Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 511

Nilia raised her hand, stopping Lee Han’s words.

“Why?”

“Well, I haven’t been to the deep-sea spirits’ territory, but it’s supposed to be dangerous, isn’t it!”

“Yes, it was dangerous.”

“Then why did you go in there?”

“I was tricked.”

Nilia had nothing to say when her friend said he had been tricked.

If he was tricked, there was nothing he could do!

“So, I fought with a spirit who attacked me…”

“You fought!?”

“Nilia, if you keep interrupting, I can’t tell the story.”

“Ah, no…”

Nilia felt wronged.

“Anyway, I fought, and fortunately, a spirit who knew Ufinum came and helped me. I asked that spirit to introduce me to a spirit I could contract with, and they agreed.”

“I see.”

Nilia was about to nod, listening to her friend, but then she tilted her head.

“Aren’t deep-sea spirits violent and dangerous?”

“So, I asked them to contract me with gentle and kind spirits from other territories.”

“I see… Wait. You can contract spirits from other territories?”

“Apparently, you can?”

Nilia felt like the common sense she had learned was shaking. Even if a spirit is strong, shouldn’t they not be able to control spirits from other places?

“Do you want to see the spirit I contracted with?”

“Huh? Yes, show me.”

Nilia was flustered, but she wanted to see the spirit Lee Han had contracted with, so she agreed.

“In the name of law and contract, I summon you.”

With a short, simple spell, the insignia glowed, and a fire spirit emerged from the spirit realm. It was a fire spirit that looked like a small sparrow.

‘It’s ordinary?’ Nilia was slightly taken aback.

She had been worried that something like a dragon might appear since Wodanaz was summoning it. But when she thought about it, it was normal to summon a spirit like this. Besides, Wodanaz had always been reluctant to limit the power of fire magic, hadn’t he?

“You contracted with it because of fire magic?”

“Yes. I thought a fire spirit would be the best.”

Even if Lee Han could somehow use other magic, fire magic consumed too much mental power. It was better to leave it to a spirit.

Nilia glared lightly at the fire sparrow spirit. It wasn’t a genuine glare, but more of a pretense to intimidate the spirit.

“You have to listen well!”

Even low-level spirits weren’t easy to handle. Powerful spirits acted as they pleased because they were powerful, and weak spirits acted as they pleased because they were weak. Especially with fire spirits, one had to be more careful because many of them were quick-tempered and mischievous.

The sparrow spirit didn’t move at all and remained on Lee Han’s shoulder in a rigid posture. Nilia momentarily thought the spirit’s time had stopped.

“…You have to listen well?”

“Didn’t you hear Nilia?”

As soon as Lee Han’s words ended, the sparrow spirit fluttered its wings and nodded its head.

“It seems it heard.”

Flutter flutter!

“You only need to nod once.”

Flutter!

Lee Han patted the obedient sparrow spirit as if he found it admirable. He had contracted with it with difficulty, so he felt even more fond and endeared. His other friends had suffered a lot when handling their spirits, so he was worried…

‘I’m lucky.’ Lee Han had clearly met a kind sparrow spirit by chance.

Nilia had seen a similar expression on the mountains before. The prey surrounded by the Shadow Patrol usually had that expression.

‘…Isn’t it scared!?’ No matter how she thought about it, it was a contract that forced obedience through coercion and intimidation rather than a normal contract.

“What’s wrong? Nilia.”

“Ah, it’s nothing? I was just thinking that the two of you have a great relationship?”

At Nilia’s words, Lee Han nodded with a very proud face. Seeing her friend like that made it even harder for Nilia to tell him the truth.

“The spirit is really kind and diligent, isn’t it? It listens so well…! It’s rare to meet a spirit like that! Right!”

“Haha. Thanks, Nilia. It’s not really a big deal, I was just lucky.”

The basilisk wrapped around Lee Han’s wrist tapped its tail as if dissatisfied. Everyone was paying too much attention to just one low-level spirit.

“Next time I go to the spirit realm, would you like to go to Ufinum’s territory together?”

“…Is it okay to go there? Really?”

At that moment, Professor Milley called Lee Han.

