“An anonymous benefactor? Who on earth is sponsoring me?”
“If I told you that, it wouldn’t be anonymous anymore, would it? I could tell you if you refused the sponsorship, but if you accept it, you must prioritize the benefactor’s wish to remain anonymous. So, what will you do, Yuri?”
“I… I…”
Yuri’s lips trembled.
An anonymous sponsor.
Full tuition support. Special admission.
The overload of words he never thought he’d be associated with caused his brain to short-circuit.
‘There’s no place like the Imperial Magic Academy to learn magic systematically…’
Would such an opportunity come again?
Not once in a lifetime, but a chance given to one out of hundreds of thousands.
Even if the curriculum was different, the common magical courses alone would surpass the quality of magic taught elsewhere.
His mind knew he had to accept this offer.
But his heart was desperate to know the identity of the anonymous benefactor.
Who could it be?
Why?
More importantly, how did they know about him?
How many people knew him? The orphanage director, the sl*ve trader with a missing arm, and… no one else.
The director or the sl*ve trader?
No way.
Both despised him, and neither had the means to afford the tuition of a four-year academy.
‘Sound?’
The gears turning in his mind came to a halt.
Yuri’s sensitive ears caught a faint sound of footsteps from afar.
Light yet firm steps.
Not clumsy, but the steps of someone well-educated.
Yuri’s gaze sharpened.
“Headmaster. Is the benefactor perhaps in this building?”
“They just left…”
Before the headmaster could finish, Yuri’s body flickered.
Utilizing the self-taught mana manipulation technique, he accelerated, burning his mana to pursue the footsteps.
‘The sound came from the back corridor just now. If they just left, those footsteps must belong to the anonymous benefactor…!’
Thanks to the headmaster’s slip, Yuri seized the opportunity.
He could find out!
Who it was, why, and why they specifically chose to sponsor him!
Yuri’s body sped through, bursting through a door as a flash of light poured in.
“…!?”
What greeted Yuri was a railing.
Almost losing his balance, he managed to grab the railing and stop himself.
He thought he was on the first floor.
Unaware that the front door was on the second floor, accessible via stairs.
‘That person!’
Below, he spotted a man in a black suit and hat heading towards a carriage.
That’s him! Yuri quickly calculated.
Could he catch up if he went down now?
No, it was impossible.
Grinding his teeth, Yuri shouted in a high voice.
“Sponsor!”
“…”
Even with the loud call, the man only flinched, not looking back.
Ah!
He made a mistake! If he had called out something other than “Sponsor”, the man might have turned around.
Realizing his mistake, the man was already boarding the carriage.
A plain carriage with no distinctive markings or features.
“I don’t know who you are! But thank you!”
“…”
“To achieve my dreams, I needed to enter this school! Thanks to you, I can make my dreams come true! Really, really, thank you!”
“…”
Only after hearing those words did the carriage depart.
Yuri could only watch the carriage fade away.
He felt powerless.
From behind, the headmaster, who had been leisurely following, cleared his throat.
“The anonymous benefactor guarantees your identity and sponsors your special admission. There are three conditions. First, you must graduate successfully. If you fail to graduate, all the tuition provided will become your debt. Will you accept?”
“…I accept.”
“Second, you must achieve a grade of B or higher in all subjects each semester. This applies at the time of graduation. Lastly, you must not inquire about the benefactor’s identity.”
“That’s…”
“Will you accept?”
“No contact at all? What if I have something to say to them…”
“Tell me, and I’ll relay the message. Ah, and one more thing. If you are curious about their identity, wait until graduation day. They said they would meet you then if you desire.”
“…!”
This was tricky.
He had planned to learn some useful magic and then leave the academy.
But if he didn’t graduate, he would incur debt and not be able to uncover the benefactor’s identity.
Such clever and frustrating conditions.
“Will you accept?”
“I… accept…”
“Congratulations. You are now a student of the Imperial Magic Academy.”
“…”
The joy of being accepted was short-lived.
His mind was now filled with curiosity about the benefactor’s identity.
Who knew him, knew he wanted to enter this school, and believed in him enough to spend such a large sum of money?
‘I will find out, no matter what.’
Yuri clenched his fist.
