Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 735

Chapter 735

When Yi-Han gave up on escaping, the death knight who was about to go out with the anonymous letter also subtly assessed the situation and came back.

The skull principal glared at him, making an overt clicking sound.

-Did you really try to send it when he told you to send it? Huh?-

-I'm sorry, Master. As a former knight, I thought perhaps…-

-Even so, to trust such a novice mage rather than the Imperial Mage Administrator!-

-...-

-...-

Even though he conveniently brought up his imperial title only at times like this, the death knights who had been through thick and thin weren't fooled.

Honestly, if the skull principal and his unfortunate disciple were to oppose each other, the latter would probably have more justice...

The skull principal turned his deep blue gaze to Yi-Han and began to speak.

-Yes. One of my mad doppelgangers has entered the territory.-

"I almost died because of that mad doppelganger!"

-What? Did you perhaps meet it?-

The skull principal was puzzled.

If Yi-Han had made contact, there was no way the skull principal wouldn't have noticed.

At that reaction, Yi-Han grumbled and spilled out what had happened.

"...If it weren't for Senior Direth, it would have really been dangerous."

-But Lord Wardanaz.-

One of the death knights listening from the side asked a question.

"Yes?"

-Why didn't you use the ring to summon the Master?-

The other death knights who heard the question nodded as if they agreed.

Wouldn't you usually call the skull principal in such a situation?

"Oh. I didn't think of it."

-...-

-...-

-Why are you all like that? Such independence is a virtue.-

Unexpectedly, the skull principal took Yi-Han's side.

Yi-Han, who had been feeling awkward, brightened and asked.

"Is that so?"

-Yes. Haha. You who called me because professors were fighting.-

Yi-Han inwardly cursed at the skull principal's pettiness.

'He gave it to me to use.'

-That was probably a test left by the doppelganger.-

'Did he misspeak about the trap?'

Yi-Han suspected if the skull principal might have misunderstood the meaning of the test.

If that were true, it would explain the difficulty of Einroguard's tests too.

-It probably left it for the same purpose as the illusion.-

The skull principal explained in a calm voice. As the doppelganger had been part of himself in the distant past, he knew its operating principles well.

Just as it made it so that qualified people could see it when they approached the afterimage of memory, it probably made it so that a mass of mana would attack after seeing the afterimage of memory.

"So if a qualified person approaches, they see an illusion, and after seeing the illusion, they're attacked to be tested?"

-That's right.-

"Is the principal's doppelganger perhaps not in his right mind??"

Yi-Han was shocked.

To think that wasn't a trap but a test.

-It is a mad doppelganger. But in ancient times, that much was an ordinary test.-

"Yes..."

Yi-Han, who was answering with a sour expression, suddenly became puzzled and asked.

"But Principal. You said it was left for qualified people to see, but what's that qualification? I didn't do anything."

-Didn't do anything…-

The skull principal spoke with an indifferent attitude as if he couldn't believe it.

The death knights burst into laughter as if they agreed.

-There's no way you didn't do anything!-

-You must have done something!-

'Should I really send an anonymous letter.'

-Even if you didn't do anything, a great mage who has reached the realm has several ways to judge potential. He would have judged somehow.-

"Did he check my mana quantity?"

-Well. He might have.-

"Perhaps taking all schools?"

-That might be it.-

"Or because I contracted with a powerful being from another realm?"

-I thought you said you didn't do anything?-

"..."

The skull principal, who had scored a point against his disciple, continued explaining slowly.

The reason I leave my doppelganger alone is that the reason to do so is weak compared to the effort required to catch the doppelganger.

The skull principal's doppelgangers were basically split-off bodies released from the main body, so they had many restrictions.

It was because they had difficulty maintaining their form in this world for a long time like beings from other realms, and they were strongly bound by the desires and emotions they each took out.

Rather than unnecessarily clashing by bringing out magic to completely eliminate them, it was most efficient to just wait for them to naturally disappear from this world.

Moreover, there's no reason to cause such a fight inside Einroguard territory.

"What could be the purpose?"

-There are a few things I can guess, but it's just a guess for now. I'm not certain.-

"Hmm. But isn't this case a bit different? It even came in with a magic criminal. If that magic criminal corrupts or uses the principal's doppelganger..."

-Well. I'm not sure if he has that ability.-

The skull principal mocked Antagondal with an arrogant and cold attitude.

Despite being a notorious figure among the empire's magic criminals, he had a contemptuous attitude towards his abilities.

-Didn't you see him begging and pleading in the illusion you saw? To pick up even a scrap of magic?-

"It wasn't to that extent."

-Leave it be. Among those who have presumptuously tried to use my doppelganger, there have been none who didn't meet a tragic end.-

Yi-Han actually wanted to turn off his attention too, but it wasn't easy to turn off his attention when there was a magic criminal and an even more dangerous mad doppelganger in Einroguard's territory.

"Can't we just deal with the magic criminal?"

-It would be easy if he showed himself, but he's being quite careful too. I asked earlier if you had met him, didn't I?-

From the moment he felt that the mad doppelganger had entered Einroguard's territory with a servant, the skull principal had woven a dense web-like surveillance network.

Of course, both the mad doppelganger and the magic criminal knew this well, so instead of approaching near the main building, they kept moving in the most remote outskirts of the territory.

-If you're interested, try luring him out. If you just lure him out, I can catch him right away.-

"It doesn't seem like something I can do."

-Don't underestimate yourself. You're originally a bit... Never mind.-

"..."