“Lee Han, student.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“When you enter the spirit realm, even if a passage to another territory appears, you must not enter that territory. Do you understand?”

Professor Milley called Lee Han and explained non-stop how dangerous it was to deviate from the originally planned path and how lucky he had been this time. Nilia averted her gaze at the rare sight of her friend, who was the top student of the year, being scolded.

The Skeleton Headmaster was puzzled when he saw Lee Han looking cheerful.

What is it? Did he master the magic he learned last time?

“No. I contracted with a spirit.”

Oh. What kind of spirit? Did he perhaps find an ancient spirit?

“I contracted with a low-level fire spirit?”

The Skeleton Headmaster looked at Lee Han with contempt, as if looking at garbage. Don’t any of you other top students from the towers act like this guy.

“But isn’t Wodanaz the top student of the year?”

The Skeleton Headmaster ignored Salco’s question, pretending not to hear.

The composition is the same as last semester. It would be fun if it changed.

Punishment rooms for failing students.

Rewards for outstanding students.

According to the Skeleton Headmaster’s theory, the top and runner-up students from each tower were allowed access to the Tower of Rewards.

A place where they only had to overcome the trials on each floor and take the rewards!

However, the students who had already tasted the bitterness in the first semester were not fooled.

“We don’t need rewards, Headmaster.”

“Can’t we just go back?”

There’s no need to be humble. I know you want to receive them. Now. Starting with the White Tiger Tower!

“The punishment room might be better.”

As Lee Han muttered, the Skeleton Headmaster next to him rebuked him in an annoyed voice. How dare you say such a thing?

Professor Willow said, his voice loud, “Wodanaz! Because of your efforts, fewer students are failing this term! In fact, there are hardly any students for detention. So, how dare you look so unhappy?”

Lee Han mumbled, “…Ah, yes. Sorry, Professor.”

Lee Han wished he hadn’t paid so much attention to Professor Willow’s words. ‘It’s just silly talk,’ he thought. ‘He’s just saying things.’

*Ding!* A small bell rang, signaling the start of the challenge. Adenart, the princess, stood beside him and smiled. “Hello, Lee Han,” she said, her voice friendly. “Ready for this?”

Lee Han nodded, feeling pleased. ‘Giving her snacks really worked,’ he thought. ‘We’re practically friends now.’ If he kept giving her treats, maybe by next year, he could ask her for a small favor. A guarantee might be too much to ask, but a letter of recommendation for his future business… that could be useful.

Words appeared in the air, glowing softly: **”The Trial of Teamwork.”** Below it, in smaller letters, it read: *”Working together can be the hardest magic of all. Students, you must learn to rely on each other.”*

“?” Lee Han frowned slightly. ‘Teamwork?’ he thought. ‘That sounds easy.’ He got along well with the princess, and he didn’t really hate anyone else here. Whatever the challenge was, it probably wouldn’t be too hard…

‘Wait,’ Lee Han thought, his confidence fading a little. ‘This is the Tower of Trials. Maybe “teamwork” means something really difficult here.’ He remembered his plan to ask Princess Adenart for a favor – a guarantee of support for his future business. ‘Maybe this trial will force me to ask for that favor now,’ he worried. ‘I really don’t want to do that yet.’ Lee Han decided he would try his best to avoid asking for help if possible.

*Creak-* The large doors at the far end of the room slowly opened. Students began to enter, not just from the Blue Dragon Tower like Lee Han and Adenart, but from the White Tiger Tower, the Black Tortoise Tower, and the Phoenix Tower too!

“……” “……” Lee Han and Adenart exchanged surprised frowns. They had expected to be alone.

Even though he was surprised, Lee Han didn’t panic. He raised his staff higher and shouted in a loud, clear voice, “Everyone, stop! We can work together!”

Giselle and Salco stared at him, completely speechless. Then Giselle finally said, in a very dry voice, “Maybe… maybe you should put down your staff first, before you talk about working together?”

Salco nodded, adding, “Yes! And why are you pointing it right at us while you say that?”

“Oh, this?” Lee Han glanced down at his staff, still pointing it directly at the other students. “It’s just… a habit. Anyway, don’t move!”

