My Joker System: From Low Mana Trash to the Mightiest Wizard!-Chapter 105: Deal!

"H-Hal..."

Liora trembled, tugging on Hal’s shirt, touched that he was speaking up for her but also afraid he might be expelled from the academy for daring to speak this way to the Deputy Headmaster.

Korvus, on the other hand, scoffed in disbelief that he was being lectured again by another young man, this one far less important than the one earlier.

The old man didn’t register a word Hal had said; he was simply erupting inside.

"Hoh? You think you’re qualified to talk back to me just because of our previous interaction? You think you’ve caused no inconvenience to me or the empire over the past few months, brat?"

Hal’s gaze turned even more unfriendly, his respect for the old man slipping further.

Did this guy really think everyone should naturally sacrifice everything and be glad to die for the empire?

That everyone was just a pawn without emotions, expected to do everything for the so-called greater good?

How the hell did he even cause trouble when all he did was join an arcanist competition and help his friend?

Nothing the old man said made sense to Hal.

"Deputy Headmaster, then please tell me how I caused trouble again," he responded, his tone growing icy.

Liora and the assistants could tell that things were getting heated.

"Hahaha!" Korvus suddenly laughed in fury.

"Fine then. I shall not mince words and will tell you directly. You were gone for a few months, and your childhood friend, Ennya Kasai, asked me numerous times about you after she came out of closed-door training.

We could only delay her for a week or two before she went to visit and found out you had been gone for almost four months.

Since she’s your childhood friend, it’s natural for her to worry, is it not? Now, why don’t you tell me how you think you’re not causing trouble for the empire?"

"Wha? Huh?"

Hal was at a loss for words.

That was the worst nonsense he had ever heard in his life.

If this old man was accusing him of hindering the progress of the empire’s most talented Magna Prospect simply for living his life the way he wanted to, then he might as well blame him for everything—up to and including the fall of the empire itself.

What was he even supposed to do?

Stay locked in his dorm room and wait obediently for his death?

What crap was this old man smoking?

"Then what exactly do you want me to do? Live my entire life the way you want me to? This is my life, and I have the right to live it how I choose, don’t I?"

Korvus couldn’t retort for a second before answering in a rather indirect manner:

"Don’t do things disadvantageous to the empire." the old man managed.

"Then is helping Liora Whitemane, one of your five-star students and a possible Magna Prospect, survive in a runeforest considered one?"

"Heh, please, Hal Fennec. She’s a five-star student for a reason, unlike you. Sh–"

Before Korvus could finish his words, however, Liora suddenly mustered the courage to pick a side.

"Yes, Deputy Headmaster..." She interrupted bravely. "I would never have survived without Hal and would have perished in my first few days without his help."

A satisfied yet still cold smirk appeared on Hal’s face at her words.

This time, Korvus opened his mouth but no words came out.

Hal Fennec struck him as a somewhat mysterious and secretive student.

He was certainly not as useless as he seemed on the surface, and Korvus knew that.

However, as to the extent of his true competence, the deputy headmaster was hearing about it for the first time today.

Korvus knew that he couldn’t back down or his prestige and reputation would suffer a blow.

"Hmph, enough," the old man snorted.

"There’s always the possibility that you’re just covering for him. Hal Fennec, you’ll remain in the academy until you graduate. You are not allowed to go on missions.

It’s truly unfortunate that Ennya Kasai was born alongside a friend like you, someone who fails to understand the extent of what she could achieve. But I will take a firm stance and ensure that she progresses well during these crucial first years for a wizard.

Once she is released by her master, you may do whatever you want."

Naturally, Hal sneered at Korvus’ words.

It seemed the elderly academy leader’s mind was too clouded by his duties to the empire.

Perhaps part of it was because this was the first time the Imperium had acquired a talent of Ennya’s caliber.

While Hal had no desire to hinder her, his life was his own, and it was borderline madness for Korvus to think he could control what Hal was allowed to do.

Hal had his own plans, and he wouldn’t give them up just because of the academy leader’s twisted reasoning.

"And if I don’t? What then? Will you detain me like some kind of criminal? Is this how the Grand Magic Academy operates, playing favorites and suppressing other students for the benefit of one?"

Korvus found it difficult to believe that the young man in front of him still dared to talk back.

His reasoning was also logical, forcing the deputy headmaster to second-guess his own words. Even he had to admit that what he had said was somewhat out of line.

But how could he back down now?

"Hmph, I am nothing of the sort. Why would I detain you like some corrupt official? However, if you refuse to listen to me in my academy, then there is no place here for an unruly student like you." Korvus threatened, believing this should be enough to dissuade Hal from being too willful.

For poor people from the border villages, the academy’s scholarship in exchange for three years of required service to the Imperial Wizard Guild or the Imperial Army was a godsend opportunity to rise in both social and financial status.

There was quite literally no other way for them.

After all, without the academy, where would they obtain the resources needed to improve rapidly as a wizard?

The spell books, the mana meditation hall, the food hall, the training fields, and the free accommodations were all provided in return for a promise of three years of mandatory servitude.

Poor folks had no other option but to cling to the academy’s golden leg or they would have to procure everything themselves.

Hal was the one who didn’t answer directly this time.

He was no fool.

While he didn’t appreciate the deputy headmaster’s stance or his obsession when it came to Ennya, he knew he needed a backer who could make envious, malicious people think twice before doing anything to him.

He also understood that Korvus was acting this way only because Hal hadn’t yet revealed his true capabilities as a combat wizard.

Fortunately, the perfect opportunity to prove that he, too, was strong was just around the corner.

"Then how about this, Deputy Headmaster? Give me a rank you want me to achieve in the Arcana Primis Cup. If I reach it, you shall agree to three requests of mine. If I fail, I will follow your arrangements until Ennya is released by her master."

"H-Hal, you’re..."

Liora was surprised, not expecting Hal to be among the 128 participants of the Arcana Primis Cup’s main tournament.

Before she could continue, however, the old man had already responded, clearly pleased with Hal’s proposal.

"Then be the champion. Otherwise, you won’t be important enough to negotiate with me. Do we have a deal?" Korvus retorted with a sneer.

To the old man’s surprise, Hal wore a confident grin rather than the indignant expression he had expected.

"Then we have a deal, Deputy Headmaster."

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