Life of a Magic Academy Mage – 36



Chapter 36

‘Let’s calm down. He probably hasn’t figured out my true intentions yet.’ Yi-Han composed himself calmly. Even so it seemed unlikely that the vampire professor could read Yi-Han’s inner thoughts.

-‘I’ll take advantage of attending this lecture alone and reap the benefits!’-

‘Hmm. If caught it would be more embarrassing than dangerous.’

“Did you have any questions?” Professor Boladi inquired slowly turning his gaze back to Yi-Han.

“May I ask any question?”

“No. It must be related to the class.”

‘Isn’t that obvious?’

Yi-Han wasn’t about to ask for advice on sneaking out of the academy…

But this did give him a clearer picture of the professor’s character – a strict principled individual both with others and himself. Yi-Han found it easier to deal with such types having encountered many before.

‘It’s the crazy professors like the Lich Principal that are difficult to handle.’

Just diligently doing what’s asked should be no problem.

“Any questions?”

“Um…” Yi-Han pondered. What should he ask?

Professors always said ‘Feel free to ask questions’ but if you asked questions easily you’d often get a ‘Why don’t you know that?’

Asking questions required tact.

‘Maybe I should start with the basics.’

“What is the purpose of practicing rotating this soul star orb?”

Yi-Han asked with curiosity.

He asked because it was related to the lecture but he was genuinely curious. What was the point of just spinning this bead around?

Professor Boladi tilted his head slightly at Yi-Han’s question a look of genuine puzzlement on his face.

“Didn’t you read the class’ name?”

“…”

Yi-Han didn’t panic. That’s just how professors were!

-‘I taught you 1+1=2 so now solve these advanced differential equations. Can’t do it? Why? How come?’-

“Yes. I know the lecture is titled <Repetitive Training of Basic Magic Combat> but how is rotating this soul star orb specifically related to basic magic combat?”

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“Hmm.”

At Yi-Han’s question Professor Boladi froze. He stood still like a statue turned off.

“…Professor?”

“Wait a moment” Professor Boladi told Yi-Han without blinking.

What else could Yi-Han do? He waited.

After some time when Yi-Han began to regret his question Professor Boladi finally spoke “Now I can explain.”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s so obvious that I was wondering how to explain it.”

Yi-Han was astonished.

He had been pondering that all this time…?

‘No don’t panic. Considering he’s a professor it’s not that strange.’

“Look. With just this quill here I could kill you.”

“…”

That was definitely alarming. Yi-Han immediately reached for his staff. 

Seeing Yi-Han’s quick reflexes and balanced stance Professor Boladi spoke again “I take that back. It would be difficult with a quill.”

Not particularly comforting.

As Yi-Han wondered whether to flee or call for help Professor Boladi continued “As you can tell from what I just said in magic combat it’s not about high-circle magic spells. The minimum magic needed to cut off the opponent’s breath is sufficient.”

Professor Boladi seemed to regret speaking too elaborately a look of remorse crossing his face.

“Does that make sense now?”

“…No please explain in more detail.”

“!?”

Startled Professor Boladi froze once again statue-like.

Yi-Han felt a twinge of regret but what was done was done.

‘Now that it’s come to this I must get an answer.’

After a moment Professor Boladi resumed “The training you are doing now rotating the soul star orb is about controlling projectile-type magic. You might already guess but even with the same <Magic Missile> spell the difference in effect is like heaven and earth depending on the mage casting it.”

‘I had no such guess.’

“A mage unfamiliar with combat can hardly use magic properly in a battle situation overwhelmed by the noise heat and murderous intent of the battlefield. However a mage who has ingrained magic control into their body through repeated training can do so.”

Professor Boladi cast a spell without uttering an incantation or using a wand.

<Magic Missile>.

Despite its grand name it was a basic 1st circle spell. Its principle was simple: draw out mana shape it into a sphere and launch it. This would release a fist-sized ball of mana.

As a 1st circle spell its power wasn’t particularly impressive. Among mercenaries it was a common debate whether a strongly thrown rock or a <Magic Missile> was stronger.

…But Professor Boladi’s <Magic Missile> shattered that prejudice instantly. The spacious lecture hall transformed into a galaxy in a moment filled with dozens even hundreds of orbs of mana. With a wave of his hand Professor Boladi directed all the orbs in one unified direction. Some flew straight others curved. Some moved rhythmically others erratically. Some fast some slow. And all these movements converged with a single purpose: striking the vital points of an enemy.

Bang!

With a loud noise the orbs collided and disappeared.

Yi-Han felt as if he saw an illusion of a non-existent person being precisely hit in the vitals and collapsing. Such was the precision of Professor Boladi’s magic.

Yi-Han realized anew that such extreme precision could be beautiful.

“The goal of this training is to freely control projectile magic in this manner. Do you understand now?”

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“Yes thank you.”

