Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy
chapter-278

The relentlessly fired bone fragments swept the surroundings like buckshot, turning the area into a chaotic mess. The adventurers, who had been enduring and holding out until the mage's mana ran out, began to sense that something was amiss.

'...Something's strange!!'

Thwack!

Even while shielding their bodies with their shields, complete defense was impossible. As one adventurer, hit by the bone fragments, staggered and exposed himself from the blind spot, Yi-Han immediately launched a water orb at him.

It was meaningless even if he was fully equipped with sturdy armor. The adventurer collapsed on the spot from the heavy impact piercing through the gaps in his armor.

-At this rate, everyone will be taken down! Shouldn't we move?-

-Are you saying we should charge forward in front of the mage who's currently casting spells?!-

The remaining adventurers exchanged desperate conversations through hand signals. They couldn't believe the current situation.

When they had looked outside the window earlier, he definitely seemed like a young master from a noble family who had been preciously raised...

'What kind of potion did he drink before coming here?'

According to the original plan, the moment the mage entered the basement, all sorts of traps they had prepared would be triggered in succession, and taking advantage of that opening, the adventurers would also launch a combined attack.

However, the opposing mage, as if he had chugged down mana-enhancing potions, was relentlessly firing spells without a moment's rest, devastating the inside of the basement.

Although the mage didn't know where the traps were located, with him firing spells like that, several traps had already been destroyed.

It was a painful endurance where one second felt like an hour.

Suddenly, the inside of the basement became quiet.

'Is it over!?'

The adventurers felt their hearts racing when the bone fragments stopped flying at them.

Whether the bone fragments had been exhausted or the mana had been depleted, it was clear that the mage's attack had ended...

Thud, thud-thud, thud-thud-thud-thud-

This time, water orbs flew in like crazy. Although the quantity wasn't as overwhelming as the bone fragments, it was still a suffocating number.

Moreover, unlike earlier when they were fired indiscriminately, the water orbs accurately curved and entered the blind spots where the adventurers were holding out.

It was evident that the mage had roughly grasped the adventurers' positions from the first attack.

"Aaagh! You crazy mage bastard!"

Eventually, one adventurer screamed and charged out. The wooden shield he was holding had been tattered from receiving the merciless attacks of bone fragments and water orbs.

'Fast!'

Seeing the unexpectedly fast speed of his comrade, Kilvedek momentarily harbored hope that it might work.

There was originally a saying not to rush in front of a mage who was casting spells, but the current situation was slightly different.

The opposing mage was distracted, firing water orbs throughout the entire basement, and the adventurer's physical abilities had been drastically enhanced by various potions consumed before the battle.

With the speed at which he was charging like a gale, it was sufficient to strike the mage's weak point.

Wasn't the casting speed always the weakness of mages?

"Flash forth!"

However, as if he had been waiting, the mage swung his staff and chanted a spell.

The huge lumps of water floating in the air continued to transform into water orbs and flew in, and amidst them, lightning shot out and blew away the adventurer's shield.

"...!"

The adventurer whose shield had been blown away didn't immediately realize his situation. That's how fast the mage's reaction speed was.

"What..."

"Flash forth, flash forth, flash forth!"

The adventurer's physical abilities were enhanced by various potions. With that dynamic visual acuity, he attempted to evade by looking at the tip of the staff.

However, as if he had anticipated it, the mage fired three shots almost simultaneously. No matter which direction he tried to dodge, he would inevitably be hit.

Bzzt!

As his body became paralyzed from the electric shock, the water orbs pounced on him like a pack of wolves.

The remaining adventurers were now more terrified than when facing the previous mad mage.

The mad mage would have simply walked in, dismantling the adventurers' traps one by one and subduing them, the young monster on the stairs, on the other hand, was relentlessly pushing them without giving them a moment to breathe.

"Sur... Surrender! We surrender!"

Thwack!

When a comrade who had rushed out with his hands raised was hit by a water orb and collapsed on the spot, Kilvedek was horrified.

Even though they surrendered, why!?

'Is he saying he won't accept surrender?!'

