Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

When Lee Han imagined it, it did not seem as though it would be very enjoyable.

Having to dodge lethal magical attacks flying at him inside a carriage or on top of a wyvern.

Moreover, in a place like a carriage, it would be cramped, making it even harder to dodge.

I should stay in open spaces as much as possible.

While Lee Han was pondering that, he noticed Professor Voladi’s gaze and quickly made an excuse.

“Haha. I was just moved by the professors’ kindness.”

“It is nothing so grand.”

“Then are you planning to beat me up... I mean, teach me while we travel?”

Professor Voladi nodded.

Since he planned to conduct lectures in spare moments, travel time would likely make up a large portion of it.

Other than that, he was considering using time spent doing odd jobs, time spent solving and explaining friends’ assignments for them, time spent going to catch friends who ran away in the middle of assignments, time spent managing Professor Thunderstep’s vegetable garden, and so on.

“I see... Oh, then is Professor Garcia going to teach the same way too?”

Lee Han realized it belatedly.

Professor Garcia was not the sort of person who would recommend that others sacrifice themselves while avoiding any sacrifice of her own.

If it had been Professor Verdus, he would have told the other professors, “You all compromise a little so I can conduct my lectures,” but Professor Garcia would never do that.

Professor Garcia had probably also chosen flexible lectures rather than regular lectures, just like Professor Voladi.

“That is correct.”

“Aha.”

Lee Han thought about the times he would be going outside.

When he imagined Professor Voladi on his left and Professor Garcia on his right, each going on and on about magic, he suddenly felt afraid.

...Would he really be able to endure it?

“Wait a moment, Professor. Is Professor Garcia going outside with us too?”

There was a reason Lee Han asked.

In fact, having professors accompany students every time they went outside was more difficult than one might think. Professors had their own work to do.

Professor Voladi had no disciples and was not assigned other duties, so it would not matter much if Professor Voladi accompanied Lee Han when he received commissions, but Professor Garcia...

She must be taking care of the first-years, and doesn’t she have quite a lot of work assigned at Einroguard?

After nearly two years at Einroguard, Lee Han had some understanding of how work was distributed among the faculty.

Einroguard’s structure was such that the kinder and more good-natured a professor was, the more work that professor ended up taking on.

In fact, Lee Han had once seen something like this written in a professor’s office.

Eastern castle wall repairs: Professor Verdus Professor Garcia

Desert region monster confirmation: Professor Thunderstep Professor Garcia

Writing an explanatory letter to submit to the Empire: Professor Paserlet Professor Garcia

—regarding the graduate underground-waterway slime-rampage incident

...

You bastards who erased your names and dumped the work on Professor Garcia, get to the principal’s office right now!

Just from that alone, one could guess how much work Professor Garcia was unknowingly taking on.

“Yes.”

“Will that really be all right?”

At his disciple’s question, Professor Voladi fell into reminiscence for a moment.

Originally, before the semester began, the professors would gather and hold brief meetings.

The topics of those meetings varied.

Sometimes they discussed lecture content for the semester, sometimes they talked about strange phenomena occurring at Einroguard, and sometimes they discussed methods for adding the lectures or exams they wanted while avoiding the Skull Principal’s surveillance.

“That’s right. I heard Student Lee Han has been receiving many commissions. Is there anyone who could help?”

“Help with what?”

“For example, teaching during spare time outside lecture hours...”

“I could have him help with my work during spare time outside lecture hours!”

“Anyone other than Professor Verdus?”

“Why are you ignoring my opinion?”

“I will do it.”

“Thank you, Professor Bagreg! Oh, right. You said you would be going outside with him for this commission? Would it be all right if I accompanied you too?”

“Please do so.”

“...Huh? Wait, wait. Professor Garcia. You’re going outside with them?”

“Yes.”

“Th-then what about the work you’re currently handling...”

“The other professors will have to do it.”

Professor Garcia answered firmly.

Although she usually took the initiative to help other professors with their work, now was not the time to worry about that. She was too concerned about her disciple.

Not only were commissions piling up, but he was going outside with Professor Bagreg. And right now, there was even the evil-god-worshipper incident.

Professor Bagreg was not someone who would listen if she tried to stop him, and neither was the Skull Principal. Professor Garcia decided that she should at least accompany them.

“Professor Garcia. Please reconsider...!”

“Can’t we just send Professor Verdus to accompany them instead? He’d only be a hindrance anyway.”

“Are you seriously saying that right now? Are you determined to get on Professor Garcia’s nerves?”

“I can’t hear you. I can’t hear anything. I’m going to accompany them.”

Professor Voladi, finishing his recollection, answered simply.

“There were no particular problems.”

“Is that so?”

Lee Han was honestly a little surprised.

He had thought many people would try to stop Professor Garcia from going outside...

...Could it be that Einroguard’s professors had more conscience than he thought?

Maybe I was too prejudiced.

***

The surprising events did not end there.

The same declaration came from Diret’s second-semester lecture, 【Forbidden Secret Arts of Dark Magic (Not a Teaching Lecture)】.

“Professor Garcia earnestly requested it. Junior, I’ll teach you separately during spare time.”

“S-Senior, are you planning to come along on the commission too??”

Lee Han was shocked.

If Professor Voladi was on his left, Professor Garcia on his right, and Senior Diret behind him, each going on and on about magic...

That seems like it would be too much.

“What? Come along on the commission?”

Diret tilted her head, not understanding what her junior was talking about.

Teaching separately during spare time literally meant teaching during break time—though she was not sure whether her junior had any—or on weekends.

A commission?

