Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 965

Chapter 965

"What's wrong?!"

"The stonemason club's request was canceled..."

"Th-there's no need to be that frustrated, is there?"

The seniors comforted Yi-Han in confusion.

It wasn't just empty words; the stonemason club really didn't care much about canceled requests.

If it were a club like the mage card collection club, they might cry their eyes out and attempt arson on Einroguard's main building because their outing was canceled due to a request cancellation, but the stonemason club originally received the most requests among clubs, so they didn't mind even if some were canceled.

"There will be other requests piled up anyway, and those guys will probably be happy they don't have to go out."

"...Is that so?"

Yi-Han was slightly intrigued.

Though he didn't fully believe it, he wanted to believe a little due to his guilty conscience.

"It's true. That... what was his name, Anpagon?"

"Ah. Senior Anpagon. That's right."

Anpagon, from the enchantment magic school and playing the role of a somewhat sociable student within the school.

Yi-Han had met and talked with him a few times too.

"Last time he had to go out for an external request, but he didn't want to go so he hid in Einroguard's underground mine. The Death Knights had such a hard time finding him."

"..."

Yi-Han's response was a beat late as he pondered whether to point out the underground mine or the fact that he hid.

"Anyway, don't worry too much about it, Wardanaz."

"That's right, that's right. And it's not your fault anyway, right?"

"...Sniff!"

"!??"

  *

-Wooooah!-

-Welcome back!-

After finishing the volunteer work, Yi-Han returned to Einroguard's main gate with the kitchen club students.

With the stonemason club's request canceled and having been out for so long, there was no reason to forcibly stay out longer.

But surprisingly, cheers of welcome could be heard from afar.

'Do they usually give such send-offs or welcomes during club outing weeks?'

"Huh. Do they usually do this?"

"Puhoo. No. When we go out and come back, they're waiting in anticipation of receiving ingredients."

"..."

Looking closely, the students' faces clearly showed intentions of wanting something.

Falcrius laughed heartily and opened the mouth of the food sack.

"Here, take it! This is food that the junior from the Wardanaz family brought!"

"Wow... Wooooah!"

"N-no way, I can't believe they're really distributing it!"

The students were surprised by the much more generous response than they had expected.

Who would have thought the kitchen club, which usually distributed half a piece of bread or thinly sliced cheese, would be so generous?

Freshly baked, warm bread rolls were thrown generously, and southern cheese, peaches, apples, and more were handed out readily.

"Senior Falcrius! Can we really take this?"

"Hahaha. Have you only been deceived all your life? As I said, the junior from the Wardanaz family brought plenty."

"Did you use brainwashing magic?"

"What nonsense... Wait. Wardanaz, did you use it?"

Falcrius, who was about to deny it, turned his head just in case.

Thinking back on the scene, he suddenly thought the junior might have used it.

However, Wardanaz wasn't beside him. Startled, he looked around and saw his junior walking far away with Professor Garcia.

"Puhoo. He's quite popular."

As the junior waved his arms urgently, Falcrius smiled and waved back.

What good manners he has!

  *

"Ah. Wardanaz, you're back!"

"Yeah."

"But what are you doing?"

"Writing a reflection paper."

Yi-Han moved a quill with telekinesis, leaving writing on the paper.

I will not directly fight evil god worshippers in the future.

I will not directly fight evil god worshippers in the future.

...

"..."

The Blue Dragon Tower friend looked at him with shocked eyes.

He thought he had gone out because of a club, but what on earth??

However, unlike his friend's shock, Yi-Han's heart was full of peace and gratitude.

This much was a very lenient punishment.

'As expected, Professor Garcia is the best professor in Einroguard, no, the best in the empire.'

Professor Garcia also knew well that with Yi-Han's current magic skills, he could easily replicate such a reflection paper.

Yet ending it with a reflection paper was something to be grateful for.

Yi-Han left the self-moving quill alone and opened a book. Having been out for almost two weeks, he needed to review some lectures this weekend.

'<Staff Materials and Magic Amplification>... Hmm. I've already made a Staff, so I don't need to worry much about this? Pass. <Mage's Life with Plants>... Come to think of it, I finished this last time too. Pass. <Advanced Illusion Magic and Spirit Body Theory> This too...'

However, the review process ended faster than expected.

Having run so fiercely before the midterms, missing 1-2 weeks didn't set him back.

'...Huh?'

Yi-Han looked through it again in case he had missed something, but nothing had changed. Feeling awkward, he closed the book.

'Well. I should think about the stonemason club request.'

Professor Garcia, who had kidnapped, no, taken Yi-Han and scolded him, had said this:

-Never directly confront evil god worshippers again in the future!!!!-

-Yes!-

-And don't attack villains under the identity of Setlad Anog either!!!!-

-Yes...-

-Oh right. Student Yi-Han. The stonemason club students were looking for student Jarun. It would be helpful for you too, so look for him together.-

'Isn't her emotional change too extreme?'

Reflection was reflection, but Professor Garcia didn't hesitate at all in conveying necessary information to students.

Students belonging to the stonemason club were usually busy with their own requests.

That's why even when external requests were canceled like this time, students would just say "Oh? I see" and move on.

However, now, the stonemason club students were unusually gathered together looking for one person.

A senior Yi-Han knew well, Jarun from the Steelshoe family!

This dwarf senior from the transformation magic school had narrow social connections and loved gold.

