Little Rabbit

Suye spread both hands, fingers splayed, and said, "I thought everyone knew. First, you become a Magic Apprentice, then a Black Iron Mage, followed by a Bronze Mage, Silver Mage, Gold Mage, Saint Realm Mage, Legendary Mage, Hero, and Demigod. Finally, at the tenth step, you become a god."

Each time Suye mentioned a rank, he folded down one finger. When he folded down the last finger, he had just reached godhood.

The five students sharing his table continued staring blankly at Suye. They all felt he had truly gone mad.

Throughout the history of Ancient Greece, there had never been a precedent for a mortal becoming a god.

According to the rumors, even someone as wise as Socrates had failed at the final hurdle.

Niedern smiled again. "Then how are you going to become a Magic Apprentice?"

"Of course, I'll first look for a way to become a Magic Apprentice." Suye remained utterly serious.

"He says that. Do you think he has any chance of becoming a Magic Apprentice?" Niedern turned to ask the other six.

Hote scratched his head and said with a silly grin, "Although something feels wrong, when he says he's going to become a Magic Apprentice, it somehow doesn't sound like there's a problem."

"His last sentence wasn't wrong," Lake said.

The others did not know what to say for a moment, but they all felt that something was off.

Niedern said nothing more and turned to leave.

Suye called after him. "Teacher, I also have a little question, and I'd like to invite you to participate."

Niedern stopped and stood to the side, silently waiting.

The six students sharing Suye's table also looked at him curiously.

Suye smiled. "Now, let's change the question. Suppose the person asking it is Dean Plato. Everything else remains the same. Answer within three seconds. If you take longer than three seconds, you'll be judged to have failed this year. As for Teacher Niedern... if you don't answer within three seconds, you'll be dismissed."

Niedern stared at Suye.

The other students lowered their heads and snickered. Pallas and Rolon still wore expressionless faces.

"Go ahead and ask," Niedern said.

Suye said, "Take out your Magic Books."

Everyone took out their Magic Books. Teacher Niedern flipped his right hand, and a Magic Book appeared from thin air.

"Good, I'll ask the question now. Suppose you're all mages, and you're taking a boat out to sea with four animals that have already signed servant contracts with you. You suddenly encounter a storm, and the boat is sinking. All four animals are injured as well. Fortunately, you see a small island ahead, but you discover that your strength is limited and you can only take one animal with you. So, between the tiger, eagle, rabbit, and sheep, which animal would you take to the island? Answer quickly! One, two, three!"

Unlike Teacher Niedern, Suye counted the three numbers quickly, forcing the seven of them to choose their answers immediately.

"Let's reveal them together," Suye said.

The seven turned their Magic Books around.

Pallas had written, "The little rabbit."

Rolon had written, "The tiger."

Hote had written, "The sheep."

Jimmy had actually written, "Choose none. Escape by myself."

Lake had written, "The tiger."

Albert had written, "The eagle."

Niedern had also written, "The eagle."

Rolon and Lake exchanged a glance. The class's first- and second-ranked students had never gotten along very well, but now they seemed to feel a hint of mutual understanding.

Suye looked at everyone's choices, seemingly deep in thought.

Jimmy asked curiously, "What's the meaning behind your question? I'm sure it can't be that simple."

Everyone nodded.

"Want to know?" Suye revealed a mysterious smile.

Everyone nodded again.

"Let's form a circle and discuss it." After saying that, Suye carried his stool back to the table.

"This guy..." Jimmy was both amused and exasperated.

"Suye, don't stop halfway!" Hote carried his stool over and sat beside Suye.

Suye asked in surprise, "Take you, for example. You chose the sheep. Other than eating it, what other reason could there be?"

"Huh? How did you know I was worried there wouldn't be enough food on the island?" Hote looked incredulous.

"Anyone who's seen you eat knows," Suye said.

"Suye, are you really not going to tell us?" Niedern suddenly asked.

Jimmy immediately chuckled. "Suye, you'd better think carefully. You've offended all seven of us at once!"

Pallas nodded forcefully.

The others deliberately put on unfriendly expressions and stared at Suye.

The usually honest Hote suddenly stood up. He repeatedly opened and clenched both hands, as if he were about to grab Suye by the neck.

Suye immediately said, "All right, all right. I'll tell you at the right time. You'll definitely find out."

"That's more like it." Hote sat down.

Niedern glanced at Suye and walked toward the podium.

At that moment, Jimmy and Lake sent Magic Letters at the same time.

"What does my choice represent? I'll bet my answer exceeded your expectations. You can't explain it." That was Jimmy's letter.

"What's the meaning behind my choosing the tiger?" Lake asked.

"Guess," Suye replied to both of them with the same answer.

The two tablemates turned sideways at the same time, looked over at him at the same time, and rolled their eyes at him at the same time.

Then Suye saw Pallas glare fiercely at him as well before lowering her head to read.

She's fierce in such a cute way... Suye thought.

Rolon and Albert seemed completely unconcerned with the matter and ignored Suye.

Before long, Niedern announced the end of class and walked toward the door.

Hote said to Suye, "I'm going to practice Combat Skills. See you tomorrow."

"I'll keep training my long-distance running. See you!" Jimmy said, leaving the classroom together with Hote.

When Suye heard Jimmy say that, he was filled with helplessness. You're a mage. How do you train long-distance running every day?

The key was that Jimmy had been the class champion in long-distance running the previous year. There were so many warriors in the class, yet none of them could beat him.

Suye looked at his other four tablemates.

Rolon, the noble who disliked dealing with people, was dressed in black leather armor as usual. He stuffed his Magic Book into his belt, gripped a battle spear in one hand and a longsword in the other, and walked outside.

He acted as if he were going to war every day.

Pallas and Lake stared at their Magic Books and studied diligently with their heads lowered.

Suye glanced at Albert. He was thin and small, with a worried look on his face all day long. Now he sat there sighing, apparently troubled by something, though no one knew what.

"I'm going to practice sculpture." After saying that, Albert slung his Magic Book over his shoulder and staggered outside, looking like an opium addict whose waist might snap in the wind at any moment.

Suye knew why Albert practiced sculpture: he was determined to become a Puppeteer, and sculpture was an essential ability for a Puppeteer. He wanted to be like the Puppet King Pygmalion and create a puppet identical to a human. However, Pygmalion's greatest work had been his wife, while Albert wanted a male one.

Suye could not quite understand people who played with figurines.

Though he was rather envious of Pygmalion.

Suye looked at Pallas again. He felt that the girl was rather pitiful—she was so young, yet she could not speak.

Suye counted his six tablemates again: Hote, a second-year student in his sixth year at the academy who had friends everywhere; Jimmy, who practiced long-distance running every day despite possessing magical talent; the noble Rolon, who never went anywhere without a spear and a sword; Albert, the figurine enthusiast who might not even be able to lift a stone-carving hammer; a beautiful girl who could not speak; and finally...

Finally, his gaze fell on Lake. Of his six tablemates, he seemed to be the only one who was somewhat normal.