Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

“I have no intention of acting recklessly as a professor of Einroguard.”

“Professor!!”

When Professor Voladi made that touching declaration, as firm as driving in a nail, Professor Garcia, who had still been half-doubtful, was completely won over.

Professor Voladi had finally come to feel responsibility as a professor of Einroguard.

People really did need disciples...

This is even more suspicious...

“...”

However, the Skull Principal was not easily swayed by the former disciple’s declaration.

Was that statement a trick meant to deceive him, or had Professor Voladi truly come to feel responsibility as a professor of Einroguard?

This is why I should not have revealed the truth in the first place. It only torments everyone.

Isn’t the fundamental cause just that none of them trust each other?

Professor Garcia thought to himself.

This was not a matter of truth, but a problem with the bonds between the Skull Principal and the professors.

Since they could not trust anything anyone said, this was the result.

“Please have a little faith in Professor Bagreg.”

I do trust Professor Bagreg. That is why I am doing this.

The Skull Principal trusted Professor Voladi very much.

He firmly believed that Professor Voladi was exactly the type to deceive him without hesitation and secretly set off to hunt an evil deity’s order.

“That’s not trust!”

This is trust too. Hmph. Do you think blindly doting on someone the way you do is trust?

As the two bickered, Professor Voladi, who had been waiting quietly, spoke up.

“You should not have assigned Wardanaz to surveillance in the first place.”

“!”

Huh?

Is that so?

Professor Garcia was convinced at once.

If they had simply trusted Professor Voladi and not involved the disciple, Professor Voladi would not have found it suspicious...

Stop being swayed by the enemy.

“Enemy... I wonder who the real enemy is?”

You’re already half-convinced. Your ears are far too easily swayed. If Wardanaz doesn’t do the surveillance, then who will? Professor Voladi only has one disciple.

“Two.”

“Two disciples.”

...Right. Two. I forgot. But new students should be treated as nonexistent for this kind of work. Were you always such a cruel person? Hm?

“That is why there should have been trust between each other from the beginning...”

Noisy. Anyway, Professor Voladi. I’ll be watching from now on.

Why is the one who got caught acting more confident?

Professor Garcia was dumbfounded by the Skull Principal’s threatening attitude.

If the Principal kept acting like that, even someone with no intention of doing anything reckless might end up becoming twisted.

Surely he would not say, “I was right!” after that, would he?

“Oh. Professor?”

Lee Han and Giselle, who had been searching the fortress with Ibinta, were surprised by the appearance of new guests.

Professor Voladi and Gainando were one thing, but the Skull Principal and Professor Garcia were here too?

“What brings you here?”

“Well. Perhaps because we received word that a certain student was single-handedly conquering the thieves’ underground fortress?”

At the professor’s barbed words, Lee Han looked at Giselle. It meant he wanted help.

However, Giselle slowly shook the head.

How am I supposed to help with this? Overcome it yourself.

What a despicable bastard. Typical White Tiger Tower.

While Lee Han harbored unreasonable resentment, Professor Garcia continued speaking.

“Oh, right. I also heard you participated in an expedition to search for monsters from the dimensional void last time?”

“...!”

At those words, Lee Han looked at the Skull Principal with a gaze mixed with shock and horror.

What a traitor!

“The Principal ordered me to do it!”

...Your quick reaction is admirable, but I already mentioned that too.

“No. Why are you telling them that?”

It’s a long story. Why did you bring that one along?

“Ah. This is the leader of the thief band, and he was cooperating with the search. You know... that thing.”

Lee Han gestured while being mindful of Professor Voladi. The Skull Principal nodded and said,

I already mentioned the Order of Sanguiros too.

“What the hell?!”

Lee Han exploded in bewilderment.

The Principal had secretly assigned him work, saying it was because of concern about Professor Voladi, and then revealed everything.

I didn’t want to say it either. It’s because that guy kept blabbering.

“!”

Only then did Lee Han realize the situation.

There was only one person who would notice something strange about Professor Voladi and blabber about it.

“...Ah. It was Gainando...!”

“What? What are you talking about?”

Giselle, who was nearby, asked without understanding. Lee Han explained with a resigned expression.

“Gainando must have found it suspicious too. So he told Professor Bagreg.”

“...That prince figured it out without even being told?!”

Giselle was shocked.

Even Giselle had stumbled, yet the prince, who had heard no explanation at all, had gotten it right.

This was humiliating beyond the truth of the matter.

“Wait. Lee Han. Did you only not tell me?”

Gainando, who had been listening quietly, got angry.

Even the White Tiger Tower student had heard about it!

How does he plan to handle this?

Giselle suddenly felt interested.

Wardanaz had been controlling the Blue Dragon Tower students, and sometimes students from the other towers, like his limbs, but the sense of betrayal the prince felt this time seemed serious.

If cracks appeared in the tower’s internal order...

“You’re so honest, Gainando. I thought you’d get caught if I told you.”

“Right? Well, that’s true.”

“...”

Giselle looked at Gainando with the eyes of someone seeing an unbelievable idiot.

What was that...?

He falls for words like that?!

Even White Tiger Tower students were not like that. It was absolutely unbelievable.

But why does that guy look so terrified?

“Who wouldn’t be scared when the fortress is in this state?”

It’s more fear than that, though?

The Skull Principal was puzzled.

The fear in Ibinta’s eyes was too intense.

“He says he was hurt by Brother Hierdan.”

“It wasn’t that I was hurt... please say it properly. Please. I only witnessed it. Lord Hierdan did not do anything to me.”

Ibinta hurriedly corrected those words.

He was afraid of retaliation for saying he had been hurt when he had not.

The Skull Principal understood immediately.

Seeing him so frightened, he must have met Wardanaz.

