Life of a Magic Academy Mage – 10



Chapter 10

“Is that so Professor?” Yi-Han did not let his emotions show on his face. Having dealt with eccentric professors more than once he was not naive enough to be easily swayed. But what came out of his mouth was “I do believe that with passion and affection one could indeed achieve good grades in alchemy lectures.”

‘I should make sure never to attend this lecture again after it ends.’

“Do you really think so?”

Professor Uregor stroked his mustache with a pleased expression.

“Then take this course.”

“…I haven’t yet attended other lectures…”

“Ah never mind. Just take this course. Other lectures won’t be better than this one.”

“No I need to attend others and…”

“No! You must take this course!”

Yi-Han began to feel that he had made a mistake.

Other students nearby looked at Yi-Han with envy.

-‘The Wardanaz family indeed…’-

-‘Such immense talent…’-

‘This is really getting on my nerves.’

Professor Uregor looked around and announced

“Today’s lecture ends here. Unfortunately the group that went elsewhere couldn’t meet the pig.”

“…”

“…Professor did you intentionally make us encounter the pig?” One of the students asked in a voice mixed with astonishment.

Though it was called a pig it was practically a monster. Had they been unlucky they could have ended up with broken bones or ruptured organs.

Professor Uregor replied matter-of-factly

“Did you think I sent you just to gather herbs? Of course you must also face situations that arise while gathering them.”

“That… That’s…”

“Indeed. Think about it. Do you think the professor would send us without any preparation? He must have been following us.”

“Ah…”

Upon hearing this the students seemed convinced. Certainly…

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“No way. Why would I follow you?”

The dwarf professor looked at them as if they were talking nonsense.

“I came here because the pig collapsed.”

“But what if there was a serious accident?!”

“Then you lack the talent for alchemy.”

“…”

“…”

Yi-Han felt as though he could hear the thoughts of the other students.

‘That son of a…!’

“Whether you catch it avoid it flee or hide handling all these unexpected situations is the talent of an alchemist. Got it ironheads?”

“Yes!”

“Do we not need the Cleansing Grass then?” Yonaire cautiously raised her hand to ask. Professor Uregor looked surprised.

“You found Cleansing Grass?”

“Yes.”

“Wow. I didn’t expect you to actually find it. You pass too! Come here. You must attend as well.”

“…”

Yonaire was involuntarily dragged along.

“I didn’t find it alone. Nillia also helped.”

“Is that so? You pass too! Come here!”

Professor Uregor then pulled Nillia towards him. Nillia looked unsure whether to be happy or not.

“And here’s Wardanaz…”

“You definitely need to attend!”

“…”

Yi-Han half gave up.

At this point escape was impossible.

‘I’m screwed.’

Skipping classes never did any good especially if it caught the professor’s attention.

He didn’t dare skip fearing that this dwarf professor might even follow him to other lecture rooms.

“…I will listen with all my might. Alchemy has always been my dream!”

“You…!”

Professor Uregor grinned. He had read Yi-Han’s change of emotions. Among all the freshmen present Yi-Han was the most mentally mature. Despite not wanting to attend alchemy classes once he realized it was unavoidable he quickly adapted and changed his attitude.

Nobles hailing from prestigious families were not adept at concealing their true feelings. Never having had to hide their emotions throughout their lives they lacked practice in such restraint. In this regard Yi-Han was particularly intriguing.

“Don’t be too disappointed. There are privileges in alchemy lectures.”

Professor Uregor decided to console Yi-Han.

Finding devoted disciples was a challenge in these times. Just as students evaluated lectures professors assessed students.

When a professor like Uregor found a student to his liking he had to hold onto them tightly. However holding on too forcefully could backfire leading to desertion. The best approach was to offer incentives.

“What privilege are you talking about?”

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“There’s a cabin near the forest that belongs to me. Normally it’s off-limits but since you caught the pig and found the Cleansing Grass I’ll allow you free access for this semester.”

“…??”

Yi-Han was bewildered. Privileges to visit a professor’s house seemed absurd.

‘Is this a privilege to clean to sort recycling to be a slave?’

“…Ah I haven’t explained it well enough.”

Noticing Yi-Han’s skeptical gaze Professor Uregor quickly added “Do you know what ironheads like you desire the most?”

“Isn’t it easy-to-pass lectures?”

“…Are you really from the Wardanaz family? That’s not a bad guess but the correct answer is food. Right now you might just look pale but give it another week and you’ll be ready to eat each other.”

“…”

Professor Uregor’s words were persuasive.

Over 80% of the students here were used to living comfortably with ample food. Feeding them only hard black bread and cold rice balls would naturally cause distress.

“But in my cabin there’s meat and fish caught from the forest spices and vegetables from my secret spots. Do you understand what this means?”

“…!”

Yi-Han finally realized. It was akin to a buffet pass!

“Professor!”

“This lad. You’re growing on me.”

The two exchanged a warm bond of friendship with a handshake.

—

After the class as students moved to their next lectures (some muttering ‘never attending this again’) Yi-Han stayed put.

