Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

In a moment of revelation, Yi-Han turned away, suddenly understanding why the path of wickedness could never triumph over the path of righteousness.

The students who entered the lecture room did not immediately practice dancing, but all sat on chairs in the corner and started picking up cups.

"?!"

Yi-Han was shocked.

What is this?

'Are they rebelling against the professor?'

However, instead of sending the students who were rebelliously acting up to the punishment room, Professor Crinbal personally poured coffee and tea that he brewed with a very careful and kind hand gesture.

"Yo... Yonaire. What in the world is this?"

"Ah. The professor thinks 'dancing is no good if forced.'"

Yonaire said while pulling a chair and sitting down.

Professor Crinbal disliked forcing students who didn't want to dance to dance.

Dance was something that flowed from the heart.

If one didn't dance when one truly wanted to dance, that wasn't dance.

"...????"

Yi-Han was confused whether this was Einroguard or a tavern in an outside town.

'Could such a sentiment really exist in Einroguard?'

"What do students who don't want to dance do during the lecture?"

"Huh? Sit... and watch?"

"..."

Yi-Han looked around at the students.

Surprisingly, as Yonaire said, the students were chatting in a familiar manner as if it was nothing.

Squeak!

"Did you just grind your teeth?"

"You must have heard wrong. Anyway, Yonaire. Even if others play around, I missed the 1st semester."

Yi-Han tried to quickly catch up on the missed lessons.

If it were other lectures, he was confident he could catch up even if he fell behind, but dance and socializing were a different story.

As he had continuously neglected it, Yi-Han didn't know much about dance, etiquette, and social skills.

For dance, all he had was what he learned intensively during the last break, and for etiquette and social skills, all he had was what he learned from the Wardanaz family...

"He evaluates a few dances during the exam, right? The dances that are popular these days are roughly..."

"The professor doesn't strictly judge one by one like that."

Yonaire tried to dissuade Yi-Han, who seemed to be misunderstanding something.

Professor Crinbal really didn't evaluate that strictly.

He always said things like 'What is dance,' 'It's not how many dances you can do that determines a dancer, but how joyful a dance you can do,' 'A dancer who dances one dance ten thousand times is more beautiful than a dancer who can do ten thousand dances'...

"I understand for now. I'll teach you what I know..."

"Professor!! Professor!!"

While the two were talking, Gainando, who was discussing Mage Cards with Professor Crinbal up front, suddenly shouted.

"What is it that you're calling me like that, student Gainando? Did you think of something fun?"

"I will teach Yi-Han!!"

"Good enthusiasm!"

Professor Crinbal unconsciously praised him since the student was saying something enthusiastically, but then he flinched.

"Wait. I heard student Yi-Han is quite an amazing dancer, but you're going to teach him?"

"?"

Yi-Han, who was listening, flinched.

Where did that misunderstanding come from?

'What is it? Did the White Tiger Tower guys spread false rumors to screw me over?'

"But there must be dances he missed because he couldn't attend the lecture! I will teach him!"

"No... Can't I just learn from Yonaire?"

Yi-Han called out, but Gainando ignored him.

No matter how you looked at it, objectively, in Gainando’s mind, Gainando himself was a much better dancer than Yonaire.

"...Alright! Even if there's nothing to learn, friendship is great. Go ahead and teach him!"

As Gainando ran over excitedly, Yi-Han suddenly became anxious.

A faint fragment of truth was felt in Professor Crinbal's words.

'This guy's dancing skills don't seem very good...'

Yi-Han stared at Gainando with doubtful eyes but decided to endure it for now.

At least he had attended more lectures than Yi-Han, and seeing him step up like that, he must be confident in teaching.

There must be something to learn from anything.

When Gainando stepped on Yi-Han's foot for the thirteenth time, Yi-Han kicked Gainando's shin.

What learning!

Bam!

"Hey. Go over there and do your homework."

"Hmph."

The students from other towers who were watching from the side couldn’t help but admire him.

"To exceed ten times. Damn it. I thought he would explode after five times."

"I told you Wardanaz is surprisingly lenient to those from the same tower. Come on. Hand it over. It exceeded ten times. The bet is my victory."

"Ha! So there was a way to get revenge on Wardanaz like this."

"Anyone want to apply to dance together next time? I want to step on him too."

"..."

When Yi-Han turned his head, the chattering students lowered their gazes.

Professor Crinbal spoke with genuine apology.

"I'm really sorry, student Yi-Han! I thought it would be fine since student Gainando has talent even if his steps are clumsy!"

"I, I see."

Yi-han's opinion of Professor Crinbal slightly diminished.

"But I'm glad to see that student Yi-Han is an outstanding dancer as rumored!"

"Are you talking about me?"

"Yes!"

"I don't know many dances though..."

"The number of dances isn't important, student Yi-Han! What's important is here."

Professor Crinbal tapped his chest and then stomped the floor with his heel.

"The amount of mana?"

"Of course I'm talking about the heart! And student Yi-Han already has a sincere heart for dance!"

Yi-Han really couldn't understand.

Of course, he knew that Professor Crinbal was a kind professor who believed in the students' potential, but what did Yi-Han do to be praised like that?

"Why do you think that, Professor...?"

"I heard from Lady Aladne!"

"!"

Yi-Han finally recalled that Professor Crinbal's family was the Greenbel family.

A traditional family in Granden City where he spent his break.

