Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

Even so, Lee Han did not stop attacking.

The thought that points might have been deducted from his assignment had destructive power comparable to word-command magic.

-Can’t you let it go, you lunatic?!

“What? You made a mistake, and now you’re getting angry at me?”

Lee Han was appalled.

As expected of a mage criminal, the hamster’s shamelessness was no ordinary thing.

To react like this after giving him wrong information?

-If you have time for this, think harder about how to deal with the tyrant.

“I am thinking. If you’re going to say things like that, you should come up with a good plan first.”

-I actually did think of one.

“!”

Lee Han looked at the hamster in surprise.

Though, since the hamster was buried in sawdust, he couldn’t see much.

As expected of an archmage, the hamster had come up with a good idea.

“I knew it. I believed in you.”

-…

“So what’s the method?”

The hamster wanted to curse, but held back and spoke.

-Frustratingly enough, the secrets that tyrant possesses are deep and ancient. Mortals of the present age like us cannot easily predict them. In the end, to return him to his original state, we need to extract those secrets.

Right now, the tyrant was sealed by the King of the yachas from another dimension.

If the hamster had still been in its original state, it would have tried to read the tyrant’s secrets and knowledge directly. But now that it had been turned into a hamster and stripped of all ability, it planned to teach Lee Han the method and leave the task to him.

-This magic is 【Mnemosyne’s Mirror】. It is powerful magic created during the Three Kingdoms period.

【Mnemosyne’s Mirror】 was a spell that summoned a magical bronze mirror linked to the target into the air.

At first glance, summoning a single mirror might not sound impressive. However, the caster could obtain desired information from the mirror through questions and answers.

When interrogating someone protected by magical defenses, extracting information was no easy task. This spell, however, could pierce through such protections.

-You’ll need skill, since you have to draw out the information through brief questions and answers, but I’ll guide you from the side.

“Amazing. I never knew magic like that existed.”

Lee Han was sincerely impressed.

Perhaps that pure admiration softened the hamster’s anger, because its next squeak sounded far less irritated.

-The horizon of magic is always vaster than expected. Before it, we mages are nothing more than insignificant insects. To become even slightly larger insects, we must scrape together secrets.

‘What an unpleasant analogy.’

Still, since the hamster had provided a good method, Lee Han kept the thought to himself.

“Wait. If we need to extract information from Master, couldn’t we directly look into Master’s past and experience it?”

-That is the most ridiculous nonsense I’ve heard recently. Why not wish to become the only god on the continent and use that power to reverse-summon the tyrant while you’re at it?

The hamster squeaked in contempt.

Of course, what Lee Han had just said was not strictly impossible.

But magic was not a convenient tool that granted every wish a mage made.

The hamster could not even imagine how much magic and how many secrets would be required to realize such a thing.

“I only asked because I thought there might be a method.”

-Just because the horizon of magic is vast does not mean you can spout whatever nonsense comes to mind.

For the first time in a while, the hamster lectured him with a dignity befitting an archmage.

Or rather, squeaked at him.

***

“Student Lee Han. This is an ancient artifact called 【Kairos’s Scepter】. We’ll use it to directly experience the Principal’s past.”

“…”

-…

Lee Han stared silently at the hamster.

The hamster was too dumbfounded to speak.

Who could have imagined they would possess such an absurdly fraudulent artifact?

-That’s not magic! That’s an ancient artifact from the Three Kingdoms period…!

“It’s fine.”

Lee Han spoke first to the hamster, who was trying to make excuses.

“Professor Garcia is amazing. It doesn’t mean you’re inadequate. Right?”

When people thought of mage criminals, they often imagined magical monsters who ignored imperial law and morality, devoted themselves wholly to magic, and advanced one step ahead of everyone else.

Lee Han’s opinion was a little different.

Wouldn’t the mages of the magic school that inherited the Empire’s oldest magical lineage and received the Empire’s greatest support for magical research be superior to mage criminals in magic?

The latter probably wandered cold wastelands, dodging pursuit and unable to focus properly on research.

‘Unlicensed researchers usually aren’t as impressive as people think.’

Lee Han’s considerate attempt at comfort did not reach the hamster at all.

Realizing that this brat was patronizingly consoling it, the hamster became more enraged than humiliated.

-$%*&$@^&!@!

‘What era’s language is that?’

Unfortunately, Lee Han had not yet learned many ancient languages, so he couldn’t understand the hamster’s words.

“Student Lee Han. I originally wanted to give you more time to prepare, but this matter is urgent, so I’m rushing you. Will you be alright?”

“Ah. Yes. You can start right away. I’m ready.”

At Professor Garcia’s call, Lee Han nodded and looked up.

Then he froze slightly.

“…Uh, Professor.”

“What is it, Student Lee Han?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

Lee Han was flustered by Professor Garcia’s appearance.

At some point, Professor Garcia had taken out and put on antique plate armor Lee Han had never seen before.

Rather than looking fitting, it gave off the awkward impression of a mage who had never worn armor in a lifetime forcing it on.

“Professor. Professor.”

Lee Han called Professor Voladi Bagreg.

An expert would know best about such things.

“Professor Garcia seems nervous. Will that be alright?”

Even as he asked, Lee Han felt a little awkward.

Who was worrying about whom?

Although Professor Garcia had not trained professionally in magical combat, this was still a genius who had mastered all existing Imperial magic schools, as well as time magic, spatial magic, and fist magic.

