Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

"No, isn't it obviously important?" Yi-Han spoke with a serious expression.

Until now, the junior who had been polite no matter what Ogoldos said suddenly became serious, making Ogoldos feel like he had made a huge mistake for some reason.

"Is... Is that so?"

By Ogoldos's standards, wouldn't it be better to enter Einroguard late?

Even if he entered early, the skull principal would only harass him more.

"Ah. Is it because of the punishment room? Of course, I understand that you, as a 1st-year student, fear the punishment room more than necessary, but as you attend Einroguard for a long time, you'll get used to the punishment room too. The punishment room isn't as bad as you think. When you get used to it, it can be more comfortable than the dormitory at times."

1st-year students tended to fear the punishment room more than necessary, but that was all a trick of the skull principal.

If you fear the punishment room too much, you can't survive in Einroguard.

"I've been to the punishment room a few times. What I was worried about was missing lectures."

"..."

"I guess it can't be helped, senior."

"Ye, yes?"

"Please help me study a bit."

When Yi-Han took out a book, Ogoldos was shocked.

'Crazy bastard...'

Ogoldos trembled at the sight of a junior who was worrying about his 2nd-semester grades first while being trapped with the King of Ghouls in the depths of the undead realm.

He had seen many people who seemed crazy at school, but that wasn't crazy.

The truly crazy person was here in front of Ogoldos.

"How many days do you think have passed?"

"Well. It's often hard to trust your sense of time in other realms. A week?"

"We should be able to catch up in about a week, right?"

"It's enough for someone like you."

"What do you mean enough! Don't say it so easily!"

Yi-Han suddenly got angry.

And then he immediately apologized.

"I'm sorry, senior. I shouldn't have gotten angry at you."

"Ah, no. I'm fine."

Ogoldos inwardly shook his head at the sight of the junior, who had been polite no matter what insulting words he heard in other aspects, becoming very sharp when it came to lectures.

What kind of 1st-year students did Einroguard accept?

"So, senior. Going back to bone element magic..."

At first glance, bone element magic seemed to have less potential for development compared to other elemental magic, but this was also a type of magic that could be delved into as deeply as one wanted if explored deeply.

Basically, in addition to summoning bones to shoot or bind the opponent, there were many aspects related to alchemy or enchantment magic, such as strengthening, transforming, and fusing the bones themselves.

"One of the characteristics of bone element magic is that the more pre-preparation you do, the stronger it becomes, right?"

"That's right."

If the bones themselves were pre-strengthened with curses, poisons, or dark elements, the power of the magic itself would be greatly amplified.

"You can think of bone element magic as magic that deals with corpses. The core of a corpse is ultimately the bones. A mage who has mastered bone element magic can create a monster capable of facing several imperial knights with just one skinny corpse."

"Yes. What I'm curious about is that I want to pre-infuse the bones with cold curses, paralytic poisons, and dark elements, but the bones can't withstand it. Is there a way?"

"..."

Ogoldos wanted to cry at the sight of the junior asking a question that even 4th-year Direth would say, "Wait, let me call the professor," so naturally.

The most distressing thing was that the junior was asking purely without any malice.

"I... I don't know much about that."

"Is that so? That's a shame."

Yi-Han turned the page with disappointment.

Ogoldos glanced at the page.

The dark magic book clearly stated, "Bones can be strengthened with additional magic," not "Let's try strengthening them with cold curses, paralytic poisons, and dark elements."

'Could it be that if I tell this guy to summon an undead, he'll summon a bone dragon?'

"Senior."

"Ye, yes?"

Now, when Yi-Han called him, he became a little scared.

"This bone element magic can be combined to strengthen summoned undead, right?"

"That's right."

Putting additional bone armor on summoned undead or giving them weapons was the most basic method, and skilled mages often strengthened them in various ways, such as with blood, poison, flesh, and spirit bodies.

"I'd like to see and learn how you do it, senior..."

"...Wait. I think I need to search this place a bit more."

Ogoldos hurriedly got up from his seat.

When he saw Yi-Han combining skeleton warriors into one before, there was a high possibility that he would be very disappointed if he saw Ogoldos's undead summons.

"Are you going to search again? Aren't you pushing yourself too hard?"

"What's so hard about this? Don't worry."

When Ogoldos got up from his seat, Yi-Han closed the book with disappointment.

'I should read another book while he's searching.'

Yi-Han took out <Basic Lightning Element Magic and Its Applications> and studied how to increase the power of lightning element magic.

Contrary to Ferkuntra's claim that "lightning element has the most powerful strength among elements," he had recently felt a lack of power frequently.

"...Are you planning to be trapped here for the rest of your life?" The King of Ghouls asked.

"The more you condense lightning... I don't understand. I think I've condensed it quite a bit. Do I need to condense it more here?"

"...You must also feel it. The fear rising from within your heart." He continued to goad Yi-Han.

"Next page... No. Shape transformation?"

Yi-Han was amazed.

Contrary to the misconception many mages have, shape transformation of lightning elements is not impossible. Of course, I won't deny that the difficulty level is higher than other elements. The most common mistake novice mages make is attempting shape transformation of lightning elements poorly and running out of mana...

Professor Boladi was a really kind person in his books. Instead of forcing difficult magic, he advised to solidly build the foundations.

While reading the book, Yi-Han suddenly fell into doubt.

