Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 1168

Voice’s spell hit the wizard, but it had no effect. The wizard didn’t even flinch. Voice didn’t mind wasting the spell, though.

There was something about this wizard, a smugness in his eyes perhaps, that made Voice want to punch him.

For Voice, who rarely engaged in such childish acts, the recent event was quite a novel experience.

Maybe working with fanatics doesn’t make someone evil.

‘Hmm. That sounds plausible, in a way.’

Lee Han mused, rubbing his head.

Hadn’t he just used the fanatics of the Ksaksarigol Order, whom even the Skeleton Headmaster had apprehended, to spy on the enemy’s plans?

Of course, this thought had the flaw that the Skeleton Headmaster might actually be wicked.

Lee Han rubbed his chin, thinking. “So, you mean… team up with the Prahgal Order to attack the Sanguis Order?”

*Do the opposite if you want,* Voice’s voice echoed in his mind, a hint of amusement in her tone.

Lee Han shook his head. “No, no. I want to hit the Sanguis Order first. That’s the main thing.”

*When I say ‘team up,’* Voice continued, *don’t think we’re becoming friends. We use them to weaken the Sanguis Order, then we get rid of them too. Understand?*

“Yes, I understand,” Lee Han said. “But why would the Prahgal Order agree to work with me? They have no reason to trust me. They probably hate me!” He frowned. “They’ll think it’s a trap.”

Just as Lee Han didn’t trust the evil god worshippers, the evil god worshippers were likely to distrust Lee Han greatly.

Especially the Prahgal Order, who had been tricked several times.

If Lee Han suddenly contacted them and acted friendly, they would obviously think, ‘Is this guy preparing a subjugation squad and setting a trap?’

And in fact, that was correct. Lee Han could stab them in the back at any time. He felt no guilt whatsoever.

‘They’d do the same, anyway.’

*Did you think I would give advice without considering that? Of course, I have a method prepared! This old woman will be the matchmaker between the two.*

“!”

Surprisingly, Voice confidently asserted that she could build a bridge between the Prahgal Order.

And this statement was persuasive. A powerful being from another dimension would likely have some acquaintance with evil god worshippers.

“If you could really do that, I would be grateful.”

*Now you’re being a bit cute. Of course, I can do it. But there are a few things you need to remember. Never forget them, understand?*

“What…”

*One. As soon as the job is done, you must betray the tentacle freaks.*

“I can betray them even before it’s done.”

Voice paused, surprised by Lee Han’s quick answer.

*Two. In that case, the spoils taken from the tentacle freaks must be offered to this old woman. Surely you won’t complain about the additional spoils, will you?*

“Of course not.”

Lee Han had no particular complaints about this condition either.

What mattered was striking the Sanguis Order, not what he could gain from the Prahgal Order.

If he could have a skilled and cunning otherworldly powerhouse on his side, he could pay that much.

*Three. Finally… report sometimes on how Bakwantalana’s magic is progressing.*

Voice seemed surprisingly interested in the magic left behind by Bakwantalana.

When the being who had taught black magic to Bakwantalana showed such curiosity, Lee Han asked in surprise.

“Is there something you can gain from Bakwantalana’s magic?”

*There may not be much to learn, but this old woman has always enjoyed watching the foolish magic of mortals. I’m curious to see what kind of magic Bakwantalana, who received the teachings, has completed.*

Voice already guessed why Bakwantalana had bothered to leave the magic on the stone tablet, which was a symbol.

This outstanding wizard clearly wanted to give later wizards who inherited the stone tablet a chance to receive wisdom like himself.

From Voice’s perspective, it was an absurd act. It was a miracle that Bakwantalana had caught her eye, but to hope it would happen twice…

Originally, she was going to laugh at such intentions and try to recover the stone tablet, but…

…somehow, she ended up even giving advice actively.

‘Maybe I was too busy laughing at the fact that he made a contract with a guest star and acted carelessly.’

Honestly, it was hard not to laugh at the combination.

A guy who has connections with powerhouses from all dimensions has even contracted with Arna.

It was like a comedy where a candle that was already burning brightly found an oil drum and poured it on itself.

Certainly, this was a rarity that distinguished him from other mortals who were red-eyed with greed for wisdom.

When else would she see a mortal burning so brightly that not even the wick remained, yet not even thinking of stopping?

Now that things had come to this, Voice was going to watch over the magic left by Bakwantalana.

‘Let’s see if he chose a proper successor as much as he received wisdom.’

“Understood! I’ll learn it right away.”

*I said ‘report sometimes’! Don’t be so impatient, young one!*

“I’m sorry.”

Lee Han apologized.

Having been in Einrogard for a long time, he had become too accustomed to learning magic on the spot.

If he acted that way outside, he could look like an arrogant wizard.

*Then wait quietly. I’ll smack the tentacle freaks’ bottoms and call them over.*

“Ah. Please wait a moment.”

?

“What title should I use to refer to you?”

……

Voice was surprised again by how strange Lee Han was.

Voice thought that Lee Han was very strong, but sometimes he lacked common sense. It was common for wizards who became powerful too fast.

For someone so strong and connected to powerhouses from other dimensions not to know who Voice was…

*Hee hee. Call me a cranky old hag.*

‘Is it a trap?’

“Yes, Granny…”

The old hag seemed annoyed that Lee Han asked and then changed the subject, so she hit him once more and disappeared.

If the stone tablet hadn’t disappeared, he might have wondered if he had dreamed it all.

“……”

Lee Han looked at Catton.

Despite being the most perceptive of his acquaintances, Catton hadn’t felt anything about what had just happened.

‘…Amazing. I can’t even guess what kind of authority it is.’

