Surviving at the Magic Academy

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Five people gathered at the crossroads. Suddenly, the surroundings brightened, revealing a strange landscape before us.

We stood in a wide open field. The air felt heavy with pressure. The magical energy was twice as thick and sticky as outside, as if we were in the rumored magic zone. It felt like the magic was grabbing onto my body.

The open field was surrounded by dense woods. Huge trees towered over us, reaching for the sky and blocking out the sunlight. Beyond that, a mountain rose high enough to peek between the trees.

The mountain seemed to flaunt its existence, waving a gigantic flag made of raw magic at its peak, like it was saying, “This is the destination!”

“Let’s move out right away,” said a young man with an air of elegance. He had a smile on his face, but the magic radiating from him was intimidating, wrapping around us dangerously. The sharpness of that magic felt more cutting than any blade. He was clearly powerful, emitting a strength that felt beyond my sapling level.

“Yeah, let’s hurry!” a muscular man laughed, thumping his belly. He seemed a bit more ordinary, but a robust magical energy radiated from him too. I nodded along. The time was limited; it would be best to think while we moved.

I discreetly pulled out a spatial pouch from my waistband and hid it in my clothes. I couldn’t risk anyone seeing it. What if someone tried to take it from me? I had to be extra cautious with people who seemed tougher than I was. I wouldn’t retrieve the turtle until everyone else had already left.

The young man in front hopped onto a fish spirit made of wind. In an instant, the fish soared into the sky and shot forward, cutting through the air. Following him, the rest of the group began to make their way to the mountain in various ways.

Once they all vanished, I finally pulled out the spatial pouch. I opened it and attempted to resonate with the turtle sleeping inside. Responding to my signal, the turtle woke up. The tiny opening of the pouch expanded, and its massive form began to emerge.

First, the turtle’s head came into view. Its golden eyes flickered with magical energy like flames. Thick scales around its eyes showcased its majesty and strength. Its large jaw looked sturdy and heavy, filled with sharp teeth.

Then, its two front legs popped out. Thick, pillar-like limbs covered in steel scales emerged. Resembling hammers, they looked heavy enough to smash everything in their path. As the turtle placed its feet on the ground, a deep tremor reverberated beneath.

Its shell followed, appearing like a gigantic shield, adorned with rugged protrusions that made it look as if it was carrying a mountain. Large spikes rose along the sides, casting a shadow over me.

Finally, the turtle’s hind legs and tail appeared. It completely filled the wide open field. Look at this massive fortress! Within its powerful presence was an extraordinary life force. My sapling within me felt giddy resonating with the turtle.

I climbed onto the turtle’s back. As I did, part of the shell slowly sank down, guiding me deep into its body. Eventually, a spacious area revealed itself. It was my own little workshop nestled deep within the turtle’s belly.

Settling down, I ordered a doll to bring me some tea. After taking a sip of the tea presented, the warm aroma embraced my nose, and the delightful flavor slid down my throat. Hmm, should I make a move?

I commanded the turtle through the circuit connected by magical deep breath. My will transferred into the turtle’s movements, and it began to advance. That massive body moved with weight, steadily heading towards the forest.

Over the past 10 months, I had steadily modified this turtle through all the magic I learned. The professor acknowledged its capabilities, saying it was quite useful. Through my modifications, the turtle had become a fortress that nothing could easily approach.

Of course, there were regrets. The limitations of materials were evident. Most of the turtle was made of wood, and aside from the shell, the other parts were relatively weak defensively, especially the four legs. If I had a bigger budget, I could have acquired sturdier woods. That was a lingering disappointment for me.

I looked around through the turtle’s eyes. The trees I once thought were tall were hardly as tall as the turtle’s neck. The others had already moved far ahead.

The turtle moved its legs. Thud, a rumble echoed beneath my feet. The trees blocking our path were crushed under the turtle’s massive weight. It was an incredibly satisfying sight. The turtle devoured several of the fallen trees. These trees, grown under such immense magical energy, would yield useful material for doll-making. They quickly made their way down to my workshop.

Whatever might happen on our path, it was better to create more dolls beforehand. I had left most of my dolls at the workshop while bringing the turtle. The more tools, the better. So, I started making dolls.

While the turtle stomped on trees and devoured them, it walked onward. Its massive strides quickly brought me closer to the others. Those who had been far ahead were now within sight.

“Hey, can I ride this too?” One of them had suddenly climbed atop my turtle without me noticing. She had been far away just a moment ago, yet somehow, she was already here.

This woman radiated a captivating aura. Her deep, dark navy eyes sparkled with danger. The corners of her lips were turned up just enough to display her intrigue.

She was the one I had been most cautious around among the group. The other four looked stronger than me, but she was the one who exuded the most ominous scent of blood. And now, she was sitting atop my turtle.

My heart raced slightly. She inspected the turtle leisurely. The thick scent of blood wafted from her, more potent than any thug from the slums. Even while hidden inside the turtle, I could feel her intense aura.

“Of course, I’ll prepare a spot for you.”

