Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

Yi-Han's summoned flames mesmerized more than just Valgaro. Other fire mages also murmured in astonishment.

"Who is that mage? I've never seen him before."

"He's definitely no ordinary mage!"

Flustered by their gazes, Valgaro whispered, "Hey! I told you it's not good for other mages to know you're from Einroguard!"

"I apologize. I failed to control it properly."

"Artifacts aren't almighty. Keep that in mind. Relying on them too much won't do you any good."

Valgaro spoke with the reassuring air of a second-year senior. Of course, when Yi-Han said he failed to control it, he meant something slightly different.

'Fire magic is still difficult.'

Due to his innate mana capacity, even a moment's lapse in concentration would cause the flames to explode and scatter in all directions. As such, Yi-Han typically used fire magic by narrowing its range as much as possible.

While others would grow the flames to create arrows, spears, or shields, Yi-Han fixed his in the form of a small flame. However, its firepower was by no means weak.

Summoned with his immense mana, the flame possessed destructive power capable of piercing through considerable fire resistance. In fact, the straw doll, which had withstood other magic quite well, was now burning away.

'I tried to weaken the firepower a bit, but is it too much to handle?'

He had attempted to adjust the intensity of the flames, but it wasn't easy at all. After all, it required forcibly reducing the amount of mana used when casting...

Considering how others struggled to squeeze out their mana to strengthen their spells, it was a rather absurd concern.

As the straw doll began to burn, a peculiar wave of mana spread out. This mana wave gently and warmly enveloped the people in the temple. It felt almost like a blessing, with not a hint of malice.

"How is it? Do you feel like misfortune and bad luck are disappearing?"

"It seems so."

"You'll have strangely good luck for a day or two. Since you burned a lot, it might last even longer for you."

'Oh.'

Yi-Han brightened at his senior's words. If this blessing had such an effect, it was truly what Yi-Han needed.

'If it's true, I should receive it before the second semester starts.'

"Now, everyone, please come this way. I will explain the safety rules."

The temple's priests called the mages to gather. Yi-Han moved without much thought. However, that was a mistake.

"..."

"Unfortunately, you're disqualified."

"Ugh!"

The mage at the front of the line stomped his foot in frustration because, instead of lighting the candle, sparks had flown to the side.

Seeing this, Yi-Han asked in confusion, "Weren't we supposed to listen to the safety rules?"

"You listen while doing it. You remember better by directly experiencing it than just listening, don't you?"

'This is why knight family guys are...'

Obtaining the temple's permit was not as easy as he had thought. The priests strictly judged whether one could control the flames without spreading them to the surroundings in various situations.

Watching this, Yi-Han tensed up, his face stiffening. It was his greatest weakness.

'If I lose focus, this temple will become a sea of fire.'

"Hey, what's wrong with you? It's not that difficult. It's something other mages should be nervous about, but we Einroguard students have no reason to be anxious."

Valgaro spoke as if it were absurd. The priests weren't interested in the power, speed, or complex techniques of fire magic. They only cared about whether one could control their fire magic or not.

Unless one was self-taught, it was an extremely easy and fundamental task for a mage educated at Einroguard. However, Yi-Han didn't relax his expression and focused intensely.

Seeing this, Valgaro thought to himself, 'Is he not confident in fire magic?'

Indeed, quite a few students in the White Tiger Tower lacked confidence in magic. Valgaro felt he should encourage his junior.

"Gainando, don't worry too much. Magic isn't everything. You'll get used to it over time. Don't be impatient even if students from other towers do better than you. Understand?"

"Uh... thank you?"

Fortunately, Yi-Han succeeded without incident. The flames precisely floated in the air and set fire to the targets with pinpoint accuracy.

Valgaro, who had passed earlier, applauded and cheered for his junior. "Well done! Well done! What, you're pretty good!"

"Thank you."

Not only Valgaro but also the priests of the Aphar Order approached Yi-Han. The priests looked at Yi-Han and said, "Wow..."

"Thank you, priests! Thank you for always guiding me!"

Yi-Han spoke first to prevent the priests from saying anything unnecessary. "If the priests hadn't helped me, I wouldn't have been able to refine my fire magic to this extent."

"We didn't expect you to say that much..."

The priests were deeply moved by Yi-Han's sincere gratitude. "The temple's doors are always open, so please come and visit. You're always welcome if it's to control fire."

"...Uh..."

Yi-Han hesitated. Of course, he had no intention of not studying during the break, but he didn't want to add to his schedule from the start.

"That..."

"Perhaps..."

"I will definitely visit. Thank you."

Before the priest could say anything unnecessary, Yi-Han put his foot down. Although he felt uneasy about adding to his schedule, he had no choice.

Seeing this from the side, Valgaro looked at Yi-Han suspiciously. "You..."

'Did he find out?'

Yi-Han tensed up, thinking his identity as a non-White Tiger Tower student might have been exposed.

"You like studying magic, don't you?"

"...Yes!"

"That's unusual. But why is your skill... Oh, no. That's not what's important."

"If I lack skill, shouldn't I put in more effort?"

Valgaro nodded at his junior's words. He was a truly diligent fellow. It was a pity his magic skills didn't keep up...

"Let's go. I should treat you to a meal."

"Uh... no. It's okay."

Although Yi-Han liked freebies, it was a matter of conscience to accept a meal from someone from a smaller family than his own.

"No! When other White Tiger Tower guys treat you like that, as a knight and as your senior in the White Tiger Tower, I have a responsibility to treat you to a meal."

