Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 906

Chapter 906

Chasing and catching intruders was something servants would do.

Mages from a magic school like Einroguard had no reason to do such things.

Of course, if a certain mage had spread false rumors like 'The intruders might have the principal's treasure?', it would be a somewhat exceptional situation...

Yi-Han didn't give such an explanation and just made an expression of not knowing anything.

-Unless they have so much free time that it's rotting!-

"It's truly strange!"

Yi-Han agreed without interrupting the angry hamster's squeaking.

After venting his anger like this, the hamster would soon calm down.

If the hamster gave up on escaping and stayed in the cage, it would be good for Yi-Han, good for the mad doppelganger, good for everyone.

"Something terrible has happened!"

"???"

Yi-Han was startled when Intarendals' scream was heard from outside.

He was a head butler who never lost his composure and kindness no matter what happened. For such a head butler to scream like that.

It was a sight Yi-Han had never seen before.

"What's the matter?"

"Lord Gonadaltes' state has become unstable."

"...This guy is the culprit!!"

Yi-Han immediately pointed at the hamster and reported him.

Though he didn't know what the situation was, people who could live should live, shouldn't they? Now that he had been discovered, the hamster had to take responsibility.

The hamster made a squeaking sound of disbelief.

Even though he was from a great noble family, how could he betray without even a second of hesitation?

'Even a magic criminal would hesitate for a second.'

"Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family. I don't quite understand what you mean. How can that mage be the culprit?"

"I'll tell you about the vicious trap this guy plotted."

Yi-Han quickly explained about the vicious trap the hamster had plotted.

After hearing that explanation, Intarendals answered immediately.

"It's an irrelevant matter."

"...Oh, is that so?"

"Yes. Lord Gonadaltes will immediately notice traces of corrupted souls with just a glance."

-Nonsense. He can't notice that easily.-

The hamster bristled, but Intarendals ignored him.

"And weren't all the intruders caught in the first place?"

-...-

The hamster was deflated. He couldn't refute that.

"Then what does it mean that Master's state has become unstable?"

"That's..."

Before the words were finished, a powerful wave swept through the workshop.

The great mage had returned.

At his arrival, Intarendals flustered with an anxious look never seen before.

"Oh no, what should I do about this... It's too early, even earlier than expected..."

'What on earth is going on?'

The anxiety spread to Yi-Han too.

Intarendals, a strong one from the ancient empire who had been through thick and thin, stopped at anxiety, but Yi-Han immediately felt fear.

His state becoming unstable, could he perhaps attack his disciple?

"Welcome back, Lord Gonadaltes!"

While the head butler briefly left his seat, Yi-Han whispered to the hamster.

"What's this situation? What did he mean by unstable?"

-I don't know either.-

Originally, the hamster would have been angry at Yi-Han's betrayal, but the current situation was too ominous for that.

Even the experienced magic criminal instinctively felt a sense of crisis.

If the mad great mage's disciple felt fear, how dangerous would it be for someone less than a slave?

-What I can guess is... That tyrant originally had madness.-

The hamster racked his brains to the maximum to survive, recalling things he had experienced.

-There were signs in his attitude towards me.-

"...Surely you're not saying he went mad because he attacked you, Mage?"

Yi-Han asked as if it was ridiculous.

That was just the usual mad doppelganger. Hadn't Yi-Han been attacked often too?

'And honestly, this hamster deserved some beating.'

-Shut up and listen! That's not what I'm talking about.-

What the hamster was talking about was when Yi-Han had just been kidnapped, no, chosen as a disciple and visited the workshop.

When he had declared he would test Antagondals after telling him to complete 5th Circle magic within a day.

"I remember. Come to think of it, Mage cursed that I would die without mastering 5th Circle magic."

Yi-Han spoke in a chilling voice. The hamster felt a chill and pretended not to hear.

-It's about that time.-

  *

While Yi-Han was learning 5th Circle magic, Antagondals went outside the workshop and waited cheerfully.

He very much enjoyed seeing young novice mages perish due to excessive greed.

But at that time, surprisingly, the mad doppelganger was waiting close to the workshop.

-Do you have anything else to order?-

-...-

-Master?-

-Is this right?-

-...It is, Master.-

-What?-

-Everything!-

Thud!

-Don't flatter without knowing what royalty is thinking. Trash.-

  *

"??"

Yi-Han was puzzled after hearing the explanation.

He didn't understand what the hamster was trying to say.

'I get that he enjoyed seeing me fail.'

"So what are you trying to say?"

-You fool. That tyrant is not a living being but a thought entity. A thought entity composed of mana! It's impossible for such a thought entity to have doubts and be confused.-

Even after that conversation, the tyrant attacked the hamster while being confused about whether his teaching method was right.

At the time, he had just thought the mana thought entity was going mad because the world rejected it, but seeing the current situation, that had been a sign.

-Do you think a storm or earthquake would have doubts and be confused about itself? Absolutely not.-

"I see. Then how do we cure the madness?"

-I don't know.-

"..."

Yi-Han looked down at the fat hamster not with eyes respecting a great mage, but with eyes despising him.

The hamster exploded in anger and made excuses.

