Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 312

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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 312

While Bijidek was having such thoughts, the trap revealed itself. Bijidek carefully inserted his lockpick after discovering the mechanism buried underground.

Click!

Along with the sound of the device being disarmed, Bijidek slowly removed the pressure plate.

“We were lucky.”

“Lucky? That was skill.”

Lee Han praised Bijidek’s skill and received the pressure plate. It had letters with unique patterns carved into it.

“What kind of pressure plate has these patterns on it?”

“I have no idea what those old guys were thinking.”

Lee Han spoke as if exasperated by his White Tiger Tower friends’ words.

“These are letters from the ancient Seharin Kingdom.”

It was a kingdom from the distant past that had created many golden artifacts during its time.

Since Lee Han had diligently studied anything that seemed profitable while at the Wardanaz family, reading it wasn’t particularly difficult.

“…So I was saying I don’t understand why they carved letters on a pressure plate. Those Seharin guys, really.”

“What were those Seharin Kingdom people thinking? In a cave like this!”

Raphadael and Angrago quickly changed their tune.

Lee Han and Durgyu tried not to look at their two friends with pity.

“What does it say, Lee Han?”

“It says… death awaits those who touch the treasure.”

“!!!!”

Durgyu was genuinely surprised.

Then he whispered.

“At this point, doesn’t it seem like there’s really treasure here?”

“Sigh… Durgyu.”

Durgyu felt embarrassed at Lee Han’s reaction.

“S-sorry. I got too excited.”

“If you were to do business, which location in Granden City do you think would be good?”

“…”

* * *

Lee Han quickly came to his senses and stood up.

He couldn’t let his imagination run wild with treasure he hadn’t even obtained yet.

“Advance again!”

‘No openings. That disgusting mage bastard.’

Buldahak racked his brain as he moved his feet.

Normally he would have somehow found a gap to counterattack or escape, but the mage was thoroughly meticulous to a sickening degree.

Not only were there bone restraints on his wrists and ankles, but there was also a bone hand around his neck that could strangle him at any moment…

-Do you desire power?

“?!”

-Don’t show it. You’ll die immediately if you’re caught. I asked if you desire power.

‘I… I do.’

-No matter what price you must pay?

‘…Yes…’

Buldahak whispered without realizing it.

The voice coming from somewhere contained an irresistible power of temptation.

-Good. I shall grant you power! An opportunity will come to you soon, so be sure to seize that opportunity.

‘Th-thank you!’

Buldahak was deeply grateful to the unknown entity in the cave.

If it had been the normally cunning Buldahak, he might have been suspicious when receiving such a proposal.

However, Buldahak’s current situation was one where he couldn’t afford to be suspicious.

It was a situation where he would have to swallow even poison if offered.

‘What kind of opportunity is coming? What kind of opportunity?’

Buldahak waited persistently and patiently.

And that opportunity soon arrived.

-■■■■■■■!

A massive flesh-lump ghoul appeared, completely different in size from the ghouls that had appeared so far.

Sharkan barked sharply. He tried to cut the creature’s ankles to bind its speed, but the flesh-lump ghoul reacted much faster than that.

Thud thud thud thud thud thud!

Before the mercenaries at the front could even scream, Lee Han reacted first.

It was the fastest reaction in this place.

“Dig out.”

First, a large pit appeared in the path where the flesh-lump ghoul was charging. The flesh-lump ghoul couldn’t overcome its momentum and fell as its foot got caught in the pit, losing its balance.

“Heat. Distort the air.”

At the same time, Lee Han cast spells without rest. Illusions appeared in front of the mercenaries. The mercenaries were startled when illusions resembling themselves appeared.

“Rise, skeletal warriors.”

It wasn’t perfect yet, but it didn’t matter. When he threw bone fragments, skeleton warriors revealed themselves.

They were creatures that would distract the flesh-lump ghoul’s attention.

“Give me your bow.”

“Huh?”

Lee Han snatched the short bow that Angrago was carrying.

Then he cast consecutive enchantment magic.

“Become faster! Become heavier! Become sharper…”

When facing tough monsters.

And when there’s no time to prepare.

There was no need to elevate lightning magic or water magic to advanced levels.

As he learned from Baishada, the hunter of the 【Shadow Patrol】, having enough firepower to penetrate the enemy was sufficient.

‘Thank you, Baishada.’

Of course, Baishada had never told Lee Han to shoot by stacking enchantment magic like that. It was something Lee Han did on his own.

Lee Han gave up on aim-related enchantment magic and focused on power-related enchantment magic. As much magic as could be applied to the bow and arrow was cast.

‘The distance is close anyway. This much should…’

【Low-grade Speed Increase】, 【Low-grade Weight Increase】, 【Low-grade Penetration Enhancement】 and other low-circle spells, but when Lee Han rapidly stacked them with his high magical power, they transformed into a deadly weapon that vibrated the surrounding air and emanated the force of magical power.

-■!

The flesh-lump ghoul rose in anger. The creature momentarily hesitated at the sight of the illusions and skeleton warriors spread throughout the wide cave space. It couldn’t tell which one to destroy first.

At that moment, an arrow flew through the air, shattering it.

Thunk!

The arrow didn’t just penetrate a vital spot—it completely blew away the area around the vital spot. The flesh-lump ghoul with its head blown off collapsed to its knees with a thud.

Lee Han let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he had made it in time.

“Got it.”

“Wh… what…!!”

Not only the mercenaries but also the White Tiger Tower students showed stunned reactions.

They hadn’t expected that massive creature to fall in one shot.

Angrago, the owner of the short bow, kept pointing back and forth between the bow and arrow as he spoke.

“You, you! You you!”

