Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 761

Chapter 761

Feeling that the Kalaroguard professor he met after a long time might think strangely of him, Professor Mortum hurriedly explained.

"He's a 2nd year, but not an ordinary 2nd year. He's a 2nd year like a 3rd year, no, a 4th year!"

"..."

Professor Taswhan was dumbfounded at Professor Mortum's unconvincing words.

What on earth had happened to this Einroguard professor while they hadn't seen each other?

To claim 1+1=3 so seriously...

"It's true. Please believe me."

Professor Mortum wanted to reveal to the other party that Yi-Han was the skull principal's disciple, but he held back, thinking it might backfire.

It didn't seem good for either party to inform someone with the skull principal's curse remaining about his disciple.

"Hmm... Alright. If you insist that much..."

Professor Taswhan had no choice but to accept it in the end, given Professor Mortum's sincere attitude.

As a guest at Einroguard, he couldn't ignore the host's goodwill.

But he couldn't stop himself from thinking inwardly.

'Could it be that Einroguard's dark magic school is also short on students?'

Professor Taswhan had unexpectedly sharply grasped the truth.

  *

"The seniors are no ordinary tough ones."

Yi-Han clicked his tongue after climbing up the embankment and checking around the field.

A lion gives its all even when hunting a rabbit.

Moreover, the opponents now were not classmates or juniors, but Einroguard seniors.

It wouldn't be strange for mages who had survived one or two more years in this hell to have some secret techniques.

'The best method would be a quick decisive battle.'

Professor Bagrak's battle magic theory was always about speed.

No matter how powerful a mage was, if they were attacked first before using great magic, they would be cornered.

That's why a mage's level wasn't proportional to combat power.

To maintain concentration and cast magic without mistakes in confusing and urgent battle situations, one needed to have received a certain amount of battle magic training usually.

Although he didn't know how familiar the seniors were with magic combat, he couldn't underestimate them, so he wanted to surprise attack as quickly as possible...

But it seemed difficult to handle everyone with surprise attacks since not a single person left the mushroom field.

"I was wrong. I thought one or two would leave, but they're all enduring wrapped in sleeping bags or blankets."

"Oh my! They're not seniors for nothing."

Siana set up a portable cauldron and put an alchemist's smoke screen on top. It was to prevent the colorful smoke rising when making potions from being noticed by the seniors.

"What are you making now?"

"<Arkan's Ferocious Beast Potion>."

Yonaire answered instead.

Holding a book with the Maykin family crest drawn on it in one hand, Yonaire was staring at the cauldron with concentration that wouldn't allow even a single mistake.

"Arkan as in..."

Arkan Maykin.

A great alchemist who made a name for himself hundreds of years ago, and one of the ancestors of the same family as Yonaire.

"You mean the great alchemist who created the prototypes of <Maykin Family's Sweet Pan Chocolate> and <Maykin Family's Magical Chocolate Eclair>?!"

"Y-yes, but... Why those among other great potions?"

Siana was slightly perplexed by Yi-Han's examples.

To specifically mention chocolate and eclair among the works of an alchemist who developed all kinds of great potions.

"What are you saying, Priestess Siana. Do you know how much income those two works bring to the Maykin family?"

"I don't know. Who would know that?"

"It's in the imperial newspapers!"

"The Maykin family's income is in imperial newspapers?!"

"No. Not that, but if you look at the economy section, you can calculate..."

Yonaire said irritably.

"Both of you be quiet."

"Sorry."

"I'm sorry."

The two lowered their voices and whispered.

"Then is that book something like Arkan's secret book?"

"Yes. It seems she's starting to research in earnest from this year? I brought a few secret books from the Flameng Order too."

Siana waved a small booklet engraved with the order's emblem.

Even within the same alchemy school, mages' paths naturally divided into hundreds of branches.

Yonaire followed the family's secret teachings, Siana the order's production methods, seniors like Ilendil creating artificial spirits to complete the Forest of Death...

