The Second Test, Silver Moon Lake Family's Sponsorship

"Finally, I've broken through."

With the condensation of his second Mental Power Rune, Ian felt his perception of the outside world expand once more.

At the same time, it meant that he could mobilize two Mental Power Runes when casting Wizardry.

"And the changes aren't limited to mental power."

Ian opened his panel.

[Name: Ian Green]

[Age: 12]

[Strength: First-class Wizard Apprentice (5/100), Knight (50/100)]

[Talent: 125 (Fourth-grade Star)]

[Skills:

Cantrips: Light Spell (Master Level), Breeze Spell (Master Level), Dust Spell (Master Level)...

Zero-ring: Basic Meditation Method (Expert 175/400), Lionheart Knight Method (Knight Chapter - Expert 200/400), Mental Power Impact (Expert 150/300), Witch's Hand (Proficient 150/300), Magic Plant Identification (Beginner 90/100)]

His First-class Wizard Apprentice progress had reached 5. Sure enough, 5 was a threshold.

By that logic, he would need to reach 10 to condense the third Mental Power Rune.

"And my progress as a knight is getting faster and faster too."

Ian squeezed his arm and felt as though it contained surging strength.

Obviously, it was an illusion.

After all, even a basic Mental Power Impact was not something brute force could withstand.

But in battle, it could at least make him much more agile.

As for his talent, it had reached 125 over these past days through studying cantrips, and he could now meditate six times.

This raised his efficiency by quite a bit.

"But my skills have improved the most. The meditation method should break through to Master Level in a month. The knight method and Mental Power Impact should take around twenty days, and then there's Witch's Hand as well."

Ian looked at the newly acquired skill.

With a movement of mental power, an invisible hand seemed to appear in the air, and the cup on the distant table slowly flew toward him.

This was the Wizardry he had learned this month.

As for Magic Plant Identification, it had now reached Beginner 90, improving by a full sixty points from before.

"A full ten Magic Stones."

Thinking of the price of that improvement, Ian could not help gritting his teeth.

On average, an hour of reading could raise it by five points. Even with the gains from lessons, it had only reached 90.

It was the most difficult course for him to improve.

"But compared to those people, it's probably still not enough."

Ian pressed his lips together.

Especially compared with those who had sponsors, or those born into wizard families.

But it didn't matter. He was improving every time. As long as he had enough Magic Stones, he would sooner or later pull this course into first place.

The most important thing was still talent.

"I wonder how much talent can be gained by raising the meditation method and zero-ring Wizardry to perfection."

Ian was very curious.

The greater the difficulty, the more talent it increased.

Whether it was the meditation method, the knight method, or even Wizardry, their difficulty far surpassed cantrips. There was no way they would only increase it by one point.

If it increased by a little more...

Perhaps next month, he could raise his talent to Third-grade Star.

Once he reached Third-grade Star, combined with his Master Level Wizardry...

The situation would immediately change.

Seven days later.

Witch's Hand broke through to Expert Level.

Three more days passed, and it was time for another monthly assessment.

In meditation class, Ian had been unnoticed last time, but this time he drew quite a bit of attention.

"Ian, two."

When the test results came out, quite a few people gloated.

"I heard even the Silver Wolf Family Lucy belongs to turned him down. His talent really is that bad," someone sneered.

"A small family did offer to sponsor him, but he looked down on them. His ambitions are higher than the sky."

Some witches who had failed to obtain sponsorship were even more jealous and resentful.

When the final test results came out, Lucy was still far ahead of everyone else, having already reached five Mental Power Runes.

Levi and Beck had each reached four as well.

As for the others, most were still hovering around two or three.

The Wizardry test.

The Witch's Hand competition tested not power, but control.

Ian, naturally an expert, once again took first place by a wide margin.

"Ten Magic Stones and a basic-level wizardry are mine."

Ian smiled.

"Not bad." Charles nodded, forced to admit that Ian truly was a Sorcery Talent.

In the distance, Halman looked as though he had swallowed shit.

Under his brother's guidance, he had managed to take tenth place, but he was completely incomparable to Ian.

"But the basics of potion-making are different."

Halman pressed his lips together.

He knew Ian had been to the Library, but so what? At most, he had only spent ten hours there.

His brother had somehow found a great deal of material for him, and his reading time had nearly exceeded sixty hours.

That afternoon.

The results came out.

"How is that possible? How did he get to fifteenth?"

Staring at the rankings at the front of the classroom, Halman's eyes widened.

He had spent a full sixty hours reading just to reach seventh place. Ian had not surpassed him yet, but his improvement was far too outrageous.

Would Ian overtake him next time?

"Impossible. Impossible."

Halman shook his head.

That could never happen.

No matter how talented you were, without resources, it was impossible. Those ten Magic Stones were absolutely not enough.

"That's a huge improvement—greater than I expected."

In the office, Victor clicked his tongue in amazement as he looked over the rankings.

Even he had not expected Ian to rise from nearly sixtieth place to fifteenth.

"But this should be his limit."

Victor shook his head.

He knew Ian had no sponsorship whatsoever.

That was an enormous disadvantage.

"The Silver Moon Lake Family has declined somewhat lately. They might suit him fairly well."

After thinking for a moment, Victor rose and left.

"The top five won't be easy."

In his room, Ian furrowed his brow.

Though he had improved quite a bit, the others had improved even more.

At this rate, his hopes of joining the Potions Department were probably slim.

Bang bang bang!

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Who would come looking for me at this hour?"

Puzzled, Ian cautiously opened the door and saw a plainly dressed maid standing outside.

"You are?"

"Wizard, my name is Lily. My mistress invites you to meet her tomorrow at 37 Maple Leaf Avenue," the maid said respectfully.

"Who is your mistress?" Ian asked.

"My mistress is Chris Silver Moon Lake, a Second-class Apprentice Witch of the Silver Moon Lake Family."

After speaking, the maid turned and left.

Watching the maid's retreating back, Ian was a little dazed.

Silver Moon Lake Family?

It did seem to be one of the School's families, but why were they looking for him?

Still, Maple Leaf Avenue was within the School itself. After hesitating for a moment, Ian decided to make the trip.

The next day.

After informing everyone in the Mutual Aid Society, he arrived at Maple Leaf Avenue.

It was a road located south of the Residential Area.

Whenever night fell, the alchemical lamps on both sides gave off a faint white glow, illuminating the detached buildings lining the street.

This seemed to be where high-ranking wizard apprentices lived.

"They're both Residential Areas, but the gap is enormous."

Ian remarked with feeling as he arrived at Number 37.

He knocked.

Before long, the door opened, revealing yesterday's maid.

"My lord, please come in."

The maid led Ian into the room, and a woman emerged.

With fiery red hair and a voluptuous figure that seemed ready to burst through her Witch Robe, she was like an enticing rose.

The click of her footsteps drew nearer as the woman slowly approached. Her bright eyes fixed on him, nearly pressing against him.

Ian was only twelve. He averted his gaze.

"What a shy little brother."

The woman smiled, like a rose blooming.

"I am Chris Silver Moon Lake. Ian, on behalf of the Silver Moon Lake Family, I am offering you patronage."

"Will you accept?"