“Huh? Not ready to leave yet?”

At the academy gates where students had gathered, Ariel glanced at the sun, which was now almost directly overhead, and frowned.

“Weren’t we supposed to meet in the morning? But it’s almost noon now.”

“No idea.”

Lea also shook her head, her gaze discreetly scanning the surrounding area as she spoke softly.

“Maybe it's because not everyone has arrived yet. Even the professor isn’t around.”

Because it was the day students were leaving campus, the academy gates were particularly noisy. Students crowded the exit, tugging along their luggage, while the street outside was jam-packed with carriages waiting to pick people up.

Yet amidst all this chaos, there was a distinct area that seemed deliberately set apart. It was conspicuously empty, occupied by only a few individuals—some standing with arms crossed, others resting with their eyes closed, and a handful, like Ariel and Lea, quietly chatting in low voices.

Every passing student who cast a glance in their direction couldn’t help but look at them with a mix of envy and admiration.

“Even Professor Pulan can be late?”

Ariel frowned, recalling Professor Pulan’s rigid, serious face. The thought seemed almost impossible to her.

“It might not necessarily be Professor Pulan accompanying us.”

Lea offered a guess.

“Even though he’s technically just the head of the Academy’s magic department, I’ve heard he’s been handling a lot of stuffs lately. Especially during this handover period between Acting Dean Pink Bear and Dean Hathaway—he probably hasn’t had a chance to step away.”

“That makes sense.”

Ariel nodded. “Assignments like this are usually handled by other professors, I guess.”

“Wonder which professor it’ll be,” Lea said.

“Hopefully, it’s someone who gives us more freedom.”

“Hmm?”

Hearing that, Ariel’s gaze suddenly turned sharp. She grinned mischievously and pounced on Lea, tickling her sides.

“Well, well, you little brat! Hoping for lenient supervision—are you planning on something evil?”

“N-no way!”

Lea’s face flushed as she pushed Ariel away, puffing out her cheeks in mock indignation.

“I just think the journey will already be dull enough. If we get a strict teacher on top of that, it’ll be unbearable.”

“You’ve got a point…”

Ariel withdrew her hands with evident regret, scratching her chin thoughtfully. This little brat was reacting faster and faster lately, making it harder for her to tease.

But speaking of which…

Traveling from Belland to the Holy City would, under ideal circumstances, take at least ten days. If they ended up stuck with a teacher who micromanaged everything, it might genuinely drive her crazy—someone as free-spirited and unrestrained as she was wouldn’t fare well under tight control.

Moreover, her little plans might not work under such close supervision. After all, once they left Belland, she’d planned to gather her needed materials through some, well… unconventional methods.

Whatever. Ariel shook off the thought, rubbing her hands nervously before stretching her neck to sneak a glance at those gathered nearby.

That sweet-looking senior over there—she must be Fannie Sawyer, the top student in the third year. Ariel remembered her vividly because of how stunning she looked.

And the girl next to her, dressed like a classic aristocrat, must be Vicky Morse, the wealthy heir of some grand trading association.

That aloof guy meditating under the tree, who looked thoroughly unapproachable, along with the smug fellow basking in everyone’s admiration—those two must be Marshall and Aaron, also listed on the roster.

Including herself and Lea…

Even though Professor Pulan had announced a challenge for others to compete for a spot, the final roster hadn’t changed at all. That alone was proof the academy was rigorously selecting candidates. Their eyes were sharp enough.

But still…

“Moen Campbell isn’t here!”

Ariel scanned the surroundings once more, this time including the students, the carriages clogging the streets, the gradually emptying campus, and even the diminishing figures heading off in the distance.

No sign of him.

Nowhere.

Still nothing.

Moen Campbell, being a noble, might be flawed in various ways, sure. But he’d been through elite training since childhood. Someone like him wouldn’t make a sloppy mistake like showing up late.

Which meant…

I won this time!

Recalling the bet she’d nervously placed, Ariel couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement. Though she later realized she wouldn’t win much through this, the thought of actually winning filled her with satisfaction.

After all—she had won!

“Huh? What’s happening over there?”

Lea’s sudden exclamation snapped Ariel out of her thoughts.

Following Lea’s gaze, Ariel noticed a commotion near the edge of the academy. On the rooftop of one of the buildings, a group of students stood poised as if ready to jump off at any moment.

Although teachers below had already set up magic barriers for cushioning, the sight of those students—tears streaming down their faces, looking utterly miserable—was enough to tug at the heartstrings of any onlookers.

“Pathetic gamblers, huh.”

Ariel smirked inwardly with disdain.

Clearly, those people had been lured by the enticing odds, gambled on Moen Campbell showing up, and lost it all when he didn’t. Now, they were taking to the rooftop to vent their sorrow, though it wouldn’t make a lick of difference.

Unlike those fools, Ariel prided herself on being cautious—she only placed bets with absolute confidence!

“Is that so?” Lea cocked her head to one side, sighing. “Looks like the academy has quite a few gamblers this time. How pitiful.”

“Hmm? A lot?”

Ariel blinked in surprise.

Was there really a lot?

It was a 20-to-1 payout, after all. Did Lea mean many people had placed bets? Ariel had been so focused on training recently that she hadn’t had time to follow the gossip.

But as she thought about it, her pulse quickened with excitement.

If the bettors were numerous enough, even with tight odds, this could still end up being a handsome windfall for her!

—

“Whew, just my luck—I almost ended up on that rooftop myself.”

Elsewhere, Fannie glanced at the ongoing rooftop commotion. She couldn’t help but wipe a bead of fragrant sweat from her brow, sighing heavily.

“Oh?”

Beside her, Vicky Morse tilted her head in curiosity.

“You gamble too?”

As someone who considered herself both a rival and a friend to Fannie, she knew the top-third-year student was rarely one to dabble in gambling.

That is, unless this mysterious, eccentric club Fannie had joined recently had made her change her usual ways.

“Well…”

Fannie thought about her three troublesome little protégés and let out a wry smile.

“Let’s just say I was dragged into it.”

“And? How’d it go?”

Vicky asked with genuine curiosity.

“Well…” Fannie suddenly turned to Vicky, fixing her with an intense stare.

“I hear your family’s rolling out a new line of magic crystals?”

“Uh-huh. We struck a new magic crystal vein up north. The deposits are incredibly pure—great for conducting and channeling magic. They’re perfect for crafting magic wands or enhancing weapons. Top-tier quality.”

Vicky’s eyes lit up as she launched into what sounded like a sales pitch.

“I remember you could really use these for your train. Interested in buying?”

“Yes, I’ll buy!”

“Hmm… For top-grade crystals, it’s 100,000 Emil apiece. I could give you a friendly discount—80,000 each. Considering your savings, that should wor—”

“You misunderstood.”

Fannie’s chest puffed up with defiant pride, her sharp eyes blazing as she declared:

“I’m buying ten!”