Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 208
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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 208
“…Should we break his legs or something?”
“Wouldn’t it be better to break his arms rather than legs?”
“Gainando. Do you call that talking? Think seriously about this.”
“It wasn’t just me, Meikin did it too?!”
Lee Han had solved the cold problem and barely managed to return to the dormitory, but the Blue Dragon Tower students couldn’t purely rejoice.
Their friend was going to be dragged away by the evil lich when dawn broke.
“But… but since it’s a one-on-one meeting with the Principal, it might be a good opportunity.”
A few students who still retained some innocence cautiously offered their opinions.
Actually, this would normally be correct.
The principal of this magic school Einroguard, Osyu Gonadaltes, was an archmage counted among the outstanding and extraordinary mages of the Empire.
If it were an outsider who didn’t know the situation of the magic school well, they would have reacted like ‘What? You got a chance to meet one-on-one with Archmage Gonadaltes? To be able to receive even a little of that great person’s teachings, you’re truly lucky!’
But the new students were gradually catching on.
That receiving one-on-one teachings from a renowned and skilled archmage wasn’t necessarily all good!
And this was even more true if that archmage was the Skeleton Principal.
“Wardanaz is about to be dragged away and tortured with a 90% probability, and you call that talking? Are you even friends?”
“I… I don’t think anyone mentioned torture.”
When Asan got angry on his behalf, the other students cowered.
Neblen of the Kirak family, one of the Imperial Princess’s followers, whispered to the Imperial Princess.
“Your Highness. Although the Principal is certainly an eccentric and dangerous person, this kind of one-on-one meeting… might there not be some intention to recognize Wardanaz’s talent and pass on teachings?”
Fortunately, the Imperial Princess nodded.
Neblen’s face brightened.
“Right? It’s not necessarily all bad…”
The Imperial Princess firmly shook her head.
Even considering that, it was sufficiently bad.
“…Is it bad?”
“That’s what I’m saying, Kirak. If you keep doing that, you go instead. You sacrifice yourself instead of Wardanaz.”
“Ah… no… sorry. Everyone. Wardanaz. I spoke arrogantly.”
Lee Han didn’t even respond and just waved his hand as if it was fine.
Honestly, he didn’t even have the energy to respond.
‘I need to sleep even a little more.’
He was going on an outing with the Skeleton Principal on the weekend, so there was no way his friends’ voices would register in his ears.
He was just steeling his resolve.
“See? Because of you, Wardanaz got hurt!”
“Wardanaz doesn’t seem like the type to do that though…”
* * *
Saturday dawn.
Lee Han walked carefully toward the main gate. Fortunately, there were no traps.
Not letting your guard down. Excellent.
“Thank you.”
There.
The Skeleton Principal pointed to a carriage waiting in front of the main gate.
Except for the absence of horses, it was a luxuriously-looking travel carriage.
Instead of asking a boorish question like ‘Is it okay without horses?’, Lee Han opened the carriage door and entered.
Then the scene of an antique reception room came into view. It was a space so wide it was hard to believe it was inside a carriage.
Depart.
-Yes.
The voice of an undead summon was heard from outside, and the carriage began to move smoothly.
The massive main gate of the magic school opened and saw off the carriage.
“May I ask where we’re going?”
I can answer that much. The destination is Ogonin’s tower.
“…?”
Lee Han momentarily wondered who Ogonin was.
The Skeleton Principal noticed this and was dumbfounded.
Illusion mage Ogonin. You met him during the festival, did you forget?
“Ah… I’ve had so much going on.”
Lee Han made that excuse, but actually, no matter how busy he was, he wouldn’t easily forget someone who left a deep impression.
But Ogonin was…
‘A pitiful mage who snuck in but got caught by a first-year and even failed to cast magic’ was about the impression he left.
An impression that would make Ogonin so ashamed he’d hide in his tower for a while if he heard it!
