Surviving in the Magic Academy - Chapter 208

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Coughing Baby

Chapter 208: 208.

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I rose from my seat, my brow twitching slightly.

A complicated din was filtering through the tent’s magic. If the commotion was loud enough to pierce even the soundproofing spell, a sizable crowd must have gathered outside.

I pulled aside the entrance flap and looked down.

Quite a few people had gathered in front of the platform. Each of them carried dense magical power. They were all mages.

No wonder I could hear them from this high in the sky. So many people had already gathered.

Their faces were full of excitement and anticipation.

I nodded to myself.

I had been like that once too. Watching them brought old memories to mind, memories of my entrance ceremony ten years ago.

I smiled faintly as I watched the throng of mages. They had all passed this examination. They did not look much different from how I had looked after passing.

Just as I had back then, they had divided into groups and were keeping one another in check. There were a few witches among them, while several alchemists seemed to be gathering together as well.

Naturally, the mages from great families had drawn the largest crowds.

I narrowed my eyes and studied the enormous manor they occupied.

It had been made by sculpting clouds of magical power into an intricate structure. Turning something that precious into a manor was nothing but a waste of money.

Still, there was no more effective way for a great family to flaunt itself than through that sort of waste.

The pressure coming from the building kept anyone from easily approaching them. The attendants surrounding the manor added to that pressure as well.

I stroked my chin as I watched the people conversing inside.

The stories from the last examination were stored in my mind. Memories shattered across countless divided dimensions had piled up within me.

Thanks to Professor’s magic, I was not confused by those memories. Even so, it was difficult to digest that enormous mass of experience all at once.

So I took my time sorting through it.

Even among those countless memories, their faces remained clear. That meant they had shown something deeply impressive in their respective examinations.

They were not merely strong.

Their wisdom, magic, and treasures had been astonishing. The examination I had prepared had crumbled easily in their hands.

I nodded quietly.

This had given me a clear sense of what people from great families were capable of. Even those who had only just entered the university had surprised me more often than not.

Perhaps some of them would surpass me within a few decades.

I clicked my tongue at the thought. Of course, I would not sit still either. For now, I was stronger, so it did not matter much.

As I looked over the others, I spotted a familiar face and snorted softly.

Someone gently linked arms with me.

When I looked down, I found Mira smiling with her eyes.

“What is so amusing? Now I am curious too.”

“I saw a junior from my island.”

I pointed to one of the attendants surrounding the manor.

Mira narrowed her eyes and looked in that direction. Then she nodded with a faint smile.

“You mean Ivrio. You said you were from the same island, did you not? They give off a fairly delicious scent too, though not as delicious as Evron, so I remembered them.”

Mira lightly ran her tongue over her lips.

Did Ivrio smell that good too? That meant they had considerable talent.

I stared at Ivrio.

They shifted awkwardly, their eyes sweeping over the area with visible unease. Well, it made sense. Until recently, they had been a wandering mage.

Ivrio had only been able to join the group thanks to Emery, who had taken the examination with them. Her family was not a great family, but it was still one of the families that held enormous influence in the Empire.

The eleventh maxim: Do not be arrogant. If you attach yourself to others, you can make it halfway.

They were following the final maxim of the scroll very well.

Like Mira, I watched them and smacked my lips.

The talent and unique magic they had shown were impressive. Magic optimized for escape. How useful was that?

I had considered bringing them to the tower, but it seemed difficult for me to take them first. I had not expected Emery to keep such a close hold on them.

Emery would receive contact from the trading company first. The trading company had priority over this year’s important new students.

Still, seeing a junior from the island pass the university made me feel a little strange.

They said no mage from the island had entered the university before me. That meant Ivrio and I were the only two mages from that island.

The island.

I was a little curious about how things were there now. Someday, I would be able to return there too.

How would Father react then?

I found myself wondering.

Ojo would probably be gone by then. There was not much left of his contract.

“It seems almost everyone has gathered now. There is not much time left.”

Mira smiled as she sent out a mirror bug.

The mirror bug displayed an hourglass, and almost all of its sand had run out.

I nodded lightly.

As Mira said, it was nearly time for the gate to close.

I turned toward the entrance. It was still pouring out quite a lot of people.

The area around the gate was filled with mages who had collapsed and were groaning. The university’s magical power was entering their bodies and remaking them, leaving them writhing in pain.

I quietly shook my head at the sight.

The outside world I had briefly experienced this time possessed incredibly thin magical power. When I was outside, all I could feel was my own magical power fading away.

The distribution of magical power inside the university and outside it was on an entirely different level.

