Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 290

The laughter suddenly stopped. A dark mood fell over the students.

Lee Han clicked his tongue quietly to himself, annoyed.

“Is it because of the Skull Headmaster?” one student whispered. “If the Headmaster is mean, maybe the older students are mean too.”

Someone else quickly changed the subject. “Let’s eat cake!”

“Yeah! Cake!” others agreed, sounding relieved.

“And bring the students from the other towers too,” Wodanaz said firmly.

“…Uh… do we *have* to bring them?” one Blue Dragon student asked, sounding unsure. “They might cause trouble.”

“Yes, we have to,” Wodanaz insisted. “Bring them nicely. And no fighting, understand?”

“Wh-what are you talking about, Wodanaz?” the Blue Dragon student stammered, surprised. “Of course there won’t be any fighting!”

The other tower students arrived sooner than expected.

The White Tiger Tower students, arriving last, scanned their surroundings, armed with wooden swords and shields, until they spotted the cake. They lowered their weapons with sheepish expressions.

“Didn’t I tell you so!”

“S, sorry. Deuregyu.”

“Wait a minute,” one White Tiger student whispered, eyes wide. “The cake might be poisoned!”

Another student hushed him. “Shhh! Be quiet! Even if it *is* poisoned… it’s still cake. We can worry about poison *after* we eat cake.”

The White Tiger Tower students cut slices of cake onto their plates.

The cake was delicious. It smelled of sweet cocoa and vanilla, and melted in their mouths.

“See? Wodanaz doesn’t joke around with food.”

“Indeed…”

‘I should put it in food if I ever set up a trap next time,’ Lee Han thought to himself as he passed by.

As expected, people seemed to become happy when they ate something sweet. All the students were chatting with satisfied expressions.

“Give me a slice too.”

“Here you are.”

Two students beside him screamed and tumbled, but Lee Han remained calm and nonchalantly cut a slice of cake and handed it over.

The Skull Headmaster floated into the room, his bony fingers tapping lightly in the air. His skull face was as expressionless as ever, but there was a glint of amusement in the empty sockets where eyes should be. He used telekinesis to toss the cake into his mouth, then spoke to the students.

“Everyone is having a happy and enjoyable time, I see.”

“Yes!”

“We’re really happy!”

‘Oh dear. I wonder if they’ll be this happy when they see their exam scores,’ the Skull Headmaster thought.

The Skull Headmaster succeeded in freezing the atmosphere without even using magic.

The only student unaffected by the exam score attack opened his mouth.

“Aren’t they happy that the semester is over? Everyone worked hard this semester, so grades don’t matter.”

…said the top student of the year. Everyone, take note. You have to be this good to say that grades don’t matter. Understand?

‘Oops.’

Lee Han had to admit that he had been careless in front of the Skull Headmaster.

As expected of someone who had enjoyed sowing discord for thousands of years, his skill was unmatched.

“Honestly,” one student muttered, “Wodanaz always says annoying things, even though he’s the best student…”

Lee Han turned to him, cake slice in hand. “Do you *want* to lose your cake?”

“Ah, no. Now that I think about it, he makes a valid point.”

However, the White Tiger Tower student who was about to grumble was immediately suppressed.

Lee Han had done too much for his fellow students for the Skull Headmaster’s divisive tactics to work.

“I can’t accept this! I also go around saying that grades don’t matter!”

When Gainando shouted that, the Skull Headmaster looked a little surprised.

W, well, it’s good to have confidence.

“Thank you?”

I’m not praising you. You’ll be in the punishment room soon.

“Huh?? What did I do wrong?” Gainando asked, startled. Then, the Skull Headmaster summoned a white bony finger in the air and spread it wide.

“Do you know what this is?”

“A bone… hand… finger?”

“It’s the number of classes you failed.”

The students suddenly lowered their heads, trying to avoid the Skull Headmaster’s gaze.

The Skull Headmaster thought, ‘Do they really think looking away will make their failing grades vanish?’ Those who failed will be in the punishment room over the weekend.

“No! Headmaster!!”

“It’s vacation!”

