Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

"It's not bad?"

"!?!"

At Yi-Han's words, Nillia was startled and raised her head.

For a moment, she thought her friend was teasing her, but Yi-Han's expression was very serious.

"Sangoria flowers are easy to obtain in seasons other than winter. The Shadow Patrol has relatively more free time in seasons other than winter. You chose well. I was thinking of negotiating with the guilds to have a vacation period and support the mages, but mobilizing the Shadow Patrol seems like a much better method than that."

"No... Why... Are you cra...?"

Nillia wondered if her friend, who even ranked first in the year, had gone mad from excessive labor and training.

To solve the political instability in the southern coast of the Empire, one should use some... what... anyway, some clever methods, so why call the northern hunters?

"Yonaire. Look at this."

"Hey!!"

Nillia screamed.

Yi-Han had called Yonaire instead of looking at it alone.

'This is why they all said not to trust noble brats!'

"What do you think?"

"It's not bad? Mobilizing mages is too expensive, and above all, there's no certainty that it can be done right away."

"That's right. The Shadow Patrol is much more reliable in comparison."

"There might be adaptation issues since the area of activity is different, but will that be okay?"

"If there were such problems, Nillia wouldn't have written it in the first place."

"True."

"...Huh?"

Nillia flinched while listening.

...She had just written it without much thought...

"That's not it."

"Looking at this, it seems I was thinking too much. The most intuitive method is the best method."

"Definitely. I agree too."

"Guys? Guys??"

Whether Nillia called them or not, Yi-Han and Yonaire were absorbed in their own world, complementing Nillia's plan.

"When persuading the local guilds, the hunters might be better."

"When mana becomes rough and spirits become angry, many people feel more uncomfortable if mages visit for no reason."

"..."

Nillia was appalled by her two friends adding things she hadn't even mentioned.

"I've seen it all. Nillia. You truly deserve to rank first in the Maykin family."

"I'm proud that you're my friend."

"But I... didn't do anything..."

At Nillia's words, the two friends smiled knowingly.

"So humble."

"Originally, a drop of humility makes a genius stand out even more."

"But don't be too humble, Nillia. If the first-place is too humble, it's hard for those below."

Nillia was dumbfounded by the brazen words of the year's top student who was always being humble.

She was so dumbfounded that she couldn't retort, and in the meantime, the two friends finished the conversation on their own.

"What happens if it's adopted by the Maykin family?"

"A method this good has a high possibility of actually being tried out. They'll probably call Nillia and ask."

"Indeed. I'm looking forward to the results."

Nillia, who had been listening blankly, whispered like a growling beast.

"...Both of you, help me."

"Us?"

"Will our help be necessary? I don't think we'll be of much help."

"Right."

Nillia unconsciously tried to take out the bow on her waist, but belatedly realized that she had come in attire suitable for a social gathering.

'This outfit is really annoying!'

"It feels really awkward. Am I wearing it right?"

"I'm not sure either. Wow. Wait. Look at Nillia. How did she wear it so perfectly?"

"Nillia has many friends here and there. She probably attends many gatherings, so she's good at wearing these complicated clothes."

"????"

At the sound of Black Tortoise Tower friends chattering and passing by behind her, Nillia sharply turned her head.

'What are these jerks saying?!'

"Huh? Isn't that professor over there?"

Yonaire pointed ahead, looking puzzled.

Yi-Han answered as if asking what she was talking about.

"What are you saying, Yonaire? No, it's not."

"Huh? It's a beaver mixed-blood... right? It's Professor Beavle!"

"It must be someone who looks similar."

Professor Beavle spotted Yi-Han and walked over with a dejected expression.

Yi-Han clicked his tongue blatantly. Yonaire looked at her friend as if dumbfounded.

'You recognized him, didn't you!'

"Professor. What brings you here?"

"Because of an unreasonable order."

Professor Beavle waved his staff with a dejected expression.

Then, the wrinkles caught on a passing student's clothes were smoothed out, and the knots were perfectly tied.

"An unreasonable order?"

"The principal must have told him to come out and help the kids."

Yi-Han guessed it right away.

With the skull principal's personality, there was no way he would let Professor Beavle fool around nearby.

"Why dancing... time... cost... artifact..."

Professor Beavle grumbled and waved his staff. Yi-Han gestured to Yonaire with his eyes.

'Let's get away quickly.'

However, the bored and idle Professor Beavle didn't let Yi-Han go easily.

"Want to try this?"

"What is this?"

"Shoes that make you dance well."

Professor Beavle held out shoes that emanated mana.

Yonaire asked in amazement.

"There's an artifact like that?"

"Shh. Yonaire. If it's a proper artifact, there's no reason to give it to us."

Yi-Han saw through Professor Beavle's true intentions.

Surely, he must have made the artifact because this place was too boring and dull, so the artifact was unlikely to be ordinary and proper.

It probably had something strange or a drawback.

"Have you made an artifact like this before?"

"Why would I make a crappy artifact that makes you dance well?"

'Hmm. It's dangerous as expected.'

No matter how much the shoes made you dance well, it was dangerous to wear an artifact that you couldn't handle.

Just like a person who had never swung a sword would only injure their muscles if they held a sword that allowed them to use ancient swordsmanship, those shoes were likely to be the same.

"What's that?"

