Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

Making a contract with a star was several times harder than merely finding one.

Under the Yachaowang’s harsh instruction, Lee Han managed to draw out only fragments of the star’s power.

Hmm. It feels like you could draw out a little more.

“I should get going now.”

Come to think of it, aren’t you curious about this place?

“I should get going now.”

That valley over there is where Osyu got beaten up—

“I should get going— …Wait. What did you just say?”

Lee Han stopped mid-step and stared sharply at the Yachaowang.

Does this guy actually know everything and toy with people on purpose?

The Yachaowang pointed toward a distant valley with an unreadable expression.

That is where the Kinnara and Gandharva dwell. They acknowledge me as their king, but they do not serve me. And though I reign as king, I do not rule them.

A Kinnara musician with the body of a half-human, half-bird noticed Lee Han and began to play as though welcoming him.

The melody carried a strange magical power. It reminded Lee Han of a siren’s song, except the effect was completely opposite. The exhaustion he had accumulated while concentrating on celestial magic melted away.

“They seem pleasant enough. …So why did they beat Master up?”

Hmm. I did not ask directly, but Osyu likely believed he needed their strength. To ascend further, even gathering every secret and every scrap of wisdom in this dimension would not have been enough. Seeking the power of the ancient races would not have been strange.

“So exactly when did he get beaten up?”

The Yachaowang ignored the question.

Osyu recovered here while recuperating, then went to meet them. And he said this:

‘You who sing melodies and burn incense—hear the words of a mage who inherited the dragons’ advancement. Help me obtain the truth above. If you do, I shall grant you greater freedom.’

“No way. They beat him up over that?”

Without realizing it, Lee Han found himself taking the Skull Principal’s side.

The current Skull Principal was one thing, but the Skull Principal of the past had apparently gone around trying to do good deeds, only to get treated terribly for it.

When Lee Han glared at the Kinnara musician in the valley, the other side merely shrugged as though innocent.

No. They did not attack him simply because of what he said.

“Then why?”

After they ignored him, Osyu attempted to earn recognition through force. That was when he got beaten up.

Young Osyu had already been an Archmage who wielded dragon magic, but the Kinnara and Gandharva of that valley were warriors who had dealt with outsiders for countless years.

Once they took advantage of the terrain they knew so well and struck back, even Osyu could not endure it for long. He retreated to the Yachaowang’s palace.

“…”

Are you considering revenge on behalf of your master? If so, I could assist you.

Could this be a trap?

If you suspect I am laying a trap, you are mistaken. I may be their king, but I never swore to protect them unconditionally. If Osyu’s disciple wishes it…

“…No. It’s fine.”

Hmm. Is that because of your emotional attachment to your master?

If he had to choose, Lee Han felt more inclined to punch the Yachaowang one more time than the Kinnara and Gandharva.

“If Master had wanted revenge, he would’ve handled it himself. Besides, wasn’t he the one who tried to force them into submission first?”

True enough. Still, there are parts I do not understand. In a situation like that, would not a mage naturally need to demonstrate power? Let me say this beforehand: they cannot be persuaded. They care for nothing except music and incense.

“If they can’t be persuaded, then couldn’t he have just left and looked elsewhere?”

Lee Han answered in disbelief at the nonsense the Yachaowang was spouting.

What exactly changed by forcibly subduing opponents that powerful and making them obey?

At best, it would only earn you knives in the back later. It was the last kind of choice someone should make when pursuing a goal that difficult.

Other places would have been much the same. Very few beings in this dimension willingly share their wisdom with outsiders. Kings like me are exceptionally rare.

“Just because the situation is hopeless doesn’t suddenly make reckless decisions good ones…”

Hmm.

Lee Han flinched.

To his surprise, the Yachaowang burst into hearty laughter.

Is he laughing because I insulted the Skull Principal?

The disciple surpasses the master in some respects as well.

