NOVPUBAfter Flora left and Ludger was alone once again, he found himself recalling their conversation from just moments ago.
‘So that’s how she found me... it was the scent.’
Flora Lumos was born with a constitution that allowed her to perceive magic through alternate senses.
Even when looking at the same spell as others, she saw different colors and smelled different scents.
At first, he’d had his doubts, but her overwhelming reaction to seeing the <Klein Bottle> had made it certain.
‘So even my “Ater Nocturnus” has a flaw.’
Simply erasing one’s presence wasn’t enough to avoid all detection.
A magical beast leaves behind the faintest magical traces in the air.
Flora had picked up on those traces and followed them straight to him.
Even accounting for how rare her case was, Ludger couldn’t deny that it was a mistake on his part.
‘Perceives magic through sight and smell... Now I understand how she became the top of the second-years. And how she managed to baffle so many instructors until now.’
Then the question became—what now?
Judging from Flora’s behavior, it seemed she hadn’t seen exactly what he had done in the Silent Forest that night.
She was suspicious of him, yes, but had no concrete proof.
Should he leave it alone? Or take preemptive action?
‘She’s the daughter of a prestigious duke’s family, one the Empire takes pride in. Touching her carelessly would only stir up unnecessary suspicion.’
With the Academy already buzzing from recent incidents, he couldn’t afford to add fuel to the fire.
Still, it would be wise to keep an eye on Flora more closely from now on.
He needed more information about her.
‘I’ll have Hans do a background check. Still... to think I’d come across someone with that kind of constitution here at Seorn.’
It was as expected from the Empire’s top academy for teaching magic.
The professors, the students—none of them were ordinary.
And the ones he’d encountered so far were only a fraction of what the Academy had to offer.
To think he’d have to endure two whole years in this place...
‘I’ve barely been here and already two major incidents have happened. How many more are waiting?’
And how well would he handle them?
Just then—
He sensed someone hesitating just beyond the door.
Quite a lot of visitors today.
“Come in. The door is open.”
As Ludger said the words, the presence on the other side flinched slightly, then slowly opened the door.
A familiar face peeked through the half-open gap.
Delicate features, serene blue-gray eyes.
And most notably—hair the color of ash, something rarely seen even at Seorn.
“Rine, is it.”
“Y-yes.”
“What brings you here?”
“I, um... finished the book...”
“The book... Ah, I see.”
Ludger recalled giving Rine a book about non-attributed mana.
Still only peeking into the room, Rine cautiously stepped inside, as if she feared making even the slightest mistake.
“I thought I should return it to you...”
“That book, you mean?”
“Yes. It belongs to you, Professor Ludger.”
So that’s what this was about.
Ludger shook his head.
“That book isn’t mine. I only received it from someone else.”
“Then, this book is...”
“You should keep it.”
“W-what?”
“You’ve probably already read it several times, but you’ll still need it. There will be times when things don’t come to ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) mind. It’s better to have it on hand, just in case.”
“Still...”
“Any item only reveals its value when it’s in the hands of someone who can use it. That book on non-attributed mana will shine more in your hands than in mine.”
Ludger took a breath and removed his rimless glasses.
“I believe that’s the best way to honor the previous owner—the one who entrusted it to me.”
“......” 𝓃𝓸𝓿𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝓬ℴ𝓶
“So there’s no need to return it. Keep it.”
“Are you... really sure?”
Rine had honestly felt a little disappointed.
She had read the book over and over again but still hadn’t fully grasped its contents.
But it wasn’t hers, and she came to Ludger thinking it was right to give it back to the rightful owner.
“Of course.”
Ludger had instead entrusted the book to her.
“Because I believe you’ll take care of it without damaging it.”
“Ah, um...”
Rine couldn’t bring herself to respond.
His words had sent her mind into a spiral.
He believes in me?
Her thoughts began to whirl.
Ludger’s words kept replaying in her head.
