Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

As the skull principal vanished into the dawn, the students let out a sigh of relief.

"Just a moment. Isn't he just pretending to disappear and hiding nearby with an invisibility spell?"

"He could be hiding close by! Let's throw a stone, just in case!"

'Looks like the magic academy is ruining the empire's talents.'

Yi-Han looked at his friends who were beginning to fall into conspiracy theories with pity.

"It's a shame about the Immortal Phoenix. There were students caught..."

The students of the Blue Dragon had not been caught and had therefore scored perfectly, but it was not the case for Immortal Phoenix.

Several priests were caught while escaping, which inevitably led to a loss of points.

"The teachings are what's important, not the scores."

Priestess Tijiling said with a devout attitude. Yi-Han was astonished at this.

'Aren't the scores important?'

After all, it's the scores that remain on record.

And the value of teachings depends on the teachings themselves. What value could there be in lessons like these?

'Teachings like "Don't associate with a lich," "Don't trust people blindly," or "Beware of the undead at night" are all that's left.'

"Hmm... Yes, teachings are important."

Yi-Han's response came out strangely late, which puzzled Tijiling.

Why is he responding so late?

"By the way, priests from the empire will be visiting the academy this weekend."

"!"

Yi-Han's face brightened.

When the empire's priests visited the academy, it wasn't just about sharing food and drinks.

Most importantly, it meant a reduction in the challenging teachings of the skull principal.

'The conscience of the empire is improving the academy!'

'Maybe this weekend will be more relaxing.'

Additionally, Yi-Han, who had decided to join as many orders as he could, not just the Presinga Order, was thinking of looking for a new order during their visit.

Considering this...

'Why doesn't the Wardanaz family provide the same support as other noble families?'

Yi-Han grumbled internally.

Look at the Maykin family!

They actively support the Flameng Order, ensuring benefits for their lineage.

Can't they support without belief?

'Complaining is pointless. I'll make my own path.'

Even if his family didn't help, Yi-Han would follow his own path.

Yi-Han looked at Priestess Tijiling.

Intimidated by his charismatic gaze, Tijiling became slightly tense.

"Do you have something to say...?"

"Priestess Tijiling. You seem to have lost weight since I last saw you."

"..."

That's not true?

"It hasn't even been a day; it's impossible for me to have lost weight..."

"You should eat something more now that you’re at the Blue Dragon Tower."

"..."

Thanks to Yi-Han, who would periodically call Tijiling to 'have some tea with meat broth in a pot,' Tijiling had no nutritional problems.

And even if she didn't eat well, it was impossible for someone to lose weight in less than a day.

"Come on. Let's go sit down."

"It's a sin for a priest serving Presinga to indulge in luxurious meals..."

"I see. But if you don't eat, I'll make Gainando fast with you."

"?!"

Gainando, who was clearing the barricade nearby, looked at Yi-Han in shock.

Why am I involved?!

"Priestess...! I get hungry if I miss even a single meal...!"

"..."

Tijiling had no choice but to sit down obediently. Yi-Han nodded with a cold expression, like the skull principal.

"We should get the other priests to sit down as well."

"But the priests here mostly live austerely, so they would consider such a meal sinful," Priestess Tijiling said with a slightly sullen voice.

"Are you saying this because of how I threatened Gainando, Priestess Tijiling?"

"No, that's not it."

Though she denied it, it didn't quite seem true. Gainando, looking puzzled, said, "But our meal is actually quite modest...."

"..."

"..."

Passing students of the Blue Dragon looked at Gainando as if he were mad.

Has this guy already forgotten what a truly modest meal is?

"Everyone might indeed find such a meal burdensome," Yi-Han nodded.

Of course, Yi-Han wasn't doing this because he had surplus ingredients.

Relations with the White Tiger students were beyond repair.

Though relations with the Black Tortoise students were relatively harmonious, misunderstandings about Yi-Han due to baseless rumors spread by the White Tiger students occasionally arose.

But not so with the wise and kind priests of the Immortal Phoenix.

They would not fall for such rumors and would trust Yi-Han.

And more importantly, being treated to a generous meal would surely inspire them to speak well of him to the visiting priests over the weekend.

Whether the Immortal Phoenix students liked it or not, they had to eat. Yi-Han's eyes shone with a ruthless determination.

"Gainando, follow me. You need to help persuade them."

"??"

"..."

Gainando, not understanding why Yi-Han called him, was confused, but Priestess Tijiling realized and was shocked.

Yi-Han brought out the food stored in the pantry.

Buttered, warmed white bread with honey and sweet tree sap for dipping was placed on the table. Pork and beef, either whole roasted, salt-cured, or smoked, were also laid out. Canned fish, thinly sliced, was served on plates.

He also took out a jar of fresh milk 'borrowed' from Professor Uregor's cabin.

He spooned various fruit jams from glass jars into the cold milk, stirring vigorously to make a rare sweet beverage hard to find at the academy.

"You had all this?!"

"Don't ask for me to do this often, because then you won't get it."

'How did he know?!'

Yi-Han smacked the back of Gainando's hand as he reached to grab a piece first, then checked on the soup.

The aroma of the boiling rich broth made the students of the Blue Dragon happy.

