Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 67

The Blue Dragon Tower students, arriving late, were puzzled by the commotion in the common room and asked:

“What’s going on?”

“Wodanaz said we should raid the White Tiger Tower and steal their flag!”

“…Waaah! I’ve been waiting for this!”

Each new student who arrived, upon hearing the situation, cheered loudly.

Gainando muttered, still unsure, “Maybe talking to them would be better than fighting?”

Lee Han, curious, asked:

It was rare for Gainando to share his opinion.

“Why do you think so?”

“If we trade flags, we can finish the task safely without anyone getting hurt.”

“That’s true. But we decided it wouldn’t work because we can’t trust the White Tiger Tower people, remember?”

“The White Tiger Tower seems trustworthy this time, though.”

“Why?”

“Because the White Tiger Tower kids gave me bread and milk and were really nice to me…”

“……”

Lee Han was shocked.

Giving away bread and milk when even he was short on food was not just simple kindness.

Even if someone was being generous, kindness would only be half a loaf of bread; anything more was suspicious.

‘Were they trying to bribe Gainando?’

Why him?

‘Gainando is a good target.’

His position gave him a voice, and he seemed gullible enough to be worth talking to.

Lee Han thought for a moment before speaking.

“Alright, Gainando. Before we raid, let’s do what you say.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Yeah. Go tell those White Tiger Tower people that I’ve changed my mind.”

“Aren’t you going to tell the others?”

Gainando was puzzled.

Shouldn’t he tell his friends, who were excited about the raid, that the plan had changed?

“There’s no point in telling them your plan; they won’t agree to it.”

“Well, I guess that’s true. I’ll go tell them!”

Gainando confidently left. Yoner, who had been listening, looked worried.

Lee Han nodded, understanding Yoner’s concern, and said:

“Don’t worry. Even if the White Tiger Tower people are nasty, they won’t hurt Gainando in this situation.”

“No. I’m worried Gainando might betray us.”

“…Gainando isn’t the type to do that, is he?”

“But you never know. I wish there was a potion to stop him from betraying us.”

“……”

Lee Han was slightly scared of Yoner.

Besides, Gainando is your cousin!

“Is it finished?”

“It’s all done.”

The White Tiger Tower students were happy with their fake flag.

The White Tiger Tower students were seriously thinking about trading flags… with a fake flag!

Taking the opponent’s real flag with a fake flag was a smart idea.

Of course, it wasn’t easy. They had to trick all the Blue Dragon Tower students who were watching carefully.

The White Tiger Tower students went to the Black Tortoise Tower black market and traded rabbit meat for cloth and dye.

It was a painful sacrifice for everyone who was hungry, but they had to do it.

“Moradi! It’s done! That prince fell for it! He wants to trade tomorrow when the sun is overhead, just as planned!”

Anglago, the goat beastman student from the White Tiger Tower who had met Gainando, shouted excitedly.

“Yes! Anglago, well done!”

“He had to do this much after we gave him such good food!”

Everyone clapped, but Giselle still looked worried.

Dukema, the dwarf student next to her, asked:

“What’s wrong, Moradi? Is there a problem?”

“I’m not sure if that prince is worth it…”

Giselle was uneasy.

Every group had a leader with a unique aura.

Even Lee Han of the Wodanaz family had it.

Even someone with a certain position in the group couldn’t help but show it.

But Gainando didn’t give off that vibe.

“Moradi, trust Anglago’s eyes. That prince will be useful.”

“That’s right. I think so too.”

When Dukema agreed with Anglago, all the other students joined in.

‘What is that person talking about? He seems so confident, but he’s not very good at things.’

Giselle wasn’t swayed by her friends.

Anglago wasn’t that capable.

If he were, he wouldn’t have run away when they faced Wodanaz!

But Giselle didn’t say anything.

Giselle was the leader of the White Tiger Tower, but she couldn’t do everything she wanted.

Her friends trusted her abilities and family and followed her orders, but they were still human and had feelings.

If she pushed too hard, they might go astray.

Sometimes, Giselle had to show that she was listening to her friends. They were sensitive to this kind of pride.

“Alright. If Anglago says so, it must be right.”

“Hehe.”

Anglago scratched his head, embarrassed.

