Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 476

Professor Verdus looked sadly at Kettle.

“Are you alright? Can’t you breathe?”

“I’m trying to breathe! Be quiet!”

Kettle snapped at Professor Verdus, trying to catch his breath.

He couldn’t believe he was gasping for air like a new student at Einroguard.

It was humiliating, but Kettle had a point.

‘Anyone who saw what I just saw would be gasping for air.’

A first-year student, fresh from listening to Headmaster Skull’s character lectures, was waging war in the deepest depths of the disciplinary chamber with an army of spirits!

Even in Einroguard, where strange things happened all the time, this was unbelievable.

“Professor, aren’t you surprised? A first-year student! A first-year student came all the way down here!”

“Not really. Didn’t you hear? He’s here to save me.”

“…!”

Only then did Kettle remember that the first-year student had recognized Professor Verdus and called out to him.

He’d been so shocked that he’d erased the scene from his mind.

“I told you. He’d come.”

Professor Verdus said it as if it were as natural as the sun rising and the moon setting.

Kettle stared, confused, then suddenly understood.

‘That’s it.’

He finally understood.

That newbie was…

‘Being tricked!’

Kettle didn’t know how exactly Professor Verdus was tricking him, but he made up his mind.

Maybe it was fate that Kettle was still in this prison after graduating.

To prevent a newbie with outstanding magical talent from having his life twisted by Professor Verdus!

‘I must stop it…!'”

Kettle gritted his teeth.

He would persuade the newbie somehow when he returned to the prison.

He didn’t need to save Professor Verdus.

He was being tricked!

This was a sacred duty that he, as a graduate, had to fulfill.

Try harder! Ha ha ha! I said, try harder!

Perkuntra mocked the fleeing spirits, as if he’d been bottling up his resentment from working under Headmaster Skull for far too long.

Then, one of the spirit servants Perkuntra had summoned, wielding refined lightning, paused, then turned to look behind him.

And then he charged forward again, swinging, only to pause again and look back.

” ? ”

Lee Han and Perkuntra were both puzzled.

“Why is he doing that?”

Perkuntra suddenly became quiet, looking embarrassed.

Lee Han asked, curious.

“What did you say?”

If you use your master’s magic to win, you shouldn’t be so proud. It’s not right for a lord…

Perkuntra seemed too embarrassed, so Lee Han decided to help him out.

After all, he was a spirit contracted to him.

“No, that’s too harsh! Borrowing magic from a contracted mage is something a contracted being can naturally do!”

Of course, defending him didn’t erase Perkuntra’s shame. Perkuntra vowed to be a little calmer and not mock his enemies.

“Should we just tell that impudent spirit to go back?”

Stop… It’s my fault.

Perkuntra, slightly humbled, calmly declared.

You should know by now. Even if you built your nest first, this is a situation you cannot win! My magic is infinite and…

Lee Han thought, ‘He means *my* magic is infinite?’

Lee Han somehow felt like he’d learned a little bit of spirit language.

My contractor’s magic is infinite… Fighting here won’t help you. Come out! There’s no need to overwork my other subordinates any longer.

Suddenly, the roaring water stopped. The long passage of the disciplinary chamber became silent. It was dry now, hard to believe a flood had been there just moments ago. Then, from the far end of the passage, a strong power began to grow.

Slowly, a shape appeared in the dim light. It was like a giant ball of dark water, moving slowly. Even when still, the way the water flowed inside it showed incredible power.

*The leader of the flood!*

Lee Han knew it instantly.

This spirit was the one who had caused all the trouble.

You’ve come out.

Perkuntra said, staring coldly ahead.

“Are you satisfied? The world is all water. Isn’t that enough?”

“Not at all…! The spirits who summoned me want more!”

The opposing spirit answered in a slow, wet voice that echoed loudly.

“The anger of the mages brought me here! You, who are controlled by a mage, would you understand this anger?”

I was going to be kind, but how dare you say that!

Perkuntra was extremely angry at the spirit who had stabbed him where it hurt.

His body swelled up in an instant, and lightning flashed with the clouds above the disciplinary chamber ceiling.

Then, as if not to be outdone, the opposing spirit summoned rain and wind, pushing back Perkuntra’s clouds and flooding the floor of the disciplinary chamber corridor.

“Everyone, get out of the way. I’ll handle this!”

Perkuntra pushed the summoned spirits aside, as if he didn’t need their help.

The corridor seemed to grow wider and wider, as if it was stretching. It felt like the very air was screaming.

However, compared to the fight that was about to unfold, even this expanded space felt narrow.

Lightning and the sea collided in the Einroguard underground.

“Who is this person who refuses my offer?”

“Did you think I would be fooled by your tricks, slave of the Archmage!”

While Lee Han was thinking, ‘What trickery did Perkuntra use? When did he use it?’, the spirit shouted.

“Hiding an Archmage and calling it talking? Even a weak spirit like me wouldn’t be fooled by such tricks!”

Perkuntra and Lee Han were speechless at the same time.

“No…”

“He’s a student, you pathetic fool who cannot see even with eyes and cannot hear even with ears!”

“He’s a student!”

But even when the two shouted, the other side didn’t listen.

Perkuntra was dumbfounded.

That his great reputation was being ignored because of Headmaster Skull’s infamy.

No, it wasn’t even because of Headmaster Skull’s infamy.

It was just that the other side was a fool who made a stupid mistake!

“Shut up… It won’t work!”

‘This is driving me crazy.’

“I am the Ruler of the Great Sea and Storms! I will use my power to summon a storm!”

To summon a storm before the master of thunder and lightning?

The two spirits collided again.

The opposing spirit transformed its round shape into that of a Herculean warrior.

