Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 1185

Professor Verdus was still talking, and it felt like hours. The other professors crowded around the timetable on the wall. They looked worried.

“Who will Wodanaz bother next?” one professor whispered.

Professor Yonlarmoth looked even sadder. He thought, *Why do bad things happen to good people?*

“Professor Lerge,” another professor said gently, “Stay strong.”

“Y-yes,” Professor Lerge replied. “Professor Verdus will be next. He deserves it.”

But even with these kind words, Professor Yonlarmoth still looked very unhappy.

“What’s the test for Transformation class?” one professor asked. “Lee Han’s class, I mean.”

“,” another replied.

Transformation magic had two main types: changing others, and changing yourself. Changing yourself was much harder. Imagine trying to keep who you are inside, your mind and soul, while completely changing your body!

Professor Yonlarmoth didn’t start students with full body changes right away. He made them practice changing just parts of themselves first. This test, , was to see if they could finally change their *whole* body. It was a huge step up from just changing an arm or a leg.

“Isn’t that a test for older students?” someone asked.

“Why are we talking about this now?” Professor Uregeoreum mumbled, sounding tired. Professor Garcia just nodded, not really paying attention.

It was probably too late to worry about it now.

“Wait,” Professor Passelet said. He was known for seeing things others couldn’t, like a fortune teller. “Maybe this test is different. Wodanaz is smart, but even with the Headmaster’s help, he can’t be better than a professor at *this* kind of test.”

“That’s right!” another professor exclaimed. “Professor Lerge, listen to this!”

“This isn’t like Professor Uregeoreum’s class,” someone added. “The Headmaster can’t just write notes and tell Wodanaz what to do. This is about real magic!”

Professor Yonlarmoth’s face looked a little less sad. “You’re right,” he said slowly. “There’s not much to criticize in this test…”

“Exactly!”

“And maybe,” another professor said, trying to sound hopeful, “Lee Han will actually mess up and fail. We shouldn’t worry so much.”

*I doubt it,* thought one professor.

*Do I have to pretend to agree?* another wondered.

The professors hesitated. They wanted to be supportive, but deep down, they couldn’t imagine Wodanaz failing anything. Professor Passelet shook his head slightly, as if looking into the future. *I can’t see it happening. I just can’t.*

“Y-yes, maybe he will fail,” one professor stammered. “Anyway, he definitely can’t be better than you at this, Professor Lerge, right? Like he was with Professor Uregeoreum’s class?”

“Did you have to bring me into this?” Professor Uregeoreum grumbled. He was still annoyed that his teaching had been criticized, and now they were using him as an example again.

Suddenly, Professor Verdus, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. “Wait a minute! Maybe Wodanaz *can* be better than Professor Lerge!”

“Don’t be silly,” Professor Garcia hissed, his voice low and sharp. He didn’t even want to hear what Professor Verdus was going to say. It couldn’t be good.

But Professor Verdus couldn’t help himself. He always had to show off if he knew something others didn’t. He looked at them with a serious, innocent face. “If Wodanaz can turn into a dragon, it’s different. Professor Lerge can’t turn into a dragon, right?”

There were rules about wizards changing themselves. The more complicated the animal, the harder the magic. And dragons? Dragons were special. They were protected by ancient magic.

This magic even affected how wizards could transform. You couldn’t even copy a dragon’s claw without a dragon’s permission.

“Stop talking nonsense,” Professor Garcia growled. “Nobody can just turn into a dragon.” His voice was so low it almost vibrated the air, like a dangerous animal.

“But Wodanaz made a dragon body once, even if it was just part of one. Maybe he *can* become a whole dragon.”

“What do you know about Lee Han?” Professor Garcia snapped. “You never pay attention to him! You don’t even know if he eats lunch!” He was really angry now.

How could Professor Verdus remember something like that? It was just a quick change Lee Han did by accident last year in class. Even Professor Yonlarmoth had probably forgotten. But Professor Verdus? He remembered every tiny detail about magic.

Professor Passelet, wanting to stop the argument, spoke up. “It’ll probably be a wyvern. Lots of people can turn into wyverns, they’re like dragons but not quite as strong.”

“But maybe it’ll be a real dragon,” Professor Verdus insisted. “Wodanaz is friends with dragons, after all.”

Professor Uregeoreum rolled his eyes. He could have stayed out of it, but Professor Verdus was just so irritating. “Being friends with a dragon doesn’t mean you can become one!”

“But Wodanaz is… connected to a dragon,” Professor Verdus said, trying to explain.

The other professors went silent. They knew Professor Verdus had a point, even if they didn’t want to admit it. Professor Verdus, not realizing he’d won the argument, looked around, confused. “Right? It’s possible, isn’t it?”

Professor Garcia’s fist clenched tightly. Professor Passelet quickly stepped back. Dragon or not, Professor Verdus might end up hurt today.

Jarun Ironshoes never planned to graduate. While other students worried about classes and exams, Jarun wanted to explore the tunnels under Einrogard. He thought he could find something much more important than a diploma down there.

