Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 466

Ethan was not like the Death Knight’s master. His master would get angry very easily and punish people for small things.

Instead, Ethan replied calmly, “I certainly hear that a lot.”

The Death Knight was surprised.

He was moved that such an important person would listen to his subordinates.

Unlike the Skeleton Headmaster, Ethan seemed like a wise ruler.

Of course, he might become like the Skeleton Headmaster when he got older, but for now…

“But the Headmaster made me teach some of these classes,” Ethan explained.

“Did your master force you to do things like that?” the Death Knight asked, sounding shocked.

He knew the Skeleton Headmaster was a crazy archmage, but he didn’t realize he was so mad as to arbitrarily add student lectures.

It was truly astonishing.

“What lectures did he add?”

“Basic dance and social etiquette lectures.”

“Well,” the Death Knight said slowly, “that’s not so bad. Dance and etiquette are not hard work.”

“What other lectures are there?”

“…Um. Now that I think about it, that’s all.”

The Death Knight was confused.

If the Skeleton Headmaster only forced him to take one lecture…

Then didn’t he just sign up for the rest on his own?

‘Oops.’

The Death Knight successfully shut his mouth this time.

If he needlessly provoked him and made him as foul-tempered as the Skeleton Headmaster, they would only be at a loss.

The morning was dark and heavy, like a blanket had been pulled over the sun. The air felt damp and cold as the students yawned their way to the docks. Each of their backpacks contained lunches they had prepared overnight.

“Gainando,” one student asked, “besides pancakes, what else did you bring?”

Gainando looked surprised. “Pancakes. Just pancakes.”

“Only pancakes?” another student asked, raising an eyebrow.

Gainando paused, thinking hard. “Oh, wait! I brought toppings too! Honey, whipped cream, and strawberry jam!”

The first student sighed. “So, basically, just pancakes then?”

Of course, each person’s lunch varied greatly.

Even when using the same ingredients, the difference in skill determined what dishes were made and how they were arranged.

“Your Highness, you are truly magnificent.”

“Such a diverse and balanced selection of meats!”

Adenart’s followers praised the various meat dishes packed into a sturdy wooden box.

In their eyes, the lunch, filled with various types of meat—grilled, steamed, marinated, fried, and boiled—cooked with perfect precision, seemed flawless.

Ethan stopped and stared at the box of meat. It looked like a feast for a king, but it was all meat! He wrinkled his nose. ‘That’s just… meat,’ he thought.

“Hey, Rowena.”

“What is it?”

“There’s leftover bread, rice, and fruit inside, so tell the Princess to take out some meat and fill it with those.”

“Huh? Why should we do that?”

Ethan remembered Rowena was from the White Tiger Tower. He knew students from that tower were famous for eating very unhealthy food. He wouldn’t be surprised if they never ate vegetables!

“Rowena,” Ethan said, lowering his voice a little, “do you trust me?”

Rowena looked at him, surprised. “Yes,” she said quickly. “Of course.”

Ethan leaned in slightly. “You know I talk to the Headmaster a lot, right?”

Rowena nodded. “Yes, everyone knows you’re close to him.”

Ethan momentarily wanted to grab Rowena by the collar, but he held back.

“…Right. Whatever. What do you think I mean by saying this?”

“…Ah!”

Rowena’s eyes widened. And she nodded quickly.

“Ah!” Rowena said, her eyes widening. “I understand! The Headmaster hates meat!”

“No, that’s not it… Never mind. Just go and tell her quickly.”

Rowena scurried away. The Princess, after hearing the message, tilted her head in confusion but changed her lunch as instructed.

In the distance, strange boats made of bones appeared, floating towards them like ghostly ships. They were unsettling to look at, especially with the dark sky above.

Floating on top of the fleet was the familiar undead archmage.

Ugh…! Tanzio shuddered, his face turning pale green as he saw the Skeleton Headmaster. He quickly busied himself checking ropes and equipment, anything to avoid looking at the undead archmage.

“Everyone prepared for the picnic, right?”

“Yes…”

“But do we really have to go on a picnic on a day like today?”

Gainando asked, pointing to the pouring rain. The Skeleton Headmaster squirted a water gun, spraying Gainando’s face.

