Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 867

Chapter 867

Dragons were a race with a strong impression of being fundamentally greedy.

It wasn't for nothing that old stories featured people who tried to steal treasures from a dragon's nest and received severe punishment.

But this was just an impression of people who didn't know better.

To be precise, dragons were a race with a very firm sense of their possessions rather than being greedy.

'It's a bit of a stretch to say dragons are greedy based on people who were punished for entering a dragon's nest.'

It was the people who entered someone else's nest to steal who were greedy, not the dragons.

No matter how much collecting gold and treasures was a hobby for dragons, thieves had no right to steal them.

Even if Yi-Han had been a dragon, he would have certainly raged and rampaged.

'They just thoroughly protected the ownership of their property, yet they got the impression of being greedy. Is the number of a race really that important?'

Because dragons were so few in number and most lived in seclusion, there was no way to prevent the rest of the races on the continent from spreading unfounded rumors.

Yi-Han inwardly lamented the state of rumors in the empire that went by majority rule.

"Dragons are just protecting their treasures, yet they're misunderstood as being greedy. It's truly a sad state of affairs."

-Hehe.-

Jourin scratched her cheek with her front paw and laughed when Yi-Han took her side.

Yukbeltire answered as if she didn't care much about the rumors about dragons.

"Baseless rumors from ignorant people are meaningless. What's important is that dragons never give up their possessions."

-Hmph.-

Jourin became dejected again. Then she whispered to Yi-Han.

-Yi-Han. Please keep the previous thing a secret...-

"What secret?"

Yukbeltire, who had heard the whisper, turned her head curiously. Yi-Han quickly made up an excuse.

"It's nothing. She's asking me to keep it a secret that she cursed Professor Verduus."

"There's no need to keep that a secret at all."

Having perfectly deceived Yukbeltire, Yi-Han comforted Jourin again.

"Your Highness, don't be too swayed by what Senior says. Even people all have different personalities, right? You don't need to worry about things like how dragons should be. Just be yourself, Your Highness."

-Yi-Han!-

Jourin, moved, opened her eyes wide.

-Then can I give you gifts again next time?-

"Absolutely not. Please don't say such nonsense."

-...-

Jourin puffed her cheeks with a dissatisfied expression.

Wasn't that different from what he just said!

  *

Yi-Han, Direth, Yukbeltire, Professor Boladi, and Jourin, who had left the classroom, stood in the middle of the corridor.

Yi-Han thought to himself.

'This is truly a combination I don't want to approach.'

If Yi-Han had been another student, he would have cast an invisibility spell and thrown himself out the window the moment he saw them to create distance.

It was a terrifying combination where one couldn't even guess what kind of accident might occur around them.

"The next lecture is <Staff Materials and Magic Amplification>, right?"

"Yes."

As it was Professor Verduus's lecture, Yukbeltire knew Yi-Han's next schedule.

"You don't really need to go, right?"

"Yes..."

Yi-Han answered while watching her reaction.

Normally, finishing a semester's lecture already would be something to boast about, but in front of him was a victim who had her anticipated staff creation usurped by the professor.

-Jourin was going to scold him.-

Jourin said, swinging her front paws.

"Your Highness. If you do that..."

-Don't worry, Yi-Han. Jourin is a dignified royal, so I won't attack recklessly!-

"No. I was going to say it's okay if you hit him once."

-...?!-

Yukbeltire continued with an expressionless face.

"Then you have a free lecture period. I have a recommendation."

"?"

Yi-Han and Direth tilted their heads simultaneously.

Yukbeltire had a recommendation?

"What do you think she's going to recommend?"

"I don't know. Yukbeltire is definitely not someone who gives advice to juniors..."

Direth was also flustered. It was so different from Yukbeltire's usual attitude.

"A magical drafting tool. Since you're taking <Magical Algebra and Arcane Geometry>, you'll need to have a decent drafting tool."

'Oh.'

A drafting tool included not only simple tools like rulers and protractors but also compasses and dividers, in short, tools used for drawing blueprints.

No matter how much mages could complete eternal magic circles and construct buildings in their heads, they needed to show at least drawings to get gold coins from imperial investors.

While ordinary drafting tools required mages to draw and calculate everything laboriously, good magical drafting tools were convenient items that eliminated such tedious processes.

Really excellent magical drafting tools were comparable to or even inhabited by highly intelligent spirits.

Knowing that Yukbeltire was one of the top enchantment mages even among the geniuses of Einroguard, Yi-Han asked with eyes full of expectation.

"Are you perhaps giving it to me as a gift, Senior?"

"No. I don't have any."

"..."

-More stingy than Jourin...-

Even Jourin muttered with a disappointed look. To say such things and then not give even one treasure.

Even Professor Boladi chimed in.

"If you don't have materials, I'll help."

At the group's reaction, Yukbeltire's eyelashes trembled minutely.

She didn't realize it herself, but the influence of Professor Verduus's staff creation usurpation was still lingering.

"...There's no need for that. Keep listening, Wardanaz family junior. I don't have any, but I know a way to get one. I know where it is."

"Ah."

Yi-Han put away his disappointment and sent an expectant gaze again.

