Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy
chapter-450

Regardless of that, Yi-Han sent a gaze of respect to Anpagon.

"Isn't the basics always the most important?"

"This doesn't seem to have anything to do with the basics..."

While Anpagon was muttering, Yi-Han fixed the magic circle again.

After adding back the parts that were removed for being inefficient and completing the pattern, it became an artifact that was roughly easy to break.

"How is it?"

"Excellent. You can keep going."

The two students resumed their work.

Anpagon changed the estimated work time after seeing Yi-Han's speed.

'We might finish before it gets dark.'

If they didn't have to stay up all night, he could resume working on the magic amplification waterwheel artifact at dawn. Anpagon's face brightened.

Tap tap tap tap tap-

"Aren't you taking a break?"

"Pardon? Ah. I have enough mana left, so it's fine."

"Okay."

Anpagon was about to tell his junior to take a break, but he didn't want to meddle, so he just stopped himself.

However, he couldn't help but be concerned.

'It's dangerous to consume mana too excessively.'

Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud!

"...?"

However, the junior produced artifacts with tireless stamina.

Anpagon was amazed. And he changed the estimated work time once more.

'...Maybe we'll finish by dinner?'

If they finished by dinner, he might be able to stop by the Black Tortoise Tower student cafeteria for a simple meal before working on the magic amplification waterwheel artifact.

"Senior."

"You want to rest now?"

"No. I used up all the materials here, so where is the new chest?"

"..."

Anpagon's heart, which had rusted due to Einroguard's eventful environment, began to beat slightly.

Could it be...

Could it be that they would finish before dinner?

They really finished before dinner.

Anpagon had an expression of not being able to believe this reality beyond joy.

"I think we're all done. Senior. Then I'll get going."

"O, okay."

"But senior."

Yi-Han, who had a bit of free time since they finished earlier than expected, threw a question.

"Aren't there other people learning enchantment magic? Why only you, senior?"

"I'm the most sociable one."

"..."

For a moment, Yi-Han wondered if he should laugh, thinking the senior was joking.

"...I, I see."

"You can laugh. Our school is known to be the least sociable at Einroguard anyway."

"What's the need for social activities? The important thing for a mage is magic."

"Isn't the important thing for a mage the ability to secure funding?"

"Which stupid fellow says that?"

"The principal?"

"I knew it. Let's not mind him."

Yi-Han countered without being flustered.

Anpagon couldn't help but admire again at the wisdom of seeing through the skull principal's true nature despite being a 1st year.

Anyone who saw him would think he was at least a 4th year.

"Indeed, ignoring him is the best..."

"Yes. Then I'll get going."

Yi-Han finished his greetings and left, carrying two chests that were in the attic. They were chests where Anpagon had collected unused reagents.

It was quite a rare sight for a 1st year junior to diligently take two chests, but Anpagon was too shocked by what had happened today to pay attention to that part.

"...Did I dream..."

While Anpagon was muttering, the door to the attic opened again.

Other students majoring in enchantment magic were waiting downstairs.

"Is it all done?"

"Yeah. It ended early."

The students came up to the attic.

There were 2nd years, 3rd years, and 4th years, but they all had one thing in common: they didn't pay much attention to each other.

If it weren't for this spirit flood, they wouldn't have borrowed another student's workshop like this.

"Why did it end early..."

"I'm not curious."

"Sorry, Senior Anpagon. Can we start working right away?"

"..."

Anpagon was about to say something but stopped.

Although he didn't usually like to chat, being blocked like this made an unfamiliar emotion slightly rise in his heart.

It was anger.

"...Sure."

Instead of speaking, Anpagon thought he should know it alone.

Thinking that he alone knew an amazing fact that the other students didn't know made him feel strangely refreshed.

"...Wait!! The light!!!"

Anpagon, who was about to sit down, screamed when he saw the light orb still floating without going out.

Then the other students stared blankly at Anpagon.

"Senior Anpagon. I'm sorry, but..."

"Let's be quiet."

"...Okay."

Anpagon vowed that he would never tell these guys.

"Principal. Where did Professor Beavle go?"

-I told you he's trapped.-

The skull principal answered Gainando as if it was bothersome.

Gainando nodded his head in understanding, then came back and asked the skull principal again.

"Principal. Where did Professor Beavle go?"

-I told you he's trapped! You ironhead. Why do you keep asking the same question? Are you provoking me?-

"Ah, no. It's just that I feel good hearing that the professor is trapped over and over."

-...-

The skull principal hung Gainando upside down and swiftly left.

Yi-Han, who had returned after finishing his work, saw the hanging Gainando and asked.

"But you don't even take enchantment magic?"

"I just like hearing that the professor is trapped..."

"I, I see."

Yi-Han dropped the hanging Gainando. Gainando, who fell into the water with a splash, groaned.

"And Professor Beavle keeps coming to bother people during the break."

At Gainando's grumbling, Yi-Han sympathized for the first time in a while.

'For once, he's saying something that makes sense.'

Thinking about when he came during the break, it seemed like Professor Beavle could be trapped a bit longer.

"Where did you go? Gasp. Wait. I think I know."

