Surviving at the Magic Academy

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I sat on a jumbled pile of boxes on the bridge, watching the passersby while infusing my ring with magic.

A sigh escaped me. That damn ham and beer. The smell still lingered in my mouth. An unexpected expense, for sure.

Listening to various stories in the tavern, I got a rough idea of the market rates in this city. Ten magic stones outside wouldn’t even buy you a point here.

Yet, the ham and beer cost me five points. Damn it, I’ve never seen such a ridiculous price. I wanted to grumble about it, but inwardly, I had to agree.

At that rate, it was worth five points.

I thought about staying here for a few days and checked the lodging fees, but they were ridiculously expensive. Staying at an inn was five points a day, a hundred points if you paid for a month. Either way, after enjoying my beer, I was completely drained of points.

Even heading upstairs required points. The lowest floor was free to enter and exit, but the higher you went, the more tolls they charged. In the end, it all boiled down to one thing.

Points were needed, points.

I suddenly realized how fortunate it was to be staying at the professor’s tower. This stalactite city was basically a refuge for wizards fleeing the high rental prices of the surface.

Many wizards continued to struggle living underground like this. But I had entered the professor’s tower right after enrolling and was lucky enough to stay in a tower infused with powerful magic.

If it weren’t for the professor, I would probably be wandering around like they were. No, I would surely be doing far worse than them. They were all stronger than me.

A strong sense of respect and loyalty welling up for the professor washed over me. I had misunderstood such a kind and broad-minded person all along. Well, the professor had always treated me well, always gentle… uh.

No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t picture such a kind-hearted professor. I remembered how irritable and nitpicky she could be. My respect and loyalty quickly faded away.

I exhaled deeply. What if the professor decided to charge me residency fees? If I went by what I’d seen of her so far, she’d definitely do that.

With a sigh, I stood up from my seat.

Should I just move, no matter what?

First things first, I needed to submit Professor Ilian’s course plan. In the process, it might be good to find out how much I needed for Professor Heisen’s course.

I headed towards the [Integrated Registration Office], one of the largest buildings in the city. Not only was it for course registration, but all paperwork in this city reportedly went through there.

Beneath that sign was a long line of wizards. It seemed like a lot of people had gathered, probably because it was the registration period. The line wasn’t just long on the ground floor; it snaked all the way to the upper levels.

I heard that after a month of enrollment, the registration period began for new students. But a week had already passed, leaving only three weeks remaining. I had to register for Professor Heisen’s course within that time.

But where in the world was I supposed to get those points?

Sighing, I joined that long line. I waited patiently for quite a while. Some wizards skipped ahead, believing in their own power, but I just stayed quiet. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself, nor did I have faith I could win.

The line moved quickly. I cautiously opened the building’s door and stepped inside. The place was packed with people. Receptionists at ten counters were attending to everyone.

I stood in what seemed to be the shortest line, waiting for the person in front of me to move. Slowly, the line decreased, and people waited behind me. No one seemed to attempt cutting in line, perhaps because everyone was on their toes.

Each interaction took a fair amount of time, and this line seemed to take ages to clear. When I finally sat down in front of the receptionist, she smiled warmly at me. She was a woman with a kind smile plastered on her face.

“Hello! This is Arcana General Meeting, Department 5, Customer Service, with intern Hwa-ryeong speaking. How can I assist you today?”

“Hello. I came to ask about course registration.”

I bowed politely as I spoke. This receptionist was undoubtedly far stronger than me. A lot stronger.

“Oh, I see. You have questions about course registration. Do you have a particular professor in mind you’re looking to register for?”

She said with a smile, but that grin seemed awkward and interchangeable. Her eyes sparkled coldly, revealing she wasn’t really smiling at all. Cold sweat began to form. I cautiously mentioned Professor Heisen’s name.

“Um, just a moment please.”

She moved her magic and began pulling out various folders. Eventually, she presented me with one of the documents.

“Professor Heisen’s class has a very good reputation. But many fail to keep up with that difficulty, so the number of applicants is low. Therefore, the registration fee is set at 5000 points, which is cheaper than most classes.”

I received the document, stunned. 5000 points? That was some serious coin.

“The class capacity is three hundred students, but currently, eight hundred have registered. After applications close, an individual review is conducted, and results will be posted after the registration period, so you’ll need to check back then.”

So many people had registered! Even though there was still time left, more applicants had already signed up than the capacity. If I fell behind, I wouldn’t get my points back either. Surely, even more applicants would come.

And there was another crucial issue.

I was woefully short on points. While I sat there in stunned silence, I could see her eyes narrowing slightly. The smile on her face also began to fade. I could feel her magic sharpening as it gathered in her hands.

“Are you perhaps short on points?”

There was an unmistakable sense of danger in her words.

“Ah, haha. Like I mentioned, I was just inquiring. Actually, that’s not why I’m here.”

I quickly rummaged through my spatial pouch and pulled out a stack of documents. Strong magic radiated from them. It was Professor Ilian’s course plan.

