Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy
chapter-466

Fortunately, Yi-Han did not send the death knight to the punishment room in anger at a single word like its master.

Instead, he answered with a calm expression.

"I certainly do take a lot of classes."

-!-

The death knight was slightly moved.

To listen to the words of a subordinate like that.

That boy had the qualities of a wise ruler, unlike the skull principal.

Of course, he could become like the skull principal when he got older, but for now...

"But some of the lectures were forced on me by the principal."

-The master did such a thing?-

The death knight was startled.

It knew the skull principal was a crazy great mage, but to think he was crazy enough to arbitrarily add student lectures.

It was truly surprising.

-What lectures did he add?-

"The Basic Dance and Socializing lecture."

-That much is...-

Dance and socializing were quite enjoyable and pleasant lectures compared to other lectures. Even more so since the study load wasn't high.

-What other lectures are there?-

"...Hmm. Come to think of it, that's all."

-...???-

The death knight was slightly flustered.

If the only lecture the skull principal forced him to take was just one...

Then did he just sign up for the rest on his own?

'Oops.'

The death knight successfully shut its mouth this time.

If it messed with him and his temper turned foul like the skull principal's, it would only be their loss.

A gloomy morning without a glimpse of the sun arrived, and the students moved their steps to the pier while yawning. Each of their backpacks contained the lunch boxes they had prepared all night.

"Gainando. So what did you put in besides pancakes?"

"I only put in pancakes?"

"...Huh? You only put in pancakes? Really?"

"Ah. I did put in other things too."

"What did you put in?"

"Honey, whipped cream, and strawberry jam."

"...So in the end, you only put in pancakes, right?"

Of course, each person's lunch box varied greatly.

Even using the same ingredients, it was an individual's skill difference in what dishes they composed and packed.

"Princess. As expected, you're excellent."

"These diverse and balanced meats!"

Adenart's followers praised the various meat dishes packed in a sturdy wooden box.

In their view, the lunch box that accurately cooked and packed various types of meat by grilling, steaming, marinating, frying, and boiling without a single error seemed perfect.

However, Yi-Han, who saw it while passing by, was startled.

'What kind of crazy lunch box is that?'

A lunch box packed with only meat without any special side dishes or dishes.

Beef, pork, poultry, rabbit meat, etc. A lunch box doesn't become balanced just by having a variety of meats.

"Hey. Rowena."

"What is it?"

"There's bread, rice, and fruits left inside, so tell the princess to take out some meat and fill it in."

"Pardon? Why should I do that?"

Yi-Han newly felt that even though Rowena looked fine, she was from the White Tiger Tower.

The diet of the White Tiger Tower students was to the extent that it wouldn't be strange if they got scurvy...

"Rowena. Do you trust me?"

"Pardon? Yes..."

"You know that I have a lot of contact with the principal, right?"

"Yes. You're close with him."

Yi-Han momentarily wanted to grab Rowena by the collar but held back.

"...Yeah. Anyway. What do you think it means when someone like me says this?"

"...Ah!"

Rowena made an expression of realization. And she quickly nodded.

"I understand. The principal dislikes meat!"

"No, that's not it... No. Nevermind. Go and tell her quickly."

Rowena hurriedly ran off. The princess tilted her head at the words but changed the lunch box as told for now.

Swish!

In the distance, eerie rafts made of bones began to swarm like a fleet.

Floating on top of that fleet was a familiar undead great mage.

Eek...!

Feeling the skull principal's energy, the devouring-ship fish shuddered in disgust.

It was clear that it was terrified, taking on all sorts of menial tasks to avoid direct confrontation with the skull principal.

“Everyone prepared for the picnic, right?”

"Yes..."

"But do we have to go on a picnic on a day like today?"

When Gainando asked, pointing to the pouring rain, the skull principal shot a water gun and sprayed it on Gainando's face.

“Picnics are originally meant to be taken when it's raining, a typhoon is raging, and the gates of hell have opened. Everyone, get on the boat. I'll take you there.”

Listening to the skull principal's unique picnic theory, the students moved their steps.

Of course, the skull principal didn't let them on easily.

“Wait.”

"???"

Open your lunch boxes.

A White Tiger Tower student laughed and took out the lunch box from his backpack.

"Principal. You don't think I wouldn't have prepared, do you? When you said that? We have plenty."

Despite the skull principal's interference and oppression, the students' food situation was quite abundant.

Of course, from the skull principal's point of view, it was absurd.

Those bastards are being arrogant because they're eating well thanks to that Wardanaz bastard...

“Who would think you gathered it if they heard? You annoying bastard. Just open it.”

"Yes..."

Click-

The White Tiger Tower student opened the lid. It was packed with toasted bread and pickled meats.

"How is it? Practical and easy to eat..."

The skull principal pushed the student and made him fall into the sea.

Splash!

“Are you going on a picnic or to war? Do you not know what a picnic is? 20 points.”

"..."

"...Huh? Weren't we supposed to just prepare things to eat?"

The other White Tiger Tower students were slightly flustered.

Wasn't it good that they brought food despite the unreasonable Einroguard food situation?

“This is why you ironheads are... What if you end up going on a spring picnic with imperial bureaucrats later and bring a <Potion of Fullness> alone, saying it's practical, and make the atmosphere chilly?”

Basically, mages tended to lack social skills.

Moreover, the mages of Einroguard often evolved their social skills in a slightly unique way, making it even more dangerous.

'Isn't that because of the principal?'

