Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 202
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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 202
It was rare even in the magic school for a student to receive such an evaluation from their first year.
The magic school was a more liberal place than one might think.
Even if a student left in the middle of the school year to inherit their family, or chose to work in other fields without utilizing the magic they learned, no one would say anything.
To that extent, an evaluation like ‘core talent who will take responsibility for the magic school’ was truly an tremendous assessment.
A talent who would remain at the magic school even after graduation, pioneering the vast unknown field of magic alongside the Empire’s greatest minds!
There was no evaluation more honorable than this for a mage.
If Professor Rozine had received such an evaluation, she would have remained as a mage rather than becoming a bureaucrat.
‘I should remember this moment well. I might be witnessing with my own eyes the young days of a future great archmage.’
Unlike Professor Alpen Naiton, who came from a high imperial official background and had a sense of mission to raise students as mages, Professor Rozine, who was hastily called in, had no such sense of mission.
She got paid in gold coins, so she’d just work accordingly!
Naturally, she had no intention of pushing students to their limits like other professors did.
She might meet the students again later if they succeeded, so why would she do such things?
Earning resentment for no reason was something only fools would do.
Teach diligently, encourage enthusiastically, give advice on various concerns…
It would be rewarding enough if students came later and said things like ‘I was grateful back then, Professor.’
Of course, the Wardanaz family boy who was perfectly pointing out the flaws in contracts right before her eyes seemed unlikely to do that.
He was doing so well on his own.
‘I can see why he gets so much praise.’
When other students stopped at a fumbling level, Lee Han read on smoothly with burning eyes.
Passion could be felt from that sight.
Not simply talent or cleverness, but passion for learning and research.
Wasn’t it always true that those who enjoy something are the strongest?
That boy definitely truly loved studying.
“Well done. Everyone applaud!”
Receiving applause, Lee Han felt proud.
This was the first time he had felt the reward of studying so strongly since entering the school.
‘I’ll leave a good impression little by little like this, then look for an opportunity to consult him. About what he needs to do to become a bureaucrat.’
‘I need to be careful not to force conversation with Wardanaz, or other professors might misunderstand.’
The magic school was liberal, but the professors weren’t necessarily generous.
They were especially sensitive toward those from imperial bureaucrat backgrounds.
-How dare an inspector come to my workshop…?
-No, you received His Majesty’s gold coins, so naturally they came to check how you’re using them!
-You’re probably thinking of luring my disciple to a government position again, aren’t you? I absolutely cannot tolerate it!
-That only happened once 22 years ago! And the student was originally interested in government service!
-Shut up! You corrupt slave of gold. Don’t set foot in the pure tower of magic!
The moment a bureaucrat took away a student that a professor cherished to a government position, that bureaucrat would become the enemy of not only that professor but all the mages who were close to them.
And for life!
It was so dirty and petty that bureaucrats also avoided taking disciples that professors cherished.
Professor Rozine, who hated causing trouble, naturally had the same intention.
If taking away one disciple caused such chaos, taking away a talent that the entire magic school had expectations for…
‘Though that would absolutely never happen anyway!’
Why would a boy who loved learning so much be interested in government service?
The other professors at the magic school had no need to worry at all.
* * *
“Lee Han. You look like you’re in a good mood.”
“Do I?”
Friday.
Students gathered for swordsmanship lecture.
Durgyu realized that Lee Han’s facial expression was softer than usual.
It was almost the weekend, but the other students’ expressions were dark.
It was because the cold weather continued.
Even Durgyu himself felt like his belly skin was sticking to his back and he was cold to the bone…
“I know the reason.”
Angrago, who was passing by, spoke instead.
“What is it?”
Lee Han was planning to hit Angrago if he spouted nonsense like ‘because Lee Han will soon step up to solve this cold weather.’
Whether he was in a good mood or not, that was unforgivable.
“You’re looking forward to the snowball fight, right?”
“…What?”
“Snowball fight.”
Angrago pointed behind them.
Professor Ingoldel was walking over, and the White Tiger Tower students with her were holding snowballs in both hands.
“…Professor. By any chance, is today’s lecture?”
“Yes. It’s a snowball fight.”
“…”
Lee Han was dumbfounded.
What snowball fight?
However, Professor Ingoldel was serious.
“It’s important to know how to deal with projectile weapons flying from long range when fighting. Especially in many-versus-many battles.”
“I, I see…”
Lee Han was convinced.
It was certainly true. Attacks on the battlefield didn’t only come honestly from right in front.
More dangerous than the knight in front was a stone flying from a blind spot.
Of course, seeing the White Tiger Tower students throwing snowballs at each other behind them made him think ‘Don’t you just like snowball fights?’ a little…
‘Wait.’
Lee Han sensed an ominous atmosphere.
The White Tiger Tower students were whispering while holding snowballs and looking at Lee Han.
Their intention was very obvious.
‘These bastards…’
Lee Han immediately drew his staff.
If he froze water orbs and threw them, they wouldn’t be much different from snowballs.
“Wait. Wardanaz. Don’t use magic. If you use magic, it’ll become too easy.”
“No… Professor. I’m not that skilled with magic.”
Lee Han, who was banned from using magic again like during the last midterm exam, appealed with the most wronged expression possible.
However, Professor Ingoldel didn’t fall for it at all.
The White Tiger Tower students behind glared at him as if it was absurd.
‘If you’re not skilled with magic, Wardanaz, then what are we, slugs?’
‘Did that bastard think such a lie would work?’
“Still, no. Since this is a swordsmanship lecture, please learn how to fight without relying on magic.”
“Yes. I understand.”
Lee Han agreed for now, but his inner thoughts were different.
