Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 879

Chapter 879

After pondering, Professor Boladi opened his mouth.

"The advanced attributes he's currently learning are many..."

"Ah. I almost forgot. I heard you contracted with a star? I heard it from Professor Bentozol."

"..."

Professor Boladi turned his head and stared at Yi-Han.

That gaze felt like he was reprimanding a disciple who had caused trouble in the meantime.

'This is really unfair.'

Even if Yi-Han had arbitrarily contracted with a star, he couldn't receive such a reprimanding gaze from Professor Boladi.

At the very least, Professor Boladi had nothing to say about this part.

"With this much, the advanced attribute of the fire element should be enough. Student Wardanaz. Isn't that right?"

"I'm not confident, but..."

"See! He's even being modest. With outstanding talent and modesty combined, he'll breeze through the advanced attribute of the fire element in no time."

"???"

Yi-Han wondered if he had perhaps answered 'Just leave it to me, hehe.'

He was sure he had answered 'I'm not confident.'

But in a way, this was natural.

As Professor Jorzik was ultimately a professor, the curse of hearing students' words as he pleased flowed in his bloodline.

This was an inevitable fate received the moment one ascended to the position of professor.

"Perhaps student Wardanaz is already prepared. Just like finishing other exams early, he's trying to leap over this Jorzik's exam too."

"Absolutely not."

Yi-Han firmly denied it.

He hadn't even touched the advanced attribute of the fire element or anything. He had that many other things to pay attention to.

However, the two professors ignored Yi-Han's words.

As he was such a modest student, whatever humility he expressed with his mouth had no meaning.

Professor Boladi fell into deep thought.

Certainly, Wardanaz had often shown instances of modestly saying something was difficult to do and then immediately mastering it.

Seeing that he had contracted with a star in that short time, it could be that Professor Boladi had misunderstood Wardanaz's unique humility and worried prematurely.

"That might be so."

"..."

Feeling a sensation that went beyond being dumbfounded to reaching the Gate of Nine Mountains and Eight Seas realm where the Yaksha King was, Yi-Han trembled with a sense of betrayal.

'So much for giving him a stern talking to...!'

As expected, professors were fundamentally not beings that could be trusted.

To win against professors as a student, even more power...

-Power is needed.-

Yi-Han almost dropped his staff in surprise at the mad doppelganger's voice.

"Wh-what did you just say?"

-I said you need power. Fool.-

The mad doppelganger spoke as if displeased with his disciple's slow reaction.

He was still bothered by how Yi-Han had spouted nonsense like 'Can't I just learn 10 5th Circle spells?' when he had told him last time to realize the ultimate of magic and erase the bloodshed and scars of the continent.

"Ah. You mean you, Master?"

-Yes.-

'He wasn't reading my mind.'

For a moment, Yi-Han had thought the ancient mad mage was revealing his evil true colors and tempting him with power to defeat the two professors.

The most frightening point here was that Yi-Han felt he might ponder for about a second if he received such an offer.

"No... You need my power, Master? I'm not sure I can be of help..."

The magical abilities possessed by the mad doppelganger were truly transcendent.

There were several mages called great mages in the empire, but Yi-Han was certain that this ancient doppelganger's realm was among the top even among them.

Yet for such a mad doppelganger to say he needed Yi-Han's power.

He couldn't even guess what kind of matter it was.

'Above all, next week is the exam.'

-That would have been the case originally. But the situation has changed. Intruders have entered the territory, so we need several hands to respond.-

"!?"

Yi-Han was even more surprised.

Intruders?

'...Wait. Strictly speaking, isn't this person an intruder too?'

Thinking about it, it was a bit strange, but Yi-Han decided to let this part slide for now.

"Who are the intruders? More importantly, I'll call the Death Knights."

-Those knights can't be trusted. They're beings blinded by false loyalty to that scum.-

'Your words are too harsh.'

-Moreover, the knights will have no spare capacity for the royal's workshop as they protect the territory's worthless trainees. Even if they step up, the royals won't allow it.-

"?"

Yi-Han felt a sense of dissonance as he listened to the other's words.

It was natural that the Death Knights couldn't protect the mad doppelganger's workshop because they were protecting the students. Wasn't the mad doppelganger himself an intruder in the first place?

If the Death Knights said 'Haha, still, as you're the master's doppelganger and staying in the territory, we'll protect you together', the enraged skull principal might lock them in the punishment room forever.

What Yi-Han felt dissonance about was a different part.

Wasn't he speaking as if confirming that the intruders were targeting the mad doppelganger's workshop rather than Einroguard's main building?

No matter how vast the territory was, just crossing the barrier would require enormous preparation, so after all that trouble, they were specifically targeting the mad doppelganger's workshop rather than Einroguard's main building?

"Won't they target the main building? Rather than your workshop, Master?"

-Wrong. What they're after is the hamster.-

"...Pardon?"

-Ah. I forgot to mention. I transformed the slave into a hamster. Its wretched appearance was disgusting to look at.-

The mad doppelganger pointed to a hamster running on a wheel in a cage beyond the illusion.

It was a cute appearance hard to believe was Antagondal, the magic criminal infamous in the empire.

"Uh... So... That hamster..."

-Its comrades have come to rescue it.-

"Aha!"

Yi-Han finally understood the situation completely.

If Antagondal's comrades had come to rescue this magic criminal, it made sense that they wouldn't be interested in the main building at all.

It was natural that the Death Knights wouldn't actively step in either. Why would they interfere when outsiders were fighting other outsiders?

"Master. I..."

