Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 777

‘Hmm, this could be very impressive to show.’

Professor Zorcik thought, tidying the papers on his desk.

This unusual case was important enough to present to the Emperor’s most powerful wizards.

He wondered, which wizard in the whole empire had ever seen something like this?

“Alright, Wodanaz! Now that you understand it, keep practicing your fire magic!”

“Yes, Professor,” Lee Han replied. He nodded, ready to practice the basic fire spells he knew but rarely used because they were risky.

He knew if he stopped now, this new feeling of fire magic might fade. He needed to practice all the spells he knew to make them truly his.

He started with more advanced spells like >Lesser Flame Barrier> and >Lesser Flame Arrow>, then moved to simpler ones like >Lesser Flame Shield> and >Lesser Flame Hand>. These were spells of different levels, called ‘circles,’ with 3rd circle being more powerful than 2nd circle.

Professor Zorcik watched Lee Han cast spell after spell, a wide smile growing on his face.

“Hmm, hmm!” He stroked his mustache, his eyes gleaming with a clever look.

Watching this amazing student, a new ambition sparked in Professor Zorcik.

He knew that teachers look good when their students do well. And this boy, from the Wodanaz family, was one of the most talented students at Einroguard.

But there was a problem: Wodanaz had too many teachers. If Wodanaz became famous, many teachers might take credit, and Professor Zorcik might not get the recognition he deserved.

But as he watched the boy practice, a brilliant idea popped into his head.

‘Even fire magic was a crazy risk, but he did it. If I push him with even harder magic, he might succeed again!’

Professor Zorcik thought what other professors at Einroguard had thought before.

‘Plus, he did it under *my* teaching. He must respect and trust me now.’ This thought made him feel even more confident.

‘What if I keep giving him harder and harder magic?’ Yes, this was the perfect plan!

A wonderful fantasy filled Professor Zorcik’s ambitious mind.

(In his fantasy): “The reason I became such a powerful wizard so young is because Professor Benmalfa believed in me! If he had just made me practice normal magic for my age, I would never have become great!”

(Then, Zorcik imagined himself saying): “Oh, it was nothing, really. I just saw Wodanaz’s talent and believed in him!”

(The crowd in his fantasy chanted): “Benmalfa! Benmalfa! Benmalfa!”

(And finally): “Zorcik Benmalfa for Headmaster of Einroguard! He’s the best wizard to lead Einroguard!”

In his fantasy, Wodanaz was thrilled to learn powerful magic, and Professor Zorcik was showered with praise and fame – a perfect future!

Professor Zorcik nodded to himself, completely sure of his plan.

“Wodanaz!”

“Yes, Professor?”

“Now,” Professor Zorcik announced, his voice full of excitement, “let’s move on to the advanced forms of fire magic!”

“…Yes?” Lee Han blinked, surprised.

He was still getting used to controlling basic fire, and now he had to learn advanced forms?

“Is that… safe?” he asked cautiously.

“Of course! Don’t worry! I know you can do it!” Professor Zorcik said, waving his hand dismissively.

‘Has Professor Begreck taken over his body?’ Lee Han wondered, completely confused by this sudden change.

Usually, Professor Zorcik’s class, >Elemental Magic and Its Application>, was known to be relaxed. Students mostly learned on their own.

Professor Zorcik preferred to teach gently, helping students only when they were stuck with their magic research, not pushing them directly.

So, for him to suddenly rush towards Lee Han and insist he try advanced magic was very confusing.

“Professor,” Lee Han said, “I thought this class was supposed to be where you answer our questions when we have them?”

“Wodanaz,” Professor Zorcik said, puffing out his chest, “teaching isn’t fixed! It changes like… like a river!” He proudly showed off his speaking skills, remembering he was hoping to become Headmaster of Einroguard, a school known for its… unusual professors.

Using his authority as a professor, he declared, “This *is* teaching!” making it hard for Lee Han to argue.

