Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 815

“No, really, I’m okay,” Ihan said, though he still looked pale. “I said I’d help, so I’m coming.”

Yukbeltire raised an eyebrow at Dirette. “He *says* he’s fine.”

Dirette glared at Yukbeltire. “Just be quiet, will you?”

Dirette already felt bad. His friend kept bothering him, which made Dirette speak sharply.

But Dirette knew Yukbeltire was right. They needed a combat mage like Ihan.

Dirette and Yukbeltire were not combat mages trained in magical warfare.

Just because someone wasn’t a trained combat mage didn’t mean they were weak. You could see that by looking at the students of Einroguard.

Basically, if mages had time and space, they could do powerful attacks. Dirette and Yukbeltire were the same.

Dirette used black magic.

Yukbeltire used enchantment magic.

Both were very good mages in their own types of magic. Using their magic in a fight was easy for them.

But they still had weaknesses. Combat mages were different from normal mages because they could deal with sudden, unexpected problems better.

Could *they* stay calm and cast spells if attacks came from everywhere, with loud noises and threats all around?

Because they trained hard in tough places, the students at Einroguard fought better than most mages, but they still had limits.

Not many students wanted to stop their research to focus on combat spells.

But sometimes, there were students who were good at both…

“If I had to say, I have a long-range combat style that uses summons. Dirette is the same. We need a mage who can fight up close. Summons have limits.”

“Especially since the Einroguard kids are good at finding those weaknesses.”

Summons, whether they were like robots programmed by a mage or creatures from another world, always had habits.

People who didn’t know much about magic might not understand, but the students at Einroguard were good at finding these weaknesses because they were often in close fights.

In the end, the best thing was to have a mage who could quickly change their plans for any problem.

“Okay. I don’t know if I can beat the older students, but I’ll try.”

“You’re a junior from the Wodanaz family. You’re Professor Begreck’s student. You’ve beaten the King of Ghouls, Basilisks, Sea Serpents, the King of Frost Giants, and magical criminals. Of course, you should do well.”

Yukbeltire encouraged his junior like an older student would.

Ihan was happy to hear this encouragement, but he replied roughly.

“Senior, you’re Professor Verdus’s student, but you still haven’t finished the artificial dimension?”

“…That’s not the same thing at all.”

Yukbeltire ignored it calmly, acting as cool as always.

But Dirette could see Yukbeltire’s fingers shaking a little.

Yukbeltire usually didn’t care what other students said, like Professor Verdus, but he couldn’t ignore what a junior he respected said.

“Yukbeltire, if you want your juniors to respect you, you should be nicer to them.”

“What else can I do?”

“…Never mind. Just keep being yourself!”

Dirette gave up right away.

He thought his friend might change if he felt bad.

But he might never change…

Duke Icardoren thought he knew Einroguard very well.

He had read old papers and books, listened to stories from visitors and students, and studied other magic schools.

He thought that with so much preparation, he could find some treasure at Einroguard.

Also, the Duke was arrogant and proud, like people who have never lost before.

He was from a powerful noble family. Since he was young, he had made many plans to beat his enemies.

But Einroguard was very different from what the Duke expected.

At this famous magic school, Duke Icardoren was about to lose for the first time in his life.

-I was wrong. What do you want? I will pay any amount you want.

-Please be quiet.

-Is Duke Icardoren admitting he was wrong?

-Yes. So please be quiet.

-At least give me a room fit for a Duke.

-If you keep talking, we will lock you in the dungeon.

-Do you think this is how you treat an Imperial Duke!

-We have permission to do this. Why did someone like you try to steal from Einroguard?

-I won’t say I didn’t tell my people to do it. But it’s all because of that arrogant Magister who keeps old secrets to himself and won’t share them with nobles… Ptooey! How dare you throw dirty water at an Imperial Duke?!

-You seem to like dirty water. Pour more on him.

-W-wait! Stop. I’ll stop.

-If you say another word, we will pour toxic magical water on you.

-Can I at least have food fit for my status… Stop! I’ll stop! I won’t say anything!

The Death Knights who worked for the Imperial Magister were very cruel and violent.

Duke Icardoren had never been treated so badly before. He had to give up, feeling defeated.

Then, new news came to Duke Icardoren. He was spending his time with a hard bed, rough blankets, bad food, and boring books (like ‘The Great Wizard Osu Gonadalthes’ Biography 1, 2, 3′).

-Your Grace. You said you would pay a ransom, right? Do you still want to?

-…Finally! Can I finally pay the ransom?

Before, the Duke would have said, ‘How dare you kidnap an Imperial Duke and ask for money? I will never let you!’ But after spending time with the Death Knights, he had changed a lot.

-Yes. You can pay. It’s not exactly paying… but it’s close!

The Death Knights started to explain to the Duke.

People were visiting Einroguard for Club Week, which was a time for sponsorships and investments.

Duke Icardoren could pay to get out by giving money to a student he liked.

