Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 225

The students from Blue Dragon Tower walked into the lounge the next morning. They looked very tired.

They asked the undead students which classes were having pop quizzes, but…

…things didn’t change much.

After all, the students still had to study.

There were many classes with pop quizzes. What could they do?

They had to stay up all night studying.

“…Hold on. Lee Han, what are you eating?” Yoner asked, noticing something strange.

Lee Han was eating the snacks the undead had brought.

“Don’t tell me, is that…?”

“You mean the snacks the undead brought? Yes, it is,” Lee Han answered calmly.

Of course, it would have been better to throw them away, but things are not always perfect in real life.

Because supplies were limited, throwing away the snacks felt wasteful.

Besides, the snacks had no effect on Lee Han. He had already confirmed that the day before.

‘Surprisingly delicious.’

Whoever baked them, the Skull Headmaster’s snacks were surprisingly delicious.

“Wodanaaz… we give you perfectly good snacks… and you eat the spoiled ones…” From behind, other students looked at Lee Han with tearful eyes.

Students who had always lived in rich noble families were not used to someone eating spoiled food for them.

“It’s not spoiled. It’s deli…”

“Everyone saw that, right? We’re repaying Wodanaaz’s dedication.”

“Gainando, study! Stop playing with your cards!”

“Ah, I’m done, okay?!”

Seeing his friends encouraging each other, Lee Han shrugged and picked up the next snack.

Professor Alpen Knighton was a little surprised by how excited the Blue Dragon Tower students were.

Of course, being passionate and getting good grades were two different things.

“-Gainando, I know you’re friends with Wodanaaz. But it might be better for you to learn from him on your own and take the exam again.”

“-…C-can’t I just learn? I’ll do well on the final exam. I promise!”

Professor Rosine Fluework encouraged the students.

“-You are all doing so well! With students like you, the Empire will have a great future. Richmond student, 37 points. Excellent. Jojeon student, 33 points. Very good. Wodanaaz student. Hmm. Well done.”

-?

“-Why didn’t she say Wodanaaz’s score…”

The Blue Dragon Tower students glanced at the three-digit score on Lee Han’s exam and quietly shut their mouths.

It can be hard when your friend is much better at studying than you.

‘Let’s keep this between us.’

‘The other towers should be grateful for our consideration.’

In the evening, Professor Inguldel waited for the students while watching the sunset. He was puzzled to see them running towards him with happy faces.

“What happened, everyone?”

“Nothing, Professor!”

“Please start the lecture!”

The White Tiger Tower students looked at the professor with loving eyes.

They were the White Tiger Tower students who had been tormented by pop quizzes all day.

It wasn’t strange to see Professor Inguldel as a hero, since he didn’t give exams.

“Hah! Haaah!”

“Heuaah!”

Leaving the White Tiger Tower students swinging their wooden swords with excitement, Lee Han asked Professor Inguldel.

“By the way, Professor, I have something to ask…”

“I thought so. You’re going to ask about the Rock Drake’s weakness, right?” Professor Inguldel said as if he knew everything.

“…No, I’m not.”

Lee Han almost made a serious face.

Anyone would think Lee Han hated the Rock Drake!

“You weren’t?”

“Why would you think that…?”

“The Headmaster said that Wodanaaz would try to catch it alone next time…”

“……”

“I guess not. What were you going to ask?”

“Actually, while fighting the Rock Drake…”

Professor Inguldel looked at him as if to say, ‘You said no, but you were right.’

Lee Han explained what had happened as quickly as possible.

“…I realized the same change in magic attribute, but I’m wondering if this is a good thing…”

“It’s definitely a good thing!” Professor Inguldel was as happy as if it were his own accomplishment.

Even if one learned the family’s secret techniques from a young age, such changes in magic attribute were impossible without talent.

But for a young swordsman to realize how to change the attribute of magic on his own…

It was a good sign that he might create his own special sword style later on.

“Very talented swordsmen who work hard their whole lives often create their own special sword style. This style becomes their pride.”

“Uh…” Lee Han hesitated.

The story was going too far ahead.

‘I’m not really interested in my own sword style.’

Lee Han had no ambition to create his own sword style and make a mark in the history of the Empire’s swordsmanship.

Wasn’t the reason he was taking swordsmanship lectures in the first place to get good grades easily?

The Byeokam Sword Style he learned from Alar Long was good enough, so Lee Han had no intention of changing it or making it his own.

“Wodanaaz student, try mixing that attribute change into your swordsmanship. Then, you will naturally see a sword that is unique to you.”

Lee Han was even more embarrassed when he was suddenly forced to mix the magic attribute change into his swordsmanship and train.

Lee Han’s swordsmanship, the Byeokam Sword Style, was already at a good level.

It was natural since he had been using it since he was young.

But now, if he mixed the newly realized magic attribute change into it, there would be a lot of confusion until he got used to it again.

Of course, Lee Han didn’t want to do that.

He just wanted to hear what kind of phenomenon it was and how to use it well…

“Professor, I haven’t even fully learned magic circulation yet. If I try to learn attribute changes now, will my sword skills become weaker because I’m doing too much?”

“It’s alright, Wodanaaz student. You are not so untalented. You can do both together.”

“……”

Lee Han nodded, but he didn’t look happy. He turned away, feeling a little sad.

Deorgyu said from the side.

