Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 895

Chapter 895

Sensing that something was wrong, Jourin instinctively curled her wings.

But she didn't understand.

She had taken down the evil monster with a magnificent breath and a splendid strike, so why should Jourin be scolded?

'It's unreasonable!'

"The professor would have caught it on his own, so why did you fire your breath there! Thanks to that, the enemy targeted Your Highness first!"

-But I won...-

"What did you say!"

-Ah, no. I didn't say anything. Jourin didn't say anything.-

Yi-Han's voice was very strict, unlike usual.

Jourin, who was about to make excuses for winning, quickly shut her mouth, sensing the atmosphere with the dragon race's innate instinct. It was an avoidance ability on a different level from Gainando, who would get hit once for not reading the mood and saying one more word.

"Let's say you fired your breath. Then you should have finished it from afar, why on earth did you attempt close combat?"

-W-well... It just looked cool...-

"..."

-...I'm sorry...-

Seeing that no excuse would work, Jourin sniffled and reflected.

However, Yi-Han, who was thoroughly angered, didn't let it go. He kept tapping the ground with his staff and scolded her.

"Now. Repeat after me. When you see a strong enemy!"

-When I see a strong enemy...-

"Leave it to the Death Knights!"

-Leave it to the Death Knights...-

"Then!"

-When I see a strong enemy, I call the professors!-

Jourin deeply reflected while repeatedly chanting.

So this is what happens when you fire your breath because you're excited!

Indeed, reality was so different from fairy tales.

In fairy tales, Azirmo broke down castle walls and smashed enemies into them, but in reality, Azirmo would have been busy apologizing to the townspeople for destroying the walls after the battle ended.

"Truly amazing. I never thought I'd witness such a sight in my life."

The knight from the <Fire Watch> approached, calming his trembling voice.

'Oops.'

Yi-Han, who had been scolding and reprimanding Jourin, belatedly came to his senses.

Come to think of it, this wasn't the time to scold Jourin for doing something dangerous.

'Should I have just covered my face and left immediately?'

Of course, it didn't seem like that would have smoothed things over...

"A student chosen by a dragon! I'm truly moved. Professor Ingurdel. Honestly, I thought you were worrying too much over one student."

"..."

"..."

Both Yi-Han and Professor Ingurdel were dumbfounded at the knight's words.

Of course, their reasons were slightly different.

"But seeing this, I realize I was rather underestimating. I knew Einroguard mages were amazing, but to think they would even be chosen by dragons. This is something that should only appear in legends!"

"I agree, Professor. Did you perhaps call us to show us this?"

"No. I didn't know either."

"Are you perhaps saying no out of modesty?"

"Can't you hear me saying no?"

Professor Ingurdel, who was usually polite, spoke sternly.

He was so surprised that all courtesy had disappeared. The knights cleared their throats at their friend's reaction.

"I-I see. So Ingurdel didn't know either."

"Then he must have been even more surprised..."

"Excuse me."

Yi-Han, who had been pondering while quickly recalling dozens of thoughts, finally made a decision and opened his mouth.

Though there was really a lot he wanted to ask or say, he decided to deal with the most urgent matters one by one for now.

"Speak anything you wish, young mage chosen by a dragon."

"What exactly does it mean to be chosen by a dragon?"

"?"

"??"

The knights looked at each other.

Why was the mage chosen by a dragon asking that?

He should know better than anyone...

But the knights were kind. It wasn't too difficult to explain such things to a dragon who had just taken down a powerful demon monster in one blow and its contractor.

"Great races don't let just anyone ride on their backs."

"Wait. I have a question."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Does what you just said apply to giving rides on their backs during plays?"

"Uh..."

The knights were confused by a question more difficult than crossing swords with a demon archduke.

The knights were worshippers of swords, honor, and tradition, not folklore scholars.

"D-does it apply?"

"Hmm. It doesn't seem like it would... It's like a game, right? It's not just about getting on a dragon's back. Throwing a ball onto a dragon's back doesn't make that ball a contractor..."

"You're so smart!"

After organizing their thoughts, the knights answered again.

"It doesn't seem like that would apply."

"I see... Thank you. Please continue with your explanation."

Yi-Han listened with maximum concentration to find any loopholes.

The dragon race originally didn't let just anyone ride on their backs.

Letting someone ride on their back itself meant acknowledging and supporting that person.

When an imperial noble family supported even one low-ranking prince, it caused quite a stir, so how weighty would the meaning be if a rare race like dragons supported someone?

From people's perspective, they couldn't help but expect someone worthy of a dragon's support.

'...It's burdensome, but not as bad as I thought.'

Yi-Han was slightly relieved.

Of course, 'Look! It's a contractor chosen by a dragon!' was still a burdensome title.

If he had really been formally acknowledged for his abilities and value and chosen, that would be one thing, but wasn't this just Jourin forcibly carrying him?

Even Jourin herself didn't know the meaning and value...

But Yi-Han had also undergone some mental giving up, no, growth while attending Einroguard.

As rumors were already slowly circulating that he had dealt with the King of Ghouls, basilisk, sea serpent, anti-magic extremists, magic criminals, Frost Giant King, skull principal, and so on, he had become relatively desensitized.