“Vacation starts next week, yes. But you should have studied harder for your exams. I don’t believe wizards are lazy.”

The students, who thought they would be leaving right after the final exams, looked as if they had been struck. Students went pale, their mouths dropping open. Some slumped in their chairs, all thoughts of vacation forgotten.

They were planning to chat happily with their friends over the remaining weekend, pack their bags leisurely, and leave with a smile when the sun rose on Monday…

The Skull Headmaster folded one of the summoned bone fingers and asked again.

“Do you know what this is?”

“I… I don’t know.”

At that, the Skull Headmaster folded another finger.

And another, and another.

When all the fingers were folded, the Skull Headmaster said with a smile.

“The failing students, to the punishment room!”

“Headmaster! I haven’t eaten my cake yet!!”

“No! Can’t I go tomorrow! Can’t I go tomorrow morning!”

Suddenly, Death Knights leaped out from all directions and dragged the failing students away.

The Skull Headmaster nodded with a satisfied expression.

“The less unfortunate students, rest well over the weekend and then depart. You’ve worked hard this semester. See you next semester.”

There weren’t many times he agreed with the Skull Headmaster, but this was one of them.

‘You’ve really worked hard.’

Looking at his friends’ faces, it seemed they were all thinking the same thing.

“Where are you going to stay during the vacation?”

“Granden City.”

The Empire was very big. Most students stayed in a big city nearby, like Granden City, instead of going all the way home for vacation.

‘Looks like everyone is staying in Granden City.’

Of course, there were some differences in how they stayed.

“My family has prepared a mansion.”

“You too? That’s great. Me too.”

“I’m planning to stay at a close family’s mansion.”

Lee Han was silent as he listened to the Blue Dragon Tower students’ conversation.

‘Hmm. No wonder the other tower students don’t like them.’

Mansions in large cities like Granden City were unbelievably expensive.

Moreover, all the Blue Dragon Tower students were from noble families of the Empire.

Even among the same mansions, there was a big price difference between those in the noble district and those outside it.

And yet, they were buying such mansions as villas to stay in during vacation.

No wonder the other tower students cursed them.

“Where will you be staying, Wodanaz?”

“…Me too, Granden City.”

Lee Han answered, feeling ashamed at Lefford’s question.

In fact, Lee Han wasn’t in a position to criticize others.

Lee Han himself was part of the Wodanaz family, so a mansion was prepared for him in Granden City.

Originally, it would have been Philone Village, but the school must have moved everything to Granden City…

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Lee Han said, overcoming his embarrassment.

“Lefford, where are you staying during the vacation?”

“I’m also planning to stay in Granden City. I’m going to board somewhere.”

“If you’re okay with it, why don’t you stay at our family’s mansion?” It felt wrong to offer such a grand place when Lefford was just looking for a room to rent. But what else could he do? It was the family mansion.

“Ah. Would that be alright?”

“Of course. It might be a bit smaller compared to other families’ mansions, but it’s not so small that it can’t accommodate a few guests.”

The Wodanaz family was less greedy for wealth and power and more focused on magic among the great noble families of the Empire, but that was only among the great noble families.

How frugal could a prestigious family in the Empire be, even if they tried to be frugal?

The mansion the Wodanaz family had prepared would probably be spacious enough to accommodate all the first-year students.

“Deuregyu. Do you perhaps have any thoughts of staying too?”

“Thanks for the offer, Lee Han. But I’ve decided to stay at the Knights Order’s residence with my tower friends.”

The Black Tortoise Tower students used their various connections to board at guild accommodations or decent inns.

The White Tiger Tower students, being from knight families, stayed at the Knights Order’s residences located in Granden City.

The Phoenix Tower students, being clergy of the Order, stayed at the temple accommodations in Granden City.

‘Seriously? Are only the Blue Dragon Tower students acting like this?’

The other tower students were all working hard in their own ways, but it seemed like only the Blue Dragon Tower students were freeloading using their family’s power.

“Lee Han. Lee Han.”

Yoner nudged Lee Han and whispered.

