Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 891

Saratan didn’t say, ‘Didn’t I tell you so?’

He knew that if one of his own spirits had said those words, he would have attacked immediately.

The wizard he was facing was as unpredictable as Saratan himself. It was best to be careful when he was at a disadvantage.

“Hehe… I’m really glad we cleared up that misunderstanding,” Saratan said, trying to hide his embarrassment.

But Yihan got even angrier at the flattery.

“Why didn’t you explain it properly and waste our time?” Yihan asked sharply.

“That’s right, that’s right!” Jo-Urin chimed in.

“Punish him more, Wodanaz!” They blamed the spirit without feeling guilty. In Ainrogard, everyone blamed others, it was normal.

Saratan felt another wave of anger, but he couldn’t do anything about it.

“If you had made the new sprout faster, this wouldn’t have happened,” Yihan added.

Saratan made excuses. “This power is hard for me to use… and I’m not fully recovered yet…” He felt unfairly treated by the wizard’s demands.

Creating the new sprout with power overnight was very hard for Saratan.

Saratan had become stronger by switching to a powerful sacred tree, but he hadn’t fully regained his strength. He needed more time to rest.

“Hmm. For someone who’s not fully recovered, you tried to kill me pretty easily last time,” Yihan said, narrowing his eyes.

Saratan shuddered. “That was… the situation was different… it was the world of consciousness…”

He couldn’t imagine what would happen if he attacked this wizard again and got caught.

“Ah, Senior Yihan! Welcome!” Catton called out, his voice friendly. He was a fifth-year student from the Jahan family, always known for being polite to younger students. Catton, a demihuman with twitching cat ears and a fluffy tail peeking from under his robes, took off his hat with a flourish. He had a way of making people feel comfortable, like those gentle penguin or beaver demihumans you sometimes saw around Ainrogard.

But Yihan wasn’t fooled. He had learned in Ainrogard that appearances could be deceiving. *Don’t forget how he charged at me last time,* Yihan thought, remembering Catton’s surprising attack.

Professor Ingaldel said Catton could have been incredibly scary if he only focused on swords. Yihan remembered this.

“Hello, Senior. How will next week’s Sword and Life exam be?” Yihan asked.

“Oh, I can’t tell you that,” Catton replied.

“Is it secret information?”

It was Saturday, and the exam was next week. Some professors kept the exam content a secret.

“No. It’s because I haven’t decided yet,” Catton said, scratching his head, looking a little embarrassed. Jo-Urin, who was behind Yihan, was surprised.

Jo-Urin was surprised. *Is that allowed? To not decide the exam so close to the date?* He wondered.

From Jo-Urin’s point of view, Catton was very strange. He hadn’t even decided on the exam a few days before.

*No, it shouldn’t be allowed,* Jo-Urin thought, remembering what he knew about school rules.

“Originally, it’s not allowed, Your Highness. Ahem. I’m ashamed!” Catton said.

Jo-Urin thought he should decide the exam first before feeling ashamed.

“Shhh. Your Highness. The fifth-year seniors all have their reasons. Please understand,” Yihan said, stopping Jo-Urin.

Fifth-year seniors were basically pitiful people. One had to be kind to them.

“Junior, don’t misunderstand. It’s not like I haven’t thought about it. I had something in mind for the Sword and Life exam,” Catton explained.

“Oh? What is it?” Yihan asked.

“Teach me a spell,” Catton said.

Yihan was speechless. Catton’s exam objective was even more shameless than Professor Verdus.

Catton was teaching the Sword and Life lecture to find someone to teach each other, but was it okay for the exam to be this obvious?

“Doesn’t the headmaster get angry? He’s strict about these things,” Yihan asked.

“He does get angry. That’s why I always end up in the punishment room,” Catton replied.

Jo-Urin slowly backed away.

He sensed madness from Catton.

*Someone who is prepared to go to the punishment room is truly terrifying,* Yihan thought.

Professor Verdus and Professor Vendosol were strong because they were both prepared to go to the punishment room.

Catton was even more extreme. He enjoyed going to the punishment room.

“…But if that was the original exam, why did it suddenly change to undecided?” Yihan asked.

“Junior, there’s a reason,” Catton said.

Since entering Ainrogard, Catton had always focused on his own work.

Whether his friends were getting caught and going to the punishment room, or fighting ancient monsters, he had studied magic alone.

Catton had refused the juniors of the White Tiger Tower who wanted to take the Sword and Life lecture for the same reason.

He wanted a student who could teach him magic, not one who would only learn swordsmanship.

But recently, Catton’s thoughts had changed.

“Other professors said that studying magic alone isn’t the only way to improve. Teaching and helping someone can also lead to enlightenment. Even if it’s teaching swordsmanship instead of magic,” Catton explained.

Yihan wondered if the other professors were tricking Catton.

It didn’t seem like Catton’s magic skills would improve by teaching swordsmanship.

*I can’t even imagine how he could improve,* Yihan thought.

“Hmm. I thought it was a trick,” Catton said.

“I’ve heard that a lot before, but I didn’t really believe it,” Catton admitted.

“Why is that?” Yihan asked.

“Because the headmaster suggested it. I thought he was trying to trick me into taking on the lecture,” Catton explained.

