Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 555

‘Shouldn’t we send all the people who spread rumors to the punishment room?’

Lee Han furiously scribbled a reply.

-I don’t know where you get such strange information. You need to rethink your sources. Where do you pick up such nonsense…

‘He has a nasty temper.’

The person on the other side of the mirror raised an eyebrow, watching the rapidly appearing text.

This student from Black Tortoise Tower was certainly talented, but he had the weakness of acting emotionally.

If not for that weakness, he would have been rated even higher.

‘But he’s definitely useful. He must be in contact with the first years.’

Even the roughest students who frequently raided the Headmaster’s vault avoided contact with the first years as much as possible.

Getting caught by the very strict Headmaster could mean serious punishment in the punishment room.

Contacting first years was considered a more serious offense than getting caught raiding the Headmaster’s vault, so there weren’t many students who would bother with first years for no good reason.

But there were always exceptions.

Students from White Tiger Tower or Black Tortoise Tower were more likely to be such exceptions.

‘Emotional and unnecessarily meddling.’

If they had acquaintances or family among the new students, they would be willing to help.

The person on the other side of the mirror couldn’t understand it.

If they came to learn magic, shouldn’t they focus on their own magic? Why bother with others’?

However, this time, such unnecessary actions proved beneficial.

After all, someone in direct contact with the first years was bound to be more accurate in assessing the situation than relying on rumors.

I understand. I’ll keep that in mind.

-Why do you keep paying attention to the first year? I told you before, he’s unusual because he is studying many different kinds of magic. He’s not suitable for separate assignments.

Lee Han usually tried to maintain his good reputation in front of his seniors, but this time was different.

He was prepared to persuade the other party, even if it meant spreading some slightly negative rumors.

‘I need to make them think this junior isn’t a good person to give tasks to!’ Lee Han thought.

Otherwise, the moment he became a second year, he might be dragged off by some seniors for extra work.

You’re short-sighted.

-What?

I’ll give you some advice in return for the information. It’s about how to deal with juniors. What do you think if a junior is busy with other things?

-…Just that they’re busy?

You’re wrong there. That junior is just wasting his time on other stuff. My offer would be the most helpful for that junior.

‘This guy is definitely crazy.’ Lee Han thought.

Lee Han almost asked if the other person was Professor Verdus, but he stopped himself.

-How can you be so sure?

What do you mean? Of course, my magic is the best, so it would be the most helpful.

“……”

Lee Han realized he had made a mistake.

He shouldn’t have argued with a madman!

-Alright. I hope your skills are as great as your confidence. But that junior is unlikely to agree with you. He’s already studying many different kinds of magic.

That’s possible. But I have a way to persuade him.

-Can I ask?

Since you gave me information, I’ll tell you the rest. He’s eccentric enough to be close to Ilrendel…

-I told you, they’re not close?

Fine. He’s eccentric enough to hang out with Ilrendel, and considering he’s close to the black magic school students, this first year from the Wodanaz family is very likely to have narrow and poor relationships.

“……”

Lee Han was speechless at the absurd slander.

-Isn’t that too much of an assumption?

No. He’s from the Wodanaz family, so it’s almost certain.

‘This bastard, really.’ Lee Han thought.

Lee Han almost forgot the other person was a senior and nearly asked to meet face to face.

So, if you invite him to my club and provide him with appropriate relationships, he’ll be very satisfied.

‘I should always be suspicious of anyone who invites me to a club first.’ Lee Han thought as he replied.

-Alright. It sounds plausible when I hear it. Good luck.

Thank you. As always, your information is the most accurate. Did you check the Hydra?

The person on the other side of the mirror raised his evaluation of Lee Han slightly when he agreed with his opinion.

This one knew how to admit when he was wrong, rather than stubbornly sticking to his emotions.

That was a quality worth praising.

-Yes.

I’ll give you one more thing as payment for the information. Sleep won’t work well on that Hydra. The Headmaster has reinforced it.

-Wow. Thank you very much.

Alright. Good work.

The person on the other side of the mirror ended the conversation with satisfaction.

He had talked to many people through communication artifacts, but he had a feeling this one would last a while.

Aside from the flaws of being violent and impatient, he was quite capable.

Besides, this one also seemed very grateful for the information he provided…

‘Should I just block him soon?’ Lee Han thought, cursing the person giving useless information.

“Lee Han. Lee Han.”

Lee Han replied with annoyance when Gainando, crawling through the dog hole, entered the secret base and called out to him.

“Gainando. I already made you dinner. Find your own snacks. You already ate all the sweets I gave you last time, didn’t you?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“You want to play wizard cards? I played with you yesterday. You lost all five games, so not today.”

“No, that’s not it…”

“You have to do your black magic homework yourself, Gainando. I told you, the quality of the magic bones is very important for your bone magic homework. Check it again and think about whether it can properly be the starting point of the magic.”

“No, that’s not it!!!” Gainando shouted, exploding with frustration.

He lay down on the floor and rolled from side to side.

“Tomorrow! We going out, right? Everyone’s waiting!”

“Ah.”

Only then did Lee Han remember that he had promised to try to escape with his friends this weekend.

With the final exams just next week, it would be very difficult if they didn’t go out this week.

“I’m sorry, Gainando. I forgot.”

“How could you forget that? I’ve been thinking about it every time I go to sleep this week.”

Gainando, who was speaking, nodded his head as he looked at the pile of books and papers stacked in front of Lee Han.

“I can see why you’d forget.”

“No. I shouldn’t forget. Thank you for reminding me.”

“Then can you give me some more snacks?”

“No, I can’t. Finish your homework.”

Lee Han took the dejected Gainando to the place where his friends were waiting. He thought about the dangers of escaping and the excitement of finally being free for a while.