When the skull principal started to say something but stopped, it was much scarier than if he had said it.

Yi-Han couldn't even guess what he was going to say.

"...Anyway, thank you for explaining. Principal. Actually, I thought you might not tell me since I'm still a student."

-Why wouldn't I?-

The skull principal was genuinely puzzled.

"Isn't this usually something only professors know? To prevent students from getting scared..."

-What good is it if only professors know? And fear is always a good stimulus.-

"...You didn't tell the seniors."

-Because they didn't ask.-

"..."

Yi-Han was at a loss for words at the confident answer.

-Judging by your expression, you seem to want to tell the seniors, but there won't be much reaction even if you tell them. They'll have many more important things.-

"Yes... Thank you."

-You too, focus on magic instead of being interested in a trivial magic criminal. Isn't your senior Direth already implementing a small world?-

Yi-Han was dumbfounded at the sight of the skull principal comparing him with the 5th year Black Tortoise Tower top student.

'I'll do my best.'

"What nonsense are you saying?"

-Ah. I almost forgot.-

"?"

-Don't forget to retrieve the anonymous letter you left with someone else before coming here. Don't accidentally send it to His Majesty.-

'No. How did he know?'

  *

Alde of the Marcan family was spending Einroguard's first week in the punishment room.

He wasn't lonely. There were several other students imprisoned besides Alde.

They were students who had failed at smuggling or caused trouble from the first day and were caught.

"Hey. I don't think I saw you during smuggling, how did you end up here?"

"Palga of the Ukim family tried to escape, and I was caught being next to him. When I played dumb during interrogation, they sent me to the punishment room."

"What about you in the next room?"

"I was also caught being next to Palga of the Ukim family when he tried to escape."

"Oh my. You both came here for insisting?"

"No. I just snitched but they sent me here anyway. Damn it."

"...What about you in the rightmost room?"

"I'm Palga of the Ukim family."

A sigh echoed through the corridor.

After the self-introductions were over, the punishment room students quickly began exchanging information.

Even in the punishment room, they had to attend school.

"Hey. What do you think about this lecture? Will it proceed?"

"To be honest, I don't think this lecture will be closed."

"Excuse me. Guard sir! Can't you contact the professor so we can do assignments in advance?"

The death knight walking down the corridor passed by mercilessly.

At this sight, the students sighed.

Although staying in the punishment room for a few days wasn't difficult as they were used to it, missing lecture content was quite painful.

They would have to make up for it that much more harshly when they got out...

"I knew this would happen, so I brought a book when I was caught."

"Ugh. I'm envious."

"The lecture I chose doesn't have a class this week, but I still feel like I should prepare a bit in advance..."

While the students were chattering noisily, someone shouted from another solitary cell.

"Is anyone interested in buying books?"

"!"

"Do you have any spare books?! Do you perhaps have <Advanced Applications of Fire Elements> too?"

"I do. Starting from introductory books on elemental applications to the latest in the Toveriz series, magazines like <Monthly Dark Magic Trends>, and so on."

"...That bastard is from the library club!!"

"He got caught on purpose to do business! What a ruthless bastard!"

The students imprisoned in the punishment room were shocked at the madness of the library club member.

To think he would get caught on purpose to sell books.

"Haha. It's a service for you all. Won't you buy?"

"Ugh... Give me one <Advanced Applications of Fire Elements> book. How many times the original price is it?"

The experienced Einroguard students were already expecting it.

If he came all the way to the punishment room to sell books, the price would probably jump several times.

"What are you saying? You can give me the original price."

"Huh? Really?"

"Instead, you have to first purchase and read this <Life and Death of Jundaer Dolphram>."

"...Well, that much is..."

Unlike other clubs, the library club deserved respect just for not taking excessive profits here.

Purchasing one additional boring trash book was a sufficiently bearable price.

"Here you go."

"I have the book. Take it."

"Thanks. Now sell me <Advanced Applications of Fire Elements> too."

"What are you saying? I told you you have to read <Life and Death of Jundaer Dolphram> first."

"...Uh, I bought it, didn't I?"

"Yes. I said you have to buy it and read it."

"..."

Only then realizing something was strange, the student asked in a bewildered voice.

"Since I bought it, isn't it my freedom when to read it? I'll read it later, so sell it to me quickly!"

"No. Read it first. I'll check."

'I let my guard down!'

Only then did the students realize they had underestimated the madness of the library club.

These bastards were now trying to force them to read books that usually weren't read!

"D-do the magazines also have books that need to be bought first?"

"Yes. There's a book you need to read first. It's <One Year Spent in the Frost Giant Realm>."

"Th-that... Please spare me that one. I've seen it before, I almost fainted from boredom."

"No. It's a good book once you finish reading it."

The students tried to negotiate by saying they would raise the price instead, but the library club member was adamant.

In the end, the punishment room students had no choice but to read books they usually didn't read while shedding tears.

"Sob... I want to read something else."

"...But reading this again, it's surprisingly interesting?"

"Shut up."

After the students bought books one by one, Alde also whispered cautiously.

"Hey. Hey."

"Yes?"

"I don't have any gold coins right now. Actually, I've secured an enormous amount of smuggled goods outside."

"No credit."

"I'm telling you it's really outside!"

Alde shouted in a voice full of indignation. However, none of the students believed him.

How could someone caught together have smuggled goods?

"Is there a senior here?"

"???"

"Senior Alde of the Marcan family? Are you perhaps not in this corridor?"

"Here! Here!! I'm here!!!"