Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

Iactus: As expected! My friend with the insane name!

Iactus’s response appeared immediately.

He had already been wanting to land a solid hit on that dragon inspector, so it was wonderful that another member agreed with him.

Usually, he thought giving oneself such a mad pseudonym was insane, but sometimes that kind of madness was useful.

Without madness, who would dare challenge a dragon?

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: What is this????

And immediately, a direct message flew in from Ilendil.

From Ilendil’s perspective, knowing the junior’s true identity, that statement just now had to be absurd.

A person contracted with a dragon was asking about dragon weaknesses...

Could some dangerous conspiracy that would go down in the Empire’s history be underway right now?

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: W-why are you asking about weaknesses? What are you trying to do? Can’t you resolve it peacefully through dialogue?

Gonadaltes: There seems to be a misunderstanding. I’m not asking because I want to defeat a dragon.

Lee Han immediately clarified.

If his frightened senior reported this to the inspector, things would become very troublesome.

So, Jowrin was currently trapped...

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: ...

After hearing the explanation, Ilendil fell silent. The first thought that came to mind was this.

Was this what dragon contractors were originally like?

This is strange. Dragon contractors should be something a little more... beautiful and noble...

Wasn’t a dragon contractor supposed to look down upon the continent from atop a dragon soaring through the sky, receiving the secret wisdom of the dragon race?

The current sight was less like a dragon contractor and more like...

A caretaker... No. What kind of rude thought am I having?

Ilendil shook from side to side vigorously.

As a mage, making assumptions based on appearances alone was terrible behavior.

How could Ilendil rashly judge a junior who had contracted with a dragon based on appearances alone?

Even if the junior looked a little like a caretaker, that was only one aspect. There had to be something far more impressive underneath.

...Probably!

Gonadaltes: Ah. Wait a moment. Her Majesty contacted me again.

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: I-I see...

Lee Han paused the conversation for the moment and focused on Jowrin.

Gonadaltes: Your Majesty. Could you please write “Jowrin” at the front?

Jowrin: I understand! But why does Lee Han write “Gonadaltes” at the front?

Gonadaltes: ...I respect the Principal quite a bit, you know. Haha.

Jowrin: Even after suffering so much because of Gonadaltes?!

Jowrin was newly moved by her contractor’s goodness.

How could there be such a kind person?

Gonadaltes: More importantly, Your Majesty. How did you contact me? Did you perhaps find an artifact?

The artifacts connected to <Einroguard’s Watchers> were scattered throughout Einroguard’s grounds, and sometimes even outside them.

If Jowrin had discovered one of those, it made sense for her to contact him like this.

But...

Then shouldn’t she have entered <Einroguard’s Watchers>, not contacted me personally like this?

Jowrin: I’m not sure... I just... felt frustrated and was scribbling because I wanted to ask Lee Han for help, and then it connected...

“!!!!”

Lee Han was greatly surprised by Jowrin’s answer, which seemed to be gauging his reaction as if she was wondering whether she had done something wrong.

Primitive magic that manifested through will alone, regardless of any form, rule, or theory!

No... if it’s dragon magic, calling it primitive magic is ridiculous too. It’s practically the same as a word of command.

Since Jowrin was still mentally immature, she could use her innate dragon strength and physical abilities, but she had not yet used her magical abilities in such diverse ways.

Even so, she had contacted Lee Han’s artifact through will alone and established magical communication like this.

It was truly terrifying potential. Lee Han felt a shiver run through him.

What kind of trouble will this cause in the future... Oh, wait.

Lee Han reflected on himself.

As her contractor, he should trust Jowrin instead of worrying in advance about what kind of trouble she might cause.

Of course, Jowrin had previously ambushed him, put handcuffs around her contractor’s wrist, and attempted to confine him...

Gonadaltes: Well done, Your Majesty. But you said you felt frustrated. What happened?

Jowrin: Well you see it’s really too much isn’t it I think

Jowrin, who had only been watching nervously until now, began frantically writing at Lee Han’s consolation.

Lee Han was almost overwhelmed by the resentment in the text.

***

“Wuman!”

“Yes, sister!”

“I shall go meet my contractor!”

“...Pardon? Already?”

Wuman always respected his sister, but he was slightly flustered by her declaration that she would go meet her contractor when not even a week had passed since the new semester began.

“If it is not rude, may Wuman ask what the reason is?”

“Huh?”

Jowrin was flustered.

“Because he’s my contractor...? You definitely said that, unlike other students, I could meet my contractor...”

“I also gave you the advice afterward to please do so only in ways that do not interfere with his studies... You are not planning to meet him without any reason, are you?”

Wuman asked with an expression that showed true faith that his respected sister would never say such nonsense.

Jowrin hesitated before finally shouting this.

“...Actually, Jowrin was testing Wuman! Your abilities as an inspector!”

“Ah! As expected! This Wuman fell for it! Did I pass the test, by any chance?”

“...Yes...”

“It is truly an honor! This Wuman will carry sister’s trust in his heart and complete his mission with all his soul!”

“...”

Unlike the excited Wuman, Jowrin became deeply dejected.

Looking at her clueless younger brother, Jowrin said quietly,

“You don’t need to be that obsessed with your duties...”