He knew it was because of the barrier the old hag had put up earlier, but Lee Han couldn’t even guess what magic that barrier was made of.

Magic from other worlds was different. It was wild and unpredictable, not following the rules of this world.

Perhaps the authority the old hag showed was part of this magic. It wasn’t for nothing that Bakwantalana sought wisdom.

Lee Han frowned, thinking about his recent talk with the strange man. ‘Wait,’ he thought, ‘Was that why he looked surprised when I didn’t ask about magic? Should I have asked about magic?’

Lee Han suddenly felt regret.

Lately, bad people had been causing trouble, so that was the first thing he asked about. But now he thought about it, it was natural the other person was surprised.

It must have sounded strange to ask a powerful magic user from another world for life advice!

If only he had asked about dark magic instead…

‘…No. What’s done is done.’

He knew it was silly to beg these powerful people to change things now. What was done was done.

Lee Han had already learned a lesson from the Yaksha King.

Lee Han turned to Catton, who was standing nearby. ‘Senior,’ Lee Han said, ‘I just had a conversation with the owner of this stone tablet.’

Catton jumped up, eyes wide.

Could that strange sensation from earlier really be…?

Catton turned to another person, Saratan. ‘Saratan,’ Catton asked, ‘Didn’t you say earlier that there were no changes in magic or strange dimensions?’

Saratan hesitated. ‘-…Well,’ Saratan mumbled, ‘The person was just too strong.’ He looked annoyed and started to make excuses.

He should have just let it slide since it was forgotten, but no, he had to bring it up again…

Giselle and her sister, Gisclaine, walked through the cold, stone corridors of the northern fortress. Dust lay thick on the floor, and torches flickered on the walls, casting long shadows. Giselle was telling Gisclaine what had happened.

She spoke as if being modest, but it was difficult to completely hide her boastfulness.

The White Tiger Tower students caught several wanted criminals this time, and I caught Hallenken, but I’m not necessarily bragging…

Gisclaine wore a strict face with a hint of a smile. Few things pleased Gisclaine as much as her sister’s achievements.

If Gisclaine had to choose, she loved fighting monsters, but hearing about her sister’s success was almost as good.

“Indeed. Well done.”

Gisclaine treated her sister comfortably when they were alone. Giselle, showing a family side that others couldn’t see, boasted more than usual.

“I can now fully control the aura as well.”

“!”

This was news that even Gisclaine found surprising.

Even among peers who were only focused on swords, such rapid progress was rare.

“That’s really amazing!”

“It’s nothing much. I just got lucky.”

“In what situation did you realize it? While training alone? Or during battle?”

“It was during battle.”

Gisclaine nodded as if understanding.

“Fighting hard helps a sword fighter focus. Our family’s sword style is very active, so it would be even more so.”

Depending on the characteristics of the swordsmanship and the swordsman, it was common to realize it while training alone or during battle.

“Tell me about the situation in detail.”

“So, that’s…”

Giselle stopped boasting and began to explain seriously, with the intention of seeking advice from a senior swordsman.

There’s this weird friend who worships evil gods and steals their powers well, and he spaced out during the battle…

“Wodanaz?”

“I didn’t say it was Wodanaz,”

“Someone else then?”

“…It is Wodanaz. But that’s not important.”

“Did you thank him?”

“Huh? Thank him?”

Giselle felt bewildered.

Being very generous, she could thank him for all the situations in Einroguard except for this one.

She couldn’t deny that Wodanaz played a big role in meals, assignments, exams, tracking down runaway White Tiger Tower students, and so on.

But wasn’t this something Giselle fought well and protected!

“I know that, but getting better at swords is a much greater thing. You should be grateful.”

“…Yes… I’ll thank him.”

“When?”

‘Oops.’

Giselle regretted it.

Her sister, Gisclaine, was the type of person who, if you suggested having a meal together sometime, would immediately set the exact time down to the second.

“I’ll do it right after this request meeting…”

“Good thinking. You must cherish your friends.”

‘He’s more likely to find it weird.’

“Is there anything else going on in the territory?”

Giselle said to change the subject. Gisclaine’s expression darkened slightly.

“It seems there is little a knight can do.”

“…It’s the same for wizards.”

Nature was always greater than mortals.

When dimensions were distorted and strange phenomena occurred in various regions, there was little that people could do.

Currently, the northern knights were busy hunting down monsters above a certain size and managing suddenly appearing ruins or dungeons, but they couldn’t completely quell the chaos.

Gisclaine’s expression became serious. ‘It seems there’s not much a knight can do about these strange events.’ Giselle nodded. ‘It’s the same for wizards. Nature is too powerful.’ They were talking about the strange magical problems happening in the north. Knights were busy fighting monsters and exploring new ruins, but they couldn’t stop the chaos.

“That’s right. There are dark magic users in the territory. Did the Einroguard dark magic users come?”

“They said they were invited but didn’t come.”

“Really?”

Giselle felt doubtful.

Wodanaz and Grall from the same tower both emphasized their poverty, saying, ‘The Einroguard dark magic school goes anywhere as long as they’re invited’…

‘Is it an exaggeration? Well, Wodanaz is good at exaggerating.’

“Everyone is worried because they say these people can solve the strange phenomena in the north.”

“From what I hear, it seems to be related to dark magic…”

“Hmm. What do you think about asking the dark magic users to have Wodanaz attend their meeting?”

“We’re only second-years!”

Giselle was horrified and tried to stop her.

She didn’t want to push Wodanaz into a meeting with powerful dark magic users. She was afraid it would end badly.

“Even second-years can offer good opinions, can’t they?”

“It’s not that we absolutely can’t… but please don’t. I’ll be misunderstood as having ordered it.”