“Did I use the bow well?”

“You!!”

“I’m sorry for borrowing it urgently, but you know it was an unavoidable situation.”

“That’s not it! How on earth did you get that kind of power with this…”

Angrago knew well the limits of the short bow he used.

From medium-sized monsters and above, damage barely registered—it was ultimately just a restraining weapon…

“Sigh. Angrago.”

Lee Han looked at Angrago with an exasperated expression. Angrago flinched, wondering what he had done wrong. He looked like a student standing before a professor.

“It’s enhancement magic.”

“…You crazy bastard! I know that too!!”

Angrago momentarily lost control of his emotions and exploded.

Who did he think he was looking down on!

“How does that kind of power come from just enhancement magic!”

“I cast several quickly and layered them.”

“So how exactly?”

“Uh…”

At Angrago’s question, Lee Han was at a loss for words for the first time in a while.

He really had nothing to say except ‘just do it.’

Cast one spell, then when casting the next spell, maintain balance so the previous spell doesn’t get disrupted while casting it properly, then cast the next spell the same way…

Just keep casting spells as far as possible.

“…Never mind…”

Angrago looked at Lee Han’s expression and bitterly picked up his short bow.

He felt like hearing the answer would only make him sad.

While the two were having this conversation, Buldahak was conversing with the voice inside the cave.

-You worthless fool. For someone like you to receive my power. You’re not even qualified for it. To miss an opportunity like that just now.

-Don’t give me that crap! You didn’t even give me a proper opportunity!

-How dare you?

-How dare what. If that monster just now was sent by you, your ability is worse than a single arrow! What kind of opportunity is it to send a monster that falls to an arrow, not even the mage’s magic!

Buldahak growled in frustration.

If you’re going to call something an opportunity, you should at least give a chance to escape, not get caught in one go like an idiot—what kind of opportunity is that?

-You don’t know your place. I showed mercy to someone who can’t even be used as material…

At that moment, the voice from inside the cave cut off.

“Wait.”

Lee Han raised his hand and stopped his companions.

“I just felt a flow of mana?”

“…”

“I didn’t use any magic.”

“Me neither.”

“Didn’t you sense it wrong, Lee Han?”

Durgyu looked puzzled.

There was no one among the mercenaries or adventurers who could use magic.

Moreover, since all the White Tiger Tower students hadn’t felt any mana flow, it was natural to think it might be a mistake.

However, Lee Han remained unwavering.

What he learned at Einroguard was the faith to trust his own senses.

‘Even when crossing a stone bridge, you should knock on it first, then check if the Skeleton Principal is around, then turn back and take a different path.’

“I definitely felt it.”

An artificial flow of mana that flowed through the cave.

It was definitely not a natural flow.

“Who is it? Come out.”

The White Tiger Tower students immediately drew their weapons. The two adventurers also drew their weapons. As the air turned cold, the mercenaries cried out in terror.

“No! No, mage sir! How could we!”

“Did you use a magic item?”

“If we had something like that, we’d exchange it for gold coins instead of carrying it around!”

“Quiet. If you don’t come forward, I’ll interrogate you one by one.”

Lee Han looked around at the mercenaries.

And he called out the one with the worst crimes first.

Crack!

“Speak. What did you do?”

“Gah, gasp. Nothing.”

“…?”

Lee Han, who had been interrogating Buldahak without much thought, was surprised.

The 【Emotion Detection】 magic revealed that Buldahak’s emotions were hiding something.

‘What? Was he really doing something?’

Lee Han raised his guard.

Even if he couldn’t use magic, if he had activated an artifact or spell scroll hidden in his clothes, he could create variables.

There was nothing when they searched him, but there’s always a ‘what if’ in worldly matters.

“If you won’t speak, then die.”

Lee Han increased the strength of his skeletal hand. Overwhelmed by that cold voice, Buldahak finally opened his mouth.

“Voice…! Voice! A voice!”

“What voice?”

“A voice from inside the cave…! Making me an offer!”

What a fool who can’t even properly play the role of a puppet.

An ominous voice echoed from deep within the cave, and then terrifyingly strong negative mana began to surge forward.

The mercenaries felt all strength leave their bodies and their will disappear. Even the White Tiger Tower students, who had resistance as mages, were brought to their knees.

Lee Han paid no heed and immediately began preparing magic in a low voice.

“Strike down, Perkuntra’s…”

Instead of instantly fired lightning, condensed lightning discharged around the area, creating sparks.

“Gah, gasp, gahahaha! No! No!!!”

When the wave of mana ended, Buldahak screamed. His eyes rolled back and his entire body changed color.

Lee Han and Raphadael, who were versed in dark magic, immediately recognized the phenomenon.

‘Possession!’

A phenomenon where an evil entity without flesh steals a body.

But it couldn’t be stolen without any warning signs or contracts like this.

‘That conversation just now was it!’

Lee Han understood the situation.

He had wondered why he felt the flow of mana, but the evil entity in the cave must have sensed Buldahak’s presence and tempted him.

Unlike Einroguard mages who learned thoroughly about contracts, Buldahak, being a mercenary, had no way of knowing how dangerous such temptation was.

With compatible personalities and Buldahak even accepting…

Stealing his body like that would be entirely possible.

Buldahak’s eyes were strangely tinted, and a deep, evil voice that no human could make flowed out.

I am the King of Ghouls…

“…Lightning!”

Lee Han struck with lightning at full power.

And he didn’t stop there.

“Burn!”

Ten flames were created in the air and flew forward fiercely.

Buldahak’s body, which was being rapidly destroyed by lightning that human flesh couldn’t withstand, burst into flames once more and was completely incinerated.

“…???”

“Is it, is it over?”

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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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