Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 83

“Wardanaz, you didn’t prepare this beforehand?”

 

“Sometimes, I wonder what you guys think of me…”

 

Yi-Han examined the smashed-up hole. Then he clicked his tongue.

 

“Not good.”

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“The debris is inside the Tower. Something busted in from outside.”

 

If it was a creature Professor Uregor was raising that broke out and escaped, there would not be much cause for concern. But from the current state, it was obvious some large monster had barged in from outside the Tower of Water Control.

 

Ratford looked at Yi-Han with a slightly impressed expression.

 

“You really have the makings of a great thief.”

 

“Ugh…!”

 

“M-me too! Ratford, I can be a thief too!”

 

The Blue Dragon Tower students displayed a strange competitive spirit.

 

Even if they were lacking in grades or magic ability, they did not want to be outdone in their skills as thieves.

 

Nilia looked at them as if asking what was wrong with them.

 

“Why are they acting like that?”

 

“Maybe because they’ve read too many fairy tales about honorable thieves growing up.”

 

Yonaire’s words made Nilia think it was nonsense.

 

‘Do nobles of the Empire grow up reading such ridiculous fairy tales?’

 

“No hunters’ stories?”

 

“Uhh… there might be fairy tales about hunters turned thieves…”

 

While his friends were having conversations, Yi-Han made up his mind and opened the door to the Tower of Water Control.

 

“Listen up everyone. We are not sneaking into the Tower of Water Control right now.”

 

“?”

 

“???”

 

Not sneaking into?

 

Then what?

 

Were they going to graffiti ‘Blue Dragon Tower students were here’ on the walls with paint or something?

 

“We’ve gathered here voluntarily to block the summon that broke into the Tower and protect the professor’s precious items.”

 

“…Ah. Aha!”

 

“Indeed…!”

 

The summon’s intrusion was not all downsides.

 

It gave them an excuse to plead innocence later if things went wrong.

 

…Of course, whether that would actually work with Professor Uregor was another question.

 

“Light.”

 

Yi-Han floated an orb of light. The dark first floor of the Tower of Water Control lit up brightly.

 

The greenhouses and classrooms were located next to the corridors.

 

For students who snuck around the Magic Academy at night, they knew that the nighttime ambience was completely different from its daytime counterpart.

 

Classrooms that looked ordinary during the day felt like they could be hiding a few undead at night…

 

The plants happily basking in the sunlight in the warm greenhouses also felt like they were holding their breath in the darkness, waiting to attack the moment an opportunity arose.

 

‘Well, it wouldn’t even be weird if Professor Uregor actually prepared plants like that.’

 

While the first floor was familiar territory for students, the second floor and above were uncharted territories to them.

 

Just what exactly could be up there?

 

“!”

 

Climbing up the stairs from the first floor to the second, they felt an intense magical power from inside.

 

The space itself was imbued with magical power.

 

‘Spatial expansion!’

 

A space dozens of times larger than the first floor awaited the students. The second floor was a vast botanical garden.

 

Plants – strange, gigantic, many of which they did not even know the names of – were densely growing everywhere. This was an overwhelming sight for the students.

 

“There’s a saying that a great alchemist must also be a great gardener.  But still, the scale is really impressive…”

 

Siana, the priestess murmured in an awed voice.

 

Since they had to traverse mountains and fields to gather ingredients personally, it was natural for an alchemist to grow what they could.

 

But even considering that, the scale was truly impressive.

 

“Wow. What’s the name of this plant?”

 

Gainando curiously pointed at the beautifully glowing rainbow-colored flower in front of him.

 

Swaying gently in the soft moonlight coming through the windows, it was truly beautiful.

 

Yi-Han kindly answered.

 

“That’s a Nepenthes.”

 

“Ohhh. What effect does it have?”

 

“Any creature that touches its petals is swallowed whole.”

 

“……”

 

Gainando startled back in fright.

 

“But the honey that comes from that flower sells for quite a bit…”

 

“Is that really what matters right now?!”

 

“I’m just answering your question.”

 

Yi-Han replied as such and looked around.

 

There were far more plants he didn’t recognize than ones he did. It would likely be the same for Yonaire and Siana.

