Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 934

Chapter 934

Meanwhile, Professor Garcia, who was staying at the <Inn of Ten Thousand Schemes>, became quite anxious.

Originally, students were supposed to gather every evening to talk about what had happened, but one second-year student hadn't attended.

Of course, they could be absent depending on the circumstances of their requests, but this time the story was a bit different.

"Long live the righteous thief! Long live Uap who was dunked upside down!"

"To think there was such a hero in Granden City!"

"..."

Professor Garcia wore a troubled expression as adventurers excitedly clinked beer mugs behind her.

She had thought the rumors might die down a bit as time passed, but they seemed to be gaining momentum instead.

"Did you hear? They say the guard captain of the western district got scared and increased his guards."

"It's too late for that now. The righteous thief will come for him!"

"But who on earth is doing this? From what I heard, it seems to be a mage?"

"Isn't it someone from Einroguard? It's close by."

"Nonsense. Einroguard mages are skilled but all eccentrics. They're not the type to do this."

"Maybe because they're eccentrics, they could..."

"...In my opinion, this doesn't seem like something Einroguard mages would do!"

"Oh."

The adventurers were surprised by the troll mixed-blood mage who suddenly joined the conversation.

At the same time, they checked themselves to see if they had made any mistakes. It wasn't good to antagonize a mage.

"We're sorry. Our voices must have been too loud."

"No, no. It's an interesting rumor, so I just joined in."

"As expected! You're interested too, Mage!"

The adventurers brightened.

They had been curious, and now an authoritative mage was joining the conversation.

"That righteous thief must be a mage, right?"

"Ah... I suppose so."

Professor Garcia inwardly sighed.

The adventurers weren't fools. She couldn't forcibly deny this much.

"Breaking through such powerful magical defenses so easily... Even if an adventurer had artifacts, it wouldn't be easy. It's most reasonable to think they're a mage themselves."

"Indeed, indeed!"

"Did you all hear? The righteous thief is a mage!"

At the adventurer's shout, the people on the first floor of the inn burst into cheers and applause. Someone made a loud stomping sound.

"To commemorate, I'll name this newly brewed alcohol <Righteous Thief of Granden>! Take a cup each!"

"Woohoo!"

Professor Garcia looked at Mapara, the inn's server, with resentful eyes.

Usually, he was attentive and kind, reading guests' hearts amazingly well, but today that talent had caught Professor Garcia's ankle.

Doing that would keep it on people's lips!

"Ms. Garcia. Take one!"

"Thank you..."

Professor Garcia forced a smile and accepted as Mapara poured quality grape wine into a tin cup.

"What's going on?"

"Hey! Today at <Inn of Ten Thousand Schemes>, they're giving out a free cup of <Righteous Thief of Granden> each!"

"Long live the righteous thief! Long live grape wine!"

Even passersby outside heard the news and poured in.

Unaware of Professor Garcia's burning anxiety, the adventurers who had each had a drink probed again.

"Mage! So what kind of mage is the righteous thief? From Einroguard after all?"

"I said they're not!"

"They are!"

"...It probably isn't an Einroguard mage. As you all know, Einroguard mages are... a bit eccentric."

"..."

Mapara the server, who knew the other's identity, looked at her as if dumbfounded, but Professor Garcia kept her mouth shut.

The server shook his head and wiped the counter, then ladled thick meat broth into bowls one after another.

'Einroguard mages all seem eccentric.'

"True, Einroguard mages are a bit eccentric."

"Shh! Aren't you afraid? Don't you know about the adventurer who insulted Einroguard and turned into a toad?"

"That must be a false rumor! Do Einroguard mages have nothing better to do? Chasing after adventurers like us and turning them into toads?"

"...Anyway, you all agree it's not an Einroguard mage, right?"

Everyone nodded at Professor Garcia's words.

In fact, with everyone having had a drink, there weren't many people in Granden City twisted enough to object to the troll mixed-blood's words.

"In my opinion, they must be at least a hundred years old."

"Right! They say mages get stronger the longer they live, don't they?"

"And they must have a very destructive and violent personality."

"That's right! Look at what happened to those who got hit today."

Professor Garcia let out a sigh of relief.

At this point, it seemed people would never guess the righteous thief's identity.

"A destructive and violent mage over a hundred years old, who could it be?"

"Isn't it a mage from the Lava Clan Tower? You know, that mage whose head is always on fire."

"What about Lord Gargajun? He's over a hundred, destructive, and violent."

"Isn't that person locked up in the imperial prison?"

As heated discussion and additional grape wine orders continued, with the server smiling happily in the background, the inn door opened and a noble-looking boy entered.

Yi-Han looked around the cauldron of excitement inside the inn and whispered to Professor Garcia.

"Is it perhaps a festival day today?"

"...Come upstairs with me right now!"

  ***

"No. Why didn't you stop me?!"

"..."

At the shameless disciple's first words after hearing the situation explained, Professor Garcia wanted to pinch both her cheeks.

"That much was me stopping you, Yi-Han!"

"Why on earth are they so excited?"

"I guess the people of Granden City found it that satisfying... Don't ever tell anyone you did this."

