Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 128

The summoned creatures didn’t really think the young Wardanaz boy was selfish.

But if they said that when their master was in a bad mood, they might end up in a dusty, forgotten room in the school basement, doing boring chores for a hundred years.

So, the summoned creatures agreed.

“Indeed, he is selfish.”

“He stole the chance for other students to learn, Master.”

“A very wicked fellow.”

I don’t understand why he’s doing this. I never taught him to be… helpful.

Headmaster Skull frowned, his skull-like face even more grumpy than usual. The creatures’ words were like honey, but he still tasted bitterness.

Headmaster Skull just couldn’t understand.

Ihan’s actions were a lot like Headmaster Skull’s when he was younger.

Smart, brave, and able to hide to get what he wanted.

But why was he helping students from other towers?

It was beyond him.

Headmaster Skull was thinking about himself, which wasn’t very fair to Ihan, who was focusing all his energy.

It was completely dark. This was not something students should have to face.

Why should they have to deal with this when they weren’t adventurers or mercenaries?

“Let there be light!”

But the students didn’t have time to think about it.

The light from the other students’ spells was fading, and darkness was closing in again. Ihan didn’t wait and cast a light spell.

Asan gasped, his voice full of fear. “Wardanaz, that’s too much!”

No matter how much magic Ihan had, he had been using it since he was in the dorm, and he had even made water orbs.

To use another light spell on top of that, even for Ihan…

“Light! Heat! Make them see things that aren’t real!’ Ihan chanted, his voice strong despite the effort. ‘Asan, what is it?'”

“…Nothing!”

He’s my friend, but he’s really amazing!

Asan thought as he waved his wand.

Suddenly, shimmering figures flickered into existence around Ihan – copies of himself, blurry and unreal, dancing in the light.

The skeleton warriors were confused, unsure which illusion was real.

“This way!”

The Phoenix Tower students stared, mouths open. Ihan, running towards them with that bright light, looked like a hero from a story.

“It’s Wardanaz!”

“Run!”

“Wardanaz is here!”

“I said run!”

“Wardanaz is really…”

Ihan quickly tapped one of the students on the shoulder with his wand – hard enough to get his attention. “Run, you brat! Are you going to stand there all day?”

“S-sorry.”

The student, who had been lost in the light, snapped back to reality after being hit.

He’s Wardanaz, not a saint!

“Run inside! Take cover behind the barricade!”

Ihan threw the remaining water orbs, knocking down the skeleton warriors chasing them.

‘It’ll work!’

Looking at the disarray of the undead, it seemed he could get the students out with time to spare.

At that moment, Asan collapsed.

“Ugh…!”

Ihan realized what had happened as a dark purple bolt of magic shot past him and struck Asan’s leg.

‘A curse spell!’

Asan cried out, clutching his leg. Pain twisted his face, and his leg went stiff and useless.

“A… a rat…”

“Wardanaz, what do we do?!”

“I’ll take Asan. Get inside!”

Ihan lifted Asan and put him over his shoulder.

Tears streamed down Asan’s face, partly from the pain, partly from gratitude. “Wardanaz…” he choked out.

Who else would take care of a friend instead of leaving them behind?

Wardanaz was truly an honorable friend.

Another curse flew towards them. Without thinking, Ihan spun around, using his own body to shield Asan from the next curse.

“Ugh! Wardanaz! Hahaha!”

Asan knew it in his head.

That he couldn’t react quickly while carrying Asan.

But once he became a shield and was hit by the tickling curse, he couldn’t think straight. He started to giggle uncontrollably. “Why am I… hee hee… laughing… hee hee hee!”

“Sorry, Asan.”

Thanks to Asan’s sacrifice, Ihan was able to find the enemy.

Among the skeleton warriors, one stood out. It was taller, its bones darker and older, and it held a staff that pulsed with sickly green light. This was the skeleton sorcerer.

He seemed to think he wouldn’t be found because he was hidden among the skeleton warriors in the darkness, but it was different for Ihan.

Using the curse magic twice made it easy to see where the attack came from.

“Flash!”

Ihan’s spell erupted, and a jagged bolt of pure white lightning crackled from his wand, searing through the darkness.

The skeleton sorcerer was flustered and creaked, but luckily, the sorcerer had other warriors.

The skeleton warriors sensed the danger and blocked the attack with their bodies. Bones flew, and the attack was stopped.

‘Damn it.’

Ihan realized, with a jolt of frustration, how hard it was to get to a magic user when they had guards. The skeletons were like a wall of bones.

This time, the skeleton warriors charged at Ihan. It wasn’t to knock Ihan down.

It was to stop Ihan from dodging while the skeleton sorcerer cast a spell!

As before, a wave of magical power and a curse spell struck Ihan.

The skeleton warriors were very pleased, thinking that Ihan would fall.

However, instead of being paralyzed and collapsing, Ihan briskly finished off the skeleton warriors.

Surprisingly, the curse had no effect on him even though he was hit directly.

His overwhelming magical power prevented most curses from even touching him.

“Magic Missile!”

“Burn!”

“Wardanaz! We’re here to help!”

It wasn’t just the skeletons who had friends. Ihan had friends too.

As the exhausted Phoenix Tower students went inside the barricade and had some breathing room, the remaining friends came out to help Ihan.

A fist-sized sphere of magical power was fired, and flames sparked on the skeletons.

Among them, one Phoenix Tower student fought particularly well, catching Ihan’s eye.

“Fire, be shot forth!”

One student, his hair flickering like flames, was casting fire spells with amazing skill. He moved with confidence, like fire itself.