'No. The last example seems a bit strange.'

Anyway, seeing everyone quickly preparing and finding their own paths even as 2nd years, Yi-Han felt slightly anxious.

"I wonder if I'm being too passive just following lectures."

"What nonsense...? I-I'm sorry."

"..."

Siana apologized once more when her friend made a hurt expression.

"Everyone's bringing their family's or temple's secret books and researching in their own way, but I'm just..."

"You're attending all schools' lectures."

"...Right. I seem to have misspoken."

"If you're anxious, why don't you learn <Arkan's Ferocious Beast Potion> with me? Miss Maykin teaches well."

Siana naturally thought Yi-Han would refuse.

Wasn't he already forcing himself to do this for the alchemy lecture when he should be resting?

With so many other lectures he was attending, there was no need to learn a potion unrelated to lectures...

"Is that alright? Thanks."

"..."

Siana looked at her friend with the eyes of a priestess looking at a terminally ill patient.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Haha. It's nothing."

Shh shh shh-

A bone rat ran like an arrow from down below, then turned into a bone fragment when it arrived in front of Yi-Han. It was a message sent by someone.

[Guests arrived from Kalaroguard. Need trustworthy dark magic school student. Return requested.

Professor Mortum]

"??"

"What message is it?"

"It says guests came from another magic academy."

"Wow!"

Siana sent a very interested look.

Guests from another magic academy!

"Wait. It's not Baldurguard, is it?"

"No. Kalaroguard."

"Phew. That's a relief. As long as it's not Baldurguard."

Yi-Han wanted to ask the priestess what she meant by that, but there was something more important.

"Why are they calling me?"

"Hmm. Since it's a dark magic school... Maybe they're trying to gather all the dark magic school students for a chance to interact?"

Siana made a guess based on her experiences at the temple.

When priests from other orders visited with gift baskets, young priests all came out to greet them and talked about faith.

-Hoho. So this is how it's completed.-

-Amazing, Priestess Siana of the Flameng Order! To be so knowledgeable about alchemy at such a young age!-

-This won't do, I'll write a recommendation letter. To Einroguard! Priestess Siana should learn at the empire's top magic school!-

-But our Priestess Siana is still young, and the path to becoming a mage will be harsh...-

-It's alright! I can definitely do it!-

'...Hmm. Come to think of it, that was a mistake.'

Siana made a slightly bitter expression.

Suddenly, painful memories she had forgotten came to mind.

She had eagerly demonstrated her abilities, excited by the praise from priests of other orders, but in the end, that's why she ended up entering Einroguard...

Siana comforted herself that she would have entered Einroguard anyway even without that.

"What's wrong? You look troubled."

"I remembered the day I entered Einroguard."

"Ah. I see. That would be troubling."

"How did you end up entering Einroguard, Mr. Wardanaz?"

"I volunteered to become an imperial official after graduation."

"Aha."

The snake mixed-blood priestess nodded.

And then thought inwardly.

'Why tell such a lie?'

If he didn't want to say, he could just not say it, but it was a really strange lie.

  *

When told it was an exchange meeting, Yi-Han brought Gainando, Ymirg, and Raphael.

"Gainando. I can't touch you now because of a prophecy. Understand? I'll attack if you come close."

"Y-you're not doing this because I didn't study and went to play, right?"

Gainando watched cautiously, confused whether it was a real prophecy or if his friend was acting like this because he didn't study.

Raphael nodded as if he had expected this.

"This is what happens when you keep getting on his nerves. Prince. I told you to study instead of playing so much."

"Th-that's right."

When even Ymirg agreed, Gainando felt so wronged he could collapse.

"I just played a little!"

"All three of you are noisy. It's not because you didn't listen, but the prophecy says so. It says misfortune will come if I touch royalty."

Yi-Han briefly explained what he had heard in the divination magic lecture.

