Surviving at the Magic Academy

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I arrived at the mountain with four hours to spare. Finally reaching it, I was struck by its towering height. A flag waved at the summit, welcoming us, though our arrival was much later than expected.

We encountered numerous obstacles on our way here. Monkeys were just the beginning. The attacks from the Monsters were relatively easy to handle. Dealing with such clear intentions was actually simpler. The most annoying obstacles were those that could be traps without us realizing it.

The most devious was the mirror illusion. I thought I was making progress, but suddenly the road of magical energy split into multiple paths. Once I noticed, the mountain appeared in every direction. It was a bizarre illusion that meticulously duplicated even the flow of magical energy.

I was trapped inside it for nearly three hours. Each of us made various attempts to escape. I tried sending my Doll far away to scout, but they just kept circling the same spot as if caught in a maze.

Eventually, there was only one way out. Shattering this unknown illusion. For this, we finally worked together. First, the Shaking Rope unleashed a massive curse that devoured the illusion.

Then, the hidden mirror briefly revealed itself. It was the main culprit behind this bizarre illusion. Aili and Hongryeong of the Taepyeongryeong Ju Clan launched a fierce magical assault on it. The mirror shattered, creating a tiny crack.

Through that crack, I sent my Doll to find a safe path. Many Dolls were lost in the process, unable to return. The path kept changing. Only after exhausting numerous Dolls amid the tension could we escape the illusion.

After navigating a few more traps, the Turtle was covered in wounds, its shell nearly shattered to the point where those wounds could reach my workshop. Despite my best efforts to repair the Turtle every moment along the way, it always seemed to get hurt even worse. By the time we reached the mountain, the uninjured parts seemed fewer. It really had been a tough journey.

The mountain path was too steep for the Turtle to climb. I secretly took it out and put the Turtle in my pocket. The others had already started climbing, making it a feasible task. I began ascending the mountain slowly, unsure of what awaited us there. I proceeded carefully, keeping an eye on my surroundings.

Thankfully, I noticed nothing unusual by the time we reached the summit. What stood out was the immense magical energy continually rising from the mountain. The flow of magical energy we observed on our way here all originated from this spot.

As the gigantic flag waiting for us at the summit scattered in the air upon our arrival, everyone let out a deep sigh. The second task was complete.

At the spot where the flag had been, a massive hourglass materialized. It seemed to have just started flowing, with sand slowly falling down.

“We’re supposed to protect this, right?”

Hongryeong spoke up. This was clearly an important item we were to safeguard for the task. Looking at the amount of sand, it roughly matched the two-week time frame. We were undoubtedly meant to protect this hourglass until the last grain fell during the fourth task.

It seemed the third and fourth tasks would be conducted simultaneously.

I surveyed the area. Up until this point, we had gotten to know each other even if just a little. Yet, no camaraderie had developed. I only felt a growing anxiety that others understood me better. Cooperating with these individuals for two weeks? Impossible.

The one who set this task probably never considered such cooperation either. Hence, the third task was likely to proceed as individual evaluations.

“Let’s divide the mountain into five sections and build our own fortresses.”

Hongryeong suggested. He was right. Sharing control of my fortress with untrustworthy others was less desirable than taking full responsibility from start to finish, which is what a Mage should do. Since we were all Mages, we must be well-versed in establishing territories.

Thus, the five of us began exploring the mountain separately. We reached a small agreement and defined our respective areas. Some were wide, while others were narrow.

Hongryeong claimed the southeastern area, a wide cliff region that took up about a quarter of the entire terrain. It was likely the best fit for utilizing his magic. Following that, Aili took position in the north, a valley area with flowing water. Aside from that, nothing particularly special stood out.

Siggeo staked his claim in the eastern rocky area, a perfect match for his magical affinity. The Shaking Rope chose the western forest area we had traversed, consisting of mild slopes filled with trees that absorbed more magic than elsewhere.

I settled between the Shaking Rope and Hongryeong. Frankly, any area would have sufficed.

What mattered more than the area was who I was beside. I considered choosing the eastern area between Aili and Hongryeong, but Siggeo had already claimed that area with strong insistence. I also thought being stuck between powerhouses might not be entirely beneficial, so I decided on this location—a slightly steep area with adequate trees and rocks.

After vaguely defining our areas, we reconvened in front of the hourglass. Everyone’s face lit up, seemingly pleased with their sections. Hongryeong naturally pulled out a map. The outline of the mountain was roughly drawn on it. He marked our previously agreed zones on the map.

