Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 1060

Chapter 1060

"Then Ibinta. Answer the next question. Were there any thieves who acted suspiciously recently? For reference, suspicious behavior means things like constantly looking for blood, or hiding meat saying they have a use for it..."

'I clearly said there weren't any!'

Ibinta ground his teeth.

Since thief gangs were as common as stones in the empire, it was natural for a Wardanaz family mage to dismiss a thief leader.

But Ibinta took pride in his abilities.

It wasn't easy to build and maintain such an underground fortress not far from the imperial capital.

From the start, thief gangs weren't organizations with strict discipline like knight orders. Thieves would quickly desert or backstab if their greed wasn't satisfied.

To control such trash and maintain secrecy, thorough surveillance and suspicion were essential.

'...Stay calm.'

Instead of getting angry, Ibinta explained the logic calmly and carefully.

Just thinking of the other's family naturally made his anger subside.

"...Therefore, if there were evil god worshippers inside the fortress, I would have noticed immediately. If you don't believe me, cut open the bellies of those sprawled inside and check."

When the other acted too emotionally, Yi-Han whispered so only Jijel could hear.

"Doesn't he seem too emotional?"

"Anyone would be like that if their subordinates and fortress were all destroyed."

'To talk like it's someone else's business when you participated too.'

Yi-Han grumbled inwardly.

Of course, though Yi-Han had presented the goal and summoned the direct means...

"I understand, Ibinta. I'll check the rest directly. Must have been hard managing disobedient subordinates."

"...It wasn't particularly difficult."

"No. Not just anyone could do it. I know because I've dealt with disobedient ones too, it's not ordinarily difficult."

"..."

Jijel threw a bitter look.

Surely those disobedient ones weren't White Tiger Tower?

"The thief bastards were terribly disobedient. Even taking in Kitarenanoom in the first place was because other bastards coveted gold. I didn't want to take him in..."

"I understand. I understand. They're terribly greedy anyway."

While talking, Ibinta strangely felt persuaded.

He even felt like the mage before him understood him.

'What is this?'

Ibinta was confused.

Could he have been affected by mental magic without knowing?

Otherwise how could he feel this way toward a monster from the Wardanaz family...

  *

I knew this would happen!

'If you knew you should have stopped him.'

Professor Garcia swallowed the words she wanted to say inwardly.

The two had hurriedly flown to the scene after hearing the news. Though trusting and leaving it to her disciple was one thing, subjugating a sizeable thief gang settled underground was beyond expectations.

"If Yi-Han gets hurt it's all the Principal's fault."

-Well, there are other things to worry about more than that.-

"What?"

-Do you really not know, Professor Garcia?-

The skull principal was dumbfounded at Professor Garcia's reaction.

To think she would look so narrowly even with eyes clouded by affection for her disciple.

Of course she should worry about collateral damage! Wardanaz had at least four or five means that could kill friend and foe indiscriminately!

Since there were no absolutes in battle, Wardanaz could get hurt if careless.

And if the enemy was really well prepared, he could be cornered.

But in that case, the ones in danger weren't Wardanaz but the thieves.

If he desperately brought out magic he usually couldn't control...

"N-no. Though Yi-Han is quite powerful for his year, aren't you trusting him too much?"

-Please Ferkuntra, please Ferkuntra, please Ferkuntra... Oh! The lucky skeleton takes my side!-

The skull principal arriving at the ruins brightened.

Fortunately his clever disciple had brought out the most moderate means he could. This lightning fellow wasn't the type to randomly spray unnecessary damage everywhere.

If he had used something like the Ten Thousand Demon Bracelet to call a trapped demon, beyond the underground fortress even the nearby forest or roads could have been half-destroyed.

"Let's quickly go in!"

-See, Professor Garcia. Anyone can tell a spirit swept through.-

The skull principal pointed at the ground surface. With such powerful lightning traces visible even above ground, it was obvious what had happened underground.

"Just come already. Ah. Who dug this hole?"

-Wardanaz must have dug it.-

"No. This isn't Yi-Han's style. Did he have such a summon?"

-Must have newly subdued one by force.-

"..."

Professor Garcia slightly disliked herself for not being able to strongly refute those words.

"Why can't we see Professor Bagrak?"

-Ominous.-

"I told you it was ominous! Quickly find Yi-Han's location!"

-It's not Wardanaz that's ominous... Wardanaz is perfectly fine. So calm down. Rather, Professor Boladi's location is ominous.-

There was always a reason when the skull principal said something was ominous.

Originally the skull principal had expected a situation where Yi-Han swept the fortress (with minimal collateral damage), and Professor Boladi scolded his disciple belatedly.

But arriving and scanning with magic, Yi-Han was walking around with some thief in the western underground fortress, while Professor Boladi was quickly searching sealed areas in the eastern fortress with Gainando.

'This kid. Don't tell me he was discovered?'

The skull principal became slightly anxious.

Though Wardanaz had outstanding talent in lying, he still had soft spots.

If he made a mistake feeling guilty about hiding secrets from his master...

-Professor Boladi!-

The skull principal first flew to Professor Boladi. He planned to grasp the identity of the dissonance first.

