Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 753

Chapter 753

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Yi-Han was puzzled when Antagondal stared at him from behind his silver mask.

Then he subtly covered his plate with his hand. There was no more to share now.

"...I'm not going to take it. Do you think I'm interested in that fodder?"

"Ha! Mages always talk like that."

Antagondal realized a new talent possessed by the Wardanaz boy before his eyes.

That boy had a talent for making people angry.

Whether the magic criminal was inwardly enraged or not, Yi-Han focused on his meal.

He needed to fill his stomach well to escape.

Watching Yi-Han take a bite after putting fried eggs and bacon on toasted bread, Antagondal shook his head.

To think there was such a young guy eating so calmly in front of the mad doppelganger and an imperial magic criminal.

"Living long makes one see terrible sights..."

"Are you talking about Einroguard?"

"No."

Antagondal wanted to explain how dangerous it was for Yi-Han to serve a meal to the mad doppelganger, and how surprising it was that the mad doppelganger ate it quietly without getting angry.

But he couldn't. The mad doppelganger was right next to them.

He didn't know what would happen if he said unnecessary words.

Meanwhile, the mad doppelganger who finished eating wiped his mouth and hands cleanly, then lifted Antagondal and smashed him into the wall.

"Chattering during meals is noisy. Trash. Don't you know manners?"

-...I'm sorry, Master.-

Antagondal, who belatedly realized he wasn't beaten because it was during a meal, inwardly regretted.

He should have gone outside briefly while the mad doppelganger was eating...

"It was a meal for slaves to eat. Lowborn. From next time, prepare a meal with more dignity."

"Ah, yes."

Yi-Han bowed politely but cursed inwardly.

To say that after eating it all, even Gainando wouldn't do that.

-Master. Do you need offerings to satisfy your tongue?-

Antagondal asked politely from inside the wall.

If the mad doppelganger actually enjoyed gastronomy, that would be truly valuable information.

A new path had opened for Antagondal, who needed to somehow please this evil being.

"Ha! I don't need filth touched by trash."

At those words, Yi-Han and Antagondal cursed inwardly simultaneously.

'He probably can't tell the difference no matter who prepares it, so why not just order someone.'

'He's clearly showing favoritism to his disciple.'

Antagondal's curse was a bit different from Yi-Han's.

As he knew more information about the mad doppelganger, he could make a more objective judgment.

Looking at ancient kingdom customs, disciples could prepare meals and serve, but beings below that didn't even have the qualification to dare do so.

In other words, the mad doppelganger's answer just now meant he recognized the Wardanaz family boy as his formal disciple, but Antagondal absolutely couldn't be.

'What on earth is the difference?'

Antagondal carefully analyzed how that young boy had gained the mad doppelganger's favor.

Even with talent, it was too abnormally fast.

But the more he analyzed, the more he felt lost in a maze.

'Should I keep talking back impudently? What is it? Should I have approached with a younger body?'

"I'll have to gather songs from the mountain spirits."

The mad doppelganger checked the time and prepared to move.

Although he seemed to be just tormenting Yi-Han and Antagondal while settled in the vast Einroguard mountains, the mad doppelganger was quite busy maintaining the great magic spread over the territory and extending his own lifespan.

It was quite troublesome for a mana thought entity rejected by the world to resist in another great mage's territory.

Antagondal, who had some idea about that schedule, asked curiously.

-Master. Do you need the mountain spirits' songs?-

"It's needed for that lowborn's magic. He spewed out some howling noise calling it magic."

Yi-Han wondered what he meant but soon realized.

The mad doppelganger was talking about music magic now.

'Wasn't it pretty good?'

Because he had a shred of conscience, Yi-Han didn't say his music magic was good in front of a great mage like the mad doppelganger.

Instead, he waited until the mad doppelganger left and asked Antagondal.

"What does it mean to go up to mountain peaks and gather songs?"

"I don't know exactly either. So many ancient magics have been lost... Maybe something like swan songs?"

Antagondal who came out of the wall also seemed curious.

Among ingredients used in some magics, there was also the most beautiful cry left by birds just before dying.

Such reagents had capricious yet destructive power, so they were likely to be used in ancient magic.

"If it's such a powerful reagent, wouldn't it rapidly increase music magic learning too?"

"It would. If you survive."

"Pardon?"

"Young one. Do you really not know swan songs are a deadly poison that can instantly cut off a mage's breath if used wrongly?"

"I don't know."

"..."

Only then did Antagondal remember again that the other party was a 2nd year.

What was common sense to older mages might not be to the other party.

"...The more beautiful and precious something is, the more terrible and fatal it is. Wouldn't it be terrible because the bird left it last, and fatal because it's the most beautiful?"

"Is the music he's trying to gather from mountain peaks now that dangerous too?"

Antagondal nodded at the natural question as if to say 'Why are you asking such a thing?'

It wouldn't be just that dangerous, but much more dangerous. If it were just swan songs, there would be no need for the mad doppelganger to go out personally.

Yi-Han spoke firmly.

"I really need to leave now. Please prepare."

"?!"

Yi-Han had no intention of checking reagents much more dangerous than swan songs with his own body.

