Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 278
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 278
Bone fragments fired relentlessly like shotgun pellets swept through the surroundings, turning everything into chaos.
The adventurers who had been desperately holding out until the mage’s mana ran out gradually began to feel something was wrong.
‘…Something’s strange!!’
Thwack!
Even while covering their bodies with shields, complete defense was impossible.
When one adventurer hit by bone fragments staggered and exposed himself from the blind spot, Lee Han immediately launched a water orb.
Even wearing solid armor meant nothing.
The heavy impact piercing through gaps in the armor brought the adventurer down instantly.
-At this rate, we’re all going to fall! Shouldn’t we move?
-Are you saying we should charge at the mage who’s casting magic right now?!
The remaining adventurers desperately communicated through hand signals.
The current situation was simply unbelievable.
When they looked through the window earlier, he definitely seemed like a precious young noble…
‘What kind of potion did he drink before coming?’
According to the original plan, the moment the mage entered the basement, all the prepared traps would activate in sequence, and the adventurers would join in a coordinated attack during that opening.
But the opponent mage had apparently consumed so many mana enhancement potions that he was continuously casting magic without pause, devastating the entire basement.
Though they didn’t know where the traps were located, with magic being fired so recklessly, several traps had already been destroyed.
Agonizing endurance where one second felt like an hour.
Suddenly, the basement became quiet.
‘Is it over!?’
The adventurers felt their hearts racing as bone fragments stopped flying.
Whether the bone fragments were depleted or his mana was exhausted, that mage’s attack had definitely ended…
Thud, thud thud, thud thud thud thud-
This time water orbs came flying like mad. Though not as overwhelming in quantity as the bone fragments, it was still a suffocating number.
Moreover, unlike the earlier indiscriminate barrage, these curved precisely into the blind spots where the adventurers were hiding.
The mage had clearly grasped the adventurers’ approximate positions through the first wave of attacks.
“Graaah! You crazy mage bastard!”
Finally, one adventurer screamed and burst out. The wooden shield he’d been holding was tattered from enduring the merciless assault of bone fragments and water orbs.
‘Fast!’
Kilbedek felt a moment of hope seeing his companion’s speed, faster than expected.
There was originally a saying about never charging at a mage who was casting, but the situation was slightly different now.
The opponent mage was distracted by firing water orbs throughout the basement, and the adventurer’s physical abilities were dramatically enhanced by various potions consumed before battle.
At that lightning-fast charging speed, it would be enough to catch the mage off guard.
Wasn’t casting speed always a mage’s weakness?
“Flash forth!”
However, the mage swung his staff as if he’d been waiting and unleashed the spell.
The massive water masses floating in the air continued transforming into water orbs and flying out, while lightning shot forth between them, blowing away the adventurer’s shield.
“…!”
The adventurer whose shield was blown away didn’t immediately realize his situation. The mage’s reaction speed was that fast.
“Wha…”
“Flash forth, flash forth, flash forth!”
The adventurer’s physical abilities were enhanced by various potions. With that dynamic vision, he saw the staff tip and attempted evasive maneuvers.
However, the mage fired three bolts almost simultaneously as if he’d anticipated this. No matter which direction he dodged, he was bound to get hit.
Crackle!
As his body became paralyzed from electrocution, water orbs rushed at him like a pack of wolves.
The remaining adventurers were now more terrified than when facing the crazy mage.
If the crazy mage had simply walked in and systematically dismantled the adventurers’ traps one by one to subdue them, this young monster on the stairs was pressing them without giving them a moment to breathe.
“Sur… Surrender! We surrender!”
Thwack!
When his companion who ran out with both hands raised got hit by a water orb and collapsed, Kilbedek was horrified.
He surrendered, so why!?
‘Does he not accept surrenders?!’
“Ah. Sorry. I didn’t realize you were surrendering. Are you surrendering?”
“…Yes!! Yes!!! We surrender!”
“Drop your weapons, raise both hands, then come out slowly.”
