IRM Chapter 68

“Then we’ll trouble you. If there’s nothing else, we’ll take our leave now.” After Joseph finished speaking, he straightened up and turned to leave, but suddenly frowned, sensing something was amiss.

Had Harvey left his desk just now? Why had Ji Chi stepped back so far?

He turned his face to the side and caught a glimpse of Ji Chi’s expression. His pupils contracted, and he reached out to grab his arm and tug it, reminding him in a low voice. “What’s with that expression all of a sudden! Be more composed in front of the Headmaster!”

Ji Chi put away his shocked face of “Do the deities in your world have so little dignity?” and lowered his head, responding weakly to Joseph, “No, I’m just very grateful that the Headmaster is willing to give me this opportunity…”

Harvey chuckled like an elementary school kid who was delighted to see someone else getting embarrassed.

Joseph truly couldn’t understand them. He nodded once more to thank Harvey and closed the wooden door to the Headmaster’s office. Behind them, the deep red door frame receded into the snow-white walls.

Joseph led Ji Chi out of the building and stopped beside a cluster of roses that bloomed fragrantly in all four seasons. He said to him, “I know you’re very intelligent, and your talent doesn’t stop there, but juggling multiple professions requires not only exceptional talent, but also extraordinary persistence and effort beyond ordinary people. Vincent was exactly like this—he spent several times more time and energy on alchemy than ordinary alchemists, which was how he broke through the limitations of being a mage and achieved accomplishments in alchemy as well.”

The old professor put away his nostalgic expression and made his face stern. “I won’t stop you from pursuing other professions anymore, but please also remember that your student registration is at the Magic Academy. If you’re held back another year, once you’re past eighteen, you’ll no longer be qualified to step foot in any academy!”

This was the cruelest aspect of this world—commoners who hadn’t awakened any professional talent by age eighteen were destined to live in the mire for the rest of their lives. Even if they were fortunate enough to achieve small accomplishments, lacking an academic background would be an insurmountable barrier to crossing class boundaries.

Ji Chi walked back to the dormitory deep in thought. The dormitory was very quiet. The several volumes of Introduction to Magic Circles that Evan had always kept on his desk were gone—it looked like he had gone to the library to look up materials. On the clean and tidy desktop, a cluster of light was faintly flickering.

Ji Chi walked closer to look. It was a message Evan had left using light magic.

[I went to the library and will be back before ten at night.]

The gentle light reflected in Ji Chi’s eyes, conveying warmth from another person.

Evan’s habit of going to the library hadn’t existed from the start. He actually preferred to borrow books back to the dormitory and read them intently under the magic lamp at his desk late into the night.

However, he soon discovered that the incantations mages needed to recite would always disturb the elements in the air, thereby affecting Ji Chi’s potion brewing. Ji Chi naturally wouldn’t say anything, but Evan was meticulous—when he saw a herb that needed to be kept away from light wither after being illuminated by the light elements he had summoned, he immediately realized the problem.

From then on, Evan had been immersing himself in the library. Even though Ji Chi had persuaded him many times, he still went there unfailingly every day.

Ji Chi lowered his eyes and wiped away those words formed by light elements. He stepped back a few paces, spread his arms, and let himself fall backward onto the soft bed.

He turned his head in the fluffy comforter and surveyed the room that had been dyed a warm orange by the setting sun.

The conditions at the Magic Academy were among the best in the Saint Trilley Empire. The spacious dormitory was enough for two little mages to live and study comfortably. Two large bookshelves had been thoughtfully installed in the room. Evan’s bookshelf was already half-filled, with many magic tomes he had collected himself.

In contrast, Ji Chi’s area had his bookshelf pushed to the furthest corner, squeezed together with the wardrobe. When the wardrobe door opened, it would completely hide the few pitiful magic books on top. The space where the bookshelf used to be had been taken over by an alchemy table, filled with various crystal bottles in which oddly-shaped herbs grew wild.

The common areas of the dormitory weren’t peaceful either—the archery target behind the dormitory door, the training greatsword hanging in the entryway… elements of almost every profession were crammed into this limited space.

