Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 972

Chapter 972

"Senior. Get up!"

Yi-Han was cold.

It seemed the other was trying to pull tricks to avoid keeping to the 5-minute time limit, but he had no intention of letting it slide.

The second hand of the pocket watch was already moving.

"30 seconds have passed."

"..."

Jarun barely got up. The dwarf's short but thick limbs were trembling, and it didn't seem to be just from hunger.

"...How much do you know about orichalcum?"

"I know it's an extremely rare and expensive metal."

"That's right."

"The most recent official imperial auction record was 8 years ago at the Western Grand Festival Corridor. The price at that time was..."

"...Why do you remember such things?"

Jarun was dumbfounded.

It was certainly surprisingly detailed knowledge, but it had little to do with what he was trying to say now.

In the first place, a metal as rare as orichalcum couldn't be bought just because one had gold coins. There was simply no supply compared to those seeking to obtain it.

"What I want to talk about is the characteristics of orichalcum."

"I know that it densely condenses mana, at least."

Jarun slowly shook his head at the junior's answer.

"Is that not it?"

"More precisely, that's one of its more commonly seen characteristics, so you're mistaken. Orichalcum is a mineral, but it has peculiar properties like a plant. Namely, it grows as you cultivate it."

Yi-Han looked at his senior as if he pitied him.

People tended to go crazy when wandering alone in underground mines.

Moreover, he had even been trapped in a vein...

Noticing the junior's gaze, Jarun gritted his teeth.

"It's true! Don't doubt me!"

"I've never heard of that."

"Of course! Even fully grown orichalcum is rare, so records of orichalcum before it's grown only appear in ancient times!"

Most orichalcum completed its form and properties before being noticed by people.

And most of those orichalcums became the most common high-density mana condensates.

But real orichalcum could originally freely change its properties to be completed however the miner wanted.

'Amazing.'

Yi-Han was already listening to Jarun's words.

Though there was still a possibility it was the ravings of a crazy senior, it was still a fascinating story.

"Is it possible to make something like a metal that continuously produces gold?"

"...It probably can't defy magical laws. Probably."

"Eh..."

Jarun ignored the junior's lukewarm response with superhuman patience.

"Listen carefully. I found the location of an orichalcum vein where crystals haven't formed yet. Do you understand why I'm here empty-handed like this?"

"I'm not sure. Didn't you flee to avoid pursuers?"

"It's because that's the only way the vein allowed me to approach."

"!"

The orichalcum vein Jarun found was still in an incomplete state, not fully crystallized, but peculiarly, it already had some properties.

One of them was the property of repelling intruders.

"At first, I thought other metals were the problem. It melted all the pickaxes and such equipment. So I brought mining artifacts without metal, but they broke too."

"Ah. So that's why you tried to approach empty-handed."

Though it might seem a bit crazy, from a mage's logical perspective, it wasn't such a strange choice.

One had to approach first to do anything, after all. Jarun nodded.

"But..."

"?"

"Approaching empty-handed wasn't the right method either. When I came to my senses, I was trapped in this vein. It moved the surrounding terrain to push me away."

At those words, Yi-Han felt that the power of orichalcum was more impressive than he thought.

Though it had plant-like characteristics, even ordinary carnivorous plants had limits, didn't they?

He had seen many that moved to catch intruders, but to move the entire surrounding terrain to swallow them...

"Could it be that it gained the property of repelling intruders because of you, Senior?"

"...That could be... possible."

Jarun was slightly deflated.

The junior's point was something Jarun had been thinking about inwardly too.

Could it be that his greedy approach had caused hatred to form in the pure white orichalcum?

"That's why I'm telling you."

"Huh? Telling me what?"

"...In my opinion, to approach the orichalcum, someone like you should approach, not someone like me. Someone kind and foolish."

"...?????????"

Yi-Han looked around for a moment.

He thought he might be talking about someone else.

"No. Are you insulting me just because I gave one meal to a senior who was about to die?"

"Wh-why are you getting angry? It's a compliment!"

Jarun was flustered by the junior's fierce reaction.

From Jarun's perspective, who had rarely praised juniors in his life, it was really a big compliment he had made up his mind to give...

"How is being foolish a compliment? Then saying someone is like Professor Verduus must be a compliment too!"

"Th-that... that's different?! How can you say such an insulting thing!"

Even the great Jarun couldn't properly continue speaking, flaring up when treated the same as being called like Professor Verduus.

For Jarun, who had spent most of his time underground and in mines after entering Einroguard, a junior with a magical tongue that could even take down the principal was too overwhelming an opponent.

-Wardanaz! Let's get going soon! Senior Steelshoe isn't threatening you, is he?-

"Enough, just take this!"

Jarun irritably swept down one arm. Then a map was drawn on his skin and popped out.

It was an amazing level of transformation magic that had even fooled the eyes of Yukbeltire and the other students.

"The location is here, so you go find it yourself later. I've clearly told you!"

As if he no longer wanted to deal with Yi-Han, Jarun left in a huff. Yi-Han, who had received the map in a daze, looked at it dumbfoundedly.

'No. Is it okay for me to go find this?'

Even if being called foolish was just Jarun's nonsense, he didn't think his own greed would be less than his senior's.

If he went, it seemed like he would be trapped in the vein just the same...

