Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 1030

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 1030

 

“You said you wouldn’t get angry…”

 

“Surprisingly, even the happiest person in the Empire can get angry. Only the most evil mage in the Empire could make such a thing possible.”

 

The Great Artist swept the broken obsidian flowers to the side and spoke nonchalantly.

 

“Then you must be Lee Han of the Wardanaz Family. Is that correct?”

 

“Yes.”

 

There was no point in telling clumsy lies to an Archmage who had already guessed everything.

 

Lee Han answered calmly.

 

“The youngest of the Wardanaz Family and a 2nd year at Einroguard.”

 

“Yes.”

 

-2nd year?

 

-Wasn’t he a 5th year?

 

Murmuring voices came from behind, but Lee Han didn’t hear them as he was focused on The Other Person.

 

“The sacrificial lamb who will bear the most tragic and pitiful fate in the Empire. A mage for burnt offerings. A poor soul who will soon burn!”

 

“…Th-that’s not the case.”

 

The Other Person seemed to be mistaken.

 

However, the Great Artist spoke with a powerful voice as if he had seen the future.

 

“You think it’s not true. But it will happen soon. Unless you run away right now!”

 

“That can’t be… Wait. Or can it?”

 

Lee Han, who was about to deny it, wavered slightly.

 

Come to think of it, unlike his other Friends, ever since he started learning magic separately from the Skeleton Principal, he felt like his life had become particularly full of hardships.

 

When the youngest Disciple under the Skeleton Principal seemed more reasonable to talk to than expected, the Great Artist nodded.

 

There was still hope for that Boy.

 

Before he went insane, or became corrupted and became a Professor, or something even more terrible, he had to enlighten him and bring him to the bright path where light shines.

 

“I have quite a lot to teach you. Follow me.”

 

At the artist’s statement, the Petrogard Students spoke with expressions full of envy.

 

“What luck! To have a private audience with the Great Artist as soon as you arrive and learn those truths…”

 

“You should be grateful. Mage from the Wardanaz Family. Remember this well. Listen to what your soul is saying. Don’t be swayed by what your family demands of you. Even if the Empire forces you to do things for the sake of appearances, ignore them.”

 

‘Damn. If this were Einroguard, I would have hit them.’

 

Lee Han cursed the Petrogard Students inwardly as he followed behind the Great Artist.

 

* * *

 

The residence where the Great Artist stayed was smaller than expected and even had a modest atmosphere in some ways.

 

When Lee Han seemed surprised, the artist asked.

 

“Did you think it would be much more luxurious?”

 

“A little bit.”

 

“I pursue my own pleasure and happiness, but that doesn’t necessarily connect to luxury. That might actually be a path that leads away from it.”

 

While looking around the bleak interior, Lee Han discovered several paintings. Among them, surprisingly, there was a familiar figure.

 

Long flowing hair and perfect features that could only be seen in statues of ancient kingdoms.

 

It was a portrait of the Skeleton Principal in human form.

 

“May I ask you something?”

 

“Go ahead. I brought you here to teach you in the first place, so I should be able to answer one question.”

 

“Were you indeed the Principal’s Disciple, sir?”

 

“No.”

 

“!”

 

Lee Han was shocked.

 

Could he be a Mage Criminal???

 

‘Oh no. How could I act so carelessly…!’

 

“I was merely a pitiful Einroguard Student who was deceived by that despicable and evil being.”

 

“…”

 

That’s still being a Disciple!

 

The Other Person seemed to have a hobby of saying the fact that he was the Skeleton Principal’s Disciple in a roundabout way. It was similar to how Gainando didn’t like to directly say ‘I didn’t study and just played around’ and would say it in a roundabout way.

 

“But why do you suddenly ask that? Didn’t you come knowing that?”

 

“Ah. I thought of it when I saw that portrait…”

 

Lee Han was about to ask if he drew it because he still had some respect left, but hesitated.

 

He might unnecessarily provoke The Other Person.

 

“I draw it often.”

 

“Is that so??”

 

“Yes. For my pleasure.”

 

Since the topic came up, the Great Artist showed how he pursued pleasure through painting.

 

Whoosh!

 

He immediately burned the portrait.

 

“Watching a burning painting makes even terrible hatred fade a little.”

 

“…”

 

Lee Han was genuinely relieved that he hadn’t asked if he respected him.

 

If he had asked, he might have been burning along with that painting.

 

“Sit down. I have something to tell you.”

 

When the Junior from Einroguard sat down obediently, the Great Artist slowly opened his mouth.

 

“Where should I start the story… Right, you probably don’t feel it yet. The story about how your fate is unfortunate and you’ll soon be offered as a sacrifice for burnt offerings.”

 

“Actually, I have a bit of an idea about that.”

 

“?!”

 

Just learning magic under the Skeleton Principal could lead to getting caught up in fights when a second Projection appeared, or Mage Criminals appeared, or Anti-Magic Extremists appeared.

 

So he could guess what this Senior from the same school meant by such talk.

 

Of course, the Great Artist seemed slightly surprised by Lee Han’s reaction.

 

It was surprising that someone who was only a 2nd year would react like this.

 

“You have an idea? No! It’s much more likely that you’re mistaken.”

 

“Uh, Mage Criminals, Anti-Magic Extremists, Worshippers of Evil Gods, Great Demons, dimensional Monsters… or having to fight the Principal’s Doppelganger, something like that?”

 

“…!!”

