Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 149

Usually, guests visiting the magic school enter through the main gate during the day and through the stables near the tall tower after dark.

Indeed…

Lee Han was writing everything down so fast that Professor Lightning-Stride squinted at him. ‘Wodanaz family?’ he thought, ‘Or maybe… Thieves’ Guild? He’s certainly eager.’

However, there are more ways to enter the magic school than you might think. You’ve been underground before, haven’t you?

Yes. I was fortunate.

It’s wise of you not to try again. Headmaster Gonadaltez wouldn’t leave a broken path unguarded.

Lee Han nodded.

He had known the skeletal headmaster was mad since his very first day.

Anyway… one of those paths is here.

Professor Lightning-Stride pointed to a spot on the massive mountain range behind the school and quickly sketched a path.

It was a simple, rough map, but it clearly showed how to get there.

-Rockweed Underground Cave (Beware of the cave owner)

Professors sometimes use this cave to sneak out. The cave’s underground passage connects to the outside.

Lee Han looked puzzled.

If what he said was true, it meant one could easily enter the school from the outside.

‘No, I suppose the cave owner filters out intruders.’

If there was any place in the magic school that seemed lax or easy to take advantage of, it meant there was a being managing it separately.

The moment you let your guard down and step in, you’re dead!

Who is the cave owner?

That’s a secret.

Lee Han looked at Professor Lightning-Stride with sad, pleading eyes.

Lee Han knew the ‘carrot and stick’ trick wasn’t just for students. Professors could be swayed too, especially with a pitiful look.

With his sculpted face and plaintive eyes, he looked even more pitiful.

Besides, rumors were already circulating among the professors about Lee Han. That he was being tormented—no, taught—because he had caught the skeletal headmaster’s eye…

…I’m not trying to torment you, but I made a promise, so I can’t just tell you. Other professors who have permission to pass through the cave have made the same promise.

Intelligent and powerful monsters or spirits didn’t like revealing their identities or locations.

Wasn’t that the case with the ‘Forgotten Beast Statue’ on the third floor, which Salco had guided him to last time?

If that’s the case, then it can’t be helped. Could you at least tell me any precautions I should take?

Search the school and try to gather as many things that can protect you as possible.

Lee Han paused in his note-taking.

‘Should I just break into the spire stables?’

Seeing all the important people from the Empire here today, I, as a humble wizard, am even more mindful of my conduct.

Morning.

The skeletal headmaster floated before the guests who had come to the magic school and bowed politely.

Applause erupted.

If he wanted something, Gonadaltez could be as cunning as anyone.

The first-year students from each tower watched with expressions that suggested they were about to be sick.

Ugh, so fake…

Shhh. Be quiet. Do you want to end up in the punishment room for speaking so loudly?

Several White Tiger Tower students gritted their teeth.

Some of you may say that we should devote our time solely to magic. But this Einroguard is not just a place to teach the great art of magic, but also a place to strengthen the minds and bodies of our students, making them pillars of the Empire!

‘He’s really good at securing the budget.’

Lee Han blinked, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. ‘He’s really good at securing the budget,’ he thought, a grudging respect forming despite himself.

Anyone who didn’t know better would be fooled into thinking, ‘Wizards are so focused on their magic that they don’t care about their students, but this man is truly different! If I hear any strange rumors in the future, I’ll have to say they are wrong myself!’

As such, this spring festival will be a great source of vitality for the newly arrived freshmen.

But Headmaster, why aren’t the other students…

Now, I’d like to give the freshmen here a gift.

The skeletal headmaster ignored the guest’s words as if he hadn’t heard them.

And the freshmen, hearing that they were going to receive a gift, nervously looked around.

Are there undead lying in ambush?

An undead attack as a gift…

But this time, it really was a gift.

I’ve hidden treasures all over the school, so everyone, go find them and enjoy the spring.

Really?

No traps…?

Would I do that?

I’ve also prepared some minor pranks, so finding the treasures will be even more enjoyable.

The new students exchanged nervous glances. They could guess what kind of ‘minor pranks’ a skeletal headmaster might consider fun. Probably not the laughing kind.

The skeletal headmaster smiled kindly at the students’ quiet reaction.

Among the treasures are also passes for going out.

Going out passes…?!

Some of the students from Valdrogaard looked puzzled at the skeletal headmaster’s words.

-Do you need a separate pass to go out? Why?

Duel? Should I duel him? For disrespecting us like that?

Hold it. He’s a guest.

Whatever the skeletal headmaster’s intentions, the story of the going-out passes raised expectations for the treasures even higher.

The students were already twitching, wanting to move.

Let’s go!

Let’s try to find something, even if we get tricked.

Lee Han. You’re going too, right?

Yeah. I’m…

Someone placed a hand on Lee Han’s shoulder as he was about to leave.

It was Professor Volardi.

Let’s go.

Yes.

The professors’ event wasn’t just for one day. It continued throughout the spring festival week.

For the first time, Lee Han sighed inwardly. He’d never even met the Emperor, but right now, he felt a strong dislike for the man who had brought these annoying professors to the school.

‘I wish they would just exclude the professors…’

If they made him a professor, who would do the work? The disciple would have to do it.

Perhaps because of that sorrow, Lee Han’s water orbs became even sharper and more precise. Some of his movements were even praised by Professor Volardi.

Cough!

Y-you didn’t have to go this far!

Another student from Valdrogaard, who had come after hearing the rumors, protested upon seeing his friend with a nosebleed.

Then, the White Tiger Tower students who had been there earlier and had already suffered nosebleeds got angry instead.