‘This is better than I thought!’

Duke Icardoren was happy to hear this. It was much more reasonable than he expected, since the Death Knights were talking.

He had even given money to students before he was trapped in Einroguard, so this was normal for him.

-Also, don’t say anything you don’t need to say to people. If you do, you might become an invertebrate for 300 years.

-I, I understand.

Duke Icardoren was scared and lost his courage. He forgot about asking for help.

-Can I go out now?

-Yes. You can go out and look around.

-I underst…

-Oh! Are you Duke Icardoren?

As soon as he walked into the hallway, some students greeted him happily.

The Duke felt tears in his eyes when someone called him by his title, and he answered.

-Yes, I am…

-We found him! It’s the Duke! Let’s kidnap him!

Alde from the Marcan family, a third-year student from the Blue Dragon Tower, and his friends waved their wands and laughed wickedly.

All of the Duke’s protective items had been taken away when he entered Einroguard, so he was easily captured.

-Why, why are you doing this! What does this mean!

-Your Grace, we’re sorry! We need your sponsorship!

-Couldn’t you have just asked!

-If we did, the others might steal it! Your Grace must stay with us until Club Week is over!

The students at Einroguard knew the difference between a normal visitor and someone the Headmaster had locked up.

They knew not to attack normal visitors (except students from Valdrogard house). But if someone was locked up, students could attack and take what they wanted.

Of course, they could have just asked, like the Duke said.

But then they would have to share with the others.

Kidnapping meant they would be the only ones to get his money, so they didn’t need to share.

-The illusion magic worked well, right? Doesn’t he look like someone else?

-Yes! He looks like Senior Perse!

-How dare you… Let me go!

-Your Grace, please be quiet!

-Mmph!

The Duke still didn’t really understand Einroguard.

Anyone who thinks they know Einroguard well doesn’t understand it at all.

-There. Stop.

-Ivanna…! What are you doing here?

-That Senior Perse you’re holding doesn’t look right.

-What’s wrong? Senior Perse accidentally drank a frenzy potion, so he’s acting like that!

-Sorry, but I saw Senior Perse at the Quidditch Club racetrack 30 minutes ago. And you must have forgotten about the shoes. Senior Perse would never wear such old shoes!

-Damn it, we’ve been caught! Attack!

-Those are our lines. We’ll get you back for the smuggling!

Ivanna and her group from the White Tiger Tower charged forward, shouting loudly.

They were still angry about the failed smuggling attempt at the start of the semester, so this was a good chance to get revenge.

The students from the White Tiger Tower used magic to make themselves stronger and charged like a fortress. The students from the Blue Dragon Tower started yelling insults.

-You stupid fools!

-You’re just trying to learn magic to fight! Why did you even come to magic school!

Ivanna didn’t answer.

The words themselves were a trap. You had to be careful when dealing with the Illusion Magic group.

But one of her friends got emotional and replied.

-You, you have worse grades than me… Ack!

-Got you!

Illusion magic became weak when a mage lost focus.

This happened when they felt strong emotions or focused too much on what they saw, heard, smelled, tasted, or touched.

And now, it was both.

‘Move without looking. Move without looking…’

Ivanna kept her head down to avoid seeing the chaos and her enemies.

Several spells flew by, and she felt some pain, but she used enhancement magic to handle it. It didn’t matter if the pain was real or not.

-Got him! Let’s go!

-Mmmph!

-Transform him! So the others don’t notice! A wooden barrel! Turn him into a wooden barrel!

Duke Icardoren was under illusion magic, so he looked like someone else. He shook his head wildly as they turned him into a wooden barrel.

But the cruel students from the White Tiger Tower grabbed the Duke and turned him into a wooden barrel.

-Retreat! Retreat! Leave the others behind!

-We’ll see about this, White Tiger Tower! This isn’t over!

“There they are.”

Ihan tilted his head at what his seniors said.

On the sixth floor, Ihan saw older students carrying a heavy wooden barrel down the wide, spiraling stone staircase. Dust motes danced in the shafts of light from the high windows, illuminating the worn steps and the worried faces of the students.

“What’s there?”

“Duke Icardoren.”

“…Did they lock him in a wooden barrel?!”

“No. They probably transformed him.”

Dirette gave Ihan glasses with magenta lenses. Ihan looked through them.

The wooden barrel looked just like Duke Icardoren.

Ihan was speechless. No matter how good the Duke’s sponsorship was, was it okay to kidnap him like that?

“Isn’t it uncomfortable to be transformed like that?”

Yukbeltire tilted his head, acting like Professor Verdus’s student, and didn’t understand Ihan’s question at all.

Ihan realized he had asked the wrong person.

“Senior Dirette, even if they transform him like that…”

“Hmm?”

Dirette was summoning a demon that looked like a giant toad. He turned his head at Ihan’s question.

“…What is this?”

“We need a place to keep the Duke.”

“Ah, I understand. Let’s start!”