For Lee Han to worry about such a person could be considered presumptuous.

‘But I can’t help being worried.’

“It seems dangerous.”

“!”

At Professor Voladi Bagreg’s words, Lee Han’s heart sank.

As expected, even from an expert’s perspective, Professor Garcia was showing signs of nervousness.

“Then what should we do?”

“I ask that you guard Professor Garcia.”

“?”

Lee Han turned around for a moment.

After hearing Professor Voladi Bagreg’s words, he wondered if there was someone else nearby who would be guarding Professor Garcia.

Naturally, there was no one.

“…Ah, you mean me?”

“?”

Professor Voladi Bagreg looked at the disciple with slight puzzlement.

Although nothing was said aloud, Lee Han could practically hear the thought: Who else would I mean?

“I’m not sure I dare guard Professor Garcia.”

At the disciple’s modesty, Professor Voladi Bagreg stared at him quietly again. Then came a brief answer.

“You are sufficient.”

‘No matter how I think about it, if an enemy appears that Professor Garcia can’t handle, I’ll probably be blown away too.’

Though he was somewhat reluctant, Lee Han accepted it for now.

And in truth, if they were going somewhere dangerous, having Professor Garcia in the group was beneficial for Lee Han as well.

Even if Professor Voladi Bagreg gave some outrageous order, there would be someone there to stop it.

If Professor Garcia weren’t present…

-There are ten of the strongest ancient mages over there. Go bring back their heads.

-Professor!

…a situation like that could easily happen.

While Lee Han and Professor Voladi Bagreg were talking, Professor Garcia finished preparing the magic while holding the scepter.

“Everyone, come here.”

The mana flowing from the scepter split into sixty branches, then each branch split into sixty again, before dividing once more into twenty-four fragments.

Professor Garcia entered a state of pure concentration, empty of all distracting thoughts.

No matter how powerful the ancient artifact was, everything could not be left to the artifact alone.

Power was, in a sense, a double-edged sword. The moment control slipped, it could harm the mage using it.

【Kairos’s Scepter】 was a precious artifact and treasure specially managed even by Einroguard, but it was not omnipotent.

It could not be used casually, like briefly experiencing sunrise three days ago or noon two days ago.

It could only reach a moment the caster focused on with unwavering determination.

After entering that moment and completing the experience, the scepter would also require rest and recharging.

‘Scepter, take us to the time where a clue to this problem exists!’

Woooooong—

With an indescribably low vibration, the scepter’s light enveloped the mages.

When all the work was complete, Professor Garcia unconsciously had a different thought for one brief instant.

‘But if Student Lee Han is here, charging it might not be that difficult…

***

Pop!

“Huff, huff, huff, huff.”

Professor Garcia breathed heavily, face pale blue.

Even if the work was already complete, losing focus while using an artifact was still unacceptable.

For a mage who researched ancient artifacts, this was an inexcusable mistake.

Seeing the professor’s condition, Lee Han was deeply startled.

‘This is no ordinary artifact. For Professor Garcia to struggle this much…’

Of course, using powerful ancient artifacts was never easy, but he had not expected Professor Garcia to be exhausted to this extent.

“Professor. Thank you. Using such a dangerous artifact for my sake…”

“…???”

Professor Garcia wondered what the disciple was talking about.

The scepter was not that dangerous an artifact.

“What are you saying… Oh. Over there!”

Professor Garcia pointed behind them.

A strange landscape, unlike anything in the Empire ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ of the present continent, spread before their eyes.

From the architecture to the clothing of the people running about, nothing resembled the present. Lee Han realized they had truly arrived in the distant past.

Submit, all races. Submit to me, Esadojikwa, chief adjutant and foremost herald of the Lord of Wrath!

“…Gasp!”

Professor Garcia was not shocked only because the scenery had changed.

In one corner of their vision, a gigantic demon was leading an army in an assault.

The demon resembled a minotaur. Each time it stamped a foot, barriers collapsed. Each time it swung an arm, castle gates shattered.

For Lee Han, who had only ever seen demons being tormented by mages, the demon army that seemed to have marched straight out of old legends was a tremendous shock.

The people inside the small town activated barriers and spire magic to block the demons’ attack, but the difference in power was obvious to anyone watching.

-Demon, how dare you invade the territory of the Kingdom of Margada! Insolent creature!

Fortunately, reinforcements soon arrived.

Lee Han was shocked once again by the sight of hundreds of magic golems charging across the plain.

He knew the wars of the past had been fierce, but he had never imagined they had looked like this.

“Move. The demons will notice us soon.”

At Professor Voladi Bagreg’s words, the group came back to their senses.

Seeing the demon army begin to retreat, it seemed likely they would be discovered soon. To avoid unnecessary combat, they needed to move.

“We need to ask where the Principal is, but can we enter the city?”

“That may be difficult, Student Lee Han. The people of this era may see us as…”

Professor Garcia was cautious.

Of course, Professor Garcia knew a fair amount about ancient customs from literature.

Everyone in the group was an excellent mage, and in ancient times, mages were treated with great respect. Things might go smoothly.

“Oh!”

Just then, they spotted patrol guards emerging from the city. Professor Garcia carefully greeted them.

“Hello? We are—”

“Judging by your clothing, are you escaped slaves?”

“…”