Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

After thinking it over for a long moment, Professor Voladi finally spoke.

“You’re already learning quite a few advanced fire-element attributes…”

“Ah. I nearly forgot. You even formed a contract with a star, didn’t you? I heard from Professor Bendozol.”

“…”

Professor Voladi turned and stared fixedly at Lee Han.

It was the look of a master reproaching a disciple for causing trouble behind his back.

This is unbelievably unfair.

Even if Lee Han had willingly formed a contract with a star, Professor Voladi had no right to glare at him like that.

At the very least, Professor Voladi was in no position to criticize anyone over this sort of thing.

“That should be enough advanced fire-element attributes for now, Student Wardanaz. Don’t you agree?”

“I’m not confident.”

“Look at that humility! With talent like yours and such modesty besides, you’ll master advanced fire-element attributes in no time.”

“???”

For a moment, Lee Han wondered if he had accidentally answered, Just leave it to me, hahaha.

He was certain he had said, I’m not confident.

Then again, maybe this was inevitable.

Professor Jorzik was still a professor in the end. Twisting a student’s words into whatever interpretation suited him was simply in his blood.

It was the unavoidable fate of all professors.

“Perhaps Student Wardanaz is already prepared. Just as he finishes other exams ahead of time, he’s probably planning to conquer this Jorzik’s examination as well.”

“Absolutely not.”

Lee Han denied it firmly.

He hadn’t even touched advanced fire-element attributes yet. There were already too many other things demanding his attention.

But neither professor paid any attention to his denial.

Since he was such a humble student, modest objections like these clearly couldn’t be taken at face value.

Professor Voladi sank into thought.

Certainly, Wardanaz often claimed something was difficult right before mastering it immediately afterward.

Considering he had even contracted with a star in such a short time, perhaps Professor Voladi’s concerns had been unnecessary all along. Maybe he simply hadn’t fully understood Wardanaz’s absurd level of modesty.

“That may be true.”

“…”

Lee Han trembled with betrayal so profound it felt like his soul had been launched all the way to the dimension of the Nine Mountains and Eight Seas, where the Yachaowang dwelled.

What happened to giving him a stern lecture…?!

Professors truly were creatures that could never be trusted.

If he wanted to defeat them as a student, he needed greater power still…

You need power.

The voice of the insane duplicate startled Lee Han so badly he nearly dropped his staff.

“W-what did you just say?”

I said you need power, fool.

The insane duplicate sounded irritated by his disciple’s slow reaction.

Apparently, it was still annoyed about the last time it had instructed Lee Han to awaken the ultimate principles of magic and end the bloodshed staining the continent, only for Lee Han to respond with nonsense like, Wouldn’t it be easier to just learn ten fifth-circle spells instead?

“Ah. Master was the one who said that?”

Correct.

So he wasn’t reading my thoughts.

For a moment, Lee Han had thought the ancient mad mage was finally revealing his true colors and tempting him with power so he could overthrow the two professors standing beside him.

The truly terrifying part was that if someone actually made him that offer, he would probably consider it for at least a second.

“No… Master. You said you need my power? I can’t imagine I’d be much help…”

The magical abilities possessed by the insane duplicate were utterly transcendent.

There were several mages in the Empire worthy of the title Archmage, but Lee Han was convinced this ancient projection would rank among the greatest of them.

So for someone like that to need Lee Han’s help—

He couldn’t even begin to imagine what sort of problem it involved.

More importantly, exams start next week.

Ordinarily, yes. But circumstances have changed. Intruders have entered the territory. We require additional hands to deal with them.

“!?”

Lee Han’s eyes widened.

Intruders?

…Wait. Technically speaking, you’re also an intruder.

The thought occurred to him, but Lee Han wisely decided not to point it out.

“Who are the intruders? More importantly, I should call the Death Knights.”

Those knights cannot be trusted. Blind loyalty to that scum has rotted their judgment.

Your wording is a little harsh.

Besides, they are occupied protecting the worthless trainees throughout the territory. Even if they wished to intervene at the royal workshop, the royal family would never permit it.

“?”

As he listened, Lee Han slowly began to feel that something was off.

Naturally, the Death Knights couldn’t protect the insane duplicate’s workshop while also guarding the students. After all, the insane duplicate itself was an intruder.

If the Death Knights suddenly decided, Well, since you’re the Principal’s projection and currently staying in the territory, we’ll protect you too, the enraged Skull Principal would probably lock them in the punishment cells forever.

But that wasn’t the part that bothered Lee Han.

What felt strange was something else.

The insane duplicate sounded completely convinced the intruders were targeting the workshop rather than Einroguard’s main building.

Crossing Einroguard’s barrier alone required tremendous preparation. After going through all that trouble, why would anyone target the insane duplicate’s workshop instead of the main building?

“Wouldn’t they target the main building first? Why your workshop?”

Incorrect. They are after the hamster.

“…Excuse me?”

Ah. I neglected to mention it. I transformed the slave into a hamster. Its original appearance was unpleasant to look at.

The insane duplicate pointed through the illusion.

Inside a cage, a hamster was busily running on a wheel.

It was difficult to believe the adorable little creature was actually Antagondals, one of the Empire’s most infamous magical criminals.

“Uh… then that hamster is…”

His comrades have come to rescue him.

“Aha!”

At last, Lee Han fully understood the situation.

If Antagondals’ companions had come to rescue him, then naturally they wouldn’t care about the main building.

It also explained why the Death Knights weren’t interfering. Why would they bother stopping outsiders from fighting other outsiders?

