Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 158

Lee Han sighed.

Then, with a serious expression, he said,

“I cannot tell you the details.”

Professor Thunderfoot was secretly annoyed by his student.

‘Here he is, saying something serious with that face…’

If it were another student, like Gainando, he would have roared, ‘Stop talking nonsense and prepare for the exam!’

But Professor Thunderfoot couldn’t bring himself to do that to Lee Han.

The student before him was too diligent and had too many responsibilities to scold.

“I understand. Drink this.”

Professor Thunderfoot pulled out different kinds of potions from under the table, grape and rice.

Lee Han shook his head.

“No, thank you. I shouldn’t drink too much, it’s dangerous.”

‘Is this kid really a freshman?’

To refuse alcohol during such a festive occasion.

This kid is really determined!

Lee Han was worried about something bad happening during the festival.

“If we need to break through an ambush… we should increase our numbers.”

“Hmm.”

Lee Han thought about Professor Thunderfoot’s words.

Lee Han wasn’t the only one who had an outing pass. Judging by the current trend, it wouldn’t be surprising if three or four students from each tower came out.

What if they formed a formation together and broke through the traps in preparation for an attack?

‘Hmm. They wouldn’t listen to me.’

The students from the Blue Dragon Tower or the Phoenix Tower might listen, but the students from the Black Tortoise Tower or the White Tiger Tower were highly unlikely to listen to Lee Han.

Should he attack and subdue his friends in advance, then threaten them?

‘It might not be a bad idea.’

If there was a method left after excluding other impossible methods, it might be the answer, no matter how absurd it seemed.

He had to attack his friends first, but…

“Thank you, Professor.”

Professor Thunderfoot, unaware that Lee Han was having crazy thoughts, gave a slight, pleased smile.

Receiving sincere gratitude from a student, especially one like Lee Han, was a joyful thing as a teacher.

“I’m glad it helped. So, you really won’t drink anything?”

“I’m fine. But considering it’s a magic school festival, are these potions… no, alcohol, really enough?”

At Lee Han’s words, Professor Thunderfoot shrugged.

“What do people know about alchemy? Showing them potions that have gone through a myriad of transformations, only fellow alchemists will know their value. People will just pass it off as a potion. But if you make something like this…”

“Everyone is happy.”

“Exactly.”

A great alchemist is also good at making alcohol.

Lee Han listened with interest to Professor Thunderfoot’s explanation about how alchemists manage their connections.

Alchemists who are holed up in their rooms making potions are generally unsociable, so making and sending good alcohol is essential to maintaining good relationships, was the gist of the speech.

‘That’s definitely true.’

Lee Han resolved to watch Professor Thunderfoot make alcohol later.

Bribing well isn’t something anyone can do.

“I’m impressed, Professor.”

“Alright.”

“Then, may I take some of these potions with me?”

“…You’re not planning to sell them later, are you?”

Headmaster Skull stared at the gathered guests with a bored gaze.

Then, he cleared his throat.

“Respected leaders of the Empire… and our proud students who will be responsible for the future of the Empire!”

‘How hypocritical.’

‘Once I graduate, I should never get involved with a lich again.’

Apart from the guests applauding with impressed expressions, the freshmen glared at Headmaster Skull.

What is he trying to do now!

“The festival is not far away. To take a short break, I would like to present some simple riddles to those gathered here.”

Sharing riddles while resting was a popular game among nobles and commoners alike.

Moreover, Headmaster Skull, one of the most famous sages in the Empire, was going to give riddles, so the guests were intrigued and turned their attention.

What kind of riddles will he give?

“Ah, yes. If the guests from outside answer correctly, I will give them an outing pass as a gift.”

“Headmaster, really… what would we use that for?”

“You’re quite the joker!”

Unlike the friendly atmosphere of the guests, the students who had not yet obtained an outing pass really wanted one.

And there were those who had not yet grasped the atmosphere.

The guests from Valdrogard.

“This is an opportunity.”

“That’s right. An opportunity to show the Einrogard wizards our abilities.”

‘Are they clueless?’

Lee Han looked at the Valdrogard students with pity.

The moment anyone here answers a riddle correctly and gets an outing pass, the first-year students of Einrogard will consider the Valdrogard students as enemies until graduation.

And they don’t even know that and are burning with enthusiasm.

“Now then… everyone, guess my age.”

“?

“??”

Everyone gathered was dumbfounded by the absurd riddle.

That’s…

Not even a riddle!

‘He’s creating a new concept of riddles.’

-Grrrr.

“What’s wrong?” Lee Han was puzzled when Sharkan grabbed his sleeve and pulled.

Sharkan was anxiously signaling him to follow.

‘…Could it be?’

Lee Han wasn’t foolish enough to ignore the warning of his loyal undead summon.

Lowering his posture, he moved his feet, and Sharkan guided him. Lee Han headed to the back of the main building, where there were no people, with his summon.

A huge pile of luggage covered with cloth came into view.

Even though it was covered with cloth, Lee Han knew what it was.

“…Fireworks.”

Very familiar magic fireworks came into view through the exposed gap.

Lee Han didn’t bother asking why this was piled up behind the main building.

