Apprentice

In the span of mere seconds, almost everyone in the room was affected by the talisman. Although it was weak, due to its low rank against these high rankers, their lowered senses were still able to get bypassed by my blessing.

There was one individual who seemed as if they were already excited, and the talisman only buffed their emotions.

Miss Scarlet.

She was looking at me with a huge smile, as if she saw something incredibly interesting.

I told you I wouldn't disappoint.

…

Joey, on the other hand, was quiet, as if he didn't expect such a scenario to occur. He did know about my ability from my fight with Harold, but he focused more on fighting techniques; he didn't expect such a useless and bland ability to be utilized as such.

Yes, illusion magic was more like the magic back on earth, and I have emotional attachments, but I wasn't going to let that shape my future. I thought of the best way that I could utilize my talent the best and safest I could.

"Interesting. I guess you are ranked high for a reason," she says with the intention of targeting Joey, who was against my ranking since earlier.

Scarlet finally regained interest in me.

Jane and the others who were defending me also had smiles on their faces, proud of their decision and their ability to sense talent.

It would've been a disaster to kick out someone like this.

"You've thought about this more than I realized."

Scarlet continued complimenting me, as Joey could only look down in anger, as he recalls the exact words he muttered earlier. The fact that he'll pass me if they even get affected by the talisman at all.

He wasn't that stubborn to make a fool of himself any longer, as he had already technically approved my enrollment with his challenge earlier.

"Of course, Miss. This is my future; I can't just ruin it all by changing what I already know. Besides, illusion holds a special place in my existence. "I say firmly, trying to sell myself even more.

"Alright, if that's the case, I'm sure no one here will argue any longer. We approve of your decision to specialize in magic. "With the smile she had earlier, Scarlet looks at me seemingly with hope and yearning, wondering what the future might hold for me.

There's still that small underlying factor of me being famous in the future and known to be her fan, though.

" O- Okay, it seems that young master Julius has chosen his specialization. Let's move on with the special instructor you would like to accompany you. "The staff, who was disconnected and bored from my antics earlier, seemed to have grown lively, as he looks at me with somewhat more respect this time around.

"Could I ask which instructor would be interested in guiding young master Julius here? "The staff looks behind him before saying so.

It didn't take a while before a few individuals raised their hands.

Scarlet Hwang

Lady Jane

Gio Edwards

Lupus Jackson

About more than half of the instructors inside start to raise their hands with interest. Joey and most of the people who were against my application in Front didn't raise theirs though, as they could only look at their tables in annoyance.

I'm almost certain I've become their target in whatever political play they were trying to do.

I couldn't care less, as I've been in one too much when I was working my office jobs.

There are also some individuals who weren't in my favor earlier who are raising their hands as of now. Very rational individuals, I see.

After a while, the number of raised hands didn't continue to grow any bigger, causing the staff to finally call it off.

Not bad. Around 80% of the head staff showed interest in me.

It was still nowhere near the top five, though, as not a single head staff member failed to raise their hands.

Regardless, this type of attention was way better than what the top 30s could actually pull off.

"Now that that's finished, you will be given a few minutes to look at the tablet in front of you to analyze and see which instructor suits you best. "A lectern-shaped tablet, the same one in the testing area, shot up from the ground and slowly raised itself exactly in front of where I was standing.

I can't yet get used to it. The architecture and the design were clearly medieval, yet the technology was so modern. I wrote it as such so that I could add special things to the story, yet experiencing it is quite surreal.

I took a quick peek at the names who were written here, and only two individuals were the only ones who could help me reach my goal.

One is the golden ticket herself, Scarlet Hwang.

The other…

A man who had black pushed-back hair and a silver highlight on his bangs. A man who looks sophisticated and mysterious. A man who was respected by many as a responsible person.

Gio Edwards, the master of illusion himself.

Though not many are interested in illusion magic due to its specialization in support rather than offense, Gio Edwards was still someone who reached the rank of a mid-A illusionist.

But that was just Gio Edwards, at face value.

Although he was respected for his strength and great passion for illusion magic, this guy is nothing less than a devil on the inside.

Joey is a bad person, but he still has some morals. Although his ideal version of progress is a little twisted, he still wants the progress of humanity and moves to protect it.

The problem with this bastard, Gio, is that he is a devil when no one's looking. A man who is responsible and who will be responsible for the deaths of many students soon.

Although he would help me reach greater goals in illusion, maybe even better than what Miss Scarlet could teach me, it just wasn't a choice if I wanted my life to be manageable.

But that's why I've been showing off recently.

To the golden ticket, herself.

"I'd like to choose now."

I notify the staff who were waiting for me that I am finished choosing who I want to pick.

He was a little surprised, though, by how fast I picked up. He most likely thought I just chose the best instantly, as he dropped the surprise expression pretty quickly.

Some of the heads also seemed to have lost interest in my choice due to how quick it was.

It's probably going to be basic, and he'll just choose Gio or Scarlet.

Well, they're not wrong.

"I'd like to go under Miss Scarlet's guidance, "I say with a casual expression on my face, ignoring whatever noise the others make while also trying my best to look away from Gio the best that I can.

I wanted to act like some simple-minded bastard who likes to leech off of the highest-ranking person.

But the way I was acting earlier, I don't think that would be as effective.

I still won't be saying anything, so they can think of whatever they want.

"Is that so? "The staff looks at me with a confused expression.

As strong as Scarlet was, Gio was clearly the better choice, as he had basically given up his entire life for the arts of illusion. So he should be the better choice.

Yeah, I would've chosen him if I didn't know he was a serial killer.

" Yes. "

"Alright, I'll take care of you then, "Scarlet says, with a satisfied look on her face.

She was a little surprised, thinking she had to fight in some form or another. But her worries were pointless, as she was Julius's only choice. Gio was a strong opponent after all, but she wasn't going to press any longer and just try her best to raise another dragon in her ranks.

Nice. I guess it worked out until the end.

Scarlet is also handling two other students, mainly Magnus, whom she scouted, and the only main character who's a mage, Rina Lux, the current number one student in Front.

With such heavy hitters on her roster, there was most likely a low chance of even trying to make me her apprentice at all.

And if she ever even raises her hands for me, she'll most likely still force me to be Gio's.

The incident from yesterday built a stable platform, and today was the main course.

"Thank you; I'll make sure to reach great heights, "I say before exiting the auditorium. I walked off without looking back, trying to dodge any line of sight and any possible danger.

I most likely went out of that room with a few snakes trying to bite me in the back—poisonous ones at that.

I also gained a dragon, though, ready to burn them away.