Chapter 45: The Relentless Pursuit

“Heh heh, not bad, truly not bad.”

Inside the Dean’s office, smoke swirled in thick plumes.

Pink Bear lay sprawled on his newly purchased leather sofa, designed to mimic the touch of a beautiful leg. He leisurely puffed on a premium cigar sourced from the Southern Locke region, all while flipping through the ‘Saintess Photo Album 2.0’ he’d acquired through special channels, occasionally letting out a lewd chuckle.

This latest edition of the Saintess Photo Album not only featured actresses who bore a striking resemblance to the Saintess but also included reenactments of famous scenes.

For instance, one page depicted the previous generation’s Immaculate Saintess of the Life Church purifying undead spirits in a graveyard. The Immaculate Saintess, holding a solemn staff, released boundless holy light with a reverent expression, cleansing the grotesque demons, a sight that would inspire the highest reverence in anyone who witnessed it.

However, the ‘Saintess’ in the photo album was clad in a seductive, revealing, and utterly blood-boiling lingerie bikini.

“Tsk tsk, this intertwining of solemnity and allure, a union of angel and devil. Exquisite, truly exquisite! Merely gazing at this album, my soul feels as though it has ascended. What a pity I don’t know who could possess such a genius idea; I truly wish to meet the author of this collection.”

As he mused, Pink Bear’s furry paw, extending from his bear mouth, flicked the end of his cigar before idly scratching his backside.

Such a wonderful, leisurely time for slacking off. If only it could last…

“Pink Bear!”

A deafening roar shattered the peace, and the office door was kicked open.

“Holy crap, back so soon!”

Pink Bear jolted upright, quickly hiding the album behind him. He looked towards the furious Professor Planck standing at the doorway, vehemently shaking his head. “I wasn’t slacking, I wasn’t!”

“Slacking off is a minor matter, it doesn’t concern me,” Professor Planck growled, his eyes bloodshot, his teeth clenched.

“Eh?”

Pink Bear blinked in surprise.

Slacking off?

A minor matter?

Were those words Professor Planck would ever utter?

Last time, during the inquiry, he’d merely dozed off for half an hour, and Planck had nearly torn his costume apart. Why was he so lenient this time?

Before Pink Bear could fully recover, Professor Planck flashed a sinister, cold smile. “Seize him!”

“Yes!”

“Got it!”

Teacher Cade and Professor Glen appeared from nowhere, each grabbing one of Pink Bear’s arms in a tight grip.

“What are you doing? What is this?”

Sensing trouble, Pink Bear began to struggle frantically.

However, both Teacher Cade and Professor Glen were formidable experts. Their combined strength made it difficult for him to break free.

Moreover, Professor Planck, a Crowned One, stood before him, glaring menacingly.

Surrounded by the three, Pink Bear had nowhere to run.

But why were they doing this?

Pink Bear’s eyes widened in terror.

Could it be…

Had they discovered he’d secretly embezzled funds again to buy the sofa, cigars, and photo albums?

“Pink Bear! Look at this fine mess you’ve made!”

Pink Bear, who was just pondering how to gloss over the funding issue, was suddenly struck in the face by a stack of documents Professor Planck hurled at him.

“This is…”

Pink Bear followed the papers with his gaze, finding information about a man with a large scar across his face.

“Huh? Isn’t this that guy?”

Pink Bear remembered. “The one who harbored feelings for student Ewan.”

“Oh? So you remember your ‘good deed’?”

“Good deed? Oh, oh, yes, it was indeed a good deed. I helped him find his true love, after all. Wait, hold on.”

Seeing Professor Planck’s expression, as if he wished to chop him into pieces, Pink Bear suddenly had a terrible thought.

‘Could it be…

He succeeded!’

‘If that duke’s son also had such a peculiar fetish, and upon being pursued by the scarred man, they immediately hit it off and fell in love…

—No, Duke Campbell would kill me.

He would bring an army of hundreds of thousands to slaughter me!

Damn it, I just wanted some fun. Are these noble youths’ fetishes really so twisted?

Even if you’re into that, at least find someone good-looking!’

“Though I don’t know what you’re thinking, I’m sure you’ve misunderstood entirely.”

Professor Planck picked up the documents, pointing to a specific section. “I’m referring to this matter.”

“This matter?”

Pink Bear followed Professor Planck’s finger and saw the words ‘Bandit’ boldly written under the scarred man’s identity.

