Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 339

The Headmaster sighed, a sound like dry leaves rustling, as two Illusion mages bounced into the room. “Ah, Mr. Gonataltes,” one of them said brightly.

“Look here! This is Mr. Wodanaz, about to master Ogoni’s Mist! And he’s only a first-year!”

The skeletal Headmaster summoned every last scrap of his patience to keep from cursing the relentlessly cheerful faces of the Illusion mages.

“That is indeed… remarkable.”

“Isn’t it? I knew you’d agree!”

“As the one responsible for Einroguard, you must be overjoyed! Haha!”

The Illusion mages erupted in giggles, but Ethan’s thoughts were rather different.

‘He looks absolutely livid.’

The Headmaster’s face, in its human form, was not just icy, but like frozen stone. Ethan could see the Headmaster’s jaw tighten, and his bony fingers twitch as if he was fighting the urge to grab the Illusion mages right then and there. He looked ready to explode, but he held himself back with a visible effort.

However, the Illusion mages were too delighted by the prospect of Ethan, a mere first-year, potentially mastering Ogoni’s Mist to notice the Headmaster’s expression. One mage was very excited about Ethan’s magic, while the other kept forgetting what the Headmaster asked them to do.

“Perhaps Mr. Gonataltes could offer a few words of advice?”

“That’s an excellent idea!”

Amidst this guileless chatter, Ethan thought to himself.

Perhaps the rumour that Illusion mages were good at reading emotions was just nonsense.

“However, there is something I’ve been wondering…”

“What is it?”

“Was there not something I asked of you all?”

The skeletal Headmaster asked as kindly and gently as he could manage.

If his true feelings came out, the mages might all flee.

“What was it again?”

“Was it to help him fully master Ogoni’s Mist?”

As the Illusion mages murmured amongst themselves, the Headmaster’s fury deepened, making his skeletal fingers clench into fists. He imagined locking them up, but he knew he couldn’t. Not here. Not now.

“To… the students… in the ballroom…”

“Ah, yes. I remember now, Mr. Gonataltes.”

“You wanted us to give the students a surprise, didn’t you?”

“Not a ‘surprise’… I wanted them all to be terrified and flee…”

“Eh? Why would we want to make them run away in terror?”

The skeletal Headmaster regretted calling these Illusion mages.

He’d thought he was bringing some of the better ones from Granden City, but he’d never imagined they could be so utterly clueless.

“…Never mind. Everyone, prepare yourselves.”

“Ah, just a moment, Mr. Gonataltes.”

“What is it?”

“We’d like to watch Mr. Wodanaz master Ogoni’s Mist before we start preparing.”

The skeletal Headmaster wished he were in Einroguard.

If he were, he could have strung those mages up by their ankles in the punishment chamber.

But this was Granden City, and if he did such a thing to the Illusion mages, complaints would quickly reach the capital city before he could say ‘Quidditch.’

The reputation Einroguard had built in the city would be tarnished by violence and fear.

He had to hold back.

“The… ball is already more than halfway over… shouldn’t we be preparing quickly…?”

The skeletal Headmaster said it as nicely as he possibly could.

However, the Illusion mages were even more clueless and persistent than he’d anticipated.

“Please, Mr. Gonataltes.”

“He’s almost there! If he doesn’t master Ogoni’s Mist this time, who knows how much longer it will take?”

“I’m alright. I can practice again next time…”

Ethan, sensing the atmosphere, tried to dissuade them, but the Illusion mages wouldn’t budge.

“Mr. Gonataltes! Please!”

“Mr. Gonataltes, you understand how important this opportunity is…”

“…Do as you please.”

The skeletal Headmaster let out a sigh so deep and dark, it seemed to bore through the floor of the corridor and reach the evil spirits in the deepest depths below.

“As quickly as possible, if you please.”

“We will do our best to make it quick,”

Ethan said sincerely, having read the skeletal Headmaster’s feelings.

At that, the Illusion mages chimed in with their advice.

“There’s no need to rush.”

“Indeed. Haste makes waste when learning magic.”

