Chapter 3: On the Airship

"Junior fellows?"

Richard looked at the black-robed Wizard, his heart filled with tumultuous waves.

Could such a Wizard be an apprentice just like them? But before he could ponder further, an opening appeared at the bottom of the airship.

The black-robed Wizard led them inside, and upon landing, Richard heard a strong female voice.

"Seven apprentices! Taylor, you're in luck this time."

Richard focused and saw a fierce woman, towering at two meters and built like a bear, standing in the cabin with a nearly two-meter-long greatsword in her hand. The sword's blade was carved with intricate symbols, giving it a fantastical appearance.

Beside her stood a black-robed skeleton with eye sockets burning in eerie blue flames. As soon as they all entered, the skeleton waved its hand, and the opening in the cabin floor automatically closed.

"Seven apprentices, you all owe me a meal when we get back, and it can't be less than a hundred magic stones."

The black-robed Wizard's demeanor had shifted from the fierce attitude he displayed toward the nobility on the ground to a jovial banter with the Wizards in the cabin.

"Screw you, fifty magic stones, take it or leave it."

The skeleton Wizard, holding a crystal ball, approached the apprentices to record their names and mental strength.

After completing the inventory, the skeleton Wizard, like performing a magic trick, pulled one bag after another from beneath his black robe. Each bag contained a quill, a bottle of ink, a sheaf of paper, a room number tag, and three books.

Without explanation or dialogue, the skeleton Wizard's conduct stood in stark contrast to the other two Wizards engaged in casual chatter. It was as if he had abandoned human emotions, embracing tranquility and rationality.

"These are your enrollment materials, which include introductory courses at the Wizard Academy and the admission rules. The room number tag corresponds to your room. During the airship's flight, refrain from leaving your room unnecessarily."

Seeing the skeleton Wizard silent, Wizard Taylor, who had brought them aboard, had to explain to them.

"Now hurry and find your rooms. You can have some fun during the flight, but don't cause any fatalities."

...

The airship's passenger cabin had only one corridor, with rows of neatly arranged rooms on both sides, each designed as a four-person room.

Richard counted; if the airship had fifty rooms and was fully loaded, it could carry around two hundred passengers.

Fifty rooms, two hundred people.

"This fantasy world is truly fantastical; even an airship is this impressive."

Following the corridor to the end, Richard opened room 225, which was temporarily his.

"Hey, friend, I'm Ellie from the Golden Land."

Upon entering, Richard was greeted by a girl.

The girl had light golden hair and light blue eyes. Despite a few freckles, they only added a touch of youthful charm.

"Hmm? Is there a mistake with the room allocation?"

Richard was puzzled and turned to seek clarification from the skeleton Wizard.

"Friend, don't bother asking; someone already did. Wizard Eisen said there's no mistake."

Richard paused, "Wizard Eisen? The one who looks like... a skeleton?"

Ellie nodded, "That's him. He said the room numbers are completely random, and you shouldn't ask to change. Many have tried to change rooms, and it annoyed him to the point of nearly throwing them overboard."

Hearing this, Richard rubbed his temples in frustration.

This was troublesome; sharing a room with a girl could be quite inconvenient.

But since the Wizard had decreed no room changes, he had to comply.

"Alright," Richard sighed. "Hello, Ellie. I'm Richard from the Black Forest Territory."

...

In truth, Ellie had lied.

Rooms on the airship could be switched, but the method was somewhat crude.

As long as you could persuade someone to agree to a room change without causing fatalities, the recruiting Wizards wouldn't interfere.

During Ellie's first few days on the airship, there had been several violent confrontations.

These confrontations often coincided with one event...

Assault.

The Wizards wouldn't stop these crimes, seeing them as minor scuffles. One Wizard who resembled a monkey even watched with interest.

This only fueled the evil intentions of certain individuals on the airship.

Fortunately, the airship spent most of its time in high-speed flight, during which no one could leave their rooms.

This allowed Ellie to avoid those beasts by hiding in a corner room.

However, Richard's arrival posed a threat to her.

If those beasts discovered there was still a delectable prey hidden in the corner of the airship, the next time the airship slowed, it would be Ellie's day of suffering.

