Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 211

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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 211

‘I’ll use any means necessary.’

Unlike Clevik who sympathized with Lee Han and tried to suppress him moderately, Lee Han was 100% serious.

In fact, if a new student didn’t go all out against a high-level illusion mage, that would be crazy.

The enhancement magic he had cast to the maximum before the duel began.

That enhancement magic explosively boosted Lee Han’s already trained physical abilities to another level.

Seeing his disciple running quickly, the Skeleton Principal thought to himself.

‘Oh my. Does he really need to go that far?’

Casting magic beforehand like that before a duel wasn’t against the rules.

Moreover, Lee Han was a new student and his opponent was a fairly well-known mage.

No one would criticize him for something like that.

It just looked a bit undignified and desperate.

In the Skeleton Principal’s view, it looked rather pathetic.

He could win just fighting normally, really…

‘How undignified.’

Lee Han had no idea the Skeleton Principal was having such annoying thoughts as he charged forward.

‘I need to get close!’

Unlike the Skeleton Principal who was confident that ‘he’d win even fighting with his eyes closed,’ Lee Han naturally had no such confidence.

He basically thought that if he took even one hit from the opponent’s magic, it would be over.

Though he had shown resistance to magic and poison several times before, that wasn’t a 100% guaranteed protection.

Given the opponent’s skill level, unlike before, they might be able to take Lee Han down in one hit.

When facing such a mage, what was the method with the highest chance of success?

Getting as close as possible to prevent them from using magic.

Clack!

Lee Han pulled out an iron ball from his sleeve. Then he threw it at Clevik.

Clevik, already startled once by Lee Han’s movement, was startled again by the iron ball flying through the air.

He had the skill to easily block a simple projectile…

…but the iron ball flew faster than Clevik had expected.

“Ugh!”

Clevik stopped the incantation he was reciting and lowered his stance. The iron ball passed over his head.

It was only a very brief moment, but that was enough. Lee Han, having closed the distance, immediately grabbed Clevik by the collar and knocked him down.

Thud!

Then he twisted his arm behind his back and subdued him. Clevik’s staff flew to the side.

“I… I lost!”

At Clevik’s declaration of defeat, the illusion mages were shocked.

That new student’s movements had far exceeded their expectations.

Who would have thought a mere 1st year student could move so nimbly and quickly!

“So that’s what Lord Gonadaltes was aiming for…!”

“Damn it. He targeted our weakness. To think he’d bring a student from a knight family.”

“Indeed. That kind of attack would be difficult to respond to immediately if you didn’t know about it beforehand. Was he targeting that?”

If they had been defeated by a 1st year student in a straight magical confrontation, the shock would have been immeasurable.

However, being defeated by having an unexpected weakness exploited like this brought a somewhat different reaction.

-Ah, that boy is quite admirable for his young age!

‘No, you idiots…!’

The Skeleton Principal was dumbfounded by the illusion mages’ murmuring.

There’s no way he would have come to win with such surprise tricks.

He had come to show illusion magic being brutally ignored in front of a 1st year…

This won’t do. Close combat is banned.

“What!?”

Lee Han was shocked.

To ban close combat…

“Isn’t that going too far?”

No, it’s not too much. You just don’t know.

“If you want me to lose, you could just say so honestly.”

I’m telling you that’s not it!?

When his brought disciple grumbled, the Skeleton Principal was twice as dumbfounded.

This pathetic disciple still had no confidence in his own abilities.

He could just block with his body alone!

“Yes. I’m sure you would.”

…

Whether the Skeleton Principal glared at him or not, Lee Han fell into thought.

If close combat was banned…

‘This really becomes difficult.’

Illusion magic, like curses, had fast casting speed and was difficult to dodge.

If he had learned related defensive magic, the difficulty of blocking would drop significantly, but Lee Han was still a 1st year. He hadn’t learned such defensive magic yet.

No matter how quickly Lee Han could cast magic and attack, if he got hit by the opponent’s magic even once…

“Lord Gonadaltes. It’s fine!”

“There’s no need to do that. Please allow that 1st year student close combat!”

Rather, it was the illusion mages who helped Lee Han.

The illusion mages stepped forward, indignant at Gonadaltes oppressing and disregarding the 1st year student.

No matter how suddenly they had been defeated, they had no desire to win by giving such penalties to a 1st year student.

“Everyone…!”

Lee Han cast a slightly moved gaze.

Just like how Ogonin had good reputation despite lacking some skill, the mages under him clearly had good personalities too.

Of course, from the Skeleton Principal’s perspective, this was maddening.

Who’s pitying whom right now… Even if I ban close combat, you guys still can’t win!?

“Even so, there’s no need to ban it! It goes against our pride.”

The Skeleton Principal had to resist the urge to magically shut the illusion mage’s mouth.

Lee Han showed a relieved expression. Anyone could see he was ready to charge out again and attempt close combat.

“I am Doibakh. Please treat me well. Of course, you’re welcome to attempt close combat!”

“Please treat me well.”

The attitude of the newly emerged mage named Doibakh was polite and his gaze contained respect.

Even if it was a surprise attack aided by luck, he had still defeated Clevik.

The very fact that a 1st year had accomplished such a thing was remarkable.

Doibakh made a resolution.

‘As a mage who has trained in illusion magic, and as one who has received Lord Ogonin’s teachings, I will face that 1st year student’s specialty head-on and achieve an honorable victory!’

This is really maddening…

The Skeleton Principal muttered, but no one listened.

* * *

“So close!”

“Magnificent!”

“To think he’s at that level…!”

