Yi-Han's face hardened.
He immediately guessed the identity of the thief.
‘Anti-magic extremist!’
Just like the ones who had attacked Professor Garcia before, they had infiltrated the academy during the spring festival.
"Be careful, Yonaire! It’s the anti-magic extremist!"
"Uh... what?"
Yonaire, equally tense, paused upon hearing Yi-Han's words.
The thought of the thief in front of them being an anti-magic extremist was odd.
Usually, anti-magic extremists were loud and caused a scene.
They had their own beliefs and pride, so they wouldn't sneak in at night like common thieves.
‘A hired thief?’
"Move aside, kids! If you don't want to get hurt!"
Realizing Yi-Han and Yonaire were freshmen, the thief drew his short sword, threatening them fiercely.
But before he could fully draw his sword, Yi-Han's spell was complete.
"Flash forth!"
With his fierce cry, lightning struck.
The speed was faster than the thief had anticipated.
"Ah... ugh!"
In fact, not all intruders in the magic academy were anti-magic extremists.
Anti-magic extremists were among the hardest intruders to infiltrate the academy.
They would cause significant trouble, so the academy managed security strictly.
The most common type of intruders were surprisingly mercenaries or adventurers.
The magic academy in the empire was not just a place of education but also a gathering place for some of the empire's finest mages, researching magic.
Even the most trivial or failed research could multiply in value if taken outside.
Many outside mages were willing to pay a fortune for anything researched in the academy.
Today's thief was exactly one of those.
Thanks to the spring festival, Einrogard is accepting outsiders.
-Really?-
-Yes. Let's get in, grab something valuable, and get out.-
-But... I'm scared of getting involved with high-level mages…-
-Of course, I know there are monstrous mages out there. But they're few. Would they bother for a small theft among the guests? There are so many people. Just don't get caught.-
-Hmm! That makes sense…-
-You're unmatched in breaking into magic-warded buildings. Remember that mercenary mage? You bypassed his magic too.-
-True.-
With experience and greed, the thief disguised himself and entered Einrogard.
Entering the magic academy during the festival wasn't too difficult with the right pretext.
But...
-Wasn’t this the main building??-
-There must be a main building, right?-
The thieves had underestimated the magic academy.
The 1st and 2nd Circle mercenary mages they usually encountered and the mages in the academy were on completely different levels.
Unprepared, the thieves couldn't find their way due to the academy's defensive and illusion magic.
Wandering aimlessly, they finally found a building.
-Found it!-
-It's just a stable…-
-It's the magic academy's stable! There must be rare creatures here!-
-Oh, right!-
Having discovered the secluded stable, the thieves hurriedly entered, eager for their find.
However, inside the stable, there were only ordinary horses.
-Damn it! There's nothing but horses!-"
-Should we take a horse at least?-
-What nonsense are you spouting... Did you think we came here to steal horses? And how would we even take them out? It's not easy unless they're small!-
There was indeed a griffin in front of them, but unfortunately, the thieves failed to notice it.
Sadly, the thieves' misfortune didn't end there.
As they exited the stable, they ran into freshmen.
"..."
"...That’s not... Ratford! Yonaire! It’s a thief!"
The thief was taken aback by the shouting student but quickly regained his composure.
The area was deserted, and the opponents looked like freshmen. He thought he could easily overpower them and escape.
"Be careful, Yonaire! He’s an anti-magic extremist!"
"What?!"
The thief was baffled by the absurd misunderstanding.
Anti-magic extremists? That was ridiculous.
They had only come in to take something valuable...
"Damn it, this isn't the time!"
The thief realized he couldn't waste time. Others might hear and come.
"Move aside, kids! If you don't want to get hurt!"
The thief attempted to draw his sharply honed short sword.
He had no intention of actually harming the students.
Stealing a few items from the magic academy and hurting students were on different levels.
He didn't want to be hunted for life by the monsters of the magic academy just for trying to make some money.
...But the thief didn't know.
The freshmen in front of him were also one of the formidable 'monsters' of the magic academy.
"Flash forth!"
With the flash of lightning, excruciating pain seared the thief's brain.
"Ugh...?!"
Beyond the pain, the thief was baffled by the situation.
Having dealt with mages outside, he knew it took time for them to chant spells and cast magic.
Magic was a surprisingly tricky technique to use in combat.
Maintaining focus without faltering while chanting long spells and waving a staff was crucial.
It was rare for anyone to do so amidst the roaring shouts and flying weapons of a battlefield.
Especially when the opponent was a freshman.
Even mercenary mages took time to chant spells without making mistakes, so how could a magic academy freshman, barely trained in magic, cast so quickly...?
"Aaargh!"
"Flash forth, Flash forth, Flash forth!"
‘Stop it!!’
The thief could only scream internally as he convulsed on the ground.
He couldn't speak because of the electrocution. Had he not worn magic-resistant armor, he would have passed out already.
In his agony, the thief realized he had underestimated the magic academy.
