Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 188

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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 188

Lee Han wondered why he had to summon a water mass, but he listened quietly.

Since it was Professor Thunderstep’s instruction, he must have some idea in mind.

“Usually, mages who have an affinity for the water element are likely to have an affinity for the cold element as well. But if you ask whether it’s easy to practice the cold element regularly, that’s a different story.”

Among the elements, if there were relatively easy elements to handle, there were also difficult elements to handle.

While fire, water, and earth were typically easy elements to handle (though there were mages who had difficulty handling fire), lightning, darkness, and cold were difficult elements to handle.

“Lightning is difficult to control, darkness is difficult to manifest, and cold is difficult to maintain.”

Professor Thunderstep created snowflakes in the air as he spoke.

The snowflakes that formed inside the warm cabin instantly turned into water droplets.

“Unlike water or earth, the cold element tends to lose its power and disperse if the mage doesn’t concentrate steadily. You have to keep concentrating and infusing mana into it.”

“I see. Just like how summoning dozens of water orbs and floating them in the air is difficult, the cold element is equally…”

“…No, it’s not quite that difficult.”

Professor Thunderstep was dumbfounded as he spoke.

While the cold element was a challenging element, it wasn’t quite to that extent.

“But in an environment like this, the cold element would be maintained much more easily. Don’t you think it’s the optimal environment for novice mages to train and develop their senses?”

“That makes sense.”

Lee Han was nodding when he stopped.

‘Oh no. For a moment, I genuinely thought this might actually be fortunate.’

It was only for a moment, but it was an experience that made him slightly afraid of himself.

This is definitely not fortunate!

“And as I mentioned earlier, since the spirit realm has drawn closer, cold spirits would have been summoned everywhere… There would be opportunities to receive various teachings or blessings through contact with the spirits.”

“When I went to the spirit realm before, the spirits avoided me. Is there any possibility that this environment might eliminate the spirits’ fear and increase their friendliness?”

“There’s no such possibility.”

“…”

Lee Han became slightly dejected.

So what can’t be done just can’t be done?

“Thank you for the advice, Professor.”

“Right. Take care of yourself. It probably won’t last very long.”

“One day?”

“It’ll last longer than a day.”

“Two days?”

“I shouldn’t have said anything. Just think of it as not knowing when it will end.”

Professor Thunderstep shook his head at his persistent disciple’s words and took out a crate to hand over.

Round glass bottles were filled with brown liquid sloshing inside.

“This is a gift. It should help with the cold.”

“Is it a potion?”

“No. It’s brandy.”

“…Thank you anyway.”

Lee Han came out of the cabin carrying the chest.

Then he tilted his head in confusion.

‘Wait. So why did I use water generation?’

* * *

Whooooosh-

“Set it on fire!”

“No good. We used up all the oil!”

“Push it with force before it hardens!”

“I’ll build a wall with earth!”

The Black Turtle Tower students struggled valiantly to clear the snow in front of the tower.

Blue Dragon Tower had some crazy guy whose mana never ran out who cleared a path with fire, but other towers couldn’t use such methods.

Instead, the Black Turtle Tower students used various clever tactics to gradually clear away the snow.

Truly, all sorts of methods were employed.

“Ymirg, push through with force! I’ll make a wall!”

“Wait. Someone’s coming!”

“Is it a professor?”

“No way…”

The Black Turtle Tower students could sense it too.

A professor wouldn’t come to help them!

Of course, it was Lee Han who had come.

“It’s Wardanaz!? How did you manage to get through this blizzard…”

“Wardanaz! How did you get here!”

The Black Turtle Tower students shouted loudly.

The blizzard was so fierce that they couldn’t be heard unless they put strength into their voices and yelled.

Whooooooosh!

“…came to!”

“What?”

“I said I came to…!”

“You came to help?”

“No! I came to trade!”

Thud!

Lee Han set down the chest.

The chest was filled with thick fabric.

He had bought so much like a madman that even after making various winter gear, there was plenty left over.

“Where did you get this?!”

“I have my ways. So… will you trade?”

“We’ll freeze to death talking here. Come this way! Come over here and let’s talk!”

Where the black market used to be in front of the tower, there were now several temporarily built snow shelters.

It was a temporary shelter that the Black Turtle Tower students had built outside to clear the snow.

The students checked the fabric Lee Han had brought and showed surprised expressions.

‘No, seriously, where did he get something like this?’

‘How does that bastard Wardanaz have better skills than someone from a thief guild?’

“I… I want to trade. Wardanaz.”

“Yeah. That’s why I came too.”

Lee Han looked at his friends with slightly expectant eyes.

“How much food do you have left?”

“…”

“…”

The Black Turtle Tower students hesitated and only looked at each other. Then someone spoke up.

“None.”

“What kind of nonsense is that? I know you guys have been steadily collecting too.”

Blue Dragon Tower was actually living without going hungry because Lee Han was uniquely bringing in supplies, but if left alone, there was a high possibility they would starve.

In comparison, most of the Black Turtle Tower students could secure their own food even if thrown into the mountains.

Blue Dragon Tower was purchasing.

If White Tiger Tower was hunting…

Black Turtle Tower was using all kinds of methods – gathering, farming, trading, hunting, everything!

Even if they didn’t have luxury goods or extravagant items like Blue Dragon Tower, they should have more food coming in, right?

“The storage was blown away by the blizzard…”

“…”

Unlike Lee Han, who could store most things in the common room with small preserved foods, seasonings, and spices, the Black Turtle Tower students used external storage a lot.

