Life of a Magic Academy Mage – 11



Chapter 11

Sweets were said to restore the mind and soul of people. This was indeed true for the jams brought by Professor Uregor. The students who generously spread strawberry jam raspberry jam fig jam and more on their bread displayed expressions akin to being intoxicated.

“Tsk tsk” muttered the dwarf professor looking at the first-year students with a sense of pity. Being a professor at this magic academy he knew all too well the hardships faced by the freshmen. While the upperclassmen could go out the newcomers had to endure within these walls…

“Eat as much as you can now. You won’t get the chance for a while” he advised.

“Thank you Professor!”

The scene was filled with thick well-cooked meat sweet jams and bread slathered with butter. Alongside a landscape where spring water flowed and friends who were in harmony everyone enjoyed their meal heartily.

While the freshmen were eating heartily and catching their breath Professor Uregor began cleaning up by himself.

“Wait a moment. Why is there one jar of jam missing?”

“I’m sorry Professor.”

At that moment Yi-Han shamelessly took out a jar of jam from his cloak leaving Professor Uregor at a loss for words.

‘These new students are really something else!’

—

The size of the mana-enlarged pig was more impressive than anticipated. Even after smoking as much as possible and eating heartily there was still a lot of meat left even after Professor Uregor had taken several pieces to hang in his cabin.

“What should we do with this?”

“Professor is there a way to store this?” Yi-Han asked. Professor Uregor nodded and replied “Yes.”

“!”

“Use cold-type magic to freeze it.”

The freshmen glared at Professor Uregor. Previously they had failed to cast ‘Light’ and had to practice again with the troll professor next time. How were they supposed to use cold-type magic strong enough to freeze the meat?

“Is there no other way?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

“Summon a cold spirit to help. I can do both by the way.”

The freshmen exchanged glances and reached a silent agreement.

‘Let’s not ask this professor.’

‘Right.’

Sensing their thoughts Professor Uregor coughed and said “Sorry but it’s unlikely you can preserve all this meat at your level.”

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“If you cast a spell on it Professor…” Nillia began but the dwarf professor flatly refused.

“That wouldn’t be fair.”

“Um… Can we share it with our friends?” Nillia asked looking at both Yi-Han and Yonaire since they had caught it together.

“It’s your share so you can do as you please.”

“Right.”

“Thank you.”

Nillia blushed slightly moved by their consideration. Though she hadn’t yet befriended the other tower students she knew offering such a gift of meat to hungry and famished friends would be a good opportunity to bond. As she had learned in the mountains ‘He who shares food when hungry is your friend.’

To hide her embarrassment Nillia suggested “How about you guys share too?”

“Oh… For money?” Yi-Han responded.

“That’s actually a good idea.”

Yi-Han and Yonaire were impressed by Nillia’s suggestion. Nillia waved her hands in denial “No I didn’t mean about taking money…”

“Definitely. The students of Blue Dragon are mostly well-off. There’s no harm in offering food to such friends and receiving a little money in return.”

“Yes we shall show kindness to our friends” Yi-Han affirmed to which Yonaire nodded in agreement. Some noble heirs might have scoffed at such an act as beneath them but the two nobles gathered here were very pragmatic.

Yi-Han who believed in ‘working hard to live well’ and Yonaire who aimed to save every coin for her alchemy workshop shook hands their intentions aligned.

Of course there were still those with common sense. Nillia in disbelief questioned “Are you really planning to sell food to our friends for money?”

“Would you like to join us?”

“No!” Nillia stomped her foot in response to Yi-Han’s question.

“That seems a bit… inappropriate doesn’t it?”

“Nillia think about it. If friends just receive without giving anything in return their pride might be hurt.”

“Right. We’re considering our friends’ feelings.”

However Nillia was not easily fooled by the nobles’ seemingly noble words about pride.

“I’ll just give it to my friends as a gift.”

“Do as you wish Nillia. But you might regret it.”

“That’s right Nillia. Friendship may fade but gold remains.”

“Do you think they’ll really consider you a friend?”

“They might or they might not but there’s a better way. That is with gold…”

“I don’t want to hear it both of you be quiet!”

Professor Uregor sitting in front of the cabin and sipping coffee shook his head as he listened to their conversation.

‘Those three are going to be quite the headache if they keep sticking together.’

The freshmen hailing from all over the empire were of various kinds. The three in question were talented and passionate but they also had the look of troublemakers.

—

The Tower of the Prideful Blue Dragon.

Located far from the main Einrogard building this dormitory welcomed its new students with the scent of a fresh spirit-infused forest as soon as they passed the main gate. Even the students weary from dry and sparse meals felt their expressions soften momentarily when they breathed in this air.

But today the air was different.

Sizzle sizzle-

There was an enticing smell like that of cooking meat.

“Hey everyone. Did you have a good meal?”

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“What a wonderful dinner!”

The students were baffled to see a tall male student and a red-haired female student waving and greeting them. They were freshmen from the Wardanaz and Maykin families. And in their hands were meat tongs.

