Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 345
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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 345
The Imperial Princess felt an ominous feeling at Puyo’s response and tugged at Lee Han’s sleeve.
However, Lee Han judged that this level was still relatively fine.
‘He could have used much worse profanity but didn’t. For an Enchantment Mage, this is pretty decent.’
He could have used much worse curses than “moron” but only called them morons.
In a way, you could say it was gentle.
“Don’t you think so?”
At Lee Han’s explanation, the Imperial Princess just blinked her eyes repeatedly as if convinced. Since the other person remained silent, Lee Han judged that they had reached an understanding.
“It seems you understand.”
“Wait a min…”
The Imperial Princess belatedly came to her senses and tried to point something out, but couldn’t.
“Then let’s begin the work.”
Puyo waved his staff.
Then the shelves, storage areas, and drawers inside began moving as if alive, starting to spew out the items they contained.
Crash!
The Imperial Princess was overwhelmed by the mountain-like quantity of materials piled up.
Although Adenart was among the top two Einroguard students in terms of study load, the materials Puyo brought out exceeded expectations.
Could it be that the two of them had to process all these materials?
The Imperial Princess unconsciously turned her gaze to look at Lee Han.
Then Lee Han whispered as if he understood.
“If you try to steal materials from the start, there’s a high chance that even Puyo won’t overlook it. Let’s focus on the work for now.”
“…What on earth are you talking about…!”
Adenart, who had always been praised for maintaining her dignity as royalty without wavering, found an exclamation flowing from her mouth without realizing it.
* * *
There was a prejudice that mages would do anything for the magic they pursued.
Of course, this was a prejudice.
Most of the mages Lee Han had met were like that, but not all mages would be that way.
But unfortunately, Puyo fell into that category.
Once work began, he presented an enormous workload, showing why he was called Granden City’s greatest artifact craftsman.
His attitude showed he didn’t care at all that the two were 1st year new students.
-Please finish polishing these staffs here.
-Understood.
-If you’re done with that, cast Light enchantment magic on the ore beads in the box.
-Understood.
-You’ve finished the work, I see. Well done. Please rewrite and fill these blank scrolls.
-Under… stood…
Lee Han, who was responding, hesitated when he saw the Imperial Princess glaring at Puyo.
Though her face was expressionless, there was definitely killing intent in her eyes.
‘This is trouble. She can’t be like this already.’
Of course, Puyo was making them work strictly, but only 3 days had passed.
It was too early to already want to kill Puyo.
‘If the Imperial Princess attacks Puyo and gets kicked out, I’ll have to do all the work alone.’
Lee Han spoke to appease the Imperial Princess.
“Your Highness. Please endure just a little longer.”
“…”
The Imperial Princess, who had become more talkative with fewer followers around, became quiet again once work began in Puyo’s workshop.
Even when Lee Han called her, she remained silent and only glared at Puyo.
“Enchantment magic is originally learned this harshly.”
“…Is that really true.”
The Imperial Princess, who had been refusing to answer, asked after much consideration.
Though her voice carried a chilling coldness, Lee Han continued speaking without concern.
“Yes. Since there are so many enchantment spells to learn and so many materials to handle.”
Actually, by that logic, all magic should be harsh, but the Imperial Princess didn’t doubt Lee Han’s words.
When it came to harsh training under other mages, Lee Han was the most experienced person.
Since such a Lee Han said so, she thought ‘maybe it really is like that.’
“I understand.”
The Imperial Princess stopped glaring at Puyo and lowered her head, turning her gaze to the materials on the table.
Lee Han, who breathed a sigh of relief, urged the next task.
“I’m glad you seem to understand. Now. Please draw magic circles on all these papers here. I’ll check while imbuing them with mana.”
“…”
At Lee Han’s request to inscribe magic circles on the pile of papers stacked almost to her forehead, the Imperial Princess felt a hopeless despair for the first time in her life.
“Your mana…”
“My mana?”
“…Isn’t your mana insufficient…”
Drawing magic circles was work that consumed tremendous concentration, but checking them while infusing mana was equally difficult work.
Especially the latter consumed a lot of mana.
Adenart’s eyes looking at Lee Han contained a trace of desperation.
“Ah. You mean my mana. I’m fine. Let’s work.”
“…”
The Imperial Princess spread out paper and drew magic circles with various inks and powders while thinking silently.
She had met countless people in the Empire, but this was the first time she encountered someone as unfathomable as the Wardanaz Family boy beside her.
* * *
After working for about 3 days with reduced sleep, Puyo seemed somewhat satisfied.
“Everyone worked hard. The urgent work is done. Go back and rest well. I’ll call you when there’s work to do next time.”
Of course, the two couldn’t return immediately.
They had to focus on the staff work that came out as a riddle, holding back yawns from fatigue.
Only after investing a full half day could the two complete one decent staff.
The Imperial Princess handed the staff to Lee Han with careful hands. Then she waited with a nervous expression.
“…This seems fine. Then let’s go back h…”
Bang!
Before Lee Han could finish speaking, the chair the Imperial Princess was sitting on flew backward.
It was because the Imperial Princess had stood up too hastily.
“…”
The Imperial Princess silently grabbed and set up the chair without saying anything.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Ah, thank you for your hard work too, Your Highness.”
The Imperial Princess quickly passed through the workshop door as if someone might catch her.
Seeing this, Lee Han became anxious.
‘She’s not going to not come next time, is she.’
If the Imperial Princess didn’t come, Lee Han would have to do all that work alone. That was absolutely unacceptable.
