Bold Genius Girl (2)

Many male students took an interest in Aileen. A mysterious personality where gentleness and vivacity coexisted. Appearance aside, there were more than a few people who fell for her character, which seemed like ‘Goodness’ manifested in reality.

Plus, being around her made you feel inexplicably good. Because she unconsciously spread the coziness of the World Tree, she was always surrounded by people.

“Where is Aileen from?”

“Kardrasil!”

“Huh…? That, that big tree in the land of the demi-humans?”

“Uh-huh. World Tree Ajumma. It’s hard to understand at first, but you get used to it if you listen!”

“Ahahaha! That’s funny. Got any other stories?”

And her unpredictable, quirky actions.

Aileen would go on and on about how she was from Kardrasil, how she was best friends with Elves and climbed trees, things that an ordinary ‘human’ couldn’t even imagine. Because of this, the young ladies who approached her out of spite or pure interest couldn’t get any information.

Aileen, on the contrary, talked more with the commoners. Her nature of treating everyone with a smile and her fun stories made the commoners break down the walls of status. It was a rare case in the academy, where factions formed in less than a day.

Because of that.

She also attracted attention in a bad way.

“I was interested because she was the top student, but she’s not very substantial.”

“I know, right? She’s kind of ditzy…”

“We usually call that ‘beneath one’s dignity’.”

“Oh my, Lady Cecelia. She’ll hear you.”

Amelda Cecelia, the precious daughter of the Marquis family, didn’t like Aileen. It was because even when she asked for her name, she only replied, ‘My name is Aileen!’ and hid her last name.

The truth was that Yujin hadn’t held a ceremony yet, so she ‘didn’t’ have a last name, but Amelda took it to mean, ‘I don’t want to get involved with the likes of you, so get lost.’

“How impertinent.”

The Cecelia family was a ‘political’ family.

If the merchants of the South gained their positions with money, and the Frontier Counts and Regents raised their status with force, the Cecelia family only competed with politics. The political relationships that had lasted for hundreds of years were something even the Imperial Palace couldn’t dare ignore.

Naturally, she had done many activities even before coming to the academy. She attended social gatherings without fail to make her face known, and she thoroughly trained the puppies that ran to her trying to get crumbs. If there was a talent she needed, she would throw them a carrot that they couldn’t help but take, without putting a leash on them.

That was how the Cecelia bloodline lived.

However, she had set foot in social circles since she was 7 years old, but she had never even heard of her name, let alone seen her face. Rumor had it that she was a child of the Rushellini family, but they had never even held a ceremony, let alone had children. Judging by the fact that she lived in the East Dormitory, she was definitely a noble…

‘Is she a hidden child?’

Astra, who was admitted with the recognition of her magical talent and the praise of everyone.

Her admission score was 7th place. A top-class score that couldn’t be ignored.

But Amelda wasn’t satisfied. She wanted to drag down all those above her and reign supreme.

But the kid in 1st place was a low-class bitch who liked to hang out with commoners…

‘She’s incredibly impertinent, but I should back off for now.’

It was almost 9 a.m.

The students who had gathered in the classroom for the 2nd aptitude test were quieting down as the time dwindled. When the homeroom professor came in at 9 a.m., the long-awaited ‘Astra Life’ would begin.

And 5 minutes before 9 a.m.

-Deureureuk!

The one who burst into the room, opening the door roughly, was-

“Haeek, haeek…”

A blue-haired man who ran in, dripping with sweat…

“Haa, you, you…!”

It was Harvest.

He had been overshadowed by Aileen, but he was also a popular student in many ways. The unique attribute of being the only grandson of the Blue Magic Tower and his excellent score as the top entrant. And the pure and cool appearance unique to the South played a part.

In short, he was handsome and talented. He didn’t seem to realize it, but when he came in, all the female students’ attention was focused on Harvest.

“Oh my, it’s Harvest-ssi?”

Cecelia was the same.

She pushed her followers back a step and descended the classroom stairs with an elegant and noble posture. The opponent was Harvest. He wasn’t a noble, but the position of ‘future Tower Lord’ had more value than a noble. There was no harm in getting involved.

“Nice to meet you. I am Amelda of the Cecelia family…”

He was handsome and talented, so if she kept him by her side, her own dignity would surely-

“You, you knew and passed it on, didn’t you?”

“…Excuse me?”

Ignored.

Harvest passed by Amelda and strode forward.

Right now, he didn’t have time to care about Amelda ‘or anything’.

“You, you passed on the heaviest bundle, didn’t you?!”

“Ah, Harvest! Thanks for helping me move the luggage!”

“Eugeueuk…! I almost died trying to get here by 9…!”

His legs were still shaking. Harvest plopped down in his seat, panting heavily.

He was mistaken for a pervert when he roamed around the women’s dormitory with a flushed face from being out of breath. Harvest gritted his teeth and glared at Aileen. But he couldn’t spit on a smiling face. He just sighed heavily, full of annoyance, and collapsed.

“…”

Amelda Cecelia.

She couldn’t say anything and just gaped.

“Se, Cecelia-nim!”

Her follower rushed over.

“…Ah, yes. That’s right. It’s almost 9, so we should sit down.”

