Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 81

“Let’s forget our misunderstandings and work together for a better future, okay?”

“Man, I’d rather imagine the entire school collapsing.”

One of the White Tiger Tower students retorted like that.

Yi-Han thought that wouldn’t be so bad either.

“I can’t believe you, out of all people, are talking about cooperation, Wardanaz!”

To some White Tiger Tower students, Yi-Han was already a wicked archmage.

“Because of you taking the flag, we lost the chance to get a good grade in this <Basic Magic Ethics> class!”

“That seems to be a misunderstanding. An F for you isn’t confirmed yet.”

Yi-Han tried to persuade the White Tiger Tower students with logic.

If he could logically convince them ‘why cooperation is beneficial for both sides’, even those stubborn knight-wannabes might listen.

“Sure, there’s a 95% chance it’ll be an F!”

“Ha ha! Ha ha! An F!”

“……”

Of course, there was no guarantee that the guys from the Blue Dragon Tower would be of any help.

Asan and Gainando tried to step in to help Yi-Han, but they cowered when they saw Yi-Han’s murderous glare.

‘Did… Did we do something wrong?’

‘We were just trying to help…’

“Think about it carefully. Mr. Skelly’s reason for conducting this <Basic Magic Ethics> class is for the student’s education. But do you really think he’ll give you an F just because you messed up one assignment?”

Of course, Yi-Han thought that was possible, but he didn’t let it show.

“Rather, if you give up just because you messed up one assignment, wouldn’t that be worthy of an F? If you work hard from now on, you’ll all be able to get A’s by the end of the semester. And the pass, too. Do you know how fascinating the outside world is? I’ve been there once, so I know. The outside is like heaven.”

‘Well, except for his trap.’

“No need to wake up early on a hard bed, and you can eat whatever you want. Think about it.”

The White Tiger Tower students couldn’t deny themselves being drawn in, even if they tried to ignore it.

Already, some students were considering ‘maybe we should cooperate this time?’

But things were not so easily resolved.

Jijel of the Moradi family stepped forward and spoke up.

“Well, should we trust you?”

“Look, Moradi, I know you have a grudge against me, but I’m being sincere…”

Yi-Han tried to create a rift, but it was not easy.

After all, the influence she had on the White Tiger Tower students was on a different dimension.

As Jijel, with a neutral and sharp atmosphere, began to speak, the focus of the White Tiger Tower students concentrated in one place.

“Has anything good ever come from being involved with a Wardanaz?”

“Moradi, you had your subordinates ambush me. Don’t be fooled, everyone. This girl is…”

“What about the friends who ended up in the punishment room because of their involvement with a Wardanaz?”

“Misunderstanding. Mr. Skelly caught them.”

“And who was it that raided the lounge last time?”

“That was ordered by him too…”

Yi-Han tried his best to defend himself, but the atmosphere had already shifted.

Thud-

Yonaire grabbed Yi-Han’s shoulder and shook her head.

It was a sign that there was no more they could do.

‘Damn it.’

There was a limit to how much Yi-Han could pretend to be kind because of the things he had done. Yi-Han sighed.

Was this the only way?

“Dolgyu. Come here.”

“?

Dolgyu, the honorable orc friend from the Choi family, moved towards Yi-Han upon being called.

“Dolgyu. Don’t go.”

“Yeah, something’s off.”

Despite his friends’ warnings, Dolgyu responded as if asking what they were talking about.

“Yi-Han is not that kind of friend.”

“……”

Not that kind of friend?

Despite his friends’ attempts to dissuade him, Dolgyu approached.

“Sup, Yi-Han?”

As Dolgyu got close, Yi-Han grabbed him and shouted fiercely.

“If you don’t cooperate, Dolgyu’s life can’t be guaranteed. I’ll drag him to the lake, use him, then throw him to the bottom!”

“…That motherfucker is really doing it!!!”

The White Tiger Tower students were horrified.

