Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 984

Chapter 984

Yi-Han was surprised.

'To think this would work.'

He hadn't been sure if it would work even as he tried it, so he was rather surprised when the other showed interest.

"What are you doing?"

"Ah. Yes. I'll guide you now."

Yi-Han, who had reflexively answered the mad doppelganger's words, belatedly recalled a problem.

Come to think of it, though the mad doppelganger might want to see Senior Caten, it was unknown whether Senior Caten would feel the same.

Just considering combat power alone, if one of the top-ranked seniors in 5th year held a grudge, life at Einroguard could become a bit more difficult going forward.

'...I'll have to say he followed forcibly.'

  *

"Ju-junior!"

Caten, a 5th year student from White Tiger Tower, looked at Yi-Han with tears welling up in his eyes.

They were tears of emotion, not tears of betrayal and anger.

"To think you would bring such a great person for this unworthy mage..."

"...Well, I really like you, Senior. Haha."

Whoosh!

Caten, unable to contain his emotion, pulled Yi-Han into an embrace.

Cat mixed-bloods were generally smaller in build than humans, and Caten was no exception.

However, his strength was beyond imagination. Though Yi-Han had taken attacks from formidable opponents with his body before, he almost screamed right away.

"...Ugh! Senior. It hurts."

"Ah, I apologize, Junior. I was too happy."

Caten quickly apologized.

He had failed to control his strength because he was so overjoyed to see the skull principal's doppelganger.

"To have a chance to learn from the principal's doppelganger..."

"Why didn't you ask the principal directly?"

Yi-Han wondered.

Of course, most Einroguard students didn't particularly prefer asking questions to the skull principal.

Even for Einroguard students overflowing with madness, there were limits.

They would ask professors if they had to ask, why would they ask a crazy great mage?

However, in Yi-Han's view, with Senior Caten's level of madness, it wouldn't be strange to ask the skull principal about magic.

Above all, by 5th year it should be rarer to have never asked the skull principal a question...

"I used to ask many questions before."

Caten answered in a slightly dejected voice.

"But at some point, he started avoiding me."

"..."

Yi-Han honestly admired him.

Such persistence that even made the skull principal flee in exhaustion.

'Amazing!'

"Though he was clearly inside, he said he wasn't..."

"How could he tell such lies."

"I knew you would think that way too, Junior. So I broke through the wall and invaded, but the punishment room..."

"..."

"But I'm so happy to have a chance to learn like this!"

Caten smiled brightly.

However, Yi-Han started to worry suddenly.

If even the skull principal fled because he couldn't handle teaching anymore, would his doppelganger be any different?

'I hope he doesn't get angry at me.'

"Please teach me!"

Not knowing Yi-Han's inner thoughts, Caten showed his respect.

"You know basic manners at least. Unlike that mage."

'Meeting Professor Verduus first might have been lucky.'

Yi-Han let out a sigh of relief at the mad doppelganger's response.

Perhaps because they met Professor Verduus first, all the mages afterward were benefiting from the reflection.

"If you want to receive teachings, show your skills before royalty."

"Yes!"

Caten answered briskly and drew his sword.

The sword dance of Einroguard's most-failed 5th year student, whom Yi-Han had seen several times before, began.

It was truly a culmination of all magic possible with a sword. In fact, one might wonder who else in the empire could do such things.

When finally even a primitive small world was implemented, the mad doppelganger's eyebrows moved faintly.

As reality around the sword changed and blazing aura transformed into water, the mad doppelganger clicked his tongue as if dumbfounded.

Even in ancient times, swordsmen born with this level of talent were rare.

It wasn't ordinary talent like having excellent sensitivity to mana or sharp ability to perceive one's own body.

The recklessness to throw oneself to break the world!

Some might call it crude or violent, but this was talent that a swordsman should rightfully have.

If mages changed the world, swordsmen tore the world apart.

The problem was...

"Isn't it amazing?"

"The waste is amazing. Why use such talent on inefficient things?"

...that he kept doing strange things with such talent.

A swordsman should delve into their inner self, why forcibly implement a primitive small world?

"Senior is very interested in magic himself."

"Then those around should have properly stopped him."

"Isn't that Senior's choice? No matter how reckless it seems, if he wants to do it... All I or others can do is give advice."

At Yi-Han's words, the mad doppelganger paused for a moment.

At his master's reaction, Yi-Han immediately prepared his posture for impact.

'The defensive magic I can use now is...'

"Indeed. Quite reasonable words."

"!"

Yi-Han was startled when the other acknowledged his words instead of getting angry saying 'What nonsense!'

'Could he really be in an incredibly good mood?'

If not that, it truly couldn't be explained.

"Are you acknowledging it?"

"Acknowledging what?"

"Uh... Senior's reckless choice..."

"How would I know? He's just a mage, not even royalty's disciple. More importantly, he would be useful as a guard."

The mad doppelganger evaluated Caten much higher than Yi-Han had thought.

Though they say a mage who reaches the heights has no need for guards, protection is needed until reaching those heights.

There was nothing bad about having such a swordsman as a guard.

"Good. I shall teach you magic."

"Is-is that really true!"