But he was starting to change his mind. It was *definitely* not because a younger student had stolen Professor Verdus’s special item to… well, Jarun didn’t want to think about that. It was his own decision to graduate, yes, his own idea.

*It’s not because of that kid,* Jarun thought. *Actually, I can graduate and *then* find what I want. That makes sense. I’ll start getting ready to finish school.*

Jarun mumbled to himself in his underground room, getting ready to apply for graduation. This small, cold, and damp room was his secret hideout. His amazing workshop that no one else knew about…

*Thump! Thump! Thump!*

“Senior! Are you in there?”

Jarun froze. He knew that voice. He’d dealt with the annoying paper birds, but he never thought the kid would actually come *here*.

*…It must be a ghost from the tunnels,* he thought. *Pretending to be him…*

“I’m not a ghost!” the voice yelled. “I’ll break down the door if you don’t open it!”

Jarun felt his anger rise. What had he done to deserve this? Why was this kid always bothering him?

*I need a new hideout,* he thought.

*BANG!*

“You should have been happy with what you did last time, you tunnel-dwelling creature!” Jarun yelled. “Why are you still bothering me?”

He threw open the door and saw the younger student from the Wodanaz family, and next to him, Carnella, a student from the White Tiger Tower.

Jarun frowned. “Hormashi? What are you doing here?”

“It’s a long story…” Hormashi started.

Jarun glanced at Carnella. Students from the White Tiger Tower were known to be strong fighters. Even if she was younger, she wouldn’t be easy to beat. *Where’s my hammer with the magic spell?*

“Senior! We’re not here to fight!” Hormashi said quickly. “Just listen to us!”

“That cursed kid put you up to this, didn’t he?” Jarun accused. “Who do you think you’re fooling?”

He was sure Wodanaz was behind this. A second-year student wouldn’t come here alone. Carnella must have tricked Hormashi into bringing her.

“Well, I did bring him,” Carnella admitted, “but there’s a good reason, really!”

“You’re going to make me do school work again, aren’t you?” Jarun grumbled. “You sneaky little…”

Lee Han, who had been quietly watching the two older students argue, looked confused. “What do you mean, ‘make you do work’?” he asked.

“When you’re a senior, you’re supposed to help younger students,” Hormashi explained, shrugging. “But Senior Ironshoes is really good at avoiding everyone.”

“Normally,” Carnella added, “seniors help out with things around the school. Even if they’re a bit lazy or strange, like some people, they still do *something*.” She glanced at Jarun. “Except for really unusual cases, like Yoo.”

But Jarun was in a special category: “the crazy senior who avoids everything.” He would do anything to avoid school work, even if it meant getting in trouble. He was *that* determined to be lazy. Someone named Yukveltire would probably admire his stubbornness.

Lee Han listened to all this and then just stared at Jarun. It was the same look he gave Yoo – a look that said, *I can’t believe you.*

“Hey! What’s that look for?” Jarun demanded.

“Nothing,” Lee Han said.

“No one, not even a professor, can tell a dwarf what to do! Got it?”

“Yes,” Lee Han replied, still staring.

Jarun started to feel uncomfortable under Lee Han’s silent stare. He didn’t realize it, but it was his conscience bothering him. It was that feeling you get when you know a younger person is working harder than you are!

Jarun shifted his weight and quickly changed the subject. “…So, what do you want? Why are you here?”

“This younger student is practicing transformation magic,” Carnella explained. “But it’s too hard for him to do alone, so I brought him here.”

Jarun’s face scrunched up. He couldn’t believe they were bothering him for something so pointless. “Practice with a book!” he snapped.

“He’s already done that!” Hormashi said. “Now he needs to practice changing his *whole* body!”

Jarun was actually a little surprised now. A second-year student trying to transform completely?

“Even so, Hormashi, you can teach him!” Jarun argued.

“I would if I could!” Hormashi replied. “Who wants to come to this damp hole? But he might turn into some rare animals!”

Jarun’s eyes widened. He’d be surprised if a second-year turned into something normal, but *rare* animals?

“If it was just something like a Cerberus, I could handle it,” Hormashi said. “But it sounds like he might turn into all sorts of rare creatures. I need help.”

“Fine, come in,” Jarun sighed. He was actually curious now. What kind of rare animals was this kid trying to become?

Lee Han and Carnella stepped inside and stood (there weren’t any chairs). Jarun asked, “What do you think you’ll turn into? And don’t make a mess.”

“Hormashi thinks… a basilisk is likely,” Carnella said seriously.

In transformation magic, your willpower is important, but your subconscious mind is too. That’s why people have natural talents for certain transformations.

It’s easier to change into something you know well and have liked since you were little. And this kid? He loved reptiles. He carried a baby basilisk around with him *every day*.

-He’s so nice! – squeaked the baby basilisk. – He’s so smart!

“But if you want something useful,” Carnella continued, “a unicorn might be better.”

-What kind of person *is* that?! – the baby basilisk shrieked, changing his mind instantly and sounding very offended.