Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 524

Ethan breathed out, a small puff of smoke escaping his lips. His hair, which had been brown, was now a bright, shimmering gold.

“Finally!” Professor Yonlamos clapped his hands together. “Well done, Ethan!”

Ethan tilted his head, a little confused by the clapping. *Is this really something to clap for?* he thought. It felt like everyone else had done this ages ago.

His friends had already changed their hair color. Yoner was very fast and was even drawing on her nails.

Noticing Ethan’s embarrassment, Professor Yonlamos stopped clapping quietly and said,

“There’s no need to worry just because you’re late. Think about it. You’ve transformed other materials.”

There was no doubt about Ethan’s talent for transformation magic.

Just looking at metal transformation, he somehow managed to succeed in the difficult mercury transformation.

Even if external transformation and transforming oneself are different, the principle is the same…

Bang!

Professor Yonlamos paused as he watched Ethan turn a strand of his hair into a blazing flame.

…Perhaps it will take a little longer?

While his friends were struggling to cut off a strand of Ethan’s hair that had turned into steel, Professor Yonlamos cleared his throat and said,

“The upcoming final exam will be on transformation magic. I know you’re all having fun transforming your hair or nails, but this is just the beginning.”

He didn’t want to spoil the students’ fun, but he had no choice.

He couldn’t make the final exam about changing the color of hair or nails.

“Wait, Professor,” one student asked, his voice shaking a little. “We don’t have to transform our *whole* body, right?”

“Of course not to that extent.”

Professor Yonlamos chuckled and waved his arm.

Professor Yonlamos chuckled and waved his arm. Suddenly, his normal arm grew bigger and bigger. The skin turned green and bumpy, and thick fingers like tree branches appeared. It looked just like an ogre’s arm!

“You only need to transform one arm.”

“……”

*It’s difficult anyway…*

The students’ faces, who had been expecting something like a finger joint, turned gloomy.

Professor Yonlamos was slightly taken aback by the reaction.

*Huh?*

He was sure that transforming one arm was easier than what other professors ask, so he expected reactions like, ‘Wow, our professor is so generous!’ ‘We’re so lucky to be taking transformation magic!’

*Is something wrong?*

“Is one arm difficult?”

“……”

“Ah, no?”

“It’s not difficult!”

Quick-witted students quickly opened their mouths.

They instinctively knew from their experience at Einrogaard that it was never a good idea to displease a professor.

“It’s best to choose something that suits your aptitude, whether it’s inanimate or living. Always keep the characteristics in mind, and start with something familiar to you. For Shiles, it would be his closest animal, and for Yoner, it would be a reagent she’s handled a lot. As for Ethan…”

Professor Yonlamos scanned Ethan and pondered for a moment.

“…Well, do whatever you want.”

?!”

Ethan blinked, surprised by the professor’s words. ‘Do whatever I want?’ he thought. It felt strange, like the professor didn’t care. Actually, it made it harder to choose, not easier.

It was actually harder to choose now that the professor said to pick something familiar. Ethan felt like he had too many choices, and none of them seemed right.

Right now…

*Lightning, water, or dark elements… don’t seem good.*

Transforming his arm into an amorphous element like lightning, water, or dark element was among the most difficult in transformation magic.

He had to pay attention to many things as he had to maintain the shape by making the irregularly pulsating element his own body.

*Professor Volardy would be so happy that she would shed tears.*

Professor Volardy, who was constantly pushing for the deepening of the lightning element, would be happy and tell him to do it right away.

Ethan had to choose a slightly safer option for his own safety.

*I haven’t handled wood or earth that much. Steel… is it steel?*

Ethan, who was troubled, wondered if he should turn his choice from inanimate to living.

“Hmm. Living things I’m familiar with… Sharkan, Griffin, Basilisk, Skeleton…?”

“……”

Yoner, who was troubled by brass transformation next to him, cast a look of astonishment at his friend’s muttering.

“Ethan. You know that if you transform into a dangerous creature by mistake, you might be attacked in reverse, right?”

*More than that, a skeleton isn’t even a living thing.*

Shiles thought to himself.

The dangerous thing about transforming into a living thing was its unpredictability.

It was common for wizards to transform their hands into a part of a monster and then be attacked by that monster.

“Well, Sharkan, Griffin, and Basilisk are violent.”

-?

The baby basilisk, who was listening quietly, was embarrassed.

He couldn’t understand why the basilisk was included there, even though Sharkan and Griffin were.

“Hmm. Should I try practicing while thinking of Sharkan’s forepaw…”

Ethan waved his wand, thinking that he should start with Sharkan’s claws, gradually increase the similar parts, and finally summon Sharkan’s forepaw.

“Arm, be the forepaw of a beast…”

Bang!

His arm twisted and changed again and again! First, it was bony and white like a skeleton’s. Then, it became thick and green like a troll’s. It grew huge like a giant’s arm, then furry like Sharkan’s paw, then sharp like Griffin’s claw, then scaly like Basilisk’s head, and finally, covered in dragon scales! It was changing so fast, Ethan felt dizzy. With a final flash, his arm went back to normal, but it felt tired and strange.

The friends next to him were already horrified and had retreated.

“…I should practice more calmly.”

Ethan resolved to practice after preparing a little more.

It seemed that the method of gradually increasing one transformable part like other friends did not suit Ethan.

The bell rang, signaling the end of transformation class. Ethan gathered his things, thinking about Sharkan’s paw. Next, it was Professor Ingoldel’s swordsmanship class, which was always… energetic.

Ethan dragged himself to the training ground, already tired just thinking about it. Professor Ingoldel stood there, smiling brightly, which usually meant pain for the students. “Haha!” the professor boomed. “Today, we will have a light run!”

