I Cat Think, Therefore I Cat Am

After seeing Übel and Fern into the examination venue, Lorenzo found himself bored and began wandering around the Holy City, without a trace of the anxiety a parent ought to feel when seeing children off to an important exam.

Over the years, he had become thoroughly familiar with every shop in the Holy City, large and small.

He knew which bakery had the tastiest freshly baked Honey Bread and when each café gave away free cookies... He knew even more than many Holy City natives.

In a sense, that was quite an accomplishment. If the Holy City's street wanderers were ranked, he thought he could compete for a place in the top three.

But he certainly wasn't doing nothing out here as he had in the past. Lorenzo was now petting a cat by the roadside while pondering an extremely complicated question.

"Cat Thought, therefore cat am. What exactly is food? Is it used to make things, or is it made? Is it used to give, or is it given?"

"Meow."

"You don't understand? Fair enough. Exactly, I don't understand either."

"Meow."

"It's all right, it's all right. Come on, come on, let me give you a hug!"

"Meow—"

But just as his hand was about to touch the cat's belly, the orange cat, which had looked so well-behaved, suddenly raised a front paw and slapped the back of his hand without hesitation. It then licked its paw and turned to leave, sweeping its tail across Lorenzo's face just as rudely.

"What an unlikable cat."

Lorenzo patted down his clothes as he spoke.

Next, he had to think about where to hold the celebratory meal once the two of them came out. He also needed to invite Zanze. After all, she was the one who had let him become a Third-Class True Magic User without taking the exam. He had to repay that favor somehow, so naturally treating her to a meal was only right.

Though doing that would make it look even more like they had made some unspeakable private deal...

Before long, the Third-Class True Magic exam came to an end.

Lorenzo went to the entrance of the True Magic Association just in time to see Fern and Übel coming out.

"How did the exam go?"

"Of course I passed, and I came first, Lord Lorenzo."

Fern answered with great delight. Clearly, she was quite satisfied with the result.

"I passed too."

Übel leaned in from the side.

"Someone who barely passed the theory exam shouldn't be showing off here."

Fern shoved Übel aside and reclaimed her place in front of Lorenzo.

So the Third-Class True Magic exam had a theory section? And Übel actually passed it? I didn't expect that.

Just then, Zanze also came out of the True Magic Association, holding several freshly issued certificates.

"This is your Third-Class True Magic User qualification certificate."

Zanze handed the certificate to Lorenzo.

"Although you didn't take the exam, your record is the same as the other candidates'. With this certificate, you can accept commissions of the corresponding rank from the True Magic Association and apply to consult some of its internal records."

"Thanks."

Lorenzo took the certificate. Officially speaking, he had probably had the easiest time of all the candidates today. Although he had felt somewhat uninvolved, he would welcome a few more situations like this.

"By the way, would you like to join us for a meal later?"

Lorenzo asked Zanze.

"Are you thanking me for letting you pass without an exam?"

Zanze looked at herself as she spoke.

"You could see it that way."

"That sounds like some kind of private deal."

Sure enough, even the person involved had gotten exactly the same impression.

"The exam is already over. Treating you now can only count as thanking you afterward."

"Doesn't that make it even more suspicious?"

Fern stepped in to help Lorenzo out.

"Let's just consider it a celebration of the three of us earning our Third-Class True Magic User qualifications. Besides, Examiner Zanze, you've been busy all day. You probably haven't eaten yet either, have you?"

Zanze thought for a moment.

"All right."

"Yay! Examiner Zanze is coming too? Then let's get going."

Übel looked delighted and immediately moved over beside Zanze.

Zanze simply took a silent step away from her.

"Let's be clear beforehand: you can't sit next to me during the meal."

Zanze gathered all her long hair to the side away from Übel.

"Ah..."

Übel wailed.

"But I still have lots of questions about True Magic I wanted to ask you."

"I don't believe those questions of yours actually have anything to do with True Magic."

Although Übel had never actually attacked an examiner throughout the entire exam, Zanze still felt that if she wanted to keep her hair, she had better stay away from her. This was probably what people called an instinctive response to a natural predator.

"I've already picked a restaurant. Let's go."

Lorenzo spoke.

The four walked west along the Holy City's streets and soon arrived outside a rather elegantly decorated restaurant.

The shop's sign bore a picture of a Red Bull breathing fire. Its most famous dish was said to be charcoal-grilled steak, rich with meat juices and reasonably priced.

A server led them to a table for four by the window.

Lorenzo sat beside Zanze, while Fern and Übel sat opposite them. Though only a table separated them, at least Übel couldn't easily reach Zanze's hair.

Zanze could just about accept that.

After everyone had ordered, the server quickly brought their drinks. After all, there were two minors present. Though to a passerby, there would probably appear to be three, in any case, they certainly couldn't drink alcohol.

Lorenzo raised his glass.

"Then, congratulations to Fern for passing the exam in first place, and to Übel for successfully earning her Third-Class True Magic User qualification."

"And you too, Lord Lorenzo."

Fern reminded him.

"Although you didn't do anything, you earned your qualification as well."

"Why doesn't that sound like a congratulations?"

"I'm just stating a fact."

Fern raised her glass as if nothing had happened, while Übel couldn't help laughing beside her.

"In any case, congratulations to the three of us."

Lorenzo spoke with great resignation.

"Cheers."

"Cheers."

Several glasses gently clinked together above the table with a clear ring.

"Speaking of which, Zanze, did you come to the Holy City just to oversee the Third-Class True Magic User exam?"

Lorenzo asked, setting down his glass. There were only a handful of First-Class True Magic Users on the entire continent, and they could well be called the True Magic Association's "provincial governors." If she had come just to supervise an exam, it would have been a waste of her talents.

"No."

Zanze took a sip of juice.

"Do you remember that Windwing Dragon from last time? The recent investigation into the matter has turned up some leads. My main reason for coming to the Holy City this time was to consult the relevant records. Supervising the exam was incidental."

"What did you find out?"

Lorenzo asked curiously.

"This matter is connected to a Demon named Breda."