Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 82

Yi-Han looked at the blazing puppy with a look of injustice. But it had already run far away.

The White Tiger Tower students murmured with an ‘I knew this would happen’ look.

Yi-Han was helplessly irritated.

“Stay strong, Wardanaz! That a pup is scared of you doesn’t determine your personality!”

“That’s right, Yi-Han of the Wardanaz!”

Though students of other towers cheered him on, his mood didn’t get better.

‘It’s either so determined to kill me that it becomes aggressive or it’s an undead. Everything else runs away if it’s not one or the other.’

With this sad realization, Yi-Han put his hand in his coat pocket and fumbled around. The blazing puppy yipped sharply.

“?”

Professor Bungaegor wondered what Yi-Han was doing.

Surprisingly, what Yi-Han took out was a sweet potato. Gainando unconsciously tried to walk forward before his friends grabbed him.

“Come here.”

Yi-Han waved his fingers, swinging the sweet potato. The blazing puppy stopped its barking, slowly started approaching, and sniffed the sweet potato.

‘Not bad.’

Professor Bungaegor smiled.

The class was technically supposed to teach how to endure vicious blazing puppies, not how to coax them with sweet potatoes, though…

It was good thinking.

Rather than forcing or being stubborn against the monster’s reactions, flexibly figuring out what the monster wanted…

Was the very first step to taming monsters.

The Wardanaz boy clearly knew that well without even being taught. Judging by how he acted… – Thought Professor Bungaegor.

Thud!

The moment the blazing puppy let its guard down because it was distracted by the sweet potato, Yi-Han swiftly charged and hugged it.

And then, he laid on top of it so it couldn’t escape.

“Caught you.”

“……”

Professor Bungaegor was shocked.

Hey!

– Yip! Whine! Yip! Yipyip! Hng… Squeaaaak!

The puppy that was startled and barking at first succumbed to fear within a few seconds. It instantly became a docile lamb and looked up at Yi-Han.

Lying on the ground, Yi-Han scratched the puppy’s belly. The puppy panted, wagging its tail.

It was a bit different from the intimate taming Professor Bungaegor imagined, but it was still taming…

…Although it involved fear and deception.

“Ma’am, look! We became closer.”

“Good. Well done. Try hugging it for a little longer.”

Raphadel of the White Tiger Tower, lying on the dirt floor and watching Yi-Han hug the burning puppy, wore a disgusted expression.

What a vicious bastard.

And he doesn’t even come from a knight family, but a great noble family!

Could he have such necromancy abilities because he was that vicious?

***

“Hmmmaah.”

How long had it been?

Someone yawned. Following them, some students yawned as well.

Only then did Professor Bungaegor realize something was off.

‘Has a lot of time passed?’

In fact, the fire resistance potions that Professor Bungaegor prepared had varying durations.

It was to prevent students from predicting and anticipating it in advance.

However, even if it was long, it was not this long.

‘What on…’

Professor Bungaegor looked closely at Yi-Han…

And she realized.

Surprisingly, the effect of the potion had ended a while ago. She couldn’t find any trace of fire resistance in Yi-Han’s body.

Yi-Han was just…

Releasing magical power all over his body and pushing away the blazing puppy’s flames.

Even though the puppy whined and spat out flames, they could not come towards Yi-Han’s side at all. They fell to the ground, fading away.

He was not putting up a magic barrier or casting any other magic. He was just blocking the flames by purely releasing magical power.

That was a swordsman’s technique, not a mage’s.

‘Such a dumbass!’

Yi-Han misunderstood the gaze Professor Bungaegor sent.

‘Ma’am, don’t I have to stay alive too?’

Yi-Han had something to say as well.

Wasn’t relying on one potion and hugging a blazing puppy dangerous from the start?

With his instincts, Yi-Han had no choice but to protect himself in his own unique way.

Though that method was something others could hardly follow…

Yi-Han still did not realize yet that the fire resistance potion had worn off because he thought that even if he protected himself with magical power, he would feel the heat when the effect ended.

‘By the way, I get a weird feeling when I pet this puppy.’

It was like a grand delusion.

A confidence that he would be able to use fire elemental magic a little better arose from within him.

It was similar to how he became convinced that he would be able to handle the crystal ball a little better after almost getting killed by Professor Bolady.

The latter was based on evidence, but the former was not.

‘…Is this a trap?’

Yi-Han stared at the puppy. The blazing puppy wagged its tail and panted.

Yi-Han seriously wondered if the puppy was tricking him because it held a grudge over the sweet potato bait.

“The potion ended a while ago.”

“Yes? Really?”

At Professor Bungaegor’s words, Yi-Han came to his senses and was surprised.

Seeing his reaction, Professor Bungaegor thought to herself.

‘ I gotta bring something he can’t block with magical power next time.’

Unaware he was digging his own grave, Yi-Han asked Professor Bungaegor.

“Ma’am, can blazing puppies cast hypnosis by any chance?”

“…Did you drink alcohol instead of a fire resistance potion by any chance?”

***

After hearing Yi-Han’s explanation, Professor Bungaegor just casually said as if it was no big deal.

“That’s not some hypnotism or trickery. Your actual understanding of the fire element has increased.”

“Aha… is that so?”

Yi-Han replied in a tone that said he absolutely did not believe it. Professor Bungaegor almost gave him a good smack.

“Yes, it is. You’re learning basic element magic right now right? What was the important thing when using basic element magic? Familiarity with that element, right?”

The key when using basic element magic was how vividly and strongly you could draw the image of that element.