He loved gold so much that even when he should have gone up to take charge of lectures, he was buried in his underground workshop focused only on mining.

Thanks to that, he was caught by a professor and dragged to the punishment room.

-Why is everyone looking for Senior Jarun? And how is it helpful to me... Is it about magic? I don't think I need to learn more transformation magic in addition to what I'm learning now.-

-Student Yi-Han. Stop the habit of thinking everything in relation to magic. You'll really hurt yourself that way.-

'No!'

Yi-Han felt wronged.

He had only spoken based on logical deduction from their conversation just now, yet she talked about him as if he were some magic maniac.

-Student Jarun is in the stonemason club too.-

-I see... What? I've never heard of that!-

-Not all club members are actively involved. Anyway, Jarun had just put his name down and was active separately, but he submitted this application.-

Application

Jarun of the Steelshoe family

The above student submits this application for the following reasons:

-Need mining artifacts for orichalcum mining

-Will leave name for honorable dedication to dwarves if allowed to mine orichalcum with Einroguard's support (Gold coin payment is realistically difficult)

-Okay with inviting outside mages but must follow my instructions (Immediate expulsion if not followed)

...

'Did Gainando write this?'

Yi-Han was dumbfounded.

It was one thing to ask Einroguard to lend mining artifacts for orichalcum mining, but the greed to try to cover the cost with the honor of leaving one's name was astounding.

Even Gainando probably wouldn't write such a greedy application...!

Moreover, the idea of inviting outside mages to use as full force was equally mind-boggling.

What mage coming all the way to Einroguard from outside would accept such a proposal?

In Yi-Han's view, any mage who accepted such a rude proposal was likely to be harboring a knife inwardly.

To ambush Jarun from behind and monopolize the orichalcum...

-Wait. Professor. Then does this mean Senior Jarun found an orichalcum vein?-

-That's probably highly likely. That's why the stonemason club students are looking for him, I guess.-

-...!-

Yi-Han was surprised.

No matter how much Einroguard had monsters underground, ancient grand mages in the mountains, and dragons in the dormitories, to think there would even be an orichalcum vein in the mine.

-I haven't heard about this... Ah. I guess the news is late because I was out.-

-Hmm...-

Professor Garcia made a hesitant expression. After pondering for a while, the professor finally opened her mouth.

-You probably wouldn't have been told even if you weren't out...-

-...-

-...Actually, not all the stonemason club students know either. Everyone's trying to hide the news.-

Einroguard students were all cold-hearted.

If Senior Jarun had found an orichalcum vein, they should quietly follow and share it, spreading the news widely would only reduce their own share.

-Anyway, Student Yi-Han, don't regret it later, if you're interested, try to find Student Jarun.-

-Thank you, Professor. But how did you know about this?-

-...That's a secret. Ha, haha. Hahaha.-

Professor Garcia avoided answering with a very awkward laugh.

'Come to think of it, it's a bit strange.'

Yi-Han felt slightly puzzled as he finished reminiscing.

No matter how excellent a mage Professor Garcia was, it was a bit strange for her to grasp student affairs this well.

But such puzzlement didn't last long. What was important now was the stonemason club's request.

Though he wasn't sure if this could be called a request...

'If Salko were here, I'd ask him to do it together. But he's in the punishment room, so that's impossible. Should I try contacting Senior Anpagon?'

"Huff, huff. Yi-Han. You're back?!"

The lounge door opened and Gainando burst in, breathing heavily.

"Yeah. Have you been well?"

"Huff, huff. Actually, I went out too!"

"What? Really?"

It was something he really hadn't expected, so Yi-Han was startled. Gainando shouted with a triumphant face.

"Listen! You won't believe it. I heard there were guys stealing and selling mage cards, so I was waiting to catch their tail, right? Then suddenly there was an explosion in the building next door..."

"Wait. Sorry, Gainando. I have something to do right now. I'll listen to the story later."

"This is really an amazing story! You'll regret it if you listen later?! Yi-Han! I'm telling you, you'll really regret it!"

Gainando grumbled at the sight of his friend leaving so coldheartedly.

He was going to tell him about a terrifying new mage attacking various places in Granden City...!

  *

"Senior Anpagon. Are you here?"

Yi-Han, who had visited the Spirit Festival Hall, Professor Verduus's magic tower, quickly turned his body when he saw a familiar senior with one more person beside him.

'Hmm. I guess I'll have to look for it myself. Come to think of it, I don't really need orichalcum.'

Such top-grade reagents might be necessary for upper years, but for Yi-Han, still in his 2nd year, it might not be of much use even if he had it.

"Why are you turning back?"

The familiar senior beside him, Yukbeltire, tilted her head.

Anpagon was clearly here, so she didn't understand why the junior was trying to leave.

"Actually, I came looking for another senior. They're not here, so I was going to go back."

"Which other senior?"

"..."

Yi-Han hesitated for a moment.

Come to think of it, he knew too few seniors in the Spirit Festival Hall.

The only other person he knew was the one in front of him, but choosing that would be putting the cart before the horse...

'I absolutely don't want to move with this person.'

Though her abilities were certain, he didn't want to move with the mini-Verduus senior.

He already had to help with research during the vacation, so even during the semester, a little...

"It's someone you don't know, Senior."

"Is that so? I see. More importantly, I have a proposal for you, junior of the Wardanaz family."

"..."

Yi-Han suddenly felt ominous.

Could it be?

"Do you know someone called Jarun from the Steelshoe family?"