Chapter 63

* * *

The training program was simple.

1. Theoretical and practical training

2. Monthly evaluation

3. Rank confirmation and receiving the ability badge

After mastering basic magic and passing the exam, one could earn the ability badge by accumulating the required graduation points.

The exam, or the monthly evaluation, was a cumulative scoring system.

By accumulating 1,000 points through monthly exams, one would be granted the qualification to graduate.

‘I can gather all 1,000 points at once… I’ll work hard and go home quickly!’

I will graduate in a month and leave this place!

“This time, I will determine the attribute of the power you possess. Do you know that ability users have both holy power and magic power?”

“Yes!”

I answered enthusiastically, burning with a passion for learning.

“To cast the basic magic, Flame, you can determine the attribute of your power.”

Teacher Bella demonstrated a small white flame at the tip of her finger.

“It’s white, right? I am a holy power user with a higher holy power value than magic power.”

“Wow. Yes.”

“Now that your core is open, you can do it too. Let’s try to cast this Flame.”

Bella flipped through the book like a personalized dream teacher.

The training program textbook contained hundreds of magic formulas.

‘Ugh, so complicated.’

I was startled by the pages flipping.

The magic formulas ranged from simple straight lines to complex graphs.

Ability users had to memorize all of these to cast magic….

“Can you see this?”

Bella pointed to a magic formula on the first page with a single dot.

“This is the Flame magic formula. You need to visualize this in your mind and then control your mana.”

Bella frowned and smiled sadly.

“The Flame formula is simple, but just memorizing it isn’t enough. You need to know how to control your mana, which I can’t teach you.”

I nodded.

Misunderstanding my expression, Bella panicked.

“To be honest, memorizing the formula isn’t difficult if you have time. Most ability users get stuck at the mana control stage. So, it’s okay if you don’t succeed today.”

Mana control….

‘I don’t need to do that, though.’

I don’t need to control mana or memorize magic formulas.

I can use life force instead of mana and do anything just by ‘thinking’ about it….

‘Well, that’s the kind of body I have.’

I pretended to concentrate and thought lightly in my mind.

‘I should try using Flame…’

Before I finished my thought,

A white flame bloomed at my fingertips.

‘Wow.’

Bella covered her mouth in surprise.

“Oh my, how amazing! You succeeded on your first try? You are truly a Rubinstein!”

“S, succeeded?”

“Yes, Miss. You are a holy power user.”

Bella flipped through the chart she brought.

I glanced at it; it was my information. Bella filled in the blank next to the attribute.

Lilith Rubinstein

Expected Rank: 1st

Attribute: Holy Power

I looked at the flame on my fingertips again.

‘Wow, amazing. The ability to instantly achieve anything just by thinking about it, indeed…’

The Emperor of Primera can use such surreal powers without any restrictions.

Although there is the constraint of consuming life force, he can do anything just by thinking about it.

It also means that he can use abilities beyond magic that cannot be defined by magic formulas.

For example,

‘He can brainwash people and control them like puppets.’

Such mental abilities as well.

“Oh my. Someone else has already succeeded over there?”

I turned around at Bella’s words.

While everyone else was struggling, Cheshire alone was emitting a black flame.

‘Well, it’s a piece of cake for the protagonist, isn’t it.’

An ability user with 100% magic power, not under the control of Primera.

Cheshire could probably use his abilities even before the Emperor opened his core.

Of course, Cheshire wouldn’t have known about his power until my father told him.

“Hehe.”

Just as our eyes met, I smiled and gave him a thumbs up.

* * *

10-minute break.

Cheshire met Gerard in the toilet of the training room building.

‘What’s this guy’s problem?’

Cheshire, standing in front of a urinal, was taken aback.

All seven urinals were empty, yet Gerard chose to stand next to him for no apparent reason.

Moreover….

‘Why is he even here?’

In all the buildings of the training program, there were separate toilets for nobles and commoners.

