Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

Chapter 669

The poachers were startled when electrical discharge occurred in the air and lightning bared its teeth.

The poachers were currently disguised as injured people.

Injured people who had been attacked by monsters while wandering the mountains!

It was a disguise that always worked well in such dangerous places. Especially if the targets were young, inexperienced mages.

But...

Why did the magic seem to be targeting them?

CRACK!

As lightning struck down, a poacher wrapped in bandages screamed and threw himself aside.

The lightning just now had been accurately aimed at the poacher. If he hadn't dodged, it would have hit him directly.

'Cr-crazy bastard!'

"M-mage sir! Why are you doing thi- Argh!"

The lightning didn't end with one strike.

As if the mages had prepared thoroughly, lightning rained down like a shower.

The poachers, who had wrapped themselves in blood-stained bandages as if severely injured, felt they might really die if they stayed still any longer.

"Ugh!"

"Run away!"

"Crazy mage bastard...!"

The poachers fled hurriedly into the darkness. Yi-Han watched their figures expressionlessly.

'...They must be poachers, right?'

Seeing how their movements suddenly became quick, they did seem like poachers.

It would have been difficult for injured people to react like that.

Of course, they might have unleashed their potential feeling a threat to their lives, but...

'Hmm. They must be poachers.'

Although Yi-Han had only attended Einroguard for just over a year, he had met too many strange outsiders during that time.

Evil god worshippers, anti-magic extremists, a dragon forcibly playing emperor, no, not a dragon...

Anyway, after dealing with worn-out cunning demons and magic criminals, Yi-Han had realized one thing.

If something seems strange, attack first!

If Yi-Han, who lacked both experience and combat power compared to his opponents, lost the initiative, there really was no answer.

It was right to shoot first if something seemed suspicious, and deal with the consequences later.

Hadn't they just said that so many poachers had entered the Grief Mountains?

The other party might really be hunters, but the possibility of them being poachers was higher.

Yi-Han resolved to think that way.

"What happened?!"

His friends came running out in surprise.

They had burst out after hearing magic and shouts while resting in the tent.

"Poachers were approaching, so I checked them with magic. They all ran away, so there's nothing to worry about."

"As expected of Yi-Han!"

Gainando was delighted, but Nillia was puzzled.

Most poachers were persistent and tenacious, and would stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

To approach so clumsily?

"They just approached?"

"Yeah."

Yi-Han answered shamelessly.

Nillia pondered with a serious face, not knowing at all which parts Yi-Han had omitted.

"We stopped them fortunately, but more poachers might come."

"After firing magic like that??"

Gainando pointed at the ground outside the campsite. The soil had been scorched black due to Yi-Han's magic.

"Poachers are all fearless. And even more so until they experience it themselves. Everyone get up! It's better to stay awake."

The students climbed up to their positions and checked around the campsite. Just then, they could see the adventurer Seoriegor returning in the distance.

"Students, are you all alright?"

"A group of poachers approached."

"There are certainly many poachers."

Seoriegor warned the students not to let their guard down, having found several traces of poachers in the area.

Then, hearing about the poachers who had approached in his absence, he was dumbfounded.

"They must be inexperienced novices. In fact, those with even a little experience rarely walk straight up to a campsite made by mages."

"Could it be because we're still in lower years and they looked down on us?"

"If so, they're even more inexperienced. To underestimate Einroguard students for being in lower years."

"Hehe. Maybe so."

***

Unaware that his group was being treated as inexperienced rookie poachers, Julban was scolding his returned subordinates.

"Hey, you worm-brained idiots! How could you fail to deceive kids younger than quivers and get caught!"

"Those bastards fired magic without even listening!"

"Nonsense! Would imperial mages attack injured people without listening? Your acting must have been terrible. So, what did you do when the magic came flying? You ran away, seeing as you're fine!"

"B-boss, if we just took the magic..."

"You should have taken it, you morons! If you had taken it, they would have believed you. They knew because you dodged it!"

At Julban's words, his subordinates finally realized and made frustrated expressions.

To think they would lose a battle of nerves with a much younger mage.

"Follow me. I'll have to do it myself rather than entrust it to you lot."

"B-boss. We admit we made a mistake. But it could be dangerous if we go now. They'll be on guard..."

At his subordinates' words, Julban shook his head lamenting.

How was it that none of them knew how to use their heads?

"If you make excuses like that, there's nothing you can do. Stupid bastards. Follow me! I'll show you myself."

Julban mobilized a large number of subordinates who hadn't participated earlier.

Then he actually injured some of them.

"Argh!"

"Ugh!"

"Endure it. We need to show the wounds. If magic comes flying, take it! If anyone dodges, I'll kill them myself."

Julban was certainly on a different level even when using the same strategy. His subordinates felt it too and regained their morale.

After all, the reason for following a violent and fierce boss was because that boss had ability.

At Julban's instructions, his subordinates followed behind their boss with swelling chests, thinking they would get a share this time too.

"Sa-save us!"

"Save us! A Wailing Boar attacked us!"

They walked slowly towards the campsite's main gate holding torches.