Ihan (watching Nigisore): “Wow, he’s really good with fire magic.”

Asan (still giggling): “Hee hee… yeah… hee hee… He’s burning them up!”

Ihan: “I wish I could control fire like that.”

Asan: “You? But you can do way cooler stuff!”

“Lord Wardanaz, thank you. Thanks to you, all my colleagues were able to get inside.”

“I should be the one saying that. Thanks to you, we defeated the sorcerer.”

Ihan reached out his hand to shake hands with the priest. Before the priest could pull his hand back, Ihan grabbed it.

“…!”

Only then did Ihan realize that the other person’s hand was burning brightly.

‘Dangerous… but not really.’

Ihan, who had been startled, breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, the fire didn’t hurt Ihan’s hand.

“It’s just burning on the outside, but it’s safe fire.”

“…Ah, no, it’s not…”

“?!!”

Ihan was flustered and quickly pulled his hand away. Only then did he feel a little heat.

‘What?’

The other person’s flame wasn’t safe.

Ihan was unconsciously emitting magical power into his palm to resist the flame.

It was only because he protected himself like when he hugged and rolled around with the burning puppy last time, otherwise…

“Are you really okay? If you’re hurt…”

“Ah. I’m okay. Sorry. I acted rashly.”

“What’s there to be sorry about.”

The priest introduced himself.

Nigisore, a priest of the Aphah Order who worships fire.

As Ihan expected, he was a priest whose blood was mixed with a fire spirit from his ancestors.

“Thank you again for your help. Tell me anytime you need help.”

Ihan watched Nigisore walk away, impressed. He was polite, brave, and skilled. A truly good person.

There are many wicked people in the world who are like white tigers… no, who blame Ihan even when he helps them, but Priest Nigisore was very polite.

‘A good person.’

“Are you talking about Priest Nigisore?”

“He was a good person.”

Ihan, who met Priest Tijilling inside the barricade, told him about Nigisore.

He helped with fire magic earlier, and he doesn’t forget favors…

Are all priests good people after all?

Tijilling could start more cautiously. For example: “Nigisore… he’s… well…”

“?!!”

Ihan was surprised by Priest Tijilling’s words.

Who was Tijilling?

Wasn’t he one of the most kind-hearted priests in Phoenix Tower?

For such a priest to say such a thing.

“Did Priest Nigisore cause any problems in the tower?”

“That’s not it, but…”

Priest Siana, who was handing out recovery potions to the tired priests, saw Ihan and greeted him happily.

“Ihan of the Wardanaz family, the insightful and understanding alchemist!”

“Priest Siana, the dazzling rising star of the Plamen Order! Every time I see you, I can only admire your outstanding alchemy skills.”

“……”

Tijilling stared at their exchange as if he was dumbfounded.

The way they praised each other was no different from an imperial social party.

Ihan became curious and asked.

“By the way, Priest Siana. Has Priest Nigisore ever caused any problems in the tower?”

“He hasn’t, has he?”

“I see. I received help from Priest Nigisore earlier, and he fought very well and was trustworthy.”

Tijilling could say: “Nigisore is… complicated. Just be careful around him, okay?” and Siana could add: “He’s… intense. In a fiery way. Just… keep your distance for now.”

“?!!”

Ihan was flustered when they both said that.

‘Priest Tijilling… doesn’t seem like he’ll badmouth anyone.’

Ihan decided to press Priest Siana.

“The most outstanding alchemist Si…”

“The undead are running away!!!”

“Dawn is breaking! Dawn is breaking!”

Skeleton warriors were running away beyond the barricade with the dawn in the distance.

A faint grey light was creeping over the horizon. ‘Dawn!’ someone shouted. ‘It’s dawn!’

The sudden light was almost painful after so much darkness. They blinked, shielding their eyes, but relief flooded through them.

“…Everyone worked hard.”

“You too!”

Cheers erupted. Students who had been fighting side-by-side, no matter which tower they were from, hugged and clapped each other on the back. They had survived. Together.

Gainan was overwhelmed with emotion and tried to run out of the barricade and shout.

“We won…”

“Wait.”

“?!!”

Ihan grabbed Gainan by the scruff of his neck.

“Sharkan. Go out first.”

Ihan didn’t celebrate yet. Something felt wrong. ‘Sharkan, go check,’ he murmured. Sharkan, sensing the danger, barked sharply and darted out from behind the barricade.

Then, the skeleton warriors who were hiding close to the barricade ran away, cursing.

“……”

“……”

The students were disgusted by the sight.

To set up a trap like that until the very end.

They’re really dirty and mean!

Headmaster Skull declared ‘Full marks’ with a sigh that sounded suspiciously like a grumble. ‘Heartwarming,’ he muttered to himself, though his face said otherwise. Meanwhile, Ihan was thinking…

They’re really dirty and mean.

Headmaster Skull said, pouting.

He was a surprisingly deep-minded fellow.

Next time, I really need to separate him and set up a trap…

The sun was rising relentlessly.

Headmaster Skull sighed and conveyed the message.

Full marks.

“Thank you.”

Ihan bowed his head as the representative at the front. And then he thought.

‘Saving the Phoenix Tower students was a big deal after all.’

‘That guy should have received full marks on his own, but I don’t know why he’s helping the other guys. Is he doing that on purpose to provoke me? What a bold fellow…’

Headmaster Skull declared ‘Full marks’ with a sigh that sounded suspiciously like a grumble. ‘Heartwarming,’ he muttered to himself, though his face said otherwise. Meanwhile, Ihan was thinking… Maybe Headmaster Skull will finally be impressed. Maybe he’ll even smile. Probably not.