A person descended from the sky.
Their movements were smooth, as if they were a creature who had always known how to fly.
Considering the few magicians I’ve met, such as Count Clyford and the Countess, Melrit, and the Marquis’ group whom I just killed with my own hands, it was clear to me.
This person is a high-ranking magician.
Unlike their appearance.
A pointed, wide-brimmed wizard’s hat that covered almost their entire small face.
Thin limbs.
Silver hair and golden eyes.
The colors of two representative precious metals, a girl with those hues.
‘If judged by appearance alone, she looked about ten years old, maybe even four or five years younger than me. In a world like the original one, she would probably now be in her late elementary school years.’
‘But her actual age must be much older.’
Just as I expected.
“Hooh.”
A short exclamation, but the maturity that came from it was beyond what a girl could possess.
“Is this the one? The one Melrit was protecting?”
“Ah, headmistress…”
Melrit blinked rapidly, seemingly startled.
“Yes, that’s correct. Admissions officer Melrit Shinseergrin recommends this child, Ellie, as a student for the Academy.”
“Hmm.”
The girl, referred to as the headmistress, leaned on her staff like a cane, staring intently at me.
“Girl. What is your name?”
“…Ellie.”
“Ellie. No last name. Any clan or tribe name?”
“Yes. I’m an orphan.”
“An orphan. I can see that in your appearance.”
The headmistress’s gaze shifted, now cold, as she scanned the bodies of the dead scattered around.
“Isn’t the author the current Marquis of Ripete?”
Melrit answered.
“Yes.”
“And who killed them?”
“That would be…”
For a moment, Melrit glanced at me.
I nodded, and she responded.
“It was Ellie. The one I want to recommend.”
“This girl did that? It’s hard to believe.”
However, “If she can do something like that, she should be able to become a student at the Academy.”
The headmistress’s lips twisted upward.
I’d interpret the expression as amusement.
“Then, it’s not appropriate to continue talking here.”
The headmistress raised her staff.
“Don’t resist. Especially you.”
She glanced at me once, then struck the ground with the staff.
***
The next moment, The space around us had completely changed.
A deep-colored carpet.
A mahogany bookshelf and a tea table for guests.
Bookshelves that covered the entire wall.
Bright sunlight pouring through tall windows.
“Welcome to the Academy’s headmistress’s office.”
The headmistress removed her wizard’s hat and placed it on its designated hook.
Her silver hair cascaded like a pile of silk threads.
“There will be some tea, so please make yourself comfortable.”
As she gestured toward the sofa, an afternoon tea set appeared from thin air.
Melrit sat next to me, briefly stood up, then sat back down.
She seemed to have sat reflexively, then remembered she was an instructor, and realized it would be odd to move now, so she settled back in her seat.
‘She’s transparent.’
Of course, she must have been equally transparent in the headmistress’s eyes.
A smile had appeared in her golden eyes, directed at Melrit, like she was shaking her head in exasperation.
“Then, although it’s late, let me introduce myself.”
The girl placed her hand on her flat chest.
“Skaha Merlinnia. I’m the founder and headmistress of the Academy.”
‘Merlinnia.’
It was definitely the name of a noble family.
A family that was highly esteemed and with a long history.
The fact that she didn’t mention her family name likely meant that for her, being the headmistress of the Academy was a title more significant than any affiliation to a noble family.
“So, about the admission… Ah, please relax. After using so much mana, you must be hungry, right?”
Her words contained a trap.
‘If I admitted I was hungry here, it would reveal that I had used an enormous amount of mana.’
‘However, it seemed more like she was testing whether I would notice the trap rather than trying to deceive me.’
‘The headmistress must have already known exactly how much mana I had used.’
“Yes, a little.”
I picked up the fork.
For a moment, a smile appeared on the headmistress’s face, reflecting on the thin metal surface before disappearing as it was buried in whipped cream.
‘Whipped cream.’
I had no memory of ever eating it since I was reincarnated.
I didn’t really miss it.
I wasn’t particularly fond of sweet things.
“—!!”
Inside my mouth, Happiness.
It burst forth.
One bite.
Another bite. Hastily.
The savory and sweet cream.
The fluffy cake layers.
The candied fruits stuck between them.
All of it—
“…Ah.”
***
By the time I came to my senses, I had already sent two pieces of cake down my throat.
Even if I had gulped down a drink, I wouldn’t have eaten this fast.
A sense of shame suddenly washed over me.
“Hmm, hmm…”
“You don’t need to be shy. Honestly, it was nice to see how much you enjoyed it.”
Well, that’s kind of you to say.
Once I set down the fork, the headmistress personally poured me some tea.
