It was unpleasant.
That emotion surged in my mind.
[Spiritists are more sensitive to the emotions of others. You could say it’s a side effect of making a contract with spirits.]
Ophelia’s words briefly crossed my mind.
I didn’t realize this was what she meant.
Until now, I had secluded myself in the forest, away from others.
Hundreds of emotions erupted in my mind like a storm.
Envy, jealousy, curiosity, dissatisfaction…
The whirlwind of emotions made me feel nauseous.
‘…Disgusting.’
The emotions humans emitted were utterly repulsive.
But I tried not to show it, biting my lower lip and keeping my gaze fixed forward.
I couldn’t afford to let something as trivial as this ruin my successful return.
“……
With that, the entrance ceremony for new students of Celebrion Academy concludes. May the infinite blessings of knowledge be with you.”
“May the blessings of knowledge be with you.”
After the ceremony, there would be temporary class assignments.
Only after that would I be able to leave this place, so I steadied my churning stomach and got to my feet.
‘Recommended students will probably be in Class A.’
Unless there were any objections, all recommended students would be assigned to Class A.
But that didn’t mean they would all remain there.
This classification was only ‘temporary.’
New students at the academy wouldn’t undergo formal education for the first two weeks.
Before that, there would be a test—a real class assignment.
Not that it was anything special.
It was simple.
‘A duel.’
Just a duel between students.
Those placed in lower classes could challenge students in higher classes.
They would receive two challenge rights.
Higher-class students, on the other hand, would receive one veto right, which could nullify a challenge.
However, veto rights could only be used if a student received two or more challenges.
Additionally, if a student had dueled within two days, they would be prohibited from dueling for the next three days.
Higher-ranked students received more benefits.
This system existed to give recommended students—who hadn’t taken the entrance exam—and lower-class students a chance.
Of course, for nobles, scholarships and similar benefits weren’t particularly attractive.
For them, it was a matter of pride.
[Luen Phil Kalbrandt: Class A] – Recommended Admission
After confirming my name on the wall, I turned away without hesitation.
Ophelia had told me that this moment—when I entered the academy—would be when I received the most attention.
Luen Phil Kalbrandt.
The disgrace of being the heir to the Kalbrandt family with the lowest mana sensitivity.
And the one who received Ophelia’s letter of recommendation.
For those aiming for Class A, I was the perfect stepping stone.
For those seeking honor, I was the perfect opponent.
But I was ready.
No matter who challenged me…
I was ready to crush them all.
With that resolve, I silently walked forward.
Then, I had to stop.
A shadow blocked my path.
“So, you’re Ophelia’s recommended student?”
Light blue hair, light blue eyes.
A woman with a cold yet arrogant air crossed her arms and stared at me.
There was a subtle hostility in her gaze.
I simply nodded silently.
“And?”
Of course, I wasn’t soft-hearted enough to speak kindly to someone showing hostility.
Despite my cold response, she didn’t waver.
She just kept looking at me.
“I’m Elicia. Same Class A as you.”
She didn’t seem to be here to introduce herself.
Yet, she made sure to do so.
When I gave her another silent nod, she nodded back and continued.
“I’m going to beat you.”
At her declaration, my expression twisted slightly as I looked at her.
I couldn’t understand why someone from Class A would challenge another from the same class.
Was it for honor?
Or perhaps to have the title of defeating someone recommended by Ophelia?
Her light blue eyes were devoid of any emotions, making it difficult to read her true intentions…
“If you’re confident, feel free to challenge me anytime.”
As I said, I had no intention of avoiding a fight.
I stared directly into Ellicia’s light blue eyes and responded, to which she silently nodded before turning away and walking off.
Until now, I hadn’t acted this way, but from now on, things would be different.
I had decided not to bow down anymore, not to retreat anymore.
I watched her retreating figure for a moment before I silently accepted the gazes directed at me and began to walk.
…!!
“Say that again.”
Calcento slammed his fist on the desk in his office, unleashing a strong fury.
The sight of his growing fat jiggling with the force of his movements made Kalbrandt’s butler turn his gaze away, lowering his head as he spoke.
“It’s news from the territories, including Zenon and Hocrux. Luen Phil Kalbrandt has entered the academy.”
“…Luen, that kid… How did he get into the academy?!”
“From what I’ve heard, it seems he entered with the recommendation of the Grand Mage Ophelia.”
“Ophelia?”
Calcento was no fool.
He wasn’t particularly slow-witted, so he quickly came to a conclusion.
“It was Ophelia… the one who helped that brat three years ago.”
When Calcento pursued Luen, he deliberately sent mercenaries and soldiers instead of knights.
It was easier to clean up afterward, and it was the simplest way to take over Kalbrandt.
But Luen vanished without a trace.
Almost a hundred soldiers and mercenaries died, and there was no sign of Luen.
Calcento couldn’t understand who could have helped Luen, a kid who couldn’t use magic.
Now, he finally understood.
If it was Ophelia, the so-called Grand Mage, then it made sense that she could pull off such a feat.
“…Why did she help that brat?”
“I heard that Ophelia stayed at the Kalbrandt mansion for about three to four days.”
“Is that true?”
“It’s from the former servants here, so it should be accurate.”
“…She helped him just for that?”
With his teeth grinding in anger, Calcento exhaled deeply and bit his lower lip.
From Calcento’s perspective, Luen’s enrollment in the academy wasn’t a huge problem.
After all, a kid without any talent for magic wouldn’t change anything just by entering the academy.
Whether Luen learned swordsmanship or magic, I didn’t feel he was a big threat.
But Luen, as a whole, was a problem.
No matter what, he was the legitimate heir to Kalbrandt.
“Damn brat.”
“But it seems like he hasn’t really received any help after that.”
“…That’s true. She’s always been a selfish one.”
Calcento had met Ophelia once, though it was only a memory that he held.
Ophelia treated him like an invisible person, never once acknowledging him.
As if he wasn’t even worth a glance.
He had never forgotten the humiliation he felt then, so he harbored bad feelings toward Ophelia.
“There must be some kids from the surrounding territories who have entered the academy, right?”
“Yes, I believe a few of them have.”
“…Pass the word to the surrounding territories as well, to the ones we’ve supported.”
“What should I tell them?”
Calcento bit his lower lip as if gnawing on it and stared out the window.
“Tell them to kill Luen Phil Kalbrandt.”
The academy was, after all, a place where children with talent gathered.
At that age, when their blood runs hot and they’ve lived realizing their talents, accidents in the academy were surprisingly frequent.
No matter how much the academy tried to block or deal with it, accidents were bound to happen.
Calcento thought it would be no different this time.
Luen Phil Kalbrandt.
He was just a weak firefly, his talent faint.
Until now, he’d hidden in the shadow of Ophelia, living well, but now that he had stepped out of her shadow, he was nothing more than a rat trapped in a cage.
Perhaps Calcento had even secretly swayed the noblemen of the surrounding territories to prepare for a situation where Luen might reappear.
Calcento twisted one side of his mouth in a sneer.
“Make sure, at the very least, he loses a limb or two.”
“…Understood.”
Even his older brother, a once-renowned genius, had ultimately been killed by him.
There was no way Luen, who had neither talent nor power, could endure.