Ji Chi pillowed his hands behind his head and suddenly realized he should probably move somewhere else.

On his way back, he had asked Bard and learned that the entrance exam for every country’s Engineering Academy was divided into two parts: one was engineering theory, and the other was equipment assembly.

Although the test for beginners wouldn’t be very difficult, the necessary practice couldn’t be skipped.

He really should move to a place of his own. That way, he would have enough space to practice assembly, could set up the [Forge House], and could also bring back Chloe who was being fostered at Bard’s place…

Ji Chi silently calculated in his mind, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

Before, he hadn’t been aware; later, he hadn’t had the need. Only now did Ji Chi realize that he could have his own home in this other world—a place to establish himself.

Ji Chi suddenly sat up, changed into casual clothes, and walked out of the dormitory with full confidence—I have enough gold coins; what kind of little nest can’t I get?

As soon as Brandon returned to his dormitory, he started playing with the greatsword he had bought at the Dwarven Underground City auction. The black iron greatsword was heavy and huge. The young master drew strength from his core and, with a shout, lifted it up tremblingly, making his roommate on the side watch with trepidation.

Knock knock knock— The sudden knocking startled the young master, and he nearly got pinned under the greatsword as his strength gave out. Fortunately, his roommate rushed over to help support it, preventing a disaster.

Brandon felt this definitely wasn’t his fault. He strode forward and yanked the door open, looking at the visitor with misplaced anger.

“Who is it! Knocking at a time like this… Oh, it’s you.” The young master’s rising anger was completely extinguished when he saw who was in front of him clearly, and his expression became very unnatural.

Seeing Ji Chi reminded him of another pure and delicate face, and he began to squirm. “What, what do you need from me?”

Ji Chi didn’t hold it against him and pulled him to the rooftop that extended from the end of the corridor. He turned and smiled. “Can I ask you for a favor?”

The young master came to his senses and looked at him warily. This guy’s favors weren’t so easy to help with. “What do you want me to do now?”

Ji Chi turned around and leaned against the carved railing at the edge of the rooftop, showing him an innocent expression. “Don’t be nervous, it should be a small matter for you… Are you familiar with property transactions in the royal capital?”

After deciding he wanted to buy a house, the first person Ji Chi thought of was the young master. After all, the Earl’s estate with its manors as numerous as stars left too deep an impression. With the Earl’s introduction, the efficiency of finding a house would undoubtedly be much higher.

Hearing it was about a house, Brandon breathed a sigh of relief. This was indeed a trivial matter for him, and he said nonchalantly, “Of course. Do you want to buy a house in the royal capital? That’s nothing. Tomorrow I’ll have the butler take you to look at the new district. If you like any house, I’ll just give it to you.”

Ji Chi shook his head. “I have enough gold coins. I just want to understand the housing situation around the academy.”

After Brandon heard him finish, he finally put away his casual expression and asked in surprise, “You want to buy a house near the academy?”

“Yes, preferably with land included.”

Brandon quickly shook his head. “All the land around the Combat Academy and the affiliated branch academies belongs to the Saint Trilley royal family. Only those with the rank of marquis or above have the freedom to buy and sell.”

Ji Chi hadn’t expected such restrictions and frowned.

He had been in Saint Trilley for more than half a year and had gradually come to understand this country’s class structure.

The Saint Trilley royal family honored bloodline above all. King Stuart IX was the highest authority in this country, and his several sons assisted him in handling the kingdom’s important affairs. Next were two dukes—they were the king’s closest brothers, each possessing a large tract of fertile fief. Then came seven marquises—they were the elite of various professions, and their spouses were all direct descendants of the royal bloodline.

After that came the earls, viscounts, and barons. Their relationship with the royal family wasn’t too deep, and they had almost no real power, but possessing a title still allowed them to be superior to others.

So, Brandon’s father was an earl. Even though his wealth was terrifyingly abundant, he still wasn’t qualified to freely buy and sell specific lands.

After Brandon finished shaking his head, he sighed. “Speaking of which, if my father hadn’t refused the princess’s courtship back then, he could be a marquis now, right?”