Though the people of Granden City might be happy, it was unknown what grudges those affected might hold.

There was no need for an incomplete mage like Yi-Han to carry around several enemies already.

"I understand. I'm sorry."

"No. Luck didn't favor... Or did it?"

"..."

Professor Garcia, who had been muttering, smiled seeing the thick stack of books Yi-Han was holding.

"Yi-Han, are you studying magic even when you're out? You can play a bit!"

"Ah. It's not magic study, but recent famous imperial plays and related legends, folklore, stories and such."

Professor Garcia let out a short scream and dropped the tin cup she was holding.

Yi-Han, who quickly stopped the cup with telekinesis before it fell, asked in surprise.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm just surprised that Yi-Han is really playing!"

"..."

Yi-Han grumbled inwardly as he returned the cup to his teacher's hand.

"It's not like that, it's pla... no, preparation needed for a request. There's somewhere I need to infiltrate."

"You beat them up so much, and there are still requests left?"

Professor Garcia was puzzled.

Were the seniors perhaps bullying Yi-Han?

Yi-Han pretended not to hear. The theater club escape request wasn't something he could talk about anywhere.

"I need to pretend to know a bit about plays, but it's difficult."

Yi-Han took out a thick leather book, well-bound, titled <Imperial Plays for Nobles>.

"Ah. That book. Professor Crinbal participates in binding that too."

"..."

As expected of a famous dancer in social circles.

"I participated too."

"Professor, do you know a lot about plays too?!"

"Huh? Yes. I often go watch them with Professor Crinbal."

'Impossible!'

Yi-Han was shocked.

Of course, Professor Garcia was a cultured person, but she was basically someone who had devoted her life to magic.

How could she watch plays too?

'Is it possible because she's mastered time magic?'

Unaware of her disciple's confusion, Professor Garcia asked.

"How far have you read, Yi-Han?"

"I've read up to here, <The Beginning of Ancient Plays>."

"...That's just the first page."

Professor Garcia was dumbfounded.

For progress to stop at the first page of this thick book, was it perhaps a book he had just received?

"Ugh. The book is difficult..."

"It's not difficult at all."

She couldn't understand what he was saying, learning magic a hundred times harder than this in an instant.

Professor Garcia urged her disciple.

"Come on. Read it now. You said you needed it."

"Alright. Then..."

Yi-Han reluctantly opened the first page as if turning a poisoned page.

And then he stopped.

"...Yi-Han. Can't you turn the page quickly?"

"Ugh. Alright."

Thanks to Professor Garcia, Yi-Han was able to learn how recent imperial plays flowed, what plays were popular, what magic actors learned for plays, how mages made income from this, and so on.

"Now. Tell me about the content of the most popular play."

"Heirs of two opposing families fall in love, but unable to overcome the opposition around them, they eventually choose death."

"That's right. What's next?"

"A great lich appears and resurrects them... No, but wouldn't it be cleaner without this?"

"What are you saying, Yi-Han? This is the highlight. The great lich's solo here is really good."

'Ugh. This is why art is...'

Yi-Han felt that imperial art was much more difficult than magic.

With Yi-Han's ordinary talent, it was hard to keep up with the difference in sensibility.

"But this much should be enough to not be treated as a strange person wherever you go."

"Thank you, Professor."

Yi-Han sent sincere thanks to his teacher who had diligently helped her incompetent disciple.

Without Professor Garcia, he might have really failed to infiltrate.

How could he have crammed this ridiculous amount of content into his head?

"Then I should depart."

"I'll cheer for you, Yi-Han!"

Yi-Han nodded and left the inn door. Then people waiting outside approached him.

"Has Mr. Setlad Anog arrived?"

"Yes. Let's go!"

"..."

At least make up a proper alias, really...!

  *

Arien spoke with a strict attitude.

"This time, you really mustn't beat up the other party."

"...Why would I beat them up?"

"I know, Young Master. But you really mustn't beat up the other party."

'You don't seem to know at all.'

Yi-Han thought.

Though Arien outwardly said he trusted Yi-Han, inwardly he seemed to slightly distrust him.

From Yi-Han's position, who had to fight the other party due to unavoidable misfortune, it was truly an unfair story.

"Now. Please tell me again."

"Meet nobles, introduce yourself, and become friendly. Move to the palace together to watch the play. Finally, contact Einroguard students."

"Good. What kind of noble is Setlad Anog?"

"A noble who was captured by pirates in the southern empire but rescued by Ragesa, daughter of Torgerard who leads the privateer fleet. He amassed great wealth by finding a treasure map obtained while captured by pirates. After that, he devoted himself to alchemy, made several potions, and further increased his wealth..."

"Isn't that too specific, and how he amassed wealth doesn't seem necessary... Well, I suppose it can't hurt to be prepared. It seems fine."

Arien was slightly flustered by Yi-Han's much more detailed background than expected, but eventually nodded.

What he had thought of was just 'from which region, of which family'...

'Still, being that detailed can't hurt.'

"Even during the Imperial Bone Flower Speculation Crisis, Setlad Anog didn't waver and further increased his wealth."

"I understand, so you can stop now."