Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 705

Chapter 705

As the basilisk struggled as if it would never let go, Direth said cautiously,

"How about letting it stay a bit longer?"

"Pardon?"

"Well, you know. Even animals like to stay close to their mothers when they're young, right?"

"Senior. I'm not a basilisk though."

When Yi-Han looked at her as if she was being ridiculous, Direth's face turned red.

In her haste to speak, she had said something nonsensical.

"It's a metaphor, a metaphor!"

"But isn't a basilisk a violent and arrogant monster? That's what I learned from Professor Bungaegor."

By now, the tail outside the sleeve was waving pitifully. Direth unknowingly defended the baby basilisk.

"Of course, monsters share certain habits. But don't they also have their own unique characteristics? This basilisk might be timid and affectionate..."

"Hmm."

Yi-Han pondered Direth's words.

"But even so, when it gets bigger, doesn't it need to live separately?"

"...That's true."

-?!-

Direth couldn't refute.

No matter how timid and affectionate it was, physically, if it grew any larger here, it couldn't continue to cling on.

If it did, the junior's arm might fall off...

Yi-Han slowly detached the basilisk that was trying to tightly wrap around his arm like a sturdy rope and said,

"You don't need to worry, senior. It might be like this now, but when it grows a bit more, it will find the sleeve confining and want to wander outside."

"Hmm. It's a monster that shouldn't wander outside, but let's say that for now."

Direth pretended not to see the baby basilisk's desperate tail-wagging plea and changed the subject.

'Sorry. I did what I could.'

"Junior. I have one last thing to say."

"I'm all ears."

"After you finish today's work, go back and rest, then from tomorrow, people from Einroguard clubs will probably come out."

"Ah."

Yi-Han listened intently.

He had heard a lot about Einroguard's clubs before.

A person cannot live alone, and a mage cannot pursue truth alone.

...That was usually the principle of ordinary social clubs, but Einroguard's clubs had a slightly different feel.

'They seemed a bit obsessed with gold coins.'

According to a senior from the duel club he met during the break, the main source of income for Einroguard's duel club was proxy duels.

They would intervene in disputes between Einroguard students, fight duels for them, and receive gold coins.

And according to the senior, surprisingly, this duel club wasn't unusual.

All proper clubs at Einroguard had a proper source of income as an essential condition.

At this point, it was hard to distinguish whether they were social clubs or Einroguard student guilds.

"There's a lot about clubs I don't know because there are so many, but remember one thing, junior."

"Yes."

"Act as stupid and incompetent as possible."

"...???"

***

Morning.

As he had been working on transporting smuggled goods with his friends from evening until late at night, some fatigue remained.

Yi-Han came down to the 2nd year lounge, yawning. Familiar friends were waiting with expectant faces.

Seeing this, Yi-Han was puzzled.

"Did I say I'd prepare breakfast this morning?"

"...Ah, no. Wardanaz. We're not just happy because we're expecting a lavish breakfast!"

"That's right. We're not pigs who only crave food!"

"Hmm. I see."

Yi-Han made a skeptical expression at his friends' unconvincing words and opened the crate of smuggled goods.

Although he was too busy to prepare a meal, he took out some simple things to eat as they couldn't eat nothing.

As sliced bread, cheese, oil for dipping, salted ham, and a few cans came out, the Blue Dragon Tower students rushed over with faces full of happiness.

'Wait. Aren't they curious about how I have these foods?'

Yi-Han thought inwardly.

Normally, they should be surprised and ask 'How do you have this on the first day?'...

While having a light meal, Yi-Han asked his friends.

"Then why were you waiting expectantly in the lounge from this morning?"

"Because we can join Einroguard clubs from today!"

"Ah. So that's what it was."

Yi-Han had thought perhaps a festival was being held or lectures were canceled, but sadly, that wasn't the case.

"Clubs... don't seem like they'd be that fun or exciting."

Although he hadn't fully understood Direth's words yet, Yi-Han had long since abandoned any romance or illusions about Einroguard clubs.

Especially, he didn't think they would be the pleasant and warm social clubs his friends imagined.

However, hearing Yi-Han's words, his friends looked at him as if to say 'How can you utter such cold and cruel words?'

"That's... that's impossible, Wardanaz. Social clubs are places every noble likes, aren't they?"

"I wasn't particularly interested. I don't think anyone in our family joined social clubs either..."

"The Wardanaz family is an exception!"

"Why an exception?"

The Blue Dragon Tower friend, at a loss for words, quickly changed the subject.

"Clubs are really good places, Wardanaz. Of course, newly established, vulgar upstart clubs that have just opened are noisy and have a tavern-like atmosphere. But traditional clubs are visited only by well-mannered nobles, and there's a joy in conversation."

"And we play mage cards too."

Gainando, who had come down late, nodded and said.

"Right. We play mage cards too. But I prefer chess."

"Don't talk crazy. How is chess better than mage cards? Is there fun in collecting chess pieces?"

"Chess is truly... Ah. Be quiet, Gainando! You made me lose my train of thought! Anyway, Yi-Han. In clubs, we talk about what happened today and discuss the empire's political situation..."

"Isn't that similar to the lounge?"

