Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 712

Chapter 712

Unaware that a killing machine junior trained by a crazy professor was glaring at him from behind, Sebius said,

"In the first place, the other members of the club are fighting to bring you in now, if we don't even make you join, they'll start by hanging me. Not just hanging, they'll subject me to bookshelf punishment."

"Bookshelf punishment...? Is it like a bookshelf table or drawer?"

"No, not that. Bookshelf punishment. You know, like hanging or beheading. Bookshelf punishment is our club's punishment."

"..."

Yi-Han was about to ask what exactly bookshelf punishment was but decided against it.

It didn't seem like it would be pleasant to hear about anyway.

"Our club gathered for the same purpose, but the members all think differently. I don't force anyone. If you think it's right for you, you do it."

Although his tone was blunt and indifferent, as Yi-Han conversed with Sebius, he thought this senior was one of the better people in Einroguard.

For one thing, it was extremely rare for someone at a magic school to show an attitude of 'do it if you want, don't if you don't'.

Usually, most mages would say 'do it if you want, but according to my will'...

In that sense, Sebius, who said 'just join and do as you please', was a very rare senior.

Thanks to this, as Yi-Han escaped the sense of crisis that he might be dragged to the club and locked up, his curiosity returned.

'I do need to do some club activities.'

Einroguard students didn't do club activities because they had time to spare.

Of course, there might be some students like that, but basically, students joined clubs because they had goals.

And usually, those goals included gold coins.

From 2nd year on, as the costs for magic research increased significantly, they couldn't just play around like in 1st year.

In fact, Yi-Han and his friends who had just moved up to 2nd year had hardly seen any seniors.

Not because the skull principal's taboo remained, but because the seniors were too busy.

Yi-Han had even seen seniors flying off, bundled up thickly, saying they were going to the glacier region at five in the morning.

'I wonder how much the library club's earnings are?'

"Senior. You said you get paid for retrieving books, right?"

"That's right."

"Could I ask about that in more detail?"

"When we arrive, other members will explain it better."

Although Sebius grumbled, he didn't refuse to explain.

"Usually, we either receive missions and retrieve books, or we show a list of secured books and sell them. We have several club buildings. One on the 7th floor, one near the library... The camping camps are all inside the library."

Yi-Han didn't ask the amateur question of 'What kind of campsite is inside a library?'

He just quietly nodded.

"If you look at the club building, there are missions received, and you can solve them together with members you get along with and share the gold coins. It's the same with books you bring. But it's forbidden to sell too cheaply or too expensively."

"Selling expensively is forbidden too?"

Yi-Han was surprised by this unexpected statement.

Actually, he understood forbidding selling cheaply. From the club's perspective, if some new member decided to sell a hard-earned book cheaply on their own, everyone's income would decrease.

But to forbid selling expensively.

"It's to make that person pay a fair price, not to prevent them from buying the book."

"That's a great saying."

"It's not my words. It's what the president said."

Although Sebius was blunt and nonchalant, respect could be felt when he spoke about the club president.

'What kind of person is he?'

"What kind of person is the club president..."

"Oh, Senior Illeg."

Far away, a bespectacled bear mixed-blood with a huge build appeared.

The man wearing priest's robes had a gentle impression, but not below that. Yi-Han worried that the bespectacled bear mixed-blood's priest robes might tear due to his size.

Fortunately, that didn't happen. The bespectacled bear mixed-blood approached cheerfully and said,

"Sebius. Nice to see you. Have you been well?"

"Yes. Have you been well too, Senior? No one attacked you?"

"It's rare for someone to attack an Immortal Phoenix Tower student."

The bespectacled bear mixed-blood said with a hearty laugh, but Sebius replied coldly.

"The crazy ones in the club attack even Immortal Phoenix Tower students."

"Even such people don't attack 5th year students."

"..."

As the atmosphere became solemn, the bespectacled bear mixed-blood greeted Yi-Han.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Illeg from the Chaegla family. I'm a priest of the Ciseners Order, and a 5th year this year."

"This junior is that junior."

"Ah. So this junior is that junior?"

"..."

Yi-Han wondered why communication was possible even when he was referred to as 'this junior' and 'that junior'.

'This doesn't seem like a good phenomenon.'

"Nice to meet you, Wardanaz. Feel free to look around. I don't want to force members to join, but the other members think differently."

Illeg spoke in a slow, low voice. It was a kind and gentle attitude befitting an Immortal Phoenix Tower priest.

"Senior Sebius was already explaining to me."

"If it's Sebius, he's reliable. Oh. Would you like to watch us work?"

"Ah, if that's alright..."

Yi-Han didn't refuse the club president's offer.

It was easier going forward if one showed a diligent appearance when the other party showed goodwill.

Illeg and Sebius tapped a stele located a little east of the library entrance with their staffs.

Then the ground below the stele opened with a rumbling sound.

"Was there such a place?"

"You wouldn't have known since only club members can enter."

"Then doesn't that mean I can't enter?"

"Your application is already done. It's probably the same for other clubs."

"..."

Yi-Han didn't know, but the official clubs had already completed his membership applications.

What they were fighting over now was to make other clubs give up, not for membership which was already confirmed.

With a slightly more depressed face than before, Yi-Han followed the seniors underground.

