Two Doors First, Mickey's Unexpected Gift

The results of the Wizardry test came as no surprise to anyone.

Especially after learning that what was being tested was the effectiveness of Mental Power Detection rather than its range.

The former tested proficiency, while the latter was related to the amount of Mental Power one possessed.

Ian smoothly claimed first place.

"Ian, are you really not considering the Combat Department?"

Charles looked at Ian with deep regret, still unwilling to give up.

"My apologies, sir. For now, I'm still more inclined toward the Potions Department." Ian shook his head.

"If you don't get in when the time comes, come find me. The Combat Department truly tempers Wizards, and it suits you well."

Charles said.

He knew the results of the Academy's previous inquiry into their preferences.

Both second-rates were interested in the Logistics Department.

That instantly raised the difficulty of competing for the Potions Department to hellish levels.

"Still can't beat him?"

Looking at the test results, Halman was unexpectedly calm.

He had actually begun to admit that his talent for Wizardry was inferior to Ian's.

As for the third course—

"First place, Ian!"

In an instant, everyone in the classroom turned to look at Ian.

By now, they were almost numb.

His terrifying progress in the meditation course.

His steady first place in Wizardry.

And now, he had even taken first place in Fundamentals of Potionology.

Three courses, two first places.

It could be said that Ian had now surpassed the three second-rate apprentices in every non-core aspect.

"As expected of Victor!"

Off in the distance, Lucy felt somewhat dazed herself.

The first three months of Fundamentals of Potionology were purely theoretical, comparing little more than who could memorize more.

What it tested was who had the means to read and memorize the relevant books.

How could they possibly compare to Victor, the genius potion-maker of the School?

Failure was only natural.

Even Levi and Beck were looking at this boy, whose talent was inferior to theirs, yet whose reputation was nearly on the verge of surpassing them.

"Mental Power is the core. These are nothing but secondary matters."

Levi thrust out his burly chest, his voice low and muffled.

"Cough, cough!"

Beck still looked sickly as ever. He coughed twice, no one knowing what he was thinking.

After class, Victor told Ian to go find him in the Teaching Area three days later.

Though Ian had no idea what it was for, he nodded and agreed.

There were still several days before his meeting with Victor.

For Ian, naturally, the more important matter was collecting his Magic Stones.

He arrived at the Castle.

At the entrance, the enormous owl atop the giant wolf statue had its eyes closed.

Ian entered through the open doors.

Before long, he collected this time's reward.

A total of twenty-two Magic Stones, along with a reward allowing him to exchange for a Wizardry.

The young girl in charge of the exchange looked curiously at the boy before her.

She had been here for several years already.

Among new apprentices, there were quite few who could obtain Wizardry three months in a row.

He must be a genius Wizard, right?

At that thought, she pressed her lips together, a different sort of glimmer flashing through her eyes.

"Would you like to exchange three ordinary-tier Wizardry spells for one excellent-tier Wizardry spell?

Wizard, if you'd like, I can find a place to explain it to you in greater detail."

"No need. Help me exchange them directly for three ordinary-tier Wizardry spells."

Ian said.

Three months later, there would no longer be free Wizardry spells to freeload from in class.

So he had to buy them himself.

Excellent-tier Wizardry was certainly good. Its power would definitely exceed that of ordinary Wizardry.

But he was currently in a sprinting phase.

What he needed were talent points. Excellent-tier Wizardry most likely would not provide more than three times the talent points of ordinary Wizardry.

Better to exchange for ordinary Wizardry. That was at least a guaranteed nine talent points, and it would also make his Wizardry more well-rounded.

Master Level Wizardry could practically unleash several times the explosive power.

That was enough.

As for going out for exchanges.

That really was a case of having the will but lacking the strength.

In a few years, perhaps.

"Alright. This is the exchange voucher. My lord, you can take it to the Library and exchange it for three spells."