Yi-Han thought to himself while waiting in the back.

The lack of social skills might be one thing, but the strange evolution of social skills seemed to be because of the skull principal...

“I said we're going on a picnic and told you to prepare lunch boxes, so you should prepare a proper lunch box that fits the social customs of the Empire. What is this? This? Next!”

"Well... my lunch box has various pickled meats..."

“Are you going crazy because you can't eat meat? 15 points. Next!”

"..."

Seeing the White Tiger Tower student who submitted a similar lunch box to hers being mercilessly crushed, the princess was startled and looked around.

Was it not enough to just have what was delicious to one's own taste?

“There are a lot of vegetables, but this isn't bad either. Well done.”

“Not only those from the East but also those from other regions will find dishes using rice refreshing. A good choice.”

“What about you, did you fill it with sugar?”

"Gasp. Is that okay?"

The skull principal pushed Gainando, who had packed only pancakes, into the sea and said,

“Listen well. Of course, a picnic is a time to relax and enjoy. But at the same time, isn't this the <Basic Magic Character Education in Depth> lecture? Even if you relax and enjoy, you must follow the basics of the lecture.”

"...Can't you just remove the word picnic?"

"What kind of picnic is this..."

The students' faces darkened at the sight of the skull principal unfolding a harsh etiquette theory from the start.

Of course, they didn't expect much, but this felt like breaking through the bottom of that expectation.

“Now. Then next…”

Yi-Han calmly opened the lid.

Since he had to reduce preparation time and compose it like a picnic, the main menu was sandwiches with various ingredients cut and put in, such as lettuce, sliced ham, chopped eggs, mayonnaise, and cheese.

The black tea filled in the side water bottle was still piping hot, exuding a rich aroma...

“...These tea leaves are from the professors' lounge!”

'Oops.'

Yi-Han blamed his own complacency.

He had forgotten because he had stolen so many things from here and there.

Whooosh!

With an eerie sound, the wind began to blow stronger and stronger.

When he spotted a tiny piece of land that was even embarrassing to call a small island, the skull principal nodded satisfactorily.

“The wind spirits must be very angry. It's a good day for a picnic.”

"..."

"..."

“Everyone, get off the boat! Let's unpack here.”

The students got off the boat in a half-wet state.

At that moment, a gust of wind rushed in and made a few students fall into the water.

"Hey. Everyone, take out the ropes and tie each other."

“What kind of picnic…”

The skull principal grumbled, but Yi-Han ignored him and distributed ropes to his friends.

And so, the students sat on the island, spreading out cloth and blankets. Yonaire muttered next to them.

"This is the first time I've been on such a gloomy picnic in my life."

The friends nodded their heads.

There was only one thing the students wanted right now.

They hoped this picnic would end quickly!

"Let's at least start a fire first."

"Yeah."

As the students took out fire starters and were about to wave their staffs, the skull principal smiled brightly.

As expected, the fire was quickly extinguished by the fierce wind and rain.

"Everyone, step aside a bit. I'll start it."

When Yi-Han waved his staff, flames fiercely devoured the firewood and rose up. The skull principal frowned.

'Ruining a fun picnic.'

“Everyone, listen while eating your lunch boxes. The next plan for today's picnic is... Hmm. A treasure hunt.”

"?"

Gainando, who was grilling pancakes, tilted his head.

"Where is the treasure?"

"..."

"...Heh."

The friends, having already experienced it once, were preparing underwater breathing magic with their staffs in a resigned expression.

“Ah. This is also included in the score.”

"Can't you really just remove the word picnic?"

<A box of pickled herring>

<Two jars of marmalade jam>

<Four bags of kaolin>

<Three containers of bone powder>

...

The treasures weren't bad.

The problem was the weather.

Clack clack clack clack clack clack-

"Un, undead summoned?"

"No. That's the sound of Gainando's teeth chattering."

The students, who had been wandering around with the help of the devouring-ship fish, were feeling the true face of the spirit flood to the bone.

In front of nature, the magic of mages was too weak.

Magic that preserved body temperature like <Latent Heat Enchantment> disappeared in an instant...

"Yonaire! Did you see? Did you see?! <Latent Heat Enchantment> succeeded! It doesn't burn in fire!"

"...Yi, Yi-Han. I don't think now is the time to be happy."

Yonaire pulled Yi-Han's clothes and stopped him.

The other students were looking at Yi-Han in astonishment.

"...Ahem. I'm sorry, everyone. I failed so many times."

"Ah, no. Wardanaz. That can happen."

"Right. It's natural to be happy about a successful magic."

"Right? I should try it a few more times."

Yi-Han rarely excitedly cast <Latent Heat Enchantment> and walked around. The friends watched with an indescribable expression.

"Don't you know Wardanaz's heart? There's no way Wardanaz would act like that just because of a single magic."

Asan rebuked his friends.

"Then?"

"You guys must be shivering so much from the cold, so he's doing that. How worried he must be."

"Ah!"

"That's...!"

Gainando tilted his head.

'He just looks excited though?'

Of course, he didn't say anything because it seemed like he would be pushed into the sea by his friends if he did.

While Yi-Han was casting warming magic on his friends, the skull principal waited calmly.

Of course, it was true that the sight was unpleasant to him, but the picnic had only just begun.

“It's about time for them to come…”

"...What else did you do?"

"It can't be the sirens again, right?"

The Black Tortoise Tower students muttered in disgust.

Then the skull principal asked in surprise.

“Who used the sirens first?!”

"..."

"..."