Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 885

Chapter 885

Jourin looked at Yi-Han triumphantly with eyes that said 'I was right!'

Yi-Han wanted to explain that it wasn't so, but the senior in front of him took priority for now.

"Senior. What is this about?"

"?"

Despite her junior's firm protest, Yukbeltire didn't understand.

What did he mean, what is this about?

"I told you it's the <Magical Algebra and Arcane Geometry> exam."

"...No. That's not what I mean. Why on earth do I have to take the exam early?"

At Yi-Han's assertion, Yukbeltire lightly furrowed her brow.

She couldn't understand why her junior was wasting time with such useless questions.

"I still don't understand, but I'll explain."

"For your reference, I'm not someone who enjoys taking exams early."

"What?"

"No... I just wanted to explain that."

Seeing that the other didn't seem to understand at all, Yi-Han quickly shut his mouth.

'Didn't she come after hearing rumors that I take exams early?'

It didn't seem like she had a strange misunderstanding like Jourin.

Yukbeltire picked up one of the thick stacks of paper piled on the table and flipped through it with her fingers. Ominous words like <Proof of the Mana Emission Space Theorem Applied from the Mana Emission Plane Theorem> were written on top.

Yi-Han felt a sense of dissonance.

'Isn't this not the content we learned last time?'

"Wardanaz family junior. You took a different exam alone during Professor Knighton's lecture last year."

"Yes."

As memories of the past came up, Yi-Han made an unpleasant expression.

Who would have known that Professor Alpen, whom he believed to be normal as an outsider, would commit such a madness-filled act?

Even now, thinking about it made his heart ache with a sense of betrayal.

"Originally, when taking an exam with different content, it's right to take it separately. The time needed is different, and so are the necessary materials."

"...??"

As the conversation flowed in a strange direction, Yi-Han was flustered.

"What do you mean by an exam with different content? Surely I'm not taking an exam alone again this time..."

Yukbeltire stared at Yi-Han without answering. From that cold face, Yi-Han could read the answer.

"...So I am taking a different exam alone!"

"Yes. Now take out <Beavle's Drafting Tool>."

Yukbeltire gestured as if she thought Yi-Han had understood.

Of course, Yi-Han hadn't understood at all. He immediately protested vehemently.

"You don't have the authority to judge and decide that! I'll take the exam designated by the professor!"

No matter how much authority Yukbeltire had to teach students and supervise exams on behalf of Professor Alpen, this was crossing the line.

Surely Yukbeltire couldn't arbitrarily make him take a different exam?

At her junior's vehement protest, Yukbeltire tilted her head slightly and said.

"This is the exam Professor Knighton designated for you, Wardanaz family junior... What are you talking about?"

"..."

Professor Alpen, who came from a high-ranking imperial official background, was a very diligent person befitting his bureaucrat origins.

Even while hurriedly departing for the capital to help the skull principal, he hadn't forgotten about the disciple taking his lecture.

Moved by that special treatment, Yi-Han sat down in his seat.

"Can I start the exam?"

"Yes..."

  *

Three hours later.

"Full marks."

Yukbeltire said nothing more, gathered the exam papers, and turned to leave.

Yi-Han leaned back in his chair with an expression full of anger, fatigue, and dejection. He was too tired to even curse at the professor.

Jourin stared at Yi-Han, worried about him.

-Yi-Han. Jourin could have solved it for you...-

"...No. No matter what, that's not right."

Yi-Han, who had been tempted, quickly came to his senses.

Of course, although Einroguard's exams were said to be a jungle where all kinds of cheating were allowed as long as you weren't caught, he couldn't have a young royal take the exam for him.

Yi-Han still had some conscience left.

"Ah. I almost forgot."

Yukbeltire, who had left the lounge, opened the door and came back. Yi-Han asked with a puzzled face.

"Did you leave something behind?"

"Wait... Ah. Here it is. You did well on the exam. Amazing, junior."

Yukbeltire took out a small note and read it. Jourin looked at Yukbeltire with a disgusted face.

Where in the world was there someone who praised like that?

But Yi-Han didn't mind at all. Of course, it might seem rude generally, but if you thought of the other as Professor Verduus, it was a bit different.

For Professor Verduus to write a note like that and express thanks was moving!

"Thank you, senior. Please convey my deep gratitude to Senior Direth as well."

"Why Direth? She wasn't involved in this exam."

"Haha. Just because. Oh. Take this back with you. Have it beside you when you study."

Yi-Han put chocolate-melted coffee in a bottle and added a few other snacks to a basket before handing it over.

After Yukbeltire had taken it and left, Jourin tilted her head and asked.

-Yi-Han. Jourin has something she's curious about.-

"What is it?"

-Why is Yukbeltire taking care of Yi-Han when she's a much higher senior? Shouldn't it be the opposite?-

"...!"

Yi-Han was startled by the sharp question.

At this rate of growth, she might become the next emperor if she stayed at Einroguard for a few more months.

"That's..."

-That's?-

"It's like one of Einroguard's mysteries that no one can answer."

-???-

"Well. I need to study. I'll give you this book, so please read it."

