Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 830

Ihan replied, more annoyed than insulted by Perkontra’s comment.

Perkontra asked, confused, “Didn’t the Duke of Arrogance send a letter?”

“Why would a demon send a letter?”

“Don’t be silly. A lesser demon, maybe, but a powerful demon like the Duke of Arrogance doesn’t attack without warning. Especially not someone he sees as a worthy enemy.”

“Oh… so if I don’t get a letter, he won’t keep attacking?”

Perkontra stared at Ihan, a look of complete disbelief on his face.

Suddenly, the thunder quieted down, and only dark clouds hung sadly on the ceiling, leaving the students confused.

‘What’s going on? Did Wodanaz tell some sad story?’

‘Didn’t he say he was taking all the courses? If I were a spirit, I’d feel sorry for him.’

If the Duke of Arrogance knew what you were planning, his face would be something to see.

To think that a wizard he considered his rival was asking, ‘If I keep not getting letters, can we just not fight anymore?’

If the Duke of Arrogance found out, he might be horrified by the wizard’s weakness.

“No. He’s a demon duke, and I’m just a wizard. Isn’t it strange to even get a challenge in the first place? If I were a wizard duke and the other guy was a lesser demon, I’d accept a challenge.”

Of course, Ihan thought it was ridiculous.

He really didn’t care if the Duke of Arrogance wanted revenge or saw him as a rival.

If he was a demon duke, shouldn’t he be fighting other demon dukes, or at least imperial dukes, instead of bothering an Einroguard student?

‘And then he’d think it was dishonorable if I refused. Shameless and bold, like a true demon.’

“…Don’t you even know the old stories? A wizard who wins a battle against a demon always gets precious treasures and powers as a reward… You’re not even listening.”

“I am listening.”

Your eyes show no interest.

The wizard, who usually had bright eyes, was listening so without energy that it was obvious.

Perkontra couldn’t understand.

Becoming the enemy of a powerful demon was a chance and an honor for a wizard.

Of course, you didn’t know what bad things might happen if you lost, but anyone who worried about that shouldn’t be a wizard in the first place.

Shouldn’t he be happy for this chance and plan to win the next fight and get new power?

It wasn’t like the boy in front of Perkontra was weak…

“Never mind. If the letter didn’t come, it didn’t come. So, what are you here for?”

“I’d like you to introduce me to a spirit.”

The dark clouds hanging sadly on the ceiling got even darker, and a light rain started to fall.

The White Tiger Tower students were sure that Ihan had said he was taking all the courses.

Or maybe he’d even said he was taking care of the worst students in the tower.

Lagesa, also curious, asked from behind, “What on earth are you talking about that makes the spirits feel so sorry for you?”

Isn’t it time to give up?

The fact that lesser spirits run away when they see you can’t be fixed with force. You might as well just capture them. Though rumors will spread among the spirits…

“…Not those spirits.”

Ihan glared and explained, “I’m trying to make a new staff, and I’m planning to use black magnetite. The best material to handle this black magnetite is wood, and this wood is…”

“Ah. Maybe you, Perkontra, could help with this directly?”

I summon thunder and lightning and make people afraid, I don’t make staffs.

Ihan hadn’t expected much, after Yukbertire’s explanation, but hearing it himself was still disappointing.

Why did he have to meet the Thunder King instead of the Forest King or the Sacred Tree King?

If it were a tree-type spirit king, he could have found the spirits living here much more easily.

A spirit’s power isn’t just about being stronger than others. I have the power of destruction that connects heaven and earth, but tree spirits can’t use this power…

“I see.”

An awkward silence filled the air. Ihan quickly changed the subject.

“So, could you introduce me to one?”

Hmm. A spirit who has the power of wood… the Three-Eyed Pine Duke comes to mind. He was truly the master of a beautiful forest.

‘Duke!’

At least he was a duke.

Ihan asked with a hopeful voice. It wasn’t a king, but it was something.

“What is he like?”

He once attacked me and was easily defeated. He ran underground to avoid the lightning.

“…Any other spirits?”

There’s General Evergreen. He was a spirit general who commanded mountains, rivers, trees, and plants like servants.

“Did you fight him too?”

How did you know?

Ihan was starting to regret it.

He hadn’t realized Perkontra’s relationship with the spirits was so bad.

‘I never thought it would be this bad. He’s probably better friends with demons.’

It seemed he was friendlier with the Duke of Arrogance than with other great spirits.

Sensing his contractor’s disrespectful thoughts, Perkontra started to think hard to remember memories and abilities.

“Wait a moment.”

The once-quiet hallway became noisy again. As the students became afraid of the thunder and lightning, Lagesa shouted.

“Stand still, you foolish whelps! Can’t you even tell the difference between magic that wants to hurt you and magic that doesn’t? Look! When else will you see something like this!”

“…!”

At those words, the students looked up and stared at the scene before them.

‘Spirits!’

Openings to the spirit world appeared and disappeared in the air. Bolts of lightning shot into those openings. It was a message from Perkontra.

The students who had contracts with spirits and a close connection could understand what was happening.

“Wodanaz is using the power of the spirits to find a world he can go to!”

“Uh, is it usually this intense?”

One of the students from the summoning magic department asked, confused.

Normally, finding a new world and getting ready to enter it wasn’t this crazy.

According to the maps and records they had, they would calmly find the world, use different spells to connect to the world so they could enter, and then quietly visit…

But the openings appearing in the air now were strange.

When bolts of lightning shot into the openings and disappeared, wooden spears would come out of the openings and attack Perkontra.

Perkontra cursed.

“Rude fools! If you don’t want to answer, just ignore it. Why answer like this?”

Ihan stopped himself from saying, ‘Anyone would be angry if you threw lightning into their home to send a letter.’