In fact, in Einroguard, knowing where something was wasn't much different from having it.

'Knowledge is power.'

After all, the position of the thief was much more advantageous.

"Let's depart."

Professor Boladi seemed to think it was good too and expressed his agreement. Yi-Han paused.

"...Uh, Professor. Is it okay to take Princess Jourin to a location for theft?"

"It's not like she's being robbed, she's going to rob, so it should be fine."

'Damn. Am I being persuaded by my own greed?'

Yi-Han was wary of himself being strangely persuaded by Professor Boladi's logic.

He felt like he might be persuading himself because he wanted the treasure.

-Yi-Han. Jourin really wants to go too...-

"No... That... Um... Yes. Let's go."

Unable to say 'We're going to steal' in front of the young dragon, Yi-Han finally nodded.

Meanwhile, Direth asked her friend.

"It's an artifact that you say is worth using, but it's in another part of the school. That's strange, isn't it? Where is it?"

"Spirit Festival Hall."

"..."

Spirit Festival Hall.

In other words, Professor Verduus's magic tower.

'You are angry after all...!'

Direth shouted inwardly.

No matter how she thought about it, unless it was anger towards Professor Verduus, there was no way this sudden consideration for a junior she had never cared for in her life would appear.

  *

But the group advanced towards Spirit Festival Hall without hesitation. This was because none of them felt any guilt about robbing Professor Verduus.

'...Should Professor Garcia have been here...?'

Direth thought that alone.

Of course, if Direth were asked 'Would you take as much as you want from Professor Verduus's magic tower if you could, or not?', she would probably think a bit and then take it.

But seeing Professor Boladi actively destroying the tower's defenses now, she wondered if she was doing something wrong.

Is this really okay?

Crash!

The core part of the defense golem collapsed precisely and scattered in all directions. Powerful restoration magic tried to restore the golem, but the disruption magic Professor Boladi had additionally cast interfered with that process.

The defense golem that had just fallen wasn't an ordinary golem. This golem, made using high-purity moonstone and magnetite, cost an enormous amount to make each one.

These were golems that could only be operated by Professor Verduus, who didn't give a single coin to his disciples and focused only on his own research.

Professor Boladi was taking down such expensive golems in the most efficient way. The sight was reminiscent of a great warrior falling to a shepherd's stone.

-Wow!-

"Professor's magic is the epitome of efficiency."

'...Is this really okay?!'

Direth inwardly conflicted again at the sight of Jourin and Yi-Han chattering excitedly.

It's good to rob, but it doesn't seem right for a professor to do this...

"Yukbeltire. What do you think?"

"The defense has been raised even more."

Having recently experienced many harsh situations, Professor Verduus had raised the defense of Spirit Festival Hall even more.

He had been grabbed by the collar by a certain professor and had his blood-like property stolen by a certain student.

In a way, this reaction was natural.

...Of course, that wasn't what Direth had asked.

"Never mind. I'm the fool for asking."

"??"

Rumble-

While they were talking, Professor Boladi had completely wiped out all the defense golems on the first basement floor. Jourin and Yi-Han clapped simultaneously in admiration.

'So this is a professor!'

If it had been Yi-Han, he would have done all sorts of things to break through that defense with force, but the professor approached quickly, struck only the vital points, and then quickly interfered with the restoration magic.

He thought this level was necessary to raid other professors' workshops.

"Ah."

Professor Boladi suddenly stopped and looked around as if searching for something. Yi-Han asked curiously.

"What's wrong?"

"I should have left one, I made a mistake."

As the golems were so combat-capable, even Professor Boladi couldn't afford to be careless. If the golems exerted their full power properly, he would have been ground up as if caught between gears.

"Why do you need one?"

"Didn't you want to face one?"

-Wow!-

"Not wow, Your Highness."

Yi-Han immediately stopped Jourin.

Jourin probably expected Yi-Han to fight like Professor Boladi, but that was nonsense.

"I'm not at that level yet."

-But Yi-Han is also an extremely outstanding mage...-

"Hmm."

The sight of Professor Boladi briefly considering Jourin's words from the side made Yi-Han's heart sink.

'I should have left out Professor Bagrak too!'

Deeply regretting inwardly, Yi-Han dissuaded Jourin again.

"I'm not at that level. My year is low too. It's hard enough to survive in Einroguard."

"That's not true."

"It doesn't seem so."

"..."

When not only Professor Boladi but even Yukbeltire chimed in, Yi-Han got a headache.

It really was a terrible combination.

"Senior. Just show us the way. I want to finish the job and get out before Professor Verduus comes."

"This way."

Yukbeltire calmly moved through the devastated first basement floor, guiding the way.

When Yukbeltire kept stopping as she walked, Yi-Han asked, wondering.

"Is there a problem?"

"No. Let's move."

"...If you're happy seeing this sight, you can look a bit more."

Yi-Han gently suggested.

If Yi-Han had been Yukbeltire, he would have probably admired the devastated first basement floor for about an hour before moving.

"There's no reason for that."

"Should we leave this as a drawing?"

Direth nodded at Yi-Han's whisper. Even Direth thought this was worth recording.