Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 803

Chapter 803

The people who were discussing how much imperial gold coins to send periodically were startled by Intarendals's bold proposal.

Originally, such sponsorship required quite a big commitment, as it wasn't just about sending once and being done, but having to send steadily while the research progressed.

Moreover, while investors prepared for high risk, high return might understand, a considerable number of people visiting Einroguard for this club week were sponsors who came purely for honor.

As such, these people didn't get angry or show competitiveness even when a stranger they were seeing for the first time declared 'I'll take care of it alone'.

Rather, they showed respect instead.

"Amazing, to think there was still someone in the empire who knows how to spend gold coins like this!"

"Indeed, honorable people come to an honorable magic academy."

Clap clap clap clap-

As people started applauding, Intarendals showed courtesy according to old customs.

It was a bit different from modern etiquette, but people thought he must be from a region they didn't know well and let it pass.

"Then we'll leave this sponsorship to you."

"We'll sponsor other students!"

"Thank you, everyone!"

Falcrius wiped under his nose while hiding his joy.

He had thought his junior was an outstanding genius, but he didn't know it would be to this extent.

To extract this much gold coins from just one person.

Thanks to this, other students in the kitchen club would also enjoy the trickle-down effect!

"Wardanaz. Thank you!"

"This praiseworthy kid!"

"Wait, where did Wardanaz go?"

The kitchen club seniors were about to lift Wardanaz up in celebration when they became puzzled.

Wardanaz, who had been right beside them until just now, was nowhere to be seen.

Where did he go?

"What's the matter?"

Intarendals approached and asked.

It wasn't particularly a question mixed with hostility or suspicion, but Falcrius felt pressured by the attitude that exuded nobility's unique cultivation and dignity.

Originally, such people are harder to deceive, no, to deal with.

Thinking that one slip of his tongue could make his junior's sponsorship money fly away, even the bold Falcrius's hands sweated.

"My junior seems to have had something come up. I'll call him right away!"

"There's no need for that, is there? I'll leave the gold coins here. In the name of the Dargard family, I, Intarendals, will..."

Falcrius almost cried at the honorable sight of proceeding with the sponsorship regardless of whether the other party was present or not.

'Wardanaz... you bastard. Where on earth did you bring such a sponsor from!'

If he were here, he would have pounded his back about ten times with joy.

"...There. That's done. Sorry for the trouble."

"Not at all."

"More importantly, what's boiling in this pot? It smells delicious."

"W-wait! That's the meal for us! Please eat this meal for guests!"

Falcrius was startled and tried to stop Intarendals.

As outsiders were visiting, the kitchen club had of course prepared meals to serve.

They had selected only the best ingredients from the food storage to make meals.

White soft bread and pea soup, lobster soup. Whole roasted lamb with garlic, peppers, oil, and spices. Apricot pudding and cheese soufflé.

Of course, there weren't only meals for guests. The kitchen club members also made meals for members as they had to eat while waiting.

A stew made by throwing in all the leftover ingredients from preparing the guests' meals.

That was all. Members usually made do with this, accompanied by hard bread or rice.

But now, a guest who was obviously of noble origin was approaching the members' meal!

"It's a familiar taste. Excellent, isn't it? Very good. The kitchen club isn't for nothing!"

However, Intarendals took a small portion in a bowl, tasted it, and gave high praise.

"..."

"...??"

The kitchen club members looked at each other in bewilderment.

Had some strange alchemical reaction occurred without their knowledge, turning the tasteless stew into something else?

Otherwise, how could he say that was delicious...

  *

"Huff, huff huff."

Yi-Han exhaled rough breaths.

It was because he had cast an invisibility spell, enhanced his body with mana, and sprinted at full speed without resting at all.

"Nice to see you, Wardanaz. Did you come to see the guests?"

Illeg of the Ciseners Order, the leader of the library club, greeted Yi-Han gladly.

Seeing the bespectacled bear mixed-blood senior, Yi-Han realized he had arrived at the library club area.

'I was so busy fleeing I didn't even check the direction...'

"Hello, Senior Illeg. Is the library club also welcoming guests?"

"You could say that."

'What's this?'

The atmosphere of the library club was different from the kitchen club earlier.

Outside guests seemed to have visited, but this atmosphere...

"<The Perfect Method for Raising Kingdom Thrushes>, this book! This book is mine!"

"Get back right now? I've been looking for this book for over ten years."

"Our family has been searching for this book since my grandfather's time! You can find it at the Dawn Library, can't you?"

"You dare call that talking? You go to the Dawn Library yourself!"

"Everyone, please calm down!"

The guests who were crazy about books had discovered rare editions and were engaged in fierce competition to get their hands on them, without exception.

Yi-Han asked in bewilderment.

"Is this okay?"

"Of course. They're all doing this because they love books."

Here, there was no need to serve meals or introduce oneself like at the kitchen club.

A few rare books brought by members were enough. Sponsors fought throwing punches and shouting.

A moment later.

As the commotion settled, the sponsors regained their composure and returned to being normal people.

"Whew. It was an honorable fight."

"Please lend me <The Perfect Method for Raising Kingdom Thrushes> later."