The young girl blushed as well and handed Ian a token engraved with the symbol of the Secret Source Department.

Very soon.

Ian exchanged it for three ordinary-tier Wizardry spells.

They were Energy Missile, Light Body Technique, and Elemental Barrier.

They made up for his lack of combat options and his lack of movement and defensive Wizardry. His basic categories of Wizardry could now be considered complete.

Of course, he learned them in case a real fight broke out, so he could protect himself.

Though it was best if he never had to fight at all.

He would crush others with sheer strength.

Passionate, hot-blooded battles were still far too thrilling. Casually crushing lower-level opponents to death from a higher level was much easier on the nerves.

That was the direction he needed to strive toward.

"I just wonder what Senior Victor wants from me?"

Thinking of Victor's invitation from a few days ago, Ian still found it strange.

Victor usually stated matters directly whenever he had something to say.

But this time was different.

"What could it be?"

With that doubt in mind, he walked out through the Castle gates.

"Huh? As a new apprentice, you can actually take away twenty-two Magic Stones at once?"

The surprised voice pulled Ian back to reality.

Ian turned his head and saw that the owl on the giant wolf had awoken at some point.

Its eyes glowed green as it stared at Ian.

Ian vaguely felt uneasy.

But he did not dare slight it. After all, if it ate him, it probably would not even give a damn.

"Lord Mickey."

"Not bad, kid. What was your name again? I remember you used to follow Victor." Mickey looked at him.

"Lord Mickey, you can just call me Ian."

"Little Ian, you're quite impressive. So many Magic Stones. Unlike this old owl here—I've got no ability to speak of, and I haven't seen more than a few Magic Stones in who knows how many days. The magic power in my body is nearly dried up."

Mickey sighed gloomily, wiping his oil-slick, gleaming feathers.

Ian's mouth twitched.

He recalled what Victor had once said about the owl's greed for money.

Sure enough.

Suppressing the ache in his heart, he took out a Magic Stone.

"Please enjoy this, my lord."

"You've got far more sense than little Victor did back then. I'll look after you from now on, kid."

Mickey swallowed the Magic Stone in one gulp. The hard stone turned into tiny fragments like sand and was swallowed down.

Ian's throat bobbed.

Magic Stones were sturdy. He had tried attacking them with Wizardry, yet they had remained completely unscathed.

As for the Magic Stones, so be it—he had taken them.

"Then I'll be leaving, my lord."

Ian prepared to leave.

But at the very instant Ian turned to go, a blackish-gray feather suddenly drifted slowly toward him.

Under Ian's puzzled gaze—

"This is a feather I shed long ago. There's a small rune on it. You can try imprinting it; it should be comparable to an excellent Zero-ring Lower Grade spell.

I won't take your Magic Stones for nothing."

Lord Mickey glanced at him and spoke.

Huh?

"Thank you, my lord."

Ian hurriedly thanked him. This was simply an unexpected windfall.

He had struck it rich.

Who said Lord Mickey was greedy for money? He would fight them to the death.

"Go on, go on. This old man needs to sleep."

Mickey slowly closed his eyes.

Only after Ian had left did he slowly open them again, his eyes filled with shock.

"Good heavens. In three months, he condensed runes for three spells—and even condensed a rune for his Meditation Method.

Is he even human?

Even little Horton wasn't this outrageous back then, was he? What a pity he's gone dormant again recently. Who knows when he'll wake up."

Mickey was utterly stunned.

This talent for spellcraft was practically heaven-defying.

That was why he had given Ian the runic feather: he wanted to see whether, by the next time they met, this kid would have condensed a rune for it as well.

"I hope he gives me a surprise."

Mickey closed his eyes once more.

The last person to give him such a surprise had been Horton. He had invested in Horton, who advanced to become an Official Wizard, letting him live off him for a hundred years.

Aside from being a little lacking in talent, Ian's performance was far more outrageous.

Could it be?