That was something only a beginner would do now.

‘Should I avoid the riddle and go back to the tower?’

However, before Lee Han’s worries could end, someone appeared from among the fireworks pile with a rustling sound.

It was a wizard he had never seen before.

“…Damn it, I’ve been caught! Who are you!”

As the opponent spat out curses and raised his wand, Lee Han reacted instinctively.

“Sharkan, attack! Be paralyzed!”

What Lee Han learned at the magic school was that if anyone tried to subdue him, he had to resist, no matter who they were.

Even if it was someone who works for Headmaster Skull!

‘It’s not the punishment room yet! If I subdue him and leave the place…!’

Lee Han concentrated with the determination to subdue his opponent.

Knock him down and make it seem like he did nothing wrong!

The wizard, Ogonin, was not someone who works for Headmaster Skull.

He was one of the wizards with quite a reputation in the Empire.

…Of course, having a reputation didn’t mean he wasn’t a thief.

This time, Ogonin was definitely a thief.

The less a wizard knows about Einrogard, the more fantasy they tend to have.

Unfortunately, Ogonin didn’t know much about Einrogard compared to his reputation and skill.

So, he fell into the delusion that many people had before him.

There must be many mysteries and visions he is looking for inside!

That wasn’t wrong.

It’s just that it’s almost impossible to go in and come out safely.

However, wizards are like someone who can’t resist something dangerous if there is something they are looking for, no matter how impossible it is.

Ogonin was one of those cases.

During the festival, many thieves and adventurers came in and were caught, but Ogonin didn’t care.

He didn’t care about his reputation or the aftermath of being caught.

-I must go in and get the mystery in my hands!

Ogonin was as skilled as his reputation.

Thanks to that, he was able to successfully make himself look like someone else and walk around, avoiding the eyes of those around him after entering.

But that luck lasted until he found the pile of fireworks.

Ogonin, who found the pile of fireworks (Ogonin didn’t realize what it was at first), was delighted by the strong magic emanating from it.

-Aha! This must be where they keep their secret magical stuff!

To conduct an accurate investigation, Ogonin cast a barrier around the area.

-The will of the forgotten shall build a wall to block those who approach here!

It was a higher-level mental magic that was much more powerful than basic tricks to hide, it would stop anyone from coming closer.

After casting the barrier, Ogonin tried to investigate the pile of fireworks.

…Until a freshman suddenly ignored the barrier and came inside.

‘How did he avoid the barrier!?’

Ogonin couldn’t imagine that a freshman had ignored the barrier with tremendous magic power.

He just thought he had made a ridiculous mistake.

‘Was I nervous because I’m not used to stealing…! Such a mistake…’

Ogonin thought he had to get out of here somehow.

How embarrassing would it be if he was caught by a freshman and rumors spread?

“May the illusion of another swallow you!”

Ogonin cast a powerful illusion magic. It was a magic that directly interfered with the opponent’s mind and showed them illusions.

With all sorts of unexpected illusions, the freshman wouldn’t even realize what he had just witnessed.

“…?”

However, Lee Han didn’t waver even after being hit by the illusion magic.

He felt a wave of magic hit his body…

‘What is it?’

He didn’t understand why the other person was doing that, but Lee Han decided to gratefully accept the other person’s mistake.

He had learned this while dealing with numerous professors.

Don’t be complacent.

Subdue them when you can!

“Flash!”

Lightning flashed and rushed at Ogonin. Ogonin rolled to the side in great shock.

He was surprised by the lightning magic that was too fast for a freshman to cast, but more than that, he was even more shocked that he did not even notice his illusion magic.

‘What the hell is going on?!’

Ogonin wondered if he had mistaken the other person for a freshman.

Maybe he’s a 4th or 5th grade student…

But still, it didn’t make sense. Even a 4th or 5th grade student couldn’t deflect his illusion magic like this.

“The illusion of another…!”

“Flash!”

‘Kugh!’

The magic that the opponent was firing was by no means weak. Its power was brutal and its casting speed was incredibly fast.

Originally, he should have acknowledged that the opponent was a unique being who was not affected by illusion magic and changed his strategy.

But Ogonin’s pride held him back.

After all, he was a person who had built a reputation in the Empire with illusion magic.

It was too humiliating to be struggling against just one student.

“I control your mind!”

‘No. He’s damn good at fighting!’

He deflected the powerful illusion magic once again, but Lee Han himself didn’t notice it.

Instead, he was impressed by the opponent’s dodging skills.

It seemed like he had quite a bit of experience in magical combat.

Every time Lee Han tried to use magic, he rolled and dodged first.

But why does such a person keep using useless magic?

‘Is he trying to subdue me?’

Well, if he’s someone who works for Headmaster Skull, it wouldn’t be strange if he was trying to subdue the students without hurting them… no, it’s a bit strange, but it’s possible.

Lee Han decided to gratefully take advantage of the opponent’s trying to be gentle.

‘I can’t go to the punishment room again!’

Lee Han waved his wand and frantically pulled up his magic power.

Dozens of water orbs quickly began to take shape in the air. Only then did Ogonin scream in horror.

“Wait, wait!”

“Please forgive me, Professor!”

“No…!”