Lee Han resolved that if such a thing happened, he would visit the manor to bring her back.
“Are you leaving now?”
“!”
When Puyo’s voice came from behind, Lee Han got goosebumps.
Of course, he didn’t think Puyo would detain them after saying ‘it’s finished, go rest’ earlier.
But aren’t all enchantment mages completely insane?
Madmen usually forgot what they had said in no time.
“I suppose I gave you too much work. I’m sorry.”
Puyo noticed Lee Han’s hesitation and spoke with a bitter smile.
“I don’t know how to teach with moderation. I learned this way too.”
‘Someone needs to break this chain of hatred.’
Lee Han felt genuinely sorry at Puyo’s words.
Wouldn’t the people who learned under Puyo create victims in the same way?
“But I can say with certainty that these tasks are helpful. How do you feel?”
“I definitely learned a lot.”
It wasn’t empty words – he really had learned a great deal while working in Puyo’s workshop.
Methods to prepare objects to match the flow of mana as much as possible before casting enchantment magic and maximize effects.
Methods to inscribe various 1st-2nd circle spells on scrolls and enchant items with them.
Since he had to cast everything himself that was only covered theoretically at school, he couldn’t help but gain experience.
Normally this would be a situation to feel proud and satisfied with his own growth, but he was too tired for that.
“Right. In the end, enchantment mages improve through experience. No matter how talented one is, it’s hard to reveal that brilliance without training.”
“You’re absolutely right. Then I’ll be goi…”
“I heard you made a separate staff after finishing.”
Lee Han regretted letting the Imperial Princess go first.
If he had blocked her, he could have left first using the Imperial Princess as a sacrifice.
“Yes.”
“Practice is good, but at your current level it’ll be hard to make a decent staff.”
“Yes. I’m aware of that.”
Not a trace of arrogance could be felt from Lee Han’s attitude.
It was rare humility for a mage born with such talent.
Seeing this, Puyo thought he had worried unnecessarily.
‘I said something pointless.’
“Right. If you know that, there’s no problem with practice. But… is that staff by any chance a gift from a wood spirit?”
“Ah. That’s right.”
Lee Han nodded.
Magic school students were basically only allowed to use staffs provided by the school.
When they didn’t even allow bringing in clothes from outside, there was no way staffs would be an exception.
However, if they obtained or made them directly within the school, it was permitted. That was why Lee Han could use the wood spirit’s staff.
“I received it from an oak spirit in Einroguard’s mountain range.”
“Excellent.”
Puyo smiled favorably. It was a craftsman’s smile rarely seen in the workshop.
Being part wood spirit, Puyo keenly sensed what kind of staff Lee Han’s was.
The spirit’s unique life force was resonating with its master mage’s mana and amplifying intensely.
Though the master hadn’t noticed yet, that staff had likely revealed fragments of extraordinary life force many times.
“Have you ever used earth or plant-type elemental magic?”
“A few times, but I haven’t used them mainly.”
“I see. You probably haven’t learned healing magic yet since you’re still a new student.”
Puyo was about to ask if he had learned magic that directly utilized life force among healing magic, but stopped.
Come to think of it, if he was a new student, he probably hadn’t even learned basic healing magic yet.
“It’s a good staff. I can feel the spirit dwelling in the staff following its master too.”
“Really? Is that true?”
“…Is that so surprising? Has your staff ever rejected you?”
“All the spirits I’ve met have avoided me a bit…”
“…”
Instead of unnecessarily reopening Lee Han’s wounds with further explanation, Puyo changed the subject.
“But what kind of gem is that embedded at the tip of the staff? A frost spirit? No, it’s a bit strange for a frost spirit. What is it?”
Puyo examined the gem carefully and gradually felt more puzzled.
Since it was a new student’s staff, he thought it might be a low-grade frost spirit, but the energy was rough and domineering, which seemed distant from spirits.
‘Was there such a monster among those that wield cold or frost?’
“I don’t know. Could you tell me?”
“Frost giant…”
“Ah. I didn’t think of that. …Wait, frost giants don’t give tokens like this, do they?”
“…it’s a stone I received from the king.”
“…”
* * *
Because of the Frost Giant King, Lee Han had to spend about another hour explaining instead of returning to the manor despite being tired.
After hearing the amazing and mysterious story that happened within Einroguard, Puyo asked the first question that came to mind.
“Why did you, a 1st year student, have to face the Frost Giant King?”
“…There are circumstances I cannot speak of.”
Lee Han changed the subject.
Seeing Lee Han’s bitter expression, Puyo didn’t ask further.
“This stone is emanating cold energy. If it weren’t for the staff’s own life force, it could have been a bit dangerous…”
Lee Han flinched at Puyo’s words.
Had he just embedded something that dangerous?
‘No. The professors should have warned me if they saw it, why…?’
It was absurd that they just passed it over saying it was well-balanced now.
Especially Professor Boladi would have seen it from the closest distance!
“Is it very dangerous?”
“It’s fine now. But just in case something happens, it would be good to add other gems around it as safety measures. If it’s alright with you, I’ll do it for you. Since we’ve worked together like this, it’s also fate.”
“!”
Lee Han was moved by the enchantment mage’s kindness.
‘As expected, enchantment mages are people with loyalty!’
“The best method would be to amplify fire energy to suppress it…”
“Wai, wait a moment please.”
Lee Han spoke quickly.
He couldn’t just stand by and watch fire energy being added to his staff.
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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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