Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 1020

Chapter 1020

'Right. Though one may hate sins and people, one must not hate great mages.'

Among the empire's great mages, Erindarbell was among the most responsible and dedicated.

Knowing this, the skull principal was willing to overlook it. If it had been another irresponsible great mage, he would have written an anonymous report to the emperor himself.

When a great mage falls in water, they should climb out themselves rather than grabbing others' ankles.

'But...?'

The skull principal discovered a mage who looked even more pale and was sweating much more than Erindarbell.

It was Alcicle of the Pengerin family.

'...Why is that fellow acting like that?'

Though he and Erindarbell had committed sins, what about that fellow?

'So I'm finally going to imperial prison.'

Alcicle thought while squeezing his eyes shut.

Following the path many senior mages had gone before, Alcicle would finally enter imperial prison too.

Perhaps he might even enter Einroguard's secret punishment room rather than an ordinary imperial prison. Alcicle hoped the skull principal would look after him somewhat.

'No. Rather than that, I should hope Wardanaz looks after me... But I wonder if he can reach where I'll be.'

-Why are you acting like that?-

The skull principal asked as if not understanding. Alcicle moved his beak with a gloomy and pained expression.

"I vouched for Wardanaz's abilities and took him to the exploration team..."

Ah!

The skull principal immediately understood the situation.

Come to think of it, the exploration team had eyes and coat hooks too, they wouldn't have just taken an Einroguard student thoughtlessly.

Looking at it, Alcicle must have misunderstood and taken him.

The skull principal smiled gently. Now he knew there was a mage with even greater responsibility than themselves.

-Oh my, oh my! To do such a thing. Come to think of it, the biggest culprit was right here!-

"...Isn't the person who gave the wrong letter more at fault...?"

-What are you saying? Letters can always go wrong. The one who thoughtlessly took him along despite that is the bad one.-

Though Alcicle felt like he was sinking deep into a swamp, he couldn't escape.

And though the skull principal hadn't intended it, there were others swept up together.

They were the other exploration team members.

"...We also allowed it together..."

"Who could have known the letters were switched..."

Seeing the exploration team members getting depressed thinking about going to imperial prison with Alcicle, the skull principal became even more cheerful.

Erindarbell tried to soothe them while sweating profusely. She felt terribly sorry that promising imperial talents would go to prison because of her.

"Ah, no. I have the greatest responsibility..."

-Shh. Be quiet.-

"But my mistake..."

-If you get dragged away it would be troubleso... no. Not checking is a greater sin than letters being switched.-

"But the later scholars..."

-Do you know imperial law better than me! Then you be the mage administrator!-

"..."

"None of you need to do that."

Yi-Han, who had finished talking with the Malachite Magic Tower successor, cut in.

"I didn't participate in the exploration team."

"...Uh, will that work?"

"We have to make it work. Everyone must keep the secret."

"Wardanaz...!"

Alcicle, about to be moved, flinched at Professor Boladi's gaze looking this way.

Though it was his usual emotionless gaze, perhaps because they had committed a sin, it somehow felt sharper.

As if penetrating their lies.

"L-Lord Gonadaltes. Boladi Bagrak is looking at me like he wants to kill me."

-Add Professor, Pengerin.-

"...Professor Bagrak is looking at me like he wants to kill me."

-Professor Boladi's eyes are always like that, so don't worry…-

The skull principal turned his gaze to check while speaking.

Professor Boladi was still silently staring this way. Somehow his gaze seemed to have become more intense.

-Hmm. No. He's suspicious. Everyone needs to be careful.-

"..."

"..."

  *

Outstanding combat mages were also skilled at interrogating others and making them spill the truth.

When Professor Boladi waved his right hand, a cruel weapon, calling the familiar adventurers from the exploration team, their faces turned pale blue.

Moreover, on the other side was his left hand, an even more cruel weapon.

"Could we talk for a moment?"

"Th-th-th-that is..."

-Wait! Seeing the stuttering, I'm worried about aftereffects from the realm erosion phenomenon. Go get examined.-

Fortunately, the skull principal cut in.

The skull principal had the Death Knights take the adventurers back and check if there were any aftereffects.

"..."

-Professor Boladi. Don't misunderstand. This time's monster that crossed realms wasn't an ordinary monster but one from the void, so we must carefully check its effects.-

"Yes."

-They were so vicious that effects remain even though we burned the space itself.-

"Yes."

-...You're honestly suspicious, aren't you?-

"Yes."

Professor Boladi answered very honestly. The skull principal cried out as if wronged.

-Why don't you believe my words? Professor Boladi. Have I not earned your trust?-

"Yes."

'This fellow.'

The skull principal looked at his current professor and former disciple as if annoyed.

Though Professor Garcia would have pretended to lose out of weakness, and Wardanaz would have pretended to lose out of flattery, this heartless vampire mage had none of that.

-Then ask Wardanaz directly.-

"It seems more accurate to ask others."

Professor Boladi wasn't fooled.

Given his disciple's personality, it wouldn't be surprising at all if he lied together with the skull principal.