Lee Han, who had been suggesting to Priest Tiziling and Priest Nigisor (both of whom politely declined) that they stay at his family’s mansion, was puzzled.

“Why?”

Yoner pointed slightly with his finger. At the end of it was their friend, Nilia. Nilia’s face, which had been clouded, suddenly lit up like the sun breaking through clouds.

While discussing with the Black Tortoise Tower students which inn or guild accommodation would be good to stay at, Nilia glanced at them with a dark expression.

‘Oops.’

Lee Han realized his mistake.

Nilia naturally thought that Yoner would suggest it, so he had spoken to Lefford first…

“Let’s go.”

“Yeah.”

The two quickly moved their feet.

“Nilia! Why don’t you stay at the Wodanaz family’s mansion during the vacation?”

“What are you talking about, Lee Han! Nilia will be staying at the Maykin family’s mansion!”

The Black Tortoise Tower students, who were discussing where to stay, looked at them with eyes that said, ‘Why are these nobles suddenly acting up?’

“It’s the Wodanaz family!”

“It’s the Maykin family!”

As the two pushed and pulled with all their might, Nilia’s face brightened.

“Oh, what should I do? I’m grateful to both of you, but it’s a bit…”

“In that case, we’ll help you.”

“That’s right, Nilia.”

The Black Tortoise Tower students behind them intervened. Nilia was flustered by the unexpected situation.

Salco took out a map of Granden City from his pocket and frowned.

“Where is the Wodanaz family’s mansion located?”

“I think we should go check it out.”

Salco pretended to frown. ‘I see. It’s a pity… I’ll have to deduct points for showing off, Wodanaz.’ He winked. ‘Just kidding!’

“Y, yes. That’s a shame.”

“What about the Maykin family’s mansion?”

“It’s located above the hill street in the central noble district.”

“The transportation is convenient, and there’s an alchemy workshop specializing in nobles nearby. It’s a very good location.”

“Th… thank you?”

Salco and the Black Tortoise Tower students seriously compared the two mansions.

Naturally, Yoner, who had family mansions in the city for a long time, was more advantageous than Lee Han, who didn’t even know which mansion to get yet.

“Nilia. It would be better to stay at the Maykin family’s mansion.”

“R, really? But I feel sorry for Wodanaz…”

“If it’s so hard to choose, would you like to stay at Gainando’s mansion? It’s the largest.”

“No! I’ll stay at the Maykin family’s mansion! Thank you!” Nilia answered immediately.

Well. Everyone, it’s good to chat, but there’s one thing we need to do.

“What is it?”

As you all know, this Einroguard is full of mysteries and knowledge passed down from ancient times.

The students nodded.

The problem was that there were also monsters passed down from ancient times, not just mysteries and knowledge.

And these treasures must not be leaked carelessly.

“I see.”

So, let’s swear before we leave. That we will not leak the mysteries and knowledge of Einroguard to the outside.

Lee Han, who was listening, felt something was wrong and asked.

“Wait a minute. If we swear this, does that mean we can’t talk about the school’s rules or education either?”

The Skull Headmaster ignored him, pretending not to hear.

“Now. One by one!”

The freshmen reluctantly swore with the Skull Headmaster.

“I will protect the secrets of Einroguard with my pride and honor?”

“Magic, keep the wizard’s secrets safe.”

As they spoke, a strong magic spell was made. It felt like invisible chains were wrapping around their minds.

It was a powerful geas that trapped important information about Einroguard inside the student’s soul, preventing it from coming out.

Lee Han stood in front of the Skull Headmaster with a reluctant expression, just like his other friends.

However, instead of casting a spell, the Skull Headmaster said.

“Wodanaz, you should watch your own mouth.”

“…Yes?”

“Think about it, Wodanaz. It would take a *huge* amount of magic to put a secret-keeping spell on *you*. You have so much magic yourself, it would be a waste for me to try!'”

“Aha!” The Skull Headmaster chuckled. ‘Think carefully, Wodanaz. If secrets about Einroguard get out, who do you think people will suspect first?’

“Would I ever do that?”