-Who could cure a thought entity's madness! In the first place, most thought entities are annihilated due to the world's rejection before that. That tyrant is enduring with ancient arcane magic!-

"So you're saying you can't do it."

-If you didn't like that, you shouldn't have interfered with the means I prepared!-

"When did I interfere? Surely you're not falsely accusing me of hiring mages and giants..."

Before the words were finished, the mad doppelganger appeared at the workshop entrance. Behind him, the head butler Intarendals was fidgeting with a very anxious expression.

'...He looks surprisingly normal?'

Yi-Han was rather flustered.

He had thought his hair would be standing up backwards or killing intent would be exploding from his eyes when they said he was unstable, but he looked the same as usual.

"You are here."

"Ah. Yes. I had something to ask about academics..."

"Let's put that aside for now. A more important matter has come up."

"What is it?"

"I'm going to conquer the continent from now on."

"..."

A silence worse than death filled the place. Intarendals behind had his head bowed with a frustrated face.

Yi-Han wanted to ask what was going on, but he couldn't because the mad doppelganger was in front of him.

"C-conquer the continent?"

"That's right. You, disciple, must fulfill the role of adjutant and commander to the royalty."

Yi-Han shuddered at the skill of dragging him into the leadership of an imperial rebellion in an instant.

Already because he had contracted with the guest star Arna...

...Wardanaz family descendant 'shocked' over charges of imperial rebellion... Revealed to have dreamed of a new imperial dynasty...

...An ambitious one who cunningly deceived the imperial family, revealing his true colors!...

Such imperial newspaper articles flashed through his mind, but now this was no longer a joke.

Seeing the current situation, the tone might become even more extreme.

"Master. May this disciple ask a few questions?"

When Yi-Han asked cautiously, surprisingly, the mad doppelganger nodded readily.

"Do so."

"Uh... Why on earth are you trying to conquer the continent?"

The mad doppelganger let out a small sigh.

That sigh sounded like 'Why is my disciple so dull, foolish, and insensitive?'

It was so sincere that Yi-Han almost felt sorry.

'No.'

Yi-Han immediately came to his senses.

Not understanding this was absolutely not Yi-Han's fault. He shouldn't fall for the other's tricks.

"Look."

The mad doppelganger pointed with his fingertip outside the open workshop door. Blue and lush mountains came into view.

"What do you see?"

"I see mountains, but?"

"Royalty sees the world's pain and wounds."

"..."

Yi-Han wanted to say he would get him new glasses made of emerald, but he held back.

He wasn't sure if jokes would work on the mad doppelganger right now.

"Left alone, people will only continue to leave pain and wounds on each other. If no magic or mystery can save them, at least a holy king must strictly rule and enlighten them."

"I-I see."

Though he felt dizzy, Yi-Han could barely grasp the context through his experiences and conversations so far.

It was still hard to believe, but the skull principal had been quite a kind person in his youth, and had strived to eliminate the world's pain.

He had even developed magic like <Gonadaltes' Decline>, so that passion was certainly real.

Such passion didn't go astray just because it failed and was frustrated. It only changed direction, and the flame burned even bigger.

It wasn't strange for the mad doppelganger, who had failed all magical means, to judge 'I have no choice but to rule by dominating the continent'...

'No. It is strange. It's a crazy idea.'

It was a crazy idea, but he was originally the mad doppelganger. Yi-Han had just forgotten because he had seemed so normal lately.

Thinking the explanation was done, the mad doppelganger gave his final order.

"Listen, disciple. While the royalty prepares the army, lead the vanguard and occupy that magic school. The mages of the territory should rightfully devote themselves to the Magic Empire."

The current mad doppelganger felt inorganic and mechanical to the point where the times when he got irritated seemed better.

He was like a thought entity born for the purpose of conquering the continent.

Yi-Han, who had been silent trying to digest too much information, suddenly remembered and asked.

"By vanguard, who do you mean?"

"Who else would I mean? The giants. They should be enough."

"Master! The giants absolutely..."

Yi-Han tried to persuade him with 'The giants have independent personalities so they absolutely won't listen'.

"The giants said they would follow if you, disciple, were the commander. Depart. The royalty will prepare a new army."

'Damn it.'

Yi-Han inwardly cursed at the giants' unhelpful actions.

Of course, the giants had answered with a feeling of 'Yi-Han is attacking? Sure, we'll go along' to help Yi-Han, but it wasn't helpful at all in this situation.

When the mad doppelganger went outside, Yi-Han and the hamster immediately grabbed the head butler and poured out questions.

"What on earth is going on?!"

-Conquering the continent? What's going on?-

"How can we stop him? We must stop him!"

-No matter how strong this tyrant is, he absolutely can't conquer the continent...-

"Wait. Please wait a moment."

Intarendals briefly extended his hand to stop the waterfall of questions.

Then he swung a magic whip at the hamster.

Crack!

"I let you off, but you dare climb up arrogantly, prisoner."

"..."

Yi-Han unconsciously corrected his attitude to be polite. Intarendals, who had subdued the hamster, relaxed his cold expression and returned to being the polite head butler.

"I'll explain everything, Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family."

"Y-you can do it when you're comfortable."

"?"