Chapter 6. Patience, Test.

The atmosphere in the banquet hall was quite bustling.

There were twenty-three new students, each recognized for their abilities. Out of about thirty candidates, more than half had passed.

The long tables lined up in five rows. In front of them stood a large podium.

It was likely the head of the academy would give a congratulatory speech from there.

The tables, arranged from basic to elementary, intermediate, advanced, and top-level, each had a different atmosphere.

Lucas was assigned to the elementary class. He had only managed to produce a small flame in his hand, which was enough to place him in the elementary class.

However, the small flame that Lucas, who had never learned spells or incantations at a very young age, produced at his fingertips was enough to shock the judges.

The professors, who sensed the immense potential hidden within him, were already vying for the opportunity to make Lucas their prized disciple.

"Everyone, please take your seats."

Although everyone was already seated, people stopped their conversations and looked at the podium at the sound of the voice.

"Welcome, new students, to the 7th term of the Arant Magic Academy."

An old man with white hair, the head of the magic academy and the owner of a prestigious magic tower.

Alberto Nimrod.

His reputation as a genius magician of the continent was well-known everywhere. It was said that he reached the incredible 5th Circle at the young age of 16.

While no one knew his exact current level, rumors suggested he was at least 7th or 8th Circle.

As Lucas gazed at the podium without much thought, applause began to sound from various places, indicating the speech was over.

Lucas's gaze on the lavish banquet food, prepared for the welcome party, was extremely dry.

'A human banquet... It's been a while.'

A small smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as if recalling something from the past.

*Tap!*

Suddenly, a stranger's hand grabbed his small shoulder, and the pleasant smile on Lucas's face turned sharp.

"Oh! How scary!"

The person making exaggerated gestures looked a bit rough to be a magician.

The man, who looked like a mercenary who had just returned from the battlefield, was trying to force a smile, perhaps attempting to look as gentle as possible.

"Do you want to die?"

He was serious. Lucas was already preparing to summon magic in his hand.

"Ha ha! Scary. You're the youngest among the new students this time. You're quite an impressive kid, aren't you?"

But the man seemed to dismiss Lucas's actions as something ordinary from a noble young master.

"Get lost."

Despite this reaction, the man's forced smile made Lucas turn his head to look forward.

'Arrogant human... Where did you put your hand?'

If he were a dragon playing, he might have continued with a curious expression, but now he was just a weak and powerless human. Therefore, even the slightest actions of humans irritated him.

"Ah, did my actions bother you, young noble?"

The man's lips curled up sarcastically, as if he understood the meaning of the child's actions.

"But what can you do? This academy is a free place where neither status nor age matters... Even if you want to punish me, you can't, can you?"

Lucas let out a snort at his overtly mocking attitude.

"Is that so? Then in this place, I can freely kill you without any problem."

Although he said this, he had no real intention of killing him. If he wanted to live properly, it was best to avoid conflicts.

"Ha! You bold little brat!"

When the man stood up and glared at him as if to kill, Lucas also stood up without backing down.

Despite his small body, which only reached the man's hips, his presence was not at all inferior.

'I'll make you shit your pants, you insignificant human!'

Just as Lucas was about to gather mana in his hand,

"Hey! That's enough! What are you doing to a child?!"

A shout from a distance made the man's mouth open as if to say something, but he soon gave up and, after glaring at Lucas, turned and left.

'Child?! You just wait. I'll twist your neck and put it between your legs!!'

His teeth ground together, but he couldn't ruin everything now that he had come this far.

***

Exhausted by the constant attention and gazes throughout the banquet, Lucas's body relaxed as soon as he entered his assigned dormitory.

During the ten years he had lived as a human, Lucas had never left the viscount's mansion.

This was because the village of Sitata, where the viscount's mansion was located, was extremely barren.

The land was unsuitable for farming, and there were few residents.

The small mine in Sitata was the only means by which the residents barely sustained their livelihoods, so there was nothing to see or go to outside the viscount's mansion.

Growing up as a precious young master of the viscount's family, like a flower in a greenhouse, it was inevitable that his body would feel tired after traveling such a long distance for the first time.

"Weak human body..."

Lucas, still in his clothes, sprawled on the bed. The ominous words he muttered in his sleep would have certainly caused someone to curse the fallen Rodrigo viscount's family for raising a madman.

***

"Ah... the academy."

He had fallen asleep as soon as he entered the room, and the unfamiliar scenery before his eyes reminded him that he was indeed at the academy.

His small palms were drenched in sweat, perhaps from a bad dream.

"Humans were surrounding me and laughing. It felt really disgusting."

Recalling the wary looks from humans yesterday, Lucas had a nightmare. He went to the bathroom to wash away the unpleasant feeling.

Standing under the cold water from the shower, he felt a bit better.

After finishing the shower and stepping out of the bathroom, he found an unwelcome guest in the room.

