Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

-It's truly amazing. I don't know what happened.-

When the Death Knight muttered in a curious voice from the side, the skull principal made a sound of bones clacking instead of clicking his tongue and said.

“You still have a long way to go. I figured it out right away.”

-Is that so?-

The Death Knight was amazed.

To think he figured out the secret hidden in this mysterious scene.

It made him think that his master truly deserved to be called the empire's greatest sage.

The name Gonadaltes was renowned enough that even the printing guild that produced the empire's most popular magazine, Dog Mixed-Blood Detective Toveris, sought his advice every time.

“It must be that Wardanaz bastard.”

-...?-

The Death Knight looked at his master with a perplexed gaze.

Of course, he knew that the more his master cherished a disciple, the more he tormented them, but wasn't this completely unreasonable?

If he tormented him so unreasonably, it would be difficult to deal with the aftermath if the disciple became twisted...

“It's not unreasonable, you empty-headed bastard.”

-Understood. I trust you, Master.-

“Those who truly trust don't say such things. Now. Think about it. Even you must be guessing that the 1st years came and went here.”

-That's...-

The Death Knight nodded his head.

Although the knights and mages didn't acknowledge it, judging from the atmosphere, it seemed clear that the 1st year students had come and gone.

But among the 1st year students, the only one who's somewhat close with both the mages and the knights is that Wardanaz bastard.

-But the ones who escaped are the White Tiger Tower students, so how... And even if they're close, is that even possible...?-

“There must be some inside story. Remember it well. When you exclude all the impossibilities, what remains, however strange it may seem, is the truth.”

The skull principal spoke in a voice full of admiration. The Death Knight bowed his head with an impressed gaze.

“I knew they were close, but I didn't know he could mediate between the two. He's really talented.”

-Yes. It's still amazing. Those two bastards...-

“Ahem.”

-I apologize. For the rude expression.-

“No. You can lower your voice and continue. They are bastards indeed. If they don't listen to words, are they human?”

The skull principal was truly amazed.

There were many geniuses in the vast empire.

Of course, Yi-Han was a bit more outstanding among those geniuses, but anyway...

Even among Yi-Han's seniors, weren't there several who showed amazing talent in their major schools?

But such geniuses were usually only interested in their own studies, they didn't take care of their friends' meals, help professors with their work, and even mediate outsiders if they had time.

But Yi-Han made that possible.

Now that he looked, it was clear that he had also mediated between the knights and mages.

This was not an easy task even for a veteran imperial bureaucrat...

“Come to think of it, it's absurd. Originally, that's what the professors should do. Does it make sense? How can they have less social skills than their disciple?”

The Death Knight thought inwardly, 'Aren't they the professors you brought, Master?' but remained silent.

Instead, he changed the subject.

-You must be truly happy to have a disciple with such outstanding talent.-

“That's true. Now that I know he's capable of that much, I can have him do more things in the future. What should I have him do next…”

-...-

The Death Knight thought it might be a bit too much for a 1st year, but he remained silent.

A loyal summon knew when to be silent.

“Oh. I almost forgot. Take care of it.”

-What do you mean? A reward?-

The Death Knight thought the skull principal might give a reward since he was giving additional work to his disciple.

Honestly, mediating between mages and knights to handle a situation was more difficult than defeating an evil demon archduke.

“Are you crazy? What reward? Does Einroguard look easy enough to give a reward to someone who ran away?”

-...Yes. I apologize.-

“It meant to find out how that Wardanaz guy escaped.”

-Didn't he come out with the White Tiger Tower bastards?-

“I thought so at first too, but come to think of it, that Wardanaz guy isn't that sloppy. Didn't you say they released the employees? He probably came out separately. Try to find out.”

The skull principal was unexpectedly strict about the rules he set.

Unless caught at the scene or leaving physical evidence, he didn't confine students based on suspicion or testimony alone.

If he confines them, he'll catch them for sure so they can't refute it!

-Since he's a 1st year student, wouldn't it be difficult unless it's an exceptional situation like this?-

“Your complacency is truly arrogant! I told you so many times not to underestimate the opponent. Keep this in mind! Erase the thought that he's just a 1st year. Think of him as a worn-out 4th year!”

-...Yes. I understand...-

Yi-Han, who had spent a crazy weekend and barely returned at dawn, took a short nap and woke up right in the morning.

The priests didn't show it, but they were stirring at the suddenly changed breakfast menu.

"Is today some special day...?"

"No. Originally, you should eat this much for nutrition."

Yi-Han said, spreading a generous amount of jam on the surface of the bread and pushing it to the skinniest-looking priest.

One of the priests suddenly remembered and asked.

"Did the students from the Blue Dragon Tower eat like this last semester?"

"Mostly, yes."

"Ah...!"

The priests nodded their heads as if they understood, thinking 'I see!'

Somehow, during the 1st semester, the Blue Dragon Tower students weren't desperate for snacks, and even when the priests tried to share what they had, they said, 'Haha, it's fine, priests, you eat it,' but recently, their eyes looked sunken, which was concerning.

"No wonder..."

"But I thought if those who ate like that don't eat, they might be hungry, so if we take some to them..."

When a priest tried to get up with a plate filled with egg custard, pumpkin pie, egg rice, and aged duck meat, Yi-Han immediately warned.

"Those who take food to other towers will definitely fail when drawing lots."

"Ah, no!"

"Why...!?"

The priests who were about to take it were startled.

They couldn't afford to be pushed back in that order, as they wanted Yi-Han's next holy magic to be awakened with their denomination's holy magic.

"I don't think we should eat so luxuriously..."

"I heard from the denomination that it's not good to eat like this..."