The young mage’s voice was so kind it was chilling.
Kilbedek cautiously poked his head out. The mage waited with an expressionless face and asked.
“You’re not preparing any tricks, are you?”
“We didn’t! There’s nothing like that!”
“Your strong denial makes it more suspicious… Understood. Come out slowly.”
The adventurer walking in front of Kilbedek glanced around and slightly lowered his hand to speak.
He was curious about how the current situation was unfolding.
“Um, what’s happenin…”
Thwack!
“Ah. Oops. Sorry. It was reflexive…”
Seeing his companion get hit by a water orb and collapse, Kilbedek raised his hands even higher.
That mage spoke kindly but his actions were more terrifying than the crazy mage.
* * *
Lee Han could tell that Professor Boladi was very disappointed.
Fortunately, he wasn’t disappointed in Lee Han but in the adventurers.
“Failed.”
“Sor, sorry. Mage sir.”
“We did our best but…”
Professor Boladi was so disappointed he said nothing. After tossing each adventurer a pouch of silver coins as payment, he pointed toward the main gate.
Understanding the dismissal, the adventurers began backing away awkwardly.
They were afraid the crazy mage might launch attack magic if they turned around.
“I’ll escort you out.”
Meanwhile, Lee Han, who had breezed through his final exam, was in a good mood.
Of course, the adventurers weren’t reassured just because Lee Han was escorting them.
“Th… Thank you. Mage sir.”
“You can speak comfortably. I’m still just a student with much to learn.”
Despite his modest words, the adventurers never let their guard down.
“I, I see. What year are you?”
“1st year.”
“…”
“…”
The adventurers said nothing. They just made indescribable expressions.
“Um… what exactly happened today?”
When they were halfway there, one adventurer couldn’t hold back and asked.
The other adventurers sent looks saying ‘Do you have two lives?’ ‘Why are you trying to kill us all?’ but the question was already out.
“Ah. It was a final exam.”
“Pardon?”
“A final exam. Didn’t the professor explain?”
“Ah…”
The adventurers opened their mouths and simultaneously repeated only ‘Ah…’ sounds.
Then they came to their senses with startled expressions and shouted.
“No! You did help us!”
“I remember!”
“That’s a relief. I was wondering if you hadn’t helped us. Now. You can come this way. You can see the main gate, right?”
Looking at Lee Han’s back as he walked ahead, the adventurers simultaneously had the same thought without even making a promise to each other.
If they could safely exit through Einroguard’s main gate today, they would retire.
‘I should settle down in a quiet village with few people.’
‘I need to go to a village without mages.’
Sincerely, they no longer wanted to deal with these lunatics.
* * *
‘Good start.’
Lee Han crossed out 【Repetitive Learning of Basic Magic Combat】 with a pleased expression.
Repetitive Learning of Basic Magic Combat
Basic Magic Ethics Education
Of course, there were still many lectures remaining, but starting the final exams by finishing this one was itself a good omen.
“Wardanaz. Big trouble!”
“?”
“I heard that the 【Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic】 assignment has no more deadline extensions! They want it submitted today as is!”
“!!”
As Angrago whispered in a fuss, Lee Han’s face hardened stiffly.
This was no ordinary matter.
‘That’s ridiculous!’
【Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic】.
It was a lecture where they did blueprints as pre-final assignments and actual construction as final exam assignments, but…
…the problem was that the phoenix had broken into the storage and burned all the assignments inside.
How could they submit on schedule on Tuesday when all the assignments had been burned?
So all the students were thinking ‘There’ll be a deadline extension, right?’ ‘No matter what, there has to be a deadline extension for this’…
‘I was complacent. This was Einroguard!’
Lee Han bitterly regretted his carelessness.
Of course, even if he had known, he wouldn’t have been able to spare much time while catching the phoenix, but the pain was unavoidable.
“Wardanaz. There’s a way.”
“What way?”
“Join hands with us and protest to the professor! If you, the most excellent student, join us… Hey! Wardanaz! Let’s do it together!!”