Unlike before, they were completely defenseless. If attacks poured out from the campsite, more than half would be annihilated instantly.

As quite a large number approached dripping blood without any defense, even Seoriegor who was watching the main gate was flustered.

'Are they really injured?'

Poachers didn't act like this.

Even if they used deception, they would send fewer people to test the waters, and even when approaching, they should have shown signs of being ready to flee at any moment in case of an emergency.

But those approaching now were not only large in number, but showed no signs of fleeing at all, and even had actual injuries.

Even the experienced Seoriegor couldn't help but be confused.

And this was exactly what Julban was aiming for.

'The more experienced and knowledgeable, the more confused they'll be.'

Julban gave a signal with his eyes. The poachers took another step closer.

"Everyone stop!"

"P-please save us. Our comrade's injuries are deep..."

At that moment, Yi-Han, who had been on guard on the opposite side, belatedly ran up next to Seoriegor.

Seoriegor was about to speak to Yi-Han.

"We need to check if those people are really injured or..."

"Flash forth!"

"!!!!"

Both Seoriegor and Julban were surprised.

To cast magic without asking or listening first.

Julban was certain by instinct.

That this mage bastard was the one who had tricked his subordinates with bluster earlier!

'You think you can get me?'

Julban tried to glare at the incoming lightning with a tired and exhausted face, blinking his eyes.

If he endured until the end, the opposing mage would surely break the magic...

CRACK!

"!!!"

"Ju-Julban!!!"

Screams erupted among the poachers as their boss took a direct hit from the lightning.

Unless in a fully equipped state normally, taking a lightning spell head-on in such a defenseless state would leave one unable to move for a while.

Sure enough, Julban's legs gave out and he staggered. His eyes were filled with disbelief and shock.

"This can't be..."

"Flash!"

The mage mercilessly fired another lightning spell, knocking Julban down.

When their boss fell, the poachers were slow to react, not knowing how to move.

"They're poachers! Attack!"

At Yi-Han's shout, his friends climbed up to their positions and started casting magic. Various attack spells and curses flew like a storm.

Yonaire and Siana threw shock potions to the front. The poachers hit directly by the shockwave staggered, their sense of balance paralyzed.

Gainando and Ratford followed up with curses and illusion magic on the poachers. With their muscles stiffening and sudden rising fear, the poachers collapsed even more.

Nillia aimed her arrow, trying to pierce the one fleeing the farthest. At that moment, Dolgyu asked,

"Yi-Han! How did you know those guys were poachers?"

'Yeah?'

Nillia, who was about to shoot her arrow, paused.

Come to think of it, it was strange. Nillia had also been unsure whether those people were poachers or not.

"I got it!"

Seoriegor exclaimed instead of Yi-Han.

"The wound marks! You recognized them by the wound marks! That's really amazing!"

"What do you mean by wound marks?"

"They said they were attacked by a Wailing Boar, right? When attacked by that huge boar, wounds don't look like that! Those are wounds forcibly made with knives!"

At Seoriegor's words, Dolgyu and Nillia finally realized their friend's insight.

To notice the wounds were strange in that short moment and launch a counterattack.

Seemingly quite impressed by what had just happened, Seoriegor bowed his head.

"Thank you, Wardanaz. I should be looking after the students, but I feel ashamed. To think those poacher bastards would reversely use the fixed ideas that adventurers usually have!"

"It was just luck."

Yi-Han was about to say he just attacked all suspicious people approaching, wounds or not, but held back.

'I should tell them when Mr. Seoriegor isn't around.'

He didn't want to look like a strange person in front of Seoriegor yet.

***

"Handling poachers is troublesome even after capturing them."

Looking at the bound poachers, Seoriegor made a troubled expression.

Unlike the poachers at the entrance to the mountain range earlier, those wandering around this area weren't the type to meekly return just because their equipment was confiscated.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Can't we just imprison them?"

"We don't know what they might do. We need to assign people to watch them, but in our position of having to find the unicorn..."

"He-hey, if you just let us go, we promise never to set foot in the mountains again."

The poachers tried to speak while watching for reactions, but Seoriegor ignored them.

"Then shall we lock them in the stable?"

"Locking them in the stable won't... Ah."

Seoriegor paused.

He belatedly remembered what was in this campsite now.

"...Is it okay? If that friend's wildness explodes and it pounces..."

"Even if Niffirg has a strong appetite, it's not the type to secretly eat what it's told not to eat. Please trust me."

"Hmm. Then I'll leave it to you."

The poachers' faces brightened at the conversation going on in front of them.

They thought they might be able to escape if they did well.

Given that there were less than ten mages, they might be able to quietly undo their bindings and escape outside while in the stable...

"Go in this way."

"Th-thank you."

"Hmm. Yeah. Don't do anything unnecessary."

Yi-Han opened the stable door and pushed the poachers in.

The poachers hurriedly entered but then paused.

They felt some hot breath.

Grrrr.

Niffirg made a very displeased sound as a bunch of riffraff suddenly entered the stable that had been generously built for it.

Its beak clacked and its claws scratched the stable floor.

"..."

"...!!!"

Terrible screams erupted from the poachers inside the stable.

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