“Now, I think you’ve satisfied your hunger, so… about Miss Ellie’s enrollment, I believe we can finalize it within this week.”
Melrit raised her hand.
“I have one question regarding that.”
“Go ahead.”
“For the academy, do admissions require different procedures if done by the admissions officer?”
“Hm, I see. This is actually the first time in the academy’s history. However, there’s no need to worry. I’ll handle all of those procedures myself.”
Melrit lowered her head.
“Thank you.”
The headmistress waved her hand.
“That’s what I’m here for, after all. So, Miss Ellie, I’m sure you have many questions, but do you have anything you want to ask right now?”
“Why do you ask?”
“If you don’t, I was planning to guide you to a temporary room for now. You must be tired both physically and mentally—this is only natural for someone who’s used magic for the first time, so don’t try to hide it.”
“…Honestly, yes. A little.”
“In that case, you can save your other questions for later.”
As the headmistress made a motion with her hand, a bell rang on its own.
“Yes…!”
Then, a maid dressed in a combination of black and white clothes rushed in.
“Jeina, this young lady is a student about to enroll in the academy. Please guide her to one of the empty dormitory rooms.”
“Anywhere?”
“Anywhere. As long as it’s empty, it doesn’t matter. And if there’s something you need and you can find it, feel free to ask. If it requires money, I’ll put it under my name.”
“Understood! This way, please!”
“Melrit. Stay for a moment.”
“Yes.”
I stood up and bowed my head.
“Thank you for taking care of me. I’ll be going now.”
“Rest well.”
And so, I followed the maid out.
The headmistress kept waving at me until the door closed.
Once Ellie’s footsteps had completely faded away, Academy headmistress Skaha brought her hand, which she had been waving, to her own face.
It was trembling lightly.
She had kept waving her hand to avoid being caught, ‘but did that genius girl fail to notice?’
It didn’t really matter either way.
What was important wasn’t that.
“…Melrit.”
Skaha’s voice rose higher.
The excitement that she had been holding in finally surged up and exploded.
“‘Ah, ha, headmistress!?”
“Well done! Really well done!!”
“You…”
Skaha’s laughter filled the room.
“How did you manage to find such an unbelievable genius!? Ahahahaha!!!” She laughed uncontrollably!
Melrit felt like she was watching the sun rise from the west.
“What? Is this really our headmistress? Really?”
In all of Melrit’s 5 years as a student and 2 additional years as a faculty member, she had never seen this side of the headmistress.
“Ahahaha! I’ve truly found an unbelievable gem! Hehehe!! Very well done! Very, very well done!!”
Skaha kept ruffling Melrit’s hair and patting her back.
If she got any more excited, she might’ve kissed her on the cheek.
“I’ve seen countless wizards in my 70 years of teaching, but I’ve never seen talent like that…! I’m so excited about what they’ll accomplish! I can’t sleep tonight!”
“Th-thank goodness…”
“Melrit.”
Skaha suddenly grew serious.
Melrit, whose expression had softened, immediately felt like the fool in the room.
But it only lasted for a brief moment.
Because what Skaha said next was so shocking that it hit Melrit harder than a fist.
“You’re going to be a professor.”
“Pardon…?”
A beat later, she understood.
“WHAT!?!”
***
Meanwhile, Jeina, who was tasked with guiding Ellie to her room, glanced at her with a mix of wariness and curiosity.
‘Is she really a student?’
After all, a magician wouldn’t have such an ordinary appearance.
But since the headmistress herself said she was a student, she must be one.
And if she was a student, then Jeina, with just a thought, could be killed on the spot by magic or authority.
So, cautiously, Jeina waited for Ellie to speak first.
“Jeina.”
“Yes…?”
“‘Miss?’”
‘A student wasn’t a personal attendant or servant.’
‘She was just a maid in the academy, so why was she using such formal speech?’
“I’m sorry…!”
“Huh?”
“I mean… please just call me Jeina. It feels more comfortable that way… Well, I suppose I can’t argue with that. Then, Jeina, I have a question for you.”
“Uh…”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Could you bring me something to eat? I’m hungry…”
Ellie stuck her tongue out slightly, as if trying to hide her embarrassment.
“Well, if I guide you to your room, I’ll have the kitchen prepare something for you. Is there a specific dish you want?”
“No, no, I don’t want to bother the chefs with something like that. Just, uh, could you bring me some leftover bread with jam or butter? Something simple.”
“Anytime… But are you sure you’ll be okay with just that?”
“Oh. Are you wanting to eat together?”
“Yes!? I’m so sorry!”
“Is that a taboo word…?”
Ellie scratched her cheek awkwardly.
Jeina looked at her and thought, ‘It would be nice if I could serve this person forever.’