Chapter 7.1

The girl’s confident demeanor was as lively as her eyes. She was acting as if she was stating a fact as obvious as “one plus one equals two!”

But I couldn’t believe it so easily. Light magic was a legendary magic that no one had been able to use since Haiola. How could I, a beginner who knew nothing about magic, use it? She must have been mistaken.

Looking closer, the girl’s complexion didn’t seem so good. Judgment gets cloudy when you’re tired.

“Lady Nia, are you sure? Did you just glance at it because you were annoyed?”

“She’s right. You were singing about how you didn’t want to come out today. Did you make a mistake? It’s also strange for it to appear now after not appearing for almost 300 years.”

The other two examiners seemed to be thinking the same thing as I was and raised their objections.

But wait, did they just call her Nia? Could this person be…?

“That’s why I checked it twice. I really didn’t want to do anything today… Is this what you call destiny…?”

“Wow, our Headmistress knows how to say things like that? You must be in a good mood? Then I’ll be the one to take this student.”

“Don’t joke around, Vanessa… I’ll dock your pay…”

Nia muttered gloomily. The ponytail woman, called Vanessa, burst into laughter. It seemed this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened.

Nia, with a vague expression of disappointment and boredom, straightened her crumpled robe and stood straight in front of me.

My memory was right after all.

Nia Voltaire. She was the most famous and powerful mage in existence and also the Headmistress of Haiola Academy. She had the appearance of a late-teen girl, which was a stark contrast to her incredible age of 103.

A mage’s appearance is fixed at the time they awaken their latent mana, which meant she had the genius talent to awaken her mana in her teens. In the original story, she played a significant role in defeating Kieryk after he became a demon.

I had no idea I’d meet Nia here. Who would have thought that a legendary mage and a Headmistress would be an entrance exam examiner?

Regardless, the situation, which had started to flow in one direction, was now spiraling out of control.

“Lady Eloered, you’ve passed. From today onwards, you—no, let’s say… Lady Eloered, you may freely enter and exit the academy. Would you like to go to your first class now?”

“Headmistress! How can you make a decision without consulting us? What’s with that weird tone of yours?”

“This person has inherited light magic, Vanessa. You should be respectful as well…”

“Oh, no. You two don’t have to be…”

“Lady Eloered.”

Nia, who had rebuked Vanessa in a soft tone, called me seriously. Then she took off the necklace she was wearing and half-forced it into my hand.

“This is a necklace I’ve been keeping for the successor of light magic. Please… would you be my student?”

What in the world is going on? She wasn’t asking me to be her student; she was asking me to take her on as my teacher… to a student who had just taken the entrance exam.

I was so taken aback by the unprecedented turn of events that I just stood there with my mouth slightly agape. Perhaps thinking my reaction was a negative one, Nia’s usually bored expression faltered for the first time. I didn’t even have to look to know that Vanessa and the other man were watching us with great interest.

You’re teachers! Don’t just stand there and watch your student in distress; help me out!

“If you give me a chance… I’ll give you everything…”

Nia fumbled inside her robe and held out her hands, which were full of… something. They were accessories like rings, bracelets, and earrings. Besides looking expensive, the fact that Nia possessed them meant that each one was a special artifact with a unique effect.

I don’t need them…! As I frantically waved my hands, Nia continued to take out more things from inside her robe. Her actions were like an old grandmother trying to give you as much as she could, which was a bizarre juxtaposition to her teenage appearance.

In less than a minute, a pile of all sorts of gold and treasures from Nia was stacked in front of me. Nia looked at my panicked face, smiled shyly, and looked down.

“I have more in my office… may I go and get them?”

“Hahahahaha!”

Vanessa finally burst into laughter. I don’t need them. I don’t need them!

***

“I… I can show you to the academy…”

The reception building and the main gate of the academy were visible not too far away.

Nia, who had been following me like a chick, muttered. Despite her slow manner of speaking, her quick steps were nimble. She was gripping the hem of my dress tightly with one hand, as if afraid she would lose me.

If it weren’t for the mediation of the swordsmanship instructor Fernant, I would probably be moving into the academy dormitory right now. Seriously. Vanessa, who had been laughing the whole time, left, saying she had something to do. I wish she had taken Nia with her.

“Thank you so much for walking me out. I can go from here by myself. I have someone waiting for me.”

“…I’ll take you… to your mansion…”

“No, no! I’ll be fine on my own! You must be busy, so I can’t take up any more of your time.”

“I’m not busy… Then at least take this…”

Nia answered gloomily and held out the same necklace to me again. Ugh. Again?

It wasn’t easy for me to refuse either. I didn’t want to see the disappointment on the face of the young and cute Nia, even though her heart was over a hundred years old. But what was not to be was not to be. I scratched my cheek and carefully chose my words.

“Headmistress, the reason I’m not taking the necklace isn’t because I don’t like you or the academy. It’s because I haven’t officially enrolled in the academy yet. If others find out, they might think I received special treatment because I’m a Princess.”

