Surviving at the Magic Academy

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“I would like to establish a contract with both of you.”

I let out a sigh without thinking. The heavy atmosphere seemed to weigh down on my body. The surrounding magical energy felt like it was sinking deep into the ground because of that weight.

I cautiously looked across the table. Two figures leaned back in their chairs, watching me with keen eyes. The heaviness in the air radiated from them.

The atmosphere was eerily similar to that of the promotion examination hall. Even the expressions they wore mirrored that vibe. Maira was smiling, while Miryeong had his eyes wide open.

“Unless you’re affiliated with the Tower, I will not distribute products like the Mirror Bug without your permission.”

The words I uttered rose into the air imbued with magical power. They began to seep into the pre-prepared paper.

When was the last time I signed a contract? Around five years ago, I think. It was with Professor Ilian. I never expected I’d find myself using this again.

“Very… good…”

Maira clapped her hands lightly and laughed. She extended her magical energy toward me, attempting to take my paper.

I dodged it just in time and gripped the paper tightly in my hands. Maira gave me a puzzled look. I swallowed hard and spoke up.

“Instead, I would like to reduce the number of Mirror Bugs you’re receiving. I propose starting with ten a month, and from there, we can negotiate.”

“Ten, huh? Well, that certainly takes the pressure off Ebron,”

Miryeong chimed in. He was resting his chin on his hands, staring at me intently, his eyes brimming with curiosity.

The recent dialogue also transformed into magical energy and seeped into the paper. As I cautiously placed the paper on the desk, Miryeong snatched it away with a swift motion. After examining it, he broke into a wide grin.

“Alright, there are a few things I don’t entirely agree with, but this is good enough.”

He passed the paper to Maira, who slowly nodded after giving it a look. They infused magical energy into it, and the paper tore, intertwining with our wrists.

I touched my wrist, where the letters started to emerge. I could distinctly feel the roots binding me as the contract engraved itself. This contract was notably lengthy due to the numerous conditions set within.

I smirked ruefully. After all the contemplation I went through to reach this point, it seemed to conclude more easily than I anticipated.

My chest, which had felt so heavy, began to lighten. As a result, the tension in my body also eased. Miryeong chuckled at my reaction.

“You managed to catch on, huh? I thought it would be difficult for you.”

He had a point. The whole process had flowed quite naturally, or at least it felt that way. If I had been entirely consumed by scores, I might have lost sight of what was happening.

The moment I began to suspect was triggered by the Specter Tree that came up for auction. If I hadn’t sensed something ominous about it, I wouldn’t have entertained doubts about the scores, nor would I have had the opportunity to seize this chance.

And it was a product that Maira had put forth. She glanced at me and gave a cheeky smile. For whatever reason, it was thanks to her that I was alive. I slightly nodded in her direction.

“I guess I won this round…”

“Looks like so. Then as promised, we’ll split the Mirror Bugs into a seven to three ratio.”

The Mirror Bug. That critter was the problem. During the promotion exam, they offered a hundred Mirror Bugs for a large number of points.

Five hundred points a month—it was a colossal mound of points snowballing higher and higher. Back then, I thought that was the finish line.

I assumed that they were buying the future that was supposed to be mine, offering me points in exchange. That’s all my mind could think.

But it wasn’t like that.

They had zero interest in spreading communication throughout the university. This led me to build quite a number of theories. At the end of it all, I could concoct one plausible narrative.

Did they really need a massive communication network overseeing the entire university?

Thinking back, Arcana General Meeting governed an area of the university centered around the Stalactite City. Other organizations likely operated similarly.

Everything within their domain flowed under their control. Innovations like communication could be seen as a nuisance to them. That thought rooted itself in my mind.

From that perspective, it makes sense that they sought me out for the potential of my Mirror Bugs. It suggested the capability to upend their meticulously built system.

This had already transpired within the Tower. Jun had wanted to alter the structure of the Tower using the bulletin board. He was halfway successful, rapidly progressing after spending seven years on the first floor.

Information on that board began losing value, and transactions turned more direct. In a structure where everyone supported each other, they rapidly built their power and knowledge higher than before.

Should those Mirror Bugs spread throughout the university, more individuals would surely start dreaming of possibilities akin to what Jun envisioned.

Did they truly intend to drum up such chaos over just a few points? Points that were always easily obtained tools for them?

It was a vague notion, but the most viable answer I could formulate.

And so they came to me. Of course, I had nearly no way of evading this. Their proposal was something I simply could not refuse.

As a consequence, the dissatisfaction I felt melted away when I considered the points I’d be receiving. I believed they would spread the Mirror Bugs throughout the university.

Three hundred million points in a hundred years. How much would that be in two hundred years?

Yeah, that was the first trap.

“It’s definitely easiest dealing with perceptive people like you. Everything’s so neatly tied up. How lovely.”

Miryeong remarked, examining his wrist. The contract he had received through magic unfurled clearly. As Miryeong gently stroked it, he summoned more magical energy.

A card floated to the surface on that energy. It approached me, and I observed it closely. The golden card gleamed with the inscription of Miryeong’s name.

“That’s a reward for the contract. We always transact based on trust. With that, pick something nice at the auction.”

“Thank you.”

I managed to muster the brightest smile I could. After all, a contract had been established. There was absolutely no reason to decline such a gift. I carefully tucked the card into my pocket.

