Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 318

“Is he really okay?” Yoner wondered, watching Lee Han. She knew Sister Yoane was famous for pushing alchemists until they almost lost their minds. Yoane’s workshop was known for its pressure, the air thick with demands and the constant fear of failure. Yoner had seen strong alchemists crumble under Yoane’s intense focus, their faces pale and strained after just a few hours.

What was strange was that Yoane said she didn’t mean to be mean. She said she was just very serious about alchemy.

Yoner had expected to see Lee Han’s face twisted or filled with pain when she returned.

Lee Han was a top student who was known for being very dedicated to magic, taking every magic class at Einrogard. So, maybe he wouldn’t run away…

Still, dealing with Sister Yoane’s intense focus would be very hard.

But Lee Han’s expression was so serene, like a lake without a ripple.

“Have you started working?” Yoane asked, holding up a flask. “Here. Dobruk’s Reviving Potion.”

Yoane shook the flask gently, admiring the deep red liquid inside as if it were a precious jewel. That deep color, the color of rich rubies, seemed to glow with magic.

Stronger magic than usual and a friend called in to help with the work.

Yoner couldn’t help but think of Lee Han.

“Did you help with the work?”

“Yes.”

“Wasn’t it difficult?”

“I only took on the role of assistant.”

“Huh… huh??”

Yoner was surprised by what Lee Han said.

Not auxiliary work or other tasks, but the role of Yoane’s assistant.

Yoner knew very well what Yoane’s assistant role meant. There was no way her sister would have stayed still.

“Are you okay…?”

“It was difficult. But most of the work was done by Makin here.”

“You don’t need to be so humble. We made a good potion thanks to you.”

The usual tight lines around Yoane’s mouth softened, and for a moment, her eyes lost their usual sharp edge, replaced by a look of rare contentment. Yoner was honestly surprised by that rare sight.

She really didn’t show such an expression easily.

It was an expression that was hard to get without grinding dozens of alchemists…

“Are you really okay? No, just tell me what happened one by one.”

“Don’t do that here, let’s talk while eating lunch.”

Yoane gave her sister and her sister’s friend a break.

Yoner was surprised once again by her generous attitude.

“Is it okay to eat lunch!? While we’re working?”

“Don’t act like that in front of our guest. He might get the wrong idea about us.”

“…!!!!!!”

Yoner blinked her eyes in frustration.

Who was it that used to ignore meals and everything else and focus on work when it wasn’t finished?

Yoane, the alchemist in charge of the main work, didn’t eat, so the assistant alchemist in charge of the auxiliary work naturally couldn’t eat.

There were many experienced alchemists in this workshop, but among them, no one wanted to take on the role of Yoane’s assistant.

Usually, an unlucky newbie would take it on and run away crying…

“…Alright. Let’s eat lunch. Lee Han.”

“I should go to the mansion to eat.”

“Lunch is provided here at the workshop. Don’t worry, they don’t charge working alchemists for food.”

Lee Han stopped and nodded.

“A good workshop.”

“…How can you say that when you saw it when you came in…”

Pahuseok was an alchemist who had worked in the workshop for eight years. He didn’t pay much attention when Yoner from the Makin family came with a friend.

Whether it was Yoner’s friend or the Emperor’s friend, anyone who took on the role of Yoane’s assistant wouldn’t last long.

The record for how long someone lasted as Yoane’s assistant was only 23 minutes. So, Pahuseok thought Lee Han would find a reason to leave in about 15 minutes.

Therefore, Pahuseok couldn’t help but be surprised to see the red-haired girl and the black-haired boy sitting at the table in front, eating. The lunch table was simple, with bowls of steaming bean soup and baskets of flatbread. The alchemists ate quickly, some whispering about Lee Han, others focused on their food, eager to get back to work.

‘No way!?’

Apparently, Pahuseok wasn’t the only one surprised. Other alchemists were also whispering and looking at Lee Han.

An alchemist who was dipping flat bread into a bean soup mixed with spices said in a small voice.

