Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 387

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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 387

To think they made lots and decided the order in that brief moment when Lee Han wasn’t looking.

Lee Han couldn’t help but admire the diligence and cooperation of the Phoenix Tower students.

If it had been Blue Dragon Tower students, they would still be fighting over who gets to draw lots first.

“Was it Sharucal?”

“Yes.”

People who worshipped Agltakwa, the god of sea and storms, were usually sailors or sea creature beastmen.

It was natural in a way for Sharucal, a shark beastman, to believe in Agltakwa.

“I think this is fate.”

“What is?”

“There’s no better place than this to show the teachings of Lord Agltakwa. Look at this sea!”

“It’s a lake…”

“When I look at this sea, I think of Lord Agltakwa.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Lee Han decided to just listen for now.

Even priests who were usually taciturn became different when it came to matters of faith.

Previously, Lee Han had been feeding snacks to Priest Tijiling when he casually asked ‘But why does Lord Prising sacrifice himself to support the world?’ and ended up listening to explanations for three hours.

At times like this, he had to act as carefully as possible. If he carelessly provoked them, the story could become several times longer.

“So Lord Agltakwa got drunk and spilled his drink, which became the sea… Oh right. Lee Han of the Wardanaz Family. I heard you’re the most interested in magic among the students.”

“You don’t need to be so formal, just speak comfortably. And I think there’s some misunderstanding about that.”

“You’re being modest.”

“It’s a misunderstanding…”

Lee Han tried to explain in detail but gave up.

Even if Lee Han were in Sharucal’s position, if someone who attended lectures from all schools said ‘I’m not that interested in magic,’ he would have thought ‘What nonsense is this?’

“…So why?”

“Ah. I was wondering how to make Lee Han interested in Lord Agltakwa. Wealth? Power? Such things would have no meaning to you.”

‘That’s not true.’

Lee Han was dumbfounded by Priest Sharucal’s words.

If any religious order declared ‘If you believe in our order, we’ll give you one gold coin every time you pray,’ Lee Han was confident he could become a fervent devoted believer of that order from that moment on.

“That’s when I realized it! Ah! What someone like Lee Han, who has no interest in wealth or power, would be interested in is magic. So I prepared to show you Lord Agltakwa’s divine magic.”

“Oh.”

Lee Han suddenly felt interested in Sharucal’s words.

‘But I probably can’t learn divine magic.’

There were words left by excellent mages Lee Han knew about divine magic.

Principal A.

-I’m not particularly interested in faith either. I’m too smart to believe in gods.

Family Head B.

-Trying to learn divine magic is a good idea. If you want to waste your time pointlessly, that is. Compared to real magic refined through formulas and theories, divine magic is just the barbaric howling of savages intoxicated by faith and emotion.

Even without going to such extremes, Lee Han agreed with the principles of divine magic that those two mages claimed.

Imperial magic was based on theories and knowledge built up over a long time.

What is the most efficient and accurate magic to implement a certain phenomenon?

And when this magic is repeated, does it produce the same results? Does it have reproducibility even when used by other mages?

These histories and principles were the driving force that allowed the mages of the endlessly vast Empire to communicate, exchange ideas, and develop together.

Without these things, Imperial mages would still be playing separately in their own regions with their own rules.

However, even Imperial magic couldn’t explain everything in the magical world.

Primitive magic discovered in places untouched by human feet, ancient magic whose lineage had been broken long ago, supernatural powers instinctively activated by people who hadn’t systematically learned magic, divine magic that operated on faith rather than theory…

Such magic that operated on individual ability and intuition rather than theory and knowledge still remained. Some Imperial mages even made analyzing and explaining such magic their profession.

‘Divine magic… requires faith as essential.’

Among magic that operated on individual ability and intuition, divine magic required ‘faith’ as important.

Intense faith toward gods.

That faith made possible peculiar phenomena that were on a different track from Imperial magic.

But Lee Han didn’t have such faith. Wasn’t he a fake believer only interested in free meals to begin with?

‘Honestly, I think the Skeleton Principal’s argument is right too.’

Rather than gods really existing and lending their power, wasn’t the will called faith sent by countless believers influencing reality?

Since mages also changed reality with their will, it wouldn’t be strange for the will collectively sent by numerous people to create an intense force that shook reality.

“So what magic is it?”

Lee Han couldn’t guess what magic Sharucal would use.

Since divine magic had large differences in individual ability and intuition, the magic that appeared was more varied than consistent.

Of course, there were general tendencies depending on the characteristics of the religious order and the god they served…

“O Aglatacoash who sees through the deep abyss. Send your servants to me.”

Sharucal chanted the spell in a low, heavy voice.

It was different from waving a staff while concentrating or arranging the flow of mana.

Swoooosh-

Something moved under the lake, and fish began gathering near Sharucal’s feet.

Lee Han was amazed at the sight.

“You’re calling sea creatures?”

“That’s right, Lee Han.”

Seeing the other priests also admiring it, Sharucal’s divine magic was certainly at a considerable level.

‘Well, calling creatures from such a distance while still a 1st year is no ordinary feat.’

