Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 211

‘No holds barred.’

Clvik thought this was just practice and tried to be gentle with Leehahn. But Leehahn was completely serious. This was not a game for him.

His eyes were fixed on Clvik, and his hands were clenched tight. He knew this was a real fight.

Before the fight even started, Leehahn used powerful magic to make himself stronger and faster.

The Skull Headmaster watched his disciple run swiftly and thought to himself.

He sighed, shaking his head slightly. ‘Oh dear,’ he mumbled. ‘Does he really have to make such a fuss?’

It wasn’t against the rules to cast magic beforehand like that before a duel.

Besides, Leehahn was a freshman, and his opponent was a reasonably well-known mage.

No one would criticize him for that.

The Skull Headmaster thought it looked a bit pathetic, a little undignified. He thought Leehahn could win without showing off so much.

Leehahn, oblivious to the Skull Headmaster’s annoying thoughts, dashed forward.

‘I have to be quick,’ Leehahn thought, his heart pounding. ‘I can’t let him use his magic properly.’

Unlike the Skull Headmaster, who was confident he could win even with his eyes closed, Leehahn was naturally not so sure.

Leehahn knew that if Clvik hit him with even one spell, he would likely lose.

He had shown resistance to magic and poison a few times, but that wasn’t a 100% guarantee.

Clvik was a skilled mage. Leehahn knew this fight was much more dangerous than his previous ones. Clvik could defeat him very quickly.

Leehahn moved like lightning. He reached into his sleeve – a quick, hidden movement.

Tap!

Leehahn took out a steel ball from his sleeve and threw it at Clvik.

Clvik, already surprised once by Leehahn’s movement, was surprised again by the steel ball flying through the air.

He had the skill to easily block simple projectiles, but…

…the steel ball flew faster than Clvik had expected.

“Kugh!”

Clvik gasped, his spell words cut short. He ducked sharply, just as a small, dark shape whizzed past his ear. It was the steel ball, moving incredibly fast.

It was a very brief moment, but it was enough. Leehahn, who had closed the distance, immediately grabbed Clvik by the scruff of his neck and knocked him over.

Thud!

Clvik was completely taken by surprise. He stumbled, losing his balance.

Then he twisted his arm behind his back to subdue him. Clvik’s wand flew off to the side.

“I… I yield!” Clvik choked out, his face red with shock and defeat.

A murmur went through the watching Illusion mages. One older mage with a pointed beard whispered, “Incredible! Did you see how fast he moved?” Another, younger mage exclaimed, “A first-year student? Unbelievable!”

“Lord Gonadaltes was aiming for this…!”

“Damn it. He targeted our weaknesses. To think he would bring a student from a knight family.”

“Indeed. Such an attack would be difficult to respond to immediately if you didn’t know it in advance. Was that his aim?”

If they had lost in a normal magic fight, it would have been a huge embarrassment. But this… this was different.

-Ah, that boy is quite impressive at such a young age!

The Skull Headmaster wanted to bang his head against the wall. ‘Idiots!’ he thought furiously. ‘You’ve completely missed the point!’

There was no way he came here to win with such a surprise trick.

He came to show how Illusion magic could be mercilessly disregarded in front of a first-year student…

The Skull Headmaster watched, his face getting darker and darker. This was going all wrong.

No, this won’t do. Close combat is forbidden.

“What!?” Leehahn exclaimed, his eyebrows shooting up in disbelief. “That’s not fair!”

Forbidding close combat…

“Aren’t you being too harsh?”

“Harsh? No, I’m being reasonable,” the Skull Headmaster snapped. “You just don’t understand yet.”

“If you want me to lose, you can just say so honestly.” Leehahn crossed his arms, looking stubbornly at the Skull Headmaster.

That’s not it!?

The Skull Headmaster was doubly dumbfounded when his disciple started grumbling.

This incompetent disciple still wasn’t confident in his abilities.

