Gracie's Research Lab.

"It's too much... everyone is just too much..."

Gracie was once again muttering words of despair today.

"Professor Cromwell...! Professor Mcguire...! Professor Robert!!!"

Robert had extended his vacation since the holidays and had not yet returned.

Mcguire was busy with research at an academy in the capital.

As a result, Cromwell had tasked Gracie with something.

-Midterm exam, you come up with the questions.

It was unfair.

The exam questions that Robert and Mcguire should have handled were all assigned to Gracie.

This midterm exam was the one before the joint assessment, so there were fewer questions to prepare.

Still, the increase in workload was saddening.

Gracie had been living comfortably, having completed her research during the holidays.

Now, suddenly burdened with work, she found it hard to even pick up a pen.

Gracie gritted her teeth.

'Right, I won't just take this lying down...'

Gracie had been continuously mistreated by the professors for the past half year.

If she has to continue this professor job for decades, she might just die.

It was time to find a way to survive.

Gracie opened a drawer.

Inside was a massive amount of documents.

The contents were Liberion Academy's exams for the past five years.

Documents with the contents and solutions of all subjects' exams.

'I did well to get this from Astina...'

Gracie had secretly obtained these documents.

Originally intended for reference, but in her current state, it wasn't going to end at just referencing.

'After all, the questions are all the same...'

Exams are a way to ask students if they know the content.

Even if the questions are different, as long as the intent of question is the same, it shouldn't matter.

Gracie began to smirk and copy them onto the exam paper.

"Hmm~ Hmm~"

Gracie hummed a tune, praising herself for coming up with such an idea.

However, Gracie had overlooked something.

The fact that she wasn't the only one with the documents, and even if one doesn't understand the content, they could still had the answers to them.

Gracie, under great stress, had missed these minor details.

The novice professor Gracie, unaware of what was to come, continued to diligently write down the exam questions.

"Good work today."

I wiped the sweat off with my sleeve and looked at Astina.

"Yeah, you too."

Astina was smiling pleasantly.

It was a few days before the midterm exams, but I was training.

Right now, the joint assessment was the most important thing.

The midterms for the second semester had a smaller scope and less impact on grades.

The joint assessment was much more significant.

I had an intense discussion with Astina.

I explained Evan's techniques to her and pondered countermeasures.

However, the results were disappointing.

Astina, an exceptional wizard, couldn't understand my perspective during combat.

She was a user of telekinetic magic, capable of moving, attacking, and defending.

Ultimately, we started sparring without finding a proper countermeasure.

I chose to experience things physically rather than just sit and discuss.

Astina countered me with techniques similar to those used by Evan, which had a large range.

Astina stared at me intently and then spoke.

"So, did you understand anything?"

"...Not at all."

Maybe because my opponent was Astina, I couldn't even touch the hem of her sleeve.

I was like a dog chasing chickens.

"Don't worry, Evan is not as tough as me."

She was right.

Evan couldn't move as fast as Astina when using techniques.

"If I had at least managed to touch a strand of your hair, it would've been a little comforting... But now, I guess we can't even spar."

"That's not necessarily the case. If you come up with any ideas, we can still spar from time to time."

Astina was going to be busy for a while.

She had plans to craft a staff since she had some time.

Creating her own magic circle and researching meant she wouldn't have leisure time for sparring like now.

Anyway, I also needed time to think on my own, so it wasn't a big problem.

After wiping off her sweat, Astina packed her things.

"Well, I should be going now."

"Already? Why don't you rest a bit more?"

"No. If I'm going to rest, I'd rather do it comfortably in my room. Resting in this sweaty state will only make me tired."

I watched Astina for a moment, then spoke.

"Besides making a staff, have you been up to anything else lately?"

"Hmm? Why do you ask that all of a sudden?"

Astina tilted her head, seemingly puzzled by my question.

"It's just that, other than when we spar, it's hard to see you around."

Rie, Luna, and others seemed to have more free time after the holidays, often eating together and talking.

But Astina was different.

Even roaming around the Academy, it was hard to catch a glimpse of her.

I hadnt worried much about it initially, thinking it was just part of her solo training routine, but it was starting to concern me.

Staying holed up in a room and training incessantly can be exhausting.

Meeting people occasionally was essential for maintaining efficiency in both research and training.

"I'm not particularly busy with anything."

"Then, please, show your face around sometimes. Everyone is worried about you."

I said this with a playful smile.

Astina chuckled at my words.

"I'll try to, when I have the time."

With that, Astina disappeared outside the training grounds.