If you forgot him despite how busy you were, you must have thought little of him… Anyway, since Ogonin did something, I’m planning to pay him back in kind.
‘How truly pitiful.’
Lee Han felt sorry for Ogonin.
Ogonin didn’t seem like such a great mage, yet he was going to experience such terrible revenge that the Skeleton Principal himself was taking action.
“This person called Ogonin doesn’t seem like a mage worthy of the Principal personally taking revenge…”
Naturally, Lee Han’s persuasion didn’t work at all.
But the Skeleton Principal’s mood improved considerably.
That’s exactly the attitude.
“?”
Lee Han was puzzled.
What attitude?
‘I thought he’d get angry that I tried to stop him.’
You should have done that from the start. That’s how you do it.
The Skeleton Principal nodded with satisfaction.
The biggest flaw of that boy from the Wardanaz family was precisely that weakness.
But seeing him look down so arrogantly on a mage of Ogonin’s caliber, there seemed to be signs that even that flaw might be corrected.
As an educator of the magic school, it was truly a joyful thing.
Illusion mages are all twisted and petty fellows anyway.
“That’s not necessarily true.”
No need to take Professor Ku’s side. He’s not even here anyway.
“Not just Professor Ku, but there are people like Baldoron too…”
Baldoron?
The Skeleton Principal tilted his head.
Besides Professor Kirmin Ku who taught illusion magic, there were various other illusion mages, but Baldoron was a name he’d never heard before.
Who’s that? It’s the first time I’m hearing that name.
“Is that so? He’s someone I happened to meet when I went out before, and he had excellent skills.”
I see. A hermit mage perhaps.
The Empire’s outstanding mages didn’t necessarily all engage actively in social activities.
Some mages would hole up in remote mountains and valleys known only to themselves to pursue truth.
The Skeleton Principal often didn’t know of the existence of such mages.
That’s a shame. If he’s that skilled, we should invite him as a professor. Hermit mages are quite difficult though… It would probably be hard, right?
“Yes. From what I heard him say, he didn’t seem very interested.”
Right. That would be the case. Anyway, enough talk about worthless fellows like Ogonin… Let’s talk about your magic. You’re learning magic well, right?
“Yes. I’m doing my best.”
Lee Han could look up at the sky without a trace of shame.
There really wasn’t anyone among the new students who tried as hard as Lee Han.
What are you studying besides lectures?
“…Principal. Just keeping up with the lectures is hard enough.”
Lee Han was dumbfounded.
The Skeleton Principal had asked too naturally, ‘What are you studying besides the lectures you’re attending?’
He was already struggling to keep up with the current lectures, so what on earth did he expect from a new student…
Promising ones find and study magic on their own even when it’s difficult. It’s always been that way. So you’re not studying anything separately besides lectures?
“I am studying some things…”
The Skeleton Principal nodded as if he had expected this.
Lee Han felt slightly wronged.
He had ended up studying additional things by chance, not because Lee Han had done it on purpose.
“This is purely coincidental.”
I didn’t ask about that. Just tell me what you’re studying.
The Skeleton Principal showed curiosity about what field Lee Han was interested in.
Despite complaining a lot about his weak personality, the Wardanaz Family Boy before him was the talent the Skeleton Principal was currently most interested in watching.
As a potential disciple candidate who might inherit his secrets someday, he couldn’t help but be curious.
“First, I’m studying the book you gave me, Principal.”
Your greatest strength is precisely that eye that can distinguish gems from stones.
Lee Han flattered him and the Skeleton Principal was satisfied.
And it wasn’t even a lie.
Whenever he was bored, the black book would enter Lee Han’s dreams on its own and forcibly teach him magic!
“And Blood Magic…”
Blood Magic? Isn’t that too old-fashioned? Besides, it’s a trivial skill you don’t even need.
“…and magic that works well in conjunction with it.”
At Lee Han’s answer, the Skeleton Principal cast an intrigued glance.
