Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 688

Ethan felt like the seniors thought he was hopeless. He tried to explain, but Derett and Il Rendell just shook their heads.

No matter how they looked at it, bringing things in at the start of the new semester seemed the most promising approach.

“Understood. But doesn’t the Headmaster inspect everything even at the start of the new semester?”

“Indeed.”

This was something even the freshmen had experienced.

Passing through the gates of Ainrogard meant facing the skeletal Headmaster’s inspection.

During this process, any items, snacks, or even servants that the freshmen had secretly brought were all banished outside.

Derett dragged the chalkboard over and grabbed a piece of chalk.

He wanted to explain everything to Ethan since he had the chance now.

“But there’s always a loophole in the rules.”

‘He looks especially dashing today.’

Ethan looked at his senior with respect as he brought out the words applicable to magical theory to explain smuggling.

Ethan thought Derett looked much more impressive now than when he taught black magic. Maybe because smuggling sounded more exciting than black magic lessons.

-Mixing with Luggage

Risk of Discovery:★★★★☆

Difficulty:★☆☆☆☆

Capacity Limit:★★★☆☆

“As you know, Ainrogard’s rules don’t block legitimate items.”

The skeletal Headmaster might be grumpy, but he didn’t prohibit the circulation of all items.

He didn’t forbid students from bringing in items they had obtained in Ainrogard or through Ainrogard activities.

Ethan’s Morning Star, for instance, was just such an item.

And, aside from special cases like Ethan, students had to bring more and more items out of Ainrogard as they advanced through the years.

They had to take out various research materials and magical books to study even during vacations.

Diligent students made good use of this pile of luggage when returning to school.

“This pile of luggage is surprisingly chaotic, so it’s quite easy to mix something in. It wouldn’t be easy to notice even if a sack of coffee beans or an artifact of bread dough were mixed in.”

“But if you investigate closely…”

“Indeed. No method is without its weaknesses.”

Derett wrote down more letters.

-Throwing In

Risk of Discovery:★★★☆☆

Difficulty:★★☆☆☆

Capacity Limit:★★★★☆

Ainrogard was protected by strong magic, but it was also very big, which was a weakness.

As evidenced by the constant intrusions every year, it wasn’t impossible to create a hole from the outside if one was determined.

“If you wander around the outside of the school grounds, there are places where the flow of magic weakens from time to time. You throw smuggled goods in that direction.”

“That doesn’t sound like a bad method, but why is the risk of discovery so high?”

“The Headmaster periodically releases dimensional hounds to recover the smuggled goods first.”

“……”

Ethan was surprised by this game of trying to catch smugglers.

Of course, there was no way the skeletal Headmaster would just sit back and watch these smuggling attempts.

“And in remote areas, other monsters often damage or take the goods before the Headmaster’s henchmen arrive, so the recovery rate isn’t high.”

Derett said with a hint of regret.

If it weren’t for the harsh environment of Ainrogard, better methods might have been possible.

“Sometimes, fearless people punch holes in the magic relatively close to the gates and throw in smuggled goods, but that’s also a dangerous method.”

“Indeed, temporarily disrupting the defensive magic that protects the school’s walls seems dangerous.”

“Huh? It’s not that, it’s just that it’s easy to get caught if you punch a hole in the magic near the gates. It’s also easy to be tracked.”

“…Disrupting the defensive magic…?”

“That’s the Headmaster’s job to worry about.”

Il Rendell nodded in agreement with Derett’s words.

Ethan felt a slight dizziness at the sight.

As expected of Ainrogard seniors, they were ruthlessly cold.

It was like the students’ job was to smuggle things in, and the Headmaster’s job was to deal with what happened after!

“Besides these classic and basic methods, various other methods have been tried.”

-Using Transformation Magic

Risk of Discovery:★★☆☆☆

Difficulty:★★★★☆

Capacity Limit:★★☆☆☆

-Using Subspace

Risk of Discovery:★☆☆☆☆

Difficulty:★★★★★

Capacity Limit:★★★☆☆

…

…

“Mainly transformation magic and subspace artifacts…”

“How do you smuggle with transformation magic?”

Il Rendell kindly demonstrated in response to Ethan’s question. A potion bottle disappeared into Il Rendell’s hair.

“Many students put them in their stomachs. It’s a popular method among larger races. Using subspace involves using artifacts with space magic.”

Derett took a sip of tea, maybe because he was a little thirsty, and kept explaining.

“There are various other smuggling methods besides these. What I’ve explained now are just the most well-known methods. The key to success is how you combine the various methods.”

Smart students at Ainrogard never used just one way to smuggle things.

They tried to use many different ways. They didn’t want to risk everything on just one plan.

Even if they get caught 99 times out of 100, it’s still a profit if they succeed once!

This was the basic smuggling method at Ainrogard. If they could succeed even once, it was worth it even if all other methods failed.

“The Headmaster’s inspection method changes every year, and luck is also needed to some extent. Sometimes he inspects in detail, but other times he glosses over things. So, junior, if there’s something you want to bring in, you should start preparing now.”

Derett’s quick lesson was very helpful.

Ethan nodded, deeply impressed.

“Thank you so much, senior. I’m impressed.”

“Really? Is it *that* impressive?”

“I think it’s the most impressive lecture I’ve ever heard.”

“Really?”

Derett was about to feel slightly pleased but paused.

‘…Wait, is this more impressive than the black magic I taught him last semester?’