Gainando, who arrived late, threw a question.

Yi-Han checked the time and asked.

"Why are you so late?"

"Hehe. I won against three people."

"Did you have a dark magic duel?"

"It was a Mage Cards match!"

Gainando snapped.

After making a new deck, Gainando was literally intoxicated with power.

To the point of pondering to himself if this was what being omnipotent felt like.

"They're shoes that make you dance well."

"Ah. Thank you."

Gainando promptly took Professor Beavle's offer.

Yi-Han frowned and said.

"They look dangerous. Wouldn't it be better to dance without them?"

"I can't. I didn't practice."

Yi-Han didn't say, 'You should have practiced instead of playing cards.'

It felt like he was nagging too much.

"How about making an excuse and leaving?"

"If Mom hears about it, I'll get scolded."

"You should have practiced instead of playing cards."

1 second after making up his mind, words different from his thoughts spilled out of his mouth.

Not only the Blue Dragon Tower students who enjoyed social gatherings, but also students from other towers greatly enjoyed the banquet.

The people of Granden City welcomed them with a soft and pleasant atmosphere instead of suffocating the freshmen with a stiff and formal atmosphere.

Thanks to that, even students who were unfamiliar with such occasions sat and chatted happily and danced.

"Mage. How is life at Einroguard?"

"Uh... um..."

"Hahaha! You seem to be having an amazing time! Well, you're learning at the Empire's best magic academy, so there can't be any complaints! If I could enter and learn there, I would have no regrets."

"..."

Of course, there were occasionally people who hurt the students' feelings, but it wasn't intentional.

'It's not bad?'

Yi-Han was relieved by this atmosphere.

If it was this atmosphere, even Yi-Han, who had little experience with social gatherings, could get through it smoothly...

"Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family. I was truly amazed by the magic you showed against Doin from Baldurguard. Would you like to dance?"

"Ah, yes."

"Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family. I heard Lady Yoanen of the Maykin family praising you. Would you like to dance?"

"...Yes."

"Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family. His Highness Prince Bogajun..."

"The Basilisk..."

"The King of Ghouls..."

"The undead chimera in the cemetery this time..."

"I heard you saved the knights."

Yi-Han felt like it was better when he learned swordsmanship under Arlong or Ingurdel.

At least then, he didn't have to be so nervous about stepping on the other person's feet.

'This is driving me crazy.'

The excuses for dancing at the Imperial Ball were similar to the reasons a drunkard drank alcohol.

If the weather was good, they danced because the weather was good, if the weather was bad, they danced because the weather was bad, if the other person accomplished something, they used that as an excuse to dance again...

And Yi-Han was an excuse in itself just by walking around.

Thud-

Only after dancing to the last excuse could Yi-Han sit on a chair.

'What?'

When Jijel, who was already sitting next to him, stared at him, Yi-Han was puzzled.

"Were there any mistakes in my dancing?"

"No."

"Were there any good requests?"

"No."

"May I ask why you're staring at me?"

"...I heard there's a guy among the freshmen who says he's Gainando of the Moradi family. I'm wondering if you know anything about it."

Jijel spoke coldly. Yi-Han answered immediately.

"I'll give Gainando a stern talking-to. Mistaking his own family, what a ridiculous mistake."

"I heard he has black hair."

"Gainando has been interested in hair color conversion magic lately."

"They say he uses magic better than the second-years."

"Gainando has talent in magic, you know."

"Are you confident you won't meet him for the rest of your life?"

Jijel asked as if threatening.

It meant that she would bring Valgaro from the Alpha family, a second-year senior from the White Tiger Tower, to meet him.

So Yi-Han didn't even blink an eye.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

'I can just avoid him.'

If he was intimidated by such things, he couldn't have survived under the professors.

Even if the lie was exposed later, he had to be able to insist without blinking an eye right now in order to survive as a disciple.

'What kind of jerk is this, really?'

Jijel was at a loss for words.

A descendant of an Imperial high noble family was insisting more brazenly than a street thug, so she had nothing to say.

What the hell was this jerk?

"Wardanaz?"

"Ah. The professor is calling me. I'll get going."

"You rea..."

The one who called Yi-Han was Professor Kirmin Ku, who taught illusion magic.

Professor Ku looked at Yi-Han and blinked.

"Sorry for calling you when you must be having a great time."

"Not at all."

Yi-Han was sincere.

In fact, even if Professor Ku sent him back, he was planning to return to the hall as slowly as possible.

"I called you because I need your help. It seems a bit difficult to do alone."

"Do I need to move some luggage?"

It wouldn't be surprising if there were a few more professors from the magic academy at this place, since even Professor Beavle was here.

If there were any chores, Yi-Han was planning to call Professor Beavle as well.

He couldn't bear to leave a bored professor alone.

"No, no. It's not that..."

"Then what is it?"

"I need to scare the students."

"...????"

For a moment, he thought a crazy professor had finally appeared (it might not be the first time), but Professor Ku was very sane.

"It's an annual event. We surprise the students and see how they respond."

"Why on earth at the ball?"

"Wardanaz. A mage must always be on guard. ...That's what the principal said."

'No wonder the donations aren't coming in.'

Yi-Han realized who the culprit was and sighed inwardly.

"Huh? But do I not have to participate?"

"The principal said to exclude you no matter what?"

"..."