Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 967

Chapter 967

Even as the junior resolved to 'live only for myself from now on', the seniors paid little attention.

It was the same while Yi-Han took out hot tea in a thermos magic glass bottle and ate a sandwich with pork cured in spices and salt.

'Surprising.'

Though he had just vowed not to care, Yi-Han couldn't help but be inwardly surprised.

When he took out food, Gainando and other 2nd year friends would look at him longingly like baby basilisks.

In Einroguard, warm and delicious food was like a siren's song, hard to resist.

But the enchantment magic school seniors focused only on their own tasks, regardless. They weren't people who remained under Professor Verduus for nothing.

For a moment, Yi-Han felt an unidentifiable displeasure.

Though he didn't realize it himself, it was the pride of someone who had acted as Einroguard's nanny for nearly a year and a half.

How dare they not show interest in the snacks he had prepared?

'...What am I thinking?'

Yi-Han shook his head.

It's good if he doesn't have to do anything, so why complain? That was really a nonsensical thought.

"...What are you doing, Senior Sigunting?"

"Checking my artifacts."

The dwarf boy, one year above Yi-Han, spoke while inspecting a crossbow that felt various flows of mana.

Having come underground, even if one wasn't a battle mage, one couldn't help but be cautious. In Einroguard, one had to protect oneself.

"I see. There are various spells on it."

The magic felt from the tips of the bolts loaded in the crossbow was of the enemy tracking and guidance type.

It would probably turn even an unskilled mage into a marksman.

Acceleration and penetration enhancement magic on the fletching attached to the short bolts.

With this amount of mana and spell composition, it could pierce straight through a steel shield even if it just grazed.

Dark vision and vision enhancement magic on the bow frame, confidence boosting and calculation assistance magic on the loading mechanism, drawing assistance magic...

"...?"

Yi-Han looked again, thinking he might have seen wrong. But he had seen correctly.

"Senior, are there calculation assistance and drawing assistance magic on this crossbow?"

"...That's right!"

Sigunting looked at Yi-Han with surprised eyes.

To analyze the magic cast on this artifact first without even being given an explanation.

No wonder other mages held him in high regard.

"Amazing. How did you know?"

"Why are calculation assistance or drawing assistance needed on a crossbow? The magic will aim anyway..."

In Yi-Han's opinion, it would be better to cram in one more combat magic in place of such spells.

However, Sigunting looked at the junior as if he were a mage obsessed with combat.

"What are you saying? Combat power is already sufficient, so you should put in magic to use normally."

"To use normally...?"

"Yes."

Yi-Han was about to ask when one would use calculation or drawing normally, but he unconsciously looked to the side.

Yukbeltire and Anpagon were busily drawing artifact blueprints using their spare time.

"...I see. My thinking was shallow."

"It can happen. Wardanaz. You should carry artifacts like this to save time too."

"I see..."

Having received advice from his senior, Yi-Han quietly slipped the thermos magic glass bottle and sandwich wrapper into his backpack.

Seeing the seniors studying like that made him feel ashamed for no reason.

"I understand, Senior. Then what other combat artifacts did you bring besides this?"

"That's all, why?"

Sigunting didn't understand what the junior was asking.

Unless one was a battle mage obsessed with fighting, normal mages didn't bring multiple combat means.

Magic was a path of research and wish fulfillment, not a tool for combat.

"Do you perhaps have multiple combat artifacts, Wardanaz?"

"I... I have one too. Haha."

Yi-Han quickly changed the subject.

Strictly speaking, he could say he had one since he cast many spells with one staff.

The other probably wouldn't accept that, but...

"Then I'll go talk to the other seniors!"

'That guy has outstanding skills, but often wastes time on unnecessary things.'

Sigunting thought inwardly.

Well, a person can't be perfect in every aspect, can they?

  *

Various monsters roamed Einroguard's underground mining area.

Kuka, a half-man half-beast crocodile monster that could use primitive magic.

Alicanto, a bird that wanders around crying in search of rare metals.

Even wild golems naturally born when contaminated soil or metal was imbued with mana.

The clever Einroguard students didn't confront such enemies.

Since no one would give them a medal for catching mining monsters, avoidance was the best method...

-Grrrrrr!-

The crocodile monster shaking its three-pronged branch with skulls and metal attached fled, howling.

It had tried to curse the mage, but it didn't work at all.

On the contrary, a counterattack flew immediately.

After its movements were bound by telekinesis, a vicious water projectile that could even crush mud walls flew in, and Kuka realized it had misjudged its enemy.

"Shall we chase it? By the way, what did you just say?"

"Avoidance is the best method... No. I don't think we need to worry about it."

Yukbeltire immediately changed what she was about to say.

Seeing the junior's combat power, she thought there was no need to avoid after all.

She had brought him along thinking of various situations including escort, but to think he could fight this well.

"Let's go straight down through the southern cave."

"But Senior Yukbeltire. There's no sign of people here, is that really okay?"

Yi-Han asked curiously.

Having received Shadow Patrol training from Nillia whenever he had time, Yi-Han had become quite skilled in these aspects.

Even in a dark underground mining area, ranger or patrol techniques didn't disappear.

The western slope that curved around to the side showed quite a lot of traces of students who had passed through.

However, the southern cave looked like a path that no one had come and gone for a while to anyone's eyes.

