Life of a Magic Academy Mage – 38



Chapter 38

‘He’s a student of the Black Tortoise isn’t he?’ Yi-Han observed the other closely wondering what he might do.

The other was a Rat mixed-blood boy. Short in stature with a slightly bent back yet his steps were so silent that not a sound was heard.

Yi-Han suspected that the boy had undergone some special training. As the old knight Arlong had said one’s footsteps often revealed their status. The steps of a knight a mage a hunter a thief…

And these steps were akin to those of a thief.

‘Rat mixed-blood are not exactly welcomed in the Empire.’

Though the Empire claimed equality among all races in reality it was difficult. There were popular races and those that were not. And the Rat mixed-blood belonged to the latter.

A race always under the suspicious gaze of the Empire’s people often associated with thieves vagabonds pickpockets and rag collectors. That was the fate of the Rat mixed-blood.

‘It must be my prejudice. Not all Rat mixed-blood could be thieves.’

Yi-Han thought he might be prejudging too quickly. Not all Rat mixed-blood would have been trained in thievery.

Click─

“…”

However the boy pulled out a crude makeshift key from his waist and began earnestly trying to unlock a door. His intentions seemed clear to any onlooker.

‘Well it’s not the time for me to curse at others either.’

Yi-Han himself was trying to find a way to sneak out of the academy breaking the rules. Perhaps…

‘Cooperation might be beneficial.’

Considering the boy had made and brought a key he was clearly not new to this. Yi-Han couldn’t be the only student trying to sneak out of the academy.

Cautiously Yi-Han approached. If the boy were to scream they would both be doomed.

Swoosh-

Yi-Han quietly stopped behind the engrossed Rat mixed-blood boy pointing his staff at his neck and whispered softly.

“Hey. Make a noise and you die.”

“…!!”

—

Ratford had been a professional thief of the <White Crow> guild even before enrolling in the academy.

He couldn’t believe it when he received the invitation to the magic academy. Accepting a thief as a student regardless of his talents was unheard of.

Fortunately the students of the Black Tortoise didn’t ostracize Ratford. 

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However Ratford couldn’t help feeling alienated. The boys and girls he studied with born to wealthy merchant families had lives starkly different from his spent prowling the night streets honing his thieving skills.

Ratford wanted to prove himself with his own abilities much like Nillia the huntress (though Ratford never imagined someone like her could exist). He wanted to earn recognition from his peers at the same tower with his skills!

So Ratford prepared meticulously. The academy was large; there must be kitchens and storerooms. If he could rob them he could have more than enough food and various necessities!

While other students casually walked the corridors to their classrooms Ratford would stealthily inspect the keyholes in the back areas near the central stairs.

To investigate a keyhole with just the sensation of one’s fingertips and make an impromptu key to unlock it was a feat not even a skilled thief could easily achieve. But Ratford dedicating all his spare time finally succeeded.

He thought only glory awaited him but then this sudden ambush.

“Who… who are you?”

He knew who it had to be.

It was clear that he was a guard protecting the academy.

Professional thieves always prepared for such situations.

Ratford cautiously raised his hands above his shoulders and spoke in the most groveling manner possible.

“Please don’t hit me. I surrender.”

Even among thieves the reaction to being caught varied—some vehemently denied and raged while others meekly accepted their fate.

Once caught accepting the situation was often the better choice.

“Shh. I sneaked out just like you.”

“…?!”

Only then did Ratford turn around.

A sturdy boy dressed in priest’s robes had removed the staff from Ratford’s neck and was looking around cautiously.

‘The same freshman as me!?’ Ratford was astonished. He had assumed the boy was a guard given the harshness of the threat. But a fellow freshman saying something as deadly as ‘make a noise and you die’…

“What is this…”

“Keep your voice down.”

“Who are you?” 

Even as he asked Ratford had some idea who the other might be. Tall and solidly built skilled in wielding a staff like a weapon. He had to be one of the students from the White Tiger.

‘How did he get a priest’s robe? He’s got some brains doesn’t he?’

Wearing a priest’s robe made it less likely to arouse suspicion. Who would have thought a knight-turned-student would show such cleverness?

“Blue Dragon Yi-Han Wardanaz.”

“…”

Ratford’s mouth fell open in astonishment.

—

Ratford quickly came to terms with the situation though not entirely convinced.

‘Wardanaz family’s scion out here at night… What for… And how did he get priest’s robes…’

But given the urgency of the moment he decided to just accept it and move on.

More shocking was the proposal made by the boy from the Wardanaz family.

“Move together?”

“Anything is more efficient in pairs. Isn’t it better for you too rather than moving alone?”

“…Can’t you see who I am?”

Ratford asked incredulously. Yi-Han hesitated at the question.

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“Are you perhaps the son of the principal?”

“…”

Of course he was not the principal’s son. Ratford was baffled. Anyone with eyes could see that Ratford was of the Rat mixed-blood race. And here he was in the middle of the night fiddling with a makeshift key to unlock a door. Anyone with a brain should have realized ‘Ah he’s a thief!’

