Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 981

Chapter 981

The alchemy lecture ended like that.

Yi-Han considered burning the recipe for <Uregor's Sunken Incense> as he walked out of the lecture hall, but held back.

'Let's be patient. It might be useful later.'

Knowledge was always power.

That recipe might help Yi-Han someday.

Still, Yi-Han resolved not to learn it right now. It was a matter of pride.

He wouldn't dance in Professor Uregor's palm!

"Master. Were you alright?"

Yi-Han asked while looking at the mad doppelganger following behind.

"It wasn't bad, but there's a problem with the mage who took the role of professor."

"Ah."

Yi-Han nodded at his master's words.

Certainly, Professor Uregor had problems.

Not answering his disciple's question was one thing, but to mock him by giving additional assignments like that.

It was a very spiteful personality.

"Professor Uregor's personality is a bit..."

"Weak."

"Pardon?"

"I said weak. A master must possess not only generosity but also strictness."

Though Professor Uregor had forcibly acted kind because of Professor Verduus's precedent, that kindness had rather backfired.

He had been branded as a weak mage by the mad doppelganger.

'Oh dear.'

Yi-Han felt sorry for such an absurd misunderstanding.

For Professor Uregor, who could normally rank among the most spiteful mages anywhere, to receive such a misunderstanding...

"He's usually more strict."

"Then that means he acted while being mindful of royalty. This too is not something an outstanding mage should do."

'That is true.'

Even Yi-Han thought Professor Uregor had been too subservient.

No matter what had happened to Professor Verduus, he seemed too lacking for an Einroguard professor.

-Wardanaz. Are you okay?-

The other friends who had come out of the lecture hall signaled with hand gestures from behind.

-I'm fine.-

-Really?-

-Of course. But stay far away.-

"..."

You're not fine at all!

Nillia and Yonaire were dumbfounded.

What kind of fine person would tell others to stay far away?

"Should a mage who kidnapped Wardanaz be allowed to walk around so openly in the first place?"

"Because the principal isn't here..."

"Isn't this exactly when we should submit anonymous reports?"

The friends grumbled, cursing the skull principal who was absent at such an important time.

Wasn't this chaos happening because the person who should be leading the Death Knights to strictly punish outsiders and maintain Einroguard's discipline was missing?

He was so good at catching escaping students usually, but couldn't do anything at a time like this.

"Everyone think carefully."

"Indeed. If we send anonymous reports, we might face retaliation from the principal later. We might be locked in the punishment room until graduation..."

"No. That's not what I meant, I was talking about the report content. The content needs to be accurate and specific for it to impact the principal."

"As expected of Maykin."

The 2nd year students admired their friend's experienced advice.

In fact, strictly speaking, the skull principal had more power to wield against imperial bureaucrats than the students here.

Moreover, the skull principal hadn't been Einroguard's lord for just a year or two.

Making weak accusations like 'The principal doesn't give us bread and starves us, sob sob' would surely be prepared for.

The students, no longer freshmen, had developed somewhat broader perspectives.

"Let's each record when that doppelganger does dangerous things."

"Indeed! Since Wardanaz attends almost all lectures, role division will be easy too. How lucky."

"...Let's not say that in front of Wardanaz..."

The friends made a firm resolution.

To closely monitor the evil mage's even more evil doppelganger for Wardanaz's sake!

"But isn't Wardanaz too calm?"

"Actually, when I first heard about Professor Verduus's lecture, I wondered if Wardanaz had brought him intentionally. But that can't be, right?"

"...No. I asked him too, and it's definitely not that Yi-Han brought him intentionally."

At Yonaire's words, the friends let out slight sighs of relief.

Though they didn't show it, honestly, they all had a small thought in a corner of their minds wondering 'Surely Wardanaz isn't bringing him around intentionally?'

  *

Immortal Eater: Using this mage seems like a very bad idea. Not using uncontrollable power for magic is a very basic principle.

Eaktus: I heard Professor Verduus got raided? Could we maybe raid Professor Bentozol too?

Immortal Eater: Is everyone listening to me? He's a dangerous mage. Don't try to use him, leave dealing with him to the professors. The principal will return soon.

Baqwantallana: Taking private sanctions against professors is the most trivial and worthless thing that can be done with that mage. If possible, we should extract magic.

Immortal Eater: You can see my words, right?

Ipeldrem: I can see them!

Immortal Eater: Thank you so much... Eaktus. I'll keep writing even if you ignore me! Go ahead and ignore me if you want.

Eaktus: Okay, okay. Immortal Eater. I wasn't intentionally ignoring you. But you always have a talent for ruining fun things.

Immortal Eater: Wh-what nonsense insult... I absolutely cannot accept that! Apologize!

'There is some truth... to that.'

The members of the Sentinels of Einroguard were having a heated discussion for once.

Naturally, the topic was the much-rumored 'How can we use the mad great mage?'

Eaktus wanted to use him for subjugating professors.

Baqwantallana wanted to use him for extracting mysteries.

Immortal Eater was saying to keep distance as much as possible since it was dangerous, regardless of professors or mysteries. It was the most boring and likely unpopular position.

Eaktus: Besides, isn't the junior from the Wardanaz family walking around with the principal's doppelganger? Just looking at that, he probably isn't that dangerous.

