Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 454

Lee Han thought, ‘He’s definitely preparing some wicked test.’

Lee Han didn’t trust the Skull Headmaster at all.

Lee Han thought it was more likely Gainando had studied all week than that the Skull Headmaster was really sad about Einrogaard being flooded.

Just what kind of test is he preparing?

Bzzzt!

The Skull Headmaster stared in disbelief at Lee Han, who had broken through the magical barriers around him.

It was strange enough that Lee Han had said goodbye and then immediately swam over, but…

What a foolish boy.

It was even stranger that he’d forced his way through the carefully made magical barriers with just his magical power.

With that much power, even such a clumsy method worked. The Einrogaard professors would never have taught such a crude method (and if anyone had, they’d be locked up as punishment). It was truly absurd that he’d learned it on his own. He was a truly silly student.

Is he really from the Wodanaz family?

The night air was nice, so I went for a swim,

Breaking my magic? Is that what you were doing?

There was something in the way, so I put a little force into it, but I didn’t know it was Headmaster’s magic,

Lee Han poked his head above the water and answered without shame.

Unfortunately, the Skull Headmaster was even more careful than he’d thought.

He had put up several layers of magical barriers, covering a wide area around himself, to stop anyone from getting close.

His thoroughness in preventing even distant observation was obvious.

Is it too early to attack me? Well, if it’s you, you might try it soon.

What are you talking about? Attack you? Headmaster, I would never! A student attacking his teacher? That’s crazy!

Yes, your second greatest strength is that very loyalty, that respect for your teachers. Though, if you were going to attack, you wouldn’t do it so sloppily.

The Skull Headmaster nodded as if he understood.

You must have been tempted by the treasure hidden in my vault and chased after it? Honestly, all you students are thieves. You’re all out to raid my vault the moment I turn my back!

Then guarantee us meals, bedding, and experimental materials…

Lee Han cursed to himself.

After he had almost promised them rewards!

Unfortunately, he wasn’t here to manage the vault today.

Then what did you come for?

I told you. Einrogaard is underwater, and I’m sad about the students’ suffering. I came to help the students.

Lee Han had to grit his teeth to stop himself from laughing in a mocking way.

You’re really lying without any sincerity.

Then I’ll help you from the side.

Oh?

The Skull Headmaster turned his gaze to Lee Han as if he’d heard something unexpected.

Lee Han asked carefully.

Am I bothering you?

Not bothering me, but there are times when I want to punch you.

Just kidding.

It didn’t sound like a joke, but Lee Han nodded.

If it were other students, I’d tell them to stop messing around and study, but you… it’ll be alright. Yes. Help from the side.

The Skull Headmaster readily agreed.

Come to think of it, Lee Han didn’t need to study separately, so it wouldn’t be bad to see what he was planning to do in advance.

Lee Han was slightly surprised by the acceptance.

What is it? He’s not refusing.

He thought that even if he didn’t completely refuse, the Skull Headmaster would grumble about being disturbed.

But he accepted so easily.

Is there another trap? Something I can’t recognize even if I watch from the side? Or something that doesn’t matter even if I recognize it…

As Lee Han was deep in thought, the Skull Headmaster said in an annoyed voice from the side.

You said you’d help, so what are you doing?

The Skull Headmaster attached a telekinetic hook to the rowboat Lee Han was riding in, making it follow quickly.

The rowboat, which would normally have been moved by rowing, sped after the Skull Headmaster.

The people of the Empire think this territory is protected by a great magical barrier.

Isn’t it?

It’s not entirely wrong.

Einrogaard was a vast magical place in itself.

A place with one of the strongest flows of magical power in the entire Empire, existing longer than the Empire’s history, the origin and rightful heir of ancient magic.

It was only natural that the people of the Empire would have illusions about it, as it had never sunk during its long history.

But if magic were so easy and convenient, wizards wouldn’t dedicate their lives to it.

The spells on Einrogaard were very complex. There were so many, and they were so powerful, that even the Skull Headmaster couldn’t understand them all.

These spells sometimes collided with each other, creating unexpected events, and even more rarely, creating holes.

Things don’t go well if you do nothing and leave them alone. Everything needs management. Swords rust if you don’t polish them, and clothes wear out if you don’t take care of them. Einrogaard is the same.

Therefore, one of the Skull Headmaster’s tasks was to patrol and check the vast Einrogaard, repairing things in advance before problems arose.

And sometimes catch runaway students…

Moreover, after a big event like the spirit flood, Einrogaard’s magic became even more strange and chaotic.

Such patrols and repairs were especially essential.

Tell me if you see any broken or cracked buildings, or if you notice anything unusual.

Lee Han stared at the Skull Headmaster with a very suspicious look.

The explanation was so believable that it was even more suspicious.

It makes sense logically. But it’s suspicious.

Was it really a coincidence that he was floating around during the midterm period, shining his eyes ominously?

Lee Han didn’t think so.

Why?

I feel sorry for the outsiders who look down on Headmaster’s dedication when he’s so devoted.

