Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 304

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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 304

If one could learn swordsmanship just by watching, all the sword guilds and sword instructors in the Empire would have to put down their swords.

Of course, if one was truly an outstanding swordsman, they could grasp swordsmanship to some extent just by crossing blades.

But it was truly only to ‘some extent’ – they couldn’t read all the complex and profound sword techniques.

The Enge Family’s absorption sword technique was one such example.

The swordsmanship that made opponents lose balance by being drawn in the moment blades met wasn’t something that ended with just changing the nature of mana.

Starting from changing the nature of mana, one had to precisely calculate which moment of the sword technique to use it for optimal effect.

Yet he had realized this through experience alone and developed it enough to use during a spar with Alarlong.

‘Can magical talent be applied in this way too?’

Alarlong was confused.

He had heard from the Family Head that Lee Han excelled at magic.

Being such a genius, perhaps he could achieve such changes in mana nature just by observing.

But to develop it to the point of using it in a spar…

Alarlong wondered if he should have sent the young master to a knight order instead of Einroguard.

“For self-training, you did excellently. With more polishing and practice, you’ll improve even further.”

“Really? That’s encouraging.”

Lee Han supported his weight with his sword and stood up.

Having struggled throughout the semester, he couldn’t help but be pleased by Alarlong’s recognition.

‘I guess it’s somewhat useful.’

“Lord Wardanaz. You have a visitor.”

“Who is it?”

A servant approached, calling for Lee Han. Lee Han thought it might be one of his friends or one of the friends who hadn’t repaid their debts yet.

“It’s a priest, sir. There’s going to be a religious event soon, and he came thinking Lord Wardanaz might be interested…”

“!”

Lee Han brightened up.

Tiziling Priest from Prising’s order had mentioned this before.

That there would be a religious event during the vacation.

It was called an event, but it was essentially a kind of flea market where cursed artifacts were gathered to be destroyed or disposed of.

Lee Han had been determined since the semester to participate in this event and make some profit.

‘Tiziling Priest. Thank you.’

“I’ll change clothes and go right away. Tell them I’ll attend the event, so please wait in the reception room. Oh, and can you prepare some snacks I can take when visiting the temple?”

“I’ll arrange that.”

* * *

“…”

Lee Han walked with a dejected expression.

Beside Lee Han was not Tiziling Priest but Nigisor Priest.

Shaking off crackling flames to the side, Nigisor Priest spoke.

“As expected of Lee Han of Wardanaz Family. I knew you’d be interested.”

“Right… I do like Aphra’s order…”

Objectively speaking, Aphra’s order was a good religious order.

Especially since it was an order that had helped Lee Han a lot with his weakness in handling fire elements.

Maintaining friendly relations with such an order was certainly a good thing, but…

‘I thought it was Prising’s order.’

Human hearts tend to feel more disappointed when they have expectations.

Lee Han, who had planned to make some profit from cursed artifacts, couldn’t help but feel disappointed.

“But what does Aphra’s order do for their event?”

“First, there’s straw doll burning. We burn straw dolls containing the year’s bad luck and misfortune to bring good luck.”

“I see.”

Lee Han nodded at the surprisingly normal event.

“Next, we call priests and the city’s fire mages to lecture on Empire safety regulations.”

“…Hm?”

Lee Han was puzzled.

Was there such a thing?

“There was such a thing?”

“Since mages who mainly handle fire elements can cause great damage even with small accidents. Unlike priests who are educated from a young age, self-taught mages often cause dangerous accidents.”

Aphra’s order was a religious order that worshipped fire, not one that encouraged arson. If it had been, the Empire would have already put a bounty on them.

Aphra’s order was actually a religious order that thoroughly cared about fire safety.

This was why any village of decent size wanted to have Aphra’s order’s temple in their village.

‘…Wait. Didn’t Nigisor Priest want to burn the world?’

Lee Han looked at the priest walking beside him with a dubious gaze.

It seemed like Aphra’s order should manage Nigisor Priest first before the city’s fire mages…

“But do the mages listen? I don’t think they’d come easily.”

Nigisor Priest shook his head.

“After listening to the Empire safety regulations, we issue certificates in the order’s name. It’s quite a useful item when you want to use fire magic within the city, so quite many mages attend.”

“!”

Unlike other magic, employers didn’t hire just anyone for fire magic.

If cast incorrectly, it could burn down the entire surroundings.

“Then I must definitely get one too.”

“…???”

Nigisor Priest looked strangely at Lee Han, who was burning with enthusiasm.

What would he use that for?

* * *

Hot heat could be felt from Aphra’s order’s temple. Lee Han unconsciously grabbed his collar and shook it.

Flames rising from statues installed throughout the temple, flames emitted by fire mages who came to the temple…

As Nigisor Priest said, there were more mages than expected. Most of the city’s fire mages seemed to have come.

“Have you been to the new staff shop? I heard they use camellia wood as material. I wonder if it suits fire magic.”

“I still think apple wood staffs are better. What if I change staffs and fail to control it?”

From people who looked like they’d never fought once, to adventurer-like people wearing metal armor with several daggers hanging from their belts.

“That’s a severe burn. Don’t tell me the magic backfired?”

“Right. You be careful inside buildings too.”