 

The Great Artist was even more surprised by the much more specific and sharp answer than expected.

 

What?

 

“You know all that and you’re still not thinking of running away?”

 

“Well, there’s a bit of a story behind that…”

 

“Wrong! You still haven’t come to your senses.”

 

The Great Artist cut off Lee Han’s words without even listening.

 

Lee Han grumbled inwardly.

 

‘Isn’t that a bit too much just because he’s a Senior?’

 

“Do you know who the wisest person at Einroguard is?”

 

“Professor Garcia?”

 

“Ha!”

 

The artist replaced his evaluation with a contemptuous remark. Lee Han grumbled inwardly again and said.

 

“Then Senior Direte?”

 

“…Who is that? Since you don’t seem to know the answer, I’ll tell you. The wisest person at Einroguard is someone who never enrolled in the first place.”

 

“…”

 

Lee Han was dumbfounded by the unfair question.

 

Regardless, the artist continued his words.

 

“The next wisest person is someone who enrolled but graduated as quickly as possible and never got involved with Einroguard again.”

 

“Who is the next wisest person?”

 

“From the next one on, honestly, you can’t call them wise. It would be right to call them foolish. The foolish person is someone who seeks teachings from the Skeleton Principal and receives even a little of that magic.”

 

‘He received it too though…’

 

“However, even amid foolishness, one can find fragments of wisdom. The somewhat less foolish choose to cut the chains of slavery and flee far away.”

 

“…Wait, does that mean the most foolish person is the professor?”

 

After listening to the breakdown, only the professor remained.

 

“No. Listen to the end. Of course, the professor is indeed a more foolish person. Some choose to remain at Einroguard instead of fleeing, taking upon themselves the yoke of professorship. It’s a terribly foolish thing to do. But there exists one even more foolish than this, and such a person could truly be called the most foolish of all.”

 

Even nonsense becomes curious when you keep hearing it repeated.

 

Lee Han was exactly like that.

 

‘Is there still someone left?’

 

If even the professor isn’t the most foolish, then who?

 

“Who on earth is that?”

 

“It’s the one who dares to inherit not just the Skeleton Principal’s magic, but all his positions and duties!”

 

The Great Artist spoke with genuine conviction.

 

The obligations and duties that this ancient archmage carried were by no means light.

 

An ordinary mage would be crushed or burned to death even if they inherited just a tiny fraction of these burdens.

 

However, occasionally among the disciples who learned magic from the Skeleton Principal, there were those who revealed such ambitions.

 

Such people could truly be called the most foolish and pitiful of all.

 

“Indeed! Fortunately, I don’t fall into that category.”

 

“…”

 

Is he sane?

 

For a moment, the Great Artist couldn’t understand what Lee Han was saying and doubted his own ears.

 

Anyone with even the slightest knowledge of the long history of the Skeleton Principal’s school could clearly see that the boy before him was calmly walking the path of that final case.

 

Despite being only a second-year, he had accumulated achievements spectacular enough to reach the artist’s own ears, so how many more events must have occurred within the closed walls of Einroguard?

 

If such a disciple doesn’t challenge for succession, then who would?

 

“You have no intention of inheriting it?”

 

“Huh? Yes.”

 

“Really? Then…”

 

Though still not entirely convinced, the Great Artist felt somewhat relieved.

 

If this youngest disciple truly had no intention of inheriting, persuasion would be easier.

 

After graduation, he just needed to stay as far from Einroguard as possible and burn any letters asking if he wanted to become a professor.

 

However, the artist’s relief was immediately shattered by what Lee Han said next.

 

“I was just thinking of helping out a little from the side…”

 

Crash!

 

“!?”

 

The Great Artist, in extreme anger, smashed yet another artwork.

 

“Such complacent nonsense!”

 

“No, no. Just helping out a bit is…”

 

“When you should be keeping your distance, you want to help from the side? You haven’t understood the teaching I just gave you at all!”

 

Though hidden by mask and magic, anger blazed in the artist’s voice.

 

“Do you know what that means? It means sacrificing your entire life for unknown people across this continent instead of the pleasures and happiness you desire. No matter how it’s wrapped in the mysterious secrets of magic, it’s absurd. Why should you make such a sacrifice?”

 

“It’s not quite that extreme…”

 

“You’re either by his side or you’re not. There’s nothing else! You don’t understand. Look at those foolish little traitors.”

 

“Who?”

 

“The professors.”

 

“…”

 

“Do you think these professors can just research their own magic if they want to? As long as you’re by his side, you’ll get dragged into it!”

 

The Great Artist had not only logic but also firm sincerity.

 

Lee Han couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by that sincerity.

 

‘There’s definitely some truth to that.’

 

Given the nature of the Skeleton Principal’s work, it would likely be difficult to just help moderately from the side.

 

When dimensional gates open in the back mountain and demons pour out, how could you help leisurely and moderately? You’d have to help desperately.

 

“Do you understand!”

 

“Yes…”

 

“Then you won’t make such complacent remarks anymore. Do you feel like fleeing after graduation?”

 

“No?”

 

“…Why???”

 

“Well, I’ve already received things… I’ll just prepare for it to be harder and help out.”

 

“…”

 

The Great Artist, amid his angry concern for his youngest colleague, suddenly felt his mind grow distant.

 

Under the Skeleton Principal’s command, there had been several disciples who tried to burn their master, themselves, or the continent, but this type was a first.

 

How could someone reveal such grand ambitions without a single trace of personal ambition?

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————