'How can a person like this be like that to me?'

Anyway, shape transformation of lightning elements was theoretically about strongly compressing lightning with mana to give it mass and then transforming its shape like other elements.

Considering the mana consumption and difficulty level, it was understandable that mages didn't perform shape transformation with lightning elements.

Magic was a miracle of omnipotence, but mages were always those who pursued efficiency.

"Don't deny it. Your fear! You must also feel it!" The voice didn’t stop

"Like this... Oops."

Bzzt!

"It's harder than I thought."

The lightning that lost control flew towards the King of Ghouls. Yi-Han licked his lips and concentrated again.

Since it was written in the book, there was a high possibility that Professor Boladi would come out saying "Do it or die" during the 2nd semester.

"Do you think it will change if you pretend you didn't hear me!"

"Hm?"

Yi-Han put down his staff and turned his gaze.

"Ah. Sorry. I was unconsciously ignoring you because you were so noisy. Okay. Why did you call me?"

Although he was the King of Ghouls who had cut off the breath and brought countless enemies to their knees in the undead realm, he had never met anyone who gave him a sense of humiliation like this young mage.

The King of Ghouls was suffocating with anger.

"Fear! You will! Be trapped here for the rest of your life! Let's compromise now..."

"Are you still saying that?"

Yi-Han looked at the King of Ghouls as if it was absurd.

"I think you're misunderstanding something, but my situation is different from yours."

"What's different?"

"If I stay here quietly, there are people who will come to take me away."

It was "take away," not "rescue," but the King of Ghouls didn't notice due to his anger.

"That's your misconception. Does my palace look that ridiculous to you? This palace located in the depths of the realm is absolutely not easy to..."

'He's full of bluster.'

Although the King of Ghouls was speaking sincerely, it didn't resonate with Yi-Han.

Honestly, the skull principal seemed stronger.

If Professor Mortum couldn't find him, he would tell the skull principal, and if the skull principal heard, he would come to find him on his own.

And the punishment room...

"Thinking about it makes me angry."

Yi-Han threw the snack wrapper he was holding at the King of Ghouls.

Come to think of it, wasn't this mess caused by this bastard sitting on the throne without any tact?

If it weren't for this bastard, he could have peacefully explored the palace and sold it for a high price...

"You're finally revealing your true colors. I know you're also anxious!"

"Think whatever you want."

"Compromise. Let's compromise. Stop denying it!"

"The compromise is to offer you to the principal and negotiate how many days to reduce from the punishment room... Ah. Wait."

Yi-Han suddenly became curious.

The King of Ghouls had nothing to offer Yi-Han right now.

What was he trying to do?

"Hmm. Tell me. What kind of compromise do you want?"

"Of course, it's to undo this magic circle."

Thinking that Yi-Han was finally interested, the king's voice became soft and cunning.

Although he didn't use it often after gaining power, the King of Ghouls was a being who could show such cunning schemes whenever necessary.

"Why would I trust you?"

"Of course, you would think that. But think carefully. If we keep arguing like that, we'll only run parallel lines forever. If you don't want to be trapped here for an infinite amount of time, you have to trust me to some extent. Of course, it won't be easy to just trust me. I swear on my honor as a king. Even if I get out of here, I will never touch you!"

'Even Gainando wouldn't fall for such trickery.'

Yi-Han looked at the King of Ghouls as if he was pathetic.

What meaning would there be in putting his honor as a king on the line? From what he said earlier, it didn't seem like he had much of it anyway.

Yi-Han was also someone who could put anything on the line if necessary, starting from his honor as the top student of the year to his family's honor, so it didn't resonate with him at all.

However...

"That, that's..."

Yi-Han pretended to seriously consider it for now.

There was something he wanted to ask.

"Really?"

"Yes!"

"But it's hard to believe..."

"Believe me!"

"Then if you show a little more sincerity, I might be able to believe you."

"What is it?"

"Are there any more treasures left here?"

“...”

The King of Ghouls instinctively felt uneasy, but he intentionally ignored it due to his impatience.

"Are you hiding them? Even after saying we should trust each other?"

"...Fine. I'll tell you one."

"Yes. That's a good idea. I'm starting to trust you."

'Hmm. But I need to find something.'

Ogoldos carefully read the patterns on the wall. If he had known this would happen, he regretted not taking more ancient language lectures at Einroguard.

'The professor said that all studying would be useful someday, and it turned out to be true.'

"Senior!"

"I, I'm looking for it now! Just wait a little longer!"

Ogoldos shouted hurriedly.

He suddenly became scared, not knowing what Yi-Han would ask while studying dark magic.

"Let's search behind the third pillar from the left."

"What?"

Ogoldos was startled.

"Why?"

"I heard it from the King of Ghouls."

"That... Wait. Did you have a conversation? While I was gone?!"

Ogoldos was surprised.

Having a long conversation with a powerful being from another realm was not a good thing.

In the case of an inexperienced and young mage, they could be deceived by the other party and make a huge mistake.

Although the King of Ghouls was trapped in a magic circle, he was still a dangerous beast. Rather, being trapped inside could make him even more dangerous.

He would try to persuade more desperately...

“...But you should be fine.”

'Didn't this person's answer come out a bit late just now?'

Yi-Han looked at Ogoldos with a suspicious gaze.

It seemed like he had unnecessary thoughts...