Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 161

A Black Turtle Tower student squinted into the gloom. *Was the gate really this far away?* he wondered, his heart pounding a little faster.

The world was still wrapped in pre-dawn darkness. Shadows clung to the trees and bushes, making everything look bigger and more menacing. Maybe that was why his stomach felt like it was full of ice.

Lee Han’s voice cut through the nervous whispers. “Stand back. Let me get this ready.” Whatever else you could say about the Wodanaz kid… one thing was definitely true. He was someone you wanted on your team.

Spells crackled from Lee Han’s wand, wrapping the students in shimmering shields. He checked potions, their colours glowing faintly in the dim light, and then, with a flick of his wrist, summoned shadowy creatures that darted ahead. He moved with calm focus, dealing with each monster that lurked in the shadows. It was amazing to watch – like a conductor leading an orchestra of magic.

“All clear,” Lee Han announced, turning back to the group. He’d finished his preparations, his face calm and confident.

Just then, dawn painted the sky behind Lee Han with streaks of pale pink and gold. A soft light glowed around his head, like a halo. The Black Turtle Tower student gasped, momentarily stunned by the sudden beauty.

“The… the sun…” the student stammered, pointing.

Lee Han glanced back, then shrugged. “Yeah, it does that every morning. Come on, let’s move.” He raised his wand slightly, a spark flickering at the tip. “Unless you want to be *moved*?”

“G-going! Right behind you!” The student yelped, snapping out of his daze and hurrying forward.

*Idiot!* the student scolded himself internally. *Focus! This is no time to be daydreaming!*

The skeletal headmaster drifted in the air before the main gate. His bones rattled softly, and his empty eye sockets seemed to stare right through the students. A thrill of dark excitement tingled in his non-existent veins.

*Soon,* he thought, *soon we will see who is truly worthy.*

How many do you think have fallen?

“I’m not sure.”

How boring. Even so, at least a third must have fallen. Did you place the Sleep Snatchers at the front?

“Yes.”

The skeletal headmaster looked pleased at the warehouse keeper’s reply.

The Sleep Snatchers were extremely deadly monsters to unwary students. By now, some of them would have drifted off to dreamland.

What about the Shadow Ghouls?

“Yes.”

Excellent. The sunlight is still weak, so the students will have a hard time dealing with them.

Unless they had prepared in advance, the Shadow Ghouls were tricky monsters for the students to handle.

The skeletal headmaster waited, a thrill of dark excitement tingling in his non-existent veins.

And that expression immediately changed to one of seriousness.

…Why are there so many of them?

“The new students must be quite skilled.”

The skeletal headmaster was shocked by the warehouse keeper’s reasonable answer.

No matter how skilled they are, how could all those iron-heads make it to the main gate without a single one dropping out!

“They seem to have joined forces, judging by how they’re gathered together.”

The skeletal headmaster turned his gaze at those words and stared at Lee Han, who was among the students.

Lee Han wore an expression as if he knew nothing, but the skeletal headmaster had already guessed the situation.

…Come here for a moment.

The skeletal headmaster called Lee Han aside and asked, “Wodanaz. Got a problem with how I run things here?”

Lee Han widened his eyes, feigning surprise. “Problem? Headmaster, sir? What are you talking about?”

Of course, he was thinking something different inside.

‘No. How did he know?’

Now. Look here. You are playing by the river. But one of your friends has fallen into the river and is struggling. What would you do?

“Wouldn’t you usually save them?”

Yes. Let’s say you saved them. I think it’s a very foolish and stupid thing to do, but let’s say you did! But then another one of your friends falls into the river and is struggling.

“Oh dear…”

Could the river’s name be Einrogard?

Looking around, there’s another one, and another one… Friends are falling into the river all over the place! Now. Think about it. Can you save all these friends?

“It seems impossible.”

That’s right! It’s realistically impossible. So, you should teach your friends how to get out of the river themselves…

“Rather than that, shouldn’t you find out why your friends keep falling into the river and stop that from happening?”

The skeletal headmaster was speechless, having been caught off guard.

‘Oops.’