Does dodging water orbs look like a joke to you?!

We’re risking our lives in this match! And you’re an outsider!

‘These guys are quick to learn only the bad things.’

Lee Han looked at the White Tiger Tower students with disdain.

To be so oppressive just because they came from outside.

Of course, it wasn’t really Lee Han’s place to say that, considering he was the one beating up the outside guests with water orbs…

Are you alright?

Ugh. Uh-huh.

I’m sorry. I’ve heard so much about Valdrogaard’s reputation that I couldn’t help but feel like I had to do my best. Even that wouldn’t be enough, though.

Professor Volardi tilted his head slightly at Lee Han’s words.

However, the students from Valdrogaard had already had their anger dispelled by Lee Han’s words.

W-well, if that’s the case, then it can’t be helped.

Lee Han of the Wodanaz family? Let’s meet up sometime when the third-years gather.

No. Wait…

Before Lee Han could explain, the students from Valdrogaard had already left.

‘I’m a first-year.’

As the Valdrogaard students left, a White Tiger Tower student wiped the blood from his nose and stood in front of him again.

I challenge you.

Why don’t you stop?

Hmph. Are you afraid of me?

At his friend’s provocation, the other White Tiger Tower students whispered with frightened expressions.

Hey. Don’t provoke Wodanaz for no reason.

That guy can increase the number of water orbs even more.

…Who says I’m scared! I’ll… Ack!

Lee Han took advantage of his opponent’s carelessness and slammed a water orb into his face.

The key to magical combat was always the first strike.

After a tiring morning of dodging water orbs and dealing with bruised egos, Lee Han went to meet Professor Bible Verdus.

The beaver beastkin professor was eating tree bark and offered some to him.

I’m alright. I’ve eaten.

Is that so? Then let’s begin.

Professor Bible, perhaps because the skeletal headmaster had firmly instructed him, only created very ordinary and simple magic firecrackers.

>Imbue Flame>Me >Imbue Light>and finish.

It was a magic so easy that even Lee Han, after making a few mistakes (burning the surroundings every time he failed), got the hang of it.

However, Professor Bible’s face darkened, and he began to mutter more and more.

I don’t want to make it…

I don’t want to make it… It’s not fun…

‘He’s putting pressure on me in a different way.’

If the professor was silent, that was scary in its own way, but having him talk too much wasn’t necessarily a good thing either.

Lee Han focused as much as possible to get out of this place.

‘Every time I fail, the time I spend here increases.’

Waving his wand, chanting spells, and completing magic firecrackers.

In the uncomfortable and awkward atmosphere, Lee Han’s concentration was sharpened even further.

One of Lee Han’s strengths was his near-infinite amount of magical power.

Based on that amount of magical power, Lee Han created magic firecrackers without rest.

It was a speed that not only freshmen but also mages who do enchantments would find difficult to follow. It was possible because he didn’t need any rest at all.

It’s all done, Professor.

Not fun… Oh? Really?

Professor Bible was muttering and making magic firecrackers when he raised his head.

Yes. It’s all finished.

Lee Han replied with a faint smile. Professor Bible blinked and checked the number of firecrackers piled up. And his face brightened.

That’s really amazing??

If it were another professor, they would have focused on the fact that the student had made more than the professor.

Even if the professor was grumbling while making them, the fact that a freshman had started at the same time as the professor and made more was an amazing thing in itself.

But Professor Bible only thought about the fact that this boring job was over.

That’s great!

Yes, Professor. Then I’ll be on my way…

Then, since we have time left, let’s make something else fun.

Um. I don’t have talent in enchantment magic, so I’m not confident…

It’s okay. It’s okay!

‘What’s okay about it?’

The magic that Professor Bible taught him was >Lesser Flame Resistance>.

This magic, which was cast on the entire thick robe, was essential for novice mages learning various flame enchantment magics.

As much as Lee Han was worried about flame magic, he couldn’t help but admit that this magic was quite useful, but…

Professor Bible’s words made Lee Han feel a bad feeling.

-If you learn this magic, it will help you practice other enchantment magics in the future.

-Is that so, Professor? But I’m in enchantment magic…

-I know. I know. You don’t have talent. But don’t worry too much. Other enchantment mages don’t have talent either, but they’re doing it.

In fact, the fact that he started making magic firecrackers with the professor and made more, and somehow succeeded in casting the 3-circle magic >Lesser Flame Resistance> within the allotted time, was impossible without talent, but…

Professor Bible evaluated it a little differently.

If you’re worse than him, you don’t have talent, and if you’re better than him, you have talent!

Of course, from Lee Han’s perspective, he couldn’t help but worry.

Even if he was told he had talent, he was worried about whether he should learn it properly, but the professor in charge wasn’t trustworthy, and he was saying things like, ‘It’s fun, so do it! It doesn’t matter if it works out or not!’…

‘Even I think the speed at which I’m learning magic isn’t that bad. I should just ask Professor Garcia once.’

Lee Han resolved to visit the troll half-blood professor, who was a true teacher and a reliable adult in this magic school.

Let’s give up on that.

Are you even saying that? What if that’s a going-out pass? Do you have any guarantee that we’ll find other treasures?

Lee Han, who was walking out, was puzzled by the sight of several tower students gathered and talking in front of him.

What’s going on?

Wodanaz! Help us!

Wodanaz can’t! That guy will take it!

Let’s get it out first and then think about it!

As the distance closed, Lee Han immediately realized what was going on.

There was a treasure chest that the headmaster had personally made in front of him.

…On top of a huge bonfire, several meters high, that was blazing fiercely.