Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

Anglago was eventually dragged out into the corridor.

Grabbed by the collar, Anglago apologized. "Cough, cough... Wardanaz. I'm sorry. I was deceived too."

"If you were deceived, you fool, you should have submitted the assignment as well. You didn't submit it, so how were you deceived?"

Faced with Yi-Han's growling, Anglago thought to himself, 'That's because it's you who could submit it...!'

Anglago truly believed there was no extension. However, Anglago didn't have the ability to hastily create and submit it like Yi-Han.

So he was just hanging out with the White Tiger Tower students, thinking, 'What's the big deal about studying? I have my good friends here, so I'm not worried at all…’

"S-Still, the professor gave a good evaluation."

"It's a relief that the professor evaluated it well. Otherwise, you would have been dragged to the basement instead of the corridor right now."

What Yi-Han had just submitted was generously called courage and quick wit, but if viewed negatively, it was just forcing it.

It ended well because Professor Alpen looked upon it favorably, but if he had viewed it negatively, wouldn't Yi-Han alone have been considered crazy?

Yi-Han shook Anglago's collar a few more times before letting go. Anyway, since the assignment was successful, he ended it at this point.

Otherwise, he would have dragged him to the basement that Professor Boladi had mentioned earlier.

"In the first place, you White Tiger Tower guys are too swayed by false rumors. Do you know? Originally, when you hear a rumor, you shouldn't just blindly believe it..."

"..."

As the price for spreading the false rumor, Anglago had to listen to Yi-Han's suffocating nagging as they re-entered the lecture hall.

Wardanaz could have stopped for a moment to catch his breath, but he poured out the nagging without any rest.

"Are you listening?"

"Oh, yes."

"Knights should originally know about honor and act with gravity, right? But to be swayed by rumors like that. It was the same last time too. Some White Tiger Tower student was spouting nonsense about how I had mastered some evil magic."

'I think there's a basis for that...'

"When you hear such false rumors, as a friend from the same tower, you should firmly cut them off. Got it? Are you listening?"

"Yes, yes. I'm listening."

"Tell me what I just said."

"..."

Anglago vowed never to spread false rumors again.

False rumors could destroy a student's soul.

"Thank you, Wardanaz."

"It's a matter for which I also bear responsibility."

After returning to the lecture hall, Yi-Han helped his friends with their production again.

Considering the amount of coins he had received, he couldn't just leave them be.

"You're talking about your sense of responsibility as the top student of the year."

"No? What nonsense are you..."

"No?"

Asan, who had been touched, scratched his head with an awkward face.

Yonaire, who was assembling a display case for potions next to them, paused for a moment and asked,

"Wait a minute. Come to think of it, when I asked you last time if you were going to try to solve it with just magic, didn't you say no?"

"Gainando. Focus a bit."

Yi-Han changed the subject as if he hadn't heard. Gainando, who had been dozing off with his eyes open while holding a hammer, was startled.

"Oh, how did you know!?"

"..."

Yonaire stared intently from behind. Yi-Han quickly moved his feet.

"What is everyone pondering about?"

Yi-Han tilted his head at the sight of several students gathered and discussing.

Judging by their quite serious expressions as they exchanged words, it seemed they were discussing the assignment.

'It's a good sight.'

Compared to Gainando dozing off earlier, it was a very good sight to see.

Indeed, the primary duty of a student was to study…

"Ah. Mr. Wardanaz."

Nebren and Rowena stopped their conversation and looked at Yi-Han.

Apparently, not only the two of them but also the other students looked familiar. They were the followers of the princess whom he had seen a few times.

"What is it?"

Yi-Han felt a slight sense of unease.

And that unease soon proved to be true.

"We were discussing whether to proceed according to the original plan of the blueprint submitted by Her Highness the Princess or to compromise with the current tight situation."

"..."

'I'd rather have Gainando dozing off.'

Yi-Han looked at his friends with a gaze of contempt and pathetic pity.

Regardless, the princess's followers continued their discussion very seriously.

"Of course we should go with the original plan! Are you doubting Her Highness's abilities?"

"That's right. If we don't submit according to the blueprint that Her Highness has submitted, it will tarnish our honor and pride."

'They're crazy.'

Yi-Han quickly realized.

Even if you submitted a blueprint, you could change it a bit depending on the situation. Changing it wouldn't tarnish any honor or pride.

Then, was Yi-Han, who had omitted most of the contents of the blueprint, a shameless person?

Originally, it's best not to associate with crazy people.

Yi-Han tried to quietly back away.

However, the evil followers of the princess didn't let Yi-Han escape.

"Mr. Wardanaz. What do you think, Mr. Wardanaz?"

"That's right. Please say a word, Mr. Wardanaz."

Yi-Han unconsciously glanced at Gainando.

Unfortunately, Gainando was concentrating very hard. He couldn't escape by finding fault with him.

'Damn it. Focus at normal times.'

"I think you guys can decide among yourselves."

"No. If Mr. Wardanaz says something, even those who oppose will be convinced."

Apparently, the princess's followers preferred to achieve unanimous agreement through peaceful persuasion.

The majority was in favor of 'going with the original plan', but…

Surprisingly, there was one follower who was in their right mind.

A student from the Black Tortoise Tower, alone, was arguing, 'Since the situation has changed, we should compromise.'

'There was a sane person among the followers.'

Yi-Han asked a rude question.

"What's your name?"

"Bol, Bolcat."

"I see. Bolcat. What's your argument?"

"I think it's unreasonable given the time we have now. I respect Her... Her Highness's abilities, but Her Highness also needs to prepare for other exams. I worked as a craftsman in a guild before entering the academy. It's impossible to complete this within the given time."

