Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 246

…You learn quickly. I said that if I were a genius, I should be arrogant, but I didn’t expect you to learn this fast.

Lee Han frowned. “What do you mean, ‘learn this fast’?”

The Skull Headmaster waved a bony hand dismissively. “Never mind.” He turned his gaze to the shield floating behind Lee Han, a simple wooden thing etched with glowing lines. “Is that your assignment?”

“Yes,” Lee Han replied.

The Skull Headmaster circled the shield slowly, his skull tilting as he examined it. “This is… a very simple way to make it,” he commented. Then he stopped, his eye sockets widening slightly. “Wait. Is there no duration magic on this at all?”

The Skull Headmaster scanned the magic circle engraved on the shield and was surprised.

The fact that a magic circle was engraved on the shield itself wasn’t surprising.

It would be shameless to ask a first-year student to complete a floating shield without such an auxiliary device.

In fact, it was shameless to ask them to complete a floating shield even with an auxiliary device, but…

That was also a path that a wizard had to go through to grow.

Receiving an impossible challenge wasn’t always a bad thing.

Even if you fail a hundred impossible challenges, wouldn’t that experience still help a wizard grow?

It’s even better if you succeed in just one like this!

‘It’s good that you succeeded, but why isn’t there any duration amplification…?’

Have you ever seen such a simple fellow? Did he just increase the time with the amount of magic power?

“Yes. But…” Lee Han tried to explain.

It wasn’t that Lee Han was simple, but the assignment itself was ridiculously difficult, and when he tried to combine the magic circles to complete it somehow, it became a patchwork, and to increase the duration on top of that…

Well, that would be a way too. If you have a lot of magic power, why bother with such troublesome things? I’ll take back the word simple. That’s a clever method.

“It’s not that I did this on purpose…”

Stop being so modest. Anyway, you did well. The professors will be pleased.

“…Don’t you think that Professor Verdus, and the other professors, their assignments are a bit too much?”

That’s right. But you did it, didn’t you?

“……”

While Lee Han was trembling with anger and regret, the Skull Headmaster tapped the shield.

It’ll last for another day or two. Hmm… Professor Verdus will be interested in this.

“Why would the professor be interested in this?”

Comparing Lee Han’s magical skills to Professor Verdus’s would be like comparing a firefly to the full moon.

If Professor Verdus saw this shield made by piecing together magic circles, wouldn’t he react like the Skull Headmaster did earlier, saying, ‘What a simple way to make it?’

The magic circles are very simple, but Professor Verdus can’t infuse magic power like this.

Regardless of skill, there were techniques that only certain wizards could do.

This duration increase, only possible with Lee Han’s enormous amount of magic power, was something that even Professor Verdus, as a skilled enchantment wizard, couldn’t do.

“It’s not that you can’t do it, but it’s closer to not doing it. Isn’t it practically a cheat?” Lee Han answered indifferently.

No. In the case of complex artifacts, you can’t engrave duration increase magic circles on every part.

It was relatively better for simple artifacts, but as the structure of the artifact became more complex, the wizard’s calculations became so difficult that their head would explode.

Especially in the case of multiple complex artifacts with various magics imbued, the complex structure made it impossible to engrave duration increase magic circles on every part.

Inevitably, you have to use all sorts of methods to fill the insufficient magic power…

Sometimes it’s easier to infuse a generous amount of magic power at once than to intricately squeeze out magic power in various ways. It’s called semi-permanent, but in fact, wizards don’t have much to be responsible for after just over a hundred years.

People hardly ever complain to wizards about magic items breaking after a hundred years.

‘I guess that’s true. This kind of trick might have some meaning.’

Lee Han, who was nodding, paused.

“…Wait a minute. Then, are you saying that Professor Verdus will call me whenever he needs something like this?”

That’s probably what will happen?

Lee Han’s face was drawn and pale, with dark circles under his eyes. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days.

Just then, the mirror on the wall shimmered to life. Ogonin’s face appeared, looking worried.

“What on earth did you do to make the student’s face look like that?!”

I didn’t do anything!

The Skull Headmaster was furious.

To suspect the Headmaster first just because the student looks depressed.

Then, if the cat in Ogonin’s Magic Tower gets sulky, is it Ogonin’s fault?

“It’s nothing.” Lee Han said with a bitter smile. “It’s all my fault.”

“No…!”

Knowing the harsh educational environment of Einroguard, Ogonin stared intently at the Skull Headmaster.

The Skull Headmaster was going crazy.

I gave the festival disruptor, firework destroyer, and relic thief a chance, thinking about the future of my orthodox illusion magic, and this is the insult I get?!

“You can’t pressure me. I won’t be fooled.”

Ogonin was a relatively young existence compared to the Skull Headmaster, but he was a wizard who had experienced his fair share of hardships.

He wasn’t fooled by the Skull Headmaster’s fuss.

“I’m really okay.”

“Is that so? That’s a relief… I was wondering if I should write a letter to His Majesty the Emperor.”

Like someone old who only knows how to complain…

Lee Han pretended not to hear.

“Now. Let’s continue the story we were talking about last time.”

Time is gold for wizards.

Ogonin immediately started the lecture.

“Do you remember the magics I mentioned last time?”

“Yes.”

>Ogonin’s Emotion Recognition> starting with, >Ogonin’s Rising Anxiety>, >Ogonin’s Surging Fear>, >Ogonin’s Gathering Despair> like mental illusion magics.

And even >Ogonin’s Haze> like wide-area illusion mist magic.

While other illusion magics lowered the difficulty and increased versatility by mixing in magic elements from other schools, Ogonin was a wizard who pursued pure illusion magic.

‘Of course, that means the difficulty increases.’

