Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 176
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 176
“Arrogant bastards.”
Giselle muttered.
At those words, Lee Han looked at Giselle as if asking what she was talking about.
“Arrogant? What do you mean by that?”
“You can see it in their eyes. Can’t you feel it?”
The White Tiger Tower students who weren’t dull were sensing it to some degree.
That the gazes of the newly visiting apprentice knights weren’t very friendly.
Originally, there was no need to be unnecessarily gentle toward sparring opponents they would soon face. It would only create hesitation during the fight.
However, the apprentice knights’ gazes now crossed the line even considering that.
Arrogant pride.
Giselle had never lost her position as the leader of any group wherever she went.
She perceived the emotions contained in those gazes more keenly than anyone.
“They’re… looking down on us.”
Durgyu spoke with a low growl. Giselle nodded.
“That’s right. They’re looking down on us.”
“Why would they look down on you guys?”
Lee Han asked as if he couldn’t understand.
“Lee Han. Think about it carefully. We’re from knight families but we entered school to learn magic. What kind of thoughts would that bring?”
“That guy uses both sword and magic, so he must be twice as strong?”
“…”
Giselle looked at Lee Han as if dumbfounded.
“Th, thanks. But short-sighted young knights often look down on or pick fights with those who went to learn magic. I didn’t expect to see it directly like this though.”
“Hmm. I see.”
Lee Han nodded.
Since knight families would know each other’s names to some degree, it was natural in a way for the heirs of those families to have such pride contests with each other.
Since they were all young, even the smallest things would wound their pride…
‘What truly pointless things they’re doing. They’ll all end up working together later anyway.’
“Wardanaz. Aren’t you frustrated?”
As Lee Han sat there expressionlessly, another White Tiger Tower student spoke to him in a frustrated voice.
How dare those outsiders pick a fight.
“Me?”
“Yes! Those guys are looking down on you too!”
“I’m not from a knight family, so it doesn’t matter, does it?”
“…”
“…”
Right?
Only then did the White Tiger Tower students realize that Lee Han wasn’t from a knight family.
He was so naturally among them that he unconsciously…
“Choi.”
One of the apprentice knights who seemed to know Durgyu approached and greeted him.
Durgyu also nodded in greeting.
“I didn’t expect to meet you like this.”
“Neither did I.”
“I’ve heard many rumors about Einroguard. That they teach magic harshly. Did you have time to train in swordsmanship?”
There was a mocking tone in his voice, but Durgyu didn’t mind.
Durgyu looked at Lee Han.
“?”
‘Hmm.’
Looking at Lee Han and then at the apprentice knight in front of him, he could feel how childish what the apprentice knight was doing was.
If it were Lee Han, instead of wasting time on such childish behavior, he would have already cast a curse on his opponent.
“Because it was difficult, I was able to focus on swordsmanship even more. I’ve come to realize that having everything arranged just to focus on swordsmanship isn’t necessarily good.”
It was a statement half-filled with sincerity.
His skills had improved faster here at the magic school than when he had swung his sword back home with ample time, hearty meals, and comfortable bedding provided by his family.
A harsh environment.
Competition with outstanding friends.
These things were what developed a swordsman’s skills.
Those words seemed to have struck a nerve with the opposing apprentice knight. The apprentice knight frowned.
“Hardship is what perfects swordsmanship. But the hardships you’ve experienced can’t even dare to compare with the hardships we’ve endured. Choi.”
“That may be so. But the sword doesn’t decide victory or defeat by comparing such things. I think it would be better to speak with swords from here on.”
“Hmph! Even if you didn’t say that, I was planning to show you.”
The apprentice knight turned away with an even more frowning face.
Lee Han, who had been listening to the conversation, asked Giselle with a puzzled expression.
“Where do those apprentice knights stay?”
“They must be staying at the knight order building in the city.”
Giselle answered curtly.
“Don’t they give them meals?”
“How could that be?”
