Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

The senior's specialty might be enhancement magic, but when it came to elemental control and manipulation, Yi-Han honestly didn't think he would lose to a second-year senior.

After all, the second-year senior wouldn't have learned while being beaten by a crazy professor.

"Senior, I think you misunderstood because I passed the test earlier. It's not that I'm weak in elemental manipulation, but I can burn down this entire temple if I lose focus."

"...Oh... I see. Is that so?"

Valgaro thought he understood a little why this first-year junior had no friends.

What kind of crazy bluff was that?

"It's fine. If you're not confident, I'll just do it. I've received advice in many ways, so I should repay it."

"Hey! I said no! I'd rather..."

Before Valgaro could stop him, Yi-Han stepped forward.

"There's no need for this senior to deal with him. I'll handle it."

"Very well."

Otiro didn't back down easily either.

Ignorance was always accompanied by courage.

Otiro didn't know exactly what level the Einroguard students were at.

Seeing that Yi-Han was a junior, and even a junior to Valgaro, he thought it was worth a try.

'I've manipulated fire elements countless times. I won't lose to a young student...'

Modifying a 1st Circle spell to imitate a 4th Circle one wasn't something just anyone could do.

Otiro, who had consistently manipulated fire elements, believed he had a chance of winning if it was a match of flame manipulation, even if his opponent was an Einroguard student.

Whoosh!

...Until dozens of flames instantly floated in the air.

"...I, I was wrong. I committed a sin worthy of death. Please forgive me!"

Otiro immediately prostrated himself.

The moment he saw it, his mind cleared.

Yi-Han, who had been focusing on the flames with an expressionless face, raised his head.

Controlling dozens of flames wasn't particularly difficult, but losing focus and causing the flames to explode was a big problem.

That's why his words were short.

"What did you do wrong?"

"Pardon??"

"Tell me what you did wrong."

Yi-Han focused his mind again on maintaining the power of the flames.

Misunderstanding Yi-Han's furrowed expression, Otiro hurriedly shouted.

"Tr, trying to deceive other mages... I tried to deceive other mages! I'm sorry. As I gained some petty skills, greed arose in me..."

"That... that bastard!"

"How dare he try to deceive us!?"

Naturally, the mages next to them were furious.

Not only had they bet, but they had almost been greatly deceived, so it would be strange not to be angry.

'I guess it's roughly wrapped up?'

As the atmosphere didn't seem like it would be overturned any further, Yi-Han began to dispel the summoned flames one by one.

Being careful not to accidentally detonate them and turn the surroundings into a sea of fire.

"You... you...!"

While the mages surrounded Otiro with grim faces and threw remarks at him one by one, Valgaro looked at Yi-Han with a shocked expression.

If one saw magic like that just now and didn't notice anything, it meant they had no talent as a mage.

'Oops.'

Yi-Han clicked his tongue inwardly.

To definitively subdue the opponent, he had summoned as many flames as possible, but to think he would be caught because of that.

"...You were a genius in fire magic!"

"...Senior, you truly embody the White Tiger Tower."

"Huh? Why are you suddenly praising me?"

Valgaro was embarrassed to suddenly receive praise from his junior.

"I thought there was a problem because you were too nervous when using fire magic earlier... But you just had a timid personality. What a pity."

"Haha."

"But so what! Even if you get very nervous, what's important is your magic skills. I haven't seen anyone among the second-years who can float dozens of flames simultaneously like you."

Valgaro wasn't just praising him. He was genuinely happy.

"I was waiting for a junior like you to enter the tower."

"Pardon?"

"A junior who will trample on the noses of those annoying Blue Dragon Tower bastards!"

"..."

Yi-Han suddenly felt sorry.

"Do you know how arrogant those guys acted just because they're a bit good at magic? Those jerks... Just you wait and see!"

While Valgaro was excitedly chattering away, the mages who had beaten up Otiro came to Yi-Han and thanked him.

"Thank you so much."

"Thanks to you, we avoided being deceived. Just thinking about how we would have been fooled by that scammer makes me dizzy..."

"Wait! Could you be Yi-Han from the Wardanaz family?!"

"?!"

Yi-Han was startled.

A mage he had never met before had guessed his name correctly.

"Is that right? It is, isn't it? I heard it from Lord Zolbabden! You're a first-year student at Einroguard, but you subdued a Basilisk with a single blow!"

"..."

Yi-Han regretted not subduing Zolbabden.

Hearing that, another mage slapped his knee and said,

"Ah! I heard that too! Didn't you win the magic duel against Lord Doin of the Valer family at the Dargard family's residence?"

"He overwhelmed Lord Doin from Baldurguard!"

"Not overwhelmed, but the opponent's mana was exhausted..."

"You exhausted the opponent's mana?"

"..."

Yi-Han didn't know the social circles of Granden City had such a fast rumor transmission speed.

"Uh... Gainando? What are you talking about? You, Gainando of the Moradi family..."

"Oops. I have an urgent appointment. Senior, I'll see you next time!"

Yi-Han grabbed his permit and quickly left the temple.

The gathered mages surrounded Valgaro and bombarded him with questions.

"If you're a student at Einroguard, by any chance..."

"Are you close with that person? Could you possibly arrange a meeting..."

"Ah, move aside! I said move! Junior! Wait a moment! Junior!!"

"Oh? Yi-Han."

Dolgyu waved his hand in delight.

He had accidentally spotted Yi-Han on the main street of Granden City.

However, Yi-Han, who was walking from a distance, looked unusually tired.

"Why is that? You look exhausted?"

"...I had some business to take care of. What have you been up to, Dolgyu?"

