Life of a Magic Academy Mage – 45



Chapter 45

The mindset of a true professional thief was on a different level compared to ordinary people.

While the principal and professors were conducting a site inspection the thief managed to pick the lock and steal items right under their noses.

Inside a glass flask were potions of every conceivable color. Yi-Han could sense the complex and diverse mana emanating from them.

“But what are these potions exactly?”

“I’m not sure?”

“Hmm I see.”

Upon reflection Ratford was a professional thief not an alchemist.

He had grabbed whatever he could without really understanding what he was taking.

‘I have no idea either.’

Although Yi-Han had read various books and had done some advanced studies during his time in the Wardanaz family identifying potions without any labels was beyond him.

“Yonaire do you have any idea?”

“This is…”

Yonaire picked up a flask and looked at it thoughtfully.

“Seems like alcohol?”

“That’s impossible.”

“It looks like wine.”

Yonaire carefully opened the cork and after smelling it nodded.

“Yes it’s wine.”

“…”

“Still the rest seem to be magic potions right? We might need to go to the library to figure out what they are…”

“That’s a relief at least.”

Ratford was not surprised to see members of the Wardanaz and Maykin families casually discussing the potions they had stolen.

One must not question the actions of those above them.

‘The potions I stole are being put to good use it seems.’

“Thank you Ratford. I will use them well.”

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“It’s an honor to be of service. Call on me whenever you need.”

“Don’t be so formal… By the way want to help with the horses?”

Given it was early morning in the stables Ratford thought it would be good to get friendly with the horses.

At Yi-Han’s suggestion Ratford bowed his head.

“Yes it would be an honor.”

“Enough with the formalities.”

“Honor…”

“Stop it.”

“Yes.”

Thud-

“?”

Someone behind them had dropped something. Yi-Han turned around.

Nillia was standing there with a shocked expression.

“You… you’ve made a new friend…”

Seeing Nillia trying to back away with a betrayed expression Yi-Han and Yonair quickly ran after her.

—

“So that was it? You should have told me. I wouldn’t have misunderstood.”

“…”

“…”

Yi-Han and Yonaire exchanged meaningful looks.

‘Didn’t she just misunderstand?’

‘She definitely did.’

Fortunately the ridiculous misunderstanding that Nillia had formed about Ratford being a new friend from the Black Tortoise was resolved.

Ratford spoke earnestly.

“I’m not a friend but a subordinate…uhm.”

“Oops my hand slipped.”

Yi-Han covered Ratford’s mouth with a brush he was using to groom the horses.

“Let’s all just focus on taking care of the horses.”

Several students who had come to bond with the horses were inside the stable.

Although Professor Bungaegor had instructed them to ‘befriend the horses’ not many students were dedicated enough to wake up early in the morning for this task.

And the horses were merciless even to the most diligent students.

“Ouch! Stop biting!”

“Listen to me! Why are you behaving like this! What’s wrong with you!”

The horses were head-butting spitting and generally trying to bite the students.

But Yi-Han was not fazed.

‘After all there’s no such thing as a well-behaved experimental animal.’

Though the horses were unruly they weren’t the worst Yi-Han had seen.

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There were no incidents of them running away or throwing their own dung at least.

“Alright let’s comb your fur” he said calmly.

Puff!

The white horse entrusted to him by Professor Bungaegor glared at Yi-Han clearly intending to strike the moment he approached.

But Yi-Han undeterred moved closer.

Swish!

The white horse attempted to headbutt him. Yi-Han anticipating this leaned back to dodge.

The horse’s eyes widened in surprise. It hadn’t expected Yi-Han to evade.

Ptui!

This time the horse spat. Yi-Han dodged again as if he had known it would happen.

“There there good horse” he soothed.

Crunch!

The horse tried to bite but Yi-Han sidestepped and approached it.

Yet the horse did not give up. Though its legs were tied and it couldn’t kick it tried every possible nuisance.

Yi-Han evaded blocked and endured each attack.

Nillia watching from behind was in awe.

‘How can he be so patient?’

If it were Nillia curses or a whip would have flown by now.

But Yi-Han instead of getting angry continued to calm the horse saying “There there.”

‘Is this the dignity of a great noble?’

—

Purr…

After a long struggle the tired white horse finally bowed its head.

Only then could Yi-Han take a brush and comb the horse’s fur.

Even while being groomed the horse glared at Yi-Han its will to rebel apparent once its strength returned.

‘Is this horse really not mixed with some other monster’s blood?’

Yi-Han wondered at the white horse’s extraordinary stubbornness.

Other horses weren’t usually this fierce…

Thud!

“Alright that’s enough” said Yonaire emerging muddy but cheerful after her own struggle.

Nillia and Ratford also appeared looking rather worse for wear.

“At least they’re starting to listen” said Nillia.

“I think I’ve become quite close to mine” Ratford added.

Yi-Han turned to look at the white horse which defiantly turned its head away.

A younger student might have been angered or given up against such stubborn resistance…

‘Eventually it will give in.’

Yi-Han’s mind was as calm as a lake.