He only sighed once before shrinking his neck and looking around furtively. “I can’t let my mother hear this, or I’ll die a miserable death…”

Ji Chi shook his head helplessly and could only temporarily give up on the area near the academy. “Alright, I’ll look around on my day off then.”

The young master noticed Ji Chi’s barely concealed disappointment and couldn’t help saying, “Give me a few days. I’ll ask my father. He has a very good relationship with Duke Burton—I’ll ask if he has any way.”

Having said that, Ji Chi actually didn’t hold much hope. The class discrimination of this era was terrifyingly severe, and his status was merely that of a commoner, barely better than a slave. Forget a duke—when he first came to Class S, even a baron’s son could mock him openly.

Ji Chi thanked the young master. He didn’t go directly back to the dormitory but took a detour to Central Street.

At the Interlet Potion Shop, shopkeeper Shelley brewed a cup of precious elf flower tea for Ji Chi. He looked at Ji Chi with some surprise. “You want to purchase property in the royal capital?”

After saying this, he realized he had been somewhat improper and quickly pressed his chest. “I apologize. I assumed you already had a workshop in the royal capital.”

“However, Young Master Brandon may not fully understand purchase rights…” Shelley hesitated somewhat. He considered his words carefully. “If I remember correctly, you’re still a commoner, aren’t you? With commoner household registration, you cannot own any land in the royal capital. You must have a professional title before you can purchase.”

Ji Chi fell silent. He had already unlocked two top-tier skills, and his own strength was solid, but in the real world’s household registration documents, he still only temporarily held the title of Magic Apprentice. Only after advancing to second year could he become a [Junior Mage], and only then would he have the qualification to purchase remote lands.

How troublesome! Ji Chi wrinkled his face. So gold coins weren’t omnipotent after all…

Seeing his expression, Shelley couldn’t help but laugh and consoled him. “We seem to be able to help a little. Interlet is a very special alchemist association with the right to directly issue Junior Alchemist badges.”

He indicated the badge on his chest. The four-pointed star belonging to a Senior Alchemist gleamed, entwined with vines symbolizing herbs. “Originally, you could advance directly to Saint Alchemist at the alchemist advancement test, but if you need it urgently, we can directly issue you a Junior Alchemist certification.”

Shelley sighed, his eyes full of genuine regret. “It’s just that Junior Alchemist is far too insulting to you. Someone as wise and generous as you should win the highest laurels under everyone’s gaze.”

Ji Chi waved his hand, telling Shelley not to say such things. To be honest, he was getting used to this kind of humiliating treatment—Saint Alchemist really isn’t much; I’m even a true god, would you believe it?

Ji Chi had only come to the potion shop to understand more of the situation. Hearing such information, he could only helplessly set aside the matter of finding a house for now.

Shelley walked him to the entrance of the potion shop. “We’ll enter your badge information as soon as possible. It should be delivered to you in about five or six days.”

“Oh yes,” Shelley pursed his lips slightly, hesitated, then still spoke, “Please pay more attention to your Headmaster. He… is not an ordinary person.”

Thinking of how he had lost control in Harvey’s presence, Shelley was somewhat afraid and didn’t dare speak in detail, only offering a tactful reminder.

Ji Chi made an “oh” sound and looked at him curiously. “You’ve also discovered his true identity? But it’s okay, don’t overthink it. I know. Still, thanks for the reminder.”

Shelley stood at the entrance of the potion shop with a complicated expression, watching his retreating figure. Only after a long while did he sigh softly, “This is truly extraordinary… I have a feeling something big is going to happen.”

After successive setbacks, Ji Chi had been quiet for several days. Finally, on his day off, just as he received the Junior Alchemist badge Shelley had sent over, he was intercepted at the academy gate by the young master.

“I finally found you—you really run fast!” Brandon complained while panting heavily.

He grabbed Ji Chi’s arm and pulled him toward the road, where an exquisite and luxurious carriage was parked by the roadside. “Hurry and come back with me to prepare. The King is summoning us tonight.”