"I thought I'd rest well after the semester ended, but I was preparing to work with my friends. Oh, right. You probably don't know. The White Tiger Tower students..."

"They receive missions and carry them out as adventurers to hone their skills in real combat. And they also earn their living expenses on their own, right?"

"How did you know?!"

Dolgyu was surprised.

Usually, noble families hung out with other noble families, and knight families with other knight families, so they didn't know much about each other's lifestyles.

Yi-Han smiled softly and said,

"We're friends, aren't we? Of course I'm interested in how you're doing."

"Yi-Han...!"

Dolgyu was touched.

Among the White Tiger Tower students, there were some narrow-minded guys who said things like, "Dolgyu, don't meet Wardanaz during the break. That guy is dangerous."

He wanted to show those guys Yi-Han's current appearance.

'How can you say that about a friend so full of consideration?'

"So you're trying to register as an adventurer for now?"

"Yeah, something like that."

Dolgyu nodded.

Adventurers who received and solved missions.

At first glance, it might seem like there was no need for qualifications or registration. Couldn't they just find someone who needed a request and make a deal?

However, that was a method that only worked in the lawless zones far from the empire now, and such half-baked methods didn't work in the empire's major cities.

The Imperial Adventurers' Guild took charge of management and mediation to prevent unnecessary friction or disputes.

Adventurers registered at the guild after verifying their identities, and clients entrusted silver and gold coins to the guild to guarantee their credibility. It was quite a systematic method.

"I borrowed equipment from someone I know, and other friends are also introducing places that sell equipment cheaply, so they're getting it fitted now..."

Before he could finish his sentence, a group of White Tiger Tower students in full armor appeared from the opposite side.

Although there were some scratches or rusted parts, there seemed to be no significant problems with the performance. They must have been introduced to a decent place through the connections of the knight order or knight families.

"Wa, Wardanaz!"

"Yeah."

"...Wait! Don't misunderstand!"

"What should I not misunderstand?"

Yi-Han was puzzled when the White Tiger Tower students trembled in panic.

After all, Yi-Han hadn't really done anything at the moment.

"The debt... I'll pay it back by earning money!"

"Ye, yeah! I borrowed half of this on credit too! Don't misunderstand! I didn't spend the silver coins I have to pay you back first!"

'Ah.'

Only then did Yi-Han understand the situation.

Unlike the generally wealthy Blue Dragon Tower students or some Black Tortoise Tower students from wealthy merchant families, the White Tiger Tower students didn't have very thick wallets.

There were only a few wealthy knight families, and students from other knight families had no silver coins to spend unless they earned their living expenses themselves.

Lodging and meals could be solved through connections, but they had to handle everything else directly, so it was natural for them to prepare like this.

"Yeah, it's fine."

"You've already made a contract, so even if you beat us to death, there's no way money will come out... Huh? You said it's fine?"

"Yeah, I said it's fine."

At Yi-Han's words, the White Tiger Tower students hesitated.

"Re... really?"

"Yeah."

"Is it really okay if we pay you back by earning money? You won't go to the knight order and leave a message insulting our family's name if we pay you back late..."

"It's a creative method. But I won't do that."

"Then, will you send a letter to our family..."

Yi-Han, who had grown tired of it, raised his staff. The White Tiger Tower students shrunk back.

"I said it's fine, didn't I?"

"I, I see. Thank you."

One of the White Tiger Tower students, who had been watching the situation, cautiously said,

"Then, we... well... have to go to the Adventurers' Guild to register."

"Let's go in together."

"Huh?"

"I said, let's go in together. I came to register too."

"..."

"...Why??"

"To gather silver coins."

Yi-Han answered, but none of the White Tiger Tower students believed those words.

'He's probably doing that to maintain his real combat sense, right?'

'That must be it. How can a guy be more belligerent than a knight?'

'I told you, he's crazy about magic!'

"Come on, everyone, don't just stand there. Let's go in."

Dolgyu urged his friends.

The White Tiger Tower students didn't want to leave Yi-Han behind, but they had no choice but to open the door of the Adventurers' Guild and enter.

The Adventurers' Guild didn't have a particularly special atmosphere. Rather, it was quieter and more businesslike than other buildings.

Except for the people in various outfits sitting and waiting quietly, it was hard to tell that this was the Adventurers' Guild.

Bang!

"Einroguard first-year, Anglago of the Alpha family, confirmed. We look forward to your achievements."

Bang!

"Einroguard first-year, Dukma of the Jay family, confirmed. We look forward to your achievements."

The adventurer registration proceeded much faster than expected.

It was natural, as they had a clear identity as Einroguard students and they all had family backgrounds.

The clerk stamped without even looking and held out the permit and medal.

"Einroguard first-year, Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family."

"Yes."

"..."

The clerk paused for a moment, then raised his head and looked at Yi-Han. He had a very perplexed expression.

"Are you planning to work together with your friends?"

"Pardon? If it's a job we can do together, I think we'll do it together."

"The missions are unlikely to be dangerous, but basically, there is a possibility of getting injured. Please take that into consideration."

"I understand."

Yi-Han understood the clerk's concern.

There must have been nobles who had nothing to do and were bored, so they came to try an adventure.

It would be fortunate if it ended there, but usually, such nobles were highly likely to complain, "How dare you push me into this hellhole of a job!" if they got hurt.

"But really..."

"Clerk, Wardanaz... no, you don't need to worry about Wardanaz like that."

"That's right. He really has the ability to protect himself from cra... danger."

"We guarantee it."

"????"

When the knight family students spoke in unison, the clerk became even more confused.

Just who was this student?