Arrogance

"But... Big Brother..."

The apprentice's voice was hesitant, as if he were debating whether to speak his mind.

"What is it?"

The apprentice decided to say it anyway.

"I heard that apprentice is actually quite formidable..."

"Go on..."

"They say that apprentice defeated an instructor from the Sword Chant School during a swordsmanship class."

Richter knew that the apprentice had attended a swordsmanship class and had shown extraordinary talent there, but he was still stunned to hear of such a rapid rate of progress.

To think that someone who couldn't even perform basic drills had transformed into an apprentice who could skillfully use a Breathing Technique and had mastered a specialized combat skill—she was clearly shaping up to be prime material for the Sword Chant School.

"Hah! I think that instructor must be getting old; he can't even lift his sword, losing to an apprentice who hasn't even joined a school yet."

He knew Fran had made great progress, and he knew she was certainly no longer the novice he had first encountered.

Yet, he was convinced Fran was no match for him, because he knew better than anyone that the spells of a school were far superior to the techniques offered as rewards in standard courses, and far more powerful than the tricks of those nobles who were useless once they left their own territories.

"Big Brother... is it possible that you can't beat that apprentice? I heard people saying she already has the strength to compete for a top ranking in the assessment."

"What a bunch of ignorant swine. Listen, I'll tell you this now: the reason we are called High-Rank Apprentices is because we have the resources of our school backing us. Our spells and our mental energy are both far superior to those of a common apprentice."

He had never forgotten the day he joined the Transmutation School, when the senior student guiding him had casually unleashed a terrifying spell. He had been even more incredulous when he saw the knowledge the school provided and read the descriptions within.

He knew better than anyone that an apprentice who had joined a school and one who hadn't were people from two entirely different worlds.

"She has only joined the Sword Chant School; she hasn't even learned any of their spells yet... Tonight, I will show you how school-taught spells crush an apprentice who just happened to get lucky and win a few bouts."

If Fran had joined the school earlier, he might have reconsidered before making a move. But since she hadn't, and it was impossible for her to have learned any spells yet, there was no way she could be his opponent.

Furthermore, he had just achieved a high ranking and regained the protection of the Transmutation School; he would feel physically ill if he didn't get to exercise the "privileges" he had been dying to use.

It was like achieving a great result and receiving no reward for it.

When Fran returned to her dormitory, she saw the note wedged into the crack of her door.

After reading the contents, she could only offer a silent, exasperated smile.

"I just got back from there, and already a letter."

However, she noted that the letter specified nighttime, and there was still some time left before then.

She closed the door and placed the shovel she had just bought beside it.

Draped in a loose, oversized robe, Fran walked slowly into the wasteland.

She looked around, but detected no movement.

While she was still scanning her surroundings, two figures emerged from behind a large boulder nearby.

She feigned a hint of panic and said:

"Who are you?"

Richter and the apprentice beside him made no effort to hide their faces, so she recognized them instantly.

Richter pointed at the apprentice beside him and said:

"I think you should take a look at him and see if you recognize him."

"Is that... him..."

Fran's slightly clumsy acting seemed to hit the mark for Richter; she saw the corners of his mouth curl up, maintaining a smug smile.

"Forget it, apprentice. Let's get to the point. I'm the one who wrote that letter."

"You called me here... saying I have a secret... I don't even know what secret I could have?"

Richter pulled out a scroll and said with a laugh:

"We certainly don't know what your secret is..."

Fran's mouth twitched. If you don't know what my secret is, what is the point of calling me out here?

"But we do know that you have actually died once, haven't you?"

He continued to watch Fran's expression, eager to savor her panic, yet Fran seemed to have no reaction to his words.

"I died..."

Fran thought for a moment before realizing that this guy must be talking about her taking over the original owner's body, and the fact that the original owner had indeed died.

But how did Richter know the original owner had died? Could it be that he was the one who killed her...

"You were once stripped of your life by this Spirit Driving Scroll. Now, is the person in that shell the original you, or is it an evil spirit?"

Richter believed there were two explanations for why the apprentice before him was still alive.

One was that the evil spirit hadn't actually killed the apprentice, and the apprentice had used some unknown method to deceive the inspection.

The second possibility is that the evil spirit is actually problematic; either it knows some unspeakable secret technique, or it has usurped the body before us.

He leaned toward the second theory, as it would explain why this apprentice seemed like a completely different person, having mastered so many skills that would be impossible to learn in such a short time.

These were likely techniques the evil spirit possessed during its own lifetime, which gradually surfaced after it obtained this body, resulting in the rapid progress this apprentice was now displaying.

After hearing this, the panic on Fran's face receded, and she drew her sword in the process.

The only thing she hadn't known was why Richter had come to cause her trouble, but after a few words of conversation, she understood clearly.

Originally, Richter had likely sent the apprentice beside him to use that scroll to drive the evil spirit, killing the original owner.

That was why he had worn such a terrified expression when he saw me still walking on the road, and why he had run away the moment he saw me.

As for Richter, he had become interested in me because of my 'resurrection,' which was why he had lured me here.

Since Fran now knew everything she needed to know, the next step was just like the future she had seen: bury them, and those two Construct Mages would help her clean up the traces.

Seeing Fran draw her sword, Richter laughed out loud.

"Apprentice, are you planning to kill us to keep your secret safe?"

Seeing that Fran remained silent, Richter continued by pulling a badge from his pocket.

"Do you know what this is? This is the badge awarded this year to all senior apprentices who placed in the assessment."

"Therefore, I am a senior apprentice."

Richter put the badge back.

"You might think that because you defeated that teacher from the Sword Chant School using some method I don't know, the school members are nothing special."

"But I am here to tell you that those who serve as teachers are the weaklings of the school; only those who dare not participate in the assessment become teachers."

"And now, you are facing me, a high-ranking apprentice who has earned a place."

Fran's hand gripping the sword trembled; she had a premonition that the moment was about to arrive.

"Apprentice, if I were you, I would give up resistance... of course, if you reveal the secret of your immortality, I can grant you a less painful death."