Cecelia raised one hand lightly to dismiss her follower. She glared at Aileen with a cold expression. ―How dare you monopolize my attention? A chilling expression containing a sharp dagger. The faces of the surrounding students stiffened as they noticed the hostility.

-Deureureuk!

At that time.

A new person came in before the atmosphere completely froze.

“Who didn’t close the door properly?”

A hoarse voice that sounded like it had phlegm. It was a woman’s voice. The students perked up their ears and checked the source of the voice.

“You, what are you doing there? Go sit down.”

“…Ah, I’m sorry.”

Cecelia, who hadn’t sat down because she was glaring at Aileen.

She bowed her head and obediently returned to her seat.

“Two co-chiefs, 7th place, 15th place, 28th place… Geez, it seems like all the talents in the Faculty of Magic are gathered here.”

Brown hair and square glasses. A middle-aged woman who looked like a mage at first glance with a robe on her body. The large X-shaped scar on her face was impressive. She was a mage, but her skin was also close to brown, giving her the feeling of a mercenary.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Laminak, and I’ll be in charge of this special class. I’m the professor in charge of the Faculty of Magic, so you’ll be seeing me often in the future.”

Laminak.

The students buzzed when they heard the name Laminak. In particular, the noble children had surprised expressions and their eyes sparkled. Even Harvest, who had been half-dead and panting, made a gasp and raised his head.

Laminak was a synonym for battle mage and a master of multi-casting who could perfectly handle three types of elemental magic.

The consensus was that if she had entered the Magic Tower, she would have easily taken the position of Vice Tower Lord. In addition, her career as a ‘combat mage’ was also brilliant. A veteran mage who had been running around in the field for 29 years. It had been 5 years since she retired, but her reputation had not faded.

She looked at the tense students and said.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m not that strict of a professor. Rather, what kind of professor I am here is more important. To add to that, you shouldn’t think about graduating easily under me.”

If you don’t pass the exam, you’ll be held back without exception. There were fourteen students held back in Aileen’s class alone. There were so many students held back that many people had a fit just by looking at Laminak’s face.

“If you’re held back three times, you’ll be expelled. Just remember that.”

It was a funny story to Aileen, though.

Still, Aileen was happy. She didn’t like the slightly strict atmosphere, but it was because she was naturally fond of learning. She was also a mage after all, and everyone here was a mage. Curiosity was the staple food of mages. Here, laziness is the confirmation of falling behind.

“Now, let’s get to the main point.”

The students swallowed hard.

The 2nd aptitude test that was finally starting. The moment to awaken the inherent abilities that could not be confirmed with practical skills and theory.

There are two things that can be confirmed here. Either awaken additional talents, or face results that are worse than expected. The students straightened their backs, hoping that they wouldn’t be the latter.

“Before that, let’s move the seats.”

Laminak took out a scroll from her pocket and tore it with a tss- sound.

‘Teleport Scroll.’

Aileen identified what kind of magic it was just before the scroll was torn and chanted a spell in her mind.

‘How did I write the spell to prevent dizziness? Ah, that’s right. Mom collapsed back then because she was dizzy…’

In that instant.

Particles of light emanating from the scroll cover the students.

* * *

―Kyaaaaak!!

The light subsided and what was heard was a sharp scream.

“Wh, where is this?!”

“This isn’t, isn’t it the classroom?”

This was not the classroom. The space changed in the blink of an eye after the scroll was torn. The white, square classroom disappeared and a spacious athletic field greeted the students.

“This is…”

“…Oh my.”

Only Aileen, Harvest, and Cecelia, who had the best mana adaptation, were calmly assessing the situation.

Harvest licked his dry lips and looked at Aileen. Aileen was just smiling and laughing, as if she knew everything about this situation. Harvest’s face was filled with questions. ―How? How did you know about this situation?

In this situation, Harvest chose silence.

“Now, everyone.”

Amid the accelerating chaos, Cecelia took a step forward and said confidently.

“Calm down. If you act rashly even in this small confusion, you will only lower your own dignity. Now, let’s all calm our minds and take a deep breath, shall we?”

“As, as expected of Cecelia-nim! You’re amazing!”

“Hehe. It’s nothing. This is probably…”

Teleport.

“Oh my. They’re more okay than I thought? Did someone tell them?”

Laminak narrowed her eyes and muttered.

Teleport. Yes, it’s teleport. But, they were too okay. There were more than 50 students, but no one was gagging.

“Usually, they’re all throwing up and making a fuss…”

“Professor Laminak, what are you talking about?”

Cecelia asked politely. But Laminak only scanned the students without answering. Eventually, she was able to notice the abnormality.

“Someone played a trick.”

Mental stabilization spell? When did they cast it?

It took exactly 1.85 seconds to take out the scroll and tear it.

In that short time, they created a magic spell and cast it on all the students?

“Hehe…”

Laminak glared sharply at Aileen, who was just hehe-ing.

The students’ attention is focused.

“Well, whatever.”

There was really a lot to say, but good is good. Even if a student’s talent is better than her own, she has no complaints. That will soon become the power of the Empire.

“Then let’s start. Top entrant, shall we start with Harvest?”