Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 986
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 986
Despite receiving encouragement, Lee Han thought to himself as his friend criticized him.
‘The White Tiger Tower students must have really caused a lot of trouble.’
Well, it wasn’t like he couldn’t understand Moradi’s feelings.
Statistically, White Tiger Tower caused the most incidents among the four towers.
Blue Dragon Tower, being from noble families, subtly cared about appearances even when causing trouble (though they still picked up and ate dropped food), and Black Turtle Tower preferred to handle things secretly and quietly, so they rarely got caught.
However, White Tiger Tower students were pointlessly bold in strange areas.
Just look at Angrago.
Didn’t he boldly escape to watch a ball game and now boldly enter the punishment room?
Blue Dragon Tower students would never have done such a thing.
‘Thinking about it that way, Blue Dragon Tower is definitely better.’
Lee Han nodded with a slightly proud feeling. Seeing this, Giselle looked at him suspiciously.
‘Something feels strangely unpleasant… What is it?’
“Moradi. Don’t be too angry just because Angrago went to the punishment room. Salko went too.”
“…I was wondering what you were thinking, and that’s what it was. It’s not because of that.”
“It’s not? Then… Ah. I get it. It’s because of the exams. Don’t worry about that since the Blue Dragon Tower students don’t want to do them either.”
It wasn’t particularly comforting words.
And even when playing the same, White Tiger Tower students played much more boldly than Blue Dragon Tower students. You should never fall for such words.
‘You bastard, it bothers you that I’m cheering when you realized aura first…’
But saying this would only damage his own dignity.
Giselle just gave up and changed the topic.
“…How’s the exam preparation going?”
“I should start getting serious once this week ends.”
While speaking, Lee Han glanced at the Insane Doppelganger ahead.
The Insane Doppelganger preferred Lee Han to tackle high-level magic that could kill him while learning, but didn’t particularly like him obsessing over Einroguard exams.
Specifically, he considered it a waste of time on garbage-like activities.
“…Are you alright?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Well, exam preparation. There’s a possibility it won’t catch Master’s eye…”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll teach you.”
“?”
Lee Han doubted his ears.
Not only allowing him to focus on Einroguard exam preparation, but offering to teach him?
Lee Han hadn’t even thought to ask the Insane Doppelganger in the first place. That would have been too unreasonable a request.
Not only permission, but volunteering to help with a request he hadn’t even made.
“You’ll help with exam preparation??”
“Are you not listening to royalty’s words?”
“No, no. It’s not that, I’m just so honored…”
As Lee Han hesitated, Giselle asked curiously.
“Isn’t that good for you?”
Though that projection was an insane archmage, no one could deny his magical skills.
If such an archmage directly helped with exams, it would be far more efficient than any other help.
Of course, it could be dangerous.
How worried the other students had been when that insane projection kidnapped Wardanaz at the beginning of the semester.
But…
‘Given Wardanaz’s personality, he probably won’t worry much about danger.’
The Wardanaz that Giselle knew was always a crazy magic addict who pursued high risk, high return.
Such a person wouldn’t hesitate just because an insane projection was dangerous. Moreover, their relationship seemed quite amicable now.
‘Something feels strangely unpleasant. He’s not badmouthing me, is he.’
Lee Han suspected inwardly.
Giselle was staring intently, and he felt strangely uncomfortable.
“It’s good… but it’s a bit confusing since someone who didn’t act this way is doing so. Think about if the principal suddenly became kind.”
“…That’s creepy.”
“Right? There’s not much difference.”
But just because Lee Han and Giselle found it creepy didn’t mean there was much they could do about it.
The Insane Doppelganger wasn’t the type to listen even if Lee Han refused.
“Ah. Then it’ll be hard to help other friends.”
Lee Han realized belatedly.
If the Insane Doppelganger was helping with exam preparation beside him, teaching friends wouldn’t be easy…
“It doesn’t matter. Bring them along too. Royalty will bestow teachings.”
“!?!”
At words that broke expectations even more, this time even Giselle was shocked.
“What, what’s this? Why is he acting like that?”
“I… I don’t know either. Even telling you guys to follow earlier was unexpected.”
Even if his friend asked, Lee Han had nothing particular to answer.
Lee Han had no clue either!
‘This won’t do. I have to ask.’
Though Giselle had said earlier not to provoke him, he was too curious to let it pass.
Lee Han checked his defensive magic and asked.
“Master. But why did you tell me to bring the other friends?”
“For an incomplete mage, the necessity of comrades cannot be denied. If they’re your comrades, I can polish them a bit more to make them useful.”
“…!”
“!!!”
At the surprisingly sound and thoughtful reason, not only Lee Han but even Giselle beside him was surprised.
To think he would acknowledge Lee Han’s friends as comrades and say he’d mercifully raise them.
Catten sent a look of respect.
‘As expected of the principal’s projection, his heart that cherishes and loves students cannot be hidden!’
However, the two cold students weren’t fooled.
‘This is strange. Could this be madness manifesting in another direction? Did the hamster pull something? Should I go interrogate it?’
‘I knew Wardanaz had always been good at gathering insane archmages like a carnivorous plant, but to this extent. He’s really crazy.’
…Precisely, only one cold student wasn’t fooled.
Lee Han tilted his head but accepted it for now.
If the Insane Doppelganger could show such consideration, even if it was madness, it could be madness in a good direction.
Though he wondered if positive madness existed, anyway…
“Then telling those White Tiger Tower friends behind us to follow was also for that reason? Because they’re my comrades?”
The Insane Doppelganger stopped walking.
Then he turned around sharply and looked over the White Tiger Tower students.
“They were comrades?”
“Yes? Yes… they’re friends from my same year.”
