Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 838

Chapter 838

Fortunately, this time he hadn't been dragged away by Saratan, he had just collapsed.

Yi-Han, who had fallen backwards, asked in a voice mixed with despair.

"Did Gainando really carry me?"

"To be precise... he supported you."

"Yi-Han!"

Gainando, freed from Ragesa's magic, approached without knowing the situation.

"I held Lady Ragesa back!"

"?"

"??"

The friends were puzzled by this strategic purpose they were hearing for the first time, but Yi-Han calmly nodded.

"I see."

Thwack!

"Ow!"

"Hey, you idiot. I kept talking about the prophecy, how could you touch me arbitrarily when I collapsed!"

"...Th-that... but, it was an emergency! The White Tiger Tower guys might have kidnapped you, Yi-Han!"

-What kind of bastard is this??-

-Hey, you crazy prince! Why would we kidnap Wardanaz!-

-But it would be nice if we kidnapped him, right? From meals to magic lectures...-

-Shut up.-

Ignoring the White Tiger Tower students protesting behind, Gainando did his best to slander them.

Thwack!

"What nonsense are you talking about when we should be joining forces because we're lacking!"

"Ah... no... they all did it together..."

The Blue Dragon Tower students who had brought Yi-Han together quickly averted their gazes.

Only Adenart was fidgeting, not knowing what to do.

She had made the same mistake as Gainando, but since she alone hadn't said anything, she felt even more guilty.

"Th-that's right! Adenart did it too! Our misfortune must have doubled because of her!"

'He's my friend, but he's really trash.'

The Blue Dragon Tower students were amazed. How could he drag down another friend in that situation?

"I-I'm sorry, Wardanaz."

Thwack!

"You should have stopped them! You heard the most about the prophecy beside me!"

When hit with the changed staff, it made a much crisper sound than before.

Yi-Han, who had vented his anger with three flicks to the forehead, let out a deep sigh.

"Forget it. What can we do now?"

'Tsk... You should have said that before hitting...'

Gainando grumbled inwardly.

If he was going to let it go, where would it hurt to do so before hitting?

"It was an action to avoid the prophecy, so breaking it shouldn't bring double misfortune. It might have already ended."

Tijiling spoke to comfort Yi-Han.

He had to avoid touching royalty to avoid misfortune, but once he had touched royalty and experienced misfortune, it was already over. Touching royalty a few more times shouldn't bring several times more misfortune.

Siana, who was listening beside them, tilted her head and asked.

"I don't take divination magic, but aren't there misfortunes that end once you block them like a shower, but also misfortunes that linger like dark clouds? In the case of such misfortunes, it seems like additional misfortune would strike every time you break the prophecy like that."

"...Thank you for the good point..."

Tijiling, who had tried to comfort Yi-Han by subtly distorting the truth, became gloomy.

Yi-Han also became gloomy together. Siana, who had just realized she had misspoken, was flustered.

"N-no! The misfortune might have all ended!"

"It might not have ended. I met a demon duke and a spirit king, so... hmm. Next I might meet a realm monster."

"But the spirit king was kind, wasn't he?"

"Priestess Siana. I wasn't talking about the Mad Wood King."

"??"

Yi-Han let out another light sigh and stood up from his seat.

Whether the misfortune had ended or if it wasn't over yet and would come rushing in due to additional contact was unknown, but for now, they had to prepare to leave.

As it was a realm the Mad Wood King had promised and opened, time outside probably hadn't flowed much, but they didn't know what would happen if they exceeded the originally set time.

From time suddenly accelerating to, in the worst case, the realm gate itself disappearing.

"Let's all start leaving slowly. Wait. Lady Ragesa. Your mana flow is strange, did you perhaps drink?"

"It's a long story, brat."

  *

Professor Ingurdel was sitting with Caten, a 5th year White Tiger Tower student, reading accumulated reports.

"There's no need to help Jahan. Polish your own swordsmanship."

"It's alright. I'll help you and then practice."

Caten of the Jahan family, despite still being a student, was quite famous among imperial swordsmen.

There were rumors that he had genius-level talent that would succeed Jicklin of the Moradi family.

Professor Ingurdel was quite interested in Caten, knowing this.

'It's a shame.'

Caten, who was from zero schools, couldn't help much even if he wanted to help with the professor's work.

He was helping with Professor Ingurdel's work because the skull principal scolded him to do something while losing his temper, but from Professor Ingurdel's perspective, he strongly wished Caten would just focus on swordsmanship.

Isn't it the sword that speaks of a swordsman's value, not various chores?

"Hah!"

Caten, who had finished sorting documents, swung his sword beside him. As dozens of sword lights flashed, sprouts bloomed in front.

"Haha! I did it! Professor! Did you see? If I practice ten thousand more times, I might be able to create a sapling!"

"..."

Professor Ingurdel watched Caten with a very complicated expression.

Originally, it was Professor Ingurdel's policy that each student had their own swordsmanship, and while he would help them master it, he wouldn't arbitrarily change its direction, but...

Every time he saw what Caten was doing, the words 'How about just focusing on swordsmanship?' rose to his throat.

Professor Ingurdel suppressed it while inwardly sighing.

Wouldn't Caten know that he could grow much faster if he devoted himself purely to swordsmanship?

It was a blessing when talent and aspiration aligned, but even if they didn't align, there was no need to follow talent.

If Caten wanted, he had the right to go that path.

...Even if it was frustrating to watch.

'I should read the students' reports.'

Professor Ingurdel lightly shook his head and grabbed the reports submitted by the students.