"Oh..."

Yi-Han had a slight expectation when Gainando showed a sharp appearance for once.

Indeed, looking at Yi-Han's current appearance, there were many elements to deduce.

The gloves stained with various reagents, the metal debris stuck on the cloak, etc.

Anyone could tell that he had been working on artifacts.

"You went to rescue Professor Beavle, right?! Hey. Don't go! What's the point of rescuing him!"

"...I didn't go. I just prepared for the enchantment magic midterm exam instead. The professor isn't here."

"Oh. Really?"

Gainando just accepted it.

Other friends would have said, 'Hey, you idiot, don’t just let it slide! You should ask more!' but Gainando just let it go.

"Don't rescue Professor Beavle. There's nothing good about rescuing him."

"Are you saying this just because of the one time he visited the mansion during the break?"

"Yeah."

Gainando nodded his head confidently without any shame. Yi-Han was slightly amazed.

"Okay. Don't worry, I have no intention of rescuing him."

"Don't go even if Professor Beavle piles up gold for you."

"...Hmm."

"Yi-Han...!"

Gainando felt sorry for his friend who was trying to forgive the professor who took away the joy of the break with gold.

Wasn't self-esteem more important than gold?

Screech-

The two who returned to the library scattered to do their own things.

Gainando sat down sneakily among his friends.

It looked like a study group with thick magic books open, but in fact, it was a fun group secretly playing card games underneath.

"Where have you been?"

"I went fishing and got hung by the principal."

"Oh dear."

The students from other towers didn't care whether Gainando was hung or not.

One of them asked in puzzlement.

"How did you get free?"

"Yi-Han passed by and released me."

"Can't you do anything by yourself?"

"Hey. Isn't it more amazing to have someone next to you who can do it for you?"

"..."

"..."

The Blue Dragon Tower students next to him threw cards at Gainando's face. Gainando let out a bird-like scream.

"It is amazing! It is amaz..."

"Stop before you get hit."

"Why did Wardanaz pass by?"

"He was coming back from preparing for the enchantment magic exam."

Gainando answered roughly and stared at the deck.

To play as many rounds as possible before dinner was served, he had to quickly complete the deck.

If he took out the curse deck, his friends wouldn't play against him, so he sneakily put one deck he could deceive and the curse deck underneath...

"What? He prepared for the enchantment magic exam?"

"Why did he prepare outside? He could have studied inside."

When the students tilted their heads, Gainando answered as if annoyed.

"You idiots. He directly made the exam, not studied. Be quiet, I need to put in the mage card."

"..."

"..."

When the students fell silent, Gainando nodded his head with a grin.

It seemed these friends had finally learned to respect the imperial family.

Bang!

"What nonsense are you saying?!"

One of the students jumped up. The table shook greatly at the force. The stack of cards Gainando had painstakingly organized scattered on the floor.

Ignoring the prince's scream, the students talked among themselves.

"Does that make sense? Ah, no. Wardanaz is an absurd guy, but the same year?"

"What did I say? Wardanaz's family vision from before admission..."

"My cards are scattered! You guys!"

"Is that important now?!"

"We'll clean it up for you, so talk about the enchantment magic exam! We have to take the enchantment magic exam!"

Of course, Gainando didn't have the ability to properly talk about it. While the students were noisily chattering, Yi-Han arrived nearby.

"What are you all doing?"

"Wardanaz! Is it true that you made the enchantment magic exam?!"

The students stared at Yi-Han with trembling eyes of shock.

"What nonsense... The senior made it. I just helped with some chores on the side."

"...Ah!"

The students, who finally understood, let out a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, common sense had not collapsed.

"I knew it was just the prince's fuss."

"See. What did I say?"

It seemed to be wrapping up nicely, but unfortunately, it didn't.

Yi-Han saw the piles of mage cards that had fallen on the floor and asked.

"What are these?"

"..."

"...Uh... that's..."

"Lift up the book."

Yi-Han's voice was even, but there was a chilling warning in it.

The White Tiger Tower student froze like a bird glared at by a snake.

"Wh... wh... why?"

"Lift it. Before you get hit."

When he lifted the book, the mage cards that were hidden by hollowing out the inside came out. Yi-Han hit his head with the staff.

"Ouch!"

"Next. You..."

The student who became the next target hurriedly opened the book. There was nothing.

"Put down your coat and open the inner pocket."

"..."

After stopping the illegal mage card gathering, Yi-Han shared the exam content with the students taking enchantment magic.

When they heard that the exam would be about repairing broken artifacts, the students murmured.

"Exactly which part is broken, Wardanaz?"

"I don't know."

"How long is the artifact?"

"I don't know."

"You guys, don't bother Wardanaz! There's no way he can tell you such things!"

Nillia shouted as if warning.

Yi-Han was slightly moved by his friend's help.

Indeed, in a situation like this, the only thing he could trust was his friend.

Swish-

As the students reflected and backed away, Nillia quickly put a bar of chocolate in Yi-Han's hand.

Then she whispered.

"Which artifact is advantageous to choose?"

"...Nillia..."

"I, I was just joking."