“Picnics are *best* when it rains!” the Skeleton Headmaster declared in a loud, echoing voice. “Rain, storms, even the gates of hell opening – perfect picnic weather!” Everyone, get on the boat. I’ll take you there.

Listening to the Skeleton Headmaster’s unique picnic theory, the students moved their feet.

Of course, the Skeleton Headmaster didn’t let them board easily.

“Wait.”

“???”

“Open your lunch boxes.”

A White Tiger Tower student smirked and took out his lunch box from his backpack.

“Headmaster, did you think I wouldn’t prepare? After you said that? We have plenty.”

Despite the Skeleton Headmaster’s interference and oppression, the students’ food situation was quite plentiful.

Of course, from the Skeleton Headmaster’s perspective, it was absurd.

Those guys living comfortably because of one Wodanaz… how cheeky…

“Anyone would think you gathered it all. You unlucky brat. Just open it.”

“Yes…”

Click-

The White Tiger Tower student opened the lid. It was packed with grilled bread and pickled meats.

“How is it? Practical and easy to eat…”

The Skeleton Headmaster pushed the student into the sea.

Splash!

“I told you to go on a picnic, not to go to war! Don’t you know what a picnic is? 20 points.”

“……”

The other White Tiger Tower students gasped, their mouths hanging open in shock. They looked at their own lunch boxes nervously.

“Huh? Weren’t we just supposed to prepare food?”

The other White Tiger Tower students were slightly taken aback.

Even with Einrogaard’s unreasonable food situation, isn’t it good to bring food?

“That’s why these iron-heads are… Imagine you are having a fancy picnic with important people from the Empire,” the Skeleton Headmaster said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Are you going to bring a boring potion that just makes you full, instead of nice food? That would be very rude and make everyone uncomfortable!”

Basically, wizards tend to lack social skills.

Moreover, Einrogaard’s wizards often evolved their social skills in a somewhat unique way, making them even more dangerous.

He watched the Skeleton Headmaster yell at another student about their lunch box. ‘Maybe,’ Ethan thought, ‘being around him all the time is making everyone a little… strange.’

“I said we’re going on a picnic and told you to prepare a lunch box, so you should prepare a proper lunch box that fits the social customs of the Empire. What is this? This? Next!”

“Um… my lunch box is made with various marinated meats…”

“Are you crazy for meat? 15 points. Next!” The Skeleton Headmaster pointed a bony finger at the next student, his eye sockets seeming to glare.

“……”

The Princess, seeing the White Tiger Tower student who submitted a similar lunch box being brutally crushed, panicked and looked around.

Wasn’t it enough to just make it taste good to yourself?

-There are a few too many vegetables, but this isn’t bad either. Well done.

-Dishes using rice are refreshing not only for those from the East but also for those from other regions. Good choice.

-What about you? Why didn’t you just fill it with sugar?

“Gasp. Can I do that?”

The Skeleton Headmaster pushed Gainando, who had filled his lunch box with only pancakes, into the sea and said.