“Are they perhaps forbidden from going out?”
“I said it’s a knight order building in the city. There’s no way they’d forbid it.”
“…Then in what way are they claiming they have it harder?”
Lee Han’s voice had become cold enough to be chilling. Even Giselle was surprised.
* * *
Professor Ingoldel nodded as she looked at the students whose eyes were shining with enthusiasm.
Since they were all still young, it was natural for them to burn with competitive spirit in such situations.
Rather than losing to a knight from the White Poplar Knight Order with an insurmountable gap, losing to a training knight of similar age would hurt their pride much more.
Even Wardanaz was looking at the apprentice knights with a determined expression. It was a good face full of resolve.
“Professor.”
“What is it, Wardanaz?”
“We are students learning magic at a magic school. Just like in the previous sparring match, I believe it would be right to allow us to use magic.”
Naturally, Professor Ingoldel had forbidden the use of magic in this sparring match.
Since the opponents weren’t even proper knights, there was no need to use magic. It was right to focus only on swordsmanship.
Of course, that meant the magic school students might be overwhelmed by the apprentice knights…
But Professor Ingoldel thought that was fine anyway.
If their pride got a little hurt from being overwhelmed in this sparring match, that would serve as motivation for the magic school students to devote themselves to swordsmanship.
“No. This is a swordsmanship test.”
“But Professor. In sword sparring, you don’t just swing swords exclusively. When the opportunity arises, you also use striking techniques and joint techniques, so taking away our magic is too harsh.”
Lee Han’s logic was persuasive.
Only swinging swords in sword sparring was something only idiots would do.
When necessary, you had to be able to throw punches targeting openings and trip your opponent’s legs to make them lose balance.
Broadly speaking, all of this was included in swordsmanship.
While the apprentice knights were practicing such comprehensive techniques outside, the magic school students were practicing magic, so it might be natural for them to want to use it in sparring.
‘Was I too harsh?’
Professor Ingoldel slightly reflected on Lee Han’s words.
Maybe he had been too harsh in his desire to raise the students to be strong…
The elf professor looked up at Lee Han.
Then he suddenly came to his senses.
He could immediately predict what would happen if he allowed magic to that Wardanaz family boy in front of him.
“No.”
‘Tsk.’
Lee Han felt disappointed inside.
‘If only he’d let me use magic, I could win easily.’
It wasn’t arrogance, but rather a fairly objective prediction.
Magic became more effective the less the opponent knew about it.
The apprentice knights wouldn’t know anything about the magic Lee Han used, so if he bound their feet with water orbs, cast curses, then finished them with lightning combos…
‘It’s unfortunate, but there’s nothing I can do.’
Lee Han picked up his wooden sword. There was no point in clinging to methods that wouldn’t work.
“…Wardanaz? Why are you coming out?”
The opposing apprentice knight looked at Lee Han with a confused expression.
Lee Han answered with an innocent face.
“I’m taking swordsmanship lectures for health and culture.”
“Ah… is that so.”
The apprentice knight nodded.
Among nobles, learning swordsmanship for culture or interest wasn’t particularly strange.
Of course, compared to the real combat swordsmanship of knights, such swordsmanship was mostly just for appearances and superficial at best.
Thinking it was that kind of thing, strength naturally drained from the apprentice knight’s body. His posture holding the wooden sword also became loose. You could feel from his entire body that he was looking down on his opponent.
Lee Han was pleased at that sight.
‘If he had entered magic school, he wouldn’t have lasted even a week.’
To fall for such a basic deception.
“Don’t the other White Tiger Tower students give you trouble?”
The apprentice knight even showed concern for Lee Han.
Since he wasn’t from a knight family, he didn’t see him as competition.
“No. Everyone is kindly helping me. Thanks to them, though I’m lacking, I can keep up.”
“Right. Knights always respect and help the weak.”
The apprentice knight said while thumping his chest. Lee Han thought to himself.
