Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 359

Black wizards didn’t spend time near graveyards because they enjoyed being there.

Some black wizards might have liked graveyards, but most wizards would prefer a warm fireplace to a cold, gloomy graveyard.

Black wizards stayed near graveyards because it was helpful for their black magic.

By getting used to the feeling of death, they became better at summoning undead creatures. It also gave them more magical power for black magic spells. Most importantly, they could do secret magic experiments without anyone watching.

That last reason was very important.

Most people didn’t want black wizards doing experiments next door.

Even black wizards didn’t want to do these experiments in their own homes.

Spraying poisons on the flowers and having undead creatures walking on the lawn would turn even the most beautiful garden into a graveyard.

This was especially true for the homes of important and old families…

Ah, Senior, you’ve arrived?

Leehan, who was controlling the undead in the garden in front of the mansion, greeted Dirette happily.

The undead bowed their heads slowly and awkwardly. Dirette was surprised.

He’s improved this much in such a short time?!

Dirette knew that Leehan was having trouble controlling the undead.

It made sense, in a way.

After all, a first-year student was trying to control the undead in the classic black magic style.

The fact that he had even managed to make them move at all was impressive.

How did you make them move?

Ah, I still have a long way to go. They’re supposed to move gracefully…

The correct, graceful method involved carefully putting together dozens, even hundreds, of commands into one.

Walking was easy for a living creature, but making a skeleton warrior with no will of its own walk required dozens, even hundreds, of detailed instructions, like ‘Move the foot bones,’ ‘Move the shin bone,’ ‘Transfer the movement to the thigh bone,’ and so on.

Of course, it was impossible to do all of this one by one. The wizard had to be able to combine these dozens, hundreds of commands into one, so they could simply say, ‘Walk.’

That whole complex flow of magical power and understanding was something that a first-year student could never learn just by trying things out. You needed a lot of experience.

So, Leehan used a shortcut.

I just poured more magical power into them.

Instead of giving detailed instructions one by one, he just blasted the command ‘Walk’ with a huge amount of magical power.

Of course, this didn’t work very well.

The undead were actually very slow.

Giving detailed instructions one by one would have been much faster.

But the important thing was that they moved.

Once they had been made to move once, it was possible to improve through practice and intuition. Also, this junior seemed to have plenty of magical power to spare, even after wasting so much.

It might be a faster way than thinking hard and calculating every command.

That’s a very good method, don’t you think?

Senior…

Leehan looked at Dirette with a slightly sad expression. Dirette was surprised.

Why?

Come on, Senior. I’m not stupid. I can tell when someone’s just being polite. You don’t have to pretend to praise me like that.

No… hey!

Dirette felt very wronged.

Of course, it was a rough method, but it worked, so he said it was good. But this junior!

I’m telling you, it’s not!

Yes, if that’s what Senior says, then that’s what it is.

Dirette felt annoyed by his junior’s words, which made him seem like a ‘mean senior who bullies his juniors.’

Leehan then grabbed the luggage that Dirette had brought.

I’ll carry that for you. What is this?

Ah, that’s a visiting gift…

Leehan looked inside the box. It was full of strange bones.

When he felt the magical power, he sensed a strong dark magic.

Thank you so much, Senior. I never expected to receive such a gift…

Really?

Dirette looked a little embarrassed. It was a gift he had chosen carefully, but he didn’t expect his junior to like it this much.

Please, sit here. I’ll get something to drink.

Ah, I’ll help…

You’re a guest, so I can’t let you do that. But what about the others…

They’re juniors who are also taking black magic classes.

Indeed!

Leehan’s eyes lit up for a moment.

Seniors from the same school of magic.

Leehan had to meet seniors from all schools of magic, but it was always good to make a good impression on seniors from his own school.

Everyone, please sit down. I’ll bring something to drink soon.

O-okay.

Ahem. Well… not bad.

The black magic students tried their best to look like they were used to being treated like this.

Of course, they all looked awkward, which made Leehan think otherwise.

Are they not feeling well?

As Leehan politely bowed and left, the black magic students, who had been sitting in stiff, arrogant poses, immediately relaxed and whispered.

What is this?? Did you put a curse on him?

Did you threaten him?

Dirette regretted bringing these guys along.

How can you say that now…

It’s already strange enough that a student from the Blue Dragon Tower, and from the Wodanaz family no less, is learning black magic! Why is he being so polite!?

It’s creepy that a Blue Dragon Tower student is acting like that???

Isn’t he from the Blue Dragon Tower?

The black magic students murmured to each other.

Basically, Blue Dragon Tower students didn’t learn black magic.

Why would those who cared so much about things like honor, reputation, and family, bother learning black magic?

Even if he was a very unusual Blue Dragon Tower student, there was still a problem.

Why was he being so polite?

Indeed.

Dirette could understand his juniors’ confusion.