That experience helped me understand why mages did not want to leave the university even after completing the basic curriculum.

Why would they?

For a mage, the university was practically heaven.

Though Professor Irian did not seem to think so.

I glanced at her.

The chatter outside the tent was loud enough to pierce through the soundproofing magic itself.

Despite that, Professor was fast asleep and snoring. A small book was tucked in her arms.

Following my gaze, Mira saw it and smiled brightly.

“I did not expect you to bring back a new friend. Irian really is something. Where did she find something like that in such a short time?”

Perhaps because it sensed us talking about it, the book twitched slightly.

Dense magical power began pouring from it. It was violent magical power, enough that I could not have endured it.

Of course, Professor’s magical power sensed it and crushed it down immediately.

I shook my head as I looked at the booklet, no, the magic tome, which had become quiet as a mouse again.

After this examination ended, Professor had apparently been disappointed to return to the university, so she had taken a brief outing into the outside world before coming back.

That was a treasure she had picked up during that outing.

Her senses had led her there, and she had found a magic tome devouring every human in a village.

That was not all Professor had brought back.

The power of Blood Axe, which had been taken out during this examination, had somehow ended up in her arms as well. She said she had found it in the same place.

The magical-power waves created by a fragment of power must have drawn that bizarre magic tome in.

The mage who had gathered all of it must have been devoured by the magic tome too.

That was a little unfortunate.

They had taken that power while fleeing the examination, yet they ended up gaining nothing and having it stolen from them.

I shook my head in brief mourning.

Well, it could not be helped. That was the end of someone who ran away.

In that sense, the people here had more than earned the right to move forward.

I looked outside quietly.

The last grains of sand fell through the hourglass, and the university gate slowly closed.

Every new student had now stepped inside the university.

Those who had adapted to the university’s magical power got up and joined their respective groups. I nodded as I watched people gather in front of the platform.

It was time for us to move too.

I carefully approached Professor.

Then I nodded toward Butler, who stood quietly beside the bed.

Sensing my intent, Butler lightly stirred magical power. It intertwined with Professor’s magical power and created a small ripple.

Perhaps Professor sensed it too, because she shifted slightly.

Butler noticed her movement and made the ripple a little stronger.

Professor slowly opened her eyes and looked at us.

“What?”

“It is time for the entrance ceremony to begin. I think Professor should show her face as well.”

Professor looked deeply annoyed by my words.

She gave a small yawn and buried her face in the blanket.

“Ugh... That damn president. Why did he make such an annoying rule?”

I bowed my head slightly.

The person in charge of the examination had to conclude it. As she said, that was one of the rules the president had made.

Without it, she would not need to be here at all.

“I have prepared a place where you can rest comfortably. You only need to move for a moment.”

Professor clicked her tongue.

Then she slowly got up and stretched.

“I will help you get ready,” I whispered as I moved toward her.

I could not send her out like that for an entrance ceremony. She needed to be beautiful enough to seize every mage’s attention at once.

With my eyes gleaming, I gathered magical power in both hands.

It did not take long to dress her up.

I stepped back and nodded in satisfaction.

Professor, dressed in a golden robe, was utterly perfect. How could I decorate someone so perfect any further? Excessive decoration would only spoil that perfection.

Professor seemed pleased with her outfit too. She gave a small nod and gestured to me with her chin.

She wanted me to lead her outside.

I carefully guided her out of the tent.

Then I drew a path of magical power leading down to the platform. At the same time, I could feel countless eyes gathering on us.

We slowly reached the platform, and I led her to the chair prepared for her.

It had been enchanted with numerous spells to maximize the comfort of whoever sat in it.

Professor sat down, then closed her eyes with a faint smile, apparently satisfied.

Her face soon twisted into a frown.

The new students’ whispers had grown loud around us.

Professor slowly opened her eyes and glared down at the people beneath the platform.

“Quiet.”

The moment she spoke, her magical power poured out.

It began pressing down on the mages before her.

Before long, the surroundings had fallen silent beneath that vicious magical power.

Professor looked over the clearing, now filled with nothing but silence, and nodded in satisfaction.

“Now it is quiet. I am Irian, the professor who oversaw this examination. Since all of you passed, you must have met my clone inside the examination hall. Hmm... Then there is no need for me to say more. This one will explain the rest.”

Professor yawned lightly and gestured to me.

At the same time, her magical power bound my body and pushed me forward.

I scratched my head.

Hmm, there were still a few lines of welcome speech I had written for her. It seemed she could not even be bothered to read those.

Well, she had shown her face, so it was fine.

First, I needed to make Professor comfortable.