He couldn’t leave this kindness unreturned.
After achieving his dreams.
After exacting revenge on the cursed Vermont family and rescuing Charlotte and Julia, he would definitely convey his thanks.
***
“Huff, huff… huff…”
The moment the carriage successfully exited through the back gate.
The restrained breath burst out, filling the carriage with frantic sounds.
Damn. I thought I was going to lose my mind.
The terror of the rapidly approaching footsteps from a distance…
It felt like being the prey of a wild beast.
‘Yuri is already using mana at this point.’
That speed clearly wasn’t something an ordinary person could achieve.
While Julia and Charlotte had not yet managed to use mana, Yuri was doing it unconsciously.
Is he truly a genius? If such a genius were to receive professional education, how quickly would he develop?
‘Have I just dug my own grave?’
I’m still not sure if this was the right decision.
By admitting Yuri, the protagonist, to the Empire’s top academy, I can both show him favor and restrict his actions.
At the very least, to achieve a grade of B or higher, he must study diligently and not engage in nonsense.
Also, there was the purpose of keeping him from straying down a dark path.
By now, Yuri would think that Charlotte and Julia are being tortured at the Vermont Mansion.
He’s the type who wouldn’t hesitate to resort to any means to rescue them.
If he had failed to be admitted, he would likely have immersed himself in unsavory places to gain strength.
‘It sends chills down my spine. It was a close call that almost took him into obscurity…’
What if the protagonist’s talent falls into the hands of villains?
If that enormous talent were used for murder?
Just imagining it sends shivers down my spine and chills my soul.
I’ve just become certain.
My decision was indeed correct.
Slowly choking to death is much better than him becoming a human weapon.
Ugh. Just thinking about it.
What should I do on graduation day?
If he really finishes his academy life peacefully and tells me he’ll meet me at graduation?
No. It’s a problem even if he doesn’t finish quietly and causes an accident midway.
Because I’ve guaranteed Yuri’s identity, any major incident he causes will be my responsibility.
[The Evil God, ‘Kali’ casts a suspicious glance at you.]
Ah.
“Hehehe. I’ve tightened the reins on the guy who tried to escape. With sponsorship as my hostage, I can use him as I please. Hehehehe.”
[The Evil God, ‘Kali’ smiles contentedly.]
I forgot this line.
I should have paid more attention so that our evil god wouldn’t suspect anything.
Thinking I must always act like a villain is giving me a headache.
“Hu…”
And there’s one more thing.
In my attempts to negotiate and beg, I’ve tried something unreasonable to secure special admission.
‘Special admission? Our academy upholds fairness as the highest value. We do not operate such a system elsewhere.’
‘Hmph. How much was the sponsorship from Vermont to the development fund? If that were cut off, how many research labs would have to close…’
‘Are you threatening me now? Should I take it that way?’
‘Threat? I simply wish to express my gratitude for the considerable investment you have made.’
‘It wasn’t an investment but sponsorship.’
‘Oh dear. Did you think it was sponsorship? It was clearly an investment. It seems there has been a misunderstanding in communication.’
‘Fine. I understand. This is the first and last time. Since you’re guaranteeing the student Yuri’s identity, I’ll grant special admission. However, we have conditions.’
‘Speak.’
‘This year, our academy is hosting the Magic Society’s academic presentation. I hope Lord Aslan will decorate our first presentation…’
I must be crazy.
I accepted that too quickly.
The Magic Society’s academic presentation.
An event held annually where magicians from around the world showcase their research achievements to the public, it’s the most prestigious event in the magical community.
Being assigned the first slot at such an event is monumental.
If I leave a good impression, it’ll be a huge success.
But if I make a mistake, not only I but the entire family’s reputation could plummet.
It’s all or nothing.
‘If this is discovered, it will be a big problem.’
I’ve recklessly gambled our family’s honor.
And I don’t even have a suitable research achievement to present.
What will the family say if this gets out…
My head throbbed with pain.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The carriage door suddenly banged and was aggressively flung open.
“Aslan. What are you doing?”
“…”
It was someone.
Aslan’s sister, Irene Vermont.
And she seemed extremely angry.
My body froze for an instant due to the murderous energy radiating from that fierce face.
