Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 697

Chapter 697

Yi-Han was momentarily slow to react upon hearing such an absurd statement.

"Are you seriously saying that...?!"

Telling him to avoid it on his own, without the skull principal's magic, avoiding contact with 1st year students was no easy task.

In the crowded Einroguard, not only detecting 1st year students first and avoiding them, but if there were many 1st year students, he might have to constantly use invisibility.

It was such a difficult challenge that even Yi-Han, who usually conformed to reality saying "Damn it, Professor, isn't this too much? But I'll try, because you're the professor and I'm just a student, I respect your authority," felt at a loss.

Pop!

However, just as he was about to protest the unreasonable difficulty, the skull principal who had finished the magic disappeared.

-His speech was shorter compared to last year.-

-What did you hear, senior?-

-He said he'd permanently confine losers who can't graduate in the punishment room.-

-...That's, that's a joke, right?-

Students from other years also appeared simultaneously in the space where the 2nd year students had entered.

The skull principal had split the same location into multiple spaces like a kaleidoscope to give lectures to students of each year simultaneously.

Then he created his own doppelgangers and delivered lectures tailored to each year.

'He really uses magic for such useless things!'

Yi-Han was so dumbfounded by this ridiculous waste of magic that he forgot to get angry.

"Yi-Han. It's the seniors!"

"Look at those eyes. They're trying to deceive us!"

"Gainando. Isn't that too..."

"You don't know because you came late during the winter break! All seniors are thieves!"

The 2nd year students, suddenly facing 3rd and 4th year students, murmured among themselves.

Yi-Han and his friends, who had felt the seniors' evil true nature during smuggling, showed wary gazes, but the rest of the 2nd year students showed friendly attitudes like baby birds meeting their mother bird.

"Senior. Please take care of us."

"Haha. Sure. Do you know about smuggling by any chance?"

"Huh? What's that?"

"You can still do it now! Well..."

"..."

Yi-Han shook his head at the persistence of trying to find bait on the spot even after entering Einroguard.

"Blue Dragon Tower this way!"

"White Tiger Tower this way. No need to talk with seniors from other towers. Gather here!"

"Even if it's a senior from the same tower, don't be tempted by offers! Don't make any deals today. I warn you! Don't make any deals today!"

Still, there were some well-meaning seniors among them.

Seniors who knew well how 3rd and 4th years exploited 2nd years went around separating 2nd year students by their respective towers and strongly warned them.

Anglago asked Yi-Han.

"Wardanaz. What do you think that warning means?"

"Anglago. That warning..."

"Right. Those seniors have been turned by the principal."

"..."

Yi-Han looked at Anglago with the same gaze he gave to Gainando and below.

However, surprisingly, Anglago wasn't the only one who thought that way.

"Hey. They say smuggling is possible?"

"What? I have some food I brought, can I bring it in?"

"This quill control artifact seems useful...!"

The news that smuggling was possible spread quickly among the 2nd years.

Human greed can never be easily stopped.

Yi-Han tried to persuade the students somehow with his friends, going around each tower.

"Friends. Listen to me. Those seniors are trying to use you."

"Everyone. Don't fall for those words! You shouldn't trust the seniors!"

"Listen to me, everyone! The seniors...!"

However, the response wasn't as big as expected. If half believed Yi-Han's words, about half didn't believe them.

That's how strong the power of desire was.

"Isn't Wardanaz deceiving us?"

"Wardanaz is the principal's top disciple, right? He might be spreading false rumors on the principal's orders to prevent us from smuggling..."

"...Hey. Who said that? Step forward."

There are things people should and shouldn't say!

When Yi-Han called out in anger, the White Tiger Tower student quickly lowered his posture.

-Everyone be quiet! Each year to your positions!-

-Silence! We'll attack those who make noise!-

"Hey. Are you interested in smuggl..."

A senior who was trying to approach the 2nd year area and whisper even though Death Knights had appeared flew backward.

More than ten arrows condensed with black energy were stuck in his body.

"Ugh!"

The Death Knight who had shot the dark element arrows shouted fiercely.

-Don't make noise or move until the inspection!-

"Tsk tsk. What a fool."

"Should have been more tactful. More tactful."

"..."

As the atmosphere grew chilly, the Death Knights created an encirclement around the students gathered at the main gate.

It was to prepare for any possible attacks, riots, rebellions, ambushes, terrorism, etc.

-I'll explain for students who might not know. Einroguard is a sacred magic academy protected by strict rules passed down from ancient times! As such, the school's rules must be observed more strictly than any secular law!-

"He's really talking bullshit."

"Has that undead bastard gone mad?"

Fierce curses flowed from among the 3rd and 4th years.

What ancient strict rule is it to confiscate sugar and butter when brought in!

-Therefore, outside items cannot be brought in without special permission. If items are discovered, they will be confiscated and you may even go to the punishment room, so keep that in mind!-

"We get it, so let's start quickly!"

"Are you happy becoming a knight to steal young students' possessions! Is that why you became a knight?"

"Was stealing possessions included in the knight's oath?!"

-Quiet! Don't cause a disturbance!-

-Don't approach arbitrarily, student! If you come closer, we'll consider it an attack!-

"Tch. What a shame."

"..."

Yi-Han realized that the students gathered here were more diverse than he had thought.

