Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 968

The wizards rested after the fight, getting their energy back.

After drinking a shimmering blue mana potion, Sigunting inspected the tips of his crossbow bolts and cast additional spells to reinforce any weakened enchantments.

He carefully sprinkled a pinch of crimson powder from his reagent pouch into the grooves of the crossbow, then applied a thick, oily solution.

‘Fascinating.’

Lee Han watched and learned with interest from the side.

Lee Han learned more by watching the older students than in Professor Verdus’s classes.

“Sigunting, Senior.”

“What?”

Sigunting didn’t ignore Lee Han, considering him a junior.

“I would like to learn some magic.”

Currently, the seniors in the Enchantment Department each had their own unique strengths.

Sigunting, for example, had demonstrated outstanding performance with just a crossbow during the battle in the southern cave.

Lee Han was intrigued as he watched Sigunting and thought, ‘It’s like he carries a whole arsenal in that crossbow!’

If he could create such a weapon, Lee Han could simply take it out and fire away, instead of casting spells to create ranged weapons every time.

“I see. That makes sense.”

The dwarven senior pushed his crossbow aside.

Then, he took out a rusty, cheap crossbow.

“You want to implement a crossbow like this with a disposable artifact, right?”

“….????”

Lee Han was taken aback when his senior brought up something he hadn’t even said.

“A disposable artifact?”

“Isn’t that your research topic?”

“…?”

Lee Han was even more confused.

He had no memory of deciding on such a thing.

‘Did Professor Verdus secretly decide on a research topic in my name and then get funding from the Imperial Capital??’

Professor Verdus was certainly capable of that, but Lee Han trusted the Imperial officials more than Professor Verdus.

“You made one last year, didn’t you?”

Sigunting looked strangely at his confused junior and explained that Lee Han had shown a deep interest in disposable artifacts since he was learning under Professor Verdus last year.

When Professor Verdus said they should use aquamarine or spirit whale leather to make a leather water bottle artifact, Lee Han insisted that there was no need to use such expensive materials, and instead used deer hide, Koyak thread, and copper rings to make the artifact, covering the lack of performance by injecting massive amounts of mana.

The lifespan of the artifact would be shortened, but it was a disposable artifact, not a permanent one.

“I think that’s quite an interesting topic. Good choice. That’s why I’m answering like this…”

Sigunting liked his junior’s research topic because artifact artisans were always focused on permanence and eternity, but sometimes a wider world could be seen by breaking away from that.

If you only use it once, you can break away from the various restrictions of the artifact and create powerful firepower and output.

It was a bold and daring research topic that only a nobleman from a wealthy family could come up with, something a poor artifact artisan could not imagine.

“……”

Lee Han was more shocked than when he had single-handedly blocked the enemies rushing in the cave earlier.

‘I was just trying to make it cheap and sell it cheap, what…?’

Lee Han made the leather water bottle artifact to secure initial funds when going out, and Professor Verdus’s advice to use aquamarine or spirit whale leather was, of course, meaningless.

Famous artisans of the Empire could use such materials because they received various sponsorships, support, and high compensation, but Lee Han was still an unknown wizard.

Of course, he had simply chosen a realistic method, but what was this about a bold and daring research topic that only a nobleman from a wealthy family could come up with?

“But how did you know that? Professor Verdus… no. There’s no way Professor Verdus would have said such a thing?”

“You’re smart, as expected. Of course not. Professor Garcia told me.”

‘…Did Professor Garcia put listening artifacts on the students’ clothes?’

Lee Han looked around without realizing it.

“Now, look. To implement my crossbow as a disposable artifact…”

“But Senior, what if my research topic isn’t this disposable artifact?”

“Huh?”

Sigunting stopped trying to explain, raised his head, and looked at Lee Han.

Then, he looked at Yukbeltyre.

The meaning was conveyed without words.

-I treat seniors like rolling stones if they don’t do research that interests me!

Lee Han, who didn’t want to be ignored like Yukbeltyre, immediately replied.

“Actually, my research topic is disposable artifacts. Please continue explaining.”

“You’re not an ordinary junior, as expected. Very extraordinary.”

Sigunting suggested a methodology for implementing his crossbow as a disposable artifact, focusing on explosive power, firepower, and output (and instability) rather than stability, durability, and permanence.

“…Isn’t there a cheaper material?”

“What? Why? If you use cheaper materials than this, it will become more unstable and dangerous.”

“…I enjoy such dangers. I feel my magic boiling as I control such instability and danger.”

“I knew it. You crazy bastard!”

Sigunting laughed as if he liked it even more.

It seemed he had seen the person properly.

According to the junior’s desires, Sigunting adjusted the magic and spell composition, removing all the adjustments that helped with stability or the wizard…

“Whew. This will shave off a wizard’s face if used incorrectly. Wodanaz. I hope you’ll tell me your impressions after you make and use it later.”

Sigunting firmly requested because he couldn’t handle it because he lacked ability and family, but he was very curious about how his junior would develop this research topic.

