Lanchi Knows How to Get Into School

The grandfather clock in the study ticked leisurely, its gears clearly audible.

The scent of old books lingered and drifted from the carved bookcase in the corner.

Gazing at the magic desk lamp on the table, which cast a soft amber glow, Noe took off his glasses, closed his eyes, and gradually relaxed his brow.

Whether Lanchi was putting on an act or not, his unhurried attitude was at least reassuring.

"But Father, before taking the examination, I'll need some money. Can you make sure I have sufficient funds for the next three months?"

Just as Noe thought Lanchi was about to leave, Lanchi's words made him open his eyes again.

"What do you need it for?"

Noe asked warily.

He seemed to suspect that Lanchi wanted to swindle as much money as possible before the Entrance Examination, then indulge himself one last time.

"Making Magic Cards requires a lot of money for materials, and I also need to hire a suitable teacher."

Lanchi's expression and tone remained as calm as ever.

He did not look like he was lying at all.

And he was indeed telling the truth.

After finishing the codex, he intended to begin researching Magic Cards.

"You know how to make Magic Cards?"

Noe asked in surprise.

This time, Lanchi did not answer immediately.

Not yet, actually.

He needed the perfect pitch to make his father trust him and willingly invest in him.

But then—

"I can vouch for the Young Master. He will create outstanding Magic Cards."

The Butler, who had been standing behind Noe all along, spoke up.

He bent slightly and said from Noe's side,

"If you saw the painting in the Young Master's room, you certainly would not worry about him anymore."

"Oh?"

Noe turned his head to look at the Butler.

He was surprised by the Butler's words, then quickly realized what they implied and felt delighted.

He then looked at Lanchi with great interest.

"Lanchi, have you started painting again recently? For Hans to praise it so highly, it must be a rather fine piece."

Hans was the Butler's name. The previous Lanchi had rarely called him by name, so Lanchi followed his old habit and only addressed the Butler as "you."

"More than rather fine..."

The Butler smiled and shook his head.

Clearly, the master had not realized just what level the Young Master's painting had reached.

Anyone could hear that Noe had spoken in the tone one would use to praise a child.

"Hans has always taken good care of me. He's exaggerating."

Lanchi merely pursed his lips briefly and interrupted the Butler before he could finish.

It was best not to let Noe see that portrait of Talia hanging in his bedroom.

Otherwise, if Noe happened to run into Talia in town, there was no telling what absurd misunderstanding might arise.

"I see."

Noe did not think much of it.

The only thing that surprised him was Lanchi's humility.

Normally, Lanchi should have seized this opportunity to boast about his artistic talent and seek more investment.

After hearing Lanchi's words, the Butler did not intend to say anything further.

With a faintly amused smile, he stepped back behind Noe.

"Fine, then. I hope you pass the Alchemy Institute's examination. Hans..."

Noe spoke a few perfunctory words of encouragement to Lanchi in a sighing tone, then instructed Butler Hans to provide Lanchi with whatever money he needed.

It was only out of consideration for the old Butler, as well as Lanchi's good attitude today, that Noe agreed to Lanchi's request so readily.

It was not as though a few more coins would make much difference to this foolish son of his anyway.

Hopefully, he would grow up soon. May the Goddess bless him.

If he was not pretending today, if he truly had become this composed, steady, humble, and courteous, what a wonderful thing that would be.

As night deepened, the Wall Lamps in the spacious corridor on the second floor of the manor glowed faintly, bathing the entire estate in quiet peace.

Most of the servants had finished their work for the day and gone to rest.

Of course, some servants were still on duty.

The moment Lanchi pushed open the study door, he spotted a Maid waiting outside.

She was Francine, the considerate Maid who was less afraid of him than the other servants.

Lanchi had noticed that only she and the Butler seemed willing to take him seriously.

After exchanging a brief, polite greeting,

"Young Master, are you sure you weren't fooling the master?"

Francine followed Lanchi out of the study with some concern and asked softly at his side.

She had heard the conversation in the study just now, and she knew perfectly well how Lanchi had spent every day before this.

The Alchemy Institute's Entrance Examination alone included written tests in numerous subjects, such as Kingdom Arithmetic, Potionology, Material Processing, Magic Engineering Basics, and Alchemy Principles.

Even if Lanchi hired the best teachers now and began studying desperately, it would already be too late.

"Just an Entrance Examination."

Lanchi chuckled and closed his eyes. His composed expression made it seem as though he did not care about the examination's difficulty at all, nor did he have any intention of cramming.

"Uh..."

Seeing this, Francine even began to wonder whether Lanchi had truly given up and was enjoying one final spree.

But she also knew that even if Lanchi failed to get in, he would not be scolded upon returning home or end up sleeping under a little blanket on the streets of the Royal Capital.

The Young Master could always make his way in the Royal Capital.

Just selling paintings would surely earn him quite a bit of money.

"Don't worry. Tonight, I'll study the examination rules."

Sensing the Maid's concern, Lanchi smiled broadly and added in a certain tone. His eyes were as clear as they had been when he faced the codex.

"That's good..."

"Hm? The examination rules?"

Francine suddenly caught on.

She felt there was something more to Lanchi's words.

Although carefully reading the instructions before an examination was certainly a good habit...

What was there to study about the Alchemy Institute's Entrance Examination rules?

Soon after bidding her farewell, Lanchi quickened his pace toward his bedroom, leaving the Maid standing in the corridor with a conflicted, puzzled expression.

After returning to his bedroom and closing the door,

Lanchi found Iketerite Academy's entrance guidebook on the bookshelf.

He went to the desk, pulled out the chair, and sat down leisurely. Slowly picking up a pen, he stared at the book in his hand and began planning his schedule for the next three months.

He was serious about getting into school.

He had indeed promised his father that he would successfully enroll.

But he had never said which institute he would enroll in.

"Though I have never liked fighting, only resolving fights... if it really comes to blows, as long as I'm prepared, I don't think I'll lose."

Lanchi murmured as he flipped through Iketerite Academy's admissions brochure.

The academy had the Alchemy Institute and the Magic Engineering Institute, which focused on theoretical research and logistical support and were difficult to clear quickly through examinations.

Of course, it also had the Sage Institute and the Knight Institute, which placed greater emphasis on direct combat and tactical application.

Lanchi's method was simple.

He would take a roundabout path into the academy.

When the time came, he only needed to change his application from the Alchemy Institute to another institute.

Although the combat-focused Sage and Knight Institutes assessed vastly different things, their examinations had always centered on a candidate's adaptability, character and temperament, and practical combat ability.

This was also closely tied to the Shadow World, the most difficult dungeon in this world.

Over the next three months,

as long as he could successfully create a few key Magic Cards with "Lanchi characteristics," then buy several Magic Cards available on the market to use in combination with them,

it was not as though Lanchi could not pull off something that would make every academy leader's vision go black!