What could the horse do that was worse than a professor?

Yi-Han simply set aside his emotions and did what was necessary.

After finishing the grooming Yi-Han set out some feed for the horse which ate while staring intently at him as if to say ‘Don’t think this changes anything.’

“I’m planning to take it for a walk now” Nillia said dusting off the mud.

Walking the horses was essential for their care and health. It also helped in building a bond.

Even the most temperamental creature would open up if walked together regularly.

‘Hmm.’

However Yi-Han doubted whether the white horse would follow him calmly on a walk.

It kept attacking and a walk in a wider space might invite even more varied attacks.

“Hmm…”

Yi-Han glanced at the metal bracelet and belt he wore then looked again at the white horse.

In his gaze the horse sensed an ominous feeling.

—

“I’m back!”

“…”

Uregor managing his expression opened the door.

Bungaegor holding a tin cup entered the cabin.

“Brew some tea!”

“Even though you don’t particularly like the tea I make…”

“It’s fine I’ll manage!” she declared cheerfully.

“…”

Uregor boiled the kettle with a sorrowful expression. He hadn’t realized how lonely it would be without Yi Han.

“The freshmen are taking diligent care of the stables” Bungaegor remarked heartily gulping down the hot tea.

Diligence was a talent applicable to both alchemy and taming.

The reason she gathered the ill-tempered horses for the <Basic Riding Training> class was singular: to teach the freshmen diligence.

There were many conditions for befriending unfamiliar animals but the most important was diligence.

Without it no one could befriend any animal.

“I intentionally picked the nastiest horses but if the students care for them with dedication the horses will soon calm down and open up. Those who try to dominate them with force instead of care will learn a harsh lesson.”

Students’ reactions to this assignment were divided.

Some were diligent arriving early to befriend the horses.

Others arrogantly tried to subdue the horses with spurs and whips.

The horses prepared by Bungaegor were not ones to be tamed by such means.

The insincere students would taste a sharp lesson.

“Ha-ha-ha!”

“…”

As Bungaegor laughed heartily placing down her cup Uregor shook his head in disapproval.

‘She enjoys tormenting the students too much.’

Uregor never imagined that he was being treated similarly to Bungaegor by Yi Han.

I am different!

“How is Wardanaz doing?”

“Ah Wardanaz. A diligent one so he should be fine. The griffin is a bit tricky but with diligence intelligence and a bit of luck he should be able to befriend it.”

“?”

Uregor paused in pouring tea looking up.

What did she just say?

“What did you just say?”

“What do you mean?”

“You mentioned something… just now.”

“You must have misheard. I said ‘horse.’”

“…”

Uregor looked at Bungaegor with a mix of shock and fear.

Did she transform a griffin into a horse…?

“Really?”

“What?”

“…”

‘Calm down. Maybe it’s just a horse named griffin.’

Uregor regained his composure.

Griffin.

A flying monster with the head and wings of an eagle and the claws and legs of a lion.

Arrogant tricky and viciously picky about its master.

Their temperament and habits varied by region but one thing was certain:

Not something a freshman could tame!!

“What’s the horse’s name?”

“Gr… Ponlig.”

“…Have you lost your mind?!”

Finally Uregor exploded.

What crazy thing was she asking his alchemy student to do especially after taking a day off due to an injury?

“Have you gone mad? Why the outburst all of a sudden?”

“Transforming a griffin into a horse really!?”

“When did I do that! Got any proof? And even if I did wouldn’t it be safer as a horse?”

“Do you think a griffin’s intelligence is like a slime’s?”

Sounds of glass breaking chairs flying and tables shattering echoed loudly inside the cabin.

A typical Dwarven household quarrel.

—

Pffft…

“Buddy.”

Yi Han looked at the white horse with a pleased expression.

As if the commotion earlier was a lie the white horse had become docile and obedient.

To be precise Yi Han had made it so.

He had equipped the horse with all the mana-absorbing items he had including the Mana Absorption Bracelet and Belt.

“Indeed. Absorbing its mana seems to make it more docile.”

As all creatures are born with a certain amount of mana the depletion of it naturally sapped their strength.

The white horse now donning all the items that Yi-Han had been wearing was drained of its mana lacking the strength to resist.

“Let’s get along from now on” Yi-Han said softly.

-Neeigh…

The white horse meekly followed the direction Yi-Han led it by the reins.

Watching this a thought suddenly struck Yi-Han.

‘Even with the bracelet and belt fully equipped if it can still walk does this horse possess more mana than I thought?’

Either the absorption capacity of the bracelet and belt was low or the horse had an unusually high amount of mana.

‘Even if it had a mix of monster blood it shouldn’t have this much mana. Are the equipments absorbing less mana than I expected?’

Lost in thought Yi-Han walked on leading the horse.

Ahead several students who had recklessly tried to ride the horse were now crying and pleading.

“Let me down please! I was wrong!”

‘Is there a way to increase the amount of mana absorbed?’

This had become a familiar part of life at the magic academy no longer surprising to Yi-Han.

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