Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 732

Chapter 732

"I'd like to build my foundations too."

"Huh?"

Direth was genuinely puzzled.

It really seemed unnecessary for her junior.

"Aren't you able to use about 3rd Circle poison element magic now?"

"It's still imperfect though."

The <Poison of Corrosion> creation magic inherited from the undead mage, Verduus, was about 3rd Circle, but he still couldn't cast it perfectly.

"You're such a perfectionist, junior. Other kids insist they've mastered everything perfectly just by casting it."

"No, I'm saying it's imperfect because it's not complete!"

Yi-Han felt a bit wronged.

Of course, he could summon poison if given time, but wasn't this still imperfect?

"Bone element magic was 4th Circle."

<Skeleton Warrior Summoning> originally didn't go up to 4th Circle.

As contracting with and summoning an undead skeleton warrior lowered the difficulty significantly.

But Yi-Han had to learn ancient-style necromancy that wasn't often used these days due to pressure from some evil dark mages, and the result was the 4th Circle difficulty <Skeleton Warrior Summoning>.

As it was magic where the mage directly assembled bones one by one instead of summoning a being from another dimension, the difficulty was inevitably high.

Still, thanks to this, Yi-Han's bone element magic proficiency had increased considerably. It was all thanks to constantly wrestling with <Skeleton Warrior Summoning>.

"...That's right. But aren't there still basics I haven't mastered?"

Direth was a kind senior.

Even if her junior was stubborn, instead of getting angry, she quietly did as he wanted.

Yi-Han, who instantly succeeded at various basic magics Direth brought out, said with a gloomy face,

"Let's start with difficult magic."

"Well thought, junior."

  *

"Do you know why blood isn't often used as an element?"

"Yes."

The reason imperial dark mages didn't directly handle blood elements even while handling bone, poison, or even dark element was due to its inefficiency.

"But actually, it's not that blood isn't used as elemental magic at all. Some magic criminals are actually using it."

"The principal?"

"...Junior. When I say magic criminals, I mean real magic criminals, not a metaphor."

Blood elements not only lacked attack power compared to bone elements, but were also not easy to obtain or preserve.

Moreover, as some magic criminals often extorted large amounts of fresh blood needed for magic from innocent victims, it inevitably became even less popular.

But this dark magic school of thought, passed down from Gonadaltes to Professor Mortum to Direth, was that 'it's stupid to not use something just because it's unpopular'.

Even if just to know its weaknesses when meeting someone who uses it.

Thud-

As Direth took out a small glass bottle and opened the cork lid, red liquid flowed out with a sloshing sound.

It smelled of blood, but a different mana wafted from it.

"This is artificial blood made through alchemy. Usually, this is used when casting blood element magic. It has good expandability."

Just as mana-containing bone fragments were used as reagents for magic, many blood element magics needed the help of such reagents.

Yi-Han noticed another meaning in Direth's words and asked,

"Does that mean it's not used when used as a reagent for magic other than blood element magic?"

"That's right."

The dark magic school senior flapped her wings as if satisfied with her clever junior's answer.

Although it was unavoidable when casting blood element magic due to the large amount required, real blood was bound to be more effective than artificial blood made through alchemy.

Direth took out a bone fragment with a bloody aura.

"This is a bone fragment I've periodically fed my blood. I could have fed it artificial blood, but there are advantages to feeding it my blood. It's easier to control the magic, and in a pinch, blood element magic is possible too."

"I understand."

Yi-Han quickly understood Direth's words as he had experience strengthening reagents by infusing dark element into bones like tempering.

Using blood to strengthen bone fragments ultimately connected to strengthening bone element magic too.

'Even without forcibly using blood element magic, just applying it like this increases the power.'

"Of course, generally dark elements or poison elements are more preferred. Blood elements don't have special effects, and their usage methods are a bit limited... But as I said."

"There's always a use for it if you master it, isn't there?"

Direth nodded with a deep smile.

"Let's start with this."

"Yes. But how difficult is this magic?"

Direth just smiled without answering and urged him on with a hand gesture.

Yi-Han was puzzled but started sprinkling his blood little by little on the bone fragment.

"Blood, gather here..."

The bone fragment was dyed blood-red and connected to Yi-Han much more powerfully than before.

Yi-Han could understand the advantage of feeding his own blood that Direth had mentioned earlier.

It seemed like if he summoned a skeleton warrior with this bone fragment, much more delicate control would be possible.

"You've succeeded."

"Yes."

"That's why I didn't bother saying how difficult it was. There's no point in saying it, right?"

"...Just tell me..."

  *

After that, Direth explained various magics that connected bone and blood, blood and poison, and poison and bone.

Magic that amplified toxicity using blood, and magic that exploded bones using toxicity and scattered them around.

As there were many diverse and difficult ones, Yi-Han listened without losing focus.

"But Senior. I suddenly became curious about something."

"What is it?"

"What year is this lecture for?"

"3rd year. Why?"

"...Isn't it a bit strange that I'm taking it?"

"Huh? Not really?"

"..."

Direth took out a pocket watch, checked the time, and then opened her mouth.

