Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

Fortunately for Yi-Han, Professor Millei did not send him away upon his arrival. Instead, an unexpected development occurred. Suddenly, two thick books materialized out of thin air. They were so hefty that they could have been mistaken for weapons.

The books, bound meticulously, displayed the title <Theoretical Foundations and Cases in Summoning Magic> on their covers. Professor Millei, with a commanding presence, instructed, "Both of you, sit down." He was the kind of person whose stern gaze alone could evoke tension, eliminating any need for a sword or staff to assert authority.

Gainando, slightly intimidated, quickly found a seat. Curious, he asked, "Professor, where are the other students?"

"They have gone back after receiving their lessons and collecting their assignments," Professor Millei replied.

"Assignments?" Gainando echoed, lifting his head, his tone reflecting his concern. The idea of additional assignments seemed like a significant burden under the current circumstances. He ventured a timid challenge, "Professor, isn't dark magic... not part of the assignments?"

Professor Millei's direct gaze fell upon Gainando, rendering him completely subdued. 'Could it be that his gaze has a petrifying effect?' Yi-Han couldn't help but think, given the peculiar nature of some of the professors.

"Both of you, open the books," Professor Millei commanded. They complied, opening the books to find pages filled with densely written text. The sight seemed to overwhelm Gainando, who appeared slightly dizzy.

"Read, copy, and solve the problems," the professor instructed. Yi-Han, looking down at his book, saw the heading of the first chapter:

<Chapter 1. About Summoning Inanimate Objects>.

"Summoning inanimate objects is the most basic and core aspect of summoning magic. Even summoners who are only interested in other areas of summoning must learn and master this part. The great summoner Boltzmann organized educational and efficient magic circles for future generations, and remembering these circles became fundamental in summoning magic. So, young summoners, be thankful and diligent. Memorizing Boltzmann's basic magic circles and understanding their principles will guarantee remarkable achievements in summoning magic..."

(1st Magic Circle)

(2nd Magic Circle)

(3rd Magic Circle)

(4th Magic Circle)

...

...

"Young summoners. Having learned interesting knowledge, it's now time to use that knowledge in even more interesting ways. Answer the following riddle. The novice summoner, Chursu, while traveling in the cold North, got separated from his group due to an accident. Unfortunately, someone had stolen his bag containing thick clothes, and the fierce wind tore apart the clothes he was wearing. What is the quickest summoning magic circle Chursu could use to avoid freezing to death?”

Yi-Han found this question to be quite absurd. 'It seems odd to focus on the magic circle when the culprit should be caught first.' He thought the approach was forced, yet he couldn't help but recognize the excellence of the textbook. Having encountered many complex and difficult textbooks, Yi-Han could appreciate the quality of this one.

Not all textbooks were this considerate. Some were designed to cater to the reader's level, while others seemed to aim solely at wasting the reader's time. Unfortunately, most textbooks, and even the professors here, usually fell into the latter category.

However, the book given by Professor Millei was a notable exception. It allowed students to easily memorize and understand the basic magic circle compositions used in summoning magic by focusing and reading slowly. This fact alone elevated Professor Millei in Yi-Han's esteem. 'He is indeed a good person,' Yi-Han thought. Professor Millei had carefully selected the most suitable book for education from numerous magic books, showcasing the mindset of a true educator, a trait that was incomparable to the other professors.

"Thank you, Professor," Yi-Han said, his gaze filled with gratitude.

Professor Millei, slightly surprised, was taken aback by the emotion in Yi-Han's eyes.

'??'

There were two primary reasons why Professor Millei was initially hesitant to teach summoning magic to his students.

Firstly, he recognized that summoning magic, without sufficient knowledge and preparation, could be hazardous. Even the seemingly simple task of summoning inanimate objects could result in injuries to the caster if not handled with care.

Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, Professor Millei sought to prevent his students from acting recklessly. He was aware that freshmen, often filled with pride and a sense of ego, could easily cause accidents due to their arrogance and lack of experience. He believed that if these students were immediately taught summoning magic, their recklessness could lead to dangerous outcomes.

Thus, he made them study – hard and tediously. The studies were so rigorous and challenging that they twisted and contorted the students' bodies, pushing them to their limits. This approach was central to Professor Millei's teaching philosophy. In his view, if a student couldn't endure the rigorous studies and gave up on summoning magic, it was for the best. Such students were deemed better off not learning summoning magic at all.

'But...?' A sense of surprise overtook Professor Millei as he observed Yi-Han diligently copying from the book and solving problems without any signs of complaint. Yi-Han, who was known for his exceptional talent among the students, was expected to be the most arrogant. Yet, while other students soon started yawning, twisting in their seats, and casting longing glances outside, perhaps planning their escape, Yi-Han remained an exception.

Surprisingly, Yi-Han sat motionless, absorbed in his studies, with only the sound of his quill breaking the silence. His focus and dedication were unlike his peers.

"Yi-Han," Gainando called out suddenly.

"What?" Yi-Han responded.

"I need to go to the bathroom," Gainando said.

"Trying to escape?" Yi-Han asked, half-joking.

"What... What?? No! No, I'm not!" Gainando vehemently denied it, but Yi-Han, having casually posed the question, now felt sure of his suspicion. 'He was trying to escape.'

Yi-Han had initially thought that Gainando might consider switching from dark magic to summoning magic, given his earlier struggles. However, observing Gainando's current state, it seemed that such a shift might not be necessary after all.

"I miss Professor Mortum..." Gainando later muttered, almost like a madman, after returning from the bathroom.