“……” Giselle and Salco exchanged glances. They were still very suspicious, but they also knew better than to make Wodanaz angry.

Salco folded his arms, looking serious. “Wodanaz,” he asked, “you came in last. Do you know what this trial is about?”

“No,” Lee Han said, shaking his head. “I don’t know for sure. But I have a feeling.” He looked around at the other students, his eyes narrowed slightly, making him look very serious. “Maybe,” he said slowly, “this is a trial where we have to fight each other. Maybe we have to reduce the number of people to pass.”

“……”

“…?”

Silence fell in the room. Adenart, standing beside Lee Han, blinked and tilted her head. “Where did you hear that?” she asked quietly.

Lee Han looked at her as if she was being silly. “Think about it, Princess,” he said, in a tone that suggested it was the most obvious thing in the world. “They bring students from all the different towers together to test teamwork. Isn’t it obvious that they want us to fight each other to see who is strongest?”

Adenart’s eyes widened slightly. ‘Well… when he puts it like that…’ she thought, feeling a little unsure. Wodanaz sounded so confident, so sure of himself. Maybe he was right?

Suddenly, a voice echoed through the room. **-Greetings, young wizards!**

A figure began to rise from the floor in the center of the room. It was a ghost wizard, pale and see-through, floating in the air. He held a staff that looked like smoke, and his eyes glowed with a strange, blue light as he looked around at the students.

**-You think you can pass this trial with weak magic?** the ghost wizard boomed. **Can you truly work together to defeat me?**

“?” “…?” The students blinked, surprised. This was definitely not a trial about fighting each other! Salco looked confused and asked hesitantly, “Wait… so, we don’t have to… you know… get rid of some of us to move on?”

**-What?!** The ghost wizard seemed to actually jump in surprise, his smoky staff waving wildly. **What kind of crazy idea is that?** He stared at Salco as if he had said the most ridiculous thing in the world. **The point of this trial is for students from different towers to unite and defeat a powerful wizard – me! Why would we make you fight each other?**

**-?** The ghost wizard tilted his see-through head, looking confused. He wondered why all the students were staring at one boy instead of listening to him. He turned his glowing blue eyes towards Lee Han.

In that instant, Lee Han yelled, “Now!” and pointed his staff. “*Flash!*”

A bolt of bright light shot from Lee Han’s staff towards the ghost wizard.

**-Oh! Not bad!** the ghost wizard exclaimed, surprised but also impressed. He quickly waved his smoky staff, and a shield of shimmering air appeared in front of him, just in time to block the light. But before he could react further, the room exploded with magic. Whirlwinds of air ripped through the space, and sharp rocks flew like bullets in all directions. Students scrambled for cover behind stone pillars and overturned tables.

Lee Han, now taking charge, shouted to the others, “Everyone, attack the ghost! Now!”

“But Wodanaz, you just said…” Salco started to protest, still confused.

“Salco!” Lee Han yelled back, his voice sharp. “Is this really the time to argue? Just attack!”

Salco felt a little unfairly treated, but he knew Lee Han was right. Arguing now was pointless. The ghost wizard was attacking, and they needed to fight back. Besides, when it came to battles, Wodanaz was always the best leader.

Giselle ducked behind a fallen bookshelf, quickly preparing a spell. She couldn’t see the ghost wizard from here, but she listened carefully, trying to hear his movements. ‘Sounds like he’s focused on the Blue Dragon Tower students,’ she thought. ‘Perfect.’ She tapped Tutankha, the leader of the Black Tortoise Tower, on the arm. She whispered her plan: they would sneak around and attack the ghost from behind while he was busy with Lee Han and Adenart. Tutankha nodded quickly, understanding.

Giselle counted down silently. “Three… two… one… Now!”

She and the other Black Tortoise Tower students jumped up, ready to attack. But as they charged forward, they stopped in surprise. The fight was already over. Lee Han and Adenart stood in the middle of the room, slightly out of breath, and the ghost wizard had vanished.

“……” “……” Giselle stared at Lee Han, then at the words **”The Trial of Teamwork”** still glowing in the air. With a small, annoyed sigh, she took her sword and scratched out the word “Teamwork,” replacing it with a big, bold word: **”WODANAZ.”**