“Bandit?”

Pink Bear’s eyes widened. “This guy is actually a bandit?”

“…” Professor Planck paused. “You didn’t know?”

“How would I know? While he certainly looks like a bandit, do you think I’m still the kind of superficial fellow who judges by appearances? Besides, this guy doesn’t even have a hint of bloodlust on him. A bandit who’s never killed anyone, can you believe that?”

“Then why didn’t you use the academy’s intelligence system to check? Do you have any idea how much reputational damage it will bring to our academy to have a bandit as a teacher?” Professor Planck roared.

Pink Bear was stunned. “Intelligence system? An academy dedicated to education actually has an intelligence system? What are you trying to do?”

“Hmph, not just an intelligence system. There’s actually an armory hidden beneath the academy,” Professor Planck sneered.

“Armory?”

Pink Bear froze for a moment, then immediately let out a righteous roar. “Are you planning a rebellion? I’m telling you, as long as I, Pink Bear, am still in office, I will absolutely not allow such disrespectful acts to occur! Release me at once, and buy me the new Saintess figurine as an apology. Otherwise, I’ll report your misdeeds directly to His Majesty!”

“I don’t have time to waste with your tangents.”

Knowing that continuing to chat with Pink Bear would only lead to him deflecting the main point, Professor Planck cut straight to the chase.

“Even if you are currently the acting dean of the academy, such a grave oversight cannot be easily forgiven. You must face punishment.”

“Punishment?”

Pink Bear’s eyes widened in terror. “How do you plan to punish me? Are you going to make me work overtime until I die from exhaustion?”

“That is indeed a good method, but I have an even better idea.”

Professor Planck gave a cold smile, then suddenly bent down and, from behind Pink Bear, pulled out the Saintess photo album.

“Are you ready to face hell, Dean Pink Bear?”

Professor Planck’s face was grim. Under Pink Bear’s horrified gaze, he opened the first page of the album, his strong hand gripping the page, and then…

Slowly tore it.

Riiip—

With the crisp sound of tearing paper, Pink Bear watched as the alluring ‘Saintess’ on the page split into two. He felt as though his own soul was being torn apart along with it.

“No—”

****

“You’re letting him off just like that?”

In Professor Planck’s office, Professor Glen expertly brewed tea, then handed a cup to Planck.

“Such leniency isn’t like your usual style.”

“How could it be?”

Professor Planck sneered. “There are still over a dozen inquiries awaiting that fellow. Did he truly think such a mistake could be so easily brushed aside? Compared to me, those nobles are watching the academy like hawks. How could they tolerate such an incident?”

“Hmph, true enough.”

Professor Glen whistled cheerfully, then unceremoniously enjoyed the premium black tea he’d cadged from Professor Planck.

“Speaking of which, nothing major has happened in the academy recently, has it?”

Professor Planck had been busy lately; otherwise, he never would have allowed Pink Bear to appoint a bandit as a teacher without any vetting.

“No, it’s been quite peaceful.”

Professor Glen said, a smile of ambiguous meaning playing on his lips. “Nothing major, but there is one interesting minor incident.”

“Oh?”

Professor Planck’s interest was piqued. “What minor incident?”

“This.”

Professor Glen handed Professor Planck a newspaper. “While it’s just a small matter, it’s caused quite a stir in the academy over the past few days.”

“That sounds rather interesting.”

Professor Planck took the newspaper, his eyes swiftly scanning its contents.

“Ewan Campbell boldly declares he will achieve an ‘Excellent’ score in the next ‘Introduction to Magic Fundamentals’ exam.”

Professor Planck raised an eyebrow slightly. “An ‘Excellent’ score, meaning eighty points? Is he taking the exam with the first-year students?”

“Second-year,” Professor Glen pointed to a later part of the article.

“Second-year?”

Professor Planck paused, then sneered. “Impossible.”

“Oh, so certain?”

Professor Glen chuckled. “What if he gets lucky and succeeds?”

“This isn’t a goal that can be achieved by luck.”

Professor Planck tossed the newspaper aside, losing interest.

“I’ve been a teacher for so many years; I’m quite clear on what can and cannot be achieved.

If Ewan Campbell’s goal were sixty points, then with a month of unwavering focus on this subject, coupled with a good teacher, it might be possible.

But an ‘Excellent’ score of eighty points… that is absolutely impossible.”