Although he had resisted all poisons so far with his powerful mana, he wasn't sure if he could endure the mad doppelganger's live experiments.

Antagondal couldn't understand the boy before his eyes.

"Don't you know how important an opportunity this is? Aren't you curious about how precious the magic that monster will prepare with ancient secret methods is?"

"I'm not curious."

'Is this guy really a mage?'

Antagondal looked at Yi-Han with a gaze of shock and contempt. Of course, Yi-Han didn't care as it was hidden behind the silver mask.

In fact, Yi-Han would have ignored it even if he saw it.

'If it's so precious, can't he do it himself?'

If Antagondal took the mountain spirits' songs, Yi-Han could watch excitedly from the side.

"You could realize one syllable, no, one word of command magic, you know? Are you really going to run away now?"

"Then why don't you do it?"

"I would if I could. You shame of mages, young brat!"

At the other's words, Yi-Han became even more suspicious.

Usually only suspicious guys changed the subject like that.

The best result was realizing command magic, but the worst result was death.

And from Yi-Han's perspective, the probability of the worst result seemed much higher.

"Stop trying to trap me and just prepare."

"..."

Just then, <Whispers of Einroguard> called Yi-Han.

-Junior. We're ready. We'll start when you're ready.-

-I'm ready too. Please start now!-

Yi-Han was overjoyed at Direth's message.

It was hard to believe with just Antagondal's power, but in the end, his senior had come to help.

"They say preparations are finished outside."

"Really? You believe that? Think again."

"Are you saying this because you don't want to do it now?"

"Honestly, it's not a particularly appealing task. But that doesn't mean my words are lies. Do you really think 5th year students can break this great magic over the mountains? Seriously?"

"Ha. You're saying that because you don't know my senior. My senior isn't someone who would talk nonsense."

"Is that so? I clearly warned you."

Antagondal didn't try to stop him anymore.

It wasn't his business, and it seemed quite enjoyable to watch the Wardanaz family boy get caught trying to escape.

"You won't report my name if you get caught, right? You're an Einroguard student who knows honor."

"If you keep asking such ominous questions, I might."

"..."

When Antagondal finished preparations, Yi-Han quickly scribbled a letter.

This wasn't a message to Direth, but a letter left for the mad doppelganger.

[To Master.

I'm leaving briefly to research magic.

From your disciple.]

This was an excuse prepared for later.

The content was a bit short, but Yi-Han had no choice because he was short on time.

-Junior. Are you ready?-

-Yes!-

-Good. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...-

Boom!

A collision of mana strong enough for any mage to feel shook the entire mountain range.

It was an impact that would be felt when worlds collided.

Antagondal, who had been inwardly sneering, was shocked.

'No?!'

Surprisingly, cracks formed in the great magic the mad doppelganger had cast over the mountains.

As collapse progressed rapidly through those gaps, the mad doppelganger transformed into black mana and soared into the air.

Seeing the urgent movements, it seemed the mad doppelganger hadn't expected this situation either.

'Then!'

Antagondal moved as promised with the Wardanaz family boy.

It was beneficial to remove this disciple outside if he could.

Along with intense mana movements, light burst out from between the silver mask.

When the light struck the already cracked great magic, new cracks formed.

One, two, three...

'He's coming!'

Antagondal realized the mad doppelganger was suspecting his interference and flying over to catch him.

"This is farewell, mage. Let's meet again on the path of evil!"

Pop!

As Antagondal tried to leave his spot by casting several teleportation magics, the mad doppelganger tried to block the cracks in the magic on one side and somehow catch Antagondal on the other.

Yi-Han tried not to be distracted by the dazzling movements happening in the air and quickly ran out.

'...Finally!'

If he missed this chance, he might really be trapped in the workshop even after the semester ended. Yi-Han ran with desperate determination.

  *

"A-a relic with this much power...?!"

"Well, it's Saint Eaktus... Mmph."

"Student Direth. Where is student Yi-Han now?"

"His current location is..."

"Mmph? Mmmmph?"

"Professor Verduus. This isn't the time to joke around. Be quiet!"

Professor Garcia, whose nerves were on edge, threatened while scattering killing intent.

Professor Verduus shrank back while watching her reaction.

"...I'm sorry. Why are you acting like that?"

"That griffin flying over there looks like Wardanaz's griffin..."

"Why are you saying that now?!"

"Kuk. Kuk kuk."

While shaking her colleague professor up and down, left and right, Professor Garcia belatedly recalled Yi-Han's griffin.

Come to think of it, there was a fierce beast that could quickly find its owner even in this situation.

"Did you see?! Did you see?! I told you a griffin could break through!"

Gainando shouted on top of the griffin, cheering.

However, all his other friends had tense faces.

No matter how they thought about it, a griffin's power couldn't break through magic of this level.

"Why on earth did the magic break?"

"I'm not sure. Did the principal come?"

"...Everyone be quiet. What's the point of worrying about that now. Just focus on finding that Wardanaz bastard and getting him out!"

"Mo-Moradi. The sky over there is melting..."

"It's Einroguard, so sometimes the sky can melt! Shut up and just search!"

"O-okay."

The 2nd year students pretended not to see the surreal sight of the sky melting and magic scattering in all directions, and just stared intently at the mountain range.