Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 1097

“Silly fools,” the headmaster grumbled. His skull face was now hidden, replaced by a pale, human-like appearance, but his eyes still held that familiar, unsettling glint. He stood to one side, arms crossed, watching the students. Lee Han frowned, thinking, *’What’s he doing here? Shouldn’t he be at the entrance, bothering everyone?’* It was obvious the headmaster was here because of Uman.

“Before long, you’ll be begging for my lessons again,” the headmaster sneered. “Maybe not,” Lee Han replied, shrugging slightly. A silent moment passed. Beside him, the Death Knight was taken aback. He had seen Lee Han’s skill and cleverness many times, but *this* was a different kind of talent – the nerve to speak so casually to their intimidating master!

“Uman,” the headmaster continued, his voice dripping with distaste, “is less like a dragon and more like a vampire, or perhaps an incubus. He sucks the joy out of everything, not blood or dreams.” *’But isn’t Einroguard already joyless?’* Lee Han thought to himself. As if reading his mind, the headmaster turned to him, a nasty smile twisting his lips. “You’re thinking there’s no joy in Einroguard anyway, aren’t you?” Lee Han blinked, surprised. “You think I’m using mind-reading magic?” the headmaster chuckled. *’Is he actually using magic right now?’* Lee Han wondered.

“But it’s not magic, just observation,” the headmaster said dismissively. “Your thoughts are as clear as day. Never mind. You’ll see soon enough. You’ll realize that Einroguard was actually a place overflowing with joy.” Silence. Even the Death Knights, usually so stoic, stared at their master, completely speechless. It was such a ridiculous thing to say, so utterly unbelievable.

“Uman will keep you trapped in magic lessons every moment except break times,” the headmaster warned.

“But… isn’t that normal?” Lee Han asked, tilting his head.

“Wizard cards? Hmph! Uman despises old wizards playing wizard cards more than anything.”

“I don’t play wizard cards anyway…” Lee Han mumbled.

“Quidditch is the same. In Uman’s eyes, it’s the biggest waste of time imaginable.”

“I agree,” Lee Han said immediately.

The headmaster stopped, his mouth snapping shut. He suddenly realized something. This student beside him… threats about Uman were completely pointless for *him*. What was the point of threatening to take away joy from someone who seemed to live without it already? *’He really picked the wrong person to threaten,’* the headmaster thought, shaking his head slightly. He turned and stalked towards Gainando. Lee Han watched him go, a bewildered look on his face. *Is he really like that?*

The inspection finished. Lee Han had managed to get through without anyone finding his secret basement, thanks to the young prince’s help. But other students weren’t so fortunate – whispers of confiscated strange objects and detentions were already spreading. Uman began to lecture, a fake frown on his face. “Einroguard students! You are the future of the Empire, the brightest talents!” He went on and on, his words echoing through the hall, about how future leaders shouldn’t eat odd things or waste time on silly games. The students’ faces fell. Hope drained from them like mist burning away in the morning sun. A few of the smarter ones were already whispering that this semester was going to be a disaster.

“Enough talk,” Uman announced, clapping his hands together. “You must all be tired from your journeys. Let’s have dinner, and then you can rest. Everyone, to the banquet hall!” Confused murmurs rippled through the student ranks. “Banquet hall?” someone whispered. “Is there even a banquet hall in Einroguard?” Students who rarely ventured out at night looked around blankly. *What even is a banquet hall?* For students used to simple meals in the tower common rooms, the word itself sounded grand and foreign. “Oh, wait… there *was* something like that,” another student mumbled. “But I thought it was just… dusty and unused.” “More like a museum, wasn’t it?” Even those who vaguely remembered the banquet hall were unsure if it was actually a *real* place. As they were led towards it, whispers and questions filled the air.

But when the heavy brass doors swung open, the students gasped. Before them was a *real* banquet hall. A long, polished wooden table stretched across the room, easily big enough for all the students from every tower to sit together. And light! Bright, warm light flooded the room from glowing chandeliers, a stark contrast to the dim, shadowy tower lounges where students rarely bothered to light even a single candle. *’Wow,’* Lee Han thought, watching the students’ awed faces. *’Their standards are really low, aren’t they?’* Objectively, the banquet hall wasn’t particularly grand compared to places he’d seen outside Einroguard. It was actually quite plain, almost bare. But to these students, used to the gloom and austerity of their school, it was dazzling. Even Lee Han felt a flicker of surprise. It was amazing how low expectations could change everything.

