Chapter 16: Transfer Procedures

Sylvie woke up exceptionally early the next day.

As long as Teacher Fufu didn’t find out, it wouldn’t count as doing something bad!

Before leaving, she buried her face in the blankets and took one last deep breath of the sweet, warm scent of milk, then reluctantly got out of bed.

Taking advantage of the moment before Floralia had woken up, Sylvie sneaked back to her little bed and even reached into the gap between the mattress and the frame.

Still, she couldn’t find anything.

It was really strange… it couldn’t possibly be…

Could it be that Teacher Fufu had taken it?

That thought flashed through Sylvie’s mind only briefly before she quickly shook her head to dismiss it.

No way, no way!

This wonderful secret stash was so narrow that even she struggled to reach in, so how could Teacher Fufu’s adult hands possibly fit inside?

Thinking carefully… maybe she had just been sleepy the past couple of days and the picture book was actually still in her desk drawer, never brought back from the academy.

Or… maybe that sly deskmate had cast some kind of teleportation spell on the book, allowing it to be retrieved remotely?

Yes, after all, this was an Adventurer Academy where basic magic was taught, so that possibility seemed more likely—

As for whether it was really taken by Teacher Fufu or something like that… the thought was too terrifying to entertain.

Instinctively ruling out that worst-case scenario, Sylvie began imagining many other possibilities, eventually convincing herself to let go of her worries.

Instead of fretting over the picture book that had disappeared, it was better to focus on today’s school transfer.

Though she had always dreamed of joining the Holy Princess Knights of the Royal Capital, Sylvie had never imagined her dream would come true so soon, or so easily.

And on top of that, she could help Teacher Fufu return to a better life in the capital—a true win-win situation.

Being directly admitted to the Knights Academy without paying any price felt like a pie dropping from the sky and smashing right on her head, something Sylvie still found hard to believe.

Breakfast was the usual bread and hot milk, paired with some healthy green vegetables.

As the meal was winding down, Floralia looked at Sylvie, who was still munching on her bread, and reminded her,

“To transfer to the Knights Academy from here, some identification procedures need to be completed. I’ll accompany you to the academy in town later.”

“Mm, okay.”

Sylvie nodded.

This had been agreed upon yesterday.

The knight named Sophia promised she would pick up both Teacher Fufu and her to go to the Royal Capital today.

And Sophia seemed to have some past with Teacher Fufu… but judging by Fufu’s attitude yesterday, it was clear she didn’t want to get too close to Sophia.

Sylvie had never seen Floralia so upset with her before.

So despite her curiosity, Sylvie didn’t dare to ask anything, afraid of stepping on Floralia’s emotional landmines again.

In her mind, Sylvie decided to wait until the recent fuss with Sophia settled down before asking Teacher Fufu about her past with that knight.

After clearing the table and dressing herself as Teacher Fufu had taught—making sure she looked inconspicuous—Sylvie slung on her backpack, ready to leave.

But then she suddenly remembered a small question.

“Teacher Fufu… you’re not going to use a wheelchair to go to the academy with me, right? Should I push you…?”

Mid-sentence, she turned to look at Floralia and realized her worry was unnecessary—

Floralia had somehow managed to get a pair of wooden crutches and was already walking again.

Though her steps were still shaky and her slender body looked fragile, at least she was free from the inconvenience of the wheelchair.

“It’s fine. You lead the way. I’ll follow behind at a distance. I haven’t been out in a while, so this will be like rehabilitation training.”

Floralia instructed.

In theory, as an ageless, immortal witch, her spine should have healed quickly.

But unfortunately, the injury was not purely physical—it was mixed with the Curse of Decay from a high-level monster.

The moment such a curse is unleashed, the Specter-type Monster casting it immediately dies from rapid life force depletion, showing just how dreadful the curse is.

For an ordinary person, the Curse of Decay would gradually drain their magical energy, consume their vitality, rapidly age and wither their body, and within two or three days, they’d turn into withered ashes.

Luckily, Floralia was no ordinary person.

For her, the curse only slowed the recovery of her spine—but the pace was agonizingly slow.

Originally, during her last Death Escape, she intended to create the illusion of having heroically died fighting monsters with no remains left, in order to preserve her image as the glorious Grand Paladin.

But unexpectedly, those monsters that infiltrated the Royal Capital were particularly troublesome, and she fell into a trap, ending up paralyzed and significantly weakened.

If she could find a way to dispel the Curse of Decay, her body should heal, and her magic would quickly recover.

Then, returning to her peak strength, she could reclaim the dignity of the Grand Paladin!

Or at least… she wouldn’t be bullied by Sophia like yesterday—

She would definitely take harsh revenge for the humiliation of being pinned to the desk and oppressed!

After all, she was the legendary “Scarlet Moon Witch” Floralia, an Ultimate Being from Another World with the Transmigrator System Golden Finger, and a villainous anti-hero who had toyed with countless destined heroines!

Someone of her noble and imposing status would never allow such shameful incidents to happen again!

…And if something were to happen, it would definitely be with her towering majestically on top—

Floralia clenched her fists in her heart, resolute.

“Teacher will go to the academy’s professors to handle your transfer paperwork later. Little Sylvie, you just wait in the classroom and attend class as usual. When the procedures are done, I’ll come get you.”

“Understood!”

Before parting at the school gate, Floralia instructed, and Sylvie obediently nodded.

Though there was still some time before the basic magic practice class, nearly half the students had already arrived in the classroom.

Sylvie had just slung her backpack on and sat down when her deskmate, who was pretending to be buried in her book, leaned over.

“So? Was the book I lent you last week useful? That was a rare gem from my collection! I don’t usually share those with just anyone—”

“Umm… book?”

Sylvie was surprised by the unfamiliar term.

Her deskmate was the daughter of a wealthy merchant in town, seen by the tutors as an excellent student but secretly a “peculiar person” in class—in a positive sense.

She often threw out shocking new words and frequently brought special things to class—

Mostly comics or toys, novel and exciting items that attracted crowds, which made Sylvie quite envious.

“Isn’t it a picture book?”

Sylvie tilted her head in confusion.

And… what did “useful” mean?

Shouldn’t she have just asked if it was good?

“Dummy, that’s just a euphemism so you’d understand better—”

Her deskmate proudly pushed up her glasses, clearly proud of knowing the fresh term “book.”

Damn it… calling me dummy… even Teacher Fufu never called me that—!

Sylvie felt indignant but didn’t protest as she would have before.

Now, feeling guilty, she looked a little awkward.

After hesitating, Sylvie scratched her cheek shyly and whispered,

“I’m really sorry… that picture book… I accidentally lost it…”

“W-what?! You lost it?!”

The girl’s sharp, incredulous voice rang through the classroom, drawing the attention of the other early-morning students nearby.