“What? In what way…”

It obviously wasn’t magic.

Lee Han briefly considered whether he meant character, then hesitated.

Against the current Skull Principal, Lee Han was confident he would win any contest of character.

The Skull Principal of the past, however, was another matter entirely.

Honestly, it’s hard to believe, but objectively speaking… there’s a chance the Skull Principal used to be somewhat… fairly… considerably… well, at the very least, not completely terrible.

And if that were true, Lee Han would probably lose the character contest too.

Truthfully, he wasn’t confident he could live the way the past Skull Principal apparently had.

“What aspect are you talking about?”

If you are not emotionally resentful toward your master, I will tell you. In your current state, however, I cannot.

This bastard.

Instead, let me tell you another story. In the skies over there dwell demons, and Osyu was once deceived by them.

“Seriously!?”

Yes. The way he was deceived was—

The Yachaowang abruptly stopped speaking.

Behind the Black Book, a dimensional gate began to ripple open.

Hmm. Is it already time for you to return? I shall look forward to your next visit.

“Wait, at least tell me how he got tricked by the demons before I leave—!”

But Lee Han had already spent too much time studying celestial magic.

The dimensional gate did not wait for him. It swallowed him whole.

The Black Book bowed politely to the Yachaowang before following after Lee Han into the gate.

Left alone, the Yachaowang silently showed his respect.

A mage who had reached the truth—and the disciple who followed behind him—were both worthy of a king’s respect.

***

“Ugh.”

Lee Han woke beneath sunlight streaming through the window and groaned.

It felt as though a gigantic dragon were crushing him in its embrace. His telekinetic barrier was on the verge of shattering.

After hastily reinforcing the spell, Lee Han was about to wake Jowurin when he felt something inside his pocket.

“!”

A familiar horn-shaped fragment.

It resembled the horn fragment he had received from the yatcha within Einroguard’s territory, except the energy sealed inside this one was incomparably deeper and denser.

If Lee Han remembered correctly, it was an item used to request aid.

…Wait. But can he actually come here?

Unlike the yatcha bound to the same territory, the Yachaowang existed in a distant dimension.

There was no contract between «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» them, nor any direct connection to this world. Lee Han doubted a single horn fragment would truly be enough to summon him.

Thunk—

While he was thinking, something collided with the window outside.

Looking up, he saw a paper bird. It slipped through a crack in the window and flew toward him. Then the voice sealed inside it began to play.

“-Help m—”

Smack!

It never finished.

Still half-asleep, Jowurin irritably crushed the paper bird.

That sounded like Professor Verdus just now…?

Before Lee Han could process it, several more paper birds flew in. Jowurin intercepted them with astonishing precision, swatting them down with wings and tail alike.

There was a reason dragons were dragons. Lee Han found himself newly impressed by Jowurin’s abilities.

“Your Majesty. Your Majesty.”

Mmm?

Still drowsy, Jowurin cracked open one eye and glanced around at the sound of Lee Han’s voice.

She could hear him somewhere nearby, but she couldn’t see him.

“I’m over here.”

“…Noooooooo!”

Jowurin released a scream powerful enough to shake the entire Blue Dragon Tower.

She had almost crushed Lee Han in her sleep!

Lee Han! You can’t die! You absolutely can’t die!

“I’m fine…”

“What happened?”

Eandurde, who had gone out early to gather fruit for Jowurin, rushed in at the scream.

Jowurin crushed Lee Han!!

“…Grrrr!”

Eandurde immediately bared his hostility and glared at Jowurin. Panicked, Jowurin hurriedly defended herself.

I-I didn’t mean to…! I was half asleep…!

“Grrrrrr!”

“I’m not dead.”

Lee Han strengthened his telekinesis, lifted Jowurin’s foreleg, and finally crawled free.

Jowurin, who had been on the verge of tears, blinked in confusion when she saw him unharmed.

Is Lee Han sturdy enough not to get hurt?