“But I wanted to practice the basics of fire magic a bit more…” Lee Han tried.

“Nonsense! You’re wrong! Deep down, you *want* to learn the harder stuff. You just don’t realize it yet!” Professor Zorcik winked, leaving Lee Han completely speechless.

He still had no idea why the professor was acting like this.

“One day, Wodanaz, you’ll thank Zorcik Benmalfa! Don’t forget to show your thanks then! Haha!” Professor Zorcik chuckled, pleased with himself.

“……”

Lee Han silently added Professor Zorcik to his mental >List of Professors to Avoid After Graduation<. So, for the rest of the class, Lee Han had to practice the more powerful forms of fire magic. Later, Adenarte came to Lee Han, looking unusually sad. “I’m really sorry, Wodanaz…” he mumbled. “It’s okay,” Lee Han replied, though he was still a bit annoyed. Adenarte was apologizing for something he’d said earlier in class, a slip of the tongue that had made things worse. (Professor Zorcik in class): "Wodanaz, the most common advanced forms of fire magic are things like blue flame or purple flame. Changing the fire itself to be stronger or different is a natural fit for fire magic. People might think fire wizards only destroy things, but with these advanced forms, you can do much more!" (Professor Zorcik continues): "Of course, it’s not easy. Just like it’s hard to make water powerful by spinning it, changing fire is also very difficult. So, Wodanaz, which advanced form interests you?" (Wodanaz): "I don’t know, Professor. I really just want to practice the basics more." (Professor Zorcik, chuckling): "Haha! Jokes aside, Wodanaz! Yes, it’s hard, but I know you can do it! You *must* do it!" (Wodanaz, quietly): "Did you… maybe meet Professor Begreck this weekend?" (Professor Zorcik): "Huh? What’s that?" (Wodanaz, quickly): "Nothing." (Adenarte, suddenly speaking up): "Professor, why not suggest blue flame? Even for Wodanaz, it might be too hard to change the fire completely at first…" (Adenarte, even louder): "That’s wrong, Professor! Wodanaz already knows how to make *white* flame with divine magic!" Adenarte, who had been listening, suddenly burst out, wanting to show off his friend’s skills without thinking. The reaction was… not good. (Silence from Professor Zorcik and Lee Han) Lee Han just stared at Adenarte with a look that clearly said, ‘Why did you do that to me?’ Adenarte immediately realized he’d messed up. (Adenarte, stammering): "N-no, that’s not what I meant…" (Professor Zorcik, excitedly): "He can make white flame already! Amazing! See, Wodanaz? I told you! You *want* to learn harder magic! This proves it!" (Wodanaz, sighing): "Yes…" Professor Zorcik, now even more excited, pushed Lee Han forward, determined not to back down. Lee Han sighed inwardly. He wondered how many more types of magic he’d be forced to learn this semester. ‘The professor’s eyes,’ he thought, ‘they’re like a madman’s.’ “Still, I’m really sorry, Wodanaz…” Adenarte repeated, looking truly guilty. “It’s fine, I said,” Lee Han replied, trying to sound casual. “Here,” he added, pulling a sandwich from his bag. “Want one?” Adenarte’s face brightened immediately. He took the sandwich, clearly relieved that Lee Han wasn’t really angry. ‘As expected from someone from a rich family,’ Adenarte thought, ‘so generous even when I messed up.’ “Huh?” Adenarte frowned, opening the sandwich to look inside. It was just bread. Two slices of plain bread, with absolutely nothing in between. “……” Adenarte glanced at Lee Han, then quietly took a bite of the “Einroguard-style” sandwich. His face now showed true remorse. ‘If you make your friend suffer,’ he thought miserably, chewing on the dry bread, ‘you get punished with a sandwich that has no filling!’ “Everyone makes mistakes, even really skilled wizards, so don’t worry about it too much,” Lee Han said, trying to sound forgiving. “Mmph?” Adenarte looked up, confused and slightly offended. Even if he respected Yukbertire, being compared to… well, whoever Gainando was… That felt like too much. ‘…I need to think about what I did wrong…’ Adenarte thought, lowering his head again, feeling even more guilty. Wodanaz must be trying to teach him a lesson by giving him an empty sandwich *and* comparing him to… Gainando. Being hit with both at once made him realize how truly awful his mistake had been. He really should be ashamed. “Wodanaz!” “Huh?” Lee Han turned to see Salco burst out of the lecture hall for >Tragic History of Ancient Artifacts and Summoning Magic>.

