Bellen had set a condition with Frostheart Academy beyond just alcohol: she would only start teaching once there was just one student left. Today, that moment arrived.


    <strong>Sizzle!</strong>


    In the training ground, Leana put ice into a hot basin. Bellen approached her and asked,


    “You’re incredibly persistent. Why do you seek to learn from me?”


    Leana calmly answered,


    “You may not remember, but you helped me when I was a child. I’ve wanted to be a knight ever since. If I’m going to learn, I want to learn your swordsmanship.”


    Bellen took a step closer and fixed her with a prating gaze.


    “I know people like you. You won’t put down the sword because of your stubbornness. I’ve seen countless people die that way. Even if you survive, you’ll end up like me. You’ll spend your life as a knight and be left with nothing. If you don’t want that, graduate half-heartedly and live as an ordinary noble.”


    Two professors who were assisting approached with troubled faces. They were probably here to object to the broken condition. Bellen gestured for them to stay back and listened to Leana’s reply.“I still want to be a knight.”


    Her unwavering eyes. Bellen had hoped she might change her mind, but she hadn’t. She sighed.


    <em>‘…Her stubbornness is just like mine.’</em>


    It was the same feeling she imagined her father had when looking at her.


    “Fine. This ice was taken from the top of a snowy mountain, wasn’t it?”


    “Yes.”


    “It’s been a few days now. Do you feel less cold than before?”


    Even with a thick coat, it was cold. But seeing that she wasn’t shivering, it seemed she had adapted well to the cold.


    “Take off your coat.”


    Without hesitation, Leana ced her coat on the ground. Even when Bellen’s cold hand touched her stomach, she remained unfazed.


    <em>‘Her body temperature is significantly higher.’</em>


    With this level of cold resistance, she could be taught the basics. Bellen instructed the professors.


    “Bring it here.”


    A long paddle flew over from the air.


    “You’re going to remove the impurities from the water you brought.”


    “The water seems clean.”


    “Ice from nature contains invisible microorganisms and dust.”


    To prove this, Bellen stirred the basin’s water with the paddle like a sword. After repeating this a few times and removing the paddle, a drop of cloudy water clung to its tip. Leana’s mouth dropped open. ?


    “Youck wrist flexibility and sensitivity. You can’t distinguish between water and dust. This training is perfect for you. Seed in this, and you’ll move on to the next stage.”


    “So…”


    “I’ll teach you my swordsmanship.”


    Bellen smirked and lightly poked the snow with the paddle.


    <strong>Woosh!</strong>


    Heat radiated from the ground, melting the snow within a three-meter radius into steam.


    “The swordsmanship I’ve honed all my life, the Sword of the Fire Demon.”


    Leana’s eyes widened.


    ***


    I was on my way back from learning how to handle Liquid Gold from Hetherson when I noticed steam rising from the training ground and stopped to watch.


    So, it’s already started.


    I had sped up Bellen’s decision, but witnessing it firsthand was quite a fresh shock. A quest that would normally take a month waspleted in less than a week. The quest that would make Leana’s hidden blessing shine…


    Blessing of Alkin, The Spirit King of Fire.


    Whether it would create warm heat or consuming mes depended on her choice. Fire attribute attacks would be three times more powerful, and her body would be immune to burning. With Bellen as the flint, Leana, who was like oil waiting for a spark, would shine brightly.


    This should help her navigate future scenarios well.


    But I can’t worry about others right now. If I don’t want to get caught in the crossfire, I need to handle the basics myself.


    I pulled out Liquid Gold. Adding the invisibility magic frequently used by Gravel made the already vaporized Liquid Gold nearly invisible. I picked up a shin-high rock in this state.


    – It’s definitely stronger than your telekinesis.


    <em>‘Right? And it consumes much less mana.’</em>


    With the rock in hand, I arrived at the front yard of the Scphe Hall. I was about to throw the rock at a statue modeled after me when Limberton emerged from the entrance.


    “Tsk.”


    I’ll have to destroy it another time.


    “What are you doing out here instead of studying?”


    “It’s hard to stay cooped up inside reading textbooks. Can’t I take a break for a bit?”


    He was holding a thick belt in his hand.


    “What’s that?”


    “Oh, this? The instructor gave it to me to build arm strength. The tension is insane. Eventually, I have to use this as a bowstring and pull it whenever I get a chance.”


    So that’s what it was.


    Limberton stretched the belt like kneading dough. He couldn’t even stretch it to his chest width, but over time, it would expand.


    “It’s good to see you working hard.”


    “Hehe.”


    I left the grinning Limberton and entered Scphe Hall. The lobby was packed with people studying, even more than yesterday. I moved quietly so as not to disturb their focus. Then I overheard Athera and Makdal talking.


    “Doesn’t he seem a bit unfit for good grades?”


    “Well, Hersel doesn’t seem like the type.”


    “Why is he watching Limberton? He’s the one who needs to study the most.”


    Their conversation grew loud enough for others to join in.


    “Right. I’m from the northeast, and Hersel doesn’t have a good reputation there.”


    Even Lethe joined in.


    “Remember when he beat up the innkeeper over change? He paid correctly, but he imed the innkeeper cheated him.”


    “Yeah, that was hrious. He can’t even do simple math, but if he weren’t the president, people would’ve burst outughing.”


    I sneaked up and knocked both of them on the head.


    “Ouch!”n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    “My head!”


    Then I red at Athera and Makdal.


    “Do you think I’m dumb?”


    “Eek!”