“…”

And there were ominous conversations too. Lee Han unconsciously hesitated.

‘…I really need to be careful using fire magic.’

“Hey.”

“?”

Lee Han turned his head.

Of course, it wouldn’t be strange for trouble to start in such a crowded place, but this was a temple.

‘What? Someone who enjoys going to the city prison?’

“You’re a 1st year, right? Keep your head down and follow me.”

Surprisingly, it was a fellow Einroguard student who spoke.

Lee Han was puzzled by the sight of him briefly showing Einroguard’s emblem then closing his coat front again.

“Are you… an Einroguard student?”

“Right. 2nd year. Keep your voice down and follow me.”

The mysterious 2nd year senior dragged Lee Han to a corner of the temple. Then he looked around and said.

“There’s nothing good about acting like ‘I’m a mage from Einroguard’ here. The guys in this city who learned some magic either envy Einroguard graduates or try to exploit them. It just becomes troublesome for nothing.”

The senior spat and rubbed it with his boot.

“I’m giving you advice since we’re both from White Tiger Tower. Got it?”

“…How did you know I’m from White Tiger Tower?”

Lee Han asked curiously. The senior snorted and said.

“Anyone can see you have a body that screams ‘I know how to handle a sword.’ I’d be an idiot not to notice. Nice to meet you. I’m Valgaro from the Alfa family.”

He was a knight from the same family as Angrago, a 1st year White Tiger Tower student.

Lee Han’s mind raced quickly.

If he mentioned a non-existent family, he might be suspected, but if he mentioned an existing family and they actually knew each other…

“…I’m Gainando from the Moradi family.”

“Moradi family? You don’t look like the Moradi family though?”

“I’m from a branch family.”

“Huh. Being from a branch family that doesn’t resemble them, you must have had some hardships. Those Moradi family bastards can be vicious.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Instead of a long excuse, Lee Han wore a lonely smile. Sometimes staying quiet was easier to explain than long excuses.

Then Valgaro let his imagination run wild.

A branch family member who already faced subtle discrimination, and didn’t even resemble them in appearance.

“Forget it. You can just speak comfortably in front of me.”

“Thank you, senior. But what are you doing here?”

“I came to get a permit from the Afha Order. What else would I be here for? I mainly use fire magic. But without a permit, not only clients but other adventurers find it uncomfortable too.”

“Requests? Do you work as an adventurer by any chance?”

“I do. What? You must have heard from the other guys. Why don’t you know?”

“Since I’m from a branch family…”

Lee Han wore that lonely smile again. Valgaro felt very sorry.

“Don’t worry about it. The bastards who excluded you are trash. Cowardly bastards. Even so, that’s too much.”

“I’m fine.”

“I’m not fine. Those guys I had expectations for as my juniors…”

Valgaro was furious to learn that the juniors he finally got to meet as a 2nd year were doing such cowardly things.

“Originally, White Tiger Tower students often work as adventurers during breaks. Not only for living expenses, but also to keep training without losing their knightly senses.”

“I see. Working as an adventurer lets you choose the requests you want.”

In a way, it was a job that suited White Tiger Tower.

As mages, they commanded high pay, and being from knight families, they had much more solid combat power than ordinary adventurers or mercenaries…

If they only chose requests that could be completed short-term, it could be more advantageous income-wise.

‘So there were advantages like this. Those despicable White Tiger Tower bastards. Trying to keep all the benefits to themselves.’

It wasn’t like the White Tiger Tower students had deliberately hidden it, but Lee Han was still angry.

“That’s right. And above all, we’re knights. We can’t do trivial work like those Black Turtle Tower guys do. No matter how much silver they offer.”

‘Do knights receive training that lowers their intelligence?’

“You’re absolutely right.”

While Lee Han was humoring Valgaro, priests from the Afha Order appeared dragging a giant straw doll.

“First, we thank the messengers of flame who have gathered here today. This straw doll is…”

Valgaro yawned and pulled out his staff.

“You get ready too. We’re all casting fire magic together.”

“!”

The straw doll wasn’t just burned normally.

All the mages and priests gathered here would join forces to burn it together.

“Don’t underestimate that straw doll. It’s damn hard to burn. Last year there was a guy who tried to do it alone and got humiliated… what are you doing?”

Click, click, click-

Lee Han put on multiple layers of flame absorption rings, bracelets, and necklaces.

“I’m wearing artifacts.”

“Hey. No matter how hard it is to burn, you don’t need to be that enthusiastic. If it doesn’t burn, the priests will step in.”

Whoosh!

As the priest’s explanation ended, the mages gathered in the temple began waving their staffs.

“Flames…”

“Blaze up and devour!”

“Fire, in the form of a sphere…”

Valgaro also prepared his magic.

“Flames. Dwell within.”

He cast an enchantment spell that would normally be used on a sword onto the end of a wooden pole, then stabbed the straw doll, causing fire to surge up.

However, the surging fire quickly died down. The straw doll’s powerful mana was withstanding the fire magic.

“See? This thing really doesn’t burn…”

Whoooosh!

Lee Han summoned flames and blasted them directly at the straw doll. The flames engulfed the straw doll and burned violently.

‘…Just how effective are those artifacts?’

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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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