Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 225

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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 225

The next morning.

The Blue Dragon Tower students came out to the common room with haggard faces.

They had managed to shake down the undead to find out which lectures would have pop quizzes…

…but in reality, nothing had really changed.

After all, it was the students who had to study.

It wasn’t just one or two lectures – most of them would have pop quizzes, so what could they do?

They had no choice but to stay up all night studying.

“…Wait a minute. Lee Han. What are you eating?”

Yoner felt something was strange and asked.

Lee Han was eating snacks that the undead had brought.

“Don’t tell me it’s not?”

“You’re asking if it’s the snacks the undead brought? That’s right.”

Lee Han answered calmly.

Of course, it would be best not to eat such snacks and just throw them away, but reality couldn’t work out so ideally.

With supplies being scarce, it would be wasteful to throw away such snacks.

Besides, the snacks had no effect on Lee Han whatsoever. He had already confirmed this yesterday.

‘They’re unnecessarily delicious.’

Whoever had baked them, the Skeleton Principal’s snacks were unnecessarily delicious.

“Wardanaz… we get proper snacks… while you get the spoiled ones…”

Other students from behind looked at Lee Han with tears in their eyes.

Students who had lived their entire lives in great noble families weren’t used to someone eating spoiled food for their sake.

“It’s not spoiled. It’s delicious…”

“Everyone saw it, right? We need to repay Wardanaz’s devotion.”

“Gainando. Study! Stop fiddling with those cards!”

“Ah. I already finished!”

Seeing his friends encouraging each other on their own, Lee Han shrugged his shoulders and picked up the next snack.

* * *

【Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic】.

Professor Alpen Naiton was slightly surprised by the enthusiasm shown by the Blue Dragon Tower students.

Of course, passionate enthusiasm and grades were separate matters.

-Gainando. I know you’re close friends with Wardanaz, so it would be better for you to learn from Wardanaz separately and retake the test.

-…Can’t I just learn without retaking? I’ll do well on the final exam. I promise!

【Basic Imperial Language and Logic】.

Professor Rozine Pluewark cheered on the students.

-Everyone is doing wonderfully. To have such amazing students, the Empire’s future is truly bright. Richmond student. 37 points. Excellent. Jordan student. 33 points. Very good. Wardanaz student. Hmm. Well done.

-?

-Why didn’t she say Wardanaz’s score…

The Blue Dragon Tower students who had been wondering glanced at the three-digit score written on Lee Han’s test paper and quietly shut their mouths.

Sometimes the fact that a friend was too good at studying could be hurtful.

‘Let’s keep this between us.’

‘Those guys from other towers should be grateful for our consideration.’

* * *

Evening.

Professor Ingoldel, who had been waiting for students while watching the sunset, looked puzzled as he saw students running toward him with happy faces.

“Did something happen to all of you?”

“No, Professor!”

“Please proceed with the lecture!”

The White Tiger Tower students looked at the professor with affectionate gazes.

The White Tiger Tower students had been tormented by pop quizzes all day long.

It wouldn’t be strange if they felt a halo behind Professor Ingoldel, who didn’t give tests.

“Ha! Haa!”

“Hyaah!”

Leaving the White Tiger Tower students excitedly swinging their wooden swords, Lee Han asked Professor Ingoldel.

“By the way, Professor. I have something to ask…”

“I knew it. You’re going to ask about the Rock Drake’s weaknesses, right?”

Professor Ingoldel spoke as if he knew everything.

“…No, I’m not.”

Lee Han almost looked serious.

Anyone would think Lee Han had some grudge against the Rock Drake!

“It wasn’t?”

“Why would you even think that…?”

“The Principal said that if it’s Wardanaz, he’d probably try to hunt it alone next time…”

“…”

“I guess not. What did you want to ask?”

“Actually, while facing the Rock Drake…”

Professor Ingoldel sent a look that said ‘You said it wasn’t about that, but it was after all.’