“Haha. Today, let’s lightly run around the playground a hundred times, go up and down that mountain peak, and then cross the river with these specially prepared weights.”

“……”

“……”

As the final exam was approaching, Professor Ingoldel’s lectures were becoming more and more harsh.

Ethan wasn’t sure if this was the original curriculum or if Professor Ingoldel had been influenced by the atmosphere of Einrogaard.

In fact, Professor Ingoldel’s lecture was not wrong.

Wizards explore phenomena through theory and academics, but swordsmen can only find out with their bodies and senses.

Want to learn difficult and profound swordsmanship?

You have no choice but to throw your body and experience it yourself.

Want to learn the secrets hidden in swordsmanship?

Likewise, you have no choice but to throw your body and experience it yourself.

Want to awaken Aura?

Even more so, the body…

“That’s why you shouldn’t regret the sweat you shed.”

Professor Ingoldel tapped his wooden sword and spoke in a voice as sharp as the sword itself.

Professor Ingoldel didn’t understand why students from knight families lacked training, but he believed it was his job to fix this.

“Do you all understand? The senses from a trained body help control magic…”

“Huff, huff.”

“Cough, cough.”

“P-Professor.”

A White Tiger Tower student asked a question with bloodshot eyes, soaked in sweat.

“Why isn’t Wodanaz running?”

“……”

Ethan glared at the White Tiger Tower student.

*This bastard.*

Professor Ingoldel had said, ‘It would be better for Wodanaz to rest today,’ so he quickly sat down, saying, ‘Thank you!’ But he was dragging him in like a drowning man.

He should be happy that his friend survived, but he was a very hateful guy.

“I’m not from a knight family…”

“Wodanaz’s body hasn’t fully recovered because he had a free-for-all at the festival.”

Professor Ingoldel stretched his arm muscles and said as if it were natural.

Ethan paused, thinking he was being spared because he wasn’t from a knight family.

“Oh. Did you know?”

“Of course, it comes to my ears. Wodanaz. How could I not hear that.”

The elf swordsman looked at Ethan as if he was dumbfounded.

The White Tiger Tower seniors were already whispering.

-We have such a talent in our tower!

-Professor. Do you happen to know which family he’s from? Which family is it…

Professor Ingoldel couldn’t disappoint the excited White Tiger Tower students, so he couldn’t say anything.

“The headmaster said you lent your body to a demon?”

“Ah. That’s. Actually, the demon forcibly took it.”

Ethan subtly blamed Anpursas because he thought he would be scolded.

Anpursas was also a demon, so he wouldn’t care even if he got some insults.

“The headmaster said Wodanaz lent it?”

“…He was essentially deceived.”

“Ah. Is that so?”

Professor Ingoldel didn’t really care.

It didn’t matter whether he was deceived or not, whether it was taken or not.

“So when can you summon that demon again?”

“Uh… I don’t know? Why are you asking?”

“I thought it would be good to summon him again as soon as possible.”

“……”

Ethan doubted his ears.

*Did the skeleton headmaster threaten him with a sword? No, did he take over his body?*

Contrary to Ethan’s suspicion, Professor Ingoldel was speaking with pure good intentions.

“Wodanaz. All the swordsmen of the Empire value the opportunity to learn from a swordsman who is superior to them more than a thousand gold. But Wodanaz has gained the opportunity to unfold the sword skills of a swordsman who is superior to him directly with his own body!”

“……”

Professor Ingoldel spoke passionately, unlike usual, but Ethan’s eyes were as cold as the abyss.

*Did the skeleton headmaster take over his body…*

Of course, Professor Ingoldel’s words had some logic.

But in terms of logic, Professor Volardy’s words that magic abilities would improve if he went to the Giant Mountains and fought with giants also had logic.

Isn’t Ethan’s life more important than logic?

Ethan was about to say harsh words, but he remembered the other person’s status and grabbed his mind.

“Unfortunately, the demon doesn’t listen to me, so he won’t come out just because I tell him to.”

“Oh, dear. That’s a pity.”

Professor Ingoldel sighed and was saddened.

It was such a good opportunity!

“Huff, P-Professor. But, is Wodanaz, really, not feeling well?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“…Don’t lie, you bastard! You played Kyuk-Gu just fine!”

One of the White Tiger Tower students shouted while lying on the floor.

Ethan said without changing his expression.

“Professor Lightning Foot gave him an anesthetic potion and made him play the game.”

“……”

“……”

The White Tiger Tower students got up again and started running quietly.

Professor Ingoldel frowned next to him.

No matter how important the game is, to that extent?

“Hoo, huff. Cough.”

“Cough, cough.”

The returning White Tiger Tower students looked at the professor with resentment in their eyes.

Professor Ingoldel opened his mouth, looking at the fallen students without paying attention.

“The reason why I gave you such a light training today is not only to improve your physical strength in preparation for the final exam, but also to teach you something.”

Professor Ingoldel surprisingly didn’t teach swordsmanship itself.

He didn’t avoid answering if a student asked about a move, but he rarely taught students new swordsmanship or moves.

It was largely because the White Tiger Tower students were from knight families.

Everyone grew up learning their family’s swordsmanship and didn’t easily change even if other swordsmanship looked better.

As for these students, Professor Ingoldel gave general teachings that would be helpful rather than touching the swordsmanship itself.

The professor has something new to teach. The students were interested even in the midst of hardship and cast their eyes.

“It’s a way to put intention into the sword. Wodanaz. Do you usually have someone you resent?”

“Yes?”

Ethan paused at Professor Ingoldel’s question.

There were too many.