So she had to prevent Richard from changing rooms.

Moreover, Richard was handsome, charming, and weak.

Years of malnutrition had left Richard looking extremely fragile, and even with clothes on, he seemed like a gust of wind could topple him.

Ellie was confident she could fend off Richard's advances.

...

Returning to the present, Richard closed the door after entering the room.

The room was small, only about eleven or twelve square meters, with a small compartment likely serving as a toilet.

The furnishings were simple: two bunk beds, a two-meter-long table, two chairs, and a magical lamp on the ceiling.

Currently, only he and Ellie occupied the small room.

A teenage boy and girl, at the age of budding emotions, confined in a small room.

The boy was handsome, the girl petite and cute. Their eyes met, then quickly looked away.

It seemed like an awkwardly intimate scene... or not.

Though Richard appeared to be a teenager, he was an adult at heart.

His ideal type was a gentle, mature older sister!

"I'll take the top bunk. Let me know when you're changing, and I'll give you privacy."

Richard stated plainly before climbing to the top bunk, removing his shoes.

Flirting with a girl was low on his list; he had more pressing matters.

Sitting on the upper bunk, Richard opened the three books from the bag one by one.

He couldn't understand any of them. As a farmer, knowing how to write his name was considered scholarly.

However, Richard deduced that one of the thicker books was likely a dictionary.

[Material: Wizard Language Dictionary]

[Extractable Information: Wizard Language]

[Extraction Cost: 10 Mental Power]

[Extract?]

Richard pocketed the dictionary and made a decision.

"Extract."

Instantly, Richard felt as if his head was struck by a heavy hammer, his vision going black.

After an unknown period, Richard awoke from his slumber.

The room was pitch black, suggesting it was nighttime.

"Hiss, I shouldn't be so reckless with extractions next time."

Richard rubbed his head, grateful that he was on the airship, where it was safe. In any other place, he would have been in grave danger.

Entering the soul space, a bouncing white light awaited above the Miracle Furnace.

Merging with the white light, Richard didn't experience illusions like with the Wind Raven Swordsmanship; he simply felt as if he'd memorized a lot.

Richard tested himself and found he could indeed read Wizard Language, but it felt more like he'd memorized a dictionary.

If he read Wizard Language aloud, he'd sound like a beginner, with incorrect intonation.

"It seems there's a big difference between 'skills' and 'information.' Absorbing information is like directly infusing knowledge into the brain, requiring practice for practical use. Skills, however, are easy to perform but challenging to articulate."

Growl!

A profound hunger pulled Richard from his thoughts.

He hadn't eaten in nearly two days.

"Ellie, Ellie," Richard called softly.

"Mm? You're awake."

In the darkness, Ellie's voice came from the lower bunk. It seemed she hadn't slept.

"Ellie, what time is it?"

"Four thirty-two in the morning."

Hearing the time, Richard estimated how long he had been asleep.

He had slept for about fourteen hours.

"Did anyone bring food during that time?"

"Your food is on the table. Come down and eat if you're hungry."

Richard sensed something was off with Ellie. Though they had just met, most people wouldn't be wide awake at four in the morning.

"Have you been awake all night?" Richard asked gently.

"Mm."

"Are you homesick?"

"A little."

It seemed she wasn't used to being far from home.

Growl!

Richard wanted to comfort her, but the loud rumble of his stomach decided he should eat first.

Climbing down, he found his dinner on the table.

Two palm-sized pieces of black bread, a slightly burnt beef steak, and a bowl of beetroot soup.

Though not as delicious as the Chinese food Richard remembered, it was far better than the sawdust-like black bread he had eaten in the Black Forest Territory.

"Ah, much better."

After eating, Richard sat back in his chair with a sigh of relief.

Although the meal hadn't filled him, it put something in his stomach.

"Richard, are you a knight?"

Ellie lay on her side, looking at Richard.

Richard sensed something was wrong in her voice, as if she were... crying?

"No, why do you ask?"

"Then we're doomed."

Richard frowned, "What do you mean?"

"Richard," Ellie's voice was choked with emotion, "do you know what our entrance exam is according to the handbook?"

"What is it?"

"It's killing someone!"