Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 729

Chapter 729

"To play such a prank when you're not even going to help..."

As he was speaking, Perse witnessed the tail poking out and wiggling from Yi-Han's sleeve.

Then he called the other members.

"Everyone come here and see this before you go!"

"What's the matter?"

"C-could it be a cursed artifact left by the principal?"

"..."

Yi-Han glared at the senior making groundless accusations.

Who would carry around such a thing?

Of course...

'Come to think of it, the Behemoth bone necklace is something the principal left.'

But Yi-Han didn't admit it.

It wasn't particularly a cursed item, after all.

"There's a basilisk here."

"!!!!!!"

The members looked at Yi-Han with more surprise than when they met the skull principal in their hometowns during the break.

"Wait. Why did you call us?"

"I thought you wouldn't believe it."

"..."

The seniors accepted Perse's convincing words.

"Indeed, even the animals raised by someone taking all schools are extraordinary..."

"Actually, the most surprising thing is that he's close to the principal."

"I still can't believe it."

As the members were about to start another discussion on 'What kind of person is this junior and how should we accept him?', Perse firmly stopped them.

"Talk about that later and help with the support fund application. Is there anyone who knows the club regulations well? How much were the support funds for griffins and basilisks each?"

"I know the regulations well, but I can't remember the basilisk support fund... Who looks at that?"

"I didn't even know there was a basilisk support fund."

"Isn't it strange? Griffin support funds already sound unfamiliar, but next to basilisk support funds, they seem ordinary."

In the end, failing to recall from memory, the seniors brought out a thick, dusty book from somewhere.

It was a book with <Einroguard Ballgame Club Rules> written in green letters on top.

"Griffin, griffin... Ah. There are two types for griffins."

"Two types?"

Yi-Han was puzzled.

Were there two species of griffins?

"First, the first type doesn't acknowledge its master, looks at them cunningly, and tries to kill them when it sees an opportunity. Is it this kind of griffin?"

"..."

While Yi-Han was at a loss for words in bewilderment, Hormasi next to him answered smoothly.

"If it were, this junior would be dead and the griffin would have escaped long ago."

"That's a valid point. Then it must be the second type. It acknowledges its master, is loyal, and acts cute after receiving kindness."

'Has it ever acted cute?'

It had clacked its beak and swished its tail, but...

"What's the difference between the first and second types?"

"Ah. The first type gets three times the support funds. Because it's dangerous."

"...!"

Yi-Han was shocked.

To think Niffirg wouldn't receive the gold coins it could have because it was loyal!

'This is unreasonable!'

"We've settled the griffin, what about the basilisk?"

"Basilisk... basilisk... I don't see basilisk."

"Let's look from the back. Giant spider, giant claiming to walk on four legs, basilisk... Ah."

"Did you find it?"

"No. It was 'Giant snake-type monster that can be mistaken for a basilisk'. Basilisk... basilisk... Found it! This also has two types. The first is one with dignity in its actions and a majestic gaze."

The baby basilisk in the sleeve quickly wiggled its tail as if to agree.

All the Einroguard students present shook their heads simultaneously.

"This can't be it."

"It must be talking about fully grown adults, so it can't be."

-?!-

The baby basilisk coiled tightly around Yi-Han's wrist as if protesting.

"The second is... one that's not fully grown yet, sticks close to its parents and doesn't poke its head out."

"It must be this one."

"This is right."

The baby basilisk wiggled its tail full of anger, but it only gave additional confirmation to the students.

Finally, the basilisk tapped Yi-Han's wrist. It was a signal to somehow restore its honor.

Yi-Han asked the seniors,

"Which one receives more support funds?"

"The second one receives much more. I guess baby basilisks are harder to raise after all."

"I see. I think it's the second one too."

-...-

  *

The seniors, who had found and read the club regulation book after a long time, seemed to have gotten into it and asked Yi-Han if he had anything else to apply for.

"But seniors. I'm hesitant to ask this question, but is the club treasury alright?"

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"No matter how much prize money you've stored up, if you take out too much support funds..."

"Ah. There's no need to worry."

The ballgame club members said with a smile.

"It's not just from prize money anyway."

"Pardon?"

"It's not just club members who receive support. The club receives support too."

Just as Einroguard's ballgame club supported promising members, the Imperial Ballgame Association supported promising clubs.

If the club sent a letter saying they needed help raising rare animals, the Imperial Ballgame Association would generously send support funds.

"...!"

Yi-Han's mind became dizzy at such a transcendent story.

It sounded like a story from another realm.

While kitchen club members struggled with ingredients from morning to evening to collect gold coins, there were kind imperial wealthy people who would send gold coins with just one letter.

"I... I can't believe it."

"They're rare animals after all. It's worth helping if a student is raising a griffin or basilisk."

"Actually, I'm raising more."

Yi-Han looked at the seniors with blazing eyes.

The seniors felt momentarily overwhelmed by that gaze.

"Sharakan!"

"...That's a summon, junior."

"Gonadaltes!"

"I told you skeleton warriors don't count, junior. Wait. What did you just call it?"

"Ugh. Then... how about a ghost chicken?"

"...Uh, you're raising a ghost chicken? That counts."

The senior nodded readily and filled out the application form.

Unlike before, he wasn't very surprised, so Yi-Han became curious and asked,

"Is a ghost chicken perhaps not that rare of an animal? Are there more people raising them or..."

"Ah. It is a rare animal."