Salco’s face was pale and serious. “You need to run away from today’s class,” he hissed.

“…What?” Lee Han blinked, confused.

Before Lee Han could ask more, Salco was gone, sprinting away. For a moment, Lee Han wondered if a student from the rival White Tiger Tower school was playing a trick and pretending to be Salco.

‘But Salco would never skip class just because he didn’t want to go, would he?’ Lee Han thought.

Besides, Professor Milay’s >Tragic History of Ancient Artifacts and Summoning Magic> was supposed to be a safe class. It was a class for second-year students, and Professor Milay was known to be careful.

In the first week, Lee Han remembered learning only history and about a few famous magical objects…

‘What’s going on? Should I actually run?’ Lee Han hesitated, unsure if he should take Salco’s warning seriously.

But his hesitation ended quickly. Professor Milay suddenly appeared beside him, her monocle glinting in the light.

“Everyone,” she announced in her calm, old voice, “please go inside the lecture hall.”

Students inside and outside the hall jumped, startled by the sudden appearance of the elderly professor.

‘Oh no,’ Lee Han thought, regretting his hesitation. ‘I messed up.’

He should have run the moment Salco warned him. Hesitating in Einroguard when a professor told you to do something was a serious mistake.

*Whoosh-* A strange sound filled the air as they entered the lecture hall.

Inside, the air shimmered with magic. Powerful magic was swirling around, making the air feel thick and strange. Lee Han could see glowing lines on the floor, strange symbols that must be dimensional magic circles.

It was obvious these circles were meant to open a doorway to another dimension.

‘But still,’ Lee Han thought, ‘Salco isn’t the type to run away just because of *this*.’

He looked up at the blackboard. Written in large letters were words that made his eyes widen:

**Visiting the Most Evil and Dangerous Dimension (Additional Lives Required)**

“……”

“……”

Lee Han and the other students exchanged nervous glances, then looked back towards the door, as if hoping to escape. Professor Milay, however, just stood calmly at the front of the room.

“It seems,” she said in her usual quiet voice, “the previous class forgot to erase the board. Pay no attention to such… dramatic titles. And certainly, do not try to learn anything from them.”

With a flick of her wrist, the words on the board vanished. The students let out a collective sigh of relief.

“Phew! My heart almost stopped!”

“Tutantha is such a show-off. He scared me!”

But even as they spoke, new words began to appear on the blackboard, writing themselves as if by magic:

**Surviving a Visit to an Uncertain Dimension**

“…Um, Professor,” one student said hesitantly, “I don’t think it’s really erased.”

“That is correct,” Professor Milay said, her voice suddenly firmer. “That *is* today’s lecture topic.”

The students groaned and squeezed their eyes shut.

“Tutantha, you show-off,” someone muttered.

“Sorry for doubting you, Salco!” another student whispered.

As the students’ hope vanished, Professor Milay began to speak again, her voice calm but serious. “Now, now, it will be different from what you are all imagining. Stop worrying so much.”

“Ah!” A student’s face lit up. “Does that mean… we’re not actually going there ourselves?”

The students perked up, hope returning. If it was just a lecture *in* the hall, about visiting other dimensions, that was fine!

Learn about dangerous things, know to run if you see a demon… Easy! What’s so scary about that?

“No,” Professor Milay said, her voice flat. “We will be visiting in person.”

“……”

The students’ faces fell again. If they *were* going, then what was different from what they were worried about?