Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 546

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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 546

“What? You guys have done this before, so why are you whining?”

Lee Han, the only one here not from a knight family, looked at his friends and asked.

“No… Wardanaz. You crazy bastard. We do training like camping, but not like this.”

“Right. At Einroguard, it’s basically doing it with nothing but your bare body.”

The Empire’s knight families commonly had an image of being ignorant and simple, but that was prejudice.

Knight families also acted very cleverly and systematically in their areas of expertise.

This camping training was the same.

When conducting training that involved moving and living deep in mountain ranges, at least dozens of people would move together, and they would prepare necessary supplies and equipment generously before starting.

In the first place, unless it was a particularly unusual knight family, they didn’t prepare for being dropped alone and bare-bodied in mountain ranges.

That was work for wandering mercenaries. Knights were those who led squires and guards into battle, not those who rolled around alone with bare bodies.

‘Huh?’

Lee Han recalled how Alarlong had just taken him into the mountains.

Wait?

“Don’t… I?”

“I said we don’t do it.”

“Wardanaz, you bastard. I know you’re good with swords, but we’re the ones from knight families. Why are you doubting us?”

“R-right. Sorry.”

Lee Han stopped talking, feeling that if he said more, his friends would look at him strangely.

When he returned, Durgyu and Giselle were already making simple plans.

“You want to hide supplies in advance?”

“Yeah. Given the professor’s personality, he’ll limit what we can bring up. We need to hide things in the mountains beforehand.”

“But wouldn’t that be against the rules?”

“Choi. What kind of nonsensical bullshit are you spouting? This school itself is against the rules.”

“Moradi is right.”

Lee Han agreed and joined the conversation.

“We need to prepare throughout the mountain range in advance. Besides, it’s in 2 weeks. The weather could get even worse. Remember when the Frost Giant King appeared before? What if the Ice Giant King’s king shows up?”

“Is there such a thing?”

Durgyu asked in surprise. Lee Han brushed it off casually.

“I don’t know. There might be. Anyway, the important thing is we need to prepare. Let’s build a few huts in the mountains.”

“Not a bad idea.”

Giselle also agreed.

Wardanaz wasn’t a likeable guy, but their thoughts aligned when preparing for work.

“Moradi. Do you think the professor will release additional monsters?”

“Hmm… He might…”

“What are you talking about so interestingly?”

Professor Ingoldel approached with curiosity.

Lee Han quickly answered.

“We were talking about how we’re so excited for this final exam that we wish it would come quickly.”

“That much?”

Professor Ingoldel was embarrassed by Lee Han’s words.

“I wasn’t confident everyone would like it, but hearing you say that makes me a bit happy. Haha. I was worried it might be difficult, but if you’re looking forward to it, I must definitely do it.”

“…”

The other White Tiger Tower students glared at Lee Han, but Lee Han didn’t bat an eye.

‘The professor would have done it anyway even if I said it was difficult.’

Since he knew well that professors were the type to do as they pleased regardless of what they said, Lee Han didn’t feel sorry at all.

“More than that, Wardanaz. Your sword movements have changed a bit. Did you have some kind of realization?”

“Ah. I’ve become more familiar with using the absorption technique you taught me last time.”

At Lee Han’s words, the elf swordmaster was delighted as if it were his own achievement.

“Is that so! That’s really wonderful. It couldn’t have been easy.”

Lee Han was about to say he realized it while trying to survive during giant wrestling, but it felt too strange so he held back.

“How many forms of the Cliff Rock Sword is Wardanaz using now? Five forms?”

“That’s correct.”

Professor Ingoldel knew more details about the swordsmanship Lee Han had learned than expected, but Lee Han wasn’t surprised.

The professor himself was acquainted with Alarlong and knew virtually every swordsmanship within the Empire.

“Didn’t Wardanaz think it was strange when you first learned the Cliff Rock Sword?”

“Pardon?”

Lee Han wondered what he meant.

He had just thought that Alarlong swung his sword well, cut trees well, cut rocks well, and was incredibly strong, so he shouldn’t mess around in front of him.

“Doesn’t the Cliff Rock Sword seem simple at first glance?”

“Ah.”

The Cliff Rock Sword was a heavy and strong greatsword-type swordsmanship among the Empire’s sword techniques.

A swordsmanship where each strike came crashing down like a massive rock.

As such, the Cliff Rock Sword’s techniques weren’t very complex or flashy. It was rather on the simple side.

To someone with aspirations in swordsmanship, such simple swordsmanship could be misunderstood as low-grade swordsmanship.

Of course, Lee Han was different.

‘I originally learned it for self-defense…’

He was learning it to train his body a bit and for some self-defense in his spare time, so why would he complain about swordsmanship lacking flashiness or profound taste? That would just be crazy.

“I just did it…?”

“Excellent.”

“?”

When Professor Ingoldel showed an unnecessarily moved expression, Lee Han was slightly flustered.

Was there something moving in what he just said?

“There’s a saying that swordsmen choose swordsmanship, but I actually think swordsmanship chooses the swordsman. Wardanaz. Just like how Einroguard chose Wardanaz.”

‘To make such a terrible comparison with such a touching expression.’

Lee Han was disgusted, but Professor Ingoldel didn’t notice.

“The Cliff Rock Sword seems simple, but the more you learn it, the more profound the swordsmanship becomes. However, that level cannot be seen if you only pursue flashy or beautiful swordsmanship. Only those who can silently shed sweat can see it.”

Lee Han, who had learned it without much thought and was still swinging it, became increasingly embarrassed.

