Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 414

Ethan looked away. He knew the wrong way could never beat the right way.

The students came into the lecture hall, but they didn’t start dancing. They all sat down in the corner and started raising their glasses.

“?!” Ethan was surprised. What was going on?

‘Are they rebelling against the professor?’ he wondered.

But instead of punishing them, Professor Krinbel kindly poured coffee and tea for them.

“Y-Yonel, what is this?” Ethan asked.

“Ah, the professor thinks it’s not good to force people to dance,” Yonel said, pulling up a chair. “Dance should come from the heart. If you don’t want to dance, it’s not really dance.”

“…?” Ethan was confused. Was he in Einroguard or a tavern?

‘Is Einroguard really the place to say that?’ he thought.

“What do students who don’t want to dance do during class?” Ethan asked.

“Huh? They sit and… watch?” Yonel replied.

Ethan looked around at the students. They were chatting and looked relaxed, just like Yonel said.

“Did you just grind your teeth?” Yonel asked.

“You must have misheard. Anyway, Yonel, everyone else is having fun, but I’ve missed a whole semester,” Ethan said, trying to catch up on the lessons.

If it was any other class, Ethan would have been confident. But dance and socializing were different. He didn’t know much about dance, etiquette, or social skills. His dance experience was from the intensive lessons during the last vacation, and his knowledge of etiquette was from the Wodanaz family.

“How many dances do they test during the exam? What are the popular dances these days?” Ethan asked.

“The professor doesn’t check every little thing,” Yonel said, trying to stop Ethan from worrying. “He says things like, ‘What is dance? It’s not about how many dances you know, but how happy you are when you dance. Someone who dances one dance ten thousand times is better than someone who knows ten thousand dances.'”

“I understand for now. I’ll tell you what I know…” Yonel started.

“Professor! Professor!” Gainando shouted. He had been talking about wizard cards with Professor Krinbel.

“Why are you calling me like that, Gainando? Did you think of something fun?” Professor Krinbel asked.

“I will teach Ethan!” Gainando said.

“That’s a great idea!” Professor Krinbel said, then paused. “Wait, I heard Ethan is a good dancer. Are you going to teach him?”

Ethan was confused. Where did that idea come from?

‘Did the White Tiger Tower guys spread rumors to mess with me?’ he wondered.

“He must have missed some dances because he wasn’t here! I will teach him!” Gainando insisted.

“Can’t I just learn from Yonel?” Ethan asked, but Gainando ignored him. Gainando was a better dancer than Yonel.

“Okay! Even if you don’t learn anything, friendship is good. Go ahead and teach him!” Professor Krinbel said.

Gainando ran over excitedly, and Ethan felt worried. He thought Gainando might not be a good dancer.

Ethan looked at Gainando suspiciously but decided to wait. Gainando had been to more lectures and seemed confident. There must be something to learn.

When Gainando stepped on Ethan’s foot for the fifth time, Ethan kicked him in the shin.

“Hey! Go away and do your homework,” Ethan said. Teaching, really!

“Hmph,” Gainando said.

The other students were watching and were impressed.

“He lasted more than five times! I thought he would explode after five steps,” one student said.

“The Wodanaz are weak against their own Tower. He lasted more than five times. I win the bet,” another student said.

“Ha! So that’s how to get revenge on the Wodanaz,” a third student said.

“Anyone want to dance with me next time? Let me step on him a bit,” a fourth student said.

Ethan turned his head, and the students looked away.

Professor Krinbel apologized, “I’m sorry, Ethan! I thought Gainando would be okay because he has talent, even if he’s clumsy!”

“I see,” Ethan said. His opinion of Professor Krinbel went down a little.

“But I’m glad you’re such a good dancer, Ethan!” Professor Krinbel said.

“Me?” Ethan asked.

“Yes!” Professor Krinbel replied.

“I don’t know many dances, but…” Ethan said.

“It doesn’t matter how many dances you know, Ethan! What matters is here,” Professor Krinbel said, thumping his chest and stomping his foot. “It’s the heart! And you have a sincere heart for dance!”

Ethan didn’t understand. Professor Krinbel was a kind professor who believed in his students, but why was he praising Ethan so much?

“Why do you think that, Professor…?” Ethan asked.

“I heard it from Alradne!” Professor Krinbel said.

Ethan remembered that Professor Krinbel’s family was the Greenbel family, a traditional family in Granden City, where Ethan had spent his vacation.

If they were from the same family, they might have heard about what happened during the vacation.

‘Wait, something’s not right,’ Ethan thought.

