The next day, at the entrance of the Feis Royal Magic Academy
Lis slowly descended from the carriage. After all, it had been some time since he had returned to the academy, so he dressed a bit more formally.
He wore a formal black Mage Robe, holding a Jade Wand in his right hand while the Jade Talisman and Concentration Ring were neatly worn on his body.
Welf was clad in silver-white Warrior Armor. His robust and powerful figure and the golden Professional Badge worn on his chest signaled to others that he was a distinguished Golden Warrior.
Today, Welf had volunteered to accompany Lis to the academy, claiming it had been too long since Young Master Lis had been to school, and he wanted to be there to support his presence.
Lis did not see the necessity for this himself. He was not someone who liked to show off. However, seeing Welf so enthusiastic, he refrained from rejecting the offer.
Having spent seven or eight years studying at this academy, Lis was naturally familiar with every corner of the school and proceeded to lead Welf towards the Fifth Magic Workshop.
Looking at the academy's antiquated bronze-colored gates and the mottled deep cyan brick walls that seemed out of place with the surrounding buildings, the air seemed filled with a sense of time's passage.
It was said that the history of the Feis Royal Magic Academy could even be traced back to before the establishment of the Feis Kingdom, with only a change in name by the new Royal Family.
Anyone coming here was required to dismount from their carriage and enter the academy on foot, the King included.
The reason for such a rule was a decree by the dean of the Magic Academy.
That person was the Legendary Mage at the apex of the entire continent—"Judgement Flame" Fran Stephens.
However, this legendary figure was always traveling in the Star Realm, studying the mysteries of magic. Lis had not even heard any news of his appearance in the many years since enrolling.
Indeed, no student from the Magic Academy had claimed to have seen him in the past twenty years.
Lis had witnessed the intervention of Legendary Strongmen in his past life. Each one was a walking disaster. Legendary Warriors could shake mountains, not to mention the Legendary Mages who commanded Super Ring Magic and Forbidden Techniques.
There was a tacit understanding among the Legendary Strongmen not to interfere in wars between nations or to kill living beings on a large scale.
The Legendary Domain was still so far away from him!
But in this life, harboring the "All-Purpose" Talent, Lis was confident in reaching that legendary realm.
As Lis was deep in thought, an untimely voice suddenly interrupted his musings.
"Isn't this our esteemed Lord Viscount Lis Kain, graceless hermit? What has prompted you to step out today?"
The somewhat irritating voice piqued Lis's curiosity, and he looked in the direction of the sound.
What the hell? This invitation for a beating with such tone and words, was he about to enter a scenario of showing off and face-slapping?
Just then, on the side, there were five or six people dressed in Academy Mage Robes standing nearby, around the same age as himself, seemingly just passing by.
Lis did not respond, but instead looked carefully at the individuals. They seemed vaguely familiar, with a hint of pride on their faces, yet their Mage Robes appeared somewhat wrinkled and faded.
Seeing the puzzled expression on Lis's face, the freckled youth who had just spoken in a peculiar tone couldn't hold back and said resentfully,
"As expected of Lord Viscount, indeed, the nobility easily forgets. Can't even remember your own classmates, can you?"
The others standing around him seemed to resonate with the statement, looking at Lis with eyes full of hostility.
Lis looked at them again, more intently this time, flipping through the memories he had long since tossed aside as junk.
"Oh~ Aren't these the members from the Mutual Assistance Association? What brings you to me?" Lis narrowed his eyes and smiled as if he was looking at a bunch of clowns.
He remembered now. These were his peers who had enrolled at the same time as him. Although of commoner origin, they had decent magical talent and had successfully passed the entrance test.
These people began to band together for warmth after enrolling, claiming that despite being nobles, they had to compete with us at the Magic Academy for resources, and were quite hostile toward Mora and myself.
The original body had always been engrossed in spell research and never paid any attention to these few people. Moreover, though they had been hostile toward me in the past, they had never provoked me to my face like this.
Long time no see, have they changed their sex?
"Oh, I remember now, is there something you wanted?"
Lis looked at these few people with a smile, not showing any anger, why should he be mad at some little brats?
"Uh...," the freckled youth leading them, who was named Yoni, had intended to provoke Lis, incite his anger, and then win a bet for his own purposes. Knowing that Lis was coming to the academy today, they had waited quite a while on this inevitable route, but they didn't expect Lis to completely ignore the bait.
"If you don't have any business, then I'm leaving. I still have to go to the Fifth Magic Workshop."
Lis saw that the few of them were standing there dumbfounded, which was somewhat amusing. It seemed that they had come here especially to find him, so he feigned preparing to leave.
Seeing Lis about to leave, the few became anxious; if they let Lis go to the Magic Workshop directly, wouldn't that mean their efforts over the past few days were in vain?
Yoni stepped directly in front of Lis, abandoning all other pretenses and said bluntly:
"You can't go. Today you must give up the assistant position at the Magic Workshop; it was meant to be Camus's in the first place."
An assistant position? They wrote to ask me to come to the Fifth Magic Workshop just for this?
Lis pondered secretly but still kept a straight face and said:
"Oh, and why should I give it up? Tell me why?"
"It was supposed to be for Camus. He's so outstanding; he applied so many times and was rejected. Why should you be chosen?"
"Besides, it's not like you can make any use of that position, wasting so many resources and still remaining a poor student stuck in place," Yoni hurriedly said.
"Even if it's a waste, that's my business. Why should I give it to your so-called 'big brother Camus'?"
"I don't want to talk nonsense with you. Do you dare to engage in a mage duel? The stake is the assistant position."
Lis looked at the person before him, fixated on him, with a bit of amusement. Indeed, it was the naiveté of someone who had always lived within their ivory tower.
"I'm curious, what makes you think I'd duel you?"
"You... do you have no sense of a noble's honor at all?"
Yoni felt something was off; Lis seemed different than before. Although he used to be a quiet type, whenever a mage duel was mentioned, Lis never refused. He was passionate about anything related to spells.
But the Lis before him seemed like a completely different person now, looking at him as though watching a monkey show, which made Yoni extremely uncomfortable.
Lis yawned: "A duel is fine, but what can you offer as your stake?"
Yoni thought for a moment: "If you win, then all of us will avoid you in the future."
Are you kidding me?
Lis chuckled and was about to walk away from the side; who has the time to waste here entertaining you?
Seeing this, Yoni quickly blocked Lis, realizing he had to bring out that item.
As long as he could get Lis to agree to a mage duel, he couldn't believe he would lose to Lis, who, despite massive resources, remained in the mid-level of Bronze Mages.
Biting his lip, Yoni reached into his Mage Robe and took out...