"Sharakan."

Yi-Han tossed a piece of meat to Sharakan. Gainando looked on enviously, then averted his eyes when Sharakan growled threateningly at him.

"Almost done. Tell everyone to sit down."

Yi-Han skillfully used the juice from the cooked meat. He stir-fried the vegetables he was growing himself and made a sauce by mixing in flour.

'Not bad.'

Yi-Han tasted it and was impressed with his own talent. Utilizing the meat juice so well...

This would certainly go well with the fresh vegetables from the garden...

'...I should stop thinking about it.'

Strangely, while his magic skills didn't seem to improve quickly, his cooking skills were rapidly advancing.

Yonaire, helping with the preparations, was puzzled by the carrot cupcakes and sweet pumpkin cookies being baked.

"Where did these come from?"

"I made them with produce from the garden."

"..."

"...This isn't particularly professional or difficult cooking. Yonaire. It's easier than you think."

'I didn't say anything...'

Suddenly, Yonaire was taken aback by Yi-Han's defensive demeanor.

"You understand, right?"

"Yes, uh, yes."

Not quite grasping what she was agreeing to, Yonaire nodded, overwhelmed by Yi-Han's forcefulness.

For some reason, it seemed that Yi-Han wanted to assert that he wasn't serious about cooking.

...To Yonaire, however, it seemed quite the opposite…

Though they sat down under duress, the young priests who had fought through the night were moved by the warm meal.

Seeing a student stuff his cheeks full of food, Yi-Han felt a sense of pride.

'No, it's Gainando.'

Upon closer inspection, it was not a student from the Immortal Phoenix, but Gainando.

Fortunately, the Immortal Phoenix students were also enjoying their meal.

The clatter of plates and bowls was the only sound in the air.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family."

"I only did what was needed."

Internally, Yi-Han hoped they would speak well of him to the visiting priests over the weekend, but he did not show it.

Instead, he nodded with the dignity befitting a noble. The young priests were deeply impressed by his demeanor.

"The priests of the order will be visiting the academy this weekend, and I would like to tell them about what Mr. Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family has done."

"Well, I won't stop you if you do."

"But..."

"?"

As the other hesitated, Yi-Han was puzzled.

Why?

'Could it be that the Wardanaz family is blacklisted?'

Given what the head of the family had said about the empire's Religious Orders, it wouldn't be surprising if they disliked the Wardanaz family.

"Then the priest might want to personally thank Mr. Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family... but I was worried you might be too busy. It's the weekend, after all..."

"I'm not busy at all. In fact, I often have too much free time on the weekends."

"Is, is that so?"

The young priests of the Immortal Phoenix were taken aback by Yi-Han's words.

To them, he seemed extremely busy...

Yet, the sincerity in his face made it seem like he wasn't joking or lying.

'Maybe?'

'He must really be that free.'

"Dark magic?"

At Professor Garcia's question, Yi-Han raised his hand.

"Summoning magic?"

He raised his hand again for the next question.

"Illusion magic?"

Again, Yi-Han raised his hand.

He then caught the eyes of the Immortal Phoenix students sitting nearby.

"...I'm not busy at all. Understand?"

"Bu... but you seem so busy."

"Yi-Han... you are busy... you need to cut back."

Not only the Immortal Phoenix students, but also his friends from the Blue Dragon were astounded.

Before the test, Professor Garcia had divided the students according to their interests.

And Yi-Han had entered every category.

It clearly seemed too much.

'Isn't he going to collapse at this rate?'

"From my point of view, you're being too harsh on yourself, Wardanaz."

"Even I think it's a bit much..."

Students from the Black Tortoise and White Tiger joined in the concern.

However, Yi-Han remained unfazed.

"I still have room to spare."

"Yi-Han, you really need to cut back..."

Professor Garcia approached, speaking with a worried tone.

Like the old saying that the most beautiful singing bird dies the fastest, a genius with exceptional talent must be wary of being consumed by it.

"I'm giving this advice based on personal experience, Yi-Han. Exploring every field of magic is a natural destiny for an ambitious young mage with talent and aspiration, but..."

'Every word in that sentence seems to oppose me.'

"It's really hard."

"Did you, Professor, also learn various types of magic at the same time like Yi-Han?"

"I did, once."

"Then maybe Yi-Han can do it too?"

"Uh... well, yes, but..."

Professor Garcia found herself at a loss for words at Gainando's pointed remark.

Oh?

Is that so?

Reflecting on his own arduous journey, he had thought he should dissuade the student from walking the same path...

But then, he wondered if he had the right to do so.

Especially for a naturally talented mage like Yi-Han.

"Um... still, back in my time, there wasn't someone like Professor Bagrak... No, never mind, it's nothing."

Professor Garcia hastily stopped herself, not wanting to speak ill of another professor in front of the students.

However, Yi-Han instantly understood what Professor Garcia was about to say.

"Well, Yi-Han might be better off than I was. Yes, I won't say anymore."

With a gesture as if to encourage, Professor Garcia clenched her fist, shook it, and then walked away.

Yi-Han watched her go, feeling an inexplicable sense of unease, as if he had just missed a final opportunity.