"Ah. I apologize. I didn't realize you were surrendering. Are you surrendering?"

"...Yes!! Yes!!! We surrender!"

"Drop your weapons, raise both hands, and slowly come out."

The young mage's voice was so kind that it sent chills down their spines.

Kilvedek cautiously poked his head out. The mage, who had been waiting with an expressionless face, asked, "You haven't prepared any tricks, have you?"

"We haven't! There's nothing like that!"

"Strongly denying it makes it more suspicious... Alright. You can slowly come out."

The adventurer walking in front of Kilvedek glanced around and slightly lowered his hands, opening his mouth.

He was curious about how the current situation was unfolding.

"Well, that's..."

Thwack!

"Ah. My apologies. It was a reflexive action..."

Seeing his comrade who had been hit by a water orb and collapsed, Kilvedek raised his hands even higher.

That mage's words were kind, but his actions were even more terrifying than the mad mage.

Yi-Han could tell that Professor Boladi was very disappointed.

Fortunately, he wasn't disappointed in Yi-Han but in the adventurers.

"They failed."

"So-sorry. Mage, sir."

"We did our best, but..."

Professor Boladi was so disappointed that he remained silent. After tossing a pouch of coins to each adventurer as compensation, he pointed towards the main gate.

Understanding the meaning of being dismissed, the adventurers began to back away, trembling.

They were afraid that if they turned around, the mad mage might launch an attack spell at them.

"I will guide you."

On the other hand, Yi-Han, who had aced the final exam, was in a good mood.

Of course, the adventurers didn't feel reassured just because Yi-Han offered to guide them.

"Th-thank you. Mage, sir."

"You can speak comfortably. I'm still a student with a lot to learn."

Despite his humble words, the adventurers never let their guard down.

"I-I see. Which year are you in?"

"I'm a first-year student."

"..."

"..."

The adventurers remained silent. They only showed indescribable expressions.

"Um... What exactly happened today?"

Halfway through their walk, one adventurer couldn't hold back and asked.

The other adventurers gave him looks that said, 'Do you have two lives?' 'Why are you trying to get us killed too?' but the question had already been asked.

"Ah. It was the final exam."

"Pardon?"

"The final exam. Didn't the professor explain it to you?"

"Ah..."

The adventurers opened their mouths and simultaneously repeated, "Ah..."

Then, as if they had suddenly come to their senses, they exclaimed, "No! He did explain!"

"I remember now!"

"That's a relief. I thought he might not have explained. Well, you can come this way. You see the main gate, right?"

As they watched Yi-Han's back walking ahead, the adventurers simultaneously had the same thought without any prior agreement.

If they could safely exit through the main gate of Einroguard today, they would retire.

'I should settle down in a quiet village with few people.'

'I need to go to a town without mages.'

Sincerely, they no longer wanted to deal with crazy people.

'It's a good start.'

Yi-Han drew a line through <Repetitive Training of Basic Magic Combat> with a satisfied expression.

Repetitive Training of Basic Magic Combat

Basic Magic Character Education

Of course, there were still many classes remaining, but the fact that he had aced the start of the final exams was a good omen in itself.

"Wardanaz. We're in big trouble!"

"?"

"I heard that there will be no more deadline extensions for the <Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic> assignment! We have to submit it as it is today!"

"!!"

When Anglago whispered in a flustered manner, Yi-Han's face stiffened.

This was no ordinary matter.

'That's absurd!'

<Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic>.

It was a lecture where they had to submit blueprints as a pre-final assignment and actually manufacture them as the final assignment, but...

...The problem was that the phoenix had broken into the storeroom and burned all the assignments.

How could they submit on Tuesday as scheduled when all the assignments had been burned?

So the students had all been thinking, 'There will be a deadline extension, right?' 'No matter what, there will be a deadline extension for this,' but...

'I was complacent. This is Einroguard!'

Yi-Han bitterly regretted his carelessness.

Of course, even if he had known, he wouldn't have had much time to work on it while catching the phoenix, but the painful reality couldn't be helped.

"Wardanaz. There's a way."

"What way?"

