Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 881

Lee Han was confused, but he agreed. He thought, *My crazy double probably knows more about giants than I do.* Lee Han only knew the giants in Einrogard. But his double had met many giants before.

“Let’s go, Lee Han of the Wodanaz family,” said Intarendals. Intarendals was an old nobleman, an ancestor of the Dahlkard family from the time of the Three Kingdoms. He came out of the workshop, ready to leave. Behind him were carts, ready to carry gifts for the giants.

*Jo Ulin wants to go!* “Giants are dangerous and wild,” Intarendals said. *Then why are you sending Lee Han?* Lee Han thought. “…A student should be able to handle this,” Intarendals mumbled.

It was strange to see the crazy double so nervous. Usually, he was arrogant and didn’t care about anything, even the Skull Headmaster. Lee Han almost followed Intarendals, but he stopped. *I should watch this,* he thought. *I might not see him like this again.*

“What are you doing?” Intarendals asked.

“Checking the carts,” Lee Han quickly replied.

Intarendals looked pleased. *Good,* he thought. *Lee Han is careful, just like a wizard chosen by Gonadaltes should be.*

*Jo Ulin wants to go! Jo Ulin wants to go! Jo Ulin wants to go!* “Let’s go!” Intarendals said quickly. Jo Ulin bounced with excitement. The crazy double hurried his student.

Eandurde saw his chance and asked quietly, “Can I come too…?”

“What are you talking about? No. It’s too dangerous!” Intarendals snapped.

Eandurde was shocked and didn’t say anything. *Then why are YOU going?* he wondered.

“Are giants really that dangerous?” Lee Han asked.

“Giants…” Intarendals sighed, like he was remembering old times. “Yes, you could say that.”

“Long ago, during the Three Kingdoms, giants were like soldiers for hire. Wherever there was fighting and stealing, giants were there. One day they would break down castle walls, the next day they would destroy weapons used to attack castles. If you paid them gold, they would do anything. Sometimes, it seemed like they wanted the wars to never end.”

“…But the giants in the mountains don’t seem that bad now?” Lee Han was surprised to hear about the giants’ violent past. *Those giants were the great-great-great-grandparents of today’s mountain giants,* he thought. *Still, it’s shocking!*

“That’s right. Things change over time. Kingdoms fall, heroes get old, everything changes. Maybe the giants’ anger has calmed down a bit. But, Lee Han of the Wodanaz family, remember this: there is still a spark of anger in every giant’s heart. If that spark becomes a big fire, the giants…” – *Did they find us?* a voice boomed.

“!” A huge head appeared over the top of a mountain. It was a giant! Intarendals cleared his throat and pointed. Suddenly, the cloths covering the carts were pulled off. Gold! It shone brightly, ready to be given to the giants. Lee Han stared at the gold, his eyes wide.

*Wow. How much money did the Dahlkard family lose?* Lee Han thought. *My crazy double couldn’t have gotten this gold himself. It must be Intarendals’ gold.* *The Dahlkard family will be angry!* *Their ancestor is giving away their family money to a strange old wizard instead of to them!*

– *What is this?* a giant grumbled.

“?!” Intarendals was shocked. The giants didn’t care about the gold. They were eating cheese made from mountain sheep milk.

– *Wizards like shiny gold,* one giant said, chewing. *We are not that dumb.*

“No…!” Intarendals gasped. He couldn’t believe it. The giants were not interested in gold! It was as strange as demons becoming servants because humans tricked them, instead of the other way around.

– *Wodanaz!* The giants, who were about to send them away, suddenly saw Lee Han and their eyes widened.

– *Why are you here after so long!*

– *We missed you!*

– *We thought the wizards had trapped you!* The giants smiled at Lee Han all at once.

– *We heard Wodanaz was kidnapped! Wizards are bad!*

– *We are strong! We don’t even let anyone kidnap our sheep!*

“Were you kidnapped?” Intarendals asked, sounding like he didn’t believe it. Lee Han looked at him like he was crazy. *Who else would kidnap me except the master you work for!* he thought. “…Anyway,” Lee Han said, “I’m here because I need a favor.”

– *Follow us! We will show you the way.*

– *It’s time to eat!* “I just ate, I’m full,” Lee Han said quickly, knowing what giant food was like. The giants were happy.

– *Wodanaz is so polite!*

– *The wizard we hate the most comes to ask for a favor, and he’s polite! Follow us!* The giants started walking, their feet heavy on the ground. Intarendals finally got over his shock and spoke again.

“Giants have changed so much…” Intarendals said. “Even though time changes everything, I didn’t think it would be this much.”

“Hmm, really?” Lee Han had been listening, but now he was curious. “Were demons more evil in the past?” he asked.

“More evil?” Intarendals repeated.

“Yes,” Lee Han said. “The demons I know are tricked into contracts and work like slaves in Einrogard. But in history books, they seem much more evil…”

“Ah, I understand,” Intarendals nodded. “I was also surprised when I went to Einrogard.” He knew what Lee Han meant.

