"Serie?"
Only then did Irene's attention finally shift from her dissatisfaction with the format of the third round to the unfamiliar name.
"Hmm..."
She furrowed her delicate brows and thought for a moment. When she still couldn't remember, she turned to Kanne and Lawine, the two "locals," and asked:
"Who's this Serie?"
"Is she famous?"
"Why does it feel like I've heard of her?"
Although Irene hadn't been in this world for long, she really had heard that name before. She just didn't know anything specific about her.
"Huh?"
"You..."
Kanne and Lawine both looked astonished. Then they exchanged a glance, as if they'd just heard something unbelievable.
"Irene, you really don't know Lady Serie?"
"Seriously?"
"Are you sure?"
"Could you be one of those legendary Dark Mages without a license?"
Kanne suddenly seemed to remember something and cried out again, her voice once more filled with astonishment and disbelief.
In their human world, there was a vast, unified Magic Association. In most cases, mages had to pass the Association's exams and obtain the appropriate certification to gain official recognition, travel freely between cities, take commissions, or even buy certain magical materials.
For example, students at the magic academy attended by Kanne and Lawine could obtain low-level mage certificates—such as ninth or tenth rank—once they reached a certain level. Later, they could gradually earn certificates of higher ranks. A mage had to hold a certificate of a certain rank to qualify for the next one, just as only mages with certificates of rank five or higher could take the first-class mage exam this time.
Mage certificates were much like diplomas and proof of educational qualifications. If someone didn't have one, it meant they hadn't received any formal education at a magic academy. And if they hadn't earned any certificates either,