Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 700

Chapter 700

"I didn't know you could come out without me summoning you."

-The dark energy is truly overflowing!-

The undead mage, Verduus, took a deep breath of the abundant power.

Usually, beings from other realms were difficult to summon again once summoned until their power recovered.

Moreover, Verduus was still in a state where injuries from the Ghoul King remained.

Even Verduus himself seemed not to have expected to come out to the material plane without being called, as he checked the surrounding situation several times.

A powerful spider monster was rampaging and exhaling an even more poisonous breath.

-Wait. Surely this isn't the master's test like last time?-

"Uh, well."

Yi-Han paused.

Last time, during the dark magic midterm exam, Yi-Han had misunderstood the seniors' undead wave and called Verduus to stop it.

Verduus, who had fought hard for his contractor, had spewed all kinds of curses after learning the truth later.

'Is this the master's test too?'

Strictly speaking, it was the principal's test, but in a way, it could be said it wasn't a test since it was more of an accident...

-It can't be. No master would send out such a monster as a test opponent.-

"..."

-But why are those Death Knights looking at me like that?-

The undead mage was puzzled by the gazes the Death Knights were sending.

They weren't novice apprentice knights, but Death Knights who had experienced both the glory of life and the hardships of death were looking this way with fear to an unusual degree.

One of the Death Knights cautiously asked.

-Did you perhaps turn the professor into an undead?-

"No."

Yi-Han answered seriously.

No matter how much they misunderstood, wasn't this too extreme a misunderstanding?

The Death Knights were disappointed by Yi-Han's answer.

-Ugh!-

-I had some hope...-

"..."

The undead mage called Yi-Han as if asking for an explanation. The Death Knights' behavior had been very strange from earlier.

"Ah. Well, there's a mage with the Verduus family name, and the relationship between that person and these Death Knights isn't very good."

-I see. So that's what it was. They're overreacting for Death Knights. No matter how much the family name matches, to be afraid of a mere mage.-

"Haha."

Yi-Han thought his opinion might change a bit if he met Professor Verduus.

Professor Verduus had a fear beyond strength.

-Besides, there must be hundreds of Verduus families not only on the continent but in other realms too.-

"You're right."

-Tsk tsk. By the way, what race is that mage?-

"Huh? Why do you ask that?"

-When I still had a body of flesh, my race was beaver mixed-blood. I was just curious. It's not a common race!-

"..."

Yi-Han felt a greater terror than when Anansi was summoned earlier. He felt as if all the blood was draining from his body and it was stiffening coldly.

Could it be?

'No. It must be a coincidence.'

Although the undead mage before him was a lich and had worked in the Ghoul King's palace, he was fundamentally a good and righteous person.

Such a person couldn't possibly be Professor Verduus's ancestor, could he?

-Why are you standing there fine?-

"!"

Anansi, who had been clearing away the cumbersome Death Knights, belatedly noticed Yi-Han and its eyes flashed.

The Death Knights shouted hurriedly.

-Bea... Mage sir. Please help!-

-Bea... Bea... Damn it, we request your support!-

-Understood! Let's cooperate!-

The undead mage, being an experienced lich, didn't waste any more time on useless conversation.

Snakes, bones, and dark elements moved to draw a magic circle.

-You, get in here!-

-Is it a protection magic circle?-

The Death Knights asked as Yi-Han entered the magic circle.

It was unusual for a protection magic circle.

-It's a mana absorption magic circle?-

"It's a mana absorption magic circle."

-...-

The Death Knights paused for a moment at the answers from the undead mage and Yi-Han.

They were confused whether they should subdue Anansi or the lich trying to exploit the master's disciple's mana.

'Why is the top disciple so calm while having his mana absorbed?'

'Isn't it hard to learn under the master without some madness?'

While the Death Knights hesitated, the undead mage finished charging mana.

As the contractor's mana was overflowing, it wasn't difficult to prepare. Moreover, the surrounding dark elements were abundant too...

-Be engraved on me, Pentagrammaton!-

With the overflowing power, the undead mage even used a small world.

The limits of dark magic were released for the mage and his immediate vicinity, and dozens, hundreds of spells were completed ahead of the mage's chanting.

A black aura enveloped the Death Knights and thickened their armor. Their swords, which had been blazing with blue negative energy, became even sharper and more vicious.

-Jathatgakbamληαεγδ■■■■...-

As magic was cast so quickly that it exceeded the limits of perception, the words of the spell couldn't even be heard.

Nevertheless, the magic didn't interfere with or affect each other. Without a single error, it accurately strengthened the Death Knights and weakened Anansi.

-Aaargh!-

Even Anansi, who had been rampaging relying only on its tough exoskeleton no matter what attack it received, felt pain when dozens of curses poured in like a tide.

The Death Knights, having received proper support, roared and charged in.

-W-wait! Wait!-

-It's too late. You should have listened when we were talking earlier!-

Although they couldn't draw out mana as vibrantly as when they were alive, the powers the Death Knights had received after swearing to the master of death more than made up for it.

The power to receive the power of darkness indefinitely, without the limits of the vessel!

The Death Knights, borrowing the power of dark magic, spewed black aura and properly slaughtered Anansi.

-Excellent!-

The undead mage was satisfied watching the Death Knights fight.

He had thought they were pathetic knights for being scared because of some mage with an overlapping family name, but seeing them fight, it was clear they had been sufficiently valiant knights in life.

Thud!

As the giant spider finally collapsed, the undead mage expressed gratitude for the knights' dedication.

-You all worked hard. May your swords be as eternal as your fame!-

-Mage sir, may your magic also be eternal and immortal!-

-By the way, how did that spider come out?-

-Sigh, it came out when the master was trying to test the students.-

-...-

The undead mage gaped at Yi-Han.

