Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 278

Small pieces of bone flew out like bullets, turning the area into chaos.

The adventurers were trying hard to wait for the mage to run out of magic, but they started to feel worried.

“…Something’s not right!!”

Wham!

Even with a shield, they couldn’t block everything.

One adventurer was hit by a bone shard and stumbled, leaving himself open. Ihan quickly shot a water orb at him.

Even strong armor didn’t matter.

The adventurer fell as the water orb broke through his armor.

-If this keeps up, we’ll all fall! Should we attack?

-You want to charge at a mage who is casting spells?!

The remaining adventurers used hand signals to talk to each other, feeling desperate.

They couldn’t believe what was happening.

Earlier, looking out the window, he seemed like a rich, spoiled young man…

‘What potion did he drink before coming here?’

Their plan was ready. When the mage came into the basement, traps would start. Then, the adventurers would attack.

But the mage had drunk several magic power potions and kept casting spells, turning the basement into a mess.

They didn’t know where the traps were, but with him casting so many spells, some were already destroyed.

Each second felt like a long, painful time.

Suddenly, the basement was silent.

‘Is it over!?’

The adventurers’ hearts pounded in their chests. The sharp, white bone pieces had stopped flying. *Had it finally ended?* they wondered, daring to hope.

Thud, thud, thud thud thud—

This time, water orbs slammed into the basement, a furious, watery storm. It wasn’t as many as the bone pieces, but it was still too many.

Also, unlike before when the attacks hit everywhere, now they were curving to hit the spots where the adventurers were hiding.

It was clear that the mage had found their locations with the first attack.

“Kraaah! You crazy mage!”

Finally, one of the adventurers screamed and charged out. He had suffered through the bone pieces and water orbs, and his wooden shield was falling apart.

‘Fast!’

Kilbedek saw his comrade’s speed, which was faster than he thought, and felt a small bit of hope that it might work. *Maybe, just maybe, this could work,* he thought, a tiny spark of hope in the darkness.

People say you shouldn’t charge at a mage who is casting spells, but this was different.

The mage was busy casting water orbs, and the adventurer was faster because of the potions he drank before the fight.

That speed, like a strong wind, could surprise the mage.

Wasn’t casting speed always a mage’s weakness?

“Flash!”

But, as if waiting, the mage waved his staff and cast a spell.

The big water masses in the air kept turning into water orbs and flying out. Lightning bolts shot out too, destroying the adventurer’s shield.

“…!”

The adventurer whose shield was destroyed didn’t understand what happened right away. The mage was just that fast.

“What…”

“Flash, flash, flash!”

The adventurer was faster because of the potions. With his eyes that see fast movement, he tried to dodge, watching the staff.

But the mage seemed to expect it and fired three shots at almost the same time. No matter where he dodged, he would be hit.

Bzzzzzt!

His body was frozen from the electric shock, and the water orbs attacked like a pack of wolves.

The remaining adventurers were now more scared than when they faced the mad mage.

The mad mage had just walked in, breaking the traps the adventurers set one by one and defeating them. But the young monster above the stairs was attacking without stopping, not giving them a break.

“Sur… surrender! I surrender!”

Wham!

Kilbedek was shocked as his comrade, who had run out with his hands up, was hit by a water orb and fell.

He surrendered, but why!?

‘Is he not going to accept surrenders?!’

“Ah. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were surrendering. Are you going to surrender?”

“…Yes!! Yes!!! I will surrender!”

“Drop your weapons, raise both hands, and come out slowly.”

The young mage’s voice was so kind that it was scary.

Kilbedek carefully looked out. The mage was waiting with a blank face and asked.

“You haven’t prepared any tricks, have you?”

“I didn’t! There’s nothing like that!”

“You’re denying it so strongly that it’s even more suspicious… Alright. Come out slowly.”

The adventurer in front of Kilbedek looked around, then lowered his hand a little and opened his mouth.

He wanted to know what was happening.

“Um, I was wonde…”

Wham!

“Ah. I’m sorry. It was a reflex…”

Seeing his comrade fall after being hit by a water orb, Kilbedek raised his hands even higher.

That mage was kind in words but more terrifying in actions than the mad mage.

Ihan could tell that Professor Voladi was very disappointed.

Thankfully, he was disappointed in the adventurers, not in Ihan.

“Failed, I see.”

“We, we’re sorry, Mage.”

“We did our best, but…”

Professor Voladi was so disappointed that he didn’t say anything. He gave each of the adventurers a silver coin as payment and pointed to the main gate.

The adventurers understood they were dismissed and started to back away carefully.

They were afraid the mad mage would attack if they turned around.

“I will guide you out.”

Ihan, who had aced the final exam, was in a good mood.

Of course, the adventurers weren’t relieved just because Ihan was guiding them.

“Th… thank you, Mage.”

“You can speak comfortably. I’m still a student with a lot to learn.”

Despite the humble words, the adventurers were not at all comfortable.

“I, I see. What year are you in?”

“I’m a freshman.”

“……”

“……”

The adventurers didn’t say anything. They just looked speechless.

“Um… what exactly was today’s event?”

About halfway there, one of the adventurers couldn’t help but ask.

The other adventurers looked at him as if to say, ‘Do you want to die?’ But the question was already asked.