Lee Han explained what had happened as quickly as possible.

“…I realized the same mana property change, but I wonder if this is really a good thing…”

“It’s absolutely a good thing!”

Professor Ingoldel was as happy as if it were his own achievement.

Even if one learned family secrets from childhood, without talent, one couldn’t achieve such mana property changes.

But for such a young swordsman to realize how to change mana properties on his own.

It was a good sign that he might complete his own swordsmanship later.

“Geniuses who devoted their lives to swordsmanship always completed their own swordsmanship. Such completed swordsmanship isn’t just swordsmanship, but that swordsman’s pride and self-respect.”

“Uh…”

Lee Han hesitated.

The conversation was getting too far ahead.

‘I’m not really interested in my own swordsmanship.’

Lee Han had no ambition to establish his own swordsmanship and leave a mark in the Empire’s swordsmanship history.

In the first place, wasn’t the reason he took swordsmanship lectures to get easy grades?

Since the Wall Rock Sword he learned from Alarlong was already good enough swordsmanship, Lee Han had no intention of changing or reinterpreting this swordsmanship.

“Wardanaz student. Try mixing that property change into your swordsmanship. Then you’ll naturally see your own unique sword.”

Being suddenly forced to practice swordsmanship by mixing in mana property changes made Lee Han even more flustered.

Lee Han’s swordsmanship, the Wall Rock Sword, was already completed to a considerable level.

It was natural since he had been wielding it since childhood.

But now, if he mixed in the newly realized mana property change, there would be much confusion until he got used to it again.

Of course, Lee Han didn’t want to do that.

He had just asked to hear what kind of phenomenon this was and how it might be good to use it…

“Professor. I haven’t even completely mastered mana circulation yet, so if I get greedy with property changes too, won’t my sword become dull?”

“It’s fine. Wardanaz student. The path of the sword isn’t that narrow, and you’re not lacking in talent. You can handle both at the same time.”

“…”

Lee Han gritted his teeth and nodded. Then he turned around dejectedly.

Durgyu spoke from beside him.

“I heard. Lee Han. You’re trying to apply mana property changes to swordsmanship? Amazing. Even the students in our tower don’t think about property changes, though they might consider mana circulation.”

“I’m really serious about swordsmanship, you know.”

“Of course I knew that. Students as serious about swordsmanship as you are rare even in our tower. By now, your friends must be feeling your sincerity too, Lee Han.”

“…”

Lee Han inwardly sighed at Durgyu’s response, taking his joke seriously.

Well, it wasn’t really Durgyu’s fault…

“I’d appreciate it if you could help me with sparring. It’ll take quite a while to get used to swordsmanship, and I don’t think the other guys will go easy on me.”

“Of course, Lee Han. But I think the other friends would go easy on you too if they heard the circumstances.”

‘I doubt that.’

Lee Han clashed wooden swords with Durgyu.

Since Professor Ingoldel had said that, she would ask ‘How has your swordsmanship changed?’ every time they met, so he had to show results worthy of that.

‘My primary goal is… to disrupt balance.’

Fortunately, Lee Han had a reference point to aim for.

When the apprentice knights from the Baekyang Oak Knight Order came last time, he had seen a knight who used absorption swordsmanship.

Labda of the Enge Family lightly wrapped his sword with mana that had pulling properties, disrupting his opponent’s balance with each clash.

Of course, there would be more complex techniques at higher levels, but Lee Han didn’t need to go that far.

What mattered was reaching a level where he could show Professor Ingoldel ‘This is how I’ve been practicing!’

“What are those two doing?”

“I heard Wardanaz is practicing absorption swordsmanship.”

“What? Isn’t that a sword technique only the Enge Family uses?”

“That bastard Wardanaz…”

The White Tiger Tower students looked at Lee Han with amazed gazes.

He already had swordsmanship skills that ranked among the top, yet instead of stopping there, he was entering into research to develop new swordsmanship.

