Life of a Magic Academy Mage – 6



Chapter 06 

The family knight Arlong had consistently taught Yi-Han swordsmanship and Yi-Han himself knowledgeable in combat could recognize it. Yonaire’s stance at that moment was that of someone about to strike in anger!

“Wait. Just a moment.”

Yi-Han intervened between the two attempting to mediate.

“Don’t underestimate alchemy Gainando.”

“But alchemy is trivial” Gainando spoke oblivious to the mood around him.

“Where is the wisdom in that?”

Magic was an endlessly vast field of study divided into dozens of schools. Illusion magic summoning magic transformation magic elemental magic and so on. And even within elemental magic there were varieties like fire water light darkness and more. Choosing one and dedicating a lifetime to it wouldn’t be enough to grasp the profoundness of the world of magic. 

And within this magic realm alchemy was often overlooked. To the inexperienced eyes of novice mages alchemy seemed quite mundane. While others summoned angels of light or tore the earth with their wands alchemists were cooped up in laboratories mixing herbs and concocting potions…

“That’s…”

“Wait a minute. Wardanaz. Step aside for a moment” Yonaire requested Yi-Han.

“I won’t do anything rash.”

“Understood.”

As Yi-Han stepped aside Yonaire approached Gainando and stood before him. Gainando tilted his head in confusion.

“Why?”

“Don’t go to the infirmary asking for potions. They are made through alchemy!”

Thud!

With a dull sound Gainando fell backwards. It was a punch so impressive that even Yi-Han admired it.

—

“Are you sure it’s alright?”

“If I apologize after a day it’s fine.”

Yonaire seemed accustomed to striking Gainando.

Cousins often quarreled but he hadn’t expected it to be acceptable to this extent.

‘I shouldn’t have intervened.’

Yi-Han resolved to merely watch if they fought again rather than intervene.

“…Wait. Don’t get me wrong I don’t usually resort to violence so easily. You understand right?” Yonaire hurriedly explained worried about a misunderstanding.

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For a noble especially one from a traditional and prominent family etiquette and dignity were paramount. It wasn’t dignified to resort to physical violence over a mere verbal disagreement.

“What’s wrong with throwing a punch when you’re angry?”

“???”

Yonaire was even more baffled by Yi-Han’s response. ‘Is there such a rule in the Wardanaz family?’

It was hard to believe that a family renowned in the empire would condone such behavior.

‘This guy must be exceptional.’ Yonaire concluded.

Yi-Han indeed stood out among the nobles who had arrived with him. They were all young newly adult nobles but Yi-Han was notably different. From his actions to his speech he was distinct. He was truly of the Wardanaz lineage.

Yonaire changed the topic seeing no need to press the issue since Yi-Han let it pass.

“Anyway are you really okay with learning alchemy? If you don’t want to go because of me it’s fine to go alone.”

“No. I am interested in alchemy.”

“Oh… are you tempted by my business proposal?”

“I’m considering it.”

“!”

Yonaire was surprised by the unexpected response. She hadn’t anticipated such a change in thinking so quickly.

“What happened?” 

“Well that’s…”

Yi-Han pondered how to respond. 

‘I think I might seriously need to consider alchemy since I seem to lack talent in magic.’

…Yi-Han thought but saying that aloud seemed too meek for someone of noble birth.

“No it’s okay. You don’t have to say it. You’ve realized the value of alchemy.”

“Huh?”

“Alchemy is a fascinating subject isn’t it?”

“Uh… yeah I guess.”

Yonaire seemed inexplicably excited so Yi-Han played along.

“People often think of alchemists as being shut away in their underground labs but the world of alchemy is much broader and more profound.”

“Uh… yeah.”

Yi-Han wasn’t phased. He had honed the skill of listening to topics he had no interest in since his graduate school days.

-“Do you like hiking?”-

-“Huh? What does that…”-

-“Yes. Hiking is wonderful. Did I tell you about my trip to Mt. Seorak last year? Breaking through the dawn mist and reaching the clouds…”-

-“Yes. Yes.”-

-“…To think you’d find it so interesting. You must enjoy hiking too. We should go together sometime!”-

-“…”-

Compared to that Yonaire’s talk about alchemy was actually interesting.

“Did you study alchemy before while you were in the Maykin family?” At Yi-Han’s question Yonaire unconsciously looked around.

“…Yes. But it’s a secret. They didn’t let me study magic in advance but they weren’t so strict about alchemy.”

“You can always study ahead I guess.”

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“…”

Yonaire looked at Yi-Han again perplexed.

Okay with punching okay with ignoring the rule about not studying magic before adulthood… Yi-Han was truly a unique individual.

‘Good that she studied in advance.’

Yi-Han knew well how helpful a studious friend could be. If Yonaire was knowledgeable in alchemy she could help Yi-Han get good grades.

“So could you possibly teach me too?”

“…Of course!”

At Yi-Han’s interest in learning alchemy Yonaire smiled broadly and patted him on the shoulder.

—

<Understanding Basic Alchemy>.

