Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 1000

Chapter 1000

"Well, I'm going."

With both hands occupied, Yi-Han had no choice but to wave the hand holding the hamster cage as a greeting.

The hamster inside let out an angry squeak.

"Wait... Wait, Wardanaz!"

Jijel, unusually flustered, called out to Yi-Han.

"Aren't you going to whip these idiots?!"

'That's too harsh.'

The White Tiger Tower students became dejected.

Even if their average grades were lower than Blue Dragon Tower students...

"That's too harsh!"

The Blue Dragon Tower students flared up.

Even if they were lacking, wasn't that too harsh?

"?"

"??"

The students from both towers exchanged puzzled looks.

Then they belatedly realized.

'Ah.'

"I wasn't talking about you..."

"Moradi."

Jijel, who was frowning and trying to explain to the Blue Dragon Tower idiots, paused at Yi-Han's words.

Surprisingly, Wardanaz was smiling gently.

"I said there are things more important than exams, right?"

"...Uh... yeah."

Jijel was completely overwhelmed by this unfamiliar side of her friend. It was true that when people are too shocked, they can't show any reaction.

"Come to think of it, I seem to have pushed you all too hard. Forcing things isn't always the answer. You all must have your own paths."

"..."

"..."

Not just Jijel, but other students froze one after another.

Like they had been petrified by a basilisk's evil eye, no one could move.

Regardless of whether his friends had fallen into a petrified state, Yi-Han spoke kindly.

"Don't push yourselves too hard, everyone. Well then, I'm off."

Even after Yi-Han disappeared, his friends couldn't recover immediately. Only after several minutes had passed did someone shout:

"Wardanaz is broken!!!!!!!"

  *

"Thank you, Professor Willow."

"What's there to thank for, little one? I should be the one thanking you."

Professor Willow laughed heartily and handed over a paper. On paper decorated with the Imperial Horticulturist Club emblem at each corner was densely written the schedule of auctions held by the club.

And proudly listed among the auction items was the mandrake Yi-Han had grown.

Originally, this mandrake was a semester-long assignment for the <Mage's Life with Plants> lecture, to be grown and submitted by the final exam.

But due to the actions of a certain mischievous dragon and basilisk...

-......-

The baby basilisk became dejected.

This wasn't its fault!

...Yi-Han's mandrake had already fully grown by midterms.

It had grown so well that Professor Willow suggested submitting it to the Imperial Horticulturist Club auction she belonged to.

"If this sells, I'll buy gifts for you and Her Highness."

-!-

The baby basilisk's tail wagged with joy.

"Here's your invitation. Since it's held during the break, you'll be able to attend in person."

Not just anyone could join the Imperial Horticulturist Club. It was an honorable club that only outstanding horticulturists could join.

In other words, the fact that Yi-Han's submitted mandrake was listed in the club's internal auction and he could participate meant that he had also been granted permission to join this club.

Perhaps this was an even more valuable reward than the gold coins he might get from selling the mandrake.

"And little one, don't forget..."

"The Imperial Horticulturist Club Journal, right?"

"That's right!"

Professor Willow laughed heartily while moving her bark face.

Conversing with an outstanding student made even the tree herself happy.

The professor took out a small booklet. It was titled <Imperial Horticulturist Club Journal> on the cover.

"Don't forget to receive this. With this alone, you can share plant information across the entire empire."

"Yes. I was definitely planning to secure the <Imperial Horticulturist Club Journal> where we can share information about which plants are trending where, what events cause price fluctuations, and from whom we can obtain good plants."

"...W-well. You know well enough then."

It was startling how much better he knew than expected.

"From next semester, we'll meet as fellow horticulturists within the club. But don't get too absorbed in plants. Other professors will resent me."

Mages who didn't know much about plants didn't understand, but nothing was as attractive and addictive as plants.

Professor Willow knew several people who had fallen into the magic of collecting and growing plants and couldn't escape.

If Wardanaz neglected other lectures after falling into the joy of growing mandrakes, how disappointed would Einroguard's professors be?

"I'll keep that in mind. And even if I become absorbed in other things, professors won't resent you, Professor Willow. It's not because of plants but because I've changed my thinking."

"Changed your thinking?"

Professor Willow was puzzled by the year's top student's words.

"From now on, I won't be obsessed only with exams. What's so important about others' evaluations on the path of magic?"

"Hmm. Usually those words come from little ones who've failed... but coming from you, it might be alright."

Originally, sayings like 'only oneself needs to know the path of magic one walks' were usually grumblings from failed students in Einroguard's punishment room, but even such words sounded more dignified when spoken by the year's top student.

Professor Willow decided to trust the boy before her rather than worry needlessly.

"Then are you planning to just get by in this exam?"

"Yes."

"I see. But what's that?"

Professor Willow noticed the thick report Yi-Han was holding and asked curiously.

"It's the report I submitted for <Tragic History of Ancient Artifacts and Summoning Magic> lecture."

Professor Willow noted the 'submitted' rather than 'will submit'.

Moving her head sideways to look, she could see Professor Millei's writing marking it as perfect score.

"...Right. Keep it up!"

The professor quietly praised her student instead of scolding him as an unlucky brat.