"Is that so? You didn't seem very surprised."

"After seeing the griffin and basilisk, it doesn't feel very surprising."

"..."

"What's next?"

Yi-Han concentrated desperately.

Concentrating even more than when studying magic, his trained brain miraculously dredged up the information he had heard earlier.

"Senior. Earlier in the regulation book, there was a 'giant claiming to walk on four legs', right? Can you perhaps get recognition if you're friends with a giant?"

"...Every part of the question you just asked is chilling, junior."

The senior who was filling out the application form raised his head and looked at Yi-Han as if he was creepy.

He couldn't even guess what the meaning of that question was.

Surely he didn't have a giant friend close enough to make walk on four legs?

"I was just hypothesizing."

"Right? You don't actually have a close giant friend, do you?"

"So can you get recognition?"

Yi-Han subtly changed the subject.

"As I said, you have to raise it. Unless you're feeding a giant in your own cave and riding it around, it would be difficult just being friends."

"Ugh... Senior. What if I were taking care of a mountain-destroying goat..."

"...Why do you keep making such crazy hypotheticals??"

  *

'It's a shame.'

Yi-Han retreated regretfully after failing to extort from the Imperial Ballgame Association with giants or mountain-destroying goats.

Not knowing that the junior was feeling regretful, Hormasi laughed and patted his back.

"Congratulations on setting a new record!"

"I'm just disappointed I couldn't get more."

"You're not good at jokes, are you? Anyway, follow me. I'll show you my mount. Professor Bentozol! Please help me!"

"Get lost, you poacher bastard!"

"If you don't help, won't it suffer alone? Don't you feel sorry for my puppy?"

"You lightning-struck bastard!"

Professor Bentozol followed behind while spewing curses.

Hormasi said to Yi-Han while holding back laughter,

"Sorry, sorry. I didn't want to call the professor either. But I had to check on my puppy's health too. There's no expert like the professor after all."

"I'm fine."

"Junior, there's no one in Einroguard who says they're fine when the professor is following behind. You'd better be careful."

"..."

Yi-Han realized his mistake.

He had learned one more thing from his senior.

'I should pretend to be in pain from now on.'

"Thank you for the advice, Senior."

"This much advice is nothing for the future striker."

"Is 'puppy' the name of your mount, Senior?"

"Yeah."

'Is it a dog or wolf-type monster?'

Professor Bentozol, who was following behind, grumbled grumpily.

"If you want to take care of the unicorn, gather a lot of morning dew."

"...Professor. What are you saying?"

Hormasi looked at Professor Bentozol as if dumbfounded.

She was rather scared that he suddenly said such incomprehensible things instead of getting angry or grumbling.

Among imperial professions, none were as prone to madness as mages.

Moreover, Professor Bentozol was already half-mad...

"I wasn't talking to you! I was talking to the guy next to you!"

Professor Bentozol flushed red and got angry. Hormasi tilted her head in puzzlement before belatedly realizing.

"No, you're letting him take care of the unicorn? Instead of doing it yourself, Professor?"

"Senior. That..."

Yi-Han became anxious seeing his senior innocently poking at Professor Bentozol's wounds.

No matter how patient Professor Bentozol was, he might reach his limit if he kept being provoked like this.

"...The unicorn chose him."

"Ah. For taking care of it too?"

"Yes."

"Wow..."

Hormasi trailed off as she realized the situation.

Even if the junior had been chosen by the unicorn, to be prevented from even taking care of it.

It was no ordinary humiliation.

Professor Bentozol growled, seemingly more distressed when Hormasi didn't say anything.

"What do you want to say? Huh?!"

"No. Well... Isn't it good? That's good. You've got a disciple to help you, Professor."

"What nonsense are you saying?!"

Yi-Han, who had been listening from the side, shouted without realizing.

As expected of a White Tiger Tower senior, she was stabbing him in the back as soon as he let his guard down.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I must have gone crazy for a moment."

Hormasi quickly apologized, realizing her mistake.

Originally, she wasn't someone who easily backed down even when clashing with other members, but her slip of the tongue just now was too cruel.

"But you're not going to refuse being a striker because of this, right? You can't refuse because of this."

"I'll do it if I get the chance..."

Yi-Han didn't have much reason to refuse ballgames.

How many other opportunities were there to earn that much prize money in such a short time?

Moreover, ballgames had the advantage that you wouldn't be banned from entering even if you won.

The difference was even more apparent when recalling a certain professor who had been banned from entering imperial duel clubs.

'But aren't you expecting too much?'

"...Please don't be too disappointed if I don't do well."

"Don't worry. Haha. I won't."

"Really?"

"Yes. I don't expect anything from anyone! I think everyone's trash when the game starts. I resolve that I have to solve everything alone!"

"..."

Yi-Han made a sour expression after hearing the senior's inner thoughts that he didn't particularly want to know.

'This person, if I make one mistake, will she pretend not to know me as a junior?'

"We're here."

Hormasi, who had arrived in front of Einroguard's desert area, pointed to the horizon.

"My puppy will appear around there."

"...Senior. This isn't some kind of trap, is it?"

"What kind of trap?"

"Like if we go that far, the way back will be cut off, or there's an ambush..."

Hormasi laughed again at her junior's cute imagination.

"Hey! I'm from White Tiger Tower, would I do such a petty thing?!"

"..."

Yi-Han, who hadn't been very worried until just now, looked at his senior with seriously suspicious eyes.