If the title of contractor chosen by a dragon was added from nothing, it would be very burdensome, but when added to a situation where he had already acquired the above titles, it felt like 'Well, I guess this much is...'

'Wait. Am I looking at the situation too positively? My judgment might have lowered due to shock.'

Come to think of it, the skull principal had somehow entered that list above. It was a mistake even Yi-Han himself hadn't noticed.

"Dragons respect others of their race as their numbers are few. A person supported by one dragon would be acknowledged by other dragons too."

"A dragon's support is that powerful a declaration. If a mage commits a serious crime, the dragon who supported them would be punished together."

As the dragon race was few in number, even if they didn't usually interact closely, their relationships were deep and thorough.

If Yi-Han became an evil magic criminal and dyed the continent in blood, other dragons would hold Jourin responsible for that too.

-Jourin stakes her honor on believing in Yi-Han! Yi-Han is absolutely not that kind of mage!-

Jourin shouted firmly.

She wasn't one to be shaken by such words. As much as she trusted Yi-Han, Jourin showed her resolute determination.

-If Yi-Han commits a crime, Jourin will take responsibility!-

The knights were moved again by this sight. This was true bonding that could only be seen in legends.

Of course, Yi-Han, befitting a cold Einroguard mage, didn't fall for such an atmosphere.

"Wait. I have a question."

"What is it?"

"You said if I commit a serious crime, Princess Jourin would be punished too. Then if Princess Jourin commits a crime, would I also be punished by the dragons?"

"I suppose so?"

"..."

Yi-Han stared blankly at Jourin. Jourin floundered and cried out.

-J-Jourin won't commit crimes!-

"You've already used your breath recklessly twice just this week..."

-Th-that was an exceptional situation...!-

'This is worrying.'

Though Jourin appealed emotionally with tears in her eyes, Yi-Han was cold.

'Your Highness is at the height of her growth now. This is troubling.'

The tumultuous adolescent period wasn't called that for nothing. Everyone is bound to impulsively cause trouble when they're growing up.

Seeing her cause trouble like this when she hadn't even been at Einroguard for a few months, it wouldn't be strange if she burned down a castle or so after about a year.

Yi-Han witnessed a vision of standing in a dragon court and being sternly asked, "Does the defendant Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family acknowledge responsibility for the castle walls Princess Jourin burned down?"

Come to think of it, this bond was one-sidedly disadvantageous to Yi-Han.

Since Yi-Han wouldn't cause trouble, Jourin had no real burden, right?

'Could this be why the principal tried to prevent Her Highness's visit?'

If he had predicted even this, the skull principal was truly a sage. Yi-Han shuddered with reverence for his teacher who wasn't present.

-Hiiing...-

As Yi-Han pondered deeply by himself instead of saying "Haha, I trust Your Highness too", Jourin was on the verge of crying.

She had trusted him!

"I'm sorry, Your Highness. I was worried that if I attack the professors later, Your Highness might be punished too."

-Not because you were worried I might commit crimes?-

"What are you saying? How could someone like Your Highness commit crimes? It's so absurd I can't understand."

-...Yi-Han! You can attack the professors as much as you want! Jourin is prepared!-

Jourin nodded with a broad grin. Then, as if suddenly feeling something strange, she asked.

-Wait. But didn't Yi-Han just ask about Jourin firing two breaths?-

"That was just confirming what happened. Your Highness. I don't lie."

-Hehe.-

"..."

"..."

The watching knights were slightly flustered.

Huh?

This didn't seem like being chosen by a dragon, but rather deceiving a dragon...

'N-no. Dragons aren't a race that can be deceived like that. He must be joking.'

"You guys."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Am I the only one who finds it a bit strange that the boy said he might attack professors later?"

"..."

The knights reflected.

To miss pointing out such an obvious thing because of surprise!

  *

After further comforting Jourin, Yi-Han explained to the knights.

"That was a joke. An Einroguard-style joke. You could call it an expression of resolve to surpass one's teachers."

"I see!"

Fired up by the wonderful joke shown by the young Wardanaz family mage, the knights burned with passion to try jokes themselves.

"May I try a joke too?"

"I'll listen attentively."

"Do you know the difference between taking down a hell monster while riding a dragon, and facing the combined attack of the knights here?"

"Um... Well, they both seem difficult."

"One is an exam you'll take, and the other is what you did today!"

The knights roared with laughter, admiring their friend's splendid joke.

However, Yi-Han's face turned pale.

"...Is my midterm exam facing the combined attack of everyone here??"

"Huh? No. Ah. You didn't understand this joke. Why this joke is funny is, the moment I said 'an exam you'll take', you must have thought the exam was 'taking down a hell monster while riding a dragon'! But actually, the exam was facing our much simpler combined attack. Isn't that funny?"

"It's not funny at all."

"Huh? Let me explain again. Why this joke is funny is..."

Unable to watch anymore, Professor Ingurdel stopped his friends.

"Wardanaz. You don't need to worry. Taking down the monster is enough for the exam."

"Professor!"

Yi-Han was moved.

"The combined attack of these friends here was just an opinion that came up while pondering the exam, so there's no need to be surprised."

"...Professor!"

Yi-Han was shocked.

To think that was a real opinion that came up!