Yi-Han quickly fled towards the students.

***

After the battle ended and the commotion was settled (which included stopping and sending back the undead mage who was spewing curses in excitement), the Death Knights resumed the inspection.

Unlike earlier, this inspection was quiet and peaceful.

This was because all the students attempting smuggling had been caught, and everyone was exhausted.

-Pass.-

"Thank you."

-Pass.-

"Is that the guy from earlier?"

-I said pass, student. Of course, to answer your question, yes it is.-

"Wow..."

"Is that perhaps Wardanaz? I thought it was just a baseless rumor at Einroguard."

"You mean it wasn't a false rumor created by the skull principal?"

The seniors who had seen Yi-Han running between Anansi's toxic breaths and being with the Death Knights even during the confusion earlier whispered in wonder.

To avoid the gazes, Yi-Han lifted Gainando. Gainando struggled, displeased.

-You may pass.-

"Ah. Yes. I'm sorry. Junior! Are you interested in the ball game club... Ugh!"

The Death Knights firmly restrained students who broke the rules.

They couldn't arbitrarily entice 2nd year students who weren't fully prepared yet with club recommendations, school recommendations, research recommendations, and so on.

-No club recommendations or school recommendations.-

-And aren't school recommendations meaningless? After all...-

"..."

Yi-Han looked at the Death Knights with a hurt expression. The Death Knights, belatedly realizing, cleared their throats and avoided his gaze.

-Give me your backpack.-

"Here it is."

Yi-Han took out the backpack for confiscation.

It was a backpack he had moderately filled to be confiscated.

The warehouse keeper and Death Knights glanced around briefly and whispered.

-You may pass.-

"Pardon?"

-You can just pass through. Honestly, after all that trouble, you can bring in this much.-

Not only the Death Knights, but even the warehouse keeper whose eyes were covered with bandages seemed to show sympathy.

Among the skull principal's minions, few didn't pity Yi-Han.

"...Ah, no. We can't arbitrarily change school rules like that..."

Of course, this was a perplexing situation for Yi-Han.

Yi-Han asked, just in case.

"Are you letting me pass because I fought together against Anansi earlier?"

The question was filled with desperation.

It was desperation to preserve the meaning of the underground smuggling he had gone through with such trouble.

-That's not it. We were originally going to let the top disciple bring in a little.-

-Please pass through quickly.-

"...Thank you..."

Yi-Han packed his backpack with drooping shoulders and walked forward.

The Death Knights were puzzled by this sight.

-Why isn't he happy?-

-He must be acting. The master's eyes are everywhere in the school.-

-Indeed...! It might be a bit rude to say this, but it seems not just anyone can be the master's disciple.-

-Hoho. Of course!-

***

'...It wasn't in vain.'

As he passed through the inspection and headed towards Blue Dragon Tower, Yi-Han regained his spirits.

In fact, the Death Knights let him pass out of pity because it was just a backpack, but if he had brought a smuggling carriage, even Death Knights would likely have reacted saying 'this is a bit much'.

The underground smuggling was definitely not in vain.

"That's right, Yi-Han. That was definitely not a futile act."

Gainando spoke in an unusually serious voice.

Yi-Han was slightly moved.

"You think so too?"

"I sacrificed myself by even drinking poison!"

"..."

Yonaire whispered from the side.

"That's the 23rd time."

"...Let's just put up with it until we get inside."

The 2nd year students who had gathered one by one in front of Blue Dragon Tower after finishing the inspection stopped when they saw a senior.

The Blue Dragon Tower senior, who had been waiting while tapping the tip of his snakeskin boots as if bored, stood up as the 2nd year students gathered.

"You're all here. There's no 2nd year who went to the punishment room, right? If there is, you guys tell them later. I'm Perse of the Quilberk family. I'm moving up to 4th year this time. I was waiting to explain the life of Einroguard's bronze years to you."

"Are you the 4th year representative... student council president... leader... I'm not sure if such things exist, but anyway, something like that?"

"No. The reason I was waiting is just because I lost in a lottery. And what you just mentioned doesn't exist. Don't be fooled even if the principal says there is. If you don't want to be a laughingstock. In my 2nd year, I was fooled by the principal's words and tried to become a non-existent student council president."

"..."

Perse was tall and muscular. He looked more suited to White Tiger Tower than Blue Dragon Tower.

Seeing the magic on his snakeskin boots and the ball game mallet hanging on his back, Yi-Han realized that the other person really liked ball games. Or used the mallet as a weapon.

"It's really fortunate that you didn't participate in smuggling. Every year, some people fall for it."

"Shouldn't the seniors have stopped us more?"

At someone's question, Perse shrugged.

"When we try to stop them, they want to do it more. It's quite ironic."

"..."

"Anyway, shall we start? I don't have much time as I'm a 4th year too. What you need to know about this year is mainly clubs, lectures, and missions. Club members will come and explain from tomorrow, so shall I explain about lectures first? Who's taking one school here?"

Several students raised their hands. Perse nodded.

"It's not bad to major in one more in 2nd year. Your research becomes more flexible after all. Who's taking two?"

Quite a few students raised their hands. Perse was satisfied.

"Blue Dragon Tower students are always the most studious and intellectually outstanding. Is there anyone taking three?"

Adenart raised her hand. Perse bowed politely with respect.

Even if she was a junior, a mage majoring in three schools deserved such a greeting.

"I express my respect. It's a great achievement, but if it gets tough, consider reducing the number of schools. The professors will understand."

'Is that so?'

Yi-Han tilted his head inwardly.

It didn't seem like it...