Professor Planck was well aware of the chasm between sixty and eighty points for the ‘Introduction to Magic Fundamentals’ course.

It wasn’t something that could be bridged by mere effort.

“But what if? There’s always a ‘what if.’ What if he truly creates that miracle?” Professor Glen leaned closer, pressing the question.

“What if?”

Professor Planck scoffed disdainfully, then slapped his beloved antique desk. “I’ll say it again: if he truly achieves it, I’ll eat my desk!”

****

“It’s spread throughout the entire academy again?”

In the Ancient Potion Club classroom, Ewan stared dumbfounded at the newspaper Anna handed him.

In the most prominent position on the newspaper, bold red letters dramatically reported Ewan’s audacious declaration made earlier in the woods, even adding a melodramatic title like ‘The Duke’s Son’s Counterattack.’

It was easy to imagine that the release of these newspapers would once again stir up considerable waves in the academy, which had just begun to regain its calm.

“How does the Press Club know everything? I remember I didn’t tell anyone else this time, did I?” Ewan said, a hint of confusion in his voice.

“Junior, you mustn’t underestimate Senior Minggot from the Press Club.”

Anna offered him a cup of coffee. As Ewan reached for it, he was astonished to find that the coffee had been brewed in a measuring cup.

‘Do intellectual older sisters who conduct experiments all enjoy playing around like this?’

“His ability to become the president of the Press Club is only one aspect; most importantly, he possesses a magic that allows him to control birds. One could say that many of the birds in the academy are his eyes and ears; very few things in the academy can escape his notice.”

“Controlling birds? I see.”

With such a convenient magic, it was no wonder the Press Club always got first-hand news.

“What, Junior, are you scared?”

Anna stirred the coffee in the measuring cup with a glass rod. Once the sugar cube dissolved, her pink tongue lightly licked the transparent rod, looking exceptionally captivating.

“Being watched by so many people isn’t necessarily a good thing.”

“Scared?”

Ewan composed himself, then gave a wry smile. “I’ve already committed to it, what is there left to fear?”

Ewan continued flipping through the newspaper. When he reached the last page and saw the betting information regarding whether he could achieve an ‘Excellent’ score, he couldn’t help but twitch his lips.

“No way, they’re even taking bets on this? How bored are those people?”

“Studying is tedious; one needs to find some fun, no?” Anna took a small sip of coffee, smiling softly.

“Oh? From what Senior says, did you also place a bet?” Ewan blinked, asking curiously, “Which side did you bet on?”

“Which side?”

Anna rested her chin on her hand, retorting, “Which side do you hope I bet on, Junior?”

“I…”

Ewan’s eyes darted, and he said, “I hope Senior bet on the ‘cannot’ side.”

“Oh? Why?”

Anna asked, “Don’t you want me to believe in you, Junior?”

“Of course I want Senior to believe in me.”

Ewan clasped his hands under his chin, speaking earnestly, “But I want even more for Senior not to lose her bet.”

“…Heh heh, Junior, you don’t forget to flirt even at a time like this. You truly are a scoundrel.”

Anna playfully tapped Ewan’s head with the book in her hand, feigning annoyance, then chuckled softly. “Have a little more confidence in yourself, young man.”

“I want to, believe me.”

Ewan sighed. “But the boast I made was so grand back then. Now that I’ve calmed down, it does seem quite difficult to achieve.”

“So, are you going to give up just like that?”

Anna tilted her head. “Actually, the sixty points you initially aimed for was already a remarkable goal.”

“Give up?”

Ewan lowered his head, gazing at the desktop.

The desktop, used as an experimental table, was made of metal and had been immaculately cleaned by Anna.

Like a bronze mirror, it faintly reflected his own image.

And the blond man in the mirror, despite being impeccably dressed and handsome, Ewan felt he looked utterly disheveled.

Unable to accomplish anything.

Unable to change anything.

Neither for himself nor for others.

Compared to Aemon, he was more like a dog.

“Who said anything about giving up?”

Ewan clenched his fist, as if embedding each word into his heart.

“I won’t give up, never!”

“Is that so?”

As if she had already anticipated Ewan’s answer, Anna snapped her fingers.

Immediately, a thick stack of books appeared before Ewan.

“This is…”

“Practice books.”

