Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 304

If you could learn swordsmanship just by watching, the Royal Swordsmanship Guild of Eldoria and all its teachers would have to quit.

It is true that a very skilled swordsman can learn some things just by fighting others.

But they can’t understand all the difficult and deep sword fighting skills completely.

Take the Enge family’s Sword Absorption, for example. This sword skill is special because it pulls the opponent towards you when your swords touch, making them lose their balance.

To use it well, you need to know exactly when to use it in your sword fighting. This includes changing the magic at the right moment to get the best result.

Yet, he had learned it through experience and improved it so much that he could use it during his fight with Allarong.

‘Could magical talent show itself in this way?’

Allarong was confused.

He knew from his family head that Lee Han was very talented in magic.

Maybe this genius could change the magic just by watching it.

But to improve it to the point where he could use it in a fight…

Allarong wondered if he should have sent the young master to the Knights instead of Einrogard.

“For someone who has trained alone, you are excellent. If you keep improving, you will become even better.”

“Really? That’s good to hear.”

Lee Han used his sword to help him stand up.

After suffering all semester, he was happy to hear Allarong’s praise.

‘Looks like it’s useful.’

“Master Wodanaz, a guest has arrived.”

“Who is it?”

The servant came to Lee Han and spoke to him. Lee Han thought it was either one of his friends or someone who still owed him money.

“It’s a priest, sir. There’s an event at the Order soon, and he came because he thought Master Wodanaz might be interested…”

Lee Han’s face lit up.

The Tizling priest from the Order of the Cleansing Light had mentioned it before.

That there would be an event at the Order during the vacation.

It was called an event, but it was like a second-hand market where they collected, destroyed, or dealt with cursed items.

Since the semester started, Lee Han had planned to go to this event and make a lot of money.

‘Thank you, Tizling Priest.’

“I’ll change and go right away. Tell him I’ll be at the event, so ask him to wait in the drawing-room. Also, can you prepare some snacks for me to take when I visit the temple?”

“I will do so.”

Lee Han walked with a sad look.

Beside Lee Han was not the Tizling priest, but the Nigisor priest.

Swinging the crackling flames to the side, the Nigisor priest said.

“As expected of Lee Han of the Wodanaz family. I knew you would be interested.”

“That’s right… I like the Order of the Eternal Flame…”

To be fair, the Order of the Eternal Flame was a good order.

Especially since it was the Order that helped Lee Han, who wasn’t very good at using fire.

Keeping a good relationship with such an Order was definitely a good thing, but…

‘I thought it was the Order of the Cleansing Light.’

Usually, people are more disappointed when they expect something.

Lee Han, who had been planning to make a fortune with cursed items, couldn’t help but be disappointed.

“But what does the Order of the Eternal Flame do at its event?”

“First, we burn straw dolls. We burn straw dolls filled with the bad luck and misfortune of the year to bring good luck.”

“I see.”

Lee Han nodded at the more normal event than he had expected.

“Next, we invite priests and fire mages from the city to give lectures on the Empire’s safety rules.”

“Hmm?”

Lee Han was surprised.

Was there such a thing?

“Is there such a thing?”

“Since mages who mainly use fire can cause a lot of damage even with small accidents. Unlike priests who are taught from a young age, self-taught mages often cause dangerous accidents.”

The Order of the Eternal Flame worshiped fire, but they didn’t encourage arson. If they did, the Empire would have put a bounty on them.

The Order of the Eternal Flame really cared about fire safety.

This was also why villages of a certain size tried to have a temple of the Order of the Eternal Flame in their village.

‘Wait. Didn’t the Nigisor priest want to burn the world?’

Lee Han looked at the priest walking next to him with doubt.

The Order of the Eternal Flame should keep a closer eye on the Nigisor priest than on the city’s fire mages…

“But do the mages listen? I don’t think they’ll come easily.”

The Nigisor priest shook his head.

“After listening to the Empire’s safety rules, we give them a certificate in the name of the Order. It’s quite useful if you want to use fire magic in the city, so many mages come.”

Unlike other magic, employers didn’t just hire anyone for fire magic.

If used incorrectly, it could burn down the area.

“Then I must get one too.”

The Nigisor priest looked at Lee Han, who was very excited, as if he found it strange.

What was he going to use it for?

Stepping into the Temple of the Eternal Flame, Lee Han was hit by a wave of scorching air. He tugged at the collar of his robes, feeling sweat on his forehead.

Towering stone statues lined the walls, each one belching out plumes of bright orange flame that danced and flickered, casting long shadows across the crowded room.

The air crackled with magical energy, and the smell of burning incense mixed with the sharp, smoky smell of hundreds of small fires lit by the visiting fire mages.

“Have you been to the new wand shop? I heard they make them using camellia wood. I wonder if it would be good for fire magic.”

“I think an apple tree wand is better. What if I can’t control it if I change my wand for no reason?”

There were people who looked like they had never fought, and adventurers wearing metal armor and several daggers on their belts.

“The burn is bad. Did the magic backfire?”

