Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 996

Chapter 996

Of course, Yi-Han didn't release the hamster.

The hamster, trapped in the cage, could only pray that Gonadaltes would show mercy to his disciple.

-So you managed to somehow resolve the berserk state, and learned a small world.-

The skull principal revealed his displeasure by making his bones clatter instead of clicking his tongue.

He wasn't displeased about the fact that he had learned a small world. That was something worthy of praise.

What displeased him was that he was using the small world he had learned to act as a spy.

-That crown wasn't inherited for this, nor was it a burnt offering for this. And you. You little hamster. Are you inciting him from the side?-

-?!-

The hamster felt his heart sink.

Outside the territory, he had been a magic criminal who mocked Gonadaltes, but when actually facing a great mage who could knead the world to his will, he was overwhelmed by the pressure and couldn't open his mouth.

-Wh-what do you mean...-

-He was trying to commit suicide, and the head servant isn't one to refuse, so the only one who could have told him how to stop it is you! Even if he learned a small world, to make a mage's body receive the world's flames of fear. Just you wait until this is over.-

The skull principal's deduction was sharp.

He had clearly pinpointed the culprit in this brief situation.

Even if Yi-Han had learned a small world and drunk the wine of wisdom, the absolute amount of his magical knowledge was indeed lacking.

There was only one rat that could supplement that from the side.

Unable to watch any longer, Yi-Han defended him.

"Please don't be so harsh on the hamster. I asked him."

-Hmph. You must have been deceived by that magic criminal. How cunning their tongues are. Didn't I tell you so? Have you already forgotten?-

The skull principal was being unreasonable.

Of course, the principal knew well that his disciple wasn't so easy as to fall for magic criminals' tongues.

But when a situation is displeasing, the disliked one looks even more hateful.

That was exactly the case for the hamster.

-I can see right through you, Bat-danaz. You're trying to keep that doppelganger alive to extract more magic from him, aren't you? You're that kind of fellow.-

'No.'

Yi-Han was dumbfounded.

To think a great mage would attempt such petty instigation?

-Is... is that true?-

The hamster asked with a squeak of shock.

If he was really doing all this for such a purpose, this Wardanaz family boy was a monster of magic far surpassing himself.

"Be quiet before I throw you in front."

Squeak...

The hamster quietly closed his mouth.

-But you're wrong. I usually respect my disciple's freedom, but that doppelganger is too dangerous. I'll teach you magic, so step aside quickly.-

The skull principal spoke benevolently.

Ignoring him, Yi-Han spoke to the mad doppelganger behind.

"You don't actually believe that instigation, do you? Who would go through all this trouble just to learn one more magic?"

"Step aside."

"...No! Are you really going to use an excuse at the hamster's level?!"

Though his disciple raged, the mad doppelganger paid no heed and spoke.

"I didn't even listen to such nonsense in the first place. The match is decided. The loser has the loser's fate. Even if it's sorrow, one must not defy it."

"The front is already troublesome enough, do you have to do this too, Master?"

Yi-Han gritted his teeth.

When he needed all the help he could get, he was being thoroughly irritating from behind.

However, the mad doppelganger seemed to have already made up his mind. The skull principal spoke as if he had expected this.

-See, Bat-danaz. He understands the meaning of my words.-

The skull principal wasn't surprised by the other's acceptance of defeat.

It was because they fully understood each other's way of thinking.

The doppelganger knew how dangerous he was, knew he had no chance of winning, and above all, knew how despicable it was to use his disciple as a shield when he had already lost.

As such, he would accept the fate of eternal sealing like this.

However, the disciple, true to being someone's disciple, was stubborn.

"Principal. Even just looking at Einroguard, various demons are walking around. Isn't Orifulas working diligently? With proper calculations, contracts, and preparations, even the world's flames of fear should be controllable."

-For whose sake?-

"Pardon?"

-Bat-danaz. You don't know the true meaning of the world's rejection. What you experienced is just a fraction of a fraction. It's an eternal punishment. Do you really think that's good for him?-

"..."

Yi-Han was at a loss for words, being pointed out an aspect he hadn't considered.

Indeed, he hadn't thought about the mad doppelganger's own suffering.

However, there was also something the skull principal hadn't considered.

"Don't worry about it."

"!"

"It's something I've already resolved and vowed to do. To wish for no pain on the path to an unfulfilled wish would be shameless. It's not something for my disciple to worry about."

-This is truly maddening.-

The skull principal shuddered looking at his own doppelganger.

To think that persistence that disregarded pain since childhood would now hold him back.

"However, that doesn't make what you just said valid, my disciple. Governing demons bound by contracts and governing royalty's flames of fear are on different levels. There's no reason to cast such great magic while taking risks. You, disciple, are a mage before being royalty's disciple. Act coldly."

-I take back what I just said. You are indeed wise, like me.-

"Then why did you act that way, Master!"

"???"

-?-

Yi-Han and the skull principal turned their gaze to the shout coming from below.

Head servant Intarendals, who had approached at some point, was shouting with blazing eyes.

"Head servant. I didn't permit rudeness just because royalty was defeated."

"Please allow my rude remonstration. Master, you are not setting an example now. How can you instruct your disciple to walk ruthlessly when you yourself cannot do so?"

The skull principal watched with eyes that seemed to debate whether to silence him or continue listening to this interesting story.

