Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 275

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 275

I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it’s a misunderstanding.

“A misunderstanding! How can you say that when you knew I was coming!”

Iwunrade said in a flustered voice.

There was only one reason why an Einroguard graduate mage would go to investigate the actual conditions of Einroguard students.

Because mages from other schools would never understand if they visited Einroguard!

Only mages who graduated from Einroguard could understand Einroguard’s unique educational culture.

…But even considering that, Einroguard should have shown some consideration when an imperial official was visiting.

While Einroguard occasionally had ridiculous accidents, those accidents didn’t necessarily have to happen when imperial officials were visiting.

I told you it’s a misunderstanding. It’s not something I caused.

“If the Principal didn’t cause this, then who did? Don’t tell me the first-year students did this on their own?”

That’s right.

“…Don’t say such ridiculous things.”

Go ask them yourself.

“…”

The Skeleton Principal was an evil, spiteful, despicable, and cruel mage, but he wasn’t a mage who made ridiculous excuses.

Iwunrade asked the student who seemed to be the leader among those holding the phoenix.

“Did you really try to catch the phoenix? Just first-year students among yourselves?”

“Yes.”

“And you caught it?”

“Yes.”

The adventurers who heard the answer murmured behind them.

Iwunrade, who usually thought most rumors about Einroguard were baseless gossip, couldn’t deny it this time.

* * *

Although it was something he had anticipated, capturing the phoenix was much more difficult than expected.

Trapping the phoenix in the main building was just the beginning.

“First, let’s catch it. Lure the phoenix in!”

“How?”

“Guide it with magic…”

Fortunately, that wasn’t necessary. The phoenix that entered the main building excitedly rushed toward Lee Han.

■■■■! ■■■■!

The phoenix seemed to perceive the current situation as play. Even as students rushed at it from both sides with menacing faces, it flapped its wings and clung to Lee Han.

It was absurd, but an opportunity was still an opportunity. It saved them the trouble of luring the phoenix.

“Everyone grab it!”

■■■■■…

“…”

The phoenix chirped.

It was a much louder and clearer cry than when it sang in front of the tower before.

The friends who had been full of fighting spirit just moments ago all sat down as if enchanted, staring at the phoenix with their mouths agape.

‘Damn it. Should I have cast defensive magic on their minds too!’

Lee Han lamented inwardly.

The phoenix’s song, when it sang with determination, was much more powerful than expected. It was enough to simply bury any ordinary resolve or determination.

What are you going to do now?

The Skeleton Principal, who entered late, asked in an excited voice.

He seemed overjoyed by the situation where all of Lee Han’s friends except Lee Han had been eliminated.

“…It’s fine. It won’t keep singing forever, so I just need to hold out alone until it stops.”

Isn’t that too reckless?

Whether the Skeleton Principal was mocking him or not, Lee Han ignored it.

If it was something he had to do anyway, complaining wouldn’t change anything.

“Come forth, Sharkan!”

Lee Han summoned Sharkan and called out the skeleton warriors. Then he held the phoenix tightly so it couldn’t escape.

The phoenix didn’t care that it was being held and playfully flapped its wings.

Flutter, flap!

“Lee Han! Cast magic! That’s the only way to exhaust the phoenix’s stamina more!”

Lee Han, who was already thinking of doing that, swung his staff. When ice and lightning flew at it, the phoenix became even more excited after being hit.

Sharkan bit the phoenix and clawed at it as if bewildered. The phoenix cutely pecked at Sharkan with its beak.

To anyone watching, it looked like playing with a pet.

If only the surroundings weren’t blazing due to the phoenix’s flames.

Cunning creature! To seduce the phoenix with mana.

When the phoenix didn’t fight back at all and kept playing, the Skeleton Principal blamed Lee Han.

Of course, Lee Han was too busy wrestling with the phoenix to even hear.

“…Lee Han probably didn’t do it on purpose.”

Professor Garcia made excuses on his behalf.

Seeing the phoenix’s attitude of accepting any attack as play and continuing to play along, it seemed true that it was completely captivated by Lee Han’s mana.

It wasn’t particularly surprising for magical beasts that fed on mana to crave mana.

The only reason the fickle phoenix would continue to accept such play and stay attached without leaving was that.

But Professor Garcia decided not to tell Lee Han this fact.

The truth like ‘the phoenix has been chasing you because of your mana’ would be too harsh for a student who was already having a hard time.

But cunning tricks won’t last long either.

“I really don’t want to ask, but… why is that?”

As you know, phoenixes are fickle. Right now it’s docile because it’s intoxicated by the mana, but…

“It’s not exactly docile.”

Professor Garcia said, watching the phoenix trying to stuff feathers into Lee Han’s ear.

…When it gets bored, it’ll gradually try to leave. Do you think you can catch it then? Unfortunately, the preparation was insufficient.

‘Certainly.’

Professor Garcia couldn’t help but agree with the Skeleton Principal’s words.

With all the other students knocked out by the song, it seemed difficult for Lee Han alone to stop the phoenix.

If the phoenix got tired of it and tried to fly somewhere else…

…

“…”

The Skeleton Principal and Professor Garcia stood still and watched Lee Han and the phoenix play.

How much time had passed?

The Skeleton Principal burst into anger.

Why is that phoenix so patient!?

As time passed, the friends also woke up from the song and joined in.

“I’ll help you, Wardanaz!”

“I’ve already caught it though!”

“Shh. Be quiet.”

Thanks to his friends joining, Lee Han could buy some time to rest…

■■■■! ■■■■!

“Wardanaz! The phoenix is trying to escape!”

“Wardanaz!! What should we do?!”

