Surviving at the Magic Academy

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I took a deep breath and stared at the front door. The tightly shut door was beautifully adorned with the magical circle I had painstakingly restored over several days.

Behind this door awaited two hundred mages. Their magical energy could practically be felt from here.

With my heart steeled, I opened the door. At that moment, a countless number of gazes poured towards me. I smiled brightly and bowed my head at them.

“Welcome! You’ve arrived at Professor Ilian’s tower.”

The sensation of two hundred mages extending their magic towards me simultaneously was quite overwhelming. As soon as they spotted me, they began probing me with various spells.

Fortunately, the tower’s magic repelled all their attempts. I hadn’t dared to step outside the tower. If I had, I would have likely been restrained and shaken down for whatever coins I had.

“Long time no see, Ebron.”

A familiar voice reached my ears. I looked up to see a figure approaching me. It was Hongryeong. He still wore a neat smile on his face, and I returned his grin with a greeting.

“Yes, this is our first meeting since the entrance ceremony. How have you been?”

Other people’s gazes shifted towards Hongryeong. However, their magical energies were exceptionally quiet. Unlike me, who looked rather weak, Hongryeong was clearly radiating powerful magic.

“I’ve been well. What you said back then turned out to be true—about the professor giving you teachings.”

He scratched his head awkwardly while grinning. Meanwhile, I assessed the situation inwardly. Was he trying to show off our connection? Not a bad move, as the attention directed at us had begun to wane.

“So, what should we do from here?”

“I’ll guide you. Just follow the dolls’ directions.”

I slightly stirred my magic, summoning the dolls that were waiting inside the tower. The dolls that stepped outside organized the crowd, slowly leading them into the tower. They were all drawn in by the flow of the dolls.

Once gathered in the central hall on the first floor, I bowed my head and smiled.

“As you’ve seen in the syllabus we’ve distributed, you all will have the opportunity to attend lectures here for the next five years.”

They started to look around slowly. The makeshift furniture we had put together over the past month exuded a decent charm under the tower’s magic. Thankfully, it didn’t look entirely shabby.

“This is the first floor, a common area. You can come and spend time here anytime over the next five years. If you’re passing by, feel free to drop in and rest. If you have questions, you can take a moment to observe using your magic now.”

At that, the students began to unleash their magic, scanning their surroundings. Since I had left all the rooms open for their view, they could check everything inside.

Though it wasn’t something I should be saying, being able to rest on this first floor undoubtedly presented them with a great advantage.

As towers are typically the focal point where the mountain’s magic converges, training here would yield effects far superior to other locations.

“Many dolls are roaming around the tower, so if you need something or are curious about anything, just speak to the doll nearby. It will respond to your request.”

I waited until they all gathered their magic. Eventually, everyone stared intensely at my face, and I smiled as I resumed our movement.

“The lecture space is in the theory classroom on the second floor. Please be careful not to enter other rooms. The doors won’t open, but if by chance you mistakenly enter, you might fall through the space gaps.”

Though Professor Ilian had fixed everything, I tossed that out as a joke. The students’ expressions hardened at those words. Maybe it wasn’t very funny.

We continued up the stairs, finally reaching the central hall on the second floor, standing before the theory classroom.

“This is the theory classroom. Keep in mind that access to the second floor and above is restricted outside of class times.”

I opened the door and gestured at the wavering curtain inside. One doll slipped inside. The students who had been observing the door quickly followed in.

After ensuring everyone had entered, I stepped in as well. The layout was in a semi-circular tiered structure with a podium at the center attached to the walls. The students sat down, each choosing their own spot. I stood at the podium and watched over them.

Hongryeong was seated in the central back row. Many people gathered around him, chatting together. A wry smile crept onto my face. Hmm, had I perhaps insufficiently filtered them out?

It appeared that around five of them were the core of that group. They all exuded the refined grace typical of those from noble families. Approximately thirty of them were bunched around that core.

There were more than I had expected. Upon careful observation, I noticed some sort of line among them. Aside from those five, an awkward atmosphere reigned.

Could it be they had hired other students? It was speculation, but that was likely the truth. My oversight. I had inadvertently attracted more crowds by granting points. I could never have imagined that.

They would have had means to figure out who passed the class beforehand. So, it would be natural for them to establish a foothold ahead of time. With a name like a treasure hunt, having more numbers would provide an advantage. It seemed they were fueled with thoughts of acquiring treasures.

But, that said, there was no way to bypass the professor’s traps.

I glanced over the others. There were quite a few students sitting apart from one another, making the assembled groups stand out significantly.

Another group consisted of swordsmen. True to the nature of those who grouped together, even though they were meeting for the first time, they were huddled close and chattering away.

However, I spotted a familiar face among them. A woman with long black hair, looking somewhat blank. Had I ever encountered a swordsman? I thought hard but couldn’t recall anyone.

She tilted her head at me, looking puzzled. With that confused look on her face, she definitely seemed like someone I had met before, but I just couldn’t place her. I turned my gaze away, avoiding that unsettling stare.

The other group was, well, a gathering of mages, each showcasing their own distinct personalities. There were about ten of them. Each one radiated strong magical energy, yet they lacked any uniformity like the previous group. They appeared comfortable chatting with one another.

So, there were approximately three groups in total, while the remaining students were scattered seated individually. They all seemed to be solo players. I hadn’t anticipated students forming teams like that noble family, but it seemed my efforts had produced some effect in breaking them apart.

Hmm, but this was all within my expectations.