“Emotion recognition magic is the basics and the beginning. It’s good to learn it as a habit and a mannerism.”

According to Ogonin’s explanation, excellent illusion wizards could easily recognize what color the opponent’s soul was without using emotion recognition magic.

To become that proficient, you have to constantly cast, practice, and gain experience.

If you understand what emotions the opponent is harboring, the power of the illusion magic will also be amplified.

“Now. Try practicing.”

“…?”

Lee Han, hearing those words, paused.

On whom?

“On whom are you speaking of?”

“Ah. That’s right. Hmm…” Ogonin also hesitated.

Ogonin’s Magic Tower had many practice partners, but where would there be another practice partner in the Headmaster’s private room right now?

Do it to me.

“Yes?”

“What did you say?”

I said, try it on me.

“No…” Ogonin was at a loss for words.

Unlike other magics, mental illusion magic was highly dependent on the opponent.

Whose emotions would be easier to read, a great wizard or a child?

A newly initiated illusion wizard should naturally improve their skills against the latter…?

“Are you suggesting that now…”

“I understand.”

Lee Han waved his wand without much thought.

“Arise, emotions!”

The magic was cast along with the spell. Ogonin asked from the side.

“How is it?”

“It seems that the Headmaster is currently in a bad mood.”

Ogonin jumped back from the mirror, his eyes wide with surprise. He actually dropped his wand, clattering on the floor.

The fact that an illusion wizard who hadn’t learned for very long had succeeded in emotion recognition magic against the Skull Headmaster meant…

…that he was a genius unprecedented in the history of magic.

‘A genius who will inherit the lineage of illusion magic…!’

Ogonin. I don’t know what you’re thinking, but the magic failed. This kid is just quick-witted.

The Skull Headmaster realized what Ogonin was thinking and sneered.

Magic isn’t some child’s toy, there’s no way it can be learned that easily.

“…Was that it?”

“Ah. I’m sorry. I guess it feels a bit different when the magic succeeds.” Lee Han apologized.

He just said it because it was obvious that the Skull Headmaster was in a bad mood, but it seemed that it had nothing to do with magic after all.

“No. It’s originally a difficult magic. Especially if the opponent is a great wizard.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Quiet and read it quickly. I’m deliberately releasing my defenses right now.

As an educator, the Skull Headmaster didn’t make unreasonable demands.

He wasn’t telling him to read it after casting various protection magics.

…Of course, just considering the magic defense he inherently possessed, it was already unreasonable enough.

“Arise, emotions. Arise, emotions. Arise, emotions!”

As he cast it several times according to the instructions, Lee Han could understand what kind of magic it was.

Color began to be applied to the Skull Headmaster, who originally had the form of a white skull head.

The color of the emotions that the soul currently possessed was clear.

‘He saw faint streaks of red, like embers dying down, mixed with a dull gray, like storm clouds.’

It was clear to anyone that he wasn’t in a good mood.

Lee Han continued to cast the spell in succession to read the emotions more accurately.

The Skull Headmaster yawned and asked.

Still, someone like you should be able to see at least a glimpse of the emotions, right? Hasn’t it appeared yet?

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Ogonin said in disbelief.

He had just started, and the opponent was a great wizard.

Honestly, there was a high possibility that he wouldn’t be able to read it even after several years.

He was planning to have him do it moderately, and if the Skull Headmaster got bored and left, he would use that as an excuse to find a proper opponent…

I’m saying it because someone like that can do it.

“No matter what, that’s nonsense.”

“It’s still far off.”

“Look. The student is saying it too. How difficult it is to see even a little bit of the color of another’s soul…”

“…Oh. Wait a minute. Is it okay if I see the color?” Lee Han paused.

The Skull Headmaster, who was yawning, looked at Lee Han with a ‘what is this guy’ gaze.

Seeing the color means you succeeded, what, did you want the words ‘I’m feeling this emotion’ to appear on your forehead?

“I thought the color had to be darker and easier to understand.”

Originally, excellent wizards are good at controlling their emotions. It’s not wrong if it’s faint. That’s good enough.

“Thank you.”

Ogonin, who was listening to the heartwarming conversation between the teacher and the student, was spaced out and just blinked.

What kind of conversation am I listening to right now?

“No… no… no… no??”

What’s wrong?

“If you’re not playing a prank on me right now… this is… uh…”

Didn’t I say that he would learn well?

The Skull Headmaster had clearly said to Ogonin, ‘You thought well, someone like Wodanaz will learn well.’

Of course, when Ogonin heard those words, he never thought that the student would be able to read the emotions of the Skull Headmaster as soon as he learned magic.

That’s…

Does that make sense?

He has so much magic power, he has a great talent for handling it, and he’s quick-witted, so he must be outstanding in this kind of magic. Ogonin. Try to get rid of your stereotypes.

“No. I was lucky.”

Stop being so disgustingly humble.

“Really… amazing…”

The Skull Headmaster grumbled as Ogonin kept muttering.

Then isn’t it amazing that you failed when you cast illusion magic?

“…Let’s continue…”

Ogonin said in a voice that still couldn’t hide his surprise.

He had expected a genius to inherit the lineage of classical illusion magic…

Reality always goes one step ahead of imagination.

To think it would be this much…!

But the next magic, >Ogonin’s Rising Anxiety>, was never successful.

Ogonin was convinced that it wasn’t because of Lee Han’s skills, but because of the Skull Headmaster.

How could it succeed when casting it on the Skull Headmaster?

“It’s definitely not because you’re lacking.”

“No. It’s because I’m lacking.”

“It’s not. The opponent is…”

“No. I’m…”

“I said it’s not!!”

Ah. Why are you getting angry?