Finally, that Wardanaz bastard showed his true colors! – They thought.

Dolgyu wore a puzzled expression but soon realized the situation.

‘Looks like he is attempting to play peacemaker between those two towers.’

“S-Save me.”

“Dolgyu!!”

When Dolgyu spoke with a miserable and sad expression, some of the White Tiger Tower students felt like their hearts were being torn apart.

Raphadel burst out shouting.

“Stop it, you Wardanaz bastard! We’ll cooperate! Just leave Dolgyu alone!!”

“Yeah, we’ll cooperate! Just let Dolgyu go!!”

The White Tiger Tower students unanimously shouted to Yi-Han.

“Honor bet?” – Yi-Han

“Honor bet!”

“Fine. I’ll let him go. But be careful in the future.”

Yi-Han released Dolgyu.

Jijel looked at Yi-Han as if he were insane, with a look of horror.

“Why didn’t you just say you’d cooperate earlier? It would’ve been easier for both of us.”

“You… You’re more twisted than I thought. Wardanaz. Be proud. It’s the first time I’ve seen someone like you.”

“You’re the only one who thinks that.”

Yi-Han curtly replied to Jijel’s words and turned his head away.

Gainando nodded and then paused when his eyes met Yi-Han’s.

“Are you thinking what I think you’re thinking?”

“Ah… No. It’s nothing… Neck training!”

***

Even though they got a difficult assignment in the <Basic Magic Ethics> class, Yi-Han and his friends couldn’t focus on it.

Clearly, It was not because of the previous issue involving the cooperation of the students from the White Tiger Tower…

“So, when are you planning to do it, Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family?”

“I’m still thinking about it.”

Hearing Yi-Han’s words, Yonaire whispered in a puzzled voice from the side.

“But why the sudden use of honorifics for Priestess Siana? You didn’t use them before.”

“…Did I?”

It was then that Yi-Han realized it. He had been unwittingly overwhelmed by Priestess Sianna’s madness.

In fact, It was not really Yi-Han’s fault.

Anyone would be a little overwhelmed if someone said, ‘I need a potion, so let’s raid the professor’s lab.’

“Why are you guys like that? The two of you?”

“Haha. It’s nothing… Really, nothing.”

Yonaire stepped in for Yi-Han as if she had caught on to Yi-Han’s inner thoughts a little.

“The Order of Flameng is often crazy over alchemy. They don’t shy away from any methods.”

‘Yonaire isn’t really cut out for promoting the Order, it seems.’

In fact, what was important now was not Priestess Siana or the Flameng Order’s madness.

It all boiled down to the raid timing.

If he opened the lab door and made eye contact with Professor Uregor sitting inside, he felt like he would have nightmares for a month.

‘The time slot’s gotta be like, evening to late night, no doubt. But the real issue is the day. Should we hit it on a weekday? Or maybe on the weekend?’

Yi-Han didn’t know Professor Uregor’s schedule exactly.

He had met the Professor at the hut, but he didn’t know exactly what he did at other times.

But if he asked Professor Uregor in a sly way, he would be suspected later…

“Wardanaz. You don’t have to come to the hut today.”

Professor Bungaegor, who had come down to give the <Basic Mount Training> class, said to Yi-Han.

Yi-Han had been undergoing extra training to improve his knowledge of taming flying beasts after he finished his chores at the hut.

“Did something happen?”

“I’m thinking of going to the market with my nephew. We have something to buy.”

“Ah. I see.”

Yi-Han managed his expression as much as possible while trying his best not to sound awkward.

“When are you going?”

“I’ll go after the class ends today and come back tomorrow. I’m sorry, it’s just me and my nephew.”

Professor Bungaegor apologized sincerely.

To be honest, she wondered if she should bring along this Wardanaz boy, who worked very diligently unlike the other students.

He literally worked like an ox… – Professor Bungaegor thought.

“No. Why are you sorry, Ma’am? Aren’t the school rules the same for everyone?”