“…It seems the new assistant survived.”

“What!?!!”

“Shhh. Your voice is too loud.”

“Ah, no… I’m sorry. I was too surprised.”

Pahuseok almost dropped the plate of fried rice he was holding.

To last while being Yoane’s assistant in the morning.

Moreover, surprisingly, he had come out to eat lunch.

Doesn’t that mean Yoane allowed him to go to lunch?

“How on earth? Is it because he’s the younger sister’s friend?”

“Yoane isn’t the type to be nice just because of that.”

“That’s right, Yoane is not like that.”

The workshop alchemists quickly understood.

If Yoane was someone who could be understanding or think about those kinds of things, many assistants wouldn’t have been kicked out before.

“Could it be… could it be… it’s very unlikely, but is it possible?”

“What are you getting at?”

“That he actually passed as her assistant…”

“Is that even possible?!”

The workshop alchemists firmly denied it.

There was no way Yoane would easily pass him as an assistant.

There must be another reason.

“But the other reason is… Besides, as far as I know, that boy from the Wodanaz family won a fight with the wizard from Valdrogard this time and ba…”

“It doesn’t matter if he won a fight with a wizard or even beat a basilisk. That’s not important here.”

“Oh? Did you know too? The news is fast.”

“What are you talking about? No. Anyway, that’s not important. You know that an alchemist’s ability is completely separate. Anyway, the worst thing an alchemist can do is make quick guesses. Let’s wait until we ask Makin directly. Maybe it wasn’t the assistant role.”

“Is that so…”

Soon, when Yoane came out, some of the alchemists quickly walked over and asked questions. Pahuseok was one of them.

“Makin. That person hasn’t left yet, did he do well as an assistant?”

Even while asking the question, the alchemists waited for a different answer.

That he did other things like organizing inventory or identifying tools in the morning…

However, Yoane shook the potion with a satisfied expression.

“…!!!”

“No… No way!”

“Does the bloodline of the Wodanaz family even overcome Makin’s madness?”

The alchemists struggled to believe what they had just seen. A young student, completing tasks faster and better than anyone they’d seen before… it was unbelievable.

“How… how is it possible?” one alchemist muttered, shaking his head, his brow furrowed in confusion.

“Such a young student…” another whispered in disbelief, nervously wiping his hands on his apron.

“Truly amazing,” a third one said, louder this time. “Is it… is it because he’s from Einrogard, do you think?”

“You know it has nothing to do with Einrogard. The wizard who ran away last time was also from Einrogard,” another alchemist snapped, a little impatiently.

“Oh, right. This is no time for that,” the first alchemist said, shaking off his thoughts.

One alchemist, shaking his head in disbelief, suddenly started to gather food. He piled plump oysters, glistening with sea water and sprinkled with bright red spices, high on a plate. Then, he carefully poured a shimmering golden potion of vitality over them, a potion he had been saving for himself.

Another alchemist took out smoked eel, its oily skin glistening under the workshop lights, and sprinkled a fine, white powder of mental recovery, that smelled faintly of mint, over it instead of spices. He had planned to use the powder himself, but now…

Pahusuk added a potion of concentration to the pumpkin porridge. It was a potion he cherished for long hours of study, but the student deserved it.

탁-

Leehan blinked. Another dish appeared on his plate. He looked up, confused.

“Please, have this too,” said another alchemist, quickly adding a bowl of something steaming, that smelled richly of herbs and meat.

“And this,” said a third, placing a small bottle next to his plate, filled with a swirling blue liquid.

Leehan stared at the growing pile of food and potions. “…?” He looked at Yoner, completely lost.

“What does this mean?” he asked Yoner, bewildered.

Yoner sighed, rolling her eyes. “It means they want you to work for a long, long time without collapsing, you idiot.”

The alchemists who worked as assistants to Yoann fell like autumn leaves, so it was only natural that the workshop’s alchemists had such expectations.

Of course, as a friend, Yoner found the actions of the workshop alchemists very unpleasant.

