The dining hall around Andevar was already abuzz with conversation as he poked at his food, his appetite nonexistent as he tried his best to maintain his composure. The news of Levi being asked to stay after class had spread like wildfire; the general consensus was that Professor Heimler had been patiently biding his time for the past year to determine if Levi would actually become an adventurer or not. Now that Levi’s graduation was guaranteed with the completion of the Ascension Trials, it appeared that Heimler had finally decided to make a move.

  The atmosphere was the complete opposite of the previous day, where everyone had heard that Liliya and Levi had passed the Ascension Trials. The students had been torn between celebrating Liliya’s well-deserved success and condemning Levi’s reprehensible actions. They had settled on only acknowledging Liliya’s accomplishment and pretending like Levi didn’t exist, but there had been a definite undercurrent of anger and resentment simmering beneath the surface.

  Now, though, a certain air of smug, vicious pleasure permeated the hall, of knowing that Levi’s reckoning had finally come.

  Bets were being made on what Heimler would do. Predictions ranged from Heimler administering corporal punishment (which, while officially discouraged, had never actually been banned from the Institute. In his single year of teaching, Heimler had delivered only one instance of corporal punishment to a student who’d been caught attempting to coerce another into illicit relations. The exact details of the punishment had subsequently been redacted and classified by the admin, but that student had never quite been the same again, withdrawing from the Institute altogether only a month afterward); to Heimler calling in some of his old adventurer buddies to conveniently disappear Levi (Heimler’s former party teammate had been an assassin, hadn’t he?), to even just Heimler simply giving Levi some good old-fashioned threats.

  Andevar knew from personal experience just how inordinately terrifying the professor’s threats could be.

  When Professor Heimler had called Andevar into his office earlier that week, Andevar had seen his life flash before his eyes. While intellectually he knew that the professor couldn’t actually do anything to him, realistically Andevar was very acutely aware that the professor had enough power to quite literally liquefy Andevar with barely a thought – and he had enough political and personal power as a Mythmaker to likely get away with it, especially since Andevar doubted the Royal Sentinels would care much about a commoner like him. They rarely did.

  Then, once Andevar was inside the room, the professor had demanded whether or not Andevar had been the one to do Levi’s homework for him. Andevar had panicked initially, until he realized Heimler was referring to the Subaru Paradox ‘assignment’ Levi had turned in. Then he’d panicked even more when the implications sank in.

  There was only one reason why Professor Heimler would call Andevar into his office about that paper, not to mention how he was looking more visibly agitated than Andevar had ever seen him. After only a brief hesitation, Andevar had asked the professor if Levi’s solution had been correct. Heimler hadn’t responded, instead dismissing Andevar from his classroom, but that in itself had been enough of an answer.

  Somehow, Levi Ironwood had solved the Subaru’s Paradox.

  It was ludicrous. Preposterous. Downright unbelievable. Yet for some reason, Andevar found himself not doubting it even one tiny bit.

  Something was up with Levi. Ever since the previous Monday, after Levi had been caught attempting to cheat the Ascension Trials. The others might not be aware of it yet, but Andevar knew for a fact that Levi was different from before.

  And, judging by how Andevar saw John Winthrop sitting at another table with a pensive frown on his face, it seemed that Winthrop knew something was up as well. Winthrop’s usual posse of friends were joking and grinning around him as they passed around betting slips, but Winthrop wasn’t taking part like he normally would.

  Then, the large double doors to the dining hall swung open and Levi Ironwood entered. The entire room immediately quieted down as everyone looked over, eager to see how injured and/or traumatized Levi appeared.

  Andevar blinked.

  Levi seemed completely fine. No, more than that; he seemed cheerful. As was the case since Monday, he seemed to be completely oblivious, or perhaps uncaring, of everyone’s eyes on him. He gave a quick scan of the dining hall, saw Andevar, and casually strolled over.

  Yeah, Levi was different for sure. The Levi that Andevar knew had been constantly on edge, always looking over his shoulder as though he was expecting to be attacked – which he often was. But the Levi taking a seat across from Andevar carried himself with a certain relaxed poise.

  “You did it, didn’t you?” Andevar asked quietly. Around them, the roar of conversation soon started up again as money exchanged hands.

  “Hmm?”