It often felt awkward to read such reports instead of swords, but this too was something that had to be done as a teacher.

'Come to think of it...'

Professor Ingurdel felt puzzled.

The students had submitted much faster than expected, and everyone had submitted.

'Did they move together?'

A smile formed on the lips of the scarred elf professor.

Personally, there was nothing more joyful than seeing students cooperate.

Although they were 2nd year students who had been bickering with each other, they showed unity whenever they faced a crisis.

Professor Ingurdel was pleased, thinking anew that he had chosen the quiz well.

'I should give tests like this next time too.'

As he picked up the reports one by one and checked the names, Professor Ingurdel paused.

"...??"

[Hello, Professor Ingurdel. I don't take the lecture, but I'm leaving this because I feel it's unfair that I worked hard. I would appreciate it if you could let me know if there's someone (from White Tiger) who wrote worse than me.

-Gainando]

Surprisingly, someone had submitted a report even among students from other towers who didn't take the lecture.

Professor Ingurdel checked the names in bewilderment. It wasn't just one, but about five or six.

'...Just how many people went?'

He was perplexed, wondering if perhaps the entire 2nd year had gone.

Professor Ingurdel looked for Wardanaz's name. At times like this, it was right to look at the most trustworthy student's report first.

[Five days with the Mad Wood King, Demon Duke of Pride, Spirit Oppressor, Gambling Tree King, and Admiral of the Southern Privateer Fleet.

-Yi-Han Wardanaz]

"..."

Professor Ingurdel considered whether he should refrain from giving such assignments for a while to the year that had the Wardanaz family boy.

  *

"Senior. Could you look at the form of this staff?"

"It's too classical."

Yukbeltire made a rare expression of distaste when she saw the branch form Yi-Han had brought.

This was really a staff style used only in the old days.

"Are there no drawbacks other than that?"

"There's a reason classical styles are classical. Of course there must be a reason. But Wardanaz family junior."

Yukbeltire paused for a moment and stared at Yi-Han with her blue eyes.

"You seem to be at a different distance than usual."

"Ah. Is that so?"

Yi-Han said as if surprised from the opposite side of the classroom. Because he was speaking with mana, it resonated loudly even though he was speaking from afar.

Yukbeltire stretched out her finger as if to say 'what are you doing?'

"Come over here and talk."

"No, Senior. It's because I've caught a contagious disease."

"A contagious disease?"

"Yes, those from the dark magic school are prone to contagious diseases."

"Well. Direth was like that too."

Yukbeltire nodded.

Yi-Han, who had brought just anything to avoid contact, suddenly felt sad.

"Interesting."

"You mean that you've caught a contagious disease?"

"Yes. What kind of contagious disease did you catch?"

Although she wasn't particularly interested in healing magic or that kind of alchemy, she was curious about a contagious disease that could affect even a junior with so much mana.

What kind of magical disease could penetrate that mana?

"Uh... it's something like a disease where the Demon Duke of Pride and the Mad Wood King joined forces."

"Really? Let me see."

As Yukbeltire approached, Yi-Han hurriedly retreated. He even put up a telekinetic barrier around him.

"Wardanaz family junior. If you're worried about spreading the disease, there's no need to worry. I'm wearing defensive artifacts."

"Indeed. But this disease breaks through even those."

"That makes me even more curious. Show me."

"Wait. Please tell me the drawbacks of the staff first. Why did you recommend putting the branch inside the core and surrounding it with black purplestone last time?"

Yukbeltire was curious about what kind of disease the Demon Duke of Pride and Mad Wood King had joined forces to create, but she held back and explained first.

"Because it's most efficient."

"Are you saying this isn't efficient now?"

"That form is specialized for ancient magic. That's why it's classical. There's no need to take a loss when using current imperial magic."

"..."

Yi-Han realized what she meant and his face hardened.

'No, this black book bastard?'

Even so, it should have adjusted to modern style for a student learning today's magic, not give an old-style staff just because it was its old magic book.

It was an utterly shameless bastard.

"I can't change this shape, right? Especially if there's something like a sealed spirit king inside?"

Yukbeltire stared silently instead of answering.

Yi-Han could read the meaning 'Are you really Direth's junior to ask such a stupid question?'

"I understand."

"Good. Then now about the contagious disease..."

"Then I'll see you when I put in the black purplestone next time. Senior. Goodbye!"

Yi-Han quickly opened the classroom door and slipped out. He heard something calling from inside, but he ignored it, pretending not to hear.

[You obtained a branch. It's only natural.]

"...Master. Do you perhaps know the word 'well done'?"

Yi-Han cautiously asked the mad doppelganger who had appeared without being called and was praising him.

The mad doppelganger sneered.

[I also know the word 'pathetic'. Lowborn. Don't seek praise for something obvious.]

"..."

Although Yi-Han wasn't someone who craved praise, he wanted to hear at least one word of praise when he had safely escaped from Mad Wood King -> Demon Duke of Pride -> Evil Oppressor of Spirits -> Gambling Tree King.

'Am I asking for too much?'

[Tell me what happened.]

"Yes. This happened..."

Yi-Han reported that the black book had used his body to unleash evil magic.

'Wait. Come to think of it, does the mad doppelganger know what all these magic are?'

If it was magic created before separation, there was a high chance he knew.

"Do you know what this magic is?"

[Yes. Dendrobium was a tree raised by royalty.]

"...You raised a tree that absorbs people's essence???"

[...It's magic commemorating that tree, lowborn.]