Crackle crackle-

Yi-Han added wood to the fire beneath the iron plate where wide slices of meat sizzled as they cooked. The sound and smell made someone’s stomach growl.

Gulp-

“Come on everyone. Eat up. We caught this for you.”

“Really?! Is that true??”

The freshmen exclaimed eyes wide. Despite being from renowned noble families they were still just boys and girls.

In their near-starving state this barbecue party was too tempting to resist.

“Yes. But you need to pay just one Imperial silver coin.”

“One imperial silver coin?”

Outside the academy such a barbecue could be enjoyed for two or three coins. But here in this isolated academy they could charge over three times the price without any competition.

“Is that all? Isn’t that too cheap?”

“Haha do you really think we’re trying to make money off you? We’re just doing this so you won’t feel uncomfortable accepting something for nothing.”

“Exactly exactly.”

Yi-Han and Yonaire said this to the students with kind smiles.

The students were moved. Nobles of great houses truly were different. So generous they thought. In such hungry and hard times when it wouldn’t be strange for someone to eat alone these two had prepared a griddle and a fire intending to share with their friends!

“Wardanaz…!”

“Maykin…!”

“Come on the meat will burn. Let’s pay and eat quickly.”

“Wait I don’t have any silver.”

“Me neither.”

The students of the Blue Dragon hesitated. They had come with barely anything so it was unlikely they had any money.

Yi-Han reassured them with a smile presenting paper and a feather pen.

“Just write down the amount and your name and sign. No need to pay now; we can settle up all at once right?”

“That’s…! Wardanaz you’re a genius!”

“What a convenient method!”

Scribble scribble scribble-

The famished students their intelligence slightly dulled by hunger hurriedly signed and rushed to the griddle.

Munch munch chew chew!

Yi-Han rolled up the paper and tucked it into his pocket looking on contentedly.

‘I never expected business to go this well.’

Some might question going to such lengths to make a little money but money should be made when the opportunity arises. Besides a silver coin was not a small amount. In these times one might dig the earth and not find a single coin let alone a silver.

As long as the freshmen couldn’t leave Yi-Han’s pockets would grow heavier.

“Parliak. Instead of forcing down cold rice balls if you just spread some meat oil on the griddle and fry the rice…”

“You’re… you’re a genius Wardanaz?”

“It’s just a bit of practical wisdom.”

Yi-Han patted the students on the back. Having received their silver this was a service he could provide.

The students shoving cooked meat into their mouths lest someone snatch it away would unanimously elect Yi-Han as their representative if asked so grateful were they.

“Wardanaz! Wardanaz! Wardanaz!”

“Maykin! Maykin! Maykin!”

The noble students cheered their houses with mouths full of food.

Coming down late Gainando’s eyes widened at the scene.

“What what… What’s happening??”

“Ah Gainando. You’re here? Want some meat?”

“What!? There’s meat?? Really??”

Gainando putting aside the situation for later was about to rush out.

Thump-

But he couldn’t. Yi-Han had grabbed his shoulder.

“Why?!”

“One silver coin.”

“…You’re charging money?”

“If we give it away for free everyone’s pride will be hurt.”

“That’s true. But I don’t have any money right now…”

“No problem. Just write down the amount and your name here and sign.”

“Gainando…”

Gainando’s face lit up with emotion.

To think they would be so kind.

True friendship indeed was to be found at school.

—

Thanks to the sudden barbecue party the students of the Blue Dragon Tower looked a bit healthier.

However that didn’t make the tedious lectures any more enjoyable.

Seeing the mandatory course title <Basic Magic Character Education> the students scowled.

“Character education? What do they take us for?”

“Isn’t this something only commoners should learn? Do we nobles of honor really need to be taught this?”

“I can’t believe this. Really unbelievable.”

‘These kids have a knack for complaining in the most unbearable way.’

Yi-Han thought to himself.

If students from other dormitories were in the classroom not just those from the Blue Dragon there likely would have been some fights over the words spoken so calmly here. What was astonishing was that these words were not spoken with malice. It was pure nonsense uttered with the utmost sincerity!

“Good morning to everyone.”

Silence fell.

The telepathy magic pounding into their heads left everyone’s faces stern and cold.

It wasn’t the magic that caused this reaction. The voice was all too familiar.

‘Surely not…’

Hello ironheads!

Silence reigned.

Instead of coming from the door a giant skull appeared with a ‘pop’ from the ceiling. It was Os Gonadaltes the principal of the academy.

“Life at the new school is enjoyable isn’t it? Isn’t it thrilling to step out of the confines of your family and try things on your own?”

Of course no one responded. The lich principal looked around in surprise.

“Look at this. You must have eaten something. You’re moving faster than I thought. I didn’t expect any activity for over a month!”

“What do you mean Principal? Were we supposed to find food on our own?”

“Yes. I told you to handle it yourselves.”

“Was that what you meant? I don’t understand why we have to do this…”

-Silence!

“Uh!”

The student who had spoken up was suddenly muted. The lich principal nodded his skull in satisfaction a chilling clatter echoing in the room.

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