Listen carefully. Of course, a picnic is a time to rest and enjoy. But at the same time, isn’t this an >Advanced Basic Magic Character Education< lecture? Even if you rest and enjoy, you must adhere to the basics of the lecture. “…Can't we just take out the word 'picnic'?” “What kind of picnic is this…” The students' faces darkened at the sight of the Skeleton Headmaster, who was preaching a harsh etiquette lesson from the start. Of course, they didn't expect much, but this felt like breaking through the bottom of those expectations. “Alright. Then next…” Ethan carefully opened his lunch box. Inside was a delicious-looking sandwich, packed with crisp lettuce, slices of pink ham, fluffy chopped eggs, creamy mayonnaise, and melted cheese. Beside it, a small bottle of black tea gave off a warm, comforting smell, its aroma rich and inviting. …These tea leaves are from the professors' lounge! ‘Oops.’ Ethan's eyes widened in horror. He had completely forgotten where he got those tea leaves! He swallowed hard, hoping the Skeleton Headmaster hadn't noticed. With a chilling sound, the wind began to blow even stronger. They arrived at a small, sad piece of land that barely poked out of the stormy sea. It was more like a large rock than an island, covered in slippery seaweed and lashed by wind and rain. “Ah, yes,” the Skeleton Headmaster said, his voice echoing in the wind, “the spirits of the wind are *delighted* to see us! Perfect picnic weather, wouldn't you agree?” “……” “Everyone, get off the boat! Let's set up camp here.” The students stumbled off the bone boats, their feet slipping on the wet rocks. Suddenly, a huge gust of wind roared across the island, like an angry beast. Several students cried out as they were blown off their feet and tumbled into the cold, churning water. Ethan quickly took charge, his voice calm and clear above the wind. 'Everyone, grab a rope! Tie yourselves together! Quickly!' “What kind of picnic is this…” The Skeleton Headmaster grumbled, but Ethan ignored him and distributed the ropes to his friends. And so, the students sat on the island, spreading out cloths and blankets. Yoner muttered beside him. “This is the most depressing picnic I've ever had.” Other students groaned in agreement. Rain dripped from their noses, the wind whipped their hair, and the ground was cold and wet. This was nothing like any picnic they had ever imagined. There was only one thing the students wanted right now. I hope this picnic ends soon! “Let's at least start a fire.” “Yeah.” As the students took out tinder and tried to wave their wands, the Skeleton Headmaster smiled. Sure enough, the fire was quickly extinguished by the strong wind and rain. “Everyone, step aside. I'll start it.” As Ethan waved his wand, flames fiercely devoured the firewood and rose up. The Skeleton Headmaster frowned. He muttered under his breath, sounding genuinely annoyed that Ethan had managed to make something work. ‘Ruining a pleasant picnic.’ “Everyone, listen while you eat your lunch. The next event on today's picnic is… um. A treasure hunt.” “?” Gainando, who was grilling pancakes, tilted his head. “Where is the treasure?” “……” “…Sigh.” They sighed deeply, pulling out their wands and muttering the breathing spells under their breath. This was just typical Skeleton Headmaster. “Oh, and this will also be graded.” “Can't we just take out the word 'picnic'?” >A box of pickled herring

>Two jars of marmalade jam

>Four pouches of white clay

>Three containers of bone meal

The treasure wasn’t bad.

The problem was the weather.

Tap tap tap tap tap tap-

“W-was an undead summoned?”

“No. That’s Gainando’s teeth chattering.”

The wind howled like a monster, and the rain lashed down in sheets. The air itself felt alive and angry, crackling with raw magical energy. It was more than just a storm; it was an elemental flood, a surge of wild, untamed magic.

The students, who had been wandering around with Tanzio’s help, were feeling the true extent of the elemental flood.

In the face of nature, the wizard’s magic was too weak.

Magic to preserve body temperature, like >Granting Latent Heat<, disappeared in an instant… “Yoner! Did you see? Did you see?! >Granting Latent Heat< was successful! It doesn't burn!” “…E, Ethan. I don't think this is the time to be happy.” Yoner pulled on Ethan's clothes and stopped him. The other students were staring at Ethan in bewilderment. “…Ahem. Sorry, everyone. I've failed so many times.” “Ah, no. Wodanaz. It can happen.” “That's right. It's natural to be happy about magic success.” “Really? I should try it a few more times.” Ethan, who usually tried to stay calm and collected, suddenly became strangely excited. He had been struggling to master the 'Granting Latent Heat' spell for weeks, and in this terrible weather, it was finally working! The friends watched with expressions that were hard to describe. “Don't you know Wodanaz's heart? There's no way Wodanaz would be like that just because of one magic.” Asan chided his friends. “Then?” “He must be doing that because you guys are shivering so much. How worried must he have been?” “Ah!” “That's…!” Yoner and the others looked at Ethan, then back at Asan. A warm feeling spread through them, even in the cold rain. Maybe this terrible picnic wasn't so bad after all, because they had friends who cared about them. Gainando tilted his head. ‘He just seems excited?’ Of course, he didn't say anything because he thought his friends would push him into the sea. While Ethan was casting warming magic on his friends, the Skeleton Headmaster waited calmly. Of course, it was true that he didn't like the sight, but the picnic had only just begun. It's about time to come… “…What did you do again?” “Don't tell me it's the sirens again.” The Black Turtle Tower students muttered, looking disgusted. Then the Skeleton Headmaster asked back in surprise. The Skeleton Headmaster's bony head snapped around, his empty eye sockets seeming to blaze with sudden anger. 'Sirens?' he repeated, his voice rising. 'What do you know about sirens?' “……” “……”