If they were from the same family, it wouldn't be strange for him to have heard some of the things that happened during the break.

'Wait. Something's strange.'

He recalled, but the question wasn't easily solved.

In good conscience, Yi-Han didn't deny all the things he did during the break.

Defeating the King of Ghouls, saving the knights, repelling the Basilisk—all those things really happened.

But did Yi-Han ever do anything with dance?

'There was nothing like that?'

"Professor. No matter how much I think about it, I hardly danced during the break."

"Student Yi-Han, dance isn't important. Dance is just a way to convey sincerity!"

"No, I mean I didn't dance..."

"But those who have set foot in Granden's social circles want to invite student Yi-Han again! Are you going to refuse these invitations? Are you going to disappoint them?"

Yi-Han was about to thoughtlessly answer 'yes,' but he barely held onto his sanity and tried to think about what the professor said.

'What...?'

Professor Crinbal kindly explained for Yi-Han.

The Dargard family's twins, Asan's older brother and sister, the royals he met, the Aphar Order, Yoanen from the Maykin family, the knights that were indebted to him, and so on.

Even if just one of these people talked about the things he did, rumors were bound to spread quickly.

"I understand there are many rumors... but what does that have to do with dance..."

"Student Yi-Han. A true dancer captivates people even without dancing!"

"What kind of nonsㅡ"

"In that regard, student Yi-Han is doing very well right now! Don't be too obsessed with dance, think of the people at the occasion first. That's true socializing!"

Yi-Han's mind became hazy at the professor's logic, claiming that receiving many invitations to social circles by any means necessary made one an outstanding dancer.

"...I understand."

Yi-Han thought he should step back for now and study dance separately.

However, Professor Crinbal didn't let Yi-Han go easily.

"Student Yi-Han. I'll give you an assignment for your sake! Go to the gatherings that call for student Yi-Han and converse with them! So that I can hear student Yi-Han's fame and praise!"

'Heavens, I miss Professor Boladi.'

Yi-Han was shocked at the professor's absurd assignment.

"Can't I just memorize dance moves and practice in the lecture room?"

"Dance isn't like that! And student Yi-Han's dance is sufficient as it is now. What's important is captivating people's hearts!"

"That's right. Wardanaz. Dance isn't a technique, it's about moving people's hearts."

"Your technique is enough! You have to prove it directly, Wardanaz!"

Friends who were inspired by Professor Crinbal's dance theory tactlessly intervened from the side.

And they flinched upon meeting Yi-Han's gaze.

"Ah... no. If you don't want to prove it, it can't be helped..."

"Ri, right. Actually, it seems like you're already sufficiently moving hearts now."

"Phew... Bandur. Have you been well?"

"Of course. You don't look well though."

"Everyone's like that. It's always tough managing the black market. One piece of pork, two bundles of rye bread, please."

Weekend.

Yi-Han, who came to the Black Tortoise Tower's black market to prepare meals for the priests, sighed and held out a bottle of alcohol.

Unlike other lectures where he was somewhat trained, the shock of encountering a new lecture still lingered painfully.

A White Tiger Tower student who was bartering with an ink bottle and paper next to him was startled and confronted him.

"Wait, why does that Wardanaz bastard have so much meat?! We also exchanged with the same bottle of alcohol!!"

"Well, when I exchanged with you, I was Bandur, and when I exchanged with Wardanaz, I was Bandur who worked hard managing the black market. Got it?"

"What a petty bastard...!?"

Whether the two fought or not, Yi-Han finished the trade, wrapped it in paper, and prepared to return.

"Wardanaz."

"!"

Salko, a dwarf-like elf student, called Yi-Han in a small voice.

It was obvious that he had something to discuss secretly, so Yi-Han also checked his surroundings and walked over.

"What is it?"

"I have some useful information. I heard the White Tiger Tower guys are attempting to escape this weekend."

"Really?"

Yi-Han wasn't very surprised.

Originally, Einroguard students wanted to escape when they stayed still, then they calmed down a bit when they entered the punishment room, and after some time, they wanted to escape again.

Just as hamsters instinctively tried to get out of their cage, Einroguard students also instinctively attempted to escape.

"Aren't you intrigued? Wondering what route they've found?"

"...Ah. You want to rob them with me?"

"Of course. Why else would I call you?"

Salko looked at Yi-Han as if it was absurd.

Would he call the busy Wardanaz to chat?

Of course, he wouldn't call him if it wasn't for an official reason.

'What's so obvious, you crazy bastard...'

Yi-Han cursed Salko inwardly.

If someone heard, they might think Yi-Han was a professional robber.

"I'll pass this time."

"What!?"

Salko was genuinely surprised.

To think that beast-like Wardanaz would yield.

"Are you sick somewhere? Could your injury be severe??"

"...It's not that, I have a lot of things to do, and the information the White Tiger Tower guys brought was often ureliable, you know."

"Hmm!"

Of course, Yi-Han said that because he was planning to go out briefly through the spire stable, but it was quite persuasive, so Salko flinched.

He clearly remembered the bloodshed they'd suffered in the first semester, having trusted the White Tiger Tower's intel.

"Is that so? They were indeed a bit stupid... Thanks, Wardanaz. I'll think about it."

"Yeah. Make a careful judgment."

"Alright. If you change your mind and want to rob them together, contact me."

Yi-Han nodded.

"It doesn't matter even if it's in the middle of the night, so make sure to tell me if you change your mind."

"...I said I won't."