Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 815

Chapter 815

"No. It's fine. I agreed to help, so we should go together."

"He says it's fine."

"You shut up."

Direth's voice naturally sharpened as her friend kept grating on her nerves when she was already feeling complicated.

However, it was difficult to deny Yukbeltire's words that they needed a combat mage like Yi-Han as fighting power.

Neither Direth nor Yukbeltire were combat mages who had professionally trained in magical combat.

Of course, not being a trained combat mage didn't mean they were weak. That was evident just from looking at Einroguard students.

Basically, if given time and leisure, mages could cast sufficiently powerful attacks, and the same was true for Direth and Yukbeltire.

Direth with dark magic.

Yukbeltire with enchantment magic.

As both were outstanding mages in their respective schools, it was very easy for them to apply the magic they had learned to combat.

However, that didn't mean they had no weaknesses. The biggest difference between combat mages and regular mages was whether they could prepare for unexpected sudden situations or not.

Could they calmly maintain composure and cast necessary magic even in situations where attacks were flying from all directions and all kinds of noise and threats were targeting mages first?

Although Einroguard students fought incomparably better than ordinary mages thanks to being trained in harsh environments, there were clear limits.

There weren't many students who prioritized training magic necessary for combat while abandoning their research goals.

Of course, very rarely, there were pitiful students who learned both...

"If I had to classify, my combat style is long-range summoning. Direth is similar. We need a mage who can respond at mid-range and close range. There's a limit to what summons can do."

"Especially Einroguard kids are good at exploiting these weaknesses."

Whether it was inanimate summons with routines directly programmed by the mage or summons called from other dimensions, they had their habits.

While laymen who didn't know much about magic might not notice, Einroguard students who often rubbed shoulders with each other were skilled at exploiting such weaknesses.

In the end, the most stable option was to have a mage who could flexibly respond to all situations.

"I understand. I'm not sure if I can do well against other seniors, but I'll give it a try."

"Wardanaz family junior. You're Professor Bagrak's top disciple. You've defeated the King of Ghouls, Basilisk, Sea Serpent, King of Frost Giants, magic criminals, and so on. Of course you should be able to do well."

Yukbeltire encouraged her junior with a senior-like attitude.

Impressed by that encouragement, Yi-Han replied curtly.

"Senior, you're Professor Verduus's top disciple, but you still haven't completed the artificial realm?"

"...You're making a completely nonsensical, illogical comparison."

Yukbeltire coldly ignored him with her usual unwavering attitude.

However, Direth could see her friend's fingertips trembling slightly.

Originally, Yukbeltire would ignore whatever other students said like Professor Verduus's words, but she couldn't ignore even the words of a junior she somewhat highly evaluated.

"Yukbeltire. If you want to be respected by your junior, treat him a bit better."

"What more am I supposed to do here?"

"...Forget it. Keep living like that!"

Direth gave up immediately.

She thought her friend would change if she felt wronged and hurt enough.

Of course, she might never change...

  *

Duke Icaldoren thought he knew quite a lot about Einroguard.

Various ancient documents and books, testimonies from visitors and graduates, exploration of other magic academies.

He judged that with such meticulous preparation, it would be sufficiently possible to take out one treasure from Einroguard.

Moreover, the duke had the arrogance and pride unique to someone who had never been defeated for a long time.

As a scion of an imperial great noble family, hadn't he plotted numerous schemes and overthrown political opponents since his youth?

However, Einroguard was very different from the duke's expectations.

In this historic magic academy, Duke Icaldoren was about to taste defeat for the first time in his life.

-I was wrong. What do you want? I'll pay as much ransom as you want.-

-Please be quiet.-

-...The Duke of Icaldoren is admitting his mistake, is he not?-

-I understand. So please be quiet.-

-At least provide accommodations befitting a duke's dignity.-

-If you keep talking, we'll confine you in the underground prison.-

-Do you think this treatment befits an imperial duke now!-

-We're doing this with permission. Why did you try to steal from Einroguard when you should have known better?-

-Of course, I won't deny that I gave orders to my subordinates. But all this is ultimately due to the arrogant self-righteousness of the Imperial Mage Administrator who monopolizes ancient arcane knowledge alone and doesn't share it with honorable imperial nobles... Puhak! How, how dare you splash sewage on an imperial duke?!-

-You seem to like sewage. Splash more on him.-

-W-wait! Stop. I'll stop.-

-If you talk one more time, we'll spray magic wastewater mixed with poison.-

-Can't you at least provide meals befitting my dignity... Stop! I'll stop! I'll really shut my mouth!-

The Death Knights serving the Imperial Mage Administrator were terribly barbaric and violent.

Experiencing such rude and harsh treatment for the first time in his life, Duke Icaldoren had no choice but to submit with his spirit broken.

Thus, as the Duke of Icaldoren spent his days with only a hard bed, rough blankets, tasteless meals, and boring books (<The Life of the Great Mage Os Gonadaltes Volumes 1, 2, 3>) as companions, new news was delivered to him.

-Duke. You said you'd pay a ransom before, right? Do you still have that thought?-

-...Finally! Can I finally pay the ransom?-

Originally, the duke would have said, 'How dare you kidnap an imperial duke arbitrarily and try to extract a ransom? I absolutely won't allow it!', but the time spent with the Death Knights had greatly reformed the duke.

