Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 762

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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 762

“Is, is it really okay?”

“Isn’t there another vault somewhere?”

The other Dark Magic school friends also seemed to have similar thoughts to Lee Han as they whispered among themselves.

No matter what, how could the vault responsible for one of Einroguard’s schools be so completely empty?

“Cough. Dark magic is originally poor magic.”

“…”

“…”

Now that they were all second years, Professor Mortum spoke the truth without hesitation.

Originally, it was normal for the Dark Magic school’s vault to be empty.

Basically, magic school vaults were meant to be filled with donation money that clients paid additionally out of gratitude when affiliated students solved external requests, or additional school support funds received when submitting research plans.

Or they would be filled with various magic-related items that the school proactively sold…

…but the Dark Magic school was a school that suffered losses in all these methods.

Requests?

The Empire’s requests were divided into profitable requests and unprofitable requests, and the Dark Magic school mainly received only unprofitable requests.

‘Profitable requests are usually called by nobles or merchants, but those are hard to get.’

Seeking advice on magic-related items, requesting education, or asking for magic needed for banquets.

These were requests that weren’t difficult now and had generous rewards.

…And these kinds of requests rarely came to the Dark Magic school.

The requests that mainly came to the Dark Magic school were from poor village people asking to subjugate undead that appeared in nearby cemeteries, or requests to solve curses rampant in swamplands where corrupted mana had pooled.

They were rewarding but didn’t pay much money.

Research support funds?

Research plans submitted by Dark Magic school students were usually disadvantaged when it came to support funds too.

-I want to develop efficient low-circle magic that can be cast on carriage wheels to improve the Empire’s transportation network.

-That’s a good idea.

-I want to research divination that professionally predicts climate for the farmers in the east who suffer from unpredictable weather.

-It could be dangerous, but it’s worth trying.

-Through my previous research, I developed poison that instantly kills blade demons. This time, I want to develop poison that can instantly kill bronze demons.

-Do you think the Empire’s treasurer just hands out money whenever you throw down a research proposal?

‘It’s definitely disadvantageous.’

Having met Empire inspectors during winter break with the Skeleton Principal, Lee Han knew well how difficult it was to receive support funds.

Officials basically liked magic that helped with Empire operations, not ultimate magic or legendary poisons.

Even magic item sales weren’t very popular for Dark Magic-related items…

“Cough. But don’t worry.”

At Professor Mortum’s words, Lee Han’s friends’ faces brightened slightly.

They wondered if there might be some source of income.

“Does the Principal perhaps donate to the Dark Magic school?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You said not to worry…”

“Good grief. Cough. What nonsense. I meant it’s okay because Dark Magic doesn’t suffer much even when poor.”

“…”

Professor Mortum was now a second year, so he spoke raw truths without restraint.

All the students were shocked, but only Lee Han remained calm. He had already seen glimpses of this during his first year.

‘Back then there was also chaos over lack of materials.’

Certainly, the Dark Magic school was a school with quite strong ability to endure when lacking things.

Just looking at the Enchantment Magic school, didn’t their professor throw materials on the floor when he wasn’t satisfied with their quality?

If someone in the Dark Magic school threw materials on the floor because they didn’t like them, even a professor might get beaten up by Senior Diret.

“Professor. Then where did these gold coins come from?”

Lee Han asked out of sudden curiosity. Professor Mortum seemed to have hazy memories as he fell into thought.

“Diret brought them… was it a request? Support funds? Sales?”

‘…I should do something too.’

At Professor Mortum’s words, Lee Han felt sudden guilt.

Whether running requests to receive donations, submitting plans to get support funds in the school’s name, or even selling magic items to gather additional funds, he felt he should do something.

Gainando asked anxiously.

“Professor. If we’re this poor, won’t juniors not come? Did any juniors enter this year?”

At the Prince’s question, Professor Mortum drew a circle with his finger. Gainando let out a sigh of relief.

“That’s a relief. Some did come.”

“Cough. What are you talking about?”

“Pardon?”

“I meant it’s still 0.”

“…”

“…”

The second year students felt intense pressure that they had to do something as members of the Dark Magic school.

* * *

“Greetings. Professor Taswan. I’m Lee Han. These are my friends, Gainando, Ymirg, and Raphadael.”

“Cough. Nice to meet you all.”

Professor Taswan responded favorably to the Einroguard students’ welcome.

Gainando said sympathetically.

“Did your health deteriorate because of Dark Magic research? As expected, curses and poisons…”

“…Y-you could say that.”

‘What?’

Lee Han felt like the other person was hiding something.

Even though there shouldn’t be anything to hide in the current situation.

“This is my disciple, Agdung. He’s a fourth year student at Callarogard.”

“???”

The Dark Magic student called Agdung politely greeted them.

As the skeleton mage removed his hat and bowed his head with the sound of rattling bones, Lee Han’s friends fell into confusion.

‘Why is he a skeleton??’

“Professor Taswan. I have a question.”

“What is it?”

When Lee Han spoke up, his friends nodded. It seemed their friend had also noticed something strange.

“Where are the other students?”

“The poison flared up during travel, so they’re still resting. It looks like Agdung here will have to handle things alone.”

“I see. Understood.”

At the mention that other students were resting, Lee Han nodded.

Certainly, long journeys tended to exhaust frail mages.

“…Wardanaz!”

“What. Raphadael. What’s wrong?”

“Is that all?!”

“??”

At Raphadael’s reaction, Lee Han looked at him with eyes that said ‘why is this guy acting like this.’

“Don’t tell me you want me to ask about payment now? That seems like rude behavior. Raphadael.”

