Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 247

“I’m sorry,” Leehan mumbled, looking at his shoes. “My feelings just got away from me.”

Ogonin’s face went red. He shuffled his feet on the stone floor of his dusty office. Bookshelves crammed with ancient volumes loomed over them, and sunlight streamed through a high window, making dust motes dance in the air.

“Listen carefully, Leehan,” Ogonin said, his voice serious. “This isn’t because you are bad at magic. All wizards need to control their feelings, but it’s even more important for illusion wizards. If you can’t control yourself, how can you control others?”

“Yes, Professor,” Leehan nodded, trying to look like he understood.

But inside, he was still confused. *What does that even mean?* he thought. *Am I doing okay or not? How long does it usually take people to learn this stuff?* Ogonin’s praise didn’t really tell him anything useful. He knew he wasn’t *bad*, but what did that *mean*?

“When you return, keep practicing the anxiety spell.”

Making the magic familiar through repeated training was important, but that wasn’t the only reason Ogonin brought it up.

‘The chances of success are high if only the target is different.’

In Ogonin’s view, there was only one reason why Leehan was failing.

It was because the target was Gonadaltes! Leehan had been trying to cast the spell on Gonadaltes, a very strong student.

If he tried casting it on other students, the chances of success would be very high.

‘Why did it have to be that guy…’

Ogonin was anxious.

Sometimes, even talented wizards lost confidence because of mistakes they made at the beginning.

It would be a shame if a talented wizard got stuck because of a small mistake that anyone could make.

Ogonin couldn’t allow it.

What a loss that would be for the wizard who would carry on the lineage of illusion magic.

The problem was that Leehan could also fall into such distrust right now.

‘I absolutely can’t let that happen!’

“Oh. By the way, Ogonin.”

“What is it?”

“If I’m going to practice this, I have to cast it on my friends, right?”

“That’s right.”

“It’s a bit… unsettling to make my friends anxious when they’re working hard on assignments and studying for exams,” Leehan said with a reluctant expression.

Wasn’t the anxiety spell ultimately a spell that made the target anxious?

It was a bit mean to his friends who were studying hard. He thought about specific friends and why he didn’t want to make *them* anxious.

“There is certainly that aspect.”

Ogonin nodded repeatedly as if he understood Leehan’s words.

Leehan was relieved at the sight.

‘I guess he has a solution.’

“Then what should I do?”

“So, we just have to accept it?”

“Pardon?”

Leehan thought they were joking.

But Ogonin and the Skull Headmaster were very serious.

Shouldn’t friends make some sacrifices for the sake of magic?

‘…These crazy wizards…’

Leehan refused with a straight face.

“That won’t do.”

“No… why not?”

It wasn’t like he was stealing his friends’ hearts, just making them a little anxious, so why was he doing this? If he was going to neglect his magic studies because he was anxious, he would neglect them even if the wind blew.

“I said it won’t do.”

Ogonin was flustered by Leehan’s firm refusal, and the Skull Headmaster grumbled.

But Leehan didn’t change his mind.

“Okay… I understand. Practice with the satisfaction spell. How about this?”

“But the anxiety spell would be better to practice with…”

“No. I’ll practice with the satisfaction spell.”

“But the anxiety spell would be better to practice with…”

……

Leehan thought even less of Ogonin now.

‘Hmm. Just because he doesn’t get along with the Skull Headmaster doesn’t necessarily mean he’s a good person.’

He realized once again today that wizards with long careers were basically likely to be crazy.

It’s already evening. He taught for a long time.

“Yes… well…”

Leehan felt his whole weekend was wasted, suppressed his bitterness and managed his expression.

What could he do about the time that had already flown by?

He had to work harder in the remaining time.

Then he would return to the tower and study magic hard…

“Wait! Wait!”

The Skull Headmaster narrowed his eyes at the sight of Professor Verdus running from afar.

Professor Verdus came running, his robes flapping behind him, his face bright red with excitement. Why was he running so clumsily?

“I heard you increased the duration of the temporary artifact with mana?”

He did.

……

Leehan was so dumbfounded that he couldn’t even speak properly.

No, how many hours had it been already??

‘More than that, the Skull Headmaster was with me?’

“How does the professor know that?”

“The Death Knights told me?”

“…!”

The Death Knight who heard the conversation between the Skull Headmaster and Leehan told another Death Knight, and another Death Knight told yet another Death Knight…

As a result, the Skull Headmaster stayed still, but it reached Professor Verdus’s ears.

Rumors spread fast in Einrogaard. It was like magic!

‘This place is crazy!’

Leehan’s head throbbed at the sight of the talkative Death Knights.

Should he have learned undead purification magic and defeated them every time he saw them??

I know you’re excited, but is there a reason to run over and ask now?

“Huh?”

Professor Verdus looked at the Skull Headmaster as if asking why he was asking such an obvious question.

“Well, I’m going to take him to test it right now! He’s like a walking, talking magic battery!”

Who?

“No, student Wodanaz.”

‘Didn’t he just call a person a mobile large compressed magic stone?’

Leehan felt a chill down his spine at the sight of Professor Verdus treating him like a portable mana battery.

“Professor. It’s evening now.”

“It’s okay. I’ll turn on the lights for you.”

“…I have several assignments to do and lectures tomorrow, though.”

“It’s okay! It’ll be over before tomorrow morning!”