Lee Han immediately regretted it.

I should have just listened quietly, but my tongue moved on its own…

…Just you wait! Someday, the friends you’ve been looking after will betray you!

The skeletal headmaster, in a foul mood, grumbled and turned away.

‘He’s misunderstanding something.’

Lee Han didn’t pay much attention to the skeletal headmaster’s curse.

Because… He wasn’t doing this to save his friends in the first place.

He joined forces with his friends because he was worried about being attacked if he went alone. It wasn’t to save his friends from the river that he went through all this trouble.

Perhaps because he himself was wicked, the skeletal headmaster always seemed to think that Lee Han was excessively virtuous.

“Anglago. Are you okay?”

“Uh… Uh, yeah? I’m fine?”

“Okay. That’s a relief.”

Lee Han patted Anglago’s shoulder. Anglago was even more bewildered.

‘Why… Why is he being like this?’

It was a strange thing to say, but Anglago felt more at ease when Wodanaz was being prickly.

A kind Wodanaz was several times more frightening than a prickly Wodanaz.

Lee Han looked at Anglago with an expression mixed with anticipation.

‘How will I get caught?’

Pass.

“…?!”

However, the skeletal headmaster, dejected by the unexpected result, didn’t properly check the passes and opened the main gate.

The students cheered with joy and stepped out of the main gate.

“We’re out! We’re out, Wodanaz! Thank you! You’re a genius, you are!!”

Among them, Anglago’s joy was bound to be even greater.

He had passed through the main gate with a fake pass, not a real one.

“…”

Lee Han’s expression hardened.

‘That guy. He’s not helpful at all.’

He was trying to find out what magic the skeletal headmaster used to check the passes, but…

“What’s wrong?”

“Okay. That’s good.”

Lee Han turned sharply.

The White Tiger Tower students were taken aback by Lee Han’s sudden change.

“Why is he like that?”

“Isn’t he just embarrassed because you’re so grateful?”

“Wodanaz… He has an unexpected side to him.”

As Lee Han returned, Gainando said in an excited voice, “Lee Han! Should we go to the card shop first? Or the café?”

“Gainando.”

“?”

“But do you even have any money?”

“…!”

The students who passed through the main gate scattered and headed to the nearest village of Pylone.

The students were excited to be in Philone Village, but they had missed something very important.

…They had no money!

Gainando’s face went blank. He was stunned. No money? It couldn’t be true.

Gainando asked, his voice weak, “Can’t we just… pay later?”

“Gainando,” Asan said, sounding sure of himself. “Don’t be silly. Our families are waiting for us in Philone Village, of course.”

“Ah, yes!” Asan nodded, as if it was obvious. The Dalcard family, and all the important families, would have big houses waiting for them in Philone Village. That’s how things were for noble families like theirs.

Ethan just looked at Asan, a little sadly. Asan was going to be surprised.

Ten minutes passed. Asan and Gainando stared at each other. Their faces were empty. No one was there to meet them.

“But… why?” Asan asked, his voice shaking. “Why aren’t they here?” A villager shrugged. “They said they went to Granden City.”

“Granden City? Why?” Gainando cried. The villager just shrugged again. “Who knows? Wizards are always a bit strange, aren’t they?” He walked away, leaving them alone.

The shock hit them hard. It felt like the world had turned upside down.

Gainando spoke quickly, “I… I have an idea!”

“What is it?” Ethan asked.

“Let’s find someone rich in the village,” Gainando said, “and tell them our family names. We can borrow money!”

“A beggar?!” Asan looked at Gainando like he was crazy. “Are you serious? We can’t just beg for money! That would ruin our family’s honor! Nobles don’t do such shameful things for a few coins.”

Ethan was quiet, but inside he thought, *’Well, you can borrow money…’* Even nobles need to borrow if they have no money. Otherwise, what would they do? Starve?

“Stop arguing,” Ethan said calmly. “It’s okay. I have money.”

“Oh?” Asan asked, surprised. “Where did you get it?”

“I borrowed it,” Ethan explained, “I gave them something valuable to hold until I pay them back.”

