Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy
chapter-493

"Mage."

"..."

"Mage?"

When Ianop remained silent even after the sailor left, the mercenaries asked with a slightly frightened expression.

There was no more fearful omen than a mage silently staying still.

'I will definitely draw him in!'

Inside the hood, Ianop's eyes burned like torches.

His actions so far were simply due to Antagondal's orders and rewards.

However, after seeing a glimpse of the magic just now, Ianop's eyes rolled back and his thoughts changed.

'That... must be the material for a Great Mage.'

Although the Empire's magic criminals were evil and corrupt, their greed for magic was the same as that of mages.

Ianop was no exception.

What was the reason he had been bowing his head for a long time under a dangerous and capricious person like Antagondal?

It was because of his greed for magic.

But what if that boy fell into the evil path of magic and became a Great Mage?

What if Ianop served as his faithful right-hand man during that time?

He would be able to fully enjoy the secrets of magic flowing from his side.

That was a reward he could not expect from a stingy person like Antagondal.

With the conviction that the boy was the material for a Great Mage, Ianop could even risk his own life.

'Instead of reporting to Antagondal...'

Ianop decided to secretly monopolize this boy himself instead of offering him to Antagondal.

Drawing the boy in and becoming his confidant was a much more attractive path than offering the boy.

Dedicated to the mage of the Wardanaz family, who was born with great talent...

Ianop began to write a letter with great care.

He had completely abandoned the approach of gradually showing Antagondal's magic, as he had done so far.

Thinking about it, it was a stupid thing to do.

How ridiculous it must have been to approach the material for a Great Mage, whom even Antagondal looked down upon, in such a way.

He had to approach more blatantly and more temptingly.

[...I am an old but experienced mage. I know some magics that the Empire has banned due to their danger, and I have also set foot in areas the Empire has forbidden. However, I have never seen a mage with great talent like you. Please allow me to serve you! So that I may offer my meager knowledge and wisdom to you, to become the cornerstone of great magic…]

Ianop wrote a letter with such a low posture that the mercenaries would be shocked if they knew.

It was rare for a mage to send a letter to another mage, offering to serve like a servant.

However, Ianop felt no sense of humiliation.

If he could make contact somehow, he intended to corrupt the boy from the Wardanaz family with the evil wisdom he knew.

In the process, kneeling and rubbing his forehead on the floor was nothing.

"Send this!"

"Yes... Yes!"

Frightened by Ianop's eerie voice, the mercenaries ran out into the night street without any reply.

The next day.

Ianop waited for the mercenaries to return, holed up in a corner of the port inn.

'It will definitely work.'

What mage wouldn't be interested if he lowered himself to this extent?

Ianop was convinced that the boy from the Wardanaz family would definitely try to exchange at least a word or two.

"Mage!"

'They're here!'

When he heard the mercenary's voice and the inn door opened, Ianop's heart pounded.

But the mercenary's expression was strange.

As if hiding something, as if committing a sin...

It was an awkward and uncomfortable face.

Ianop's instincts began to sound an alarm.

"Is it..."

"Is it that person?"

"Yes!"

At Yi-Han's question, the mercenary hurriedly nodded. For a moment, Ianop's face brightened, forgetting even his uneasiness.

"Mr. Wardanaz..."

"Professor! It is indeed that person!"

"?!"

The moment Yi-Han pointed his finger, the wall behind the inn suddenly shattered and a shadow fiercely rushed in.

Kwaarung!

Ianop, as a mage from the rough back alleys, was not without experience in magical combat.

As soon as he felt something strange from behind, he screamed in horror and activated his artifact.

With a strong enhancement magic, Ianop's thoughts accelerated and his field of vision widened.

At the same time, a transparent barrier of force appeared in front, activating defense.

Chiik-

Finally, Ianop's ring spun once and dyed Ianop's hand purple.

It was a powerful enchantment magic that reversed the target's regeneration upon contact.

Even this much would have melted mediocre combat mages, but unfortunately, his opponent was far too formidable.

Professor Bagrak accelerated even faster than Ianop. By the time the barrier appeared in front of Ianop, Professor Bagrak had already accelerated into the air and occupied the space above Ianop's head.

As Ianop's ring activated and magic was concentrated on his hands, Professor Bagrak did not hesitate and cut off the opponent's arms. His scarf, enhanced with transformation magic and enchantment magic, sliced off the magic criminal's two arms like a famous sword.

Ianop let out a scream of pain and made a final struggle. He intended to activate the scroll tied to his ankle to spray sulfur fog around the area and escape.

However, Professor Bagrak had already pierced Ianop's body with his sword.

Puk!

As the petrification potion, personally made by Professor Uregor and coated all over the sword blade, spread throughout his body, Ianop turned to stone on the spot.

"Did you secure him?!"

"Secured."

"Well don... Thank you for your hard work!"

Professor Uregor's voice was heard anxiously from the shattered wall behind the inn.

He was so anxious that he even forgot the formalities usually exchanged among professors.

"Are you alright, Wardanaz!?"

"Yes. I'm fine."

"What kind of crazy bastard is twisting everything!"

Professor Uregor sighed as if dumbfounded and looked over the petrified Ianop.

Judging from the artifacts he possessed to the magic he tried to use, he was not an ordinary magic criminal. He was definitely a renowned one.

