Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 787

“…I will do my best.”

Lee Han had no choice but to say that. Carnella, who was beside him, said without much energy,

“Since the person who was going to give us money has been arrested, do we really have to do this?”

“Hormash,” Professor Yonlamos said in a warning tone.

How could a senior interfere when a junior wanted to learn?

Professor Yonlamos didn’t want to try magic that was too hard for him, but he didn’t want to stop his students from trying either.

“Don’t interfere,” Professor Yonlamos said.

“Understood, Professor. I just feel sorry for him. Even if he practices the magic that Jarun left behind, he won’t learn much.”

Jarun’s research was very hard. It was too difficult for a second-year student to learn much.

Instead of spending time on >Jarun’s Non-Elastic Rubber> or >Jarun’s Epidermal Lava>, it would be better to learn the easier 2nd and 3rd Circle magic of the Transformation Magic school.

“It’s too early to say that. Lee Han might think there are things to learn. It’s not like other professors are forcing Lee Han to learn magic, but…”

‘Professor!’ Lee Han was touched.

Professor Yonlamos understood Lee Han.

“…there might be magic he wants to learn. Like this magic, for example.”

‘That’s not it.’ Lee Han regretted it.

He should have just said he was skipping lectures and helping out for the gold coins!

Professor Yonlamos thought Lee Han was studying magic because he wanted to.

“Indeed… these magics… hmm.”

Carnella thought Lee Han was a bit crazy, but she decided not to say anything.

If she annoyed him, she might not get a chance to be friends with someone who knew griffins or basilisks.

“Then, goodbye everyone. Oh, Lee Han, do you have >From Caterpillar to Dragon>?”

“Yes? Yes,” Lee Han said, surprised.

After the final exam last year, Professor Yonlamos and Lee Han had this conversation:

-It would be good to study that during the vacation. It’s a good magic book.

-How much should I study?

-As much as you can?

The professor was just recommending a book, but Lee Han thought he was being told to do his best and study as much as possible.

“How far have you read? Have you read Chapter 3 yet?”

“I’ve read a little.”

“Is that so? How many of the spells in Chapter 3 have you learned?”

“…I’ve learned a few.”

“Then show me next lecture. Everyone, goodbye!” Professor Yonlamos waved and left quickly.

Pop!

Carnella looked at Lee Han with a curious expression and asked,

“Do you have >From Caterpillar to Dragon>? I heard it’s hard. And the magic in Chapter 3… what have you learned?”

“I haven’t learned anything.”

“What?”

“I haven’t learned anything yet. I only read up to Chapter 1 during the vacation.”

“Junior, why did you lie like that?”

“Are you saying that even after seeing Senior Jarun being eaten by the cloak just now?”

‘That’s his own fault…’

Carnella thought that if Senior Jarun was dragged away and died, it was his own fault.

He was asked for one lecture, but he ignored it, so even a kind person like Professor Lezhie would do that.

“Professor Lezhie isn’t the type to scold someone for not learning.”

“Ha! All professors seem kind before they show their true colors.”

“That’s true…”

Carnella couldn’t disagree.

You should never trust a professor at Einrogaard until you graduate.

“Let’s forget that. Junior, what are you going to do? You said you just finished Chapter 1.”

“I have to finish Chapter 3 by next week, find the magic, and learn it. Haa…”

‘Isn’t this guy crazy?’

Carnella thought Lee Han was crazy. Maybe he had gone mad from listening to all the magic lectures.

Does anyone try to catch up on that much progress?

“O-okay, Junior. I respect you. Don’t forget I said this, especially when the games are held or when you let me pet the baby basilisk.”

“Understood, Senior. Could you help me with the casting?” Lee Han asked as he prepared for the >Jarun’s Non-Elastic Rubber> experiment.

“Are you sure about this? It seems like there won’t be much left since you aren’t doing well.”

“It’s still not complete, but I think I can cast it to this extent.”

“Really? Did I see it wrong?” The tall dark elf senior tilted her head.

She thought that the research on >Jarun’s Non-Elastic Rubber> wasn’t even ready to be cast.

Being able to cast and summon the material, even if it disappears quickly, is very different from not being able to cast at all.

It was much easier to do research with the first one. The second one couldn’t even be seen or touched.

‘Could I be wrong?’

Carnella realized she was wrong.

Looking at the magic formula, it seemed that casting was possible to this extent.

‘It uses a lot of mana and is hard on the wizard, but still…’

“Senior Jarun is amazing. How did he prepare this magic to cast it? You’d probably collapse every time you use it.”

“Ah, I changed it to be used by me.”

“What? When? You didn’t have time for that.”

“I calculated and changed it while Senior Jarun was giving it to me and the professor was knocking on the door.”

Carnella felt scared.

…Just what is this kid?

Lee Han finished his work and went outside. (The work time was written down in the ledger.)

-Hey, you! Get away from her!

-I should be saying that. You’re shameless. Go find your own Tower juniors!

-You don’t even know what the Einrogaard Club spirit is. I can’t let you win…

“?” Lee Han tilted his head, hearing someone fighting.

Many students were gathered, but most of them were just watching the fight.

“Senior Sebius.”

“Who… is that you?” The hamster beastman senior, a fourth-year from the Black Turtle Tower, pointed at Lee Han when he saw him.

“Why are they shouting? What’s all the noise?” Ihan asked, his eyes wide as he looked at the crowd of students pushing and shoving.

Sebius shrugged. “Oh, this? It’s just the clubs. They always fight over the new students.” He sounded bored, like this was a normal Tuesday.