  “You solved the Subaru Paradox.”

  “Ah,” Levi looked a little awkward. “Yeah, I guess I did.”

  Andevar stared at him for a long time, too many thoughts running through his head. He let out a long, controlled breath, trying his best to maintain his composure.

  Again, he used [Institute Registry] on Levi. It returned the same information that it always did…

  Andevar frowned. Hold on, Levi was still level 14? He hadn’t leveled up at all during the Ascension Trials?

  Sure, there was a possibility that Levi had let Liliya take care of everything, but after seeing his fight against Winthrop, Andevar highly doubted it. Besides, even if he had, Levi should’ve gotten at least some XP; if he’d landed even a single hit on an enemy before Liliya killed it, then the System would’ve counted it as an assist.

  A growing suspicion began forming in Andevar’s mind.

  Before, he’d thought that fooling [Institute Registry] was impossible. But before, he’d also thought that the Subaru Paradox was unsolvable, and look at how that turned out.

  But if the Levi currently eating a bowl of stew in front of him wasn’t the real Levi…

  Then who was he?

  Andevar didn’t ask, of course. He wasn’t stupid, and he didn’t want to risk pissing off an unknown being of unknown power. Fortunately, he doubted Levi, or whoever he was, had any malicious intentions. His peaceful resolution of the fight against Winthrop had been proof of that. But still…

  “How was the Ascension Trials?” Andevar asked.

  Levi hummed. “It was alright–”

  The doors to the dining hall swung open again and Liliya Volkov entered. The entire room quieted again, though this time for completely different reasons.

  Andevar hadn’t seen Liliya in the dining hall the entire year. She always ate alone outside in the Institute courtyards. Why was she…

  His thoughts abruptly came to a halt as Liliya glanced around the room, looking until her gaze fell on Levi.

  Andevar’s eyes grew wide as she made her way over, stopping at the edge of their table.

  Levi glanced up from his stew. “Hey, Liliya,” he greeted.

  “Hey,” she said. “Mind making some room?”

  Andevar’s eyes grew even wider as Levi nodded and scooted over from where he’d been sitting at the end of the bench. Liliya sat down next to him, ignoring the numerous eyes on them. She gave Andevar a small polite nod of greeting, which honestly was more than Andevar could’ve asked for, most of the other students either sneered or ignored him entirely. Then she turned back to Levi.

  “I heard Professor Heimler had a word with you?” Liliya said. “Is everything alright?”

  “There was a small… misunderstanding,” Levi said. “It’s been resolved now, thankfully.”

  Liliya smiled. Andevar nearly did a double take at that; he had never seen any emotion on her face before other than her customary cold expression. And, going by the reactions of everyone else in the room, neither had they. Andevar could almost hear the synchronized sound of multiple sets of teeth grinding together.

  “I’m glad to hear,” Liliya said. “If he makes any trouble for you, please let me know. I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

  “Careful, now. I might hold you to that.”

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  “It’s quite alright. I’ll be sure to stop you before you do anything needlessly foolish.”

  Andevar stared as the two conversed. Were they… Were they bantering? They both had polite, almost impassive expressions on their faces, and their tones were light and polite, but Andevar swore he could see traces of humor in their eyes. Holy shit, they were being friendly with each other.

  Just what the hell had happened during the Ascension Trials?

  “Speaking of,” Liliya said, casting a quick glance around the room. “Are you almost finished with your lunch? I think there are a little too many eyes on us here.”

  “I wonder why,” Levi said. “Thank you for that, by the way. I can feel no less than twelve separate individuals trying to burn a hole through my skull with their gaze alone.” He paused. “Fifteen, actually.” Andevar blinked; so Levi was aware. “I won’t say that you just put a target on my back, because there very much was already one there, but you did just paint it a glowing neon color.”

  “I’m afraid I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Liliya said primly. “If there is anyone after your head, it must surely be due to nobody’s fault but your own.”

  “I don’t know, I think I’m pretty innocent,” Levi said. Liliya didn’t even bother dignifying that with a response, instead raising an eyebrow. Levi coughed. “But anyway… Yeah, give me a minute to finish my food.”

  Levi began rapidly scarfing down his meal as Liliya turned to Andevar. Andevar tensed up.

