Chapter 283: First Week [2]

Chapter 282

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Episode 74 - First Week [2]

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Some of those present scrutinized the place where Princess Very’Daal had taken her seat.

She had chosen a seat in the second-to-last row, right beside a cadet whom no one recognized.

For the cadets of Elvenheims Academy, who considered themselves superior to humans, the situation was difficult to accept.

They stared at the human cadet sitting beside their Princess without even sparing him a glance.

"..."

The cadets’ expressions changed, and their gazes turned hostile.

Noticing the situation, Adel could only sigh inwardly.

’Not only do I have a stalker, but now I also have the hostility of those idiots.’

As in any fantasy story, when someone well-known or respected by many sat beside someone considered inferior according to their ideals, it naturally attracted not only attention but also hostility.

And after class, some of them would probably try to cause trouble for him.

Adel recognized those kinds of looks perfectly well.

However, to him, they were nothing more than a bunch of idiots who, no matter how hard they tried to get Very’Daal’s attention, obviously would never get anywhere with her.

Clank!

After waiting for a few minutes, Professor Lunia, who was in charge of everything related to Alchemy, entered the classroom. A female Elvenheims followed behind her.

She was Professor Vhae’Sira Solaris, a Seven-Star Awakened.

Just like Professor Ashly, Vhae’Sira was in charge of everything related to Alchemy at Elvenheims Academy.

"Good morning, cadets. Are you ready for your first competition?"

All the cadets nodded enthusiastically.

Clearly, the competitiveness between the two sides was overwhelming.

Observing the atmosphere among those present, Professors Lunia and Vhae’Sira smiled.

Both were deeply devoted to Alchemy and had taught the cadets present throughout the past year.

Naturally, they were excited to find out which of them had taught their students better.

’If Adel, my disciple, were here, he would make every Elvenheims cadet present look like a fool.’

Those were Lunia’s thoughts.

On the other hand...

’Perfect, Princess Very’Daal is here. Without a doubt, she’ll be the best among everyone present.’

And those were Vhae’Sira’s thoughts.

"Very well, cadets. Since the first week isn’t focused on practical work, you won’t be creating any Potions. Instead, you’ll demonstrate the knowledge you’ve acquired throughout the year."

It was the first day of the second week of December.

All the cadets present at the Holy Academy had been selected to participate in the Academic Exchange.

Meanwhile, the rest of the cadets had already left to await the start of the first semester of their respective years.

As for the third-year cadets, they had already graduated.

Throughout the entire year, the participants had been preparing for the Academic Exchange.

Therefore, upon hearing Professor Lunia’s words, their excitement to prove who was better than the rest grew even more intense.

"Okay, guys, don’t get too excited just yet. First, demonstrate your knowledge of Alchemy. We’re starting now."

The competition covered the subject of the Laws and Fundamentals of the Theoretical Principle of Alchemy.

Thus, as soon as both professors began the class, the competition between the two sides quickly got underway.

The format consisted of a series of questions and answers, so the competition progressed quite quickly.

***

After class.

After leaving the classroom, I walked through the hallways in search of the next classroom.

A few moments earlier, in the Alchemy classroom, Very’Daal had correctly answered every question asked by the two Alchemy professors from both Academies.

Obviously, I could answer them as well, but at that moment, I wasn’t Adel.

I was the cadet known as Ivan.

Besides, I couldn’t draw too much attention to myself with my performance during the Academic Exchange.

I only needed to stand out enough to make it to the third week.

After all, the Academic Exchange wasn’t simply a competition between two Academies.

Regardless of their achievements and performance during the first week, the cadets could compete again during the second.

To determine who would advance, a ranking would be published on the final day of the first week.

Only a total of one hundred and fifty cadets from both Academies would be allowed to advance to the second week.

’Hey, disciple, won’t you have trouble with that stalker?’

"..."

I had almost forgotten about that little detail.

Because, sure enough, walking behind me was my new stalker.

Princess Very’Daal had followed me immediately after I left the classroom, and she was now walking through the hallways behind me.

As I headed toward the Theoretical Magic classroom, Very’Daal maintained a distance of a couple of meters.

