Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 13

Asan’s voice was low and accusing. “Wodanaz…” He stared at Lee Han, his eyebrows furrowed. “Are you really going to try and change the Headmaster’s mind?”

Lee Han shifted his weight, feeling a little guilty. “No, no, I came to school to learn magic, of course!” he said quickly. “But… well, thinking about it, do you honestly believe Headmaster Lich would listen to us? Just because *we* asked him to stop the writing?”

Asan thought for a moment, then sighed. “You’re right,” he admitted. “Headmaster Lich? Persuading him is like trying to move a mountain.” Even Asan, usually so optimistic, seemed to lose hope. “I’d say we have a ninety-five percent chance of failing.”

Lee Han nodded. “Which makes that five percent chance of success pretty amazing, doesn’t it?” he said, trying to sound positive. He quickly changed the subject, picking up the parchment about the Lesser Manipulation spell. “Anyway,” he said, “let’s focus on this. This spell looks interesting.”

The paper explained that to cast the spell, three things were needed: will, incantation, and movement. Will – the strong desire to make the magic work. Incantation – special words to focus the power. And movement – a precise gesture with the wand.

Good incantations for >Lesser Manipulation> included: Move, Move it, Control…

“Move. Move. Hmm, like this, perhaps.”

Lee Han chose an incantation that felt right and then tried to mimic the movement.

It was a simple gesture of lightly flicking the wand clockwise, but each time, the magical power gathered differently.

‘Magic really… isn’t easy at all.’

Lee Han was struck anew by just how difficult a discipline magic was. Even mastering a simple spell required intense concentration and practice.

One had to focus their will, burning with the single-minded determination to cast the spell, chant the incantation to further amplify the magical power, and simultaneously move the gathered power accurately, without the slightest error.

It felt like trying to pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time, but much, much harder.

“Wodanaz, didn’t Professor Kim say not to practice magic outside the classroom?”

“But the headmaster said to do it. The headmaster is higher up, isn’t he?”

“Indeed…”

Asan agreed once more.

Of course, agreeing didn’t suddenly conjure up more magical power.

After about four attempts, Asan staggered and collapsed to the side.

“Ugh… sorry, Wodanaz. I suddenly feel nauseous… Ugh.”

“It happens. Just lie there.”

Regardless, Lee Han remained absorbed in >Lesser Manipulation>.

“Move, move, move, move!”

He felt the magical power gathered at the tip of his wand shoot out with a sharp crackle of magic.

The target was a quill.

The quill twitched or trembled when struck by the magic.

‘There seems to be a problem with the movement.’

Lee Han’s weapon was his overwhelming amount of magical power. While others would tire after casting a few spells and need to rest, Lee Han could practice incantations without a care.

Lee Han even brought a mirror and placed it in front of him, so he could see the differences in his movements directly.

‘Am I flicking it a little less here? Let’s try flicking it a little less. Seems a bit better. Is it this way next?’

“Wodanaz. Are you alright?”

Asan, who was lying down, groaned and asked. Lee Han nodded.

“As expected of the Wodanaz family… Ugh. My head’s spinning so I can’t think straight…”

“Move!”

In that instant, Lee Han felt his mind linked to the quill. It was as if a third hand stretched out and grabbed the quill.

The quill, which had only been twitching or trembling until now, began to float gently.

Now, all that was left was to concentrate and control it.

‘Slowly, don’t rush…’

Bang! A small firecracker-like sound went off, and the quill shot out like a dart. Then, it flew out the open window.

“……”

“W-what did you just do?”

“…The quill flew away??”

“A-amazing, Wodanaz!? Did you succeed in the spell?!”

“No, I haven’t succeeded yet.”

>Lesser Manipulation> was a first-circle magic of the telekinetic type, a spell to delicately control small, light objects.

…Lee Han didn’t know much about magic yet, but shooting the quill like he just did was definitely a failure.

‘This spell had two obstacles to overcome.’

>Lesser Manipulation> didn’t end with successfully casting the spell by accurately matching the movements. After that, one had to concentrate and control the object.

Lee Han had succeeded in the first part, but not yet in the second.

‘But it should be fine. Now that I’ve succeeded in the incantation, controlling it shouldn’t be too difficult.’

Bang!

Bang!

Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang!

“……”

Asan Dalcard stared at Lee Han with a look of astonishment.

The quill had flown and embedded itself in the wall next to him.

“Wo… Wodanaz…”

“…Sorry.”

Lee Han regretted his confidence from just now. Surprisingly, detailed control was utterly impossible.

The moment he thought to move it even slightly, the quill would shoot off like an arrow. Almost like a guided missile!

‘Could it be… could it be because of my magical power?’

Lee Han remembered what Professor Garcia Kim had told him. Because he had so, so, so much more magical power than ordinary people, he might experience some difficulties in casting spells…

‘Let’s try one more time.’

Click-

The door opened, and Headmaster Lich appeared.

Ping!

And the quill that Lee Han shot flew straight for Headmaster Lich’s forehead.

“Wodanaz…!”

In that moment, Lee Han became a hero to Asan Dalcard. A freshman assassinating the headmaster. How incredibly cool!

Surprisingly, Headmaster Lich didn’t get angry.

“You found me faster than I expected. I’ll admit you’re a slightly decent blockhead.”

“Ah. Does that mean we don’t have to do this meaningless writing anymore?”

“No. If you lot can’t master magic, you’ll continue to waste your time meaninglessly.”

Asan Dalcard glared at the headmaster. The headmaster grinned as if he was very pleased.

Lee Han cautiously asked.