 

‘But…’

 

This Tower wasn’t a dormitory tower. As Professor Uregor’s personal workshop, there likely would not be that many traps.

 

Since even Professor Uregor himself had to move around here…

 

Yi-Han calmly searched for a path. There must be a route Professor Uregor took when navigating through this botanical garden.

 

Clatter clatter!

 

“!”

 

As if reading Yi-Han’s thoughts, the Skeletal Summon clattered at his belt.

 

The Skeletal Summon pointed in a direction as if telling them to look over there. Surprisingly, a set of fresh-looking footprints were visible in the mud. They looked like monster tracks.

 

‘I see! The monster passed through here first!’

 

It was obvious that the intruding monster had found the path Professor Uregor used.

 

Yi-Han was about to praise the Skeletal Summon.

 

“Wardanaz. I just had a good idea. Looking at these tracks, it’s clear a monster that broke in earlier passed through here! So this way should be the safe path.”

 

Nilia whispered excitedly.

 

Just as Yi-Han was about to compliment the Skeletal Summon, he stopped short and opened his mouth.

 

“…You’re really amazing, Nilia!”

 

Clatter! Clatter! Clatter!

 

“As expected of someone from the Shadow Patrol? You’re really amazing. I’m glad you came with us. I can’t imagine what it would have been like if you weren’t here.”

 

“Thanks. It’s nothing.”

 

Nilia tried to wave it off as no big deal, but her long ears were already perked up.

 

“Alright. I’ll find the way. Tell everyone to follow me.”

 

“Sure, sure.”

 

Yi-Han sent Nilia ahead and sighed in relief.

 

CLATTER! CLATTER! CLATTER!

 

At the protesting appearance of the Skeletal Summon, Yi-Han apologized.

 

“Sorry. Friendship is harder than I thought.”

 

The Skeletal Summon wagged its finger as if saying it could not comprehend such a thing.

 

***

 

Following the tracks of the monster that entered first was a better method than expected.

 

While moving along the path in the botanical garden, the students did not encounter any attacks from the plants.

 

It was obvious Professor Uregor did not place any particular traps along the route he used himself.

 

‘Thank you, Professor.’

 

Yi-Han gave thanks to the professor’s laziness as he moved forward.

 

-■■■■…

 

“……”

 

But where there is good fortune, there is also bad luck.

 

At the staircase to the third floor located at the edge of the botanical garden…

 

When Yi-Han saw the monster stationed in front of that staircase, his expression froze stiff.

 

“A bull… right?”

 

“Yeah… It doesn’t look like an ordinary bull though.”

 

Not only did it smash the front entrance on the first floor, it looked like it had trampled several second-floor plants as debris, vines, and leaves were caught on its horns.

 

Seeing that instantly reminded Yi-Han of the bull Professor Uregor mentioned in the past.

 

‘Huh?’

 

Until now, he had thought it was the Spirit Bull that Professor Ingurdel had captured, but taking a closer look, the bull before his eyes was much more similar to the one Professor Uregor had talked about.

 

For one, there were no spirit traits mixed in, and its physical abilities seemed to simply be augmented by various potions.

 

‘So that was just a creature summoned by an upperclassman?’

 

Yi-Han felt apologetic for cursing out Professor Uregor over the Spirit Bull.

 

‘No wait, there’s no need to feel apologetic.’

 

When looking at the bull in front of him once more, Yi-Han’s apologetic feelings instantly vanished.

 

He did station this thing up in the mountains, right?!

 

“What should we do?”

 

“There’s no need to fight.”

 

Although the Spirit Bull he faced was a slightly different species, he had already learned a lesson from dealing with them.

 

There was no need to beat down and subdue your opponent!

 

Not only was this botanical garden a poor place to battle, they were not here to restrain the bull either.

 

Besides, the bull did not seem to have much interest in the students. It was sitting in front of the stairs, munching on something.

 

“If that’s the bull Professor Uregor was raising… it probably came back because it was hungry, right?”

 

Yonaire’s words rang true.

 

If it was a creature Professor Uregor raised, it would naturally know its way around the area.

 

Ordinary monsters would not be able to come up here directly without wreaking havoc in other parts of the first floor.

 

“So, if we just leave it alone, will it find something to eat and move away?”

