Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 886

Chapter 886

However, Jourin didn't voice her thoughts. Though it had been a short time, her social skills had rapidly improved while staying at Einroguard.

Perhaps it was due to the innate intuition of the dragon race.

Jourin judged that if she said what she just thought, even the kind-hearted Yi-Han might get angry and chase her out of the lounge.

'Jourin is smart, so she should wait quietly.'

Pleased with her own judgment, Jourin waited obediently.

  *

"Your Highness. You need to walk while looking ahead."

-Mmm.-

"Your Highness. Let's walk while looking ahead."

-Mmm.-

"..."

Yi-Han used telekinetic magic to confiscate the rare out-of-print Toveris book Jourin was holding.

Jourin screamed and tried to do a left and right rolling motion, but Yi-Han coldly ignored her.

After all, even if Einroguard's corridors or walls were destroyed, it would be the skull principal's job to fix them, not Yi-Han's.

After performing the rolling motion for several minutes without Yi-Han returning the book, Jourin became dejected and followed along obediently again.

"I'll give it back to you when we return to the lounge later. Or you can just read it in the lounge now if you want."

-No. Following Yi-Han is more fun.-

"Haha. To think Your Highness finds the lectures fun... You're quite promising magically."

-It wasn't really about the lectures...-

Jourin was about to say that Yi-Han's experiences were more fun than the lectures, but she stopped herself again.

As she had intuited earlier, she felt a sense of crisis that if she said something unnecessary, she might be sent back to the lounge.

Jourin suddenly felt proud that she had really grown a lot.

"What do you mean it wasn't really about the lectures?"

-Ah, no. Um... Jourin is curious what lecture Yi-Han is going to now!-

"It's the <Mage's Life with Plants> lecture, but to be precise, I'm not going to attend the lecture."

At Yi-Han's words, Jourin tilted her head once and then belatedly realized and exclaimed.

-Aha!-

"As expected, Your Highness. You figured it out right away."

-Are you going to help the professor make the midterm exam?-

"...No..."

Yi-Han worried that Jourin might have gained incorrect common sense about Einroguard from experiencing too many unusual cases.

It was just that unfortunate coincidences had caused unusual things to happen, but normally Einroguard was a bit different.

'...Or is it? Was it always like this?'

"I don't usually make exams. I told you the music magic was an exception, didn't I?"

-But surely other professors also...-

"Ugh. To think Your Highness doesn't believe me, I feel like I'm going to collapse from sadness..."

-Ah, no! Jourin believes Yi-Han! Sorry! Don't collapse!-

"Thank you."

-...-

As Yi-Han recovered immediately, Jourin looked at him with slightly suspicious eyes.

Could Yi-Han be deceiving Jourin?

'N-no. That can't be.'

Jourin shook her head. Surely a kind mage like Yi-Han wouldn't use deception.

"I'm going now to take care of plants. Due to the nature of the lecture, it requires a lot of hands-on work even during break times."

Most Einroguard students were busy.

Even if they didn't fill most of their time with lectures like Yi-Han, they didn't have much free time to play leisurely.

It was even more so as they had to study and prepare in their spare time even if they weren't attending lectures.

Especially this semester, the goal of the <Mage's Life with Plants> lecture was to cultivate mandrakes.

It was a goal that required a lot of hands-on work and attention.

-Aha.-

Jourin finally grasped the truth properly.

"Now you understand, right, Your Highness?"

-Mmm.-

Though she understood, a new question arose in Jourin's mind: 'When does Yi-Han rest?'

Meanwhile, Yi-Han arrived at the 6th floor greenhouse.

Jourin, who was leisurely breathing in the warm humidity coming from inside, was puzzled when Yi-Han didn't enter.

Instead of entering, Yi-Han looked around and then knocked on the door of an empty classroom next to it.

-Who is it?-

"Someone who knows the true value of mandrakes."

-Wardanaz. Come in.-

Bartreck and Ratford, who had been waiting in the empty classroom next door, welcomed Yi-Han.