"Huff, huff... Principal! Why did you come so late!"

Gainando who had been staggering after Professor Boladi protested while breathing heavily.

-Were you attacked by thieves? That's not like Professor Boladi.-

"No! I'm tired! The professor has been walking around non-stop since earlier!"

The skull principal admired Gainando's guts.

To be able to complain so confidently about an unrelated issue.

It was courage hard to see even in Einroguard 5th year students.

-What's going on, Professor Boladi? Why are you walking around separately like this?-

"The professor is looking for traces of evil god worshippers."

......

"..."

At Gainando's thoughtless answer, the skull principal and Professor Garcia's expressions changed drastically.

-What?-

-Evil god worshippers? If it's the Ksaksarigol Order, forget it, Professor Boladi. That last participation was a mistake.-

"What participation?"

Professor Garcia spoke with a suspicious voice.

Participation in the Ksaksarigol Order - something had seemed strange before too.

Yi-Han and the skull principal had clearly brushed it off with words like 'it was totally Ksaksarigol', but thinking about it, her disciple had never been involved with the Ksaksarigol Order.

Could it be?

"It's not the Ksaksarigol Order."

Gainando shook his head and answered again.

And laid out his sharp deductions.

Recently Yi-Han seemed to keep looking for evil god worshippers, but it wasn't Prahgal or Ksaksarigol...

"..."

......

Professor Garcia and the skull principal were truly shocked.

What????

"P-Principal. What do we do? I hadn't expected Gainando at all."

-Surprising but me neither.-

Their shock was even greater since they hadn't expected the prince to find out.

Though he hadn't discovered the identity yet, looking at this it was just a matter of time.

"You seem to have some idea, Professor Garcia."

"Ah, yes? Well, uh, um."

When Professor Boladi spoke bluntly, Professor Garcia stammered. The skull principal quickly signaled her to come back.

Given Professor Garcia's personality weak to authority, if left alone she wouldn't withstand the senior professor's interrogation.

"If you tell me what you know, I'll share information too."

"Wh-what information?"

"Information about Professor Garcia's current questions regarding the Ksaksarigol Order."

"..."

Professor Garcia almost fell for it for a moment.

She had felt Yi-Han and the skull principal had been playing tricks since before...

...Was he saying he would tell her those answers?

-Professor Garcia! Will you fall to the enemy?-

"People might misunderstand if they hear."

Though saying that, Professor Garcia's eyes gleamed cunningly. The skull principal sighed and surrendered.

-Fine. Fine. I'll tell you first. Actually during this break, an expedition was organized to hunt monsters from the void beyond realms.-

"You're not saying Yi-Han participated, are you? Please say he didn't."

-It was truly an unfortunate tragedy.-

"I said tell me he didn't??"

-The responsibility for this tragedy lies first with that Pengerin bastard...-

"..."

He did participate!

Professor Garcia sensed it. Gainando also protested as if finding it ridiculous.

"So that's why Yi-Han said it was troublesome and wouldn't come play!"

-No. The reason Wardanaz doesn't want to play with you is because you're a stubborn fool who insists on losing mage card decks.-

"..."

The skull principal, full of spite, crushed Gainando's world once then continued making excuses.

-There was contact with various ones during the process and the Ksaksarigol Order was among them. But since it all ended well isn't it a blessed thing? Professor Garcia. Submit a letter of complaint. Let's not do this.-

"Try saying that in front of His Majesty."

-And Professor Boladi. This was all done for your sake too. Professor Garcia would agree.-

"Uh... well... th-that is true."

Though Professor Garcia hemmed and hawed avoiding Professor Boladi's gaze, she didn't back down.

Honestly she was worried how Professor Boladi would react hearing the evil god's name.

"I understand."

-That's not an understanding expression at all...-

'How do you distinguish expressions?'

Professor Garcia was slightly amazed inwardly.

They looked like the same expressionless face on the outside, but how did the skull principal notice?

Seeing the other would use any means necessary, the skull principal finally gave up and declared.

-Fine. Since it's come to this, I have no choice. I'll tell you the truth. But swear. Swear you won't act arbitrarily.-

Professor Boladi swore immediately.

-Swear on your honor as an Einroguard professor too.-

Professor Boladi swore immediately again.

-Swear on your disciple too.-

"...How long are you going to do this?"

-It's more suspicious because he's so compliant!-

Professor Garcia had to accept the skull principal's words.

-Accept having Professor Garcia or Wardanaz attached to monitor you from now on.-

"I understand."

-Damn. If he didn't have disciples to teach I would have just locked him in the punishment room for a while.-

The skull principal complained then revealed the truth.

The Sengiros Order had revived and followers were being sighted.

...Since Wardanaz was following our orders, don't scold him too much.

"Our?"

-...My orders. Happy? Hm? Professor Garcia, is that really important right now?-

While the two argued, Professor Boladi answered silently.

"I understand."

......

"..."

At the immediate answer that came back again, the skull principal and Professor Garcia were very troubled.

Even Gainando whispered from beside them.

"Isn't that a lie?"

-Be quiet, you mage card loser.-