Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 980

Chapter 980

Yukbeltire, who had missed the opportunity to learn mysteries from the mad doppelganger, was very confused.

Direth spoke carefully.

"The enchantment magic school juniors are all... a bit individualistic."

'And you're the leader of that.'

She swallowed the latter words because of friendship.

Honestly, Direth suspected that Yukbeltire's influence had some part in Einroguard enchantment magic school's academic culture.

"I meant the junior from the Wardanaz family."

"Ah."

Direth momentarily lost her words.

Come to think of it, in that junior's case, the excuse of individualism didn't work at all.

"He probably didn't have the presence of mind to call anyone with the principal's doppelganger beside him."

"Indeed. Still immature."

Ogoldos, Direth's junior, put his finger to his temple and spun it in circles behind Yukbeltire's field of vision.

Whether inside or outside Einroguard, that gesture only meant one thing.

-Is this senior crazy?-

"..."

Direth shook her head.

Yukbeltire wasn't crazy. Just a bit eccentric.

...Probably!

"Anyway, Yukbeltire. You must understand now that my words weren't wrong? If you had listened to me, you would have learned five more mysteries of the realms by now."

"That's not logical..."

"No. It's very logical."

Direth, who had been trying to silence her friend and chase her out, belatedly felt something strange.

"Wait. The principal's doppelganger went into Professor Verduus's lecture hall too?"

"Senior... Shouldn't you have been surprised about that first?"

"No. He came to my lecture hall too."

"?!!"

Ogoldos was shocked.

To think the principal's doppelganger had come to Direth's lecture hall too.

"Were you alright?!"

"Huh? Yeah..."

"...As expected of Senior!"

Ogoldos sent a gaze full of respect.

Indeed, she was befitting of a mage who supported Einroguard's dark magic school. Her skill was incomparable to a certain professor.

"Surely he's not planning to go to all the lectures the junior attends?"

"It seems that's exactly what he's doing."

For a moment, the air became heavy and murky.

Not because it was a dark magic school workshop, but because they sensed the junior's unfortunate fate.

"Then if I follow the lectures that the Wardanaz family junior attends, I can learn mysteries?"

"That would work. But you can't because you're a 5th year. Only when you're teaching."

"Auditing is free at Einroguard..."

"Auditing lectures you've taken before is prohibited."

Direth legislated Direth's Law on the spot.

Though Yukbeltire protested, her vicious and illogical friend wouldn't back down from her unreasonable stance.

  *

"I was surprised, Master."

"Indeed, that mage is surprising. Even in ancient times, such ones were rare."

The mad doppelganger nodded as if understanding his disciple's words.

Certainly, this mage called Verduus had extraordinary aspects.

Even in ancient times, someone so single-minded was rare to see.

To still stubbornly try to push through his desires even after having his artifacts destroyed like that.

If it had been in the old days, he might have become a terrifying enemy.

"Huh? Ah, the professor? The professor wasn't surprising, he's always like that. More than that, I didn't know you would look at other people's magic too."

After subduing Professor Verduus, the mad doppelganger had conducted the lecture instead.

Though the students weren't particularly surprised, Yi-Han's position was different.

To think the mad doppelganger would conduct the lecture himself!

Honestly, Yi-Han had been anxious that the mad doppelganger might say 'You teach, disciple.'

Rather than forced magic training, how could he teach seniors?

"Indeed. So there was such a method."

"..."

Yi-Han reflected deeply.

'A mage who cannot control their mouth can never achieve greatness...!'

"The reason I gave a sermon today is because royalty has grand designs."

"?"

Yi-Han wondered at the mad doppelganger's words.

Having plans?

What could that be?

'Gasp. Could it be?'

Only one thing came to mind. Yi-Han asked with a shocked face.

"Are you perhaps aiming for the principal position of Einroguard?"

"..."

The mad doppelganger looked at his disciple with cold eyes as if looking at filth rather than his disciple.

"Ah, no. I just couldn't think of anything else."

"Why would royalty want the position of lord of this flea pit?"

Though he had suddenly become a flea, Yi-Han didn't waver.

"It's quite a good position. Recognized by the empire, and as a lord it's also an imperial high noble title..."

"You can have it."

"Aren't your words too harsh!"

Yi-Han got angry, which was rare.

When his usually always respectful disciple suddenly flared up, the mad doppelganger was bewildered.

"I apologize. Your disciple got excited."

"Surely you're not suffering from madness. You can't go mad yet."

"You don't need to worry. So what are you planning?"

The mad doppelganger didn't answer Yi-Han's question.

Rather, he showed signs of pondering.

'????'

When the other remained silent, Yi-Han became even more perplexed.

It was very rare for the mad doppelganger, who usually answered like a kind crystal ball of prophecy, to not give an answer like this.

"I cannot tell you that. This plan is something you, disciple, must not know."

"..."

Yi-Han was shocked.

'Is he really aiming for the principal position?'

He really couldn't think of anything else.

Teaching students who weren't even disciples, and hiding those words from Yi-Han...

"Where are we moving next?"

"Uh... The <One Drop of Potion Instead of Complex Magic> lecture."