The skeletal Headmaster glared at the Illusion mages as if he wanted to murder them.

By the time Ethan finally mastered Ogoni’s Mist and returned to the banquet hall, the ball was already nearing its end.

The skeletal Headmaster eyed Ethan with suspicion, wondering if he had deliberately taken his time, but he didn’t dwell on it.

Frankly, even the skeletal Headmaster had to admit that Ethan had learned it quickly, so he couldn’t honestly say anything bad.

‘Thank goodness I wasn’t caught.’

Ethan sighed inwardly with relief.

In the end, he had mastered Ogoni’s Mist, but he had deliberately twisted the flow of magic a few times to feign failure. He really didn’t want to go back to the noisy ball just yet.

“Gaynando… did you perhaps go for a swim?”

Ethan was taken aback by Gaynando’s appearance.

Gaynando was drenched in sweat, his clothes sticking to him. He sat in a chair, panting as though his heart would stop any second. He gasped for air, his chest heaving like he had run a long race. He was so breathless he could barely speak.

“Th-these, gasp, shoes, hrrrk, crazy professor, hrrrk…”

“Don’t trust shoes from a crazy professor, got it.”

Gaynando nodded repeatedly. Ethan then realised that Gaynando was barefoot.

Presumably, something had gone wrong with the artifact, and he had barely managed to break free and escape.

‘I told him not to wear them.’

As Ethan lamented inwardly, a few city nobles passed by and admired Gaynando.

“That was truly an amazing dance.”

“Someone who dances that well is rare, even in the capital. Everyone will be in awe when His Highness the Prince makes his debut in society.”

Ethan was astonished.

That Professor Verdus’s cursed artifact could turn out to be such a stroke of luck.

Ethan didn’t know how Gaynando had danced, but it was clear he had put on such a spectacular performance that even the city nobles, seasoned veterans of society and balls, were left in awe.

“However, His Highness the Prince does have a significant flaw, doesn’t he?”

“Ah, yes… If he doesn’t correct that flaw, he may not be welcomed in society.”

Lee Han blinked. This surprise felt different, a strange twist in his stomach.

“What now?” he muttered to himself. “What kind of mess has Gainando gotten into this time?”

Gainando was clumsy, yes. Everyone knew that. But usually, his clumsiness just led to tripping over rugs or spilling drinks. He didn’t often *cause* real trouble. Especially not here, at the ball.

He spent most of the year at the magic school. Before that, he wouldn’t have had many chances to go to parties. So, how could he cause trouble?

“Had Gainando said something he shouldn’t have? Had he been rude to someone important?” Lee Han wondered.

“He won a card game… using dark magic curses? How could he do that?”

“Using such a trick in a friendly game? Where is your honor?” someone exclaimed.

“……”

Lee Han was speechless.

Seriously, what…?

“‘To say that just because I played a few cards is too much.”

“Mr. Wodanaz.”

While Lee Han was surprised, two friends from the White Tiger Tower came up to him.

People had been so polite to Lee Han all day, calling him by respectful titles. His ears were almost ringing from it. He even jumped a little when someone spoke to him, without meaning to.

“Rowena. Keultran. Good to see you,” Lee Han said.

Rowena was a knight from the East and one of the princess’s followers. Keultran was a knight who had broken his ankle playing polo and had received help from Lee Han.

Keultran looked puzzled. “By the way, Wodanaz, where were you during the ball? I didn’t see you.”

“I met with the City mages and had a brief conversation,” Lee Han said. It wasn’t a lie.

“Oh… that’s amazing, as expected,” Keultran said.

Keultran misunderstood. He thought the City mages had *asked* to speak to Wodanaz because Wodanaz was so famous and respected.

It wasn’t entirely wrong.

Of course, it wasn’t a story that Keultran should envy.

“Mr. Wodanaz. This seems a bit unfair,” Rowena complained, sounding annoyed. Lee Han didn’t understand.

“What are you talking about?”

“The princess is also Mr. Wodanaz’s friend, but you only gave those shoes to Gainando.”