Perhaps to avoid drawing too much attention, she had kept enough distance from me that no one would think she was following me.

At my master’s question, I shrugged.

’Well, I will have some trouble, but as long as no one discovers my true identity, her presence doesn’t necessarily matter.’

My first priority was to avoid being expelled from the Academy if I failed to make it to the third week.

Any cadet who couldn’t advance to the final week would be expelled from the Academy immediately.

The measure existed to prevent any cadet from attempting to enter the final week and participate under another identity.

The Academic Exchange was truly important to many people.

For some, the most important thing was the grades they would receive for the following year.

After all, participants in the Academic Exchange would receive grades and points for the next year regardless of their position in the ranking.

On the other hand, there was the "Golden Star," the title awarded to the winner of the Academic Exchange.

Each Golden Star was not only considered the best cadet of the two Academies, but also the most talented and knowledgeable person among all the cadets.

Furthermore, the title came with extremely important privileges, to the point that even a Marquis House would go to great lengths to obtain them.

That was why becoming the Golden Star was one of the greatest goals in the lives of cadets from both Academies.

’Mhm, according to my memories, Very’Daal became the Golden Star of this generation.’

Of course, Lumina could also become the Golden Star.

But honestly, it had to be taken into account that she wasn’t an ordinary person.

She was a regressor with clear goals, and she had no interest in something like the Golden Star.

Although, considering her first ten regressions, things might have been different back then.

After all, Very’Daal was the greatest talent of the past several thousand years.

If Lumina, Astrid, and I didn’t exist, Very’Daal would undoubtedly be considered the greatest talent of the past several thousand years.

’She’s currently at Five Stars, but within about two months, she’ll undoubtedly reach Six Stars.’

Lumina and I were the strongest cadets in the Academy at that moment.

Even so, Very’Daal wasn’t far behind. In fact, she could even briefly compete with Lumina.

Very’Daal was an Elementalist. Not only did she have a Pact with an Ancestral Spirit, but her Natural Affinity was also high enough for her to use all of her Spirit’s abilities.

Furthermore, she possessed Spirits of lower ranks than an Ancestral Spirit and had established Pacts with some of the rarest creatures known as Elementals.

They were the embodiment of a specific Attribute.

For that reason, her power was unquestionable.

The combination of all those factors made Very’Daal’s strength far surpass that of an average Six-Star Awakened.

’That girl is really impressive, except...’

’Her personality is terrible.’

I finished my master’s words and nodded slightly at the same time.

’Well, let’s lose sight of her for now.’

With that thought, I used Spatial Movement to teleport directly to the classroom I was heading toward.

I was certain that Very’Daal wouldn’t know which classroom I was heading to, so the most convenient thing to do was teleport and lose her.

Whoosh!

My figure disappeared the instant I confirmed that none of the cadets around me were paying attention to me.

A moment later, I appeared in the Theoretical Magic classroom.

However, I wasn’t alone.

"..."

A pair of pale pink eyes stared at me in evident surprise.

Rinna blinked once.

Then a second time.

And after a few seconds, she still hadn’t recognized me.

Finally, not knowing who I was, she said:

"Using Mana or any Trait is prohibited within the Academy unless a professor permits it."

"..."

Now that I thought about it, Rinna knew absolutely nothing about my infiltration into the Holy Academy.

That was why her reaction confused me for a moment.

But considering that my appearance was different now...

"I’m sorry, Miss Rinna."

Rinna gave me a faint smile before replying:

"It’s fine, but don’t break the Academy’s rules again, or I’ll have to report you to the professors."

I gave a faint smile and replied:

"I’ll keep that in mind."

After that, I sat down near her.

Since there was no one else in the classroom, only Rinna had witnessed my sudden appearance.

It was then that...

’Hey, disciple, why don’t you tell her it’s you?’

’Mhm, and why would I do that?’

’No particular reason. I just want to see how she reacts.’

I turned my head and "looked" at Rinna for a few seconds.

Then, without realizing it, a faint smile appeared on my face.

’Well, it wouldn’t be so bad to tease her.’

With that thought in mind, I stood up from my seat and walked toward her.