"Alchemy? Is this mage perhaps like that mage from earlier?"

"Absolutely not. There couldn't be another person like that in Einroguard... Well, there are, but this person isn't one of them."

As he spoke, Yi-Han felt slightly sorry towards Professor Uregor.

'Still, he won't be that surprised, right?'

  *

"From now on, please resolve complaints through words!"

Seeing the principal's doppelganger sitting there blankly, the dwarf professor hurriedly took Yi-Han to a corner.

When Professor Garcia had said "You'd better be careful" in the lounge today, he wondered what she meant, but to think this was it.

He knew this disciple was skilled in various means, but he never imagined he would bring the principal's mad doppelganger to the lecture hall to vent complaints about professors.

"You misunderstand. I didn't bring him intentionally."

"I heard he went to Professor Verduus's lecture hall too! How is that not intentional!"

"...Well, I did enjoy that a bit, but anyway, that's also a lecture I attend, right?"

Yi-Han explained sincerely.

Of course, Yi-Han had enjoyed Professor Verduus's subjugation a bit too, but in principle, it happened because it was a lecture Yi-Han had to attend.

How could Yi-Han stop him when the mad doppelganger said he would follow?

At the disciple's explanation, Professor Uregor's momentum softened a bit.

The professor also understood Yi-Han's pitiful circumstances. Not many mages could stop the principal's doppelganger when he followed behind.

"If that's the case, it couldn't be helped. You must have had a hard time... Wait. Didn't you complete your staff? Then why were you in Professor Verduus's lecture hall..."

'Oops.'

The mad doppelganger helped Yi-Han. The mad doppelganger quietly called Professor Uregor.

"Wh-what is it?"

"Excellent. You are a mage who knows manners."

"?"

Professor Uregor was puzzled by the other's words.

The professor himself was only average at maintaining formality and manners, not particularly outstanding.

"I thought there might be another one like that mage from earlier... But it seems not."

'Ah.'

Everything was always relative.

Any professor coming after Professor Verduus would look like an excellent professor just by breathing normally.

'Thank you, Professor Verduus. I won't repay you later, but!'

While inwardly expressing gratitude to Professor Verduus, Professor Uregor bowed his head.

"It's just the manners that any Einroguard professor would have."

"It doesn't particularly seem that way... Anyway, I have a task for you."

"?"

Professor Uregor paused.

Was this okay?

'Won't there be trouble when the principal returns?'

Wardanaz was a student, and since he was such a cherished disciple of the skull principal, it could be considered extenuating circumstances even if he went around with an enemy.

But if an Einroguard professor accepted a request from an enemy?

It was questionable whether that would be considered extenuating circumstances too.

"What kind... of task?"

"First make a pledge. This is a matter where secrecy is important."

"That's a good idea. Secrecy is indeed important."

Professor Uregor immediately nodded.

If possible, he wanted to keep the secret even when the skull principal returned.

  *

After finishing their conversation, Professor Uregor started the lecture as usual.

To be precise, it was a bit different from usual.

Today's Professor Uregor was a kind and gentle Professor Uregor.

"Professor. The reagent is contaminated."

"Then go out and get... Ahem! Hmm hmm. No. These things happen. You iron head, hmm?"

"We're not 1st years anymore..."

"Shut u... Hmm hmm. Right. I forgot!"

Seeing Professor Uregor, who usually flared up like fire at mistakes, gently comforting them, Yi-Han's friends immediately grasped the situation.

"Professor. I want to use additional reagents!"

"Professor! I want to mix the solution in the cauldron, could you guide my movements?"

"Professor! Actually, I was the one who melted the pot bottom last week!"

"..."

Professor Uregor trembled at his 2nd year disciples' behavior.

These fellows who were Einroguard to their bones!

"Professor."

"What do you want now!"

When Yi-Han called, Professor Uregor got angry first.

Why would someone who had nothing to ask about call him?

"I have a question too."

"Ah. Is that so."

Professor Uregor felt slightly embarrassed.

Though he often forgot, come to think of it, this disciple in front of him was still a 2nd year too.

There was no law saying one had to succeed with all potions at once.

Professor Uregor approached Yi-Han and checked inside the cauldron. From the rippling silver solution, he could feel the energy of completely dissolved silverstone.

"...This is perfect though?"

"It's not about the potion... What did you discuss with Master earlier?"

Yi-Han probed in a low voice.

No matter how he thought about it, the mad doppelganger's planned scheme felt unsettling.

Might Professor Uregor have some clue?

At his disciple's question, the professor nodded.

"So that's what you're curious about. Alright."

Professor Uregor took out a quill and began secretly writing something on paper.

Yi-Han watched with eyes full of expectation at that sight.

"Here you go."

"Thank y... <Uregor's Sunken Incense>? Is this what Master wanted?"

<Uregor's Sunken Incense> was Professor Uregor's unique incense that Yi-Han had seen during exam preparation last time too.

Just looking at the recipe, he could feel how high the difficulty was, enough to make one's eyes spin.

"No. You seem to have free time and nothing to do, so I'm telling you to practice making that."

After finishing his words, Uregor turned around sharply and left.

Yi-Han glared at his back.

What a petty professor!