That was a little disappointing in its own way…

Il Rendell, who had been listening quietly, opened her mouth and asked.

“What smuggling method do you think will be popular this year?”

“Well, I heard they’re going to create a fake student and hide things inside, but I don’t know exactly how it will work.”

“……”

Ethan, who had been pondering which method would be best, flinched at his seniors’ ideas.

As expected, Ainrogard’s seniors were no ordinary people.

Ethan left the seniors, his head full of smuggling ideas.

“Guys! We’re in big trouble!!”

“???”

“Wh, what’s wrong?”

The friends, who were still fast asleep due to their hardships in the mountains, were startled awake when Ethan visited the annex and knocked on the door.

“We’re late!”

“…Huh? Huh?! Is it, is it the start of the semester?”

Gainando quickly checked the calendar.

Luckily, the new semester, which he called ‘The End of the World,’ was still far away.

“It’s still far off!”

“Gainando. Now is not the time to be complacent just because there’s over a week left. Everyone else is preparing.”

‘This sounds familiar.’

Gainando tilted his head.

It was similar to what Ethan often said when studying for exams.

-Huff… huff. I’ve done this much, can’t I take a break? Maybe play a round of Wizard Cards…

-Gainando. Now is not the time to be complacent just because you’ve done this much. Everyone else is preparing! You have to do more!

-N, no way! Are the others ahead of me?!

-Of course. I went to see the progress of the White Tiger Tower guys, and they’re much faster than you.

-Eek…!

He later found out that the White Tiger Tower students were actually slower than Gainando.

Even now, Gainando felt a bitter sense of betrayal when he recalled that truth.

“You’re, you’re not tricking me again, are you?!”

“Gainando. Again? Have I ever tricked you?”

“N… not exactly…”

“How can you say that? When have I ever tricked you? What date was it?”

“I can’t just recall it right away if you say it like that…”

“So, you’re doubting your friend with something you can’t even recall right away?”

“…I was wrong… What should I do?”

Gainando gave up and shut his mouth.

There was no reasoning with Ethan like that.

“Everyone, get up! We need to prepare quickly and depart for Granden City.”

“Hey, what’s going on? Why are we leaving so early?”

Alsicle looked at Ethan and the students in astonishment.

“Mr. Peng Erinn. There was something I missed.”

“Wh, what is it? Don’t tell me the semester start date was different? It’s something Mr. Gonadal Tes would definitely do.”

Alsicle wondered if the skeletal Headmaster had given them a different start date.

A subtle trick to fool complacent students by casting a spell that changed the numbers over time.

The skeletal Headmaster was more than capable of doing that.

“That’s not it. We need to go to Granden City now to prepare for smuggling.”

“Th, that’s right. …What? Prepare for what?”

“Smuggling, I say. Smuggling.”

“…Ah! Into Ainrogard!”

For a moment, Alsicle thought about telling someone in charge, but then he realized.

Of course, it was only natural for Ainrogard students to think about smuggling.

“You have to go and prepare for that now?”

“Yes. The other seniors said they’re arriving even earlier to prepare.”

“I see…”

Alsicle nodded, then suddenly thought: ‘Is it really right for students who are supposed to be important leaders in the future to spend so much time and energy on smuggling?’

However, Ethan and his friends’ expressions were too serious and fervent to bring up such a topic.

“Indeed… I hadn’t thought of that. I’ve been outmaneuvered.”

“I hadn’t thought of it either. Ratford. I’ve become complacent during the vacation. The Headmaster aimed for that weakness. The later we arrive, the happier he’ll be.”

“First, we need to sort out what items we’re going to smuggle in. How much food do we have left now…”

“The Blue Dragon Tower has five sacks of flour, six sacks of rice, a box of cheese, and dried meat…”

Ethan and his friends pondered deeply, sorting through the list of supplies they had organized just before the winter vacation.

What exactly should they bring in to last through the year?

Alsicle felt someone behind him and turned around. Bright light came from behind a curtain. It was Mrs. Kraha.

“Mr. Peng Erinn. What are you doing right now?”

“Oh, well, you see, we’re getting ready for the new semester by studying in advance…”

-No, we don’t need chocolate right now!

-Chocolate is a necessity, honestly! Can you guys survive studying without chocolate? Can you survive without hot chocolate?!

-A… a sharp point…!

When Alsicle saw this, he lowered his head, thinking he was in trouble.

What was he doing as a senior wizard if he couldn’t even stop that!

‘But it’s unfair. Wodanaz is the unusual one…’

“Oh, how wonderful to see this!”

“…?!”

Alsicle was taken aback by Mrs. Kraha’s words.

“Ar, are you alright…?”

“Look. They’re having a serious discussion about magic with their friends, aren’t they?”

-You little brat! I’m never lending you my crossword puzzle magazine!

-Let go of me! And I don’t need your crossword puzzles!

They were even grabbing each other by the collar while discussing magic, but Mrs. Kraha was very pleased.

“Everyone. Your enthusiasm is truly touching. If there are any items you need, the Kraha family will prepare anything for you.”

“!”

“O, oh my.”

Ratford unknowingly let go of Gainando’s collar. Mrs. Kraha gestured when she saw this and said.

“You can hold him comfortably.”

“Th, thank you.”

Ratford grabbed Gainando’s collar again. Gainando, even though he was being held, still insisted they needed to bring the magazines.