Lee Han went on to defeat three more after that.

Doibakh tried to cast the illusion magic with the shortest casting time, but when Lee Han quickly approached while disrupting his concentration with 【Summon Bone Restraints】, he was just barely too late.

Zelkenb tried to block his approach by spreading an illusory labyrinth around the area using the tactics for dealing with warriors, but he too was half a step too late.

Bongbondo…

How little do you illusion mages practice dueling that your casting speed is this slow!?

The Skeleton Principal, who had thought that surely at least one of them would catch Lee Han before he could approach, exploded.

Of course, dueling wasn’t an essential skill for mages, and there were fewer mages who specialized in magic combat like Professor Boladi or the Skeleton Principal, but even so, wasn’t this too much!

“You speak truly, Lord Gonadaltes.”

“I’m ashamed. To lose like this to a 1st year student.”

“I respect your skill. Truly outstanding ability. Don’t be discouraged just because you’re from a knight family. Achieving greatness in magic has nothing to do with one’s family background.”

“What? Wait…”

“With your level of skill, you’ll soon make your mark in the Imperial Duel Realm. I’ll be looking forward to it.”

The illusion mages graciously acknowledged it.

Though it was a disappointing defeat, they weren’t shameless enough to refuse to acknowledge it.

The opponent was even a 1st year student.

No matter how they had lost, respecting the opponent’s skill and offering praise was the honorable thing to do.

“Thank you.”

“You’ll meet many mages faster at casting than us in the future, but if you continue to hone that speed, it will be hard to find your match.”

A heartwarming scene of acknowledging their own shortcomings and graciously praising the talented 1st year.

It could be said to be the most ideal scene when mages of different backgrounds met.

Clevik wondered if perhaps Gonadaltes had brought his 1st year disciple here with this in mind.

To make the illusion mages here realize their own shortcomings, bringing a 1st year disciple with such special skills…

Pathetic fools…

…or not?

Enough. Ogonin. Let’s meet separately. My mood is completely ruined.

At the Skeleton Principal’s words, Ogonin nodded while reading the atmosphere.

Even from Ogonin’s perspective, that duel had flowed too strangely.

* * *

Explain properly to this foolish disciple. He won’t believe it if I tell him.

“Hmm… So. You have quite strong magic resistance.”

Quite?

“…Very strong.”

Very?

“…Why don’t you just say it yourself?”

Is this festival disruptor, fireworks destroyer, artifact thief giving me orders now? Really. What is this world coming to…

Ogonin endured it despite feeling dirty and petty. It was because he was in the wrong.

“This magic resistance works in various ways… but especially for illusion magic that directly applies pure mana to the mind, it tends to be particularly strongly affected by magic resistance.”

With Ogonin’s detailed explanation, Lee Han could understand.

“So that’s why last time?”

“…You could say that. Especially direct illusion magic really won’t work easily on you under normal circumstances.”

“Ah. So when the Principal said I could just take the hits, that wasn’t an exaggeration.”

I’m right here.

“That… you could say that.”

Lee Han was intrigued by Ogonin’s assurance.

To think the Skeleton Principal’s words were actually true.

‘It wasn’t a scheme to torment me after all.’

Of course, even if he had believed the Skeleton Principal’s words, Lee Han would have fought the same way.

Because…

‘Why would I when I can avoid it?’

Why get hit when you could avoid it? Even if it was a slim 0.0001% chance, there was no need to take unnecessary risks.

“Thank you. For telling me.”

Take out that book.

“Pardon?”

The book Ogonin wrote.

“…”

Lee Han made a reluctant expression as he took out the book.

It was the book Ogonin had written in his youth, which he had bought at the bookstore.

Seeing it, Ogonin looked at the Skeleton Principal with an expression of disbelief.

He was truly a mage who was sincere in various ways when it came to tormenting others.

What do you think?

“Naturally, since it was written in my youth, there are immature parts…”

“It seems like a good book though.”

Lee Han answered, thinking he was being asked.

Though the misunderstanding was cleared up, that didn’t make Ogonin feel like an archmage.

Honestly, if he were an archmage, wouldn’t he be able to cast magic that penetrated magic resistance?

Considering such skill level, this book was indeed well-written.

Ogonin cast a grateful look at Lee Han’s unexpected reaction.

Of course, the Skeleton Principal was naturally not convinced.

That?! Compare it with my book. You’ll see it differently.

“Well, it’s true that the Principal’s book is more excellent… but books each have their own value, and just because one falls short relatively doesn’t make it a bad book.”

The Skeleton Principal couldn’t decide whether to be pleased by Lee Han’s flattery or angry at the interference, so his reaction was delayed.

“Thank you!”

Ogonin was genuinely moved.

Originally, Ogonin had received praise and gratitude from countless mages. He wouldn’t be newly moved by praise from a young mage at this point.

But receiving praise from that disciple in front of the crazy Skeleton Principal made even Ogonin’s dulled heart race.

“Since this is also fate, would it be alright if I taught you a bit?”

“!”

Lee Han hesitated and turned his gaze to the Skeleton Principal.

Misunderstanding his meaning, the Skeleton Principal grumbled and answered.

Go ahead and learn. The opportunity to be taught directly by a mage like Ogonin isn’t common. It’s a good opportunity.

‘I was wondering if I really needed to learn though.’

Lee Han thought to himself.

There was Professor Kirmin Ku inside the magic school and mages like Baldoron outside the magic school, so he wondered if it was really necessary.

‘Still, out of courtesy, I should do my best to learn.’

“Thank you.”

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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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