 

“There’s a high probability of that.”

 

Since it looked like they could avoid fighting, the students breathed sighs of relief.

 

Judging purely by its size, the creature before them felt even more vicious and ferocious than the Spirit Bull.

 

“…Uh, Yi-Han…?”

 

Yonaire tugged at Yi-Han’s sleeve and spoke.

 

“That thing… is it okay?”

 

The bull, ignoring the students, ripped off and chomped down on a nearby plant. After chewing with loud crunches, it seemed to not like the taste as it spat it back out.

 

Then it chewed up another plant, and another, and even stomped on a few with its hooves…

 

Wondering if it was fun, the bull started to destroy the plants a little more quickly.

 

The faces of Yonaire and Siana, who were experts in alchemy, turned pale. Their hearts ached even though the plants didn’t belong to them.

 

Yi-Han’s complexion also changed.

 

A creature barging in and trampling all the botanical garden’s plants was on a completely different level from students sneaking in and borrowing a few potions.

 

And if these two things were combined, the professor’s wrath could very well be directed at the students.

 

“We have to stop that thing! Earth, seize the ground!”

 

After casting his spell, Yi-Han charged forward.

 

He then fired a cursed spell at the bull.

 

“Paralyze!”

 

A wave of dark magical power took shape and flew at the bull.

 

Sensing the threat, however, the bull dodged the curse.

 

“Wardanaz! Why do we have to stop that?!”

 

“That’s what honor is! Wardanaz, I’m coming to help!”

 

Misunderstanding Yi-Han’s intent, his Blue Dragon Tower friends raised their wands and rushed in.

 

“Mighty flames of…”

 

As Gainando was about to cast a flame generation spell, Yi-Han panicked and shouted.

 

Smack!

 

“?!?”

 

“No flames here with all these plants!”

 

“Paralyze!”

 

“Paralyze!”

 

The friends fired off paralyzing curses they had learned in class. Recklessly summoning the wrong element here could potentially burn everything around them.

 

Unlike how it dodged Yi-Han’s curse, the bull did not even try to avoid the students’ curses. Despite several curses detonating on it, the bull paid them no mind.

 

“Gah, just what did Professor Uregor feed this thing!!”

 

The students screamed. The bull was tougher than expected.

 

“Go distract that thing!”

 

After sending out his Skeletal Summon, Yi-Han started gathering water balls.

 

While ignoring the other students waving their wands and yelling, the bull kept a wary eye on Yi-Han.

 

‘It wasn’t a good idea to cast curses recklessly!’

 

It was not easy to land cursed spells on a monster with sharp instincts.

 

Hastily casting a curse had only made the situation worse by putting it on guard.

 

Yi-Han began rapidly launching water balls. While the bull precisely dodged them, Yi-Han wasn’t flustered.

 

‘I need to draw it away from the plants first.’

 

He had been attacking it in the first place to lure the bull away from the plants.

 

“Everyone, take these weakening potions!”

 

Siana took out potion flasks from her bag and handed them out. The students who received them swiftly threw the potions.

 

The bull stumbled in its steps as it was hit by the potions breaking upon impact. Realizing its magic resistance had weakened, Yonaire shouted.

 

“Everyone cast the curse again!”

 

“Paralyze, paralyze!”

 

“Paralyze!”

 

The bull shook its head as if it was annoyed. Due to its weakened state, it could feel the curses seeping into its skin.

 

Yi-Han made the water balls explode around the bull in irregular trajectories. The bull flinched and halted its movements.

 

Then Yi-Han’s curse burst forth.

 

‘Faster!’

 

He had to cast it faster than before.

 

As a result, Yi-Han’s spell finished even before he was done chanting. The urgency of the situation made him fail to notice.

 

Boom!

 

Unable to withstand Yi-Han’s curse, the bull collapsed to its knees.

 

Without any need to decide who went first, the students simultaneously heaved long sighs of relief.

 

“Just what is going on here?!”

 

“!!!!”

 

A tall, lanky treant was walking towards them from among the plants.

 

Yi-Han immediately replied.

 

“We were protecting Professor Uregor’s plants.”

 

“Y-yeah! This weird bull was chomping down plants so…”!

–
Translator: Kaiser | Editor: Gleru