Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 974

Chapter 974

Jarun of the Steelshoe family, despite not being an old dwarf miner, was knowledgeable about orichalcum, but he still had a few misconceptions.

The reason orichalcum repelled Jarun wasn't because it was contaminated.

Originally, unfinished orichalcum repelled greedy intruders. Just as some plants move to protect themselves, orichalcum was such a case.

When this orichalcum was fully completed, the characteristic of repelling intruders mostly disappeared.

If no one had touched it, it generally became a high-density mana condensate, and if someone contacted and influenced or contaminated it, it changed to have various different characteristics.

"I see."

Yi-Han listened intently to the mad doppelganger's explanation while trying to soothe the baby basilisk to stop hissing (it wasn't very effective).

As long as it wasn't teachings he had to learn directly, the mad doppelganger's teachings were mostly beneficial and substantial.

Where else could one find knowledge and wisdom lost in ancient times?

If only there weren't occasional magic that Yi-Han had to learn directly...

"But about not separating it from my body... Is it because it consumes a lot of mana?"

"That's right."

'Usually, this kind of thing would be called a cursed ore.'

Generally, the places where orichalcum formed were areas with particularly profound energy even in the deep underground.

Ordinary energy couldn't crystallize orichalcum.

Therefore, when orichalcum was discovered, it was usually correct to leave it untouched and have a miner visit regularly to care for it.

Suddenly pulling it out and having a mage carry it around like now was a rather unusual case...

"Wouldn't it have been better to leave it here and nurture it?"

"I clearly said that treasures must be kept in one's grasp. Moreover, considering taming it as well, carrying it around is advantageous."

"Ah. You said it grows as desired, right?"

Come to think of it, orichalcum was a peculiar ore that grew according to the caretaker's will.

Certainly, thinking about that aspect, it might be better to carry it around.

...Though mana would be drained like crazy, but well...

'It's not like it's the first or second time.'

Yi-Han stared at the baby basilisk. The monster, which had been hissing, wagged its tail as if to ask why its master was looking at it.

"How do you raise it? Should I talk to it?"

If that worked, Yi-Han could even sing a lullaby saying "Become an expensive and valuable jewel" every night before bed.

"Do you see ears on the orichalcum?"

"...It doesn't have any."

"There is only one way to raise orichalcum as desired. The miner's character."

In ancient times, a group of evil dwarf miners once searched for unfinished orichalcum to create the magic sword they wanted.

These people, who finally found what they wanted, performed a bloody ritual in front of the orichalcum.

Not only did they execute captured prisoners, but they also performed various tortures and human sacrifices.

In the end, they even swung hammers at each other to complete the orichalcum.

"What happened to that orichalcum... in the end?"

"It became an evil and vicious metal as the dwarves desired. As a reward, it killed the dwarf who remained last."

Though he was the evil dwarf miner who survived to the end, his end was futile.

Before completing the magic sword, the contaminated orichalcum transformed into a weapon form and cut off his breath.

In a way, the dwarf miners' goal was achieved. Though it was completely different from how they had imagined.

'How is this being able to raise it as desired?'

Yi-Han was inwardly dumbfounded.

Isn't being able to raise as desired usually something said about plants growing in pots?

From what he heard, it sounded like a metal that might transform into a sword shape and stab its owner's neck if something went wrong...

That was not at all something that could be raised as desired by Yi-Han's standards.

"...So to raise orichalcum as desired, should I show it only good and kind things as much as possible?"

"Wrong. Rather than wasting time on such pretense, it would be better to govern with your pure will, disciple."

'...Is there such a thing?'

Pure will?

No matter how much he thought about it, all he could imagine was orichalcum saying "Give me gold" after about a month.

If the basilisk whined for food from one sleeve and the orichalcum whined for gold from the other sleeve...

'That would be terrible.'

"Um..."

"Enough. You're wasting a royal's time needlessly. How are your other magic progressing?"

"Just so-so."

The mad doppelganger openly clicked his tongue.

Though he looked very displeased, Yi-Han didn't mind.

Originally, disciples were beings that disappointed their masters.

To the extent that if they didn't disappoint their masters, they could hardly be called disciples!

If not, why learn under a master?

"You waste time needlessly, so that's..."

The mad doppelganger who was speaking paused.

A message had arrived from another realm.

"It seems they have time to spare on that side too."

"?!"

Yi-Han felt an unidentifiable ominousness when his master summoned magical letters in the air with a sarcastic tone.

How many people could there be who would send such a message to the mad doppelganger now?

No matter how he thought about it, only one person came to mind...

"Could it be the Yaksha King?"

"That's right. Judging by your question, you seem to want to learn the Yaksha script."

'I don't.'

He really had no desire to learn it at all, but it was frustrating when the mad doppelganger lightly nodded while reading characters only he knew from mid-air.

Should he have learned it?

"I see."

"...What does it say?"

"It says my disciple has begun to enter a small world."

The mad doppelganger showed no particular change in expression. That made Yi-Han even more afraid.

'That cursed Yaksha bastard?'

Yi-Han gritted his teeth.

Despite the numerous vile deceptions he had suffered so far, Yi-Han had generously let them slide.

Yet this ambush was what he got in return.

He was truly a wickedly evil being.

"It's just called entering, but I've only heard an explanation. I haven't grasped anything yet."

