Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 408

Lee Han thought hard. There was no easy answer to this problem.

Lee Han clicked his tongue, deep in thought.

“Thinking about it won’t help. There’s no answer anyway.”

“Alright. Thanks for the hard work, everyone… What’s that smell? Cake?” Lee Han asked.

“Um, yeah,” one student mumbled, looking down. “We had a little cake…”

Lee Han raised an eyebrow. “Cake? I told you to save some of Wodanaz’s cake!”

Seeing the White Tiger Tower students whispering, Lee Han waved his hand dismissively.

“It’s fine. You were hungry; you could eat some first.”

“Wodanaz…!”

“Well, now that you’ve filled your bellies, let’s go do some more work on the other side. The professors are on duty this week, and it must be tough for them.”

The White Tiger Tower students followed Lee Han, pouting.

Someone muttered,

“There’s no such thing as a free cake, after all.”

“You can’t become like Wodanaz just by imitating him.”

“I, I was just trying it out. Just trying.”

“Ratford. Could you lend a hand?”

“Of course.”

Ratford, who had been picking the lock on a box his friend brought from the black market, stood up without hesitation.

A Black Tower student, recognizing Lee Han, waved. Lee Han returned the greeting with a light nod, as if to say thank you.

Salco, watching from afar, was dumbfounded. ‘Anyone would think he’s a Black Tortoise Tower student!’

Usually, when students from other towers came, the Black Tortoise Tower students would grumble, ‘Why are you here?’ ‘What are you looking at?’ ‘Are you a thief? If you’re going to buy something, buy it; if not, why are you standing there?’ But when Wodanaz came, they treated him like a close friend.

Salco wasn’t in a position to criticize anyone, but…

“But what do you need help with? Are you planning to steal something?”

“I wouldn’t ask for something like that so easily.”

“You can ask easily…”

“Today, it’s just a check.”

Ratford was curious at Lee Han’s words. What was he checking?

“Checking the animals Professor Lightning Gait prepared for his lecture. I can’t shake this feeling of unease.”

After the start of the second semester, Lee Han had matured a bit more. He had started preparing for lectures in advance.

‘No matter how I think about it, if I just trust the professor, I’ll probably end up with a broken limb. I need to check first.’

Lee Han had already realized the truth that other upperclassmen only grasped in their second or third year.

“Indeed… You truly are Wodanaz.”

Ratford was impressed. Is that why he’s the top student?

“Professor Lightning Gait probably used magic to protect the animals. I’ll deal with the magic barrier. Ratford, can you handle the lock?”

“Wodanaz, you could honestly go anywhere and call yourself a proper thief now…”

Lee Han was embarrassed by Ratford’s praise for the first time in a while.

“Am I not quite there yet?”

“No, you’re definitely there. Honestly, you’re more than qualified. You should be proud of the results of your hard work.”

“Heh heh. Is that so?”

Lee Han was pleased. It was worth all the effort he had put into picking locks at Ratford’s direction.

The festival field was a wide, dusty space between two dark forests. The air smelled of hay and roasting meat, and the sounds of excited chatter and strange animal calls filled the air.

On one side was the summoning magic test site that the first-year students had worked hard on over the weekend, and on the other side was the winding racecourse where Professor Lightning Gait’s lecture would take place.

“Seeing the racecourse, it might be a riding lecture.”

Professor Lightning Gait had emphasized the importance of taming and riding animals even during the first semester. If it was about taming and riding new monsters, there was a higher chance it would be relatively safe.

“Or it might be a lecture on running away from monsters.”

It was sad that he couldn’t deny Ratford’s words. The winding racecourse certainly looked like it would be good for escaping from monsters chasing from behind.

“Ratford, please check the surroundings.”

“Yes. No one’s around. Honestly… there’s no security at all. They seem a bit complacent.”

“The professors are usually like that. They make the students do everything, so their own sense of danger is lacking.”

Lee Han approached the site, grumbling about the professors.

‘I won’t even need Paragranum’s Veil.’

He thought it would be dangerous, but it was surprisingly easy to get close. Lee Han cautiously stepped forward.

Gently— As he tried to lift the covering cloth, it stuck tightly as expected and wouldn’t come off. Lee Han immediately swung his magic like a hammer. With a silent roar, the cloth came off.

And what awaited him was an astonishing sight.

“…?!”

There was nothing inside the pen. Ratford was flustered, but Lee Han quickly realized.

“It’s a monster with the ability to turn invisible.”

“Invisibility?”

“It’s a Quine.”

“!”

Ratford was startled by the voice from behind. He had been momentarily distracted by the empty pen. It was a mistake that wounded his pride as a thief.

“Kraah… Such a mistake…”

“Shhh. Ratford. It’s okay, keep your expression under control. We haven’t been caught yet.”

The innocent wizard, unaware of the two students’ scheme, held out a permit and said,

“Here’s a permit from Lord Gonadaltes. I’m visiting for the summoning magic festival. I apologize if I’m disturbing you while you’re busy taking care of the Quine.”

“Not at all. Welcome to Einroguard.”

The wizard smiled at Lee Han’s polite greeting. Judging by his tone and gestures, it was clear that he came from a great noble family.

“Indeed, it’s a truly wonderful place. I never imagined the magic of nature would be so strong… The wizards who study here must feel like they’re living a dream every day.”

“…Yes, well.”

“It depends on what kind of dream it is…”

“Pardon?”