“Respected Headmaster!”

“Why are you being so nice all of a sudden? What is it?”

“May I ask about the trick to controlling it?”

“From what I saw earlier, it seems you’ve succeeded in the incantation itself. Is controlling it difficult?”

“Yes.”

“Many fledgling wizards find it so.”

“Ah. Is that so?”

Lee Han was relieved. He thought it was because he had too much magical power, but it was something everyone experienced when learning magic for the first time.

“Haha! That’s a lie!”

“……”

“The incantation is difficult, but control usually comes after one or two tries. And there’s no one else who sends it flying like an arrow like you. What can you do? You’ll have to figure it out on your own.”

‘The opponent is the headmaster. The opponent is the headmaster. The opponent is the headmaster…’

Lee Han struggled to manage his expression. Lich seemed very disappointed by this.

Asan Dalcard was very amusing because he would flare up if poked like a child, but that young man from the Wodanaz family had the patience of an old man inside.

“But don’t be too afraid. Magic will improve the more you use it. Go and have lunch!”

Thanks to being held back until lunchtime after the morning class, all the other freshmen had already gone to attend or find other classes. Asan Dalcard, still not fully recovered, had left to rest in the infirmary.

‘I should get some lunch too.’

Lunch was just hard, stale black bread and cold rice balls, but Lee Han was still better off. He had the meat he had caught and smoked last time.

‘I should look for some vegetables or fruits outside…’

He wasn’t sure at first, but he seriously thought that the headmaster had prepared it on purpose. Wouldn’t the quick-witted students start looking for food?

“…Wodanaz.”

“?”

Lee Han turned his head at the voice calling him.

Long, flowing silver hair and a cold impression that made one flinch upon meeting her gaze. Princess Adenarte stood in front of the hallway.

“What is it?”

Adenarte pointed to the paper she was holding instead of answering.

“…Ah!”

Lee Han realized why the princess was calling him. He had asked the princess, who had much wider connections than him, for a favor, thanks to their connection from helping her in alchemy class last time.

‘I asked her to find some useful lectures.’

The freshmen of Einroguard had to find and attend the remaining subjects on their own, except for the required courses. But it was like picking stars from the sky for freshmen to find such things on their own.

Since they couldn’t even meet the second-year students, information exchange was essential even among the freshmen to find out.

The princess handed over the paper with her unique, expressionless face.

“Thank you. …Hmm?”

Lee Han, who was happily receiving and reading the paper, paused.

-List of Popular Lectures-
>Understanding Basic Alchemy>
>Basic Imperial Linguistics>
>Basic Dance and Socializing>
…

The fact that there was ‘Understanding Alchemy’ was suspicious, and the names of the other lectures were somewhat different from what Lee Han had expected. And ‘popular’ instead of ‘easy to get good grades in’?

“Excuse me, Princess?”

“?”

“What exactly do you mean by popular lectures?”

“?”

The princess seemed momentarily flustered, slightly breaking her expression and raising her eyebrows.

Lee Han felt the need to explain further.

“Princess. What I asked for were lectures that were easy to get good grades in, not popular lectures. Rather, unpopular lectures would be easier to get good grades in.”

Lee Han, the prepared student, was not swayed by popularity or rumors.

Popular lectures -> Lectures where talented people flock, making it difficult to get good grades.

Unpopular lectures -> Lectures with few competitors, making it easy to get good grades.

Of course, the princess didn’t agree with Lee Han’s unique theory.

“……”

Adenarte stared at Lee Han as if she couldn’t believe it. He was really looking for lectures where he could coast by.

She couldn’t understand why someone from the Wodanaz family would look for such lectures. Adenarte was unknowingly disappointed.

Wodanaz had seemed like the most aristocratic figure when she saw him in alchemy class…

Adenarte handed over another paper.

It was a list of unpopular lectures that she had noted down to avoid while organizing.

-List of Unpopular Lectures-
>Basic Swordsmanship>
>Basic Physical Training>
>Repetitive Learning of Basic Magic Combat>
…

‘Ooh.’

Lee Han was impressed by the list. He could already smell the unpopular lectures wafting from it.

First, swordsmanship. There weren’t many people who wanted to learn swordsmanship anew after entering a magic school.

Who would want to learn swordsmanship when they wouldn’t have enough time even if they devoted themselves to magic?

Physical training was similar. There weren’t many people who wanted to use their bodies unnecessarily when they were already pressed for time with magic. It wasn’t for nothing that wizards were mocked for being weak.

>Repetitive Learning of Magic Combat> was also bound to be unpopular.

Learning magic was to realize great truths and learn how to change the world, not to become good at fighting. If that were the case, it would be right to go under the knights or the swordsmanship guild and receive training.

The students here had come with their own dreams and purposes, but there wouldn’t be any students who had come with the goal of becoming the best at fighting with magic. The most important thing was learning magic, and using that magic in combat wasn’t very important.

‘But what do I care?’

Of course, Lee Han didn’t care about such perceptions at all. Swordsmanship and physical training were areas that Lee Han was confident in from the names themselves. He had been steadily training under Allarong even before entering the magic school. And so was repetitive learning of magic combat.

There was no harm in learning how to fight with magic. It was like adding another way to protect his life. And at the same time, easily earning credits in lectures with little competition…

“Thank you, Princess.”

“……”

Adenarte nodded with a blank face instead of answering. A faint disappointment and contempt were rising on her face, but Lee Han didn’t notice because he was focused on the lectures.

“Then, I’ll see you next time!”

Lee Han turned around and left. The princess was about to say something but took a small breath and turned around.