novelraw Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Chapter 14
[Final List of Students Who Passed the Evaluation]
Mihael Russel
Hei
Kiena
Artel
The above students are to gather in the classroom immediately.
Author: Reji
In the end, even after the final exam was over, there were no additional students who passed.
I didn’t know how many years everyone else had been here, but that wasn’t something I needed to worry about.
But why were we suddenly being called in?
Not long after the announcement was posted on Mob, Hei and Kiena came looking for me in the library.
“Artel! Let’s hurry to the classroom!”
As expected, Kiena was always quick to act.
So, the three of us headed for the classroom together.
Russel had already arrived before us, and Reji was waiting at the podium.
No other students besides the ones who passed were present.
“What’s the reason you called us, Teacher?”
“Winter break is coming up soon, so the students who passed will be moving up to Class 1 before the break begins.”
He answered Kiena’s question with the same kindness as always.
The only difference was that he didn’t even glance in Russel’s direction.
That was probably because Russel often showed an insolent attitude, relying on his family’s backing.
Since we were about to part ways anyway, it didn’t seem like they had any intention of reconciling.
“Huh? Why are we moving up already?”
Hei, who didn’t understand, asked.
“The second semester’s classes are already over, and winter break starts next Monday. So before that, the students who passed will move up early to get used to the Class 1 facilities over the weekend.”
This was different from how it had been in my past life.
‘Well, the layout and types of facilities differ between classes. Even if Mob helps, it’d be hard to adapt if we moved after the semester starts.’
“So, gather back here in one hour. Of course, bring all your personal belongings from the dormitory.”
“Yes! Understood!”
Just as we each returned to our dorms to pack our things—
“Wait, where did I put the bag for packing?”
When I searched the small dorm, I found a dusty old suitcase under the bed.
It made sense—after being in Class 0 for five years, it had collected plenty of dust.
It seemed to be the same one provided by the orphanage in the lower world.
And so, I began to pack in earnest.
To be honest, there wasn’t much to pack anyway.
Just a textbook on The History of Mages, which was a required subject, and a few sets of uniforms.
It took only about ten minutes to finish since I barely owned anything.
Reji had told us to meet in an hour, so I still had fifty minutes left.
Before leaving Class 0, I dragged my suitcase toward the library.
‘I should at least leave a word of thanks—to my master.’
If not for my master’s book, I might not have been able to save Kiena and Hei.
Clatter! Clatter!
Russel had just finished packing and was lying on his bed when he heard the loud sound of wheels rolling down the hallway.
“What the…?”
When he opened the door and peeked out, he saw Artel’s back as he pulled his suitcase down the corridor.
“So noisy…”
But where was that bastard going all of a sudden?
Was there some kind of secret place?
Curious, Russel decided to follow him.
Artel’s destination turned out to be none other than the library.
‘The library? He’s not even the studious type.’
Why did he come here?
Did he have a book he wanted to take with him?
There would be far more useful books in the Class 1 library—so why bother?
As those thoughts filled his mind, Russel came up with a clever idea.
‘If that guy tries to sneak out a book, I’ll tattle on him once we’re in Class 1.’
You could borrow books from the library, but you had to return them within a week.
Russel assumed that Artel came here right before moving up to steal a book.
Artel walked deeper and deeper into the library.
‘What’s in there? I’ve never gone that far in myself.’
Even though Russel was a mage from a noble family, and no slouch in his studies, he had never entered that far inside.
‘Huh? He stopped!’
Russel quickly hid behind a bookshelf and watched what Artel did.
Artel suddenly bowed his head toward a far corner of the topmost tenth shelf.
After finishing his bow, Artel began to drag his suitcase out of the library.
“…What was that?”
What on earth had he just bowed to?
Artel had already exited on the opposite side and didn’t notice Russel.
Curious about what that commoner had bowed to in gratitude, Russel stood in the exact same spot Artel had.
“He was definitely… looking at the corner of the tenth shelf.”
The Beginner’s Guide
Author: Alarize Petra
“Alarize Petra?”
That was definitely the book he had bowed to.
But who was this Alarize Petra?
Russel had never heard the name before, nor had he ever seen that book title.
Even the texture of the cover felt like that of a very old, ancient tome.
No—was there even a family called Alarize?
The author was clearly a mage from a family, but the name was too unfamiliar.
Just as he was about to open the book, he realized the meeting time was near and hurried back to the dorm.
‘Alarize Petra… I’ll have to ask the Lord about this.’
Winter break would start soon anyway.
He figured he could find out if he went down to the Mihael estate in the lower world.
The Lord knew everything—and had lived for over three hundred years.
“You’re all here on time. Then, follow me.”
Reji led the four of us somewhere deeper inside.
As we continued walking, I realized we were heading into the depths of Class 0.
The lights grew dimmer and dimmer, and a chill crept over my body.
And then Reji stopped walking.
