Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

“I think I have everything now.”

Yi-han’s shopping frenzy had finally come to an end, and he had purchased much more than just food and clothes.

He had also visited bookstores and seed stores, among many others.

—I’d like a stack of cheap, durable paper! Oh, and would you happen to have a book with illusion magic cast on it? Preferably one that can trick a professor’s eyes.

—Which of these seeds and seedlings are edible?

Arion’s employees were beyond impressed.

‘He’ll have no trouble surviving on a deserted island!’

“By the way, where’s the stable?”

“Stable?”

Arion was puzzled. As previously mentioned, students weren’t allowed to ride anything into the academy.

However, he wasn’t going to question it.

The young master of the Wardanaz Family probably had something in mind.

***

Stable Amir was bustling with customers, leaving its owner, Amir, with barely a moment to blink.

Just today, he had already provided counsel to a group of adventurers who wished to purchase a new mount. Furthermore, he had hurriedly made space at the top of the tower for a customer that wished to entrust their Thunder Eagle to his care.

Running a stable in a village frequented by adventurers required an exceptional level of knowledge and skill.

Besides horses, one had to possess expertise in handling various types of mounts found throughout the Empire.

An interesting customer arrived just as he was about to catch his breath.

‘A student from Einroguard?’

“Hello.”

“Welcome to Stable Amir. How may I help you?”

“I was wondering if there’s anyone here that has direct dealings with the academy.”

“!”

Amir was surprised as the student was right.

Although the magic academy situated in the mountain range was a subject of fear, it still attracted visitors.

Merchants that had a contract with the academy would frequently bring in supplies, and adventurers that had completed their tasks would sometimes arrive to meet the mage that had requested their assistance.

In addition, whenever someone caused trouble outside, an imperial edict would come flying in.

But to those in the know, the front gates of Einroguard were notorious for being difficult to pass through.

It was to the point where there was a saying that went, ‘You’d die of old age before managing to reach the other side’.

That was why people in a hurry would either fly over the front gates or access the academy via the underground passage. As long as they could prove their identities, they were allowed to pass through.

“We do. Why do you ask?”

“Then can you arrange for someone to bring me out of the academy on a certain date? I’d be willing to pay, of course.”

“..!”

Yi-han’s purpose in coming here was to strategize his next escape.

His tenacity would’ve left even the principal impressed.

It was a beautiful day outside, perfect for enjoying snacks and taking in the village scenery, yet here he was, contemplating the next escape.

Amir could sense the burning desire in Yi-han’s eyes.

‘What a child!’

The stable owner stared at Yi-han, amazed.

He knew what kind of place Einroguard was based on rumors—a strict and merciless institution where students constantly strived to escape.

Yet a freshman was out here making such bold plans.

Not even the tribes residing in the harshest environments of the Empire could boast of having many individuals as daring as him.

‘I want to help him out.’

Amir, who was instantly captivated by Yi-han’s bold nature, wished to offer the student his assistance.

However, there was a problem.

“That…would be difficult.”

“May I ask why?”

“I’ve entered the academy several times with some of my customers, but the academy was extremely strict when it came to verifying their identities.”

Granted, it was easier than passing through the front gates, but flying over them posed a challenge of its own.

Those that wished to enter through the skies had to first stop at a predetermined location.

The academy would then signal them that someone would arrive to check their identities.

If they were indeed scheduled to enter, they would be allowed in.

“But you just said you were able to enter several times in the past…can’t you make up a random excuse?”

“Yes, I can, but entering’s not the issue here. It’s when we exit. They verify your identity when you exit as well.”

“…!”

In other words, if Amir entered the academy alone, riding an eagle, they would verify that he was on an eagle by himself when it came time for him to leave.

They would make sure that no one was hiding by casting several spells, so it was near impossible to sneak someone out.

Yi-han’s expression became dark when he heard this.

‘Damn it. How far are they willing to go?’

In his opinion, ‘How far are you willing to go?’ should’ve been the academy’s slogan.

“But it’s not as if all hope is lost.”

Amir lit a thick cigar and began to smoke.

“?”

“Try to get yourself a mount without an owner. If you do, you can leave with me if I happen to have visited the academy.”

“…?”

Yi-han couldn’t follow what Amir was saying.

Wouldn’t he be caught while leaving?

“I thought they check our identities when we leave?”

“See, there’s a caveat to that. I only learned of this by chance… They’re extremely strict when it comes to checking the identities of visitors entering and leaving, but they aren’t as meticulous when it comes to its residents leaving.”

This was probably because professors often had business outside the academy, and it would be a hassle to check them each time.

Once in the past, Amir happened to leave the academy at the same time as a professor. While they checked him several times, they let the professor pass without sparing even a glance.

“If you leave on your own, there’s still a good chance of being caught. But if I’m there with you, their attention will be on me. This would raise your chances by a bit.”

‘How the heck am I supposed to find a mount that’s without an owner?’

