Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 88

“Why are you telling me that now?!”

 

This was the first time Yi-Han, who had been polite even when the spirit acted up, lost his cool. Perkunthra was shocked.

 

Uh…I didn’t mean to ask…

 

“Don’t you know what’s most important to students since you deal with them at school?!”

 

Missing one class isn’t that big of a deal…

 

Perkunthra made excuses as if he had been wronged.

 

I’ve been here a while so I roughly know how mages receive teachings.

 

They gather in class halls and listen to professors blah blah blah.

 

Missing a class or two doesn’t make much difference. Magic requires consistent effort and innate talent, not about whether you attended a class once or twice…

 

“We have to submit homework. Failing to do so is absolutely not allowed.”

 

Hearing Yi-Han’s words, Yonaire nodded with eyes blazing with determination, her red hair swaying back and forth.

 

Most classes at the Magic Academy were unreasonable, but <Fundamentals of Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic> was especially heartless.

 

– Calculate how much it cost to create this magic circle design I submitted to the Empire when I was young. Submit it by next week.

 

A freaking lunatic professor assigned the insane homework of calculating costs based on a thick magic circle design manuscript by next week.

 

Clenching their teeth, Yi-Han and Yonaire cursed the professor as they faced yet another all-nighter.

 

After finishing such homework, there was no way they could fail to submit it.

 

Otherwise, they would be so resentful they would not be able to sleep for days!

 

…Are you really fussing over an assignment??

 

Feeling wronged, Perkunthra asked. Yi-Han and Yonaire whipped their heads toward him.

 

Nice guys were said to be scary when angry. Seeing the usually calm young mages glare at him, Perkunthra winced.

 

Uh, you’re right. Homework can be important. Sorry.

 

“Please tell us the time.”

 

After hearing the time from Perkunthra, Yi-Han looked up anxiously.

 

There was only an hour and a half until the morning <Fundamentals of Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic> class started.

 

“Hurry, Perkunthra. Show us the way out.”

 

I…I can’t.

 

The two young mages glared at him with murderous intent.

 

Perkunthra hastily explained.

 

I made a promise!

 

“What promise?”

 

To not let students escape this punishment room after summoning me! I can’t show you the way out. Actually, when it was time to leave, I was going to tell you to temporarily seal me here before exiting.

 

Yi-Han despaired.

 

He did not know how complex and convoluted the structure of this underground punishment room was.

 

Without Perkunthra’s help, there was no guarantee they could get out on time.

 

In his anxiety, Yi-Han failed to control his emotions.

 

“Ah, why are you not helpful at all! Then what was the point of our contract?!”

 

……

 

Perkunthra felt a slight bruise to his pride.

 

Battling dragons and demons, bloody fights with the lich principal – none of the above  had wounded Perkunthra’s pride.

 

But the young contractor’s words injured his pride.

 

He found himself muttering excuses.

 

It’s because of the special situation of being in the punishment room right now, but later when you summon me outside, my abilities…

 

“I understand. So how do I seal you?”

 

…Just command me to stay trapped here for now.

 

Yi-Han did as Perkunthra instructed.

 

With that command, Perkunthra could not leave this forgotten punishment room for some time.

 

“Let’s go, Yonaire.”

 

Don’t forget to summon me when you get out! My abilities aren’t limited to this!

 

“Yes, yes, I know!”

 

Don’t forget! Don’t forget, you hear me?! Hey! Don’t forg…

 

***

 

Ssh, ssh, ssh-

 

Despite the urgency, Yi-Han and Yonaire tried their best to remain calm.

 

As they navigated through the corridors and staircases, they mapped out the area.

 

“It’s blocked.”

 

“Let’s go back. This corridor is completely blocked.”

 

“We might have to go down two floors and try again.”

 

Clatter!

 

The Skeletal Summon raced over from afar. Yi-Han asked,

 

“Any paths?”

 

Clatter clatter!

 

The Skeletal Summon actively expressed its opinion. It meant no paths existed. Yi-Han clicked his tongue.

 

Yi-Han, Yonaire, and even the summon had been mobilized to find a way, but progress was slow.

 

This punishment room was like an ant hill.

 

It was impossible for them to tell which stairs led upwards among the corridors. Some stairs ended up in closed punishment rooms, some led downwards in a roundabout way, and some just made you go round and round in the same place.

 

As Yi-Han walked, for some reason he pictured the Skelly Principal’s face.

 

He suspected – perhaps from his mood – that the principal himself had created this structure.

 

“Let’s go back to that other corridor… Wait. What’s that you’re getting?”

 

Yi-Han was shocked.

 

He had not noticed in his hurry, but the Skeletal Summon, which previously only had its front limbs, had grown larger.

 

What is it holding…?!

 

Clack Clack!

 

The Skeletal Summon bumped and rolled around until it finally assembled correctly.

 

Broad ribs, a long tailbone. And hind leg bones, too.

 

Save for the skull and one paw, Yi-Han could envision the familiar form.

 

“Were those…a leopard’s bones?!”

 

He had always assumed it was human…

 

Come to think of it, no matter how unpopular the necromancy professor was, he would not give freshman students human finger bones.

 

‘I’m ashamed I assumed they were human’s.’

 

The Skeletal Summon, no, Leopard Skeletal Summon, stamped its feet confidently.

 

Having grown larger, it had gained confidence.

 

However, its confidence seemed a bit eerie without a skull and one arm.

 

“Did Professor Mortem hide bones in a corner of the punishment room?”

 

“Yeah…”

 

Yi-Han nodded but felt a sense of self-loathing.

 

Yonaire looked at Yi-Han with worried eyes.

