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Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 1070
🕑 Added 2024-11-29 12:31:15 +0000 UTCChapter 1070
-You just said you were inside...-
"Just say it was a mistake!"
-Who would fall for such lies except Baldurguard students? More importantly, what's this bet?-
"It's nothing much."
Professor Verduus explained what had happened with Yukbeltire, his direct disciple.
"It's absolutely impossible that way! She doesn't have high purity adamantite plates, hasn't found ancient magic to supplement the missing parts of the magic circle, anyway Yukbeltire is really stupid!"
-......-
-...No, shouldn't you teach your disciple if they don't know?-
-Shh. Talking to the wall would be faster.-
The death knights were lost for words at Professor Verduus's novel teaching method.
If a disciple was lacking in something you should teach them, not make bets saying 'Fool! You can't do it!'
Though they had much to say, the knights held back. He wasn't someone who would listen anyway.
-If it's impossible there's even more reason to meet. Especially since she's your disciple.-
"That's... true but."
Professor Verduus hesitated.
Having many enemies, this beaver mixed-blood mage had quite keen senses for danger.
Though Yukbeltire was stupid, she wasn't Baldurguard mage level - would she really come with something incomplete and make such a flimsy lie that would be easily exposed?
-Then we'll open it. He's here!-
"W-wai...!"
Before Professor Verduus could say anything else, the death knights quickly opened the carriage door.
Led by Yukbeltire, the Einroguard students waited outside with fierce faces smiling like rebelling farmers.
"Senior. You're not angry right?"
"I'm not angry at all so there's no need to worry. I don't even understand why you're asking such a question. It's a completely useless question."
'She's angry.'
Yi-Han who had spoken to his senior thought inwardly.
Though not yet at Direth's level, he was starting to see what his same-tower senior was thinking.
When words got that long, it was definitely either anger or sadness.
Actually he could understand his senior's feelings.
The death knights' and Professor Verduus's conversation had been audible from outside.
-It's absolutely impossible that way! She doesn't have high purity adamantite plates, hasn't found ancient magic to supplement the missing parts of the magic circle, anyway Yukbeltire is really stupid!-
-......-
-S-Senior. Honestly Professor Verduus who didn't tell you is at fault. How could you have known there were damaged parts in the magic circle and only ancient magic could supplement them?-
Few among Einroguard senior students lacked pride in their magic.
Especially Yukbeltire as Blue Dragon Tower's top student would have several times more pride.
Naturally missing that fact had to be humiliating.
"Professor. Please come out."
At Yi-Han's call, Professor Verduus pressed his back firmly against the carriage seat and spoke.
"Can't because of assassination threats."
"All these knights are guarding you. What nonsense. Even Professor Bagrak came."
"What? Why?!"
-Is this really not an attack?-
The death knights whispered with serious looks.
Yi-Han was already treated half like the skull principal's successor among knights, yet now Professor Boladi came along like this too.
They seriously worried this might be retaliatory attack.
"Why did you bring him?"
"He came along in case we meet any bad people."
"What bad people when you're moving in such numbers. They'd run away seeing you."
"Never mind that and hurry up and come out. We have something to show you."
Yi-Han went into the carriage, peeled Professor Verduus off the seat and pulled him.
Professor Verduus came out with a face very much not wanting to come out.
"Why..."
"Please look at this plate. Baqwantallana's Realm Rod and Ahiman's Refraction are engraved."
"Don't lie. That's impossible."
Professor Verduus who had been denying reality closed his mouth seeing the plate Yukbeltire held out.
"..."
-?-
"My calculations couldn't have been wrong? Did someone else make this for you?"
-Wow. What kind of bastard is this?-
A hot-blooded knight muttered flaring up.
When his disciple completed something without his teachings, he should shed tears of joy not belittle like this?
But surprisingly it was true. Yi-Han shuddered inwardly.
'Indeed Professor Verduus. Must never let guard down.'
Looking carefully he might find traces of the young prince's magic. Yi-Han pressed hard.
"Don't change the subject, Professor Verduus. That's what Baldurguard mages do. Are you perhaps a Baldurguard mage?"
"But it really makes no sense..."
"Quickly acknowledge it!"
-That's right. Please acknowledge it!-
Not just Yi-Han but even the death knights joined in. The students also chorused for him to acknowledge it.
Even Alcicle excitedly chimed in.
"Acknowledge it! Wooo!"
"It makes no sense... it really makes no sense... surely with Yukbeltire's level..."
"Just hurry up and get down on four legs."
"This is strange..."
Though grumbling, Professor Verduus did as told.
With completed high-level magic before his eyes, he couldn't deny it.
Seeing Professor Verduus crawling on four legs, the students burst into loud cheers. Passing travelers seeing this were horrified and turned their carriages around.
-Crazy mages! Run away!-
-Aren't they Einroguard mages?-
-You can say that after seeing that sight?-
Blocking a carriage, pulling out the person inside then making them crawl on four legs certainly wasn't a very pleasant sight.
And that was true for the death knights too.
-N-no. Why are you making Professor Verduus crawl on four legs?-
"I explained earlier didn't I? It was the bet's content."