“I thought they were servants, but they weren’t.”
“…”
“…”
The White Tiger Tower students’ faces soured. Lee Han glanced at his friends and hastily made excuses.
“What nonsense are you saying! No, how could these guys be servants?”
“They were acting like servants, so I thought they were servants.”
“…”
This time the White Tiger Tower students’ faces reddened.
They had indeed been in a shabby state from doing mining work.
“We, we usually dress more dignifiedly…!”
“That was just last time, Wardanaz! Say something good for us!”
‘What am I supposed to say good about you guys.’
Lee Han was inwardly exasperated, but they were still his friends.
“They just like using their bodies, but they’re all excellent mages. No, Master, you even called them mages earlier.”
“One can be a mage and still serve as a servant. Servants must be able to handle not only miscellaneous tasks but also act as guards. What are you even saying, disciple?”
‘Ancient times are so annoying.’
It seemed that in ancient times, even servants had to be all-rounders.
Not only did they have to learn magic, but they also had to step up as guards when necessary.
“Anyway, that’s not the case.”
“I understand. I summoned them as the disciple’s guards, but it was the royalty’s mistake. You may return.”
“?”
The White Tiger Tower students hesitated.
Then they looked back.
They had already walked quite far from the safe zone marked on the map.
For them to return to the dimensional gate alone from here…
“Hmm. It would be better to go back rather than get scolded by Master for no reason.”
Lee Han tried to send his friends back.
No matter how he thought about it, if they went together, the Insane Doppelganger would just keep getting on his friends’ nerves.
No matter what, the White Tiger Tower had its pride, so there was no reason to go along as servants capable of guard duty…
“We will protect Wardanaz!”
“Just leave it to us!”
“…”
Lee Han was left speechless by his friends’ quick response and stared at them.
Giselle was so embarrassed that she turned her gaze away and looked the other way.
* * *
“Do you know about the frost giants, juniors?”
Upon arriving at the frost giant territory marked on the map, Catten moved with Lee Han and Giselle.
It was to make contact and negotiate with the frost giants.
The Insane Doppelganger didn’t follow along.
Originally, archmages didn’t accompany such preliminary negotiations. Trivial matters were always the disciple’s job.
“I’ve heard that unlike giants, they possess a thriving civilization and wisdom.”
“That’s right. The giants declined long ago, but these beings from other dimensions managed to avoid such decline.”
The frost giants were able to avoid the fate of decline that the giants of the ancient continent experienced by using the distance of other dimensions.
Thanks to this, threatening and powerful beings like the Ice Giant King were occasionally summoned to Einroguard to face off against Lee Han.
‘Ugh. Why didn’t the frost giants settle on the continent…’
Lee Han lamented as he recalled the absurd past once again.
Directly facing the Ice Giant King was not an easy experience even for an Einroguard student.
And this encounter didn’t just end there.
Even afterward, whenever he met frost giants, he had to hear things like ‘Oh. You’re the challenger who faced the king? Then I’ll defeat you and steal that glory!’
From Lee Han’s perspective, it was truly an absurd ill-fated relationship.
‘But there’s a way.’
Lee Han checked again the Ice Giant King’s blue stone embedded in his staff, disguised with magic.
If he could just hide this, there would be no way for the frost giants to recognize Lee Han’s identity.
He would just look like an ordinary human mage.
“They are a strong and arrogant race. We’ll probably need to earn their recognition before negotiations.”
“How can we earn it?”
“There’s a high possibility we’ll have to pass a test. Junior. They respect the strong.”
Lee Han and Giselle nodded with serious expressions.
Catten waved his hand as if to say not to worry.
“I’ll take the test, so you juniors don’t need to worry. If they try to make you juniors take the test too, I’ll persuade them.”
“…?”
Giselle tilted her head.
Did Catten, not Wardanaz, have some magic tongue to persuade frost giants?
“Do you have such a method?”
“Sorry, juniors. I misspoke. If they try to make you juniors take the test too, I’ll cut them down.”
Catten corrected himself sheepishly.
He had accidentally lied while showing off in front of his juniors. Catten had no confidence in persuading frost giants.
“…”
“…”
Of course, saying he’d cut them down left a much stronger impression on the juniors. Lee Han and Giselle straightened their postures.
“Senior. If there were any parts you didn’t like when I was explaining magic, please just tell me comfortably.”
“And if the tower juniors act rudely or anything, please be sure to tell us.”
“???”
Catten was puzzled when his juniors suddenly said something out of the blue.
Why all of a sudden?
“This should be about right… Honorable giants of the bitter cold, listen! Here comes Catten of the Jahan family to speak with you!”
-!
The frost giants quickly responded to the booming voice that shook the cliff.
Thud!
A frost giant patroller jumped up from beneath the glacier. The frost giant looked around at the three and asked.
-One warrior and two mages. Since you announced yourselves first, you don’t seem to be intruders.
“Three mages. And we’ve come to negotiate with you.”
-Negotiation? We don’t usually negotiate easily with outsiders. Especially not with beings from other dimensions.
“From the way you’re talking, it sounds like there’s a way.”
At Catten’s words, the frost giant grinned.
Both the strength emanating from his posture and this warrior seemed to know something.
-That’s right. There’s something we’re looking for.
“Your artifacts?”
-Ha! As if we’d entrust such things to weak mages from other dimensions.
The frost giant scoffed as if it was ridiculous.
Their artifacts had to be found by themselves, not with the help of weak other races.
“Then what are you looking for?”
-We’re looking for a challenger recognized by the king! Surprisingly, he’s said to be a mage from the same dimension as you. If you can find out that one’s location, we’ll acknowledge you as guests.
“…”
Lee Han’s face turned slightly pale.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————