Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 1008

Chapter 1008

Though some mages thought that way, they couldn't stop him.

It couldn't be helped.

Just as moths fly into flames knowing they'll burn to death, mages were beings who plunged into wisdom knowing they would perish.

It didn't matter that the evil great mage Gonadaltes had used Professor Garcia to deceive them before.

If they were to miss a mage who truly wanted to enter the Day Lily Magic Tower because of a petty grudge...

'That absolutely can't happen!'

Unlike a petty grudge, it would surely become a wound they would never forget until death.

"From what I heard, he's an outstanding combat mage. They say he has records of subjugating the King of Ghouls and sea serpent..."

"Amazing! ...But we're not a combat mage tower?"

The mages were amazed but puzzled.

Magic towers each had different characteristics according to their founding purpose. The Day Lily Magic Tower was a tower for research mages, far from magic combat.

Yet to bring and introduce a combat mage. Though his abilities were impressive, it didn't make sense.

"They even say he's just a 2nd year."

"That's truly amazing...!"

"...Wait, even if it's Einroguard, is it okay to have a 2nd year subjugate the King of Ghouls and sea serpent?"

One mage well-versed in imperial law raised a natural doubt.

No one suspected that these might have been done in 1st year rather than 2nd year.

"His Excellency has always been quite harsh on his direct disciples..."

"This isn't the barbaric ancient times or dark ages, is this okay?"

"Even in ancient times, they probably wouldn't have ordered such harsh subjugations."

As the conversation drifted off track, Eulangdam cut in while shaking his pipe.

"Einroguard mages can send anonymous reports about His Excellency's strict teachings, it's not for us to discuss."

"We apologize."

"Could he be planning to use force again?"

The air froze at someone's words.

It was an unexpectedly convincing speculation.

"Ah, even so, after causing such havoc last time, surely he wouldn't do it again..."

"...He might."

"Gawon. Why aren't you saying anything?"

Eulangdam threw a question at Gawon, a mage belonging to the tower.

This usually confident mage who would actively offer opinions was unusually quiet today.

"Well... about that Einroguard mage I met at last year's exchange..."

"Ah. That mage?"

Colleagues nodded as if knowing who he meant.

Gawon's experience from participating in last year's mage exchange was truly surprising.

The artificial realm research presentation was amazing, and the accidental summoning of a Demon Duke during the presentation was amazing, but the most surprising thing was that Gawon's magic received high praise.

-A mana filtering amplification device using water element and spheres?-

-Isn't that just changing the element from <Ota's Brilliant Prism> from five years ago?-

Though colleagues hadn't expected much as it seemed somewhat shallow and simple to them, surprisingly it received high praise with comments like 'improved several fold' and 'the artistry in compression and efficiency'.

To his colleague mages' questions, Gawon revealed what had happened.

-Actually, an Einroguard mage I met by chance gave some advice.-

-Some?-

-...I won't say anymore.-

-Ah, no. Sorry. Please continue.-

Gawon's story was shocking itself.

Though Gawon's magic might not have been novel, it was very complex magic. So complex it would be difficult to analyze without the mage himself explaining separately.

Yet for a mage he was meeting for the first time to reduce the required mana by 1/3 on the spot?

Even for an Einroguard student, this was no ordinary extraordinariness.

"Why that mage?"

"I think that mage's name was Yi-Han too..."

When word came that the skull principal was visiting with his disciple Yi-Han, that name revived Gawon's memory.

"What are you saying? Wasn't he a 4th year? Then he should be 5th year now?"

"The years don't match?"

Colleagues who noticed the contradiction in the story raised questions.

How could Yi-Han, who was clearly a 4th year in last year's story, suddenly be a 2nd year this year?

"...Strictly speaking, I never specifically stated his year."

When colleagues looked at him like he was a fool, Gawon hurriedly made excuses.

"Even Einroguard students usually only participate in that exchange from 4th year up! Even for an outstanding genius, 3rd year would be the limit! But he said he wasn't 3rd year... so I naturally thought he was 4th year!"

"..."

"..."

"One could carelessly overlook that. Still, Gawon. Develop a habit of observing things carefully in the future."

At Eulangdam's words, Gawon nodded.

Other mages thought inwardly.

Did he mean to check whether Einroguard senior students were 1st years or not when meeting them?

It didn't seem like such a thing would happen twice...

"Let's organize this. Apart from being an outstanding combat mage, he completed Gawon's magic while being a 1st year last year?"

"Strictly speaking, it wasn't completion but improvement..."

"It was completion."

"Honestly, it was as good as completion."

Colleagues threw cold criticisms. Even Eulangdam acknowledged it.

"That Einroguard mage did complete it."

"..."

Gawon shrank. Regardless, other mages actively discussed.

"Isn't that amazing talent apart from magic combat? If he enters the tower, I'll personally take care of him."

"Why is the conversation suddenly flowing that way? What does it have to do with you?"