Blood Magic was a difficult technique to use and a non-mainstream skill rarely used nowadays, but magic that linked with Blood Magic was a different story.
Blood Magic was a technique that used blood as a catalyst to amplify mana.
Magic that linked with such Blood Magic had certain characteristics.
Massive mana consumption, relatively low control requirements, etc.
It would certainly suit that Wardanaz Family Boy well.
Clever.
“Thank you.”
What book are you studying with? There aren’t many decent Blood Magic books.
Lee Han took out a book from his backpack. It was 【On Basic Blood Magic and Its Applications】.
Flip-
The Skeleton Principal floated the book in the air and turned the pages. While reading each page with his eyes, the Skeleton Principal asked again.
What else are you studying besides Blood Magic?
‘I think this is already enough…’
Honestly, studying the Skeleton Principal’s magic and Blood Magic was already more than enough.
The problem was that Lee Han really was studying other things as well.
While taking out the book, Lee Han thought to himself.
‘This is really unfair. It’s not like I went looking for things to study on purpose.’
Seeing the 【On Basic Lightning Elemental Magic and Its Applications】 book, the Skeleton Principal floated that book as well.
Then he read both books at high speed.
Not surprising, but you’re learning well under a guy like Professor Bagrek.
‘Really not surprising.’
Lee Han put strength into his head that had almost nodded unconsciously.
Even if everyone in the world cursed his supervising professor, it was better for the disciple learning under him to keep his mouth shut.
“Not at all. I’m always learning a lot.”
Well, if you can endure that nonsense, of course you’d learn a lot. Just like you’d gain a lot if you entered a Dragon’s lair and came out alive.
“…”
Anyway, I really didn’t expect him to get a disciple. I wondered if there would be anyone willing to attend such unreasonable lectures.
Lee Han felt like he might fail at emotional control if he continued this conversation.
‘I need to change the subject.’
“But why Professor Bagrek all of a sudden?”
Isn’t this a book written by Professor Bagrek?
“…!”
Lee Han was shocked.
The two magic books written in strangely detailed manner were books written by Professor Bagrek?
It was surprising, but more than that…
‘If he can explain in such detail, then why when speaking…?’
Lee Han struggled not to show his anger on his face.
I guess you didn’t know.
“They’re written… so detailed…”
Those with no speaking skills tend to ramble when they pick up a quill. Where did you get it? Did Professor Bagrek give it to you directly?
“He gave me the Lightning Magic one, and I found the Blood Magic one.”
This one looks like it was written during his school days, you found it well. You’re lucky.
“I didn’t find it, my friends found it.”
But it’s in your hands now. That’s what fate is.
‘I don’t want to be fated with a Blood Magic grimoire.’
Professor Bagrek’s teaching seems to suit you well, but don’t rely too much on just one professor’s teaching.
“…It doesn’t suit me that well.”
Two out of three books you’re studying separately are Professor Bagrek’s books?
Lee Han resolved to search the library and add three or four useful grimoires as soon as he returned to school.
They say mages pursue one truth, but the paths to reach it are all different. If a disciple is too influenced by his master, it’s hard to break out of the shell.
“Yes.”
A proper disciple should be able to stab his master in the back and inherit everything.
“Yes… Yes?”
Lee Han hesitated. For a moment, he thought his inner thoughts had been discovered.
However, the Skeleton Principal hadn’t asked a trap question.
True to his ancient origins, the Skeleton Principal sincerely believed that ‘a mage needs the guts to stab his master in the back to walk his own path.’
Lee Han stared intently at the Skeleton Principal’s white, smooth skull. The Skeleton Principal said seriously.
Not now. Later, after you’ve learned everything.
“I think you misunderstood. I wasn’t thinking anything.”
Fine. Anyway, I guess it was needless worry.
The slightly worried Skeleton Principal was convinced.
That Wardanaz Family Boy would not lose his own path no matter which mage taught him.
It was truly an important virtue for a mage.
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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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