‘Even if it fails, it’s just a fake flag.’

Even if the deal failed, or the other side set a trap, they wouldn’t be hurt.

Even if it failed, they would only lose a useless fake flag.

Giselle nodded.

“Alright. Everyone, dismiss. Let’s try the trade tomorrow.”

“Okay!”

The night when everyone was asleep.

Lee Han and his friends were sneaking outside the tower.

There was also a Black Tortoise Tower student with them.

That was Ratford, the thief.

“Please follow me.”

Lee Han needed a thief’s eyes.

Ratford agreed to help.

“Gasp!”

Yoner gasped, startled. Lee Han tensed up.

“Why?”

“…We should have called Nilia too…!”

“!!!”

Lee Han realized his mistake.

He didn’t need Nilia’s abilities to steal, but if Nilia found out later, she would…

“Ratford, if Nilia asks, I never called you.”

“Understood?”

“…No, she’ll find out somehow.”

There were so many people that it seemed impossible to keep it from her.

‘I’ll explain later.’

“That’s the White Tiger Tower.”

In the darkness, the moonlight showed the tower. Lee Han nodded and slowly walked closer. He had been there a few times.

“Everyone remembers the plan, right? Do what we planned.”

The Blue Dragon Tower students nodded, nervous.

Lee Han and Ratford would enter the White Tiger Tower first.

The others would hide nearby and enter when Lee Han told them to, and wait if he told them not to.

But they were still nervous.

This midnight raid was a first for them.

“Mr… Mr. Ratford. Should we put a twig in our mouths to be quiet? I saw that in a book.”

“There aren’t any guards, so there’s no need for that.”

“Mr. Ratford. I wrapped my shoes in cloth to be quiet!”

“It’s better to take them off, you might slip.”

Ratford was giving a thieving lesson. Lee Han gestured to Ratford.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Lee Han and Ratford stood in front of the White Tiger Tower door.

Asan, who was gripping his hands, was puzzled.

‘Why does Wodanaz seem so comfortable?’

Lee Han held his breath and touched the tower.

He tried to read the magic inside the tower.

“…!”

Lee Han almost fell.

He felt overwhelmed.

The tower had many spells.

Lee Han’s mana detection was very good.

Other students would only see one or two spells, but Lee Han was seeing many layers.

“Are you alright?!”

Ratford saw Lee Han sweating and whispered.

“I’m fine. I was just surprised. It’s not easy.”

“A wizard’s tower is not easy to enter. If it’s too hard…”

“No. Let’s do it.”

Lee Han focused on the magic blocking the entrance!

Wooo-ooo-ooo-

“…!”

A lot of magic power gathered. Ratford could feel it.

‘Is this alright?’

Ratford was worried.

Lee Han could be hurt if he made a mistake.

‘No. He can do it.’

Boom!!!!!!

“!!”

“!!!!”

A wave of magic spread out, startling the Blue Dragon Tower students.

Lee Han shouted:

“The door’s open! Everyone, come in!!”

“L… Let’s go!”

-Master. The magic of the White Tiger Tower has stopped.

Those anti-magic people again?! How did they get over the walls?

The headmaster was surprised.

-It seems the freshmen have stopped it.

Ah. If that’s the case, it could happen. They’re doing the task. They should have done it sooner.

The headmaster regained his composure.

Wait. The freshmen can’t bypass the tower’s magic… Did they get an artifact? Who dropped an artifact? Ah. There was another way.

The headmaster found the answer.

One of the freshmen could stop the tower’s magic.

Did he smash it with force? How rough…

But where did he learn that method?

The headmaster was puzzled.

That method was useless and dangerous, so the books and professors didn’t teach it.

To stop magic, you need to understand how it works and find weak spots. Smashing it with force is a rough way to do it. Who would be so rough?

-Should I find him?

No. You stupid skeleton. I wasn’t talking to you. More importantly, even if they broke through the entrance, there should be other spells to stop them?

The magic of the White Tiger Tower wasn’t just at the entrance.

There were spells inside the tower.

-Most of the other spells have also stopped.

……

The headmaster paused.

They stopped the other spells too?

‘What kind of person is this…!’

How hard did he smash it that the other spells stopped too?