Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

“What foolish fellows.”

The Skull Principal, who had transformed into human form, muttered beside him. Lee Han made a displeased expression.

Why is this person here?

Normally, the Skull Principal would have gone to the checkpoint to torment the students as well, but clearly, he had come here because Uman was over there.

“Before long, they’ll come to miss my teachings.”

“Come on. I don’t think it’ll be that bad.”

—...

The Death Knight beside them was amazed.

The successor’s talent was always astonishing in various ways, but this sort of courage was particularly impressive.

How on earth could anyone say such things right to the master’s face?

“Uman is more like a vampire or a dream demon than a dragon. He feeds on pleasure instead of blood or dreams.”

But isn’t there no pleasure at Einroguard anyway?

Lee Han thought to himself again. The Skull Principal spoke with a mischievous expression.

“You’re thinking there’s no pleasure at Einroguard anyway, aren’t you?”

“!”

“You think I’m using mind-reading magic.”

Isn’t this person really using magic?

“But it’s not magic. It’s observation. Your thoughts are obvious. Fine. You’ll find out soon enough anyway. Einroguard was actually a place full of pleasure.”

—...

“...”

Even the Death Knights looked at their master as if dumbfounded.

No matter what, that statement was far too shameless.

“Uman will drive you into magic during every hour except break time.”

“Uh, but that’s how it already was.”

“Mage Cards? Hmph. What Uman hates most is old people playing Mage Cards.”

“I don’t play them anyway...”

“Ball games are the same. In Uman’s view, there’s no greater waste of time.”

“I agree with that.”

“...”

The Skull Principal closed his mouth.

Come to think of it, the disciple standing beside him was the one student for whom threats about Uman were the most meaningless.

What was the point of threatening to take pleasure away from a student who was already living without pleasure?

I picked the wrong target.

The Skull Principal turned around abruptly and walked toward Gainando. Lee Han looked at the retreating figure in bewilderment.

What kind of person was that, really?

***

The inspection was completely finished.

Thanks to the young prince’s help, Lee Han was able to pass through safely without the basement being discovered, but the other students were not so lucky.

Uman lectured them in a voice full of regret.

“Talents of Einroguard! You are responsible for the future of the Empire...”

A long lecture followed about how talents responsible for the Empire’s future should not eat strange things or waste time on trivial amusements.

The expressions of the Einroguard students became like fog on a cloudy day. Some clever students were already muttering that they were doomed.

“The talk has gone on too long. You must all be tired from the long journey, so rest after your meal. Everyone, to the banquet hall!”

“???”

“Was there a banquet hall at Einroguard?”

Students who had not faithfully gone out at night tilted their heads at the name “banquet hall.”

What was a banquet hall?

Literally, it was a place for holding banquets. Naturally, it had to be an unfamiliar name to Einroguard students.

“It did... exist. I just didn’t know it was a usable place.”

“Wasn’t it just like a museum? Something showing that Einroguard had places like this too.”

Even to students who knew of its existence, the banquet hall felt unfamiliar. Unfamiliar enough that they kept whispering as they moved there.

However, surprisingly, when they opened the large bronze doors and entered, a properly prepared banquet hall greeted the students.

Long, large dining tables with more than enough seats even after the students from each tower sat together.

Bright, cheerful lighting, unlike the tower common rooms that were usually dark unless the students lit them themselves.

Hmm. Everyone’s standards seem to have fallen too far.

Lee Han thought as he watched the students beside him marvel.

In truth, if he thought about it coldly, this Einroguard banquet hall was not especially splendid or beautiful compared to other banquet halls outside.

If anything, many things were lacking.

But the students already seemed to be thinking, For an Einroguard banquet hall, this is pretty impressive.

In fact, even Lee Han was slightly swayed, which showed just how frightening expectations could be.

“It’s okay to sit, right? We won’t be sent to the punishment cells just for sitting, right?”

“When I snuck in here before, it was just empty, but I guess there were tables and chairs.”

Despite their murmuring, the students sat down for now.

Even while pretending to be calm, everyone’s face showed faint traces of excitement. It was everyone’s first time greeting the start of a new semester in a banquet hall like this.

Once everyone was seated, the candles on the dining tables lit up. Exclamations burst out from all directions.

“Wow! Candles!”

“...But do we really need to marvel at something like this?”

Someone who still had their wits about them muttered, but it had little effect. Everyone’s expectations were rising in earnest.

Clang, clang—

While the students were marveling, Uman rang a bell. Before they knew it, Uman and the faculty had gathered at the front of the banquet hall.

The faculty’s attitudes toward the new inspector varied.

There were professors who were indifferent or uninterested, like the Skull Principal; professors full of worry and concern, like Professor Garcia; and professors like Professor Bendozol, who looked ready to wag a tail at the dragon inspector at any moment.

Actually, Professor Bendozol was the only one in the last category.

“To personally host the Einroguard mages today, Uman has prepared this meal with his own hands. I hope it will be to your liking.”

“This alone is wonderful!”

“Long live the next principal!”

Cheers erupted from various places over the free meal. Lee Han would have bet Imperial gold coins that the Skull Principal had memorized the names of those who had just shouted.