"Lucas! How was the opening ceremony?"

Following the unpleasant dream, an unpleasant human, or rather, a lizard, visited, making Lucas frown.

Moreover, the man was speaking informally? Lucas swallowed his curses and, shaking his wet hair, walked into the room calmly.

"What is it?"

"Someone wants to see our Lucas. The person who gave the congratulatory speech at the banquet yesterday. Do you remember?"

"...The head of the magic tower?"

"Right! You remember well?"

Although Aman's attitude towards him was very unpleasant, Lucas had already made up his mind.

"Why are they looking for me?"

"Wouldn't it be better for our Lucas to hear it directly from Alberto?"

Aman, bending down to meet his eye level, smiled warmly.

'...I must endure. A hundred years! A hundred years will be enough!'

***

"That kid? The youngest and most talented magician who just enrolled?"

"Oh, not that talented... They just said he could produce a small flame with his hand."

"Isn't that a genius?"

"By the way, isn't he the young master of the Rodrigo viscount's family?"

"But if the Rodrigo viscount's family had a magician, would they be in this state now?"

Whispers and mocking comments. There was no need to react to the petty jealousy of humans.

But he couldn't help but frown.

"Don't worry too much. After all, you don't need to care about such talk here."

Aman, who had also heard the whispers, comforted the frowning Lucas kindly.

"Hmph. I don't care."

"Ha ha ha. That's the spirit!"

Aman's hearty laugh and the way he tousled his hair annoyed him, and he glared at him.

Realizing his mistake, Aman raised his hands in apology and smiled awkwardly.

"Come on, let's go in."

At the door of the dean's office, the doorman announced their arrival.

Fitting for the continent's top magic academy, the dean's office was extravagantly decorated, from the door to the intricate carvings.

When they entered, an old man with long white hair, Alberto Nimrod, the genius magician of the continent, was sitting at his desk.

Seeing them, Alberto stood up, smiled broadly, and approached.

"Thank you for coming to our academy, Lucas Rodrigo."

Unlike other humans, Alberto treated the young boy with respect, which slightly improved Lucas's mood, softening his expression.

"Thank you for your hospitality."

The overly polite and well-mannered behavior of the ten-year-old boy made Alberto burst into laughter.

"Hehe, a talent like Lucas is always welcome. Please, take a seat."

He gestured to the chair opposite him.

"So, Lucas, what kind of magician do you want to become?"

The sudden question made Lucas inwardly curse.

'What is this crazy old man saying?'

Lucas made a sour face without saying anything, and Alberto smiled again.

"The question was a bit difficult, wasn't it? Then... what kind of magic do you want to learn?"

"..."

"Don't be too worried. Just answer. If not, what do you want to achieve? Like becoming incredibly rich..."

Frustration welled up inside him. As a dragon, he found it hard to answer questions about what kind of magician he wanted to be or what kind of magic he wanted to learn.

The best strategy in such situations was to play the 'I don't know' card.

"Um... I don't know. I just came because they said they would teach me magic."

The greatest advantage of a ten-year-old human boy. He was now fully utilizing this advantage.

"Hmm... It's okay. You're right. This is a place to teach magic. Then, Lucas, can you show me the magic you demonstrated during the entrance test again?"

As soon as Alberto finished speaking, Lucas raised his hand and summoned a small light.

"Wow..."

The small light he summoned without uttering a single spell word amazed Alberto.

The light soon disappeared, and while Lucas looked bored, Alberto's face was filled with curiosity and excitement.

"Thank you for showing me. Then, one more thing..."

Alberto muttered a spell at his desk, and the bottom drawer opened with a click.

He took something out and carefully placed it in front of Lucas.

It was a magic stone.

No one could tell what this ordinary-looking stone was just by its shape and form. But Lucas could sense it intuitively.

'Mana measurement stone'

Seeing it, Lucas fell into deep thought. If he placed his hand on the mana stone, he could roughly gauge his mana level.

If that happened, this life would become very tiring before he could fully regain his power.

'What should I do?'

Seeing Lucas staring intently at the mana stone, Alberto chuckled and continued.

"Don't worry. It won't be dangerous or hurt you. This stone just measures what kind of magician you will become."

'Of course I know, old man.' The words almost slipped out.

"Just place your hand on it for a moment."

Lucas, thinking of ways to avoid placing his hand on it, sighed deeply and slowly extended his hand.

As his small palm touched the mana stone, it emitted a faint light.

"Hmm..."

A long, incomprehensible sigh escaped Alberto's lips.

"Alright, that's enough. You can take your hand off now. And open your eyes, Lucas."

Alberto, finding the sight of the young Lucas with his eyes closed and his hand on the stone endearing, smiled and opened the door for him, indicating he could leave.

Stepping out of the room, Lucas let out a long sigh.

'Phew... That should do it.'