Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

“Then, Ibinta. Answer the next question. Were there any thieves who started acting suspiciously recently? For reference, by suspicious behavior, I mean things like constantly seeking blood, or hiding meat away while saying they had a use for it...”

I clearly said there weren’t any!

Ibinta gritted his teeth.

Since thief bands were as common as stones in the Empire, it was only natural for a mage from House Wardanaz to look down on a thief leader.

However, Ibinta took pride in his own abilities.

Building and maintaining an underground fortress like this not far from the Empire’s capital was no easy task.

To begin with, thief bands were not organizations with strict discipline like knight orders. Thieves would quickly desert or stab each other in the back if their greed was not satisfied.

Controlling such scum and maintaining secrecy required thorough surveillance and suspicion.

...Endure it.

Instead of getting angry, Ibinta calmly explained the logic.

Just thinking about the other person’s family was enough to cool the anger.

“...That is why, if there had been a worshipper of evil gods inside the fortress, I would have noticed immediately. If you don’t believe me, go ahead and cut open the bellies of the ones scattered inside to check.”

When the other man grew too emotional, Lee Han whispered so only Giselle could hear.

“Don’t you think he’s being too emotional?”

“Anyone would act like that if all their subordinates and their fortress were destroyed.”

And yet Moradi says that like it has nothing to do with Moradi, after helping do it.

Lee Han grumbled inwardly.

Of course, Lee Han had been the one to present the objective and summon the direct means...

“I understand. Ibinta. I’ll check the rest myself. You must have had a hard time managing disobedient subordinates.”

“...It wasn’t particularly difficult.”

“No. It’s not something just anyone can do. I’ve dealt with disobedient people too, so I know it’s no ordinary task.”

“...”

Giselle cast a dubious look.

Could those disobedient people possibly be the White Tiger Tower?

“Those thief bastards were damned disobedient. The only reason I took in that Kitarenannum bastard in the first place was because the others were blinded by gold. I didn’t really want to take him in...”

“I understand. I understand. Anyway, their greed really is damn excessive.”

As the conversation went on, Ibinta felt strangely as though he were being persuaded.

There was even a feeling that the mage before him understood him.

What is this?

Ibinta was confused.

Had he been hit with some kind of mental magic without realizing it?

Otherwise, there was no way he would feel this way toward a monster from House Wardanaz...

***

I knew this would happen!

If you knew, you should have stopped it.

Professor Garcia swallowed the words that nearly came out.

The two had rushed to the scene after hearing the news. No matter how much one trusted and entrusted one’s disciple, subjugating a sizable thief band that had established itself underground went far beyond expectations.

“If Student Lee Han gets hurt, it will all be the Principal’s fault.”

You should be worrying about something else.

“Pardon?”

Do you really not know, Professor Garcia?

The Skull Principal was dumbfounded by Professor Garcia’s reaction.

No matter how blinded by affection for a disciple, how could one view the situation so narrowly?

Obviously, the thing to worry about was collateral damage! Wardanaz had at least four or five methods capable of killing everyone without distinguishing friend from foe!

Since there were no absolutes in battle, Wardanaz could get hurt if his guard slipped.

And if the enemy was truly well-prepared, he could be cornered.

But in that case, the ones in danger would not be Wardanaz, but the thieves.

If he desperately brought out magic he normally did not use because he could not control it...

“Ah, no. Student Lee Han is quite powerful for his grade, but aren’t you overestimating him too much?”

Please let it be Perkuntra, please let it be Perkuntra, please let it be Perkuntra... Oh! The lucky skeleton is on my side!

The Skull Principal was delighted upon arriving at the ruins.

Fortunately, his clever disciple had chosen the most moderate means among those he could deploy. This lightning wielder was not the sort to randomly fire destructive attacks in every direction.

If he had used something like the Bracelet of Ten Thousand Demons to summon the demons trapped inside, not only the underground fortress but also the nearby forests and roads might have been half-destroyed.

“Let’s hurry inside!”

Look, Professor Garcia. Anyone can tell a spirit swept through here.

The Skull Principal pointed to the surface. If traces of lightning that powerful were visible above ground, it was obvious what had happened underground.

“Just come along. Oh. Who made this hole?”

Wardanaz must have made it.

“No. This isn’t Student Lee Han’s method. Did he have such a summoned creature?”

He must have newly subjugated it by force.

“...”

Professor Garcia slightly hated not being able to refute those words with conviction.

“Why don’t I see Professor Bagreg?”

Ominous.

“That’s what I said was ominous! Hurry up and locate Student Lee Han!”

It’s not Wardanaz who’s ominous... Wardanaz is perfectly fine. So calm down. Rather, Professor Voladi’s location is ominous.

There was a reason the Skull Principal called it ominous.

Originally, the Skull Principal had expected a situation where Lee Han swept away the fortress with minimal collateral damage, and Professor Voladi belatedly scolded that disciple.

But after arriving and scanning the area with magic, Lee Han was wandering around the western part of the underground fortress with some thief, while Professor Voladi was taking Gainando and quickly searching the sealed eastern sections of the fortress one by one.

Don’t tell me he was found out?

The Skull Principal grew slightly anxious.

Although Wardanaz had outstanding talent for lying, he still had a few soft spots.

If he felt guilty about hiding secrets from his master and made a mistake...

Professor Voladi!

The Skull Principal flew to Professor Voladi first. The plan was to identify the source of the unease.

“Huff, huff, huff... Principal! Why did you come so late!”