Was it really okay to go?

"Of course, junior of the Wardanaz family. Do you perhaps not trust my judgment?"

"Huh? Yes."

"I thought you trusted me. Then let's go."

'I clearly said "yes".'

Yi-Han was dumbfounded inwardly.

She heard him say he didn't trust her, but she arbitrarily corrected the answer in her own way.

And one hour later.

"Huff, huff huff."

The students walked out of the opposite exit of the cave with tired expressions, panting.

Among them, Yi-Han looked especially exhausted.

It was unavoidable since he had taken the vanguard of the group, blocking attacking enemies alone.

The southern cave was a much harsher place than Yi-Han had expected.

A place where dozens of crocodile monsters, Kukas, rushed out to take down intruders and wild golems poured down from the walls.

Yi-Han blocked the curses thrown by the monsters with his body, and blocked the wild golems with telekinesis and swordsmanship.

-Senior! When will the area magic be complete?-

-Which senior?-

-...Senior Yukbeltire!-

-Ah! Senior Yukbeltire, when will it be complete?!-

-28 seconds more.-

-Then can the others at least provide supporting fire! There are too many of them! I don't have time to use magic!-

-I'll summon a small fortress first. Wardanaz. Take cover behind the fortre... No, did you catch them all alone?-

The enemies' offensive was fierce enough that it would have been quickly breached if even one of mana, telekinesis, or swordsmanship was missing.

After putting away his staff and sword, Yi-Han approached Yukbeltire.

He saw that part of her bag was broken, as if an attack had hit during the fierce battle. Yukbeltire was checking its contents.

"Senior Yukbeltire. May I ask one thing?"

"Go ahead."

"Did we come this way because I was here, even though we normally wouldn't?"

It could be an impertinent and arrogant question, but he couldn't help but be suspicious.

No matter how he looked at it, it was too difficult a path, and there was no reason for seniors who weren't battle mages to come here.

It wasn't like they were Professor Bagrak, so why would they go to a more dangerous place...

"Yes."

"...So you came because you thought it would be fine since I have excellent magic resistance and close combat ability against such monsters?"

"Yes."

"I suppose you naturally didn't consider that it could be dangerous or unexpected situations could occur?"

Yukbeltire wondered why the junior kept asking unnecessary questions.

"I calculated that it would succeed. And it actually succeeded. Why do you keep asking?"

Yi-Han deeply regretted accepting the proposal without asking Senior Direth.

The devil's proposals are usually tempting and sweet-looking, but to fall for it!

"It's nothing."

Clench!

Fortunately, because he had swung his sword a lot against golems earlier, he was able to not swing it at his senior.

Meanwhile, Yukbeltire finished checking the damage situation.

"...The potions broke."

"!"

From mana recovery potions to nutritional supplement potions.

Such potions were quite important for enchantment magic school students who lacked physical strength and training. Yukbeltire's face darkened slightly.

"Wouldn't the others have brought plenty? Can't they share?"

"I don't want to."

"No."

Anpagon and Sigunting refused immediately.

Yi-Han asked again in shock.

"N-no. Is there a reason?"

"There's no reason to give."

"But we're from the same school..."

The two seniors looked at Yi-Han as if he was saying something strange.

So what if they're from the same school?

Yi-Han realized anew that he was a sane person among madmen.

"Wardanaz. There seems to be some misunderstanding. Think about it from the other perspective. If I lost my share of potions, would Senior Yukbeltire share with me?"

"Of course she would share."

"I wouldn't."

"..."

Yi-Han frowned at Yukbeltire's answer from behind.

It really wasn't helpful at all.

"Why?"

"Because managing potions is also a mage's responsibility."

"...Let's put that aside, but wouldn't we be in trouble without Senior Yukbeltire?"

Yi-Han quickly ignored the back and called the two seniors who seemed somewhat reasonable.

"Isn't Senior Yukbeltire the only one who can find Senior Jarun's location?"

"She can give us the means to find him and go back herself."

"There's no way Senior Yukbeltire would make such a concess..."

"I will."

"..."

Crack!

Sigunting was startled to see the rock outside the passage split for a moment.

Could it be silent cast telekinesis on a rock at that distance??

"...Why again?"

At Yi-Han's question, Yukbeltire calmly said.

"It's only natural since I proposed the request."

Failing to manage the potions was Yukbeltire's mistake, and gathering the students to come down was Yukbeltire's proposal.

If one were a rational Einroguard enchantment magic school student, they should hand over Jarun's location and go up alone dejectedly at times like this.

"...I'll just share my potions. You can pay me back when we go up later."

Anpagon and Sigunting didn't understand the junior's proposal.

"Why do such a thing?"

"Is it because Wardanaz has overflowing mana?"

"Even if he has overflowing mana, why waste potions on seniors?"

"That's true..."

'I want to beat them all up.'

Ignoring the words heard from behind, Yi-Han took out potions from his backpack.

Yukbeltire, who received the potions, asked.

"There's no meal replacement potion..."

"...I'll just make food for you, so eat that."

Yukbeltire was about to say 'That takes too long' but stopped and closed her mouth.

Somehow, she instinctively felt she shouldn't say it.

Sometimes there are disciples who surpass their masters.

Despite her dishonorable nickname of little-Verduus, Yukbeltire was indeed more perceptive than her master.