episode_0021

Eve ranted and raved for a long time, but she was definitely more respectful than before.

How much of a hardcore fan of Kali must she be to act like that.

Seeing that notoriously ill-tempered villainous young lady holding back.

“…So you truly won’t tell me?”

“Of course not.”

The reason I could treat her like this, even though she was a Count’s young lady.

It was thanks to Kali.

If I hadn’t had the title of Kali’s acquaintance, she probably would have gone ballistic, saying a commoner toyed with a noble and she’d cut my head off.

But you know what….

-Stomp -Stomp

“Why do you keep following me?”

“I’m just going the same way. Don’t misunderstand, commoner.”

“Yes, yes~ I get it.”

“Ugh…!!”

By constantly talking, I feel like I might grow fond of her.

Not good feelings, only bad feelings.

By the way, seeing that we’re heading in the same direction… it seems Eve is also trying to go to the academy.

It’s not even the date for the entrance exam yet.

Curious, I spoke first.

“You’re going to the academy, aren’t you?”

“That’s right. How does a commoner like you know that?”

“Because I’m also on my way to the academy?”

“What did you say?”

At my words, Eve slowly scanned me from bottom to top.

Why is she acting like that all of a sudden?

Eve, who was staring intently at me, smirked once and crossed her arms.

“Ha…! Dreaming of entering the academy. That place is only for elites like me. Commoner. Know your place.”

“I’m not visiting because of entrance, though.”

It seems there’s some kind of misunderstanding.

My age shouldn’t be the age to enter the academy.

“Huh? Then why are you going to the academy?”

“I’m going to see if there are any remaining professor positions.”

“What?!”

At that, Eve looked at me, startled.

Why is she reacting like that?

Her reaction every time I said something was so engaging that talking to her was surprisingly fun.

“Commoner, how old are you?”

“I’m thirty this year.”

At that, Eve was startled once again.

I was starting to think she might be a reaction generator.

“Thirty with that face? Don’t lie so much.”

“Haha, it’s not a lie, though.”

As we bantered back and forth, a massive stone structure suddenly came into view.

It stood solid, like a giant fortress.

Its appearance was clean, probably because it was built relatively recently.

After walking for about 10 more minutes, a large iron gate and two guards began to appear.

-Pitter-patter

Just then, Eve, who had been keeping a distance beside me, swiftly ran towards the entrance.

The guards, surprised by Eve’s sudden approach, stopped her.

“Step back. Persons who have not identified themselves are not permitted entry.”

“What did you say?!”

Instantly, Eve’s expression hardened.

After suppressing her anger in silence for a moment—

“Uh…?”

Another guard standing nearby looked at Eve’s dress and trailed off.

A dress with a black dragon emblem embedded in it.

And the white hair characteristic of the Lancia County family.

The guard, who belatedly recognized Eve’s identity, bowed ninety degrees.

“I apologize for the disrespect!”

“Hmph. I’ll overlook it just this once.”

Eve said that, but she was still looking at me.

She was smiling, filled with mockery.

As if emphasizing how great she was.

Arrogance was clearly etched on her face.

The guards exchanged glances, then cautiously asked, looking at my and Eve’s escorts.

“Perhaps those people are also companions?”

“Not that suspiciously-looking person—”

Suspiciously-looking, huh.

It must be referring to me.

Since there were no outward features that matched at all, I thought the guards wouldn’t understand, but just then—

“You’re referring to that person, right?”

The guard pointed directly at me.

How did he know?

Seeing that, Eve burst out laughing and came towards me.

What is she going to say now?

-Whoosh

“Hey, commoner.”

“What is it, noble.”

Eve whispered softly.

“You won’t even be able to set foot inside without my help.”

“Really? That’s too bad.”

“Listen to the end, commoner.”

Eve looked between the guards and me for a moment, then spoke with a devilish smile.

“If… you let me meet Kali-nim, I might even let you enter with me as my companion.”

“That’s a very kind offer.”

“Then—”

“However, I refuse.”

Perhaps she didn’t understand my words, Eve was blank for a moment—

“Ha…! Then stand there all day.”

She pushed me lightly, full of annoyance.

“Follow me, Millie!!”

Then she gestured for her escort to follow and entered the academy, passing the opened guard.

The escort followed Eve for a moment, then bowed to me apologetically, as if saying sorry.

Looking at that, I should probably bear it.

-Creak -Thud!

As the two of them entered and the main gate closed firmly, I also approached the guards.

But their attitude was cold, the opposite of how they treated Eve.

-Clang!

Blocking me with the spear they held, they spoke in an overbearing tone.

“No one can enter here. State your identity.”

Identity, huh.

There’s nothing specific I can state as my identity.

As there are no outward elements to boast about.

However—

-Rustle

“This is….”

The recommendation letter Oliver gave me.

He definitely said, if I take this, everything will be resolved.