“Oh, just to clarify, this is a gift so don’t get the wrong idea. We no longer need to burden Ebron.”

Miryeong responded to my smile. Yeah, that was the second trap. They anticipated every single thought of mine and led me right to the auction, telling me to gather supplies I needed for my doll.

If it hadn’t been for the ominous vibe I felt during the auction, I would have already accrued massive debt. Had that been the case, I wouldn’t have had the chance to enter into this contract at all.

Even just adjusting existing deals would have seen me floundering in a swamp of debt. In other words, I would have been forced to accept whatever demand they made.

Fortunately, I managed to sidestep that. But what does avoiding it achieve?

As I hadn’t taken on debt, they would continue with their transactions. Points would keep piling up.

Yet with the provision of Mirror Bugs, my growth stagnated. Accumulating points like that would never lead me to a higher realm. I’d only recently realized that my obsession with those massive points had clouded my vision.

No matter how much I attempted to elevate my standing using items like elixirs, it wasn’t something I could easily stack atop a flimsy foundation. It would crumble easily, and climbing would become even tougher.

Should I reach the end of my lifespan, the Shadow Tree would likewise vanish. That, in some sense, would benefit them as well.

While they themselves would feel discomfort from no longer being able to utilize communication, they would eventually achieve their goals.

No matter how I managed to dodge the second trap, the first one had already gripped me tightly.

I needed to break free from that trap. To do so, I had to instill in them my absolute trust. This contract was for that purpose.

“Well then… I’ll take my leave…”

Maira stood up from her seat, disappearing into the shadows without a word. I carefully rose to see her off.

“Wow, that turned out well. If I’d stayed here longer, I feel like Professor Ilian would have had something to say. I’m glad that Ebron is a bit clever.”

Miryeong said with a chuckle, preparing to leave while straightening his clothes. Professor Ilian, I smirked ruefully.

“I’ll be going as well. Now that the contract’s complete, enjoy the auctions comfortably.”

He waved goodbye as he stood up. Then, with a faint gust, he vanished from sight. The flow of that magic was imperceptible.

I collapsed back onto the table. Cold sweat soaked my shirt. I still felt dazed. Yet somehow, I got through it.

In truth, the traps they set for me weren’t as deadly as I thought.

The first had a reasonable price tag. An immense amount of points that I couldn’t gather at my level. The second, they left to my own choice. Just like this, as long as I didn’t amass any debt, that was all there was to it.

I exhaled deeply. The fact that I had ended up proceeding with this contract could very well have been one of the paths they had envisioned myself on. That thought surfaced strongly in my mind.

Contracts are not the result of coercion. They require a profound agreement between both parties.

Hence, they have likely been so gently pushing me, allowing me to slowly catch on, forcing me to voice the contract out of all the chains surrounding me.

True to their intentions, I ended up crafting my own constraints. Now, the Mirror Bugs could only be used by students from the Tower. Excluding those affiliated with their organization.

Yeah, what kind of place is this? I sighed again as I stood up. The card tucked in my pocket felt unbearably heavy.

“Sixty points.”

Professor Ilian said.

I lay on the floor, continuing to hear her words. The magical energy she released pressed down upon my body. It all unfolded as soon as I returned to the Tower after the auction.

“Sixty points out of a hundred. You hurriedly rushed into a shabby trap and hastily signed the contract. Yet, you didn’t gain much from it. All you procured was a pile of junk worth just a few hundred million points.”

Junk, huh? I smirked. I had rifled through the auction items multiple times to select what seemed prettiest, only for that to be labeled as junk in her eyes?

“Well, you did manage to return somewhat intact, so let’s call it a pass.”

“Pass… you say?”

This was bewildering. When I looked up, I saw that she wore a surprisingly satisfied smile.

“I’ve been pondering a bit lately. Just how much should I regard you? I brought you on as a servant, but you’re evidently more capable than expected. I’d hate to waste your talents after just a few hundred years.”

She lightly settled herself down on the floor. I caught a glimpse of her sparkling eyes.

“But this incident just happened to unfold. So I thought I’d see how far you could go. And you handled it far more neatly than I thought.”

“Thanks to you, Professor.”

I said with a wry grin. What would have happened without her? There’s no way all this would have gone so smoothly without her guidance.

The reason I could even consider signing the contract here was that Professor Ilian was standing behind me. Her very existence layered the boundaries for the pressure they could apply.

“Of course.”

She chuckled softly, then pulled a key from her possession, tossing it in front of me. I stared at the golden key that glimmered and radiated an eerie magic.

“From now on, you’ll be the warehouse keeper. You’ll also manage the treasure vault from now on.”

I blinked in surprise.

A treasure vault? Does that refer to the sixth through ninth floors? The place I had entered once and fainted afterward, never to set foot in again.

The eyes I had long forgotten resurfaced in my mind. Those manic orbs that had voraciously pierced into me. Recalling that, the earlier situation felt trivial.

It meant I’d have to face that creature once more. I looked at her with trembling eyes. Noticing my gaze, she wore a mischievous smile.

“But instead, you’ll head in and pick something. Something you can handle. This is to prevent you from getting beaten again like last time.”

They’re giving me treasure? I was left dumbfounded by the unexpected news.

Cautiously, I reached out and grabbed the key. A heavy magical current flowed into my palm.

It directly connected with my wood, creating a sort of circulation. Within that cycle, it began to meld into my being.

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