North of the capital, beyond the ever-present light snow at the edges, lay the magic-affected zone known as the “Forbidden Forest,” leading straight to Snow Pivot Eridu Academy.
Students holding magic staff in small groups used their magic to guide falling snowflakes, piling them neatly along both sides of the paths.
The accumulated white snow on the ground let out a crisp “crunch crunch” with every step Lin Nuo took forward.
“I’ve seen adventurers who traveled thousands of miles, fully prepared, coming here in search of opportunity.”
“I’ve seen young mages who finally earned qualification to enter Snow Pivot Branch but couldn’t afford the tuition, climbing onto the astrology platform in the middle of the night to tell me ‘the wind up here is so strong, I’m so scared’ as a way to threaten me.”
“I’ve seen talents who, to scrape together tuition, called a sixty-five-year-old noble grandmother ‘baby,’ endured three months of her steel-wool torment, finally swindled a reward gift, and fled overnight to get here…”
“Indeed, compared to those explosive cases, you—who boldly admit you forgot your tuition and act all righteous about it—are actually pretty tame,” said Elma, the head disciplinarian of Snow Pivot Branch, glancing back at Lin Nuo trailing behind him.
“But you, a noble who shows up for enrollment without even a single copper coin—that’s a first in all these years.”
“…”
‘I didn’t even know I didn’t bring money!’
Only now did Lin Nuo realize why the head maid had chased after the carriage shouting “she hasn’t boarded yet”…
It seemed she was trying to deliver spending money to him.
‘But—but!’
The pocket money XÄ« had prepared for him had been so beautifully rejected by his own hand at the door.
So now, being brought up by Elma like this, Lin Nuo immediately felt like some client who had paid for explosive service—obediently following her every gear and position request, laboring diligently all night, only to be thoroughly eaten clean and wiped dry, and only long after leaving did he realize he’d forgotten to take the payment… an utterly incompetent technician…
‘It hurt. It hurt so much!’
“Given the fame and reputation of your Clemence family, issuing you the school badge and uniform in advance really isn’t an issue. But the academy’s regulations on this are…”
“No need. I’ll report in once my family sends the money over.” Lin Nuo indicated he wasn’t in a hurry.
“The branch dormitories can still be arranged for you, but I can’t help feeling you didn’t look into this place at all before coming to Snow Pivot Branch. You brought barely any cold-weather gear, and you probably don’t even know fire magic or anything like that… Would you like me to lend you some warming bricks first? According to branch rules, that would be…”
“That library looks pretty nice. It should block the cold.”
Lin Nuo’s gaze passed over several distinctly academic round-domed buildings and towers before settling on a massive, heavy-looking structure with a distinct Gothic spire outline.
“I’ll just make do there for one night.”
‘Watching this blond kid—who was clearly a newcomer to the magic academy yet showed none of the usual wide-eyed novelty most incoming magic apprentices displayed toward everything here— Even though he hadn’t brought tuition, he seemed to have already made plans.’
Elma studied him curiously for a few seconds, then handed over the flame-core lantern in his hand that emitted a warm glow, reminding him: “The Nightingale Hall is on the east side of the Forbidden Forest—that kind of place is absolutely off-limits for Snow Pivot Branch students to sneak into!”
“I’m not interested in women.”
At that, Elma gave Lin Nuo another look.
Though his handsome features didn’t carry that sleazy, greasy vibe, he still cautioned: “Good men are off-limits too! If someone spots you’re a freshman and tricks you into going alone to the little grove on the west side, saying they want to show you something big—do not go, under any circumstances…”
“…”
***
Qimo Library.
“Is it a little cold?”
“Chirp chirp…”
The white fatty bird huddled inside Lin Nuo’s collar tucked both claws beneath its thick feathers and nodded vigorously like pounding garlic.
Passing through the neatly lined corridors of the ordinary reading area with its bookshelves, Lin Nuo found a private advanced study room, closed the door, and drove out the icy chill.
“Chirp!”
Only then did Fatty Bird fully poke out its glutinous-rice-dumpling-like head, curiously eyeing the various magic compendiums arranged on the rotating bookshelf tower.
“Curious why I didn’t go to the main branch?”
“Chirp chirp?”
“Avoiding Feng Aotian? What kind of reason is that?”
‘Winning by outlasting was so last chapter! Can we have some progress here, come on!’
“Lately the Clemence family’s activities have been a bit frequent. Going straight to the main branch right now would come off as too high-profile—there’s no need to invite that kind of trouble.”
“As for this place… the original book didn’t record much about Snow Pivot Branch. It did mention, though, that this branch focuses mainly on cultivating ‘faith’… Speaking of this library, have you noticed anything?”
“Chirp chirp?”
Fatty Bird shook its head.
“Don’t you feel it? Compared to the main branch, there are far fewer magic apprentices here, and the course schedules on the walls are completely different from the other two branches…”
“Chirp chirp?”
Faced with the course notes Lin Nuo pulled out, Fatty Bird flew over, shook out its feathers, lowered its head in a sighing pose—as if to say, this little bird doesn’t know how to read…
“There are plenty of magic scrolls here for me to study, and unlike the main branch, the classes here won’t conflict much with my own plans.”
“I have time to push my abilities up another level. That should be more practical than practicing some kind of magic duel for now…”
Lin Nuo squeezed his hand.
That ability to turn his body and other objects into flower petals, along with the healing spell—both needed time to settle and mature.