Having met a troll mixed-blood professor in <Basic Magic Understanding> Yi-Han wasn’t likely to be surprised by any professor now.

And indeed he wasn’t.

‘He looks quite ordinary doesn’t he?’

A short dwarf sat there dressed nimbly like a hunter or ranger even with a crossbow at his waist.

“Everyone’s here?”

“Ugh. There are students from the Black Tortoise too” Yonaire muttered.

Yonaire didn’t exactly look down on commoners but their presence was uncomfortable. It was easier when only students from the Blue Dragon were present as they could relate to each other… But with students from other towers particularly the Black Tortoise who seemed to outnumber them it was bothersome.

‘Their gazes are disconcerting.’

Commoners typically showed two reactions when encountering nobles. Either they were fearful and reluctant to engage… Or they showed open hostility.

Outside the academy the latter was rare but within the school which advocated ‘equality’ it was different. The commoners were already resentful of the arrogant nobles and seeing the snobbish behavior of the Blue Dragon’s new students only fueled their hostility.

“Hey. Stop staring. Besides there’s someone from the Wardanaz family over there.”

“So what? Even if it’s the Wardanaz family they can’t touch us in school.”

“You won’t be in school forever. What if you get retaliated against once you’re outside?” 

“I’ll think about that when the time comes.”

“…”

Yi-Han clicked his tongue. Bearing a grudge for something he hadn’t done was not a pleasant feeling.

‘Pretending to be friendly is only backfiring.’

It seemed he would have to stick with the students from the Blue Dragon for a while.

“Everyone quiet.”

The short dwarf professor spoke. He might have been small in stature but his voice carried a strength that was palpable just by listening.

“My name is Uregor Gumdar (Thunderfoot Gumdar). Feel free to call me Professor Uregor. You all must be wondering with all those magnificent academy buildings in the background why have we gathered here in this grassy field without even a desk?”

Indeed.

They were surprisingly not in a academy building but outside on a hill for their class on <Understanding Basic Alchemy>.

Princess Adenart raised her hand. Uregor shrugged his shoulders.

“It wasn’t really a question I was looking for an answer to. But go ahead speak.”

“It’s to feel the natural mana.”

There was a preconception that alchemy was just about mixing predefined reagents and herbs but magic was also necessary in alchemy. Feeling the natural mana and understanding the various powers it held was important for an alchemist.

“Not really.”

…But the dwarf professor looked at Adenart as if she had said something absurd.

Adenart blushed slightly and lowered her head.

Yi-Han casually asked Yonaire.

“Aren’t we gathered here because it’s a good place to collect ingredients?”

“You think that’s the reason?”

“Oh. That’s correct!”

“…”

Both Yi-Han and Yonaire looked at Professor Uregor in disbelief.

However Uregor looked at Yi-Han with an impressed expression and said “It’s rare to find an ironhead who get it right away.”

“I’m not an ironhead I’m a freshman…”

“Yes yes. Ironhead freshman. Anyway well done. You have the talent of an exceptional alchemist.”

Yonaire looked at Yi-Han with a hint of envy at the dwarf professor’s praise. And Adenart also glared at Yi-Han slightly. As if she saw him as a rival.

‘…This isn’t something to be jealous about.’ Yi-Han was incredulous.

Jealous over such a response to a question?

“The reason you were asked to gather here is to teach you ironheads what the most essential skill for an alchemist is. You must be thinking ‘The skills needed for alchemy are superior intelligence and delicate control of mana.’”

‘Wait delicate control of mana is needed for alchemy?’ Yi-Han was startled at the thought.

“But the reality is different. The most crucial skill for an alchemist is the ability to gather ingredients.”

“…”

“…”

The assembled students were dumbfounded at the dwarf professor’s words. It was a skill they had not expected at all.

Princess Adenart looking unconvinced raised her hand and asked “Professor. Ingredients and reagents can be cultivated or requested from adventurers. It seems inappropriate to say that alchemists must gather them personally…”

“You sound like an ironhead greenhorn who knows nothing of the real world!”

Adenart’s face already slightly red turned even redder. Professor Uregor clicked his tongue and spoke.

“Do you know how much of the ingredients and reagents used by alchemists can be grown? Less than 10%! The rest you have to buy with money. And do you think everything you buy will be of use? Do you know why mages join parties and follow adventurers? It’s not because they have spare time; it’s because if left to their own devices adventurers will incompetently harvest the herbs! They carelessly uproot herbs that need to be carefully and preciously extracted!”

Professor Uregor ranted fiercely as if he had been harboring a lot of pent-up frustration.

“In that sense an alchemist must unconditionally know how to procure their own materials and reagents. An alchemist who only depends on others will never achieve greatness. Who will help you if you later whine about not having ingredients for your research?”

The students gathered around the dwarf professor nodded in agreement (and somewhat dejectedly) to his words.

“Alright that should be enough explanation. Now go and find them.”

“Huh?”

“What do you mean ‘huh’? Scatter and bring back the ingredients.”

Professor Uregor waved his wand and sheets of paper appeared out of thin air and flew towards the students. On each piece of paper was a drawing of a herb green and lush.

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