Anna explained, “Since Junior’s goal has changed, our learning methods must also change. We can no longer limit ourselves to memorizing and reviewing basic knowledge; you must also engage in extensive practice based on the types of questions and potential problems that may appear in various exams.

After all, exams won’t just test content from the textbook.”

“I see.”

Ewan realized. “The ‘sea of questions’ strategy, how nostalgic.”

“Nostalgic?”

Anna raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Junior, have you done this before?”

“Haha, perhaps in a dream…”

Facing Anna’s puzzled look, Ewan could only give a dry laugh and brush it off.

After all, he couldn’t very well tell her that in his previous life, he had already experienced the so-called ‘sea of questions’ strategy for the most important ‘gaokao’ exam of his life.

However, it was very similar.

This upcoming exam, just like the gaokao in his previous life, would be a pivotal test determining his future.

“If that’s the case, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

He had already been through it once, hadn’t he?

Anything, once experienced for the first time, would cause less panic the second time.

He just needed to proceed step by step, following the plan.

So…

“Bring it on, Senior! Don’t pity this delicate flower; please, utterly ravage me!” Ewan declared with a determined expression.

“Is that so? Then Junior, don’t you dare cry later.”

Anna, holding a pointer she’d acquired from who knows where, lightly waved it, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. “Teacher Anna is very strict, you know.”

****

Evening.

In the dormitory.

The high-priced glowstone Ewan had bought emitted a brilliant light, illuminating the entire room.

Across from him, in the opposite dormitory building, only a few senior rooms still glowed faintly; the rest had long since plunged into darkness.

The night was deep, yet Ewan was still burning the midnight oil, studying intensely.

Finally, his eyes grew too sore to bear, and he stopped, applying a hot towel to them.

Judging by the hot water already prepared nearby, this scene had replayed many times.

“It seems the human body truly has its limits.”

Ewan rubbed his temples, feeling the warmth on his face, and couldn’t help but sigh.

Even with the body of a Second-tier martial artist, he couldn’t endure studying all day. Fragile parts like his eyes had long begun to protest.

“If only there were a way for me to disregard physical fatigue.”

Ewan mused, then suddenly awoke with a start.

“Huh, wait, I think I actually have such a method!”

Saying this, Ewan paid no mind to the wet towel that had fallen to the floor, quickly immersing his consciousness deep within.

The Black Book space.

However, this time there was neither the maid assassin nor the naked adventurer.

It wasn’t even completely dark anymore.

Under Ewan’s conscious control, the scene here transformed into… the Ancient Potion classroom.

The blue curtains Anna liked swayed gently, though outside the window was only darkness, revealing nothing.

Touching the cold metal desktop, Ewan couldn’t help but smile. “It’s still here that I can feel at ease.”

After a brief sigh, Ewan’s thoughts shifted, and the practice book he had just been working on appeared before him.

“Practice yields true knowledge. Let’s give it a try.”

Ewan plunged back into his studies.

Then, after an unknown amount of time.

Ewan emerged from his focused study, glanced at the time, and felt his physical state, a joyful expression spreading across his face.

“I’ve been studying continuously for three hours. As expected, in the Black Book space, my body doesn’t get tired.”

Thinking about it, it made sense: it was Ewan’s consciousness that was active in the Black Book space, consuming spiritual energy. His physical body naturally wouldn’t accumulate fatigue.

In fact, during the time he spent studying in the Black Book, Ewan’s body could even get ample rest.

As for his spiritual energy… thanks to Ewan’s long-term tempering through battles in the Black Book space, his spiritual strength had long surpassed that of ordinary people.

After all, how could someone who had died countless times not have resilient spiritual energy?

“This means I can even compress my sleep time to the absolute minimum!” Ewan’s eyes lit up.

Without needing sleep to eliminate physical fatigue, about two hours of deep sleep each day would be enough to fully replenish his spiritual energy.

And this effectively gave him an extra four hours of study time every day!

Ewan couldn’t help but clench his fist in excitement.

Indeed, only effort never deceives a person.

All his previous struggles seemed fruitless. Yet, in the end, they repaid him in an unexpected way.

It also allowed his seemingly unreachable goal to finally emit a faint glimmer in the darkness.

****

“However, just doing problems like this, without knowing if they’re right or wrong, doesn’t feel very efficient.”

As he continued solving problems, Ewan still felt something was off.

After all, for this world, the subject of magic was ultimately only for nobles and certain geniuses. Although a certain system had formed, it was not as universally applicable as the subjects in his previous life.

