Chapter 24 - Future 8th Circle Archmage

What should Leo do? His worries were short. When he thought about it, he had a lot to do in the future. First, he had to drop out of college and then fill up the month with magic training. According to Iris's explanation, he would reach the 2nd circle quickly, but he also needed to reach the 3rd circle, so he was to focus on training.

She also added that if he reached the 2nd circle and then quickly moved to the 3rd circle, it would mean more than just a qualification—it would be a reason for a smile to never leave his face. A 3rd circle wizard! In a small country, they were the upper class of the upper class, who were treated as quasi-nobles.

"I was an orphan until recently, but now I'm a quasi-noble!?"

Bam. If the title of a novel was like that, he'd probably get cursed at. Anyway, it didn't take long, but Leo got his upper-class magician registration certificate, and his admission to the Magic Tower was confirmed, so he could say that it was the most fulfilling morning of his life.

"Hehe, then what about Ava's granddaughter? Let's meet when the semester starts…"

Except for the fact that he had a blind date scheduled that he didn't have in his former fortune because he was attracted to the red-haired woman's photo.

"I said we'd just see each other… So it'll be okay, right?"

Leo felt a little guilty, but S-class hunters and high-ranking magicians rarely had one wife. Ordinary people are monogamous because they can't afford it, either financially or physically.

"Do I, a prospective 8th Circle Archmage, really need to be bound by the common sense of ordinary people? No way."

"But what do I do now?"

He thought he would spend the whole day just registering as a magician and getting into the Magic Tower, but it wasn't even 1 PM yet. Time was flying by.

"Should I just go drop out?"

Well, he intended to attend classes at the top of the mountain, but he didn't need to continue attending college. He was originally planning to go tomorrow, but he thought he could go now.

Leo took a taxi and headed to Korea University, where he was attending and would no longer be attending. By the way, if it were the past, he would have taken the subway instead of the taxi to save on transportation costs. Things have really changed.

***

If you ask which university is the best in the US, ten out of ten would say Harvard University. It is because of its historical reputation, but it is also because of the departments related to gates, magic, and magic stones are considered the best in the country. The differentiated curriculum and the quality of the professors from the universities are the pride that all countless students swear by.

Leo was one of them.

"I never thought I would drop out."

He studied like crazy for three years in high school to get into Harvard University because he wanted to succeed at any cost. He had nosebleeds many times and stayed up all night for three days. That's how he ended up getting into the Harvard University Gate Support Department.

Even though his grades were a bit lacking, he had to give up on his original major, but just because it got him into Harvard University, Leo inhaled like crazy for a week at that time.

He didn't even know that this was a problem. On the day of the entrance ceremony, when the wind blew and the sound of drums echoed, he realized the reality at the entrance ceremony.

"Why are there only women?"

He thought something was strange in the group and, sure enough, he realized the reality at the entrance ceremony. Women here, women there. The gate support department he got into was an extremely female-dominated department.

In a good way? No, in a really bad way.

The department has an extremely high number of a certain gender, the jobs that graduates from that department usually have are either jobs that are socially reserved for men or jobs that are reserved for women. Because of the unusual atmosphere in the department, Leo started analyzing the department a little late.

The main place that graduates of the gate support department get jobs is the Hunter Association, which is a place that is socially treated as a semi-civil servant and is famous for its stable jobs and pensions.

So what do stable jobs and pensions mean? They are in line with a meager salary: 

"You have no money? Then why would I even marry you?"

That's what women would usually say.

Leo reflected on his circumstances. The relatively low salary might not be an issue for women, but for men like him, who had to bear more financial burdens in relationships and marriages, it was a risk he couldn't ignore. 

That was why the department he was in had appealed to him initially. It had been a place where he didn't have to think too negatively. However, after the first semester of his freshman year, he considered dropping out of university altogether. Despite this, due to various other circumstances, he had remained.

Besides, since the department was gate-supported, Leo could probably get a job somewhere even if he didn't hold a diploma. This was the thought that initially helped him endure. Knock-knock. A voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Leo? Leo, you said you were here because of the withdrawal request, right? Would you like to come this way?"

When Leo arrived at the department office, he was greeted by a teaching assistant with dark circles and several working students nearby.

"Are you sure you thought about this thoroughly?" the assistant asked. "Why don't you try to enjoy your campus life diligently instead of dropping out?"

"That's a bit...," Leo muttered.

"Right? Dropping out is something that you already decided for yourself. You probably have your own thoughts, so why would I, an outsider, interfere?"

The assistant wasn't wrong. Leo didn't really want to drop out but had needed the reassurance of being told not to. The assistant shuffled through a few forms before handing one to Leo.

"All right. Could you hand me your magician registration card around your neck, right?"

Leo reached for the card hanging just under his collar. Magicians wearing registration cards at all times seemed strange to him, but he realized its necessity quickly. After all, most magic-related institutions placed importance on identity proof. It wasn't just an optional tag—it defined your presence in the Magic Tower.

The teaching assistant narrowed her eyes at the card once it was handed over, seemingly surprised.

"Uh… Leo?"

Leo raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"

"You're impersonating a mage as a student? Do you know that this is punishable by up to 15 years in prison?"

Leo's confusion morphed into awkward laughter. "Oh, no! I'm sorry. It's okay," he explained, quickly adding, "Here."

The assistant's eyes widened as she received the registration card. Printed in clear font was his newly issued magician registration card. A small flash of recognition passed through the assistant's face.

"Huh? Leo?"

Leo nodded slowly, puzzled by her reaction.

She glanced between the card and Leo. "Wait, are you saying that you're already enrolled in the Magic Tower?"

"Yes, just yesterday," Leo replied casually.

The assistant's jaw dropped slightly as she processed what she had just learned. Then, almost to herself, she murmured, "Future 8th Circle Archmage… I really don't believe this..."