-Yes. You can pay now. To be precise, it's a bit different from paying... Anyway, it's roughly similar!-

The Death Knights started explaining to the duke.

This time, guests were coming from outside for club week at Einroguard, and it was traditionally an event where sponsorship and investment took place.

Duke Icaldoren could pay his ransom by sponsoring a student of his choice here...

'This is much better than I thought!'

Duke Icaldoren was relieved that the content was much more sensible than he had thought, having tensed up because the Death Knights were speaking.

Wasn't this sponsorship event something he had done even before being confined in Einroguard?

-By the way, don't say unnecessary things to outsiders. If you say unnecessary things, you might really have to spend 300 years as an invertebrate.-

-I-I understand.-

Duke Icaldoren flinched and became cowed. Any thoughts he had of trying to request help immediately disappeared.

-Can I go out like this?-

-Yes. Go out and look around as much as you like.-

-Alright...-

-Oh! Could you be His Grace Duke Icaldoren?-

As soon as he went out into the corridor, some students greeted him cheerfully.

The duke felt his eyes getting hot for no reason when he met people calling his title and answered.

-That's right. I am...-

-Found him! It's the duke! Kidnap him!-

Alde of the Marcan family, a 3rd year student from Blue Dragon Tower, and his friends burst into evil laughter of triumph as they swung their staffs.

The duke, who had all his protective artifacts taken away while coming to Einroguard, was subdued helplessly.

-Wh-why are you doing this! What are you doing!-

-Your Grace. We're sorry! We must receive your sponsorship!-

-Can't you just talk about it!-

-We can't do that because others might steal you away! Your Grace must stay with us until club week ends!-

Einroguard students knew well the difference between pure guests and guests confined by the skull principal.

The former couldn't be attacked by students (except Baldurguard students), but the latter meant students could attack and take them by force.

Of course, they could have talked as the duke said.

But then they would have to share with other bastards, wouldn't they?

If they kidnapped him, they could monopolize him, so there was no need for that.

-Is the illusion magic cast well? Does the duke look like someone else?-

-Yeah! He looks like Senior Perse!-

-Such rudeness... Let go of this!-

-Your Grace. Be quiet!-

-Mmph!-

The duke still didn't properly understand Einroguard.

Anyone who thinks they know Einroguard well is someone who hasn't grasped Einroguard at all.

-Stop right there.-

-Ibanna...! What business do you have here?-

-The Senior Perse you're holding now. Something's strange.-

-What's strange? Senior Perse drank a glowing potion by mistake, so he's struggling like this!-

-Sorry, but I saw Senior Perse at the ballgame club racetrack 30 minutes ago. And it seems you didn't pay attention to the shoes. There's no way Senior Perse would wear such tattered rags!-

-Damn, we've been found out! Attack!-

-That's our line. We'll pay you back for the smuggling incident!-

Ibanna's gang, 3rd years from White Tiger Tower, shouted fiercely and charged.

They thought this was perfect timing, as they had been feeling bitter about the failed smuggling at the start of the semester.

As the White Tiger Tower students with enhancement magic cast on them formed ranks and charged like a fortress, the Blue Dragon Tower students cursed.

-You ignorant bastards!-

-You guys who only learn magic to fight! Why did you come to magic school!-

Ibanna didn't answer.

That statement itself was a trap. They had to be especially careful when dealing with the illusion magic school.

But one of his friends seemed to get upset and retorted.

-You bastard, your grades aren't even as good as... Gasp!-

-Caught you!-

Illusion magic became very vulnerable when the mage's defense wavered.

When emotions fluctuated or one of the five senses connected.

And now it was both.

'Don't look and move. Don't look and move...'

Ibanna lowered his head tightly to avoid seeing the wildly dancing scenery and enemies.

He felt some magic flying in and dull pain, but endured with enhancement magic. It didn't matter whether it was real or illusion.

-Got him! He's escaping!-

-Mmmmph!-

-Transform him! So other bastards don't notice! A wooden barrel! Into a wooden barrel!-

Duke Icaldoren, who had been under illusion magic to look like someone else, shook his head desperately as he was about to be transformed into a wooden barrel.

However, the ruthless White Tiger Tower students finally dragged the duke out and transformed him into a wooden barrel.

-Retreat! Retreat! Leave the fallen ones behind!-

-White Tiger Tower bastards, just you wait! This won't end like this!-

  *

"There they are."

Yi-Han tilted his head at the two seniors' words.

On the 6th floor, at the bottom of a large spiral staircase, he saw seniors walking while carrying a wooden barrel.

"What's there?"

"Duke Icaldoren."

"...Did they put him inside the wooden barrel?!"

"No. They probably transformed him."

Direth handed Yi-Han glasses with purple lenses. Yi-Han checked through the lenses of those glasses.

Surprisingly, the wooden barrel looked like Duke Icaldoren.

"..."

Yi-Han was at a loss for words. No matter how good the duke's sponsorship was, could they kidnap him like that?

"Isn't it uncomfortable to forcibly transform him like that?"

Yukbeltire tilted her head with an attitude befitting Professor Verduus's disciple, not understanding Yi-Han's question at all.

Seeing that, Yi-Han realized he had asked the wrong person.

"Senior Direth. Transforming him like that..."

"Hm?"

Direth was summoning a demon that looked like a huge toad when she turned her head at Yi-Han's question.

"...What is this?"

"We need a place to confine the duke, don't we?"

"Aha. I understand. Let's begin!"