For example, the practice books Anna had collected from who-knows-where, which Ewan now held, didn’t look like officially bound versions at all. They seemed more like a compilation of past exams and teacher assignments, with some parts even handwritten.

Therefore, there was no such thing as an answer key.

The purpose of the ‘sea of questions’ strategy wasn’t to blindly do a massive number of problems without considering quality or efficiency. Rather, it was to continuously solve problems, identify one’s common mistakes or unmastered points, and quickly refine and consolidate one’s knowledge.

But if he didn’t even know whether he was right or wrong, the later benefits were completely out of the question. It would merely increase his problem-solving speed and familiarity.

And for Ewan at this moment, speed and familiarity were utterly useless.

“But if I wait until tomorrow for Senior to grade them…”

Not to mention whether Anna had that much time and energy, in terms of efficiency, it completely contradicted Ewan’s philosophy.

He needed to think of another solution.

Ewan stroked his chin in thought.

The first method Ewan considered was hiring several ‘teachers’ specifically to grade his exercises.

After all, he wasn’t short on money.

However, hiring teachers itself would take a lot of time, and he might not even find any suitable ones.

So, this method was only a last resort.

Ewan continued to ponder.

As he thought, his gaze subconsciously wandered around, then inadvertently caught sight of the profound darkness outside the window, revealed when the blue curtains swayed.

Darkness…

Black…

A flash of inspiration struck Ewan’s mind.

“Black Book!”

With Ewan’s summons, the Black Book slowly materialized.

But this time, its leisurely appearance seemed… a little reluctant?

Ewan didn’t think much of it, excitedly pulling the Black Book closer.

“You can do it, Black Book.”

He patted the practice book. “Help me grade this!”

[…]

The Black Book remained silent.

“You definitely can.”

Seeing no reaction from the Black Book, Ewan’s gaze sharpened. “Your ability is essentially recording, isn’t it? You even know the weaknesses of evil gods; I don’t believe you don’t know the first-year ‘Introduction to Magic Fundamentals’ knowledge!”

[…]

“You never told me in advance, yet you arbitrarily changed my fate last time. I still haven’t settled that score with you.”

[Sigh.]

Still the familiar, heavy sigh.

The practice books Ewan had completed before him quickly began to flip.

Then, next to each problem, a tiny ‘✔’ or a tiny ‘✗’ appeared.

“Thank you!”

Ewan was overjoyed, quickly flipping back to the first exercises he had done, and began correcting his mistakes.

But as he worked, he suddenly turned to look at the Black Book, his expression serious. “What are the basic contents of the magic syllogism again?”

[…]

The Black Book reluctantly flipped, and an explanation identical to that in the textbook appeared before Ewan.

“Thank you, I love you!”

Ewan wished he could hug the Black Book and kiss it.

It could never be called a good teacher, but it was absolutely an excellent textbook.

Wherever he didn’t understand, he could ‘point’ to it, or rather, it would even reveal the knowledge points on its own, saving him the trouble of searching. Who wouldn’t love such a textbook?

****

Throughout the long night, Ewan studied with complete concentration.

The Black Book floated beside Ewan, occasionally flipping open to display knowledge points from the textbook or notes from Anna’s lectures.

Ewan made rapid progress.

Yet, at this point, he still seemed not to realize that he could actually use the Black Book to cheat and pass the exam very easily.

Or perhaps, the option of cheating had simply never entered his realm of thought.

****

“You’re late.”

In the Student Council room, Celicia stared at Wei’er, who had rushed in, dew still clinging to her hair, and stated expressionlessly, “You’re exactly fifteen minutes late.”

“Heh heh… President, please forgive me…”

Wei’er stuck out her tongue, begging for mercy. “I stayed up too late questioning Aemon last night, so I overslept.”

“Is that so? But why, when I just went to see Aemon, did he say you left at eight last night?”

“Uh…”

Wei’er’s pretty face instantly stiffened. She began to ponder whether she should kneel and beg for mercy, or cling to the President’s leg, to save her beloved novels.

“Never mind.”

However, this time, Celicia did not pursue the matter.

“Go make me a cup of coffee.”

“Got it.”

Wei’er, as if granted a great pardon, moved with nimble hands and feet.

In no time, the aroma of coffee wafted through the room.

Celicia, meanwhile, stood with her hands clasped behind her back, turning to look out the window.

