* * *

Late at night, while Samuel was asleep.

Creak

I got out of bed and took out the Information Paper.

After placing it on the desk, I picked up my fountain pen.

And I prayed earnestly.

'Please.'

I prayed that it wouldn't ask for a high price this time.

I didn't have many possessions left.

...Actually, except for a few gold coins, I had nothing.

The rest had immediate uses, so I couldn't offer them as payment.

Scribble

With a desperate heart, I began to write on the Information Paper.

The name of the pre-selected student who will receive bonus points on Sytan's final practical exam.

This seemed like a clear enough question.

I was always careful when writing on the paper, as I might make a mistake and the paper might misunderstand my question.

Anyway,

Soon, writing began to appear on the paper.

200 gold coins.

Hmm.

I had to erase the question I wrote as soon as I saw it.

It was too expensive.

I only had a little over 100 gold coins.

I couldn't afford to pay more than 200 gold coins.

So I decided to change the question.

It could be considered a bit of a cheat.

The name of the pre-selected first-year student who will receive bonus points on Sytan's final practical exam.

I drastically narrowed down the scope to the first year.

I was only asking about the most crucial information, the pre-selected student from the first year.

As I wrote the question on the Information Paper again, writing began to appear.

Rustle

The paper was now filled with the answer.

The moment I saw the name written on it.

"What the..."

I couldn't help but frown.

And for good reason.

It's Arsene Adel.

Because something utterly absurd was written there.

...What in the world did this mean?

I was the pre-selected student?

The Headmistress hadn't said a word to me about it.

But there was no reason or possibility for the Information Paper to lie to me.

That meant it was true that I was the one chosen for the bonus points.

'...'

I could only stare at the name written on the Information Paper in silence.

If what was written on the Information Paper was true, I would be able to secure first place among the first years at Sytan.

However,

I felt an ominous feeling for some reason.

There was no reason for the Headmistress to give me such an opportunity out of mere favor.

That meant,

The Headmistress wanted something from me.

"Damn it..."

But no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't find an answer.

It only served to confuse me.

I closed my eyes and pictured the Headmistress in my mind.

She also wanted something from me.

But I couldn't figure out what it was that she desired.

'...What could it be?'

The reason the Headmistress gave me the 'privilege' of pre-selecting me for bonus points.

I had to spend the entire night pondering this.

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