Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 478

“Sorry, what was that?” Lee Han asked, turning to Tanzua who was behind him.

Tanzua’s voice was different. It wasn’t grumpy like usual. It sounded polite, even respectful.

“Nothing… it’s nothing…”

“More importantly, thank you for your hard work. Thanks for helping us during the flood.”

Lee Han was truly grateful. The students were able to move around Einrogaard during the storm and rain mostly because of Tanzua. Without Tanzua, some students might have gone missing. Lee Han, being human, felt a little bad for making Tanzua work so hard.

“I will now release you from the contract.”

“Uh… actually,” Tanzua said hesitantly, “maybe… maybe I could stay a bit longer? I didn’t really do *that* much during the flood…”

Lee Han was a little surprised.

‘What’s going on? Is he sick?’

Tanzua, who always begged to go back, was suddenly acting like this.

“You’ve worked hard. You are free to return.”

“Really? Are you sure it’s alright?” Tanzua asked, still unsure.

He knew Lee Han wasn’t just any wizard. To threaten the spirits involved in the flood and send them back required courage and immense power to control them. Especially considering how much stronger the spirits had become during the flood…

He couldn’t help but think there was a reason why people said Lee Han was a disciple of the lord of this territory.

“Of course, it’s okay. Go back.”

“Thank… thank you.”

Tanzua glanced at Lee Han one last time before slowly disappearing.

“I hope we meet again next time.”

Tanzua froze. *Meet again?* His spirit form flickered even faster as he vanished, desperate to escape the idea of meeting Lee Han again.

Lee Han tilted his head, wondering why Tanzua didn’t reply before disappearing.

“The school…!”

“It’s returning to normal!”

The muddy water that had choked Einrogaard was draining away fast. The students, damp and tired, sat on the library dock. They watched as the familiar shapes of their school emerged: the dark green forests, the winding stone paths, the rooftops of buildings they knew so well. Everything was still wet and glistening in the weak sunlight, but it was *home* again.

They didn’t usually think much about it, but seeing it like this again, they felt touched.

‘Even after such a flood, most of it is still here.’

Lee Han nodded, seeing that the paved paths connecting each building were undamaged. Having done repair work with the Skeleton Headmaster, he knew this school was protected by powerful magic. Still, seeing it intact after such a flood made him admire it.

‘The vegetable garden will have to be rebuilt, though…’

Considering everything, they had defended well. They had stored important items in their rooms, and although they had lost some groceries, they had gotten more from outside…

‘There’s also the Outing Pass. I’ll have to use that to go out next time.’

With the Skeleton Headmaster watching Lee Han suspiciously, trying to sneak out would be foolish.

As Lee Han thought, he saw smoke rising from a pipe in the distance. Professor Thunderfoot was walking toward them, pipe in mouth.

“Professor!”

“Good day, Professor!”

“Yes, good day to you all too. Everyone suffered a lot because of the flood. But it seems the older students did something this time.”

“Huh?”

“That is…”

The first-year students understood Professor Thunderfoot was wrong. They became a little nervous. *It wasn’t the older students who helped*, they thought.

However, Professor Thunderfoot didn’t notice and kept talking.

“I have something to say to the students taking the Alchemy class. Everyone, gather around.”

“…What are you planning now!”

“……”

The students, tired from the midterm exams and the flood, were on edge. They stared at Professor Thunderfoot suspiciously.

“Is it another exam?”

“Hey, pretend I’m not here. Okay? I didn’t hear anything.”

Professor Thunderfoot blew out smoke and said.

“Do I *look* like a heartless professor?”

“Professor, you’re just an ordinary professor at Einrogaard.”

“Right? Like Wodanaz.”

Professor Thunderfoot stroked his beard and smiled at Lee Han’s words, which seemed to agree with him.

‘Huh?’

But then he thought about it, and something felt off. Was being an ordinary professor at Einrogaard really a compliment?

“Anyway, everyone hiding, come out. I’m busy, but I had to come. The huts were swept away by the flood… It didn’t happen during the last flood, and I don’t know where they went. I’ve looked everywhere.”

“…Could it be that the spirits got angry and destroyed them?”

“Maybe. Anyway, is everyone here?”

“Yes.”

Once the Alchemy students had gathered, Professor Thunderfoot began.

“Starting tomorrow, the Alchemy class will go on a 3-night, 4-day trip. The Meikin family asked for help… Do you know about Sangoria flowers? You should if you’ve studied hard. There’s a shortage on the southern coast of the Empire, causing problems. It’s a wizard’s duty to help when the Empire has problems. Remember that.”

Professor Thunderfoot spoke and blew out smoke. He muttered quietly.

“Damn it, I really don’t want to go…”

“……”

“……”

The students pretended not to hear.

“You will all go on this trip,” Professor Thunderfoot said. “It’s important for you to learn how to solve real problems. Usually, you would do this alone later on. But this time, you’ll go together, as first-year students. Pay attention and learn as much as you can.”

‘Isn’t that a bit shameless?’

