al_squad
patreon
Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 605
🕑 Added 2024-06-27 01:44:54 +0000 UTCChapter 605
Yi-Han, who was too dumbfounded to speak, answered belatedly.
"No, you're doing that using the school budget...?"
"It's not something I'm doing with the school budget."
"..."
If he was doing it with his own money, that was even more absurd.
Yi-Han wanted to ask what grudge he had against the new students to do such a thing.
"There's a misunderstanding. Disciple."
The dwarf printer intervened hastily after seeing Yi-Han's expression.
"We're just doing this for free. To repay His Excellency Gonadaltes' kindness."
"Were you threatened to say that?"
"What? I don't quite understand what you're saying..."
The kind dwarf printer didn't understand Einroguard's unique black humor.
"In the past, the spirit of the printing house went berserk and an ink monster popped out, and at that time, His Excellency Gonadaltes helped us."
"If it weren't for His Excellency Gonadaltes, we all might have died."
"Principal..."
Yi-Han was slightly moved for the first time in a while.
"Why didn't you tell me about this heartwarming story?"
"Ha. My good deeds are too many, so if I told you all of them, even the sun in the sky would grow old and die."
'He's really shameless.'
Yi-Han nodded, immediately putting away the slight emotion he had felt.
"Moreover, if we can prevent intruders into Einroguard with our small service, how joyful would that be?"
"That's right! It's not difficult at all!"
"?"
Yi-Han was puzzled.
Prevent intruders?
"Principal. That grimoire... wasn't it made to deceive the new students?"
Yi-Han still vividly remembered.
The memory of the White Tiger Tower students studying about Einroguard in advance and getting severely punished during the escape.
"Well, there might be some among the intruders who fall for it."
"..."
Yi-Han couldn't bring himself to tell the truth to the kind printers.
***
"Good work. Send them to the places I wrote down."
The skull principal was very cunning and meticulous.
He targeted the Blue Dragon Tower and White Tiger Tower students among the confirmed 1st-year students.
Since most of them had families, if they were placed plausibly in nearby bookstores, they would always fall for it.
Yi-Han could only shudder at that persistent and tenacious effort.
'Is this something that needs to be done to this extent?'
"Oh, is this <Dog Mixed-Blood Detective Toveris>?"
Yi-Han looked at the printed magazine with puzzlement. It was a mystery magazine that Gainando really liked.
"Yes. We prepared the content for next month in advance. The newspaper company said that the content to be serialized next month is very decisive and exciting, so it will sell well."
"Do you like that magazine?"
The skull principal looked at Yi-Han as if it was unexpected.
A guy who seemed like he would only read the economy, business, and magic sections of the imperial newspaper?
"Gainando likes it."
"Oh. Then how about reading it in advance and sending him the content?"
"Ah. I didn't have anything to write in the letter, so this is perfect. Thank you."
"...Y-yeah."
The skull principal shuddered at his disciple's subtle madness.
It was a joke, but…
Click-
The skull principal checked the time on his pocket watch and nodded. If they had rested this much, the bureaucrats who had let their guard down would have sat back in their seats.
"Let's go. I'll have to try persuading them again."
"Please wait a moment."
Yi-Han asked the printers a few questions and came back with a memo.
"What did you ask?"
"I investigated some simple gifts to buy and take from around here."
"Do you have someone to give gifts to in the capital?"
"Huh? I was thinking of taking them to the Treasury bureaucrats."
"...Why!?"
The skull principal was genuinely disgusted.
What was he so desperate for to give gifts to those parasite-like guys whose only job was to oppose magic?
"Isn't it good to gain favor when you go to someone and ask for a favor?"
"Why?"
"..."
Yi-Han just gave up on persuading him.
"I'll just buy and take them."
"Hmm... You are indeed good at handling trash."
"It's a bit too much to call my friends that."
"I was talking about Beavle."
'Oops!'
The skull principal was lost in thought for a moment.
Originally, what he had expected from this boy from the Wardanaz family was when he met the sponsors in the capital and had conversations.
-Einroguard is the best magic school in the empire. The students are receiving the best education. The students are not hungry. The students are happy.-
-Seeing the boy from the Wardanaz family say that, I should sponsor Einroguard more!-
But come to think of it, this guy had always treated trash patiently and well. That was a talent that even the skull principal himself didn't have.
Perhaps this social ability might work on the bureaucrats too!
"...Alright! I'll entrust it to you."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"Persuasion."
Yi-Han was shocked by the skull principal's absurd words.
"How can I take charge of that?? I don't even know what there is?"
"Honestly, even if you know, it won't make a difference. They're such trash-like research projects."
"No..."
Having to take the seniors' research proposals and secure support funds.
Just hearing it made his shoulders feel heavy.
Moreover, starting from next year, he would meet the seniors…
-I heard that guy failed our research proposals?-
-What an arrogant guy. A disgrace to the Blue Dragon Tower!-
...He didn't want to start with such a strange perception.
"I'd feel too sorry to the seniors if I fail."
"Stop talking about being sorry. The ones who should be sorry are the guys who entrust it to their junior and lie down in their mansion. I won't mention your name, so do it comfortably. If you don't want to do it, you can just tear up the proposals here."
The skull principal was nonchalant.
Honestly speaking, the contribution made by the 1st-year student here for Einroguard was higher than most of the seniors.
Other students should see it and reflect a bit.
"You really can't say anything if I fail."
"Yeah. Yeah. Do it with a light heart."
Yi-Han sighed and accepted the research proposals.
"How am I supposed to persuade them about <Research on the races preferred as food by trolls>..."
"Hey. Give up on that one."
The skull principal advised coldly.
