Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

"Grrrk. (Are you talking about the knights)?"

"Do not pretend you do not know... Of course I am talking about you!"

Diret threw aside the polite attitude usually shown toward them and snapped sharply.

The dark mages present were startled by that sight.

The dark mages of the Empire were not usually on especially good terms with one another, but even so, there were certain matters on which they shared similar views.

One of them was their evaluation of the younger generation who would lead the Empire's dark magic school in the future.

A steady influx of outstanding talent was an essential condition for ensuring that an academic lineage did not die out and that the school continued to flourish.

In that sense, the fact that a mage like Diret had entered the dark magic school was a piece of good fortune that even stubborn blockheads like the Descendants of Ahrak, who refused to listen to anyone, could not deny.

And yet a junior like that was getting so angry.

"What are you talking about? What did we do?"

"Stop lying. It will not work. You all know perfectly well what you did."

"......"

Only then did the dark mages put on ashamed expressions.

Thinking about it, it was only natural for Diret to be so angry.

During this northern incident, they had invited everyone except Einroguard's dark magic school.

"Grrrk. (The Descendants of Ahrak did that)."

"...We are sorry. Mortum was acting far too obnoxiously... Even so, we should have invited you."

"?"

Diret felt puzzled for a moment.

What did they mean by an invitation?

"An invitation? I am talking about your plan to forcibly take my junior away."

"!"

"What do you mean by an invitation..."

"So that is what you meant. Yes! That is what we meant!"

"Grrrk. (Right)!"

The dark mages answered quickly. Diret felt that something was strange, but let it pass for the moment.

"If you intend to take my junior away by force, I will formally raise the issue."

"There seems to be a misunderstanding. Of course we made him an offer! But we were discussing something else just now!"

"Grrrk. (We were discussing something more important)!"

The dark mages pointed at the magical documents scattered messily across the table as though they were truly being treated unfairly.

It was true that they had discussed inviting the mage of House Wardanaz.

However, they had only discussed it briefly, and after that, they had continued debating magic.

"A debate about magic?"

"We were discussing the magic required for a commission to reinforce House Moradi's fortress."

Caten explained kindly. At those words, Diret's expression softened slightly.

So they were not trying to drag the junior away by force, but were instead having a constructive discussion for the sake of a local noble house.

Perhaps Diret had judged the responsible dark mages of the Empire too harshly.

"What is this? Is this also part of the magical design?"

"Those are the spells the mages each wrote down for a wager over how much Junior would be able to learn."

"......"

Diret's expression immediately hardened again. The dark mages glared at Caten.

"Grrrk. (It would take a long time to explain)..."

"You do not need to explain. You happened to teach my junior one spell, and because my junior learned it so well, you began competing over how much my junior could learn."

"!!!"

The dark mages were startled.

How did Diret know?!

'Is there a spy among us?!'

Fortunately, Diret had not realized that they had taken the commission the junior had already completed, made it more difficult for no reason, and caused this entire commotion.

Had Diret realized that as well, it would have been impossible to remain calm.

"You should all be ashamed of yourselves! Forcing such things onto a student who is only in the second year... <Ahrak's Eye>? You are insisting on teaching something like this?!"

"Grrrk. (We already taught that one)..."

"Can you not keep quiet?"

The Descendant of Ahrak rebuked the undead beside them.

What an utterly tactless fool!

In the middle of this, the mage of the Obsidian Magic Tower spoke.

"May I say one thing?"

"What are you going to say?"

"Choosing the Obsidian Magic Tower over Einroguard's poor dark magic school is a rational decision, so I do not think it is really coercion."

"......"

***

In the end, despite his friends' attempts to stop him, Lee Han revised the completed design once again.

"I think it has improved considerably."

"It is perfect, isn't it? Let us never change it again."

"I think it is truly excellent. Lee Han. If you touch it any further, it might actually become worse."

Anglago and Dergeu praised it with exaggerated enthusiasm, then looked at Giselle. Giselle recoiled as though absolutely refusing.

'Are you insane?'

The two looked at Giselle again with desperation in their eyes. Since people who normally never acted like this were doing so now, it felt several times more burdensome.

"...I also think it is excellent, so let us stop changing it. Wardanaz."

"Hm. If even Moradi is saying that, then it really must be all right... Huh. Senior Diret?"

Lee Han spotted the familiar wings of a senior in the distance and stopped.

Why was Senior Diret here?

"What brings Senior Diret here?"

"I do not know. Since the dark mages gathered, perhaps Senior came as well?"

"That cannot be it. The dark mages excluded Einroguard's dark magic school and did not invite them."

"......"

"......"

At the unexpectedly sad backstory, the White Tiger Tower students fell silent.

How were they supposed to react to that!

Meanwhile, Diret arrived. Seeing Diret panting as though having run without stopping, Lee Han asked in puzzlement.

"Did something happen?"

"Ah, I did not fight anyone?"

"?"

"Nothing happened. Nothing at all!"

"Then what brings you here, Senior..."

"I came because there was a gathering of dark mages!"

"Was Einroguard's dark magic school not excluded from the invitation?"

"What!?"

Only then did Diret understand the meaning of the conversation the senior dark mages had been having.

Those petty and shameless bastards...!

"...Even without an invitation, I can learn about gatherings of dark mages. Do not ask how."

"How did... Ah, yes."