“In the time of the Three Kingdoms, demons were truly scary and brought disaster. When a demon appeared, it wasn’t just about defeating it. There were people who worshipped demons and were tricked by them. And those worshippers had helpers too. It was like the whole area became bad. But now, wizards in places like Einrogard can easily trick demons and use them. If people who suffered from demons long ago could see this, they would cry tears of joy.”

“Time makes kingdoms weaker and heroes older, but it seems to make people wiser. Look how they deal with demons now.”

“Could it be that the Headmaster told everyone the secret?” Lee Han asked carefully. It was just a guess, but it seemed likely. Not many people have lived as long as the Skull Headmaster, and even fewer would do something like that.

*And he’s the one who gains the most from controlling demons,* Lee Han thought. *He wasn’t like this before. Now he controls hundreds of demons. It makes the Skull Headmaster seem a bit strange.* Of course, Lee Han had to be careful asking Intarendals about this. Intarendals worked for the crazy double and didn’t like the Skull Headmaster. Asking about the Headmaster like this might sound like praise.

“Hmm… I can’t say it’s impossible,” Intarendals said. “Of course, the current ruler of Einrogard pretends to be the master, but he is the master’s double, isn’t he? If so, then it’s a really big thing…”

“Wait, are you talking about controlling hundreds of demons?” Lee Han asked.

“No, Lee Han of the Wodanaz family. Not that. I mean spreading the secret of how to deal with demons everywhere.”

“Oh,” Lee Han said, feeling a little silly.

*Well, that IS… something good,* Lee Han thought. *Like finding a cure for a disease that no one could cure before. Sharing the secret of tricking demons is a big deal too.* *He also ended up controlling hundreds of demons, but still!* *Giants and demons, they both change so much. It makes sense, though.* Lee Han thought again about how different the past and present were, like the Skull Headmaster always said. And he also thought about how the Skull Headmaster still liked to play tricks, even after living for so long…

“Ah, Intarendals, can I ask you one more thing?”

“Of course, ask me anything.”

“Is the star Arnaran very dangerous?” Usually, wizards start by making contracts with simple spirits, and maybe later with demons or creatures from other worlds. But they don’t usually make contracts with stars. Even the Divination Magic School only studies stars a little bit because it’s hard and dangerous. So, there’s no reason to try to make a contract with a star. That’s why there aren’t many books about star magic, and Lee Han hadn’t learned about it before. He didn’t understand why everyone was so worried when they heard the name Arnaran.

“Arnara! It’s been a long time since I heard that name. Why are you asking?” Intarendals asked, acting like he hadn’t heard Lee Han and the crazy double talking about it before.

“…I just heard the name somewhere,” Lee Han lied, worried they would react badly if he said he made a contract.

“Hmm. You don’t hear that name often… First, Arnara is not a dangerous star. It’s actually a star of honor.”

“Oh! Really?” Lee Han was happy to hear that. He had felt bad because everyone had reacted negatively to the contract. (The crazy double was happy, but that didn’t really help.) This was the first time someone said something good about it.

“Yes. It’s the star of change. It destroys kingdoms and melts crowns.”

“……” Lee’s Han face went stiff. For a moment, he imagined a newspaper headline in big letters: *Wodanaz Family Member ‘Shocked’ by Treason Charges!* *Dreamed of Becoming Emperor!* *Man Who Tricked the Royal Family Shows His True Self!*

“How is THAT not dangerous???”

“Huh? My master made a contract with that star too. It’s not dangerous. It’s a star of honor!” Intarendals said, really surprised. In old star magic, Arnara was a star that appeared for heroes when the world was in trouble and sadness. It’s a star that helps heroes with a very bright light! The hero chosen by the star also shone brightly and gave everything for the world. He did not fail the star’s choice.

“……” Lee Han’s face was frozen. Even stone magic couldn’t make it harder. “…If the world is calm and peaceful, and that kind of star appears and someone makes a contract, what does that mean for that person?”

“Hmm. Well, that’s hard to guess. But…” Intarendals tried to think of all the possibilities, remembering what he knew. Contracts with stars can mean many things. And you can only really know the meaning after things happen. It was hard for Intarendals, who wasn’t a star expert. But since the master’s student was asking, he had to try his best, even if he wasn’t very good at it.

“I can think of two ideas right now.”

“Please tell me your thoughts,” Lee Han said.

“First, I think a big problem is coming to the world, and he is giving up something important to stop it.”

“…What’s the second idea?”

“The world looks calm now, but maybe it’s actually getting worse slowly. So, he might be someone who wants to take over and become emperor.”

“……” Lee Han suddenly ran to the side of the road and started yelling into the deep valley.

The giants, who were waiting for Lee Han, were surprised and ran over. They pointed at Intarendals.

– *What did you say to Wodanaz!*

– *Wodanaz is so nice! Why is he yelling like that!*

– *Who is the Yaksha King anyway?*