Relief slight but noticeable crossed Professor Boladi’s face as Yi-Han showed comprehension.

If he hadn’t understood here explaining further would have been a daunting task.

‘So the professor wasn’t just lazily earning his salary after all.’

Yi-Han felt a twinge of guilt for misunderstanding Professor Boladi. He had assumed the professor was just holding a weird lecture to collect a paycheck. But upon closer examination this training seemed quite plausible. Magic was not just about knowing how to cast a spell.

Just as knowing how to swing a sword doesn’t mean mastering swordsmanship mastering a single spell is not a trivial matter. Could you cast it faster? Could you cast it accurately even in urgent chaotic situations?

Professor Boladi valued such skills. And for Yi-Han this training in controlling projectile magic was crucial considering a problem he was currently facing.

“Professor may I ask one more thing?”

“Go ahead.”

“I’ve recently learned a <Lesser Control> spell.”

“Continue.”

Professor Boladi didn’t ask where Yi-Han learned it; such details were not his concern.

“But this spell… it works but I can’t seem to stabilize it after casting.”

Professor Boladi’s eyebrows raised. It wasn’t a matter of poor control but a failure to stabilize at all. It was a very unusual case.

Ordinarily novice mages practicing <Lesser Control> magic struggled with movement not stabilization. Unless they possessed an extraordinary amount of mana…

“Wait. It seems you have more mana than I thought.”

“Ah. Yes I’ve been told that.”

Yi-Han was pleased that Professor Boladi had quickly realized this. If the professor could discern this so swiftly there was a good chance he might offer an effective solution.

What method would he teach?

“<Mana Drain>!”

“?!”

Professor Boladi suddenly grabbed Yi-Han’s arm and cast a high-circle spell.

It was a powerful and sinister magic that literally absorbed the opponent’s mana.

“Wha…”

Yi-Han couldn’t be unaware of his mana being rapidly drained.

‘Do some explaining first you crazy professor!’

But it was too late to protest. The professor’s magic was already absorbing Yi-Han’s mana.

“…?”

Yi-Han sensing something odd looked at Professor Boladi’s face. As a vampire his complexion was naturally not very lively but now it seemed excessively pallid.

“Professor?”

“…”

“Professor?? Are you alright?!”

Thud!

Professor Boladi slowly released his grip and then collapsed to the side. Yi-Han was shocked.

He had brought down a professor.

Of course he had often imagined such a scenario but he never thought he would actually bring down a professor in reality!

—

Fortunately Professor Boladi soon regained consciousness. The vampire professor quickly summarized the situation after standing up.

“You have more mana than I expected.”

“…Do I?”

Yi-Han appeared much more composed than the professor who had absorbed his power. In fact Yi-Han didn’t feel particularly tired at all despite having his power absorbed.

“Yes.” Professor Boladi nodded.

Any other professor would have explained how absurd this situation was. An inexperienced person with more mana than they can contain might collapse from being unable to control it but for a mage of Professor Boladi’s caliber the story was different.

How much power must have been absorbed for a mage like Professor Boladi to lose control and collapse?

But Professor Boladi did not elaborate. He didn’t think it was important. What mattered now was something else.

“I tried to make control easier by using the <Mana Drain> spell to reduce your mana. But it failed.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

Yi-Han understood what Professor Boladi meant. The idea was that since having too much mana made it difficult to control projectiles reducing the mana might help… Though it had failed.

“There is another way.”

“What might that be?”

“When casting <Lesser Control> did the projectiles ever go out of control and fly towards you?”

Yi-Han thought for a moment at the professor’s question.

“No that never happened.”

“That’s right. That’s instinct. Even if it seems like you’ve lost control as long as the spell is cast and the mage’s will is connected to the projectile control is still in progress.”

Yi-Han nodded at this plausible explanation. Indeed if the spell had completely disconnected the projectile should have just fallen to the ground. 

The connection was still there.

‘Wait. Does that mean my instinct was behind hurling stones at others’ heads?’

He couldn’t quite distinguish whether it was coincidence or instinct.

Yi-Han decided not to delve further. Sometimes truths better left buried are more pleasant.

“Instinct is powerful. Utilizing that instinct you might be able to enhance your ability to control projectiles to a new level.”

“Indeed…”

“Are you ready?”

“Yes?”

“Let’s go. I’ll aim for your chin so defend it at all costs.”

Yi-Han was momentarily puzzled.

The floating soul star orb provided the explanation. Quivering in readiness the orb began to shoot toward Yi-Han’s chin rapidly.

In that instant Yi-Han felt his instincts sharply cry out. His body moved before his mind.

“Move!!!!!”

—

Still there was good news. Yi-Han had become quite adept at handling the <Lesser Control> spell.

The bad news was that Professor Boladi was much more insane than Yi-Han had thought.

‘I was foolish to trust a professor from this academy.’

Never again!

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