Why did he choose this shabby place over the luxurious and clean noble toilet?

“Are you enjoying the class?”

Gerard approached with an innocent smile.

Cheshire slightly furrowed his brow.

“…Yeah.”

“Not you, Lilith.”

“…”

“How is it? Not too difficult?”

Finally, the two faced each other.

‘He’s here to pick a fight.’

Cheshire quickly understood Gerard’s intentions and replied.

“Yeah, I’m doing well.”

“Are you a commoner? Do you know which of your parents was an ability user?”

“No.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

Their heads turned forward again.

“You must have had a tough life. I’ve never talked to commoners, but sometimes I feel… uncomfortable.”

“…”

“Should I say you’re quite stubborn? Your life is in the gutter, but your will to live is strong. Well, sometimes it even looks cool.”

Ha ha, Gerard laughed and leaned his head slightly toward Cheshire.

“Stubborn, right? I think you’ll do well too.”

Gerard straightened his head again.

“I’ve decided to be friends with Lilith.”

“Okay.”

“Aren’t you jealous?”

“What?”

Gerard, who had already adjusted his shirt, laughed again.

For some reason, Cheshire didn’t like Gerard’s smiling face from the beginning.

That’s why he felt compelled to respond.

“Making friends is up to her. Why should I be jealous?”

“Really? Your expression says otherwise. You know?”

“What?”

“You’ve been angry since this morning. Look at your eyes.”

Gerard lifted the corners of his eyes with his hand.

“…What about it?”

“…”

“Ha ha, it’s really funny.”

Gerard placed his hand on Cheshire’s shoulder and whispered in his ear.

“Do you think you’re something special?”

“…”

“Because she’s nice to you, you think you’re her only friend? Many commoners who serve as playthings for nobles have such delusions.”

Gerard laughed and went to the sink, turning on the faucet while continuing to talk.

“Lilith, well, like all girls… seems to like pretty things. That’s why she talks to you.”

Cheshire thought about ignoring him.

Bruce also often said the same thing.

Because of his average face, Lilith is interested in him.

It wasn’t entirely wrong.

‘Well, yeah. That’s probably it…’

The first time they met was in the alley of the slums, just once.

They didn’t even talk, and Lilith had pushed him away when he offered his hand.

Yet, Lilith found him, saved him, and even said ‘I like you’ after seeing him only twice.

If he had to explain why she was so persistent despite knowing nothing about him, there could only be one answer.

“But you really are handsome….”

“Hi! Hey, your face is glowing today. It’s blinding.”

“Why? You keep staring, so it’s uncomfortable? But looking at something beautiful is a human instinct….”

In the midst of this, a familiar phrase of Lilith’s came to mind.

“It’s better to keep your distance first to avoid getting hurt later. I’m saying this for your own good.”

Gerard smiled brightly as he gave this advice.

He looked like an angel on the outside.

With his rare good looks, Lilith probably liked his smiling face.

“Then, I’ll go first.”

Gerard walked past Cheshire.

“I don’t want to.”

“…What?”

Cheshire’s casual remark made Gerard turn around.

“Who are you to tell me to keep my distance?”

Cheshire’s mind was always as calm as a still sea.

He was never bothered by insults or being ignored.

Because he was too used to it.

So, at this moment,

“I was there before you.”

“What?”

Cheshire was surprised that his mouth was moving on its own, without his brain’s control.

But regardless of his surprise, his mouth kept moving.

“I became friends with her before you.”

Cheshire stepped closer to Gerard.

“And.”

“…”

“I’ll stick with her stubbornly until she tells me to go away.”

Gerard’s smile faded. Cheshire leaned in, almost mocking him.

“Like you said, I’ve lived in the gutter, so I’ve only learned to be stubborn.”

“…”

“Once I get a hold of something.”

Cheshire clenched his fist, folding his fingers one by one.

“I won’t let go until I die.”