Life of a Magic Academy Mage – 44



Chapter 44

For a while only silence emanated from the next room.

Yi-Han cautiously asked sensing he might have misspoken “Have I made some mistake?”

“Oh no. I was just a bit surprised. A freshman… quite talented indeed.”

“Well I got caught right?”

‘Crazy guy if you hadn’t been caught there you’d be running the academy…’ the other thought.

The arrival of the Empire’s anti-magic extrimists was no ordinary matter.

Even the academy’s finest professors had gone out to confront them.

Wishing to fight alongside them and not get caught was an unconscionable expectation.

“What were you doing before you came in Senior?”

“Senior? Drop the formalities. Call me whatever you like. After graduation we’re all just mages.”

“Got it. So what brought you in?”

“…”

The person beyond the wall suddenly became very curious about Yi-Han’s face.

What kind of person is this kid?

“I came in after a failed experiment.”

“What? Failed an experiment and ended up in the punishment room?”

Yi-Han was appalled.

Isn’t that too harsh?

But the person beyond remained calm.

“Nothing to be shocked about. You’ll understand in time.”

The fourth-year student recounted the incident.

He needed certain materials for his current magic experiment but failed to acquire them within the deadline.

So he sneaked into one of the principal’s secret storerooms to steal the reagents.

However he failed to completely bypass the principal’s traps and ended up caught and dragged to the punishment room.

“…?”

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Listening Yi-Han hesitated.

‘He didn’t come in for failing an experiment did he?’

That’s just getting caught for thievery.

But Yi-Han chose not to point it out. After all long-term attendance at a graduate academy tends to erode one’s common sense.

It wasn’t the senior’s fault that his common sense had eroded; it was the magic academy’s.

“From what I see with your abilities several professors might covet you. It’s wise to be cautious. Be careful not to fail in your experiments.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. But I don’t plan to stay long at the academy.”

“Modest aren’t you?”

“No I really don’t plan to stay long…”

“Right. Of course. You seem quite exemplary. Perhaps from the Blue Dragon? No that can’t be.”

“…”

Yi-Han gave up trying to explain as it seemed like the other person wouldn’t listen.

Yet he couldn’t shake off a sinister feeling.

“Senior can I ask something else?”

“Go ahead.”

“It seems hard to reopen the underground passage. Is there another way out?”

At Yi-Han’s question a snicker came from next door.

“There is of course. But freshman aren’t you asking for too much? Why should I tell you?”

Instead of replying Yi-Han turned away from the wall and shouted towards the door.

“Guard!”

“!?”

The student next door straightened up in alarm.

‘What is this kid doing?!’

‘Is he planning a joint suicide?!’

-What’s the matter?-

“Could you pass this to the next room?”

Alright.

Surprisingly the undead summon answered Yi-Han’s request willingly.

Yi-Han checked the gift basket from the professor finding it filled with cookies hot black tea and sugar which was then passed to the next room.

Clatter!

“???”

“Oh no. I’m surprised… How did you manage to bring this in?”

“It’s a gift.”

“…”

By now the student beyond the wall was eager to know just who Yi-Han really was.

Within a week of his admission Yi-Han had secured an exit route from the academy and had actually succeeded in escaping (had it not been for an act of God). While trapped in the punishment room he had impressively coerced his fellow tower-mates to send him gifts. Above all his ability to secure such provisions indicated a remarkable resourcefulness…

‘Could this kid be from a criminal guild?’

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In the Black Tortoise it wasn’t unusual for students who had committed crimes to be admitted and suspicion arose that Yi-Han might be one such case.

A big fish no less!

Otherwise his capabilities were inexplicable.

“Anyway Senior. Isn’t this enough?”

“…No. It’s okay. Since I’ve received this I can tell you.”

The student beyond the wall coughed discreetly.

Having received an unexpected gift and considering the possibility that Yi-Han might indeed be from a criminal guild it was prudent not to create unnecessary enmity.

After all who knew what retribution might follow if discovered later…

“But before I tell you let’s get one thing straight. Not even us fourth-years know all the ways to escape from the academy. Many have tried and failed.”

As one progressed to higher grades the academy gradually permitted excursions yet many seniors had never successfully escaped.

In fact most hadn’t. Sneaking out of the academy was a task of considerable difficulty.

‘…But to think a first-year would succeed.’

“The method I know is something I heard from above and I’ve never tried it myself. I don’t know if it would work or not.”

According to the student beyond the wall there was a special stable at the top of the main building.

A stable for flying creatures!

It was where the professors’ mounts and the bureaucrats’ messenger eagles rested.

The creatures there were blessed with a special boon allowing them to fly over the academy walls.

“The problem is that those creatures aren’t just left there for anyone to ride.”

“…”

Indeed that was the case.

Just as a storeroom would have a keeper so would the stable have some form of guardian.

‘But it’s not a bad lead.’

The mere existence of a method was quite hopeful.

Moreover this method had been successfully used by someone at least once.

This increased the likelihood of Yi-Han’s success.

“Thank you Senior.”