 

The look in her eyes was simple.

 

– Are you sure it’s okay to keep learning necromancy under that professor?

 

“…It’ll be fine. Probably.”

 

Yi-Han turned his gaze to the Leopard Skeletal Summon.

 

Now that it had grown larger, it might have become a bit faster. – He thought.

 

“Go check every path in that direction. Got it?”

 

“That’s a waste of effort.”

 

“!!”

 

Yi-Han and Yonaire were startled and looked around. Then, the voice came again.

 

“This way. Over here.”

 

Thumping noises came from inside a door.

 

Surprisingly, there was a student inside one of the cells next to the corridor.

 

“You’ve been running back and forth noisily, but why did you come into the punishment room without knowing the way?”

 

“There’s a long story. Why are you in the punishment room?”

 

“I have a long story too. What grade are you in?”

 

“I just enrolled this year.”

 

“……”

 

Silence suddenly returned inside the room. Yi-Han was puzzled.

 

What?

 

“Aren’t you the freshman who was dragged into the punishment room last time? Caught after escaping through the underground passageway?” 

 

“Then are you the senior who got caught trying to rob the principal’s secret warehouse…? What did you do this time?” – said Yi-Han.

 

Yi-Han was amazed.

 

To think that his punishment roommate from that time was here.

 

“Can’t you lower your voice? Is that something to brag about?”

 

“What’s there to be ashamed of? I ended up here again trying to rob a professor’s warehouse.”

 

“……”

 

The student inside the cell was at a loss for words.

 

He did not know what the hell he had done to end up here after breaking into the professor’s warehouse, but it was definitely beyond his imagination.

 

A freshman who escaped through the underground passage last time and broke into the professor’s warehouse this time…

 

Next time, they might even fly out of the school. – The student thought.

 

Yonaire whispered to Yi-Han.

 

“Who’s that?”

 

“That’s a senior who was put into the cell next to mine last time. He likes to be casual.”

 

“It’s not that I like it… Never mind. What are you doing in the corridor anyway?”

 

“We were looking for a way out.”

 

“…I’m not even surprised anymore. So, you found a way?”

 

Yi-Han could not answer. The student inside the cell smiled as if he had expected that.

 

“It’s not going to be easy. The way up from here is usually complicated.”

 

“Senior, would you consider coming out with us if we let you out?”

 

Yi-Han’s suggestion made the student inside the cell burst into laughter.

 

“Stupid! You’re saying that because you’ve never escaped from the inside. Do you know what comes out when you open this door?”

 

“A Spirit of Lightning?”

 

“…What? How did you know??”

 

The student inside the cell was flustered and stuttered.

 

“I met him on the way up.”

 

“……”

 

The student inside the solitary cell staggered and felt dizzy. He could not even imagine how Yi-Han dodged that spirit.

 

“You…. Who exactly… No. Never mind. Sorry, but I don’t plan on escaping.”

 

“Why’s that?”

 

“I’ll be released in six hours.”

 

“……”

 

Yi-Han had no choice but to accept the reason.

 

“Then, could you at least give us some advice on how to get out?”

 

Yi-Han’s question was met with a similar response as last time.

 

The student inside the cell spoke with a mocking tone.

 

“Why should I tell you that?”

 

“…We’re doomed.”

 

“??”

 

“I bribed you with food last time, but I don’t have any food this time.”

 

Yi-Han looked at Yonaire with a look of defeat.

 

“Bribed you with food?! What do you take people for!”

 

The student inside the cell flared up after overhearing the conversation.

 

He thought he was giving his junior some advice as a senior, but now it seemed like he had just given in because he was hungry.

 

Clatter clatter!

 

While they were talking, the Leopard Skeletal Summon nudged Yi-Han. It was asking for the next command.

 

“Wait…”

 

“Wait a moment.”

 

The student inside the cell spoke up.

 

“Is that a Skeletal Summon?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“…Are you learning necromancy under Professor Mortem?”

 

“Yes…?”

 

“……”

 

An awkward and heavy silence followed.

 

After a while, a piece of paper slid under the door.

 

It was a hastily drawn map showing how to get from here to the exit, drawn on the spot.

 

“…Take it. Good luck.”

 

“……”

 

Although they got the map, Yi-Han wasn’t happy at all. He felt a foreboding future looming.

 

***

 

‘We’re late!’

 

Yi-Han clenched his teeth.

 

Far down the corridor, a professor was seen coming out of the class hall.

 

Despite running, they were still late.

 

Although the professor was not the type to check attendance, given his strict nature, going up and saying, ‘I’m late, Professor, but I brought the assignment’ would likely lead to a response like ‘How can a student who can’t even keep track of time submit an assignment?’

 

Yonaire gasped for breath with a look of despair. Running all the way here had left him breathless.

 

“Yi-Han… No. No. No.”

 

Yonaire was about to call Yi-Han but quickly grabbed his arm instead.

 

Yi-Han was aiming his wand at the professor’s back.

 

“You can’t do that!”

 

“Why not?”

 

“Attacking the professor is dangerous!”

 

“I’m not trying to attack. I’m aiming for that.”

 

Yi-Han pointed with his finger to a pile of assignments floating next to the professor.

 

It was a pile of assignments collected from students during this class period.

 

“I’m going to sneak it in there.”

 

“…Is, is that possible?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Yi-Han said firmly and raised his wand.

 

All the hardships faced under Professor Bolady might have been for this moment.

 

A mage grows under adversity.

 

It was at this moment that Yi-Han fully embraced the teachings of the magic school.

–
Translator: Kaiser | Editor: Gleru