One of the protrusions on the turtle’s shell trembled and flattened. I sent a freshly made doll up onto it. The doll soared up and laid out a chair and table on the protrusion.

She sat down with a smile. She looked relaxed and light-hearted. A doll naturally approached her, offering a cup. It then flawlessly cast a tea spell. Flowers floated up in the cup, enhancing the aroma of the black tea.

Intrigued, she watched it for a moment before lifting the cup. After taking a sip, her eyes widened. Gradually, she sipped the cup more, nodding in approval.

“Interesting little friend, I like it.”

Great, I scored some points. I sighed in relief, calming my nerves. It felt like her interest was leaning positively. The turtle continued moving forward without a hitch. As it trampled trees, it eventually came closer to the other members.

“With the sun being strong, I’ll create shade and walls for you.”

I said through the doll. The terrain moved again, forming walls and a roof. But after constructing it, it felt a bit stifling. The enclosed space seemed to take away some of our comfort.

“Are you hoping to enjoy the scenery? Then I’ll create some windows.”

“Hehe, sure.”

She nodded, still smiling. I broke down part of the walls to create a rectangular window. Beyond it, the others were now visible. The one lagging behind was approaching on a broomstick. It was a woman wearing a witch’s hat. Peering at me through heavy glasses, she seemed shy and slightly embarrassed.

“Um, can I ride too?”

“Of course, I’ll set it up for you.”

Another protrusion trembled and cleared a space. I sent a doll up to ask about the witch’s preferences and suitably decorated her space too. Since she would be a teammate during the exam, I didn’t want to offend her for no reason.

However, this witch was lower on the priority list compared to the previous woman. I figured if I placed her at the same level as the lady, it might make her uncomfortable. So, I set the witch’s spot a bit lower and farther away.

Subtly, I created a bit of hierarchy to define our spots. The witch seemed unbothered. She looked quite cautious. Even after being deliberately placed lower, she maintained a harmless expression, making her appear unusually nice for a mage.

“Oh, is that how you think? How interesting.”

Before I knew it, the young man had also climbed onto the turtle. I had thought he would travel faster than the turtle and wouldn’t catch up, yet somehow he had already arrived. Just like the woman, he was surely another competent individual. The young man smiled as he surveyed the turtle.

“May I ride as well?”

“Of course.”

I prepared a spot for him too. In that instant, I felt my judgment might have been incorrect. Perhaps this young man was the strongest of us all. Every gesture he made carried a noble elegance as if he had inherited it from a line of distinguished blood. He was undeniably someone from a prestigious family.

“Please let me know the style you prefer, and I’ll accommodate accordingly.”

“Just as long as it’s open on all sides.”

“Alright, I’ll get it ready.”

He wanted it open on all sides. Surprisingly, he wore practical attire not befitting his noble stature. It was designed with efficiency in mind for battle or long journeys, prioritizing functionality over showiness.

I pondered over how to keep it classy while not overdoing it. After a brief yet deep consideration, I finally constructed a massive shelter that provided shade from the sun while maintaining the openness he desired. It expanded like a fan over the protrusion, embodying the right balance of exposure and elegance.

I adjusted the height carefully. Similar to the blood-scented woman, yet creating a subtle visual illusion that made it appear as though she sat slightly lower when viewed together.

After everyone had settled in, the muscular man approached last. He had been charging through the trees with that hefty body, but he wore a disgruntled expression. Without a word, he climbed onto the turtle.

I observed him closely. Hmm, he seemed like the weakest among us. However, there was no need to create unnecessary hostility towards him. I saw no reason to spark conflict.

I prepared a spot for him too, similar in height to the witch’s. The man noticed the height and frowned, but didn’t comment. Perhaps he acknowledged the hierarchy—accepting that the unnamed young man and the lady were stronger than him.

After all, strength equals truth for every mage. Accepting one’s position is not shameful, but a means of survival. Even if the man could not hide his displeasure, his unwillingness to voice it proved that point.

Now, all the team members had settled in. I had predicted this sort of situation from the moment I took the turtle out. If any team member fell behind, points would be deducted. Eventually, everyone would gather in one space for mutual safety.

To make this turtle the focal point of our gathering, I heavily invested magic to ramp up its speed faster than usual. It seemed that, through my thoughts, we had all taken our places atop the turtle. This turtle had become the center of our assignment. I felt satisfied. I was now sure about safety. Each team member would do their utmost to protect the turtle.

“I will guide you all to the destination perfectly. It would be appreciated if you could handle any potential obstacles on our way.”

I relayed that to my teammates while serving them tea through the dolls I’d attached. They sipped it, each displaying different expressions. The witch pursed her lips and grimaced slightly. Ah, so the tea felt a bit bitter to her. I’ll sweeten the next round. The muscular man seemed to like it. The young man just kept smiling, and the woman did the same.

The turtle continued onward, barreling through trees with its enormous body, charging straight towards the mountain. Despite moving fast, the mountain seemed just as far away as ever.

It was clearly farther than it appeared. Still, at this pace, we should reach it within 10 hours. But that was just a calculation based on distance. This meant something had to exist along the way. There was no way this assignment would be easy.

