Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 705

As the Basilisk thrashed about, seemingly determined not to be separated, Diret cast a wary glance and suggested,

“How about letting it stay a little longer?”

“Pardon?”

“Well, you know. Animals, when they’re young, like to stay close to their mothers, don’t they?”

“Senior, I’m not a Basilisk, though.” Lee Han stared at him, dumbfounded, and Diret’s face flushed crimson.

In his haste to speak, he’d blurted out something utterly ridiculous.

“It’s a metaphor, a metaphor!”

“But isn’t the Basilisk a violent and arrogant monster? That’s what Professor Lightning Foot taught me, anyway.”

The tail peeking out from the sleeve was now wagging with pathetic eagerness. Diret, without even realizing it, found himself defending the baby Basilisk.

“Of course, there are certain traits that all monsters share. But each one has its own unique characteristics, doesn’t it? This Basilisk might be timid and affectionate…”

“Hmm.” Lee Han listened to Diret’s words and fell into thought.

“But even so, shouldn’t it live separately once it gets bigger?”

“…That’s true.”

Diret had no retort.

No matter how timid and affectionate it might be, if it physically grew any larger, it simply couldn’t keep clinging on like this.

His junior’s arm might just fall off…

Lee Han slowly peeled off the Basilisk, which was trying to wrap itself around his arm like a sturdy rope, and said,

“You don’t have to worry, Senior. It’s like this now, but once it grows a bit more, it’ll find being stuck in a sleeve stifling and want to wander around outside.”

“Well. It’s a monster that shouldn’t be wandering around outside, but let’s just say that’s the case for now.” Diret pretended not to see the Basilisk’s tail wagging sadly. He quickly changed the subject.

‘Sorry. I’ve done all I can.’

“Junior, I have one last thing to say.”

“I’m all ears.”

“Once you finish up today and get some rest, people from the Einroguard clubs will probably start showing up from tomorrow.”

“Ah, I see.” Lee Han listened intently.

He had heard a great deal about the clubs of Einroguard in the past.

Humans cannot live alone, and wizards cannot explore the truth in solitude either.

…or so went the usual mantra of most social clubs, but the clubs of Einroguard felt a little different.

‘They seem a bit obsessed with gold.’

According to a dueling club senior he’d met during the holidays, the main source of income for the Einroguard dueling club was proxy duels.

They would step into disputes between Einroguard students, fight the duels for them, and take the gold.

And, according to the senior, this dueling club wasn’t an oddity.

All the respectable clubs of Einroguard had a proper source of income as a mandatory condition.

It sounded less like fun clubs and more like businesses. Like groups that students ran to make money.

“There are so many clubs, and I don’t know much about them, but remember just one thing, Junior.”

“Yes.”

“Try to look… well, try to look like you don’t know much and aren’t very good at things.”

“…???”

He was still a little tired from working with his friends to transport smuggled goods from evening until late at night. Lee Han yawned and headed down to the second-year common room. Familiar friends were waiting with expectant faces.

Seeing them, Lee Han was puzzled.

“Breakfast?” Lee Han asked, looking at their eager faces. “Did I promise something?”

“No!” one friend said quickly. “It’s not just about food, Wodanaz!”

Another chimed in, “Yeah! We’re not just here for a fancy breakfast!”

Lee Han raised an eyebrow. “Right,” he said, unconvinced.

Lee Han gave his friends, whose words lacked conviction, a skeptical look and opened the smuggling crate.

He hadn’t been able to make a proper meal because he was busy, but he couldn’t let them go without eating anything, so he took out some simple food.

As soon as the cut bread, cheese, oil for dipping, salted ham, and a few cans came out, the Blue Dragon Tower students pounced on them with faces full of happiness.

‘Wait. Aren’t they curious about how I have all this food?’ Lee Han thought to himself.

Normally, they should be surprised and ask, ‘How do you have this on the first day?’…

While having a light meal, Lee Han asked his friends,

“Then why were you all waiting in the common room from this morning?”

“Because we can join the Einroguard clubs from today!”

“Ah. That’s what it was.”

Lee Han had wondered if there was a festival or if classes had been canceled, but sadly, that wasn’t the case.

“I don’t think clubs are… that fun or something to look forward to.”

He hadn’t fully understood Diret’s words yet, but Lee Han had long since abandoned any romantic notions or illusions about the Einroguard clubs.

Especially since they didn’t seem like the enjoyable and welcoming social clubs his friends imagined.

However, upon hearing Lee Han’s words, his friends stared at him with eyes that seemed to say, ‘How can you utter such cold and heartless words?’

“N-no way, Wodanaz. Social clubs are places that all nobles love, aren’t they?”

“I wasn’t particularly interested. I don’t think our family had anyone joining social clubs either…”

“The Wodanaz family is an exception!”

“Why an exception?”

The Blue Dragon Tower friend, at a loss for words, quickly changed the subject.

“Clubs are really great places, Wodanaz. Of course, clubs that haven’t been around for long and are frequented by vulgar newcomers have a noisy, tavern-like atmosphere. But traditional clubs are only visited by well-mannered nobles, and there’s the joy of conversation.”

“And wizard cards.” Gainando, who had come down late, nodded in agreement.

“Yes. Wizard cards too. But I prefer chess.”

“Don’t talk crazy. Why is chess better than wizard cards? Is there any fun in collecting chess pieces?”

