Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 1002

Chapter 1002

'Have I fulfilled my role as a senior, even if just a little?'

Yi-Han felt proud.

Just as he had received help from Einroguard's seniors, the fact that he could pass on that same help to his juniors felt more satisfying than expected.

Closing his eyes, Yi-Han recalled the seniors who had helped him.

Senior Direth, and...

'...Hmm. Nothing comes to mind, but there must be more.'

He was sure names weren't coming to mind because he had been so busy lately. Yi-Han decided to think that way.

"Then let's take my exam."

"Here it is."

Professor Boladi placed a white paper on the table and pushed over an inkwell and quill.

Yi-Han tilted his head.

'Are you saying to fight with an inkwell and quill?'

Though they seemed rather poor as weapons, it wasn't impossible. Yi-Han quickly calculated.

'I could make the ink surge up and form a small water bullet. If I had learned vaporization properties, I could block vision. For the quill, transformation magic? Even if transformed, it's too small and light to be a threatening weapon. Using telekinesis to use it like a throwing knife... but then the balance would be too focused on ranged attacks.'

While Yi-Han was calculating when to charge in with the inkwell and quill, Professor Boladi spoke calmly.

"Sign it."

"?"

He checked to see if 'I will not write anonymous reports to report Einroguard even if I am severely injured in this fight' was written in invisible letters on the white paper, but no energy could be felt from the paper.

"What kind of signature?"

"A signature saying you took the final exam."

"...No way, you too, Professor?!"

Yi-Han, belatedly realizing what Professor Boladi meant, was startled. He was so startled he almost jumped.

Professor Garcia and Senior Direth were understandable. Having such kind souls, they could pass him on the exam for his sake.

But to think even Professor Boladi would just pass him!

"Is it really okay to just pass like this?"

"Even if you ask, there is no exam."

Professor Boladi spoke firmly while slightly raising the end of his eyebrow.

Even calculating optimistically, his disciple currently needed more rest.

Though he himself would want a much higher difficulty magic battle, as a master he couldn't grant that.

"...That's not at all what I meant... Ah, what does it matter. Anyway, thank you."

Yi-Han gave up trying to persuade him.

Even if he tried to persuade him now, Professor Boladi would just think 'My disciple is acting like it's not true because he's embarrassed'.

Rather, he was just grateful for the consideration of passing him on an exam like this.

'It might be my imagination, but Professor Bagrak has unexpectedly kind aspects.'

"Oh right, Professor. I need to help persuade creditors with the principal, do you have any advice?"

At Yi-Han's question, Professor Boladi fell into thought.

"Hmm."

Then he fell into deep thought once again. Yi-Han regretted asking.

"...I didn't ask that seriously. It's fine if you don't give advice."

"Wait."

Professor Boladi made his impatient disciple wait, then fell into thought one last time.

Only after quite a while (Yi-Han, unable to endure the boredom, had taken out the baby basilisk to play with) did the professor open his mouth.

"Kidnapping the empire's influential figures is not easy. But it's not impossible."

'I asked about persuasion.'

Yi-Han could immediately understand why the skull principal wasn't taking Professor Boladi along to meet creditors.

  *

Yukbeltire finally went to find her wicked friend who ignored paper birds herself.

"???"

Then she thrust a thick stack of papers at the bewildered Direth. It was a petition densely written with complaints she had experienced recently.

Familiar with her friend's eccentricities, Direth responded calmly. Reading the petition, she tilted her head.

"Wait. Small world? You didn't ask me about it."

"...Did I?"

Yukbeltire paused.

Though the petition stated 'Direth concealed the junior's small world magic from Yukbeltire herself', strictly speaking, Yukbeltire had never asked.

However, befitting Professor Verduus's disciple, Yukbeltire spoke shamelessly.

"Even if I didn't ask, you should have told me."

"No. Didn't I call you?"

"What?"

"I called you. When we were coming out of the underground area then. When the junior asked about small worlds, I called you."

-Yukbeltire. The junior says he has something to ask about magic.-

-You answer him. I have things to do.-

-What's so busy? It's just answering.-

"..."

Come to think of it, she remembered secretly watching from behind, ignoring their calls because she wanted to observe the small world magic.

Yukbeltire, with a considerably dejected face, retrieved the petition and tore out the part about concealing small world magic.

Direth spoke triumphantly.

"That's why I told you so many times to treat juniors well."

"Don't make illogical leaps taking advantage of this opportunity. More importantly, where is the Wardanaz family junior?"

When the junior had come and spoken to her, she had missed it due to the shock of misunderstanding that Direth had hidden the truth, but if he had actually cast a small world, she couldn't not verify it.

Since Direth hadn't hidden the truth and if the two had sought her wisdom, even more so.

Yukbeltire was very generous. Especially regarding magic.

Direth, who had been reading the 'Why Direth shouldn't get angry at Yukbeltire?' section of the petition, raised her head.

"Junior? He probably won't be at school now."

"...What do you mean? There should still be a week until break."

From tomorrow, Einroguard students would go through a harsh final exam week before entering a boring and dull summer break period.