Jourin blinked, even more confused.

Hadn't they come to take care of the mandrakes in the greenhouse?

"How did it go? The pattern?"

"It's half done. The snowflake pattern is really difficult."

"What nonsense...! After taking such expensive reagents!"

When Yi-Han pressed angrily, Bartreck hurriedly made excuses.

"W-what can I do. I'm still a 2nd year, Wardanaz."

"Don't make excuses, Bartreck! Buyers don't care about our year!"

"Um, Mr. Wardanaz. I have a question."

Ratford, who had been listening from the side, raised his hand and asked.

"What is it?"

"...Uh, is it okay for Her Highness to hear this?"

Only then did Bartreck realize that a huge dragon was staring at them from outside the door.

Bartreck was startled and whispered.

"Hey! What are you doing bringing Her Highness!"

"You bring Gainando too, so there's no particular reason why I can't bring Princess Jourin, right?"

"Are Gainando and Her Highness the same?!"

Bartreck got angry as if to say 'What nonsense are you talking about?'

The three here were students who had gathered with a different goal from others since the start of the lecture.

-Apart from the medicinal effects of mandrakes, if there are rare patterns on the leaves, they sell for a high price. There are collectors...-

-So you're saying that during the lecture time for growing mandrakes, we should create patterns on the leaves separately and sell them at a high price?-

-That does seem a bit...-

-No. Let's do it right away!-

A mage should know how to pursue practical benefits.

Wasn't a true mage someone who could grasp both lecture grades and gold?

That's why Yi-Han and his friends took on the challenge of creating patterns on the leaves while growing mandrakes.

"Be quiet. Princess Jourin isn't someone who would go and report this anywhere."

"Alright, Wardanaz. I'll trust you. ...But Wardanaz."

"What?"

"...Isn't that the professor behind Her Highness??"

Bartreck, who was about to accept and move on, was shocked to discover Professor Boladi standing expressionlessly behind Jourin.

While a visiting royal from outside could be overlooked, a professor really couldn't be ignored.

"Ha. Bartreck. Are you deliberately changing the subject? To avoid responsibility for your failure? And you're from White Tiger Tower?"

"Ah, no... This is... a legitimate point..."

"Don't worry, Professor Bagrak isn't someone who would go and report this anywhere either."

'Is this guy really crazy?'

Bartreck inwardly shuddered.

He knew that the Wardanaz family boy possessed madness on a different level from ordinary students, but the madness he was showing today was overwhelming.

To bring Professor Boladi along and say things like 'Our professor is fine'...

"...Alright. I get it. Just wait until Professor Willow hears rumors and takes the leaves!"

"That doesn't seem to be the problem right now. Isn't the problem that only half the leaf is complete even after using so much reagent? We used almost a whole box of Unhae grass and blue spirit stones..."

"Ugh."

Bartreck had nothing to say and lowered his head, avoiding eye contact.

Whether an alchemist or an enchantment mage, they showed a similar posture when they failed to produce results after receiving budget and support.

Though Bartreck himself didn't notice, it was a posture that seniors and professors had done countless times.

"Sigh. There's no choice. Bartreck. We can only do our best with the remaining time. Let's go in and finish taking care of the mandrakes for now."

"Alright. I'm sorry again, Wardanaz."

"Complete the pattern instead of apologizing."

"..."

Bartreck grumbled inwardly.

'Ah geez. Next time I'll definitely get the reagents myself and do it.'

This thought too was exactly the same as what countless senior alchemists had thought.

As the conversation roughly ended, Jourin, who had been watching, opened her mouth.

-Jourin has something she's curious about.-

"What are you curious about?"

-Are you trying to make leaf patterns because of gold coins?-

"It's not exactly..."

"We do like plants too..."

Bartreck and Ratford instinctively made excuses.

The two tried to change the subject somehow but then admitted it.

"Yes..."

"We're trying to collect some gold coins..."

-Yi-Han too?-

"You could say that's a considerable part of it."

Yi-Han admitted it proudly. Jourin rested her chin on her front paw and asked.