“Yes. You should be careful inside the building too.”

Lee Han stopped without realizing it.

‘I really need to be careful when using fire magic.’

“Hey.”

Lee Han turned his head.

Of course, it wouldn’t be strange to get into a fight in a place with so many people, but this was a temple.

‘What is it? Does he want to go to the city jail?’

“You’re a freshman, right? Lower your head and follow me.”

Surprisingly, it was a student from Einrogard.

Lee Han was confused when he saw him slightly show the Einrogard emblem and then close his coat again.

“Are you… a student from Einrogard?”

“Yes. I’m a sophomore. Keep your voice down and follow me.”

The unknown sophomore pulled Lee Han to a corner of the temple. Then, he looked around and said.

“Hey, heads up, don’t go around shouting you’re from Einrogard here. These city mages, they either get jealous or try to use you. Real pain.”

The senior spat and rubbed it with his boots.

“I’m giving you advice because we’re from the same White Tiger Tower. Got it?”

“How did you know I was from the White Tiger Tower?”

Lee Han asked curiously. Then, the senior snorted and said.

“Anyone can tell that you’re shouting ‘I’ve held a sword before.’ You’d have to be an idiot not to recognize it. Nice to meet you. I’m Balgaro from the Alpha family.”

A freshman from White Tiger Tower, a knight from the same family as Angalo.

Lee Han’s mind raced.

If he made up a family, he might be suspected, and if he said a real family and they knew each other…

“…I’m Gainando from the Moradi family.”

“Moradi family? You don’t look like you’re from the Moradi family?”

“I’m from a collateral branch,” Lee Han explained. A collateral branch meant he was from a less important, distant part of the family, often not as respected as the main family line.

“Huh. You must have had a hard time because you’re from a collateral branch and don’t look alike. The Moradi family must be tough.”

“No. It’s okay.”

Lee Han gave a sad smile instead of a long explanation. Sometimes, it was easier to just be quiet than to explain.

Then, Balgaro started to imagine things.

He was from a collateral branch that was already being treated unfairly, and he didn’t even look like them.

“That’s enough. You can just speak comfortably in front of me.”

“Thank you, senior. But what are you doing here, senior?”

“I came to get a permit from the Order of the Eternal Flame. What else would I be here for? I mainly use fire magic. But if I don’t have a permit, not only the clients but also other adventurers are careful.”

“A request? Do you work as an adventurer?”

“I do. What? You must have heard it from other guys. Why don’t you know?”

“Because I’m from a collateral branch…”

Lee Han gave a sad smile again. Then, Balgaro felt very sorry.

“Don’t worry about it. The guys who ignore you are trash. Vile bastards. Even so.”

“I’m okay.”

“I’m not okay. The ones I expected as juniors…”

Balgaro was angry that he had become a sophomore and met juniors, but those juniors were being cowards.

“Usually, the White Tiger Tower often works as adventurers during vacations. You can train without losing your skills as a knight, and also earn money.”

“I see. If you work as an adventurer, you can choose the jobs you want to do.”

It was a job that suited the White Tiger Tower in some ways.

As mages, they could earn a lot, and as a knight family, they were much stronger than normal adventurers or mercenaries…

If they only chose jobs that could be finished quickly, they could make more money.

‘There was this advantage. Those vile White Tiger Tower guys. They’re trying to benefit only themselves.’

It wasn’t that the White Tiger Tower students were hiding it, but Lee Han was angry.

“That’s right. And above all, we’re knights. We can’t do petty things like the guys from the Black Tortoise Tower do. No matter how much silver they give us.”

‘Do knights get training that makes them less smart?’

“Indeed, you are right.”

While Lee Han was flattering Balgaro, the priests of the Order of the Eternal Flame came out, dragging a huge straw doll.

“First, I want to thank the fire messengers who have gathered here today. This straw doll is…”

Balgaro yawned and took out his wand.

“You get ready too. We’re all going to use fire magic together.”

The straw doll wasn’t just burned.

The mages and priests gathered and burned it together.

“Don’t think this straw doll is easy. It’s really hard to burn. Last year, someone tried to do it alone and was embarrassed… What are you doing?”

Click, click, click—

Lee Han put on several rings, bracelets, and necklaces that absorbed fire.

“I have equipped the artifacts.”

“Hey. Even if it’s hard to burn, you don’t have to try so hard. The priests will help if it doesn’t burn.”

Whoosh!

As soon as the priest finished talking, the mages in the temple started waving their wands.

“Fire…”

“Burn and destroy!”

“Fire, in the form of a sphere…”

Balgaro also prepared magic.

“Fire, stay.”

He would normally put magic on a sword, but he put it on the end of a wooden pole and stabbed the straw doll, and the fire went up.

But the fire quickly died down. The straw doll’s strong magic was stopping the fire magic.

“See? This is really hard to burn…”

Whoooosh!

Lee Han made flames and blasted them at the straw doll. The flames ate the straw doll and burned strongly.

‘How well do these artifacts work?’