Chapter 10

### Chapter 10 (10/280)

Chapter 10

"Not being the top student, isn't something wrong here?!"

In the Belwin mansion of the Ludwig family, Elin Ludwig, who had received the notification from the Magic Academy, slammed the table in anger.

She, a professor at <Delaiten>, was now fully packed and ready to return to school.

"This clearly looks like something Page did, out of jealousy for Rain's genius!"

It was incomprehensible.

Rain had applied through the regular admission process. But why was he listed as a successful candidate for the additional exam?

"Why would the Page family envy Rain, Miss? It's good for them to have a good student."

When Rain's mother, Brim, tilted her head in confusion, Elin snorted.

"Well, that human's daughter became disabled—"

"–Elin."

But Kevan cut her off coldly, and she immediately shut her mouth.

"If there was a problem, the Duke of Page would have informed me. Or Rain would have contacted me."

Though it was indeed incomprehensible, it wasn't particularly worrying. The important thing was that he had been admitted.

'Admitted, admitted...'

Rain, you should be a bit nervous.

That school is where the best prospects from all over the empire gather. From members of magical families like you to disciples of the Eight Great Schools...

'Or, should I say, with you, there won't be a moment to be bored?'

Kevan smiled fondly.

You were born with a fierce thirst for knowledge, more than anyone in this world.

* * *

The pinnacle of intellect in the Holy Human Empire, the highest magic university.

<Delaiten>.

The campus of <Delaiten> was not just vast but expansive. It was even rumored that the fifth-largest city in the empire, <Golden Rose>, was built solely for the operation of this school.

'School...'

Looking up at the main building where the opening ceremony was about to begin, I was seized by a strange reverie.

The main building of <Delaiten>, called the Dragon Wheel Hall, was encircled by a majestic dragon statue.

'I had no connection to schools, in my past life or this one.'

When I worked as a teaching assistant at <Ribarden> Magic School, I just occasionally solved problems on the blackboard and answered questions.

Is that why there's a slight tremor in my heart?

'In my past life, I was raised by the headmistress of the Ossarius School, and in this life, I learned magic only from my family...'

I don't really feel the need to learn anything from anyone, but at the end of this path, she is waiting.

Rista Alter Shyrpang.

Numbers, parchment, and ink... You led me from a world of monochrome to a world of vibrant colors.

– Only the top graduate of <Delaiten> has the opportunity to meet Lin's remains.

I smiled quietly.

On the day we meet again, I should at least have the magic skills I had in my past life, right?

"Ah, there you are!"

A sharp voice rudely interrupted my pleasant thoughts.

A girl in a pristine white mage robe, wearing a graduation cap neatly, appeared. The brooch on her chest, which neatly pinned the robe, bore the emblem of a sleeping dragon.

The girl, wearing the first-year uniform of <Delaiten>, with her chestnut short hair fluttering in the spring breeze, was a familiar face, so I waved first.

"Hello."

"About the unfinished business from last time... Oh, right, hello."

Was she awkward at receiving greetings? She started to babble but then stopped, shaking my hand hesitantly.

"Hey, look at that."

"It's Christa Warden."

"The recommended student of this year's cohort..."

Seeing Christa Warden proudly shrug her shoulders amidst the murmurs, I couldn't help but smile.

"You're more popular than I thought?"

"Some say that anyone in our generation who doesn't know me is a spy for the Republic. And you are a rival I acknowledge."

The girl, nodding in satisfaction, suddenly remembered something and stepped back, assuming a battle stance.

"Come to think of it, what's this? Why are you acting friendly? You and I are rivals! We must draw blood from each other! Come on, attack! Let's settle the unfinished business from last time!"

Unfinished business... Did I go too easy on her following Pride's teachings? In the past, showing a difference in strength once meant no one would challenge me again.

"Ah, my stomach suddenly hurts. Later."

I pretended to rub my stomach and turned away. Honestly, I don't need to see her. And a magic battle with her would be very troublesome.

"Don't act like it's a bother when I'm being serious!"

Before I could stop her, a magic circle began to spin rapidly on her palm. It was an ultra-high-speed calculation.

As the magic circle shattered, a sandstorm fiercely swept through the main entrance.

"Ah, what is this?"

"Choke, choke!"

"My eyes hurt!"

Thanks to this, other students entering the ceremony venue coughed painfully, while Christa looked at me triumphantly.

"Hehe, you should understand the extent of my true power now. Are you ready to be serious?"

Yes, this is why.

This is exactly why.

The anger I had been suppressing exploded.

"Are you kidding? Last time, I almost died from coughing up phlegm for two days because of a sore throat!"

"Hmph...! Wasn't that your fault for not blocking it properly?"

I couldn't hit her, so...

Seeing her arrogantly cross her arms, a sigh escaped me.

"You're really putting on a show, aren't you?"

At that moment, a cold laugh erupted from behind, accompanied by a sneer.

"One is a genius prince who entered through the additional exam, and the other is the top student. An extreme comparison, huh?"

Unlike Rain, who was unimpressed, Christa's eyes, fixed on the speaker, were filled with cold disdain.

