Ch.110110. Spring Arrives (3)

1st. Natalie

2nd. Eugene Greyson

3rd. Cora Foyce

4th. Victor Yanenko

5th. Yan Bigwan

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The placement exam was over. The new students with expressions on their faces were mostly frustrated. Those with blank faces either nodded at the scoreboard as if they had anticipated their rankings, or simply left without concern. There were no secrets in the Academy’s rankings. It showed those at the bottom who they needed to hunt, and those at the top why they needed to defend their positions.

“…Damn it. I’m screwed.”

“What kind of placement exam is this? It’s not like they’re trying to collectively screw over the students.”

Those without ambition would be weeded out. They were the ones who had already lost their confidence and drive for improvement after just the first exam. Those satisfied merely with getting into the Academy. Other new students passed by, looking contemptuously at those muttering such things.

“And what’s the grading criteria anyway? Did they just release monsters into the forest and rank us based on who gets eaten last?”

“There’s no system. They probably just assign scores based on which students the professors like.”

The complaints of those unable to accept the reality before them grew as they shared their grievances.

“And what’s with that 1st place? There’s no surname? Is she some orphan or something?”

“What era do you think this is? Even orphans have surnames. Maybe she never even had the chance to receive one. I understand the Greyson family or the Foyce family being up there, but this? The Academy is really going downhill.”

Their jealousy was directed at those ranked above them. A non-noble name sitting firmly at first place. It was natural for children of prestigious families to be at the top, but they couldn’t tolerate someone of humble origins standing above them. The motley group of new students all nodded in agreement with such thoughts.

“Do you know what the 1st place looks like? Have you heard of her name before?”

At the new voice, the freshmen responded dully, assuming another like-minded person had joined them.

“No. I don’t really care either. She’ll probably wash out soon anyway.”

“She’s standing right behind you.”

The freshmen turned around in shock, and were even more surprised to see a black-haired girl and a young man and woman standing behind her.

“E-Eugene Greyson? Cora Foyce?”

Eugene, who wasn’t particularly tall, frowned and waved his hand dismissively. With a face that seemed not to have aged a day since fifteen, Eugene stepped forward. Cora, who stood beside Eugene, was similar in height. She swung her tied-up hair gently, looking at Eugene with disapproving eyes, but still followed him as he walked.

“How long are you going to block the way? Move.”

Eugene spoke indifferently, and the freshmen scattered under his authoritative voice. Eugene stared at the rankings for a long time, then exhaled softly and looked at the person in front of him. Black bob-cut hair, probably half a span shorter than himself. Natalie looked at the rankings with a dry expression, seemingly indifferent to the two people behind her.

“So. How does it feel to beat both of us, Natalie? You should be quite proud of yourself.”

“Not really. My goal isn’t something as trivial as this.”

Her name at the top of the rankings. Below it, a line of elite talents from prestigious families. Natalie seemed genuinely unbothered by it all. Eugene, perhaps finding her indifferent attitude more interesting, smiled and continued to engage her.

“Really? Then what is your goal? Your understanding of magical power seems quite extraordinary. What about your circle? Actually, the magic you use doesn’t seem bound by conventional magic at all.”

“If you thought she’d answer everything just because you asked, we wouldn’t need to be following her around.”

Cora, who had been watching silently, spoke to Eugene in a sharp voice. Eugene nodded in agreement and took a step back. The genius of the Greyson family. A talent capable of aiming for the top of the tower after entering it. A young mage who had already created his fourth ring.

Eugene had a fairly objective understanding of his own talents and abilities. With this much, he could more than pull his weight anywhere on the continent. And he was well aware that there were no other eighteen-year-olds who could do the same.

But this girl before him is beyond that.

“Then let me ask just one thing. I’m not that curious about your goal. I’ll find out anyway if I keep attending the Academy, and rather than discovering your purpose, I’d rather do something that helps my own. So, what’s your circle like right now?”

Natalie finally stopped looking at the rankings and turned around. Eugene and Cora instinctively drew in their breath as they met the girl’s eyes. Eyes as black as her hair. Her face was so pure and beautiful it could have been crafted by a sculptor.

“More than you think.”

It was a simple answer that skirted the core of the question. But Eugene was satisfied with Natalie’s response and smiled. She knows how to increase her value. This girl was much smarter than Eugene had thought. She seemed to be harboring secrets beyond his imagination.

“Well, alright. I can at least tell that you’re much stronger than me.”

Inside that barrier, Eugene had clearly seen Natalie’s actions. The magic she used to slaughter all those monsters was of just one type. And it wasn’t just her magic. Her movements. It felt like her body already knew how to fight. Like someone who had been to the battlefield many times.

“It must have been quite impressive. I would have been more surprised if you hadn’t ranked first.”

Eugene knew that what the professor called “a talent who doesn’t need to come to the Academy” literally meant a talent that appears once in a thousand years. Could this girl before him be such a person? Eugene wondered as he looked at Natalie.

“Is that all you have to say?”

