Border City had railways. Of course, its official name was "Magic Train." Three trains departed every day, running directly to Farol, the imperial capital of Narak.
It was not much different from the green-skinned trains of his previous life:
They were both made of metal sheets, except their fuel was not coal, but first-tier magic casters artificially "charging" them to provide power.
These humanoid batteries worked in groups of ten, changing shifts every half day. Their job was simple: pour their magic power into the magic vehicle. They were the fantasy world's distinctive office drones.
Count Carlo was not in a beautiful mood today.
He had raised this brat for over a decade and had finally managed to cultivate him into a good-for-nothing playboy. It could also be considered an answer to his mom's spirit in heaven. Yet today, his wings had truly hardened, and he actually wanted to head to the capital for the examinations.
He had not given Ansu a pleasant look all day.
Why did he have to squeeze onto some magic train with commoners? What did he mean by experiencing life? Was that even reasonable?
If the other nobles saw this, they would think the great Morningstar Family could not afford a train.
What an unfilial son!
What did the family even mean to him?
Since this unfilial son insisted on going against him and prattling on about experiencing life, Carlo had to teach this brat a lesson. He would grant his wish and let him experience the lives of poor commoners.
So he had specifically instructed Enya not to carry this unfilial son's luggage for him along the way. He wanted Ansu to understand the weight of the family.
Thus, when the young Ansu dragged a battered old suitcase half as tall as himself, fumbled through ticket inspection, and boarded the platform drenched in sweat—
More than half the passengers in the carriage stared at Ansu.
First, because he was handsome.
Second, because he truly looked like he was having a hard time, leaving his hometown at such a young age to struggle in the capital.
Especially when they saw him dragging that enormous luggage, some maidens began to imagine things: this poor child must have been driven from home by his parents.
Who knew how lost and heavy the future awaiting him would be?
They were all fantasizing about whether they could keep this child.
Ansu was indeed very confused.
What exactly was inside this thing? Why was it so heavy?
His father had prepared the luggage, and Count Carlo had specifically told him not to open it privately before boarding.
After much difficulty, he found a seat, placed the huge suitcase on the table, and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
Miss Enya leisurely sat down opposite him. Today, she wore a deep black Lolita-style gown with knee-high boots. Her posture was elegant, her legs slightly together, one delicate hand supporting her exquisite cheek as her eyes remained fixed on Ansu.
"This is the weight of the family." Miss Enya seemed to see Ansu's confusion and took the initiative to explain.
"..." Ansu opened it just a crack. Seeing nothing but a full layer of golden light, he quickly shut it again.
There were no clothes, toiletries, or rations.
"Why are there only gold ingots?" Ansu's mouth twitched slightly.
"His Excellency Carlo is teaching you to retain a childlike heart, not forget where you came from, remember the source when drinking water, and cherish sweetness by recalling bitterness—this is precisely the weight of the family."
Enya calmly said, "When you see these gold ingots, I hope you will remember your hometown's gold mines."
Ansu truly felt the weight of his future.
At that moment, a burst of commotion suddenly arose from the front of the carriage, along with faint cheers.
Through the window, Ansu saw a handsome, tall young man with brilliant gold hair board the train amid the crowd's cheers and escort. He wore a noble's robe and carried a brilliant gold staff. His bearing was dignified and imposing, as though he were a favored child of the gods.
God-Bestowed Title: "Radiant Lion Cub"
He headed straight for the VIP section, unlike Ansu, who wanted to experience life.
Ansu recognized him: Arthur Sunny, son of the Grand Duke of the Borderlands and heir to the Sun Family.
A true great noble of the Union Jack.
This fellow was on an entirely different level from an NPC like Calvin. He was the genuine male supporting lead of this world.
He was going to the imperial capital for the examinations too.
This man had every advantage: handsome looks, noble origins, and exceptional bloodline.
There was only one subtle issue.
On the Church of the Seven Gods' ranking of saints people most wanted to date, this guy ranked first.
Incidentally, over the past month, Ansu's ranking had also been shooting upward because of that #Child of Curse and Maid's Taboo Love# article written by someone he did not know. He had all the makings of a dark horse.
The train began moving, and Ansu did not want to pay any attention to this guy.
He leaned against the window and admired the scenery outside the window.
The old tracks lay across narrow mountain paths. Since it was already late autumn, the sleepers were covered with deep red maple leaves.
Further ahead was a tunnel through the mountain. Once the train emerged, a stretch of deep blue sea came into view. Shimmering fragments of blue light on the water looked like bits of foil pasted against the train windows.
Border City grew farther and farther away, gradually discarded into a tiny dot.
No matter how heavy the road ahead was, Ansu had ultimately left Border City and was about to travel toward the very heart of the stage—Farol, the imperial capital of Narak.
By the time dusk fell and the setting sun had dyed the sunset glow pink, the train finally arrived.
Farol, the imperial capital, was a grand and prosperous city, roughly twenty times the size of Border City. Ancient towers, clock towers, and churches could be seen everywhere. As the train entered the station platform, they could see the grandest and largest church in the world.
