Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 938

“What? Why do we need calming potions?”

Angalo asked, looking utterly bewildered.

Shouldn’t they be brewing poisons or monster summoning potions, or at the very least, something to terrify and drive people mad?

Leehan looked at Angalo like he was something dirty and unwanted.

“What are you planning to do to innocent people?”

“Ah, no… I, uh, just saying. Just a theoretical suggestion.”

“If there’s a commotion, the play will be paused. The audience will probably want to stretch their legs outside. That’s when we distribute the potions.”

Adenart and her guard, Rowena, exchanged glances, a hint of admiration in their eyes.

Even in a situation like this, he doesn’t forget his dedication to the people of the Empire.

No wonder the Wodanaz family is considered a pillar of the Empire…

“And after handing them out, you can make an excuse to go get more ingredients, and slip away with a few nobles. With nobles around, the Death Knights won’t suspect a thing.”

Ignoring their disappointed stares, Leehan continued.

“Even if things get chaotic, it’s easy to get caught if you all rush out together, so we need to divide into groups like this. You guys… let’s call you the ‘Potion Escape Party.’ Tell any seniors who are confident in their alchemy skills to join you.”

Angalo frowned, scratching his head. “Wait, Leehan,” he said, sounding unsure. “Alchemy? I’m okay at it, but not amazing. Wouldn’t Nilia – I mean, Maykin – be way better for the potion party?” He shuffled his feet, looking a little nervous.

As a member of the Healing Magic school, he had done some extra self-study on potion making, and he had taken it in his first year, but it was by no means his major.

“No. Yoner has a different role. Yoner is the ‘Noble Bewilderment Party.'”

Yoner shot his friend a look that clearly said, ‘What kind of name is that?’

But the other students immediately understood what it meant. Salco nodded.

“I see. You’re going to talk to the nobles beforehand and trick them.”

“Exactly.”

If the play stopped midway, some nobles would inevitably choose to leave instead of waiting.

Students from great noble families, including Yoner, could talk to these nobles beforehand and get themselves invited along.

That way, when the play stopped, they could leave with those nobles.

“If you tell them you need to sneak out past the Death Knight guards, they’ll cooperate.”

“I see.”

Nilia listened to her friends’ stories and nodded. ‘So, I’m in the Potion Escape Party.’

As an alchemy major, she was confident in her potion-making skills…

Just then, Yoner grabbed Nilia’s hand and said,

“Nilia, you need to talk to them nicely.”

“…Huh?? Aren’t I in the Potion Escape Party?”

“What are you talking about? You’re in the Noble Bewilderment Party.”

“Yes. Lady Nilia is perfect for the Noble Bewilderment Party.”

“Even as someone from the same tower, I think you belong there.”

Nilia was speechless and flustered by her friends’ words.

Why??

“Salco, I want you to move with the seniors who prefer to break through directly.”

“Can we call it the ‘Dwarf Tunneling Party’? Because dwarves are great at digging, and we’ll be like dwarves making tunnels!”

“…Call it whatever you want. Anyway, you need to be able to slip out quietly when the chaos starts. Can you do that?”

“Of course. Leave it to me.”

Not everyone could leave with the nobles.

Some of the students planned to leave the palace, where the play was taking place, head-on.

With the Death Knights’ surveillance reduced, it would be relatively easy to dig tunnels or find other passages.

“I’ll stay behind and support any party that runs into trouble. Good luck, everyone.”

Leehan and his friends exchanged determined glances.

With this much preparation, if things went well, even if some were caught, a good number of them could escape!

“Wait a minute, Dalcard. Come to think of it, why didn’t you join the Noble Bewilderment Party?”

“Ah. I’m not confident in dealing with nobles.”

Angalo was dumbfounded.

What was this guy from the Blue Dragon Tower saying?

But surprisingly, other seniors from the Blue Dragon Tower nodded in agreement.

“Dealing with nobles isn’t easy.”

“That’s right. Alchemy is so much easier in comparison. The potions in the pot don’t talk back to me.”

Inspired by his seniors’ support, Asan spoke up.

“Socializing is something people like Nilia do. It’s not for me. I prefer numbers.”

“She’s definitely different.”

Nilia’s sociability was so exceptional that even Angalo, from the White Tiger Tower, had to admit it.

She could probably become friends with all the nobles in about 30 minutes.

“But there’s something I’m curious about.”

One of the seniors lowered his voice slightly.

They were currently inside the palace’s restroom.

It was a space that didn’t suit great alchemy, but this was the only way to secretly brew potions while avoiding the gazes of the Death Knights lurking around.

“What are you curious about?”

“Why aren’t any of the other guys from the Location Transfer Club around? It can’t be just one person who came.”

“…Uh…”

Angalo hesitated at those words.

Come to think of it?

Asan seemed to think so too, tilting his head. But the two of them, not being members of the Location Transfer Club, had no idea.

“I’m not sure.”

“Could it be that your friend Wodanaz said he’d handle it all himself? To show off his abilities in front of the seniors.”

The seniors joked and laughed.

However, Asan and Angalo’s expressions immediately turned serious.

“…Could it be…”

“Nah… Even so… It’s possible, but…”

Nilia had received invitations from five families in just 15 minutes.

‘Help me!’

When the nobles collectively suggested going on a hunt in the Northern Mountains, Nilia could feel cold sweat running down her back.