He was truly greedy when it came to swordsmanship.

“We can’t lose either!”

“Wardanaz. When it comes to passion for swordsmanship, you won’t be able to beat us!”

‘I want to punch each one of them.’

Lee Han, who was struggling and staggering under Durgyu’s attacks, was furious inside.

He was already annoyed to death because of the unfamiliar swordsmanship…

It felt like he had returned to his early days of receiving sword training.

“Lee Han. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Let’s continue.”

Regardless of his feelings, Lee Han had the personality to do what needed to be done without hesitation.

His mood might be frustrated, but if Professor Ingoldel wanted it, what could he do?

He had to create results and show them.

‘When an attack comes in, stop it. When another attack comes in, stop it again.’

Instead of executing sword techniques fluidly, Lee Han focused solely on defense.

Since changing the nature of mana itself was difficult, he needed to give up on other aspects.

He was aiming for one thing.

When the opponent’s attack came in, use absorption mana to pull and make their movement stop.

Clang, clang, clang, clang-

Durgyu’s rapid consecutive attacks struck the blade, then suddenly the sword hesitated in mid-air, unable to return to position.

“Just now! Did you see that just now? Lee Han?!”

“Yeah. I saw it.”

Lee Han inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

‘At least I managed to succeed once.’

There was a difference in difficulty between recklessly pouring mana into his hands without caring about waste, and properly infusing just enough mana so the wooden sword wouldn’t break.

Swordsmen who hadn’t reached the level of extending mana into their sword and circulating it steadily like their own body had to fight by squeezing out mana and blowing it into their sword whenever needed.

It was wasteful of mana, but it was something they had to accept.

However, someone like Lee Han had to worry about different things.

The worry that he might put in too much mana and break the sword!

To demonstrate absorption swordsmanship, he needed to infuse mana every time the swords clashed, requiring even more concentration.

“Lee Han, your swordsmanship is heavy and strong, belonging to the heavy sword category. If you can disrupt balance just by blocking opponent’s attacks, your counters will become even more powerful.”

“Thanks, Durgyu.”

“Now. Let’s continue then.”

“…Can’t we rest a little?”

“Lee Han. What are you saying? If you don’t continue when you’ve gained insight, the swordsmanship won’t stick in your hands, right?”

Durgyu was surprised, wondering what Lee Han, who should know better, was talking about.

Professor Ingoldel chimed in too.

“That’s right. Wardanaz. It would be better to continue.”

“Actually, my mana is…”

“?”

“?”

“…It’s nothing. Let’s continue, Durgyu.”

“Alright. Got it!”

Lee Han, who was about to make the excuse that his mana was insufficient, gave up and sighed.

‘Damn it. I tried to rest a bit…’

The problem was that both Durgyu and Professor Ingoldel knew Lee Han too well.

Knowing he could do more, they mercilessly pushed forward even when he wanted to rest a little.

* * *

The next day.

Lee Han headed to Professor Boladi’s lecture hall while loosening his stiff muscles.

His whole body ached from practicing unfamiliar swordsmanship yesterday. Even Lee Han, who usually wouldn’t collapse easily, had fallen asleep immediately.

‘I’m afraid to open the door.’

It was scary enough to meet him in perfect condition, but to meet him in an imperfect state.

Lee Han thought this as he opened the door.

“Good day.”

Professor Boladi, who had been standing like a statue, opened his mouth as Lee Han sat down.

“Have you completed the floating ice shield?”

“Excuse me? Uh… I haven’t finished it yet.”

“Prepare.”

“Wait a moment.”

“?”

“The Rock Drake…”

Lee Han regretted bringing it up.

Why had he dug his own grave when Professor Boladi hadn’t mentioned it first?

“Do you want to know the Rock Drake’s weakness?”

“That’s not…”

“So what the Principal said was true. As I mentioned before, you’re too impatient.”

“…”

Lee Han felt truly wronged.

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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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