‘Though the White Tiger Tower students attacked me three-on-one from the first day.’
“Shall we begin then?”
“Yes. Be careful not to get hurt.”
The apprentice knight stood holding his wooden sword. Lee Han also stood holding his wooden sword.
Professor Ingoldel waved the flag.
Crack!
The apprentice knight momentarily felt the illusion of a rock charging at him. The power of Lee Han’s strike exceeded all expectations.
In the blink of an eye, the wooden sword in his hand broke and flew away, while Lee Han’s wooden sword stopped right in front of his throat.
“Do you acknowledge defeat?”
“Wardanaz’s victory!”
Professor Ingoldel declared decisively as if there was nothing more to see.
Only then did the apprentice knight come to his senses, blinking repeatedly and speaking in an urgent voice.
“Wait, wait…!? What is this…?!”
However, Lee Han was already turning around and walking away.
‘Since I used deception, I need to escape quickly.’
“Where are you going, Wardanaz?”
“Isn’t it over?”
“You have to compete with the winners too.”
Professor Ingoldel said, pointing to the other side.
Apprentice knights who had defeated the White Tiger Tower students were walking over one by one.
Lee Han instantly relaxed his body and took an awkward stance.
But it was already too late. The approaching apprentice knights were whispering while looking at Lee Han.
-So that Lee Han from the Wardanaz family defeated Sir Bikelintz?
-That’s what they say.
-Does that even make sense??
-Didn’t he use magic or something?
‘Twice would be pushing it.’
Lee Han instinctively knew he couldn’t get an easy win in the next fight.
* * *
“Wardanaz. Let me ask you one thing.”
“What is it?”
“Did you really defeat Sir Bikelintz?”
“I didn’t do it alone. Actually, Durgyu and Moradi contributed more.”
“But Sir Bikelintz said otherwise?”
“…”
Lee Han cursed Bikelintz inwardly.
What an unnecessarily honest knight.
“There are hidden circumstances to that.”
“What circumstances?”
“Well…”
“Begin!”
Professor Ingoldel waved the flag again. The two gripped their swords and took their stances.
The opposing apprentice knight had won once to advance and knew that Lee Han had won, so he wasn’t being careless like before.
Lee Han opened his mouth again.
“Actually, Sir Bikelintz…”
“!”
The apprentice knight unconsciously leaned in to listen when Lee Han spoke. At that moment, Lee Han’s Blue Rock Sword flashed with light.
The Blue Rock Sword, a heavy and powerful heavy sword technique, was difficult to counter once the initiative was lost. The apprentice knight’s stance crumbled under the weighty incoming attack.
Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack!
After five consecutive attacks, the apprentice knight fell. Lee Han stopped his sword in front of his opponent’s neck.
“Wardanaz wins!”
Lee Han quickly turned around like before.
There was no need to make eye contact with the apprentice knight who was glaring at him with murderous betrayal.
‘Phew. Finished it cleanly.’
Fortunately, he was able to end it easily.
He had finished both fights perfectly without allowing a single effective hit, so the midterm exam would naturally be a perfect score…
“Sorry, Lee Han.”
“?”
“I lost…”
Durgyu apologized.
He had just been defeated after a fierce battle with an apprentice knight.
“…What about Moradi? Did Moradi lose too?”
“Moradi drew. He broke bones along with his opponent.”
“…No way.”
“Wardanaz. Rest for a moment and prepare for the final match.”
At Professor Ingoldel’s words, Lee Han sighed inwardly.
‘Damn. I have to go to the third round.’
He thought Durgyu or Moradi would defeat the remaining apprentice knights, but one remained.
Lee Han raised his head.
The gathered apprentice knights were whispering among themselves while staring at Lee Han. It was obvious what they were talking about.
“I’m learning swordsmanship as a general education subject, and I was really lucky to make it this far.”
“Stop playing games, Wardanaz!”
“Tsk.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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