Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 529

The number of challengers is a bit too many…

The statue seemed surprised to see so many students charging at it.

Many students had challenged it before, but this was the first time they had come at it in such a large group.

“Wodanaz, I need a spell!”

“Feet, wrinkle the earth. Hands, tear apart the enemy. Cloak…”

The White Tiger Tower students, strengthened by various enhancement spells, charged forward with confidence.

Among the first-year students, the White Tiger Tower students were the most experienced in combat using enhancement magic.

After all, fighting with enhancement magic was similar to knightly battles, unlike typical magical combat.

Fueled by this pride, and with more enhancement magic than usual, the White Tiger Tower students charged even more boldly.

Giselle frowned.

‘The enemy is strong, yet they charge in like that.’

Of course, even against a strong opponent, they couldn’t avoid fighting forever.

One of their advantages was numbers, so it was important to send out scouts to assess the enemy and gather information.

But reluctantly taking on that role was different from rushing forward excitedly just because they had some magic cast on them.

“Charge!”

One of the White Tiger Tower students shouted, shielding himself.

Sharpened reflexes and a body full of energy gave him confidence that he could react to any attack.

Thwack!

The White Tiger Tower student was knocked aside, his shout useless.

“?!!”

The statue’s attack came from the side, not the front.

The statue kept swinging its heavy club, even though it looked like it was hitting nothing.

To anyone watching from far away, it seemed silly, like the statue was just waving its arms around. But the White Tiger students knew better. Suddenly, a club would appear from their side, slamming into them before they could even see it coming. It was like fighting an invisible enemy.

“Th-this is…”

“What nonsense…!”

The White Tiger Tower students were horrified. It felt like everything they knew about fighting was wrong.

It wasn’t just them. The Black Tortoise Tower students behind them were also shocked.

Even to them, the movements of the magic-enhanced White Tiger Tower students seemed too fast to fight. Yet, the statue easily defeated them, making their speed meaningless.

“Wodanaz! Is there a way to attack it?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?!”

“Keep moving forward.”

“……”

“……”

The students were stunned by Wodanaz’s expressionless face as he gave his orders.

He didn’t get angry or threaten them, but his cold attitude stopped them from arguing.

‘The usual Wodanaz…’

‘…was incredibly kind…!’

The students realized that Wodanaz, who usually nagged them while hitting them on the head with his staff, was actually very kind and gentle.

“Wodanaz, come back to your old self…! This isn’t like you!”

“Quiet. Move forward.”

“Sniffle.”

“Wodanaz. I liked the old you… well, not that I particularly liked you, but more than now…”

While the White Tiger Tower and Black Tortoise Tower students sadly prepared to charge again, Ethan stared at the statue.

The problem with spatial magic, which was very difficult, was always how long it took to cast.

The statue was casting incredibly fast by using the power of Einroguard, but it still had limits.

Using numbers to wear down the opponent and distract them was the right plan.

Even though his White Tiger Tower friends were screaming and being knocked away, Ethan was calm and focused. He was only thinking about what he needed to do.

“Salco, it’s your turn. Go. Use earth magic to block their view as much as possible.”

“……”

Salco nodded, knowing it was pointless to argue, and gestured.

“Sand, block their vision!”

Suddenly, the ground exploded, and a thick cloud of brown dust filled the air. It smelled like dry earth and made everyone cough.

Wodanaz might be acting crazy, but he was still smart.

He knew what magic Salco could use and ordered him to use it at the right moment.

“Ratford, cast Confusion Sand magic. Shyles, cast Rock Launch magic. Turn the direction 30 degrees more to the right.”

Ethan waved his staff as he spoke.

Then, a water orb hit the feet of a White Tiger Tower student who was trying to retreat through the dust.

“Forward.”

“Wodanaz, please come back to your old self!”

*
*
Although a fierce battle was happening, some students were enjoying it.

The Blue Dragon Tower students were like that.

“Heh… Wodanaz. That’s how a great noble acts.”

“……”

Nilia, drawing her bow, looked at her Blue Dragon Tower friend in shock.

“What are you talking about!? He’s just crazy!”

“What? No, Nilia. That’s too harsh. He’s our friend!”

The Blue Dragon Tower students were surprised by Nilia’s reaction.

Calling a friend crazy was too much, no matter what.

Maybe Nilia didn’t like Wodanaz very much?

“Ah, no. I was too harsh… no, he is crazy, that’s right!”

When one of the Blue Dragon Tower students was teleported and hung upside down from the ceiling, Nilia almost let it go, but then snapped back to her senses.

No matter how she looked at it, he was definitely crazy.

“He’s not crazy, he’s just acting like a great noble.”

“That’s right.”

