Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 1031

Chapter 1031

"...I understand for now."

Though bewildered and confused, a great mage was different even when different.

They quickly regained composure.

Though they still couldn't understand the youngest revealing grand ambitions without any personal ambition...

...the Great Artist decided to accept it as is for now.

"If you say you'll take on the most tragic and pitiful fate in the empire and willingly become a mage for burnt offering to burn, I suppose I can't say anything."

"..."

Yi-Han looked at the artist with a sour expression.

Though they said they understood, their attitude wasn't one of acceptance at all.

"It seems you've already said quite enough..."

"However, you must keep in mind that disciples who challenged the same way before you met miserable fates."

The artist didn't give up easily.

Having seen and experienced too much to just say 'Alright, try your best' at one word from the other.

If the other's resolve was firm, they could approach slowly like spring sunlight melting winter's snow and ice.

"Let me guess why you came. Since you came with two professors... you probably received a request from Petroguard mages who found me suspicious?"

"!"

Yi-Han was startled at the sudden change of topic.

Thinking denying it would just needlessly irritate someone so confident, Yi-Han readily admitted this too.

"I won't deny it."

"Their worry is natural. The skull principal's former disciples mostly bring storms and turbulence."

The Great Artist wasn't angry at the Petroguard mages.

Why get angry when the other wasn't the skull principal?

And it was understandable they worried since all the skull principal's former disciples had somewhat unstable aspects.

"But there's no need to worry prematurely. I'll leave once what I want is complete anyway. Rather, causing commotion would be more dangerous."

"Commotion?"

Yi-Han wondered if the skull principal would hear and fly over if commotion was caused.

But the artist shook their head.

"Though I've certainly left the school, there are many who don't think so. There's no reason to loudly reveal my identity and invite enemies, is there?"

The Great Artist was more concerned about other enemies than the skull principal.

From magic criminals on, the skull principal had many enemies and these enemies didn't find it very convincing even if the artist declared 'I am no longer a disciple!'

"Indeed that's true. Wait, if that's the case, don't we need to worry about the principal?"

"Not that."

'So we do need to worry...'

Though not as active as other enemies, there was nothing good about letting the skull principal know they were here.

Even if the artist thought they had no remaining debts, who knew if that eccentric one would think the same?

"I have no desire to cause commotion or create fights. So if you want me to leave Petroguard, there's only one way."

As they spoke, the Great Artist pointed at Yi-Han. Yi-Han asked in a tense voice.

"A duel?"

"...Did you not hear me just say I have no desire to create fights?"

"Ah. I'm sorry. It's habitual because of the professors."

"You will help with my work."

"Me?"

Yi-Han was puzzled.

Apart from the difficulty of helping a great mage's work, above all...

"Wouldn't the professors be better?"

"I don't want to associate even for one second with those low-intelligence traitors."

"...Ah, yes."

  *

"Don't worry too much. There was probably an error in space movement."

Dalser comforted the two professors.

Especially Professor Garcia, who cared for and worried about students a lot, would be more shocked.

However, there wasn't really much reason to worry in the current situation.

Wasn't it just a space magic error that occurred without any other magic interfering or enemies attacking?

At most he probably came out through another carriage's entrance, so he must be somewhere within Petroguard territory.

"I'm not worried about Yi-Han. Honestly, Yi-Han will manage his share wherever he lands."

The students behind were slightly bewildered at Professor Garcia's words.

Though they agreed too, wasn't Professor Garcia usually a bit more...

...worried?

"Aren't you worrying too little?"

"Honestly it might be Wardanaz's own doing..."

While the students whispered, Professor Garcia continued speaking.

"What I'm worried about now is the principal's former disciple. If we make careless contact without Yi-Han present, we might all be driven out immediately."

"You're exaggerating too much. They're still alumni, aren't they?"

Dalser thought Professor Garcia was exaggerating.

No matter what, would that Great Artist drive away junior alumni without even listening to a word?

However, Professor Garcia and Professor Boladi shook their heads with serious faces.

"...R-really??"

"Yes."

Disciples who had deserted from under the skull principal, whether from before or after Einroguard, didn't much like the professors.

First, they treated them as the skull principal's underlings, minions, spies and so on.

And it wasn't completely wrong either.

"We need to quickly find Yi-Han and go together. Otherwise we might all be driven out leaving just Yi-Han."

-Did they say Wardanaz family? What luck. To have a chance for private audience with such a Great Artist.-

-The artist must be trying to convey enlightenment. It will be a good opportunity for those barbarians from Einroguard.-

"..."

"...Found him."

The group let out sighs of relief for now.

Though it was amazing how he had gone there again, at least the urgent fire was put out.

Tap tap-

Professor Boladi lightly tapped Professor Garcia's shoulder.

"What is it?"

"We should stop it."

"?"

Garcia felt puzzled at her senior professor's words.

"Are you worried? But that person isn't someone so dangerous..."

Having entered Petroguard and heard additional explanation from students, Professor Garcia was almost certain about the other's identity.

