Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy
chapter-477

Kettle couldn't hold back any longer and poured out curses.

Professor Verduus protested against the disciple's rude behavior.

"Rude!"

"You're the one being rude! What kind of reward is that!"

"It is a reward!"

"Strictly speaking, it's not really a reward..."

When Yi-Han muttered beside him, Professor Verduus shouted in surprise.

"It's not a reward?! Why!?"

"Uh... um..."

Yi-Han pondered how to explain.

If it were a normal person, it would have been easy (in fact, there would have been no need to explain separately), but Professor Verduus was someone who would never understand if spoken to normally.

"Rewards are originally divided into whether the recipient needs it or not. No matter how good an item is, if it's useless to the recipient, it's not a reward."

"But everyone likes the opportunity to work in my workshop?"

Kettle was seen grabbing the back of his neck and collapsing.

However, Yi-Han's innate patience was not shaken by such words from Professor Verduus. Yi-Han calmly replied.

"Even if I work in the professor's workshop, it's not easy for me to utilize it right away because my abilities are lacking."

"Ah! That makes sense!"

Professor Verduus immediately understood.

Indeed, although Yi-Han was a little more outstanding than other stupid students, he was still a pitiful disciple who had a lot to learn compared to Professor Verduus.

Even if Professor Verduus lent such a disciple the workbench he used, it would be difficult for him to utilize even one-hundredth of it.

"I forgot that you were stupid."

"It's alright."

Kettle foamed at the mouth at Professor Verduus's answer.

Is that something to say in front of a disciple who came all the way to the underground punishment room to save him?

'Why do evil people live more happily in the world? People like the principal and Professor Verduus live happily, but why do good people have to suffer like that?'

Kettle felt like his heart was being torn apart at the sight of the kind 1st year junior suffering.

"Can't you just give me something else?"

"Something else... Hmm, what can a stupid person do..."

When Professor Verduus was about to fall into contemplation, Kettle hurriedly shouted.

"The underground warehouse of the Spirit Festival Hall! Ask for the key to the underground warehouse of the Spirit Festival Hall!"

Professor Verduus made a very blatant expression of dislike. Seeing that, Yi-Han suddenly became interested.

"Where is that?"

"The place where Professor Verduus keeps his precious reagents and materials!! The place he never opened even when my friend knelt and grabbed his ankles!!"

"It's a waste."

Professor Verduus grumbled as if it was natural.

Kettle shouted, filled with anger.

He was so afraid that Yi-Han might just open the prison.

"Hey! If you don't get that key, don't pretend to know me. Don't even say you're my junior anywhere! Don't even say you graduated from Einroguard! Einroguard doesn't need a pushover like you!!"

'Being called a pushover is really unfamiliar.'

Yi-Han felt very awkward when he heard the senior say, 'Why are you so kind and a pushover?' after only hanging out with his friends.

If his friends were here, they might have doubted their ears.

"I'm sorry, Professor. The senior said I must get the key."

"But it's a waste..."

"But as a junior, I can't not listen to the senior. Then I can't open it. The professor will continue to be imprisoned here."

"But it's still a waste..."

Professor Verduus groaned and suffered, but Yi-Han firmly endured by using the senior's name.

In the end, Professor Verduus conceded.

"Alright. I'll give it to you."

"Thank you. I'll use it well."

"Wait!!"

Kettle shouted again.

There was a desperation that he absolutely couldn't leave him alone even after receiving the key.

"Make him swear that he will let you choose the time when you work separately outside of lecture hours! And make him clearly specify what he will give you as payment when you work separately!"

"Why is payment necessary when work is enjoyable?"

Kettle ignored Professor Verduus's question and said what he had to say.

"Did you hear that!? Think carefully now! Do you think there will be another chance for Professor Verduus to readily concede and swear!? How much you extract today will determine your future life at Einroguard!"

When Kettle recalled his friends who had studied under Professor Verduus, his eyes reddened.

Kind and considerate friends were all dropped, and only a few geniuses overflowing with madness could endure under him.

When he thought that this pushover new student would suffer such a fate, he couldn't just sit still.

"Make him swear no matter what! Even if you have to point a knife at his throat!"

"I'm sorry, Professor. The senior said I must make you swear."

"Why is he doing that?"

Professor Verduus grumbled.

He couldn't understand why such oaths and contracts were necessary.

With just passion for magic and respect for each other, Einroguard's enchantment magic school was running well enough.

"I swear that from now on, when I make my disciple Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family work, I will give him the right to choose first..."

Professor Verduus, who was swearing, looked at Yi-Han and asked.

"But it doesn't really matter, right? You like working."

"That's right, Professor. Actually, it doesn't really matter. Even if I have the right to choose, would I refuse? Haha."

Yi-Han spoke inwardly, thanking Kettle.

Thanks to that senior imprisoned in the punishment room, Yi-Han was getting rid of the things he wanted gone one by one without even touching them.

"...If by chance I make you work, I will pay you proper wages... The wages will be negotiated before making you work, and the disciple, not myself, will..."

Kettle took out a handkerchief and wiped the corners of his eyes. Yi-Han asked in surprise.

"Are you crying?"

"You're mistaken because the air is humid from the spirit flood!"

"That doesn't make any sense..."

"Focus on the oath! Don't miss a single word Professor Verduus says! And don't trust the professor!"

"Hmm."

Yi-Han felt sorry.

If only Professor Verduus didn't have ears, he wanted to say, 'Senior, do you think I'm crazy to believe the professor?'

But since it was in front of Professor Verduus, Yi-Han had no choice but to act like a kind disciple.