Lee Han started to ask, 'How did you participate?' but stopped himself.

"Since I am here, I stopped by to take a look at the commission you worked on, Junior. Will you show it to me? How far along is it?"

"Uh..."

At the senior's question, Lee Han hesitated for a moment.

The White Tiger Tower students who saw that felt an ominous premonition.

Surely not?

"It is not yet complete enough to show anyone."

"Really? Jahan said it was almost finished."

"Senior Caten knows absolutely nothing about magic. Do not trust him."

Lee Han poured out slander that would have brought tears to Caten's eyes had he heard it.

Of course, Diret did not believe him and looked at the junior suspiciously.

"You can simply give it to me."

"It truly is not finished at all..."

"That is a lie, Senior! It is completely finished! Make him stop changing it!"

Unable to endure it any longer, Anglago shouted. Then, to avoid Lee Han's murderous gaze, he hid behind Dergeu.

"...They say it is finished?"

"Anglago also knows absolutely nothing about magic..."

"Hand it over."

Diret took it almost by force and briefly examined it.

The result was even better than expected. Not only did it perfectly prevent both external intrusion and escape from within, but the amount of magic required was also far less than ordinary.

Magic possessed a beauty that emerged not from attaching countless things one after another, but from making something so concise that nothing more could be removed. Diret nodded and said.

"Excellent."

"Are you certain? Are you saying that on purpose..."

"Let us tell them to proceed with it as it is. Before the dark mages interfere any further."

Lee Han's friends behind him sighed in relief and offered their thanks.

'Thank you!'

"And Junior. It would be best for you to return to Einroguard as quickly as possible."

"Yes? Why is that?"

"That is... because if you remain outside too long, it will be difficult to catch up with the professors' teachings later."

"I see. Thank you for your concern."

Unlike Lee Han, who accepted the explanation, the friends behind him were confused because they could not understand it.

Now, all of a sudden?!

***

The dark mages gathered in the fortress complained and grumbled without end.

Ever since Diret of Einroguard's dark magic school had arrived, it had become difficult to make contact with the mage of House Wardanaz.

Diret had not only enlisted the help of Professor Garcia and Professor Kirmin, but even mobilized the Death Knights to establish a thorough barrier. Whenever the dark mages tried to visit the lodging, they had to undergo an endless search.

-Please cooperate with the search.

-Tch.

-This staff bears traces of having cast dangerous magic.

-You insane undead bastard! At my age, of course it does!

-You cannot pass until we summon a professor and conduct a detailed examination...

-Just say you are not letting me through!

-Really? You cannot enter.

-......

Renewing their hatred of Einroguard, the dark mages were eventually forced to retreat again and again.

"At least deliver this today. It is a masterpiece the dark mages here created after much anguish..."

-Understood. Understood.

"...Listen until the end!"

-This is why dark mages are so troublesome. Every time, they believe the magic they came up with is a masterpiece that will remain in history. I have seen more than hundreds of mages like you, youngster.

"......"

The Descendants of Ahrak truly hated these knights.

These undead, who persecuted them over their age every time they met, were practically their natural enemies.

"Deliver this as well. These are the spells each dark mage selected for the wager, and we would like a letter telling us which spell he learned the fastest and which spell he learned the slowest."

-What a truly worthless request.

The knights openly showed their displeasure, but did not block even this.

After taking the design for the insanely difficult magical structure and the spells the dark mages had selected for the purpose of their wager, the knights spoke as though something had suddenly occurred to them.

-Right. Student Wardanaz also left a letter for all of you. He said to open it after he left.

"Why should we obey that?"

-Do not worry. We also know that you will not obey. We will give it to you after everyone has left.

The knights put the letter away again. The dark mages were dumbfounded.

What kind of...!

And the Death Knights truly did not hand over the letter until the very end. Only after the carriage bearing Einroguard's flag had departed did they send the letter from a distance.

The dark mages unfolded the letter while grumbling.

What in the world could it contain for them to make this so troublesome...

To the Dark Mages

While all of you were busily choosing spells for your wager, the Devil Hag appeared and then simply left. I wanted to tell you, but the Devil Hag told me to inform you later, so I had no choice. I apologize.

Lee Han Wardanaz

"......"

"......"

***

"Student Lee Han. Are you looking at the magic the dark mages gave you?"

"Yes? Why would I look at something like that?"

Lee Han asked back in surprise at Professor Garcia's question.

These dark mages had nothing to do with the commission and nothing to do with his lectures. Strictly speaking, they were closer to troublesome outsiders.

Why would he look at the spells those dark mages had forced upon him?

"Ah. So that was not it."

Professor Garcia felt slightly embarrassed.

Lee Han had been reading so carefully that it naturally seemed to be something related to highly difficult magic...

"Then what is it?"

"Ah. After receiving advice from the knights, I was preparing a commission notice."

"...A commission notice? You are preparing one?"

Professor Garcia was startled by the statement that Lee Han was creating a commission instead of accepting one.

Was that not usually the other way around?

Person Wanted

Voladi Bagreg

Description:

...

...

Characteristics: Extremely aggressive

...

...

Upon discovery, do not make contact under any circumstances and contact the nearest knight order!

"...W-W-W-What in the world is this, Student Lee Han?"

"Yes? The knights offered to help find a person first."

"That was not what I was asking..."

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