“No, sister. This was work someone had to take on. Just as crooked trees are straightened with braces, Wuman also wants to raise Einroguard’s mages properly.”

“...Gonadaltes isn’t that bad of a mage, though.”

“Pardon?”

“Oh, it’s nothing...”

Without noticing Jowrin’s reaction, Wuman continued enthusiastically.

“Actually, His Majesty also encouraged this work.”

“...”

This time, Jowrin also grumbled inwardly.

If His Majesty was going to let her go, why not just let her go instead of sending Wuman to torment her?

Really too much!

“What kind of encouragement did he give?”

“He said, ‘If you’re going to say that much, stop tormenting this old dragon and go try it once.’”

“...Uh, that doesn’t seem like encouragement...”

Jowrin hesitated.

No matter how she looked at it, that did not seem like encouragement.

“Oh, right. He also spoke about sister’s contractor.”

“Really?”

“Yes. He said that various mages, starting with Master Gonadaltes, are assigning work too harshly, so I must not forget to pay the utmost attention. It may be embarrassing self-praise that I should be cautious about, but Wuman seems to have already achieved some results in this area. When I checked the contractor’s schedule, his free time had increased dramatically compared to last semester!”

“...”

Jowrin’s small fingertips trembled with anger.

So, because of the complacent and corrupt lifestyle of the principal, professors, and students, even Jowrin herself was suffering damage?

This was utterly unreasonable. Jowrin was gradually beginning to understand how the world worked.

Even if she wanted to stay quiet, as long as corrupt villains existed, the damage would spread like this...

***

Gonadaltes: Your Majesty. Your Majesty. Wait a moment.

Jowrin: Why?

Gonadaltes: Please calm down for a moment.

Lee Han quickly soothed Jowrin.

No matter what, he could not let Jowrin enter the Empire’s political scene and aim for the next emperor’s position just because she could not roam around the school freely.

If he left her alone, there was a hundred percent chance Jowrin would later cry and ask why he had not stopped her.

Even the current Emperor grew sad whenever he saw the Skull Principal, saying the Skull Principal had ruined his life...

The Skull Principal might be able to endure it because he has no heart, but I’m not confident I can.

Gonadaltes: Anyway, I understand the reason. You tried to meet me, but were refused because you had no reason.

Jowrin: That’s right...

Gonadaltes: Then why are you confined, if you’re confined?

From what Lee Han had heard, Wuman was a dragon who greatly respected Jowrin.

For such a dragon to arbitrarily confine Jowrin.

What on earth had happened?

Jowrin: Actually, I’m not really confined... um... I can walk around outside, but if I can’t go to the school’s main building to meet Lee Han, isn’t that the same as being confined...

“...”

Lee Han tilted his head back at Jowrin’s hesitant confession.

No way...!

When I first met her, she wasn’t this good at lying. Could it be because of me?

Suddenly, a fantasy flashed through his mind: standing in a dragon court while someone asked, “Does the defendant Wardanaz admit to the charge of corrupting a dragon?”

Lee Han shook his head.

No. Of course I might bear some responsibility, but Einroguard was a greater influence. It’s because of Einroguard.

Jowrin: ...Are you angry, by any chance??

Gonadaltes: I’m not angry. But you need to tell me exactly. That’s the only way I can plan countermeasures properly.

If Jowrin was not actually confined somewhere, meeting her would be easier.

They only needed to evade magical surveillance and then have an audience.

The problem was how to break through the surveillance of a crazed dragon...

Is there a way?

Lee Han fell into thought.

Even <Einroguard’s Watchers>, where upperclassmen gathered, could not come up with a good method, so there was no way Lee Han would suddenly have a brilliant solution.

Jowrin: Actually, that’s why I asked Gonadaltes.

Gonadaltes: Me? Ah. The Principal.

Jowrin: ...

Gonadaltes: I was joking. Haha.

Jowrin: I think it would be better for Lee Han to use his real name...

Jowrin spoke in a slightly worried tone.

Didn’t old stories feature many people who made mistakes because they became intoxicated with false names?

Gonadaltes: I’m fine. So what’s the favor?

Jowrin explained what had happened again.

In truth, she wanted to go meet Lee Han, but if Wuman interfered, Jowrin did not have many places to turn for help.

***

“Gonadaltes! Wuman is bothering me!!!”

“What a coincidence. That fellow is bothering me too.”

“Shouldn’t Gonadaltes rule Einroguard again? Aren’t you frustrated as a lord?”

“No. Your Majesty...! Every time I see you lately, you keep surprising me. Even a goading tactic? What on earth is that Wardanaz fellow teaching...”

“Why Lee Han?”

“Ah. Never mind. Anyway, it’s impossible right now. His Majesty won’t easily change something he has decided once. We will have to wait until that fellow’s misrule accumulates.”

“Then at least arrange a way for me to meet Lee Han!”

“A way... Right now, that Wuman fellow is excitedly going around conducting surveillance... I’ll talk to Professor Paserlet, so I’ll have Professor Paserlet tell Wardanaz to come learn some divination magic.”

“No! Jowrin will tell him directly!”

“What? How?”

“Last time, when I concentrated my mind, it seemed like we somehow connected. If I do it once more...”

“...This is truly amazing. I’m starting to think Wuman should stay for next semester too.”

“...”

“I’m joking. Just joking. Please calm down.”