“Yes… thank you…”

Perhaps it was his imagination, but the junior seemed a little less energetic than before.

Sigunting thought it was because of Yukbeltyre, because he wasted time unnecessarily with Yukbeltyre and shared potions…

“Do you have any last advice for me?”

“I do.”

“Oh. What is it?”

“Don’t share potions with Yukbeltyre. It’s a waste.”

“…I meant magical advice.”

“Advice?”

Anpagon, who was building a small tower out of mud on the floor, was puzzled.

“Yes.”

“Don’t share food with Yukbeltyre. It’s a waste…”

“I’ve already heard that. I meant magical advice.”

“Hmm.”

The third-year boy in the same tower as Lee Han pondered because he wanted to help because he was the most sociable in the Enchantment Department and in the same tower (except for Yukbeltyre)…

“My research topic is too different from yours.”

“…Perhaps disposable artifacts?”

“Was there any other topic? Amazing. As expected, someone who listens to all departments is different…”

‘Aren’t these people not talking to each other??’

Lee Han was dumbfounded.

Why do they all know such trashy rumors when they don’t have the necessary conversations?

“Senior, your topic is different, ah. Are you perhaps talking about what you summoned when we fought earlier?”

“Yes.”

Anpagon’s major was architecture, but it wasn’t like Salco’s permanent architecture, Anpagon was skilled at summoning and returning magical structures from other dimensions.

Trying to summon a temporary fortress in the earlier battle (of course, the junior finished it all before he could) was one of them.

As such, it wouldn’t be of much help to a junior who was researching disposable artifacts…

“Ah. No. Now that I think about it, there might be a way to simplify these structures and make them closer to disposable.”

“You don’t have to make it disposable.”

Lee Han was more curious about the normal structure summoning magic, but Anpagon chose to improve it.

From the junior’s point of view, he had no choice but to grumble inwardly and listen to the lecture.

Yukbeltyre had to eat chocolate cream wafer cookies instead of a meal replacement potion.

He thought it was a little inefficient, but Yukbeltyre ate quietly and replenished his nutrients.

“……”

“Do you have something to say?”

Lee Han asked, puzzled, as the senior stared at him.

He didn’t forget to tighten his grip on the wand in his hand, just in case.

If he said something like, ‘The meal replacement potion was better,’ he had to control himself.

“Which family’s product is this?”

“Yes?”

“This cookie. Is it a new product from the Maykin family?”

“I made it.”

“…!”

Yukbeltyre was shocked that a wizard of that level would put flour dough mixed with butter in the oven in his spare time…

…He couldn’t remember what he would do next because Yukbeltyre had no interest in cooking.

“You wasted your time doing that?”

“Then I apply cream or chocolate coating. Usually. Why? Do you have any complaints?”

Lee Han’s voice was full of murderous intent, dissatisfaction, threats, and intimidation.

Yukbeltyre shook his head and replied.

“I thought I could get sugar reasonably, so I was going to buy it separately later.”

“…Have more! Senior!”

Lee Han smiled brightly as if he hadn’t been grumbling just now, however, Yukbeltyre answered immediately.

“I’m full.”

“…Is anyone else interested?”

“I’m fine because I drank a potion.”

“I don’t like eating snacks.”

“……”

Lee Han suddenly missed his friends.

Disciple of Osu. It’s been a while.

There were not many people who called Lee Han so insultingly.

A dream he had briefly during the break.

When Lee Han woke up from the dream, he had already arrived at the Yaksha King’s palace.

“……”

Lee Han glared at the black book.

Is this bastard now sending people directly to the Yaksha King’s palace instead of to a separate dimension?

The black book jumped as if it was a misunderstanding.

It wasn’t the book’s fault this time.

It seems this world is calling you, Osu’s disciple, so you must have been accumulating good deeds.

“…Yes? No, I haven’t?”

Lee Han replied as if it was nonsense.

“Right now, some crazy senior found an orichalcum mine, so I’m trying to take it from other seniors…”

Outward appearances are not important, Osu’s disciple.

“……”

The Yaksha King spoke with a glimmering insight, but it didn’t resonate much with Lee Han, who was already cynical.

‘Isn’t this a trick to make plausible excuses after talking nonsense?’

The world does not distinguish between the ten directions and three times. Do not trust your own eyes, but trust the world.

“Can I go back?”

You will naturally be able to return when it is time to return. Hmm. Osu’s disciple. The reason you seem so dissatisfied today must be because the king showed disrespect to your teacher?

“……”

But it was unavoidable to stop Osu’s madness. Your attitude of respecting your teacher is commendable.

Lee Han gritted his teeth.

It was obvious that the opponent would distort it with intention distortion magic no matter how much he denied it.

To think such a formidable enemy existed.

“What magic do I have to learn to go back?”

Ambition and greed for magic, revealing your true colors? Osu’s disciple.

“…Yes. That’s me. I’m crazy about magic.”

Lee Han answered with half resignation.

After giving up in front of Sigunting, the next one was easier.