Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

Chapter 635

Alcicle could only gape his beak at such a shocking fact.

"D-don't lie. There's no way they would do that. They couldn't have married so ordinarily, falling into carnal desire..."

"The family head told me directly, so it's certain."

Yi-Han said indifferently.

It had been quite painful when, during conversations with the family head, unsolicited love stories would pop up.

"Does true love really make magic stronger?? I thought love was like a residue that interferes with magic..."

"Your thinking is similar to the principal's?"

"H-how can you say such a thing, Wardanaz? What did I do so wrong?"

Alcicle made a hurt expression at the harsh words of his junior mage with outstanding talent.

"...I just said it without much thought. I'm sorry."

"I'm different from Lord Gonadaltes. Of course, Lord Gonadaltes might have said similar things. But we're clearly different. Even if it's for the completion of great magic, I'll confirm the other person's intention before marrying."

'Is he indirectly criticizing the principal as someone who would do a forced marriage?'

As Alcicle seemed to be seriously contemplating marriage, Yi-Han became curious and asked,

"Do you have someone you're discussing engagement with?"

"There are people who have been mentioned. Right. Wardanaz. Want to hear about it? You might be able to judge well."

'Damn. I need to fix this habit.'

Yi-Han regretted his thoughtless question from just now.

He kept failing to control his curiosity and throwing out words, digging his own grave.

The family head's love stories were already tiresome, so how much more tiresome would Alcicle's fiancée stories be?

'And does my advice even matter here?'

While he could give advice on magic or business plans, Yi-Han couldn't exercise his abilities on Alcicle's engagement concerns.

At best, the only question that came to mind was 'Does the other person like sardines too?'...

"One of the candidates currently being discussed in the family is the daughter of the Arba family. They're an albatross mixed-blood family. Traditionally, penguin mixed-bloods and albatross mixed-bloods have a higher chance of producing outstanding children, so this is considered an advantage."

"..."

Yi-Han had to suppress the urge to cover his ears.

'This is really biological knowledge I didn't want to know.'

Imperial folklore about the compatibility between penguin mixed-bloods and albatross mixed-bloods.

Looking to the side, his junior was already dozing off.

"I... see."

"Another candidate that's been mentioned is the aide of the Sebing Magic Tower. As someone who intensively researches the cold element, it would be good to align our topics together."

"Wow. That really sounds too happy."

Yi-Han answered artificially and then hesitated.

Even to his own ears, it sounded too insincere.

'Was that too perfunctory?'

However, Alcicle seemed pleased.

"Right? I'm glad you evaluate it highly."

"..."

At that response, Yi-Han felt unnecessarily sorry.

'I should consider this more seriously.'

"The last candidate that's been mentioned is Lord

"...What language was that just now?"

"Ah. Your ears probably can't hear it. It's a spirit name. A spirit that has a connection with our family. I'm considering whether to make a contract with this spirit. The advantage is that it's a spirit of cold, so it would help my magic."

In the empire, contracts with spirits took more diverse forms than one might think.

There were ordinary forms of contracts like those made by Einroguard students, but occasionally mages would appear who made unusual forms of contracts with powerful spirits.

Among these, the most unusual type of contract was this marriage-like form of contract.

Jealous spirits wanted to monopolize mages, and if mages were willing to endure that to borrow the spirit's power (or had fallen in love with the spirit)...

They would form a strong contract like this.

"Spirits make good partners. Oh right. Do you know the spirits I contracted with? They're squirrel and sparrow spirits here."

"?"

Alcicle was slightly taken aback when Yi-Han suddenly boasted about his spirits.

They were just ordinary low-level spirits, not rare or unusual ones.

'Huh, what does he mean?'

"They... seem like cute and smart little ones?"

"Right?"

Yi-Han showed his most pleased expression since entering the mansion. Alcicle, though not understanding why, felt relieved thinking he had answered well.

"So which of the three seems best?"

"Hmm. Mr. Pengerin. Which one did you feel happiest when meeting?"

Yi-Han asked a standard question.

Honestly, even asking this was bothersome, but having heard everything, he couldn't just ignore it completely.

"Huh? I haven't met any of them."

"What?"

"I haven't met them. I've only heard the names of all three."

"..."

Yi-Han felt deeply frustrated.

Alcicle was a stranger person than he had thought.

'Should I just tell him to choose with divination magic?'

What helped Yi-Han in his contemplation was the amorphous demon that had left earlier.

The demon, returning with sardines, said to the kitchen in a tired voice,

-I've brought them.-

"Oh right. Mr. Demon. I'll be inviting friends soon, could you help?"

-...-

The demon twisted its body, cursing itself for rolling low on the dice.

Why did it have to roll low on the dice on a day like this?

"Mr. Pengerin. I'm worried because the banquets at our mansion aren't really that diverse."

Alcicle nodded, not even noticing that Yi-Han was changing the subject.

"I guess it's because there aren't many people?"

"Yes. Most people are outside to begin with, and even the knights and servants who are here don't like to eat lavishly..."

The family didn't lack food supplies, but there wasn't much variety and most were rather frugal.

If they served what they usually ate when friends like Gainando came, he would surely ask, 'Is this the appetizer? Where's the main course?'