“The mages keep making the water dirty and ruining the land! They will be punished for their anger!”

Lee Han began to reflect, even though it wasn’t his fault.

How badly had his seniors messed around in Einroguard that the spirits had built up so much anger?

“Well, because chimeras and slimes are all over the place, it’s clear the seniors messed up,” Perkuntra sneered.

He blocked the spirit’s attack with a clang of metal and shot a bolt of blue lightning from his hand.

Such pathetic tricks!

Then, the spirit’s shape flickered, like a candle in the wind, and a wave of power exploded outwards.

Even from far away, one could sense the significant impact.

Perkuntra did not stop attacking.

This fight was different from wizard duels. It was a battle between powerful beings from another world.

Perkuntra slammed his fist into the metal wall. Metal screeched and tore away. Crackling with blue lightning, he twisted the metal into a glowing, jagged weapon.

With many hits, the spirit’s form was brutally torn away.

The battered spirit split and twisted its body, barely managing to escape.

“!”

And then, his eyes met Lee Han’s.

“……”

Initially, the spirit, mistaking him for the skeletal headmaster, was about to assume a defensive stance, but paused, sensing that Lee Han’s appearance was somehow different.

…Huh…

“I am a student.”

Lee Han answered resolutely.

No… a trick…

“I am not undead.”

“Die!”

Wham!

Perkuntra slammed the confused spirit straight into the wall.

One of the prison cells shattered with a crack, and the spirit got out of the wall.

“Wait! I was trying to negotiate!”

“What? Negotiation, my foot! Just send it back where it came from!”

“It’s already heavily injured, so we can resolve this with words.”

“I’m the one who’s injured!”

Slave? The word burned Perkuntra more than any lightning bolt. His pride, his very being, screamed at the insult.

Perkuntra grumbled constantly and crackled with energy, but stopped and did not attack again.

…I apologize for ignoring your proposal.

The opposing spirit, coming out of the wall, apologized.

Finally, it had come to its senses and accepted that the opponent was not the skeletal headmaster.

Lee Han answered kindly.

“We might have been a bit harsh as well.”

“What!”

Perkuntra was about to explode, but Lee Han ignored him and continued.

“If you don’t mind, how about ending the spirit flood and returning? Of course, I understand the spirits’ anger, but the longer the flood continues, the more extreme methods the wizards will use. Ending it around here…”

The opposing spirit silently nodded.

Having been defeated, the loser is not allowed any words. I can only be grateful for your mercy.

Lee Han let out a sigh of relief.

It seemed like things had been resolved well.

There was no need to sacrifice Gainando, nor to forcibly reverse summon the spirits angered by the Einroguard students.

Of course, the headmaster’s disciplinary chamber was a bit damaged, but…

‘This wasn’t my fault. It was an unavoidable part.’

I wish to know the name of the wizard.

The spirit asked with respect.

Even the most violent and enraged spirit could not help but feel gratitude in this situation.

To stop fighting and talked instead in this situation.

“It’s Lee Han.”

Lee Han… Lee Han. I will remember that name. Do you happen to have any water-related spirits among those you have contracted?

“…No, I don’t.”

Lee Han became slightly awkward.

Is he making fun of me?

‘They run away when they see me…’

Do you not like water-related spirits?

“…No, it’s just that the spirits run away whenever they see me.”

Ah.

The spirit immediately understood.

Unless they were powerful beings like Perkuntra or himself, who had accumulated many achievements and great deeds, such magical pressure would be an unbearable aura for weaker spirits.

“……”

……

……

As the air became awkward, Perkuntra glared at the enemy.

Such a tactless fellow…

The spirit seemed to sense that, as it changed the subject.

If it is acceptable, I would like to give you a gift.

“Oh. Anything is fine.”

Lee Han looked eager.

The powers of spirits were always precious gifts.

Moreover, if it was a spirit capable of causing such a flood…

What would be good… For a wizard, especially a young one, how about the ability to freely manipulate the shape of water?

“…It’s alright.”

Lee Han declined.

He could already do it!

If you were going to give it, you should have given it before Professor Voladi beat me…

I-is that so? Then, how about the ability to turn water into steam…

“I can do that too, though…”

……

The spirit was visibly embarrassed.

After thinking for a moment, the spirit finally seemed to have thought of something good and spoke again.

Faaah-

A new spirit mark was engraved on the back of Lee Han’s hand. The spirit said in a friendly voice.

My true name is Upinum. Upinum. I will never forget the kindness you showed today.

“Wait, tell me what power it is before you g-”

Before Lee Han could finish speaking, Upinum, satisfied on its own, was reverse summoned.

Lee Han thought the spirit just gave him something and ran away quickly, maybe to avoid meeting again.

* * *

“Professor? Are you there, Professor?”

As soon as Lee Han returned, Verdus shouted as if he had been waiting.

“Open it quickly!”

“Yes. Please wait a moment.”

“Wait!!”

Kettle shouted loudly.

“Wait, you’re being deceived!”

“Yes?”

“You’re being deceived by Professor Verdus! Professor Verdus isn’t someone worth saving! You’re being deceived right now!”

“……”

Lee Han was speechless.

Because…

‘I’m the one who stole it and got him trapped…’

“I know you have an incredibly great talent for magic that’s hard to believe. I also know you’re incredibly kind, which is also hard to believe. But wake up! You’re being deceived right now!”

“I’m not being deceived!”

Professor Verdus protested as if it were nonsense.

Lee Han and the professor were student and teacher who respected each other.

To say it like that.

“What will you give him if he releases you!”

“Huh?”

“What will you give him if he releases you! To this freshman!”

“The opportunity to work in my workshop?”

“…You son of a bitch!”