Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 1003

Chapter 1003

"Are there no creditors you didn't roughly threaten?"

"There are a few I threatened gently."

"...Are there no creditors you didn't threaten at all?"

The skull principal slowly shrugged his shoulders at those words.

"Your magic has improved a lot but you still ask foolish questions. In that situation, who would willingly hand over gold and cooperate?"

The empire's people weren't fools. Even if the skull principal was the emperor's mage administrator and guardian of the magic barrier protecting the empire, they wouldn't just offer up gold.

Especially when the skull principal's thought entity appeared in Einroguard's territory, the goal of permanently confining it to a realm instead of reverse summoning it was hard to gain support for.

It would have been easier to find someone willing to invest in Professor Verduus's new artifacts...

"That's absurd! How!"

"It's true. Regardless of his character, Beavle is a highly renowned artifact craftsman in the empire. What does a craftsman's eccentric personality matter to someone who wants a masterpiece? If anything, it increases the value."

"Ugh! These foolish people!"

When his disciple raged at the empire's people's foolishness, the skull principal was satisfied for once.

Any outstanding mage would naturally feel indignation towards the empire's people.

The Wardanaz family boy was now walking a path he rightfully should.

"I'll create movable type and spread books. Warning them not to be deceived by Professor Verduus!"

"...You can do that on your own later, let's think about the creditors first."

"Ah. Right."

Yi-Han came back to his senses.

'Hmm. I wonder if something can be done about the noble families.'

Why else would the term 'school connections' exist?

Fortunately, Einroguard had several students from noble families who were friendly with Yi-Han.

Of course, these families had refused the skull principal's request.

But Yi-Han felt he would have done the same.

'I probably would have refused such a request too.'

Even Yi-Han would have felt uncomfortable if the skull principal, who was already suspiciously asking for support and investment normally, flew in asking for gold to permanently confine a thought entity.

But what they were trying to do now wasn't requesting additional gold but extending the repayment period.

It was a much more persuadable situation.

...Though the skull principal had roughly threatened them...

"I trust in your ability to persuade the noble families."

"!"

At the skull principal's words, Yi-Han realized they had been thinking the same thing.

"Can I do it?"

"Haha."

The master smiled at his disciple's question.

Then he answered seriously.

"It's not about whether you can or can't - you must. Otherwise, your seniors will have to conduct magic research next semester using only mud, rocks, and twigs."

Yi-Han felt the heavy responsibility weighing on his shoulders.

"..."

Then he paused.

"Oh, but why aren't any other seniors..."

Originally at Einroguard, higher years came with higher responsibilities.

So why was this responsibility falling only on Yi-Han, a 2nd year?

The skull principal kindly answered.

"Should I call Yukbeltire, or Caten? Tell me which senior you want. I'll call them if needed."

"...Senior Direth or Senior Illeg would at least..."

Yi-Han grumbled at the skull principal's attitude of viciously only mentioning unhelpful seniors.

However, the skull principal shook his head.

"Those two aren't well-suited for persuasion due to their kind natures."

"Indeed... Wait a minute."

Yi-Han felt something off.

Then what about me?

"Besides, those two are needed for cleaning up this situation."

"I suppose that's true. The professors must all be busy too."

Looking at it carefully, there really wasn't anyone to call.

The professors and 5th years were either busy or unhelpful, and the 4th year seniors were currently the busiest year...

"Let's say I handle persuading the noble families... but how should we persuade the bureaucrats?"

"I trust in your ability to persuade the bureaucrats."

"..."

Yi-Han wondered if he had misheard.

But the skull principal was serious.

"No matter how iron-blooded those bastards are, they wouldn't be harsh when timber that will support the empire comes to ask."

"...I understand for now."

Though it was a bit absurd, this wasn't completely incomprehensible either.

Just last year, hadn't Yi-Han been in charge of dealing with bureaucrats?

Basically, the empire's bureaucrats didn't much like the skull principal.

How could they like a great mage who would unhesitatingly uproot the empire's pillars for Einroguard's sake?

Even without being threatened, several bureaucrats would foam at the mouth and collapse just from seeing him.

However, surprisingly, even such bureaucrats were generous to students.

Unlike the evil skull principal, Einroguard students were talents who would be active throughout the empire after graduation.

"Persuading noble families... I'll do it, persuading bureaucrats... I'll do it. Who else did you threaten?"

"I think I went around to some magic towers and mage guilds too. I needed manpower."

Great magic wasn't completed with just gold. Even with all necessary reagents prepared, it required more manpower than expected.

It wasn't for nothing that mages gathered to build magic towers and establish guilds to hone their skills.

"I gathered those fellows to prepare separate magic. Among them, I brought the skilled ones to Einroguard."

"Huh? I haven't seen them though?"

"They were waiting below. There was no reason to have them directly confront the doppelganger."

"Ah. I suppose they left while I was collapsed."

"That's not entirely incorrect."

The Death Knight glanced at his master.

More precisely, after the battle ended and the mages kept asking 'Why didn't you use the magic we prepared?', the skull principal had chased them away telling them to get lost.

To think he would package it like that?

"...Wait. Not entirely incorrect? Something seems strange. Isn't there something you haven't told me?"

'As expected of Master Yi-Han.'