He could just block it with his body!

“Yes, I’m sure you would.”

……

Leehahn pondered, regardless of the Skull Headmaster’s glare.

If close combat is forbidden…

‘It’s going to be really tough.’

Illusion magic was like a curse; its casting speed was fast and difficult to avoid.

If he had learned related defensive magic, the difficulty of blocking it would be greatly reduced, but Leehahn was still just a first-year student. He hadn’t learned such defensive magic yet.

No matter how quickly Leehahn cast magic and attacked, if he got hit by the opponent’s magic even once…

But then, something unexpected happened. The Illusion mages spoke up, their voices firm. “Lord Gonadaltes,” one of them said, stepping forward, “that’s not right! Let the boy fight as he can.” They were fair people, and they didn’t like seeing a young student treated unfairly.

“Lord Gonadaltes. It’s alright!”

“There’s no need to do that. Please allow that first-year student to engage in close combat!”

“Everyone…!”

Leehahn cast a slightly touched gaze.

Just like Ogonin had good character even if his skills were a bit lacking, the mages under him must have good personalities as well.

Of course, from the Skull Headmaster’s perspective, it was infuriating.

Who is sympathizing with whom… I’m telling you, you guys can’t win even if close combat is forbidden!?

“Even so, there’s no need to forbid it! It goes against our pride.”

The Skull Headmaster had to resist the urge to magically shut the Illusion mage’s mouth.

Leehahn wore a relieved expression. It was an expression that clearly showed he would rush out and try close combat again.

“I am Doibach. Pleased to meet you. Of course, you are welcome to try close combat!”

“Pleased to meet you.”

The newly introduced mage, Doibach, was polite, and his gaze was filled with respect.

It was a surprise attack, and luck played a part, but he had still defeated Clvik.

The very fact that a first-year student had done such a thing was remarkable.

Doibach was determined.

‘As a mage who has trained in Illusion magic, and as someone who has received the teachings of Lord Ogonin, I will confront that first-year student’s specialty head-on and win fairly!’

I’m going crazy, really…

The Skull Headmaster muttered, but no one listened.

* * * * * * * *

“Too bad for us!” one Illusion mage sighed, shaking his head in admiration. “Amazing speed!” another exclaimed, clapping his hands. “To think a first-year student could be this good…” One after another, Leehahn defeated three more Illusion mages. Each fight was quick, almost a blur of motion.

Doibach tried to cast the Illusion magic with the shortest casting time, but Leehahn approached quickly and disrupted his concentration with >Bone Restraint Summoning>, causing him to be just barely too late.

Zelkenb tried to prevent approach by creating an illusionary maze around him using the tactics for facing warriors, but he was also a half-step too late.

Bongbon also…

The Skull Headmaster watched, his face turning purple with frustration. ‘Honestly!’ he thought, clenching his fists. ‘How little dueling practice do these Illusion mages actually do? Their casting speed is pathetic!’

Of course, dueling wasn’t an essential skill for mages, and there were fewer mages who specialized in magical combat like Professor Volardi or the Skull Headmaster, but even so, this was too much!

“You are right, Lord Gonadaltes.”

“I am ashamed. To think I would lose to a first-year student like this.”

“I respect your skill. You are truly outstanding. Don’t be discouraged just because you come from a knight family. Achieving magical greatness has nothing to do with family.”

“Yes? Wait…”

“With your talent, you will soon make a name for yourself in the Imperial dueling scene. I will be looking forward to it.”

The Illusion mages readily admitted defeat.

It was a regrettable loss, but they weren’t so shameless as to not admit it.

Besides, their opponent was a first-year student.

No matter how they lost, it was honorable to respect the opponent’s skill and offer praise.

“Thank you.”

“You will meet many mages with faster casting speeds than us in the future, but if you continue to hone that speed, it will be difficult to find your equal.”

A heartwarming scene of acknowledging their own shortcomings and readily praising a talented first-year student.