-Arghhhh! Kyaaaah!-

'?'

Yi-Han paused at the horrific screams from inside that sounded like some monster was shrieking.

"Hasn't a monster gotten in?"

"If a monster had gotten in, would it be this quiet?"

Sebius looked at Yi-Han as if to say 'What are you talking about?'

"This is probably the sound of a book, Wardanaz."

"...Pardon?"

There was no need for President Illeg to explain further. As they finished descending the stairs, they saw a book rampaging in the middle of the vast underground.

The book, trapped inside eight complex magic circles, was screaming and rampaging.

-I'll kill you! You mage bastards!-

"We need to drain more blood."

"What if the letters get erased?"

"Looking at its stamina, it'll recover enough. Drain it."

"Understood."

Poof!

As the mages swung their weapons, the book spewed blood from its pages.

"You, <Jigolbiero's Five Summoning Methods>, surrender! I'm telling you to let us read your contents willingly!"

-Arghh! Kyaah!-

Despite the mages' sincere persuasion, the book <Jigolbiero's Five Summoning Methods> did not surrender.

It rammed against the magic circles as if trying to tear them apart and spewed curses.

As the letters inside the book became blurry and the pictures changed because of this, Illeg made a regretful expression.

"Everyone. I'd like to help. Would it be alright if I help just this once?"

"President, such a sorry..."

Before the words were finished, Illeg started walking into the magic circle.

Seeing this, Yi-Han said in bewilderment,

"Isn't that dangerous?!"

Arbitrarily entering such a containment magic circle was a very dangerous action.

It was something that should never be done unless one had strong grand mana like Yi-Han.

"It's a crazy act. But Senior Illeg is different. You'll see."

Sebius watched without panic.

As he entered the magic circle, powerful forces and bindings assaulted Illeg. It was a powerful magic circle that contained indiscriminately, friend or foe.

Illeg chanted a spell and activated magic. Surprisingly, it was holy magic.

'Is it defensive holy magic?'

As holy mana enveloped Illeg, his body became as solid as a fortress.

Even as the magic circle struck, slashed, pushed, and tried to pierce, it didn't stop. It was unbelievable durability.

"...!"

Finally, as he entered the inner part of the magic circle, this time the book started to attack.

-You! Mage! I'll kill you!-

"Mr. <Jigolbiero's Five Summoning Methods>. I apologize for the rudeness. Would you please grant me permission to read?"

Yi-Han marveled at the polite appearance the 5th year senior showed.

To try dialogue and persuasion in such a situation.

It was patience on a different level from other seniors...

Bang!

A six-legged shadow monster jumped out from inside the book. A voice full of killing intent spread from inside the book.

-No one can read me!-

In response, Illeg also cast magic. Yi-Han could feel enhancement magics settling into Illeg's body.

Thwack!

Illeg grabbed the six-legged shadow monster with one hand and crumpled it back into the book.

Then he grabbed the book with both arms and forcibly closed it. <Jigolbiero's Five Summoning Methods> struggled to open, but couldn't break through Illeg's holy magic.

"Mr. <Jigolbiero's Five Summoning Methods>. I apologize for the rudeness. Would you please grant me permission to read?"

-Grrrrrrk!-

"Mr. <Jigolbiero's Five..."

-...Alright...!-

The book finally surrendered and quietly disappeared.

Illeg checked the book for damage and then handed it to the members with a satisfied expression.

"Fortunately, Mr. <Jigolbiero's Five Summoning Methods> understood."

"As expected of the president!"

"..."

Yi-Han wondered for a moment if he had come to the wrong place.

Seeing the bespectacled bear mixed-blood priest holding the book with both hands, covered in blood, that thought grew a bit stronger.

'...No. This might be the average for Einroguard clubs.'

  *

In the end, Yi-Han watched the club members hunt, tame, and manage books before returning.

The library club's income certainly didn't seem bad.

<Jigolbiero's Five Summoning Methods> was a magic book with a bounty of fifty gold coins, and the members happily shared the income.

-The client is asking if they can possibly reduce the payment...-

-What kind of crazy bastard tries to haggle over a book price? Is it someone from the soup club?-

-Tell that person to come in for a moment.-

-It's all worked out! They say they'll just pay!-

Although it seemed like a slightly crazy club, Yi-Han expected all the other clubs would be similar.

"Mr. Wardanaz."

"Ah. Ratford."

Yi-Han greeted his friend he hadn't seen in a long time (actually not that long) cheerfully.

"How's Black Tortoise Tower?"

"It's painful and hard."

"That's not bad then."

Ratford nodded as if agreeing. Being painful and hard was a good state in Einroguard.

"Have you joined a club, Mr. Wardanaz?"

"Uh... Well. I guess you could say I've joined. What about you, Ratford?"

"I've joined too. Someone I know recommended one."

"!"

Yi-Han looked curiously at Ratford's words that he had already joined a club.

"What kind of club is it to join already? Is it that good?"

"Ah. Would you like to take a look?"

"...Wait. Is it an official club?"

Yi-Han checked first, as he could be kidnapped if he went to the wrong place.

"No. It's an unofficial club."

"Phew. That's a relief."

"Pardon?"

"It's nothing. So, what's the club's name?"

"It's the <Teleportation (Change Location)> club."

'Is it a space magic research club?'