Jourin thought Yi-Han seemed to be evading the question, but the fairy tale he handed over was interesting, so she let it go for now.

The story of the great dragon Azirmo was never boring no matter how many times she read it.

Dragons were not only few in number, but most had strong isolationist and bystander tendencies, so surprisingly few names remained.

Among such dragons, Azirmo, who had left his name, could be said to be truly unique.

Jourin firmly resolved to become a great dragon like Azirmo and leave her name in history.

Even though the mean Os had cursed that she would become lazy like other dragons when she grew older...

Tap-

-Yi-Han. Jourin finished reading.-

"Ah. Just a moment. Let me finish writing this and I'll find you a new book."

-Jourin wants an interesting book!-

"There's the Toveris series that Gainando collected. He said he got a rare out-of-print edition by going into the library before, I'll give you that."

-Wow!-

Jourin let out an exclamation mixed with joy. Then she crawled over and watched what Yi-Han was doing.

[...Senior Illeg, I read your letter well. I deeply thank you for passing me in this music magic exam. It was a great help…]

'Hmm. As expected, Yi-Han is indeed taking the midterms early.'

Jourin inwardly nodded and thought.

Yi-Han strangely denied it (she still didn't understand why he did that), but objectively looking at the results, it was proven.

Even now, wasn't he talking about exams to a senior teaching the lecture?

[...Regarding your question about what content should be included in the music magic exam, I think the current exam difficulty is too easy…]

-???-

Jourin opened her eyes wide. Yi-Han, noticing her presence, turned his head to look at Jourin.

"What's the matter, Your Highness?"

-Uh... Yi-Han... What... What kind of letter is that?-

Flustered, Jourin forgot to be polite as usual and asked.

If she hadn't seen wrong, Yi-Han was clearly determining the exam content.

Instead of taking the exam, he was determining the exam content, just what...?

"Ah. Your Highness might not know. It's Senior Illeg."

Yi-Han explained about the 5th year senior from Immortal Phoenix Tower.

He was a bear mixed-blood who wore glasses, a kind senior who was very strong but liked books, and was interested in music magic so he created and conducted a lecture...

"I was lucky to have some achievements in music magic. So the senior passed me in this exam too."

-Yes. Jourin saw that too... But weren't you determining the exam content?-

"Haha. It's not like that. Of course Senior Illeg determines the exam content. I'm just answering as he asked for my opinion."

Yi-Han answered with a smile.

It was a smile as if Jourin was misunderstanding.

But no matter how Jourin thought about it, she felt the current situation was too strange.

Let's say passing the exam early was one thing.

Let's say asking for opinions on exam content from Yi-Han, who was only a 2nd year, was another thing (though that was hard to accept).

...But why on earth was Yi-Han seriously replying to that?

-J-Jourin is confused... Isn't this the professor's job?-

"Your Highness. By the time you reach 5th year, the work you do is about half that of a professor."

Yi-Han shamelessly blurted out a very rude remark, saying there were no 5th years around.

-Jourin wasn't talking about 5th years, but about Yi-Han!-

"Your Highness. This is just advice. Preparing and giving exams is on a different level."

'Is Jourin the strange one?'

Jourin felt dizzy.

Resolving to ask Emperor if this was right when she returned to the capital later, Jourin nodded for now.

-I understand... But Yi-Han seems to be writing the reply too seriously... Why does the difficulty need to be raised?-

"Ah. That seems unavoidable. Music magic is basically in a tricky category that was even discontinued for a while. Moreover, the aptitude of people who can learn it is also greatly affected. To enter into this magic, we have no choice but to set high goals even if it feels somewhat difficult. Otherwise, it would just be a waste of time."

When starting the music magic lecture, Illeg had thoroughly prepared, even building a dedicated magic tower.

That's how difficult it was to enter music magic.

Giving each student a piece of sheet music and setting it as the goal for the year was for a similar reason.

Yi-Han moved his quill without hesitation.

[...The results of the sheet music you distributed last time are truly interesting. While imbuing words or sounds themselves with mana is still difficult, it's quite hopeful that exceptional cases are observed depending on the mage's emotions or immersion. In my opinion, by the time of this exam, one should be able to magically perform the sheet music to some extent. Wouldn't it be truly sad if one practiced with sheet music all year long without gaining any results? For the sake of other seniors as well, I think it would be good if Senior Illeg proceeded strictly…]

Although Yi-Han himself hadn't yet mastered the <Escape to Shadow Fortress> sheet music he received last time, he still had music magic he could perform.

That's why it was possible for him to boldly write in the letter that achievements should be raised even if it meant whipping other seniors.

Yi-Han, who had been writing at length in one stroke, paused for a moment.

'Hmm. Am I writing my opinion too aggressively?'

Come to think of it, the seniors would be taking other lectures too, so they might not be able to devote that much time to just one music magic exam.

Maybe it would be right to give more leeway...

'No. This much is right. This is all for the seniors' sake.'

After firmly shaking off the brief doubt he had, Yi-Han finished the letter.

Jourin watched from the side and thought to herself.

‘Being strict with other mages about magic seems similar to Os!’