Surviving as a Mage in a Magic Academy

e:14px ”>Nilia was surprised when a pretty-looking girl with bright red hair approached her.

 

“…Who are you?”

 

“I'm Yonaire Maykin, and he's-”

 

“Yi-han.
Nice to meet you.”

 

From the flow of their conversation, Nilia assumed Yonaire was a noble while Yi-han wasn't.
After all, nobles usually declared their family names when they introduced themselves.

 

'But isn't he from the Blue Dragons?'

 

“Why isn't she saying anything?”

 

“It's because you didn't tell her your family name…”

 

Yonaire scowled at Yi-han, not understanding why he would leave out his family name.

 

“Don't you think it's too much of a hassle to say your family name every time you introduce yourself? While you're at it, why don't you tell them the name of your patriarch and where your territory is as well?”

 

“We do! When we're at parties, that is.”

 

“…”

 

Yi-han felt genuinely repulsed to hear this.

 

Nilia cautiously opened her mouth to speak while staring at the two.

 

“If you wish to bicker, you can talk it out somewhere else.
What business do you two have with me?”

 

“Want to travel together?”

 

“..!”

 

Nilia was stunned by Yi-han's invitation.
She hadn't expected this at all.

 

“What are you scheming?” Nilia asked as she glared at Yi-han suspiciously.

 

It was apparent that she didn't think highly of nobles or their descendants, and this stemmed from her time living in the northern regions.

 

Once in a while, nobles would climb the mountains and visit them, and every time they did, they would frown and ask how someone could possibly live there.

 

Even when the hunters provided them with the best delicacies and the most comfortable bed, they would say the food tasted horrible and the beds felt unbearable.

 

They would complain on and on about the poor treatment, so much so that some scouts joked about how there would be none the wiser even if they pushed the nobles down a cliff.

 

As such, Nilia, who lived with them, also had a bad impression of the students from the Blue Dragons.

 

“We have to explore such a large area, and being alone wouldn't do you any good.
You'll need at least three people if a monster appears.”

 

“Hmph.
There's no need for that.”

 

Nilia harrumphed and proudly refused.
Yi-han wasn't surprised by this response and pressed on.

 

“May I ask why?”

 

“Why should I tell you?”

 

“By knowing why you refused, we'll get a sense of what kind of a person you are.
Hmm, want me to guess your reason?”

 

Yi-han thought hard for a second before opening his mouth.

 

“Is it because you think we'll use you as bait, or that we'll toss you aside when things become dangerous? I hope that's not the case because that'll be an insult to our honor.”

 

“…It's not.”

 

No matter how much she disliked the nobles, she couldn't possibly say “yes” to the two in front of her after being confronted so directly.

 

“Then do you think you alone would suffice?”

 

“That's exactly-”

 

“I hope you aren't so foolish to think so.
After all, even if you are familiar with the mountains, you never know what will happen inside.
And even if you find the herb, you'll have to carefully dig it out.
If someone thinks they can do all that by themselves, they'd have to be an idiot.
You're not that stupid, right? Hmm, I'm running out of ideas…”

 

“…Shut up.
I'll team up with you.
You satisfied now?” Nilia turned around while huffing in anger.

 

Yi-han nodded, satisfied with the result.
Yonaire, on the other hand, stared at him in astonishment.

 

'What in the world do they teach at the Wardanaz Family???'

 

***

 

Nilia's movements were light and swift.
She was at the very front of the group, opening up a path for them, which showed how skilled and experienced she was at navigating the mountains.

 

Yonaire who saw this asked Yi-han a question.

 

“She moves really well, but how did you know?”

 

“She has toned legs and calluses on her hands.
These all point to one truth: she's an experienced hunter and wields a bow.”

 

“!”

 

“…!”

 

It wasn't just Yonaire.
Nilia, who was leading them, also felt a chill when she heard this.

 

To think he'd figure out her origin just from that.
She had been looking down on the two for being nobles, but she felt like the one named Yi-han couldn't be underestimated.
She felt a slight sense of danger from him as if he could see through everything she was hiding…

 

“Just kidding.
I saw the token hanging on her waist.
If she's from there, she'd have to know the mountains like the back of her hands.”

 

“…”

 

Nilia turned around and glared at him.
Yonaire grinned when she saw this.

 

“So you were listening?”

 

“Was not!”

 

“Hey, slow down and match our pace.”

 

“Why would I be matching yours? Just speed up and match mine!”

 

Here, Yi-han joined the conversation.

 

“Because Yonaire's the only one in the group that can tell which herbs are what.
If she couldn't keep up, we'll have to search with just the two of us.”

 

“…”

 

Nilia couldn't think of a counterargument, and her pride kept her from being unreasonable and continuing the argument.

 

“Right.
I just gotta slow down.”

 

“How mature of you.
As expected of a Shadow Patrol…”

 

“Are you mocking me? Is that it?”

 

“I was complimenting you.”

 

Annoyed by Yi-han's constant teasing, Nilia targeted him next.

 

“She knows a lot about herbs, and I'm here to act as the guide.
What can you do? What role do you have here?”

 

'If I say I'm here to leech off, she'll hurl, right?'

 

Yi-han barely stopped himself from being truthful.
There was no point in fueling Nilia's anger even further.

 

“I'm here to chase after beasts or monsters that come near us.”

 

“…”

 

Nilia once again fell silent.
Indeed, it was important to have someone chase away monsters while they were climbing a mountain.
From looks alone, Yi-han seemed like he came from a knight's family as he was tall and his body was well-built.

 

'…Wait.
Don't knights belong to the White Tigers?'

 

“I forgot to ask early on, but what's your family name?”

 

“Wardanaz.
I'm from the Wardanaz Family.”

 

“…”

 

Nilia took a step back as if she was disgusted, not knowing that she had opened up Yi-han's wound once more.