  “Mr… Baker, was it?” Liliya said. “I don’t believe we’ve spoken much before. How are you doing?”

  “Call me Andevar, please,” Andevar said, suddenly trying very hard not to make a fool of himself. “I’m doing well, thank you. Congratulations on passing the Ascension Trials, by the way.”

  Liliya smiled, a pleased expression crossing over her face. “Thank you very much. It was a difficult task, but we managed to accomplish it in the end.”

  We. Andevar honed in on the word instantly. After only hesitating for a second, he decided to try something.

  “It’s an incredibly admirable feat,” he said. “Especially considering how you probably had to carry Levi during the entire quest.”

  He watched her reaction closely, so he saw how her eyes flickered slightly.

  “Yes,” she said slowly. “He certainly made things more difficult. Nearly made me want to stab him several times—“

  “Figuratively, right?” Levi said.

  “—but he was a good partner, and he ended up being far more adequate than I’d expected.” She then looked between Levi and Andevar. “Are you two friends?”

  Levi and Andevar both paused, glancing at each other. Andevar didn’t actually know the answer to that question. Were they friends? Just a week ago, he would’ve answered a definite no. Their relationship had been simple; Levi had used him for homework cheating, and Andevar had used him because he needed the money for his mother’s treatment. But now… Across from him, Levi seemed to be going through a similar dilemma.

  “Ah, I see,” Liliya said when neither of them said anything. “Fair enough. In any case, are you done eating?”

  Levi finished his stew with one last gulp before washing it down with a cup of tea. “Yup, let’s go,” he said, setting down his cup with a satisfied sigh. The empty dishes disappeared a moment later as he invoked the table’s built-in enchantment. “See you later, Andevar.” Liliya nodded her farewell as well.

  “See you,” Andevar said.

  He watched as the two of them stood up and left the dining hall, multiple pairs of eyes tracking them as they did.

  Huh. So that just happened.

  Liliya led Levi to the courtyards. They were in the same clearing as the one they’d met in during the start of the Ascension Trials. The weather outside was nice, a cool breeze blowing through the air as the sun shone overhead.

  “Professor Merriweather will be returning tomorrow,” Liliya said, the two of them sitting against the large oak tree. “He’s made a full recovery with no complications.”

  “I’m glad to hear that.”

  Liliya nodded. “Anyhow, what did Professor Heimler want with you? Did he hear the news about Qorbin’s apprenticeship offer already?”

  “No, but I did tell him about it,” Levi said. “Heimler extended an offer of apprenticeship to me as well.”

  Liliya blinked. “What? Why?”

  “Ah. Have you heard about the Subaru Paradox?”

  Liliya nodded. “The unsolved problem regarding the stabilization of rotational magical matrices.”

  “Right,” Levi said, scratching his cheek. “Well, ah, I may have solved it.”

  There was a moment of silence.

  Liliya stared at him. “What.”

  “Yeah.”

  Liliya seemed to struggle to process the information. “How did Heimler find out?”

  “I… I thought it was a homework problem. So I solved it and turned it in.”

  Liliya’s expression was wooden. “You… thought it was a homework problem,” she said. “So you solved it. And you turned the answer to one of the most famous unsolved paradoxes into Professor Heimler’s homework bin. An answer that would’ve made the parchment it was written on be worth such a staggering amount, entire nations would enter a bidding war over it.”

  “Pretty much… Wait, how much did you say it was worth again?”

  “Incredible,” Liliya said, ignoring him. “I can’t tell if I should be disturbed or impressed. Well done.” A curious gleam entered her eyes. “What was the solution?”

  Levi gave her a brief rundown. Like Heimler, Liliya initially viewed the concept of imaginary mana as utter nonsense, but the more he explained, the more her comprehension grew.

  “I see,” Liliya murmured. “That’s… an interesting way of approaching the problem. Though I suppose you are an archmage; it’s natural that your perspective and understanding of magic is different from most.”

  “Something like that, yeah.”

  “Hmm,” Liliya then frowned. “If imaginary mana exists, then would something like ‘negative mana’ exist as well?”

  Levi smiled. “Even Heimler hadn’t caught that. Yes, negative mana is also a theoretical state of magic, though there are very few real-world applications.”