The glass-like complex stretched from the mountaintop all the way to its foot, brilliantly reflecting scattered light like flowing fire and reddening half the night sky.
"Church of the Seven Gods."
It was also known as the Academy of the Seven Gods.
This was Ansu's destination.
Though it was called a church, it would be more accurate to call it a massive religious complex.
The Naraku Empire had seven righteous gods, and thus seven orthodox faiths. The Radiant Holy See was merely one of the seven.
Farol had built this unified religious complex, enshrining all seven sects at once: Radiance, Druidism, Celestial Bodies, Alchemy, Healing, Order, and Chastity.
To become a saint, one first needed a recommendation to become a probationary believer, then enter the Church of the Seven Gods for a unified examination.
Put plainly, this was the Seven-School Joint Examination from his previous life.
Those who passed could become official saints and be sent back to the various rural branch churches. The top performers, meanwhile, could remain at the Church of the Seven Gods for further study. Upon graduation, this group would begin as priests in the branch churches.
Dragging his thick, heavy luggage, Ansu first went to the registration desk to register his information.
"Name."
"Ansu Morningstar."
"From?"
"Border City."
"Recommended sect?"
"Radiance."
The imperial capital's church staff truly had high standards. No one made things difficult for him, and no one even tried to solicit a bribe from Ansu.
Ansu truly wished someone would embezzle a little, since the suitcase in his hand was simply too heavy.
For example, they could take a small sum, casually pocket a few hundred gold coins, then reveal tomorrow's written exam questions or something.
Why were these people all so incorruptible? If they were this incorruptible, had Ansu not carried these gold coins all the way for nothing?
If you would not exploit me, what was the point of bringing money?
By rough estimate, the suitcase in his hand contained at least two thousand gold coins.
That was enough to buy several magic trains—could that old man not have exchanged the gold coins for banknotes?
Whenever this happened, he began to miss his borderland hometown:
Those lovable old bastards back home, with their shamelessly admirable traditions of bribery and corruption—he truly missed them.
After registration came the assignment of examination dormitories.
The Saint Trial lasted three days. Candidates had to remain here all day, and unrelated personnel were not permitted to enter.
Miss Enya would be leaving temporarily.
"Do you really not need me to dig pits and bury all your opponents?" Before leaving, she tilted her head and asked.
Ansu said she was being far too extreme.
Having just arrived in the imperial capital, unfamiliar with the place and its people, Ansu planned to keep a low-key profile for now.
I wonder who my roommates are.
The examination dormitory housed three people, and Ansu had two roommates.
With anticipation for his new future life, Ansu completed registration, collected his key, and went to the dormitory. The moment he pushed open the door, he met a pair of lion-like brilliant golden eyes, and immediately felt a headache coming on about the future.
"Ansu Morningstar."
A dazzling title hung overhead: Radiant Lion Cub.
Ansu's roommate was Arthur Sunny.
Well then, this was a high-level match.
Arthur exuded the air of a young nobleman. His brilliant gold hair was as majestic as a lion's mane; his movements were just as steady and imposing, while his equally brilliant gold eyes shone as brightly as amber.
Arrogant and overbearing—this was precisely the ideal Noble Scion in Count Carlo's heart.
Trouble had come knocking.
"I didn't find you in the noble carriage." He looked down at Ansu with a lofty expression, his tone brimming with superiority. "So you had Fallen upon the commoner section."
"...What do you want?"
"Could it be you couldn't afford the noble carriage? Your father has no money left for you?" Arthur mocked.
"No. But I wish that were the case." Ansu unconsciously pressed a hand against his suitcase.
"You've been pretty arrogant lately."
"How have I been arrogant?" Ansu was utterly baffled.
"I heard about it. Have you been going to the library to study every day?"
"That's right..."
"I've been looking for you, brat."
Arthur was tall and stared down at Ansu from above, speaking fiercely,
"I heard even Calvin suffered at your hands? Hmph, studying diligently every day? What a joke. You clearly don't know who the boss of the younger generation in Border City is!"
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
Ansu's mouth twitched slightly.
"What I mean is, since you're so arrogant, are you very confident about tomorrow's exam?"
"Maybe?" Ansu answered tentatively. "What exactly do you want?"
"What I mean is, since you're so arrogant and so confident."
The young lion lowered his voice and said with grave majesty,
"I acknowledge you as our boss. Can I copy your answers on tomorrow's test?"
"..."
This was Arthur Sunny's sole weakness as the Perfect Knight—his academic performance was poor.
"I can give you gold coins." Seeing Ansu hesitate, Arthur confidently added, "Consider it tribute to our boss."
Talking to a fellow townsman really was pleasant.
The moment he opened his mouth, there came those familiar fine qualities!
No wonder he had asked why Ansu was not riding in the noble carriage. He had been thinking that if Ansu had no money, it would make bribing him easier!
This chapter is also three thousand words. Please, please give me monthly votes.
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