Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 212

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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 212

‘I suppose there’s no choice.’

The Skeleton Principal thought to himself, completely oblivious to Lee Han’s true feelings.

Ogonin wasn’t the type of mage to meekly give teachings when threatened or humiliated, but seeing him act like this…

Lee Han’s polite behavior must have quite moved his heart.

It was disappointing that he couldn’t embarrass him further, but if he was willing to compromise to that extent, there was no choice.

After all, it was none other than an archmage like Ogonin personally teaching him.

Even the mages in this tower would find it difficult to easily receive such a precious opportunity.

Tsk. Ogonin. I’ll consider this as repaying the debt. Teach him well.

“I’ll do my… best.”

The Skeleton Principal floated away and went outside.

It would be rude to stay nearby when another mage was imparting teachings.

“Is it alright?”

“Hmm?”

At Lee Han’s question, Ogonin smiled slightly.

It seemed he was wondering if it was really okay to receive one-on-one teaching from an archmage like Ogonin without any compensation.

It was a natural reaction given his young age.

“It’s fine. I’m doing this because I want to, not because of coercion or threats. You don’t need to worry about it.”

“That’s not what I meant, I’m worried the Principal might torment the people outside…”

“…It should be, probably fine. Maybe.”

Ogonin was slightly flustered by the very objective and realistic attitude of Gonadaltes’ disciple.

…Is he really his disciple?

* * *

After hearing about the illusion magic Lee Han knew, Ogonin nodded and said.

“Pahaite’s Illusion Magic Series. That fellow Pahaite is quite a decent illusion mage.”

‘That’s somewhat rude.’

Lee Han, who didn’t know the relationship between Ogonin and Pahaite, thought to himself.

“Since it’s illusion magic based on the fire element, it’s good for beginners to learn and easy to apply. If I had to point out a flaw, it would be that its effectiveness decreases in cold places.”

“Uh… I cast it in a cold place and it worked well.”

“Hmm? Ah. That’s because you have so much mana.”

Ogonin nodded as if he understood.

However, Lee Han’s gaze already contained a very slight hint of suspicion.

“Pahaite’s illusion magic is good magic, but I’ll teach you different magic. It has some rough aspects, but it should be quite useful.”

In fact, Ogonin’s words were excessively modest.

The magic Ogonin was about to teach was secret magic that Ogonin had created himself.

Secret magic that other illusion mages called ‘Ogonin’s Illusion Magic’ and respected!

Many illusion mages admired this magic’s clean structure, sharp conception, and excellent effects, but Ogonin hadn’t widely publicized this secret magic.

This was in contrast to other illusion magic he had directly developed and published as books.

There was one reason.

Because it was so difficult and demanding, he wasn’t confident it could be properly transmitted without direct teaching.

‘But this boy is qualified to learn it.’

It wasn’t simply because he had promised the Skeleton Principal to do his best.

Ogonin wasn’t so lacking in pride that he would carelessly hand over secret magic he had created just to repay a debt.

Ogonin already knew that Lee Han was a rarely polite and considerate boy.

What happened at the magic school during the festival was like that, and what happened in today’s duel was exactly that.

And if he had enough magical talent to receive direct teaching from the Skeleton Principal…

Such a boy would be fine to teach.

“What kind of magic is it?”

“Hmm. I haven’t given it a specific name… but other mages call it Ogonin’s Secret Illusion Magic, so you can call it that too.”

‘I’ve never heard of it.’

Lee Han wondered inwardly.

Of course, the Empire’s magic system was vast and there were naturally strange magic that Lee Han had never heard of.

But honestly, magic he had heard of and knew how great it was seemed more trustworthy than magic he had never heard of.

…It should be decent, right?

‘Hmm. I seem to be thinking too negatively.’

Lee Han thought calmly.

Whatever the case, Ogonin didn’t seem to be a completely incompetent mage.

He was running a tower like this, receiving respect from other mages, and had written various books…

…Of course, he had shown many unsightly aspects in front of Lee Han, but originally when people retire from active duty, their senses get rusty.

Now he had retired and some time had passed so his abilities had declined, but he must have been a great mage during his prime.

Ogonin, who had never retired, continued speaking without knowing Lee Han’s thoughts.

“Pahaite excels not only in illusion magic but also in applications of the fire element, so he developed several magic combining both fields. As I just said, they’re magic with clear advantages.”

The Empire’s magic developed over time, just like other disciplines.

It was natural since later mages learned from their predecessors’ magic and refined it.

And this trend of development was mainly focused on convenience and efficiency.

If there was magic that required 100 effort to learn, they made it require only 10 effort.

If there was magic that required 100 mana to cast, they made it require only 10 mana.

When magic developed this way appeared, those magic would replace existing inefficient magic and create new trends.

The Pahaite’s illusion magic that Lee Han learned was also that type of magic.

Since it was magic created by applying the fire element, it was good to learn and easy to apply, but…

“But if there are advantages, there are also disadvantages. Pahaite’s illusion magic isn’t suitable for becoming skilled in illusion magic itself. Illusion magic that applies other elements are all inadequate in that respect.”

Creating illusions with fire, cold, or earth might lower the difficulty of learning magic, but it became distant from the core of illusion magic.

Ogonin thought that to properly learn illusion magic, even if it was difficult, one should take the hard path from the beginning.

Lee Han, who was diligently taking notes, asked.

“Then what method should be used to summon illusions?”

“With pure mana only. It’s a path that’s difficult to imagine and hard to control, but that path is the most direct route.”

