Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

Anglago and the White Tiger Tower students were too ashamed to answer right away.

However, Yi-Han immediately grasped the situation.

"You stupid fools were caught by a monster while skipping the lecture!"

"The, the lecture doesn't matter..."

The White Tiger Tower students were perplexed because it seemed like Wardanaz was angrier about them skipping the lecture.

Clatter!

Suddenly, there was a sound of trees colliding behind them.

Yi-Han clicked his tongue.

The broken wooden puppets had split and new wooden puppets appeared.

'Which professor made these?!'

To be able to increase the numbers like this even after being destroyed.

As a fellow mage, he couldn't help but admire the skill, but as a student taking the lecture, it was a persistence that made his teeth chatter.

Yi-Han took a deep breath.

There weren't many options as long as the ghost tree was behind them.

'Finish it as quickly as possible and deal with the ghost tree!'

Thwack!

'Impressive!'

Anglago admired while hanging upside down.

Although he had many problems with his personality, Wardanaz's swordsmanship was undeniable.

Solid swordsmanship reminiscent of a walking fortress!

The Azure Rock Style that Wardanaz had mastered did not have many forms, nor were its variations complex or peculiar.

Compared to all kinds of complex and abstruse ascending swordsmanship, the Azure Rock Style seemed like a low-level swordsmanship at a glance.

However, conversely speaking, there had to be a good reason for the Azure Rock Style, which did not have many forms or complex variations, to gain fame in the empire.

Although it was a simple swing, there was nothing more powerful than that attack if it couldn't be avoided once unleashed.

The simplest attack is the most powerful.

Only those who could achieve this easy but difficult style with patience and dedication could be called true swordsmen of the Azure Rock Style...

"What are you doing?!"

Anglago shouted, forgetting that he was hanging.

While he was admiring, Yi-Han was using some strange trick.

Suddenly, the length of the wooden sword increased, and the wooden puppet flinched and retreated. It was fine up to that point, but seeing that there was no damage even when it hit...

That was a real trick that deceived the opponent with an illusion, not a real sword.

"Don't talk to me. You'll break my concentration."

"Ah, no... Why are you using such a technique..."

He was admiring the pure swordsmanship just now, but it was a bit of a letdown when he used a strange trick together.

He wanted to see the beautiful Azure Rock Style that was perfectly polished without a single gap...

Of course, Anglago's expectations meant nothing to Yi-Han. Yi-Han generously poured out the tricks he had recently learned and knocked down the wooden puppets.

The wooden puppets couldn't react and crumbled at the sudden tricks that came out of nowhere.

'As expected, tricks are the best.'

Of course, using such sudden tricks against a truly outstanding swordsman would not only be ineffective but also a suicidal act...

In the first place, Yi-Han had no intention of facing a truly outstanding swordsman.

If they were truly outstanding swordsmen, he should avoid them, what else!

"Wardanaz! Be careful!"

Before Anglago's shout ended, Yi-Han had already kicked off from his spot.

Branches shot up from under the spot where Yi-Han had been until just now. It was an attack from the ghost tree.

"Ho, how?!"

"Of course I was on guard."

Yi-Han said while dusting off the dirt.

Fortunately, thanks to quickly finishing off the wooden puppets, he didn't end up in the worst situation of being attacked from both sides.

"With the <Spatial Perception> magic... Wait. You guys didn't use <Spatial Perception> magic?"

"..."

"..."

<Spatial Perception> magic was not only difficult compared to its circle, but it was not a magic that could be wasted like Yi-Han did.

Even if the White Tiger Tower students succeeded, the duration would not easily exceed 10 seconds.

'For a moment, I almost cheered for the ghost tree.'

Swish!

An attack flying from behind.

Yi-Han dodged it by rolling his feet to the side as if he had already anticipated it. The ghost tree made a crying sound as if annoyed.

It realized that the surprise attack didn't work on the opponent.

Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack-!

Branches swung like whips and attacks burst out again.

Yi-Han dodged while keeping his distance. The ghost tree made a mocking sound as he skillfully threw his body and rolled.

-■■■■…-

It seemed to be mocking a warrior with a sword who couldn't even attack, let alone keep his distance.

Yi-Han was slightly taken aback by that mockery.

'Isn't that guy misunderstanding something right now?'

Now was not the time for the ghost tree to be at ease.

Because...

"Burn."

More than a dozen flames bloomed in the air.

They were vicious flames, small in size but containing powerful mana.

He didn't use long-range magic when dealing with the wooden puppets because it was Professor Ingurdel's lecture, but the ghost tree didn't fall into that category.

The moment he gained distance, he planned to immediately chant a spell and cast magic, but it was being leisurely.

Rather, the ghost tree should have rushed in and prevented Yi-Han from gaining distance.

-■■■■!-

Realizing that belatedly, the monster started to rush in a hurry.

But it was already too late.

The flames that Yi-Han had conjured up crackled with a fierce trajectory toward the exposed trunk of the ghost tree.

Splash!

Yi-Han poured a lump of water on the White Tiger Tower students.

He was worried that the fire that had spread to the ghost tree might splash onto the students.

"Are you okay?"

"...There was no need to pour water on us."

The students, who had become like drowned rats, got up with a groan.

It was no ordinary dizziness after being hung upside down and swung back and forth like a pendulum.

"Is everyone alright?"

"!!!"

When they heard Professor Ingurdel's voice from above, the students were startled.

"Why is the professor here?!"

"Wa, Wardanaz. Don't tell me you... sold us out...?!"