“…That’s not it! Look! Isn’t it strange that Senior Agdung over there is a skeleton?!”

“Ah.”

Only then did Lee Han realize what his friend was talking about.

“Well, that can happen. One Einroguard senior goes around transformed into a golem.”

“…”

“…”

The friends fell into confusion.

That…

Is that so?

‘Am I being narrow-minded?’

“Everyone, don’t fight because of me. Haha. You must be confused since I’m transformed into a skeleton mage, right?”

Agdung intervened to calm the Einroguard students.

“It’s because of the dark magic I’m currently researching, so don’t think strange thoughts.”

“What kind of research are you conducting?”

“Hmm! I’m researching how to transform a human body into undead. Since completely abandoning mortal flesh and becoming a lich has many side effects, I’m leaving some organs and systems alone while permanently replacing the replaceable parts with undead…”

“I see.”

Lee Han and his friends quickly reached a conclusion and backed away.

This person is insane!

They newly realized why dark magic school research wasn’t very popular in the Empire.

* * *

However, Agdung was surprisingly sociable and friendly for a skeleton mage.

He won the favor of the Einroguard students with various pleasant jokes and witty remarks, enough to make them forget he was conducting insane research.

“You’re playing mage cards? What kind of deck do you like, Gainando?”

“Dark… dark magic curse deck…”

“Hmm? What deck did you say?”

“Dark, dark magic curse deck.”

“Wow, that’s a really good deck! Many people at our Callarogard try to build that deck too.”

“What?! Really!??!”

Gainando’s eyes widened as he shouted.

There’s such a wonderful school in the world?

“Of course! Some ignorant people call it a cowardly deck, but where’s the cowardice in competition? If that’s the case, there’s no reason to play mage cards. Right. We’ll have a mage card club exchange match later, want to participate?”

“…I’m not a member there…”

“Oh no. What a shame.”

“Co, could we do it separately?”

“That’s not possible, Gainando. I can’t freely use time for content that’s not in the plan.”

Gainando cursed himself for checking the club name wrong.

It might have been a chance to make friends who could share the philosophy of mage cards!

“Raphadael. Isn’t the Grall family a knight family famous for anti-dark magic? You’re learning dark magic despite being from such a family?”

“…That’s right. To be honest, I’m not learning dark magic because I like it, but to understand dark magic’s weaknesses…”

“I respect that attitude, Raphadael! Only a true knight can make such a choice by sacrificing themselves.”

“…Ri, right?”

Raphadael brightened up upon receiving praise among dark mages for the first time.

His friends always nagged him saying ‘You’re someone who likes dark magic, slowly admit it’…!

“Ymirg. May I ask what your purpose is for learning dark magic?”

“In, in the city outskirts, many undead appear, and I want to try stopping them…”

“Excellent, Ymirg. There aren’t many dark mages with such noble purposes as you.”

Ymirg felt shy at that praise.

Since many mages who entered the dark magic school had higher and grander goals, the goal of serving by traveling around the Empire’s cities and villages seemed a bit trivial.

“Lee Han. Come to think of it, I haven’t asked about your family. Which family are you from?”

“I’m from the Wardanaz family.”

Crash clatter clang!

“?!”

Lee Han was startled when the skeleton mage fell over and some bones flew out in the process.

“Are you alright?!”

“I’m, I’m fine. I tripped over a stone.”

Agdung assembled and fitted his shinbone while inwardly shocked.

‘Crazy!’

When Professor Taswan first said ‘This year, 2nd year students will guide the way,’ Agdung had thought ‘Doesn’t Einroguard’s dark magic school have people?’

But it was the Wardanaz family boy.

Then it made sense. Wasn’t he the disciple of the Empire’s Archmage?

‘More than that, he was a 2nd year?!’

When he heard rumors last winter that Lord Gonadaltes was traveling around with a disciple from the Wardanaz family, he thought they might be a 4th or 5th year, but they were a 2nd year.

‘To think I would face that Archmage’s disciple…’

He was so nervous and afraid that his non-existent heart seemed to pound.

As could be seen from Professor Taswan, getting involved with Lord Gonadaltes wasn’t a wise choice.

Naturally, getting involved with his disciple would be the same.

“Take my hand and get up.”

“Yes! Thank you.”

“…?”

Lee Han felt something off about Agdung’s response.

“What did you just say?”

“I, I said thank you.”

“Do you perhaps have any bad memories related to the Wardanaz family…?”

“Wha… what are you talking about, Lee Han? What bad memories could I have with the Wardanaz family, a pillar of the Empire?”

‘This person is hiding something!’

There was no way Lee Han wouldn’t notice the other person’s reaction.

The other person definitely had bad memories related to the Wardanaz family.

‘Damn. Did he perhaps visit Udamhwa village and encounter a demon? It wouldn’t be the territory.’

While the other dark magic school friends were happily getting close to the guest, only Lee Han was being left out because of his family. This was too unfair.

“By, by the way, Lee Han. About the mushroom field, I know that location too. I’ll go get them myself, so why don’t you and your friends rest here? I’m sorry it’s such a trivial matter!”

“What? Quite some time has passed since then, so it’ll be difficult with just a map. And I have things I need to get from the mushroom field too. Let’s just go together?”

“Then, how about this?”

“?”

“I’ll get the mushrooms you need too.”

“…”

At Lee Han’s suspicious gaze, Agdung realized he had made a mistake.

Indeed, it couldn’t not be strange for a 4th year student who came as a guest to offer to do errands for a 2nd year student.

“I… I was joking! Haha.”

“Yes…”

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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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