‘I don’t intend to go that far…’

Professor Ingoldel pointed with his finger to a distant cliff.

It was a steep cliff that seemed to be dozens of meters high.

“Sir Alarlong probably only taught the first five forms because Wardanaz’s preparation is still insufficient. The next part requires knowing how to use aura. But given Wardanaz’s growth rate, I’m confident it won’t be far off.”

“You flatter me.”

“I should have somehow consolidated the realization from last time on the ship. I should have forced it and done it once more…”

“…”

Lee Han felt a chill down his spine and changed the subject.

“Looking at that cliff makes me realize how far I have to go. I’ll continue working hard.”

“Ah. That’s a good attitude, but I didn’t point it out for that reason. Wardanaz. I wanted to tell you the story of how Sir Alarlong once cut off the neck of a monster that size with a single stroke of the Cliff Rock Sword.”

“I-I see.”

“Wardanaz will surely be able to reach it too.”

“Yes…”

It was scary at first, but as he listened, it seemed like ordinary encouragement, so Lee Han relaxed slightly.

“Now. I’ll explain specifically how you can reach it.”

“??”

“It was very fortunate that you gained a deeper understanding of the absorption technique this time.”

Professor Ingoldel sat Lee Han down and spoke very specifically and seriously.

It wasn’t a joke – he could feel the seriousness of someone who really intended to make him break through the wall of aura within a few years.

“As with the ship last time, I believe Wardanaz’s path lies in that direction.”

How can a swordsman reach that level?

Unlike mages who could receive help from the systematic scholarship built up by predecessors, the path of a swordsman was thoroughly personal and solitary.

As such, the enlightenment required for a swordsman to reach mastery had similar aspects.

A swordsman who wielded the swordsmanship learned from their master exactly the same way for their entire life without a single deviation could not reach mastery.

If they truly wanted to reach mastery, they had to evolve the swordsmanship they learned by incorporating everything they experienced and realized.

Only when they successfully achieved that evolution could they reach mastery.

And in Professor Ingoldel’s view, Wardanaz’s most likely path was the mysteries of absorption.

Having deeply delved into the mana property conversion he realized on his own, his skills had now improved to the point where he could maintain balance even in urgent situations.

Moreover, seeing how he had reached close to the wall of mastery after frantically using the mysteries of absorption on the previous ship made the possibility even higher.

“Focus on the mysteries of absorption and meld what Wardanaz has newly learned and realized into the Rock Wall Sword.”

“I-Indeed.”

Lee Han thought to himself, ‘If I could pull that off, shouldn’t I be going to the Imperial Palace Knights instead of Einroguard?’ but pretended to agree for now.

What Lee Han had learned was…

“What comes to mind right now besides the mysteries of absorption? Don’t think, just answer immediately.”

“The method of imbuing intent that you taught me last time came to mind?”

“Good. What else?”

“The deception techniques I learned from the knights?”

“Hmm. I’m curious how that could be melded, but that’s also something…”

Professor Ingoldel gave no respite and pushed Lee Han to make him spill out all the thoughts he had.

“Now. You just need to meld these together.”

“Uh… Is there a way?”

“There are no shortcuts, but there are people who can help Wardanaz.”

Professor Ingoldel called Giselle and Durgyu.

“Wardanaz, don’t attack and just try defending.”

When forcibly placed in an unfavorable situation, people tend to develop abilities they didn’t have before.

Professor Ingoldel, being an excellent swordsman, knew well how to improve one’s skills.

“No. Professor. At least with just one person…”

“With one person, there won’t be enough pressure. The Rock Wall Sword is particularly advantageous for defense.”

Giselle raised her hand and asked politely.

“Professor. How about blindfolding Wardanaz?”

“Good idea. Moradi. If Wardanaz blocks well, we’ll try blindfolding him next.”

Touched by Giselle’s thoughtfulness for her friend, Ingoldel nodded with satisfaction.

Gone was the initial rejection of students from other towers, replaced by a heartwarming care for each other.

* * *

“Hello. Professor Flywark.”

“Hello everyone. Nice to see you.”

“Hello. Oripulas the Jurist.”

Nice to see you all. Young mages. Be careful not to make contracts rashly. Unless you want to suffer like me.

The demon following behind Professor Rozine winked and gave advice.

It was rare to find teaching material as fitting as him for the 【Basic Imperial Language and Logic】 lecture where students learned various dangerous magical contracts.

Gainando, who had been waving his staff enthusiastically to dye his pants, looked to the side and asked.

“Wardanaz. Why do the White Tiger Tower kids look so happy? Did they secretly find some snacks or something?”

“No. It’s for a different reason.”

Lee Han said while rubbing his aching arm.

This seemed to be the first time he’d seen the White Tiger Tower students look so happy this year.

Getting hit once made them act like this.

‘If they get hit twice, won’t those guys throw a festival?’

“Now, now. Everyone got theirs?”

Professor Rozine waved her staff to give each student a thick bundle of documents.

“What is this?”

“These are commission request forms commonly seen in the Empire. I gathered actual documents and brought them.”

“!”

Lee Han read one with interest.

Urgent!

Monster hunting, southwestern outskirts of Granden City, compensation negotiable later…

“Trash.”

Lee Han glared at the document with contemptuous eyes.

The fox beastman professor heard Lee Han’s words and clapped with admiration.

“Well pointed out! As you can see, they didn’t specifically reveal information about the monster, nor did they explain the characteristics of the area. Such commissions are very dangerous. Now, everyone applaud!”

Receiving applause from his friends, Lee Han thought to himself.

‘I was cursing because they didn’t specify the compensation clearly.’

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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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