“Ah. It was the final exam.”

“Pardon?”

“The final exam. Didn’t the professor explain it to you?”

“Ah…”

The adventurers opened their mouths and said, “Ah…” at the same time.

Then, with expressions of sudden understanding, they exclaimed.

“No! He did!”

“I remember now!”

“That’s a relief. I was wondering if he hadn’t explained it. Well, this way. You can see the main gate, right?”

Watching Ihan’s retreating figure, the adventurers, without any prior agreement, all had the same thought.

“If I make it out of Einrogaard’s front gate alive today, I’m retiring,” they thought.

“I need to settle down in a quiet village with few people.”

“And definitely a village without any wizards.”

They were tired of dealing with crazy people.

“A good start,” Ihan thought.

Ihan happily crossed off “Combat Magic Practice.”

Combat Magic Practice

Wizarding Basics

Of course, many lectures still remained, but starting the final exams like this was a good sign.

“Wodanaz! Big trouble!”

“?”

“I heard there won’t be any more extensions for the Wizard Math assignment! It has to be submitted today!”

“!!”

As Angalo whispered in a panic, Ihan’s face went stiff.

This was serious.

“This can’t be happening!”

Wizard Math.

The lecture was about designing a plan for the pre-final assignment and then building it for the final exam assignment.

The problem was that the phoenix had broken into the storage room and burned all the assignments.

So, the students were thinking, ‘There will be an extension, right?’ ‘Surely, there will be an extension, even if it’s just a little bit’…

“I was too relaxed. This was Einrogaard, after all!”

Ihan regretted his carelessness.

Even if he had known, he probably wouldn’t have had time because he was catching the phoenix, but he still felt regret.

“Wodanaz, there’s a way.”

“What way?”

“Let’s protest to the professor together! If you, the best student, join us… Hey! Wodanaz! I’m asking you to join us!”

Ihan turned away, pretending not to hear.

That was nonsense and wouldn’t work.

“I need to finish it before lunch to submit it. A way…”

Ihan was different from the other students. He was a professional student.

Other students would give up when the assignment wasn’t ready, but a professional would find a way to submit it, no matter what.

The quality of the assignment didn’t matter right now.

With little time left, Ihan stared at the long rod that was supposed to be the frame for the magic lamp, thinking hard.

-Surely… you’re not planning to skip the design and just use magic?!

-…What are you talking about? I haven’t even started drawing yet.

He remembered his conversation with Yoner.

He would forget about the design and construction, cast a spell, and then say, ‘Doesn’t it last a long time anyway?’

When he talked to Yoner, he said it was nonsense, of course…

“…There’s no time, and there’s no other way.”

Ihan prepared himself.

Sometimes, a bold trick is better than skill.

Let’s do this!

Professor Alpen hadn’t arrived yet, but the classroom was chaotic.

“Is it really true that there’s no extension?”

“That’s what I heard.”

“We’re doomed…! We’re all doomed!!”

“Isn’t it a good thing, though? We’re all doomed together.”

“Can’t you see how everyone else feels?”

Then, Professor Alpen entered. He looked puzzled at the students’ chaotic atmosphere.

“What’s going on?”

“Professor! It’s not our fault that the phoenix burned down the storage room!”

“Of course, it’s our fault for not posting guards! We’ll post guards from now on, so please, just give us one more chance…!”

“Please extend the deadline!”

“Alright. I was planning to do that from the start.”

The students all stopped.

Huh?

“Huh? Wasn’t there supposed to be no extension…?”

“How could I not give an extension when the phoenix burned down the storage room? You have until the end of this week to finish it. I can give you about two or three more days, so students who need more time should come and see me.”

“……”

“…Which idiot spread that rumor?”

The students were relieved, but it wasn’t over.

Which idiot spread the rumor??

Thud!

Ihan entered late with the magic lamp. Seeing that Professor Alpen had already arrived, he bowed his head.

“Good morning, Professor.”

“Welcome, Mr. Wodanaz.”

“I will submit my assignment.”

“Wait a…”

Angalo was worried and tried to stop Ihan.

‘No, Wodanaz! The situation has changed! It was a rumor!’

However, Professor Alpen spoke first.

“What is this? It may be rude to say, but I don’t see any design.”

“Yes, Professor. I wrote down the magic circle and the materials in the design. But I realized that it was not a good way to do it.”

“Not good?”

“Yes. I realized that I could make it last for more than two days with my magic alone. So, I thought that wasting materials would not be right for this lecture.”

“So, you submitted it like this?”

Professor Alpen’s eyes sparkled.

Ihan couldn’t tell if it was good or bad, but he didn’t move.

“Yes.”

“You won’t regret it?”

“?”

Ihan felt something was wrong.

‘What is it? Is there something I don’t know?’

But it was done. Ihan looked confident and replied.

“No.”

“Frankly, I’m impressed.”

Professor Alpen said with a smile.

“Guts and making things up are also good for a wizard. If it lasts for more than two days as you say, I will give you full marks. Go sit down. Oh, you’ve already submitted your final exam assignment, so you can leave. The other students should start working on their assignments again.”

“…??????”

Ihan turned his head.

His friends were looking at him with admiration.

Except for Angalo.

“You, come out here for a second.”

“I, I have to build my project, Wodanaz.”