“……”

Rowena explained why she was upset. Gainando had been the center of attention at the ball. Because of this, Princess Adenarte, who was a very good dancer, hadn’t had a chance to dance and show her skills.

Keultran, who was listening, said, “But if she was overshadowed by Gainando, doesn’t that just mean her dancing skills aren’t as good…”

“How dare you?! That dance was just showy and flashy! A true dance is elegant and meaningful, even when it’s quiet…” Rowena retorted.

“Ah, no. I don’t know much about dancing,” Keultran admitted.

Keultran looked at Lee Han, asking for help.

“Rowena. I didn’t give those shoes. Professor Verdus…”

“When I asked the professor, I heard that you were going to give them, but you refused and gave them to Gainando… Am I wrong?”

“…I didn’t give them, Gainando just took them. And that’s a cursed artifact, you know,” Lee Han explained that Professor Verdus was crazy and that the artifact was cursed. But Rowena was still a little sad.

“It would have been better if I had worn it instead…”

Keultran looked at Rowena, then at Gainando lying on the floor far away, and shook his head. Then he mouthed words to Lee Han.

-I don’t know why they’re so loyal. Everyone seems crazy.

-They’re your tower friends.

-…Don’t act like it’s someone else’s problem. Wodanaz, you’re the nanny of your four towers.

“…What nonsense are you spouting?” Lee Han said loudly without thinking. He had been quietly repeating Keultran’s words to himself, but then he was shocked by what Keultran said.

Rowena was flustered and apologized.

“I-I’m sorry. Was it too rude of me to say that I would wear it?”

“That’s not it… More than that, Rowena. Do the White Tiger Tower guys call me a nanny?” Lee Han’s voice changed and became serious.

Rowena heard Lee Han’s voice change and become serious. She stopped talking.

“A-Ah! Your Highness! Your Highness! This way!” Rowena called to Adenarte. Lee Han thought to himself.

‘Isn’t her loyalty weaker than I thought?’

Rowena didn’t know Lee Han was wondering if she was really loyal. She just pointed to the princess. Adenarte, who was holding a snack plate, was pulled over without knowing why.

“I’ll take it for you,” Rowena offered.

“It’s not like I don’t have hands or feet, why bother? Let her eat what she likes…” Lee Han said.

Even though Lee Han was still talking, Rowena quickly took the plate and walked away.

Keultran, who was next to her, grabbed the plate like lightning and stood up himself.

He had quickly realized that if he stayed still, he would have to face the enraged Wodanaz alone. He wasn’t a knight for nothing.

‘Hmm. This is awkward,’ Lee Han thought.

Lee Han looked at Gainando, still lying on the floor. He wondered if he should go get him.

Even if they were friends, some friends were comfortable, and some were awkward because they hadn’t talked much.

The princess was a typical example of the latter.

“Did you have a good vacation?”

The princess nodded lightly and opened her mouth.

“This time…”

‘Basilisk? Beller family? King of Ghouls? Undead Chimera? Crimson Forest Knights?’ Lee Han thought quickly about what the princess might say. He began to blame himself.

“…I heard you had dinner with Prince Gainando.”

“Excuse me?” Lee Han stopped, surprised by her words.

‘What’s this? Is she trying to keep me in check because I’m in the Gainando faction?’

If that were the case, Lee Han was planning to say, ‘I’m not in the Gainando faction, haha. Feel free to fight with Gainando, I don’t care.’

However, instead of speaking, Adenarte looked at him. Her blue eyes showed feelings he couldn’t quite understand.

Lee Han felt like he had seen that look somewhere before.

To be exact, it was when he had a lot of homework piled up, and Gainando couldn’t bring himself to say it but looked at him with pitiful eyes…

‘No. Could it be,’ Lee Han wondered.

Lee Han wondered what he was thinking. The princess wasn’t someone who would ask for help because she couldn’t do her homework. Comparing her to Gainando was an insult.

“I brought it,” Rowena said as she returned with snacks on a plate.

Lee Han looked at the plate. It was full of green vegetables. He was confused.

“Uh… what about what the princess will eat?”

“This is the plate, though?”

“……”

Lee Han saw the princess look sad for a moment.