Chapter 92.

The professor put down a wooden box about the size of a person's head on the platform and spoke.

"There are 23 magic towers that have applied to receive probationary trainees this time, which is more than the last time. Among these are the magic towers that are so famous that you would've probably heard of them at least once in your life. But at the same time, there are others so small that youll wonder if a place like that even exists.."

I wasnt sure of the exact number of magic towers, but there were approximately 150 in the empire. The reason I didnt have an exact number was that each year, some would disappear or some new ones appear, depending on their productivity or research results. Therefore, there were often cases where a magic tower would disappear within a year of being sanctioned.

When magic towers disappeared, civil servants were reassigned to other magic towers and the magicians would just relocate to another since they were still valuable resources.Of the 23 towers that the professor mentioned, there were probably only two or three that anyone would have heard of, and the rest were likely small and medium-sized magic towers that no one would have heard of unless they were aware of them already.

The professor continued while tapping on the wooden box he had brought. "Since small magic towers often have environments that arent as good, there are often complaints about sending trainees in the order of academic ranks. So, our Magic Tower Alliance has agreed not to send the trainees in order of academic ranks, but instead by drawing lots."

At the professor's words, the expressions of the top trainees became distorted and the faces of the bottom trainees brightened. However, their eventual job assignments were based on academic ranks so they would only be disappointed later. It seems the environment of the local offices they were assigned to was really bad.

"How come you look so calm? You're not just at the top, but the very top of the ranks. Shouldnt you express some kind of dissatisfaction?" Flam tilted his head at my overly relaxed face.

"I'm usually lucky.

To be exact, rather than luck, my eyesight was good. Even if one were to peek inside that box, they wouldnt be able to read the letters on the paper because the inside of the box was dark. But my eyes were good enough that I could read them even in the dark.

Magic tower training was the most anticipated part of the training schedule. It was one of the few opportunities to gain insight into what the empires magicians were researching and what kind of new cutting edge tools were being developed. It was said that a tool thats too good would worsen your skill, but that was for people with mediocre skills. It had nothing to do with me, someone in his prime and confident. But still, it would be sad if I lost the chance to see such high-tech tools by getting sent to an out-dated magic tower from drawing lots.

It would be so sad that the professor who sent me to the small-medium magic tower might even shed tears. In that sense, I was relieved to know that I had magic to view inside the box and that my eyes were very good. Ill be thankful for the fact that the professor wont have to shed tears.

"Haha, Im jealous. I'm usually unlucky," Flam said, getting up to go draw lots.

The order of drawing lots was in the order of seats, but since the seats were not assigned, choosing a seat was essentially drawing a lot. Thanks to Flam sitting in front, my turn was also early. Seeing this, neither Flam nor I seemed to be unlucky.

When Flam put his hand in the box and pulled out a note, I got up from my seat.

"Red Magic Tower. Here's the magic tower pass for trainee use.

The professor handed Flam a pass for staff to enter the Red Magic Tower.

The Red Magic Tower was one of the seven colored giant magic towers situated in the center of the capital, and was also one of the three that I was considering picking from the box.

It was attractive considering that other small and medium-sized magic towers were situated towards the outskirts of the capital and were barely three stories high, with some even being located in the satellite cities outside of the capital. Above all, there was the geographical advantage that it was not far from the boarding house that I was staying at. However, the usual magic and alchemic research at the Red Magic Tower consisted of chimeras, homunculus, and artificial magic life. Alchemy didnt interest me, but I was interested in the life magic of the Red Magic Tower.

Since Flam just picked the Red Magic Tower, I'll have to pick that one too.

Truthfully, I had just been thinking about picking the Green Magic Tower of the seven colored magic mowers. However, even though the fields were different, the Red and Green Towers shared a similar reputation. So, I decided to go where I knew someone.

It was my turn next, so I put my hand in the wooden box and drew lots.

"Red Magic Tower. Here's your pass."

"Thank you."

Having received my pass from the professor, I went back to my seat.

"Oh, it seems we're going to the same place." I smiled playfully at Flams awed face. "I told you. I'm lucky."

The drawing of lots continued. Once done, the professor gave us some points of caution when living as a probationary trainee in the Magic Tower.

Ah, I'm looking forward to it.

* * *

Lancelot stared blankly at the huge mansion before him.

"Is this really where Lord Bloody lives?" Mac asked as he came up rubbing his bruised left eye with an egg.

The bruise was the price of fooling around and jumping off a high place while carrying Leisha, who had a fear of