The idea of stealing someone’s mount sounded tempting, but…

“Just a reminder, but don’t try to steal a mount that has an owner already.”

“But of course. I would never do such a thing.”

Amir nodded and chuckled, satisfied with the response.

“Yeah, it would be barbaric to forcefully separate a mount from its owner.”

“…”

Yi-han had given up on the idea, thinking that mages would probably have alarm spells cast on their mounts. However, upon seeing the look of satisfaction on Amir’s face, he chose not to say anything.

“There are still a lot of uncertainties in the plan…but this is the best shot I’ve got at the moment.”

‘But how am I supposed to find a mount inside the academy?’

‘And the security might be less strict, but what if they make me lower my hood? I’d be caught immediately!’

These were his honest thoughts, but he didn’t voice them out loud. After all, such complaints were for the weak and undetermined.

‘I must do it, one way or another. After all, that’s the only option I have right now!’

“…I’ll be in your care!”

“Splendid! I knew you weren’t a normal student from the way your eyes gleamed. From now on, I’ll visit the academy every 2 weeks, at midnight on Saturday. If you’ve obtained a mount, find me at the stable located at the top of the tower. I’ll wait for an hour each time I visit. If you’re there, we can leave together.”

Yi-han nodded, but then became curious about something.

Although he had promised to pay, it didn’t seem worth it for Amir to go through so much trouble.

After all, there was no guarantee that Yi-han would be there. To visit every other week and wait an hour each time…

“Pardon me… but may I ask why you’re willing to help me?”

Amir grinned while scratching his beard.

“The academy is making its students suffer by imposing cruel rules. People in my hometown loathe such things. How could I remain a bystander when there’s a student trying to fight against injustice!”

“…Thank you!”

Yi-han was moved.

Turned out justice and kindness existed outside the academy!

***

His holiday was coming to an end, and taking into consideration how long it took to return to the academy, he didn’t have much time left.

‘There’s still one place that I have to visit.’

Yi-han quickly rushed to .

Not all mages worked as officials for the Empire. Some mages joined adventurers and made a living out of completing quests, whereas others set up small workshops in towns and villages and offered their service to the citizens.

Yi-han was visiting one such workshop.

“…?”

Valdoron was baffled by the appearance of a student from a magic academy.

‘Why would an academy student visit my workshop?’

Valdoron was only a 3rd circle mage, which was only equivalent to a second or third-year student from Einroguard.

The academy should have several grand mages, so why would someone visit his tiny workshop?

Not to mention, the student didn’t seem like your average Joe.

Although Yi-han was dressed in rags, from the way he spoke and conducted himself, it was clear to Valdoron that the student hailed from a distinguished family of nobles.

“…To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“I’m here to consult you about magic.”

“…..”

Valdoron was stunned.

‘Is he here to pick a fight?’

Maybe the young mage was looking down on him and his workshop…

“Please speak.”

Nevertheless, he’d already received payment, so Valdoron decided not to jump the guns.

“See, I’m trying to enter a certain tower, but spells that prevent intruders have been cast on it. Since you’re an expert at illusion magic, I was wondering if you could give me some advice on how to get past them.”

“…..”

Valdoron was once again at a loss.

It was clear as day which tower Yi-han was referring to.

‘He must be talking about one of the towers in Einroguard!’

Upon closer inspection, Yi-han’s uniform seemed to belong to a first-year student, which blew Valdoron’s mind.

This freshman wasn’t content with simply escaping from the academy and had come to ask about how to get past the academy’s alarm spells.

‘…He’s bound to make it big in the future!’

Valdoron was in awe. Back when he was young, he used to smoke and hang out with his friends all day…

“Countless spells exist that can prevent intruders; it’s simply impossible for a mage to know all of them. A skilled mage would be able to analyze the spell, and an even greater mage would know how to dispel them. However…”

Valdoron trailed off.

This was a matter of knowledge and experience.

A skilled robber would have the blueprint of tens of thousands of locks in their mind.

Even if they encountered a lock that they’d never seen before, they could compare the new lock with the ones they’d already picked and quickly grasp the new lock’s structure.

This analogy could be applied to getting past spells.

Only someone equipped with the knowledge of countless alarm spells could quickly determine whether the spell they were examining contained similarities to other spells.

Without the appropriate knowledge and experience, even a genius would have to give up on dispelling them.

“This…requires vast amounts of knowledge and experience. I can share information about some of the spells that I know of, but if you’re not familiar with them, dispelling them would be impossible. You might as well resort to forcefully breaking it down…”

Valdoron paused for a moment as he had said the last bit without thinking.

Dispelling spells quietly and effectively was a difficult task. However, forcefully breaking down spells wasn’t easy either.

In fact, it was even harder in some sense.

Since they were talking about spells that had been cast on the academy, they were bound to contain huge amounts of mana. It would require a tremendous amount of force to destabilize such spells.

It wasn’t realistic in the slightest.

“…Pardon me. Forget what I’ve just said.”

“No, please tell me about that in further detail.”

“?!!”