Since he enjoyed visiting dangerous places to confirm his limits and strength, he wouldn't answer properly even if questioned about this.

Instead, Professor Boladi stared intently at the penguin mixed-blood mage. He was the only mage present who could be interrogated mercilessly.

-Pengerin also needs rest after fighting an other-realm monster. Right, Wardanaz?-

"...Yes! Look! He's collapsed and groaning right now!"

Yi-Han pointed at Alcicle collapsed on the ground. Professor Boladi answered bluntly.

"It looks like simple fatigue."

"How strong must the monsters have been for that?"

"You don't need to lie even to your master. Speak honestly."

When Professor Boladi suddenly brought up their master-disciple relationship, Yi-Han was flustered.

It was an ambush he hadn't expected at all.

How unfair to appeal to emotions?

His conscience was already greatly shaken from receiving help during the mad doppelganger incident last time.

'Should I just tell him?'

-Absolutely don't tell him!-

The skull principal urgently sent separate telepathy.

Given Professor Boladi's personality, if they told him now, at least some exploration team members including Alcicle might really go to imperial prison.

-Don't be deceived! Only by enduring this crisis can you become a true liar.-

'You're really terrible at comforting!'

"...I don't know."

"I see. Understood."

Professor Boladi nodded then cleanly withdrew.

Then after exchanging a few words with the Malachite Magic Tower mage, he left together with him.

Yi-Han felt some inexplicable guilt and ominousness from that retreating figure.

"...Will it be alright?"

-You mean Pengerin and the others? They'll be fine.-

"Not that, Professor Bagrak..."

-You mean Professor Boladi? He won't be fine. His disciple openly deceived him.-

"..."

-And you won't be fine either. You'll have to take his lectures again next semester.-

"Would it help if I said we'll immediately repay the gold coins borrowed from going around the towers?"

-Calm down. Haha.-

The skull principal apologized sheepishly.

Unlike other disciples, this one could seriously damage Einroguard if teased.

-Professor Boladi isn't narrow-minded, so he'll understand. Look at the people you saved.-

The skull principal pointed at the exploration team members including Alcicle behind them.

As a mage, he should feel pride in saving these innocent people.

"If you had just properly pointed out the letter contents in the first place, Principal, this would have been fine."

'He's not letting it go.'

The skull principal clicked his tongue inwardly.

This disciple was so clever that tricks trying to gloss over things with atmosphere like with Professor Garcia absolutely wouldn't work.

  *

"Does it make sense that you couldn't even take final exams and left for the capital because of the principal?"

Gainando shouted while trembling with rage.

All the planned break parties - the crazy mage card party, mystery party (Gainando was planned to be both first victim and hidden culprit), dessert party and so on - were all cancelled.

Since without Yi-Han other friends only showed cold responses like 'Why should I?' 'Pay me back for substituting your duty first before talking about parties', Yi-Han's absence was fatal.

"He probably would have refused most of those parties even if he were here."

"Hmph. I knew that so I prepared a lot! Even if one works it's worth it."

"...!"

Yonaire was shocked at her cousin's improved intelligence.

How could Gainando use such a clever method?

"But the principal ruined everything! No! The principal is the principal! If the school has no money, shouldn't he sell treasures or work to earn it!"

"Oh, why is the prince making only correct statements today?"

"But doesn't that guy beg from Wardanaz when he has no money?"

The other friends in the carriage whispered and murmured.

The Einroguard students who had finished first semester were now moving to the capital having rented several carriages.

Originally most would have stayed in Granden City enjoying break, but news that their friend had left first for the capital to help the skull principal changed the students' minds.

-If we leave him like this, Wardanaz might be dragged around all break!-

The gathering to rescue their friend from the skull principal had more participants than expected.

And despite this large number of students, no one had expected the matter would already be over.

"Because of the principal, Yi-Han might not be top student this time."

"No. Wardanaz is top. I checked before coming."

"All perfect scores too. Prince, did you perhaps not check your grades at all?"

"..."

At his friends' words, Gainando quickly changed the subject.

"Would it be easy to get gold coins?"

"Obviously not easy. Can't you ask for donations, Prince?"

"That..."

Gainando hesitated.

"Unlike pocket money, Mother won't give such donations even if I throw a tantrum..."

Though Lady Kraha was generous with the pocket change Gainando used, she became quite strict when the amount grew large.

Even in the past when he threw a tantrum about acquiring mage card production rights, she hadn't given in.

'Wasn't that just impossible in the first place?'

Siana wondered inwardly while tilting her head.

"True. The lady is an outstanding businesswoman, she wouldn't spend money so carelessly."

"...Even I wouldn't lend money to Einroguard."

The mood among the 2nd year students who suddenly realized reality became gloomy.

Come to think of it, it didn't seem like anyone would readily give gold coins to Einroguard.

"Hey. Let's just write anonymous reports and get him out. That seems like our only option."

"Should we?"

"If we scatter hundreds of reports near the palace, even the principal would let him go."

Fortunately, the students had become more mature.

Facing a near-impossible crisis without wavering and devising the best countermeasures.

The Einroguard spirit had already taken firm root in the students' hearts and was growing magnificently.