Lee Han forgot that he was also a 1st year and admired it together.

To show such power that could reach creatures so far away, and through the adverse conditions of being underwater, with Imperial magic would require complex processes, theories, and preparation.

But with faith, it could be solved at once like that.

Though not as diverse and versatile as magic, it was incomparably effective in specific situations.

“How is it? Lee Han?”

Sharucal asked while sweating.

Even though he succeeded in magic through faith, there was no way there was no consumption of mental strength or mana.

Lee Han answered to quickly relieve Sharucal’s burden.

“Amazing. To call creatures from so far away. And it’s very useful. I could immediately catch th-…”

“Haha. These creatures are like my friends, so when I ask them, they try their best to help. I’m always grateful.”

“…That friendship truly shines like gold! I’m envious!”

Lee Han quickly changed the subject.

Sharucal had no idea that Lee Han had thought of his friends as fresh sashimi and continued speaking.

“When I was young, I took a small boat out to sea and encountered a storm and drifted. I prayed and prayed again to Lord Agltakwa. Fortunately, Lord Agltakwa took pity on me and gave me this magic. With the help of my sea friends, I barely managed to return.”

Lee Han, who had been listening, said with a serious face.

“I see. Then should I also take a small boat out and encounter a storm?”

“…What!? There’s no need to do that!”

Sharucal answered in a dismayed voice at Lee Han’s extreme statement.

What kind of ridiculous ordeal was that supposed to be?

“Huh? Is that so? But if there’s no set method, following someone else’s experience exactly would have the highest possibility…”

“That’s too dangerous… I just wanted to say to pray with that much sincerity.”

“I see.”

‘That seems too weak though.’

Regardless of Lee Han’s own faith, Lee Han was a bit skeptical about that kind of prayer.

Why would so many priests awaken divine magic in crisis or emergency situations?

People’s faith naturally became more powerful when they fell into extreme situations.

Apart from that, Lee Han himself had his magic skills improve dramatically when threatened by Professor Boladi…

‘…This is crazy. I’m thinking like Professor Boladi!’

Lee Han was shocked by his own madness.

It was definitely because of Professor Boladi.

When you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you…

“Right. Then I’ll try praying once.”

Lee Han decided to do his best to pray in order to repay Sharucal’s sincerity.

Whether he succeeded or not, it wouldn’t hurt to leave a good impression on the priests.

Even if he couldn’t use divine magic, the Order would usually take care of faithful believers in some way.

‘What would the Agltakwa Order give? Sashimi?’

“Why is that bastard doing something else instead of underwater breathing?”

“Stupid fool. It’s Wardanaz. He must have already mastered underwater breathing.”

Lee Han looked up at the voices of White Tiger Tower students chattering nearby.

“Sharucal?”

“Yes?”

“Let’s practice underwater breathing first.”

“Ah, oops!”

* * *

30 seconds later.

“Success.”

“…”

“…”

The two White Tiger Tower students practicing nearby glared at him, but Lee Han didn’t notice.

“Sharucal, don’t you need to practice?”

“I can naturally breathe underwater though?”

“…”

“…”

The two White Tiger Tower students practicing nearby glared even more sharply than before.

“Right. Then how… how do I pray?”

“Try praying with the thoughts you usually have toward the sea. Beginners usually start that way.”

Sharucal was beaming with joy at seeing Lee Han act sincerely toward Agltakwa.

In contrast, Lee Han had many thoughts.

‘I don’t have any thoughts about the sea.’

If he had to say something, maybe when he worried about whether to invest when there was a herring craze in the southern Empire last year?

“Oh Agltakwa… um…”

Lee Han tried to somehow draw out faith he didn’t have, then gave up.

It seemed better to try it his own way, whether it worked or not.

Imagining the faith of countless people who believe in Agltakwa.

Envisioning that vast ocean of energy.

And…

‘I can’t just ask for it directly, can I.’

Lee Han thought rationally.

Since he lacked the faith and devotion that other priests offered, Lee Han decided to think of it like magic.

I’ll offer my mana, so please lend me just a little from that ocean of energy as compensation.

At that moment, Lee Han’s mana moved and was consumed. The offered mana disappeared.

‘As expected, nothing happened.’

Though nothing happened, Lee Han wasn’t disappointed.

This was normal after all.

Just because a mage consumed mana and wished for something didn’t mean every phenomenon would occur as desired. The order and rules of the world were fundamentally more stubborn and solid than a mage’s will.

Still, Lee Han offered mana several more times, conscious of Sharucal’s gaze.

Anyway, unlike other mages, it didn’t matter much if he wasted mana…

Stir.

Sharucal’s eyes widened.

He began to sense a different kind of mana from Lee Han’s body – an alien mana with different properties from ordinary mana.

Mana that any priest would recognize.

It was divine power.

“That’s it!! That’s exactly it!! Lee Han! As expected, you had true faith in Agltakwa deep in your heart! More! Pray more! That’s the beginning… Wait. Why is everyone coming this way?!”

Sharucal suddenly realized the gazes he felt from behind and shouted urgently.

The Phoenix Tower priests had gathered around at some point and were wearing very anxious expressions.

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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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