The hidden passage on the second floor of the main building opened into a warehouse. Inside, something old and powerful waited: the dimensional gate. Generations before had worked on this magical doorway, but it had been asleep for a long time.

No one thought this gate could ever work again. It needed magic that was almost impossible to find. But Ethan had found a way. He had brought the dimensional gate back to life.

A way out of school! The dimensional gate promised escape. It was strange, though, that it led to one place: the Skull Headmaster’s own house! This worried some, but the students were desperate to leave. They didn’t care where it went, as long as it was out.

“I told everyone who wanted to join us to come here. How many people are waiting?”

“Uh… well,” Gainan started, looking nervous.

Ethan frowned. “What is it? Did no one come?”

“No, it’s not that.”

“Too many, then?” Ethan guessed.

Gainan mumbled, “Kind of… uh…”

“Gainan, just tell me! How many people are here?” Ethan asked, getting impatient.

Gainan took a breath. “Everyone,” he said quietly.

Ethan stared. “Everyone? You mean *everyone*?”

“I think so,” Gainan said, worried he might be wrong. “Everyone wanted to come.”

“But what about the Phoenix Tower priests?” Ethan asked, surprised. “They’re usually so good.”

“They said they wanted to go with you, Ethan,” Gainan replied. “To help.”

Ethan blinked. Had he somehow made the always-good Phoenix Tower priests want to break the rules? ‘No, no, not my fault,’ he thought quickly. ‘It’s those other students, like Salcona. They’re the ones who made everyone want to go! Definitely not me.’ Ethan decided this was the truth.

*Creak* – the heavy door groaned as Ethan pushed it open. Inside the warehouse, shadows stretched long and dusty. Only a small group of students stood waiting, each one representing their tower. Their faces were tight with nerves and excitement. They looked ready for anything.

“You’ve arrived, Wodanaz?”

“Is everyone really going out?”

“That’s what it seemed like when I checked.”

Siana Priest and Tiziling Priest also nodded.

“They said they would all go out together.”

“We warned them that they could end up in the disciplinary chamber, but they said they were curious…”

Ethan felt a slight pang of conscience, but he shook his head slightly and endured it.

“We decided to gather like this so we wouldn’t get caught if we all gathered at once.”

“Good job, Salco. The plan is…”

Giselle tossed a thick stack of papers at Ethan. The edges were worn and soft from being handled so much. “Here’s the plan,” she said. “Everyone’s been working on it.”

Ethan flipped through the pages. He saw notes scribbled everywhere. ‘Black Turtle Tower: get normal clothes ready – change fast! Don’t get caught!’ ‘Blue Dragon Tower: get money from family – as much as possible!’ ‘White Tiger & Phoenix Towers: ask knights and priests to come – the quiet ones!’ ‘Scatter and don’t get caught…’

Ethan nodded. He’d heard most of this before, but seeing it all written down made it feel real. “Looks good,” he said. “You guys have thought of everything.”

“There are a few more things to add.”

“What is it?”

“We’ll use outing passes too,” Ethan added. “If too many students suddenly go out to buy things, the Headmaster will know something’s up. So, we’ll use passes to make it look normal. Spread people out.”

Salco asked, “Are you going out, Wodanaz?”

“No,” Ethan said. “I need to open the gate. And the Headmaster is already watching me closely. He knows I’ve snuck out before. If I use a pass, he’ll think, ‘Ethan’s escaping again!’ and follow me.”

“Let’s ask the priests we trust. They’ll be the least suspicious.”

Ethan was planning to boldly use the outing passes to send out the priests.

They were the people who could go out and come back with the least suspicion in the current situation.

Siana Priest nodded seriously. “I will do my best,” she said.

Ethan blinked, confused. “Wait, Siana Priest, I meant… I want *other* priests to use the passes to go outside. I need *you* to come with us through the gate. Because I trust you here, on this side. Not that I don’t trust you to go outside! You know what I mean?” He finished in a rush, feeling a bit foolish.

“Oh,” Siana said, her serious face softening. “If that’s what you need, then of course.”

‘Smooth,’ Ethan thought to himself, feeling relieved.

Tiziling Priest just stared at Ethan, his mouth slightly open, like he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. Ethan quickly looked away.

“The priests who received the outing passes will buy things normally outside and come back, and the rest of you will go out one by one. Got it?”

“Got it.”

The students’ eyes blazed with determination.

Perhaps they had learned magic this year for just such a moment.

To give the hypocritical and evil archmage a taste of his own medicine!

*BZZZT! BZZZZZT!* The dimensional gate roared to life, crackling with magic. It ripped open a swirling doorway in the air, brighter and more powerful than before. Adenart stood nearby, his face tight with worry. The gate pulsed with so much power, it looked like it might break apart at any moment.

Adenart leaned closer to Ethan, whispering, “Are you sure this is safe?”

“We have to make it last until we get back,” Ethan said. “I’ve done the calculations. It *should* be okay.”

“Oh. Okay, good,” Adenart sighed, sounding relieved.

“…Probably,” Ethan added quietly.

Adenart’s eyes widened, and he spun around to look at Ethan, just as the first students started rushing towards the gate.

Ethan waved towards the Princess’s guards. They quickly pulled her away, but she twisted around, her eyes burning into Ethan. He just looked away. He was getting good at ignoring angry stares, he thought with a small smirk.

‘Round trip… should work,’ he thought, a knot of worry still in his stomach. ‘Unless those old guys who built this messed something up.’ But he pushed the doubt away. He had to trust them.

A grin spread across Ethan’s face. ‘The Headmaster has no idea what’s coming. He thinks he’s so clever. Haha! Just wait until we take over his fancy villa! It’ll be ours!’

Ethan slammed his journal shut, a thrill of excitement running through him. Adventure was starting.