Seeing this, her eyes widened slightly, and her smile returned. Simultaneously, her magic became gentler. I broke into a cold sweat at that rapid shift.

“Oh my, may I ask what this is?”

“This is the course plan of the professor I serve. I came to submit this since I heard I need to register it for the course.”

“Just a moment, let me check.”

She took the document and stood up from her seat. As I watched her leave the counter toward somewhere, my body, which had been hardened by the tense situation, slowly relaxed. That woman seemed to have some connection with Hongryeong. The aura of her magic felt just like his.

This meant she came from a prestigious house, yet here she was working as a receptionist. It was astonishing. But on the flip side, given her status, it made sense she could work here. They said it was a rare opportunity for just a few to enter this Arcana General Meeting organization.

Before long, she returned to the counter. This time she wore a smile more natural than the one before.

“I’m sorry for the wait. I checked the content of the course. Should I go ahead and register it for you?”

“Yes, please do.”

“Verified. Eligible students are those from the first and second floors, total seating is 200, and the class duration is five years, with one session every three months, is that right?”

“Yes, that’s all correct.”

The division of first and second floors served as a standard for separating students. I heard there were twelve floors in total. Fortunately, the professor knew a bit about the basics needed to create a plan.

These details were set after discussions with the professor. With the classes approaching, the idea was to work with the easiest students first.

This was something I had firmly pushed for. If a strong wizard showed up, it would be tough for me. The professor wouldn’t care who attended the class, as long as it started, but for me, it was a matter of survival.

“Okay then, I’ll register it accordingly.”

“Will it cost points to register?”

I asked cautiously. I might seem naive, but I just couldn’t help but worry. She smiled gently and shook her head.

“No, points are only used for registration. You can’t gain points from attending the professor’s class.”

“Thank you for clarifying.”

“Is there anything else you would like to know?”

“No, I’m good.”

I said shaking my head. I needed to leave quickly. Her sharp gaze was filled with curiosity directed at me.

“Yes, this was Arcana General Meeting, Department 5, Customer Service, with intern Hwa-ryeong. Thank you for your visit.”

I cautiously stood up. She kept staring at me with that smile. I bowed my head in thanks and hastily exited.

That gaze… it stuck with me. Peeking back, I saw her still watching me, even with someone else sitting in front of her. I dashed out of the building.

I let out a hefty sigh. I realized how odd it was for someone submitting a professor’s course plan to be on the lowest floor. But it couldn’t be helped. I needed to pay points if I wanted to climb from this floor. And I didn’t have any points to spare.

In the end, it all came back to points.

How am I supposed to earn a single point? The registration period was two weeks away, and I needed to gather 5000 points within that time frame. I recalled the wizards I’d heard chatting at the tavern. They had said they saved points over two years.

I couldn’t do it like them. Still, with hope, I headed towards the commission center. It was also located in one of the central buildings. This commission center was pretty much the heart of the city. Many people filtered in and out.

The vast space was filled with papers. The walls, floors, and ceiling were packed with papers detailing various commissions. Whenever someone took a paper, that spot was quickly filled with a new commission.

Carefully hovering above, I inspected the commissions. Nothing seemed worth taking. They were all tough jobs with pitiful rewards. Well, it made sense. There wouldn’t be any decent commissions making it down to this lowest floor.

Folks living in this lower section took up commissions like this, heading outside to hunt and gather to earn points. They all gathered points to register for classes.

I realized after seeing all those commissions. Simply working diligently wouldn’t get me the points I needed. I needed cash urgently.

In a desperate search, I rummaged through my spatial pouch. All that was left were a few dolls. These were items I had crafted during my free time.

Should I sell these?

I let out a heavy breath. Would I even get 10 points for these? It was absurd. Even getting rid of the turtle hanging from my chest wouldn’t yield enough to make 5000 points.

I left the commission center and started wandering around the lower levels. I needed to walk this off, feeling suffocated.

What could I do to earn points? What could I possibly sell?

There was nothing.

I had nothing in my pockets and no way to earn points.

Damn it, was I really going to have to go back to the tower? If the professor found out I wasn’t able to register for the class, she’d probably be ready to crush me.

But how on earth could I register for that expensive class?

Damn it, if only I could sell Professor Ilian’s class.

I hesitated. I thought it over again.

Class… maybe I could sell it?

I recalled Professor Heisen’s class from earlier. The capacity was three hundred, but eight hundred had signed up. Surely, many more would come. Everyone would be waiting anxiously just to grab that one spot.

That thought continued. The classes we planned would definitely attract more people than that. A treasure hunt? Who could refuse such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? After all, I was certain Professor Ilian wouldn’t care who attended his classes.

So, what if I reserved a few spots for myself?

Lately, I felt a growing habit of carving out paths in a pinch. A reluctant smile crept onto my face. This wasn’t typically my style.

I preferred to move decisively with a well-thought-out plan. Acting on impulse like this might help in the moment, but it often came back to haunt me later on.

But that was how it had to be. Ever since coming to the university, every moment turned into a series of trials. Once things settled down, I hoped I could plan more effectively. Right now, I felt like a leaf blowing in the wind.