Students who grew up in hot, blazing places excelled in the fire element.

Students who grew up by the roaring ocean excelled in the water element.

Based on the environments they lived in, such differences were inevitable.

And vice versa, continual exposure to a specific element would increase your understanding of it.

“Theories are important, but as a mage, don’t neglect your intuition, Wardanaz. Your comprehension of the fire element has definitely gone up.”

Professor Bungaegor said in a serious tone.

Yi-Han was skeptical when he first heard it, but it was not bad news.

I only hugged the blazing puppy and endured it, but my understanding of the fire element increased? – Thought Yi-Han.

“Then, seeing how fast it’s gone up, you must have a talent for the fire element?”

“Huh? But I have a talent for the water element.”

Yi-Han responded quizzically. It was usually difficult to have a talent for opposing attributes.

Professor Bungaegor replied with an expression that seemed to convey – What nonsense are you saying?

“If you didn’t have a talent for the fire element, just hugging those blazing puppies for under ten minutes wouldn’t have given you that level of understanding.”

“!”

Now that he thought about it, Yi-Han did not have many chances to test out his talent for the fire element.

Professor Garsia warned that it was dangerous, and she nearly died several times using it incorrectly outside as well…

Huh?

‘Could I actually have a talent for the fire element?’

The experience of burning with anger toward the professors might have become a talent for the fire element.

Maybe he got familiar with the water element because Professor Bolady kept bullying him…

“Wardanaz. Don’t define your own limits. It’s best to try things out and gain enlightenment yourself.”

“Thank you.”

“You can learn how to use fire resistance potions next time. I’ll prepare a suitable monster for you.”

“Thank y-… Wait a minute, Ma’am! Professor!”

Yi-Han desperately called out to Professor Bungaegor, but she mercilessly walked past the students who were getting beaten up by the blazing puppies.

***

In the evening.

Yi-Han was diligently sewing with Nilia while the other friends sat together and played around with needles.

There were burnt holes scattered all over their clothes and coats – scars left behind by the blazing puppies.

When Nilia saw the fabric Yi-Han had bought from outside, she had an ecstatic look on her face.

It was like the expression an old artisan would give their disciple.

“You’ve got good eyes, Wardanaz. Well bought…!”

“It’s all thanks to your teachings.”

“Sturdy and durable, doesn’t soak up water easily either. This is what you want for a coat.”

“Speaking of which, we should prepare for camping too.”

To complete the task the Skelly Principal gave, they had to cross the lake. There was no telling if they would have to spend a night out there if they got unlucky.

“Yes! I’m great at camping!”

At Yi-Han’s words, Nilia excitedly raised her hand.

All the Blue Dragon Tower students gasped and looked at Nilia in admiration.

Seeing Nilia’s long ears perk up, Yi-Han was suddenly taken by surprise.

‘Those Black Tortoise Tower guys, they’re too easily impressed.’

To treat such a nice friend like this…

“What do we need to prepare, Nilia? A camping tent?”

“No worries. Just need a coat.”

“Ah, then what about bedding to lay on the ground?”

“No worries. Just need a coat.”

“…Surely we at least need blankets?”

“No worries. Just need a coat.”

Nilia was eager to share the wisdom of the Shadow Patrol with her friends.

The wisdom that they could fall asleep in a cold valley with just one coat was something that her friends definitely needed.

However, the Blue Dragon Tower students were looking uneasy.

The clueless Yi-Han cut in.

“Nilia’s just joking around. Don’t get the wrong idea everyone.”

“Ha… Ha ha! It was a joke!

“I 100% thought it was a joke from the beginning!”

Nilia looked at Yi-Han as if questioning what nonsense he was spewing.

“No joke… just need coat… mmfph.”

Yonaire quickly covered Nilia’s mouth.

Despite the minor hiccup, the friends finished repairing and preparing their clothes.

The newly made Dark Cloth cloaks and masks would protect them in case of emergencies.

Ratford said with a satisfied expression.

“You all look like proper thieves.”

“Haha, no need to go that far.”

“How embarrassing~”

The Blue Dragon Tower students did not know how to respond to Ratford’s praise.

Did we look that cool? – They thought.

“It’s time. Let’s go.”

Yi-Han and his friends got up from their seats.

Tonight, they would raid Professor Uregor’s lab!

***

The students split into two groups.

Those who had snuck out at night several times before, and those who had never snuck out at night.

Yi-Han was obviously in the former. By now, he could nonchalantly walk around the school grounds at night.

It was as natural as taking a walk.

“Yi-Han of the Wardanaz. Do you know how to open the door of the Tower of Water Control?” ¹ Previously in chapter 46, Tower of Water Control was translated as Gaksu-kwan, but it was slightly out of place with all the other towers that had translated names, so we will be changing it for subsequent chapters.

Yi-Han nodded.

The physical lock would be handled by Ratford.

The magical lock would be handled by Yi-Han.

‘I already checked it out.’

The Tower of Water Control was a place they frequented for classes, so it was easy to check the lock on the 1st-floor main entrance. Ratford had already prepared a duplicate key.

“Follow me. Quietly”

Yi-Han said that to his friends and approached the front entrance of the Tower with Ratford.

His friends carefully tailed them from behind.

“!”

To their surprise, there was a massive hole in the front entrance of the Tower. It was a hole that looked like it was smashed in by something huge barging through.

The students exclaimed in admiration.

“You already prepared for this! Amazing!”

“…What is this?”

“???”

Hearing Yi-Han’s bewildered voice, the students who were there freaked out.

–
Translator: Kaiser | Editor: Gleru