Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 31

Chapter 31

‘Has my wicked heart been exposed?’ Yi-Han worried for a moment, but fortunately, his true intentions remained concealed.

"Even if you wear priestly robes, it won't deepen your faith or weaken a curse," said Tijiling, concerned that Yi-Han might be misunderstanding something.

"Of course, that's true. But wearing the robes will make me reflect on my usual lazy and comfortable lifestyle," Yi-Han replied.

"Isn't your current attire sufficient?" Tijiling pointed to Yi-Han's clothes.

The skull principal had only provided the students with rough and simple uniforms, far from being comfortable or soft.

Yet, Yi-Han was unwavering. "No, I need the priestly robes. To understand the will of Lord Presinga more deeply."

"If you insist so strongly," Tijiling relented, unable to deny a request made for the sake of faith.

"I'll get them for you next time we meet."

"Good. Oh, and I have a favor to ask from Priest Mehrid. It’s for you to eat the meal that we received."

"I’m fine," Tijiling answered softly but firmly.

"I'm already satisfied with my current meals."

However, to immediately accept a refusal would be unbecoming of a graduate student.

If a professor asks you to do something, you must turn the impossible into possible.

Of course, Priest Mehrid wasn't a professor, but...

"But the priest is worried about you. If you do nothing, he'll continue to worry. How about this? We dine together. You don't have to force yourself to eat. Just having a meal together will ease the priest's concerns."

Tijiling, considering Yi-Han's reasonable suggestion, nodded her head.

She had indeed felt guilty for continually worrying Priest Mehrid.

"That sounds like a good idea."

"Doesn't it?" Yi-Han smiled slyly.

'Eating together will be an opportunity to make her eat more.'

Manipulating a girl who had grown up only praying within the order was all too easy for him.

Sensing something amiss in his smile, Tijiling tilted her head in confusion.

—

The weekend ended, and a new week began.

The students, having survived the harsh first week of their enrollment, seemed somehow more mature.

"Heh, you think Einroguard is tough? It feels like home to me now."

"It's been manageable after a week, right? I can keep up with the magic classes."

The students, briefly rested over the weekend, were brimming with unfounded confidence.

However, Einroguard was about to show its true colors to these students.

<Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic>

"Here, at one vertex of a cube, stands a young mage. He wants to connect a magic circle to the farthest vertex. Calculate the shortest distance he can connect."

"...Professor? Isn't this, uh, not magic..."

"Don't ask foolish and ignorant questions. A mage who relies solely on senses and waving a staff will never achieve greatness. As you ascend to higher circles of magic, understanding complex calculations and theories is essential. Geometry is one of the cores of magic. Without knowing geometry, you cannot draw a magic circle correctly. The same goes for arithmetic. How can one who doesn't know how to distribute mana draw a magic circle?"

"...This... This is..."

<Basic Imperial Language and Logic>

"One of the greatest dangers for young mages is being tricked into a deceitful contract by a being of higher intellect. Therefore, mages must be able to discern the risks of a contract and understand its ambiguous meanings. Today, we'll solve this problem. Here's a foolish mage, drunk on liquor. When intoxicated, this mage always does something stupid. One day, while drunk, he summoned a demon and entered into a disadvantageous contract. Can this mage nullify the contract once sober? Are those of you sleeping now not worried about your souls? Wake up!"

"Ah! I wasn't sleeping!"

The students, facing the fierce compulsory subjects for the first time in their first week, looked like their souls had been partly drained.

“What have I just listened to?”

"I... Maybe magic isn't for me..."

"Thinking I knew magic just because I could wave a staff... I am worthless trash..."

The students murmured, their confidence completely shattered.

Yet, among them, there were a few exceptional individuals.

"Geometry and arithmetic are just the basics of imperial governance and administration," mouthed Asan from the Dargard family, which had traditionally held the positions of Imperial Chancellor and Treasurer.

"..." Princess Adenart, renowned among the numerous royal family members for her outstanding talent.

"How did I solve it? Hey, does it really matter right now? We need to find a way out!" And Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family, who stood out even among the elite of the Blue Dragon, the gathering place of the empire's most prestigious families.

These three were prodigies, unblinkingly facing the suffocating assault of compulsory subjects.

'I never thought going to graduate school would be useful in life.'

Yi-Han thought to himself.

Despite everyone around him saying, 'What's the use of studying so much?' surprisingly, studying had its uses.

Though he hadn't expected it to be useful in this way...

"Hehehe. Yi-Han. Look at those guys from the White Tiger. They're a mess."

'You couldn't solve it either...'

Watching Gainando, who was also struggling with the problems, regain his spirit by mocking the White Tiger students, Yi-Han was amazed.

People really were consistent!

"Could you teach me later?"

Yonaire asked tentatively.

Even Yonaire, who was fairly intelligent, had found it challenging to keep up with today's lessons.

It seemed she needed to review and try solving the problems again.

Having a smart friend like Yi-Han to help would be tremendously beneficial.

Honestly, Yi-Han's performance earlier had been astonishing.