In the heart of this huge stalactite city stood a gigantic building. It stretched deep into the abyss below, reaching depths that seemed endless.

“Arcana General Meeting,” the name of the organization that ruled this city hung above me.

I walked towards it. From what I’d gathered, it was said you could buy or sell anything here. So surely, they’d handle what I wanted to sell.

As I waited in line to get in, I calmly assessed the situation. Could I sell it? If so, how many spots would I need to sell? While I was pondering this, the line quickly shortened.

Slowly, I stepped inside. Upon entering, I saw two paths – one for buying, the other for selling. I took the selling path. In that instant, the space changed, and everyone vanished.

A small desk appeared, and a person was sitting across from it. I stumbled backward in surprise. But the door I entered had closed tight behind me.

The person across from me smiled. There was no escaping this. I cautiously sat in the chair and faced them.

I slowly scrutinized the person’s face. A fixed smile, sharp eyes, and an overwhelming interest in me. It was the same Hwa-ryeong I had seen earlier.

“Well, well, if it isn’t you again.”

She said while pouring me a cup of tea. In a daze, I took it and sipped from it.

“After you left the Integrated Registration Office, I relocated here. Figured you might come by looking for points.”

A bitter smile formed on my lips. Wow, I was really stuck. It seemed my actions were all too evident to her. That’s the downside to acting on impulse. It could easily be anticipated.

“I came to sell class spots.”

I said that directly. Her smile grew brighter. I thought again about how that smile didn’t suit her at all.

“Please tell me the price first.”

“Sure. At Arcana General Meeting, we always base our transactions on trust, so please leave it to us and let us do the calculations.”

She then pulled out a piece of paper and began writing various things down on it.

“Selling class spots happens often. Professors do it, as do students beneath them. So, a price for that is already established.”

As she spoke, she noted down 5000 points. Does that mean that’s the price for one spot?

Then, she crossed out 3000 points. That left 2000 points.

“However, given the content of the course, it stands to reason there will be many applicants. So, we should raise the price a bit.”

She added back 1000 points. Now it was 3000 points. I gasped. 3000 points per spot. What an outrageous sum. Selling just two spots would fund my classes!

“This is Professor Ilian’s first course, so it’s set at a base price. If this class gets a good review, next time, you might be able to sell the spots for even higher.”

Even more than that? But that was a matter for another day. Right now, I needed to decide how many spots to sell.

Cautiously, I scrutinized the woman sitting across. She had sharp eyes. I needed to be careful. Trying to sell too many spots could expose my involvement with the class. I had already shared too much info and made it painfully obvious I would come here.

I had no idea what kind of trouble that could land me in.

“I will sell two spots.”

I stated. 6000 points – given I was planning for 200 students in the class, selling two would barely raise any eyebrows. She grinned and nodded.

“The points will be credited immediately. Once we find buyers, we’ll send their information to Ebron.”

As she spoke, she handed over a ring. I awkwardly placed my ring next to hers. As her magic flowed, something transferred to my ring. Hesitantly, I confirmed the points had jumped to 6025.

Before I could react, I gulped at the chilling fact. How did she know my name?

I searched my memory, but I couldn’t recall revealing my name. It surely wasn’t on the course plan. For a moment, her smile felt terrifying.

She stood up without saying a word and extended her hand. I stumbled to my feet. Cautiously, I took her hand, and she gave it a light shake.

“This was Arcana General Meeting, Department 5, Customer Service, intern Hwa-ryeong. Thank you for the transaction.”

I nodded slowly. Then, I turned to leave the room, my entire attention directed toward the woman behind me.

“If there’s another chance for a transaction like this, please seek me out. Just submit this.”

Her voice reached me as I grabbed the doorknob. With her words, something dropped onto my palm – a small medal.

“Absolutely, understood.”

I replied awkwardly and dashed out of the trading center. Once I stepped into the alley, I collapsed. Cold sweat poured down me. Yet I managed to collect myself. Was this something I had to deal with often? It was becoming second nature.

All I had to manage now were tasks I could actually handle.

I returned to the [Integrated Registration Office] sign. I worried she might be there again.

But thankfully, Hwa-ryeong wasn’t around. I breathed a sigh of relief as I completed my registration. My points stood at 1000.

Somehow, I had applied. Creating a seat for the class would work out one way or another.

I checked the time.

It felt like I’d spent two days suffering, yet not even six hours had passed since arriving in the city. How could only this little time have gone by?

In that short period, I was reminded how dangerous this place could be and just how weak I truly was. I was tired of these realizations. Yet, what could I do? Being weak was the real sin.

The points I just earned hadn’t come from me either. I merely used tricks here and there. Was the professor sending me here to realize how the university worked? The simplistic facade might have concealed such keen insight, astonishing indeed. Of course, it was probably just my delusion.

Anyway, I had just sold class spots. There was truly no turning back now. I had to somehow proceed with the classes.

At least, now that I had some points, maybe I should just enjoy another beer.

After all, to get my mind working, a full stomach comes first. Justifying my trip back to the tavern.

 

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