And in some ways, the other Einroguard students were more dangerous than the orichalcum.

They could trap Yi-Han in the vein even if they didn't find it. Even if he went to find it again later, he would have to gather trustworthy people to go with.

"?"

Yukbeltire was puzzled when Yi-Han stared at her.

"What is it, junior of the Wardanaz family? Do you have something to say?"

"Haha. It's nothing."

'I absolutely must not come with this person.'

  *

As they returned the way they came, the group repeated their previous work.

The enchantment magic school students took out artifacts to illuminate the surroundings and make paths, and Yi-Han...

"I'll do it, so rest."

"????"

Yi-Han was shocked when Yukbeltire stopped him.

In fact, not just Yi-Han, but the other seniors were shocked too.

"Senior Yukbeltire. Right now, immediately check your..."

"My mind is fine. I can prove it."

Before everyone could suspect she had been attacked by madness or a mental attack, Yukbeltire immediately took out a pendant. The blue gem embedded in the pendant proved that the user's mental state was sound.

"..."

"...Alright. Everyone, don't forget to be cautious. Something's suspicious."

Anpagon whispered to the two.

Though Anpagon usually had little interest in others, it was a bit different when the senior who was supposed to lead the students back was doing crazy things.

"I was surprised too, but isn't she just acting like this because of what she received from me?"

If she were human, she might feel a bit sorry after receiving a meal and potions from a junior.

Unlike Professor Verduus, Senior Yukbeltire had a kind friend like Direth, didn't she?

A mage who put a warm heart even in a human-shaped small golem!

"Wardanaz. Are you tired? You're saying strange things."

"Don't overdo it just because you have a lot of mana. Rest if you're tired."

"..."

When the other two seniors seriously told him not to talk nonsense, Yi-Han reflected.

'Well, it is strange.'

Consideration and kindness for a junior.

It was certainly strange. Yi-Han came to his senses and raised his guard a little.

While the three juniors were all looking suspiciously, Yukbeltire was also observing Yi-Han.

'That junior of the Wardanaz family is likely unaware of the small world magic.'

Thinking with common sense, there was no possibility that a 2nd year student had proactively entered small world magic.

Then he must have become involved with that magic through some action.

She had to figure out the identity of that magic through meticulous and thorough observation.

Though she wanted to explain directly and then ask questions, Yukbeltire endured.

If that magic was in a state of forced possession, who knew what unexpected things might happen if the junior became aware of its identity.

In the best case, it might end with the junior taking a hit, but in the worst case, the magic might disappear completely, and Yukbeltire would no longer be able to observe it.

That would be truly terrible. Yukbeltire was determined to research small world magic.

And to do that, she needed to deceive the junior to some extent. The junior had to act normally without noticing anything.

'If I show kindness, he will surely be moved and invite me often. I will observe secretly.'

'...Her eyes look like those of a magic criminal, though?'

Of course, the junior was already very wary of Yukbeltire.

When someone who doesn't usually do so shows forced kindness, it can't help but be obvious.

"Undead group ahead. More than ten."

"Let's avoid them."

"Th... No. It's Direth."

"!"

Yi-Han raised his head in surprise at Yukbeltire's words.

Indeed, in the distance, dark magic school students were walking together in a group.

"Senior Direth!"

"...Junior! You're alive!"

Direth shouted with a voice full of relief. Yi-Han was slightly flustered at that voice.

"Were you worried about me? I was moving with these seniors here."

"I meant Yukbeltire. Junior. I was afraid everyone had exploded and attacked Yukbeltire."

"..."

Yi-Han was deeply moved by the friendship.

To think even a heartless golem had such a friend with friendship like this.

"I'm really glad. Nothing happened, right?"

"It's a long story if I were to tell it."

'A lot must have happened.'

Direth immediately sensed it.

Well, she had guessed since the transformation magic school students came out saying "There's no orichalcum" earlier...

Yi-Han explained to his respected senior what had happened.

And the orichalcum map too...

Direth, who had been managing her expression while being surprised, collapsed right there.

"D-d-d-did you tell Yukbeltire??"

"Ha. Senior. Do I look that stupid to you?"

"R-right."

Direth felt slightly sad even as she answered.

To be a senior not trusted like that by her own school's junior...

'Yukbeltire, get your act together!'

"I'm thinking of going with trustworthy people later, do you have anyone to recommend?"

"Hmm... No."

"You mean you can't think of anyone right now?"

"No. I just mean there's no one."

"...I-I see."

Yi-Han changed the subject.

"By the way, Senior. I heard an explanation about small world magic from that Yaksha guy."

"Yaksha guy?"

"The Yaksha King."

"You didn't say guy... Ah. That's not important. Anyway, you heard about small world magic?"

"Yes. I wanted to ask a few things..."

"Should we call Yukbeltire too?"

"I'd appreciate that."

Direth called Yukbeltire, who was moving suspiciously behind (Direth didn't mind since she was originally a strange friend).

"Yukbeltire. The junior says he has something to ask about magic."

"You answer him. I have things to do."

"What's so busy? It's just answering."

However, Yukbeltire shook her head.

She had to observe the junior now. The clue to that small world magic she had seen earlier might appear again.

"Hmph. Don't regret it later."

'A typical Direth threat.'

Yukbeltire lightly ignored it.

What was there to regret about something like that?