“Isn’t Lord Hierdan not that terrifying of a person?”

At Professor Garcia’s question, the Skull Principal shook his skull as if very displeased.

What nonsense. How sinister and vile is that one? Always trying to manipulate people whenever there is an opening.

“...”

“...”

“...”

Professor Garcia, Lee Han, and even Professor Voladi stared intently at the Skull Principal.

Despite the silent protest from the disciples, the Skull Principal did not care at all.

Because he had always been upright.

Professor Garcia assumed this was the Skull Principal’s usual slander and said,

“Since we are already talking about it, couldn’t we ask Lord Hierdan for help?”

Among the various archmages of the Empire, the eldest son of House Wardanaz would certainly be helpful.

However, the Skull Principal was skeptical.

He won’t even answer if we call him about people who have not even started moving yet. He is just like the family head... Rather, let us make good use of the one who is here.

The Skull Principal’s eyes emitted blue light as he looked at Ibinta.

Since the thief seemed to have quite wide connections, he would make a useful horse until they rooted out this evil deity’s order.

“I... I will serve with loyalty.”

Good. I like that you are obedient. I hope you continue to be so.

“Should, should I move according to this mage’s orders?”

Ibinta subtly showed signs of wanting to work under Lee Han.

The Skull Principal was curious at this sight.

This guy, who was so badly burned by Hierdan, wants to work under a mage from House Wardanaz?

Of course, Professor Garcia might feel a bit frightening, but Professor Voladi was right there too, was Professor Voladi not?

Wardanaz, what did you do? Did you promise to save him if Hierdan comes to kill him?

“No. I just listened to him talk about managing this fortress.”

...

The Skull Principal looked at Lee Han as if seeing all sorts of strange things.

Rather, instilling fear like Hierdan could be considered more normal.

To completely win over a thief who had been through all sorts of hardships just by listening to stories like that...

How on earth did such a person come from House Wardanaz?

“Professor. Professor.”

Lee Han quickly approached Professor Voladi and whispered.

Even though he had acted under the Skull Principal’s orders, he felt a little guilty.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

What kind of fine is that?

Lee Han hesitated at the master’s answer.

The same “it’s fine” could mean the “it’s fine” the Skull Principal said, or the “it’s fine” Professor Garcia said.

If the answer just now was the former, he would have to think about how to appease Professor Voladi’s wrath.

Though no methods came to mind at all...

I might need to learn two or three more fifth-circle spells.

“Originally, disciples are bound to have things they hide from their masters.”

Professor Voladi continued speaking readily.

Disciples received teachings from their masters, then broke those teachings and created new teachings.

Naturally, they could not tell their masters everything in that process.

Right? You’ve finally learned shame too. You’ve been breaking my heart...

“Please be quiet.”

When the Skull Principal tried to butt in triumphantly, Professor Garcia stopped him in disgust.

Why was the Principal trying to ruin someone else’s master-disciple relationship?

“As long as it is not excessively dangerous, I do not mind. It really is fine.”

Though the master was usually difficult to read emotionally, Lee Han could feel Professor Voladi’s sincerity.

It was not a trap like the Skull Principal’s malicious way of saying it was fine while secretly sharpening blades of revenge behind his back.

“Professor...!”

Lee Han once again blamed the Skull Principal inwardly.

To suspect someone who could be communicated with through conversation like this.

“You’re really not angry at all?”

“...”

When Professor Voladi fell silent for a moment, horror filled the group. The Skull Principal shouted as if he had known it all along.

Ha! Finally showing your true colors! You were planning to go for revenge right away!

“S-surely not. Right? Professor? Please say no.”

Professor Garcia asked in panic.

“No. If Professor Bagreg were going for revenge, Professor Bagreg would not have revealed it here like this.”

“Then... by, by any chance, are you angry at me?”

Professor Garcia belatedly thought of that possibility.

Come to think of it, had Professor Garcia not joined hands with the Skull Principal and pushed the disciple into dangerous work?

However, Professor Voladi shook the head. The Skull Principal grumbled.

You must be angry at me again. You have no shame.

“No.”

...No?

The Skull Principal was slightly flustered. He had naturally thought it would be him.

In confusion, the Skull Principal looked around the group. Gainando let out a gasp.

Is it me?!

“It’s Alshicle Pengerine.”

Ah.

“Ah.”

Only then did everyone understand. The Skull Principal brushed it off as if there had been nothing to worry about.

That was a pointless story.

“Ah, no. Doesn’t this put Lord Alshicle in danger?”

Lee Han alone was worried.

He had already been worried about Professor Voladi’s attack last time, and it had actually been real?

Can’t you see? He must be hiding well on his own.

“...”

“...”

Lee Han and Professor Garcia exchanged glances.

If they really had to argue, they could say he was hiding...

“Is it really all right?”

“Hmm. Since he is not coming back right away, I think it should be fine. If he simply does not meet Professor Bagreg until the end of vacation, he can naturally avoid Professor Bagreg during the semester, right?”

***

“I’m back.”

“Ah!”

“Aah!”

“...Isn’t this reaction too harsh for someone you left behind?”

At the reactions from Garcia and Lee Han, Alshicle, who was standing in front of the villa, spoke in a slightly sulky voice.

“An Einroguard student came to Petrograd, so I met up with the student and came back together.”

Swish—

A familiar fifth-year student from Einroguard appeared from behind Alshicle.

It was Princess Yukbeltire, with striking silver hair, Adenart’s older sister and the heir to Einroguard’s enchantment magic school.

Princess Yukbeltire looked at the Skull Principal with genuinely resentful young eyes. It was a truly rare sight to see from Princess Yukbeltire.

...Ah!

The Skull Principal belatedly remembered.

I lured away that Wardanaz kid, even though he already had prior commitments!