“Master. I…”

Lee Han was about to politely refuse—

Then he hesitated.

…Wait a second. If Antagondals escapes, won’t he try to take revenge on me too?

Rationally speaking, the insane duplicate should be his primary target.

But magical criminals were not known for their rationality.

Considering everything that had happened at the workshop, Antagondals might very well decide to take revenge on the insane duplicate’s disciple too.

“…Of course I’ll help. Magical criminals belong behind bars. No—inside cages forever.”

I knew you would say that.

The insane duplicate nodded in satisfaction, as though it had been completely certain its disciple would come help.

Professor Jorzik, who had been listening with great interest from the side, suddenly spoke up.

“Student Wardanaz. Could you ask whether this Jorzik may accompany you as well?”

“What? Why would you want to come?”

Lee Han was genuinely flustered.

He was desperately trying to avoid going there himself, and now the professor wanted to visit willingly?

And given the insane duplicate’s personality, there was a real possibility it might mistake Einroguard professors for the Skull Principal’s subordinates and attack them on sight.

Is this because of the principal position?

Lee Han knew Professor Jorzik was obsessed with becoming Einroguard’s next principal, but this was excessive.

Just as he was about to firmly object—

“The chance to meet and speak with an ancient Archmage is extraordinarily rare. Especially a projection of the Principal. Under normal circumstances, conversation would be impossible.”

The Skull Principal’s projections were not living beings but conceptual entities. Once summoned, they acted solely according to fixed rules. Conversation and negotiation were impossible.

But this projection had somehow accepted Wardanaz as a disciple, making communication possible.

Naturally, any mage would want to seize such an opportunity and obtain wisdom from it.

“…Ah. So that’s why.”

“But what were you about to say just now, Student Wardanaz?”

“Haha. It was nothing.”

Lee Han immediately swallowed the words he had been about to say.

Now that he thought about it, this was perfectly understandable for a mage.

“I’ll ask questions too.”

Professor Voladi, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.

“You also have things you want to ask, Professor?”

“No.”

“…Then why are you coming?”

“I intend to criticize his teaching methods.”

“…”

***

To Lee Han’s surprise, the insane projection granted permission without resistance.

It even readily allowed Jowrin and Eandurde to accompany them as well.

…Did I bring them here for no reason?

Following Intarendals, who had come out to receive them, Lee Han approached the workshop while growing increasingly uneasy.

Professor Jorzik and Professor Voladi were mentally resilient adults, so they would probably be fine.

But Jowrin might genuinely be wounded by the insane projection’s vicious remarks.

“Welcome, descendant of a noble bloodline. My dwelling is your dwelling, and my treasures are your treasures.”

However, the insane projection treated Jowrin with impeccable courtesy.

Lee Han stared in shock.

“M-Master. Do you know Her Majesty?”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“You’re being incredibly polite to Her Majesty…”

“…Fool. This is called etiquette.”

The insane projection looked at Lee Han with a mixture of contempt and disappointment.

Apparently, being surprised by basic manners toward a dragon was enough to disgrace oneself.

Ah. Right.

Only then did Lee Han remember that the Skull Principal had once learned magic from dragons in his youth.

Naturally, the projection respected dragons. They were the kin and descendants of its former masters.

Jowrin smiled brightly at the courteous treatment.

The insane projection slowly looked around the group before pointing at Eandurde.

“And what about that one?”

“He’s my junior.”

“He looks sturdy.”

“You can’t just decide to take him as a disciple on your own. Shouldn’t Eandurde get a say in it too?”

“…Fool. Do you think the teachings of royalty are cheap trinkets sold in a marketplace? Do you imagine I hand them out to anyone who happens to look sturdy?”

“Uh…”

Lee Han almost replied, You literally force your teachings onto people, but wisely held his tongue.

“Haha. Of course not.”

“And these people?”

“Greetings, Archmage. I am Jorzik of House Benmalpa. I currently serve as a professor at Einroguard.”

After Professor Jorzik introduced himself politely, Professor Voladi gave a brief greeting as well.

The insane projection nodded slightly before speaking again.

“Do you know why I permitted you to accompany him?”

“I do not. Please enlighten us.”

“I summoned you here to educate you as well. Your lax and indolent teaching methods are slowing this fool’s development.”

“…”

Lee Han, who had been quietly standing there, felt as though he had just been struck by lightning.

“Master. Magical criminals have infiltrated the territory. Shouldn’t that be the priority right now?”

“Silence, fool. Compared to the education of a disciple, such matters are utterly trivial.”

Professor Voladi looked oddly thoughtful, almost as if he agreed.

Lee Han stared at him in disbelief.

Why are you agreeing with him right now?!

For a brief moment, he seriously considered anonymously reporting the professor to the Skull Principal for treason.

“But Archmage,” Professor Jorzik said carefully, “with all due respect, Student Wardanaz’s growth is already among the ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) finest in the Empire.”

“It could have been faster.”

“It also could have been dangerous.”

Professor Voladi calmly supported Professor Jorzik’s argument.

Unfortunately, there was a reason the projection was called insane.

“And yet nothing dangerous occurred. Truth cannot be attained while shackled by the trivial constraints of the world.”

Professor Voladi actually fell into contemplation after hearing that.

Lee Han felt genuine fear.

If Professor Voladi evolves into Professor Insanity because of this lunatic…

I may actually need to transfer to another magic school.

“No. Results alone cannot justify recklessness.”

“I believed in you, Professor!”

Lee Han cried out, overcome with emotion.