“…”

Lee Han came back from trying to rest and grabbed the phoenix again. The phoenix fluttered happily.

“Sh-should we give it a snack?”

“Yeah. Please do.”

It was truly ignorant-level persistence.

Seeing him continue to endure while subduing the phoenix, the Skeleton Principal grumbled incessantly.

If you’re going to capture it with brute force like that, why become a mage?

* * *

After hearing the explanation of the situation, Iwunrade finally nodded in understanding.

“I see!”

Does it make sense now?

“No!”

Why not?

“If you knew I was coming, you should have naturally stopped something like that! The Principal could have dealt with it instead! Especially during final exam period!”

That’s not possible. Principles must be upheld under any circumstances.

Iwunrade was dumbfounded.

This was someone who ignored principles when it was convenient for him!

‘How hard could it be to help the students once during final exam period!’

“I don’t know either! I’ll do my best, but I can’t completely erase what happened.”

…Hmph. It doesn’t matter.

The Skeleton Principal’s burning gaze wavered slightly.

He was probably calculating in his head how much the budget would be cut.

* * *

“Please come in one at a time.”

After organizing his luggage, Iwunrade sat down to hear the circumstances from the first-year students first.

While there were students of various years at Einroguard, none suffered as much hardship and pain as the first-year students.

Since Iwunrade himself had been a student at Einroguard, he knew well how shocking it would be for first-years when they first enrolled.

Having to leave servants, attendants, and slaves outside the castle gate while entering the tower wearing shabby clothes.

The terrifyingly-looking Lich Archmage was just a bonus.

If life in the tower were at least comfortable, that would be fortunate, but unfortunately, tower life was harsh and painful.

They had to eat only hard black bread and rice balls while completing an unbearably large amount of assignments and studying.

‘My heart aches for all of them.’

Seeing a Blue Dragon Tower student enter, Iwunrade felt sadness welling up.

Since he himself was from Blue Dragon Tower, Iwunrade could understand how difficult it must have been for the student before him.

While all first-year students had it hard, Blue Dragon Tower was particularly more difficult among them.

Things like the noble bloodlines or brilliant minds that students possessed weren’t very helpful during their first year.

Moreover, White Tiger Tower and Black Turtle Tower students were narrow-minded and petty, often disliking Blue Dragon Tower for no reason.

Sadly, Blue Dragon Tower students who had no talent for hunting or gathering had no choice but to go hungry.

“Please sit down.”

As the Blue Dragon Tower student sat down, Iwunrade wrote down his name. Then he asked a question.

“It must be very difficult for you.”

“Huh. How did you know?”

Gainando was surprised. Iwunrade smiled bitterly and said.

“I too am a mage who graduated from Einroguard. And I’m from Blue Dragon Tower as well.”

“You’re a senior!”

“That’s right. So you can speak comfortably. I’ll cut out most of it anyway.”

What the Empire was interested in was whether there were students at Einroguard who wanted to burn down the world or summon great demons to overthrow the Empire, not whether students were hungry or not.

So first-year students could speak freely. There was no need to worry about the Skeleton Principal’s reaction.

“How are the meals?”

“They’re a bit lacking.”

“I understand. That black bread and cold rice balls are really hard to get used to. I never adapted to them until graduation.”

“Huh? Oh. I don’t eat those.”

“What?”

Iwunrade paused at Gainando’s words.

Not eating black bread and rice balls – then was he eating dew or something?

“Then what did you eat?”

“Um… for breakfast I had bacon omelet, for lunch I had a sandwich with tuna, egg, and corn. For dinner…”

“Wait. Wait. Wait.”

Iwunrade stopped Gainando’s words, doubting his ears.

“Are you trying to joke around with me right now?”

“Huh? What, what did I do wrong?”

Gainando was startled and intimidated by his senior’s sudden anger.

Only then did Iwunrade realize what he was doing.

“Sorry, sorry. I got angry for a moment. I thought you were joking…”

“It’s not a joke! I even have dessert here!”

Gainando protested by pulling out cookies from his backpack.

They weren’t cookies baked with mud and grass mixed together, but proper cookies made with flour, sugar, and butter.

No matter how you looked at it, these weren’t snacks a first-year student could dare to eat.

“…Where did this come from?”

“Lee Han brought it from outside. He also gets ingredients from inside to make things.”

“…”

Gainando began chattering excitedly.

About how Lee Han obtained ingredients and cooked to feed the Blue Dragon Tower students.

Iwunrade’s face gradually contorted as he listened to that abundant dietary lifestyle.

It was a reaction he didn’t even notice himself.

“…You’ve met… great fortune.”

“Right??”

Iwunrade realized one fact.

While sadness welled up when juniors suffered, anger surged when juniors enjoyed too much luxury!

‘Could this be why those guys from other towers hated us!’

* * *

When he asked other Blue Dragon Tower students, the answers were similar.

Iwunrade, who had hoped otherwise, was furious at the sight of his well-fed juniors.

‘How can their skills as mages improve if they live so complacently like this! It wasn’t like this in our time!’

Iwunrade didn’t realize he was saying exactly the same things as the Skeleton Principal.

The counseling continued after that.

At first he was furious because of the Blue Dragon Tower students, but as he counseled students from other towers, Iwunrade’s emotions changed to amazement.

“So you’re saying this student called Wardanaz is taking summoning magic, illusion magic, enchantment magic, divination magic, transformation magic, healing magic… all of these?”

“Yes. I think so?”

“But he’s also in charge of meals for the Blue Dragon Tower students?”

“Huh? Weren’t the Blue Dragon Tower guys sharing that work? Aren’t they crazy?”

“…”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————