It was surprising that such a person approached Wardanaz, but what was even more surprising was...

"...Weren't you curious about this?"

Professor Uregor asked, looking at the letter Yi-Han had given him.

Honestly, if it were a young Professor Uregor, he would have met the person after seeing this letter.

When a mage prostrates himself like this and offers his wisdom, how could a mage with strong pride and curiosity refuse that?

He would have met him no matter what he did.

But Wardanaz immediately ran to him after receiving this letter, saying, 'Professor! Professor! Some suspicious criminal sent me a letter!'

Thanks to that, the matter was resolved comfortably without getting twisted, but honestly, it was a bit perplexing.

...Does this kid have no greed?

"What's there to be curious about this?"

Yi-Han was puzzled.

When a suspicious mage says, 'I will offer my wisdom and become your slave,' one should be suspicious, thinking, 'What? Is he a scammer?' Why would one agree to meet him?

Moreover, if he had come out with the Einroguard professors, it was right to call the professors and resolve it.

They always torment him, but at times like this, it would be profitable to use them, wouldn't it?

"No... Well... Aren't there any unknown magics or knowledge in the Empire?"

"There's nothing good about recklessly learning such things. There's a lot to learn even if you only learn properly verified magics."

"..."

Are you really a mage?

The petrified magic criminal was thrown aside like a pile of luggage, and the students prepared to return.

Thanks to completing the request in line with the schedule when leaving the school, not only Professor Uregor but also the students' faces were very bright.

"Wardanaz. I didn't see you in the morning, did something happen?"

"Some magic criminal bastard sent me a strange letter, so I went to catch him with the professor."

"...If you don't want to tell me, just say so. You bastard."

Bartreck grumbled.

Wardanaz must have visited a secret store in the city that only he knew about.

A store that sells precious artifacts like <Mirror that Tells the Future> or <Quill that Writes Answers for You>.

If it was such a store, it was understandable that Wardanaz wouldn't tell him.

Instead of hitting Bartreck, Yi-Han kindly asked a question.

"Bartreck. If you received a letter from an unknown mage praising your talent and offering to serve under you, what would you do?"

"What?"

Bartreck reacted as if asking what he was talking about, but soon immersed himself.

"Receiving such a letter? Me? Hmm... It seems a bit unrealistic. Isn't it too early? But assuming I receive it..."

'This guy really likes it.'

Yi-Han was dumbfounded.

He said with his mouth that it was 'unrealistic,' but it was ridiculous to see him rolling his eyes and seriously pondering.

It was similar to Gainando seriously worrying, 'What if I fall into the world of the Toveris series and become an assistant?' 'What should I do if I become a Mage Card champion?'

"First, I should meet him and give him some teachings, right? Since he so desperately wants to see me?"

"...Let's say the other person is a bit suspicious and has committed crimes before. Even then?"

"A criminal? Hmm."

Bartreck fell into contemplation again.

"Still, well... He came to serve as my slave..."

"Geez."

Smack!

Yi-Han slapped the back of Bartreck's head.

It seemed like he should tell the skull principal when he returned to Einroguard to add it as an additional case for character education.

'Aren't Einroguard students too vulnerable to scams?'

When receiving such a letter, one should be suspicious first...

"What?! What wrong answer did I give...!?"

Bartreck was wronged, not understanding why he was hit.

Meanwhile, people from the city guilds and the Maykin family gathered to see off the group.

"You've really worked hard. You can rest a bit more before leaving..."

The students looked at Professor Uregor with a slight interest at those words.

Since the city people were holding them back and trying to treat them, couldn't they stay a day or two more?

'I haven't even seen the Water Statue Festival yet.'

'There are still many streets I haven't been to.'

"No. Since we came out in the middle of our studies, the students will also want to return quickly and focus on their studies."

Professor Uregor answered with a fake chuckle.

The people gathered there exclaimed at that answer.

"Indeed...!"

"We made a request without consideration! We apologize."

The Shadow Patrol hunters tilted their heads as if they couldn't understand.

"Does that make sense? When I went down to the town once during training, I never wanted to go back."

"The mages must have different minds."

The students glared at the back of Professor Uregor's head as if praying for it to be pierced.

However, Professor Uregor was not bothered at all by that heated gaze.

"We will not forget your welcome and kindness. Thank you once again for the consideration and generous compensation from the Maykin family. It will be of great help to the students' training."

The people from the Maykin family spoke humbly as if it was nothing.

"We are only sorry that we couldn't provide more. Students need a lot of gold coins for research, right?"

"Haha... It's alright."

"Ah. Professor. Last time, a 3rd-year student named Balpatan left a sword as collateral and bought reagents, could you tell him that he can pay it back slowly? I told him he could pay it back slowly, but he keeps sending letters of apology..."

When one of the people from the Maykin family carefully brought it up, Professor Uregor's face turned red.

These Einroguard disciples always had a talent for embarrassing the professor anytime, anywhere.

"...I will tell him."

The 1st-year students who heard about their senior's sordid begging whispered among themselves.

"What does that senior do? Is he from a thieves' guild?"

"Thieves' guilds steal proudly, they don't do such sordid things."

"Be quiet! Be quiet! Do you think you'll be any different?!"

Professor Uregor rebuked the students who were cursing their senior in an irritated voice.

How dare they curse like that when it might be their own future!