'But is that important right now?'

Alcicle thought, looking at the desolate scene outside the mansion.

It seemed like they should worry about other things before preparing a banquet for the coming friends...

"We can just go to the town and scrape together something usable. The town looked quite big on the way here."

-Damn penguin...-

The demon muttered while preparing to go out.

If he was going to order, why not do it all at once instead of splitting it up like this!

Alcicle hurriedly explained,

"No, I didn't mean to order you."

"More importantly, isn't that too harsh! He's still a guest!"

At Yi-Han's cry, the amorphous demon completely shrank.

-I was wrong. Mr. Wardanaz. Please don't extend my service time.-

"Be careful from now on. Anyway, Mr. Pengerin. As you said, I'll go to the town and buy some usable things. Junior. You finish studying this much. I'll give you a test when I get back."

"I-I can go shopping too..."

"No."

The demon, though faceless, looked desperately at Eandurde.

It felt like it could offer even its soul if it could become that little one.

"Wait a moment. Wardanaz."

"Yes?"

"Are you going to the town with that demon?"

"Yes. It's fine. It's bound by contract so it won't cause trouble."

'That's not the problem.'

Even if it was a demon bound by contract, one didn't use it as a pack animal substitute for market shopping.

How terrified would the townsfolk be if they saw it?

Alcicle was about to point this out but stopped.

He had come as a guest, and it felt a bit much to interfere too much with the other family's traditions.

"Well... Okay... Have a safe trip."

"Yes."

Yi-Han set out through the main gate with the demon.

As they were walking silently along the path, Yi-Han suddenly remembered their earlier conversation and asked,

"Mr. Demon. For an engagement partner, would you prefer someone who can bear outstanding children, someone who matches well in magic research, or someone who can give strong power?"

-Though I may not know much about mages, engagement is probably best done with someone who makes your heart flutter and whom you love.-

"...!?"

***

Alcicle waited for Yi-Han to return while supervising Eandurde's studies (this gorgon mixed-blood child constantly attempted escape and distractions).

'Isn't the family head coming?'

Looking at the main gate of the , no more messages were coming. He was probably busy with outer realm exploration.

Alcicle thought it couldn't be helped, though he felt regretful. In fact, it was already quite amazing to have met Rayana Wardanaz given how suddenly they had visited.

Creak-

With the sound of the first floor door of the mansion opening, someone came inside.

Alcicle poked his head out, thinking Yi-Han might have returned. Eandurde quickly crawled under the table to escape.

"?"

An unfamiliar spirit was walking into the entrance on the first floor. Alcicle blinked in surprise and then came to his senses.

'No, it's not a spirit!?'

At first, he thought it was a spirit because the aura of nature was so strong, but looking closely, it wasn't a spirit.

It was a living person.

Earth spirits were tangled and playing in each strand of hair, and small thunder spirits were playing pranks on the bridge of the nose and above the eyebrows.

Alcicle was surprised to see the usually temperamental thunder spirits playing without hurting the person.

Even decent spirit mages couldn't show such high affinity.

The person put down the large leather backpack they were carrying. The worn backpack was so full it looked like it might burst at any moment.

Alcicle tensed, not knowing what would come out of it.

"...?"

What came out were old odds and ends.

A chipped and cracked porcelain cup, an old stone tablet with blurred letters, an arrow with a rusted tip and broken shaft...

The person carefully put each item down and began to manage them. Dozens of spirits helped with the task with all their might.

Alcicle was surprised once again at this sight.

It was surprising that what came out were odds and ends, but it was truly amazing that the spirits were devoting themselves to the work without any complaints.

And that too without any magic or commands!

'How is this possible? It can't be possible with just affinity. Surely there must be an artifact or something...'

As Alcicle was staring intently, Eandurde, who was sneaking out behind him, knocked over a chair.

Bang!

"?"

The strange guest raised their head and looked at Alcicle. Alcicle froze as their eyes met.

"Uh... um... I'm Alcicle of the Pengerin family. Who might you be?"

The other person didn't answer and lowered their head. Then they went back to managing the odds and ends.

"I'm back, Mr. Pengerin."

"!!!"

Hearing Yi-Han's voice, Alcicle shouted urgently.

"Wardanaz! Over there! There's a person I've never seen before! It seems to be a spirit disguised as a human..."

"Oh, brother?"

"...???"

Arsil Wardanaz, the second child of the Wardanaz family, greeted Yi-Han happily.

"What brings you here... Ah. You came to congratulate me on finishing my first year at Einroguard? No. You didn't have to do this... I feel sorry that you came such a long way."

"??"

Alcicle was confused watching Yi-Han talking to himself.

While he was conversing with his second older brother, Yi-Han kept talking alone.

"W-Wardanaz. Is Mr. Arsil really speaking? I can't hear anything."

"He's close to spirit language, so you probably can't hear well. I can hear because I'm of the same bloodline."

"Wait. Can humans speak spirit language?"

"My brother has always been able to..."

"..."

Seeing Wardanaz calmly saying things that would make the empire's spirit mages and linguists faint, Alcicle acutely felt anew which family's territory he was in.

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