Yi-Han, who was about to politely express his intention to refuse, paused.

'...Come to think of it, if Antagondal is freed, won't he take revenge on me too?'

Of course, rationally thinking, Antagondal's target for revenge was the mad doppelganger, but magic criminals weren't rational beings to begin with.

Especially considering what had happened in the workshop, he might try to take revenge on the mad doppelganger's disciple too.

"...Of course I should go help you. Magic criminals should be locked up in a hamster wheel, no, behind bars forever."

-I knew you would say that.-

The mad doppelganger nodded with satisfaction, as if he had been certain his disciple would come to help his master.

Professor Jorzik, who had been listening with interest from the side, spoke up.

"Student Wardanaz. Could you ask if this Jorzik can come along too?"

"Huh? Why on earth?"

Yi-Han was flustered by the professor's proposal.

While he was making all sorts of excuses because he wanted to avoid it, the professor was trying to visit directly.

Moreover, given the mad doppelganger's personality, he might treat Einroguard professors as the skull principal's underlings and attack them.

'Surely not because of the principal position?'

He knew Professor Jorzik was very interested in the Einroguard principal position, but to think he would attempt to make contact with the mad doppelganger despite that.

Thinking this wasn't right, Yi-Han was about to speak firmly.

"Professor. Pro..."

"It's not often one gets the chance to meet and converse with an ancient great mage. Moreover, if it's the principal's doppelganger, conversation is generally impossible, isn't it?"

The skull principal's doppelgangers were conceptual beings, not living ones. Once they manifested, they moved according to their own rules, so conversation or negotiation was impossible.

However, for some reason, this doppelganger had taken Wardanaz as a disciple, and thanks to that, conversation and negotiation became possible.

Then, as a mage, it was a natural reaction to want to face him and gain wisdom.

"...Ah. So that's what it was."

"But what were you about to say just now, student Wardanaz?"

"Haha. It's nothing."

Yi-Han quickly changed what he was about to say.

Come to think of it, it was natural for Professor Jorzik to have academic ambition as he was also a mage.

"I'll ask too."

Professor Boladi, who had been listening together, also spoke up.

"Is there magic you want to ask about too, Professor?"

"No."

"...Uh, then why do you want to go together?"

"I intend to point out his teaching methods."

"..."

  *

The mad doppelganger surprisingly gave permission. He even readily accepted Jourin and Eandurde's accompaniment.

'...Did I bring them unnecessarily?'

Yi-Han suddenly became worried as he arrived in front of the workshop following the instructions of Intarendals, who had come out to greet them.

While Jorzik and Professor Boladi were adults with strong minds so they would be fine, in Jourin's case, she could be deeply hurt by the mad doppelganger's abusive language.

"Welcome, descendant of noble blood. My dwelling is your dwelling, my treasures are your treasures."

However, the mad doppelganger showed polite courtesy to Jourin. Yi-Han opened his eyes wide in shock.

"Ah, no. Master. Did you know Her Highness?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You're being too polite to Her Highness..."

"...Fool. This is called etiquette."

The mad doppelganger looked at Yi-Han with a gaze mixed with contempt and pity.

To be so surprised at the proper etiquette one should show to a dragon.

'Ah. I see.'

Yi-Han finally recalled that the skull principal had learned magic from dragons in his youth.

The mad doppelganger had no choice but to respect dragons and show courtesy. They were the clan and descendants of his masters, after all.

Jourin beamed at the formal reception.

The mad doppelganger looked over the group carefully and then pointed at Eandurde.

"Who's that?"

"She's my junior."

"She's sturdy."

"You can't just take her as a disciple as you please. Doesn't Eandurde have her own will?"

"...Fool. Do you perhaps think the teachings of royalty are like cheap trinkets handed out in the marketplace? Given to anyone who's sturdy?"

"Uh..."

Yi-Han was about to say 'I thought it was like that because you taught forcibly' but stopped tactfully.

"Haha. How could that be?"

"And this is..."

"Hello, Great Mage. I am Jorzik of the Benmalpa family. I work as a professor at Einroguard."

As Professor Jorzik greeted him, Professor Boladi also briefly greeted him from the side.

The mad doppelganger nodded slightly and then opened his mouth.

"Do you know why I allowed your accompaniment?"

"I'm not sure. Please enlighten us."

"I called you to give teachings to you as well. Your loose and lazy teachings are slowing this fool's growth!"

"..."

Yi-Han, who had been quietly listening from the side, was shocked as if struck by lightning.

"Master. Magic criminals' comrades have invaded, doesn't that seem more important right now?"

"Be quiet, fool. Compared to teaching a disciple, such matters are utterly trivial."

Professor Boladi showed signs of agreement. Yi-Han looked at the professor, dumbfounded.

'Who are you agreeing with about what?'

He felt like submitting an anonymous report to the skull principal for collusion.

"But Great Mage. If I may humbly say, student Wardanaz's growth is among the top in the empire."

"It could have been faster."

"It could have been dangerous."

Professor Boladi coolly pointed out, helping Professor Jorzik. However, the mad doppelganger wasn't called mad for nothing.

"Did anything dangerous happen? One cannot obtain truth while bound by the trivial shackles of the world."

As Professor Boladi fell into thought after hearing those words, Yi-Han became truly afraid.

If the mad doppelganger caused Professor Boladi to evolve into Mad Professor Boladi...

'I might seriously have to request a transfer to another magic school.'

"No. We can't disregard danger just by looking at results."

"I believed in you, Professor!"

Yi-Han cried out, choked with emotion.