I sent out my will and gave a light signal with my eyes.

Several puppets emerged from the spatial pouch in my arms and quickly approached her.

Using prepared magic, they unfolded the chair into a bed.

Professor lay down on it and closed her eyes in satisfaction. Soon, she fell asleep again and began softly snoring.

Since she had left the explanation to me, how should I begin?

I stepped forward and looked over the crowd.

Then I began hearing what sounded like people grinding their teeth.

I could feel clear hostility directed at me too.

I had no choice but to cough awkwardly.

I could understand why they were acting like that.

During this examination, I had been on the same teams as them. In most cases, I had escaped the examination first and left them behind.

The people left behind must have struggled through all kinds of hardships. There were probably team members who had failed while facing the Trial too.

It was only natural for them to look at me that way.

Still, I stood proudly.

I squared my shoulders and faced them.

If they had created a good story from Chapter 1, I would not have tried to escape first.

There were a few people like that.

I glanced toward the people from the great families.

They had left their building and were looking at me too.

Among them were people who had outright suppressed their team members with strength, and people who had led others from Chapter 1 onward.

The most impressive ones were those who had tried to seize the offering ritual.

They had tried to redirect the power toward themselves and build up strength.

That attempt had failed, of course, but it had still been enough to ruin the ritual.

Even aside from cases like that, all these people had overcome adversity and passed.

I had only done my best to prepare an examination for them.

“You must be welcoming me so enthusiastically because you all met me during the examination. I am very glad to see all of you again as well. I sincerely congratulate every one of you on passing the university.”

I smiled faintly and continued after giving a slight bow.

“Still, it would be best to introduce myself again. I am Evron, the storehouse keeper at Professor Irian’s tower. During this examination, I conducted the examination as an outside partner of the Arcana General Trading Company.”

I added that I had only entered the university recently myself, so they could speak comfortably around me.

I examined the crowd.

They were still showing hostility toward me.

I nodded lightly at that.

Their hostility was actually a good thing.

One reason I had directly intervened in this examination was to make myself known.

I lightly clenched my hand.

Recognition was influence.

Since I intended to do business in the future, I could not miss a chance to increase my influence.

Even a bad review was still a review. It had to be better than indifference.

Ignoring their hostility, I spoke again.

“The university where you will live is not very different from the outside. Here, you may freely do whatever you wish. There are only two things you need to be careful about.”

I raised my fingers and filled them with magical power.

The mirror bug swelled and became an enormous mirror.

Clear words began appearing across its surface.

right to survive, every student has the right to their own survival.

right to possess, every student has the right to what they own.

“These are the university rules. From this moment on, they are also contracts binding your bodies. You will not see a pleasant outcome if you fail to follow them. Aside from that, everything else is free.”

The new students stared at the university rules, and I saw their expressions twist slightly.

They must have sensed the flow of the contract connected to their trees too.

I smiled faintly and continued.

“From now on, you will use points instead of outside currency. You will gain points in various ways. Your results from this examination have also been converted into points and given to you. The higher your rank, the more points you received.”

I made a small gesture.

Several puppets that had been waiting came up, carrying sheets of paper.

I took the sheets and slowly began reading what was written on them.

“One hundred corpse puppets. Hmm, about half were damaged during the process of the dimensions merging. Three hundred soldier puppets, the same applies to them. I do not know why the servant puppets used in the Ballroom were broken...”

It took several minutes just to read the endlessly continuing list.

Still, I managed to read it all to the end.

I folded the paper, handed it back to the puppet, and looked at the people.

Their eyes held a slightly bewildered look.

I let out a small laugh and clapped my hands.

“What I just read was the list of puppets used in this examination. You can see immediately just how roughly you treated them. It is truly regrettable from my perspective.”

I shook my head slightly.

This was the statement for the puppets used in the examination.

I was explaining all this because they were my customers. They needed to know in detail what they had purchased.

“You have come to the university. So you must pay the costs of the puppets used in this examination. It comes to about 1,500 points.”

As soon as I said that, their faces showed shock.

Some even raised their magical power in protest.

Their sensitivity toward what belonged to them was a very mage-like attitude.

Still, I had expected them to react this way.

I glanced behind me and gave Mira a small bow.

She lightly waved her hand and began releasing mist.

The mist, filled with magical power, pressed down on them.

At the same time, I felt the magical power the new students had released rapidly fade away.

The mist had absorbed all of it.

I could not have restrained them alone. I was only at the Young Tree realm.

But I was not alone here.

I smiled softly at the subdued crowd.

“Since you are all understandably overwhelmed after only just passing, I paid in advance for you. You can confirm it with this, so please accept them all.”