Immortal Eater: That's wrong! The junior from the Wardanaz family was even kidnapped!

Ipeldrem: K-kidnapped? Do students get kidnapped at Einroguard? And that Wardanaz was kidnapped?!

Immortal Eater: ...It happens very rarely, not usually.

When the newly joined Baldurguard student poked their head out, the other members realized their mistake.

Chatting as if only Einroguard students were present as usual, they hadn't imagined how it would look to outsiders.

Yi-Han moved his quill to comfort the new member. No matter what, they couldn't reveal all their shameful aspects in front of a Baldurguard student.

Gonadaltes: Right. It's called kidnapping but there must be exaggerated parts. It was probably just somewhat aggressive magic transmission. That Wardanaz fellow tends to exaggerate...

Ipeldrem: H-how can you talk about being kidnapped as if it's nothing? Gonadaltes, you were rude last time too, and you're really rude now!

"..."

First impressions were more important than expected in relationships between people.

The Baldurguard student, who had received direct criticism from Yi-Han last time when trying to use the alias 'Wardanaz' in the Sentinel club, showed full wariness.

How could someone be so rude, dismissing both the kidnapping and disrespecting Wardanaz, a fellow Einroguard student?

They wanted to see this person's face directly.

Gonadaltes: ...Eaktus. You explain instead.

Eaktus: Well, kidnapping isn't common, but isn't this normal for geniuses? You're only a real genius if crazy mages swarm to transmit their magic. It'll happen again, so don't be too surprised already.

Gonadaltes: What nonsense. Where does that happen these days? Don't talk about ancient times.

Eaktus: What? Why are you getting angry?

Gonadaltes: I'm not angry.

Yi-Han quickly gathered his emotions.

If he reacted immediately to unpleasant words, he might be discovered.

Eaktus: Anyway, it's all over now and everything's fine. Though that doppelganger is wandering around the main building lecture halls.

Immortal Eater: Right. It's fine. You don't need to worry too much.

Ipeldrem: Yes...

Immortal Eater: You're not misunderstanding Einroguard, are you? If you have any misunderstandings, ask now.

Ipeldrem: N-no. I'm not misunderstanding.

'They're all clumsy at comforting.'

Yi-Han clicked his tongue.

Looking at the atmosphere, it seemed they had made the Baldurguard student more scared rather than clearing up misunderstandings.

Actually, it wasn't time to talk about others. Wasn't Yi-Han the one that person was most wary of?

As an outsider who could move around freely now, it would be right to dispel their wariness if possible.

But how?

'If I say I'm Wardanaz, they'll think I'm crazy...'

Revealing it carried big risks and could backfire.

Yi-Han fell into thought.

The mad doppelganger's companionship surprisingly wasn't much of a problem.

Looking at other members' conversations, they only wanted to guide him to attack professors or learn magic. There was no one who coveted bodies like Jourin last time.

Well, even for Einroguard students, confronting the skull principal's doppelganger would be a bit...

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Everyone must be having a hard time with lectures. Hang in there.

"!"

  *

Ilendil had left a message in the Sentinel club because of a minor whim.

'Everyone's forgetting what's important.'

Einroguard students often forgot important things as they were so focused on magic and its evaluation.

But Ilendil didn't. She knew very well what was most important.

The forest.

A magical space where all kinds of spirits and plants lived and breathed.

Compared to caring for and cultivating this space, Einroguard lectures were trivial.

In fact, Ilendil was absent from most lectures. It was a boldness rarely seen in a 4th year student.

But this dryad mixed-blood student had not a shred of regret.

Look at those students obsessed with lectures and teachings.

Because of that obsession, they were getting caught up in various external incidents and having trouble.

In contrast, Ilendil could focus solely on her own work in the quiet forest...

-Senior! Are you here?-

"..."

Ilendil was shocked at the familiar voice heard from afar.

Why?!

Why did that junior come to the forest?!!

'R-right!'

Ilendil only remembered after seeing the relic <Echo of the Demigod> installed in the middle of the forest.

Come to think of it, this relic wasn't received for free.

It was received on the condition that that junior could tame artificial demigods and practice evil ancient magic in the forest.

'To think I forgot about this...!'

Ilendil was about to answer while blaming herself.

-Don't call out vulgarly, send a paper bird.-

-Yes. Understood.-

"...!"

As soon as she realized there was one more person, Ilendil moved immediately, befitting an Einroguard senior student.

She immediately dug deep into the ground and hid underground.

The skill with which she persuaded the earth and asked the rocks to enter underground in that short time was indeed worthy of an Einroguard senior student.

'Im-impossible. Why is this happening to me...!'

Was this divine punishment for mocking the students who attended lectures?

Ilendil reflected deeply.

If mercy was granted just this once, she would never mock other students again...

"Senior! Senior! ...Where did you go?"

"Below."

"Pardon?"

"She's below."

When the mad doppelganger spoke while slightly tilting his chin, Yi-Han laughed as if it was nonsense.

"What senior would be underground in a forest unless they're a mining dwarf?"

Crack!

When the mad doppelganger swung his hand, the ground split and Ilendil, who had been hiding deep below, was revealed.

The dryad mixed-blood senior quietly stood up after being crouched down.

"H-hello..."

"..."

"Um... Won't you say something...?"