Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy
chapter-478

"Oh. I'm sorry. What did you say?"

Yi-Han, who belatedly noticed the devouring-ship fish calling from behind, spoke to it.

Perhaps it was his imagination, but the devouring-ship fish's voice was not the usual dissatisfied voice, but a polite and respectful one.

-It's... nothing...-

"Anyway, thank you for your hard work. For helping us during the flood."

Yi-Han conveyed his gratitude with sincerity.

It was thanks to the devouring-ship fish's hard work that the students were able to come and go to Einroguard despite the raging storm and rain.

If it weren't for the devouring-ship fish, a few of the students would have gone missing.

And since Yi-Han was also human, he felt a little sorry for overworking the devouring-ship fish.

"I will release you from the contract now."

-Uh... I can... work a little more... I didn't do much... during the flood...-

The devouring-ship fish spoke hesitantly.

Yi-Han was slightly taken aback by the unexpected reaction.

'What's going on? Did it eat something wrong?'

The devouring-ship fish, which always cried desperately, saying, 'Send me back,' suddenly acted like this.

"You've worked a lot. You can go back."

-Are you... really sure...?-

The devouring-ship fish hesitated and looked at Yi-Han's expression.

It knew that he wasn't an ordinary mage, but to think he would threaten the spirits related to this flood and force them to return.

That wasn't just guts, but it required overwhelming power to dominate the spirits.

Especially when recalling how tremendous power the spirits had gained during this flood...

It only thought that it wasn't for nothing that he was considered the disciple of the lord here.

"Of course it's fine. Go back."

-Thank... thank you.-

The devouring-ship fish looked at Yi-Han's expression one last time and slowly began to disperse.

"I hope we meet again."

-...-

Although Yi-Han said it out of courtesy, it was a startling thing for the devouring-ship fish that was returning.

The devouring-ship fish shuddered.

'Didn't you hear me?'

When the other party returned without answering, Yi-Han tilted his head.

"The school is...!"

"Returning to normal!"

The water that had filled Einroguard began to drain away at a visibly fast pace.

The students sat on the library dock and looked at Einroguard's forests, paths, various buildings, and facilities.

Usually, they didn't think much of it, but seeing it again like this, it felt more touching and moving for some reason.

'It's mostly intact even after such a flood.'

Yi-Han nodded his head when he saw that the paved paths connecting each building were intact.

Since he had done repair work following the skull principal, he knew that this school was protected by powerful magic.

Still, seeing it intact without a single shake even in this flood, he couldn't help but admire it.

'The vegetable garden will have to be rebuilt though...'

To this extent, it could be said that they had done relatively well.

The really important items were kept in the personal rooms of the dormitory, and although some of the food was blown away, there were supplements brought from outside...

'I also have leave passes. Next time, I'll have to go out using the leave passes.'

In the current situation where the skull principal was looking at Yi-Han with eyes full of suspicion about how he went out, it was an amateur's job to recklessly attempt unauthorized outings.

While lost in thought like that, Yi-Han's eyes caught sight of smoke rising from a pipe in the distance.

Professor Uregor was walking with a pipe in his mouth, trudging along.

"Professor!"

"Hello!"

"Yeah. Hello to you too. You all had a hard time because of the flood. But it seems like the seniors did something this time."

"Huh?"

"That's..."

The 1st year students realized that Professor Uregor had misunderstood and were flustered.

It wasn't the seniors, but...

However, Professor Uregor didn't notice that and said what he had to say.

"I have something to say to the students taking the alchemy lecture. Everyone gather around."

"...What are you trying to do again!"

"..."

The students who had endured the midterm exam and the flood were very rough and sharp.

The students looked at Professor Uregor with eyes full of suspicion.

"It's not an additional test?"

"Hey. Tell him I'm not here. Okay? I didn't hear anything at all."

Professor Uregor exhaled smoke deeply and spoke.

"Did I seem like such a stingy professor?"

"You're just an ordinary professor at Einroguard, Professor."

"Right? Look at Wardanaz."

Professor Uregor stroked his beard and smiled brightly at Yi-Han's words that took his side.

'Huh?'

But come to think of it, it was a bit subtle.

Is being an ordinary professor at Einroguard a compliment?

"Anyway, even those who are hiding, come out. I'm busy right now too, but I had no choice but to come. Because of the flood, the cabins flew away... They didn't do that during the last flood, but I don't know where the cabins went. I searched everywhere I could go."

"...Could it be that the angry spirits destroyed them?"

"Maybe. Anyway, is everyone gathered?"

"Yes."

When the students taking alchemy gathered, Professor Uregor began the main topic.

"Starting tomorrow, students taking the alchemy lecture will be going out for 3 nights and 4 days. A request came in from the Maykin family outside... Do you know about the Sangoria flowers? Students who studied hard should know, but there is a shortage in the southern coastal region of the Empire right now, causing problems in many ways. Devoting oneself when such problems arise in the Empire is also one of the duties of a mage. Remember that well."

After speaking, Professor Uregor exhaled smoke. Then he muttered softly.

"Damn it, I really don't want to go..."

"..."

"..."

The students pretended not to hear.

"You will also be going together. It's not often that you get the opportunity to watch and learn how to solve such requests. It's only in your 1st year that you go together like this, but originally, you should be able to solve it on your own. Go and learn a lot."