“You’re a Princess…? I didn’t know that…”

Nia tilted her head. I had introduced myself before I even cast the spell, so she hadn’t been listening properly. It was clear that she was a person who only cared about magic and nothing else.

But other people wouldn’t think that.

“I want to follow the same procedures as the other applicants and become a student of the academy in a fair way. If I really have the talent, I don’t want to cast any doubt on that talent. I would love the opportunity to be your student after I’ve been admitted.”

“Yes… I understand.”

For some reason, Nia readily agreed and put the necklace away. Did she really understand?

“Congratulations on passing the special entrance exam.”

Saying that, Nia took out her official seal from her pocket and was about to stamp a piece of paper. Ah, this old lady didn’t get it at all!

Just as I was about to get flustered and tell her I wouldn’t take it and to put it away, I caught a glimpse of Nia’s mischievous smile.

“I was just… kidding. Lady Eloered, I’ll see you after you’ve been admitted to the academy. I hope then…”

While I was still dazed, Nia bowed and disappeared. She had literally used magic to vanish right in front of me.

Did she purposely walk this far just to try and persuade me?

‘Haa, I’m exhausted.’

I was suddenly left alone and let out a big sigh. I moved my heavy legs toward the waiting room where Jeras was waiting.

***

“…dy. Wake… Lady.”

“Ugh… I don’t know, I don’t want to… Go away…”

“We’re here. Aren’t you getting out? Then we’re going to the Imperial Palace.”

The word “Imperial Palace” made my eyes fly open. My neck was bent at a strange angle, with the top of my head resting against the window. When did I fall asleep? I guess as soon as I got in the carriage, the tension left my body, and the fatigue hit me all at once.

As I wiggled, a strange and gruesome crackling sound came from my neck, which had been bent for so long. My neck and shoulders were so stiff and sore that I couldn’t turn my head.

My eyes met Jeras’s, who was sitting opposite me. Jeras let out a chuckle.

“I thought it was winter already, seeing a squirrel sleeping and drooling like that.”

“Hmph… I don’t normally do that. I’m just tired from studying.”

Jeras snorted as if he didn’t believe me.

When a person is sleeping, why do you have to stare at them? How embarrassing. I took out a handkerchief and wiped the corner of my mouth.

I got out of the carriage with Jeras’s escort. We had left the mansion early in the morning, but it was already past noon and early afternoon.

Alberto and Hilda, along with the other servants of the Grand Duke’s residence, stood at the open front door, bowing and greeting me with expressions of relief. Jeras let go of my hand.

“When are the results announced?”

“In a week. They’ll send it by mail. If I pass, I’ll be admitted immediately next month.”

“How exciting. I’ll make sure to have the donation money ready, just in case.”

“You don’t need to do that. I did really well on the exam.”

“No student would ever say they’re going to fail.”

“You sound like you want me to fail, Teacher.”

“That’s not it at all.”

Jeras shrugged. I was about to tell him what happened during the practical exam but decided against it. It would sound like I was bragging, and I didn’t want to be called a liar for spouting something unconfirmed about being a light magic successor.

As I shook my head, Jeras gently pushed my back. I turned to look at him, taken by surprise.

“You worked hard on the exam, Lady. Get some good rest for a week.”

“Uh… huh?”

“What’s wrong?”

A very soft and gentle smile had appeared on Jeras’s face. And he even said something as kind as, “You worked hard.”

I couldn’t believe it, even with my own eyes and ears. I blinked and rubbed my eyes with my hand.

“Who are you? The Jeras I know would never say something like that. Did your soul get switched at the academy, or something?”

“I’m a busy man, and I don’t have time for your nonsense. I’m leaving.”

“Are you really busy? Can’t you at least eat something simple before you go? You didn’t even have breakfast.”

I desperately grabbed Jeras’s wrist. Jeras looked down at me with his eyes narrowed.

I must be really tired. I’m grabbing Jeras, of all people, instead of happily sending him away…

But as a person from Korea, how could I just let someone who missed a meal go? We do everything so we can eat and live well, right? Besides, he’s the one who helped me.

“I would love to accept your heartfelt offer, but I’m truly busy today. You’ll have to bear with me for a few more days, even if it’s disappointing.”

Without giving me a chance to answer, Jeras skillfully pulled his wrist out of my grasp and kissed the back of my hand instead.

Aaaargh! A shiver went down my spine the moment his lips touched my skin. Startled, I quickly pulled my hand away and shook it. Jeras chuckled and hopped into the carriage.

“I’ll see you in a week. Oh, and I like veal the most. Don’t forget.”

The carriage sped away. Does he mean he’s coming to get a meal from me on the day the results are announced?

Ugh, I brought it up first, so I can’t tell him not to come. My head already hurts.

Hilda, who had run over to me, helped me up as I was stumbling. Her cheerful voice asking how the exam went sounded distant.

I need to eat and take a nap right away.