“Absolutely not. I blocked it with magic.”

Lee Han answered immediately, worried that a misunderstanding here might result in even tighter hugs later.

Even so, Eandurde continued glaring at Jowurin like she was some infamous dragon-slayer. Jowurin sniffled miserably while explaining herself.

I-I was half asleep…

“Grrr.”

I said I didn’t do it on purpose!

“Grrr!”

“Eandurde. Calm down. If it had actually been dangerous, I would’ve escaped earlier. More importantly…”

“What happened?!”

Before Lee Han could mention Professor Verdus, Professor Bendozol burst into the room in a panic.

He had apparently heard Jowurin’s scream while camping outside the Blue Dragon Tower.

“What in the world happened!? Dragon! Which eternally cursed bastards frightened you!?”

Jowurin thought she had crushed Lee Han.

“You bastard! How could you make the Dragon misunderstand like that!?”

Don’t yell at Lee Han!

Jowurin growled threateningly at Professor Bendozol.

Professor Bendozol looked moments away from strangling himself in apology.

“I was wrong! Please calm yourself!”

Y-Yes. Understood.

“I’ve prepared a meal. If you wish, I can have it brought immediately.”

Oh! Jowurin wanted to try eating an Einroguard meal together with everyone here…

“Haha. Absolutely not.”

Lee Han shut that idea down instantly.

If Jowurin started eating the meals distributed at Einroguard, she might evolve into some kind of insane dragon or demon dragon.

After considerable persuasion, Jowurin reluctantly nodded, and Professor Bendozol immediately began ordering food inside.

“Hey! Bring the dishes in!”

The demons working at Einroguard grumbled while hauling in the food.

What kind of pointless suffering are we enduring because of that lunatic professor!?

A massive banquet table soon filled the room, covered in nearly every dish an Einroguard student could dream of.

Pumpkin and potato potage. Gratin and salads. Southern Imperial-style sauté. Juicy wild boar and turkey piled high like towers. Whole roasted veal stuffed to bursting. Fish dishes arranged around broth made to resemble a lake. Custards and tarts. Soufflés and chocolates. Puddings and cream.

Yonair, rubbing sleep from his eyes as he descended, stopped dead in confusion.

“Wh… what is all this?”

“A meal the professor prepared.”

“Does Her Majesty normally eat like this?”

Before Jowurin could answer, she shook her head with a troubled expression.

Jowurin doesn’t even eat this much to begin with.

“Professor. Could we invite the other students to eat with us?”

“Are you insane??”

“Your Majesty. May we invite the other students to eat with us?”

Yes!

Professor Bendozol shot Lee Han one furious glare before hurrying off to summon the students.

The tower students, initially confused, quickly grasped the situation and immediately rushed off to drag their friends over too.

“Praise be to Her Majesty!”

“Long live Princess Jowurin! Truly, praise the mercy of royalty!”

“…Hey.”

Aside from a few displeased nobles, everyone else was ecstatic.

Jowurin herself looked especially delighted by the sudden flood of praise.

Could everyone be treated like this tomorrow too?

“Of course, Dragon!”

Professor Bendozol answered with a broad grin.

Any complaints about feeding students had already vanished from his mind.

Meanwhile, Lee Han could see the demons below the tower carrying more food while their expressions twisted viciously.

The professor’s definitely getting attacked later, isn’t he?

Excited, Jowurin chattered away beside him.

Come to think of it, Lee Han! Jowurin caught bugs that were targeting Lee Han inside the dream! Lee Han doesn’t need to worry anymore. Jowurin will protect Lee Han outside dreams too.

“That’s reassuring, Your Majesty. Ah…”

Only then did Lee Han remember the paper bird messages and hesitate.

Hmm. I can mention it after everyone finishes eating.

Lee Han nodded toward Gainando, who had been tugging at his sleeve, and cut the steak into smaller pieces for him.