“Of course, Wodanaz!” Asan said, nodding.

Gainando glared at Asan. Just a moment ago, Asan had called him shameful for wanting to borrow money! Now he was praising Ethan!

“Hey!” Gainando said, annoyed. “When *I* said borrow money, you called me a beggar! But when Ethan does it, it’s okay?”

“It’s different, Gainando,” Asan said, looking down his nose at Gainando. “Borrowing by just saying your family name is not the same as borrowing with collateral.” He acted like Gainando was being stupid.

Gainando gritted his teeth. *’That little…’* He thought about buying a new set of cards and beating Asan at their game. *Wait a minute…* He frowned. *What did Ethan give them as collateral?*

“No way! Aren’t you that warehouse transporter from last time!”

The shop owner jumped up from his seat as soon as he saw Ethan. He looked as delighted as if he had met an angel in hell.

“Why is he so happy to see him?”

“I wonder?”

The friends soon found out why.

“The story of you buying several weeks’ worth of sales at once is still famous.”

“The nickname ‘warehouse transporter’ is a bit embarrassing.”

“Why is that? It’s an honorable title…” The shop owner didn’t understand Ethan’s reaction.

It was an honorable title symbolizing a big shot in the shopping district.

“Hey, Dalcard, look at this. It’s a new card set!”

“Oh.”

“Wow…! There’s even the headmaster!”

“Then buy it.”

Asan answered casually. Then Gainando became serious.

“No. The headmaster has too many penalties to use properly, so it’s a trash card.”

“O-oh, really.”

While Gainando and Asan were playing in the toy corner, Ethan and Yoner were having a serious conversation.

“I don’t think we need fabric yet. Let’s focus on groceries.”

“We’re running low on sugar… the canned goods are still okay, but the snacks and candies are already gone.”

“We can’t help it. Still, it’s much better than last time.”

“It’s a bit of a redundant question, but… how did you carry it all last time?”

Ethan didn’t answer.

Thinking about it now, it was a ridiculously ignorant thing to do.

‘I must carry it in portions this time.’

There were also remaining supplies, and there were several people, so it was clear that it would be much easier than last time.

“Is this about it? We have plenty of time since we only need to buy it before sunset.”

“Ethan, can I buy this?” Gainando came trotting over with a card set. Ethan nodded. It was Gainando’s money anyway.

“The problem is the midterm exams. I need to buy a geometry book. I can’t find it in the library.”

“Ethan, can I buy this too?” Gainando came trotting over with a set of self-propelled toys. Ethan nodded.

“I think I’ll need an alchemy book too.”

“That’s definitely true. It’s too hard to find material-related books in the library.”

What kind of school doesn’t even provide the necessary books, so students have to buy them outside…

Ethan and Yoner didn’t complain about such things anymore.

‘Right. Maybe the library is a place that doesn’t give books to those without skill.’

A library where books are systematically well-classified is unusual, and generally, a library that is a jumbled maze like this is normal…

“Ethan, can I buy this too…”

“Ah! Just buy whatever you want!” Yoner shouted, and Gainando was startled.

“Th-there’s no need to get so angry…”

“Wait.”

Ethan spotted a familiar face outside the shop window.

It was Baldororn, the excellent illusion mage who had taught Ethan the basics of illusion magic dispelling last time.

“Do you know him?”

“He’s an excellent mage who taught me magic last time. Master Baldororn! Master Baldororn!”

Baldororn, who was passing by, turned his head when someone called him and was startled.

The Einroguard freshman he had met last time had appeared in the village again.

And this time, he even brought friends!

‘No… no, how can a freshman come out this often??’

Have the rules changed?

While Baldororn was flustered and hesitating, Ethan led his friends over.

“This person is Master Baldororn. He’s an excellent illusion mage. Thanks to learning from him, I was able to break illusion magic. Oh, and Master Baldororn, thanks to what you taught me last time, I was able to be safe when facing other illusion mages.”

“Who did you meet?” Baldororn asked absentmindedly, still flustered.

Would a freshman have a reason to face other illusion mages?

“I think his name was Ogonin…”

“…Excuse me???????”