Students at the magic school didn’t usually bother being so polite unless they were seniors from their own tower.

They wouldn’t be rude, at least not enough to get beaten up inside the magic school, but outside, they would often ignore you, saying, ‘Do I know you?’

This was especially true of Blue Dragon Tower students.

Why would they bother being polite outside when they were scared and kept their heads down inside?

Blue Dragon Tower students rarely met each other, and even if they did, they would just ignore each other and go about their business.

And that was even more annoying.

It would be better if they growled and snapped like the White Tiger Tower…

We met in the punishment room. I became friends with him while bringing him food in the punishment room.

Senior did?

Well… no… he brought it to me, though.

The juniors stared at Dirette with eyes full of shock, suspicion, and confusion.

How could they have made a Blue Dragon Tower student from a great family do chores in the punishment room?

Even if they tried to believe him, only one thing came to mind.

It’s a curse. Definitely a curse.

No. It’s poison. Poison is cleaner and less likely to be found than a curse. As long as he gets an antidote every week…

Shouldn’t we stop Dirette Senior? If there’s another article in the Imperial Newspaper…

I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it’s all a misunderstanding. You nasty guys.

When Leehan brought out a teapot and a glass bottle filled with juice so cold that it was dewy, the black magic students looked at Leehan with pity.

Junior… explain it to them. These guys think I’m threatening you.

What nonsense… I’m not being threatened.

Even after Leehan’s words, the black magic students nodded with sad eyes, as if saying, ‘Yeah, right.’

I guess there’s no point in explaining anything?

I was crazy to bring you guys along. What’s so good about you… Did you call the other first-year students?

Yes, I did.

Leehan, having heard the purpose of today’s gathering, had called his other friends as well.

One of them was a prince.

I’m sure Senior will clear up the misunderstanding on his own.

Leehan passed the responsibility to Dirette, saying it was his job to take care of it. Frankly, it was a hassle.

Can I ask a few questions?

Yes.

Leehan could tell that not all of the seniors liked him.

That was normal.

In any world, some people would like a new person, and others would be hostile.

What the new person was thinking, how honest they were, and so on.

Showing them the right side of himself now would make things easier later.

I’m ready.

Leehan also knew his weaknesses.

The fact that he was taking classes in too many schools of magic at the same time.

It wasn’t on purpose, but it could look bad.

But Leehan was sure that he could make up for it.

Honestly, who among the first-year students was working as hard at black magic as Leehan?

I saw you summon skeletons earlier. Is it okay to do that in the mansion’s front yard? Won’t the front yard get dirty?

It’s even better if it gets dirty. It will help when practicing black magic.

I saw you summoning the undead in a slightly different way earlier?

Yes. I’ve always been very interested in black magic, and I’ve wanted to research black magic that isn’t used much these days and make new discoveries. Luckily, Professor Mortuum has been supportive of my ambition, so I’ve been able to practice like this.

The fact that Headmaster Skull and Professor Mortuum had forced him to do it was presented as Leehan volunteering.

The black magic students, who didn’t know this, could only stare at Leehan in admiration.

Why is such a talented person in black magic?

Hmph.

However, unlike the other students, the senior who had asked the question didn’t let it go easily.

As if to show that he was different, he shook his head a few times and asked more questions.

Anyone can have ambition. The important thing is how you achieve it. I’m curious if you’re good at the basics. Can you cast curses?

Yes.

Poisons?

I can make cyanic poison.

Dirette added from the side.

He can also control dark elements.

At those words, the senior looked surprised and nodded firmly.

He didn’t say it, but it was a sign that he gave up and had no more questions.

I’m sorry, Junior. Ogoldos is usually grumpy.

While the other students were drinking, Dirette took Leehan aside and apologized.

He’s very serious about black magic. So, he hates it when new juniors try it for a while and then quit.

I understand. He has every right to be.

Leehan wasn’t offended by seniors like Ogoldos.

The real crazy people were the professors; no matter how hard the seniors tried, they could never be as crazy as them.

Sometimes I really wonder if I’ve poisoned you or something and am threatening you. A promising junior like you in black magic…

But I’m also taking other magic classes.

I know, so be quiet.

Dirette explained more about how often these meetings were held and why.

Black magic students shared information and useful job opportunities or chances during vacations…

Oh, I heard a rumor that the professors fought in the streets to get you. Is that true?

Yes, it’s true. But where is Professor Mortuum?

Professor Mortuum? He’s usually in Granden City when we have meetings. Wait a minute. It’s true?

He’s in Granden City? Why?

He tells us to call him to the meetings if we need help with magic research. But we usually don’t talk about magic research even at the meetings. Hey, Junior. But just now…

Senior, just a moment.

Leehan felt uneasy and stopped Dirette.

Professor Mortuum wasn’t around, but strangely, he felt like he could hear his voice.

A voice saying, ‘Call me too!’