They couldn’t do various work like smoking and pickling inside the common room.

Of course, such storage had the weakness of being vulnerable in situations like this.

“You should have prepared for this kind of situation.”

‘How could we prepare for that…’

“Anyway, I understand.”

Lee Han picked up the chest again and stood up from his seat.

Coming all the way here had been a waste, but it couldn’t be helped.

“Wait! Wait! Wardanaz!”

“Don’t go!”

The Black Turtle Tower students grabbed Lee Han’s collar and clung to him.

Right now, winter gear was what they needed more than anyone.

“Why are you being so pathetic?”

Lee Han spoke more coldly than the blizzard outside.

“Can’t… can’t we do it on credit? Later when we go outside, with silver coins…”

“Hey. Don’t say ridiculous things. Would that work? No matter how much money your family has, the other party is the Wardanaz Family. Why would they accept such a proposal when they have nothing to gain.”

Another friend scolded the Black Turtle Tower’s second-in-command who had been next to Salko when they met before.

Lee Han paused.

“Which family are you from?”

“The Richmond family…”

Shailes from the Richmond family opened his mouth with a quite embarrassed expression.

Though it was a family that had built considerable wealth in the Empire through the carriage transportation business, a family’s prestige was determined not by the gold they possessed but by the history they had accumulated.

From that perspective, the Wardanaz family, one of the Empire’s leading great noble houses and a renowned magical family, had a reputation that Shailes could never dare to compare with.

‘This bastard.’

Lee Han was dumbfounded.

If his family had a lot of money, he should have written it on his forehead, so why didn’t he mention it and create this mutually embarrassing situation?

“You’re from a very distinguished family.”

“Are you joking right now, Wardanaz?”

“Does my face look like I’m joking?”

Lee Han’s cold, statue-like face had the effect of pressuring others even when he remained still.

Shailes was slightly flustered.

“I’ll give it to you on credit. Pay me back later during vacation.”

“What? Really? Is that okay?”

“Of course. If it’s the Richmond family, I can trust them.”

“Wardanaz…”

Shailes looked at Lee Han with a moved expression.

There was no way Lee Han from the Wardanaz family would act this way out of greed for silver coins, so he was clearly being considerate of Shailes’ feelings.

Such warm respect shown in front of other friends.

Was this the dignity that only great nobles possessed?

“Thank you so mu…”

“Just sign it.”

“Ah, okay.”

Lee Han handed over the chest.

Though he hadn’t obtained food, his heart felt warm after selling it at such a high price.

“Wardanaz, are you here?”

Nilia peeked her head out from outside the snow shelter.

“Help me persuade them!”

“Nilia… it’s impossible. It’s dangerous.”

“Ah, it’s really not dangerous!”

“?”

Nilia came in, beating her chest as if frustrated.

Wrapped in various animal furs to prepare for the cold, with snowshoes made from vines and tree branches attached under her shoes, Nilia truly radiated the aura of an expert.

“What persuasion are you talking about?”

“I’m trying to go hunting right now, but everyone’s stopping me.”

“Nilia… no matter what, going hunting in this weather…”

“That’s a good idea. Let’s go.”

“Right? See! Wardanaz agrees!”

“…”

The friends looked at Lee Han with shocked gazes.

You need to stop them, what are you doing!?

* * *

“Food doesn’t just fall from the sky if you sit still.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying, Wardanaz. Those who aren’t hunters always think meat falls from the sky! But Wardanaz, could you move the fire to the side?”

“Ah. Sorry.”

Nilia felt the heat and moved away. The flames Lee Han had floating around were too intense.

Lee Han was amazed watching Nilia move lightly across the deeply piled snow.

She wasn’t from the 【Shadow Patrol】 for nothing.

“This level of snowstorm must be nothing for the Shadow Patrol, right?”

“No. It’s actually something. Storms this severe are rare.”

“I see. But still, to forge a path like this is impressive. Especially in such harsh conditions without other Shadow Patrol Members.”

Lee Han was impressed.

Nilia was properly fulfilling her role as a guide, like the skilled hunter and ranger she was.

The mountain covered in heavy snow had become a completely different space from usual, and if you lost focus even slightly, it would transform into an unrecognizable place.

However, Nilia found and created paths without hesitation.

Truly impressive skill…

“No. This is a much more comfortable situation.”

Nilia looked at Lee Han as if asking what nonsense he was talking about.

They were walking with flames floating around to brighten their vision and warm their bodies – what harsh conditions was he talking about?

If other hunters heard this, they would have said ‘Wow, hunting is so easy.’

“By the way, I thought you would stop me, Wardanaz.”

“Ah. Of course I wanted to go after the snow calmed down a bit too, but I had no choice.”

“?”

“I have to attend lectures starting tomorrow. I need to gather supplies over the weekend.”

“…”

Nilia flinched.

Actually, she had been thinking that since midterms were over and with the heavy snow, she could use that as an excuse to skip a lecture or two.

“Lectures… in an emergency situation like this, wouldn’t it be okay to miss just once?”

“What kind of ridiculous joke are you making, Nilia?”

“…”

Nilia turned her head and pouted where he couldn’t see.

This is why top students are!

Suddenly, Nilia’s long ears perked up.

“There’s something there. Either a spirit or a monster…”

“Can you tell which?”

“It’s not easy.”

With visibility shortened by the snowstorm and nature’s mana running wild like this, distinguishing between spirits and monsters wasn’t easy.

Pop!

“Huh? Why are you running away?!”

“…It’s a spirit.”

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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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