It could be said to be the most ideal scene when different mages met.

Clvik wondered if Gonadaltes had brought the first-year disciple here with this in mind.

To make the Illusion mages here realize their own shortcomings, with a first-year disciple who had such a special skill…

You pathetic morons…

…Or not?

Enough. Ogonin, let’s meet separately. The fun has been ruined.

At the Skull Headmaster’s words, Ogonin glanced at him and nodded.

Even Ogonin thought the duel had gone too strangely.

* * * * * * * *

Make sure to explain it properly to that incompetent disciple. He won’t believe me even if I tell him.

“Um… so, you have a considerably strong magical power.”

Considerably?

“…Very strong.”

Very?

“…Why don’t you just say it?”

Is the festival disruptor, firework destroyer, and relic thief ordering me around? Honestly. What is the world coming to…

Ogonin endured it, even though it was dirty and unfair. It was because he was at fault.

“This great magical power works in various ways… but especially in the case of Illusion magic, which directly applies pure magic to the mind, it tends to be strongly affected by great magical power.”

Leehahn could understand with Ogonin’s detailed explanation.

“So, that time?”

“…You could say that. Especially direct Illusion magic won’t work very well on you under normal circumstances.”

“Ah. So, it wasn’t an exaggeration when the Headmaster said I could just take the hit.”

I’m right here.

“Th… that’s right.”

Leehahn was intrigued by Ogonin’s guarantee.

To think that the Skull Headmaster’s words were actually true.

‘It wasn’t a ploy to torment me.’

Of course, even if Leehahn had believed the Skull Headmaster, he would have fought the same way.

Because…

‘Why bother getting hit when I can avoid it?’

Why bother getting hit when he could avoid it? There was no need to take the risk, even if there was a 0.0001% chance.

“Thank you for letting me know.”

Get that book out.

“Yes?”

The book Ogonin wrote.

“……”

Leehahn took out the book with a reluctant expression.

It was a book Ogonin had written in his younger days, bought from a bookstore.

Seeing that, Ogonin looked at the Skull Headmaster with a dumbfounded gaze.

He was truly a mage who was sincere in tormenting others in many ways.

What do you think?

“Of course, since it was written in my younger days, there are immature parts…”

“I think it’s a good book.”

Leehahn answered, thinking he was being asked.

The misunderstanding was cleared up, but Ogonin still didn’t feel like a great mage.

Honestly, if he were a great mage, wouldn’t he cast magic that could penetrate great magical power?

Considering that skill, this book was indeed well-written.

Ogonin cast a grateful gaze at Leehahn’s unexpected reaction.

Of course, the Skull Headmaster naturally didn’t understand.

That?! Compare it to my book. You’ll see it differently.

“Well, it’s true that the Headmaster’s book is more excellent… but books each have their own value, and just because they are relatively inferior doesn’t mean they are bad books.”

The Skull Headmaster was slow to react, unable to decide whether to be pleased by Leehahn’s flattery or angry at the interruption.

“Thank you!”

Ogonin was sincerely touched.

Originally, Ogonin had received praise and gratitude from countless mages. He wasn’t particularly moved by receiving praise from a young mage now.

But receiving praise from the disciple in front of the crazy Skull Headmaster made even Ogonin’s dulled heart beat faster.

“Since we’ve formed this connection, would you mind if I taught you a little?”

“!”

Leehahn paused and turned his gaze to the Skull Headmaster.

The Skull Headmaster, misunderstanding the meaning, grumbled and replied.

Learn from him. Opportunities to be taught directly by a mage like Ogonin are rare. It’s a good opportunity.

‘That’s what I meant by whether I really need to learn.’

Leehahn thought to himself.

Professor Kirmin Ku was inside the magic school, and mages like Valdor Orn were outside the magic school, so he wondered if it was really necessary.

‘Still, I should learn with the utmost effort out of courtesy.’

“Thank you.”