Everyone was amazed to hear about divination magic, which belonged to one of the most unique and bizarre schools among various schools.

"You can't touch royalty?"

"I got it! It's Adenart!"

Gainando clapped as if he had realized something.

"Adenart is making Yi-Han unlucky! Not me!"

"H-how could the princess?"

"Who knows? Maybe she steals all of Yi-Han's meals?"

"That sounds more like something you would do."

Raphael and Ymirg's gazes were gradually becoming more suspicious.

No matter how they thought about it, among the royalty, this prince seemed most likely to bring misfortune to Yi-Han.

"It's not m..."

"Cough. What? Why did you all come?"

Professor Mortum, who was waiting in front of the Dark Shadow Hall, was puzzled when 2nd year students came rushing in.

"Didn't you say guests came from Kalaroguard? Since it's an exchange meeting, I brought my friends too."

"What? Cough. It's not an exchange meeting... There is an exchange, but that's only for the mage card club, they came to trade reagents and exchange a few grimoires."

At the professor's explanation, Yi-Han became even more puzzled.

"Then why did you call me?"

"Cough. We need someone to guide them around inside Einroguard."

"..."

"..."

"Sh-shouldn't seniors usually do that...?"

Ymirg asked in a cowed voice that didn't match his size. Professor Mortum sighed deeply.

"That's right. It's originally Direth's job, but Direth is a 5th year now."

"Could it be that the professor doesn't know how to count 3 and 4?"

Gainando muttered.

It was something that couldn't be said unless one only knew the numbers 1, 2, and 5.

Instead of being flustered, Yi-Han received the list of tasks from Professor Mortum and checked it.

An experienced Einroguard student starts work instead of being shocked.

'Oh. There's a mushroom field too.'

Yi-Han, who was pondering how to quickly handle the work, discovered 'Mage Card Club Exchange Competition' and called Gainando.

"Gainando. Good timing. It seems these guests are interested in mage cards too."

"Mmm."

Gainando answered with a gloomy expression. All three were shocked at that reaction.

"Why is the prince acting like that??"

"It-it seems like a terminal illness..."

"Could he be pretending to be gloomy in case he gets hit if he likes it?"

However, surprisingly, Gainando continued to be gloomy. Yi-Han asked, not understanding.

"Isn't a mage card club exchange competition the opportunity you've been dreaming of? What's wrong?"

"Yi-Han. Actually... I didn't join the mage card club."

"???"

The three tilted their heads.

If a friend who had been singing about the mage card club since 1st year didn't enter there, where did he enter?

"Then where did you enter?"

"The mage card collection club."

"Isn't that the same thing?"

At Raphael's question, Gainando exploded in anger.

"It's different! One side is a club that enjoys mage cards, and the other side is..."

"What is it?"

"...A club that collects expensive mage cards to sell them for even higher prices..."

"..."

"I entered by mistake..."

"What? It was nothing much."

His friends immediately lost interest.

While Gainando was cursing behind them, Yi-Han received the rest of the explanation from Professor Mortum.

"Cough. This is the <Scepter of the Dark Magic School>. It's a useful artifact in combat situations."

The bone artifact in scepter form was scattering powerful negative energy.

Although there were cracks all over and some parts were broken, making one wonder if it could really be used...

"And this is the school warehouse key. Cough. You can take and use whatever you need. This is the safe key. Your payment is inside."

"Thank you."

Although Professor Mortum was a professor who couldn't count 3 and 4, he wasn't someone who made students work without pay.

Yi-Han opened the safe with the bone key he had just received, looking satisfied.

Click!

Inside was a handful of imperial gold coins. Yi-Han, who was about to scrape up the gold coins as payment, hesitated.

"...Professor. Are there other safes in our school?"

"Cough. No. Why?"

"..."

Yi-Han gathered the school's entire fortune and tightly closed his eyes to avoid seeing the cobwebs in the corner of the safe.