Chapter 1: Mental Power Test

Winter in the Black Forest Ridge was particularly harsh, with snow and wind from the Northern Barbarian Mountains painting the filthy Black Forest Territory in a blanket of white.

In a dilapidated wooden hut on the outskirts of the Black Forest Territory, Richard wrapped himself tightly in a thin garment, curling up in the straw to conserve heat.

"Hiss... it's so cold. Damn... as a transmigrator, I'm really living a miserable life."

A month ago, Richard found himself in this world after a car accident, becoming the son of Old Richard, a peasant under the jurisdiction of Baron Black Forest.

Old Richard was a hopeless drunk. Under the care of this alcoholic father, Richard's days were filled with hunger and beatings.

To make matters worse, Richard's frail body, weakened by chronic malnutrition, couldn't even muster the strength to fight back.

Fortunately, this drunkard was now dead.

But the bad news was that he had traded all the family's valuables for cheap liquor, and Richard had consumed the last grain of food the day before.

Cold, hunger, and the injuries from the drunkard who froze to death in the snow three days ago left Richard huddled in the straw, feeling as though he was about to ascend to heaven.

"I mustn't sleep, I absolutely mustn't sleep! You're a transmigrator with a cheat ability; you can't fall here!" Richard forced himself to keep his eyes open, constantly encouraging himself.

Indeed, Richard did have a cheat ability upon crossing over.

When he transmigrated into young Richard's body, he discovered a furnace deep within his soul.

However, what this furnace could do, Richard still didn't know.

Regardless of its purpose, it offered Richard a glimmer of hope at this moment.

To a drowning person, even a straw is a beacon of salvation.

Knock, knock, knock!

In his daze, Richard seemed to hear knocking at the door.

Who would visit on such a cold day?

Bang!

Seeing no response, the person outside kicked the door open.

"Old Richard, are you still alive?"

Richard snapped to attention and struggled to stand up from the straw.

He recognized the voice; the person was Mr. Allison, the steward of the Black Forest Territory.

"Lord Steward, my father froze to death a couple of days ago, but I'm still alive. Tell me what you need, and I'll do it."

A visit from the steward was significant; he wouldn't come to a peasant's house without reason.

This was an opportunity!

"Oh, you're young Richard, are you?"

Mr. Allison scrutinized Richard with a frown, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket to cover his nose.

But one couldn't blame him, for Richard's appearance was indeed quite shabby.

His long, unkempt hair hung in strands, his face was dirty, and his single garment was covered in grime, with untreated, festering wounds.

Compared to Richard, even vagrants appeared dashing and clean.

"I am young Richard, Lord Steward." Richard managed a half-bow despite his weak condition.

Rumor had it that Mr. Allison valued etiquette highly and insisted on proper manners, even from the most foolish peasants.

Richard hoped this rumor was true.

Seeing Richard bow, a hint of surprise flashed in the steward's eyes.

Accustomed to the rudeness of peasants, he had become indifferent to their lack of manners, despite frequently correcting them.

Peasants naturally couldn't remember noble etiquette.

Yet this child, even on the brink of freezing, still managed to bow, stirring a faint sense of admiration in him.

Nobility should not lose their manners even in death, and he saw a glimpse of noble spirit in Richard.

"Good child, as long as you're alive. Follow me, and do whatever you're told." Mr. Allison said warmly.

"Yes, sir."

Stepping out of the hut, the thick clouds covered the sky, like a curtain blocking the poor man's cheapest source of warmth—the sun.

A gust of wind made Richard shiver violently.

Wearing only a single layer, Richard's clothing offered little protection against the cold wind.

"Damn it, guard! Take off your coat! Quickly!"

Seeing Richard's condition, Mr. Allison furrowed his brow and turned to command a soldier to remove his coat.

The soldier's face stiffened; giving his coat to a stinking peasant in such cold weather seemed unreasonable.

"Sir, if we're short one, we're short one; the territory is vast, and who knows how many children the wizard has." The soldier mumbled.