"Don't you know I have a distant relative who's an Einroguard graduate mage? All Einroguard graduates are eccentric and sensitive alike, so they'll need someone understanding like me."

"Nonsense. Your section already has enough mages. I have vacancies."

...More precisely, they were discussing 'who would take him if he joined the tower'.

Eulangdam blew out a long stream of smoke while looking at the high ceiling in the tower's center.

Though it wasn't even confirmed he would join, seeing the mages already fighting like this made him feel like they were being played by His Excellency Gonadaltes.

"Sigh..."

"What do you think, Master Eulangdam? Who should take care of him?"

"Stop fighting, everyone. I'll take care of him directly."

"..."

"..."

Though the mages looked at him as if dumbfounded, Eulangdam paid no attention.

A true mage should pursue their own wisdom regardless of public opinion.

  *

"By the way, Principal."

Yi-Han carefully called out to the skull principal.

Despite resolving two of the three creditor forces, the skull principal was still grumbling.

"Is not doing continental conquest that..."

"..."

Even the Death Knights were amazed at his persistence in grumbling continuously from leaving the nobles' mansions to moving to the Day Lily Magic Tower on the outskirts of the capital.

-He must really feel quite hurt.-

-Haven't you shown generosity to Sir Intarendals?-

"Principal?"

"What? Does Intarendals have more hidden assets?"

"Even if he does, you know I can't tell you because of the will."

"..."

So there are!

The skull principal and Death Knights shuddered.

They shuddered at Intarendals' pettiness in taking revenge to the end just because his continental conquest request wasn't granted.

"...Give me at least a hint about what kind of assets."

"That's not what's important. We've arrived at the magic tower now, but you still haven't decided what to say."

Yi-Han had reason to worry.

Though they luckily resolved the first two, even Yi-Han had no plan for the last one.

Though the skull principal boasted 'Don't worry, those who were deceived once by Professor Garcia will be deceived twice', from the person actually doing it, he couldn't help being skeptical.

'Wouldn't they rather not be deceived a second time if they were deceived once?'

"Didn't I tell you? Just go and calmly introduce yourself, and those mages will collapse in tears..."

"Stop saying such nonsense."

Yi-Han dismissed it with an annoyed voice.

The skull principal kept saying nonsense.

"At least tell me what kind of things I should say."

"Such a faithless fellow."

At his disciple's distrustful appearance, the skull principal sighed as if regretful.

How could he be so dull?

"Fine. I'll tell you. When we arrive at the tower front, I'll knock first. Then you say this."

"I'm from Einroguard?"

"No. Say a 2nd year mage who has mastered a small world has come."

"..."

Even the world's most unwanted self-introduction probably wouldn't be at that level. Yi-Han turned serious and refused.

"No."

"Then how about saying you contracted with Arna or contracted with the Thunder King?"

"I'll say I'm from Einroguard."

"You'll have to say it all anyway, why be stubborn."

The skull principal sneered but Yi-Han ignored him.

Even if he had to say it after entering the tower, he didn't want to make such a self-introduction while knocking on the door.

'But I pretty much know what kind of things to say.'

Achievements like small worlds or contracts with spirit kings would clearly appeal to the mages here.

Yi-Han resolved to talk about such achievements when meeting the mages.

...Though he felt a bit guilty since he had no intention of entering this Day Lily Magic Tower...!

"Your Excellency. You've come?"

The tower's mages who spotted the carriage driven by Death Knights came running even before the main gate opened.

At that welcome, the skull principal was about to proudly declare.

"Here, one who has mastered a small world..."

Yi-Han, who was about to come out of the carriage, went back in. The Death Knights spoke apologetically.

-We're sorry. We wanted to stop him but...-

"...Thank you just for the thought."

However, the skull principal couldn't finish his declaration.

The tower's mages who confirmed Yi-Han in the carriage started shedding tears of emotion.

'I haven't said anything yet?'

This reaction exceeded even the skull principal's expectations.

He had thought the mages would collapse in tears after revealing the fact about small world magic, but to show such reaction before revealing it.

"Did someone tell them in advance?"

-Why would we do such a thing?-

"I suppose you're right."

The skull principal withdrew his suspicion.

Though the Death Knights sometimes betrayed their master, they wouldn't betray at times like this.

"We've been waiting! You must have gone through so much! I'll guide you through the tower personally!"

"No, I'll..."

"Won't you let go of this hand?"

"You let go!"

Though the Day Lily Magic Tower wasn't a tower of combat mages, that didn't mean the mages didn't fight.

The skull principal grimaced in disgust at the sight of frail mages staggering while grabbing each other's collars.

Rather than fighting with magic, what was this unsightly behavior?

"Worse than with Professor Garcia. Calm them down."

-But Master.-

"?"

-If they react this much without even mentioning the small world, I'm worried how they'll react when we bring up the small world...-

"Hmm."

The skull principal paused at his knights' loyal counsel.

It was a completely unexpected problem, and he suddenly became worried.

"Should we just talk about 5th Circle magic?"

-That too might be...-