There were students trying to deceive the Death Knights' eyes and pass the inspection, but there were also some students who seemed to be trying to break through the encirclement itself and just run away.

Even just now, there were students who were slowly approaching while provoking the Death Knights...

Certainly, they were all extraordinary, as expected of Einroguard students.

As even completing 1st year at Einroguard was treated as a full-fledged mage outside, seniors who had spent more time were mages that even Death Knights had to be wary of.

'Indeed. With this structure, rebellion might be a viable option.'

If all the students here caused a riot, it would certainly be difficult to stop them all.

It was an option worth considering, except for the drawback of dealing with the aftermath later.

-We'll start the inspection. 6th year students, 5th year students, come forward!-

Yi-Han watched as some seniors he had seen before and some he hadn't seen came forward.

Perhaps because they were 4th year and above, their numbers were overwhelmingly fewer compared to other years.

-Is this all your luggage?-

"Yes."

-You may pass.-

The Death Knights didn't thoroughly search or inspect 5th or 6th year students.

Even the warehouse keeper didn't come forward, and they just pretended to search and let them pass.

Seeing this, a 3rd year student shouted to provoke the Death Knights.

"Discriminating against students! Inspect them properly!"

-Shut up! Student, don't you have a human heart? Don't you feel sorry for seniors who have entered 5th year?-

"You went too far just now. No matter what, telling them to search 5th year seniors more strictly!"

"Boo! You scumbag!"

However, surprisingly, this provocation backfired.

Other students, including the Death Knights, all began to criticize the person who had just spoken.

No matter what, how could they try to torment someone who had advanced to 5th year!

"..."

"..."

Of course, such consideration had little effect on the 5th and 6th years themselves.

Yi-Han realized that Direth, who had passed the inspection, was wearing a complex expression. Not just Direth, but almost all other 5th years were similar.

-It's over.-

-I see. Don't let your guard down. From now on, we'll start inspecting 2nd to 4th year students! Students who have passed the inspection may go to their respective towers!-

'Now the real thing begins.'

With the 5th and 6th years gone, now the years aiming for proper smuggling remained.

They cleverly sent messages to 2nd year juniors even under the surveillance of Death Knights and other normal seniors.

Are you interested in smuggling? If you have anything you want to move, join now!

Not only paper birds often used for message delivery, but telepathy magic. There were even students floating letters in the sky or on the ground.

Those who want to protect their rightful property, to the northeast!

Yi-Han exchanged glances with his friends.

"Everyone prepared?"

"Yes."

Although they had already succeeded in the most important smuggling underground, the most important thing in Einroguard operations was the aftermath.

Confusing the opponent as much as possible and making it impossible to guess.

For that, Yi-Han and his friends had prepared one modest backpack each.

Just a few magic books that wouldn't be a big loss if confiscated, coffee powder or tea leaves, snacks like sugar or chocolate.

Even having these confiscated would lessen the skull principal's suspicion.

"Good luck everyone. I'll go meet some seniors."

Yi-Han packed his backpack and began to make contact with the seniors he had promised to meet.

"...Understood. So this box..."

"...That's right... If you put the box in your luggage and carry it... They won't search all those many boxes, so at least one should succeed..."

Dhumcha, who finished whispering the conversation, looked at Yi-Han's back with a satisfied expression.

While other unprepared students were still trying to find 2nd year bait even now, it wasn't so easy in the current situation.

It was surprisingly difficult to persuade juniors and get them to do the necessary things in a situation where troublemakers were watching and Death Knights were monitoring.

Such things should have been prepared in advance in the city.

'The early bird mage steals a lot from the principal's warehouse.'

"Then I'll be going."

"Alright. Alright."

Dhumcha's plan was simple.

If a commotion occurs in one line of the multiple inspection lines, passing through other lines becomes relatively easier.

Of course, the junior would be in charge of one line!

-Come forward.-

"Yes. Yes."

Dhumcha magically crumpled several boxes into his bag and walked.

In front, a senior had already been caught and was pleading.

"No, why can't I bring my gold coins? I need them! Please let me off just this once! I need an enormous amount of gold to confirm if the plague I created completely turns gold into lead!"

-You can obtain gold coins on your own. Gold coins brought from your family are prohibited.-

"Why are they prohibited! Call the principal!"

-We'll confiscate these gold coins and use them as research funds for the entire year.-

"You thieves! You evil undead!"

'Tsk tsk.'

Dhumcha clicked his tongue inwardly.

He had heard that when students become 4th years, they often do crazy things due to graduation pressure, but to make such a mistake so blatantly.

Secretly bringing in family gold coins only pleased the skull principal.

Dhumcha had clearly seen a senior who was caught bringing gold coins last year being mocked by the skull principal every time they met, saying "Here comes Einroguard's donor! When's the next donation?"

-Skull Principal Idiot! Skull Principal Idiot!-

'It's starting!'

When Dhumcha heard the bone-catching parrot's cry, he cleared his throat. Then he put on a desperate act.

"No! What's going on?!"

Dhumcha tried to enter by pushing his backpack forward.

However, an unexpected cry burst out from Dhumcha's backpack as well.

-Skull Principal Idiot! Skull Principal Idiot!-

"..."

-What are you doing?-