In short, it meant, ‘Drink potions and work for a long, long time.’

At Yoner’s explanation, Leehan said with a slightly touched expression, “This is a really good workshop.”

“Leehan, I think your standards for what you call ‘good’ are too low…”

Even after the meal, Leehan did a great job.

Yoann seemed reluctant to send Leehan back to Einrogard, seeing how he managed to complete any task given to him in one go.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“No, I was able to learn a lot,” Leehan said.

Leehan shook hands with Yoann after finishing all the work.

The work wasn’t easy, but the pouch of silver coins Yoann gave him made him forget such fatigue.

To think she gives silver coins for doing work similar to the professors at Einrogard, isn’t she a much better person?

“Sister, let go.”

“…When do you think you’ll be able to come next?”

“I said, let go,” Yoner whispered. Yoann was still holding onto his hand.

“I’m afraid I’ll be busy with other appointments this week.”

“How about next week?”

“Next week, I believe Wednesday is free.”

“Then, would you come and help on Wednesday?”

“I’ll try my best.”

“Should I send someone to the Wodanaz family in case you forget?”

“No, I’ll remember.”

Only after Yoner stepped on her foot several times did Yoann let go of his hand.

As Yoann waved and went inside the workshop, Leehan muttered with a slightly worried voice, “Yoann-nim reminds me a little of the professors at Einrogard. She seems very demanding.”

“A bit? A bit??”

“Oh, right, Yoner.”

Leehan took out the ring and helmet he had brought. Yoner was intrigued by the appearance of the artifacts she hadn’t seen before.

“Why these?”

“To sell.”

“…Huh?”

Leehan explained where he got these artifacts and why he was selling them.

If he had other friends, they might have said, ‘But we’re wizards, isn’t it a bit much to sell such artifacts for money? Let’s rather disassemble them and study them!’ but…

Yoner immediately understood.

“Indeed. If that’s the case.”

“Right? I was thinking of looking around the shops in the central district.”

The central district of Granden City was where the city’s nobles resided, so there were also shops that traded in rare artifacts.

Leehan was thinking of going around those shops and asking, ‘How much have you been offered?’

“Shall I introduce you to a shop I know?”

“I’d appreciate it, but would it be alright?”

“Yeah. After being treated like that by my sister, I should at least do this much.”

“I wasn’t exactly treated…”

Yoner ignored him and led the way.

‘Greenbel’s Rare Find? Is it a shop of the Greenbel family?’

Leehan was intrigued by the name of the family he had met when he visited the Dalcard family’s mansion last time.

Even though the sun was setting, even from outside, Leehan could see the shop windows glowed with a soft, magical light.

Inside, the walls were lined with glass cases displaying strange and wonderful objects – gleaming swords, sparkling necklaces, and objects he couldn’t even guess the purpose of.

‘It’s definitely an expensive place.’

“Welcome.”

A clerk without a speck of dust on his clothes greeted them politely, his forehead almost touching the ground.

It was a natural reaction, given the kind of guests they were.

There were a few customers inside who had arrived earlier, and they were looking at the artifacts while listening to the explanations of other clerks.

“So, you’re saying this is a bracelet that increases luck?”

“Yes, sir.”

“How much does it increase luck? Can I draw the card I want?”

“I’m not a wizard, but I know that luck can’t be quantified in that way, sir.”

“Hmm… Is there anything else besides this? Something that can help me win more reliably… like… shuffling the cards the way I want… or… seeing the cards the opponent has… something like that…”

The clerk’s eyebrows rose slightly.

It was a shop that sold artifacts, but it didn’t sell all artifacts.

As a shop with dignity, it did not handle artifacts for blatant cheating.

The clerk’s expression now was closer to, ‘Are you, as a noble, looking for an artifact to use for such cheating?’

“Ah, no. I’m not planning to use it when playing card games.”

“Gainando?”

“?!”

Gainando turned his head, discovered the two friends, and was startled.

He then quickly covered his face with his cloak.

“I’m not Gainando.”

“…”

“…”