Chapter 22

So sleepy...

High-intensity spellcasting drained mental energy as well.

He had started around six in the morning, wandering almost the entire circuit of Rhen Town.

Spent the afternoon concentrating intensely, cramming common knowledge.

Then the entire night practicing spells like a madman.

By all logic, he should have been utterly exhausted.

And yet...

Up until now, Kanzaki Rei felt... fine.

Yes, he was sleepy.

But there wasn’t that crushing sense of mental collapse.

Is this what becoming a mage does?

He was already a Mage now.

An increase in mental strength was only natural.

But still...

He was truly sleepy—the kind of sleepy where a deep, comfortable rest would solve everything.

The Advancement Hall was closed at night. Although Kumiloni could technically officiate an advancement, knocking on someone’s door in the dead of night would be too rude.

Becoming a Level 2 Mage was exciting.

But it didn’t have to be this very second.

In any case—sleep first.

Everything else could wait until morning.

...

When he woke—

Everything was calm.

No unexpected disasters.

Rei let out a small breath of relief.

He had read enough novels and watched enough movies in his past life to know—

Whenever something important was about to happen, fate tended to throw in unnecessary complications.

Apparently, that worry had been unnecessary.

It had been five days since arriving in this world.

When he climbed out of bed today, he finally felt like he belonged here.

Standing before the mirror, Rei gave himself a confident smile.

"Level 2 Mage, huh."

"Good."

He washed up, straightened his clothes, and headed downstairs.

Iz Parut was already in the main hall.

It was almost as if every time Rei went out, Iz would respawn in the lobby.

What is he, a fixed NPC?

"Yo, Iz! Morning!"

Iz’s breakfast today was... pomegranate.

Strange breakfast choice.

But in another world, everyone had their own dietary habits. Rei respected that.

Rei himself chose soy milk and biscuits.

There were no fried dough sticks in this world...

So biscuits would have to substitute.

"Heading to the Advancement Hall today?"

Kumiloni appeared out of nowhere and joined the table as if she had always been sitting there.

Hmm...

Level 5 Healer — Life Reforger.

After cramming knowledge yesterday, Rei now understood the depth behind different professions.

"Haha, kid! You’re hitting Level 2 already? That’s even faster than Iz!"

Akase popped into existence as well.

He hadn’t been there a moment ago.

And now he was sitting right beside Rei like an old friend.

Drank someone else’s booze yesterday and only shows up the next morning to greet them?

Kumiloni said, "If Rei is advancing, I should go too."

Akase grinned. "Oh? You’re personally officiating the ritual?"

Kumiloni spread her hands slightly. "Well, it can only be me."

"Kid, you’ve got insane luck!" Akase slapped Rei on the back.

Hard enough that Rei nearly spat out the biscuit he had just swallowed.

Then suddenly, Akase froze.

"Wait... if you two are accompanying him, who’s killing the Dark Sub-Dragon today?"

Kumiloni and Iz Parut silently turned to look at him.

Akase blinked.

Sighed.

Then rolled up his sleeves.

"Fine, fine. Looks like I, the invincible War Emperor, will have to solo the Dark Sub-Dragon."

Kumiloni smiled faintly. "It’s not exactly solo. Obadis will go with you."

"With Obadis there, it should be fine."

Level 5 Warrior — War Emperor.

Typically, the strongest warrior in an entire kingdom was Level 5.

As for Level 6 War Saints? There might not even be one across an entire continent.

This team’s lineup was absurdly luxurious.

Akase grumbled, "Speaking of which, yesterday we agreed to kill the Sky Sub-Dragon together, and neither of you showed up."

Kumiloni scratched her cheek, eyes drifting aside in obvious guilt.

Oh~

Rei observed their expressions.

So in your eyes, Kumiloni, helping an old lady harvest vegetables was more important than slaying a Sky Sub-Dragon?

Come to think of it...

This warrior named Akase hunted Sub-Dragons every day.

"Kumiloni not coming is one thing, but Iz didn’t come either!"

"That was a Sky Sub-Dragon! The flying kind! You expect a warrior to chop down a dragon that’s flying in the sky alone?"

As he spoke, Akase leaned forward over the table like he’d caught them in a crime.

Iz’s gaze started drifting as well...

"Magic... had a new discovery."

"Huh?"

"A very important discovery..."

Rei calmly bit into his soy-milk-soaked biscuit.

Iz. Even an eight-year-old like me can tell you’re lying.

That’s the face of someone who skipped because of something completely trivial.

Didn’t expect this from you, Iz.

"Well, if it was important, then I guess it can’t be helped."

What?

You’re letting him off just like that?

Akase! He’s lying! He’s not even making eye contact with you!

He absolutely was not researching magic yesterday!

"Fine. Then I’ll go kill the Dark Sub-Dragon alone today."

No, with Obadis.

Even if he never talks and has zero presence, he’s still part of your team.

Rei wanted to say it.

But in the end, he watched Akase’s departing back in silence.

Rei: "Um..."

"It’s fine. Obadis will go. No need to worry."

"He’s an idiot, but he’s strong."

"If it’s just a Dark Sub-Dragon, he’d be fine even alone."

Eh... that strong?

Though Rei had no idea how powerful a Dark Sub-Dragon actually was.

"Let’s go."

"The Advancement Hall should be open by now."

Only then did Rei realize they had already finished eating.

So fast.

He hurriedly drained the rest of his soy milk and followed them out.

...

[Advancement Hall]

Once again, far more crowded than expected.

"That’s... Iz Parut?"

"No way. He’s at the Advancement Hall?"

"Is he advancing to Level 6 Mage?"

"Magic Saint?"

"Iz Parut is advancing to Magic Saint?!"

Iz’s arrival triggered gasps and shouts throughout the hall.

From the looks of it, his advancement would be a monumental event.

"No... this hall probably doesn’t meet the requirements for Iz to advance to Level 6."

"It might not be him."

"But Kumiloni is with him."

"Uh..."

The one who had just said it might not be Iz froze—then screamed,

"Oh my god! Iz Parut is advancing to Level 6 Magic Saint!"

Iz Parut, you really are famous...

Iz gave Rei a helpless smile.

He led Rei to the ritual staff.

The officiant—an elderly man who seemed to be the highest authority here—rubbed his hands nervously in Iz’s presence.

"Please prepare the Level 2 Mage advancement ritual for this child beside me."

"You mean..."

The old man looked at Rei.

"Him?"

"Yes. Him."

The old man trembled slightly.

He seemed relieved.

And yet—almost disappointed.

Perhaps disappointed that he wouldn’t be the one presiding over Iz Parut’s ascension to Magic Saint.

"This way, please..."

When the crowd heard it wasn’t Iz advancing, a collective sigh rippled outward.

But Rei could also sense the disappointment.

Would Iz advancing really be that terrifying?

Rei followed the old man to a glowing crystal sphere.

"Place your hand upon it."

Hmm. The moment he saw the crystal ball, he already knew what he was supposed to do.

Sure enough.

Rei placed his hand against it.

The crystal reflected a vivid emerald glow.

The old man sharply inhaled.

He looked at Iz.

"When did he advance to Level 1 Mage?"

Iz replied calmly, "The day before yesterday."

"The day before yesterday?"

The old man stared at Rei in disbelief.

"You’re telling me... this child is advancing to Level 2 after only three days?"