You’re right. They are fools who don’t understand what’s important.

The Skull Headmaster agreed, his eyes gleaming.

Then, bricks in the water suddenly leaped together, as if pulled by invisible strings, and a tower rose quickly from the lake.

These stupid third-year blokes. If you summon a being from the Dark Elemental Dimension, you should lock it up properly. It’s escaped.

It can’t be helped. It’s a shame about the building, but… the next grades will use it well. Oh. If you want to lock up a summon, remember this sealing tower.

The Skull Headmaster gave Lee Han kind advice as much as he helped with the work.

Of course, the content wasn’t very kind.

But don’t lock up even the weak ones here. Four wings, six legs, and a weight of about eight foundation stones of the castle walls? It’s better to lock up more than that.

Ah. Yes.

You can fix that. Fix it.

Lee Han looked in the direction the Skull Headmaster was pointing and blinked.

There was nothing there.

What was there originally?

Ah. Sorry. You can’t see it.

The Skull Headmaster spun around three times in the air and shouted, ‘All students are stubborn.’

Then, a classic, flat stone house appeared in the empty air.

You can see the crack, right? Try to repair it.

What is this building?

Lee Han asked, bringing the rowboat close to the stone house.

The buildings often seen at school were usually towers (built by professors) or huts (built by students).

This kind of low-rise building with a lot of materials wasn’t very popular in Einrogaard.

It was classic and beautiful, but practicality was more important.

Even a roughly built hut made of wood and leather wasn’t a big problem for a wizard who knew how to use magic.

A smart student built it a while ago to raise monsters, but…

Well, it doesn’t look very good for monsters to live in.

It was a pretty building, but what’s important to a monster is a wide space to run around in.

That’s right. So he didn’t really use it after building it.

Isn’t he not very smart?

Since then, junior students have been using it for other purposes. It must have changed several times. Ten years ago, the Quidditch Club used it as a clubhouse, and five years ago, the Wizard Card Club held a tournament… or was it? Did a fire break out in a duel before the tournament? It’s not very important. Now it’s used as accommodation for guests who are properly ‘invited’ from outside.

The Skull Headmaster emphasized ‘invited.’

He really seemed to hate guests from outside.

Anyway, you have to repair it properly as much as you use it as accommodation. You must have mastered earth, wood, and rock among the elemental magic, right?

No?

Lee Han was dumbfounded.

How could he say such a thing when he knew that Lee Han was suffering from advanced elements such as lightning, darkness, fire, and cold?

Oh dear. I should tell Begreck.

Don’t glare at me like that, it’s a joke. You wouldn’t have learned wood or rock professionally. You won’t need it in the first year. What about earth?

I only know the basics.

Transformation, maintenance… can you also decompose? Decomposition is important.

Yes.

Thankfully, he had learned >Rock Decomposition of the Tutankha Family< from Salco in the past. He hadn’t mastered it perfectly, but he could use it thanks to his magical power. Then it’s not basic, you stubborn student. The Skull Headmaster scolded Lee Han. Humility wasn’t a good habit for a wizard. You’re busy eating, sleeping, and playing like a beast now, but you’ll have a lot of building to do in the second year. It’s never bad to learn it now. But this also requires some knowledge of transformation magic… Ah. I was worried unnecessarily. The Skull Headmaster recalled the schools Lee Han was attending and canceled the words he had just said. Well, I’m not confident in transformation magic yet… Just listen quietly. The Skull Headmaster decided to dismiss 95% of what Lee Han said as exaggeration. Earth elemental magic was quite easy. As any wizard lives with his feet on the earth, it was impossible not to be familiar with it. Moreover, unlike fire or water, earth was the easiest to call from the closest distance. Calling earth, building shapes, and fixing them firmly were things other students could do. But now, to repair buildings made of complex materials, you had to be able to control not only earth but also various other elements. The Skull Headmaster pushed Lee Han to transform rock into sand and sand into rock. Lee Han had somehow learned to transform cloth into steel, but transforming hard rock into sand was still not easy. The Skull Headmaster pelted Lee Han with gravel and showered him with sand, each grain stinging like a tiny needle, to help his blocked disciple. Feel it! You have to feel it! The transformation was too slow just now. The concentration was scattered just now! Pour more magic into it. There’s plenty left over in this magic anyway! Lee Han desperately learned magic to get away from the gravel and sand hitting his face. And he really succeeded. Lee Han quickly transformed the damaged part of the stone house to make the cracks disappear, he suddenly felt a sense of self-doubt. Why can’t I succeed until I get hit? Is it right to keep succeeding this way? It’s efficient, but… Well done. You’ll use those spells quite usefully. Rock is quite annoying to manipulate as it is… Lee Han and the Skull Headmaster were thinking different things. Where to next? Hmm. There was a pier by the lake, so there might be damage there too. Let’s go there. Yes. …? Lee Han, who was about to nod and leave, felt something was wrong. Huh? Is he really just repairing things? Isn’t he really not preparing some wicked plot or test?