“Is it… is it okay to sit down?” one student whispered nervously. “I won’t get detention for sitting, will I?”

“Last time I snuck in here, it was just an empty room,” another replied, “but I guess they brought in tables and chairs.” Hesitantly, the students began to sit. They tried to look cool and unimpressed, but a nervous excitement was bubbling beneath the surface. Starting a new semester in a *banquet hall* – it was unheard of! As everyone settled into their seats, a soft *pop* echoed through the room, and suddenly, candles all along the table flickered to life, bathing the hall in a warm, golden glow. “Wow! Candles!” someone exclaimed. “…Seriously? We’re getting excited about *candles*?” a more sensible voice muttered, but it was lost in the general wave of delighted murmurs. Expectations were definitely rising.

A small silver bell chimed, its clear sound cutting through the excited chatter. Uman stood at the front of the hall, and the faculty had gathered around him. Each professor reacted to the new inspector in their own way. The headmaster looked bored, as if he’d rather be anywhere else. Professor Garcia’s face was etched with worry. And then there was Professor Bendozol, practically beaming, clearly desperate to impress the Dragon Race inspector. In fact, he seemed to be the only one *that* enthusiastic.

“Today,” Uman announced with a flourish, “I, Uman, have personally prepared a meal to honor the wizards of Einroguard! I hope you enjoy it.”

“This is amazing!” someone shouted.

“Long live Headmaster Uman!” Cheers erupted from the students, excited by the promise of free food. Lee Han was willing to bet a pile of gold coins that the headmaster was mentally noting down the names of everyone who had just cheered. “Hmph,” Professor Zorzic grumbled, his voice laced with bitterness. “Those were the same students who promised to support *me* for headmaster last time.” He watched as the students who had sworn loyalty to him now cheered for Uman, abandoning him as easily as discarding old clothes. Professor Garcia patted him sympathetically on the shoulder, his expression full of pity.

“First,” Uman continued, a strange glint in his eye, “an aperitif! It is not alcohol, but something… better.” With a snap of his fingers, glasses appeared in front of each student, filled with a thick, black liquid that sloshed ominously. It looked like tar that had been boiled and then mixed with… something vaguely herbal and unpleasant. “Um… is this… safe to drink?” a student stammered, eyeing the glass with suspicion. “Maybe the headmaster hired a fake,” another whispered nervously. Even Lee Han had a moment of doubt. If he didn’t know Uman was genuinely royalty, he might have actually believed it was a trick. “It smells… real,” one student sniffed cautiously. “No poison, I think. Doesn’t feel like any magic either.”

“Really? It looks exactly like poison,” another student muttered. Slowly, hesitantly, the students raised their glasses. A few alchemy students even started discreetly trying to test the liquid for toxins.

*“Keck!” “Cough!” “Graaah!”* The sounds of disgust echoed through the banquet hall as students choked down the aperitif. Faces contorted in grimaces of pain. “This is… crazy!” one student gasped. “It’s like Gainando’s boiled slop!”

“Worse than that!” another groaned. Even Lee Han, who prided himself on being able to stomach almost anything, wrinkled his nose. It was a drink where every flavor seemed amplified and clashed horribly, finishing with a lingering, bitter aftertaste. *What in the world is this stuff?*

“It is,” Uman announced proudly, puffing out his chest, “herbal wine, made with the seven sacred herbs of the dragon! I made it myself. It will purify your souls and cleanse the impurities from your bodies!” Lee Han quickly checked the drink’s magical properties. Uman was actually telling the truth. Like a potent potion, the drink *did* have a powerful effect, restoring the body and purifying magic. *…But considering the taste,* Lee Han thought dryly, *wouldn’t it just be better to drink a regular potion?!*

“Excellent! Everyone looks… refreshed,” Uman said, ignoring the groans and pale faces. “Now, for the appetizer!” The empty glasses vanished, replaced by bowls of steaming soup. Monkfish soup, with the sharp scents of ginger and lime rising from it. Plates of colorful crackers appeared too, topped with strange combinations – orange and olive, coconut and pickled radish, cheese and… something unidentifiable. There was also a walnut and fruit salad. This time, the food actually looked… normal. A collective sigh of relief went through the students.