While Asan was famous for his family's reputation in such matters and Princess Adenart had proven herself several times, Yi-Han keeping pace with them was unexpected.

"Of course. I might ask you about alchemy later, too."

Yonaire's face brightened at Yi-Han's response.

'Having friends skilled in different areas makes studying easier.'

Surprisingly, connections were helpful in studies.

A genius who didn't need anyone's help could do without connections, but Yi-Han wasn't such a genius.

Having relationships where they could help each other was inevitably advantageous.

Yi-Han didn't consider teaching Yonaire math or logic a loss.

In fact, he thought it beneficial since he could learn alchemy from Yonaire.

"Ah, then me too!"

"..."

Yi-Han hesitated for a moment.

Teaching Gainando did indeed feel like a loss to Yi-Han.

"Of course."

"Didn't you just hesitate?"

"It's just your imagination. Besides, seeing how difficult these compulsory subjects are, I think I did well not choosing too many electives."

Everyone nodded in agreement with Yi-Han's words.

The confidence they had felt after the first week's lectures, thinking 'This isn't so bad,' had long since vanished.

They seriously considered dropping other classes.

Yi-Han casually suggested, "How about considering classes in Basic Swordsmanship, Basic Physical Training, or Repetitive Training of Basic Magic Combat now?"

"Sorry."

"I'd rather not."

"I really don't think that's a good idea."

The students, who had been attentive to Yi-Han's words, were very, very firm on this matter.

—

Just as the students gathered periodically, so did the professors.

The dwarf professor, Uregor, sipped his freshly brewed tea.

'Hmm. Good help really does make tea taste better.'

There was a saying in dwarf proverbs, 'Everything tastes better with a skilled worker.'

Indeed, the boy from the Wardanaz family was a skilled worker. The tea leaves had improved significantly than when Uregor used to manage the cabin alone.

This wasn't a job just anyone could do, especially not for someone from a great imperial family.

Truly a talent for menial tasks!

"But, principal,"

“Hmm?”

"Who is teaching the <Basic Riding Training> class?"

The troll mixed-blood, professor Garcia Kim, spoke up.

Uregor commented with a puzzled look, "Oh? Isn’t it Professor Bentozol teaching that?"

"Oh dear. Haven't you heard? Professor Bentozol went missing while searching for a unicorn. If he hasn't returned by now, we might need to find another professor."

“Don't worry. Of course, I've prepared.”

"As expected..."

"We trust you."

The professors all nodded at the reassuring words of the skull principal.

Despite the many uncertainties, the magic academy managed to maintain its course largely thanks to the principal's efforts.

Who else could run and lead this school if not the skull principal?

"So, who will it be?"

Uregor was curious.

<Basic Riding Training> was one of the compulsory courses.

It was not only to prevent the embarrassment of graduates being unable to ride a horse but also to get accustomed to handling various peculiar beasts.

Therefore, the professor needed extensive knowledge not just in horsemanship but in various mounts.

“Bungaegor (Lightningfoot) Choidal.”

"..."

"Oh, if it's her, we can trust her."

"Seems like an excellent choice."

All the professors, except Uregor, were pleased.

Bungaegor was a famous dwarf adventurer, renowned for exploring and researching uncharted territories within and beyond the empire.

However, Uregor was very, very displeased.

Because Bungaegor was Uregor's aunt from his mother’s side.

"Why her of all people?!"

“Complain to Bentozol, who went missing searching for unicorns. Did I know the professor would disappear? Be thankful I found a suitable replacement so quickly.”

"Ugh..."

Uregor had no counter to the skull principal's words.

Indeed, finding a fitting professor was no easy task.

But...

'I really didn't want to meet her.'

Uregor's dislike for the eastern dwarves included Bungaegor as well.

Bungaegor was of eastern dwarf origin.

Every time they met, Bungaegor would tear into Uregor's soul with nagging remarks like, "How long will you fiddle with flasks and chemicals in your study?" "Listen when an adult speaks," "The Mushaedari (Ironlegs) from the next clan have already started his own family!"

Professor Garcia tried to offer some consolation.

"Don't worry too much. You won't have to see her that often."

"I hope that's true..."

—

Despite being hammered all day with mathematics and language, the students' faces were surprisingly bright.

It was because of the class they were about to attend.

<Basic Riding Training>

In the Empire, riding was not only a noble's cultivation and a knight's skill, but also a luxury not too difficult for commoners.

Students from the Blue Dragon, who had ridden horses around their estates since childhood, those from the White Tiger who had galloped through mountains and fields on warhorses, and even those from the Black Tortoise who had traveled the long imperial roads with just a horse, all were confident in their skills.

Yi-Han, who naturally knew how to ride, was not particularly wary either.

'After all, if you keep whipping, people will collapse, so there must be carrot-like lectures too.'

-Craaaawwww!

“?”

“???”

“??????”

With a monstrous shriek, something enormous flew down from the sky.

It grabbed Gainando in its beak and flew away.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!"