“And this is a different question, but can you tell me what the academy exams are like?”

    “Does it sound like you want to use a shortcut?”

    “It’s not a shortcut, it’s about being prepared. I wasn’t the one asking the problem.”

    “Well, that too… … The answer is simple. If you don’t neglect the academy’s lectures on a regular basis and can skillfully use all the magic you’ve learned in the lectures so far, there won’t be any problem. And above all, aren’t you a freshman right now? These are probably exams that all juniors who received the title among first-year students will pass without any problems.”

    “What I’m curious about is not that, but the method of the test.”

    “That’s a secret.”

    The senior laughed and pointed his cane at me.

    “The test changes every year, no matter which grade you ask, the correct answer will be the same, and the academy’s test is different for each professor. Last year, a professor created a simple dungeon and had people break through it, and a professor used his magic to write a thesis. Since you asked me to write it down, let me just say it briefly for juniors who are curious: The academy’s exam is based on practical skills.”

    Saying that, the senior waved his wand lightly to create an ice crystal in his hand and smiled.

    “The test may be different depending on the magic used, just as if it were ice magic, there could be a test to freeze fire.”

    “So, as you said, you need to be able to skillfully use the magic you have learned so far without neglecting the lectures. No matter what assignment you are given, everyday magic is important to pass.”

    “That’s my answer, some professors give assignments first before the exam.”

    I bowed my head in greeting to what Erica said, and she waved her hand at me.

    As I was thinking about the exam, it occurred to me that in the end the answer was just to live my life without doing anything different from usual. As my senior said, no matter how much I practice and prepare, if it’s written, I can’t regret it later.

    In the end, the basis of magic is to explore and develop yourself, so if I had the chance, I wanted to rent a training room for a day and practice magic. I wondered how it would be possible to keep the cold as my senior said, but perhaps because I had already been on the verge of having the cold penetrate my body and freeze my heart, I had some sense of it.

    I take the cold around me into my body, but don’t let it reach my heart. That would be the basis.

    But it was almost impossible to work without feeling the cold right now, so I just walked towards the bar with familiar steps.

    As I naturally entered the bar and was changing clothes at the counter, Toa’s wife started talking to me, and I answered lightly.

    “I’m really not used to it every time I see it.”

    “What is it?”

    “Hair color, because it doesn’t look like the Astan I know.”

    “That’s right, I changed suddenly, so customers also asked about it.”

    “People who come here are usually regulars, so it might be surprising.”

    As we were talking, customers started coming in, so I finished the conversation and started working.

    As I was working for a while and had some free time, I was sweeping the front of the store with a broom and a mop to do some cleaning, when a familiar person came walking towards the bar.

    “You probably didn’t come here to work, so what did you come here for?”

    It was a familiar face. Sharon Tyrk, a very familiar but strange person with platinum-colored hair and blue eyes, who gave off the impression that he was handsome to anyone who saw him, and who also had a halo-like appearance as if everything were focused on him, was standing there.

    “I was tired of the academy’s cafeteria, so I came to say hello to Aunt Toa.”

    “Okay, go in.”

    Sharon went into the bar at my words, and I started cleaning the front of the store again.

    “Did you finish the story well?”

    “Yes, they told me to come back later when I want to work, and that it’s a good thing that there are a lot of workers because the store is always busy.”

    “Well, things will get a lot easier if just one of you comes, so it’s not a bad idea to think about it more seriously later. Anyway, there’s nothing else to do after the academy’s lectures are over.”

    “The exam is coming, so I need to prepare for it. You said it right? They say you have to prepare for the exam. You should also take a break from work when the exam approaches.”

    “I will take care of that, and when I asked senior Erica, she said that the basis of the test is practical skills, and that there are professors who write papers like papers, and that the task was to break through the dungeon.”

    “Break through the dungeon… … There is no wizard among first-year students who can do that.”

    I nodded to Saren’s words and spoke.

    “It’s probably not a real dungeon like the ones in Jingara, my senior said it was a temporary dungeon.”

    “I’m sure there will be monsters, but I don’t know which monsters will appear.”

    “No matter what, monsters like ogres won’t appear.”

    “There is no first year student who can defeat Ogre, not even a second year student.”

    I laughed lightly at those words. A wizard who can defeat an ogre, at least a third year. If you are in the 3rd grade or above, you may be able to compete with Ogre, but it will be difficult to win. For me, the only things I’ve seen about Ogres are rumors and books.

    Celestria can win, she is the strongest. He would probably be considered one of the strongest characters in the academy, excluding the 5th graders.

    “I think it would be easy if it were slime.”

    Sharon nodded at my words.

    “But I don’t want to catch it again after catching it to death in the underground waterway.”

    “Hagi, you and I broke through the underground waterway. I never thought a monster would come out of Ignolia.”

    “Maybe it was like a dungeon made by Gerard.”

    “If I get a chance later, I’ll have to ask my seniors.”

    And when the conversation ended, Sharon took the first step and returned to the academy, and I waved at her and saw her off. No matter what the test assignment was, Sharon thought she would do well. Because he was the main character.

    The same goes for Celestria, because she has always been strong and intelligent. It made no sense for her to fail the test. So I thought there would be no problem if I studied with Ceresria, but… …

    I felt like sweat was rolling down my back at the thought that maybe if I stayed next to her, I might have to compete with her again.

    If I had to fight one more time, I might really die.

    As I was thinking that, Toa’s wife came out of the store for a moment and was looking at me.

    “What are you doing?”

    “I have something to think about for a moment.”

    “If you’re going to fool around, do it somewhere you can’t see, it’s visible.”

    “I’ll remember.”

    As I said that, Aunt Toa smiled lightly at me.

    “Now it’s almost time for the exam. Are you not studying for the exam separately?”

    “I need to prepare, but since this is my first time taking the test, I have no idea what to do and how to prepare.”

    “Well, study like you normally do, and you won’t regret it.”

    “It looks like Lady Toa knows a little about the academy’s exams.”

    “There was a wizard like you who attended the academy and worked at our store.”

    “What grade are you in now?”

    “He died while attending the academy.”

    At those words, I slowly swallowed and scratched the back of my neck.

    “Sorry.”

    “Well, it’s already been a while and it’s not that shocking. Aren’t wizards always walking around the border between death and life? Curiosity kills the cat.”

    As she spoke, Aunt Toa took something out of her pocket, put it in her mouth, and lit it with a match.

    It was an object similar to smoking a pipe. Aunt Toa took a deep breath of the smoke from the object and exhaled it, and I lightly asked a question.

    “What is that?”

    “It is a product that allows you to smoke the herbal medicine that has become popular recently, like a cigarette. I heard it helps increase concentration and things like that, but I’m not sure.”

    “It doesn’t seem like a good product to use a lot.”

    “Well, isn’t everything in the world like that? Moderation is important.”

    As I was nodding my head to Aunt Toa’s words, I responded to her telling me to leave work now, went back to the counter, took off the apron I was wearing, put it away, then gathered my things and slowly walked towards the academy.

    The road to the Academy was as familiar as always, but something was different tonight, as if it were a different space, it was quiet and there were no signs of presence around me.

    Feeling as if I had entered another world, my hand naturally reached for the walking stick in my pocket.

    And as I was slowly walking down the street, someone was walking towards me right in front of me, and I slowly opened my mouth at the sight of that person.

    “Senior Isabel.”

    “I guess he’s leaving work?”

    “I heard you were busy, so what are you doing in a place like this?”

    “Hmm… … It doesn’t work either.”

    Then, at that moment, Senior Isabel’s body turned into a small cat, and I sighed at the sight.

    “Jeremy.”

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