"Oh right. Isn't that student Sebius? Is the object-penetrating cloak I mentioned last time progressing well?"

"..."

Yi-Han was dumbfounded at the sight of people who had just been fighting vulgarly now acting with dignity as if nothing had happened.

However, the library club members were nonchalant as if it were nothing special. They had already seen such scenes several times.

No matter how cultured a person from a great noble family was, wouldn't a bibliophile's eyes roll back when seeing a rare book?

"Who might this student be?"

"Hello. I am Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family..."

"Ah. So you're Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family. That 2nd year top student of all schools who's already recognized by outside mages! You were recognized by Lady Yoanen of the Maykin family and Master Puyo, and are already talking research with 5th year seniors, right? For a 2nd year student to complete 5th Circle magic, if it weren't Einroguard, truly no one would have believed it."

"...Is there perhaps a communication artifact among Einroguard's guests?"

Hearing rumors spreading so systematically and accurately, Yi-Han was dumbfounded.

To think they would say exactly the same things as the guests at the kitchen club earlier.

"With a student like this, we can entrust things with confidence. I'll sponsor."

"I'll sponsor too."

"Well, I hear rock drakes have been appearing in Einroguard's library lately, I'm worried if a 2nd year student can break through."

"Are you saying you won't do it because of that?"

"N-no, that's not it. I'm just worried. After all, we can't ignore experience."

Yi-Han listened to the guests' conversation with a complicated expression.

Sebius asked in a small voice beside him.

"Didn't you say you defeated a rock drake?"

"Where did you hear such a rumor?"

"Your friends were saying so."

"..."

While he was feeling complicated, a thud sound was heard from behind.

It was a similar thud sound to what he had heard earlier.

Something heavy being set down, and the clinking sound of gold coins inside...

Yi-Han suddenly got goosebumps.

Could it be?

"Is this where Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family is?"

"Yes, it is, but who are you?"

"I alone am sufficient for sponsoring Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family! The people gathered here can help other mages."

"...!"

Surprisingly, Intarendals had come again.

Even after spending so much gold coins earlier!

'No. How much gold coins did this person bring?'

Yi-Han couldn't believe it.

How much of the Dargard family's wealth had he embezzled separately to be able to do such things?

The guests who had come first didn't notice Intarendals's evil identity and just showed respect for his appearance.

"To think there was such an honorable person in the empire!"

"Indeed, rare book collectors are all honorable people without exception."

"I could yield <The Perfect Method for Raising Kingdom Chickadees> to you!"

"That's a common book, you fool."

When large amounts of imperial gold coins circulate, a warm atmosphere is bound to be created.

The library club members were very pleased at the appearance of a big shot and looked for their junior.

"Wardanaz. Your passion for taking all schools has brought such gold coins... Wardanaz? Wardanaz?"

"Where did Wardanaz go?"

  *

Yi-Han fled in fear.

He knew the skull principal's mad doppelganger was a dangerous being, but he didn't know it would corner Yi-Han like this.

Indeed, the evil displayed by an ancient great mage was beyond Yi-Han's ability to predict or imagine.

"Junior! I knew you'd come!"

Carnela, who had been combing horses' manes, spotted Yi-Han and waved.

As expected of a junior who raised a griffin and basilisk, she knew he would visit the stable on a day like this.

Moreover...

"...Hello, Senior."

"Yes. Are the animals doing well? Many people want to see the animals you're raising."

"Uh, isn't it dangerous?"

"Of course they have to accept that much risk. Originally, attractive animals are bound to be dangerous."

The baby basilisk made a satisfied hissing sound at those words.

Yi-Han looked at the inside of his sleeve with a sour expression.

"I understand for now. Um... How can I help?"

Although he had arrived by chance, Yi-Han was also a member of the ballgame club.

As he was already receiving support from the imperial ballgame association for rare animals, if he had to help with the ballgame club's work, he wanted to help.

However, Carnela shook her head and said.

"You don't need to help."

"Pardon? Do I really not need to help?"

"Yeah. I'm telling you, you don't need to help."

"The griffin is a low-maintenance creature that does well on its own, but..."

The baby basilisk made a hissing sound full of doubt.

"...Of course, the basilisk is also a low-maintenance creature that does well on its own."

-That's right!-

"Anyway, even if not my animals, doesn't the ballgame club have many strange, no, rare animals?"

Just Carnela alone was raising a Cerberus.

Thus, while the animals Yi-Han raised required relatively less care, many of the animals the seniors raised required a lot of care.

Moreover, if several outside guests were visiting, even more caution was needed.

Even creatures that would usually behave docilely might act up when seeing unfamiliar strangers.

"Oh. That's right. Actually, it would be good if you helped. But you don't need to. You've already fulfilled your role sufficiently, junior."

"??"

Yi-Han was puzzled, not understanding what she meant.

Was she talking about the basilisk and griffin?

But something felt different. It felt like she was talking about something else. As if...

"...!"

Yi-Han felt chills down his spine and asked.

"Did a suspicious person with a lot of gold coins come and sponsor before I arrived?"

"Huh? That's right. How did you know? Was it someone you know?"