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“…….”

I was at a loss for words, completely stunned by this fundamentally different way of thinking.

‘So, that’s actually an option…?’

All I could do was blink, my mouth hanging open, as Axel clicked his tongue in mild annoyance.

“So, you just need some four-leaf clovers,” he said confidently.

“How many do you need?”

* * *

‘Honestly, I can never understand the mindset of the nobility.’

As someone who was a commoner to the core, I couldn’t begin to think that way, no matter what. But Axel had effortlessly suggested a simple way to utilize subordinates.

I let out a deep sigh and opened my book.

‘Might as well start with the lesson.’

Today, like every day, I headed to class at the Ivory Tower.

Classes were held every morning, though attendance wasn’t strictly mandatory. The Ivory Tower operated on the belief that true academic progress couldn’t be forced, so all classes were voluntary.

However, every six months, there was an exam, and failing that exam meant immediate expulsion without mercy. Because even a single slip-up wasn’t tolerated, most students attended the classes, despite them not being compulsory.

‘Not that I need to attend the classes, since I’m confident about the exams.’

Without fail, my legendary-grade intuition would guide me to the correct answers.

But I had decided to diligently attend classes for a while.

Not because I had any interest in these incomprehensible subjects.

The Admissions Committee still hadn’t reached a decision on whether to admit Eugene Kreutz into the Ivory Tower.

There were occasional cases where someone was admitted without having to take the exams, but that was usually reserved for individuals who had already made a significant academic name for themselves.

Being invited based on a divine revelation was unprecedented.

However, the Ivory Tower was established to interpret the prophecies left by the gods for the Empire.

So, shouldn’t a student who received a divine revelation naturally be accepted?

Because of the complexity of the situation, it seemed there was much debate among the scholars.

‘Which means I need to maintain a diligent appearance until the invitation is confirmed.’

If I presented myself as a reliable Saintess, the scholars would be more likely to invite Eugene Kreutz to the Ivory Tower.

‘And…’

I glanced over at Leonid, who was seated a little ways off.

While the other kids were chatting in small groups, Leonid sat alone, like an isolated island.

‘It’s hard not to notice.’

Of course it was. How could I not be concerned when Servian’s son was being openly ostracized in the Ivory Tower?

After a moment of contemplation, I hefted my heavy book and plopped down in the seat next to Leonid.

It seemed that his seat was deliberately left empty, as the other students fell silent the moment I sat down. The atmosphere in the classroom grew cold, but I pretended not to notice and calmly opened my book.

Just then, one of the troublemakers who had thrown paper at Leonid the day before snickered and approached me.

“‘Birds of a feather flock together,’ huh? Looks like that saying isn’t wrong after all. You two really do suit each other.”

It was the same kid who had been badmouthing Leonid earlier, his voice echoing through the classroom.

‘Eight? Maybe nine years old?’

Judging by his size, which was noticeably bigger than the other kids, he seemed to be the oldest in the class. But even so, he was still just a kid, not even ten years old, and his posturing only struck me as ridiculous.

I deliberately pretended not to understand the sarcastic tone in his voice and flashed a wide smile.

“Yep. That’s right. Leonid and I flock together because we’re smart. You must flock together with the other dummies, right?”

“What, what did you say?”

“Why? Isn’t that what ‘birds of a feather flock together’ means?”

I blinked innocently, and the boy’s face turned red with anger.

“Hey! Who are you calling dumb?”

“I just said it slowly. You didn’t get it? Wow, you really are dumb…”

I looked at him with pity, as if I genuinely felt sorry for his lack of intelligence, and the boy slammed his hand on the desk with a loud bang. My body, instinctively reacting from Reshia’s timid nature, flinched slightly.

He seemed to think he had scared me thoroughly, letting out a derisive laugh.

“Calling someone dumb? That’s something only a fake student like you or Leonid would say. I got in fair and square by taking the exam!”

“I took the exam fair and square too, and so did Leonid.”

“Hah, sure you did.”

The boy exaggeratedly shrugged his shoulders and raised his voice so everyone could hear.

“You’ve got the backing of the Church and the Elpinard Duchy, and he’s got the Kol Count family and his hero of a father. With connections like that, you could easily have stolen the exam questions beforehand, right? How else could a little kid like you pass the exam?”

“Yep, impossible, right? For a dummy like you.”

The boy’s face, which had brightened at the word “impossible,” immediately darkened at “dummy like you.”

“And by the way, the Ivory Tower’s exams are fair. Are you saying you doubt that?”

“Hah! Of course, I doubt it! Who wouldn’t? Isn’t it obvious?”

He looked around, seeking support from the other students. But even those who had laughed and joked with him yesterday remained silent, unwilling to say a word in agreement.

“W-what… why is everyone…”

Just as the boy, now visibly flustered, was about to speak to his group again, a cold voice cut through the room.

“Karlson, what is the meaning of this? Are you saying you doubt the fairness of the Ivory Tower’s exams?”

“Gah!”

The boy spun around, startled. Standing there was the scholar in charge of the under-ten class, glaring at him with icy eyes.

“Th-that’s not what I meant! I was just…”

“No, that’s exactly what it sounded like. If Karlson has such doubts about the Ivory Tower, I wonder how he can study here.”

“I-I didn’t mean it like that…”

“There’s nothing more to discuss. If you truly believe that, perhaps you should go home immediately.”

“No, please! I would never…!”

“Come to the counseling room after class.”

The scholar cut off Karlson’s excuses with the precision of a blade and returned to the podium.

‘Serves you right. If you’re going to act out, you should at least pick the right time.’

I watched as Karlson, his face pale as a sheet, stumbled back to his seat. I had to stifle a laugh.

‘You may be the king among kids, but in front of adults, you’re just a clueless child.’

Feeling satisfied, I opened my book, but soon felt a sharp gaze from the side. I turned to see Leonid looking at me with a complicated expression, as if trying to figure out whether I had orchestrated the situation on purpose or if it had just turned out that way.

‘Yep, Reshia is just a clueless four-year-old!’ 

Feigning innocence, I gave him a big, wide grin. Leonid quickly turned away, burying his nose in his book.

His avoidance was almost too obvious.

‘Well…’

There’s no need to turn away so forcefully, is there?

‘Maybe I smiled too idiotically?’

Reflecting on it, I resolved to tone down the stupidity of my smile next time.

* * *

After class ended.

“Karlson, come with me.”

“Y-yes, sir…”

Karlson, sweating nervously, quickly followed the scholar out. He was likely headed for a very thorough “discussion” with the Ivory Tower’s scholars.

I hadn’t understood a word of the lesson, but after dealing with that annoying brat, I felt light as a feather.

‘With Karlson taken care of, the others won’t dare bully Leonid openly now.’

After all, these were students who had passed the Ivory Tower’s entrance exam. They’d realize that bullying Leonid could be seen as questioning the Ivory Tower’s authority. Whatever they thought on the inside, they’d behave sensibly on the outside.

‘I’ll have to mention this to Servian later, take some credit.’

Humming to myself, I started to gather up my books. 

Why were all these difficult books so thick? Even carrying just one was so heavy that my small body wobbled under the weight.

As I struggled to move forward, the weight suddenly lifted from my hands, leaving them feeling oddly light.

When I turned to see where the book had gone, I found myself looking up into Leonid’s face. He had taken the book from me.