Autumn deepened, and plane tree leaves fluttered down, carpeting the quiet path in a golden river.

If one were to step on them, they would surely emit a crisp sound.

It was beautiful, but alas, the silent morning saw no one pass by.

“What day is it?” Celicia suddenly asked.

“The fifth day, I think.”

Wei’er assumed Celicia was asking about Aemon’s previous incident. As she made coffee, she chattered on. “That Aemon is truly foolish. He actually dared to drink a potion given by a stranger. Sigh, he didn’t even get a clear look at the person’s face. It’s infuriating! If he were smarter, we wouldn’t be so busy, don’t you agree, President…”

“He is a bit foolish.”

Celicia withdrew her gaze, though it was unclear whom she was referring to. “But I haven’t seen him on his morning run these past few days, and I’m surprisingly unaccustomed to it.”

****

“Ariel!”

On the way to class, Liya stared at Ariel, who was lost in thought beside her, a hint of confusion in her bright, watery eyes. “You’ve been acting very strange lately!”

“Eh? Have I?”

Ariel snapped out of it, blinking her eyes. “Must be your imagination.”

“You have! You zone out in class, daydream while walking, and you’re always giggling foolishly at a sound transmission stone!”

Liya’s expression grew serious. “You’re not still thinking about that woman from before, are you? Didn’t the professor say she was fake?”

“No, absolutely not!”

Ariel declared emphatically, taking Liya’s hand and saying deeply, “Now, my eyes are only for you, Liya.”

“Oh, you’re annoying.”

Liya’s cheeks flushed, her expression shy.

Since Ariel said so, she would forgive her.

But just as she was about to say something, she noticed Ariel’s gaze had been drawn elsewhere again.

“That’s…”

Following her line of sight, a blond man sat beneath a tree, completely engrossed in the book in his hands, muttering something and occasionally sketching with his pen.

“Ewan Campbell, isn’t it?”

Liya recognized the blond man under the tree. “I heard he made a bold statement, saying he’d score eighty points on the next ‘Introduction to Magic Fundamentals’ exam. I wonder if it’s true.”

“Hmph, just grandstanding.”

Ariel sneered. “He only got three points in that course last semester, and now he wants eighty? It’s impossible for him to start trying now. He’d be better off taking the first-year exam.”

“True, but this matter has been quite a buzz lately. I see many people discussing it. Oh, right!”

As if remembering something, Liya suddenly asked, “Ariel, did you participate in that betting pool?”

“Hmm? Why do you ask?”

“Because I thought Ariel would be the type to join in such excitement.”

“…” Ariel paused, then her lips curved into a wicked, charming smile.

“You truly are perceptive, Liya. You know me so well. But I’m just playing around; I only put in two hundred Emils.”

“Two hundred? But isn’t that already a week’s worth of your food money?”

Liya said worriedly, “I remember last time you also bet your food money and ended up eating black bread for a week. If this continues, you’ll become malnourished, and your chest might really shrink!”

“That won’t happen!”

Ariel bristled with indignation, then declared confidently, “Last time, I simply forgot that Ewan Campbell has a very powerful father. That’s why I stumbled, but it’s different now!”

After all, even the teachers, who are extremely proficient in magic, explicitly stated that this was impossible, so it must be impossible!

“Just you wait and see! This time, I’ll definitely win back everything, including what I lost last time and my food money!” Ariel proclaimed, hands on her hips, laughing loudly.

“But… but the current betting odds are one to twenty, right? Most people, like Ariel, don’t believe Ewan Campbell can do it. So even if you win, you won’t earn much money,” Liya said cautiously.

“…” Ariel’s smile froze, then she erupted in furious indignation. “Damn Ewan Campbell!”

****

“I’ve decided, I’m putting all my allowance for this month into it!”

In the Magic Painting Club, a small girl with pigtails fiercely pulled out her piggy bank, huffing, “One to twenty? Who do those people look down on? Is student Ewan so worthless in their eyes? They think it’s impossible, but I firmly believe he can do it!”

“Exactly, exactly! I’m putting all my allowance in too!”

“Screw those snobs who look down on others! Long live our one and only idol!”

Two other young girls chirped in agreement, as if they couldn’t wait to roll up their sleeves and personally fight for Ewan against his haters.

“Emma, Alva, Amy.”

