Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 889

Chapter 889

The baby basilisk, who came to his senses first, cried out in disbelief.

-You call that a solution!-

He had thought a professor would know how to calm an overgrown mandrake and stop its crying, but to say 'We were never here today!'...

However, Professor Bentozol paid no attention.

"Your Highness. While promoting growth might be understandable, there's no way to reverse a grown mandrake. This is the best solution right now."

-B-but... Jourin feels a bit... guilty...-

Naturally, Jourin also showed reluctance.

Unlike Einroguard students or professors, Jourin still retained the sensibilities of an outsider.

"Your Highness. It's fine to reveal the truth too. I don't mind at all either."

-...Why don't you mind?-

The baby basilisk was dumbfounded once again.

When another professor's classroom was in such chaos, to not mind at all was a bit...

"But Your Highness. If I may dare say, isn't it because Your Highness is so merciful and kind that you even listen to the worthless criticism of students? Just thinking about how Your Highness will be heartbroken, this Bentozol's heart is already breaking...!"

Bentozol pounded his chest with madness-filled loyalty. The baby basilisk whispered in a disgusted voice.

-That person is scary.-

-Th-that's true, but his opinion seems to have a point.-

-...?!-

The baby basilisk was startled when Jourin's attitude changed in an instant.

-Why?!-

-Well... Jourin... doesn't want to be scolded by Yi-Han...-

Jourin spoke hesitantly with her front paws together.

She didn't care about other students, but if Yi-Han got angry and said 'You! Go back to the capital!', Jourin's heart might stop from sadness.

At this very convincing opinion, even the baby basilisk was momentarily at a loss for words.

-I feel the same.-

-Right?-

The baby basilisk fell into contemplation.

Should he tell the truth according to conscience and loyalty?

Or listen to the vile suggestion of the suspicious professor and hide it?

-Let's hide it!-

The baby basilisk made a decision befitting the king of snakes. Jourin, who had been agonizing together, brightened when her friend agreed.

-Really??-

-Yes! We were never here!-

When the baby basilisk cried out wagging his tail, Jourin responded flapping her wings.

At that sight, Professor Bentozol's eyes moistened with dew.

Perhaps he worked as an Einroguard professor to see such beautiful sights.

-That's right! No one will know we came!-

"Excellent! I'll rip out my tongue to keep the secret too!"

When Professor Bentozol shouted, caught up in the mood, the two were startled and distanced themselves.

  *

Yi-Han, who had woken up, came down frowning.

"What's wrong, Wardanaz?"

"No... I feel like I had an ominous dream..."

"I think I know why. It's because you usually sleep in a chair but slept on a bed."

"..."

Yi-Han looked at Asan as if dumbfounded, but other students seemed to agree with Asan's words.

"That makes sense. Wardanaz. You should use your bed more."

"That's right. Private rooms are for sleeping, not storing books."

"You're all noisy."

When he waved his staff, toasted bread flew up from the frying pan placed over the fire.

At the same time, glass jars filled with various jams, butter wrapped in brown paper, and sliced salted ham arrived in order from the cupboard.

Before the Blue Dragon Tower students could admire their friend's excellence in using 5th Circle magic for household chores, they grabbed the bread first.

When they were novices, they used to chatter during meal times, but now his friends were proper Einroguard students too.

They knew well that if they talked while doing other things, only they would lose out.

"Wardanaz. How many exams are you taking next week? Have you already taken them all?"

"...I told you that's not true? Who on earth keeps spreading these false rumors?"

"Gainando was bragging to the White Tiger Tower guys that you've already taken all your exams, so I thought..."

'That bastard.'

Yi-Han realized the culprit nearby and shuddered.

It was one thing to childishly argue with students from other towers, but how could he spread false rumors?

"I'll finish preparing over the weekend. The language lecture, and the transformation magic lecture... Ah. Right. I should go to the greenhouse."

"Let's go together. I need to catch some bugs too."

"More importantly, isn't Her Highness not waking up?"

The students wondered as they looked at Jourin, who was sound asleep in front of the fireplace.

"Shouldn't we wake her? She'll surely be upset if we leave her behind."

"But why is she sleeping so long? She usually woke up earlier than us."

Jourin was a young dragon.

In other words, she was a being close to invincible physically.

It was strange that someone who always woke up early and rolled around asking to go outside quickly was still sleeping.

"Your Highness. Your Highness?"

-Mmm... Jourin didn't do it...-

"Do what?"

-...Yi-Han!-

Jourin, who belatedly woke up, blinked when she saw the students. Her face turned pale.

-If Jourin just said something strange, it was all sleep talk! Sleep talk!-

"You didn't say anything though."

-I-is that so? Jourin is innocent!-

"...??"

Seeing Jourin's strange reaction no matter how they looked at it, the students including Yi-Han murmured.

"Did Gainando come at night and poke her with his staff and run away?"

"Come on... Surely not... Even he wouldn't do that."

"No way. Gainando is so jealous."

Meanwhile, Yi-Han gathered the baby basilisk back into his sleeve.

He was puzzled to see the little one, who usually woke up in the morning and chattered away, nodding off.

'What's this? Did the two do something at night?'