“Besides, according to the original plot, Snow Pivot Branch should close down in a while and merge with the main Branch.”
“Though I’m not sure of the exact reason for the merger, this branch suits my current needs perfectly. Studying here for a while is the right call.”
Moreover, the magic book seemed to have undergone new changes.
Lin Nuo took a blanket out of his storage ring, spread it on the floor, rubbed his hands together with a touch of excitement over the new ability, then sat down comfortably.
He relaxed his mind and let his consciousness sink into the magic book within his body.
[Cleric Class Selection · Unlocked]
[Divine Position Two: Seat of the Goddess of the Life Wheel]
[lvl 0: Shh! I hear the echo of fate]
[Note: The Goddess of the Life Wheel, who outlived her enemies across time, had this sudden insight while dancing on her fated rival’s grave—This old lady just lives longer! The one who lives longest is the winner!]
[lvl 0: The All-Seeing Eye of the Life Wheel]
[Note: O fated enemy, this old lady will secretly keep watching—staring at you… forever and ever… staring at you in eternal darkness with no end in sight… 0.o]
Lin Nuo’s eyes snapped open.
He rubbed his shoulders and glanced around.
Why did it feel… like someone was secretly watching him?
Since he had just arrived and wanted to avoid any repeat incidents of inexplicable peeping or surveillance, Lin Nuo drew out his internal magic and cast a detection magic array.
Finding no reaction from the array, he resumed his dozing posture and continued examining the Goddess of the Life Wheel’s abilities.
What Lin Nuo didn’t know was that, the very moment before he finished drawing the detection magic array, someone in a certain room had warily canceled their surveillance of him.
As a result, the image in that magic crystal ball froze at the instant Lin Nuo drew out his magic and completed the preliminary source rune outline of the detection array.
“Holy crap!”
“This kid’s no ordinary guy!”
“Old Ma! Come quick and look at the person you brought in—he can draw a magic array of this caliber. If I’d been even a second slower, he would’ve detected me…”
“They all say the Clemence family’s sole seedling is a waste… but judging by his performance, why do I feel like this kid actually has surprisingly solid foundations!”
The Forbidden Forest steward—a middle-aged man—studied Lin Nuo again through the crystal ball.
The fact that someone who had only just arrived at the magic academy could skillfully draw such a detection array felt like discovering a new continent.
“As head disciplinarian, I must lead by example in strictly adhering to the Academy Code at all times! I don’t ask what shouldn’t be asked.” Elma spoke with strong principle.
“Just getting to know him a little—nobody would know…”
After circling the wooden table to examine Lin Nuo’s drawn magic array from all angles, the Forbidden Forest steward let out another admiring “tsk-tsk”.
The sound finally drew Elma—who had brought Lin Nuo over—to turn his head despite himself.
Upon seeing that the source rune of the detection magic array in the crystal ball had been drawn with such precision and such smooth elemental flow, a flicker of surprise passed through Elma’s eyes.
But he quickly steadied his resolve and refused to look any further.
“Article Seven, Clause of the Academy Code: Those holding positions shall not harbor excessive voyeuristic desires toward the academy’s magic apprentices!”
In Elma’s eyes burned the determination to dedicate everything to the academy: “Loyal—ty!”
The Forbidden Forest steward muttered: “If his ability to draw magic arrays gets any stronger, patrolling for the magical creatures hidden in Snow Pivot Branch would definitely be far easier for him than for the magic department students.”
“You mean that one? Even the vice dean’s perception can only pick up a few traces of that creature. Besides, there’s no direct evidence it has ever harmed a Snow Pivot Branch student—so why waste the effort?”
“You’re right,” The Forbidden Forest steward glanced at the snowflakes drifting outside the window.
“It’s gotten colder again lately. Every time the weather turns like this, we can sense that creature’s presence… Maybe it’s just an ordinary magical creature living in the Forbidden Forest that comes to Snow Pivot Branch to find a warm spot.”
“She isn’t quite as ordinary as you make her sound.”
“Oh? So you’ve already figured out what type of creature she is?”
“She’s come how many times already—why get nervous about it,” Elma said, “As long as she doesn’t let students wander outside at night, there shouldn’t be any issues.”
“Though she hasn’t hurt anyone, the shadow people see does have horns. If some energetic student gets caught by her, who knows what might happen…”
“Spiral demon horns?”
“You mean…”
“The one lurking in our academy—is it a demon or…” The Forbidden Forest steward asked: “A succubus that drains people’s magic to replenish her essence…?”
“Probably the latter.”
Elma approached the crystal ball and paused as he reached to pick up the red cloth on the table.
Recalling Lin Nuo’s complexion—which looked like someone who had overindulged in certain activities not long ago…
Even if the kid unluckily ran into that succubus, the odds of him being targeted were probably low…
The fact that no student had ever been drained by her proved the creature was extremely picky about magic quality.
“Article Eight, Clause of the Academy Code: Those holding positions bear the responsibility of informing new students of all potential dangers upon enrollment!”
Elma did not inform Lin Nuo.
However, Lin Nuo hadn’t paid tuition yet—so he didn’t count as a complete new student.
Thus, glancing at the sky, Elma decided to wash up and sleep.
Before bed, he sighed with satisfaction at what a responsible head disciplinarian he truly was!
“Everything I have belongs to the academy!”
“Loyal—ty!”