Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

In the world of summoning magic, failure was defined as when the result was even 1% different from the intended target. However, the magic quills now fluttering and falling from the air were a perfect match for their intended targets. The only issue was their excessive number.

Professor Garcia quickly understood this and nodded in agreement.

"That's right. It's not a failure," he acknowledged.

The Troll Professor sighed in slight relief. Although it was his role as a professor to care equally for all students, he couldn't help but worry a bit more about the boy from the Wardanaz family. The boy's inherent mana was so immense that even basic spells became challenging for him.

Fortunately, Yi-Han, unlike a typical freshman, was bravely and steadfastly facing the challenges with a bold and steadfast posture. Still, Professor Garcia felt a pang of guilt. It was, after all, a teacher's duty to provide solutions to such problems.

Professor Garcia, unable to find a proper solution, was the only one among the faculty of the magic academy who felt a sense of guilt.

"Yi-Han is quite talented, isn't he? Seeing his perfect success..." Professor Garcia started.

Professor Millei nodded in response to Garcia's remark. "He is indeed talented."

"Do you think so too?"

Professor Garcia, well aware of the difficulty of summoning magic and Professor Millei's strictness, felt that Millei's recognition was all the more valuable.

"He has the talent for summoning magic. But there is one flaw," Millei pointed out.

"What might that be?" Garcia asked, slightly puzzled.

"Not his mana, Professor Garcia."

"Then what?"

"His flaw is arrogance," Millei revealed.

Arrogance? Garcia was momentarily taken aback. Indeed, the boy from the Wardanaz family might appear arrogant at first glance. His cold, marble-like appearance, combined with the dignity of a high noble, made him seem unapproachable to most.

But Garcia knew well that Yi-Han was not such a boy. After all, a student who personally took care of his fellow students at the Blue Dragon couldn't have such an arrogant nature.

"There seems to be a misunderstanding..."

"Observe carefully, Professor Garcia," Millei instructed, pointing to the numerous magic quills. "The student succeeded in one try. Yet, he intentionally summoned dozens of magic quills. What does that imply?"

A single successful summoning meant a high understanding of magic circles and control over mana. It was rare for a freshman to possess both knowledge and talent. Objectively, such abilities qualified a student to enter the world of summoning magic.

But why did such a student intentionally summon dozens of magic quills? If he had the capability to succeed on the first attempt, one would have sufficed.

There was only one answer: to arrogantly show off his skills.

"No..." Garcia was taken aback by Millei's words.

"Yi-Han is not of such character..."

"Arrogance is a necessary virtue for a mage, but it's a dangerous poison if possessed from too young an age, especially if one has innate knowledge and talent," said Professor Millei.

"That's, um..." Professor Garcia stuttered, his face flushing with embarrassment.

Professor Millei's eyebrows rose, sensing Garcia's unease. Not all relationships among professors were equal, especially when one was a former student of another.

Nevertheless, Garcia wanted to clear up the misunderstanding. "I don't think Yi-Han has such a character. It might have been a mistake..."

"A mistake?" Millei's voice carried a hint of incredulity, a bad sign.

"So, you're saying that the summoning was a mistake, Professor Garcia?"

Summoning multiple quills with that magic circle wasn't as simple as just infusing several times the mana needed for a single quill. If the power input recklessly increased, the circle could either be destroyed or backfire. Once mana was introduced into the circuit, its properties changed, necessitating recalculations for each new infusion of power. The only way to summon multiple quills was to repeat the process meticulously.

"Maybe he practiced first to avoid destroying the magic circle... and forgot about the residual mana in it?"

Millei's stern gaze softened, looking almost pitifully at his well-meaning disciple. "A student as talented as him wouldn't forget something like that, Professor Garcia."

Garcia fell silent, having no response. He felt his excuse was weak, but he strongly believed in the possibility of a mistake.

"It's good to trust and love your students, Professor Garcia, but you shouldn't turn a blind eye to their faults or mistakes. Sometimes, affection and trust can blind us."

"Yes..."

"I'm not denying the student's talent. But arrogance can harm him, so be careful," Millei advised.

"Understood."

"Don't worry so much. If he learns summoning magic, he'll soon correct his arrogance."

Summoning magic always humbled those who considered themselves supreme geniuses. Combined with Millei's strictness, any uncontrollable arrogance would soon be reduced to a healthy level of self-esteem.

