Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 228
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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 228
Unaware of Lee Han’s feelings, the students lined up in front of the magic circle connected to the Spirit Realm.
Professor Milay advised them.
“It would be best to go in groups of five.”
No matter how many safety measures were in place on the magic circle, it was quite dangerous for a 1st year student to explore an unfamiliar otherworld alone.
In times like this, it was safer to go together in groups.
“But Professor.”
“What is it?”
“Is Wardanaz going in alone?”
Lee Han briefly pondered whether he should be grateful to the Black Turtle Tower student who mentioned him or get angry.
He wouldn’t have minded going in alone – it would just be a bit bitter, but now that it was mentioned, wasn’t the atmosphere becoming awkward?
“Students who don’t have an aptitude for the Undead Realm won’t gain anything even if they enter.”
“Ah. There are other students learning dark magic too.”
At those words, Professor Milay’s eyes sparkled.
“Really? Who are they?”
“…”
“…”
Gainando and Raphadael raised their hands with expressions that said they wanted to kill the Black Turtle Tower student who had just spoken.
Professor Milay opened her mouth.
“You two will enter the Undead Realm.”
“…”
“…”
“Wow. How nice to see you.”
“Damn it…”
At Lee Han’s cheerful greeting, Raphadael gritted his teeth and muttered quietly.
Instead of the refreshing and beautiful Spirit Realm, they were going to enter the Undead Realm full of evil negative magic.
Dark magic really wasn’t helpful in life. His resentment toward dark magic surged again.
“L-Lee Han. Can’t you send me to the Spirit Realm instead?”
“Gainando. From what I can see, undead suit you better than spirits.”
“But… you won’t know until you try…”
“Come on. Let’s all go in.”
“Won’t you move your hands?”
Lee Han pushed his two friends’ backs. He didn’t want to miss them to the Spirit Realm.
* * *
Whiiiiiiik-
‘How gloomy.’
The Undead Realm was similar to the scenery around Professor Mortum’s workshop and the Dark Tower.
Since it was a place with abundant negative and darkness attribute magic, the scenery was bound to feel similar.
Dark surroundings on all sides.
Ownerless cemeteries scattered here and there.
Riverside where black mud bubbled up instead of stream water.
Gainando, who had half given up, seemed to have changed his mind.
“Lee Han. What kind of undead would be good? Could you recommend some?”
“All undead are trash.”
At Raphadael’s interference, Gainando responded with a smile.
“Hey. Don’t be like that, Raphadael. We’re in the same situation.”
‘Huh? What’s with that mature response?’
While Lee Han was surprised, Gainando whispered quietly.
“Let’s dump that guy in a cemetery and move on our own.”
“I can hear everything, you despicable bastard!”
“Tch.”
“Both of you stop it. Raphadael. Since you came along, you need to cooperate.”
“Why should I…”
Lee Han immediately extended his staff. He struck first before Raphadael could even reach for his waist.
“…Come to think of it, I should cooperate.”
Raphadael gritted his teeth and nodded. Lee Han spoke kindly and gently.
“Thank you for understanding. Now. Take the lead.”
“Why?!”
“You’re a knight.”
“You’re a knight too.”
Raphadael was dumbfounded by the shameless words of the two Blue Dragon Tower students.
Of course, knights and warriors were traditionally the professions that took the vanguard of a party.
The problem was…
“Wardanaz! Your swordsmanship grades are better than mine!”
“Wow… to say such ugly things…”
Gainando was impressed.
In Gainando’s eyes, who didn’t attend swordsmanship lectures, Raphadael only looked like he was being unreasonable because he didn’t want to stand in the front.
What kind of excuse was that?
“Shut up! You prince bastard! Do you know how well that guy uses a sword!”
“I have to use a staff on this expedition. You take the lead.”
“Fuc…”
“Do it.”
Lee Han’s voice turned cold. That voice contained pressure that didn’t allow questioning.
