"Don't think I'll look on you any more favorably just because you added lace trim." With an expressionless remark, Jiu Ming turned to walk into the academy before him. Just as expected, an old man with a white beard at the entrance stopped him. Judging by the outfit, he was probably... the gatekeeper?
The old man looked skinny and shriveled, but beneath that gaunt frame, the tightly coiled muscles... Jiu Ming wanted to ask whether he was related to Master Roshi. Besides, wasn't the image of a white-bearded old man generally that of a mage?
"What are you doing? You're not a student of the academy, are you?"
"Uh... no. I just wanted to look around."
"It's not the weekend yet. This place isn't open to outsiders." The white-bearded old man waved him off curtly. "If you want to enroll, wait two more days. The academy will open admissions then. If you've got decent talent, you can give it a try."
What kind of bullshit rule was that? Having been turned away, Jiu Ming didn't insist.
[What a lovely plan you had. Too bad it's completely useless.]
After leaving the academy gates, Panel-kun popped back out. The lace border had vanished, so sure enough, that little stunt had been purely for its own amusement.
"...Who says?"
[I do. Even if you master some spell-type abilities through study and turn them into Sealed Cards, how long can you keep it up? And are you really that confident in your talent for this?]
"...Not at all. Fine, I really did let you screw me over." Jiu Ming tugged stiffly at the corner of his mouth and headed back with an unhappy look. He had already gotten a general look at the fantasy district. Next came the immortal cultivation district. Upon arriving, the