Starkaray Magic Academy.
Sunlight bathed the ancient buildings before him in a dazzling glow.
As the heavy, melodious chimes rang out, flocks of white birds were startled into flight, sweeping across the morning sky and revealing an aura of solemn sanctity.
Lynn took a deep breath, a surge of excitement rising unbidden in his heart.
Across the entire Rhine Continent, it was nearly impossible to find a magic academy with more history, greater strength, or higher quality of education.
Lynn had always believed that the opening of a great adventure story should begin here.
But before the story begins…
Felica, standing by his side, seemed to have anticipated something.
She handed Lynn a prepared brown paper bag.
“Ugh—”
Time to get this over with.
It was only when Lynn held Felica’s slender, pale hand that he finally understood why people always said witches were never easy to handle.
Who in their right mind would grab your hand and yank you along like pulling a radish from the ground?
Lynn suddenly felt that just being airsick—instead of free-falling mid-flight—was already pretty fortunate.
“Sorry, Lynn, we were out of time. This was the only way.”
Felica’s voice was very calm, perhaps tinged with a bit of apology.
Lynn was sure she did it on purpose, but he couldn’t find any proof.
Many students looked on with barely concealed schadenfreude.
But when they saw Felica standing beside Lynn, their faces quickly turned to fear.
They hastened their steps and hurried away, not daring to linger.
Lynn naturally noticed this as well.
“They seem to be quite afraid of you.”
Lynn took out a handkerchief and wiped his mouth.
Felica’s long lashes slowly lowered.
“You know, Lynn, you’re the only ordinary person I know who dares to walk this close with a witch.”
“People enjoy the protection of witches, but they’ve never truly thanked us.”
“Just because our magic is related to the ancient demon race, they think we are the source of all calamity.”
There was loneliness in Felica’s tone.
Lynn nodded.
“I see. In that case, I suppose I should feel honored.”
Felica smiled helplessly.
“You’re always like this.”
Lynn was a bit puzzled.
“Always?”
“No,” Felica shook her head, “It’s nothing.”
“Hurry to class. You’ll be late.”
Lynn frowned slightly.
He felt something was off about Felica today.
She seemed… more dependable than he remembered?
Lynn shrugged, deciding not to overthink it.
Girls—disappear for a few days and they change.
“See you later, Felica.”
Lynn waved with a smile, then walked into the campus.
Felica watched Lynn’s departing figure, smiled faintly, and slowly took a silver badge from her bag, pinning it to her chest.
Two lines of graceful script were engraved on it: [Specially Appointed Teaching Assistant, Magic Court]
[Felica Isandra]
“Whew—”
Felica let out a long breath.
“See you later, Lynn.”
…
After winding through the campus for quite some time, Lynn finally found the little-known Chess Institute at the location Lucy had given him.
Pushing the door open, he found the classroom empty.
“Looks like I got here early.”
Lynn muttered to himself.
He picked a seat by the window at the back and sat down.
Then, he waited half an hour.
The classroom remained empty.
“…”
Don’t tell me I really went to the wrong place.
Just as that thought surfaced, the tightly closed wooden door was suddenly flung open.
“Ah, sorry, sorry, overslept.”
Dean Emil hurriedly strode into the classroom.
Lynn’s right eyelid twitched.
So in the end, he still couldn’t escape the clutches of Emil, that old schemer…
Lynn just felt a sense of resignation.
But he also noticed that Dean Emil hadn’t brought any textbooks or teaching materials.
Instead, his briefcase was filled with yellowed rolls of parchment.
“Anyway, starting today, Lynn Kallet, I’ll be your teacher.”
Dean Emil straightened his tie.
“For the days ahead, I hope we’ll get along.”
After exchanging a few polite words, Dean Emil got down to business.
“From now on, our lessons will revolve directly around strategies for the secret realms within the Inscription Stones.”
He waved his hand.
Several rolls of parchment floated up and landed before Lynn.
“These are some secret realms I consider to be classics. Take a look and see which one you’d prefer.”
“Also, I’ve arranged for two teaching assistants for you. If you have any questions, you can ask them. That’s all—I’ve got other things to do, so I’ll be off.”
With that, Dean Emil slipped away in a flash.
Lynn had no idea what he was in such a rush for.
He felt a bit speechless.
He glanced over the parchments Dean Emil had left behind.
They were filled with brief introductions to the secret realms.
And they all shared a common trait…
Low rank.
They were all first- or second-tier secret realms, simple and basic.
Such low-level secret realms were meant for novices to practice on—there was little real danger.
Naturally, the materials one could harvest there wouldn’t be of high grade, either.
Lynn sighed.
He had no interest in the measly scraps from low-tier secret realms.
“Is there something you don’t understand?”
A crisp voice suddenly sounded beside Lynn’s ear.
Turning, Lynn found a silver-haired girl bent over beside him.
They were very close—he could see her delicately sculpted face and even feel the warmth of her breath.
It was Felica.
“You’re the assistant Dean Emil mentioned?”
Lynn was a bit surprised.
Felica nodded.
“To teach a dummy like you, Dean Emil could only ask for my help.”
Lynn’s face went black.
She really didn’t pull her punches…
“So, is there anything you don’t understand?”
“No,” Lynn shook his head.
“I just think these secret realms are too low-level.”
“I see. Don’t worry, as long as… eh?”
Halfway through her reassurance, Felica paused, suddenly feeling something was off.
She tilted her head and looked at Lynn in disbelief.
Logically, Lynn should find the secret realms difficult, and then she could strike down his confidence a little and slowly help him grow stronger, right?
But to say right from the start that they were too easy—what was up with that?
“Hey, Felica, what secret realm does that Inscription Stone project?”
“Fourth-tier secret realm—The Nibelung Lord’s Last Wish.”
Felica was stunned.
“You’re not thinking of challenging a fourth-tier secret realm straight away, are you?”
“I see.”
Lynn nodded thoughtfully.
If he remembered right, that one dropped the ‘Epic Purple’ grade chessmaster anchor [Nibelung Heart].
What a coincidence—he just happened to need an ‘Epic Purple’ chessmaster.
Thinking of this, a subtle smile appeared on Lynn’s lips.
Seeing Lynn so eager, Felica couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat.
Even experienced adventuring parties couldn’t be certain of conquering a fourth-tier secret realm.
But Lynn… looked utterly confident.
Lynn never played by the rules.
Not in this life, nor the previous ones.
Clearly, if he just left Artz Royal City behind—abandoning everyone and going his own way—he could break that cycle of inevitable doom.
Yet every time, Lynn resolutely chose to save everyone.
Even when it left him battered and broken, even when he’d broken down crying in her arms countless times, he never thought of giving up.
“You really are a dummy.”
Felica shook her head, helplessly.
But…
It was precisely this stubborn fool, who would charge into a wall and never look back, that was worth protecting.
Felica thought to herself.