Yonaire and Nillia asked curiously “Aren’t you going?”

“I’m going to dissect the pig.”

“…”

“…”

“Excellent!”

Professor Uregor alone admired him. He had never seen a freshman adapt so quickly.

“Professor is this really edible?”

“It has become ferocious but there’s no problem with eating it.”

“I see. Could you lend me some equipment to dissect and smoke it?”

“This lad. You’re already starting to like alchemy aren’t you?”

“Yes. I really love alchemy.”

Yi-Han adapting to the reality resolved to embrace alchemy.

‘If what the professor says is true I can’t just wait around.’

There had been hints all along. From the principal’s words at the entrance ceremony to seek what they wish within this academy to the rules of not providing anything and prohibiting leaving the academy. The freshmen had to find their own food and survive!

‘It’s a strange academy but honestly I’m not even surprised anymore.’

In an academy where life and death were uncertain fending for oneself for food was hardly shocking.

Yi-Han carried the pig to a stream. It was better to bleed and dissect it near water.

“I’ll help.”

Yonaire rolled up her sleeves and approached.

“Are you sure you can handle it?”

“We’ll have to deal with much tougher ingredients in the future. In exchange you’ll share some of the meat right?”

“…”

Yi-Han thought he heard Yonaire’s stomach rumble.

Nillia who had been standing behind spoke in disbelief.

“Are you two really going to dissect it?”

“Yes.”

“But… why at school…”

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“…Fine! I’ll help!”

Yi-Han had learned hunting and butchering with Arlong and Nillia was quite the expert in her own right. Yonaire too was no amateur having practiced handling ingredients and materials numerous times.

“Here’s the equipment. This should be enough.”

Professor Uregor brought the necessary tools his eyes filled with curiosity to see what they would do.

Yi-Han drew a dagger and began to skin the pig.

Scrape-

‘He’s good at this?’

Nillia was honestly surprised. She had not expected Yi-Han of noble descent to be as skilled as she was.

Together the three worked diligently to skin the pig and sort the meat hanging it on branches. Considering its large size there was plenty to eat but Yi-Han didn’t waste the innards either.

‘I should make sausages out of the intestines.’

In this hellish first year it was best to make as much food as possible.

“Are you planning to smoke it?”

“Yes.”

“Remarkable…!”

Professor Uregor was impressed.

They couldn’t just leave all this meat. Even in cooler weather it would spoil after a while. But smoking it would preserve it much longer a great method for the freshmen.

“Professor I’ll use this log.”

“Wait… just a moment.”

As Yi-Han reached for the wood piled near the cabin Professor Uregor became flustered. Not all wood was suitable for smoking. The better the fragrance of the wood the better the smoke.

‘Those are high-quality apple wood for smoking…’

Yi-Han recognizing the quality swiftly took it. Professor Uregor licked his lips in regret.

“Nillia is this enough?”

“More than enough. It’s plentiful.”

Smoke billowed and the scent of cooking meat tantalized their noses. Sweat beaded on the foreheads of the three as they worked diligently.

Gurgle-

Yi-Han looked around. It wasn’t Yonaire nor Nillia. It was the dwarf professor.

“…Are you hungry?”

“Yes I am a bit peckish.”

Yi-Han stood up. A graduate student automatically responds when a professor is hungry.

‘There’s plenty of meat; I should cook some.’

“Professor could I have some bread and butter…”

“…Take what you need…”

Though Professor Uregor grumbled he didn’t complain further knowing he would partake in the meal as well.

Yi-Han placed the meat on the iron skillet. He didn’t just throw it on; he seasoned it properly with salt and pepper.

Sizzle sizzle-

“What are you doing?”

“Preparing it.”

“?

Professor Uregor thought Yi-Han’s method was unusual. Just grilling it would have been enough… Yet Yi-Han didn’t stop there. He scored the meat added oil to the skillet and then placed the meat on it. The sizzling sound filled the air along with the aroma of cooking meat. Yi-Han also added vegetables from the cabin to the skillet.

“Why are you stopping??”

When Yi-Han paused during the cooking Professor Uregor was confused. The meat wasn’t fully cooked yet.

“Adding butter like this makes it taste even better.”

“You’re not saying this to say that you have no talent for alchemy are you?”

Professor Uregor cast a suspicious glance clearly indicating he had no intention of letting anyone off the hook.

“Just try it first before you say anything.”

As the meat browned nicely a rather impressive meal was completed. Pork steaks and grilled vegetables accompanied by thick slices of bread and butter from the cabin.

Though not freshly baked this was more than enough for the freshmen who had only eaten black bread.

Silence fell abruptly as all four were engrossed in eating.

Professor Uregor was the most voracious eater among them. The dwarf professor tore off a chunk of bread stuffed a hefty slice of grilled pork between it and ate heartily. Then he walked alone back to the cabin and returned with several jars of jam.

“…”

“…”

“…I’ll share a little so stop looking at me like that ironheads.”

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