The students of the Black Tortoise, watched as Balfatan of the Moradi family, oblivious to the astonishment on their faces, nodded in approval.

-Gainando... A great name befitting of a remarkable talent.-

Confusion marked their faces.

-Remember my name. Well meet again someday.-

The senior, clutching a quill and paper, departed.

One student from the Black Tortoise, finally regaining his composure, asked Yi-Han in a perplexed tone, "Wardanaz, is this really okay?"

"Didn't he say we shouldn't share names or family affiliations with those we meet at night?"

The students were speechless at Yi-Han's quick application of the lesson he'd just learned from the senior.

Is this what it takes to be one of the top-ranking students in our year?

"And you all, think about it. Which family did that senior belong to?"

"The Moradi family."

"Do you think a member of the Moradi family would trouble us later, or not?"

The students of the Black Tortoise pondered Yi-Han's question. The students of the White Tiger were typically rough, noisy, and stubborn. Leading them was Jijel of the Moradi family. Despite their polite and kind facade, the students affiliated with the Salko gang were not fooled.

A more venomous snake always leads the snakes.

"They'll likely cause trouble."

"That's right. That's what we just prevented. No need to thank me. Just remember this later."

Having gathered his things, Yi-Han slung his backpack and waved goodbye.

Watching him leave, one Black Tortoise student said to Salko, "Tutanta, I think I understand why you said not to talk to Wardanaz when alone."

Salko nodded in agreement.

While they respected Wardanaz for his skills, responsibility, and loyalty to his friends, they couldn't ignore the fact that if he wished, he could easily overpower any of them. Even to the rough-edged students of the Black Tortoise, Wardanaz was a formidable figure.

"Wardanaz... What a fearsome person!"

Thanks to an early end to their exploration, Yi-Han returned to the Blue Dragon's lounge to attend to his duties. He sorted the groceries from the pantry into the cupboard in his private room...

It's so full, nothing else fits. I should ask Yonaire for help.

...organized items by expiration date, recorded them in the ledger, and sold... no, served snacks to his resting friends.

Finally, Yi-Han could sip his coffee and focus on his studies.

Despite the easy-to-forget fact that students were enrolled in the academy for academic purposes, Yi-Han had resolved not to be outdone in his studies.

I had vowed not to be bested academically, even if I was ignorant of other matters.

He had intended to show the pampered nobles of the empire the frenzied dedication of someone hungry for success, but life's demands had led him to specialize in other areas.

Is it just my imagination?

Yi-Han piled his study books neatly. It reached even where Gainando was drooling asleep on the sofa by the fireplace. Noticing this, Yi-Han felt something amiss Do I have more to study than others?

He recounted, doubting his perception.

<Basic Magic Understanding> by Professor Garcia.

Not only basic elemental magic but also other branches were to be covered in the test, as he had been warned.

If that was the case, then dark magic, summoning magic, and illusion magic had been added.

Even if Professor Garcia conducted the test in a straightforward manner, the professors of dark magic, summoning magic, and illusion magic were a different story. They gathered students who would attend their classes the following year and taught them, setting certain expectations even if they did not formally conduct tests.

Considering this, Yi-Han realized he needed to read at least two books from each of these fields.

"Click, click, click."

This isn't unusual, Yi-Han thought as he pushed a book to the side and checked the next one.

<Understanding Basic Alchemy>.

Alchemy was a field where relying solely on intuition without studying could lead to serious injury. Despite Yi-Han's well-honed alchemy senses from harsh experiments, he couldn't neglect theoretical study.

Especially when considering students like Yonaire, Adenart, and Priestess Siana, who had studied alchemy before joining the academy, Yi-Han felt the need to study even harder.

With that in mind, he should read about three books on the subject...

"Click, click, click."

Yi-Han stacked another book to the side.

<Basic Riding Training>.

The test was over, but Professor Bungaegor's teachings continued every week. Learning about the dangerous and unpredictable creatures in the academy was crucial not just for escaping, but for survival.

Just one book, he noted with relief, despite its thickness.

Then came <Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic> and <Basic Imperial Language and Logic>. Essential subjects with a clear need for study.

The stack of books grew taller.

It seemed like he was almost done, but there was still more.

Yi-Han pulled out additional books.

<Basic Lightning Element Magic and Its Applications> given by Professor Boladi. Not studying this in advance could mean learning it the hard way in front of Professor Boladi, possibly through direct experience with lightning.

The dark magic book (forcibly) given by the skull principal.

He had to practice <Gonadaltes' Sharp Hand>, taught previously, until he mastered it. Otherwise, he risked being dragged into dreams again.

And the most recent one, <Basics of Blood Magic and Its Applications>.

No one said he had to read it, but to survive in the academy, he knew it was necessary. The usefulness of even one competent spell was something he constantly felt.

After stacking all the books, Yi-Han looked up. Gainando's face was obscured by the pile of books.

"...Hmm."

This is strange.

He had only arranged the necessary books, so why were there so many?