Yi-Han ignored the priests' grumbling and fed them.

"Priestess Tijiling. You put too little on your plate. Put more."

"This is already the third plate you're giving me... No, it's too much...!"

Priestess Tijiling hurriedly refused, but it didn't work.

After contentedly looking around at the priests eating their fill, Yi-Han turned his gaze outside.

'Something is strange.'

Although he had only attended for one semester, Yi-Han had adapted very sensitively to Einroguard.

Thanks to that, he could feel the changed atmosphere.

There were many Death Knights wandering around the towers and the fortress walls, and undead summons he had never seen before were flying in the sky...

The reason was more than obvious.

'Anyway, those White Tiger Tower bastards are of no help.'

Of course, Yi-Han, who participated in the mission during that short weekend to earn some money, also had some responsibility, but it was the White Tiger Tower bastards who greatly amplified the commotion.

Despite that, they even picked a fight with Yi-Han, saying 'It's a good thing we met the knight order,' they were really unhelpful bastards.

'Was I caught?'

Yi-Han glared at the spire.

He had strongly urged those who were present to keep it a secret, but there were too many people. Even Yi-Han didn't have high expectations that the secret would be kept.

Judging from the fact that he wasn't immediately dragged to the punishment room, it seemed the skull principal couldn't catch him at the scene, so he fortunately let it slide...

'He's definitely not the type to just let it go.'

It would be fortunate if he believed Yi-Han went out with the White Tiger Tower students, but it didn't seem like he would be that sloppy. It seemed best to be careful for a while.

'I need to go out about 3 or 4 times a semester to have ample supplies...'

Despite the search, Yi-Han's soul was very peaceful.

He had brought in a lot of supplies, and since he had outing permits, the situation was much better than he had anticipated.

There wouldn't be another mage's festival like last week, so if he just worked hard on the assignments given this week...

Kwadangtangtangtang!

Yi-Han, who entered Professor Bagrak's lecture hall, rolled around.

The lecture content had changed without him noticing.

"...Are you attacking as soon as I enter now?"

"It can't be helped."

Yi-Han wasn't really curious about the reason, but he endured and asked.

"Why is that?"

"Because at your level, the only way to block spatial magic is through repetitive training."

"Huh? Why spatial magic all of a sudden...? We need to practice lightning magic form changes, and there are many things to do..."

Yi-Han was confused as to why the diverse and relatively safe curriculum, such as taking care of the basilisk egg and lightning magic form changes, had suddenly changed to training for countermeasures against spatial magic.

Then Professor Bagrak showed him a note.

[To Boladi Bagrak

Yi-Han Wardanaz is frustrated after being defeated by a statue using spatial magic. Help him out.

Os Gonadaltes]

"..."

Yi-Han's expression contorted.

'Is this because I went out? Really?'

Of course, it was a note sent before he went out, but Yi-Han didn't know that fact.

Just confine me in the punishment room instead!

"...So now it's countermeasures against spatial magic?"

"That's right. It's better to prepare in advance since you might encounter it someday."

Professor Bagrak spoke in a serious voice.

The skull principal's point was valid.

Wouldn't Yi-Han's life be in danger if he later wandered around the empire's most remote and eerie places and encountered a combat mage who had spent his entire life specializing only in spatial magic?

"..."

Yi-Han had to hold back the words 'Why don't you also teach me how to deal with dragons?' from coming out of his throat.

If he said that, Professor Bagrak might say, 'I see, alright,' and start preparing him to be a dragon slayer from that day on.

All Yi-Han could do was be slightly sarcastic.

"I'm really happy to learn in advance how to deal with a spatial magic specialist combat mage that I might encounter once or twice in my lifetime..."

"Is that so?"

Professor Bagrak was satisfied when Yi-Han was happy.

As a teacher, it was a matter of pride to provide the teachings that the disciple wanted.

"Tell me directly from now on."

Professor Bagrak thought that Yi-Han couldn't speak directly out of respect for his teacher as a disciple.

"...I'll tell you directly, so please don't listen to other professors. Originally, when words are passed through one or two people, misunderstandings occur each time."

"That could be the case."

Professor Bagrak nodded his head as if he understood. Yi-Han let out a sigh.

"Spatial magic, when used offensively, is one of the most difficult magic to deal with. Because there are no signs."

Space-time magic was one of the most abstruse and difficult magic among the schools of magic.

As such, there were few mages who could use spatial magic, and even fewer who could cast it quickly and accurately enough to use it in combat.

Moreover, what about the mana consumption? If you wanted to kill the opponent, an arrow would suffice, so there was no need to use such complicated magic.

"Professor. Do we really need to prepare for such things as you said?"

"But you encountered it now, didn't you? What happened once can happen twice."

"..."

The moment when he felt the most self-loathing was when he was defeated by Professor Bagrak's words.

To think he had to lose to such logic.

"There are few countermeasures, but they do exist."

As the skull principal had said, spatial magic had no gaps, but there were gaps in the user.

If one could predict the opponent's pattern in advance, even the most powerful magic could be avoided.

"It's divination magic."

"!"

Yi-Han was surprised by the unexpectedly sensible method.

Indeed, divination magic was suitable for the current situation.

"Oh. Then there's no need to learn by getting hit, right?"

"No. You have to get hit a lot to use divination magic."

Yi-Han instinctively threw his body to the side without realizing it. As expected, a chair appeared where Yi-Han was and flew at him.

Before he could feel relieved, a desk appeared from behind and hit Yi-Han as it passed by. Yi-Han rolled around on the lecture hall floor.

"The first evasion just now was excellent. You have talent."

"That wasn't divination magic, just lu..."

Yi-Han had no time to answer. The attack started again.