer to a sword with the blade only facing the wielder,’ but he held back, feeling sorry for his junior.

Seeing his friend and junior looking gloomy, Yukbertire felt the need to give some practical advice.

“Dirett, if you’re so worried about your junior, there’s a way.”

“…What is it?”

“Threaten Duke Icardoren even more thoroughly now, so that he won’t dare to go against your wishes even after he’s released.”

Since being polite and making peace were out of the question, it was better to thoroughly intimidate him to prevent any future problems.

Lee Han was tempted by those words.

“Tell me more in detail…”

“Hey, come outside.”

‘No, I wanted to hear more.’

Lee Han inwardly regretted Dirett’s cold voice.

If he had the chance, he would hear the details from Yukbertire later.

He trusted Yukbertire in this area, as he was a disciple of Professor Verdus and likely very skilled at it.

After mediating the duel between the two seniors and guiding the Duke to a warm bed in the Black Magic Tower’s basement (a rather cozy place with a corpse-burning stove nearby), Lee Han returned to the dormitory as if nothing had happened.

On the 7th floor, he saw friends and seniors who had been eyeing sponsors with the eyes of predators returning one by one after finishing their work.

“You’ve worked hard, Senior Perse.”

“I didn’t have much trouble. Most of the Quidditch Club’s sponsors are kind people. And we also receive support from the Imperial Quidditch Association… Oh, Junior, I heard you received a separate sponsorship? As expected of the owner of the Basilisk and Griffin.”

Perse looked at his junior, who had achieved outstanding results, with respect.

He couldn’t possibly imagine that an ancient being had awakened and come bearing hidden wealth.

Lee Han smiled insincerely.

“I was lucky.”

“Luck has nothing to do with it. Oh, you guys, have you heard the rumors about the Duke?”

Perse asked, looking not only at Lee Han but also at the other friends behind him.

The second-year students of the Blue Dragon Tower nodded and answered.

“Of course, we’ve heard.”

“Is it true that if you catch the Duke, he’ll cough up gold equal to his weight?”

‘How quickly did the rumors spread?’

Lee Han was slightly taken aback.

He didn’t expect it to spread so far that even his friends knew about it, let alone the seniors.

Perse spoke with a serious worry on his face.

“Just in case, don’t be greedy about Duke Ancalden.”

“It’s Duke Icardoren.”

“Ah, right. Duke Icardoren. Yes. Don’t be greedy about Duke Icardoren.”

Perse, who was explaining, paused.

How did his junior even know the name?

‘Well, he’s taking classes from all departments, so he probably hears the rumors faster.’

“The Headmaster wouldn’t bother imprisoning and releasing someone without money, so he’ll probably cough up a lot of gold, but the competition will be fierce. There are even rumors that the fifth-year seniors are aiming for him.”

“Isn’t that too much! Fifth-years should be graduating!”

“Stop! That’s too harsh. Show respect to the seniors who have advanced to the fifth year. Don’t you have any sympathy?”

‘Perse’s words seem more cruel though…’

Lee Han muttered inwardly.

“Don’t worry, Senior. We have no desire for the Duke.”

“That’s right. I heard the sixth-floor corridor was destroyed because the fifth-years were fighting over the Duke.”

Lee Han shuddered as he saw his actions subtly mixed into the rumors.

So that’s how rumors are made!

In any case, thanks to that, the second-year students seemed to have lost much of their interest in the Duke.

The thought of joining a fierce battle between the upperclassmen greatly reduced their enthusiasm.

Some friends whispered to Lee Han while saying they weren’t interested.

“Wodanaz, are you really not interested?”

“Really, really not interested?”

“I told you, I’m not.”

“Phew, I see. Then I’m not interested either.”

“Me too!”

Lee Han was speechless at the strong friendship of his friends, who would join him if he tried to kidnap the Duke.

“It’s a relief that you’re not interested in the Duke. I didn’t want to say this, but there’s a fifth-year senior in the White Tiger Tower. Senior Caton of the Jahan family, a great swordsman who can freely wield Aura.”

“I bet he’s good at magic too?”

“Huh? Uh… well. Sort of. Anyway, I heard that this person’s arm was shattered after participating in the Duke’s capture. That’s how many strong students are participating. Everyone be careful. Got it? If you’re misunderstood as trying to steal the Duke, you might be carried to the healing room instead of the punishment room.”

“We’ll keep that in mind!”

“Junior, what about you?”

Perse asked sternly when Lee Han didn’t answer.

This student who took classes from all departments was fearless and might get involved in anything. He needed to emphasize it more.

“I’ll keep that in mind too!”

“Good. That’s all I need to know.”

“But Senior Perse, isn’t it just a rumor that Senior Caton of the Jahan family had his arm shattered? I can’t believe he was injured.”

Lee Han regained his senses and attempted to change the story.

However, Perse shook his head.

“That’s not true. I heard it directly.”

“…From whom?”

Lee Han asked again, planning to call whoever said it a liar.

“Directly from Senior Caton of the Jahan family himself. He emphasized several times that it was a truly formidable opponent.”

Lee Han secretly clenched his fist.

Even during Club Week, lectures weren’t completely canceled.

Students had to attend lectures while also trying to get sponsors.

Especially Lee Han, who was even busier.

‘It’s a good thing I handled most of the work on the weekend.’

If he had to kidnap the ancient servant sent by the crazy doppelganger and Duke Icardoren during the week, the work would have been much more tiring.

Thinking that, Lee Han moved his feet. It wasn’t because of lectures or sponsorship. There were chores he had to do regularly.

Taking care of the animals he raised (Phonegrew would sulk if he met the Unicorn first, and the Unicorn would sulk if he brought the Basilisk, so he had to plan it carefully), getting more food from the garden he owned and the kitchen club area he received from the seniors…

Lee Han, who was moving secretly under the cover of the night as dawn approached, paused when he saw the familiar figure of the pirate grandma in the distance.

“Lady Lagesha!”

“What young whelp… It’s you. Why are you wandering around like a rat at this hour with an invisibility spell on?”

“I’m supposed to be in the dormitory at this hour. What are you doing here, Lady Lagesha? The sponsors’ accommodations aren’t this way.”

“I was bored and looking around. I felt sorry for the students.”

“The seniors are a bit pitiful, for sure.”

Lee Han deeply agreed.

Then Lagesha suddenly became angry.

“What’s so pitiful about those little brats! They’re arrogant and disrespectful!”

“Huh? The seniors, you mean?”

“Yes! Those damn little brats.”

‘What did the seniors do?’

Lee Han was genuinely surprised to see Lagesha get so angry so quickly.

“Just because I invested some gold in Bible, they think Torgerd’s daughter is a complete idiot, those damn little brats! You don’t think that way too, do you?”

“Lady Lagesha, I am a disciple of Professor Verdus… Professor Verdus’s research is definitely worth investing in.”

“That’s not true.”

“Never mind. What I said about feeling sorry was about the freshmen here. Look over there.”

Lee Han enhanced his vision as Lagesha pointed ahead and looked.

There was a basket of food Lagesha had left there.

‘What?’

A moment later, skinny first-year students rushed over and grabbed the food basket, then began to eat it mindlessly.

Lagesha shook her head.

“Even so, starving them like that is too much.”

“Ah, no. They don’t usually starve to that extent….”

“Really? As far as I know, that’s usually the case. Has it changed in the meantime?”