After all, Perkontra was doing his best for Ihan right now.

“Wodanaz,” Giselle said softly, her voice a little worried. “It’s not that I don’t believe in your magic, but… are you really okay?”

She watched Ethan closely. She didn’t want to be *that* person – the one who messed up a spell and made everything go wrong. But something felt wrong. Very wrong.

*Why* was finding a dimension to visit so difficult? It sounded like a battle, not just a visit.

It was like Ethan was trying to *fight* his way into another world, not just open a door.

“It’s because it’s the spirit of lightning. The spirit of lightning is always this intense, even when sending a simple letter.”

” ? ”

Lagesa looked at Ethan as if he were talking nonsense.

“That sounds strange…”

“Oh dear. I’m sorry! He tells me to concentrate!”

Ethan quickly looked away from Lagesa, pretending to listen intently.

Zap!

A streak of lightning flashed into the rift, and this time a butterfly returned.

Pergunta answered. He sounded like he could jump for joy. An answer had come back!

“Is that really true?!”

“Yes, congratulations. The respondent is… uh…”

Ethan was surprised. Pergunta usually spoke loudly and clearly, but this time he hesitated.

“Is it the Prideful Archduke?”

“…Didn’t I say I was communicating with a spirit! What Prideful Archduke are you talking about!”

‘He’s the one who brought it up.’

Ethan grumbled inwardly.

Why did it have to be this guy… hmm… oh well. I’ll just tell him. Among the high-ranking tree spirits I know, the one who answered was the Madwood King.

“Madwood?”

“Madwood?” Ethan thought. It sounded soft, like cotton cloth. ‘He sounded like a warm and cozy spirit,’ Ethan said, confused. But then Pergunta corrected him, ‘No… the *Madwood* King. Mad like crazy, not like cotton.’

Ethan shuddered at the title of the Mad Tree King. He remembered Professor Binns’s lecture about the Madwood King – tales of a spirit who trapped visitors in his thorny forest forever flashed in his mind.

Pergunta, sensing his contractor’s trepidation, hurriedly explained.

It’s not like you have to go. I don’t particularly like the Madwood King either. He’s a very eccentric and strange fellow. But he’s the only one who invited us to visit. He says he’ll keep the rift open for a week, so visit if you want.

“If we go, is he going to, like, attack us? Or trap us? Or something?”

In the worst case, he might be captured and forced to become a disciple. Ethan’s eyes were filled with wariness.

No. He can’t do that since he invited you. The visitor is protected by the laws of hospitality.

‘Oh?’

Ethan thought it might not be so bad.

Being protected by the rules would make it easier to complete Professor Ingoldel’s assignment, and if he was lucky, he might even get the materials for a wand…

“If I’m protected by the rules, isn’t that unconditionally advantageous for me? Is there any reason not to go?”

Like I said, he’s a very eccentric and strange fellow.

“…How eccentric and strange is he?”

Pergunta looked unusually troubled.

I can’t tell you any more about his identity. I made a pact with him to protect each other’s true names.

Some high-ranking spirits made pacts with each other to prevent their information from leaking to beings in other dimensions.

Ironically, the ones who know the most about spirits are other spirits.

In other words, if a wizard ever appeared who knew suspiciously much about him, it was most likely because they had searched through ancient books for records or met a spirit who knew him well and heard information about him.

“…I’ll talk to my friends for a bit.”

Do as you please. I won’t force you.

“Are there really no other replies?”

Ethan felt a little sorry when he sensed that Pergunta, who was always so confident, was feeling dejected.

Wasn’t it rude to keep asking someone who had no friends if they had no friends?

Just like how Ethan himself would get angry if someone asked, ‘Wodanaz, why do the spirits run away from you?’…

“It’s alright. Where else would I get an invitation from a spirit king-level being? That alone is enough to be grateful for.”

You’ve grown quite a bit, wizard.

Ethan, having appeased Pergunta, quickly gathered his friends. Lagesa, though not invited, listened with great interest.

“Everyone. I have good news and bad news.”

“!”

“First, I’ve been invited to the domain of a spirit king.”

A short scream erupted from among the students.

Lagesa was also impressed.

Even though it wasn’t a contract, but an invitation, it was still a great achievement. There were many wizards who lived and died without ever meeting a king-level spirit.

Even the upperclassmen at Einroguard had to offer ancient artifacts or something equivalent as a sacrifice to contact such high-ranking spirits, but this boy had succeeded in making contact with his own power alone.

“W-what’s the bad news then?!'”

“This is the bad news?”

“…?”

“???”

Everyone present was bewildered.

Giselle asked as calmly as possible.

“What’s the good news?”

“That we don’t have to go.”

“……”

Seeing her friend’s nonchalant expression, Giselle felt a chill down her spine as if she had been touched by the icy blade of a frost giant.

‘If Wodanaz is acting like this, then we shouldn’t just be happy…’

“What nonsense are you talking about? Just visiting the domain of a spirit king is a good thing, isn’t it?”

“Someone shut that idiot up.”

Giselle gave a firm order.

The White Tiger Tower friends quickly covered Angalo’s mouth.

“Mmmph!”

“Sorry, Angalo.”

“He’s not wrong. Usually, just being invited is an opportunity.”

Lagesa said with a sly smile, and Giselle retorted in disbelief.

“If Wodanaz is acting like this, I don’t think we can just call it an opportunity, can we?”

“That brat is usually cautious… but I’m disappointed.”

” ? ”

“I thought you’d be as brave as Zicklin’s sister. Well. I guess this daughter of Torgelred misjudged you.”

“…Who says I can’t go? Move, Wodanaz!”

“M-Moradi. Why are you doing this too?”

Ethan, unusually flustered, tried to stop Giselle.