I glanced at the doll beside me. It showed me a clock it had pulled from its pocket. 3 PM sharp. Class time. I clapped my hands to draw the attention of all these mages. The classroom quickly fell silent.

“Greetings, everyone. We shall be together for the next five years. Make sure to take note of the people sitting next to you. You never know if they’ll be your ally or enemy during this course.”

I said with a smile. A joke meant to lighten the mood. But whether that had failed again, the air became heavier. I waved my hands hurriedly and continued speaking.

“Just kidding, just kidding. Let’s move on to the class content. Many of you may have done some research already, but our Professor Ilian has never conducted a lecture before. It’s been over a thousand years since.”

The majority of the students displayed expressions of shock. It seemed not many had done ahead of time research as I had thought. Aside from a few from the larger group, the rest looked like they were hearing this for the first time.

“During that time, the professor roamed the continent searching for treasures instead. All those accumulated treasures now peacefully rest in this tower. This class, the treasure hunt, will introduce you to those treasures and give you the chance to acquire them.”

The students’ eyes began to sparkle. To fuel their enthusiasm, I added more.

“From what I’ve seen, most of them possess values that cannot be measured in points.”

Yeah, just like those eyes. If I recall those, my head starts to ache. Among them, there wouldn’t be anyone unaffected by those eyes. A sly smile crept across my face for a moment, but I quickly regained my composure.

“Over the next five years, once every three months, one treasure will be revealed. Out of these two hundred individuals, only one will have the chance to claim it. You may cooperate with each other or compete against each other. As long as you abide by the rules, you can do anything.”

With that, I snapped my fingers. The doll received the signal and pulled out a thick bundle of paper. Several other dolls began distributing it among the students. I continued to speak while observing their reactions as they examined the papers.

“The materials I handed out briefly describe the treasure we’ll present today. Since it’s the first day, we’ve prepared something relatively ordinary. You must all be curious about what that treasure might be. Today’s treasure is….”

I infused magic into the wall behind me, activating a magical circle from which a vision emerged. It showcased a very small box, contents unknown, enveloped in profound darkness. I held the vision in my hands, presenting it to the students.

“A space-consuming box. Literally, it consumes space. However, don’t misunderstand. It’s not just a simple box enchanted with space magic.”

As I spoke, I conjured words into the air based on what was written on their papers.

“Does anyone remember the large-scale disappearance incident that occurred in the imperial trade city of Orin six hundred years ago? It was a bizarre event where tens of thousands of weeds and hundreds of mages disappeared.”

I showcased a visual reconstruction of that time. Certain parts of the city had vanished entirely. What had transpired there remained a mystery, and it had become nothing but a legend. I had only heard the story a few times from outside.

“The professor happened to be passing by the scene and took the initiative to investigate the truth. It was there that he discovered this treasure. Its effects are as described on the paper. You may take a look.”

A rustling sound with papers flipping echoed through the room for a while. I also took my time reading the contents.

“As you see, this box devours space. No matter how vast it may be, as long as that space is ‘sealed,’ this thing can consume it. The tragedy of Orin unfolded in that manner. The moment an unknown mage enveloped that area with magic, this box awakened and devoured the entire zone. Should you manage to tame this treasure, you will be able to utilize the space it consumes as you wish.”

The scene shifted to the previous image from the sixth floor, capturing the landscape where space twisted and walls swallowed everything. The pressure from that moment felt palpable, reverberating through the vision. It was a vivid illusion that scraped and encased my memories.

“You could encapsulate a workshop, a base, or, like in this vision, even devour enemies. It serves excellently as both a defensive and an offensive tool.”

The flames of greed ignited in the eyes of the crowd. They overflowed with magic, heating up the classroom.

A bitter smile appeared on my face. Truth be told, this thing was the same one that swallowed the sixth floor. The professor had torn down the walls and resealed it again. I knew exactly how much trouble it had taken to rebuild that wall after that incident. I came to understand from the professor that this item was indeed dangerous.

“You all have just one opportunity. This opportunity cannot be transferred or snatched from others. Every three months, for one day, each of you will have a chance to claim a treasure.”

I smiled as I scanned the room slowly.

“So, shall we go ahead?”

The students leapt from their seats. The dolls quickly guided them along. They maneuvered their magic amongst the dolls as they prepared for the treasure hunt.

I suppressed a laugh at the sight of them. Most would likely get disqualified without ever seeing the treasure. I was fine just watching them while snacking on the crumbs. It was a perfect opportunity to rack up points.

I exited the classroom and headed toward the stairs. Upon reaching the stairs, I pressed the button to go to the sixth floor. The magic of the stairs trembled and drew a different pathway than before.

“This staircase overlaps spaces, so you need to input the exact floor. If you press two floors or tap one and then release, you might find yourself stuck between the stairs, so please be careful.”

I had learned this fact through several experiments out of curiosity. Some dolls I sent as an experiment had just vanished into the space between.

“Once you arrive at the sixth floor, the treasure hunt will officially begin. The sixth floor will only be open for the next 24 hours, so please be cautious and stay safe while giving it your all.”

As I spoke, the mages unleashed their magic, swiftly climbing the stairs. The two hundred of them evaporated in an instant.

I stood in the spot they had just vacated, resting my chin on my hand. I had been quite tense, but now that the situation had occurred, my words flowed freely. I was glad I had even prepared a script in case I forgot what to say.

So, should I go up too? I firmly patted the well-stuffed space pouch I had brought along and stepped onto the staircase myself.

 

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