Gainando's initial hope that hard study might lead to something positive was thoroughly dashed. Professor Millei, unwavering in his approach, had them study rigorously until the very end of the session. Yi-Han, on the other hand, nodded with a sense of satisfaction. 'Such lessons are necessary too,' he thought. After experiencing several tumultuous classes, this focused, high-quality theoretical study was a welcome change, almost sweet in its nature.

As they stood up to leave, Gainando whispered to Yi-Han, "Hey. Do you understand this stuff?"

Yi-Han, finding value in the material, replied, "Isn't it quite substantial? It's interesting too."

"...?????!!" Gainando's expression, a mix of shock and disbelief, was more astonished than when Yi-Han had subdued Raphael. To him, Yi-Han's engagement with the material seemed almost unfathomable.

"That's enough for today. Study this material and be ready by next week," Professor Millei announced as he collected the books and handed out a thick bundle of papers. Gainando received them, his expression a mix of respect and resignation.

In that moment, both Yi-Han and Professor Millei foresaw Gainando's future with a similar prediction: he wouldn't show up next week. It seemed obvious given his reaction to the material.

"See you next week," Yi-Han said, bidding farewell respectfully. He recognized the importance of maintaining good relationships with professors, especially those of character. Such connections could prove invaluable, perhaps even saving him from potential punishment in the future.

"I apologize for misjudging you, student Yi-Han," Professor Millei suddenly remarked.

"Excuse me?" Yi-Han responded, taken aback.

"Let's meet next week then," Professor Millei said with a faint smile.

However, for Yi-Han, who was left in the dark about the professor's initial judgment, this statement was open to numerous interpretations. 'What??' he wondered, puzzled as the door to the <Spirit Festival Hall> closed behind him. He was left contemplating what Professor Millei could have misjudged about him. 'Could it be he discussed my future with Professor Mortum? Surely he didn't say I should only focus on dark magic, right? Or maybe even with the skull principal...' Yi-Han's mind raced with possibilities, leaving him in a state of confusion and contemplation that persisted until he fell asleep that night.

As the days passed, the students grew increasingly haggard, while the skull principal seemed to gleam brighter in the eyes. The skull principal entered the <Basic Magic Character Education> classroom with a cheerful voice. "Is everyone having a happy week?"

"..."

"..."

If it had been the first week, a few students would have politely responded, but now, all students from the four towers remained silent. The skull principal rattled his bones unconcerned, forcing the students' necks to nod up and down involuntarily. All except Yi-Han.

"..."

Yi-Han, after looking around, hastily nodded his head. The skull principal looked at him as if he were absurd.

'Is he really following along...' thought the skull principal, puzzled. The sight of this boy from the Wardanaz family reminded him of a lion wearing a sheep's disguise, trying to befriend other sheep. If he had withstood the principal's magic alone, he should be standing proud and arrogant, not looking like this.

"Now, it's time for the education of your young fledgling mages' characters. You remember the assignment I gave you last week, right?" The students nodded. Who could forget? "Students of each tower, you were to bring the flag hanging in the freshman lounge of the tower I assigned. Remember, the flag with the emblem!"

The skull principal's assignment was to bring flags from other towers. Even with the broadest definition, it had nothing to do with character, but the principal stood confident. "Let's start with the Black Tortoise. Have you acquired the Immortal Phoenix flag?"

"Yes, we have..." Students from the Black Tortoise cautiously began to take out the flag they had exchanged with the Immortal Phoenix.

"Ah, you brought it. Good."

"..."

"..."

The skull principal displayed an overtly disinterested expression.

He already knew they had exchanged, so it wasn't of much interest to him. "The Immortal Phoenix must have taken care of theirs too, right?"

"Yes."

"Good. Now..." The skull principal, with the joy of someone who has been served a long-awaited meal, floated up to the White Tiger students. "My honorable knights from noble families! You surely have the Blue Dragon flag, right?? Huh??"

"..."

"..."

The faces of the White Tiger students flushed with humiliation and shame. Even Yi-Han, who normally didn't care what others thought, found the situation a bit uncomfortable.

'The back of my neck is prickling.' thought Yi-Han, feeling uneasy. The White Tiger students glared at Yi-Han with resentful eyes.

"Why aren't you taking it out?! Huh?! Why?! Don't tell me you didn't bring it?!"

'Enough already...' Yi-Han silently wished for the skull principal to stop his antics. Of course, he didn't.

The skull principal, having had his fill of fun, changed the topic. "As I said before, this lecture isn't about making you fight. The purpose is to get to know each other, become friends, and unite." None of the students believed him. "It's a pity you misunderstand my intentions. So, for the next assignment, I'll give something easier to understand."

Yi-Han grew anxious. What more could he be planning? "There's a lake if you go west from the main building. Some of you might have seen it."

"..."

"...That was a lake?" Students who had wandered around were confused, saying they thought it was... "I thought it was the sea."

"Why would there be a sea inside an academy?!"

"Well, I just thought that in this academy, there might be a sea." ...It was an immensely large lake. As there were deep and rugged mountain ranges difficult to gauge the end of, so too was there a lake in this magic academy.

“On that lake, there was an island. There, I had hidden a pass for leaving the academy grounds.”

"!"

"!!!"

The students' eyes momentarily flashed like those of starving beasts. "Work together to bring it to me."

"We understand!"

This response was the most enthusiastic of any they had given so far. "Remember, Immortal Phoenix students should move together with Black Tortoise students, and Blue Dragon students with White Tiger students. You're free not to listen, just like the last assignment, but..." The skull principal smirked. “I assure you, you won't pass if you do that.” Students from the Blue Dragon and White Tiger looked at each other and scowled. They all had the same thought.

'Together with these guys? That's what they must be thinking.'