Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 46

Sound of a horse breathing heavily, like ‘huff, huff’.

“Do you need to rest?” Lee Han asked.

The white horse made a soft sound, like it was tired. Lee Han smiled a little. Just a short time ago, this horse was wild and angry. Now, it seemed to be talking to him.

‘We are becoming friends!’ Lee Han thought.

“Okay. Here is some water. And I have sugar for you too.”

Soft horse sound…

The white horse did not want to show it, but it was starting to like the boy.

Horse sound, louder!

Suddenly, the white horse opened its eyes wide. It felt old, wild power inside it. It was proud.

‘I cannot give up!’

Lee Han watched the horse and said, thinking aloud, “How can I take in more magic?”

Horse sound, softer again…

The white horse lowered its head again.

Even though Lee Han woke up early to care for the horse, school started on time. Sleepy or not, hungry or not, he had to get to class.

After his morning jobs, Lee Han gave his friends, who were going back to the Black Tortoise Tower, cans of beef and pickled cucumbers.

Nilia was very happy to get the food. But then she looked confused and checked her pockets.

“??”

“I… I don’t have money…”

“…It’s a gift,” Lee Han said.

Lee Han wondered if he was being too cold. ‘Was I too mean?’

“Really? For real? Really, really?”

“Just take it,” Lee Han said.

Nilia’s long ears wiggled as she took the cans.

But Raetford said firmly, “I cannot take this.”

“……”

Nilia looked at him, worried. ‘Do I have to give mine back too?’

“It’s an order,” Lee Han said to Raetford.

“Then, I will take it.” Raetford accepted. Nilia sighed in relief.

‘Phew! Thank goodness!’

After they left, Lee Han asked Yoner, “I can’t believe they acted like that. Yoner, am I too mean?”

“No? Why do you think that?”

“Okay, good.” Lee Han thought for a moment, ‘Maybe I should ask someone else…’ but he forgot about it quickly.

“Let’s make breakfast, Yoner. People who wake up early will be in the lounge. We can share some food. Can you help me with the money book?”

“Of course,” Yoner smiled.

They were both happy to treat their friends to a good breakfast. It wasn’t really free, but still, it was nice.

Lee Han put mustard on a small piece of bread and placed it on a plate. The fireplace in the freshman lounge was warm and welcoming, like an old friend. Bacon sizzled in the pan, and Lee Han cracked an egg next to it.

The egg fried quickly, making a happy sizzling sound.

‘Why am I doing this just because of some family history?’ Lee Han thought, annoyed.

He wasn’t making food for himself or for his friends in the lounge. This breakfast was for the princess, in her private room.

– Wodanaz, we will pay you silver coins if you bring breakfast to the princess again, like last time?

– Please, Wodanaz!

He was doing it for the money, but Lee Han still didn’t understand. Power should come from the people, not from some old, mysterious family. Why were students treating the royal family like this?

‘Gainan takes care of himself.’ Lee Han thought about another student. Gainan always got up, came to the lounge, and ate breakfast, even if no one helped him. He is good at looking after himself.

Maybe all this help was bad for the princess.

Knock, knock.

“?

The door opened, and Adenart stood there, just like before. She was quiet and pale, with large, serious eyes.

Lee Han shrugged and held out the plate. “I cooked downstairs.”

Lee Han thought Adenart looked a little happier today. Or maybe it was just the bright morning light from the window.

Adenart carefully took the plate, picked up a fork, and stopped for a moment. Then, she nodded her head slightly, closed the door, and went inside.

‘She ate inside this time. She is changing,’ Lee Han thought as he went back downstairs.

Wait a minute… He remembered there were people who followed the princess in other towers too, not just in the Blue Dragon Tower. If I talk to them, maybe I can get silver coins from each group!

Wow. That’s a bit evil, but it could work. Lee Han felt a little chill, thinking about his own cleverness. By graduation, I could have enough money to start my own small business.

“Wait, why are we inside today?”

“Don’t be tricked! They probably put a monster in the classroom.”

The Basic Alchemy class was in Gaksuk Hall, a building next to the main school building, not outside.

Greenhouses kept the building warmer than outside.

But the first-year students were learning quickly. Being inside was not always good!

“Everyone, get together! Be ready for a monster!”

“Princess, come here! We will protect you!”

“……”

Lee Han stared, surprised, at the students from the other towers. The princess is in the Blue Dragon Tower too!

“Don’t worry, Wodanaz. We are strong too!” Asan Dalcard said with a confident smile.