“I heard, Lee Han. You’re going to use magic attribute changes in your swordsmanship? That’s amazing. The students in our tower don’t even think about attribute changes, let alone magic circulation.”

“I’m just really passionate about swordsmanship.”

“Of course, I knew that. There are few students in our tower who are as passionate about swordsmanship as you are. By now, your friends must feel your sincerity.”

“……”

Lee Han sighed inwardly at Deorgyu’s serious attitude.

Well, it’s not Deorgyu’s fault…

“I wish you could help me with sparring. It’ll take a while to get used to the swordsmanship, and I don’t think the other guys will be easy on me.”

“Of course, Lee Han. But I think the other friends will be easy on you if they hear the circumstances.”

‘I don’t think so.’

Lee Han clashed wooden swords with Deorgyu.

Since Professor Inguldel said that, he would ask ‘How has your swordsmanship changed?’ every week, so he had to show some results.

‘The main goal is… to disrupt the balance.’

Fortunately, Lee Han had a goal to work towards.

When the apprentice knights of the White Poplar Knights came last time, he saw a knight using Absorption Sword.

Lavda from the Enge family used magic to make his sword sticky. This magic would pull on his enemy’s sword when they hit each other, making them lose balance.

Of course, there would be more complex techniques as the level increased, but Lee Han didn’t need that much.

What was important was showing Professor Inguldel that ‘I practiced like this’!

“What are those two doing?”

“Wodanaaz is practicing Absorption Sword.”

“What? Isn’t that a sword used only in the Enge family?”

“Wodanaaz, that…”

The White Tiger Tower students looked at Lee Han with surprise.

He already had good swordsmanship skills, but he didn’t stop there and researched new swordsmanship.

He was really passionate about swordsmanship.

“We can’t lose either!”

“Wodanaaz, you can’t beat us when it comes to passion for swordsmanship!”

‘I want to punch them each once.’

Lee Han was having trouble keeping up with Deorgyu’s attacks. He felt annoyed.

He was already annoyed because of the unfamiliar swordsmanship…

It felt like he had returned to the days when he first received swordsmanship training.

“Lee Han, are you okay?”

“I’m okay. Let’s continue.”

Even though he was in a bad mood, Lee Han always did what he needed to do.

He was frustrated, but what could he do if Professor Inguldel wanted it?

He had to create results and show them.

‘When an attack comes in, stop. When an attack comes in again, stop.’

Instead of gracefully using the movements of swordsmanship, Lee Han focused only on defense.

Since changing the nature of magic itself was difficult, it was necessary to give up on other parts.

There was only one thing he was aiming for.

To use magic to grab the enemy’s sword when it attacks, and stop it from moving.

Clang, clang, clang, clang-

Deorgyu’s fast attacks hit the sword blade, and for a moment, the sword stopped in the air.

“Just now! Did you see that just now? Lee Han?!”

“Yeah, I saw it.”

Lee Han sighed in relief.

‘I managed to succeed at least once.’

It was harder to put magic in moderately so that the wooden sword would not break, than to just pour magic into the hand without worrying about waste.

Most swordsmen can’t use magic all the time like it’s part of them. They have to use their magic carefully. They have to push their magic out and put it into their sword only when they need it.

They used up a lot of magic, but they couldn’t help it.

But Lee Han had a different problem.

He was worried his wooden sword might break if he used too much magic!

To show the Absorption Sword, magic had to be put in every time the sword hit, so more concentration was needed.

“Lee Han, your swordsmanship is a heavy and strong sword style. If you disrupt the opponent’s balance just by blocking their attacks, your counter will be even stronger.”

“Thanks, Deorgyu.”

“Okay, then let’s continue.”

“…Can’t we rest a little?”

“Lee Han, what are you talking about? If you don’t continue when you’ve learned something, the swordsmanship won’t stay with you?”

Deorgyu was amazed that Lee Han, who knew so much, was saying such a thing.

Professor Inguldel also chimed in.

“That’s right, Wodanaaz. It would be good to continue.”

“Actually, my magic power…”

“?”

“?”

“…It’s nothing. Let’s continue, Deorgyu.”

“Okay, I understand!”

Lee Han sighed and tried to say he didn’t have enough magic left.

‘Damn it. I was going to rest a little…’

Deorgyu and Professor Inguldel knew Lee Han too well, and that was the problem.

Knowing that he could do more, they pushed him even when he wanted to rest.

The next day, Lee Han loosened his stiff muscles and headed to Professor Voladi’s lecture room.

His whole body was stiff because he had trained unfamiliar swordsmanship yesterday. Lee Han, who wouldn’t fall down easily, just passed out.

‘I’m afraid to open the door.’

He was nervous to see Professor Voladi. He was nervous even when he was ready, and even more nervous when he wasn’t ready.

Lee Han thought so and opened the door.

“Good morning.”

Professor Voladi, who had been standing like a stone statue, spoke when Lee Han sat down.

“Did you complete the floating ice shield?”

“Yes? Uh… I haven’t done it yet.”

“Prepare.”

“Wait a minute.”

“?”

“The Rock Drake…”

Lee Han regretted bringing it up.

Why did he dig his own grave when Professor Voladi didn’t bring it up first?

“Do you want to know the Rock Drake’s weakness?”

“That’s not…”

“The Headmaster’s words must have been true. As I said last time, you’re too impatient.”

“……”

Lee Han really felt wronged.