“Wow, they are generous.”

Returning to the dormitory, I examined the check attached to the certificate and my mouth opened wide in surprise. I didn't thought that they would give away 5 million credits as a prize money.

"It's been a while since I've eaten beef."

It might not mean much to rich people like Hong Bi-Yeon or Haewon-ryang, but it was a great reward for poor people like Eisel and me.

“How many chickens would that be?”

Even though I was earning pocket money through hunting during the weekend, that alone was not enough. It felt good to have a pretty sweet profit coming in.

In addition, that was not the end of the stream of rewards for this incident.

'The Necromancer's Mana Vessel.’

All necromancers must craft a Mana Vessel. It was also known as their second heart.

Only mages who could comprehend the spiritual body were capable of crafting it, and the vessel, which was rare even for necromancers, was a very difficult thing to obtain, and I was given a Mana Vessel that was completely empty of mana.

In fact, I was going to beg for it if they didn't give it to me, but the twelve students who participated in the battlefield felt obliged to give me most of the rewards.

Of course, there was no need for that, so we shared the equipment used by Necromancers.

‘This is enough for me.'

The most important concern while living in this world was how to carry things. I planned to equip a lot of items in the future, but I couldn't make my body heavy because I valued speed.

So, I planned to create a 'sub-space' through this Mana Vessel. Although the materials and technology in my arsenal were still lacking... In the near future, Alterisha’s ability would suffice. Of course, in order to do that, I had to eventually solve the 'unsolved problem'.

'It's coming soon, so let's move on.’

Next, it was the reward received from the System.

[Episode 4 'Attack of the Necromancer' has been completed.]

[Acquired a large amount of EXP!]

[By developing the story in a unique way, 'Constellation Project' promises additional rewards.]

In the game, Mayuseong single-handedly defeated all the Necromancer's skeleton soldiers.

After destroying the soldiers, he even took down the main body with his own power.

I didn't even get that far. Instead, I joined forces with the other students present and succeeded in defeating the Necromancer without much injury.

It was a significant achievement in my opinion. If the System didn’t give me worthy rewards, then it would seriously make me doubt if it was a Constellation Project or Corn Salad project?

It wouldn't surprise me if it decided to give me extra compensation.

[List of rewards]

[1. Downgraded version of item used in the game.]

[2. Downgraded version of the skill acquired in the game]

[3. EXP]

“Same rewards again?”

It wasn’t that I disliked them. Gradually, I realized that my strength was not enough, so I desperately needed this kind of compensation.

'What should I get?'

Even if I received a downgraded version of an item or skill, I would be able to upgrade it along with the episodes in the future.

By clearing them, it would ultimately recover to its original ability. However, that would take too long.

More than anything, I slowly realized while dealing with the necromancer that I was too weak.

Facing a necromancer who was exhausted from forcibly summoning 6 elite skeletons, if it was Hong Bi-Yeon or Eisel at that time, they wouldn’t have dragged the battle for so long.

What if it was Mayuseong? He might have knocked down the necromancer in a single blow.

But, I had to struggle the entire day against such a weak bastard.

'It's no use trying to be the same as everyone else. I have to get ahead as much as possible with the knowledge I have.’

It was still too early to receive the item. Right now, the things I had to think of as my priority were Mana Accumulation Retardation and Flash.

If I strengthened the Mana Accumulation Retardation, it would increase one spec and attack power, along with extending my lifespan which limited to the graduation of high school.

However, there were several ways to strengthen the Mana Accumulation Retardation, so I passed on it for now.

Then, the thing left was...

“Spend the skill experience to upgrade Flash.”

[Reward processing.]

[The skill experience required for the skill <Flash> is met, and the rank is raised.]

[Flash]

[Class: 2]

[Maximum range: 12m]

[Maximum number of charges: 3]

[Cooldown: 3 seconds]

Finally, the maximum number of Flash charges increased to 3. The distance didn't increase; it stayed the same, but that was enough for now.

It didn’t matter much anyway.

'Can I use Flash more freely now...'

Just as there was a big difference between a single Flash and double Flash; with the effect of three Flash charges, tremendous synergy could be created.

I was worried that I might not be able to raise the skill rank as a reward, but I was fortunate that the EXP of Flash was almost full.

'This is enough.’

Since I had some spare time, I immediately thought of the next problem. Eisel’s condition wasn’t good.

Originally, Eisel grew up through all sorts of hardships and adversities, but it seemed that she was quite shocked during the Necromancer incident the other day.

I didn't really read the original novel, so I couldn't figure out how Eisel overcame it....... No, as far as I remember it was worse than now in the original version, but not better.

But, I had no intention of leaving Eisel alone.

'Now that the charge of Flash has reached 3, I can do what I planned.'

To find a way to increase Eisel’s low self-esteem.

The way to do it was surprisingly simple: To give her a little bit of help so that the great and splendid talent she didn’t know existed in her could bloom.

And that time was to come sooner than she thought.

{Third POV}

Early morning.

Eisel swam in the dreamy world.

She seemed to be hovering in the air.

It didn't feel too bad. A cold wind blew and brushed past her cheeks. As she tried to hold the tip of the wind with her fingertips, it became entwined one by one like a skein of thread.

'Something is wrong.'

It felt as if something was stuck inside of her. Eisel tried to force it out again and again without realizing it.

‘What’s happening? Ugh, I don’t know anymore. I will just release it.’

The feeling of being stuffy was breaking through.

Eisel continued to squeeze her strength until the very end.

‘Student Eisel!’