“Like they did with me, you mean?” Ihan guessed, remembering his own chaotic arrival.

“Similar.” Sebius nodded. “Look over there.” He pointed with his chin towards the middle of the noisy group. “See that one in the leather jacket? Hunter Club. The one covered in paint? Sculpture Club. And the one with the bright scarf? Outing Club.”

“I see,” Ihan said, watching the scene with a mix of curiosity and worry.

Ihan felt a slight sense of relief whenever he heard the names of Einroguard’s unofficial clubs. At least they couldn’t drag Ihan away by force.

“Looking for new members yourself, Ihan?”

“No. I’m here to retrieve a book.” Sebius gestured with his chin, pointing to the backpack of another student who was watching the spectacle.

“That bloke’s been using the book I lent him as a pillow.”

“…Oh, I see.” Ihan decided to ignore his senior’s motives and tried to continue watching the fight.

Students from each club were arguing, each wearing their club’s unique attire. The Hunter Club wore leather jackets and carried toy bows. The Sculpture Club members had paint on their clothes and carried small hammers. The Outing Club wore bright, colourful scarves and looked very cheerful. Nilia, a second-year caught in the middle, seemed troubled…

‘…?!’ Ihan was taken aback by the sight of a familiar friend. Why is she there!?

“No way?!”

“What’s wrong?”

“My friend is over there!”

“Your friend? Hmm… Your friend is quite popular.”

The students were shouting.

-If someone from the Shadow Patrol doesn’t join the Hunter Club, where else would they go?!

-Is your mind only filled with backgrounds? Look at this sculpture. Can’t you feel the talent?

-You’re all wrong. This sociable junior should join the Outing Club. They have the talent to blend into any ballroom!

“Could Nilia be harmed by this?”

“You don’t have to worry about that. They’re just arguing amongst themselves.”

Sebius carefully took out his wand, chanted a spell, and thrust it into the backpack of a student engrossed in watching. The wand pierced through the backpack as if being sucked into a liquid.

Whoosh! Sebius carefully pulled out the book and put it in his own bag with a satisfied expression. The student didn’t even realize what had happened.

“Still, they’re arguing too much.”

“Well… it’s not often you find someone you want to recruit into your club.”

“What if they end up recruiting everyone like this?”

“That’s impossible. Clubs usually don’t go that far.”

Ihan looked at his senior with a troubled and sad expression. Sebius belatedly noticed the look and felt a pang of conscience.

“…You’re a special case. Who told you to stand out so much?”

“That’s too much.”

“They’re unofficial clubs, so they don’t have the authority to force anyone to join. And even if they did, they wouldn’t force a junior to join unless it was really extreme. If a club didn’t recruit someone they really wanted, other clubs would laugh at them forever. Even their own club members would be angry. That’s how serious it was to miss out on a good recruit.”

Of course, Ihan’s mood didn’t improve much.

Meanwhile, Nilia, who didn’t know what to do, spotted Ihan.

-…Help me!

Ihan was taken aback by his friend’s desperate look.

“Senior, can we get my friend out of there?”

“Just tell her to join one of the clubs.”

“Do you even know what kind of place Einroguard clubs are to say something so absurd?”

“You only joined difficult and strange clubs, but there are plenty of normal clubs too.” Sebius grumbled in an irritable voice and eventually granted his junior’s request.

“Alright. I’ll draw their attention, so take her out during that time.”

“Thank you!” Ihan bowed his head. Then, he signaled to Nilia.

-Approaching soon. Prepare to escape.

‘Wait. But how is he going to draw their attention?’

“Look out! It’s Professor Willowbark! He’s coming!” Screams and chaos erupted.

Ihan cast an invisibility spell and dashed through the pandemonium, impressed. ‘I learned something new.’

“So, what on earth happened?”

“Huff, huff… It’s a bit of a long story,” Nilia said, gasping for breath.

“How long could it possibly be? Tell me.”

“Well, it’s like this… I met seniors from the Black Turtle Tower, and they liked me so much that they started fighting over who would get me to join their club, and I ran away to avoid that, and then I happened to meet a Phoenix Tower senior from the Alchemy Faculty, and that led to me becoming friends with the Phoenix Tower seniors, and then the club talk came up again…”

“…Hmm. Longer than I expected.”

“I told you it was long! Ugh.” Nilia put her hand on her stomach as if her insides were hurting just thinking about the seniors. To think I have to choose just one of those offers.

“Right. How did you choose one?”

“Nilia, I just ended up joining them all.”

A strange silence hung between the two friends for a moment. Nilia awkwardly looked away and kicked a small stone on the side of the road.

“Ugh… ugh…”

“M-monster!” Nilia was horrified by the unidentified monster that emerged from the direction the stone had rolled. Suddenly, they heard a low growling sound. Nilia stopped kicking stones and looked scared. Then, from the bushes, something moved…

The creature was slimy and green, with patches of black fur falling off. It was about the size of a large dog, with glowing red eyes and sharp, yellow teeth. A terrible smell like rotten eggs came from it. It had a ghastly appearance, like a chimera that had melted in a toxic swamp. Ihan had seen all sorts of monsters in Einroguard, but this was a first.

“Wodanaz! Watch out!”

“Boy of the Wodanaz family… do you remember me… I am Antagondals… This is the price… for spiriting you away…”

“???” Nilia was startled and turned her head. She hadn’t expected him to be acquainted with her friend.

Ihan replied shamelessly without a change in expression. “Excuse me, but I don’t believe I know you. Who are you?”

“……”