“From now on, this is each person’s territory. Let’s do our best for these two weeks.”

Hongryeong stated. He circled the overlapping center of these territories—the hourglass.

“We must ensure each territory is well defended. If even one of us falls, it would be detrimental for all.”

I found myself nodding involuntarily. I wasn’t overly concerned about other areas being breached. What was crucial for this task was to protect that hourglass and ensure no one died. I subtly peeked at Hongryeong and Aili.

What if they decided to overpower everyone and simply proceeded with the test? There was no clear way to stop that. That was the biggest issue. However, they didn’t seem particularly inclined toward that route. Perhaps it was because their own existence was at stake. That was somewhat reassuring.

“Well, you don’t have to worry about that!”

Siggeo said energetically. He must have been familiar with such matters. Having spent a long time in border regions, building fortifications and defending them must be a continuation of the battles he had experienced.

“Even if we each finish our fortresses, we’ll still need to protect the hourglass itself.”

Hongryeong said with a smile. Siggeo crossed his arms in response.

“Hmm.”

“We should each build our own fortress in our own way while also dedicating a certain capacity to protect the hourglass. Let’s set it as a kind of communal defense area. Even if one is breached, we should be able to hold out.”

This made sense. While it would be great if we could block everything, there could be situations where ‘someone is bound to release a Monster.’ In that case, the hourglass would be at risk. The idea was to prevent those scenarios in advance.

He clearly wasn’t planning to put his faith in us. I thought to myself. Nevertheless, it was a comprehensible argument. Even if individual fortresses were for personal evaluation, if the hourglass broke, we would all be eliminated. Hongryeong proceeded with the discussion based on the premise that someone would experience a breach.

Hmm, he might think I’d be that someone. I hadn’t engaged in battle on the way here. Everyone else had shown their strengths. The fifth task could be a bit dangerous. I scratched my chin, pondering that.

“Well, let’s disband now and move on. If there’s anything to discuss, we’ll meet back here.”

Hongryeong vanished like the wind.

“That talkative young master…”

Aili said, stretching. She then soared into the air. She winked at me.

“Hey Doll friend, feel free to drop by anytime!”

She hadn’t stopped chatting on our way here, so I thought she must have really enjoyed it. I nodded with a smile. The Shaking Rope also gave a polite nod before leaving. Siggeo stood with his arms crossed, gazing at the hourglass.

“Hmm, two weeks, huh…”

He murmured. After admiring the falling sand for a while, he turned toward his area. I turned my body and began my descent from the summit. Unlike the others, I didn’t head toward my own territory. Instead, I headed towards the southeast, toward Hongryeong’s area.

I could reach him quickly. I didn’t see much point in constructing a fortress relying solely on individual capabilities. Everyone has their own talents. Why should I strain myself alone? It wasn’t necessary to fight in an area outside my strength.

On the way up the mountain, I had seen enough of Hongryeong’s power. My earlier concerns stemmed from feeling that he had the strength to secure this mountain alone. For him, this task was likely a piece of cake. I saw no need to impose myself and provide oversight for someone capable like him.

What was needed was thorough service and cooperation. With that mindset, I approached him. Hongryeong took the highest point of the mountain and the cliffs as his territory.

The protruding rocky parts created strong gusts of wind. Below, in the gentle area, the breeze was particularly fierce. It was a location perfectly suited for the wind magic Hongryeong had demonstrated thus far.

Standing before the light barrier spread across his territory, I quietly released my magic to announce my presence. Hongryeong was engraving a colossal magical circle into the cliff. After a considerable time was spent perfecting it, he finally came over to greet me with a smile.

“What brings you here?”

“I’ve come to propose cooperation, Hongryeong.”

I said, bowing respectfully. Hongryeong narrowed his eyes and grinned more broadly.

“Cooperation? How intriguing.”

“Since my area borders yours, I thought we could coordinate to solve the tasks more efficiently.”

Hongryeong’s interest piqued as he flashed a smile. He summoned the wind, shaping it into a chair, and leaned back onto it. I commanded my Doll to create a table. The Doll picked a rock and crafted it into a circular table.

Seeing that made me think that magic to create tables would be quite useful. A simple and convenient spell for enjoying casual gatherings in such a wild setting. Well, perhaps magic for decorating a dwelling would be nice too.