At the sound of a voice in her head, she suddenly opened her eyes.

“…!”

She hurriedly looked around her and saw the students sitting in a cross-legged position and mediating just like her.

And in the middle of it, Professor of Meditation Subject, Farhel, was staring at her.

'Ah... Did I fall asleep?’

Since the meditation subject started in the morning, sometimes she dozed off like that. However, the professor remarked that meditation was never about sleeping.

A translucent butterfly flew past Eisel's ear, conveying Professor Farhel’s voice.

‘Student Eisel. How could you use magic during meditation?’

‘...... Uh?'

With that said, she raised her eyes upward.

Indeed, a lone icicle hovered in the air, not far away from her.

She had cast magic without even knowing it.

'Oh, when...?'

It was the first time she witnessed something like that. Moreover, it was even more strange that the students didn't notice it in the first place.

‘What is this.......'

Professor Farhel urged Eisel through her Familiar.

‘If I hadn't woken up and found it on the way, we would have been in big trouble. Come on, undo the magic.’

At those words, Eisel hurriedly canceled the magic.

Then. She found a question mark in the professor's words.

'Even the professor didn't know I was casting magic...?'

Mages would react sensitively to even the slightest movement of mana. In the first place, there was a loud commotion in the process of creating a magic circle.

For some reason, goosebumps ran through her body.

No mages had ever experienced anything like that before.

'Could it be... Is this also the effect of meditation?'

Baek Yu-Seol recommended it, so she was curious about it. Previously, she was dubious, but to her surprise, the effect wasn’t only good, it was amazing.

Other students who were meditating seemed to be distracted by other thoughts or dozed off, but whenever they emptied their minds and meditated, their concentration power rose at an amazing speed, and the speed of casting magic increased tremendously.

Besides, today was even more surprising! She just imagined the magic skill, and didn't even calculate the magic formula, but the outcome was a completed magic circle.

Of course, in this case, it was possible because she had a perfect understanding of the magic skill in question and she was only using simple Class 1 magic skill, but…

‘Amazing.’

No, it wasn’t just amazing, it was a groundbreaking discovery. Magic progressed at a faster rate if one didn’t sit beside a desk from dusk till dawn, and murmured magic formulas.

If she had studied normally, would she have been able to witness this level of achievement? No, it was absolutely impossible. There was a limit to growth through study.

Suddenly, she remembered Baek Yu-Seol, who had recommended this subject.

Could it be that he knew this fact and recommended meditation? But, didn't he really have the belief that the ancient way of fighting was better?

'... I don't know.’

Eisel’s mind was a mess, and she couldn’t even concentrate on meditation anymore.

Ding! Dong!

When the lecture was over, the students rushed out in groups.

Eisel was alone.

“What do you want for lunch? I heard a new lunch menu is coming out today?”

“Ah, cheesecake and pasta with lots of red sauce.”

“I will have that too.”

"Let's go!"

Lunch hour.

Eisel did not head to the lunch room. She found that the menu didn’t provide value for money.

… And since she was almost broke.

By comparison, the canteen was cheap and inexpensive. Her favorite food was mini cup noodles, which only cost 990 credits.

Sometimes, when she felt depressed or happy, she treated herself with red bean buns which cost 1,200 credits.

Today was a better day than usual. She caressed her thick purse, and her cheeks turned red.

5,000,000 credits. For some students at that academy, it might be only the price of one meal, but it was a very precious and reliable sum to her.

Eisel couldn’t believe she was holding five million credits. Thinking of the days when she starved while picking corn stalks to pay for her entrance fee, at least she didn't have to worry about the cost of food now.

For that reason, today she would have a very special menu.

“......”

As she lingered for a while in the frozen section of the store, Eisel found what she just wanted to eat.

Red Bean Cream Bun. It was an expensive item costing 1,500 credits each.

Rumble!

She grabbed it and her hands shook when she tried to place it on the counter. She calmed down ber trembling hand with the other one, and after forcing herself to a quick calculation, she hurried out to an outdoor table and ripped open the wrapping paper.

‘How long has it been since I’ve experienced this kind of extravagance?’

Eisel gulped down her saliva and was about to open her mouth wide, but someone suddenly came to her mind.

From being able to achieve a breakthrough with her meditation; survive from the evil clutches of a necromancer, and to being able to grasp the achievement of defeating a dark demon as a first year student, and receiving 5 million credits as a prize money,

It was all thanks to Baek Yu-Seol.

Thinking that far, she didn’t hold back anymore! She took a big bite of the bread into her mouth.

In an instant, all anxiety evaporated.

'It’s sweet...!'

As usual, she mixed sweet red bean with creamy paste, and the feeling of happiness instantly doubled.

'I have to do my best in the afternoon too!'

Having devoured the red bean bun with almost military efficiency, she stood up vigorously and stretched herself.

Suddenly, a voice came from beside her.

“How are you, Eisel?”

"What, what, what's wrong?!"

He looked at Eisel, who stopped yawning in surprise and jumped back.

Jeremy Scalben laughed lightly as if he was having fun. His sparkling smile was not masculine, and it had a hint of pureness and cuteness, which made her heart flutter.

It was.

'Eh, Prince Jeremy......?'

He came one step closer. “Eisel. Do you have any clubs you joined?”

“....... No, I don't have one.”

"Really? That’s just about right.”

‘Hmm? what?’

Her head wasn't working properly, and as Eisel stood still in a panic, Jeremy said with a refreshing smile.

“Then, why don’t you join our club?”

And that.

It was a pretty… No, incredibly tempting proposition to Eisel.