Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 109

Lee Han was surprised.

It was a reaction he had never seen from a professor before.

“What did I do wrong?”

No matter how much he thought about it, Lee Han couldn’t find anything he had done wrong.

“Is it because I have too much mana?”

Lee Han asked carefully, “Is it difficult to learn illusion magic because I have a lot of mana?”

“No?”

“Then, perhaps because I lack control?”

“No. That’s enough. Well… Fine. I suppose I should tell you,” Professor Kirmin hesitated, then decided to tell Lee Han a secret.

“Wodanaaz… The thing is… right now…”

Lee Han tensed up.

When a professor spoke so seriously, it usually meant a serious problem had come up.

Like when Professor Garcia had diagnosed him with mana excess, an incurable disease, upon entering the school…

“Too many professors have their eyes on you.”

Lee Han was dumbfounded.

Having too much mana was one thing, but ‘professor excess’? Was that even a thing?

‘The latter seems far more critical, though.’

If he could somehow live with the former, the latter seemed life-threatening.

“Why is that…?”

“Think about it. If you try to learn illusion magic on top of all your other classes with so many professors watching you, wouldn’t it be too much pressure?”

Lee Han understood what Professor Kirmin meant.

And he was touched.

With what he had just said, Professor Kirmin could claim a spot in the top 1% of professors with the best character in the school.

He deserved a spot next to Professor Garcia.

“No,” Lee Han said firmly.

He might skip other magic classes, but he couldn’t miss a class with a professor like this.

He had to befriend him!

Who knew what might happen later? If he didn’t take the class because it was hard now, he would regret it.

Even the kindest professor was still a professor.

If he went later and said, ‘Professor, I want to take your class now,’ he might get a response like, ‘Sorry, there’s no room.’

Lee Han’s eyes burned with passion. ‘I’ll show them all,’ he thought. ‘I won’t back down from a challenge, especially not from a kind professor like this!’

Professor Kirmin was surprised by his determined expression.

He hadn’t expected him to show this much enthusiasm.

His face looked strong and determined, making him seem even more impressive.

“It’s going to be really tough.”

“I’m fine.”

“Alright. Then come to the next meeting.”

Professor Kirmin patted Lee Han on the shoulder.

An enthusiastic student always pleased a teacher, especially one as talented as Wodanaaz.

“Be careful, it’ll be hard.”

“Yes. And don’t worry too much. I just won’t add any more classes, right?”

Professor Kirmin looked at Lee Han with a strange expression.

It was like the gaze of a wizard who had foreseen an unfortunate fate, but Lee Han, alas, did not notice.

Professor Kirmin’s office was small and filled with strange-smelling herbs.

As Professor Kirmin finished his lecture and left, the students prepared to get up from their seats.

Out of all the lectures during the week, the only one that didn’t torment the students with assignments was the angel-blooded, no, the troll-blooded Professor Garcia.

However, Professor Garcia spoke with an apologetic expression.

“Everyone, just a moment. There will be a pop quiz this week.”

The students looked at Professor Garcia as if they were hurt and betrayed. But Professor Garcia, though apologetic, did not back down.

“So, everyone should prepare.”

“What will be on the test?”

At a student’s question, Professor Garcia nodded and answered.

“We spent a month learning the basics of magic and exploring various fields of magic. I’m going to ask how well you’ve learned about them.”

“Haa… But Professor! I don’t know black magic well…” a whiny student complained.

“Are you going to ask about summoning magic too?” another student asked worriedly.

The students murmured.

Most of the students here had strong preferences.

Students who had a desired type of magic didn’t pay much attention to other fields of magic.

Professor Garcia calmed the students as if to reassure them.

“Everyone, calm down. The questions will be tailored to each student. I won’t ask questions about fields that you’re not suited for or interested in.”

Sighs of relief leaked out from various places.

Lee Han, who had been relieved with his friends, paused.

‘Wait a minute.’

Come to think of it, Lee Han was participating in all fields of magic that came up in Professor Garcia’s lectures.

…Huh?

Could it be that…

‘Do I have to prepare for everything?’

Lee Han experienced true fear for the first time since entering the school.

* * * * *

Tuesday.

The Basic Mount Training lecture was held in a wide, grassy field, a little further from the school buildings than usual. The morning air was fresh, and the sun shone brightly.

Professor Lightning-Stride was standing in the field, his pipe in his mouth, waiting for the students.

“Look… Look at that!”

“So cute!”

Exclamations burst out from the students.

Behind Professor Lightning-Stride were bear cubs. They were small and fluffy, with soft brown fur and big, innocent eyes. They tumbled over each other, making little squeaking noises.

The students, worn out from school, wore expressions befitting their age as they looked at the bear cubs.

“The professor is still thinking of us.”

“That’s right. We deserve this break.”

They had been working hard for weeks with assignments and lectures, and now there was even a pop quiz.

They wouldn’t be punished for spending one lecture rolling around in the field.

Besides, unlike the burning puppies from before, these bear cubs seemed completely harmless. It was definitely a break.

“You’re here?”

“Yes!”

The students shouted in unison. Their voices were twice as bright and cheerful as usual.

“Good. If you’re here, let’s have a pop quiz. Everyone, bring your horses.”

“What about the bear cubs?”

“Bear cubs?”

Professor Lightning-Stride took the pipe out of his mouth and turned his head back. Then, as if understanding, he said.

“Ah. Those bear cubs aren’t for today’s lecture. A friend asked me to take care of them for a while, so I’m looking after them.”

The students were even more disappointed than when they met Headmaster Skull. Professor Lightning-Stride chuckled.