The place where we stood was lit by the chandelier’s light, but behind where he stood, it was as if a curtain had been drawn—pitch black, with nothing visible.
It was clearly the same hallway, yet how could the brightness differ so much?
‘I see. The spot where Reji stands must be the boundary of a magical space.’
“We’re here.”
“Teacher, where are we?”
Kiena asked, her face slightly pale from the eerie atmosphere in the hallway.
“This is the place that will guide you to Class 1. My role ends here. You’ve all worked hard until now.”
“Huh? Teacher, are you leaving now?”
“Yes. The professor will attach your insignias and open the door leading to Class 1. Then, I’ll take my leave. Do your best in Class 1 as well.”
Reji left without even looking back.
After five years together, did he really feel nothing?
I hadn’t expected him to leave so indifferently.
Step, step.
Then, from the darkness of the corridor, came the sound of footsteps.
“It’s been a while, students.”
It was the moment we came face-to-face with Professor Mel, whom we had seen during the Vice Headmaster’s speech.
“Let’s begin right away. Student Russel.”
“Yes.”
“Step forward.”
When Russel stepped forward, she attached a yellow insignia marked with the number 1 onto his shoulder.
“You won’t be able to pass through the door to Class 1 without this insignia. It serves as proof, so keep it safe.”
“Thank you.”
Next was Hei’s turn.
“Congratulations, Hei. You’re graduating from Class 0 after five years.”
“Thank you, Professor Mel!”
Then came Kiena’s turn.
“Kiena, you’ve also worked hard these past five years.”
“Thank you!”
“And… Student Artel.”
Mel’s expression changed the moment she saw me.
It was clear Reji’s report had reached her.
That I was a Double Caster.
“Yes, Professor.”
“Step forward.”
The moment she fastened the insignia onto my shoulder—
Pop!
My shoulder moved on its own, brushing her arm away.
“What do you think you’re doing, Artel?”
“……”
It wasn’t intentional.
It was as if my body reacted on instinct—her hand touched me, and I moved reflexively.
I couldn’t help but be bewildered.
‘Why? Why am I so on guard against this professor?’
My body might belong to a young student, but my soul was that of the former Archmage, Archis Eimer.
Yet here I was, showing hostility toward a mere professor.
“Artel?”
“Ah, I’m sorry……”
Perhaps annoyed, Mel fastened the insignia roughly against my shoulder.
“Each of you has spent a different amount of time in Class 0, but you all passed on the same day. Now it’s time to head to Class 1.”
Flutter—!
As her robe flared, a powerful gust of wind swept through the corridor.
‘Gray hair and gray eyes… As expected, a Wind Elementalist.’
But the wind she conjured felt strangely familiar to me.
At first glance, it was sharp enough to cut flesh, yet when it brushed against my body, it felt gentle—comforting, even.
Why?
Why did I sense the same wind as that of my disciple, Mirne Kabir, the head of the Wind Elemental family?
As the wind subsided, a small portal formed beside her.
“When you step through here, you’ll arrive on the second floor of the Ed Branch—Class 1. Once you arrive, your Mob devices will automatically update with the Class 1 facilities and your assigned dormitories, so there’s no need for a guide.”
Everyone hesitated before the portal.
“Hurry and go in.”
Russel was the first to step into it.
“Let’s go too.”
I led Kiena and Hei forward, stopping right in front of the portal.
After sending the two ahead, I turned to look at her.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Professor, are you also a mage from a family?”
“Why do you want to know that?”
“Is it wrong to be curious?”
Was asking whether she was a family mage really such a threatening question?
“Stop with the strange questions and go in.”
“Answer, and I’ll go. I just want to know.”
“We won’t see each other again anyway—so why?”
Her tone shifted once the other students had entered the portal.
It was the voice of an adult giving a lecture.
And yet, why hide something so trivial?
“Since we won’t see each other again, wouldn’t it be fine to tell me?”
“Are all Double Casters this bold? Well, not a bad trait. Perhaps you might even be a student who could reach the Main Academy someday.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
Her words were laced with sharp thorns.
“I am Mirne Mel.”
“The Wind Elemental Family’s representative?”
“You know it well. Now, will you go in? I’d like to rest too.”
Of course—no wonder her wind felt so familiar.
She was a descendant of my disciple, Mirne Kabir.
“Thank you.”
Leaving only a short word of gratitude, I stepped into the portal.
As I entered, my body felt as if it were rippling underwater.
But why had I reacted so violently when Mel touched me?
The head of the Mirne family, Mirne Kabir, while not quite like Etar, had still been a loyal mage who respected me deeply.
I truly couldn’t understand it.
When I emerged from the portal, a new hallway greeted us.
In the blink of an eye, we had ascended to a higher class.
‘So this is what it feels like to use someone else’s portal.’
Until now, I had always been the one casting them, not using them. I couldn’t even remember the last time I had.
Well then—this marks the beginning of Class 1.
Let’s finish this one within a year as well, Kiena, Hei.