-Can't you take gold coins from Jourin's warehouse?-

"...!!"

The three students opened their eyes wide as if struck by lightning.

Bartreck cried out without realizing it.

"Y-Your Highness, are you saying you'll sponsor my alchemy??"

-No. Jourin was only talking about Yi-Han...-

Jourin answered in an embarrassed voice. Bartreck became equally embarrassed.

"Ah. I'm sorry."

"...No. It's alright, Your Highness. We can earn it ourselves."

Bartreck slightly admired his friend's refusal.

'Wardanaz. At times like this, he really is befitting of a great noble family.'

Though Bartreck had his own pride as someone from a knight family, he was immediately tempted by the offer to provide treasures owned by a dragon.

That's how famous a dragon's wealth was.

But Wardanaz honorably and firmly refused the offer.

If they accepted that, wouldn't it mean they had entertained a visiting royal from outside for the sake of profit?

"Wardanaz. I respect you. I was honestly shaken."

Bartreck looked at his friend while patting his shoulder. And then he flinched.

Yi-Han was looking at Bartreck with eyes full of killing intent.

"...Make sure to complete the pattern within this semester. Understand?"

"...I-I got it..."

  *

"Miss Maykin. Doesn't Mr. Bark seem to be taking care of it more diligently than usual today?"

Siana tilted her head at the sight of Bartreck taking care of mandrake seedlings while sweating profusely.

Of course, as the Bark family was renowned for alchemy even among eastern dwarf families, it was natural for Bartreck to work hard, but today especially...

"Maybe it's because the exam is next week?"

"It feels more desperate than that...?"

"There. Mana aphids appeared."

"Ah. Thank you."

Siana sprayed diluted poison to catch the mana aphids.

Looking around, the students' appearances were quite varied as the midterms approached.

First, students like Siana or Yonaire, who had diligently managed their mandrakes usually, were relatively relaxed.

They were catching occasional bugs, filling in insufficient water...

In contrast, most students who had been lazy were busy. They were belatedly trying to fill in parts eaten by bugs or making a fuss trying to drive away bugs.

And there were also completely relaxed students. These weren't relaxed because they were confident, but students who had ruined their seedlings early on and boldly sold them to seniors.

"Hehe... We'll just go to the punishment room and that's it."

"Be quiet. It's embarrassing."

Bartreck should belong to the first category, so why was he so desperate?

She couldn't understand the reason at all.

Meanwhile, students belonging to the second category gradually approached Yi-Han.

"Wardanaz. Please!"

"I can't hear you."

"You have to lead us! With that skill you showed in 1st year!"

"I don't know what you're talking about. If others hear, they'll misunderstand."

-???-

Jourin was curious at the sight of students chasing after Yi-Han.

-Maykin, Maykin. Jourin has something she's curious about.-

"What are you curious about?"

-What are those mages asking Yi-Han for?-

"Ah."

Yonaire explained with a slight smile.

Those were students who had been there since the beginning of the semester.

Growing mandrakes required water, attention, and sunlight.

If one could artificially give mandrakes the power emitted by the sun, it was possible to dramatically promote growth.

-I heard there's an artificial sun artifact in the principal's warehouse, wouldn't it be an immediate perfect score if we just stole that?-

...Students who made such judgments were trying to somehow draw Yi-Han in.

Of course, Yi-Han was completely ignoring them. There was no reason to take such a gamble when he was already growing his well on his own.

-Would Yi-Han's mandrake grow much better if he had that?-

"I suppose so?"

Jourin looked at the seedling Yi-Han was growing once, then opened her mouth wide and narrowed her eyes, glaring at the surrounding space.

As if gauging the distance to safely shoot a breath attack.

-Maykin is so kind!-

"...Pardon? Why suddenly?"

-Jourin wants to ask one more thing. Is there ever a time when no one is in this greenhouse?-

"There is, but...?"

Yonaire felt a strange sense of dissonance.

Usually when royalty suddenly praised someone, they had ulterior motives.