Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy - Chapter 891

However, Sarataan didn’t snap back with, What did I tell you?

Even Sarataan knew that if one of his own subordinate spirits had said something like that in this situation, he would have attacked on the spot.

The mage before him was a tyrant every bit as violent-tempered as Sarataan himself. When at a disadvantage, caution was necessary.

-Haha… I’m truly relieved the misunderstanding has been resolved.

Swallowing his humiliation, Sarataan hurried to flatter him.

That only irritated Lee Han more.

“Then why didn’t you explain things properly instead of wasting everyone’s time?”

“Exactly.”

“Scold him harder, Wardanaz!”

His friends shamelessly piled the blame onto the spirit. After living at Einroguard, this level of responsibility-dodging was second nature.

-…

Sarataan’s anger surged again, but there was nothing he could do.

“If you’d just made the sprouts faster, none of this misunderstanding would’ve happened.”

-This isn’t a power I can use that easily… I haven’t even fully recovered yet…

Faced with the mage’s tyrannical demands, Sarataan protested bitterly.

The sprouts infused with Sarataan’s power, which had been produced overnight, were not simple things to create.

His consciousness had awakened after transferring into the sacred tree, but his strength still hadn’t completely returned.

Ordinarily, it would have taken several more days. He had only rushed because his master had made such a fuss. Now he would need time to recover.

“Hmph. You didn’t seem to have any trouble trying to kill me last time.”

-That was… different… it was inside the mental world…

Sarataan shuddered.

If he attacked this mage a second time and got caught again, he couldn’t even imagine what would happen to him.

***

“Ah, Junior! Welcome.”

Catten of House Jahan, the fifth-year senior who remained polite even toward underclassmen, greeted Lee Han warmly.

The cat beastkin removed his hat as he spoke, the gesture softening people’s guard in the same way penguin beastkin or beaver beastkin often did.

Unfortunately, Lee Han had been educated at Einroguard. He wasn’t naive enough to trust appearances.

Let’s remember what happened the last time he attacked me.

Recalling how Catten had relentlessly pressured both Princess Yukbeltire and Diret through swordsmanship alone sent a chill down his spine.

Professor Ingledel had been right. If Catten had focused solely on the sword, his accomplishments would have been terrifying.

“Hello, Senior. How will next week’s <Sword and Life> exam be conducted?”

“Oh. I can’t tell you that.”

“Is it supposed to be secret?”

It was already Saturday, and the exam was next week, but some professors still refused to reveal the contents beforehand.

If Catten was one of those types—

“No. I just haven’t decided yet.”

Looking slightly embarrassed, Catten scratched the back of his head.

Jowrin, watching from behind, looked horrified.

Was that even allowed?

From Jowrin’s perspective, having seen other fifth-years before, Catten’s complete lack of preparation only days before the exam felt shockingly fresh.

Was that really okay?

Of course it wasn’t.

“Normally it isn’t, Your Majesty. Mm. How embarrassing!”

Jowrin thought he should decide the exam first before worrying about being embarrassed.

“Shh, Your Majesty. Fifth-year seniors all have their own circumstances. Please be understanding.”

When Jowrin tried to press the issue further, Lee Han hurriedly stopped her.

Fifth-year seniors were fundamentally pitiful creatures. Compassion was necessary.

“Junior, don’t misunderstand. It’s not that I hadn’t thought about it at all. Traditionally, the <Sword and Life> exam was something I’d already been considering.”

“Oh? What was it?”

“Teaching me one spell.”

“…”

Lee Han fell silent at the shamelessness of an exam objective rivaling Professor Verdus himself.

Granted, Catten had always conducted the <Sword and Life> lecture in hopes of finding someone he could exchange knowledge with, but still—

Was an exam really allowed to be this blatant?

“Doesn’t the Principal get angry? He’s unexpectedly strict about these things.”

“He does get angry. That’s why I always end up in the punishment room.”

“…”

Jowrin quietly took a step back.

She was beginning to sense genuine madness.

Anyone prepared to enter the punishment room willingly is terrifying.

Professor Verdus and Professor Bendozol were powerful precisely because both were fully prepared to be thrown into the punishment room.

But Catten was even worse.

He actually enjoyed going there.

“…Then if that was the original exam, why is it suddenly undecided?”

“Junior. There’s a reason for that.”

Catten nodded before speaking.

Ever since enrolling at Einroguard, Catten had cared only about his own studies.

Whether his friends were caught trying to escape and dragged off to the punishment room, or unleashed ancient evil monsters on students from other towers, Catten had quietly focused only on magic.

That was also why he had rejected the innocent underclassmen of White Tiger Tower whenever they wanted to attend <Sword and Life>.

What Catten needed was someone who could teach him magic, not someone who only wanted to learn swordsmanship.

Lately, however, his thinking had begun to change.

“Other professors told me something. They said studying magic alone isn’t the only way to improve. Teaching others and helping them can also lead to enlightenment. Even if it’s swordsmanship instead of magic.”

Really?

Lee Han wondered whether those professors had simply tricked Catten.

Looking at Catten’s current situation, it was difficult to imagine his magical ability improving through teaching swordsmanship.

To begin with, Lee Han couldn’t imagine what exactly Catten even had left to improve.

“Mm. I thought it was a scam too.”

“!”

Apparently Catten had reached the same conclusion as Lee Han.

“I’d heard it many times before, but I never really believed it.”

“Why not?”

“Because the Principal was the one suggesting it. I assumed he was sweet-talking me into taking responsibility for a lecture.”

