CHAPTER 10

"Not getting in as the top student? Isn't that a mistake?!"

The Ludwig family's mansion, Bellewin.

Elin Ludwig slammed the desk in frustration after receiving the notification from the Academy of Magic.

As a professor at , she was already fully prepared to return to the school.

"This is obviously Page's doing! They must be jealous of Rein's genius!"

It was an incomprehensible situation.

Rein had applied through the general admission process. So why was he listed as an additional test pass candidate?

"Why would the Page family be jealous of Rein, my lady? Wouldn't admitting a good student benefit them as well?"

Brim, Rein's mother, tilted her head in confusion. Elin scoffed.

"Well, that's because their daughter became a cripple—"

"—Elin."

But at Kaivern's cold interruption, she immediately shut her mouth.

"If there had been an issue, Margrave Page would have informed me. Or Rein would have contacted us."

It was certainly an odd situation, but it wasn't something to be overly concerned about. What mattered now was that he had been admitted.

"Admitted… admission, huh."

Rein had better brace himself.

That school attracts the most promising talents from across the Empire. From scions of magic families like himself to disciples of the Eight Great Schools…

"Or rather, knowing you, you probably won't even have time to feel nervous."

Kaivern chuckled fondly.

Because you were born with a hunger for knowledge greater than anyone else in this world.

The pinnacle of knowledge in the Holy Human Empire.

.

The campus of was so vast that some even claimed the Empire's fifth-largest city, Goldenrose, existed solely to support its operation.

"A school, huh…"

Standing in front of the main building where the entrance ceremony was to take place, Rein found himself lost in thought.

The main building of , called Yongryun Hall, was literally embraced by the massive stone figure of a True Dragon.

"I've never really had ties to schools."

Not in his past life, nor in this one.

Even when he worked as a teaching assistant at Magic Academy, all he did was occasionally simplify problems on the board and answer students' questions.

Was that why he felt this slight tremor in his heart?

"In my past life, I was raised by the headmistress of the Osarius School of Magic, and in this life, I was taught only by my family…"

Even now, he didn't feel a strong need to learn from someone else. But at the end of this path, she was waiting.

Lista Alter Schirfen.

Numbers, parchment, and ink… You were the one who pulled me out of my monochrome world and introduced me to a world of color.

"Only the top graduate of earns the right to stand before Rin's remains."

A quiet smile formed on his lips.

By the time we meet again, I should at least have regained the level of magic I wielded in my past life, don't you think?

"Ah, there you are!"

A sharp voice shattered his pleasant thoughts without mercy.

A girl stood before him, her short, dark brown hair fluttering in the spring breeze. Dressed in the pristine white robes of a mage and wearing the academy's cap neatly atop her head, she fastened a brooch on her chest—engraved with the image of a sleeping dragon.

Recognizing the familiar face, Rein waved first.

"Hey."

"I never got to settle things last time… huh? Oh, right. Hey."

She seemed unfamiliar with casual greetings, mumbling before awkwardly raising her hand to return the wave.

"Hey, look over there!"

"It's Christa Worden."

"The recommended entrant of this year's class…"

As whispers spread through the crowd, Christa shrugged her shoulders proudly.

Rein smirked.

"You're more popular than I thought."

"In our generation, anyone who doesn't know me is probably a spy from the Republic. And you? You're the rival I acknowledged."

She nodded in satisfaction before suddenly stepping back and assuming a battle stance, as if remembering something.

"Wait a minute—why are you acting all friendly? You and I are rivals! We're supposed to fight to the death! Now, come on! Let's settle things once and for all!"

Settle things?

Did I go too easy on her last time because of Friede's teachings?

Three hundred years ago, a single demonstration of overwhelming power would have been enough to crush any thought of challenging me.

"Oh no, my stomach hurts all of a sudden. Maybe later."

Clutching his stomach, he turned away. He had already secured his admission, so he had no business here. Besides, fighting Christa would cause all sorts of unnecessary headaches.

"Hey! Don't act like it's a hassle when I'm serious!"

Before he could stop her, a magic circle spun rapidly above her palm—an incredible speed of calculation.

As soon as the magic circle shattered, a whirlwind of sand roared to life at the main entrance.

"Ugh, what the hell?"

"Cough, cough!"

"My eyes!"

Students heading toward the ceremony hall coughed and sputtered in distress, while Christa looked on triumphantly.

"Heh, now you see my true power? Are you ready to take this seriously?"

Yeah.

This is exactly why.

This is why I can't stand this.

Suppressing his growing irritation, Rein exploded.

"Are you kidding me? Last time, I had a sore throat for two days because of all the dust I swallowed!"

"Hmph… That just means you failed to defend yourself properly."

Unbelievable.

Seeing her cross her arms smugly, Rein let out a deep sigh.

"You're putting on quite the show."

At that moment, a cold chuckle rang out from behind.

"Oh? So we have a contrast right before our eyes—a mere additional test entrant versus the top student. A perfect comparison, wouldn't you say?"

Unlike Rein, who showed little reaction, Christa's eyes burned with contempt as she glared at the speaker.

"Hubert's gang…"

Hubert—one of the Eight Great Schools' successors, a graduate of 's middle school division, and its former second-ranking student.

His curly brown hair and sly, narrow eyes were as obnoxious as ever.

He had been at odds with Rein since their middle school days. No, to be honest, Rein never got along with any of the Eight Great Schools' heirs.

"..."

As Rein silently looked at him, a tense atmosphere settled over the crowd.

Hubert smirked and lifted his chin.

"What's wrong? Did I say something that offended you?"

His lackeys chuckled mockingly.

Rein tilted his head.

"Offended? No, I was just wondering… Who the hell are you, and why are you acting like we're acquainted?"

"...?"

"Can you even use magic? If you're seriously trying to start something with me, you better be able to back it up."

For a moment, silence fell over the crowd.

"He's insane."

Hubert was the top-ranked general admission student—an undisputed genius.

Yet Rein spoke as if he was nothing.

"You…"

Hubert clenched his fist in fury, but before things escalated further, Christa burst out laughing.

"Pfft… Hahaha! Oh wow, that's hilarious!"

She turned to Hubert, taunting him loudly.

"Man, how embarrassing. You just got completely dismissed by someone who doesn't even know you exist."

"You little—!"

Before the situation could spiral any further, an assistant instructor interrupted.

"You there! What are you all doing? Get inside! The entrance ceremony is about to start!"

And so, the legendary school life of Rein Ludwig began.