The knight felt proud inwardly.

A mage should be able to find clues even in disordered chaos!

  *

By the time they arrived at the imperial capital, Yi-Han had perfectly grasped the information about the creditors involved in this situation.

First, the imperial bureaucrats.

Thanks to the skull principal's rough threats, the finance officer and subordinate bureaucrats had eventually opened their vaults and handed over gold.

Yi-Han had to persuade these people.

Next were various noble families.

Thanks to the skull principal's rough threats, the family heads had eventually opened their vaults and provided necessary reagents.

Yi-Han had to persuade these people too.

Finally, magic towers and mage guilds throughout the empire.

Thanks to the skull principal's rough threats, they had stopped their research and magic to all step up.

Yi-Han had to persuade these people too...

"..."

Having finished organizing, Yi-Han stared at the skull principal.

'Isn't the work distribution a bit strange?'

It seemed the skull principal should step up for at least one of the three.

"Why are you looking like that?"

"Wouldn't it be better if you persuaded the mages, Principal?"

While he was just the lord of terror and tyranny to Einroguard students, to outside mages the skull principal was the most respected great mage.

The wisest and most evil- no, wisest among those called great mages in the current empire.

It might be better for the skull principal to approach such people and persuade them with authority.

"How so?"

"Like teaching them lost arcane knowledge, or giving advice on magic that isn't progressing..."

"Those are methods I've already used before, so they won't work."

"..."

Like the skull principal's long history, his usable methods had run out.

Now the magic towers and guilds were too seasoned to be won over by a great mage's wise advice with respect.

"Rather, introducing an outstanding mage is much more effective. I took Professor Garcia before."

The skull principal recalled the past.

When mages belonging to towers like the Accumulated Rain Magic Tower, Day Lily Magic Tower, and Malachite Magic Tower saw the young Professor Garcia, their eyes had sparkled like Einroguard students discovering candy.

If one didn't covet a genius taking all schools' courses, they weren't qualified as a magic tower mage.

-...Your Excellency! Please, when Student Kim graduates...! No need to force it. Just say a few good words about our Accumulated Rain Magic Tower!-

-Lord Gonadaltes! If you send Student Kim to our tower, we'll push all this year's empire-supported gold coins to you!-

The skull principal's eyes softened at the nostalgic memories.

"Thanks to that, we received quite generously back then..."

"...Wait, Professor Garcia came to Einroguard though? Did she perhaps help other towers before coming?"

"No. She came directly. Because she was smart."

Professor Garcia was a mage who had walked the path of a pure Einroguard mage.

Entering Einroguard, advancing to 5th year instead of graduating, becoming a professor instead of graduating...

Yi-Han felt his chest inexplicably tighten.

"Then didn't the other tower mages protest?"

"Of course they protested. But what could they do? Professor Garcia chose."

The skull principal shrugged lightly.

Even a great mage couldn't change someone's will.

Though various towers sent gifts to curry favor, that was just their choice.

When they failed, the responsibility was naturally theirs too.

"..."

Though Yi-Han sent a look of contempt, the skull principal ignored it and spoke.

"It will work a second time. In my opinion, it should work up to three times."

"I'm worried whether I can do as well as Professor Garcia. As you know, I'm much more lacking than the professor."

-?-

"?"

From the Death Knights to the skull principal, everyone was puzzled.

Was there anything the Wardanaz fellow was much more lacking compared to the young Professor Garcia?

'Arrogance?'

'Rudeness? But he's already plenty rude.'

"I'm not a troll mixed-blood so my strength..."

"...Don't worry about that."

The skull principal was dumbfounded by his disciple worrying about the most unnecessary part.

What did strength matter for visiting magic towers...

"Then let's go knock dow- no, persuade the bureaucrats first."

Passing through the city gates, the skull principal gave instructions to the knights acting as drivers. Yi-Han suddenly remembered something and asked.

"Will I be able to see Her Highness Jourin?"

"That's not possible."

"Ah. I suppose she's under house arrest."

Come to think of it, Jourin had achieved the unprecedented feat of deceiving both the emperor and skull principal and escaping.

Given that, it wouldn't be strange if she was under house arrest at home.

"That's not it?"

"Pardon?"

"What house arrest? She rarely goes out anyway unless something special happens. Don't measure His Majesty's pure-blooded children by imperial law."

"Then why can't I meet her?"

"Because if you visit her, she won't let you go until the break ends."

"..."

"She might not let you go even after the break ends."

"Come on. Her Highness isn't someone who would stubbornly insist like that."

"Haha. Look who's become a dragon expert. Anyway, if you're going to meet her, do it after finishing everything. I've warned you clearly. Turn right. The road ahead is blocked."

-Should we fly instead?-

"No. This month I need to show a humble and repentant appearance. Since I cut the city wall last time because I was in a hurry."

At those words, Yi-Han unconsciously glanced outside the carriage.

A corner of the capital's wall was cleanly cut away in a straight line as if sliced by a sharp blade.

Though he was really curious about what had happened, Yi-Han endured with superhuman patience.

'Don't ask. Nothing good will come from hearing about it...'

Yi-Han reorganized what he would say when meeting the bureaucrats. He would start with 'I'm truly sorry about our principal.'