"Indeed."

Yi-Han admired him.

As expected of a sane person, he was making a reasonable persuasion based on his own experience.

"Bolcat! I respect your abilities and family, but I can't accept you limiting Her Highness's abilities like that!"

"That's right! Her Highness is fully capable of doing it!"

'But the opponents are crazy.'

Yi-Han clicked his tongue inwardly.

Bolcat's sin was that he had associated with that group of lunatics.

Wasn't he suffering like this now because of that sin?

There are people who can be persuaded and people who cannot.

"Hmm. I'm not sure. But if opinions are running parallel like this, it might not be bad to decide by majority vote this time..."

He tried to escape like that, but someone lightly tugged on the end of Yi-Han's coat.

"?"

Yi-Han stopped mid-sentence and turned his head.

The princess was desperately crossing her index fingers under the desk.

"..."

Her face and eyes were expressionless, but desperation was felt in her hand movements.

Even Gainando would have understood the signal there: 'Please help me out!'

As Yi-Han hesitated, Nebren, who had been listening, opened his mouth.

"Anyway, you're saying we should decide by majority vote, right?"

"You're wrong, Nebren."

"Huh? Just now, you said it wouldn't be bad to decide by majority vote..."

"In magic, there is only right and wrong, and majority vote doesn't exist."

"!?"

Yi-Han used his sculptural face to force it.

When he spoke seriously with an expressionless face, the princess's followers missed the timing to say, 'But you said it yourself!'

"Did you see me submit a magic lamp?"

"I-I did see it, but..."

"And you still haven't noticed after seeing that? As expected of Her Highness's followers."

While speaking, Yi-Han was also quickly racking his brain.

What kind of plausible sophistry should he spout to deceive these followers like Gainando?

'I should have pretended not to know.'

But he couldn't just ignore them, considering the hefty sum of coins he had lucratively, or rather, respectfully, received from the Princess.

Even a thieves' guild would give special treatment to a customer who paid that many coins.

Moreover, the princess had an excessively wide network.

If the princess were to go out during the break and casually mention, 'I asked for help, but Wardanaz didn't help me,' it could be exaggerated into false rumors.

Yi-Han, who had suffered from malicious slander throughout the semester due to a minor friction with the White Tiger Tower students, was cautious in this regard.

"Please give us your wisdom, Mr. Wardanaz."

"What have we missed?"

"So... Professor Knighton is also evaluating boldness and quick-thinking in this course. Knowing this, I purposely omitted much of the design in my submission."

"!!"

The princess's followers were surprised.

Indeed, it made sense when they heard it.

Otherwise, there would be no reason for a student like Wardanaz to submit a greatly abbreviated blueprint.

"Do you understand? Originally, Her Highness would have also greatly abbreviated the production to fit the purpose of the lecture. But she was waiting without being able to say it, worried that you guys might be embarrassed."

"That's... that's right!"

"We apologize, Your Highness! We should have noticed!"

'It worked out somehow.'

Yi-Han inwardly let out a sigh of relief.

The princess, surrounded by her followers and receiving apologies, slightly bowed her head to Yi-Han.

It was a gesture of gratitude for helping her escape.

Yi-Han smiled and made a small circle with his fingers.

'Please repay me with coins later.'

Seeing that, the princess slightly widened her eyes.

'Is he saying not to worry about it?!'

Even after providing such help, he was letting it go, saying it was fine. She felt ashamed of herself once again for misunderstanding Wardanaz at the beginning of the semester.

The princess made a small circle with her fingers. It meant she understood.

'Indeed. It's not an empty reputation that she's known as a genius in the empire.'

Yi-Han was pleased.

Unlike Gainando, the princess was quick to understand.

Gratitude is originally best expressed materially in the most intuitive way!

"Hello, Professor."

The divination magic professor, Parsellet Krair, responded to the students entering to take the exam.

"My personality will change to a violent and threatening one in about 30 minutes today, so try not to talk to me if possible."

"...Yes!"

The students recoiled in disgust and kept their distance.

Sometimes they forgot, but the professors at this magic academy were all abnormal without exception.

"Is everyone seated? Then let's start the final exam."

Professor Parsellet waved her staff. Then, letters appeared on the blackboard.

For the divination magic final exam, divine what will appear on the final exam.

"??????"

"Begin."

Professor Parsellet sat down.

Naturally, the students fell into great confusion.

The final exam was happening right now, yet they were told to divine what would appear on the final exam.

It was a strange question, like a snake swallowing itself.

'Still, there are some quick-witted students.'

Professor Parsellet looked around at the students.

There were students who were clutching their heads in confusion, but there were also students deep in thought.

It was evident that they were trying to infer the meaning behind this paradoxical question.

'For a divination mage, it's more important to refrain from divination than to be good at it.'

It sounded paradoxical but it was true.

Being able to glimpse the future even a little had a tremendous addictiveness.

A mage who fell into this pleasure could not last long as a divination mage.

A mage who could last long as a divination mage was one who knew the fear of divination and refrained from it as much as possible.

And the final exam question was a question that taught that very point.

If they hastily attempted divination magic just because the question said to divine, they would fall into an endless loop and be trapped until the exam ended.

'That Wardanaz seems to have noticed too.'

Professor Parsellet looked at Yi-Han.

From the first lecture, he had shown terrifying potential, so even Professor Parsellet, who didn't get too attached to students, couldn't help but pay attention to him.

Indeed, as expected of his potential, the trap hidden in the question…

"?!?"

Professor Parsellet was startled.

Yi-Han was attempting divination magic.

And he kept going without stopping!

'He should be trapped, shouldn’t he?!'