***
Silvas, who was working as a proud imperial examiner, was making a worried expression after hearing his colleagues' words.
"His Excellency Gonadaltes came?"
"Yeah. But seeing that he's not here, it seems like he gave up."
"You all worked hard. Really."
"We protected the empire's gold and silver!"
The other bureaucrats were moved to tears.
But Silvas was still a bit anxious.
'What if he comes back when we let our guard down?'
Knock knock-
"Excuse me, is anyone there?"
"Oh. Please come in."
Silvas straightened his posture when he saw the boy entering through the door.
The visitors to the Imperial Palace were those whose identities were confirmed and proven by the fact that they were there. Ordinary people couldn't enter.
As such, even bureaucrats couldn't exert their authority here. Rather, there were many times when visitors relied on their power and acted out against bureaucrats.
-This land is a territory where I have judicial authority! Why won't you allow the land tax! Are you trying to insult my family!-
-I have to pay twice as much tax? Are you a robber or a bureaucrat? I'll have to meet His Majesty the Emperor in person and tell him. Convey this! I brought a rejuvenating medicine to offer to His Majesty. His Majesty, who must be tired from his duties, will be pleased too!-
However, the boy who entered greeted very politely. Silvas was amazed at the fresh appearance of the guest.
"What brings you here?"
"Well. I'm a mage, and I came because I wanted to request support funds."
"Ah! You're a mage. Are you from a guild? Or a magic tower? Please sit here."
Silvas took out a chair and pushed it towards the boy.
He was surprised by the boy's appearance that was so different from ordinary mages, but more than that, he felt favorable.
If only mages would show half the manners of that boy, his job as a bureaucrat would be much happier!
'Is he the youngest in a guild or magic tower?'
Usually, they didn't send young people for this kind of task, but seeing the boy's old-fashioned appearance, it was easy to guess that he was from a great noble family.
If he was a noble who was skilled in etiquette, he could be entrusted with this kind of task even if he was young.
Actually seeing him, it seemed like he was entrusted with it for a reason, as he was skilled without being nervous.
"Oh. This is a gift."
"What?! No... bribes are..."
"It's not a bribe. I thought you must be working hard on imperial duties, so I bought it hoping you could rest a little."
The fragrant aroma of coffee and the smell of freshly baked apple pie wafted through the office.
The taste of custard cream and apples came to mind, and Silvas unknowingly swallowed his saliva.
"This is the first time I've received such a gift."
'??'
Yi-Han was startled.
To think there was no one who brought things like this.
'Isn't this basic?'
Offering visible bribes while making a request was for amateurs. Bringing nothing was for intermediates. Bringing a gift that subtly leaves an impression was for experts.
Yi-Han managed his expression. The imperial bureaucrats would one day become Yi-Han's superiors and push and pull him, wouldn't they?
He always had to leave a good impression.
"I bought it from the <Rock Spirit's Apple Jam Cafe> in front, but I don't know if it will suit your taste..."
"I really like that place! You know a thing or two!"
Silvas was delighted at the name of the familiar cafe.
That cafe had fragrant coffee, delicious apple pie, and the rock soup made by the rock spirit was really hearty.
To receive it like this.
"Hey everyone! Have some snacks!"
"Where did the snacks come from? You didn't even have time to go out?"
"This guest here was worried about us and bought them."
"!"
"!!"
The bureaucrats greeted with a shocked and moved gaze. Some bureaucrats even had tears slightly welling up in their eyes.
"You're not crying, are you?"
"Th-the coffee was spicy, that's all."
Silvas asked in a much softer and kinder manner than before.
"What kind of matter do you want to request support funds for? Mage? The difficulty will vary depending on the case. If it's a natural disaster or realm calamity, support funds and the imperial knights will be deployed immediately. If it's independent magic research, which is a bit more difficult, you'll have to prove its usefulness."
Yi-Han hesitated.
'Should I just give up on <Research on the races preferred as food by trolls>?'
No matter how much he thought about it, it might be right to just give up on this and start.
"Don't be nervous and speak comfortably. Oh. I was so distracted that I didn't even ask about your family. Where are you from?"
"I'm Yi-Han from the Wardanaz family."
"The Wardanaz family...! Are you here to request help in the name of your family?!"
Even as he said it, Silvas thought it wouldn't be the case.
If it was a matter where the Wardanaz family needed help, they would have directly contacted His Majesty the Emperor, not a mere bureaucrat.
The boy shook his head.
"You came in the name of the organization you belong to. I'm surprised. To actually meet a mage from the Wardanaz family. I didn't know there was such a young one."
"I'm quite young. Wait. Do you happen to have a friendship with Mr. Daihal?"
Yi-Han noticed the photo on Silvas' desk.
In the photo, Silvas, Daihal, and a few other young bureaucrats were smiling.
"Ah. Yes. Do you know Daihal?"
"Yes. We're quite close."
In fact, Yi-Han himself wasn't sure if they were that close or not, but now Yi-Han was also desperate.
<Research on the races preferred as food by trolls> was something that couldn't be challenged without being desperate.
"I've been invited to the Dargard family several times."
"As expected. Since you're from the Wardanaz family. I've always admired the head of the Dargard family. He's my role model."
"Actually... one of the boys from the Dargard family, Asan, almost fell victim to a troll."
"What!? Is he okay!?"
"Yes. Fortunately, he was safe, but since then, I started to worry that the empire was too insensitive to the threat of trolls..."
Silvas was unknowingly moved by the young mage's words.
Compared to other mages who were engrossed in their own fields of interest and threw tantrums demanding money, how noble was this mage's reason!
Comments
Dots
....yi-han is a truly dangerous individual