Gainando, who had been staggering after Professor Voladi, protested while gasping for breath.

Were you attacked by thieves? Professor Voladi is not that sort of person.

“No! Because it’s tiring! The professor has been moving nonstop since earlier!”

The Skull Principal was impressed by Gainando’s audacity.

To be able to complain so boldly about a completely unrelated problem.

It was courage even fifth-year students at Einroguard would find difficult to display.

What is going on, Professor Voladi? Why are you wandering around separately like this?

“The professor is looking for traces of worshippers of evil gods.”

...

“...”

At Gainando’s thoughtless answer, the expressions of both the Skull Principal and Professor Garcia changed drastically.

What?

Worshippers of evil gods? If it’s the Cksaksarigol cult, forget it. Professor Voladi. That previous participation was a mistake.

“What participation?”

Professor Garcia spoke in a suspicious voice.

Participation in the Cksaksarigol cult—something about that time and the previous time had been strange.

Lee Han and the Skull Principal had clearly brushed it off with words like, “It was totally Cksaksarigol,” but no matter how much Professor Garcia thought about it, that disciple had never been involved with the Cksaksarigol cult.

Could it be?

“It’s not the Cksaksarigol cult.”

Gainando shook his head and answered in their place.

And then he laid out his sharp deduction.

Recently, Lee Han seemed to keep looking for worshippers of evil gods, but it was not Prahgal or the Order of Crescent Moon...

“...”

...

Professor Garcia and the Skull Principal were truly shocked.

What????

“P-Principal. What should we do? Student Gainando had no idea at all.”

Surprisingly, neither did I.

Just as they had not expected to be caught by the prince, the shock was even greater.

It seemed their identities had not been discovered yet, but at this rate, it was only a matter of time.

“You seem to have some idea, Professor Garcia.”

“Ah, yes? Well, uh, um.”

When Professor Voladi spoke bluntly, Professor Garcia began rambling incoherently. The Skull Principal quickly signaled to come back.

Given Professor Garcia’s tendency to be weak to authority, if left alone, Professor Garcia would not be able to withstand interrogation from a senior professor.

“If you share what you know, I will share information as well.”

“Uh... What kind of information?”

“Information about the questions Professor Garcia currently has regarding the Order of Crescent Moon.”

“...”

Professor Garcia almost gave in for a moment.

It seemed Student Lee Han and the Skull Principal had been up to something lately...

...Was Professor Voladi saying that the answer would be revealed?

Professor Garcia! Are you planning to side with the enemy?

“Anyone listening would misunderstand.”

Even while saying that, Professor Garcia’s eyes were gleaming with cunning. The Skull Principal sighed and surrendered.

Fine. I understand. I’ll tell you first instead. Actually, during this vacation, an expedition was organized to hunt monsters from the void outside dimensions.

“You’re not saying Student Lee Han participated in that, are you? Please tell me he didn’t.”

It was truly an unfortunate tragedy.

“I said tell me he didn’t!”

The responsibility for this tragedy lies first with that Pengerine bastard...

“...”

He participated!

Professor Garcia intuited it. Gainando also protested as if unable to believe it.

“So that’s why Lee Han said it was bothersome and wouldn’t go out to play?!”

No. The reason Wardanaz doesn’t want to go out and play with you is because you are a stubborn idiot who insists on using only losing Mage Card decks.

“...”

The thoroughly spiteful Skull Principal crushed Gainando’s world once before continuing the excuse.

During the process, he came into contact with various people, and among them was the Order of Crescent Moon. But everything ended well, so isn’t that truly fortunate? Professor Garcia. Put away that complaint letter. Let’s not do this to each other.

“Try saying that in front of His Majesty.”

And Professor Voladi. This was all done for your sake too. Professor Garcia would agree with that.

“Uh... um... well... that is true.”

Professor Garcia mumbled and avoided Professor Voladi’s gaze, but did not bend.

Honestly, Professor Garcia was worried about how Professor Voladi would react upon hearing the name of an evil deity.

“I understand.”

That is not the expression of someone who understands at all...

How does the Principal distinguish expressions?

Professor Garcia was slightly amazed inwardly.

From the outside, it looked like the same expressionless face, so how did the Skull Principal figure it out?

When the opponent seemed as though nothing would be held back, the Skull Principal finally gave up and declared.

Fine. Since it’s come to this, there’s no choice. I’ll tell you the truth. But swear first. That you won’t act recklessly.

Professor Voladi immediately swore.

Swear on your honor as an Einroguard professor too.

Professor Voladi immediately swore once again.

Swear on your disciple too.

“...How long are you going to keep this up?”

Being so obedient makes it even more suspicious!

Professor Garcia had no choice but to agree with the Skull Principal.

From now on, accept it obediently even if Professor Garcia or Wardanaz are assigned to monitor you.

“I understand.”

Damn it. If Professor Voladi did not have a disciple to teach, I would have just locked Professor Voladi in the punishment cells for a while.

The Skull Principal grumbled, then revealed the truth.

The Order of Sanguiros has been revived, and its followers are being sighted.

...Wardanaz was following our orders, so don’t scold him too much.

“Our?”

...My orders. Is that good enough? Huh? Professor Garcia, is that really important right now?

While the two were arguing, Professor Voladi quietly answered.

“I understand.”

...

“...”

At the immediate response that came again, the Skull Principal and Professor Garcia were deeply troubled.

Even Gainando whispered from the side.

“Isn’t that a lie?”

Be quiet. You loser at Mage Cards.