‘This is no joke...!’
He didn't know what they were taught, but the freshmen of the magic academy were on a different level.
The thief vowed that if he survived, he would avoid magic academy graduates even at the mere sight of their shadow.
‘Help me... you bastard…’
The thief thought of his accomplice still inside the stable.
His partner, frozen by the one-sided violence unfolding outside, dared not come out.
The suffering thief understood the hesitation, but being fried by lightning, he couldn't help but curse.
‘Help... me...! If I'm subdued... you're next...!’
Meanwhile, Yi-Han continued to unleash lightning while conjuring water orbs.
Although Yi-Han had gained the upper hand, he never let his guard down.
The thief could have been an anti-magic extremist, employing deceit.
"Yonaire, step back."
"Uh... huh? But he seems subdued?"
Although Yonaire was no expert in combat, she could tell that their opponent was foaming at the mouth.
"No. It could be a trick of the anti-magic extremists."
"Really?"
Yonaire retreated as Yi-Han had instructed.
It seemed the thief was incapacitated, but Yi-Han was not one to be wrong about such matters...
Swoosh!
A water orb hit the fallen thief. Fortunately, the thief lost consciousness.
"It seems he's down."
'Actually, he seemed down earlier.'
Yi-Han remained vigilant, even with the opponent down.
He cast various spells and conjured more water orbs.
Anti-magic extremists usually didn't operate alone. It wouldn't be strange if the thief's accomplice was nearby.
"Light!"
Yi-Han sent a giant sphere of light into the sky.
Such a bright orb would surely attract other professors.
"The professors will be here soon. We just need to hold on until then."
"Okay..."
Yonaire glanced at the fallen thief.
It was unclear who needed to hold out until the professors arrived, considering the thief's condition...
Creak-
"!"
Yi-Han turned his head. The stable door slowly opened with a creaking sound.
He aimed his staff, ready to unleash his prepared spells the moment the enemy appeared.
"Please... spare me!"
But it was a tear-stained, sniveling thief who emerged.
Having witnessed his accomplice being pummeled by magic, the thief was utterly terrified. He raised his arms and pleaded desperately.
"I'm not an anti-magic extremist! I swear, I'm not!! Please, just spare my life..."
"Flash forth!"
"Aaagh!"
Yi-Han swung his staff mercilessly. The thief struck by lightning fell forward.
Yi-Han muttered to himself.
"Hmm... Maybe they really aren't anti-magic extremists."
"..."
'I’m really glad we’re friends from the same tower.'
The first to arrive was the skull principal.
One advantage of being a lich was not needing sleep. Alarmed by the commotion, the excited skull principal rushed over, thinking it might be an escape attempt.
“They’re just thieves…”
The skull principal expressed disappointment upon arrival.
Yi-Han asked in surprise.
"Aren't they anti-magic extremists?"
“You thought they were? They can't enter that easily. And they aren't this weak.”
The skull principal scrutinized the thieves.
Despite calling them weak, the thieves' equipment was quite sophisticated, clearly prepared for combating mages.
They must have had experience breaking into other mages' workshops or lairs.
But their experience and arrogance had led to their downfall this time...
Even the skull principal could see that Yi-Han had harshly subdued the thieves. He probably kept attacking, thinking they were disguised anti-magic extremists.
'They got beaten more because of the anti-magic extremists, huh.'
"So they just came to steal?"
“Such thieves are more common. With how many valuable things are in this academy, there’s no way there wouldn’t be thieves trying to steal.”
"But if that’s the case, is it okay to hold such a festival like this?"
To Yi-Han's question, the skull principal snorted.
“Being afraid of thieves and thus not holding a festival would be a blow to my pride as a mage.”
"Indeed..."
It made sense.
It would be laughable if the empire's finest magic academy curtailed its actions due to fear of mere thieves.
“And sometimes, using the excuse of a break-in could also mean more funding…”
"..."
"..."
Yi-Han and Yonaire pretended not to hear.
They hadn't expected to learn about the magic academy's budgeting tactics in such a manner...
“Anyway, well done. You’re able to catch thieves like this. I'll take care of them.”
"Speaking of which, can we receive an outing pass as a reward?"
“For catching such worthless thieves, not even anti-magic extremists? Don't you have a conscience, being neither a lich nor anything of the sort?”
"..."
“Catch someone more valuable, and I'll consider it.”
"But to catch thieves and receive no reward at all seems unfair."
Yonaire argued, finding it unbelievable.
Unlike Yi-Han, Yonaire still held a little faith and expectation in the skull principal.
“That's a fair point. Alright! I'll think of something appropriate.”
The skull principal's agreeable response made Yi-Han feel uneasily.
Why did it feel so unsettling to receive a deserved reward?
“Right. Since not only these thieves could have entered, I should have the students stand guard.”
The skull principal seemed to have a bright idea.
Yi-Han was puzzled.
"Don't you have your summoned creatures, Principal?"
“Oh, right. But even the undead need to rest.”