“Lee Han, this actually looks okay!” Gainando said, grabbing a soup bowl with a hopeful grin.

“Wait, Gainando, maybe…” Lee Han started to warn him, but it was too late. Gainando took a large spoonful of soup, his face bright with anticipation. *“Keck!”* The spoon clattered against the bowl as Gainando recoiled, his eyes wide with shock. This wasn’t just bad. It was… indescribable. An explosion of flavors, so intense and bizarre that he couldn’t even identify them. It was like every taste bud in his mouth had been attacked at once. *’It’s the magic,’* Lee Han realized, noticing the swirling energy radiating from the soup. Ginger, lime, monkfish – none of those ingredients would cause magic to react like this. Uman had definitely added more of his “dragon spices.” Looking around, Lee Han saw that students who had tried the crackers and salad were suffering just as much, their faces contorted in similar expressions of bewildered disgust.

“This,” Uman announced, beaming, “is an appetizer made with special dragon spices! The intense flavors will stimulate your metabolism and enhance your magic flow!”

“Hmm,” the headmaster muttered from the side, taking a tiny, cautious taste of the soup. “Perhaps His Majesty decided the Einroguard students weren’t suffering quite enough yet.” His usual philosophy was that hardship built character, but even *he* seemed to think this was excessive. *What did these poor students do to deserve this?*

“Now that you have enjoyed the appetizer,” Uman declared, “we shall proceed to the main course!”

“Your Highness,” Professor Garcia said, raising his hand hesitantly. “I… I have a question.”

“Of course, Professor Garcia, ask anything,” Uman said graciously.

“Is… is this special meal just for tonight?” Professor Garcia asked, his voice trembling slightly.

“Just for tonight? No, no, no!” Uman chuckled. “I, Uman, plan to personally prepare meals for the students and faculty throughout this entire semester! I have brought all the necessary ingredients with me!” Silence descended on the banquet hall. Then… “…OUTSIDERS! GET OUT!” *CRASH!* A plate shattered against the wall, and it was like a signal. Students leaped to their feet, overturning tables, smashing chairs, chaos erupting instantly. They had put up with the headmaster’s harshness, but to be subjected to this culinary torture by an *outsider* for a whole semester? Unthinkable! Sparks of magic flew through the air, but Uman didn’t even flinch. Instead, he threw back his head and *ROARED*. ——–! The raw power of the dragon’s roar slammed into the students’ spells, extinguishing them instantly. Lee Han stared, impressed. *He can channel pure magic power like that!* *Maybe… maybe the Dragon’s Roar can be replicated with magic…*

“Everyone, calm down! What is the meaning of this?” Uman demanded, his voice booming over the wreckage.

“What is wrong?”

“The food is terrible!” a student yelled back.

“Just… just because of the food?” Uman looked utterly bewildered, as if he couldn’t believe his ears. *Childish* was written all over his face. “Food is for nourishment, for health, not for mere pleasure! If you chase after taste alone, you will ruin the balance of your mind and body!”

“We don’t care about balance!” another student shouted. “We just want to eat something that doesn’t taste like poison!”

“I cannot allow such undisciplined thinking!” Uman declared. “As inspector, I will change your minds!” He gestured sharply, and armored knights moved forward, grabbing the student who had shouted. It wasn’t the usual punishment room, though. This student was going to be locked in a solitary room and force-fed Uman’s “meals” along with lectures until he was “persuaded.” The headmaster leaned towards Professor Garcia and whispered, “So, the students are suffering, some are being dragged off to… *food-punishment*… was there really any point to this inspector coming here?”

“Don’t sound so cheerful about it,” Professor Garcia muttered miserably, rubbing his temples. Meanwhile, Lee Han pulled out a small notebook and scribbled a quick note. *’Must increase frequency of trips outside Einroguard.’* He hadn’t thought it was possible for Einroguard to get *worse*. He was clearly mistaken.