Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 397

But the ominous premonitions always came true.

“You’re right? How did you know?”

Lee Han, who had gone to Professor Roamfoot with a question, was dumbfounded.

He wouldn’t have been so surprised if it had been Professor Volardy, who had a track record from the first semester.

He would have understood if it had been Professor Inglethorpe, but even Professor Roamfoot was doing this!

“Why do you need an outsider to learn alchemy?”

“Well, the world of alchemy is vast and endless… We need to learn not only the secrets recorded in Einrogard but also the secrets of other alchemists, don’t we?” Professor Roamfoot asked, as if wondering why he was asking such an obvious question.

Lee Han was speechless at the answer.

‘I guess that’s true.’

He felt it while working in the workshop during the vacation, that magic was endless in any field.

In alchemy alone, there were secrets and manufacturing methods developed specifically by Workshop A, and magic used only by Guild B.

If you could learn these things, it was right to invite anyone from outside.

“I’m sorry, Professor. I think I was prejudiced because the other wicked people invited outside people and forced them to duel.”

Lee Han apologized sincerely.

Then Roamfoot avoided his gaze with a slightly embarrassed expression.

“…Professor??”

“Uh… let me say in advance that I didn’t invite outside people because I wanted to torment you like the Headmaster.”

“I said wicked people, not the Headmaster…”

“But as a result, it’s true that it’s a duel.”

“……”

When Lee Han stared at him, Professor Roamfoot hurriedly continued.

“I didn’t do it because I liked it!”

“Yeah, well… the Headmaster often says that…”

“Alchemists are eccentric! Do you think you can just learn secrets without any compensation? No matter how high the name of Einrogard is, that’s not the case!”

In fact, not only alchemists but all wizards were eccentric in their own way.

But originally, it is human nature that the madmen in their own fields seem the craziest.

The imperial alchemists that Roamfoot invited this time were not easy to persuade with money, fame, or the Headmaster’s threats.

The only way to get secrets from them was to convince them directly with skill.

“So, it’s a duel after all.”

“It is, but strictly speaking, it’s a bit different from other professors…”

“It still seems like a duel, though.”

Professor Roamfoot cursed Lee Han inwardly.

Not long after, Professor Roamfoot announced the truth in the alchemy lecture.

“-Inviting the alchemists of the Paragranum Guild of the Empire today will be a very valuable opportunity for you.”

“-Paragranum Guild!! Is that the guild that created the cure for blood disease two years ago?”

“-You got it right.”

“-It’s a real honor!”

“-Yeah. I guess so? So, everyone, work hard and give them a good shot.”

“-Yes?”

The students didn’t understand at first.

It wasn’t exam period, but they had to show something to the famous alchemists from the Empire and get their skills recognized.

They had been studying alchemy hard since the second semester started, but this news came out of nowhere!

“-Can’t we just take an exam?”

“-We’ll have an exam during the midterms, why are you already…”

“-If we don’t get recognized, won’t it affect our lecture grades?”

“-What do you think?”

The students who chose the alchemy lecture had to walk out with gloomy faces.

In fact, it wasn’t just the students taking the alchemy lecture who were gloomy. The students taking other lectures were similarly gloomy.

More than two weeks into the second semester, the professors were starting to show their real, stricter sides and starting to raise the difficulty.

The majority of students denied it, saying it was unbelievable, but the professors in the first semester were kind enough to teach the new students, taking them into consideration.

“Who are you looking for?”

“Ah. Priest Nigisor.”

Lee Han looked around and waved his hand when he found the fire elemental mixed-blood priest.

“I was going to ask the kids taking alchemy from the Blue Dragon Tower what they were going to do. I came out to talk for a bit and they were already gone.”

“Ah… the people from the Blue Dragon Tower went back earlier. I heard them saying that they would go back and lie down because their stomachs would empty quickly if they stood.”

“That’s a funny joke.”

“?”

“…Wasn’t it a joke? I should go to the dormitory.”

Lee Han thought he should stop by the Phoenix Tower and get some snacks before visiting.

And Priest Nigisor followed Lee Han closely.

“Oh, do you have something to say?”

“Ah. It’s my turn this time, so I’m acting together.”

“…Okay.”