“Did Gonadaltes threaten you by any chance? Anyway, I understand. I’ll buy you some barley candy when I get back.”

The dwarves’ snack preferences were a bit weird, but Yi-Han didn’t point it out.

He would be grateful for anything Professor Bungaegor bought.

And…

‘Tonight!’

The opportunity came suddenly. Yi-Han called his friends and spoke to them in secret.

“Tonight.”

“…!”

“Tonight…!”

His friends looked surprised at the sudden schedule. However, no one backed down.

“It’s better, actually. Then we can rest well on the weekend.”

“Tonight, huh… I’ve been waiting for it.”

Asan extended his hand out with a determined expression, and said,

“Here’s to a comfy and assignment-free semester, everyone!”

“For a comfy and assignment-free semester!”

“…?”

Yi-Han was puzzled.

When did you guys make this slogan?

***

“Alright, quiet down and take your positions. I’m going to assume that you’ve been bonding well with the horses. Some of you wake up at the crack of dawn to feed and groom your rides, while other lazy students just give them a pat and call it a day.

Gainando flinched.

“I have nothing to say. This school takes students to the water. This school doesn’t force them to drink. You all have to do it on your own.”

‘Feels like we’ll get dumped in the water to start though…’’

“Are we riding the horses today?”

One of the students asked nervously.

They were still not close enough to ride the horses and show off complicated horsemanship.

“No. It’ll take a semester of dedication to get that close. Today, you’ll learn how to deal with other monsters.”

Professor Bungaegor put his finger to her mouth and whistled loudly.

Then, a blazing puppy ran out from behind, bouncing around.

The students, who had only seen crazy creatures, naturally let out exclamations.

However, Yi-Han tensed up.

In this magic school, cute creatures might be more dangerous.

That was not to say evil-looking beings were not dangerous either…

“Anyone liking it now ‘cause it’s cute is disqualified off the rip. You should have seen the fire before liking it for being a cutie. Moment this puppy charges at you, you’ll die.”

The flaming puppy rolled around, panting. Professor Bungaegor scratched its belly as if it had done well.

“Mages are generally good at handling elements, but that’s only the case for those who survived various accidents. Why do you think people of the Empire think mages are good at handling elements? Because stupid mages die before they can be known to people. There are so many mages who have died trying to tame monsters with fire attributes that I can’t even name them all.”

The students took a step back without realizing it. They seemed to have moved a few meters away from the area where they were originally standing.

“Today, you’ll learn how to handle monsters with fire attributes. Be grateful it’s just a pup. If it was horse-sized, you’d be worried about dying from its hooves before it even ignited. Wardanaz.”

The disciple was always called out first in times like these.

Yi-Han sighed and walked forward.

“You’ll have to show us how. Drink this.”

Professor Bungaegor threw a fire resistance potion over. Yi-Han was slightly relieved.

‘I don’t have to touch it barehanded, at least.’

Thinking that Professor Bungaegor would have gotten angry if she had heard him, Yi-Han drank the fire resistance potion.

It felt like his throat was burning, as if he had drunk strong alcohol. A faintly unpleasant smell wafted up as he breathed out.

“You drink it all? Good. Now try to get along with that puppy for as long as possible.”

“How long does the potion last?”

“You’ll have to figure that out.”

“……”

Yi-Han stopped.

‘So you’re telling me that I’m supposed to sense the danger and get out by myself?’

It wasn’t easy to convince himself that this session was made to train a mage’s intuition toward danger rather than simply relying on elemental resistance magic or potions.

‘Damn it. It definitely seems better to go last.’

Wouldn’t it be advantageous for the others to see how long the potion lasts?!

Yi-Han concentrated.

He raised his mana to a state of alert so that he could cast magic at any moment, just in case.

And then he approached the puppy with a gentle smile.

The flaming puppy whined in fear.

“Don’t freak it out!!”

“But I didn’t do anything…”

–
Translator: Kaiser | Editor: Gleru