"The professor didn't have any bad intentions..."

"Gah, cough."

Kettle almost collapsed again.

Still, thanks to Kettle, Yi-Han was able to make a few more oaths.

After finishing the oath not to visit during vacation without permission, Yi-Han looked at Kettle with eyes dripping with respect.

'As expected, he's not a senior for nothing!'

It was the first time Yi-Han had met an Einroguard graduate, but he didn't expect him to be so reliable.

Yi-Han now somewhat understood why Einroguard was considered the best educational institution in the Empire.

"Huff... huff. Okay... now go. Never trust the professor."

Kettle gestured with a tired face.

"Senior, shouldn't I help you escape too?"

"I can't. Professor Verduus was just caught stealing the principal's belongings at most, but..."

"I said I didn't steal!"

Professor Verduus protested while jumping up and down, but Kettle ignored him.

"...I was caught after causing an accident outside. If I escape, they'll chase after me right away. If I get caught then..."

Kettle trembled.

He didn't finish his words, but it was a gesture that made it clear how afraid he was.

"Should I try talking to the principal?"

"You're quite the joker."

Kettle chuckled.

The joke made by the 1st year junior was unexpectedly bold and funny.

To think he would make such a joke to the heavenly skull principal.

"While you're at it, tell him to improve the environment inside a bit."

"Yes. I understand. By the way, senior. I brought the food I promised outside."

Yi-Han opened his backpack and started taking out food items one by one.

He had generously prepared preserved foods such as canned beef and canned fruits that were easy to eat in the cell, as well as luxury items such as sugar, tea leaves, and coffee powder.

"This bread was baked this morning, so it's best to eat it right away. I also brought some honey."

"...Wh, where did you steal this from?"

Kettle asked back in surprise.

No matter how he thought about it, they weren't items a 1st year student could obtain.

If he had obtained such things, it would be insufficient for him and his friends to eat, but he brought them here.

Isn't this too much, even if he's kind?

"Hey. If you give this to me, what will your friends say! Just take it back."

"Huh? It's fine because we have plenty."

"...???"

Kettle was confused.

Plenty?

'It doesn't seem like he's lying, but what the hell?'

It was to the point where he thought the 1st year students might have collectively raided the kitchen.

But even if they did, it wouldn't be to this extent...

"Senior. Please tell me what you left at the school as promised."

"Ah. Right."

Kettle, who had been confused, came to his senses.

Come to think of it, this junior had been contacting Kettle since the character education lecture.

At that time, he never thought that he would break through to the punishment room here and successfully make a deal...

"Why do you trust the professor so much when you're so thorough? I told you not to trust the professor."

"Haha. But he's still a professor."

Professor Verduus nodded from behind as if agreeing.

Kettle let out a short sigh.

No one can be perfect.

This junior had outstanding magical talent, but he also had a very fatal weakness in Einroguard.

To think he trusts the professor like that...

"Take this. It's the location of the room my friends and I used. There should be some useful things left."

Yi-Han bowed his head and received the map Kettle handed over.

It was a reward worth coming all the way here for.

"Thank you!"

"I should be the one thanking you. Thanks for the food. I'll eat well. I have to stay here for a while..."

Kettle licked his lips and spoke to Yi-Han.

"Don't become like me."

"I understand. I'll be careful when using magic outside."

"No. You can cause accidents with magic outside, but don't get caught. I got caught."

"..."

'I don't think he's reflecting...'

Yi-Han thought inwardly. Professor Verduus, who was listening next to him, spoke.

"You should transform."

"Pardon?"

"You should transform. You promised. If he came to save me, you'd live as a goat for a week."

"..."

Kettle inwardly spewed curses at Professor Verduus and cast magic.

Poof!

"Then we'll get going!"

Meh-eh-eh!

'When the principal comes, I'll definitely blame that bastard!'

The goat, no, Kettle glared at Professor Verduus's back as he left, burning with a desire for revenge.

If the skull principal came and asked, 'Why is the punishment room in this state?' he was going to shout, 'It's because of Professor Verduus! Meh-eh-eh!' no matter what.

"Everyone. The flood is over."

-Ah... then release me...-

When Yi-Han returned to the library and declared with a tired face, the students were all surprised.

"No, no way...!"

"Wardanaz, did you solve it?!"

"Hey. Don't you remember what Wardanaz said last time? He told you not to involve him."

Anglago scolded the Black Tortoise Tower student.

"This time, I did solve it."

"..."

Anglago glared at Yi-Han.

This guy had scolded him last time, saying, 'Do you think I solved all the problems in Einroguard? Don't involve me!'

"How did you solve it!?"

-Release me and then you can talk, can't you... mages...-

"Wait!"

Salko looked around.

Then, as if he understood, he made an expression of admiration.

"I respect you, Wardanaz. You sacrificed the prince?"

"No, I didn't."

"It must have been a painful choice, but it was an inevitable sacrifice. You'll be fine soon."

"I said I didn't sacrifice him."

-Release me... you can talk after releasing me...-

"Yes. If you say so, I respect..."

Gainando, who had secretly eaten snacks and returned, glared at Salko.

Who are you telling to sacrifice?

"No!?"

"Why are you surprised? What?"

"Then who did you sacrifice...?"

Yi-Han spoke in a voice filled with fatigue.

"I just confronted them head-on. I found the spirits and persuaded them."

-Relea...-

The devouring-ship fish, who was about to plead to be released, shut its mouth with a look of disgust at Yi-Han's words.

-What a crazy mage!?-