"Your Highness. We're thinking of going to the greenhouse, would you like to come along?"

-Uh... W-we went yesterday too? It seems too much. The Einroguard students are pitiful!-

"Your Highness...!"

All the students were moved.

How merciful!

Some students resolved to join the royalist faction supporting 'Jourin for Emperor' after graduating later.

Given the dragon race and the kindness she just showed, she was fully qualified.

"We still have to go. I need to plant this new bud too. It's finished, right?"

-Don't worry. You'll be surprised!-

Saratan rubbed his palms cunningly and craftily.

Due to the recent attack, this arrogant and fierce spirit was very cowed.

"Good. I'll trust you. The spirit here said it would help grow the mandrake. Your Highness, shall we go together? I'll introduce you to the plants you couldn't see yesterday."

"Wardanaz. Most of the plants you couldn't see yesterday are ones that attack people..."

"So what? Her Highness will find that more interesting."

Ordinary plants could hardly scratch Jourin's scales. Knowing what Jourin liked, Yi-Han confidently recommended it.

-J-Jourin might be a little scared...-

"?!??"

Yi-Han was really surprised.

"Your Highness. Did something happen? If you're worried about Einroguard now, we can arrange for you to return anytime..."

-Noooo! That's not it!-

"Gainando didn't come out at night and attack you with magic and run away, did he?"

-Absolutely not... Jourin will go see the greenhouse...-

Jourin looked enviously at the sleeping basilisk in the sleeve.

If only Jourin had been asleep too!

  *

"You're not going to change your words later, are you?"

-Don't worry. I told you you'd be surprised, didn't I?-

Yi-Han tormented the spirit every 5 minutes on the way.

His friends, who didn't know what grudge was between the two, whispered.

-Isn't Wardanaz being too harsh on the spirit?-

-It must be the Wardanaz family way. You need authority to subdue a strong spirit.-

-I see. So that's why spirits run away...-

Wooooooong!

At the uncomfortable vibration sound coming from the distant greenhouse, all the students instinctively covered both ears.

...Except Yi-Han.

"What's that?"

"W-Wardanaz. In the greenhouse... from the greenhouse...!"

"A mandrake must have been pulled out!"

Yonaire, who grasped the situation first, shouted. If the sound could be heard outside the door, it could only be a mandrake among the greenhouse plants.

"Everyone. Take this potion!"

"Thanks, Yonaire!"

"Not you, Yi-Han!"

"...I know."

When Yonaire angrily told the others to take it, Yi-Han was slightly hurt.

Of course, it would have been meaningless for Yi-Han himself to drink it, but...

'She didn't have to say it like that!'

The students who had barely taken out mental protection potions and earplugs for mandrakes sighed in relief.

"Why was a mandrake pulled out?"

"I don't know...?"

Yi-Han, who had approached the front of the greenhouse, paused.

He realized there was an unfamiliar magic seal on the greenhouse door.

'What's this? Did Professor Willow put it up?'

But if Professor Willow had put it up, there was no reason to do so without telling the students.

Instead of undoing the seal, Yi-Han tried to check the situation inside first.

"..."

Then he stepped back a few steps in shock.

"What's wrong, Wardanaz?"

"...Can mandrakes normally grow like that?"

"??"

His friends, wondering what Yi-Han was talking about, brought their faces close to the greenhouse window.

Then they stepped back a few steps in shock just like him.

Originally, a mandrake's screaming, human-like body was deeply buried in the ground, with only the leaves and upper part slightly exposed.

But now, a gigantic mandrake leaf and upper part they had never seen before filled the greenhouse. It was so huge that the leaves covered half the greenhouse.

Other tower students who arrived late were also surprised to see the situation inside.

"What on earth happened?"

"Can mandrakes grow like that?"

"More importantly, was it crying from underground just now? The mandrake didn't come out?"

"I-if it's this loud outside the greenhouse door..."

"I know!"

When Siana shouted, everyone's attention turned to her.

"What do you know, Priestess Siana?"

"I know why the mandrake became like that, Mr. Wardanaz."

Like a detective, Siana confidently pointed her finger. At the end of that finger was Yi-Han's staff.

"The spirit dwelling in that staff is the culprit!"

-...????!!!!-

Saratan, who had been waiting holding the new bud, screamed at the sight of the mage suddenly accusing him of being the culprit.

Of course, Saratan's voice was not conveyed to other students except Yi-Han.

"Who else but that spirit would grow a mandrake like that? Moreover, that spirit has a motive! It's not strange for it to misinterpret orders since it has a grudge against Mr. Wardanaz!"

"I see... The spirit's revenge..."

"So that's what it meant when it asked to wait a day!"

All the students admired Siana's deduction.

Even when bound by contracts, powerful and fierce beings from other realms were not docile.

They always looked for loopholes in contracts to get back at the contractor.

-Absolutely not! Absolutely not! Which damn young mage brat is framing who! I'll kill you!-

Saratan jumped up and down.

It felt absurd to even have to make such excuses.

It was humiliating enough to submit to a young mage, but to have to make such excuses!

However, Yi-Han had already half fallen for Siana's deduction.

"Come to think of it, didn't you say I'd be surprised when we arrived at the greenhouse?"

-...-