Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy Chapter 813

Chapter 813

"J-junior. Is this really okay?"

Direth asked cautiously. The memory of her junior nearly dying after being kidnapped by an ancient being was still vivid.

Of course, if she had the power, Direth would have liked to stab a dagger imbued with a terrible curse into that mad doppelganger's back, but when one lacked power, shouldn't one bow their head?

There was nothing good about irritating a being close to a natural disaster.

"No. That bastard keeps saying crazy things."

Yi-Han was rather indignant.

He had already followed along when forcefully threatened to show forbidden ancient magic in front of the Kalaroguard students, but this was endless.

Even the cursed swords that destroyed their masters in old tales wouldn't try to screw them over this blatantly.

"If I leave him be, he'll tell me to attack the principal later, you know?"

"Th-that's true, but if you turn it off on your own..."

"Hmph. It's fine as long as I don't go outside."

Without the mad doppelganger in front of him, Yi-Han became quite brave.

His anger at the constant attempts to ruin his relationships was stronger than his fear!

[Lowborn.]

"!"

As soon as the words ended, the illusion flowed out again.

Instead of getting angry or reproaching Yi-Han for turning off the Echo Stone on his own, the mad doppelganger looked at him with emotionless eyes.

Yi-Han quickly averted his gaze and started detecting the Echo Stone again.

'There must be a part that turns it on remotely. I need to turn off that part too.'

[Let's make this royal admit his mistake.]

"!"

Yi-Han and Direth were startled. Especially Yi-Han.

'No. Did he have the ability to realize his own mistakes?'

If so, he might really be a superior version of the skull principal.

Could this doppelganger be the main body...?

"Are you talking about ordering me to attack seniors or professors?"

[What are you talking about?]

The mad doppelganger didn't understand what Yi-Han was saying.

"...Then what mistake?"

[You handle the Echo Stone better than expected. You're blocking the approach now, aren't you?]

'Gasp.'

Yi-Han realized he had been caught and quickly stopped the mana extending like tentacles.

To think he would detect Yi-Han's mana exploring the Echo Stone from such a distance.

He had noticed what Yi-Han was doing just from the very subtle changes to his illusion.

Originally, it would have been an arrogant act deserving of having one's neck cut several times like a magic criminal, but the mad doppelganger generously admonished, seemingly evaluating his disciple's antics quite highly.

[Now. Leave the stone alone.]

"I don't want to."

"Hey, junior...!"

Direth turned pale and tried to stop Yi-Han. Yi-Han pushed his senior aside and spoke curtly.

"You keep appearing on your own and trying to kill me."

[A royal tried to kill you? Lowborn. Where did you hear such slander...]

"What are you trying to do by saying to defeat seniors or professors loud enough for everyone to hear! Do you know how strong and evil a dark mage this senior is? The professor is even stronger and more evil!"

"..."

Direth was slightly hurt despite knowing it was a lie.

[Then devise a strategy to defeat them...]

"Why do you say it loud enough for everyone to hear!"

[That dark mage is weak and not vicious enough anyway...]

"No. They might be like that by your standards, Master, but that person is very evil and terrible!"

The sudden argument between the two continued fiercely.

Direth made a complicated expression seeing evil deeds she hadn't done being added.

And surprisingly, the junior started gaining the upper hand in the argument.

From the moment he cut off contact and endured, the other side was at a disadvantage.

"Clearly, what we first agreed on was you teaching me remotely, not interfering like this on your own."

[It must have been you, lowborn, who first sought wisdom even when it wasn't time...]

"If you're going to be like this, I'll contact you after the semester ends!"

The mad doppelganger glared at Yi-Han with eyes filled with all the emotions a teacher inevitably feels once while teaching a disciple - shock, anger, indignation, loathing, and so on.

[How dare you...!]

Unable to stand it anymore, Intarendals offered advice from the side.

-Master. All disciples are ungrateful and shameless beings. Even if a teacher teaches them with all their heart and soul, they forget the grace and act arrogantly.-

"..."

"..."

Yi-Han and Direth cursed Intarendals inwardly at the same time.

What was this old man saying?

[How infuriating..! No matter how ungrateful, how could they...]

-Don't think of them as beings equal to you, Master! You should think of them as young animal cubs that haven't grown up yet. That's how disciples are.-

The mad doppelganger spat out a few more dignified ancient curses at Intarendals's words.

Intarendals noticed his master's mood and quickly brought out the magic criminal. A scream was heard along with a curse.

"Wh-what was that just now?"

"I don't know? I didn't hear anything."

The mad doppelganger barely calmed his anger and said.

[Fine. I'll forgive you. You may use the Echo Stone as you please.]

"Thank you!"

[You will surely regret the sin of arbitrarily rejecting the teacher's manifestation.]

Yi-Han, who had obtained what he wanted through brinkmanship tactics, transformed back into a respectful disciple.

"What are you saying? I always engrave your teachings deep in my heart, Master. It's just that even one 5th Circle magic is overwhelming right now, so I'm trying to choose and focus."

"What?"

Direth asked in a dumbfounded voice.

What assignment had this junior received while she wasn't looking?

[...Do as you please. Lowborn. You must pass down the generosity you received today for generations.]

"Yes. Yes. I will."