If correct, they weren't someone who would do anything threatening. Rather, they would pity and help Einroguard students if anything.

"Wardanaz might be persuaded."

"...Oh..."

Professor Garcia was momentarily speechless at this unexpected point.

Until now she had only worried about how to persuade the other to leave Petroguard, but thinking about it, the other could persuade them too.

Especially in a situation without professors beside him.

Wasn't 'that artist' a senior who considered making Einroguard students desert their life's work and noble duty?

If Yi-Han was persuaded and said 'Goodbye professors, I'm quitting Einroguard to find my life's happiness' and left...

Alcicle, listening beside them, spoke with wide eyes.

"...Wait, wouldn't that be good? It would be happy for Wardanaz... W-why are you looking at me like that, Boladi Bagrak."

Alcicle, intimidated by Professor Boladi's gaze, slightly hid his body behind Professor Garcia.

Professor Garcia picked up Alcicle with an annoyed look and sent him back to his original position.

  *

"Petroguard is less interesting than expected."

"Shh. Be quiet. Your lack of culture is showing."

The White Tiger Tower students tried to hide their boredom with the Petroguard tour.

Though they were ones who loved swords more than books, there was no need to advertise that.

"But look at those Blue Dragon Tower guys too."

-Ah! This is disgustingly boring!-

Gainando shouted while rolling side to side on the grass.

Adenart kept maximum distance. She sincerely didn't want to be thought of as part of the same group as Gainando.

"There were some decent paintings and sculptures, go look at those."

Yonaire, who had looked around the surroundings once with Nillia, said.

However, Gainando snorted.

"I'd rather read magazines one more time than look at such things."

"Are you bored?"

"!"

Gainando opened his eyes in surprise at the Petroguard student who spoke to him.

Looking closely, it was the Petroguard student they had met on the way here, who they had mistaken for a corpse.

"Y-you're..."

"Bunarjo."

"G-Gainando. Imperial royalty."

Adenart looked around quickly then hurriedly covered her head deeply with her cloak.

She was worried Gainando might say 'She's royalty too'.

"I see. Gainando."

"You were playing outside all this time, why did you come back?"

"Why are you angry?"

"I'm not angry!"

Bunarjo couldn't understand why the Einroguard students were getting angry.

There were strange magic school students in the world who got angry just seeing others play.

"What a strange fellow. I came back because I got what I wanted."

After finishing speaking, Bunarjo fumbled and took out equipment.

Sculpting magic items like chisels, punches, hammers and saws lined up with a clatter.

The Einroguard students who had been idling with nothing to do gathered one by one, perhaps bored too.

What kind of enchantment magic would Petroguard show befitting its reputation?

"Your Highness. How is that sculpture?"

"It's excellent. Though it seems too rough..."

Bunarjo heard this and answered.

"This is my style."

"But isn't it too rough?"

The Petroguard student shrugged and focused on work again.

The wyvern statue, looking much rougher and fiercer than its original form, quickly took shape.

"...Wait. Did you just see that? Nillia?"

"Huh? Huh? I wasn't dozing."

Nillia hurriedly answered her friend's question. Yonaire pointed at the wings and asked.

"Look at those wings."

"Wings? Um... wyvern wings don't look like that. That's inefficient. Haven't they seen a wyvern?"

"...Th-this is cooler."

Bunarjo, who hadn't shown emotion all day, stuttered.

However, Yonaire didn't mind. That wasn't what was important now.

"Didn't those wings move?"

"How could they move when no magic has been cast yet?"

Other friends nearby wondered.

This Petroguard student had only sculpted and hadn't cast any magic yet. A mere stone wyvern couldn't move.

"It can move."

Bunarjo answered as if annoyed.

"What?"

"I said it can move. Sometimes when inspiration is full, works become magic itself without using magic."

'...Primitive magic!?'

Though Gainando grumbled as if saying 'don't lie', some sharp students realized what the other was talking about and were shocked.

Magic that operated in a different way from current imperial magic.

Yonaire thought inwardly.

'Impossible. For a statue of that level to move, you'd need to layer several enchantment and transformation magics...'

There were reasons primitive magic wasn't incorporated into imperial magic.

There was no reason to use it when its power was weak or inconsistent or unstable.

"Today's quite good. You all can see too."

"What can we see... gasp!"

All the Einroguard students stood up.

The half-completed wyvern statue was slowly flapping its wings and moving.

Bunarjo spoke with pride.

"Real magic should be able to call forth magic that the mage themselves can't use or even think of. Like this."

Bunarjo himself didn't know how to implement magic to make the wyvern statue move alive.

However occasionally, when inspiration and luck followed, he would accidentally implement such magic.

The wyvern statue slowly returned to stone. Bunarjo tapped the statue and spoke.

"I'm just at this level, but there are more amazing mages. They implement much more powerful and difficult magic. Especially that Great Artist who came this time is beyond imagination."

"Beyond imagination?"

"They're trying to breathe eternal life into works."

"...Sh-shouldn't we call Wardanaz?"