Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

However, ominous premonitions always turned out to be accurate.

"That's right? How did you know?"

"..."

Yi-Han, who had gone to ask Professor Uregor just in case, was dumbfounded.

If it were Professor Bagrak, he wouldn't have been so surprised.

There was already a precedent in the 1st semester.

Even if it were Professor Ingurdel, he would have understood, but for even Professor Uregor to do this!

"Why are outsiders needed to learn alchemy?"

"Well, the world of alchemy is vast and endless... There is a need to learn not only the secret methods recorded in Einroguard but also the secret methods of other alchemists?"

Professor Uregor asked back as if asking why he was asking something so obvious.

Yi-Han had nothing to say to that answer.

'Well, that's true.'

It was something he felt while working at the workshop during the vacation, but magic was endless in any field.

Just in alchemy alone, there were secret methods and manufacturing methods that Workshop A had professionally developed, and there were spells that only Guild B used.

If they could learn these, it was right to invite anyone from outside.

"I'm sorry, Professor. I think I had a prejudice because other evil people kept inviting outsiders and forcing them to duel."

Yi-Han apologized sincerely.

Then Uregor avoided his gaze with a slightly embarrassed expression.

"...Professor??"

"Uh... To say it in advance, I didn't invite outsiders because I wanted to torment you like the principal."

"I said evil people, not the principal..."

"But to say it as a result, it is a duel."

"..."

When Yi-Han stared at him, Professor Uregor hurriedly continued.

"It's not because I wanted to!"

"Yes, well... The principal also often says that..."

"Alchemists are eccentric! Do you think you can just learn secret methods without any price? Even if Einroguard's name is high, that's not it!"

In fact, not only alchemists but all mages were eccentric in their own way.

However, it was human nature to see the crazy people in one's own field as the craziest.

The imperial alchemists that Uregor invited this time were not easy people who could be persuaded with money, honor, or even the skull principal's threats.

The only way to obtain secret methods from them was to directly convince them with skill.

"In the end, it's a duel, isn't it?"

"That's true, but strictly speaking, it's a bit different from other professors..."

"But it still seems like a duel."

Professor Uregor cursed Yi-Han inwardly.

Not long after, Professor Uregor announced the truth in the alchemy lecture.

-Inviting the alchemists from the Empire's Paragranum Guild today will be a very precious opportunity for you all.-

-The Paragranum Guild!! Is it the guild that developed a cure for the blue blood disease 2 years ago?-

-That's right.-

-It's truly an honor!-

-Yes. It would be, right? So everyone, work hard and give them a blow.-

-Pardon?-

The students didn't understand at first.

It wasn't even the exam period, but they had to show something to the renowned alchemists of the empire and be recognized for their skills.

They had been diligently learning alchemy since the start of the 2nd semester, so what kind of bolt from the blue was this?

-Can't we just take an exam?-

-You'll take an exam during the midterms, so why already?-

-If we don't get recognized, it won't be included in the lecture evaluation, right?-

-How could that be?-

The students who chose the alchemy lecture had to walk out with a gloomy expression.

In fact, it wasn't just the students taking the alchemy lecture who were gloomy. Students taking other lectures were similarly gloomy.

As the 2nd semester passed for more than 2 weeks, the professors slowly started to reveal their true colors and raise the difficulty level.

The majority of students denied it in disbelief, but the professors in the 1st semester had indeed kindly taught the new students in consideration of them.

"Who are you looking for?"

"Ah. Priest Nigisor."

Yi-Han looked around and waved when he spotted the fire spirit mixed-blood priest.

"I was thinking of asking the kids from the Blue Dragon Tower who are taking alchemy what they're going to do. I talked for a bit and came out, but they already disappeared."

"Ah... The Blue Dragon Tower people went back earlier. I heard them say that if they stand, their stomachs will empty quickly, so they'll go back and lie down."

"That's a funny joke."

"?"

"...It wasn't a joke… I should go to the dormitory."

Yi-Han thought he should stop by the Immortal Phoenix Tower to grab some snacks before visiting.

And Priest Nigisor followed Yi-Han closely.

"Uh, do you have something to say?"

"Ah. It's my turn to act together this time."

"...Al, alright then."

Yi-Han packed his bags together with Priest Nigisor and headed to the Blue Dragon Tower.

During the walk, Priest Nigisor asked for help in creating flames that could burn the world, and Yi-Han ignored him, pretending not to hear.

Asan Dargard was lying in the lounge, staring blankly at his friends and writing with a quill.

[Before I knew it, the third weekend of the 2nd semester was approaching. If I finish today's assignment, I plan to eat a piece of bread I had been saving.]

[At first, I thought it was the principal's plot that the semester started without Wardanaz. I thought the principal couldn't stand to see us living comfortably and play tricks.]

[But I didn't know. When faced with cruel despair, one can discover their true self.]

[Now, the Blue Dragon Tower is filled with the intense passion and fighting spirit of a sharply honed life. Ah! The nobles of the empire will never know this true life…]

In front, they were arguing over a single potato in a game of chess, but Asan pretended not to see.

[Perhaps this is the real li…]

"Dargard. Yi-Han is calling."

"Why are you telling me that now?!"

Asan threw the book he was holding on the floor and ran out in a hurry.

The Blue Dragon Tower students taking alchemy had already gathered outside.

"Still, everyone taking alchemy looks a bit better."

Having talent in alchemy meant knowing how to find edible things among the plants spread around.

Even if the Blue Dragon Tower students lacked a bit of life skills, at least those taking alchemy were a little bett...

Thud!

