Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 80

Fortunately, Professor Milay did not send Yi-Han away. 

Whoosh! 

In the air, two thick books appeared, so thick they could have been used as weapons. 

The well-bound cover of the book read <Theoretical Foundations and Cases of Summoning Magic>.

“Have a seat, both of you.”

Professor Milay was a person who, without needing to wield a knife or swing a staff, could make people tense with her stern gaze.

Gainando also sat down with a slightly frightened expression.

“Ma’am, where are the other students?”

“They went home after receiving their lessons and assignments.”

“Ah… Assignments?”

Gainando lifted his head.

In their current situation, having an additional assignment was a tremendous burden. In a timid act of defiance, Gainando decided to test the waters.

“Ma’am, does necromancy… not have assignments?”

Professor Milay stared intently at Gainando. Gainando was subdued by her gaze.

‘Does she have a petrification effect in her gaze?’

With so many strange professors around, he couldn’t shake off unnecessary doubts.

“Open the books, both of you.”

They obediently opened the book. Gainando felt dizzy as he staggered from the densely written characters.

“Read and copy it down. Then solve the problems.”

Yi-Han looked at the book.

<Chapter 1. About the Summoning of Inanimate Objects>

-The summoning of inanimate objects, considered the most basic and core aspect of summoning magic, is a part that must be learned and passed even by summoners who are only interested in other areas of summoning. The great summoner Boltzmann has laid out educational and efficient magic circles for future generations, and remembering these magic circles has become the basics in summoning magic. Thus, young summoner, be grateful and diligent. Memorizing and understanding Boltzmann’s basic magic circles guarantees remarkable achievements in summoning magic…

(1st Magic Circle)

(2nd Magic Circle)

(3rd Magic Circle)

(4th Magic Circle)

…

…

-Young summoners. Now that you have learned some fascinating knowledge, it is time to use that knowledge in a more interesting way. Try to answer the following riddle.

The novice summoner Cheolsu was traveling in the cold north when he accidentally got separated from his party and was left alone. To make matters worse, someone stole Cheolsu’s bag containing his thick clothes, and the fierce wind tore apart the clothes Cheolsu was wearing. What is the summoning magic circle that Cheolsu can draw as quickly as possible to avoid freezing to death?

‘Summoning magic circles are indeed magical, but shouldn’t we find the culprit first?’

Aside from the absurd and forced problem, the textbook was excellent.

Yi-Han, who had seen enough complex and difficult textbooks, could tell how good this book was.

Not all textbooks were friendly.

Some books were written with consideration for the reader’s level, while others were structured as if to say, ‘I’m not trying to teach you, but rather, my goal is to make you waste your time meaninglessly.’

And usually, the monographs were more like the latter.

…And so were the professors here, if we had to be specific.

However, the book Professor Milay gave was excellent.

If one read it slowly and carefully, they could easily memorize and understand the basic magic circle configurations often used in summoning magic.

This fact by itself made Yi-Han highly regard Professor Milay.

‘She was actually a good person.’

She chose the most suitable book for education out of many magic books for her students.

It was a true educator’s mindset that set her apart from the other professors.

‘Thank you, Ma’am.’

Professor Milay was slightly flustered by Yi-Han’s touched look.

‘??’

Professor Milay had two reasons for not teaching summoning magic from the start.

First, summoning magic could easily lead to accidents without ample knowledge and preparation. Even the simple summoning of inanimate objects could seriously injure the caster.

Secondly, she wanted to prevent the students from acting rashly.

Teaching summoning magic directly to these newcomers, who were already brimming with pride and self-esteem, could lead to accidents due to their youthful vigor and arrogance.

She only made them study.

Made the students study hard and boringly until their bodies were twisted and contorted.

That was Professor Milay’s philosophy.

If they couldn’t take it and gave up on summoning magic in the middle, that was even better. It was better for the students not to learn summoning magic if they were like that.

‘But…?’

Professor Milay was surprised that Yi-Han quietly copied down the book and solved the problems without a single complaint.

He had shown the greatest talent among the students, so she thought he would be the most arrogant.

While other students would yawn, twist their bodies, glance outside, and look for a chance to run away…

Yi-Han did not move an inch in his posture. He sat steadfastly, only his quill making a sound, surprisingly.

“Yi-Han.”

“Huh?”

“I need to go to the bathroom.”

“Trying to escape?”

“What… What?? No! No, I’m not!”

Gainando vehemently denied it. Yi-Han’s casual question had confirmed it for him.

‘Dude, he was trying to escape.’

Initially, Yi-Han wondered if Gainando was considering switching from necromancy to summoning magic.

But now, it seemed like there was no need for such worries.

“I miss Professor Mortem…”

Gainando, who had returned from the bathroom, was muttering like a madman.

***

‘But if we study this hard, she’ll probably give us something in return, right?’ Gainando’s hope that studying hard would earn them something was brutally shattered.

Professor Milay only made them study until the end.

Yi-Han nodded in satisfaction.

‘We need classes like this too.’

After all the tumultuous lectures, this high-quality theoretical study felt sweetly appealing.

Gainando whispered as he got up.

“Hey. Do you understand this stuff??”

“Isn’t it quite fulfilling? It’s also enjoyable.”

“…?????!!”

Gainando looked at Yi-Han with even more astonishment than when Yi-Han had subdued Raphadel.