I took a pouch from my clothes and threw it into the air.

The blackish rings inside scattered through the mist.

Riding Mira’s mist, the rings flowed to each new student.

They filled the rings with magical power and checked their points.

After seeing the details written inside, their eyes widened further as they looked at me.

I nodded toward them.

“Ah, I forgot to mention it. I also charged you for the rings and for the rules I just showed you. The two together came to one hundred points.”

I stroked my chin.

How much hardship had I gone through to learn those rules? I had entered the city and paid points to obtain them.

Had I spent around five hundred points then?

For the me of that time, it had been an enormous amount.

In that sense, this was practically giving them away for free.

Of course, when I bought that information, it had included much more besides that.

Still, the rings would make up for some of it.

I had needed to pay fifty points for one when I bought it at my entrance ceremony.

Well... its actual cost was less than three points.

I looked over the new students.

They were glaring at me with expressions full of resentment.

I nodded at the sight.

I remembered looking just like that. It even made me feel nostalgic.

“This is also a lesson for you. The only things you can trust here are your own strength and points.”

It was a tradition that had continued alongside the university’s history.

A fine tradition like this had to continue in the future too.

I could not be the only one who suffered through it.

Someday, they would understand how I felt.

I scratched my nose as I watched the hostility flowing toward me.

I had finished everything I needed to say.

The rest was something they would have to learn through experience anyway.

“I cannot keep those of you who will be busy for long. You are free now. If a problem arises, come to the Arcana General Trading Company. The trading company has priority over you. Then please be on your way. I will have someone guide you out.”

I clapped lightly and stepped back.

Then I lightly shook the spatial pouch toward them.

The puppets that emerged from it slowly approached the people.

After confirming that, I turned around.

Together with the puppets, I lifted the chair Professor was lying on and rose into the sky, returning to the tent.

I laid Professor on the bed and looked outside the tent.

The clearing had become a little noisy after we left. The puppets controlled them, though, and things quickly calmed down.

The puppets began leading people along the path out of the clearing.

Not everyone followed them, but a few left the clearing behind the puppets and crossed beyond the mountain range.

The various groups were leaving the clearing as well.

The people from great families were the first to leave.

Following the puppets, they would be headed to Stalactite City, where the trading company was located.

Guiding them there had been arranged in advance.

They had all shown good results during the examination.

Among them, I saw Emery grabbing Ivrio and dragging them along.

I smiled slightly as I watched Ivrio.

I would probably meet them a few times in the city from now on. Perhaps they would come to our tower to attend lectures.

If our connection continued like that, I intended to help them a little too.

They were tied to me by blood.

I could not simply let a junior from the island go without doing anything.

As I blankly watched people leave, someone pushed aside the tent flap and entered.

“You gave the new students some helpful advice. You worked hard.”

It was Hwaryeong, the woman with sharp eyes.

I gave her a small bow.

“Would it not be more accurate to say Hwaryeong worked harder? You stayed up day and night preparing this examination. I only lent a hand.”

Hwaryeong let out a small laugh at my words.

She walked over and smiled softly at me.

“Thank you for saying that. I am the one who should be thankful to Evron. You gave me such a good opportunity.”

Hwaryeong narrowed her eyes and looked at the people leaving.

I could feel deep desire in her eyes.

“We found many interesting people in this examination. Unlike with the old method, there are quite a few whom I can raise under my own influence. If I raise them well, they may become mine.”

I stroked my chin as I watched the people leaving.

During this examination, I had been wary of simply pursuing strength. I wanted to evaluate every kind of potential.

The reason I held the Trial at the end was to judge that potential too.

My attempt to judge them as comprehensively as possible seemed to have helped Hwaryeong as well.

I glanced at her.

She was from a great family too.

Among the people I had examined earlier, few would be able to surpass her in scheming. Many would probably be bound by promises no different from slave contracts and put to work under her.

That future seemed to form clearly before my eyes.

Well, perhaps that could be considered a kind of fortunate opportunity too.

Working under Hwaryeong was almost the same as working under the enormous organization that was the trading company.

She was quite capable as well, so she clearly would not use them merely as disposable tools.

Just as she continued cooperating with me.

“I have finished all my preparations. Could you tell me how things stand in the city?”

“Everything you asked for has been prepared.”

Was it only now that she had finished preparing?

No, she must have finished long ago.

She must have wanted to watch whether I truly conducted the examination properly before judging the situation.

She was clearly satisfied with the current outcome and had only now brought it up.

Her attitude made it abundantly clear that she was still somewhat wary of me.