Great noble families, with history and prestige, were always respected.

Some students admired their dignity and authority so much that they misunderstood it, just like now.

“He’s telling a friend with a broken ankle to charge again!”

“It’s an unavoidable sacrifice for the greater good.”

“That’s right. It’s a virtue that a commander should have.”

Ethan spoke from beside them.

“It seems like your wound has healed. Go back in.”

“Understood, Wodanaz!”

“I’m going now!”

The Blue Dragon Tower students, who had stopped the bleeding, excitedly grabbed their staffs and charged forward.

Nilia was speechless.

No… No…!

“Nilia, your bow has stopped.”

“Hey!”

“?”

Ethan looked puzzled.

Nilia, who had shouted, felt her mind go blank as their eyes met.

“…I’m shooting now!”

“Yes.”

Nilia grumbled and fired an arrow.

The statue either teleported the ranged attacks away or summoned other statues to use as shields.

All the attacks were being blocked, but they weren’t pointless.

While these attacks were happening, the students were slowly getting closer to the statue.

…Of course, the students were getting hit a lot too…

Tap-

Nilia looked over as someone dropped their staff.

It seemed like the Princess had made a mistake while casting a spell and dropped her staff.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

“If you’re tired, please rest…”

The followers next to the Princess spoke quickly.

Nilia grumbled even more.

‘If I were royalty, I would have more friends.’

Being from the Imperial Palace seemed better for making friends than being from the Shadow Patrol of the Northern Mountains.

Nilia didn’t dislike Adenart, but she was jealous that friends were made just by standing still.

“I’m fine.”

“But…”

“I’m really fine.”

Adenart hurried her followers away and glanced at Ethan.

Then, she waved her staff and cast a spell. Her movements seemed bigger and her voice louder than before.

“?”

Nilia felt something familiar.

It was like she was watching herself watching Wodanaz’s every move…

‘No, it couldn’t be?’

Just as she was about to dismiss it, Adenart dropped her staff again.

She had made another mistake because she wasn’t used to making such big movements.

“……”

“……”

Nilia made eye contact with the Princess.

Adenart’s face turned pale, and she looked at Nilia, begging her to pretend she hadn’t seen anything. Nilia nodded.

The Princess sighed in relief and bowed her head slightly. Then, she cast the spell again.

‘What… was that just now?’

Nilia wondered if she had just had a dream.

“Nilia! We have to go forward! They’ve built a new wall, so stick behind it!”

“Hey, I think I just became friends with the Princess…”

“What are you talking about!? Go forward!”

*
*
‘Now is the time.’

When the students were more than halfway closer, Ethan, who had only been giving instructions, cast all the spells he could on himself and started running.

Sharkan charged in with a loud roar.

Bang!

The statue, which had been holding back, now used its full power against Sharkan.

It felt that Sharkan was dangerous.

Crack!

Ethan cast Ogonin’s Mist through the dust and created an ice clone, sending it forward.

When the statue swung its club and destroyed the ice clone, the club froze, slowing its movements.

At the same time, the skeleton warriors charged out.

The statue tried to stop Ethan, who was still in the mist, with one hand, and swung the other club to knock down the skeleton warriors.

Then, the skeleton warriors exploded.

Boom boom boom boom boom!

The statue was damaged by the explosions as it teleported the club.

The statue cried out in surprise.

-Such a splendid…!

But Ethan didn’t stop.

The statue had only broken one arm.

Water orbs flew towards it. The statue, knowing they were stronger than before, strengthened its defense.

But Ethan was already running like the wind on the other side of the water orbs.

The statue, most worried about this, tried to teleport rocks in front of Ethan, like before.

Then, Ethan changed direction as if he knew what was coming and ran even faster.

The statue realized it was going to lose.

-I’ve lost…!

Ethan’s plan was a surprise attack when the statue was tired from fighting his friends.

He had hidden his ability to predict spatial magic until the end, using it to catch the statue off guard.

It was a great challenge that anyone would respect.

-You may pass beyond this point…

The statue crumbled into dust.

Having been defeated, it had achieved its purpose and was returning to the earth.

Clink-

Before disappearing, the statue put a piece of ore into Ethan’s staff.

It was a reward for the victor.

This token, with simple spatial magic, would show the magician a new path.

-Hehe. A victory of magic… and friendship.

The students were confused by the word friendship, but they stayed quiet.

Wodanaz was still scary.

Ethan stood still, holding the token.

“?”

“?”

The students wondered what was wrong.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Did you make a mistake or something?’

‘Uh, did I charge in too late just now…?’

Ethan slowly turned around.

Then, he spoke.

“What are you all doing here?”

“……”

“……”

“I-is this a trick question, perhaps?”