"...You crazy fools. You were fooling around at the lecture site."

Yi-Han was dumbfounded.

After all the trouble of saving them...

"We, we have to run away!"

'They're not entirely thoughtless.'

No matter how thoughtless Anglago and his friends were, they at least knew that it wasn't a good idea to face the professor when they had skipped the lecture.

"Forget it. Stay still."

"Why?! Do, don't tell me you're trying to sell us out..."

"...Shut up before I hit you."

In Yi-Han's view, the White Tiger Tower students had fallen into such paranoia because of the skull principal.

He had dropped them into traps at night and made them run here and there...

"This is all a misunderstanding because of the principal."

"The principal? No, it has nothing to do with the principal..."

"Be quiet."

Anglago wanted to say, 'We're suspicious of you because of what you've done, not because of the skull principal,' but he was at a loss for words.

"What is everyone doing?"

Professor Ingurdel, who had come down, looked at the situation and spoke with a puzzled face.

Yi-Han answered as if he felt sorry.

"Anglago and his friends here were caught by a ghost tree. Because of this, they couldn't even participate in the lecture, what a pity..."

"???"

"...Th, that's right!"

Anglago was the quickest to catch on. He belatedly realized and matched his words.

"You were caught by a ghost tree? What were you all doing here?"

"We were practicing swordsmanship in the forest."

"Oh my..."

Professor Ingurdel's expression was filled with emotion.

He knew that the White Tiger Tower students were sincere about swordsmanship, but to this extent.

"Everyone, stay after today's lecture."

"Pardon?"

"You must be very frustrated now. I understand. I will help you not to lose to the ghost tree."

"..."

The White Tiger Tower students stared at Yi-Han, but Yi-Han ignored them and looked over the ghost tree to see if there was anything to salvage.

"Wardanaz..."

"Work hard."

"Our golem repair..."

"You can do that and this. Work hard."

Yi-Han patted Anglago's shoulder. However, the ungrateful Anglago frowned.

"Wardanaz, you did well. You handled the wooden puppets well."

"Thank you."

"Oh. Wardanaz. About the White Wood Knight Order. They said they would visit the school once..."

"What??"

Yi-Han was startled.

The knights' actions always surprised Yi-Han.

When you say 'let's have a meal together sometime,' the knights actually visit for a meal!

"Of course, they need permission, but..."

"It will be difficult, right?"

"...Fortunately, the principal also gave permission this time."

"What??"

"If they were a ragtag bunch, it would be one thing, but the White Wood Knight Order always makes generous donations. It seems to have worked out well."

Professor Ingurdel nodded his head as if his deduction was highly likely.

And this time, Yi-Han's face frowned.

"Why do we have to move this..."

"Blame your friends."

After the lecture ended and while Anglago and his friends were receiving supplementary lessons, Yi-Han moved the lumber together with the White Tiger Tower students.

Anglago had also whined and insisted, 'We finally found it, if we don't take it now, we might not be able to get it later,' but...

'If the golem is repaired, it might be useful.'

At first, it seemed too unlikely, so he didn't pay much attention to it, but now that this many people had gathered, Yi-Han's thoughts gradually changed.

If they had a golem of that level, how convenient would work be?

Now that Einroguard was giving him more and more tasks, that golem would be a reliable helper.

"Yi-Han. I heard about the warehouse. How about searching the warehouse more?"

Dolgyu asked while wiping the sweat from his forehead.

To obtain the materials needed for the golem, they had to search every corner of the school.

The warehouse, which was now piled with junk, might look like a garbage dump at a glance, but if they searched well, they might be able to salvage something good.

Originally, garbage and junk were not much different.

Yi-Han admired.

"Dolgyu. You bastard. Are you trying to take advantage of the White Tiger Tower students being deceived to quickly finish the chores we have to do at night? You're a genius."

"...Ah, no! That's not it?!"

"It's a good idea. White Tiger Tower guys! Let's go! There's a place to get more materials!"

Yi-Han shouted at the White Tiger Tower students who were putting down the lumber.

The White Tiger Tower students were fooled by the atmosphere and mindlessly followed Yi-Han.

Yi-Han was pleased to see that.

Whatever else, this loyal innocence was the strength of the White Tiger Tower students.

'It would be nice if we could finish everything before the weekend.'

If they could do that, he would be able to study leisurely on the weekends to catch up.

Clatter clatter bang bang!

The White Tiger Tower students who had flocked to the warehouse took out the packages one by one, just like last week.

"How much of this garbage is there that there's no end to it?"

"Oh. This is basalt, right? I think we can use it if we trim it?"

"That's monster poop."

"..."

Thud-

"?"

Yi-Han felt something hit his foot and lowered his head.

A heavily rusted bronze handle was connected to the floor door.

"Wait, everyone come here for a moment."

"Wa, Wardanaz. We weren't playing around!"

"...I'm not scolding you, so come quickly."

Yi-Han vowed to treat the White Tiger Tower students a little more gently.

"Have you seen this before?"

"...What?!?"

'They haven't.'

From the reaction of the White Tiger Tower students, Yi-Han realized that this floor door leading underground had never been discovered before.

It must have been discovered as the mountain-like piles of junk were cleared away.

"Th, this... Wardanaz... Isn't this that?? That???"

"What is it?"

Yi-Han asked with a bit of anticipation at the White Tiger Tower student's reaction.

Did they know something by any chance?

"An underground passage created by the seniors that can escape outside...!"

"...It doesn't seem like there would be an underground passage connecting the 2nd floor of Einroguard to outside the school walls."