He didn’t deny what he had done during the vacation. He had defeated the King of Ghouls, rescued the knights, and defeated the Basilisk. But had he done anything with dance?

‘I don’t think so?’ he thought.

“Professor, I didn’t dance at all during the vacation,” Ethan said.

“Ethan, dance is just a way to show sincerity!” Professor Krinbel said.

“No, I mean, I didn’t dance at all…” Ethan repeated.

“But the people in Granden’s high society want to invite you again! Are you going to refuse? Are you going to disappoint them?” Professor Krinbel asked.

Ethan almost said yes, but he stopped himself and thought about what the professor had said.

‘What…?’ he wondered.

Professor Krinbel explained that Asan’s brother and sister, the twins from the Dalcard family, the royals, the Aphah Order, Yoanen of the Meikin family, and the knights he had helped were all telling stories about him, and the rumors were spreading.

“I know rumors have spread, but it doesn’t have anything to do with dance…” Ethan said.

“Ethan, a true dancer impresses people even without dancing!” Professor Krinbel said.

“What nonsense…” Ethan started to say.

“You’re doing great! Don’t worry about dance, and think about the people in the room. That’s true socializing!” Professor Krinbel said.

Ethan was confused by the professor’s idea that someone was a good dancer if they got invited to social gatherings, no matter how.

“I understand,” Ethan said, deciding to study dance on his own.

But Professor Krinbel didn’t let him go.

“Ethan, I have an assignment for you! Go to the gatherings and talk to people! Let me hear about your fame and praise!” Professor Krinbel said.

‘I miss Professor Voladi,’ Ethan thought, shocked by the assignment.

“Can’t I just memorize dance moves in the lecture hall?” Ethan asked.

“Dance isn’t like that! And your dance is good enough. What’s important is winning people’s hearts!” Professor Krinbel said.

“That’s right, Wodanaz. Dance isn’t a skill, it’s about moving people’s hearts,” a friend said.

“You have enough skill! You have to prove it!” another friend said.

They saw Ethan’s face and flinched.

“Ah… no. It’s okay if you don’t want to prove it…” one friend said.

“Yeah. You’re already moving hearts enough,” another friend said.

“Hoo… Vandr. How have you been?” Ethan asked.

“Fine. You don’t look so good,” Vandr replied.

“Well, everyone’s working hard to manage the black market. Can I get some pork and rye bread?” Ethan asked, holding out a bottle of alcohol.

It was the weekend. Ethan had come to the Black Tortoise Tower’s black market to get food for the priests. He was still shocked by the new lecture.

A White Tiger Tower student who was trading ink bottles and paper protested, “Why does that Wodanaz guy get so much meat!? We traded the same alcohol!”

“When I traded with you, I was Vandr. When I traded with Wodanaz, I was Vandr working hard to manage the black market. Got it?” Vandr replied.

“What a jerk!” the student said.

Ethan finished the trade, wrapped the items, and got ready to leave.

“Wodanaz,” Salco, an elf student who looked like a dwarf, said quietly.

Ethan saw that Salco had something to say in secret, so he checked around and walked over.

“What’s the matter?” Ethan asked.

“I have some information. The White Tiger Tower guys are planning to escape this weekend,” Salco said.

“Is that so?” Ethan wasn’t surprised. Einroguard students always wanted to escape. They calmed down in the punishment room, but then wanted to escape again. It was like hamsters trying to escape their cages.

“Doesn’t that tempt you? What path did they find?” Salco asked.

“Are you saying we should rob them together?” Ethan asked.

“Of course. Why else would I call you?” Salco asked, looking surprised. He wouldn’t call the busy Wodanaz just to chat.

‘What do you mean, of course, you crazy bastard…’ Ethan thought. Anyone would think he was a robber.

“I’ll pass this time,” Ethan said.

“What!?” Salco was surprised. The fierce Wodanaz was giving up.

“Are you sick? Are you hurt?” Salco asked.

“It’s not that, but I have a lot to do, and the White Tiger Tower guys’ information is weak,” Ethan said.

“Hmm!” Salco paused, thinking that Ethan’s reason was good. He remembered trusting the White Tiger Tower guys in the first semester and getting burned.

“Is that so? They were foolish… Thanks, Wodanaz. I’ll think about it,” Salco said.

“Okay. Think carefully,” Ethan said.

“If you change your mind and want to rob them, contact me,” Salco said.

Ethan nodded.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s the middle of the night, tell me if you change your mind,” Salco said.

“I said I’m not robbing them,” Ethan replied.