Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 548

“No… think about it carefully.”

Feeling his student’s sorrowful gaze, Professor Thunderfoot began to explain. “I’m trying to keep the spirits away, not make enemies with them.”

Wizards who could command spirits were largely divided into two categories. One, those who threatened and suppressed spirits with force. These were not the mainstream in the Empire because this method had more disadvantages than advantages.

How much effort did dark wizards put into pleasing fierce undead creatures? There was nothing good about having bad relations with beings from other dimensions. Moreover, such infamy was contagious, and constantly associating with a notorious wizard would raise that wizard’s infamy among the spirits as well.

As such, those who threatened and suppressed spirits with force usually operated in the shadows or dark corners of the Empire.

However, those who conversed with spirits, built friendships, and made contracts were different. These individuals, who were the mainstream in the Empire, were relatively safe from the spirits’ threats, and a good reputation built with one spirit often spread to others.

The more intimately these individuals interacted, the more favorable the spirits’ reviews became, making it easier to negotiate with more powerful spirits…

“Professor. Professor.”

“What?”

“Why are you telling me this now?” Lee Han asked, slightly serious.

“Are you perhaps implying that I belong to the former…?”

“No, not at all!” Thunderfoot was taken aback. In truth, he had been subtly drawing a comparison while speaking.

“You’ve never threatened or suppressed a spirit, have you?”

“Well, is it okay to fight spirits fair and square? It was close to self-defense, though.”

Professor Thunderfoot naturally took a step back and said, “Anyway, the important thing is that I’m trying to keep the spirits away, not make enemies with them.”

People like Professor Thunderfoot, who valued friendship with spirits, tended to respond gently even when spirits played pranks or caused harm. Even if ice spirits appeared and messed up the cabin, he would only prevent them from entering?

With his skills, Professor Thunderfoot could easily have banished the spirits if he wanted to, but he didn’t want to make them sulk for no reason.

“…??”

Lee Han tilted his head once more. He still didn’t understand, even after listening to the end.

“Um… so you’re saying I should prevent them from approaching gently, so they don’t get angry?”

“That’s right.”

“But what does that have to do with my contract being impossible?”

“Well, if you, a Wodanaz (a wizard known for your strong spirit connection), chase after them to make a contract, it might feel like a threat or suppression…?”

“……”

Lee Han suddenly fell silent. Professor Thunderfoot felt slightly sorry, as the Wodanaz boy seemed genuinely hurt.

“Hey. Don’t be too sad. You don’t necessarily need to be loved by spirits. Look at the Headmaster. The spirits detest him so much, yet he’s a great Archmage.”

“I’m not as strong as the Headmaster.”

“It won’t take long, I think…”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing. It’s nothing.”

Professor Thunderfoot, being a truly wise man, displayed the skill of not making an enemy of a student who could become a powerful Archmage in the future.

“Right. You said you made a contract with a spirit last time, didn’t you?”

“Yes… I barely managed to make a contract using the emblem of the spirit who holds the title of Protector of the Great Sea and Storms – a very powerful Spirit Lord.”

“……”

Professor Thunderfoot regretted bringing it up. There was no need to bring up the sad fact that he could barely make a contract with the help of a spirit lord in this situation.

“Anything that has happened once can happen again. Surely the spirits will feel the same. Trust me, Wodanaz. The spirit realm is an infinite place.”

“Then, if I see a spirit that doesn’t run away from me, can I try to make a contract?”

“No.”

“……”

Professor Thunderfoot appeased Lee Han by doubling his food rations, but Lee Han continued to grumble. “A master blocking his disciple’s challenge.”

“……”

“……”

Siana the Priestess and Yoner, who had come to help Lee Han, exchanged glances with bewildered expressions.

-What happened?

-It seems they’re preventing him from making contracts with spirits…

-Why?

-If bad rumors spread among the spirits, it’ll be difficult for the professor when he calls them.

-Why would bad rumors spread among the spirits?

-That’s… um… I’m not sure?

Yoner subtly changed the subject mid-sentence. No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t explain without saying something bad about his friend.

Bubble bubble-

“Is this enough?”

“Excellent.”

Siana the Priestess looked at Yoner with respectful eyes. The priests of the Flehmish Order respected those skilled in alchemy, but those who made large donations to the Flehmish Order were especially respected. Currently boiling in the pot were eight kinds of herbs, three lumps of Shade Mud, and two handfuls of monster beast fur.

They weren’t trying to brew poison to kill someone, but rather brewing a soup that spirits liked. Spirits who liked to play pranks and were mischievous often didn’t cause much trouble and returned after being fed well.

“Could you summon a spirit for a moment?”

Yoner nodded and summoned a spirit. A spirit that looked like wind shaped into a flying squirrel appeared and cautiously approached the pot.

“It seems to be eating well? Lee Han. Do you want to check too?”

In truth, there was no need to summon Lee Han’s spirit as well, but Yoner spoke to cheer up the gloomy Lee Han. There was no need to make a contract with a new spirit. If he could make him realize the value of the spirit he had already contracted with, those thoughts might easily disappear.

“Wait.”

Hearing this, Lee Han also took out his staff and summoned his spirit. It might have been Yoner’s imagination, but his face seemed slightly brighter.

Whoosh-

A sparrow spirit made of fierce flames appeared in the air and scanned the students inside the cabin with intense eyes.