The doppelganger was originally a being that moved thoroughly for its purpose. It was a thought entity, not a living being.

Yet for such a doppelganger to show an attitude different from usual?

"When did royalty show such an attitude?"

"I thought it strange, but my loyalty blinded me from noticing. If Master truly thought coldly only of the unfulfilled wish, why did you bestow wisdom on Einroguard mages?"

-...What? What did he do?-

"...I merely left a debt for my disciple."

"That's an inefficient method! Who would plant a seedling from scratch just to eat the fruit? That's exactly what you've been doing, Master. I can say much more. Why did you punish that beaver mixed-blood mage?"

-What???-

"That's..."

"Please admit it! Isn't it because you purely cherish your disciple, not because of the unfulfilled wish? Then why do you say it's wrong for your disciple to cherish you?"

"Well said!"

Yi-Han, regaining his spirit, shouted with the support of the head servant's supporting fire.

"So what if it seems inefficient and roundabout? We can't do everything in the world efficiently."

"Even after receiving such teachings, you still speak foolishly?"

"I'm not finished speaking. From an omniscient perspective, everything we do would look foolish anyway. Do you remember Senior Caten?"

"You mean the one who played mage cards while receiving teachings?"

"...That's Gainando... Not that, I mean the senior who implemented magic with a sword."

Yi-Han was almost flustered by Gainando's name suddenly popping up.

It seemed that boldness of playing mage cards during lectures had left quite an impression.

"Everyone else says Senior is acting inefficiently. Honestly, I've thought so a few times too. But no one knows the future. Caten might one day complete magic that no other mage can imitate!"

Though the mad doppelganger would usually have cut off his disciple's words as illogical, he listened quietly.

For the first time, he was overwhelmed by his disciple's spirit.

Yi-Han felt his body stagger. Considering what he had done today, it wouldn't be strange if his physical fatigue had reached its limit, separate from his mana.

But he couldn't stop here. Yi-Han gritted his teeth and continued to persuade.

"Honestly, I'm not sure if I can achieve Master's unfulfilled wish. But I intend to try my best until the end. I'll need help since I'm not as wise as Master, but what of it! Caten and Gainando will help, and Professor Bagrak and the Principal will help too. I need help because I'm lacking. Master, please help me too."

"..."

-Honestly, I'm moved. Much more than I expected.-

While the mad doppelganger was silent, the skull principal opened his mouth.

Yi-Han asked, brightening.

"Then instead of permanently sealing..."

-No, Bat-danaz. Rather, my resolve has become firmer.-

The skull principal's eye lights blazed.

-What's more dangerous than a thought entity is a thought entity that's begun to change. Step aside!-

Apart from the touching emotion, the skull principal had already been preparing magic while Yi-Han was talking.

He instantly sent the ungrateful professor who was obviously going to interfere to another realm, and contacted the magic waiting below to draw its power.

He planned to fold space to push Yi-Han away, then immediately throw the mad doppelganger into the void.

If he gave any more emotional stimulation here, it was impossible to predict how that thought entity would change. He had to end it now.

Yi-Han hurled curses, feeling betrayed.

Principal or not, how could there be such a ruthless person?

He could understand why imperial bureaucrats disliked him.

-Hmph. You're neither the first nor the last disciple to curse at me, Bat-danaz.-

The skull principal cleared away the telekinesis Yi-Han summoned, evaporated his water bullet, and reversed his lightning transformation.

With the small world's time ended and the wine of wisdom's intelligence gradually fading.

Pushing away the bat disciple wasn't even difficult.

At that moment, an aurora blazed brilliantly.

"...?!"

-?!-

The stream of light piercing through the space where the aftermath of unique worlds remained couldn't possibly be an ordinary natural phenomenon.

The skull principal shouted in shock.

-Arna!-

He couldn't mistake it, as it was the star he had contracted with.

To think he had contracted even with Arna, let alone mastering a small world??

The light of the guest star aided the hero it had contracted with. All surrounding magic was enveloped in waves of light and erased.

"Is this Arna's power?!"

When Yi-Han asked in bewilderment, the skull principal got annoyed.

-Why don't you ask behind you, you ungrateful bat!-

'How petty, really.'

Grumbling inwardly, Yi-Han turned around.

Though he still couldn't grasp exactly what power it was, he had to use the current situation.

"Master. Let's escape for now! ...Master?"

Yi-Han was shocked.

The mad doppelganger's form was fading.

Had the skull principal's evil magic struck directly before Arna's light could block it?

"Don't tell me..."

However, the mad doppelganger shook his head.

"Royalty... No. I think this is enough for me."

The ancient royalty spoke calmly.

That face wasn't of a mage suffering from the world's curse.

It was the face of a mage who, having passed on everything to his disciple, was certain that unfulfilled wish would someday be achieved.

Only then did royalty feel the painful chains binding him disappear. What he had thought was pride had actually been a curse.

"Now I can be certain. That you, my disciple... will someday achieve the unfulfilled wish."

Royalty sensed the end had come.

This wasn't a reverse summoning where he would have to descend again someday to suffer.

Nor was it a sealing where he would have to wander the void eternally.

"...I entrust the world to you."

With final words filled with true trust, royalty ascended. The skull principal's eye lights, shaking with shock, only amplified royalty's fullness.