  “I… I’m going to need to reevaluate some things,” Liliya shook her head. “As much as I’d like to continue this discussion, I have to head to my next class.” She stood up and stretched, Levi standing up as well. Then she glanced over at him. “Will you be alright?”

  “Mmm…” Levi tilted his head. “I don’t think I’m the one you should be asking that to.”

  Liliya smiled. “Fair enough. Try not to kill any of them, will you? I’d rather not have to explain to Qorbin why we suddenly have a party member who’s on the run. Though that would make missions rather interesting…”

  “Eh, I’m sure Qorbin’s done way worse,” Levi smiled slightly. “But will do. I’ll try my best.”

  Liliya nodded. Then she left the clearing, her light bluish-violet hair swaying in the wind behind her.

  Levi remained standing underneath the oak tree, watching her retreating form. Once she’d fully disappeared, he sighed.

  “Alright,” he said, raising his voice. “Let’s get this over with.”

  From the bushes and trees around him emerged more than a dozen students. They glared at him, a mixture of jealousy and contempt in their eyes. Clearly, seeing Liliya being on good terms with him had sent them over the edge. Levi resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Teenagers. Noble teenagers, at that.

  None of them seemed wary of him at all. Levi had been right; clearly, the group of students that’d ambushed him the previous week hadn’t told anyone about Levi defeating them.

  “In the spirit of politeness, I will give you all a fair warning,” Levi said. “Turn back now if you don’t want to get hurt. I like to think I have a lot of patience, but it is not infinite by any means, and at this point it is most certainly more than a little strained.”

  First Winthrop, then the group of students, then Montague. Levi had tolerated it at first, but no longer. He’d be taking more drastic measures now.

  Unfortunately, it appeared the students that were slowly surrounding him weren’t listening.

  “Oh, shut up,” one of them sneered. “Don’t start acting big just because you passed the Ascension Trials and somehow got onto Liliya’s good side.”

  “We’ll see how much you’re talking after we’re through with you, leech,” another growled. The rest nodded in agreement.

  Levi sighed. This was starting to get old. “Very well. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  As Levi languidly watched the students charge at him, he idly wondered if this was supposed to be normal. He had no real frame of reference of how schools were supposed to work, having never attended one before, but surely this had to be against the rules, right?

  Then again, this was an institution to train adventurers, not diplomats. He supposed it made sense for them to solve problems with violence here. Hell, it might even be encouraged. This was a place that shot literal flaming arrows at twelve year olds, after all. It was not a normal place by any means.

  Besides, adventurers were expected to face infinitely worse once they went out into the field; coddling them wouldn’t do them any good. If they didn’t learn how to defend themselves now, then how would they ever be expected to navigate the cutthroat and dangerous world of adventuring once they actually graduated?

  To survive in the Institute, one likely had to either be powerful, have powerful friends, or have a powerful family. Unfortunately, his counterpart had none of the above; he was weak, he had no friends, and his father had scorned and disinherited him. Levi doubted Lord Ironwood would’ve thrown a fuss even if Levi had been permanently maimed in an attack.

  If Levi had been a regular civilian, he might have been appalled by all of this. However, he was used to far worse. In his old world, the simple act of using magic could lead easily to an excruciating death. It wasn’t uncommon for a master to take on a new apprentice every few years because their old one had accidentally boiled their own blood. Levi himself had nearly died multiple times when his mentor had first begun instructing him. Half the time, his mentor hadn’t even bothered to heal him afterward, instead telling him to use the pain as motivation to not make the same mistake again. Contrasting with that, this new world was downright tame in comparison.

  As such, he didn’t really have the perspective to know just how egregious this assault would actually be considered in the eyes of greater society.

  Well, no matter. Levi’s magic swirled to life within him. Unlike last time where he had to swiftly incapacitate the ambushing students so he could meet up with Liliya on time, he had no such urgency now. He could take his time with this.

  He raised his hand and–

  “What a deplorable sight. Have you all no shame?”

  Everyone froze, a warrior only two meters away from Levi. In the back, several mages’ magic circles fizzled out of existence as they turned to the person who had just spoken.

  Levi, for his part, just blinked. He knew that voice.

  He turned around to see John Winthrop stride into the clearing, an angry scowl on his face.

  Slowly, Levi smiled.

  Well. This was unexpected.