"Let's join hands and protest to the professor! If you, the most outstanding student, join us... Hey! Wardanaz! I said let's do it together!!"

Yi-Han turned around without even pretending to listen.

That was an impossible nonsense.

'To submit, I need to finish it before lunch. The method is...'

Unlike other amateur students, Yi-Han was a prepared professional student.

When assignments are not ready, amateurs give up as they are, but professionals always find a way to submit, no matter what method they use.

Of course, the quality of the assignment couldn't be guaranteed, but that wasn't important right now.

With little time remaining, Yi-Han stared at the long pole that was supposed to be the framework of the magic lamp, lost in thought.

-Don't tell me... You're going to discard all the designs and solve it with magic alone?!-

-...What nonsense are you talking about, Yonaire? I haven't even drawn it yet.-

Suddenly, a conversation he had with Yonaire came to mind.

The method of discarding the designs and production altogether, and after Yi-Han casts magic, he would shamelessly insist, 'It lasts long anyway, doesn't it?'

When he talked with Yonaire, he naturally dismissed it as nonsense, but...

'...There's no time and no other way.'

Yi-Han steeled his resolve.

Sometimes, shameless sophistry was more necessary than skill.

Let's go with this!

Although Professor Alpen had not yet arrived, the atmosphere among the students gathered in the <Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic> lecture hall was chaotic.

"Is it true that there's no deadline extension?"

"I'm telling you, there isn't."

"We're doomed...! We're doomed!!"

"But isn't it fortunate? We're all doomed together."

"Do you have no tact?"

Then, Professor Alpen entered. Seeing the chaotic atmosphere among the students, Professor Alpen was puzzled.

"What's going on?"

"Professor! It's not our fault that the phoenix burned down the storeroom!"

"Of course, it's our fault for not setting up a guard! We'll set up a guard from now on, so please give us one more chance...!"

"Please extend the deadline!"

"Alright. That was my intention from the beginning."

Professor Alpen readily agreed. The students all froze.

Huh?

"Huh? Wasn't there no deadline exten...sion?"

"How could there be no deadline extension when the phoenix burned down the storeroom? Finish it by this weekend. I can give you 2-3 more days, so those who need more time can come and see me."

"..."

"...Which bastard spread the false rumor?"

The students were relieved for now, but it wasn't over yet.

Which bastard spread the false rumor??

Thud!

Then, Yi-Han belatedly entered, carrying the magic lamp. Seeing that Professor Alpen had arrived first, Yi-Han bowed his head.

"Hello, Professor."

"Hello, Mr. Wardanaz."

"I'm here to submit my assignment."

"Wai..."

Anglago tried to stop Yi-Han in a panic.

'No, Wardanaz! The situation has changed! It was a false rumor!'

However, Professor Alpen answered first.

"What is this? I apologize if this is rude, but I don't see any separate design."

"Yes, Professor. I clearly wrote down the amplification magic circle and the corresponding materials on the blueprint. But after thinking about it, I realized that it was also an inefficient method."

"Inefficient?"

"Yes. I realized that I can guarantee a duration of more than 2 days with my magic alone. In that case, I thought that forcibly wasting materials would go against the purpose of this lecture."

"So you submitted it like this?"

Professor Alpen's eyes sparkled sharply.

It was unclear whether it was a good sign or a bad sign, but Yi-Han remained unwavering.

"Yes."

"You won't regret it?"

'?'

Yi-Han felt something strange.

'What is it? Is there something I don't know?'

But it was already done. Yi-Han maintained a confident expression and answered, "Yes."

"Honestly, I'm impressed."

Professor Alpen smiled and said, "Guts and quick thinking are also virtues of a mage. If, as you said, the duration is maintained for more than 2 days, I will give you a perfect score. Go in and have a seat. Ah, since you've already submitted your final assignment, you may leave the lecture hall. The other students can start manufacturing again."

"...????"

Yi-Han turned his head.

His friends were looking at Yi-Han with admiring and astonished gazes.

Except for Anglago.

"Come out for a moment."

"I-I need to manufacture, Wardanaz."