Caten shouted with a voice full of emotion. The mad doppelganger nodded and spoke.

"What magic are you curious about? Ancient mysteries, dark magic, small worlds, counter magic, command magic, souls..."

"I want to learn <Lesser Fire Barrier>!"

"...?"

The mad doppelganger looked at Yi-Han, doubting his ears. Yi-Han subtly avoided his gaze.

"I want to learn <Lesser Fire Barrier>! Please!"

"..."

The mad doppelganger, who had only known the other's sword talent was outstanding, was shocked to find his magical talent was this poor.

No matter what, to think the level would be this low...?!

  *

The mad doppelganger's teachings were truly profound and abstruse.

And too difficult for Caten to understand.

The more he taught the other, the more the mad doppelganger felt how outstanding a genius his existing disciple was.

"Thank you for your teachings!"

"..."

When the teaching ended, the thoroughly exhausted mad doppelganger turned away sharply without answering.

Yi-Han watched carefully and asked Caten.

"Was it helpful?"

"Not at all, Junior!"

"...I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry? I'm plenty happy!"

Caten looked at his junior as if wondering what he was saying.

The history of failures Caten had gone through was too long to be sad about not understanding and realizing right after learning.

At this point, he didn't get disappointed or sad because of just one such thing.

Yi-Han was unconsciously moved by his senior's unwavering attitude.

Such steadfastness when he himself would probably have wavered or broken down.

'Admirable.'

Well, with such a mindset, it made sense that he continued training without wavering even in the punishment room.

While his junior was sending admiring looks, Caten lightly packed his belongings. Seeing him pack emergency rations and several artifacts, Yi-Han asked curiously.

"Where are you going after lecture?"

"I'm planning to visit the Frost Giants' realm."

"Oh. Frost Giants appeared in the realm I visited recently too, how interesting."

To be precise, it was about the realm visited during Professor Millei's lecture time.

Professor Millei had suggested students visit and map unfamiliar realms for summoning magic basics this semester and...

...Yi-Han and his friends had easily completed it with Arsil's help, but in exchange they were cursed to additionally bring back relics obtained by Frost Giants.

Dealing with evil and powerful beings was always dangerous.

But for Caten to be planning to visit the Frost Giants' realm.

What an interesting coincidence.

"That's the same realm, Junior."

"...What?!"

Yi-Han was startled.

Why was Caten going to the realm Yi-Han and his friends had visited?

"Professor Ingurdel requested it. He asked me to check if it's an appropriate place to hold the final exam."

"N-no. How can a perilous realm where Frost Giants appear be an appropriate place for a final exam?"

Yi-Han, betrayed by a professor he had trusted, shouted with a trembling voice.

How could Professor Ingurdel, not Professor Bagrak, give such a cruel exam?

Perhaps sensing his junior's emotions, Caten looked slightly flustered.

"I don't really... According to the professor, since 2nd year students seem to visit other realms frequently, rather than stopping them, he wants to help them prepare."

"What madman spread such nonsensical rumors!"

Yi-Han, who was angry, suddenly felt a memory coming back.

Come to think of it, it was Yi-Han himself who had submitted visiting the realm with the Pride Duke, Wood King, and Arsil as an assignment to Professor Ingurdel.

It wouldn't be strange if Professor Ingurdel had sighed saying '2nd year students actively visit other realms without knowing the danger' after seeing that.

Could it be?

"Well. If Junior is really curious, I could ask the professor and find out who..."

"At this point, what does it matter who spread it? As an Einroguard student, I'll just face it calmly."

Caten admired Yi-Han's attitude.

Though he was a junior, such a composed and bold attitude was worth learning from.

'Wait. Maybe I should get the relic out during this opportunity too.'

Yi-Han fell into thought.

This week was the mad doppelganger's surveillance week, but he didn't know when this companionship would end.

Like the skull principal, his doppelganger was also eccentric and capricious.

Wouldn't it be right to get the Frost Giants' relic out while the mad doppelganger and Caten were beside him?

"Senior. I'll help you too. My next lecture time happens to be free."

"How can this be!"

"Of course, it must be surprising that I, still a 2nd year, would go together. But Master will come too..."

"No. I'm surprised that your next lecture time is free, Junior."

"..."

Yi-Han was dumbfounded.

"I thought you might want to come along since you asked questions earlier. Junior likes such things."

"What senior and junior from which realm would like such thi... No. Anyway, I'll take that as permission."

Yi-Han, who didn't want to waste time and energy here needlessly, retreated cleanly.

He still had to persuade the mad doppelganger too.

"Master. Today's lectures are over, but Senior..."

When he talked about the realm where Frost Giants appeared and its treasures, the mad doppelganger listened silently.

Then he opened his mouth.

"Actually, when you deliberately came to attend this lecture, I suspected you might be trying to neglect your studies."

"!"

How did he know?

Yi-Han trembled at his master's sharp guess.

Showing Senior Caten to the mad doppelganger was clearly partly intended to ease the pressure on Yi-Han himself.

"However, seeing what you just said, royalty was mistaken. You deliberately came for this?"

"...That's exactly right. I've been planning it for a while."