Lee Han packed his things with Priest Nigisor and headed to the Blue Dragon Tower.

While walking, Priest Nigisor asked for help to create a flame that would burn the world, and Lee Han ignored him as if he hadn’t heard.

Asan Dalcard lay in the lounge of the Blue Dragon Tower, staring blankly at his friends and playing with a quill.

Before he knew it, the third weekend of the second semester was approaching.

If he finished his homework today, he was thinking of eating a piece of bread he had saved.

At first, he thought that the semester starting without Wodanaz was a plot by the Headmaster, imagining he couldn’t stand them living comfortably and peacefully and was up to something.

But he didn’t know that one can discover one’s true self when faced with harsh despair.

Now, the Blue Dragon Tower is full of the sharpness and fighting spirit of life that has been sharpened.

Ah! The other nobles of the Empire will never know this real life…

In front, they were arguing over whether to kill a potato with chess, but Asan pretended not to see it.

Maybe this is the real life…

“Dalcard. Lee Han is calling you.”

“Why are you telling me that now!”

Asan threw the book he was holding on the floor and ran out in a hurry.

Outside, the Blue Dragon Tower students taking alchemy were already gathered.

“Still, everyone looks a little better since they’re taking alchemy.”

Having a talent for alchemy means knowing how to find something edible among the plants around you.

Even if the Blue Dragon Tower students are a little lacking in life skills, the people taking alchemy among them are still a little better…

Plop!

As soon as he finished speaking, one student fell to the side. Yoner said indifferently.

“I guess he was dizzy.”

“…Everyone, let’s eat something and talk.”

Lee Han spread plenty of jam and butter on the sliced bread and handed it to his friends.

Suddenly, the surroundings became quiet.

The air wasn’t crackling with magic, but with the sounds of hungry students devouring their food.

Lee Han stared at the long tables piled high with food. Students were grabbing bread and gulping down milk like they hadn’t eaten in days. Feeling a little shocked, Lee Han turned to Yoner.

“Was it always… this crazy?”

Yoner sighed, rubbing his tired eyes. “Everyone’s just really hungry, Lee Han. It’s been a tough week of exams at Einroguard.” He managed a small smile. “Don’t worry, I’m not too strange yet, just worn out like everyone else.”

“What about the alchemy students?” Lee Han asked.

Yoner hesitated. “Well… getting ingredients for alchemy is… harder than you think. Especially when you have to find them yourself.” He clearly didn’t want to say anything bad about his friends’ alchemy skills.

Lee Han’s eyes widened. “Wait a minute! Don’t tell me you used to have servants gather all your ingredients for you back at your mansion?!”

Yoner coughed, suddenly finding his milk very interesting. “Cough.”

Lee Han’s voice had risen, and in the suddenly quiet hall, it sounded very loud. A few students nearby turned to stare, and some coughed, perhaps from the dust in the old temple.

“I… I won’t use servants anymore,” Yoner mumbled, embarrassed. “Sorry, Lee Han.”

“No, no, it’s fine,” Lee Han said quickly. “Here, drink your milk.”

He poured Yoner a glass. Then, he noticed the Princess. She was staring at the large jar of milk with wide, pleading eyes. She looked like she hadn’t had a drop in days. Lee Han quickly poured a glass for her too. Her face lit up with relief as she took it.

“Don’t your… uh… people who follow you give you food?” Lee Han asked, unsure what to call them.

Yoner whispered, “She’s a Princess of Eldoria. Eldorians don’t take food from those who serve them. That would be shameful.”

“Oh,” Lee Han said. “I’d almost prefer it if she was from Gainando then.”

“Right,” Yoner agreed.

The Princess, overhearing their hushed words, felt a little stung but didn’t know how to respond. She just gratefully drank her milk, the cool liquid soothing her throat.

“Priest Nigisore,” Lee Han offered, “would you like some milk?”

“Thank you, but no,” the priest replied with a gentle smile. “I would prefer to offer a prayer.”

“A prayer?” Lee Han knew the Aphah Order was devoted to fire, their prayers often involving flames. “Actually, I was just about to light a fire for my alchemy practice. We could prepare it together. What do you need?”