“…”

Catten’s instincts were terrifyingly sharp.

Simply by seeing who was speaking, he had sensed the hidden scheme beneath the words.

“Wait. Then why did you change your mind? That sounds like a perfectly reasonable suspicion.”

“For two reasons. First, there’s you, Junior. You teach other students, run around handling all sorts of chores, and you’re still top of your year.”

“…”

Indeed!

Jowrin looked deeply impressed.

According to a dwarven proverb, diamonds were forged in the deepest and harshest parts of a mine.

Perhaps Lee Han’s magic had likewise been forged in the brutal environment of Einroguard—

“What do you mean, ‘indeed’?”

L-Lee Han. Are you angry…?

“I’m not angry.”

Jowrin shrank back as she read the mood. Lee Han sighed and patted her wing.

“Anyway, Senior. The first reason sounds strange enough already… What’s the second?”

“He’s standing behind you right now. Professor Bagreg.”

“??”

Still grumbling inwardly, Lee Han looked up in surprise at Professor Voladi Bagreg.

“Did the professor give you some kind of advice?”

“Ah, no. It’s not that, Junior. I simply realized something. I’d always assumed Professor Bagreg was so strong because he never wasted time caring for disciples.”

“…”

“That is a misunderstanding.”

Professor Voladi spoke briefly.

Catten nodded seriously.

“Exactly, Professor. I realized I was mistaken. Once I heard you were greatly increasing the number of your disciples, I became certain.”

“Mm.”

Professor Voladi nodded with obvious satisfaction.

‘Greatly increasing’ is a bit much…

Strictly speaking, the number had doubled.

But there were truths in this world that numbers alone failed to capture.

Professor Voladi’s disciple count was one of them.

“So I reflected on myself as well and decided to change the exam format. Junior.”

“I see. So instead of an exam you personally benefit from, it’ll become an exam designed for the students attending?”

Lee Han’s tongue is surprisingly sharp too.

Jowrin watched silently.

Even while remaining polite, this boy from House Wardanaz never let anything pass without saying exactly what needed to be said.

Unfortunately, Catten was even worse.

“Hm? Does it sound that way? Junior, that’s not what I meant.”

“Huh? Then what did you mean?”

Lee Han couldn’t imagine any other interpretation.

“It’s just… I thought I should design an exam that encourages more students to attend in the future. Only then can someone truly experience what it means to teach.”

He sounds shy about it, but it’s basically the same thing Professor Verdus says!

Despite the embarrassed tone, the meaning was ultimately little different from:

The students themselves aren’t important. I just need an excuse to attract more people next semester.

If Professor Verdus had delivered the exact same speech, it would have sounded outright sinister.

A person’s usual image truly mattered.

Still, this isn’t a bad deal for me.

From Lee Han’s perspective, it sounded fairly appealing.

It was certainly preferable to Catten suddenly declaring:

“Junior, let us uncover the ultimate secrets of swordsmanship through this lecture.”

“Junior. Will you help me decide on exam content that’ll attract more students in the future?”

“Of course.”

“If it’s alright, Professor, would you help as well? It would be reassuring to have Professor Bagreg involved.”

“I shall.”

“How reassuring. To have the foremost authority in this field helping us. Wouldn’t you agree, Junior?”

“…”

Lee Han felt slightly wronged.

***

“Shouldn’t we focus on White Tiger Tower students after all?”

Putting aside his grievances, Lee Han offered a practical suggestion.

Given Catten’s reputation within White Tiger Tower, attracting those students shouldn’t be difficult.

After all, just look at how delighted Giselle and Dergeu had ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) been when Lee Han dragged them into things like drowning ghosts.

“Hmm. Junior, there’s one thing that concerns me. Every year, juniors who want to learn swordsmanship from me appear consistently. But fewer than expected actually endure it.”

Persistent White Tiger Tower students would follow Catten around begging for instruction.

Catten occasionally relented and taught them.

Most failed to last long.

“At this rate, even if White Tiger Tower students enroll, the dropout rate will still be high.”

Isn’t he being too ambitious?

Lee Han was mildly bewildered by Catten aiming so high from the beginning.

Meanwhile, the professor beside them seemed perfectly satisfied with increasing from one disciple to two.

Catten turned to Professor Voladi as well.

“What do you think, Professor Bagreg? Since your own instruction is strict, your dropout rate must also be high. How did you overcome that issue—”

“I simply trust my disciples.”

“Indeed!”

What do you mean, ‘indeed’?

Lee Han stared blankly while the two spoke in complete seriousness.

“Trusting the students… Perhaps that’s better than relying on pointless tricks.”

At best there’ll be zero students. No, wait. Me, Giselle, and Dergeu makes three. That already surpasses Professor Bagreg. Honestly, that’s impressive enough.

As he listened, Lee Han estimated the likely attendance for Catten’s lecture next semester.

No matter how he looked at it, the number didn’t seem likely to rise above three.

Still, compared to Professor Voladi, that was already an achievement worth celebrating.

While Lee Han mentally prepared comforting phrases like Even three students is impressive, Catten called out to him.

“Junior? Junior?”

“Ah. Sorry.”

“You must be tired.”

Lee Han certainly did have too much work piled up.

“…That’s not it. Anyway, what is it?”

“I was thinking we should ask Professor Ingledel as well.”

“That’s not a bad idea. She’d definitely know how to create an appropriately difficult exam.”

“Hmm. But Professor Ingledel already worries about you constantly, Junior. I’m concerned we might be troubling her too much…”

“…What?”