“You can clearly see I’m a thief! You a high-born of the Wardanaz family want to hang around with a thief like me?”

“Hey. What does it look like I’m doing right now?”

“…”

Ratford was struck dumb by Yi-Han’s question.

…Indeed?

“Move together?”

“Yeah. You were looking for the food storage right? So was I.”

“!”

Ratford was startled then composed himself and asked.

“Are you really from the Wardanaz family?” Ratford eyed him suspiciously. It was hard to believe…

“Are we moving together? Or shall I take you down and go alone?”

“Calm down calm down. Let’s move together. Two is better than one.”

Ratford hastily waved his hands as Yi-Han’s wand pressed threateningly closer.

One thing was clear—there was no way he could beat the other in a direct confrontation.

“So you had prepared a key?”

“Yes.”

“Does it open?”

“No it doesn’t. It should have but it seems to be protected by magic.”

Ratford fiddled anxiously with the keyhole. If it was magically protected then Ratford had no way to open it. Without a thief’s treasure or something of the sort he was utterly unequipped…

Click!

“?”

A key suddenly shot out from Yi-Han’s pocket and inserted itself into the keyhole.

Then it turned effortlessly unlocking the door.

“???”

“Where did that key come from?”

“Stolen from the principal’s office.”

“You’re joking right?”

“No I’m serious.”

He had not only learned magic while staying behind with Asan for cleanup but he had also taken a key.

It turned out to be for a door in the central hall’s rear area.

‘…I need to be more careful.’

If it was a key the principal had left behind there was no room for complacency. Yi-Han firmly resolved not to let his guard down with this stroke of luck.

They passed an empty banquet hall a large hall several closed doors…

“Wait.”

Ratford suddenly lay flat on the ground.

“I think there are people in the basement? I can hear something.”

“…!”

Yi-Han felt he knew where the workers were entering from.

‘The basement!’

Using the main entrance or wall passages on the ground would not only be visible to students but also tempt them to use it. In contrast using underground passages would be less noticeable to the students. 

It had seemed odd that despite wandering around they had never seen a worker…

‘What’s with this academy going to such lengths?’

“It’s definitely noise from a warehouse in the basement. Let’s find a way down!”

“Really…”

Ratford hurriedly followed Yi-Han’s suggestion. Fortunately the stairs leading to the basement appeared before them soon enough.

Creak─

Though they had only descended one staircase the air felt different.

While moonlight had entered through windows above here there was only a cold darkness.

Yi-Han contemplated summoning light. However his instincts prevented him from doing so. Most importantly the fact that the key from the principal’s office had opened the door heightened Yi-Han’s alertness.

‘Considering the principal’s character I’ve seen so far it wouldn’t be strange if he set up a few traps here.’

Ratford rustled beside him. Yi-Han whispered softly “Don’t light a fire.”

“…?”

“There might be someone waiting.”

“!”

Ratford was startled by the Wardanaz family boy’s words.

Indeed this was an unknown and mysterious place. The unfamiliarity and anxiety had almost led him to light a fire without thinking.

If Yi-Han hadn’t spoken he would have made a grave mistake.

‘…But really what is it?’

Ratford had heard rumors about the Wardanaz family boy in the Black Tortoise.

-‘They say he has no blood or tears? Seems like he’s already commanding the Blue Dragon with his charisma.’-

-‘Even princes and princesses can’t breathe in front of the Wardanaz family.’-

-‘I saw him in a basic magic class; he succeeded on his first try where others failed multiple times.’-

-‘In the riding class he subdued a thunderbird with magic and made it submit. Can you believe that?’-

At first Ratford thought these were exaggerated rumors. Too much for a fellow freshman. But now seeing him in action Ratford began to think the rumors might not be exaggerated.

The aura he exuded was no joke!

Whoosh!

“!”

A lantern suddenly flashed in the distance illuminating the surrounding area.

Yi-Han and Ratford unable to even breathe loudly crouched down in their position.

Unnoticed in the dark the entire underground space was like a vast warehouse. Shelves and tables were tightly packed and various items filled the space barely visible in the dim light.

The warehouse keeper began walking slowly lantern in hand. The silence was so profound that even a needle drop would be heard and the muttering of the keeper resonated clearly.

“Cheese… 8 pieces. Check. Maple syrup… 5 bottles. Check. White Fire Paper… 22 sheets. Check. Spirit Silver Needles… 3 pieces. Check.”

‘He’s memorizing the numbers!’

“The alarm magic has weakened. Time to reinforce it.”

As the keeper cast a magic spell over the items Yi-Han felt a chill run down his spine. Every item was enchanted with alarm magic. Had they unknowingly touched anything they would have been dragged to the punishment room.

“Who’s there?”

“!”

Their hearts plummeted. The warehouse keeper had turned his head directly in their direction and spoken.

‘How could he see us from that angle?’

Despite the confusion Yi-Han tried to maintain his composure.

How had the other noticed them? Was it a bluff? Was it too late to use an invisibility spell?

“…!”

Yi-Han stared in shock at the face of the slowly approaching warehouse keeper.

Astonishingly the keeper was a blind man his eyes bandaged tightly.

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