The mad doppelganger finally allowed his disciple to handle the Echo Stone and declared that he would not appear to give additional orders.

It was an amazing generosity that surprised even the doppelganger himself. Intarendals shed tears and was moved.

-Such generosity couldn't be seen until now and won't be seen in the future. What disciple would receive such grace!-

[Don't flatter me, Intarendals.]

-It's not flattery!-

'Can't they just disappear together?'

Yi-Han thought inwardly at the sight of the two who matched well.

-Then I'll send the disciple off now, Master.-

[Alright.]

"Oh!"

"Master! Please wait a moment!"

"?"

Direth was flustered when Yi-Han suddenly called the mad doppelganger again, just as the conversation that felt like walking on a knife's edge had barely ended.

Why?

[What is it?]

"Could you explain about the Black Coffin one more time? Your disciple is slow-witted..."

[What a foolish fellow.]

The mad doppelganger looked at Yi-Han pitifully but started explaining again.

Direth inwardly resolved while listening to the explanation.

'I should never ask about magic in front of him again.'

To not forget and ask again about the magic Direth had asked about in this situation was truly a consideration of madness.

  *

Yukbeltire looked around for Direth.

She wasn't in the usual lecture hall or the 7th floor Bone Specter Workshop, so the only place left was the Dark Shadow Hall.

Sure enough, when she entered the dark magic school's magic tower, she saw familiar black wings. Next to her was the capable junior from the same tower, Wardanaz.

"So... it's like this... Even if you copy the magic circle exactly, it seems the mana implementation would be difficult..."

"I could... fill in the mana... like this..."

"Don't talk nonsense... Yuk-, no, there are many crazy mages... If they hear... It'll be big trouble..."

"Who's a crazy mage?"

"Aaaah!"

Direth screamed and closed the book where she had been recording about the Black Coffin magic.

She had been so absorbed in the forbidden ancient magic that she hadn't noticed Yukbeltire coming.

"Wh-when did you come?"

"I said I'd visit earlier, didn't I?"

"You didn't."

"Direth. Your ears must be bad or your memory has decreased. It's probably the effect of a curse..."

"Hey. What you said was 'Help with my research, I'll come soon'. I clearly said 'Don't come'."

"?"

When Yukbeltire tilted her head as if she didn't understand, Direth was about to curse but stopped.

It was meaningless to curse anyway, and more than anything...

"Senior. Shouldn't you tell her about the false accusation?"

"Hmm."

Direth pondered for a moment at Yi-Han's whisper from the side.

Someone had to take the blame for using evil ancient magic on outsiders.

Should she reveal that her junior had done it for the sake of justice and truth?

Or should she sell out her old friend in a vulgar and vile manner?

Direth made a decision.

"Let's just say she did it..."

"?!"

Yi-Han was flustered.

He had thought she would naturally explain.

"But didn't you say she hated being falsely accused?"

"So what? A mage can't just do things they like. She needs to do some things she dislikes too."

When Direth spoke curtly, Yi-Han couldn't refute and was overwhelmed by the momentum.

"...In exchange, I'll help with research a bit. That's enough."

"...I'll help too."

"Hey. That's a bit..."

"No. I have a conscience too."

"Junior. You're too..."

Direth looked at Yi-Han pitifully, not knowing that he had spread false rumors in the Sentinel club.

Where else in Einroguard would there be such a sucker?

And though Direth herself didn't know, Yi-Han was thinking similarly about Direth.

You become much more of a sucker than usual when dealing with Senior Yukbeltire.

"We'll both help with your research!"

"!"

Yukbeltire raised her eyebrows as if surprised. Direth smirked and said.

"Surprised?"

"Yes. It seems you've both finally decided to act rationally."

"..."

"..."

The two from the dark magic school suppressed their hatred and maintained their smiles.

"So what do we need to help with?"

"As you know, there are several people at school now who are thoughtlessly scattering gold coins. I plan to persuade them to sponsor."

"Who are these people scattering coins?"

"First, Ragesa, daughter of Torgerard. The admiral of the privateer fleet. She invested in Professor Verduus too, so she'll invest in me as well."

Yi-Han made a complex expression.

Although Ragesa was an eccentric pirate, it hurt his heart a little that every Einroguard student she met treated her like a sucker.

"Next is Duke Icaldoren."

"Duke Icaldoren? Why him?"

"I checked and he's entered the school. We need to get him before others do."

'Anyone would think he's an item.'

It was truly an unpleasant conversation from the duke's perspective.

Weren't they talking as if picking up an item lying on the roadside!

"We'll persuade Ragesa first. I've already prepared all the magic to show. Just need to refine it a bit. Direth, you check the optimization. Wardanaz family junior, you infuse the mana."

"Yes! Understood!"

Usually, the two dark magic school students would have grumbled together.

But Yi-Han and Direth, who had something to feel guilty about, readily accepted. They decided to just help this time.

Yukbeltire, unaware of their scheme, showed satisfaction on her cold face.

"You really seem to have realized. You both thought well. There's no reason for either of you not to participate in this magic. It's much more valuable than researching individually."

Yi-Han glanced at Direth clenching her fist and hurriedly whispered.

"Senior. You have to endure."

"Kuuk... That's really..."

"She must be saying that because she's in a good mood too, Senior."

"I think she's just in a bad mood..."