Priest Nigisore’s smile widened. “Excellent! Just follow my instructions.” He thought to himself, watching Lee Han, a brilliant student from the Blue Dragon Tower magic school, “This young man is truly perfect for the Aphah Order.”

Priest Nigisore began to instruct Lee Han. “We could use a wizard’s staff to light the fire, but the Order prefers to do it ourselves. It’s about the process, and how we shape the flame.” They carefully mixed dark charcoal powder with shimmering metal dusts, piling it into a small mound on the stone floor. With a focused breath, Priest Nigisore touched a lit taper to the pile. It sparked, then burst into flame. But this was no ordinary fire. It burned with a deep, pulsing orange, unlike any flame Lee Han had seen before.

“Isn’t it incredible?” Lee Han exclaimed, turning to his friends. “The magical energy… you can almost feel it!” He trailed off, noticing that Yoner and the Princess were still happily munching on bread, barely glancing at the fire.

“I’m… I’m looking,” Yoner mumbled with his mouth full.

Lee Han just sighed, a little disappointed.

“Would you like to offer a prayer now?” Priest Nigisore asked.

“Yes,” Lee Han agreed. He stepped forward, focusing his magical energy. He knew that prayers channeled divine power, something different from the magic he usually used. He hadn’t even asked the priest about the Aphah Order’s prayers, assuming it would be too complex for a first try. He’d failed at divine magic before. But this time, something felt different. The energy within him seemed to surge forward on its own, like an instinct. Like how you flinch back from a hot stove before you even think about it, the divine power flowed out of Lee Han, unbidden.

“What…?” Lee Han gasped.

Then, with a sudden *whoosh*, the orange flame in front of him transformed. It erupted into a brilliant, pure white, burning hotter and brighter than before. Priest Nigisore’s eyes widened, his mouth dropping open in astonishment.

“It is! It truly is!” he exclaimed, his voice trembling with excitement. “Everyone, look! Are you seeing this?” He turned to the others, eager to share the miracle. “Look, I said look!”

Yoner blinked, bread halfway to his mouth. “Huh? What’s all the shouting?”

The Princess frowned, slightly annoyed at being interrupted mid-meal. “Is it… fire?”

“But it’s white!” Yoner said, finally noticing the change.

“Is it some kind of magic trick?” the Princess asked, unimpressed.

“No, no, it’s not magic!” Priest Nigisore sputtered, practically bouncing with excitement, trying to explain. Meanwhile, Lee Han just stared at the white flame, completely stunned.

Unlike his usual magic spells, Lee Han realized he had no idea *how* he had performed this divine miracle. It was like catching a ball thrown at you unexpectedly – your hand just moved, without you consciously thinking about it. It was a magic of instinct, a feeling, not something he could explain with logic.

“Has… has the nature of the flame changed?” Lee Han murmured, feeling a strange, powerful energy radiating from the white fire. This was no ordinary flame anymore. It felt… different, touched by something divine.

“Um, Priest Nigisore,” Lee Han asked hesitantly, “is it possible that a flame changed by divine power is… easier to control?”

Priest Nigisore blinked. “Control it? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

“Oh,” Lee Han said, a wave of disappointment washing over him. “Right.” He sighed inwardly. He realized, with a pang of frustration, that he wanted to *master* the flame, to bend it to his will, far more than simply making it stronger. Strength alone… wasn’t everything.

“Lee Han,” Yoner said, tilting his head thoughtfully, “is it… alright that you succeeded like this?”

Lee Han frowned, confused. “What do you mean? Why wouldn’t it be alright?”

“Well,” Yoner hesitated, “I thought… maybe you were trying to fail on purpose.”

“Fail on purpose? Why would I do that?” Lee Han asked, genuinely puzzled. “And how *could* you even fail on purpose at something like this?”

“I just thought,” Yoner mumbled, “that maybe the priests from the Phoenix Tower would be… jealous if only someone from the Blue Dragon Tower succeeded.”

Lee Han chuckled, but the sound died in his throat. “Haha… Priests aren’t that petty, Yoner.” But as he said the words, a shadow crossed his face, and his smile vanished. He suddenly remembered something… something about competition, and expectations, and the pressure to always be the best. His jaw tightened.