…I really don’t usually block opportunities to experience magic, but this won’t do. No way! Leehan felt trapped as Verdus dragged him away, already talking excitedly about the experiment.

The skull Headmaster spoke to Professor Verdus in a firm voice.

Professor Verdus jumped, like he was very surprised.

“Why!?”

I already told you! You wouldn’t understand even if I said it again.

Usually, the skull Headmaster would joke, saying, ‘Wizards need to suffer a little to grow up.’ But Professor Verdus was different.

Because of his personality, he probably wouldn’t leave even when it was time for his morning lecture.

“I’ll even turn on the lights and let you go before your morning lecture, alright!?”

“Yes, well. I always promise His Imperial Majesty that I’ll make the students happy and smiling. As if! You, go back. And don’t get caught by any strange professors on the way!”

“…Yes… Thank you.”

Instead of telling the skull Headmaster, ‘This is all because you summoned them,’ Lee Han quietly left.

He was really afraid of meeting more strange professors.

“Why do the Blue Dragon Tower students look so cheerful today?”

“I wonder…?”

“Don’t tell me they finished all their assignments over the weekend?”

“Nonsense! How can you even say such a thing?”

“But there’s Wodanaz. There were rumors that Wodanaz stayed in the dorm all weekend doing assignments…”

“No, surely not.”

The other tower students looked at the Blue Dragon Tower students with worried eyes.

Could they really finish all the assignments over the weekend?

Was that even possible?

“Lee Han. Lee Han. Just one more charm, please.”

“…No. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“No! Just one more!”

“Me too, just one more!”

Lee Han made a firm decision as his friends begged for Ogonin’s Fulfilling Satisfaction.

“No. No more.”

“Ugh… Why…!”

“This happiness… Why…!”

His friends wanted to get angry, but they were too happy to be properly mad.

‘The magic worked a little too well.’

They should have been happy just practicing the magic, but now, he thought they shouldn’t practice anymore.

‘Illusion magic seems a bit dangerous.’

“Wodanaz. Wodanaz.”

Salco from the Black Tortoise Tower called out to Lee Han. Lee Han nodded to show he understood.

“You want the ‘becoming satisfied’ magic, right? I’ll only do it once, and then no more. It can be addictive.”

“Wha… What are you talking about?”

Salco looked confused.

“Wasn’t that it? Then why did you call me?”

“Of course, I have something to tell you.”

Salco thanked him first.

“I said it before, but thank you again.”

“What for? I helped you for money. Don’t forget the money.”

Salco laughed, thinking Lee Han was joking.

“Haha…”

“…Why are you laughing? I told you not to forget the money?”

“Ah… No. Of course, I’ll give you the money.”

Salco was a little surprised that Lee Han was so serious about the money.

He thought the money was just an excuse to help?

“So, what are you going to tell me? If it’s another crazy idea like last time, forget it. I have a lot of assignments to do right now.”

“Don’t worry. I learned my lesson; I won’t do anything that crazy again.”

Salco had learned a good lesson this time.

Even if you have a friend who is good at fighting, you can still die if you wander around the outer regions!

“You’ve been looking for a way to get to the upper floors of the main building, right?”

“I have. Doesn’t everyone?”

The first-year students who liked to walk around at night were exploring every part of the main building.

The hidden rooms, warehouses, passages, and spaces were very helpful to the students.

It wasn’t just curiosity, but for survival!

“I found a shortcut to the upper floors of the main building.”

“…Tell me more.”

During the weekend, when the main building was being changed, a Black Tortoise Tower student saw something strange while raiding the Red Turnip food storage.

“Red Turnip food storage? Where’s that?”

“Is that important right now?”

“Of course, it’s important.”

‘Someone who has so much to eat…’

Salco thought to himself.

The Blue Dragon Tower students had the most food among the four towers.

While others were worried about their meals, the Blue Dragon Tower students were saying things like, ‘Ah, today’s dessert wasn’t very good,’ or ‘Even Wodanaz sometimes picks bad desserts,’ which was annoying.

Salco knew that all this food was because one student risked his life to get it.

He wondered why they fed those lazy students so much…

“Here it is. Happy?”

“Alright. Thanks.”

“Take a little bit. We need to take some too. And if you take too much, the warehouse changes.”

“I guess so. Keep going.”

The Black Tortoise Tower student saw the blocked wall at the back open and become a new passage.

The student tried to enter the passage, but…

Upper Floors Shortcut. This path is protected by a barrier, so if you don’t have the skill, turn back!

The student was thrown back, leaving only the words on the wall.

A barrier was blocking people from entering.

Lee Han listened carefully, looking interested.

‘That’s interesting.’

Since it was called an upper floors shortcut, it might be the shortest way to get there.

Who knew the changes would bring such luck.

“I’m telling you because you might be able to break the barrier. Here, take this map.”

“You think I’m too good, Salco.”

“Is that so?”

“But this time is different. I learned from a great illusion magician.”

“I knew it… I thought so! Amazing! Who is it?”

“It’s Valdor Orn.”

“Indeed. Valdor Orn…”

Lee Han suddenly remembered and said.

“Ah, right. I also learned from Ogonin.”

“I see.”

People don’t usually care about extra things.

Salco was the same.

He only cared about Valdor Orn and didn’t pay attention to Ogonin.

So, when he remembered who Ogonin was, Wodanaz had already left.

“Wait. Wodanaz. If it’s Ogonin, could it be… Wodanaz?”

“Wodanaz left a while ago?”

“……”