Catton had excellent instincts.

He had sensed the trickery just by looking at who was speaking.

“Wait. But why did your thoughts change? That’s a reasonable guess, though?” Yihan asked.

“It’s because of two things. First, look at you, Junior. You’re teaching students and even taking on odd jobs, yet you’re still at the top of your class,” Catton said.

Indeed! Maybe Yihan’s magic became strong because Ainrogard was such a tough place.

“What’s ‘indeed,’ what is it?” Catton asked.

Jo-Urin cowered, watching him carefully. *Is he angry…?*

“I’m not angry,” Yihan said, patting Jo-Urin’s wings.

“Anyway, Senior. I think the first reason is a bit strange… does the second reason make sense?” Yihan asked.

“He happens to be behind us. It’s because of Professor Voladi,” Catton said.

Yihan looked at Professor Voladi in surprise.

“Did the professor give you any advice?” Yihan asked.

“Ah. That’s not it, Junior. I’ve always thought that the reason Professor Voladi is strong is because he doesn’t waste time taking care of his students,” Catton explained.

“Misunderstanding,” Professor Voladi said briefly.

“That’s right, Professor. I think I was mistaken. I was able to confirm it when I heard that you were greatly increasing the number of your students,” Catton said, nodding.

“Hmm,” Professor Voladi agreed proudly.

*Is two students really a big increase?* Yihan thought. It was double the students, but still only two. Professor Voladi seemed very proud anyway.

“So, I also changed the exam content, Junior,” Catton said.

“Indeed. You mean an exam that isn’t just a freebie for the senior, but one for the listeners,” Yihan said sarcastically.

Jo-Urin thought Yihan was being sarcastic, but in a polite way. Yihan always said what he really thought, even if he was being nice.

Catton said, looking a little embarrassed, “Does it sound like that? Hmm. Junior. That’s not what I meant.”

“Yes? Then what is it?” Yihan asked, puzzled.

“It’s not that… I was considering an exam that more people would listen to in the future. You can’t really feel the teaching experience unless there are many listeners,” Catton explained.

*He’s embarrassed, but what he’s saying is no different from Professor Verdus!* Yihan thought.

His attitude was shy, but it was nothing more than ‘students don’t matter, I’ll try to attract as many as possible next semester with a plausible exam.’

If Professor Verdus had said those words, it would have sounded much more evil. A person’s attitude was important.

*But it’s not a bad deal for me,* Yihan thought.

It was attractive enough for Yihan.

It was much better than Catton saying, ‘Let’s realize the ultimate in swordsmanship in this lecture, Junior’.

“Junior, would you help me decide on the exam content so that more students can come to the lecture in the future?” Catton asked.

“Of course!” Yihan agreed.

“If you don’t mind, would you also help, Professor? It would be reassuring if Professor Voladi could help,” Catton added.

“I will,” Professor Voladi said.

“It’s reassuring to have the most outstanding person in this field helping! Isn’t that right, Junior?” Catton said.

Yihan felt a little unfairly treated.

“After all, shouldn’t we be targeting the students of the White Tiger Tower?” Yihan asked.

Considering that Catton was respected within the White Tiger Tower, attracting them to the lecture might not be that difficult.

Giselle and Deorgyu liked it when Yihan dragged them along.

“Hmm. Junior, there’s one thing I’m worried about. There are always juniors who want to learn swordsmanship from me every year, but the number of people who last a long time is smaller than I thought,” Catton said.

Persistent juniors would follow Catton around and ask him to teach them.

Then, Catton would teach them, but most of them didn’t last long.

“If this continues, even if the students of the White Tiger Tower come, the dropout rate will be high,” Catton worried.

*Isn’t he being too greedy?* Yihan thought.

The professor next to him was happy with just two students.

Catton asked Professor Voladi a question. “Professor Voladi, what do you think? Since you also teach students strictly, your dropout rate must be high. How did you solve this…?”

“I just trust my students,” Professor Voladi replied.

“Indeed!” Catton exclaimed.

*What’s ‘indeed’ about that,* Yihan thought.

“Trusting… students… This might be better than unnecessary tricks,” Catton mused.

*Maybe around 0. No. Since there’s me, Giselle, and Deorgyu, that’s 3… Even with just this, he’s surpassing Professor Voladi. Yeah. It’s a relief,* Yihan thought.

Listening to the conversation, Yihan estimated the number of students in the senior’s lecture next semester.

It didn’t seem like it would increase from 3, but compared to Professor Voladi, this was something to be proud of.

As Yihan was thinking about how to persuade him that ‘3 is also great,’ he heard Catton’s voice.

“Junior? Junior?”

“Ah. I’m sorry,” Yihan said.

“You must be tired,” Catton said.

Yihan had too much work.

“…It wasn’t because of that… Anyway, what is it?” Yihan asked.

“I was thinking, what if we asked Professor Ingaldel as well?” Catton suggested.

“That’s not a bad idea. The professor would definitely know an exam of appropriate difficulty,” Yihan agreed.

“Hmm. But Professor Ingaldel has a lot of worries because of you, Junior. I’m worried that we might be bothering him…” Catton said.

“Yes?” Yihan wondered what Professor Ingaldel had to do with the exam. He had a feeling this was going to be complicated.