With those thoughts tucked away, I began grinding the precious coffee I had brought—a rare commodity, just a handful. I had already consumed a lot of tea on the way. It was likely to be a favorite, so I had brought the coffee I had been saving.

Though it didn’t possess the perfection of tea (the Professor Ilian disliked bitterness), it still contained delicate magic. After taking a sip, Hongryeong said,

“Then, could you explain why I should cooperate with you first?”

His question was valid. He was already confident in his capability to solve this task without requiring help.

“I will name you the primary contributor.”

I directly offered him what I held most valuable. Once he was recognized as the primary contributor, he would receive an extra ten points, making it tempting for him. Although he might have thought he was already safe, securing a more stable position for passing was likely appealing. Furthermore, he belonged to a prominent family; he might be aiming for more than just passing.

Considering the nature of Mages, it was likely that others would wish to write their names as the primary contributors. If I wrote Hongryeong’s name, his chances of becoming the primary contributor would undoubtedly increase. That was quite an appealing proposition for him. Hongryeong blinked, seemingly caught off guard.

“Hmm, interesting.”

While sipping his coffee, Hongryeong thought for a moment before nodding. I smiled inwardly, sensing success.

“Let’s proceed with that. How shall our cooperation work?”

“Thank you.”

I bowed deeply, expressing my gratitude. It was genuinely heartfelt since all my forthcoming strategies were anchored in his support. It had been a plan I had continuously nurtured since first seeing the mountain. Of course, I had thought of alternative strategies in case he rejected it, but relying on this powerful ally was the safest and most convenient option.

“This is my fortress design.”

I disclosed the structure of the fortress I had envisioned to Hongryeong. It was a kind of maze. A style I particularly enjoyed. Constructing deadly traps to lure Monsters into them was the essence of this fortress.

“What a fun fortress!”

Hongryeong chuckled.

“A place specifically for slaughtering weak Monsters, I see?”

Indeed, that was the primary aim of my fortress. In fact, that was my limitation as well. Since I couldn’t perform attacks through magic, utilizing forceful traps was my best option. To tackle stronger Monsters, the cost-effectiveness had been negligible.

“Yes, I’ll handle all the lower Monsters up to your territory.”

This fortress offered the advantage of continuous utility. Continuously pushing in Monsters, then eliminating them. That was my sole goal—a Monster slaughterhouse.

This was tailored to Hongryeong’s personality. He hadn’t bothered himself with bothersome matters thus far. He performed tasks he could do while applying minimal effort.

This was also why I chose to stay beside Hongryeong over Aili. I still hadn’t grasped her fully. In contrast, Hongryeong was straightforward, making him easier to comprehend.

His established magic in the territory already revealed his nature. He was building a powerful wind barrier across this vast area. It would either repel or blow away any approaching foe. It felt rather similar to when he confronted the previous monkeys. Anything daring to push through would be effortlessly sliced apart by the wind gathering beneath the cliff.

It was a design that ensured strong power while consuming almost no magic. He could create it in a very short time with a simple method. Beneath that, undoubtedly more mysteries lay hidden beyond what I had perceived.

“We’ll divide the areas vertically. I’ll handle the lower levels where weak Monsters reside, while you will manage any Monsters that manage to break through.”

I carefully took out the map I had created through research. It depicted the mountain, showing my territory and Hongryeong’s, divided according to the terrain. I would take the flat lower region while he would manage the steep upper parts.

As I had previously assessed, the upper portion of my area also formed a cliff similar to Hongryeong’s, making this partition feasible. This division would prove quite convenient for him, as he’d only need to deal with a few Monsters trying to breach through.

“Huh, you deliberately chose that spot, didn’t you?”

Hongryeong laughed. I merely bowed my head deeply in response. Taking out the map was definitely intended to reveal my intentions. I needed him to see my genuine motives behind the cooperation; only by being transparent would he trust me more.

“Yes, let’s progress with that.”

Hongryeong nodded. He waved his hand, altering the magic he had been casting. Instead of encompassing the entire cliff below, he adjusted it to only block the cliff itself. The power became even stronger and sharper.

I sighed in relief inwardly. I had successfully established a cooperative relationship. After bowing my head to Hongryeong once more, I quietly departed. The area I would oversee in this cooperation would account for nearly a third of the mountain. With no knowledge of what type of assault might occur next, it was now time to focus on building my fortress. All that expansive area needed to be revamped.

 

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