The mad doppelganger didn't answer.

Instead, he lightly looked Yi-Han up and down and fell into thought. Such silence made Yi-Han even more afraid.

"Basilios?"

"...Yes, that's right, but I really only heard an explanation..."

"I see. Indeed, that's right."

The mad doppelganger fell into thought again. As the silence lasted longer than before, Yi-Han seriously considered escape routes.

"Excellent."

"?!"

Yi-Han was startled by the sudden praise.

"Pardon?"

"I said excellent. I understand wanting to hear praise twice from royalty, but don't act so greedily."

"...That's not it. I was surprised because you said excellent when I haven't even grasped anything yet."

The mad doppelganger fell into thought one last time.

After a long silence, the mad doppelganger finally opened his mouth.

"No. Just keep doing as you are now. That would be good."

"????"

Yi-Han felt even more confused.

Was the other misunderstanding something?

"I don't quite understand what you mean by just keep doing as I am now... Is that possible?"

"It's understandable to be confused. I'll have to bestow mercy for my dull-witted disciple."

"Oh. What kind of mercy?"

Yi-Han brightened.

Could there be a book like <Easy and Quick Guide to Entering Small Worlds>?

  *

'Hehe.'

The start of a new week.

Direth hung a balloon made of toad leather at the entrance of the <Poison, Bone, Blood> lecture hall on the second basement floor, then smiled triumphantly.

Even she thought she had made it quite well.

Yukbeltire, who was painting darkness on the lecture hall wall beside her, asked as if she didn't understand.

"This useless thing doesn't help your magic at all..."

"Shut up."

"But really, for magic..."

"Be quiet."

"Just because you illogically cut off my words doesn't mean your argument is..."

"Hey. Be quiet."

"..."

Yukbeltire finished painting darkness on the wall with an expression that was just slightly more pouty than before.

Direth was an outstanding mage, but she often made foolish choices, and this was one such case.

To use the debt Yukbeltire owed for such preparations.

It was like swinging a sword made to kill a dragon at a mouse.

But it couldn't be helped. Except for some unusual students, all students tended to think 'When I become a professor, I'll act differently.'

Direth was the same.

Though she had studied under several bleak professors including a certain professor, Direth had firmly resolved that if the moment to teach ever came to her, she would do it differently from the existing professors.

She would gift lectures where everyone was happy, where even the learning students burst into giggles of joy!

But reality was harsh.

Once the semester started, Direth struggled just to prepare for lectures. If it weren't for one abnormally outstanding junior who took care of everything from lecture self-study to school funds, it might have been several times harder.

She had no leisure like that for a while, but finally, an opportunity came to Direth.

Lectures stopped briefly due to club week.

Direth took advantage of that gap to prepare various things.

Balloons made of toad leather (which made the usually dark underground lecture hall cheerful), lecture hall walls painted with darkness (if you stared hard enough, you could occasionally see undead faces peeking out and moving), strawberry slushies poured into skull cups (delicious), and so on.

It was almost a shame that only one junior would see this.

"Hmm. Should I summon undead and seat them at empty desks? To make it feel more like a festival?"

"..."

Yukbeltire ignored her, pretending not to hear. Direth kept poking her friend until she opened her mouth.

"...I really think it's a useless and meaningless action..."

"Okay. I'll do it."

"..."

Direth summoned undead and seated them in chairs, regardless of whether her friend's fingertips were trembling or not.

As she prepared, she suddenly thought she should have done this in front of this year's 1st year juniors too.

If she had, the number of students applying to the dark magic school might have increased several times.

'Won't the junior fall over in surprise when he comes in and sees this?'

The festival-like (by dark magic standards) lecture hall atmosphere made Direth have such confidence.

At this rate, it could be held as a <Dark Mage Festival> in the city!

Creak-

With the sound of the door opening, the junior from the Wardanaz family entered.

Yi-Han paused at the sight of the lecture hall, which was very different from usual.

'What's this? A trap?'

"Surprised!"

Direth shouted as if she had been waiting. Yi-Han answered cautiously.

"Yes. I'm surprised. But this is... exactly..."

"I decorated the lecture hall a bit while lectures were on break. So we can learn joyfully and pleasantly!"

"Ah."

Only then did Yi-Han realize the purpose of the changed lecture hall.

It's like a festival!

'It wasn't a trap.'

Once he knew the purpose, answering was easy.

"It's so cool, Senior! This must be the coolest lecture hall in Einroguard. Won't others be really jealous when they find out I'm learning in a place like this?"

The trained junior's seasoned response made Direth happy.

"Really? You mean it?"

"Yes. But Senior, there's one thing I'd like to say... Is that okay?"

"Junior. Speak comfortably. We're from the same school, right?"

Direth, who had become happy, didn't notice that 'nim' had somehow been added after 'Senior'.

"Well... It seems one more person will be attending the lecture."

"I don't mind. Who is it?"

Auditing wasn't particularly difficult at Einroguard.

Even if it wasn't a lecture one was taking, if there was knowledge one needed, one could visit briefly and listen.

Direth thought it was one of Yi-Han's friends who needed dark magic knowledge.

"It's this person."

"Mage. Let's begin the lesson."

Direth fell over backwards in surprise at the sight of the mad doppelganger, who had quietly entered and sat down in the lecture hall while she was chatting with her junior.