Along with his words, Ogonin pointed to the chair beside him. So naturally that it was hard to notice, a second Ogonin was sitting on the chair.

“Try touching it.”

Lee Han touched the second Ogonin.

Surprisingly, Ogonin didn’t distort or disappear. He endured with a solid sense of mass.

It was a completely different illusion from Pahaite’s illusions.

“It’s an illusion that materialized the concept of myself.”

“That’s amazing.”

Lee Han admired honestly.

Even if retired, his skills hadn’t gone anywhere, had they?

“You’ll be able to learn it soon too.”

Ogonin spoke with the fond gaze of looking at a future archmage.

“But what circle magic is this?”

“…5th circle…”

“…”

At Lee Han’s incredulous look, Ogonin belatedly realized his mistake.

Because he had been associating with the tower’s mages, he had forgotten that the boy in front of him was a new student.

“I wasn’t saying you must learn this now. Consider this as magic you’ll learn someday.”

“Ah. Yes. I see.”

Ogonin hastily changed his words. However, Lee Han’s gaze had grown slightly cold.

“The magic I teach doesn’t only include difficult things like creating copies of oneself. There are many relatively easy ones too.”

“I see. Wait. But why didn’t you teach those first…”

At Lee Han’s question, Ogonin pretended not to hear and changed the subject.

Creating an illusory clone with one’s own substance was truly advanced magic, and there were many easier spells in illusion magic.

1st Circle Magic. 【Ogonin’s Emotion Recognition】.

Reading the emotions emanating from surrounding living beings was a magic that was half-essential for illusion mages.

The illusion magic used would vary depending on the opponent’s emotions.

2nd Circle Magic. 【Ogonin’s Rising Anxiety】, 【Ogonin’s Surging Fear】, 【Ogonin’s Overwhelming Despair】.

These were mental interference type illusion magic that directly affected the opponent’s emotions.

To learn more advanced mental interference magic later, one had to master the techniques with these spells first.

3rd Circle Magic. 【Ogonin’s Thin Mist】.

This magic spread an illusory fog around the mage, dispersing the focus so external enemies couldn’t aim properly when attacking.

When the magic was cast properly, it could protect allies in a considerably wide range from ranged attacks.

‘…Something feels strange.’

Lee Han, who had been practicing while listening to explanations one by one, felt something was off.

The magic was too…

difficult.

Even within the same circle, difficulty varied greatly depending on what magic it was, but the magic Ogonin was teaching now was uniformly too difficult.

Enough for Lee Han to feel something was wrong.

“Hmm. Is it perhaps a bit difficult?”

Ogonin asked cautiously, as if he had noticed Lee Han’s thoughts.

“Yes. It’s quite challenging, probably because I’m lacking.”

“It’s not because you’re lacking. This magic is inherently difficult magic.”

“No. It must be because I’m lacking.”

“No. It’s really difficult magic.”

Ogonin kindly explained when Lee Han seemed to misunderstand.

Just as he had pointed out the flaws in Pahait’s illusion magic earlier, Ogonin didn’t prefer methods that incorporated other elements into illusion magic.

Rejecting any compromise or modification, only pure illusion magic!

The difficulty would certainly increase, but in the long run, he believed that was ultimately the shortest path.

Naturally, Ogonin’s secret magic consisted of stubborn illusion magic with no compromise or modification whatsoever.

Even magic like 【Ogonin’s Emotion Recognition】 would have utilized elements like the opponent’s eye movements, muscle movements, or body temperature changes if it were other illusion magic.

However, 【Ogonin’s Emotion Recognition】 focused on only one thing.

It judged based solely on the opponent’s soul with obsessive persistence.

The difficulty had to be high.

“…”

After hearing the explanation, Lee Han made a reluctant expression.

As expected of a retired mage with time passed, his teaching was a bit…

* * *

Did you learn well?

“The teaching was so difficult that I feel like I’ve just taken my first step.”

That would be the case. Ogonin is a purist after all. But even in the Empire, there aren’t many mages who adhere to pure classical illusion magic like Ogonin. Learning it well will help you in many ways.

“I’ll do my best.”

Though he answered that way, Lee Han doubted whether he would delve deeply into the magic he learned today.

With so much magic to learn already, if he had to do such difficult magic on top of that…

Still, you’re lucky.

“?”

Ogonin definitely took a liking to you. Seeing how he said he’d make time every week to teach you. Come visit every weekend. I’ll connect you to Ogonin.

“…”

Lee Han’s expression hardened.

Even if learning magic on weekends is bothersome, endure it. This is really a good opportunity. I’m not being spiteful.

“I didn’t say anything.”

What do you mean nothing when you cursed with your eyes.

As Lee Han was about to board the carriage, illusion mages came running out from inside the tower.

The Skeleton Principal frowned at their appearance of trying to say farewell.

The friendship was making him feel nauseous.

“I’ll never forget today’s duel. I truly wish for your great success.”

“I hope to hear your name in the dueling world someday. Oh right. What are your family name and given name?”

“I am Lee Han of Wardanaz Family.”

“I see. Lee Han of Wardanaz Family. As befitting an excellent knight, your family is also… hm?”

The illusion mages hesitated.

Huh?

Meanwhile, the Skeleton Principal closed the carriage door.

“Wait, wait a moment. Your Excellency.”

Stop being bothersome and get lost. Before I swing my whip.

“Did he just say Wardanaz Family… Aagh! To think you’d swing a whip over such a trivial matter!”

An Archmage does not lie. Get lost!

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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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