As soon as he finished speaking, a student collapsed to the side. Yonaire said indifferently.

"I guess he got dizzy."

"...Let's all eat a little first and then talk."

Yi-Han cut the bread and spread jam and butter generously, then held it out to his friends.

Suddenly, the surroundings became quiet.

Not because magic was cast, but because everyone was too focused on eating.

Yi-Han felt a bit overwhelmed by that sight and asked Yonaire.

"Was it... this bad?"

"Everyone was quite hungry."

Fortunately, Yonaire didn't look very abnormal except for looking tired.

In fact, being tired was the same for any Einroguard student who didn't give up on studying.

"Even those taking alchemy?"

"Uh... um... well... Finding it directly is different."

Yonaire changed the subject, not wanting to criticize her friends' skills, but Yi-Han understood right away.

"Don't tell me you had servants gather the ingredients when you were at the mansion?!"

"...Ahem."

"Cough cough."

The surroundings were so quiet that Yi-Han's shout sounded particularly loud. The students coughed as their throats choked up.

"I, I won't use servants... Wardanaz... sorry..."

"...No. I'm sorry. Drink some milk."

Yi-Han poured a glass of milk. Looking to the side, the princess was staring at the jar of milk with an indescribably desperate look in her eyes.

"..."

Yi-Han poured some for the princess too. The other person's face brightened up.

"Doesn’t her followers give her food?"

"She’s not Gainando, she’s not someone who would take food from her followers."

"Oh my... It would have been more comfortable if she was Gainando."

"Right."

The princess wanted to say something in response to Yi-Han and Yonaire's whispers, but nothing came to mind, so she just endured and drank the milk.

"Priest Nigisor. Will you listen for a bit?"

"It's alright. Rather, I want to pray."

"Pray?"

Yi-Han recalled the prayer of the Aphar Order.

As an order that worshipped fire, the priest's prayer required fire.

"I was going to light a fire to prepare for alchemy anyway, so it's perfect. Let's prepare together. What should I do?"

At Yi-Han's words, Priest Nigisor smiled brightly.

As one could tell from how he visited the temple during the vacation and helped with the order's work, this genius from the Blue Dragon Tower was the person most suited for Aphar.

"Just do as I say in order. Now, first take out the charcoal powder..."

Although a mage's staff alone could light a fire, the priests of the order did not do so.

Not only was it sincerity to prepare directly, but they could also control the intensity and nature of the flames in the preparation process.

Mixing charcoal powder and several metal powders, they piled it up on the ground, and Priest Nigisor lit it.

Then, flames emitting a different color than usual were born. Yi-Han admired it and called his friends.

"Isn't this fire strange? The attribute of mana I feel..."

As he spoke, Yi-Han realized that all his Blue Dragon Tower friends were not paying any attention to him, busy eating bread, and he felt embarrassed.

"I, I'm watching with interest."

"Yonaire..."

Yi-Han almost shed tears.

Priest Nigisor, who had finished lighting the fire, asked.

"Would you like to offer a prayer?"

"Sure."

It wasn't difficult, so Yi-Han stood in front.

When he offered mana and concentrated, it returned, transformed into holy power.

Originally, he should have asked Priest Nigisor about the holy magic of the Aphar Order, but this time he didn't.

After failing a few times, he was convinced that holy magic wouldn't succeed so quickly.

However, at that moment, the holy power left Yi-Han's control and started moving on its own.

In a way, it was similar to instinct.

Just as the hand reaches for the sword before thinking when facing an enemy spewing murderous intent, the holy power began to flow ahead of Yi-Han's will.

'What...?!'

Before Yi-Han's surprise ended, the holy power intertwined like warp and weft like magic and changed reality.

Pop!

The flames in front of Yi-Han suddenly turned white and rose fiercely. Seeing that, Priest Nigisor widened his eyes and shouted with joy.

"As expected!!! I knew it would be like that!"

"Don't tell me this is..."

"That's right!! Is everyone watching?"

Priest Nigisor was so excited that he trembled and turned his head.

He wanted to share this beautiful miracle with someone else.

"...Look! Look at this!!!"

"???"

The friends who were eating bread were startled when the priest suddenly shouted.

Why was he doing that?

"This miracle??"

"It's... it's fire, right?"

"It's white fire!"

"Is it magic?"

"It's not magic...!"

While Priest Nigisor was tapping his chest and trying to explain in frustration, Yi-Han stared at the flames with a dazed expression.

Unlike magic, even though holy magic had manifested, he had no idea how he had done it.

It was similar to throwing a stone and putting it perfectly into a crossed-out circle.

A sensory magic that was impossible to explain exactly how it was done, even though he had done it himself.

'Did the attribute of the flames change?'

Yi-Han felt a strange wave of mana from the white flames.

As flames with their attributes converted by holy magic, they were by no means ordinary.

"...Oh. Wait. Priest Nigisor. Are the flames changed by holy magic a bit easier to control?"

"I've never heard of such a thing?"

"Thanks..."

Yi-Han was bitter.

Honestly, he wanted the power to control the flames rather than the power to strengthen them.

As for strengthening, even now, it wasn't really...

"Yi-Han. But is it okay to succeed like this?"

When Yonaire asked, tilting his head, Yi-Han was puzzled.

"Why?"

"I thought you were deliberately failing."

"Can you deliberately fail? Besides, there's no reason to do that."

"Well... I thought you were doing it because the other priests of the Immortal Phoenix Tower would feel left out if you succeeded in just one."

"Haha. The priests aren't that narrow-mind..."

Yi-Han's face stiffened as he spoke.