Yoner and Siana the Priestess momentarily looked at each other. They could understand each other’s feelings without saying a word. ‘Now?’

“Wow! Amazing!!”

“It’s such a cute sparrow spirit!!”

“Really?”

Lee Han looked at the sparrow spirit, slightly pleased. He couldn’t help but be happy after going through so much trouble to make a contract.

“It’s quite smart. When I summoned it last time, I asked it to fly through the books, and it flew well without burning them at all.”

“That’s really impressive!”

Lee Han was pleased with his friends’ enthusiastic response. He then asked,

“Would you like to taste the soup?”

Pointing to the pot, the sparrow spirit nodded as if it understood.

With a flutter, it flew down, pecked at the firewood, and ignited the flames.

“Whump!”

The sparrow spirit quickly returned to its spot, showing its eagerness to help.

“No, I meant would you like to taste the soup?” Lee Han asked.

The sparrow spirit seemed surprised, wondering if it was allowed to eat such a thing.

“Just eat some,” Lee Han said gently.

The sparrow spirit flew over, took a small sip, and quickly returned to its perch.

Lee Han glanced at Yoner’s flying squirrel spirit, which was still happily eating.

His own sparrow spirit, however, was attentive and ready to follow any command.

“It looks scared…” Siana said.

“Shhh,” Yoner quickly nudged Siana, who then realized her mistake and fell silent.

The atmosphere became quiet.

“Let’s get back to work,” Lee Han suggested.

“Yes!” Yoner agreed.

“Good idea!” Siana added.

Professor Thunderfoot’s work was simple but wise. He drew magic circles around the cabin, the garden, and along the paths where spirits might appear. He placed potions to keep spirits away from some paths and potions to attract them to others.

This was possible because he knew the magic circles to guide spirits and the potions they liked or disliked.

Yoner and Siana admired his skill and took notes.

“Amazing! I thought you just chased spirits away,” Yoner said.

“Me too! I didn’t know you could use potions like this,” Siana added.

Professor Thunderfoot, pleased with his students’ enthusiasm, stroked his beard and said,

“Indeed. Alchemists learn both in and out of lectures. Have you written down all the recipes?”

“Yes,” they replied.

The professor poured the potions into bowls, using bone bowls for the potions spirits disliked and wooden bowls for the potions spirits liked.

“Hmm, the amount is a bit low,” he noted, realizing he didn’t have enough of the potion spirits disliked.

“I’ll get more,” Yoner offered.

“No. We’ve used all the Tarasque scales. A good alchemist knows how to find a substitute,” Professor Thunderfoot replied.

Yoner and Siana’s eyes widened with interest.

Lee Han, not seeming to care, continued drawing magic circles and placing the potions.

“Now, tell me, how can we substitute it?” Professor Thunderfoot asked.

Tarasque scales made spirits wary. What else could create that feeling?

“Could we use Flame Tree Clove? Wouldn’t ice spirits hate that?” Yoner suggested.

“Good idea, but two mistakes. First, not only ice spirits are here. Helping ice spirits might attract other spirits. Second, the Fluid Stone cancels that effect,” Professor Thunderfoot explained.

“Ah!” Yoner exclaimed.

“Oh dear!” Siana added.

Siana thought hard and then said,

“What about Akal Tree leaves? They confuse spirits…”

“That could work in an emergency, but not now. Confused spirits might get angry,” Professor Thunderfoot chuckled.

“What we need is a clever idea. Lee Han, come here,” he said.

Lee Han, who had finished the magic circles, approached, puzzled.

“Did you call me?” he asked.

“Can I have a strand of your hair?” Professor Thunderfoot asked.

Lee Han plucked a hair and gave it to him. Professor Thunderfoot threw it into the pot, and the potion changed color.

“Now, it’s not as strong as Tarasque scales, but it will do. See? Find what you need around you,” Professor Thunderfoot said.

Lee Han stared at the professor.

Professor Thunderfoot, realizing his actions, cleared his throat.

“It’s for teaching! It’s for your friends! You’re not upset, are you?” he asked.

“Alright, take the pickling jar from the basement! That’s valuable!”

After placing the potions and waiting for spirits, Lee Han tried to talk to his friends.

“I’m not angry. You know I wouldn’t be angry about this,” he said.

“Yes,” Yoner agreed.

“Of course,” Siana added.

“There are other spells to learn. Why would I be angry about one?” Lee Han said.

An ice squirrel appeared in the distance. It looked like an ice spirit.

The squirrel circled along the magic circle, smelled the potion, and scurried away.

“It’s working well,” Yoner said.

“It’s working well, thanks to you both,” he added, praising Lee Han and Siana.

Siana felt she should praise them too.

“Actually, it’s thanks to both of you. Especially Lee Han’s hair… Ah…” she said, realizing her mistake.

The fire in the fireplace was burning, but it suddenly felt cold.

“Thud!”

Yoner, drinking ginger tea, saw something strange and fast rushing towards them.

It ignored the magic circle.

‘Should I stop it? But he said not to attack spirits…’

“Flash!”

Lightning shot from Lee Han’s staff.

The creature fell, making a painful noise. Siana, seeing what it was, shouted,

“It’s an undead!”

“What? It was an undead?” Yoner asked.

“Lee Han?” Siana asked.

“I misspoke. I meant I thought it was an undead,” Lee Han corrected.