“Ugh. Those were students who supported me, Jorzik, last time.”

Professor Jorzik muttered in a voice full of betrayal.

The students who had promised to support him as the next principal last time had turned around as easily as flipping their palms.

Professor Garcia patted his back sympathetically.

“First, please enjoy the aperitif. It is not alcohol, but it is a drink better than alcohol.”

Glass cups appeared before the students. Inside them, a black, sticky liquid sloshed around.

It looked like tar that had been boiled thoroughly, then mixed with medicinal herbs.

“Is, is this really okay to drink?”

“The Principal isn’t using a fake to trick us, is he?”

For a moment, Lee Han almost thought that sounded convincing. If he had not known Uman was truly royalty, he might have fallen for it.

“It seems to be a real drink... There’s no poison. I don’t sense any strange energy either.”

“Really? It looks like poison.”

The students suspiciously lifted their glasses. Some alchemy school students even began testing it for poison.

“Gack!”

“Cough!”

“Krak!”

Every student who drank the aperitif grimaced horribly and let out pained groans.

“Cra, crazy. It’s like the mixed soup Gainando made.”

“It’s worse than that!”

Lee Han also frowned. Even though Lee Han usually ate unappetizing meals without complaint, this was a bit severe.

It was a drink that seemed to have amplified every possible flavor, mixed them all together, and then finished the whole thing with bitterness.

What kind of drink was this supposed to be?

“This is herbal liquor made from the seven herbs of dragons. Uman brewed it himself. It will purify the students’ souls and drive away the impurities of the flesh.”

Uman spoke proudly.

When actually checked, Uman’s words were correct. Like a powerful potion, the drink had the effect of restoring the drinker’s body and purifying mana.

...Though considering the taste, it seemed better to just drink a regular potion!

“Everyone seems satisfied. Next is the appetizer.”

The glasses disappeared, and bowls appeared.

Agui soup boiled with ginger and lime. Crackers that could be picked up with one hand, accompanied by oranges, olives, coconut, pickled shellfish, cheese, and more. There was even a walnut and fruit salad.

This time it looked somewhat decent, so the students breathed sighs of relief.

“Lee Han, this looks okay!”

“Wait a second...”

Lee Han tried to stop him, but Gainando grabbed the soup bowl with a bright face.

The drink he had just consumed had unnecessarily increased his hunger.

“...Gack!”

Gainando dropped the spoon.

Once again, it was such an intense taste that he could not tell what it was supposed to be.

A taste that seemed to pry open all his taste buds and shake them violently!

I tried to stop him because of the mana.

Lee Han had first noticed the mana rippling inside the Agui soup.

Normally, adding ginger, lime, or Agui would not make mana fluctuate like that. Uman had definitely added the dragon clan’s secret herbs again.

Looking around, the students who had eaten the crackers or salad were suffering in the same way.

“These are appetizers using dragon spices. The intense flavor will activate the students’ metabolism and boost their mana circulation.”

“Hmm. Does His Highness perhaps judge that the Einroguard students are not suffering enough yet?”

The Skull Principal, who had tasted the food nearby, muttered.

It was the Skull Principal’s usual theory that Einroguard students needed hardship and trials, but even he had not wanted something this terrible.

What on earth had the students done wrong?

“Now that the appetizers are finished, I should bring out the proper meal.”

“Your Highness, I have something I would like to ask.”

Professor Garcia cautiously raised a hand and asked.

“Please ask away, Professor Garcia. What are you curious about?”

“This is just a special treat for this time only, right?”

“No! I, Uman, plan to personally prepare meals for the students and faculty throughout this semester. I have prepared all the necessary ingredients for that purpose.”

“...”

“...Outsiders get out!”

Crash!

When someone threw a plate, it became the signal for students everywhere to rise from their seats and smash the tableware.

Being tormented by the Skull Principal was already unfairly frustrating enough, but now they had to endure this kind of torture from an outsider for an entire semester?

Even as magic spells flew menacingly, Uman did not blink. Instead, he roared loudly.

——!

The flying magic spells could not overcome the power of the roar and were extinguished. Lee Han was impressed as he watched.

Pure mana could be applied like that too!

A dragon’s roar might be possible to implement with magic as well...

“Everyone, calm down. What is the matter?”

“The food tastes too terrible!”

“Just because of that?”

Uman looked shocked, as if he had heard something unbelievable.

How could Einroguard students say such childish things?

“Food should be eaten for health, not taste. If you chase only after taste, the balance of mind and body will be ruined.”

“We don’t care about that! We just want to eat something delicious!”

“I cannot allow that! I, Uman, as an inspector, will definitely change your thinking!”

When Uman gestured, knights dragged away the student who had just shouted.

It was not the punishment cells, but the student would be taken to solitary confinement and treated to meals and sermons until persuaded.

The Skull Principal whispered to Professor Garcia beside him.

“The students suffer anyway, and those who will go to the punishment cells will go anyway, so was there really any need for an inspector to come?”

“Don’t be happy about this situation...”

While Professor Garcia muttered with a devastated face, Lee Han took out a memo.

I might need to increase my outings.

To think Einroguard could become even worse.

This was something even Lee Han had not anticipated.