    “H-Hersel…!”


    They recoiled as if they’d seen a ghost.


    “No, not exactly dumb, just…”


    “Yeah, he meant you’ll do fine, right? Makdal?”


    “Right, Hersel can do well even without studying.”


    These guys seemed to think of me as some kind of idiot. Given Hersel’s past behavior, it made sense, but it still annoyed me. I hate being seen as ignorant as much as I hate spiders.


    I spoke to them with irritation.


    “Just fine?”


    I heard people gulping around me. Ignoring them, I surveyed the entire lobby with a grin.


    “Shall we make a bet? The topic is whether I will get first ce in the magic department in the uing written exam. If I don’t, you win. How about it?”


    Athera tried to calm me down gently.


    “Well, that’s a bit… We were wrong, so please calm down.”


    “If you’re going to say that, put your wallets down first.”


    Suddenly, everyone around pulled out their wallets and approached.


    “Well, Hersel, I believe you’ll get first ce. But betting is more like charity. You know what I mean?”


    “I’m betting against you getting first. Don’t be offended.”


    Athera held up a notebook and pen high and shouted.


    “Alright, let’s do this in an orderly manner. Those betting on Hersel getting first, go to the right. Everyone else, to the left.”


    Everyone moved to the left.


    I stared intently at Makdal, Ricks, and Gravel, who hesitated in the middle. They quickly averted their eyes and moved left. Only Ay stood on the right. Limberton joined him aftering back from his walk, making it two people.


    “What’s this about?”


    “I believe in the boss. Even if I lose everything, I’ll stay here.”


    “Huh?”


    Limberton looked confused, so Athera exined.


    “We’re betting on whether Hersel gets first ce in the written exam. Limberton, where do you want to bet? By the way, that’s the spot for betting on Hersel getting first.”


    “F-first ce?”


    “So, how much are you betting? The minimum is 10 coins.”


    “Well, then, just 10 coins…”


    I suggested an amount to Limberton.


    “Bet at least 1,000 coins, Limberton. And you too, Ay.”


    “What?”


    “I’m betting 3,000 coins. It’s my bet, so it doesn’t matter, right?”


    Athera nodded.


    “Of course.”


    Limberton’s knees shook as he gripped them, sweating.


    “T-three thousand?”


    Then, looking at Ay’s unwavering expression, he shut his eyes tight and shouted.


    “…Alright. I’ll stay here like Ay!! That’s what a team does!!”


    I looked at the crowd on the left and vowed inwardly. I’d bankrupt these poor fools.


    ***


    Adelle Hall was noisy as ever. Bernthal had given the first-year students a break from training because Athera hade to talk. She held a ledger and a pen.


    “Don’t you want to join the bet?”


    “The odds are extreme, but there’s some money on Hersel’s side. What do you think?”


    Bernthal shook his head with a grim expression.


    “Don’t think I’ll entertain that nonsense, Athera.”


    “Really? I just came from Buerger Hall. Emeric bet 10,000 coins on Hersel getting first.”


    Then Athera said something that would provoke Adelle Hall.


    “If you’re scared, forget it. But seeing Bernthal so scared makes me think he might actually get first.”


    Getting first in all exams was a tradition. As a representative, he couldn’t ignore such ament. Bernthal shouted at the first-year students to gauge Hersel’s academic level.


    “Hersel ben Tenest ims he’ll get first ce in the written exam! What do you think?”


    The response was ridicule.


    “Hah! Hersel? First ce?”


    “Did I hear that right?”


    Leana barely suppressed a twitch of her lips. Erucel rolled on the floor, clutching his stomach.


    “Ha ha ha! Him? That’s hrious.”


    Bernthal was puzzled by the echoingughter.


    <em>‘How dumb is he…’</em>


    This seemed like a good chance to make a big bet.


    “What are the odds?”


    “Check this.”


    Athera showed the betting board.


    There were 81 first-year magic students. Everyone except the first-ce slot had odds written in multiples of five.


    Most people bet on ranks 75-80, with fewer bets higher up.


    “Betting on first ce has odds of 89:1, the lowest is 1.3:1. The odds will keep changing since more people are betting.”


    Bernthal grinned.


    At 1.3:1, he could make a 30% profit. A chance for easy money.


    “Alright, I’ll bet 30,000 coins.”


    “Wow, big spender. Shouldn’t you tell the first-years? They’ll work harder if their money’s on the line.”


    Bernthal clenched his fist and shouted.


    “Attention, everyone!”


    “Your voice is too loud, I’m leaving. Tell the second and third years toe to Scphe Hall if they want to bet.”


    Athera left as Bernthal exined the bet. She took out her notebook and smiled slyly.


    <em>‘This could be huge.’</em>


    The names betting on Hersel getting first were Limberton, Ay, Hersel, Emeric, and Athera herself. She had bet nearly all her money, 5,000 coins. She boldly ced this bet after overhearing a conversation in Rockefeller’s office while reporting on Scphe Hall.


    – Make the first-year magic exam as hard as possible.


    – Is it because of Hersel?


    – Yes. He aced the hardest questions in the entrance exam. Even if the average score drops, it doesn’t matter. Expand the range and double the questions.


    Athera muttered with a sly smile.


    “If even he acknowledges it, he must be incredibly smart.”


    This was the n from the start. Feigning ignorance and prompting Makdal to initiate the bet was a ruse. It was surprising that Hersel suggested the bet first. Thus, an unprecedented scale of gambling was underway at Frostheart Academy.


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