Lee Han turned around without even pretending to listen.
That was hopeless nonsense.
‘To submit, I need to finish before lunch. A way…’
Unlike other amateur students, Lee Han was a prepared professional student.
Amateurs give up when assignments aren’t ready, but professionals submit by any means necessary.
Of course, the quality of that assignment couldn’t be guaranteed, but that wasn’t important right now.
With little time remaining.
Lee Han stared at the long pole that would have originally served as the frame for the magic lamp, lost in thought.
-Don’t tell me… you’re planning to remove all the design and solve everything with just magic?!
-…What nonsense are you talking about, Yoner. I just haven’t drawn it yet.
Suddenly, the conversation he had with Yoner came to mind.
The method of abandoning both design and construction, having Lee Han cast magic, then shamelessly insisting ‘Doesn’t it last long anyway?’
When he talked with Yoner, he naturally dismissed it as nonsense, but…
‘…There’s no time and no other method.’
Lee Han steeled his resolve.
Sometimes shameless sophistry was more necessary than skill.
Let’s go with this!
* * *
Although Professor Alpen hadn’t arrived yet, the atmosphere among students gathered in the 【Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic】 lecture hall was chaotic.
“Really no deadline extension?”
“That’s what they say.”
“We’re doomed…! We’re all doomed!!”
“But it’s fortunate, right? We’re all doomed together.”
“Are you clueless?”
Then Professor Alpen entered. Professor Alpen looked puzzled at the students’ chaotic atmosphere.
“What’s the matter?”
“Professor! The phoenix burning the storage wasn’t our fault!”
“Of course it’s our fault for not posting guards! We’ll post guards from now on, so please give us just one more chance…!”
“Please extend the deadline!”
“I understand. I was planning to do that anyway.”
Professor Alpen answered readily. All the students froze.
Huh?
“Huh? Wasn’t there… no deadline extension?”
“How could I not extend the deadline when the phoenix burned the storage? Complete it by this weekend. I can give 2-3 more days, so students who lack time should come see me.”
“…”
“…Which bastard spread false rumors?”
The students were relieved for now, but that wasn’t the end of it.
Which bastard spread false rumors??
Thud!
Then Lee Han belatedly entered carrying a magic lamp. Lee Han bowed his head seeing that Professor Alpen had arrived first.
“Good day, Professor.”
“Good to see you, Mr. Wardanaz.”
“I’d like to submit my assignment.”
“Wai…”
Angrago panicked and tried to stop Lee Han.
‘No, Wardanaz! The situation has changed! It was a false rumor!’
However, Professor Alpen answered first.
“What’s this? It may be rude to say, but I don’t see any separate design.”
“Yes, Professor. I certainly wrote down amplification magic circles and corresponding materials in my blueprint. But upon reflection, that was also an inefficient method.”
“Inefficient?”
“Yes. I realized I could guarantee a duration of over 2 days with just my magic alone. In that case, I thought forcibly wasting materials didn’t match this lecture’s purpose.”
“So you submitted it this way?”
Professor Alpen’s eyes flashed sharply.
Whether it was a good sign or bad sign was unclear, but Lee Han didn’t waver.
“Yes.”
“You won’t regret it?”
‘?’
Lee Han felt something strange.
‘What? Is there something I don’t know?’
However, it was already done. Lee Han maintained a confident expression and answered.
“Yes.”
“Honestly, I’m impressed.”
Professor Alpen said with a bright smile.
“Boldness and quick thinking are also virtues of a mage. If it truly maintains a duration of more than 2 days as you say, I’ll give you a perfect score. Go in and sit down. Ah, since you’ve already submitted your final exam assignment, you’re free to leave the lecture hall. Other students, start crafting again.”
“…????”
Lee Han turned his head.
His friends were looking at Lee Han with eyes full of admiration and wonder.
Except for Angrago.
“You come out here for a moment.”
“I, I have to craft. Wardanaz.”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