Raphadael turned around, fuming.
And then he made a vow.
If there ever came a time to face that Wardanaz bastard, he would definitely bring at least four friends or more!
“You all know the basic principles, right.”
“Of course.”
“I couldn’t hear because I was sleeping.”
Lee Han and Raphadael looked at Gainando like he was trash.
“Basically, it’s no different from spirits. Walk around and check if there are any useful ones.”
Whether wandering the Spirit Realm or the Undead Realm, the method of contracting with beings from other worlds was similar.
Either wander around calling for them, or discover and seek them out.
Of course, mages like Lee Han who made their targets run away whether he called for them or sought them out were somewhat exceptional.
“But Lee Han. Unlike spirits, most undead are hostile, right?”
“That’s right.”
Raphadael’s shoulders, who was leading the way, flinched.
“It’s okay, Raphadael. I’ll support you from behind.”
“Right, Raphadael. We’ll support you.”
“…Thanks a fucking lot.”
If contracts in the Spirit Realm proceeded through persuasion and charm, contracts in the Undead Realm were likely to proceed through force and fighting.
Since undead were basically hostile, most of them would attack until they were subdued.
‘It would be nice to find a Skeleton Mage.’
Lee Han fell into thought, recalling the names of low-level undead monsters.
Actually, whether it was a Skeleton Warrior, archer, or mage, as long as he could contract with them, it would definitely be beneficial for a freshman mage.
Especially in the case of mages, it was very useful to summon creatures like Skeleton Warriors in front and fight.
However…
‘If it’s a Skeleton Mage, I can learn magic.’
The pursuit of knowledge.
This was also one of the goals of summoning mages.
Powerful beings from other dimensions often possessed knowledge that mages didn’t know or had forgotten.
Of course, he couldn’t expect that level from low-grade undead monsters bound by restrictions. They were beings without rational thought capable of conversation in the first place.
At least the Skeleton Mage was one of the few magic users among low-grade undead monsters.
Though it used magic by instinct, given enough time, he should be able to learn by following along.
‘It’s always beneficial to learn as much magic as possible. Whether you master it perfectly or not.’
Fighting Rock Drakes just to find one dark magic book in the library made him realize anew how precious such easily obtainable learning opportunities were.
“It, it appeared!”
When he heard a voice from ahead, Lee Han looked up.
A skeleton was charging at them, wielding a sword made of rusted bone.
Raphadael immediately drew his wooden sword and clashed with the skeleton.
“Where does a mere undead dare!”
Thud!
The swordsmanship of an irrational monster was easy to exploit. Raphadael twisted the opponent’s sword and pushed it aside.
‘Got it!’
Raphadael’s expression brightened.
He was lucky.
They hadn’t even been in the Undead Realm for long, yet they encountered an undead monster like this.
At this rate, he might be able to subdue it and then make it submit for a contract…
Thwack!
Thwack thwack thwack!
At that moment, water orbs flew from behind, smashing the Skeleton Warrior’s skull and shattering its arms and legs.
The Skeleton Warrior could no longer maintain its form and began to disappear.
Fizzle…
“Oops. Too strong.”
Lee Han clicked his tongue.
The undead that appeared were weaker than expected, given the restrictions placed on them.
He had launched his attack based on the Skeleton Principal’s summoned creatures, but he didn’t expect such a difference.
“It’s okay, Lee Han. You were helping Raphadael.”
“Sorry about that, Raphadael. Did you want to make a contract?”
“…As if! Did you think I would contract with mere undead?”
Raphadael turned his head sharply. Lee Han asked with a puzzled expression.
“You don’t suppose you were cr…”
“Let’s go quickly! To find the next one! I have no intention of contracting, but you guys need to make contracts for this tedious exploration to end!”
“…”
* * *
‘Luck aside, this group seems to have decent dark magic talent.’
After accidentally destroying the skeleton and then encountering two more Skeleton Warriors, Lee Han became certain.