Nobles who came to the rugged Northern Mountains to enjoy hunting usually died either by being killed by their prey, misstepping and falling to their deaths, or being shot by arrows suspiciously similar to those used by the Shadow Patrol.

“Um, the Northern Mountains might be a little dangerous…”

“Hunting inherently involves danger, Miss Maykin!”

“Isn’t it more fun the more dangerous it is!”

‘Then enroll in Einroguard…’

Yoner seethed inwardly.

Why were people who liked such dangerous things only gathering in front of the theater?

“Um, Your Highness. Could you help me?”

“…Um…”

Adenart, who had been hesitating, finally decided to step forward. Her face was pale, and her hands trembled slightly.

She had a sense of responsibility as a princess, but even considering that, Nilia’s eyes were just too pitiful.

“Everyone. I have something to say.”

“When should we leave? This coat should be fine even in the Northern Mountains, right?”

“You should probably wear a scarf with that! I wonder if there are any theaters in the Northern Mountains?”

Adenart’s fingertips trembled.

Unlike Gainando, the Empire’s supporters who supported the princess were quite numerous, but unfortunately, none of them were present at this event.

Thanks to that, the nobles were excitedly chattering among themselves about when to go to the Northern Mountains.

“Everyone… everyone…”

Adenart’s voice, intimidated by the experience she was having for the first time in her life, gradually faded.

Seeing this, Rowena was furious and about to shout, but Yoner hurriedly stopped her.

“If you do that now, you’ll only embarrass Her Highness more!”

“B, but those people! Those people…!”

“Calm down! They’re just excited among themselves!”

Now, people were specifically asking about good dates for hunting.

Nilia, whose eyes were starting to spin, spotted Leehan passing by and urgently called out to him.

“Mr. Stedal! Mr. Stedal!”

Leehan, thinking something was wrong, rushed over.

“What’s the matter?”

“Ah! You’ve come at the right time, Mr. Stedal! Would you like to go hunting with us in the Northern Mountains?”

“You’re more likely to freeze to death.”

The people who had been chattering all froze at the shocking words.

Still, the person who had brought it up hesitated and tried to persuade him again.

“But… Miss Nilia here is a skilled hunter from the Shadow Patrol… and there will be others…”

“That’s nonsense. The North is one of the most harsh and savage lands in the Empire. And the Northern Mountains are especially harsh even within the North. I once met a knight from the Moradi family while wandering around the North.”

Leehan began to persuade the people by name-dropping Giselle’s family.

The people, who had been shocked and frozen by Stedal’s rude words, were soon drawn back into the story.

When the Imugi, Minotaurs, and evil god worshippers came up, the horrified people became cautious.

“That can’t be! I never knew the North was such a dangerous place… I was planning to visit the Moradi family next month, but I should probably postpone it.”

“…There’s no need to go that far… No, never mind.”

Leehan felt a little guilty.

But the monsters he had just mentioned were things that Leehan had either heard about directly or experienced firsthand.

‘The North is dangerous, that’s a fact.’

Surprisingly, Salco’s party was progressing the most smoothly out of the three.

Salco, who had found the warehouse behind where the illusion mages were working, was digging an underground passage on the spot with his seniors. He looked strong and moved quickly, dirt flying as he worked.

Leehan admired his skill and said,

“It would be nice if we could escape from Einroguard like this too.”

“It’s difficult. There are barriers underground too.”

‘They’re really wasting money on useless things.’

After cursing the Skeleton Headmaster once in his mind, Leehan asked,

“What about the Death Knights?”

“They don’t seem to have noticed yet. They seem to be distracted by something else.”

‘Is it because of what I said?’

Leehan wondered if it was because he had reported Madph as suspicious.

If the Death Knights were so preoccupied that they couldn’t pay attention to the students, it was working much better than he had expected.

‘Heh heh. At this rate, I can immediately…’

-Nago.

Leehan, who was walking out, was startled when the Death Knights approached him from the front.

‘…Have I been found out?’

“What’s the matter?”

-Madph was an evil god worshipper. When we interrogated him, he revealed that they were targeting the palace.

Leehan was stunned for a moment.

He had been so focused on escaping the palace that he couldn’t help but be taken aback by the sudden mention of evil god worshippers.

‘What the…?’

Come to think of it, he had heard Dirett say recently that evil god worshippers were rampant and people were tracking them down.

But he never expected it to happen so close to him.

‘Then what should I do? Should I cancel all the plans?’

-Nago.

“Yes?”

-We are gathering everyone in the palace who can cooperate to explain the situation. Would you come?

“…I understand.”

Leehan nodded for now.

As he moved his feet, he saw Einroguard students, illusion mages, and even Alsicle gathered in the hall.

It seemed they had called all the mages who could be of help.

“What on earth is going on? Evil god worshippers? Surely they’re not hiding here too.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to stop the play?”

“It’s more shameful to stop working because you’re afraid of evil god worshippers. It would be a disgrace to the names of the knights and mages gathered here!”

“Still, shouldn’t we tell the nobles?”

“No. We don’t know which of the nobles might be collaborators.”

While the people were buzzing, Angalo cautiously approached and whispered.

“…Wo, Wodanaz. Surely the commotion you prepared isn’t the evil god worshippers… is it…?”

Leehan kicked Angalo away. Seeing this, the Death Knights thought to themselves.

‘Indeed, a violent mage!’

Leehan thought to himself, ‘These students are in danger. I have to help them escape, even if it’s risky.’