Natalie asked in an emotionless voice. Her attitude suggested that if he was done talking, he should go about his business. Eugene waved his hand good-naturedly and looked at Cora beside him, but Cora just stood with her arms crossed, as if telling him to handle it himself. She really seemed uninterested in the mysterious girl who had taken first place. Perhaps because she had chosen the knight education path.

“Let’s go together. We’ll have to register for classes soon anyway. We can talk about what kind of professors there are while we’re at it.”

No family would have claimed this girl yet. If she could be recruited for the Greysons, specifically as Eugene Greyson’s person, she would be a tremendous help in the succession competition. Eugene thought only of his future plans as he followed Natalie, not feeling the slightest humiliation from the girl’s cold treatment.

“I heard they’ve put quite a bit of effort into the faculty this time. There’s someone who might interest anyone.”

At the mention of the faculty, Natalie’s walking pace slowed. Had that caught her interest? Eugene quickened his pace to catch up beside her again.

“Do you know who’s there? Well, it’s probably not publicly available information…”

“You have a loose tongue, Eugene.”

“We’ll find out anyway. I know where to draw the line, Cora.”

Eugene frowned at Cora’s interruption and snapped back. Then he cleared his throat and turned back to Natalie. Natalie looked at Eugene with an arrogant expression, as if telling him to go ahead. Eugene thought her expression was that of someone trying hard to hide their curiosity, and smiled.

“The Hero.”

At Eugene’s quiet voice, Natalie’s demeanor suddenly changed. It was like seeing her during monster combat. Eugene and Cora held their breath at the chilling sensation down their necks. But Natalie quickly composed herself and shrugged.

“That’s unusual. The Magic Tower has good connections. They’ve managed to hire someone who must be busy with various matters.”

“It wouldn’t have been possible without the Hero’s willingness. There’s no way to know why they accepted such a teaching position, though. Perhaps there’s some ulterior motive. For instance, a political deal.”

Cora frowned and interjected at Eugene’s suspicion.

“This is why I can’t stand mages. Not only do you fail to appreciate the Hero’s achievements, you question their intentions. Next you’ll be saying that defeating the calamity was also a political deal.”

“It might have been. There’s a saying that you should start by being suspicious of everything.”

“Interpreting things to suit yourself isn’t usually called suspicion.”

Their argument seemed more like playful banter between friends rather than a serious dispute. Natalie glanced at the two of them and then quietly directed her steps elsewhere.

“Anyway. The Hero’s lectures aren’t mandatory.”

“Even if they’re not mandatory, everyone will want to attend. By the way, where did she go?”

“…Good question.”

Eugene and Cora stared blankly at the empty space where Natalie had been.

==

“So this is the result?”

Tower Master Laura nodded with interest as she read the paper I handed her. A list of new students who might be connected to demon worship. It’s the first time I’ve done such a dubious thing to people.

“You thoroughly investigated those who aren’t from the capital and have no connections. Focusing on people with unclear backgrounds. It’s cruel but effective. I was wondering if it would be alright to work with you…”

Laura put down the paper and smiled.

“Your suspicions align with mine. I was in the middle of conducting my own investigation.”

Laura turned the paper back toward me.

“But why are these three people marked in red?”

The section Laura pointed to contained the names of three people I had placed at the top of the list to be investigated. I glanced at Natalie’s name, which Laura was covering, and opened my mouth.

“The placement exam.”

Laura nodded continuously, as if telling me to continue. I sighed and went on.

“These three were able to respond to the first monster attack when they appeared.”

“Don’t you think it could have been luck? What if they’re people with the talent to defeat monsters through reflexive actions? After that, these people couldn’t use much strength and were eliminated.”

Couldn’t they have blocked it once with luck?

I gave Laura a sour look in response to her questioning expression. She wasn’t seriously thinking that way; she was just curious about how I would counter it.

“It would be foolish to dismiss it as luck.”

When I chided her to be serious, Laura finally regained her serious demeanor.

“Very well. Have you investigated these three people?”

I nodded with a sigh.

“Jabel Harsh. Age twenty, older than the typical freshman. Nothing particularly noteworthy. Region of origin… Arid. From the south. Has family but no particular sponsor. Above all, there’s absolutely no information on what she was doing before the Academy. I think it’s right to keep an eye on her.”

I pointed to the next name.

“Ivan Balko. Eighteen years old, from Teitri. Similarly has a background. This one seems to have a sponsor, but there’s no information on where the funding comes from. If we’re talking about suspicious individuals, Ivan Balko is the most suspicious in my opinion. And…”

Tap.

Finally, I pointed to Natalie’s name.

“Natalie. No surname, unclear origin, full scholarship student. Moreover, she already possesses skills close to perfection. I believe you would have put this child on the watch list even without me mentioning it.”

Laura nodded slowly. She seemed to be carefully considering the explanation I had given.

“So, which one do you think is the spy sent by the demon worshippers?”

That was decided from the beginning.

I slightly twisted one corner of my mouth.