First Place in the Test, Claiming the Reward

"1.2."

Like a thunderclap on level ground, Charles instantly lifted his head, staring in astonishment at Ian, who had already finished.

"1.2?"

The question slipped out instinctively.

Even without looking, he could tell from the Mental Power fluctuations alone that Ian had only activated a single Mental Power Rune.

But how could its power be so great?

Was the Alchemy Puppet broken?

Impossible. He had just received this new model from the Alchemy Department.

A proficient Mental Power Impact might perhaps reach 1, but this was 1.2.

Unless...

He looked up at Ian, his expression gradually turning serious.

Ian was somewhat surprised as well.

He had not expected to surpass Wizards with three Second-grade Star talents.

The people around them had already exploded into uproar.

"1.2? The Alchemy Puppet must be malfunctioning." Halman had already been watching Ian, and now his eyes widened.

The others also seemed to snap awake and raised their heads.

Even Lucy, who had always been indifferent to everything, looked up at Ian, a flicker of curiosity passing through her eyes.

The other two Second-grade Stars looked as though they had seen a ghost.

After all, everything they had experienced lately had practically been telling them that talent was everything, that talent determined strength.

"As expected of the boss." Coro clicked his tongue in admiration.

"Let's hope it wasn't a fluke." Emily and Logan exchanged a glance.

"Again."

Charles ignored everyone else and merely spoke calmly to Ian.

"Sir, my Mental Power hasn't recovered yet," Ian said.

"Don't use a Mental Power Rune."

Charles said.

Not mobilizing Mental Power meant there would be no power behind it, but power was not what he wanted to see.

So Ian demonstrated it once in the air.

"As expected."

Charles nodded after watching.

A chant that took less than a second, along with all the finer details—it truly was due to excessive proficiency.

"Among the recent batches of apprentices, your Wizardry proficiency is currently the highest."

Charles sighed as he recorded the result.

Ian nodded and slowly returned to his place.

"The highest proficiency among the recent batches?"

Quite a few people were surprised by Charles's assessment.

He was that good?

Rune's mouth twitched as well. He had nearly forgotten about this kid's Spellcasting Talent.

Halman's expression, meanwhile, darkened.

Very soon, the rankings were all announced. Ian ranked first, followed by Lucy and the others.

As for the rewards, they would need to collect them themselves later.

After class, they were preparing to leave.

Suddenly, Ian felt the crowd part. The next moment, blue-haired Lucy had appeared right before him.

Her eyes were like a still pool of spring water as she looked at Ian.

"You're quite good."

Then she turned and left.

Ian was thoroughly baffled.

"Lucy actually takes the initiative to speak to other people?"

"It's my first time seeing it."

Those familiar with Lucy widened their eyes, because in their class, Lucy had barely spoken even to the instructors.

Today had been cursed.

The final potions test, on the other hand, had been utterly unremarkable.

A written test.

It tested Magic Plant Identification.

After the test, everyone dispersed.

What Ian hadn't expected was that Instructor Victor would actually send someone to find him that afternoon.

In an office, Ian met Victor.

"Instructor Victor, did you need something?"

Ian was rather curious as well.

Victor looked Ian up and down, as though he were getting to know him all over again.

"Not bad. I didn't expect you to take first place in the Wizardry course," Victor said.

"Luck, luck."

"There's no need to be modest at a time like this."

Victor shook his head, then asked, "Ian, I remember you said you wanted to join the Potions Department."

"Yes."

Ian did not deny it.

"But your ranking this time was only fifty-sixth. All I can tell you is that the Potions Department won't recruit more than five people this year. Leaving aside the other courses, you need to rank at least in the top fifteen in Basic Potions, and with your ordinary Meditation Talent, you'll need to reach at least the top five," Victor said calmly.

He thought highly of Ian. Otherwise, he would not have said any of this.

Fifty-sixth.

That result was worse than Ian had expected.

But the Potions Department only recruiting five people—that was the truly bad news.

The pressure of staying in the Potions Department was immense.

"Then why did you ask to see me, Instructor?" Ian raised his head.

Since Victor had called him here, he clearly had not done so merely to tease him.

"You should have noticed that what was tested covered far more than what you learned," Victor merely said.

"Yes."

Ian nodded.

That had been his feeling during the test as well. What he had learned was a lake, but what the test covered was an ocean.

Otherwise, his score would not have been so low.

"So relying on the classroom alone isn't enough. The Academy has a Library—go take a good look at the potions section."

Victor reminded him.

"Thank you, sir."

Ian's eyes lit up.

Some things, if no one pointed them out, you truly would never know.

Ian left.

The door closed.

"Interesting. His Spellcasting Talent is actually that high."

Victor sighed.

If Ian had not taken first in Wizardry, Victor would never have reminded him. But since he had taken first, Victor could help him a little more.

In any case, it cost him nothing substantial.

That night.

Naturally, the Mutual Aid Society's discussions could not avoid today's test.

And without question, Ian was at the center of it.

"Ian, someone told me today that they want to join the Mutual Aid Society," Logan suddenly said.

"Me too," Coro said.

The new class had more apprentices, but the number of little cliques had not decreased in the slightest.

"Just refuse them."

Ian shook his head. Bringing more people in now would bring far too little return; he had no intention of doing such a thankless, exhausting thing.

In the blink of an eye.

The next day.

Ian headed to the castle early.

"Good morning, Lord Mickey."

After greeting the owl, Ian entered the castle.

Before long, he received his reward.

"A total of ten Magic Stones. You may also claim one ordinary Zero-ring Lower Grade Wizardry for free. Would you like to exchange it now?"

The person in charge was a young girl who did not appear to be a wizard.

"Ordinary?" Ian asked doubtfully.

He knew that Wizardry had grades, roughly divided into lower, middle, and upper grades, corresponding to first-, second-, and third-grade wizards.

But what was this "ordinary"?

"It refers to the quality of the Wizardry. Even Wizardry of the same grade can differ. They are divided into ordinary, excellent, and refined, and the gap between them is quite large. You can also choose to save it—later, three ordinary ones can be exchanged for one excellent one," the girl explained.

"Then I'll save it."

Ian had not even finished learning his tricks, and next month's classes would teach new Wizardry. He did not need any for the time being.

It would be better to see whether he could save up three.

The entire underground level of the castle was the Library, so Ian headed there directly.

"One Magic Stone per hour on the first underground floor, but only in the public area. Do not damage the books," said the Gray Robe Wizard on guard.

One Magic Stone an hour.

So expensive!

Though it pained him terribly, Ian still took out two Magic Stones.

"Two hours first."

"Alright."

A badge was handed to Ian, and he slowly entered the Library.