“If you want to play with bear cubs, wait a few decades until you retire. Now, bring your horses! Let’s see how close you’ve gotten!”

“I’m not ready yet. Can we do it next time…”

Professor Lightning-Stride said with a slight smile, showing he wasn’t really angry, just teaching a lesson, “Animals don’t wait for you. When a hungry beast attacks you, are you going to ask it to wait until you’re ready? Move!”

The students moved with anxious and uneasy expressions.

The students who didn’t visit the stables often were naturally anxious, but even the students who visited often were just as uneasy.

-Will it be okay?

-Last time, it didn’t listen to me and tried to run away…

The horses in the stables were wild and easily got angry.

Even the students who thought they had become close to their horses weren’t sure how the horses would react when they were completely let loose.

And that was the same for Lee Han.

‘Hmm.’

It might have been his imagination, but Lee Han thought that the white horse he was assigned was the most ill-tempered in the stables.

Perhaps because it was the largest and had the best stamina, its temper was unmatched by the other horses.

Sometimes, he even doubted if it was really a horse.

‘Did Professor Thunder-Stride feed it his potion?’

But if the white horse had wildness, Lee Han had intelligence. Lee Han had found his own way to handle the white horse.

“Here.”

Lee Han immediately put the mana-absorbing bracelet and belt on the white horse. The white horse flapped and disliked it, but Lee Han was adamant.

He couldn’t know how the white horse would betray him the moment he went out without them.

-Phoo-heeing. Phoo-heeing.

The white horse was cunning and clever.

Realizing that strength didn’t work against this crazy freshman, it sent a sad gaze with mournful eyes.

But Lee Han was a more ruthless person than the white horse.

“Sorry. No amount of threats or pleas can change my mind.”

-Phoo-hee-heeing!

The white horse glared at Lee Han. But the artifacts already on its body were steadily draining its mana.

With its energy reduced, the white horse obediently followed when Lee Han pulled the reins.

Just you wait!

“Amazing…!”

“That violent horse!”

The White Tiger Tower students whispered at the sight of Lee Han leading the white horse.

At first, when he was assigned the fiercest horse in the stables, everyone laughed, thinking that Wodanaaz wouldn’t be able to tame it.

But now, the white horse was following Lee Han as if it had become docile.

The white horse, with its innate dignity, looked well-matched with the boy from the Wodanaaz family, as if they had been together for a long time.

Anglago’s jaw dropped. “Wait… did Wodanaaz just… control *that* horse? Incredible!”

“…Anglago, are you crazy?? Why all of a sudden?”

“Did you get hit by some magic on the island?”

“Ah, no. It was about his ability, separate from the fact that Wodanaaz is a bad guy!” Anglago hurriedly made excuses as his friends were shocked.

“Anglago. You’re strange. You’re not even insulting Wodanaaz.”

“Maybe something really happened to him with Wodanaaz…”

“No, it’s not like that! I hate Wodanaaz! I hate Wodanaaz!”

In the meantime, not only Lee Han but also the students carefully walked out, leading their horses one by one.

There were many students from the Black Tortoise Tower, who seemed to have taken care of their horses most diligently.

There were also quite a few students from the Phoenix Tower and the White Tiger Tower…

The fewest were from the Blue Dragon Tower.

Lee Han was ashamed of his friends.

‘These lazy bums.’

No wonder Salco of the Tutankha family hated nobles.

It was only natural to be criticized for being lazy.

Professor Lightning-Stride placed the sundial on a rock and said.

“If you’ve brought your horses, follow the path. You’ll come to a river, and if you give them water and come back, you’ll pass.”

Gaynando, covered in mud, whispered.

“Wouldn’t they not know if we just gave them well water and came back?”

“Also, if there’s anyone who lies about giving water without taking them to the river, I’ll throw them into the river.”

Gaynando quietly brushed the mud off his hair.

“Now. Then, start!” Professor Lightning-Stride tapped his pipe and shouted.

The students, who had been scattered haphazardly in the field, began to follow the path, leading their horses one by one.

The princess-like students elegantly mounted their horses and slowly followed the path with their followers.

Some other students who had become quite close to their horses also rode their horses along the path. Other friends looked at them enviously.

Yonel also could have ridden his horse. But instead of riding, Yonel looked at Lee Han.

Lee Han was trying to walk, pulling the horse’s reins.

“Aren’t you riding?”

“I might get tired if I ride.”

-Phoo-hee!

Instead of being grateful for Lee Han’s consideration, the white horse neighed and protested, asking him to release the bracelet and belt.

Lee Han ignored it.

‘It’s safer to walk.’

It was good that it became docile by absorbing mana, but at the same time, its stamina could weaken.

It would be a big problem if the white horse collapsed after he rode it. Lee Han was just going to walk with it.

Yonel shrugged and grabbed the horse’s reins.

“Yonel. You can ride it.”

“I’m worried the horse will get tired if I ride it too.”

Yonel’s horse, with its chestnut fur, made a sound of gratitude and rubbed its cheek against Yonel.

Yonel laughed, tickled. Lee Han suddenly felt a little sad.

‘Why don’t I have a spirit or a horse…’

“And we’re friends.”

“Thank you,” Lee Han said sincerely.

Thud!

Gaynando was thrown out of the stables from behind and rolled around. He had been forcibly trying to drag out a horse he wasn’t close to, and he was sent flying.

Muddy Gaynando shouted.

“Guys! Wait! You’ll go with me, right? We’re friends!”

“Shall we start?”

“Yeah.”

Lee Han and Yonel callously set off.

A friend had to do chores together in the stables in the morning.