Lee Han’s group was getting bigger. Lee Han, Yoner, Asan, and even Nilia were together. We are just as good as any other group, Lee Han thought.

“Everyone, sit down,” Professor Uregeoreum said, yawning as he came in. He looked very tired.

“Professor, why are we not outside today?” a student asked.

“What? Because this is alchemy class, so we are inside,” the dwarf professor said, looking at the student like he was stupid.

The student looked embarrassed and asked again, “But last time, you said alchemy is about getting materials, so we are outside…”

“That’s when we are getting materials! You blockhead! Do you want to make medicine outside? You are so stubborn!”

Uregeoreum looked around at everyone. “Maybe you all thought the same thing? Don’t worry. Inside alchemy classes are safe and easy, unlike outside classes.”

‘That’s a lie.’

‘A big lie.’

‘If you believe that, you are a fool.’

The students didn’t believe him. Uregeoreum saw their faces and smiled.

“Now! Everyone, pour water into the pot in front of you. Alchemy is everything! From finding ingredients to putting out fires, everything is important. But making the magic potion is the most important part. If you waste ingredients you worked hard to get, you will never be a good alchemist! Open your books! Try to make a >Low-Grade Magic Recovery Potion>!”

Rustling sound of books opening.

The only sound was books opening all around the room.

‘This will be hard,’ Lee Han thought.

At first, alchemy might seem easier than other magic. Just put ingredients in order, right? No hard spells to learn?

But as soon as Lee Han tried it, he saw why alchemy was hard. It was like making a very difficult dish, very fast.

– Cut the Galamaldu base, then cut the rest into pieces the size of your little finger. Quickly tear the Seolhyang grass by hand before the Galamaldu dries. Boil Galamaldu for 3 minutes, Seolhyang grass for 2 minutes 30 seconds. Crush red magic stone powder. Put it in when the water turns green. When it turns orange, stir three times clockwise, three times counterclockwise, five times north to south…

So many ingredients, all at once! You had to remember everything, no time to look at the book. Every step had to be perfect. Your brain could hurt just thinking about it.

Bang! Pop! Crackle!

Just as expected, small explosions and smoke filled the room. Uregeoreum smiled happily. He loved seeing new alchemists fail and cough in the bad-smelling smoke. This is the best part!

“…?”

Uregeoreum was laughing, but then he stopped. He looked at Lee Han’s pot.

‘Why is he doing so well?’ Uregeoreum’s eyes opened wide.

He knew Lee Han was talented. Smart, and he worked hard without complaining. He had the skills of an alchemist.

But even talented students made mistakes at first. It’s normal! It’s expected! Otherwise, the teacher would be bored!

But Lee Han moved like a master alchemist, someone who had worked for years. He cut herbs quickly, the right size, put them in the pot. He turned hourglasses, poured liquids from bottles. He moved like he was dancing, never stopping.

Uregeoreum had to admit it. Genius is real. How else could a beginner be so perfect?

‘I swear on my beard, no one will believe me if I tell them this!’

But it wasn’t genius. It was just what happened when you worked for the professor for a long time!

Lee Han’s potion was blue. A deep, perfect blue. Uregeoreum knew it was perfect.

But Lee Han tasted it, frowned, and threw it away.

“???”

Uregeoreum was confused. Why throw it away?

Lee Han started again. He moved just as perfectly as before.

Another potion, the same perfect blue color.

Lee Han tasted it, frowned again, and threw it away again.

“……”

Uregeoreum could not take it anymore. Normally, he let students figure things out themselves. But he was too curious.

Uregeoreum walked quietly to Lee Han. “Why do you keep throwing away the medicine?” he asked.

“It doesn’t give magic back.”

“What?” Uregeoreum jumped.

He looked at the book again. Did I write the recipe wrong? No, it was right.

“????” He made it right, I saw him drink it. Why no magic?

“Make it again,” Uregeoreum said.

“Yes.” Lee Han made it again.

Uregeoreum watched, worried. He quickly took a spoon and drank the potion.

The blue liquid went down, and magic filled his body. Perfect! Even Uregeoreum could not have made it better.

“It’s good, right?”

“Is it?” Lee Han drank some, looking puzzled. He frowned again. “It’s not good?”

“……” Uregeoreum was shocked. Could this student make a better potion than my recipe? No! My pride!

“Ah,” Lee Han said. “It’s because I am already full of magic.”

“……” Uregeoreum stared, speechless.