Firmly trusting Oliver, I handed the recommendation letter to the guard.

-Whoosh

The guard, who was examining the recommendation letter intently, confirmed the emblem engraved on the paper and bowed to me.

“Oliver-nim’s recommendation letter. Confirmed.”

-Slide open

The main gate, which had closed firmly after Eve entered, opened again.

Thinking it was opening too easily, I asked with doubt.

“Aren’t you going to do any other checks?”

“That recommendation letter is sufficient.”

Clean-cut, clean-cut.

Smiling satisfactorily, I entered through the opened gate—

“What, what is it?!”

Eve, who thought I would be lingering in front of the main gate all day, pointed at me in embarrassment.

As if she never expected I could enter this easily.

“How so easily….”

“Connections.”

“Huh?”

“Connections.”

A short but impactful sentence.

Eve started bouncing around again.

***

Leaving Eve, who was ranting at the entrance, behind, I strolled the academy grounds.

The scenery of the buildings was similar to a university.

The difference would be the scale.

Since I roughly knew the internal structure of the buildings, there was no hesitation in my steps.

Had I walked for about 10 minutes?

[Edmund]

An old-fashioned wooden door made of birch wood came into view.

This is where the academy principal, Edmund Morgan, is.

A person who doesn’t appear often in the novel, but occasionally reminds people of his existence through mentions.

Perhaps because of that, information about him is severely lacking.

-Knock -Knock

Knocking on the door with appropriate strength, a gentle voice echoed from inside.

“Come in—”

-Creak

Upon entering, the first thing visible was a massive crystal ball.

After fixing my gaze for a moment on the luminous five-colored sphere, my eyes turned towards the neatly organized desk.

“You’re a young man I’ve never seen before.”

His scattered white hair and a benevolent smile are impressive.

This is the only Great Mage in the Empire who reached the 8th Circle.

-Whoosh

Indeed, the various magic tools visible inside the principal’s office all seemed expensive.

All those magic tools seemed too expensive for me to buy even one with the money I had.

Edmund, who was looking at me for a moment, asked.

“You are?”

“I came to see if there are any professor positions left.”

“Haha. What a bold young man.”

Edmund smiled at the frank answer without any hidden meaning.

Watching his reaction, I placed the recommendation letter Oliver gave me on his desk.

-Rustle

After looking between me and the recommendation letter for a moment, Edmund pulled out a small magnifying glass from the drawer.

Then slowly. He carefully examined the recommendation letter.

“Hmm.”

Seeming to have read it all, Edmund carefully placed the paper on the desk.

And then—

“Is this truly Oliver’s recommendation letter?”

He asked me in a low, serious voice to ascertain its authenticity.

-Shiver

He just spoke, but the intimidation was immense.

There was no physical pressure at all, but the presence and atmosphere alone dominated the space.

The title of Academy Principal and 8th Circle Great Mage suited him well.

However, there’s no need to be intimidated by that presence. No need to shrink back.

Because this is the recommendation letter Oliver handed me directly.

“If you doubt it, you can contact Mr. Oliver?”

A confident appearance without any hesitation.

Edmund, who looked at me for a moment, his expression softened.

“It’s a joke. I know this friend’s handwriting and way of speaking.”

Edmund got up from his seat and went to the bookshelf.

Searching for a few documents like that, he spoke to me.

“By the way, you must be quite a skilled young man.”

“You’re flattering me so much I don’t know what to do. Haha.”

“It’s true. Seeing that friend Oliver wrote a recommendation letter like this, it’s as good as verified.”

Edmund, who searched the bookshelf for a moment, took out two documents and handed them to me.

“What is this…?”

“Remaining professor positions. Since you have quite some knowledge of magic, I recommend you be appointed as a professor in the Department of Magic.”

The first document Edmund handed me had contents related to the Department of Magic written on it.

The second one—

“Department of Ethics?”

“That… there is a remaining position, but I don’t recommend it as the department will soon be abolished.”

The Department of Ethics being abolished, huh.

Then who will teach ethics in such an immoral world?

I looked at the two documents for a long time and deliberated.

Thinking which department would be good to be appointed as a professor.

Thinking rationally, the Department of Magic is definitely the right choice.

“Now, have you made your decision?”

Indeed, the power of the recommendation letter is immense.

In the academy where the main story of the novel takes place.

And to be appointed as a professor this easily.

I made my decision after a happy deliberation.

-Whoosh

I held out the document describing the Department of Magic to Edmund.

Seeing that, Edmund quietly nodded.

“I see. A good choice—”

-Whoosh

“…Hm?”

However, when I also handed the Department of Ethics document to Edmund, a slight crack appeared on his face, which seemed like it would remain calm in any situation.

Thinking, why are you handing both documents?

But Edmund left something out.

‘You didn’t say to choose only one.’

I puffed out my chest and said confidently.

“I will take both positions.”