Garcia turned away, watching Yi-Han sending the summoned quills to Anglago and writing with them the sentence, 'I don't have a quill.' This act sparked a brawl between the students of the White Tiger and the Blue Dragon.

Heading to intervene, Garcia couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't arrogance after all.

'No matter how much I think about it, I don't think that's really true.'

The commotion had finally subsided. The faces of the students were smeared unevenly with ink, remnants left behind by the imperfectly and perfectly summoned magic quills.

Although the summoned quills vanished over time, the ink they left behind did not.

"I believe you all have gained some understanding of how difficult summoning magic can be. The magic practiced today is just the basics of basics, and ideally, it should be performed without a magic circle."

Professor Millei instilled fear in the students, yet continued earnestly without heed.

"If you are truly interested in summoning magic and wish to learn it seriously, please visit my workshop. Remember, it's a common misconception that talent or intelligence is necessary for mastering magic..."

Yi-Han felt Professor Milleigh's gaze momentarily on him.

Was it just his imagination?

'Was it a problem that I made the quills pester Anglago?'

"...What's most needed is perseverance and patience. If you continue without giving up and immerse yourself earnestly, summoning magic will open a path for you."

With that, Professor Millei finished his speech and left the classroom.

The remaining students huddled together, murmuring.

"Should we visit the workshop?"

"Didn't the professor say it? It's hard to catch up if you start only in the second year. Seems like it's essential to start practicing summoning magic from the first year."

The students nodded in agreement.

Having attempted to summon a quill themselves, they now understood the difficulty of summoning magic.

The act of summoning an object to move on its own through a mage's power...

"But can we really go to the professor now and learn summoning magic separately?"

"Why not?"

"Really? We already have so much homework, and more will be added, not to mention preparing for upcoming exams. Can we really study summoning magic on top of all that?"

"..."

Their realistic concerns intimidated the students.

As attractive as summoning magic was, not many could handle the increase in assignments it entailed.

'That's why you should take easy classes.'

Yi-Han thought this but then reflected on his choice.

Hadn't he, in seeking an easy course, now found himself in a life-threatening situation?

Yi-Han grew curious about what elective courses the other students were taking.

"What electives are you guys taking?"

"Me? <Basic Art>. Everyone's taking it, right?"

"I'm in <Basic Dance and Socializing>. It's practically a semi-mandatory course."

"I'm taking <Understanding Basic Empire Masterpieces>. I want to buy one during the vacation."

"..."

Yi-Han was slightly taken aback by his friends' course selections.

...Was he the only one lacking in general education?

"There's no course without assignments."

"Same here. But that doesn't mean I can skip summoning magic."

"Unless the academy lends us an artifact to turn back time."

"Gainando, that's a fairy tale. Such a thing doesn't exist."

"Even if it did, do you think they'd lend it to a student for attending classes? It would be used for far more important purposes."

Listening to his friends, Yi-Han checked the time and stood up.

"Gainando, let's go."

"Where to? And why are you taking Gainando?"

"Using him as bait for a summoned creature?"

"No. I need to meet Professor Mortum."

While everyone was deliberating whether to go for summoning magic, a professor was left desolate and ignored, having almost no students interested in his class.

This was Professor Mortum, who taught dark magic.

Since Professor Mortum had directly called out their names, Yi-Han and Gainando had no choice but to visit him periodically to learn dark magic, unlike the other students.

"Do you really have to go? Can't you just send Gainando alone?"

The friends were reluctant to send Yi-Han, but Gainando had no intention of going alone.

"...If I end up going alone, I'll recommend all of you."

"Gainando! My noble friend! It seems there's been a misunderstanding!"

The friends quickly changed their stance.

Yonaire asked as if to check.

"Do you think it'll be alright? Students interested in summoning magic might be going now."

"There's no set time, so after seeing Professor Mortum, we can go together to see the summoning magic."

Yi-Han was interested in summoning magic too. It was just that he had a prior engagement.

It was best not to break appointments with professors. Especially if that professor was lonely, lacking students to seek.

"Then, see you next time."

"Take care. Wardanaz."

"Be careful of the released summoned creatures, and don't forget the potion Priestess Siana gave you."

"Be careful with Professor Mortum."

"And you, Gainando."

Moved by Asan's words, Gainando showed a slightly touched expression.

"Dargard..."

"Be careful because if Gainando makes a mistake, you'll be in danger too."

"..."

The warning was not for Gainando to be careful, but for Yi-Han to be wary of Gainando.

Upon meeting Professor Mortum, Gainando resolved to recommend Asan.