Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 27

“Those bad kids should be happy I only used sleeping weed, not poison!”

Nilia breathed out loudly, her face red with anger.

She was very angry at the White Tiger Tower students because she heard what happened to Ihan and Yoner.

“Fighting with Wodanaz, who did nothing wrong!”

“Well, it’s not entirely true that he’s done nothing wrong. I did sneak into the swordsmanship class that White Tiger Tower students attend.”

“Huh?? No, that’s not wrong…”

“But that’s not the point.”

Nilia stared at Ihan, her eyes wide with disbelief, but Ihan ignored her and continued.

“Anyway, Deorgyu, I know you’re surprised, but I want you to know that this isn’t cowardly or dishonorable. It’s strategy.”

“Ri-right. Serves them right for being caught off guard.”

Nilia chimed in, nodding vigorously.

Nilia’s family were hunters. So, for her, this punishment was very small, like a light tap.

“I still think it would be more honorable to…”

Ihan said, clearing his throat. “Deorgyu, you’re thinking about honor in a small way. Think about what happened. If we fought them here, it would be noisy. Everyone would get caught. People would blame us. But because of the sleeping weed in the water, it’s over. No one loses. We won’t get caught. They will go back to school okay. Isn’t that honorable?”

“Is that… is that so?”

“It’s honor! Pure honor!”

Nilia agreed with Ihan. Yoner and Gainando also agreed strongly.

“Sounds like an honorable act to me.”

“At this rate, even the Imperial Palace would consider it honorable, right?”

“I… I suppose so.”

Like ink slowly stains your hands black, Deorgyu started to think like Ihan without knowing it.

Tap tap tap-

Hearing the sound of undead running from afar, Ihan nodded.

-Subjugation complete.

The Bone Stalkers didn’t find it strange that the White Tiger Tower students were fast asleep.

Because they were undead and not very smart, they didn’t notice anything was wrong.

‘Now I just have to wait.’

Ihan was certain that those Bone Stalkers would soon begin to disperse.

Having captured all the target White Tiger Tower students, there was no reason for them to stay any longer.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to check around this area while we wait.”

Ihan walked carefully towards the fortress wall.

Because of the noise, they couldn’t escape the school like they planned. But Ihan didn’t want to go back with nothing.

‘I have to find something.’

He wondered how far the massive fortress wall surrounding the school grounds extended into the mountains, and whether there was really no way to escape.

The other students followed Ihan, carefully moving their feet.

The Bone Stalkers were gone, but it was still very dark. The darkness felt heavy around them. The mountain got steeper. There were many trees and bushes, close together, as they climbed.

“It’s so… dark.”

“This is dangerous. I’m going to fall.”

Moreover, the surroundings were even darker because the White Tiger Tower students who had been carrying torches had vanished.

“Wodanaz, we need to light a fire.”

“Wouldn’t that be dangerous?”

“There are so many obstacles around here that it should be fine.”

“Alright. Let there be light!”

With Ihan’s spell, an intense light enveloped the surroundings, making it seem like broad daylight.

Seeing that, Nilia suddenly felt uneasy.

Nilia felt worried. She thought, ‘We are far away. The trees and bushes are thick. People below shouldn’t see the light.’ But…

Ihan’s spell seemed too intense.

‘Surely we won’t get caught.’

-Put out the light, young students. You’re keeping me from my sleep.

“!!!”

A voice spoke from the forest. It was low and echoed. It sounded magical, not like a human voice.

The students were already tired and scared because of the crazy headmaster. They were even more scared now.

Could there be another trap here too?

“Who is it?”

Ihan was the first to regain his senses and speak.

‘If it were the headmaster’s summon, it would have attacked first.’

-I will ask the questions first. Since you students have come to find me. If you answer correctly, I will treat you as guests, but if you are wrong, you will be treated as unwelcome intruders. Now… there’s no need to be nervous. It’s a very easy question. A dwarf lit five candles in his room late one evening. But a strong wind blew in from outside the window, blowing out one of the candles. Not long after, a guest dwarf drinking beer in the next room opened the door forcefully, blowing out another candle. So, the dwarf closed the window and door to prevent the candles from being blown out. How many candles were left the next morning?

‘This is a trick.’

Ihan realized the trap hidden in the riddle.

At first, it might seem easy. You might think two candles went out from five, so three are left. But candles burn down over time. They don’t last forever.

In other words, there would be 0 candles left in the morning.

“Three!”

Gainando answered without thinking. Ihan was shocked.

“!”

-Correct.

“…Wait, hold on. Weren’t the candles supposed to burn out and go out?”

Ihan couldn’t help but ask. Then the voice answered as if puzzled.

-When giving such riddles, wouldn’t you naturally use magic candles that don’t burn out? Isn’t that obvious?

“……”

Ihan cursed inwardly.

‘What a ridiculous magical society.’

It really was an easy question, just as he had said.

-Since you answered the question correctly, I will treat you as guests. But… I haven’t had guests in a long time, so it’s a bit of a shame to end it just like this. How about answering one more question? Even if you get it wrong, I will still treat you as guests, and if you get it right, I will give you a gift.

“I’m ready.”

Ihan answered immediately without a moment’s hesitation.

It would be foolish to miss such an opportunity.

-Here, there is a large fellow in the morning. This fellow becomes smaller at noon, and then becomes larger again in the afternoon. This fellow disappears at night. Who is this fellow?