"It's different! I'm telling you it's different!"

"O-okay."

As his friend looked too desperate, Yi-Han readily agreed.

As other students came down one by one, waking up, Gainando, who was munching on bread dipped in olive oil beside him, asked,

"Yi-Han, which club are you going to join?"

"Hmm. A club where the work is easy and I can earn a lot of gold coins."

'I shouldn't have asked.'

Gainando grumbled inwardly at his friend's completely unromantic answer and finished eating his bread.

As the morning sun fully rose and all the students gathered in the 2nd year lounge, a paper bird flew in through the window.

Then it burned up and turned into a sound.

2nd year students to the common lounge!

"!"

"Let's go!"

The students, without exception, excitedly tried to move.

To think they could meet all the seniors in the common lounge, not just the year lounge.

What kind of place would it be?

"Hey. Everyone, get some magic before you go."

"Drink this potion before you go."

"Is there anyone brave enough to take the lead? For your friends?"

"..."

However, there were people who maintained their composure. It was Yi-Han and his friends.

Yi-Han and his friends grabbed the napes of the students trying to rush out, cast magic on them, and made them move in battle formation.

This was because they could be ambushed as soon as they entered the common lounge.

"But, but they're our seniors..."

"You were treated like that during smuggling and you're still saying that? When we enter the common lounge, don't open any doors. Don't enter rooms alone. Let's be careful when seniors talk to us."

The Blue Dragon Tower 2nd year students moved in a much calmer and more somber atmosphere than before.

Creak-

Perse, who was waiting in the common lounge, was surprised to see the 2nd year students enter in an orderly manner.

"You guys are really amazing. In our time, everyone was excited and fought to rush in first... Yes. This is noble dignity. I hope from next year on, we can learn a bit from you guys."

At Perse's praise, the 2nd year students looked away awkwardly, embarrassed. Some students quickly lowered their staffs and put their potions back in their pockets.

Yi-Han and Yonaire whispered from behind.

"There doesn't seem to be any trap, right?"

"Yeah."

The common lounge was spacious and desolate. It was the opposite of the year lounges, which were somewhat warm and comfortable.

If the year lounges were cozy living rooms with fireplaces, the common lounge gave off the feeling of a wide open campground.

"Senior. Why is it so empty here?"

"Hm? Ah. That's because it's a common lounge. If you leave things here, students from other years will take them."

'Didn't you just talk about noble dignity?'

It seemed that by the time one became a 3rd or 4th year Blue Dragon Tower student, they wouldn't hesitate to steal, regardless of noble dignity.

"Usually, when resting, people rest in their own year's lounge, not coming to rest in the common lounge like this. This place is used when there's business or discussions to be had at the Blue Dragon Tower level."

Perse pointed to a huge wooden signboard set up in the open space. It was a signboard with a bulletin board installed.

-Looking for mages to perform this Marka Guild request together. 3rd year or above, 3 or more protective spells, grades within top 30.

-There was a recent attack on White Tiger Tower, so be careful.

ㄴI recommend changing the tower's emblem and wearing secret marks to recognize each other.

ㄴWhite Tiger Tower guys were also walking around with our tower's emblem asking if we were from the same tower...

-Looking for the magic book <Secrets of Evil Transformation>.

ㄴCan't you just request it from the library club?

ㄴThose bastards are too expensive.

ㄴI know. I'm a library club member.

Yi-Han read the papers the seniors had plastered all over with interest.

Apart from the bulletin board, there were a few tents or canopies visible where seniors had stayed last year. And...

"What's that?"

"I was about to explain. We're going to move there today."

"!"

A huge door installed on one side of the common lounge.

At the news that they would move through that door, the Blue Dragon Tower 2nd year students showed strong wariness.

As Wardanaz had warned, one could never let their guard down at Einroguard.

Even if it was a senior!

"Where is it?"

"Follow me."

Instead of answering, Perse opened the door and moved beyond it. The rippling realm beyond suggested it was a door with spatial magic cast on it.

Flash!

Perse, who had arrived on the 7th floor of Einroguard after passing through the common lounge door, waited for the juniors to come out.

This 7th floor of Einroguard boasted the widest and most complex area even within the main building of Einroguard, which had infinite space.

It was no exaggeration to call it a town or city rather than a floor.

As such, students 2nd year and above spent a lot of time on this 7th floor.

While 1st years spent time in the gardens or courtyards outside the main building, their seniors spent time in the spaces of the 7th floor.

It was bound to be convenient, as all towers' common lounges had spatial transfer doors connected to the 7th floor.

"Why aren't the Blue Dragon Tower students coming?"

The students belonging to Einroguard clubs who were waiting to explain asked Perse.

"Wait a bit."

"Isn't it taking too long? Should we go check?"

"They're not little kids, there's no need to look after every little..."

No sooner had the words ended than the door connected to the common lounge opened and 2nd year juniors began pouring out.

With all sorts of magic loaded.

"..."

"..."

The club students waiting were startled by the fierce aura.

"Wh-what's this?"

"What's going on? Why are they like this?"

Yi-Han, who had grasped the situation, quickly made up an excuse.

"...We just saw the principal's minion in the common lounge. We escaped quickly, so we were worried."