Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 93

“I think you’re mistaken…”

“So, you did use lightning magic.”

‘Blast.’

Professor Volardi wouldn’t miss the signs.

Professor Volardi looked at the smoking monster, then at Ethan’s arm. He could smell a faint, sharp scent of lightning. He understood.

“Intriguing…”

Professor Volardi nodded, just a tiny movement, and mumbled something to himself. But that small nod made Ethan feel colder than facing the monster again.

“Wait,” Professor Garcia said quickly, stepping in front of Professor Volardi. Ethan’s heart jumped. *Professor!*

“Professor Begreck,” Professor Garcia asked, her voice sharp with worry. “Why lightning magic? What are you going to do?”

Professor Volardi’s voice was flat. “For teaching, of course.”

“Teaching? But… wait.” Professor Garcia’s eyes widened. “Ethan is in *your* class?” She almost said, ‘that terrible professor’s class,’ but stopped herself just in time. Ethan knew what she meant anyway.

“Yes…” Ethan mumbled.

Professor Garcia sighed, pressing her fingers to the bridge of her nose. She tried to be kind to everyone in the school, even Professor Begreck, but his lessons… they made her shiver. Too hard, too dangerous, especially for new students like Ethan. She believed in teaching students to be safe, not to throw themselves into deadly fights. Thank goodness almost no one ever went to Professor Begreck’s class. Students tried it once, then ran as fast as they could. Professor Garcia had always hoped Professor Begreck would change his ways one day. But now, looking at Ethan… someone *was* attending.

Professor Volardi seemed surprised by her shock. “I thought you saw it before,” he said calmly.

“Saw what?” Professor Garcia frowned.

“During the fight with those anti-magic people. I told you I’d been teaching him then.”

Suddenly, it clicked for Professor Garcia. Like a jolt of electricity, she remembered the iron beads Ethan had used. She’d been too busy with the attack to really think about *how* Ethan fought. But now… it was Professor Volardi’s style!

*‘You’re good at fighting with magic. Professor Volardi taught you, didn’t he? Amazing!’*

*‘Not really surprising.’*

The Headmaster’s words, Professor Volardi’s reply after the fight… it all made sense now. She’d thought it was just a quick lesson. But Ethan was actually in Professor Volardi’s dangerous class!

“Ethan, are you alright?” Professor Garcia asked, her voice soft with concern.

Ethan hesitated. Her question meant more than just ‘are you hurt?’ What could he say?

Before he could speak, Professor Volardi answered for him. “He is fine.”

Professor Garcia and Ethan looked at Professor Volardi, confused.

“Wodanaz is doing well in my lessons,” Professor Volardi explained, as if that was all there was to it.

“Keeping up?” Professor Garcia repeated, her shock turning to a sinking feeling. She suddenly understood. Sometimes, being too good at something could be a curse. And that was Ethan’s problem now. His talent was keeping him trapped in Professor Begreck’s class! *Oh, no…* she thought.

Professor Volardi tried to sound gentle, in his usual gruff way. “Now you see why I asked about lightning magic.”

“Wait,” Professor Garcia said quickly. “Just wait a minute. I get that he’s doing well. But just because he’s good at moving small things with magic, is it right to jump straight to lightning? Shouldn’t he learn safer magic first?” Professor Garcia tried one last time to argue. She just wanted to protect Ethan.

Professor Garcia stopped talking, her face frozen in horror. A tiny smile touched Professor Volardi’s lips. What was going on?

“So,” Professor Volardi said, “I started him with water magic.”

“…Already?” Professor Garcia gasped.

“Yes,” Professor Volardi replied. There was a quiet certainty in that one word. Professor Garcia, another teacher herself, could feel it. *‘Someone is actually learning in my class. I must be doing something right.’* That was what Professor Volardi believed.

*No!* Professor Garcia thought wildly. *Why now?* Even if Professor Volardi’s crazy ideas could be changed later, she had to save Ethan now.

Professor Garcia didn’t give up. “But,” she said, “isn’t it true that lots of students can make water shapes easily?”

*Really?* Ethan thought, surprised, not understanding why Professor Garcia was so worried. *Maybe it is easy.* “Maybe water magic is just… easier?” Ethan suggested.

“I don’t think so,” Professor Volardi said.

“So,” Professor Garcia continued, “shouldn’t he practice more with water in different ways before moving on? Get really good at it?”

Professor Volardi nodded slowly. “So, I had him learn to make a water shield by himself.”

Professor Garcia just stared at Ethan, her eyes wide. Ethan felt a little bad, like he’d shown off too much. If he hadn’t just been taught the water shield, but had figured it out himself… that meant he was almost a master of shaping elements. Because he understood how it worked, he could probably make all sorts of water shapes now. That kind of understanding was a big deal.

“B-but…” Professor Garcia stammered, “even if you can shape water, controlling elements is still much harder. He should be able to move water as easily as he moves those iron beads, at least…”

Professor Garcia’s heart dropped when she saw Ethan’s head fall slightly. *Oh no.*

“He can do that too,” Professor Volardi said calmly. “I stopped him when he started trying to make the water spin.”