The students paused. They were confused by the riddle.

‘What is it?’

‘I don’t know.’

Gainando, who had gained confidence from the previous correct answer, shouted again.

“It’s a monster that’s big in the morning and afternoon but small at noon!”

-…Incorrect.

“Why?! Ah. I forgot to mention that it disappears at night…”

-I said, incorrect.

“Is the answer a shadow?”

Lee Han grinned. “I know the answer!”

Yoner gasped, his eyes wide. “You do? But how?”

Gainando stared, mouth open. “The Sphinx’s riddle! Everyone knows that one is impossible!”

Lee Han didn’t want to explain about his past life, the knowledge he shouldn’t have. So, he just shrugged and gave a simple answer. “I just… thought hard. I trusted my instincts, and the answer came to me.”

He knew a simple answer often sounded more impressive than a complicated one.

The voice from the trees seemed even more excited now. “Excellent! Welcome, clever young students!”

The densely packed trees moved aside at once, and the ground around them began to change as if shrouded in magic mist.

Along with the magic of deep greenery, a fairy glade that seemed unlikely to exist in reality appeared before their eyes.

Welcoming Lee Han and his friends was a huge oak tree. And it was speaking!

The glade felt ancient and magical, the kind of place where you might expect to meet creatures from stories.

“You look very tired. Drink this.”

The talking oak tree moved its branches and handed over a wooden cup. A cool, green liquid sloshed within.

‘The smell isn’t very good.’

The color and smell were like green juice.

But the magic felt abundant. Lee Han drank cautiously.

“!”

The tiredness in his muscles disappeared.

It was like drinking ice water on a hot day – so refreshing!

The coolness flowed down his throat!

It definitely worked, even though it was bitter.

“It’s a drink made using sap from the trees of the forest. Does it suit your taste?”

“Yes. It’s delicious. Could I possibly have some more?”

“Help yourself.”

Lee Han filled his leather water skin with the sap. As the school environment was harsh, he had to take what he could when he could.

While Lee Han was filling his water skin, the other students continued to ask questions to the oak tree.

As they had come to a mysterious glade known only to the spirits of the forest, it was inevitable that they would be curious.

“What is this place?”

“Are there any other trees?”

“Oh, is there anything to eat? This is too bitter. Something like sweet fruit, perhaps.”

While his friends were talking excitedly, Lee Han also asked the talking oak tree a question.

He couldn’t miss this opportunity.

“May I ask you a few questions?”

“-Feel free. But you must first reveal who you are. Introduce yourself.”

“I am Lee Han.”

The oak tree seemed interested when Lee Han said only his first name, ‘Lee Han,’ instead of his family name first, like most nobles do.

“-The family?”

“The Wodanaz family.”

The oak tree took a step back. Lee Han felt slightly wronged.

“-I’m sorry. It’s not your fault, but because of the rumors. The Wodanaz family has produced many great wizards.”

“Is that so?”

“-And many crazy wizards too.”

“……”

“-Saying your own name first, not your family name… that’s good. Excellent. You will become a good wizard. But what brings students here in the middle of the night?”

Lee Han answered quickly.

“We were enjoying a night stroll.”

“……”

Yoner, who heard the answer from the side, bit his lip to keep from laughing.

Of course, the talking oak tree was not fooled by such a lie.

“-Ah, I see. You want to leave the school? But look at the moon. It’s only been a week since you freshmen arrived. You’re not trying to leave already, are you?”

“…Well, things are a bit complicated.”

Lee Han stopped trying to explain, but the talking oak tree was already admiring him.

“-Trying to leave in the first week… The new freshmen who have entered this time are truly amazing.”

‘Damn it.’

“Talking Oak Tree, if so many students have tried to leave before, can you give us some tips on how to leave?”

“-I have lived in this forest for hundreds of years. I have watched many students try to leave this school. There is a way, but it’s too difficult for new students like you.”

The talking oak tree didn’t seem inclined to tell them.

Lee Han hadn’t really expected help anyway, so he asked something else.

“If we continue straight in this direction, can we go over the mountain and out?”

“-It would be impossible. Because there is a wall.”

“…There’s a wall here too??”

“-Yes. And that wall is enchanted. If you try to climb it without knowing how, something bad will happen.”

Lee Han was shocked.

A wall extended deep into these steep mountains, which they had been climbing for hours.

Truly amazing!

‘So, finding a hole in the wall to escape is almost impossible.’

Climbing or going around the wall was also not possible.

The oak tree said in a friendly way.

“-Don’t try to leave without thinking carefully, especially as new students. It’s very dangerous thing to do. The mountain is quiet now, but in a few more weeks, the sleeping monsters will awaken.”

“Thank you for letting us know.”

The talking oak tree looked into Lee Han’s eyes.

Even after hearing those words, he didn’t change his mind at all.

He wasn’t scared. In fact, he looked even more eager to go!

The talking oak tree liked that.

“-I will give you a riddle. The Black Axe Tribe Orcs and the Red Feather Tribe Orcs. The White Eagle Tribe Orcs and the Green Frog Tribe Orcs gathered to hold a feast. A nasty goblin also joined in and ate and drank a lot. How could the goblin do that?”

“…?”

???”

The students were confused by the riddle.

Gainando opened his mouth.

“Was he a popular goblin?”

The oak tree ignored him as if he hadn’t heard.