“Ah. That’s not it. I thought you were coming along when I went outside on commissions, like the professors.”

“...They’re accompanying you on commissions?!”

Diret belatedly understood what her junior meant and was shocked.

Although she was an upperclassman at Einroguard, this was the first time she had ever heard of such bizarre lectures.

What, they followed him outside to torment—no, teach—him?

“Isn’t that too... harsh? Do they really need to go that far?”

“Actually, there’s a long story behind this.”

“All right. I understand. Be careful. Have a safe trip.”

“...Are you perhaps angry?”

Lee Han was flustered when the senior he respected cut off the conversation.

Had he done something wrong?

“Regardless of the reason, you’re going to go outside anyway even if I try to stop you, right?”

“That’s... true.”

“And the professors are going with you?”

“Yes. But the circumstances are...”

“Then I don’t want to hear it.”

Like a mage who had dealt with many troublesome friends, Diret was wise.

Since her junior was going outside with the professors anyway, there was no reason to torment herself by listening to the reasons.

“...”

Lee Han became dejected.

Am I really that bad? Still, I’m better than someone like Senior Yukbeltire... No. Damn it. Who am I comparing myself to?

Only then did Lee Han realize it with horror.

Comparing himself to Yukbeltire and taking confidence from the fact that he was still better was like throwing human dignity straight down to rock bottom.

“Ugh. I understand, Senior. I’ll let you know in advance next time.”

“That would be good.”

Lee Han turned around dejectedly and walked out. Seeing his retreating figure, Diret sighed deeply once and called out again.

“Junior.”

“Yes?”

“...What’s the rest of the story?”

“!”

Lee Han turned around in great surprise.

And thought to himself.

Isn’t this exactly why this person keeps getting played by Senior Yukbeltire?

“What? What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing at all. Haha. I was just organizing my thoughts.”

***

Hmm. If they could just make a few more lectures more convenient for me, things would definitely be easier.

Lee Han sat in the lounge, spinning his quill pen.

Honestly, he had worried a great deal when the semester began. With lectures and requests added on top, there physically was not enough time.

But surprisingly, he actually had more time than last semester.

The kind professors’ consideration played a part, but more than anything...

“...”

Lee Han looked at his friends with pity.

The second-year lounge, usually packed with warm comfort and abundant snacks, now felt like a haunted house in ruins.

The Blue Dragon Tower students were sprawled in the corners with half-vacant expressions. Gainando was grinding his teeth and muttering.

“How on earth did he find the Mage Cards? I hid them in my private room...!”

A lounge where meals and games could not be enjoyed was no lounge at all. It looked more like a punishment cell.

But paradoxically, because of these changed rules, Lee Han had gained a great deal of extra time.

With cooking, cleaning, and helping with assignments all removed, it was hard not to have time left over.

Surprising. I didn’t know I was spending this much time on those things.

Iactus: Does anyone know how the new inspector finds prohibited items? He’s far more insane than I thought!

Complaints were also coming from <Einroguard’s Watchers>. It seemed several unlucky members had been properly caught by Wuman.

Unbreakable One: What did you do?

Iactus: I can’t tell you everything, but I’ll just say I used prohibited transportation for prohibited hunting to have a prohibited meal. Even though we ate in a forest where giants appear, he suddenly showed up. Does being a dragon give you everything?

Unbreakable One: If it’s a forest where giants appear, that must be the Iron Forest! And you still wandered around there!

Iactus: Are there any other members besides Unbreakable One? I want to talk to someone else.

Unbreakable One: Don’t ignore me and listen properly to what I’m saying!

Oh dear.

Lee Han thought to himself.

The popularity of this member called Unbreakable One had hit rock bottom. The member always ruined everyone’s fun with righteous remarks.

Baquantalana: Dragon magic has far more profound and secret aspects than the Empire’s magic. If you trace its tradition, it goes back to ancient times.

Iactus: Enough with the explanation. I want a way to avoid it. Oh, right. Wasn’t there a mage among the second-years who’s friendly with a dragon? Wardanaz, wasn’t it?

“!”

Lee Han panicked when his name suddenly came up. Fortunately, Senior Ilendil seemed to be watching as well and stepped in for him.

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Being friendly will not be very effective, since it is a different dragon. Dragons are stubborn about these things, even more so than others.

Iactus: Damn it. So we just have to watch while an inspector from outside destroys all the school’s traditions and culture? What is the Skull Principal doing?

Though the members usually cursed the Skull Principal whenever they felt like it, that was one thing and this was another.

Iactus could not give up and continued pressing.

Iactus: Even if he’s friendly with a different dragon, he’s still friendly with a dragon. Wouldn’t he know dragon weaknesses or ways to deceive their magic?

Baquantalana: If it could be broken through just by hearing one secret, dragon magic would not have such a high reputation.

Iactus: Shut up. You lost your club to an outsider last time.

A fight immediately broke out. Lee Han sighed in relief. Fortunately, it seemed he had avoided attention.

He did not want to get caught by the upperclassmen and be forced to create something like an Anti-Prince Wuman Society.

Lee Han!

“...???”

When letters suddenly appeared, Lee Han wondered whether <Einroguard’s Watchers> had malfunctioned again like last time.

What is it?

Seeing that the other members were not reacting, it was not a new member joining the club. It was definitely a direct contact to Lee Han’s artifact.

Who are you?

Jowrin! Jowrin! Jowrin is trapped right now!

...Uh, by whom? The Principal?

No! By my wicked younger brother! Lee Han must save me!

“...”

Lee Han remained silent for a moment, then wrote in the club.

Gonadaltes: Does anyone know about dragon weaknesses?