He must be crazy! – Gainando thought.

“Let’s call it a day for now. Make sure to cover this content and study it before next week.”

Professor Milay put away the book and handed out a thick bundle of papers. Gainando received it with a polite expression.

‘He won’t come.’

‘He won’t come.’

Both Yi-Han and Professor Milay sensed Gainando’s future.

Just by looking at him, it was clear that he wouldn’t come next week!

“See you next week.”

Yi-Han politely said goodbye.

It was true that one should get along well with professors, but it was especially important to be closer to those who were people of character.

They might help Yi-Han if he ever got dragged into the punishment room.

“I apologize for misjudging you, Yi-Han.”

“Yes?”

“Then I’ll see you next week.”

Professor Milay smiled faintly.

However, for Yi-Han, who didn’t know what was going on, it was a statement that could have many interpretations.

‘What’s that about??’

When the door of the Tower of Spirits closed, Yi-Han was perplexed.

What did she mean she misjudged him??

‘Could it be that she talked with Professor Mortem about my future? She wouldn’t have told him to let me focus only on necromancy, would she? Surely not with Skelly Principal…’

In the end, Yi-Han spent the night fretting until he fell asleep.

***

The students became more haggard as the days passed, but the Skelly Principal seemed to have a brighter sparkle in his eyes.

Entering the <Basic Magic Ethics> classroom, the principal greeted everyone with a joyful voice.

“Is everyone having a happy week?”

“……”

“……”

If it had been the first week, a few students might have answered out of politeness, but now, all of the students from the four towers remained silent.

The Skelly Principal clattered his bones without caring. Then, the students’ heads were forcibly bobbed up and down.

Except for Yi-Han.

“……”

Yi-Han looked around and hurriedly nodded his head. The Skelly Principal looked at him with a puzzled expression.

‘He’s doing that again…’

Looking at this boy from the Wardanaz family, he was reminded of a lion cloaked as a sheep, attempting to blend in with the rest.

If Yi-Han could withstand his magic power, he should have stood with pride and arrogance, instead of looking like this.

“Now then. It’s time for an educational session on ethics, my young rookie mages. Do you remember the assignment I gave you last week?”

The students nodded their heads.

Who could have forgotten?

-Each student from the towers must bring the flag hanging in the freshman lounge of the tower I designate by next time. A flag with an emblem!

That was his assignment.

It was an assignment to steal a flag from another tower.

Even with generous interpretation, it had nothing to do with character education, but the Skelly Principal stood firm.

“Now, let’s start with the Black Tortoise Tower. Did you manage to get the Phoenix Tower flag?”

“Yes, we have…”

The Black Tortoise Tower students carefully tried to take out the flag they had brought.

It was the flag that they had exchanged with the Phoenix Tower students.

“Good, you brought it. Well done.”

“……”

“……”

The Skelly Principal showed an openly disinterested expression.

Knowing they had exchanged with each other, he had little interest.

“You’ve probably taken good care of the Phoenix Tower on your own, right?”

“Yes.”

Good. Now…

The Skelly Principal floated over to the White Tiger Tower students like he was delighted that the food he had been waiting for had finally arrived.

“My honorable students from the prestigious knight family! Of course, you also brought the Blue Dragon Tower’s flag?? Right??”

“……”

“……”

The faces of the White Tiger Tower students flushed with humiliation and shame.

Even Yi-Han, who usually didn’t care what others thought, found the situation a bit uncomfortable.

‘The back of my head is tingling.’

The White Tiger Tower students glared at Yi-Han with resentful eyes.

Why aren’t you taking it out?! Huh?! Why?! Could it be that you didn’t bring it?!

‘Just calm down…’

Yi-Han silently wished the Skelly Principal would stop his nagging. Of course, the principal did not stop.

After having his fill of talking, the Skelly Principal changed the subject as if he had enjoyed himself enough.

“As I said last time, this class isn’t about making you fight each other. The purpose of this class is to get to know each other, become friends, and get along.”

The students did not believe him.

“I’m sorry that you’re misunderstanding my intentions. In that case, I’ll make the next assignment a little easier to understand.”

Yi-Han grew anxious.

What more could he possibly want to do?

“If you go all the way west from the main building, there’s a lake. Some of you may have seen it.”

“……”

“…That was a lake?”

The students who had seen it when they went for a walk around the area were bewildered.

Because…

“I thought it was an ocean.”

“Why is there an ocean in the school?!”

“W-Well, I just thought that if it’s this school, it wouldn’t be strange if there’s an ocean.”

…It was a damn huge lake.

Just as the end of deep and rugged mountains was hard to determine, so too was the extent of the lake in this magic academy.

“There’s an island on that lake. I hid my pass there.”

“!”

“!!!”

The students’ eyes gleamed momentarily like starving beasts.

“All of you work together to bring it to me.”

“Yes, sir!”

It was the most enthusiastic response out of all the answers they had given so far.

“Remember, Phoenix Tower students should move with Black Tortoise Tower students and Blue Dragon Tower students with White Tiger Tower students. You’re free not to listen, like the last assignment…”

The Skelly Principal smirked.

“But you definitely won’t pass if you do.”

The Blue Dragon Tower and White Tiger Tower students looked at each other and frowned.

They all had the same thought.

They must have been thinking, ‘Work with these guys? Really?’

–
Translator: Kaiser | Editor: Gleru