'The gang of Wiber...'

Wiber, a rising star of the Rohineum School, one of the Eight Great Schools, and the second-ranked graduate of <Delaiten> High School.

With his curly brown hair and long, slanted eyes, he was always a detestable sight.

We had always clashed over something since high school. Or rather, mostly with the members of the Eight Great Schools.

"..."

As Rain silently looked at Wiber, a subtle tension filled the air. Wiber, chin raised, provoked again.

"What are you looking at? Is there something wrong with what I said?"

The gang on either side of him chuckled. Rain tilted his head.

"Rather than being offended... Who are you, and why are you acting like you know me?"

"..."

"Can you use magic? If you're really trying to pick a fight with me, you should be able to use magic well, right?"

Everyone watching felt a chill and fell silent.

'He's crazy.'

Logically, it was impossible for Rain not to know Wiber, the genius second-ranked graduate of <Delaiten> High School.

'A rising star of the Rohineum School.'

'The top scorer in the regular admission test.'

A genius who couldn't even be compared to the genius prince who entered through the additional exam, Rain Ludwig.

"Right now..."

Just as Wiber clenched his fists, Christa burst into clear laughter.

"Hehe, hahaha..."

Christa, her face flushed, said to Wiber, who was turning red with anger.

"Ha, how embarrassing. Some fool got beaten by someone he didn't even know."

"What, this dog...?!"

The conflict, reaching its peak, was ended by a teaching assistant guiding the new students.

"What are you doing here? Hurry up and go inside. The opening ceremony is about to start. And Christa, as the representative of the new students, what are you doing here? You need to prepare for the oath!"

Christa, as if Wiber didn't matter, pointed at Rain and said,

"This time, I don't have time, so I'll back off, but next time, no way! Next time, I'll definitely settle the score!"

Christa's words made the onlookers doubt their ears again.

"Settle the score? Christa and Rain?"

"They can't even be compared, right?"

"They can't be compared, huh? You'll eat those words when you see the prince's skills."

A few students from <Ribarden> smiled knowingly and headed for the main building.

'Those bastards...'

Amidst the murmurs, Wiber's body was filled with cold rage. His gang, sensing the tension, held their breath.

'I'll crush you.'

I'll make you beg for forgiveness and cry.

There will be plenty of opportunities, and they will come soon. Because <Delaiten>'s educational policy is infinite competition.

A bitter smile formed on Wiber's lips.

* * *

"Now, we will begin the 1388th <Delaiten> admission ceremony. Please stand, new students."

It's more boring than I thought... The boy couldn't help but yawn as various school-like events proceeded.

The other students seemed different, with a mix of pride and arrogance for being admitted to the empire's top magic university.

But the atmosphere in the hall changed instantly when the announcer said this.

"The president of the university will address the new students with words of encouragement and welcome."

Thud, thud, thud.

The intimidating sound of military boots echoed on the stage. With each step, the leather robe of the dignified figure elegantly fluttered.

The new students whispered in hushed voices.

"Wow..."

"The current top mage of the empire..."

"Madelia Page..."

The beautiful woman with light purple hair, whose presence alone sent shivers down the spines of the new students, appeared.

Madelia Page.

Currently the top mage of the empire and the head of the Mage Alliance. A direct descendant of the founder of magic, Emmitsa Page, and the head of the Page family, the leading magical family that has held the position of <Delaiten> president for generations.

'Ah... That hair color is still the symbol of the Page family in this era.'

The boy raised an interested eyebrow.

Uran Page, whom he met in Lin's era, also had that hair color. It's said to be a direct trait passed down from Emmitsa Page.

The same principle as Rain and Seri having black hair and red eyes.

"Welcome, new students. I am Madelia Page, the president of the university."

In the front row, the top-ranked students, who had been showing a haughty attitude, unconsciously straightened their backs.

"There are 233 new students here today. Half of these 233 will not make it to the second year, either repeating or being expelled."

What...?

The faces of most new students, who had participated in the ceremony with excitement, turned pale.

"Of the 117 who survive, only half will make it to the third year. And only half of those will enter the graduation program. Fewer than 30 students graduate each year."

"!"

"The <Delaiten> you have entered is such a place. In this sense, it is like a jeweler. We will continuously test you to see if you are a gemstone or just a common rock."

Suddenly, Madelia pointed at the new students. All of them, without exception.

"Polish yourselves here! Until you become a gemstone with your own unique characteristics from a worthless piece of stone!"

It was not a speech or a suggestion, but a command.

The top-ranked students reacted in various ways to the command. Wiber, the second-ranked student, snorted.

"<Delaiten>'s policy is infinite competition. Those who fail in the competition do not even earn the right to graduate."

I like it very much. It's a fair system that evaluates everything based on ability, not status.

"In three years, let's meet again here. Not as students and president, but as mages. I wish you all the best."

As Madelia swept her coat and descended the stage, the new students, without being prompted by the announcer, gave a round of applause.

'Maybe...'

A faint smile appeared on Rain's lips as he clapped half-heartedly.

'College life might be more interesting than I thought.'