Come to think of it, Gainando was also a student who showed considerable talent in dark magic.
With several such students present, it might be natural for undead monsters to seek them out.
“What do you think?”
“…Uh… I just thought they were coming because you’re outstanding?”
Gainando looked at Lee Han as if asking what nonsense he was talking about.
If you put it that way, they were coming because of Lee Han, not particularly because of Gainando or Raphadael.
“…Is that so? No. It can’t necessarily be just that. Raphadael. What do you think?”
“Don’t drag me into your pointless arguments.”
Raphadael’s face was layered with fatigue.
He had failed to contract with the two Skeleton Warriors they encountered again.
This time it wasn’t because of Lee Han, but Raphadael’s own problem.
When he tried to subdue and make the Skeleton Warrior submit, the opponent refused submission and chose to resist until it perished.
‘Damn it! What’s the problem?’
Raphadael had decided to learn dark magic to face dark mages.
He couldn’t just skip over undead summoning, which formed a major pillar of dark magic.
He needed to find a proper summoned creature and gain Professor Mortum’s recognition…
“Ah. Another one appeared. Lee Han. Try subduing this one.”
“Raphadael is the vanguard, isn’t he?”
“But that guy keeps rebelling when he subdues them. You try subduing it.”
“…How would it be different if I subdue it?”
Lee Han’s expression became slightly serious. Gainando answered with a frightened look.
“You… you’re good at everything, right? You’re good at subduing too, aren’t… you?”
“Ah. So that’s what you meant. I thought you were saying it’s natural for beings from other dimensions to fear me.”
‘Isn’t that right?’
Gainando thought so, but kept his mouth shut out of fear.
“Raphadael. Switch.”
“Hmph. As if it’ll be different just because you do it…”
Thwack! Crash!
-■■■■■!
Raphadael’s mouth gaped wide at the sight of the Skeleton Warrior prostrating after taking a few hits.
Anyone could see that was 100% certain submission.
‘Wha… what?!’
“Well done, Lee Han! Are you going to contract?”
“Hmm. I’m torn.”
Lee Han fell into thought.
It wasn’t bad to contract with beings from other dimensions when the opportunity arose, but he was reluctant since he wanted a Skeleton Mage.
Contracts weren’t something you could make infinitely.
They immediately affected the mage’s own mana and mental strength, and the more you made, the more contractors’ echoes remained in the mage’s soul, making other beings feel disgusted and avoid them.
And most importantly, the moment he contracted now, there was a high possibility that other nearby undead would notice and instinctively keep their distance.
A strong soul fluctuation occurring in this area meant that some mage had subdued and made an undead submit.
Just like how it became difficult to find spirits in the vicinity for a while after contracting with one spirit in the Spirit Realm, the same applied to undead.
Still…
‘This isn’t the only opportunity. I can find new ones elsewhere.’
Lee Han nodded.
“Yes. I’ll contract.”
As he declared his intention, he felt the sensation of his soul intertwining with the Skeleton Warrior’s soul, just like he had done with Perkuntra before.
Of course, he didn’t feel anywhere near Perkuntra’s level of intelligence or strength, but he was confident he could summon it through this contract whenever he wanted.
“I’m counting on you, Skeleton Warrior.”
“Raphadael. Why do you look like that?”
“…I was frowning because I hate undead!”
* * *
When Lee Han finished his contract, Professor Milay’s magic circle detected it and summoned the three of them.
The students who had returned first were shrugging their shoulders in disappointment.
“…So I’m telling you that was definitely a spirit…”
“That was just a leaf. You saw an illusion.”
Professor Milay looked at the three with puzzlement and asked.
“That seems a bit fast. Don’t tell me you made a contract?”
“Uh… we did?”
“!”
Professor Milay was rarely surprised.
1st year students had entered with safety measures on the magic circle, yet they encountered undead this quickly?
That was even more surprising than making a contract!
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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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