"Silence! Don't presume to gauge the wisdom of the Wizard with your petty mind!"

Hearing the soldier mention the Wizard, Mr. Allison's face changed, and he sternly scolded the soldier.

"If I hear you speak such words again, you'll hang! Now, immediately give your coat to this child!"

Though said without intention, Richard listened intently.

The word "Wizard" sent a jolt through his heart.

Wizard!

This world has magic!

Richard had tried to inquire about extraordinary powers upon arriving in this world, but the Black Forest Territory was remote, and his status was too low. His inquiries yielded only folk tales.

But now it seemed that extraordinary powers indeed existed in this world.

With the soldier's body-warmed coat on, Richard felt much more comfortable.

The soldier's loose tongue had soured the good mood Mr. Allison had from Richard's manners. He spoke loudly to Richard, with a grim face.

"Put on the coat and move quickly! If the Wizard gets impatient, we're all dead!"

Following the steward onto a carriage, Richard soon arrived at the baron's castle in the center of the territory.

The castle hall was dim, with torches on the walls and a central fireplace providing the only light.

In the hall's center, over a hundred children, regardless of their wealth, gathered, waiting silently for the Wizard to speak from the hall's depths.

"Wizard, Baron, all the children aged twelve to fifteen in the territory are here," the steward reported to a figure in a black robe and triangular hat who slowly stood up from the hall's depths.

"Heh heh heh! You have few children in Black Forest, Delis."

Beside him, Richard saw the corpulent Baron Black Forest, his face obsequious, constantly wiping sweat from his forehead.

"Yes, sir, the harvest hasn't been good these past two years, and many peasants have starved."

"That's not good." The black-robed Wizard patted the baron, who shivered at the touch.

"The academy needs children of the right age for enrollment. If I can't gather enough, the academy will punish me."

"And I don't want to be punished."

"So if the number of children is still this low next time I come to Black Forest...

Prepare to become a maggot eating shit in a toilet for life!"

As the Wizard's tone grew heavier, the hall fell silent, the roar of his words echoing like a beast's growl.

"Good." The black-robed Wizard turned to the children in the hall. "Now, line up and come to me one by one for testing.

Don't make me repeat myself."

Hearing the Wizard, the children quickly formed a line.

They might not know how powerful the Wizard was, but seeing the baron's pale face was enough to understand what to do next.

Richard found himself in the middle of the line, at a perfect spot to see the black-robed Wizard in the hall's depths.

Richard watched as the Wizard produced a crystal ball from his robe, instructing each child to place a hand on it. The ball glowed faintly, and the Wizard announced the results.

"Mental power nine, unqualified, next."

"Mental power eight, unqualified."

"Mental power seven, unqualified."

"Mental power ten, borderline. Stand behind me."

"Mental power nine, unqualified."

...

The testing proceeded quickly, and soon it was Richard's turn.

"Unqualified, next."

The child before Richard stepped aside, and Richard nervously approached the Wizard.

Up close, Richard finally saw the face hidden by the shadow of the triangular hat.

Surprisingly, the Wizard's appearance was not frightening: graying hair, a face lined with wrinkles, deep-set eyes behind a monocle.

Overall, his face even seemed kindly.

But for some reason, standing before him made Richard tremble involuntarily.

It felt like prey encountering a predator!

"Place your hand on the crystal ball."

"Yes, Wizard."

Richard nervously placed his hand on the crystal ball and waited silently for his fate.

Whether he froze to death in the dilapidated house or followed the Wizard depended on this moment.

The crystal ball gradually lit up, an electric sensation coursing through Richard's arm, circulating his body before entering his brain.

Simultaneously, the furnace in Richard's soul seemed to awaken by the energy.

A message emerged from the furnace.

[Miracle Furnace Activated]

At the same moment, the black-robed Wizard announced Richard's test result.

"Mental power fifteen, qualified!"

(End of Chapter)