'Isn't that too shameless to say?'

"So..."

"We're going out, right?"

"Yeah."

The students taking alchemy cheered.

Although they were going out for official business, they were leaving the academy!

Professor Uregor grumbled and said.

"There's nothing to be happy about. I told you, you'll only be working when you go. You probably won't even have time to play. Persuading the local guild members, comforting the residents, getting rid of monsters, checking and classifying materials... Are you listening?"

Of course, the students didn't think about the aftermath at all. They were just excited and shouting.

At least the princess was the only one who was lost in thought and pondering carefully. The princess cautiously asked a question.

"I have a question."

"Go ahead."

"As far as I know, the current shortage of Sangoria flowers is not at a level that can be solved by the alchemists here alone."

The shortage of Sangoria flowers in the southern coastal region of the Empire was not simply a matter of insufficient materials.

Since various factors such as monster appearances, spirit disturbances, local residents' complaints, and guild work conflicts were intertwined, even if Professor Uregor was an outstanding alchemist, he could not solve it alone.

Even if 1st year students went together, the work they could do was only supportive at best.

What was Professor Uregor thinking?

"While everyone is going crazy, you made a good point alone. I heard from the Maykin family that someone gave a very good suggestion. Let's skip the complicated procedures and mobilize the Shadow Patrol from the north to sweep away the monsters first. It's probably to show action to appease the public sentiment."

"Th, that's right!"

The princess was surprised.

It was a radical method that suited the saying 'swift as lightning.'

Ignoring various procedures and interests and dealing with the monsters first.

However, when she reconsidered that method, she couldn't deny the fact that it was effective.

In a situation where everyone was just watching and waiting to avoid losses, if they hunted the monsters, the local residents would be greatly moved, and the forces entangled in that area would have no choice but to be cautious.

"Surprised? I understand. It's a radical but effective method. It would have been difficult for the great noble families or guilds who value face or procedures to come up with this method, but they cleverly thought of it."

As Professor Uregor spoke, he suddenly seemed to be filled with resentment.

"It's not the time to praise. Thanks to that, even I have to go down! They should have just negotiated as usual, why are they doing something they didn't do before..."

"Hic."

Nillia, who was listening next to him, suddenly started hiccuping. Yi-Han and Yonaire felt sorry for her and handed her warm black tea.

"We'll depart at dawn tomorrow, so everyone prepare."

"What about the lectures we're taking?"

"The professors will provide supplementary lessons."

"..."

Yi-Han suddenly frowned.

'Can I attend all the lectures through supplementary lessons?'

"Anyone else have questions?"

"Professor. Will you provide travel supplies?"

"No? You have to prepare them yourself. Did you leave it to me?"

The students were moved by Professor Uregor's warm words.

Yi-Han let out a sigh.

'I thought only the professors would disappear, but it seems the students will too.'

He had thought only the professors would be temporarily absent, but now the students were going as well.

It wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Any opportunity to get out was precious.

'Even if the principal or Professor Bagrak don't go out, it's the same if I go out.'

A student next to him raised his hand and asked.

"Is Professor Uregor the only professor going with us?"

"Professor Bungaegor is also going. We'll be flying on mounts."

"I see."

"Professor Bagrak will also be going with us. Since we're going outside, we need an escort."

"..."

Yi-Han dropped the black tea bottle he was holding.

Morning.

Gainando cried and clung to Professor Uregor's ankles, but the professor coldly shook him off.

"You're not an alchemy student."

"Waah! I'll study alchemy hard from now on! Please take me with you too!"

The alchemy students shook their heads.

'It's a relief they're not taking him.'

'If he acts like that outside, we'll have to say he's from another school.'

Professor Bungaegor, who was riding on the largest and fiercest-looking wyvern, shouted.

"Everyone, slowly get on the wyverns. They're trained, so they won't be violent, but they won't like it if you act rough. Wait! Wardanaz, you go and make eye contact with the wyvern. Blink and show them that you have no hostility so the wyvern doesn't misunderstand."

"No, why only me..."

Yi-Han grumbled but exchanged glances with the wyvern.

The wyvern looked at Yi-Han with eyes full of wariness. It was a gaze as if it was suspecting Yi-Han of being a predator approaching to kill it.

"I'm not an enemy."

-Grrr...-

"I'm not an enemy."

-Grrr...-

"...I said I'm not an enemy? Hey."

-Grrrrrr!-

Professor Bungaegor said from the side.

"This one has a strong pride and only carries those it acknowledges, but the ones you're riding are all docile. There won't be any troublesome issues during the trip."

"Uh. Professor. But why is this one bleeding from its nose?"

"I guess I hit it a bit too hard earlier."

"..."

Yi-Han was slightly shaken about whether he could really trust the wyvern.

'It should be fine.'

Seeing Professor Bagrak walking from afar, Yi-Han suddenly felt reassured.

Although he was usually such a threatening person, he couldn't be more reassured to travel with the wyvern.

"Professor. I'm glad to be riding the wyvern together."

"Unfortunately."

"Pardon?"

"The wyvern is an excessively safe mount."

Professor Bagrak raised his eyebrows once as if he was disappointed and got on the wyvern.

"..."

The basilisk egg in Yi-Han's backpack made a sound full of wariness.