"..."

Yi-Han pondered when to slip away.

Crackle...

"?"

Looking to the side, he saw the city's mages who had received their permits gathering in the temple and casting magic instead of leaving.

"Flames, gather in the form of a ring!"

A ring of fire rose into the air. Yi-Han immediately understood the principle behind it. It was closer to somehow modifying a 1st Circle spell to create a ring shape. Although precarious and unstable, as long as the goal was achieved, the magic could be considered successful.

'It's quite clumsy, though.'

"Oh... Oh my! To succeed in creating a ring of fire!!!"

"This is unbelievable! This is unbelievable!"

"Hahaha! Everyone, hand over the silver coins! Didn't I say I could do it!"

"..."

"..."

Yi-Han and Valgaro simultaneously lost their words and stared at the mages. The mage who had won the bet boasted with the most arrogant expression in the world.

"What did I say? Didn't I say I could easily succeed with a 4th Circle spell?"

"Wasn't it different last time? When did your skills improve so much?"

"Deep contemplation and enlightenment. That's all there is to it."

Yi-Han inwardly lamented. Mages who hadn't learned systematically under a mentor had very uneven knowledge of magic. To the extent of mistaking the modified form of a 1st Circle fire spell right in front of them for a 4th Circle spell.

'I understand why Einroguard students are welcomed.'

Magic was already a rare profession, and a considerable number of them were likely such mages. It made sense that people preferred graduates of the Imperial Magic Academy.

"Senior, let's g... No. Where are you going?"

Yi-Han was startled. Valgaro was striding toward the mages, not the temple door.

"We can't leave that fraud alone."

"Wait, senior. Didn't you say it would be troublesome if it's revealed that we're from Einroguard to other mages?"

He had said it wouldn't be good for other mages to know they were from Einroguard, yet he was charging in himself. However, Valgaro spoke seriously.

"But that guy is deceiving other mages, isn't he?"

"...Indeed, senior, you embody the spirit of the White Tiger Tower."

Valgaro became embarrassed by his junior's praise. "W-Well, I don't think it's to that extent."

Otiro, the mage, was a mage from a thieves' guild. By chance, he had obtained a grimoire on fire magic and succeeded in learning magic by bribing a retired mercenary mage...

But his subsequent achievements were not easy. So Otiro changed direction. To use the magic he had learned in a more beneficial way!

"Now, it's not too late for you all either. You can reach the same realm as me. If you pay a small amount of silver coins, as a fellow mage and out of camaraderie, I will teach..."

"Cut the crap!"

Valgaro growled and moved forward. As a young mage approached with a fierce expression, the gathered mages were startled.

"What did you say?"

"To think you'd try to deceive other mages with a mere modification of a 1st Circle spell. And you still call yourself one who walks the path of magic?"

'This is bad.'

Yi-Han sensed an ominous feeling from the other party's expression. The guy who should have been flustered was calmly maintaining his composure. He definitely had something up his sleeve.

"I don't know what you're talking about. My magic is 1st C... Then are you saying the eyes of all the mages here are wrong?"

"Don't try any nonsense."

Valgaro had already realized what the other party was trying to do. Without hesitation, he lowered his coat to reveal the Einroguard emblem.

"I am a student of Einroguard. As a student of Einroguard, I claim your magic is a trick!"

"A student of Einroguard?"

Otiro's eyes trembled with surprise but quickly settled down. "Indeed. You have the qualifications to say such things. However..."

Otiro also raised his coat. A familiar pattern was revealed. ...It was the emblem of Baldurguard.

'What the...'

While Yi-Han was dumbfounded, Valgaro also seemed startled.

"I graduated from Baldurguard."

"What nonsense! It's fake! Where did you get that fake from!"

"Ha... stop it. As a student, it's understandable that your eyes are still inexperienced and you make mistakes. I understand. I was like that too."

The other party was definitely a step ahead of Valgaro. Even if the emblem was fake, the other mages had no ability to tell, and above all, Valgaro was inferior in eloquence.

'Should I step in?'

He thought he should help a bit since they were from the same school, but Valgaro took the lead first.

"It's a duel, you bastard!"

"..."

"..."

"Draw your weapon! If you don't, I'll attack!"

'Is he really crazy?'

To request a duel inside the temple. Yi-Han could only admire Valgaro. Naturally, the priests rushed over.

"You can't duel here!"

"Fine! Follow me outside!"

"W-What kind of barbaric..."

"Calm down, everyone. We can settle it with magic, can't we?"

The mages and priests tried to stop the two. In the end, Valgaro had no choice but to yield. "Fine. Let's settle it with magic."

Valgaro didn't seem to think he would lose to such a fraud. But there was no such thing as absolute in this world.

"If it's a competition... how about we compete in flame control?"

A priest spoke up to mediate. It was one of the games fire mages often played, where they summoned flames and tried to shoot down each other's.

It was a simple game, but quite profound if delved into. One had to move faster and more precisely than the opponent's flames to catch their tail.

"..."

Valgaro's face turned pale. Yi-Han was puzzled. "Why are you like that? Don't tell me..."

"...I specialize in enchantment magic."

"..."

Yi-Han clicked his tongue in pity, seeing his senior frozen. "Then I will do it."

"What?"

Valgaro raised his head. "You?"

"Yes."

"No. It's impossible with your skills!"

"..."

Yi-Han was momentarily startled.