-......-
The knights pondered.
Their job was certainly to safely guard Professor Verduus until his business was done.
Should they stop the professor crawling on four legs now?
-Hmm. Crawling on four legs should be fine. It's the guard target's freedom.-
-Indeed Sir is truly wise. I look forward to much more guidance in the future.-
-Hoho. Over such a small thing!-
The death knights were very flexible. They respected Professor Verduus's free will and let him back into the carriage.
"Why not stay outside since it's cramped?"
-Understood, Professor.-
It was truly strange.
Seeing Professor Verduus lying on four legs on the carriage floor, they felt much more generous about him acting the same as before!
'I hope you keep crawling on four legs from now on.'
*
Professor Verduus's outing wasn't just a big deal for his guards. It was plenty big for those he was meeting too.
Puyo, a tree spirit mixed-blood mage treated as an outstanding artifact craftsman and staff specialist, checked his surroundings several times.
He worried about possible tails.
Thump thump thump-
After standing in front of a shabby three-story building at the edge of the capital's southern district, Puyo carefully knocked on the door.
The wooden door painted with cheap green dye creaked as if about to collapse any moment.
"You've come, Master. Please come in."
"It's been a while. Have you been well?"
"I've been well. No tails right?"
"None."
"You haven't mentioned this anywhere..."
"Do I look like such a naive mage to you?"
"I apologize. I'll make amends."
The middle-aged man inside bowed his head apologizing.
This mage's name was Avalcan.
He was an outstanding artifact craftsman who inherited the scholarly tradition of Avalcain, a renowned enchantment mage from several hundred years ago.
Though both were recognized craftsmen and mages in the empire, there was a reason they were being so cautious and careful.
...Their meeting partner today was Beavle Verduus.
If the fact they were meeting Professor Verduus leaked out...
-What? You met that mage? Why didn't you tell me? You know well how much of my gold coins that bastard wasted!-
-Haha. I understand you. So I'll write another letter. If I just catch that professor, I'll give you a thousand gold...-
People with grudges against Professor Verduus could form a line from the empire's western end to eastern end.
If the truth leaked, they couldn't imagine how much these people would pester them.
And that wasn't all.
"When I met a Petroguard mage before, their face completely hardened seeing someone related to Professor Verduus."
There were many with grudges among fellow mages too.
Though both were outstanding craftsmen, they didn't want the tag 'Recently met Professor Verduus' stuck on their backs.
"Must be careful. Must be very careful... But who is that mage?"
"My disciple."
The reason the mages gathered here now was for cooperation.
Even outstanding enchantment mages would find it difficult to handle everything alone.
If they helped in their confident fields, efficiency would rise much more.
Puyo was an outstanding staff specialist.
Avalcan was a specialist in ancient relic interpretation and improvement.
Professor Verduus was just Professor Verduus.
"Will it be alright? Professor Verduus won't be easy."
"I guarantee my disciple's ability."
"Though there must be ability since you guarantee it, he's such a picky fellow..."
Puyo who knew Professor Verduus's personality well showed worry.
Given how demanding his eye was, there was high possibility he would reject even fairly good mages.
From the start, these mages weren't gathering for soft reasons like friendship.
The purpose of this meeting was to quickly exchange what each needed while hiding even the fact they met then part ways.
As such, if the disciple's ability was lacking, even Puyo couldn't stop Professor Verduus.
"...What if your disciple attacks Professor Verduus?"
"That fellow Verduus would block it well enough wouldn't he?"
"Well that's true. He'll take care of himself at least."
Thump thump thump-
While the two sat at a round wooden table boiling tea in a kettle, someone knocked on the door.
"Must be here."
"I'll open it."
Avalcan carefully opened the door. But there was nothing in front.
"???"
"Down here."
"?!!"
Avalcan was shocked at the voice from below.
Professor Verduus was on four legs below.
"Quickly move aside. You're blocking the way."
"Ah, no. Why are you crawling?"
"Lost a bet."
"Professor! What if you run ahead?!"
A voice came from the alley.
It was like the voice of an owner urgently running after dropping a dog's leash.
"Now. Let's go in, Professor."
"Can't you come quickly?"
"Haha. I didn't know Professor would be so fast on four legs."
When Yi-Han came in, the mages were startled.
Professor Verduus coming with a disciple?
No matter how they looked, Yi-Han was clearly an Einroguard student.
"What brings you here?"
"To monitor if he’s crawling properly on four... no. As the professor's disciple I wanted to help with magic so I came along."
Yi-Han shamelessly lied without even wetting his lips.
"Though guards or colleagues are one thing, bringing an immature disciple is a bit much. This isn't a social gathering."
"Should I tell him to leave then?"
Professor Verduus asked in a hopeful voice.
However, Puyo who recognized Yi-Han's face stopped Avalcan.
"That boy's ability is sufficient."
"Is that really true?"
"Yes. I hear he's been handling Professor Verduus's work since first year."
"You made him work since first year?!"
"..."
Professor Verduus slightly dodged behind Yi-Han. It was to escape kicking range in case the other kicked.