Professor Garcia was shocked. He never imagined Professor Voladi would say such cold words. “This is how much I care about my students,” Voladi had stated, his voice flat and emotionless.

A cold dread filled Professor Garcia. This was worse than any nightmare he could imagine. He felt a knot of fear tighten in his stomach.

Worst of all, Professor Garcia knew he couldn’t stop him. He had no power to change Professor Voladi’s mind.

Professor Garcia sighed, his voice heavy with worry. “…Please take good care of Lee Han,” he pleaded.

“I teach as I always do, Professor Garcia,” Voladi replied, his eyes like ice.

The professors finished talking. Lee Han blinked, suddenly aware of his surroundings again.

“…?!”

Is this the end?

Aren’t they going to stop him anymore?

“Professor…!”

“Lee Han, work hard.”

Lee Han suddenly felt like a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse.

Who knew what would happen next week…

Lee Han’s stomach twisted with fear. *Next week… what will happen next week?* He felt a cold dread wash over him.

‘…In the future, I need to tell people to check if there are other professors nearby before asking a professor for help…’

Meanwhile, far from the professor’s office, students were thinking about a different kind of problem: food.

Asan walked towards the black market with his friends.

“Let’s treat ourselves this weekend.”

‘Do we really have to?’

Gainando wanted to complain but kept his mouth shut. He had already complained once and received a barrage of scolding.

Asan thought about the other towers. The Blue Dragon Tower was lucky because of Lee Han, getting food from outside. The Phoenix Tower just ate whatever they got without complaining. The White Tiger Tower students were becoming good hunters. And the Black Tortoise Tower, well, they were always trading and gathering to get by.

The Blue Dragon Tower students knew they depended on Lee Han’s help.

Lee Han told them not to worry and that they only needed to give a small amount of money, but they couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

The Blue Dragon Tower students were also looking for food.

One way was the black market near the Black Tortoise Tower!

“When I went last time, there wasn’t much to eat…”

“No, I went a few days ago, and there was more to eat. There’s quite a bit.”

“I heard they made a deal with the White Tiger Tower kids?”

Asan nodded.

“The market will get better over time. I’m not going for nothing. And…”

Asan carefully took out glass bottles from his pocket.

They were spoils from the Thunderstep Laboratory dungeon.

All the students shared potions and reagents.

“…The Black Tortoise Tower guys will know how precious this is right now. Before it becomes less valuable, it’s more profitable to exchange the surplus now.”

“You’re so smart, Dalcard!”

The Blue Dragon Tower students headed to the black market, grinning.

The Black Tortoise Tower student at the entrance recognized them, and his expression changed.

“Nice to see you. Is it okay to go in?”

“S… Sorry.”

“?”

“A rule has been made. You guys can’t come in.”

Asan was more confused than surprised.

“You’re only going to trade among yourselves? The market will shrink!”

“It doesn’t matter.”

A deep voice came from behind the Black Tortoise Tower student.

A figure stepped out from behind the Black Tortoise student. He was short, almost like a dwarf, but his muscles bulged even under his loose coat. Asan blinked. *An elf? But so muscular?*

“I am Salco of the Tutanta family.”

Tutanta family.

It was a famous stonemason guild family in the Empire.

I thought it was a family of dwarf artisans…?

“Tutanta. Why are you blocking the entrance? Is it because we’re from the Blue Dragon Tower?”

“No. It’s true that I don’t like you Blue Dragon Tower students…”

“……”

“……”

“…I don’t put my personal feelings into these rules. The reason you can’t come in is because of the rules.”

“What rule is it?”

“You can’t bring in anything that wasn’t earned through direct labor!”

The Black Tortoise Tower students gathered behind Salco.

They ranged from rough-looking guys to well-bred fellows, but Salco was clearly the leader.

Asan flared up, taking out the reagents.

“We earned this by working!”

“Really? Where did you get it?”

“……”

Asan was speechless. He couldn’t say it was from Professor Thunderstep’s laboratory.

Gainando defended him.

“We dug it up outside!”

“You dug it up in the fields and gathered that much? You must have stolen it. If you can’t say where you got it, I’ll say it’s stolen. As long as I’m in the Black Tortoise Tower, the market won’t deal with stolen goods. That dirties people’s sweat and effort, and it messes up the market.”

The Blue Dragon Tower students had no answer to that.

Gainando shouted as if he was wronged.

“But then where are thieves supposed to trade stolen goods! What are thieves supposed to eat!”

“Hey… Gainando… Lower your voice, it’s embarrassing…!”

The Blue Dragon Tower students realized their shame and shut Gainando’s mouth.

At that moment, Lee Han appeared carrying a basket.

Lee Han was puzzled to see his friends at the entrance.

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you going in?”

“Lee Han!”

Asan told him everything.

Lee Han listened and asked Salco.

“I grew this in the garden, so can I go in?”

“…!”

Salco looked at Lee Han with surprised eyes. Then he nodded.

“Then, see you later.”

The Blue Dragon Tower friends belatedly came to their senses as they watched Lee Han enter.

“?!?”