Fanny, their senior, swept a helpless gaze over the three girls, sighing. “Calm down. It’s not that we don’t believe in Ewan Campbell, but the goal he’s set is too difficult. Even the teachers think it’s impossible.”

“So what!”

Emma slammed the table in righteous anger. “True love is invincible! Long live our idol! If I say student Ewan can do it, then he definitely can!”

“Exactly!”

“Agreed, agreed!”

“…” Fanny’s lips twitched as she watched the three girls, full of fighting spirit and eagerness, seeming ready to beat her up if she said another bad word about Ewan Campbell.

‘Obsessed fans are truly terrifying.’

But then, she couldn’t help but wonder… should she also bet a little on Ewan Campbell, just for fun?

If she lost, it wouldn’t hurt too much. But if she won… a twenty-fold return was indeed very tempting.

And…

What if, as these young girls said, there was a ‘what if’?

****

After the invasion of the Silent Moon, no other major incidents occurred, and the academy finally seemed to have entered a long period of peace.

Ewan’s longed-for leisurely daily life finally arrived as promised, yet he himself had no time to enjoy it.

This period was incredibly fulfilling.

Apart from two hours of sleep daily, half an hour for meals (three times a day), and one hour for miscellaneous tasks (showering, commuting, urgent needs, etc.), Ewan dedicated almost all his time to the ‘Introduction to Magic Fundamentals’ course.

He also attended a few of Teacher Fran’s classes once Anna had helped him catch up.

He didn’t sit in a conspicuous spot but chose a secluded corner by the window, diligently listening to Teacher Fran’s lectures, cross-referencing them with Anna’s teachings to deepen his understanding.

Occasionally, he would raise his hand to ask questions, no longer afraid, and Teacher Fran would explain his doubts thoroughly and earnestly.

It had to be said that, apart from her tendency to get emotional, Fran was indeed a good teacher.

However, for some reason, whenever he sat by the window, Ewan would be glared at intensely by Ariel several times.

This left him bewildered, wondering when he had provoked her again.

****

Time flowed unceasingly.

And so, finally, it was the day before the exam.

In the Ancient Potion classroom, Anna closed her book, signaling the end of their last lesson.

“Alright, all the lessons are finished. Junior, you should rest a bit now.”

“No need, I’m not tired yet.”

Ewan, however, paid no attention to Anna. The moment the lesson ended, he immediately opened his practice book, solving problems without a moment’s pause.

Anna lowered her gaze, quietly observing Ewan.

His beautiful blond hair had grown quite long, but it clearly hadn’t been cared for in a while, covering his ears and eyebrows, making him look rather unkempt.

His uniform was also a bit disheveled, with many unironed wrinkles, and even his tie was crooked. This was unimaginable for the son of a wealthy noble.

And while his handsome face still appeared ruddy, the fatigue in his eyes was clearly visible.

It was a spiritual exhaustion, a lingering after-effect of a stubborn soul relentlessly pushing forward every single moment.

“Speaking of which, Junior Ewan, it seems we haven’t tried to have a club activity in quite a while, have we?”

“Eh, now?”

Ewan looked up, bewildered.

“Right now.”

Anna nodded earnestly, looking like a mischievous girl pestering an adult for candy, regardless of the occasion.

“Then… alright.”

By all rights and reasons, Ewan couldn’t refuse Anna’s small request. He could only give a wry smile. “Then please be quick, Senior. My time is very tight. The exam is tomorrow, and I still need to review all the knowledge points again.”

“Of course, it’ll be quick. It’s just a potion to drink.”

Anna chuckled softly, as if she had planned this all along. She placed a potion, contained in a black bottle so its contents couldn’t be seen, before Ewan.

“Drink it.”

“This… it won’t have any terrible effects, will it?”

Ewan still had lingering fears from the last time.

“Don’t worry, there will absolutely be no problems this time.”

“Alright then…”

Out of trust for Anna, or perhaps because he wanted to finish quickly and return to studying, Ewan drank the potion in one gulp without even asking about its specific effects.

“This should…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Ewan felt his vision blur.

Then, with a thud, he collapsed onto the desktop.

A moment later, rhythmic snores filled the air as he fell into a sweet slumber, something he hadn’t experienced once in the past month.

In the quiet potion classroom, Anna rested her chin on her hand, watching Ewan. She couldn’t help but reach out and gently stroke his head. “Sleep well for a bit, Junior. You’ve already worked hard enough.”