Yukbeltire looked at Direth with suspicious eyes, wondering if she was trying to deceive her.

"You're not trying to deceive me again, are you? Like last time."

"...That was three years ago..."

Direth spoke as if dumbfounded.

That was when they were second years.

Because Yukbeltire kept locking herself in her room, neglecting food and drink while only researching magic (to the point where Professor Garcia had to ask Direth for help), Direth had lied saying 'Yukbeltire, this week is marshmallow candy festival period so you should participate with dignity too'.

Kind seniors had created a festival atmosphere holding fake marshmallows and candy, and because of that Yukbeltire's research progress was delayed by about a week.

It was an atrocious crime that would never have been forgiven if Yukbeltire herself wasn't generous.

"You ate the melted marshmallows well enough..."

"What?"

"Nothing. More importantly, the junior really left school. He finished all his final exams and agreed to help the principal with work."

"..."

Realizing her friend was telling the truth, Yukbeltire's complexion became slightly paler than usual.

"Don't worry too much. It's not dangerous work, just assisting with persuasion... Ah. You're not upset about the junior but about your research being ruined."

"Yes."

Direth spoke with mischievous satisfaction.

"Well, what can you do? He can't help during break. You should complain to the principal."

"You're right. Thanks for the advice."

The Blue Dragon Tower 5th year student who had quickly calculated and decided turned sharply.

Seeing this, Direth realized her mistake.

"...Wait! Yukbeltire! I don't know what you're planning but calm down first! It's not a good idea! Come back!"

  *

Statistically, at dawn of a new week when Einroguard students were most focused on magic, when exams were starting.

A single carriage quietly slipped out of the school.

"..."

The skull principal in human form was so focused he didn't even glance at Yi-Han sitting across from him. Papers and letter papers, sealing wax, quills and inkwells chaotically floated around inside the carriage.

"Principal."

"..."

"Principal!!"

"I'm listening. I'm listening."

The skull principal answered with an attitude that suggested he wasn't really listening. Meanwhile he kept muttering letter contents.

"That anger is certainly understandable... Professor Verduus isn't intentionally not completing works, but rather too busy teaching disciples currently... I shall sternly reprimand him so please understand... If you wait just a bit longer for the gold coins invested this time, I shall certainly..."

'No. Is it okay to lie so brazenly?'

Yi-Han was bewildered.

Even for lies, there should be limits.

Saying Professor Verduus couldn't complete works because he was busy with disciples? It was too easily exposed a lie.

After about 30 minutes, the skull principal's mind finally returned.

The principal looked at Yi-Han and nodded slightly.

"Did you finish all your final exams?"

"Yes."

"Personally, I wanted you to learn more 5th Circle magics and build your foundation before formally entering small worlds... but since you've entered anyway, well done."

Magic like the small world Basilios was on a different track from ordinary small world magic.

Not only was it ancient magic, but the biggest difference was that it was inheritance magic that dealt strictly with owners, qualifications, and conditions.

The difference became starkly clear when compared to Senior Direth's small world Pentagrammaton.

While Pentagrammaton was a small world any dark mage could learn if they sealed five high-ranking demons, Basilios couldn't be inherited unless one was the doppelganger's disciple.

Rather than such shortcuts, the skull principal had hoped Yi-Han would improve his overall magic ability like other 5th year students before learning small world magic currently trending in the empire.

That would have been much more stable and versatile.

But what could he do now that things had turned out this way?

"You can learn the rest of the 5th Circle magics in the second semester."

"..."

Though Yi-Han found it absurd, he agreed for now.

"I'll try my best."

"What's this? I thought you would grumble."

"Since I promised Master, I should at least try this much."

"...Go to the driver's seat."

The skull principal chased Yi-Han to the driver's seat with an annoyed expression. The Death Knight driving the horses looked at the disciple as if pitying him.

-You must be having a hard time.-

"Come back in quickly when I tell you to go out?"

At the voice from inside the carriage, Yi-Han returned. The skull principal grumbled.

"This fellow who acts like he'd rather die than do what I tell him..."

The Death Knights outside whispered among themselves.

The skull principal immediately sent them to the punishment room.

"What did they say to get reverse summoned?"

"He joked asking if you would work hard doing what you're told if he ascended too."

Yi-Han admired the Death Knights' nerve.

It was truly extraordinary boldness.

"What? You want to make jokes too?"

The skull principal in human form sent a look saying 'Go ahead if you're going to'.

Yi-Han quickly changed the subject.

"What kind of people are the creditors we need to persuade?"

"...They fall into several categories."

The skull principal sighed lightly. His distaste was palpable just thinking about it.

"First there are the bureaucrats. These bureaucrats provided support by taking out the empire's gold."

"Oh."

"The problem is that I threatened them rather roughly."

"Oh..."

"Next are the noble families. These families also provided support in every way possible."

"Ah. Is it because there are several bloodlines from those families enrolled at Einroguard?"

"No. I threatened them roughly."

"..."

Yi-Han started feeling increasingly uneasy.

...Could he have resolved everything through threats?