‘…This kid… Did he just come up with a plan just by hearing this?! How on earth?!’

The misunderstanding of the student beyond the wall deepened further.

—

You are released. Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family.

A day later an undead summon opened the door for him.

Before leaving Yi-Han slipped a few more chocolates into the next room.

Thanks to the faceless senior he had been able to hear various stories.

Although the senior became increasingly taciturn and hesitant as time went on Yi-Han thought it was probably out of annoyance.

Anyone would find it bothersome if an unknown person kept talking to them.

Nevertheless he was grateful for the answers.

‘I should give thanks if we ever meet later.’

Yi-Han exited through the same complex process he had entered winding his way out.

Outside the main building the darkness was dispersing and dawn was breaking.

‘Hmm. Looks like a kitchen.’

Entering the Blue Dragon and heading to his personal room Yi-Han was newly astonished by the appearance of his room.

It resembled a well-organized kitchen or a grocery store.

The various groceries he had received from all over were neatly stacked enhancing this impression.

On the shelves were various seasonings and condiments like salt sugar tea leaves and canned fruits like apricots peaches and pineapples.

There were also more filling provisions like canned beans salmon and salted beef.

Yi-Han thought that the provisions he had alone would last him for weeks.

‘Seriously I could even start a business with this.’

Deciding to think about business later Yi-Han opened the door and stepped out. He had woken up early in the morning with the intention of heading to the stables to take on the assignment given by Professor Bungaegor.

“Yi-Han?”

As he was preparing to leave the common room a girl with red hair yawned and came down the stairs startled to see him.

“Where have you been all day?”

“The punishment room. Didn’t the professor tell you?”

“No. Professor Garcia said you were resting after achieving a great feat and getting injured.”

“…”

Yi-Han guessed why Professor Garcia had lied.

For students from prestigious families honor mattered more than one might think.

As a member of the Wardanaz family it would have been embarrassing to be known for being sent to the punishment room for wrongdoing.

Moreover he wasn’t even at fault; he was helping Professor Garcia.

“No. I was caught trying to sneak out of the academy and ended up in the punishment room.”

Of course Yi-Han didn’t care about such things and fortunately Yonaire didn’t either.

“Why did you go alone?”

“The information wasn’t certain so I wanted to check it out first.”

“Next time let’s go together. Two is better than one.”

“Should we take Nillia too?”

“Yes that’s a good idea. Let’s bring Nillia along.”

Nillia who was not present was unwittingly volunteered but neither of them minded.

Yonaire asked tilting her head “So what exactly happened?”

As they walked to the stable Yi-Han began to explain slowly what had happened. He talked about his speculation on the underground passage how to traverse it and the storeroom and its keeper.

Yonaire listened with wide eyes surprised.

“So I got out but there were people waiting.”

“The Principal?”

“No. The Empire’s anti-magic extrimists.”

“!??”

Yonaire was shocked.

What Professor Garcia had said wasn’t a joke; it was true.

Anti-magic extrimists lurking around the academy…

“So you did achieve a great feat!”

“And then I was sent to the punishment room.”

“…Why??”

Yonaire couldn’t understand.

Why on earth?

—

There were a few students already in the stables all from the Black Tortoise.

Upon seeing Yi-Han and Yonaire the Black Tortoise students flinched and slowly backed away.

Yonaire seemed indifferent but Yi-Han felt slightly hurt.

‘This tradition of judging people by their appearance and family should disappear!’

Of course the Black Tortoise students were fearful because of the rumors about Yi-Han not just because of his family but Yi-Han didn’t know that.

“Um…”

“!”

When one of the Black Tortoise students approached to speak Yi-Han brightened.

Was it Nillia?

But it wasn’t Nillia. The one who approached him was Ratford a rat mixed-blood boy.

“Good morning Sir Wardanaz.”

Ratford’s respectful demeanor made Yi-Han uncomfortable.

Anyone would think he was being coerced by Yi-Han!

“Hey relax. Treat me normally.”

“This is how I am comfortable.”

For Ratford who had survived in the thieves’ guild with a mindset of ‘strong against the weak and submissive to the strong’ speaking informally to someone of higher status was more difficult.

Strict hierarchy and obedience.

That was his true comfort.

“…”

Yi-Han shook his head as he saw the eyes of the Black Tortoise students fill with even more fear.

‘This is a mess.’

“Alright. Understood.”

Yi-Han looked at Ratford half-resigned. In truth Yi-Han himself was curious about what had happened after the fight ended.

Since he had passed out immediately after it…

“What happened after the fight ended?”

“Yes. As you instructed I stayed hidden while the fight was going on. Once it ended the principal arrived with other professors.”

“You did well. It’s better than getting hurt by needlessly intervening.”

“The workers were distracted and seeing an opportunity I rummaged through the boxes in the carriage. I picked the locks and gathered items that seemed useful. I could only take small things that I could hide but I brought them to offer to you.”

Ratford extended a small box. Inside bottles clinked against each other.

“…”

Yi-Han was speechless filled with admiration.

‘A real professional thief is truly on another level!’

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