As my teammates sipped their tea and glanced around, they gradually relaxed and settled back.

“Shall we introduce ourselves?” the young man suggested.

“I am Hongryeong of the Taepyeongryeong Ju Clan.”

The Ju Clan? I faintly recognized the name. Where had I heard it? I rummaged through my memories quickly.

“A member of a great family!” shouted the muscular man. I remembered now. Just as he said, they were a prominent clan ruling over the Taepyeongryeong region, one of the 108 areas forming the Empire. I silently raised his priority. There was no doubt he would pass. I would do my best to support him.

The others also seemed surprised by Hongryeong’s status. Upon hearing it, I discreetly stepped out of the workshop and climbed onto one of the peaks. I needed to act properly, as I might get scolded for hiding.

“I am Siggeo, serving as a major on the central front lines of the Empire.”

The muscular man spoke. So he was a soldier. But he didn’t seem like an easily underestimated person. Holding a major rank indicated considerable capability, though it was still of lower importance. Being a soldier implied a lack of notable talent or background.

“Um, I’m the Shaking Rope from the Eastern Witch Academy…” the witch spoke. She truly looked like a witch. However, being from the Eastern Witch Academy—which was large, though not on the level of a great family—was impressive enough. I remembered having met a witch before, and it was quite a hassle when she hurled all sorts of curses. I almost fell for her seemingly timid demeanor. She deserved a bit more favor.

Then it was my turn to speak. Since Hongryeong had introduced himself first, it would be better to let the blood-scented woman finish things last.

“I’m Ebron, running a doll workshop near the university town. People close to me call me Ron. Feel free to treat me casually!”

I said with a cheerful smile. I had initially thought of hiding my identity, but seeing a member of a great family made me reconsider. It could be risky to conceal it. It was better to be candid and transparent.

“I’m Aili, a wanderer.”

The woman stated.

“Let’s take care to not harm one another during the exam period.”

She said with a chilling smile. For a moment, the scent of blood intensified.

“Of course, we are now comrades, aren’t we?”

I replied, smiling. But inwardly, I had different thoughts. Comrades? It was camaraderie in name only. This was far more competitive.

I recalled the 5th assignment. The fifth contributor would be penalized. I was certain Hongryeong’s name wouldn’t appear on that list. Who would dare to put a member of a great family down? If even one person did, we would essentially be declaring war on a high-ranking clan.

What about the rest? Everyone was gauging each other’s strengths. Measuring whether they could take on someone else or not. If I was deemed weak, my name would show up there without any regard for how much I contributed. I must never be underestimated. The moment I was, I’d be devoured.

With that, we each introduced ourselves, and everyone sat in silence as we took a break. No one discussed how we would collaborate on the upcoming exam. Mages aren’t used to cooperating with others. Each of us had lived our lives based on our own abilities and pride, making sudden collaboration difficult.

Plus, this was our first meeting. It was naturally more intriguing to see how we could synchronize while knowing nothing about each other, so it felt more comfortable to just operate individually.

The space on the turtle was quiet. Each of us maintained our tension in our own way. Without a word, we observed each other, with no one daring to speak first. We would likely fulfill our roles when necessary. That was the most natural way for mages to function. I too focused my attention back onto making dolls in the workshop.

How much time had passed since then? As we approached the mountain, the magical energy grew thicker.

It culminated into a sort of mist that began to envelop our surroundings. This magical mist rendered all forms of magical detection useless, making it impossible to tell where we were or what lurked around us.

“Are we heading the right way?” Siggeo called out nervously.

“Yes, just trust me. We’re heading straight for the mountain.”

Others might struggle to find their way in this mist, but I found the path clearer within this energy. The texture of the magic I always sensed while making dolls was manifesting vividly within the fog.

Since this was a technique rather than pure magic, no interruption could occur. I just had to follow the flow towards the thickest magical energy—likely where the mountain would be.

Riding the currents, the turtle moved forward effortlessly. The mist thickened as we proceeded. Eventually, it became completely white, obscuring vision ahead. But ironically, the path appeared more distinct.

While continuing onward, something suddenly dashed toward the turtle’s side. An enemy? Something unknown plunged towards the turtle’s flank. But I wasn’t worried. The unidentified entity bounced away without managing to pierce through the turtle’s armor.

With all the effort put into crafting this shell, there was no way it could simply break through. The turtle’s shell, reinforced with all kinds of defensive magic and materials, could withstand at least some of the professor’s magical energy.

As the attacker bounced away, Hongryeong cast a spell. A sharp wind swept across to clear whatever assailant had struck. The turtle’s spikes morphed to snag the intruder. The corpse landed atop the shell.

All team members gathered to inspect the body. It was a monkey covered in pale gray fur. Its wounds leaked mist instead of blood. Its dull pupils were tinged with a faint red. As the mist flowed away from the corpse, it thickened until the body gradually disintegrated into dust.

“It’s a mist monkey,” Hongryeong said, his eyes sparkling with magical energy as he surveyed the vicinity.

“Seems like they aren’t going to let us pass easily.”

Beyond the thick mist, numerous red lights flickered to life.

 

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