"We have some time left. We can go."

"How about resting if we have time? I think you need rest now too, Senior."

"Where we're going now is rest, junior."

"?"

Direth grinned meaningfully and gestured for Yi-Han to come out of the lecture room.

That smile made Yi-Han feel unnecessarily uneasy.

Usually, nothing good had come from Einroguard mages smiling confidently.

"It's a place I often go when I'm tired."

'Hmm. This is making me more uneasy.'

If it had been the summoning magic school it might have been different, but as it was the dark magic school, he was a bit anxious in truth.

Couldn't they go into a cemetery or underground swamp chamber to rest?

Direth was a good person, but even good people's tastes could be a bit twisted.

Direth opened a side path on the second basement floor and lightly tapped the wall of the endlessly long corridor ahead.

Then the stairs they were standing on rippled and started running forward.

"!"

"It's a place a bit away from the main building."

Direth explained so Yi-Han wouldn't be surprised.

As Einroguard was so vast, higher year students didn't move by walking directly when moving. It would take too long if they did.

One of the commonly used methods was side paths connected to the main building.

Einroguard's main building had numerous paths connected to Einroguard territory outside the main building as long as its history, and if one found such paths well, they could easily go far with one action through shortcuts.

Thud!

"We're here. Let's go out."

Direth summoned stairs connected upwards and went up first. Yi-Han followed behind, worried that a cemetery or poisonous swamp might appear.

But fortunately, there was no cemetery or smell of rotting corpses. All that could be heard around was the sound of leaves rustling in the wind.

The place connected to the main building's underground shortcut was in the middle of a forest.

"Where is this?"

"Dark Forest. If you look around, you'll understand why it's named that."

Yi-Han checked the forest beyond the clearing.

The forest, dark as if it were evening despite being midday, was full of dark green trees.

He could feel dark elements periodically circulating between these trees and bushes.

"It's a place full of dark elements?"

"That's right. It's a good place for dark mages handling dark elements to recover mana."

As if it were true that she came here often, Direth summoned chairs and a table.

Yi-Han, having confirmed it was a safe place, sat in a chair and looked around.

'It certainly would be a good place for dark mages.'

After all, a place with strong dark elements like this was bound to be a good match for dark magic school students.

Even if they didn't directly handle dark elements, it would be highly effective given the characteristics of that mana.

In fact, Direth, who had used quite a lot of magic during today's lecture, quickly recovered mana after breathing in the forest air a few times.

And apart from that, Direth's face seemed to brighten as if she liked this forest itself.

"Oh right. Junior. Don't tell other juniors about this place."

"Even dark magic school seniors?"

"Especially not them. I didn't think there was a need to tell them about this place. It's not like they'll move up to 5th year."

"I understand."

Yi-Han, who had been nodding, felt something strange.

He felt a sense of discomfort from what Senior Direth had just said.

'Then am I supposed to move up to 5th year...?'

"Wait! There!"

"?"

"We have to catch that, junior. It's a dark snail!"

Direth, who had discovered a rare animal living in the Dark Forest, urged Yi-Han.

After summoning a summon, she quickly flew through the air and started chasing the dark snail.

"Hold on tight. Here we go!"

Direth, carrying her junior, chased after the dark snail fleeing like an arrow in the distance.

Yi-Han, sitting behind, tried to prepare for possible attacks from other monsters while checking the rapidly changing surrounding scenery.

At that moment, the scenery before his eyes changed.

"...?!"

Yi-Han realized he was seeing an illusion at the sudden scenery.

There was no reason for such a sight to appear before his eyes while in the midst of chasing through the air following Direth.

'What's going on? Ordinary illusion magic shouldn't work...'

Yi-Han was bewildered, as he had already experienced that external illusion magic or poisons trying to attack him didn't work.

In the illusion, a mage dressed in an antique style opened his mouth. Even looking at his attire, it was such a unique and old-fashioned style that one couldn't guess where he was from.

-Master. I have come as you told me to. Now please answer. What should I, Antagondal, do?

'!'

Having heard the name Antagondal before, Yi-Han opened his eyes wide in shock.

Why had that magic criminal come to Einroguard's territory?

However, the person opposite Antagondal was even more shocking.

Surprisingly, it was the skull principal in human form.

'...!!!'

Although the skull principal in human form wasn't usually a kind and gentle person, the skull principal in the illusion now had an icy cold and arrogant attitude.

He seemed to be ignoring Antagondal despite him being right in front of him.

Despite continued pleading and requests, when the skull principal said nothing, Antagondal made a slightly angry expression but held back and opened his mouth again.

-Then I shall wait! Master. Until you teach me again!

With those words, the illusion ended.

Direth shouted with joy at the dark snail getting closer and closer.

"Junior! Can you see it?!"

"Senior!!"

"Huh?! What?! Why?!"

Direth almost lost her balance and staggered when her junior suddenly grabbed her shoulders tightly and shouted.

However, that was nothing compared to what her junior was about to shout.

"It's terrible! The principal has finally gone mad!!!"

"...I don't know what you're talking about, so explain slowly!"