‘The moment the professor isn’t looking, I’ll smash them.’
Professor Boladi hadn’t emphasized the importance of speed in magical combat for nothing.
He had definitely taught them to beat opponents quickly in situations like this.
“Oh right. And I brought gifts for the students.”
“Pardon?”
At Professor Ingoldel’s words, the students tilted their heads in confusion.
What kind of gift?
-■■■■…
The ferocious enhanced boar they had encountered in Professor Thunderstep’s alchemy class.
That boar was tied to a tree.
“I’ll give this as a gift to the students who win today’s snowball fight.”
“Th… Thank you.”
Objectively speaking, the boar was indeed a good gift for their current situation.
There wasn’t a single part of the boar that would go to waste.
Not only the meat, but things like boar fat had many uses when it was cold.
‘But where did she get that thing?’
“Well then. I’m counting on you.”
The golden-haired White Tiger Tower student, Gisel Moradi, looked at Lee Han with one corner of his mouth raised.
It was a very unpleasant smile that revealed his inner thoughts.
How could he not be delighted at this opportunity to legally throw snowballs at Lee Han’s face?
“Professor. Moradi is conspiring with his friends to torment me.”
Lee Han responded immediately.
Caught off guard, Giselle looked at Lee Han with a shocked expression.
‘That bastard…’
While students from knight families couldn’t tattle due to their pride, Lee Han could tattle without hesitating for even a second.
“There must have been some misunderstanding.”
“No, Professor.”
“I said it’s a misunderstanding.”
“??”
Lee Han was puzzled when Professor Ingoldel remained unmoved.
What’s this?
Professor Ingoldel wasn’t a stubborn, obstinate person. He never expected such a person to completely refuse to listen.
…Could it be that Lee Han’s various schemes had been discovered?
“Lee Han.”
Durgyu spoke in a small voice from beside him.
“Why are you calling me?”
“You, Moradi, and I… we’re on the same team.”
“…”
“…”
Both Lee Han and Giselle looked at each other with shocked expressions.
That’s right…!
* * *
Thud thud thud thud thud thud!
“Does Moradi perhaps have no friends?”
Under the barrage of snowballs flying like crazy, Lee Han asked as if puzzled.
Right now, Lee Han, Giselle, and Durgyu were running hard.
No matter how skilled the three of them were in class, there was no answer to sheer numbers.
All the students except the three had united to throw snowballs at them, so they couldn’t respond head-on. The three were retreating for now.
“It’s not that Moradi has no friends, Lee Han. We three are strong candidates for victory, so everyone wants to eliminate us first…”
“Choi. Don’t bother responding to such nonsense.”
Giselle snapped sharply.
He had tried to just ignore it and move on, but because of Durgyu!
Pop pop pop pop pop!
“I see. So many were flying that I wondered.”
“Without even thinking about the grudges you’ve built up?”
“Honestly, isn’t it about time they were forgotten? What do you think, Durgyu?”
“…”
“…”
Giselle and Durgyu fell silent.
It wasn’t particularly because they were convinced, but because they had nothing to say.
‘It seems like the kids got hit too much for it to be forgotten…’
“Wardanaz, die!”
It seemed they had attempted an ambush by circling around the hill path the three were climbing.
Students jumped out from behind trees.
Lee Han skillfully dodged the magic, no, the snowballs, and threw the snow he was holding.
Thwack!
“Wait. Durgyu. Isn’t it over once you get hit?”
Lee Han hesitated at the sight of a student who didn’t give up even after being hit and started gathering snow again.
“No? It continues until you declare surrender yourself.”
“…”
It was a more primitive and crude rule than he had thought.
‘More than that, this puts us at too much of a disadvantage.’
It would be one thing if hitting once was enough, but if there was no end even after hitting them repeatedly like this, the three were at a disadvantage.
A White Tiger Tower student hiding behind a tree shouted.
“Wardanaz!!”
“I’m listening.”
“I will definitely bring you down today!”
“Today isn’t the only opportunity, so do you have to?”
“If I miss today, there won’t be another chance!”
‘That bastard is bringing shame to the entire White Tiger Tower.’
Giselle thought to himself.
Of course, Giselle also thought it would be hard to win unless it was a day like today when Lee Han’s magic was sealed, but saying that out loud was a different matter.
“Should we just surrender?”
“Ah. No. That’s a bit… Lee Han. We should try a bit more.”
“With everyone targeting us, it seems like a loss to hold out recklessly.”
He heard the sound of someone sneaking up from behind. Lee Han leaned out over the rock and threw snow.
Smack!
The approaching White Tiger Tower student fell flat. Lee Han didn’t stop and threw another snowball he had prepared.
“Ack! I surrender! I surrender! Wardanaz! That really hurts!”
“What? You barely got hit a few times. Anyway, thanks.”
“You put stones in it!!”
“I didn’t.”
Lee Han split open the snowball he was holding. There really were no stones or anything like that.
Putting stones in was too easily caught a trick that was against the rules.
The White Tiger Tower student with a reddened face tilted his head in confusion.
‘What’s this? It really hurt though?’
He had felt not a soft snowball but a hard weight.
“You really didn’t put stones in? Tell me honestly.”
Giselle couldn’t believe it and whispered quietly. For not having stones in it, the opponent had surrendered too easily.
“I told you I didn’t put any in. Would I use such an easily caught deception…”
Whoosh!
Lee Han threw another snowball at an approaching student. Given the distance, he unconsciously used mana.
The experience of throwing an orb at full power at Professor Boladi had been quite a beneficial experience.
That experience remained in his body and helped him use mana.
Crack-
“…?”
Lee Han definitely felt it at that moment.
The snowball just before it flew away froze solid with cold in his hand!
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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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