Gainando, who had dozed off in the lounge and then slept soundly in his bed until morning, was surprised to see Yi-Han awake in the lounge.

"You wake up really early, don't you?"

"I haven't slept yet."

Gainando quietly skewered a marshmallow and toasted it over the fire until it was soft.

He then sandwiched it between two pieces of hard bread and nibbled on it.

"Why go through all that...?"

Gainando. You're far too laid-back."

Asan of the Dargard family walked down with a tired expression. It was the week of tests, so he had stayed up all night studying in his room. The effort he put into mastering <Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic> was tremendous. He probably thought Wardanaz had also stayed up all night for the same subject.

"Wardanaz, I understand. Even after all this effort, I feel like I've only understood about 80% of <Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic>."

"That's still good. I still have a lot more to study."

Listening from the side, Gainando tilted his head in confusion while eating a marshmallow. There seemed to be some misunderstanding in the conversation between the two.

As evident from Asan holding only the <Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic> book, he had indeed studied only that subject. In contrast, Yi-Han...

Didn't he have a mountain of books yesterday?

Indeed, before going up, the books had been piled up like a mountain, but now only one book remained.

Driven by curiosity, Gainando asked, "Where did all the other books go?"

"I put the ones I've studied in my personal room. They were getting in the way."

Gainando dropped his marshmallow in shock.

"Are you insane?!"

"What's wrong, Gainando?"

"Yi-Han stayed up all night studying!"

"That's what everyone does, you fool."

Students from the Blue Dragon, who came out one after another, scolded Gainando.

Making such a fuss over studying just one subject?

Everyone was studying!

"But... hey... I mean..."

Gainando trembled with indignation. These guys hadn't even seen the pile of books in the lounge!

"It was a huge pile, really...!"

"Stop talking nonsense and just finish your bread."

Gainando swallowed the rest of his bread, savoring its deliciousness.

"But Asan, why did you study in your personal room yesterday instead of the lounge? Isn't the lounge better?"

"You keep talking in your sleep loudly."

"...Sorry..."

Meanwhile, Yi-Han finished reading <Basic Lightning Element Magic and Its Applications> for a second time and stood up. He wasn't entirely pleased, but it was time to start his day.

"Wardanaz, what lecture are you attending today?"

<Basic Swordsmanship>.

"Oh... dear."

His friends looked at him with pity. It was already a tough week with tests, and now he had to attend the <Basic Swordsmanship> class. The mere thought seemed exhausting.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

Yi-Han was puzzled by his friends' concern.

Contrary to the subjects he had just finished studying, the <Basic Swordsmanship> class, where he could just physically participate, was actually more relaxing.

However, his friends looked at Wardanaz's departing figure with worried expressions.

"The White Tiger guys are not going to use the test as an excuse to jump him, are they?"

"Next time we see those White Tiger guys, let's warn them not to mess with Wardanaz."

The friends from the Blue Dragon firmly resolved to stand together in friendship. It was a determination that would have enraged the students of the White Tiger had they heard it.

"What's going on? The atmosphere is strange."

The mood was unusually excited and chaotic, unlike the usual <Basic Swordsmanship> class. Puzzled, Yi-Han asked Dolgyu.

Dolgyu spoke in a low voice, "Today, for the test, people from outside are coming, Yi-Han."

Yi-Han now understood why the students of the White Tiger were chattering with a mix of excitement and anxiety.

People from outside were coming. They were likely peers from knightly families, just like the students of the White Tiger.

For the students, all from knightly families, it was inevitable to feel nervous. If they showed poor swordsmanship or made mistakes in front of them...

"Everyone will be tense. Actually, I'm nervous too."

"In that respect, I'm at ease, Yi-Han spoke confidently.

Being from a family of mages, he had no reason to be embarrassed in swordsmanship class or to hear comments like 'Why is someone from that family so clumsy with a sword?'

Belonging to a family of mages indeed!

Dolgyu was visibly taken aback by Yi-Han's words.

"Yi-Han, with your skills, you shouldn't feel embarrassed even when facing guests from outside."

"Really? I hope that's not too presumptuous. Do you think it wouldn't be embarrassing if I ended up using magic in a fight?"

"..."

"It's a joke."

"Right, of course."

Dolgyu regained his composure, having turned pale at the thought that Yi-Han might have been serious.

"Attention."

With a tap-tap sound, Professor Ingurdel appeared.

"Welcome, everyone... No need for a long speech. This week is simply a time to assess how well the students have been keeping up, through a simple test. That's why I've invited guests from outside."

As Professor Ingurdel spoke, knights in full armor appeared from behind.

"They're our age?" Yi-Han asked Dolgyu.

Looking at the knights' faces, they seemed to have spent at least a decade more on the battlefield than the students present.

"They might be... somewhat older peers..."

"Here, the knights who have come are all distinguished members currently active in their respective orders."

The students were astounded.

Yi-Han thought to himself, 'Professor Ingurdel seems to be subtly similar to Professor Boladi in his ways.'