It was truly an attitude only a dignified professor could show.

  *

"What nonsense is this?"

Professor Uregor looked at his disciple as if he were crazy while eating chicken noodle soup sitting in his cottage chair.

Not being too hung up on exams from now on?

That was like a dwarf reflecting on their mining until today and resolving to plant trees for the rest of their life.

Just as dragons flew and ghouls craved flesh, Wardanaz was supposed to be crazy about magic.

"I've reflected and decided to change."

"No... It doesn't seem like something to reflect on, or something to change..."

Professor Uregor checked the golden potion Yi-Han had submitted with a sour expression.

Annoyingly, there wasn't even a slight error. It was a perfect potion that was hard to believe was made by just a 2nd year student.

For someone who makes such potions to say he won't be hung up on exams.

Perhaps he planned to mock Einroguard's students in a different way?

'What a terrifying fellow. To think he would overwhelm other mages like this.'

"Come to think of it, you made poison for me, Professor."

"...Cough, cough cough."

The dwarf professor, who had been inhaling noodles through his beard, coughed and sputtered.

"Wh-what... If you're talking about Arkan's Eternal Severance, I had no choice. The principal's doppelganger told me to keep it secret, what was I supposed to do?"

"Hmm."

Yi-Han stared at Professor Uregor.

Under that gaze, the professor became anxious about having asked his disciple to make him a snack.

Historically, looking at the causes of death among alchemists, there were surprisingly many who were poisoned by their disciples.

This spicy soup was quite suitable for hiding poison.

"...Should I finish the remaining work?"

"No. Since I'm here, I should finish it all. I need to finish the exam quickly and help the principal too."

"N-no. How can you push yourself when you've barely recovered? We can have Professor Bentozol do it, so you should rest more!"

Suddenly becoming a professor who cherished and loved his disciple, Professor Uregor tried to stop Yi-Han from getting up.

When his disciple sat back down, Professor Uregor watched carefully and asked.

"Aren't you curious about how the potion you just submitted turned out?"

At that question, Yi-Han sighed lightly.

Then he spoke as if frustrated.

"Professor. I told you. I won't be too hung up on exams anymore."

'Coming here first to get a perfect score and then talking such nonsense, this bastard...'

Professor Uregor cursed his star pupil inwardly.

Somehow he seemed to have become even more annoying in a subtle way.

  *

Yi-Han finished his exams quickly with a much more relaxed mind than usual.

He didn't need to worry much about lectures like <Staff Materials and Magic Amplification> (where Senior Yukbeltire was evaluating in place of the disappeared Professor Verduus) or <Divination Magic Good for Going Crazy>, which he had essentially finished before the final exams.

Of course, he couldn't completely ignore them. Though he had finished the exams, lectures still remained.

"I know. He ascended."

"You knew?"

Yi-Han was slightly surprised that Yukbeltire knew about the mad doppelganger's ascension.

"We even built a memorial."

"Ah. Senior Direth ordered it, right?"

"What? No..."

"As expected, Senior Direth is so thoughtful."

"What are you..."

Yukbeltire tried to point out her junior's absurd words, but following the enchantment magic school's tradition, Yi-Han ignored the other and said what he wanted to say.

"More importantly, Senior. I heard you know a lot about small worlds."

"I'm not an expert, but to some extent..."

"Have you heard of a small world magic in the form of a crown like this? I got to use it by chance recently, but the restrictions are more demanding than I thought. I'd appreciate recommendations for related grimoires. I want to read them during the break."

Yukbeltire immediately recognized what magic her junior was talking about.

It must be that faint crown that had flickered above his head when they were walking around the underground mine area before.

She hadn't said anything for fear of ruining the magic with unnecessary interference, but it seems the junior himself had noticed too...

"...You used it?"

"Huh? Yes."

"How!?"

"Ah. Well it was by chance, but there was a clue in what Senior Direth said. She mentioned something about being good and devoted being conditions, and it was similar."

"You talked with Direth?!?!"

Yukbeltire was even more shocked. She was so shocked that she passed over pointing out that her junior had used a small world.

'Even though I was so interested?'

Why had they talked just the two of them, leaving only her out?

Of course, the answer was that she had only thought about it to herself and hadn't spoken to Direth, but it wasn't easy for Yukbeltire to realize that.

"You hadn't heard?"

"...No."

"Well, you seniors must have had more important magic to deal with."

Yi-Han's consolation didn't really resonate with Yukbeltire.

"...Did I do something wrong to Direth?"

"Don't you do that every day? Why ask now?"

"It wasn't that bad."

"It was exactly that bad."

The junior was cold. Mentally cornered, Yukbeltire assumed for now that her junior was right.

"...Could you go tell Direth to stop her irrational anger?"

At these magical words that could create anger where there was none, Yi-Han firmly refused.

"No. Do it yourself, Senior. Anyway, I've finished the <Staff Materials and Magic Amplification> lecture, so I'll be going now."

"Wait-!"

Seeing her junior leave so ruthlessly, Yukbeltire unconsciously slammed her fist on the table.

It was her first time feeling such strong anger towards her school's academic style.

What was wrong with the enchantment magic school to make it like this?