“So…”

“We’re going on a trip?”

“Yes.”

The Alchemy students cheered. Even though it was for work, they were still leaving the school!

Professor Thunderfoot grumbled.

“There’s nothing to be happy about. You’re just going to work. You probably won’t have time to play. You’ll have to persuade the local guild members, help the residents, deal with monsters, check and sort materials… Are you listening?”

Of course, the students weren’t thinking about that. They were just excited and shouting. Only the Princess was carefully thinking.

The Princess spoke up carefully.

“Professor,” she asked, “I thought the Sangoria flower problem was too big for just us to fix?”

The Sangoria flower shortage on the southern coast of the Empire wasn’t just a lack of flowers. There were monsters, angry spirits, unhappy residents, and problems between guilds. Even if Professor Thunderfoot was a great alchemist, he couldn’t fix it alone. The first-year students could only do so much.

What was Professor Thunderfoot thinking?

“Everyone else is excited, but you’re right. The Meikin family told me someone had a clever idea,” Professor Thunderfoot explained. “Instead of doing things slowly, they want to send the Shadow Patrols to quickly get rid of the monsters. This will show everyone that they are doing something to help.”

“Th, that’s!”

The Princess was surprised. It was a very direct and bold way to solve the problem. Ignoring procedures and dealing with the monsters first.

When she thought about it, she had to admit it would work. If they hunted monsters when everyone else was just watching, the local residents would be happy, and the powerful people in the area would have to pay attention.

“Surprised? I understand. It’s a bold but effective method. The noble families and guilds care too much about appearances to come up with this. I thought it was clever.”

Professor Thunderfoot suddenly seemed frustrated.

“Don’t praise them yet,” Professor Thunderfoot grumbled. “Because of their ‘clever idea’, *I* have to go! Why are they suddenly acting so fast instead of just talking and arguing like they always do?”

“Hic.”

Nilia, who was listening, suddenly hiccuped. Lee Han and Yoner felt sorry for her and offered her warm black tea.

“We’ll leave as soon as it’s light tomorrow, so everyone prepare.”

“What about our lectures?”

“The professors will give you extra lessons.”

“……”

Lee Han frowned.

‘Can we really learn everything with extra lessons?’

“Anyone else have questions?”

“Professor, will you give us travel supplies?”

“No? You have to get them yourself. Did you think I would?”

The students were touched by Professor Thunderfoot’s kind words.

Lee Han sighed.

‘I thought only the professors were disappearing, but the students are disappearing too.’

He thought only the professors would be gone for a while, but now the students were going too.

Actually, it wasn’t bad. Any chance to go outside was good.

‘Even if Headmaster and Professor Volardi don’t go outside, it’s the same if I go.’

One of the students raised his hand.

“Is Professor Thunderfoot the only professor going with us?”

“Professor Lightningfoot is going too. We’ll be flying on mounts.”

“I see.”

“Professor Begreck will be going too. We need an escort since we’re going outside.”

“……”

Lee Han dropped his black tea bottle.

Morning.

Gainan was crying and grabbing Professor Thunderfoot’s ankle, but the professor pushed him away.

“You’re not an Alchemy student.”

“Waaah! I’ll study Alchemy hard! Please take me with you!”

The Alchemy students shook their heads.

‘It’s good he’s not coming.’

‘If he acts like that outside, we’ll have to say he’s from another school.’

Professor Lightningfoot sat proudly on a huge wyvern. Its scales were the color of storm clouds, and its eyes gleamed like gold. It looked powerful and a little scary. He shouted.

“Everyone, slowly climb onto the wyverns. They’re trained, so they’re not violent, but be gentle. Wait a moment! Wodanaz, look at the wyvern. Show it you’re friendly so it doesn’t misunderstand.”

“Why only me…”

Lee Han grumbled but looked at the wyvern. The wyvern Lee Han was supposed to ride was smaller, with dusty brown scales. It watched him with suspicious yellow eyes, like a bird of prey sizing up its next meal.

“I’m not an enemy.”

-Grrrr…

“I’m not an enemy.”

-Grrrr…

“…I’m telling you, I’m not an enemy? Hey.”

-Grrrrr!

Professor Lightningfoot said, “This one is proud and only carries those it likes, but yours are gentle. You won’t have any trouble.”

“Oh. Professor. Why is this one bleeding from the nose?”

“I must have hit it a bit hard earlier.”

“……”

Lee Han was worried about trusting the wyvern.

‘It’ll be alright, right?’

Seeing Professor Volardi walking over, Lee Han felt better. He was usually scary, but now he was reassuring.

“Professor. I’m glad we’re riding the wyvern together.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

“Pardon?”

“Wyverns are too safe.”

Professor Volardi raised an eyebrow, a flicker of something like *disappointment* crossing his face. He sighed softly, then with a shrug, climbed onto the wyvern. It was clear he had hoped for something more… *dangerous*.

“……”

The basilisk egg in Lee Han’s backpack made a wary noise.