"Hmm..."

I watched her retreating figure intently.

Something had been off about her since our last encounter.

Looking at Astina, I couldn't shake off a feeling of unease.

It seemed as though she was deliberately keeping a distance from us.

Otherwise, it would be impossible not to cross paths with her in the Academy.

After pondering for a moment, I brushed off these thoughts.

"She'll manage on her own."

Even if there were troubles, she would overcome them soon enough.

After all, she is Astina Persia.

Yet, despite trying to reassure myself, I couldnt shake off the feeling of unease.

In the Astria territory.

"Is that really true?"

Ian stood before his father, Perrian Astria.

"Yes, it's true."

Ian's eyes widened at his father's confirmation.

It was hard for him to understand that the Duke family would dabble in necromancy.

The Astria family was already powerful without resorting to such magic, a ducal house of the empire that bowed to no one, capable of even keeping the emperor in check.

Why would such a family stoop to such deplorable acts?

Ian couldn't make sense of it.

"I intended to tell you when you inherited the family."

Perrian clicked his tongue.

Ian had never defied his father, but this time, it was hard to hold back.

"I don't understand, Father."

It was a vulnerability that could lead to the downfall of the family.

And if the rebels were involved...

A lineage of ducal rule spanning several generations could collapse in an instant.

"We must sever ties with them now. If the emperor's faction catches wind of this...!"

"Ian."

Perrian looked at Ian, who was losing his temper.

"You don't understand anything."

Thump.

Ian slammed his hand down on the table in front of him.

"It's you who doesn't understand, Father!"

"Hmm..."

Perrian pursed his lips and then stood up.

"Follow me."

"What?"

Ian furrowed his brow at his father's words.

Perrian, unfazed, moved on.

They arrived at a vault within the mansion.

Perrian naturally reached out to the vault.

A light began to emanate from it, spreading out to form a magic circle.

Click.

The sound of the vault opening echoed.

It was a vault bound by a magic circle.

"What is this vault?"

Ian looked suspiciously at Perrian.

Perrian didn't answer but opened the vault.

Inside were only manastones, nothing else.

"This is..."

Ian's eyes widened at the sight of the manastones.

Perrian chuckled at his reaction.

"These are manastones created through necromancy."

Treating them like treasures, Perrian took out a handkerchief and reached into the vault.

He retrieved a manastone from its depths.

"The amount of mana..."

The mere presence of the manastone emanated an overwhelming aura.

It was just a manastone, but its power surpassed even the finest quality stones.

The amount of mana was unbelievable.

Ian couldn't trust his eyes.

It was more mana than even a royal wizard would have.

This level of mana is enough to use high-level magic, usually reserved for great wizards.

Ian was speechless.

Perrian laughed at Ian's dumbfounded expression.

"Now you see. This is the result of dabbling in necromancy."

Perrian put the manastone back in the vault.

"What happens if other nobles or the emperor himself finds out? With these powerful manastones, the Astria family is untouchable."

Seeing the manastones, Ian understood what Perrian meant.

If used properly, these manastones could obliterate a city in no time.

In other words, the Astria family could destroy the empire if provoked.

"We only have two of this level for now, but given time, we'll be beyond reach."

Perrian smiled.

Ian's expression hardened.

"Why go to the lengths of creating such dangerous items? The Astria family already possesses great power. Such risky items are..."

If these manastones were used not in an border city but in the capital's heart...

They could obliterate the capital itself.

The problem was that these manastones were not produced by the Astria family but by necromancers.

The Astria family could very well become victims of their own creation.

"Tsk..."

Ian's words made Perrian click his tongue.

"Are you content with the Astria family's power? My son?"

"What... are you saying?"

"You're thinking too small. It's shameful to call you my son."

Perrian pointed upwards.

"The Astria family can ascend even higher. We are a family capable of using space magic, said to be wielded only by gods. Why should we remain under a powerless emperor?"

"Father?"

"Do you not understand why I entrusted you with the family's affairs?"

Perrian was still fit to be the head of the family.

He had no reason to retire, neither in age nor health.

"I will become the emperor."

He had been preparing in the Astria territory.

Preparing for a revolution...

"Then, the rebels..."

Ian's words made Perrian click his tongue again.

"They are irrelevant. I only recently learned that some of the necromancers were rebel leaders. Our prestigious family would never align with such insignificant beings."

Perrian dusted off his handkerchief and put it away.

"Now go. Do not interfere with your father's work."

Ian just stood there even after Perrian had left.

He just stared at the vault containing the manastones

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