“It’s nothing.”

The two quickly changed the subject, not wanting to shatter the outsider’s illusion.

“By the way, what is that?”

“Ah, you mean the Quine? It’s gentle, really. And cute, in its own way.”

It was said to be the size of a small elephant, but no one could see it. People said you could sometimes hear its soft, padded footsteps on the grass, or feel a strange warmth in the air where it stood.

“Wait, does it… eat people?” the wizard asked, a little nervously.

“Eat people? No, no!” Lee Han laughed. “It’s gentle, really. And cute, in its own way.”

“Oh, right, cute,” the wizard repeated, still sounding unsure. “But even cute animals can bite, right?”

The two students exchanged meaningful glances, but the wizard didn’t notice.

“When I was young, my teacher brought one of these creatures. I kept missing the invisible monsters, so he wanted to teach me how to find them. I was so scared back then.”

“…You said it was gentle and cute?”

“But it loves to play pranks. It’s so scary when it chases you from behind, making a lot of noise! Haha!”

“…Do you also train to ride the Quine?”

“Ride the Quine? I don’t think it has that kind of personality. I’ve never heard of it liking to carry anyone.”

Lee Han and Ratford’s faces clouded over as Ratford’s guess turned out to be correct. Did they really have to engage in a chase scene against an invisible beast?

“The venue is well-prepared. As expected of Einroguard. At the festival three years ago, the preparations were poor due to the uncooperative attitude of the local families… Do you see that large pit over there? That’s where the wizards who will summon creatures will gather.”

Ratford asked absentmindedly,

“Why do you need such a large pit?”

“There are always wizards who summon strange things… If they summon them inside that pit, it’s easy to bury them.”

Ratford was flustered and whispered to Lee Han,

“Is he joking?”

“No. He’s serious.”

Lee Han changed the subject to the Quine, thinking that hearing about the terrible festival in advance would only make him feel worse. The invisible giant beast that would trample him was more dangerous at the moment.

“Do you happen to have any tips for dealing with the Quine?”

“Magic that leaves a trace is good. Preparing potions with strong colors in advance is also helpful.”

Lee Han shook his head at the wizard’s textbook advice. Of course, Lee Han already knew that much.

“I mean, is there a way to make it run away?”

“…Well… yes, but… the Quine is a gentle beast, so why are you asking about such methods?”

The wizard asked, slightly wary.

Lee Han, noticing this, replied smoothly,

“I have to take care of it, and I’m worried I might make a mistake.”

“Ah, I see. I was worried for nothing…”

The wizard believed him and told them everything. Fortunately, there was a potion to repel the Quine.

After hearing enough, Lee Han nodded gratefully.

“Thank you. I’ll take good care of it.”

“Wait, wait a minute.”

“??”

The wizard called out to the two.

“Do you happen to know a student named Wodanaz? He’s a student who specializes in golem control?”

“I don’t know him?”

“Never heard of him?”

“Is that so… Is it because the school is so big? Anyway, thank you.”

The wizard thanked them and walked away.

As soon as the wizard disappeared, Lee Han asked Ratford with a look of astonishment,

“What is this? Seriously? How?”

“Could it be because of those White Tiger Tower guys? Most problems are because of them, aren’t they?”

“No… I don’t think so this time. How could the White Tiger Tower guys spread such rumors? Seriously, what is it? Is it the headmaster??”

Lee Han was confused, unaware that he had already found the answer.

“…Wodanaz!”

“Yes?”

Professor Lightning Gait called out to Lee Han, seeing that all the assembled students were holding vials filled with black ink.

“You’re the culprit, aren’t you?”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Don’t play dumb. Honestly… these first-years are just too quick to catch on.”

Professor Lightning Gait looked around at the students, dumbfounded. The students subtly avoided his gaze.

Not even the seasoned third-years could figure out the lecture content in advance, but these first-year students had. ‘It’s different when there’s a lion among the sheep.’

“I’ll give you credit. You managed to figure it out. It takes skill to prepare like this in advance.”

The students breathed a sigh of relief, but Lee Han maintained an expression of complete ignorance.

“But just because you’ve prepared in advance doesn’t mean today’s lecture will be easy. This monster is called a Quine, and…”

Professor Lightning Gait described the appearance of the invisible monster in as much detail as possible.

One of the students cautiously raised their hand.

“Do you have a question?”

“Yes, Professor. Do we really have to run away from that invisible monster? Or are we just supposed to figure out the location of the stationary creature?”

“Wodanaz figured that out too? That’s amazing.”

Professor Lightning Gait stared at Lee Han with amazement. It was possible to figure out that he had prepared the Quine, but it wasn’t easy to figure out in advance that the lecture would involve running away from it. How?

“…Ah, no… Isn’t the goal of the lecture to figure out the location of the invisible monster?”

“That’s right. But the monster doesn’t stand still, so of course you have to practice against a moving one. The Quine is relatively easy. You have to avoid it from here to there, without leaving the racecourse. You only have to last until this hourglass runs out, so don’t worry too much.”

Lee Han, without showing any surprise, rummaged through his things and took out the potion he had made. He had already braced himself for this.

“Wo, Wodanaz. Can I still buy a potion?”

“The price has gone up a bit now.”

“I don’t care! I’m sorry for doubting you!”

Professor Lightning Gait shook his head. ‘…Wodanaz can’t be compared to the third-years.’ Seeing that, the third-years seemed almost innocent by comparison.