“Chess is a true… Ah. Be quiet, Gainando! You’re derailing the conversation! Anyway, Lee Han. Clubs are where you can share stories about what happened today and discuss the state of the Empire…”

“Isn’t that similar to the common room?”

“It’s different! I’m telling you, it’s different!”

“Y-yes, it is.” Lee Han readily agreed, as his friend seemed too desperate.

As other students woke up one by one and came down, Gainando, who was munching on bread dipped in olive oil next to him, asked,

“Lee Han, which club are you going to join?”

“Hmm. A club where the work is easy and I can earn a lot of gold.”

‘I shouldn’t have asked.’ Gainando grumbled inwardly at his friend’s answer, which lacked even a shred of romance, and finished his bread.

As the morning sun fully rose and all the second-year students gathered in the common room, a paper bird flew in through the window.

It then burst into flames and turned into sound.

Second-year students to the common lounge!

“!”

“Let’s go!”

The students, without exception, were excited and tried to move.

A common lounge where they could meet all the seniors, not just their own year’s common room.

What kind of place would it be?

“Hey. Everyone, get some magic cast on you before you go.”

“Drink this potion before you leave.”

“Is there anyone who’s brave enough to take the lead? For the sake of your friends?”

“……”

However, there were those who maintained their composure. Namely, Lee Han and his friends.

Lee Han and his friends grabbed the students who were trying to rush out by the scruffs of their necks, cast spells on them, and made them move in a battle formation.

They might be ambushed as soon as they entered the common lounge.

“Ah, but still, they’re our seniors…”

“You got tricked so badly during the smuggling and you’re still saying that? Don’t open just any door when you enter the common lounge. Don’t go into a room alone. Let’s be careful when a senior talks to us.”

The second-year students of Blue Dragon Tower moved with a much calmer and more somber atmosphere than before.

Creak-

Perse, who was waiting in the common lounge, was amazed at the sight of the second-year students entering in an orderly fashion.

“You guys are really amazing. In our time, everyone was so excited that they fought to be the first to rush in… Yes. This is the dignity of nobles. I hope the next year can learn from you.”

The second-year students were embarrassed by Perse’s praise and subtly averted their gazes. Some students quietly lowered their wands and put the potions back into their pockets.

Lee Han and Yoner whispered from behind.

“Doesn’t seem like there’s a trap, right?”

“Yeah.”

The common lounge was huge and empty. It felt very different from their cozy second-year common room. That room was warm and welcoming, but this place was cold and bare.

“Senior. Why is it so empty here?”

“Hmm? Ah. Well, it’s the common lounge. If you leave things here, other years will take them.”

‘Didn’t you just talk about the dignity of nobles?’

It seemed that by the time they reached their third or fourth year in Blue Dragon Tower, they wouldn’t hesitate to steal, regardless of the dignity of nobles.

“Usually, we rest in our own year common rooms, not in the common lounge like this. This place is used when there’s something to do or discuss as a Blue Dragon Tower unit.”

Perse pointed to a huge wooden sign installed in the clearing. It was a sign with a bulletin board.

-Seeking wizards to jointly carry out this Marca Guild request. 3rd year or higher, 3 or more self-defense spells, within the top 30 in grades.

-Be careful as there has been a recent White Tiger Tower attack.

ㄴRecommend changing the tower’s emblem and wearing a secret mark so you can recognize each other.

ㄴWhite Tiger Tower guys are also walking around with our tower’s emblem and asking if we’re from the same tower…

->Looking for the grimoire.

ㄴWhy don’t you ask the library club?

ㄴThose guys charge too much.

ㄴI know. I’m a member of the library club.

Lee Han read the papers that the seniors had plastered all over with interest.

Apart from the bulletin board, there were a few tents or canopies where the seniors had stayed last year. And…

“What’s that?”

“I was going to explain it anyway. We’re going to move there today.”

“!”

A huge door installed on one side of the common lounge.

The second-year students of Blue Dragon Tower became cautious when Perse talked about going through the door. They had learned to be careful in Einroguard.

Even if they were seniors!

“Where is it?”

“Follow me.” Instead of answering, Perse opened the door and moved beyond it. The shimmering dimension beyond hinted that it was a door with space magic cast on it.

Whoosh!

Perse, having passed through the door in the common lounge and arrived on the 7th floor of Einroguard, waited for his juniors to come out.

Here, the 7th floor of Einroguard was the floor that boasted the widest and most complex area, even within the main building of Einroguard, which had infinite space.

It was no exaggeration to say that it was more like a town or city than a floor.

As such, students above the second year spent a lot of time on this 7th floor.

If the first-year students spent their time in the garden or courtyard outside the main building, their seniors spent their time in the space on the 7th floor.

Since the common lounges of each tower all had space transition doors connected to the 7th floor, it was bound to be convenient.

“Why aren’t the Blue Dragon Tower students coming?” The students belonging to the Einroguard club, who were waiting for the explanation, asked Perse.

“Wait a little longer.”

“Isn’t it taking too long? Should we go and check?”

“It’s not like they’re little kids, there’s no need to take care of them one by one…”

Before he could finish speaking, the door connected to the common lounge opened and the second-year juniors began to pour out in droves.

With all sorts of magic spells charged.

“……”

The club students waiting for them jumped back, surprised by the fierce look on the second-years’ faces.

“Wh-what is it?”

“What’s going on? Why are they doing that?”

Lee Han, having grasped the situation, quickly made an excuse.