Why does he believe in me? He hasn’t seen that much of me. Is it because I have non-attributed mana?
A sudden thought occurred.
It seemed Ludger knew something about the book’s previous owner—someone who also had non-attributed mana.
Had he heard something from that person?
“Um...”
“What is it?”
“I... um...”
Rine couldn’t bring herself to ask. The words in her mouth refused to come out properly.
Her mind wasn’t functioning after Ludger’s straightforward statement.
Her face flushed red.
“If you have nothing else to say, you should go. Class starts soon.”
“...Okay.”
In the end, Rine gave up on asking and had no choice but to leave the office.
Still dizzy from it all, she stumbled slightly as she walked down the hallway.
* * *
‘Ah, right.’
After aimlessly wandering, Rine finally regained her senses when she reached a quiet part of the garden.
‘I also meant to ask about becoming an assistant...’
But everything had been so overwhelming and sudden that she hadn’t even thought to bring it up.
Going back now felt a little awkward and ill-timed.
‘Now that I think about it, Flora-sunbae also seemed to have come to see Professor Ludger. Did she come about the assistant position too?’
The top of the second-years, and one of the few geniuses recognized by Seorn.
Flora Lumos was quite well-known even among the first-years.
Despite coming from a prestigious noble house, she didn’t form cliques like other nobles and only ever stayed with one childhood friend.
Still, no one dared touch her—or tried to recruit her, either.
She was just that kind of person.
And now she’d shown up at Ludger’s office?
Of course Rine was curious.
‘No. I shouldn’t worry about that right now. I need to go prepare for the next class in the library.’
Just as she thought that, voices drifted through the trees from the other side of the garden.
Huh?
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
Rine couldn’t help but stop in her tracks the moment she saw who the approaching students were.
Even from afar, they were instantly recognizable—noble-born students.
And not just any nobles—the kind who had never gotten along with her.
Ah...
At the front of the group was a young man with a slick, smug expression—someone Rine found especially uncomfortable.
Not long ago, he had approached her and, with a self-satisfied smirk, suggested they start dating—like he was doing her a favor.
Rine, who knew full well he’d been drawn in by her appearance, had gently turned him down as politely as she could.
But a noble who took pride in his status was hardly the type to take no from a commoner seriously.
In the end, Rine had firmly rejected him, and it was only natural that he’d start holding a grudge.
Ugh. I really can’t stand him.
To make matters worse, a few others had joined him—students who had taken to passive-aggressively harassing her out of jealousy after seeing her getting along with the Third Princess.
What now? I didn’t expect to run into them here...
There was no way they’d just ignore her if they saw she was alone.
From past experience, Rine knew it was best to avoid any needless conflict.
She quickly averted her gaze and began looking for somewhere to hide.
I—I’ll just head deeper in.
Rine made her way into the more secluded part of the garden.
Seorn’s campus was enormous, and the garden and park areas were no exception in scale.
Marble fountains, vibrant flower beds, and long lines of trees flanked the winding paths.
There were even small artificial forests and open clearings where students often gathered outdoors.
Some claimed the garden held secret places that no one could see—but Rine wasn’t looking to explore all that.
I just need somewhere to hide.
Without delay, Rine slipped farther into the greenery.
She passed under a pergola, where flowering pink vines shielded the sun overhead like a tunnel of blossoms.
Walking beneath it felt like stepping into another world.
As she emerged on the other side, she found herself in a lush, green grove.
I didn’t know a place like this existed.
Since she was still new to the academy, she wasn’t familiar with all its geography. Every time she discovered a new corner like this, it was a small wonder.
Rine perked up her ears, listening carefully for sounds outside.
Did they leave?
She could still faintly hear them chatting among themselves.
Maybe they’re planning to sit around here for a while.
But I doubt they’ll come this deep in.
If she stayed hidden here for a bit, she could wait them out and take a detour back.
With that thought in mind, Rine leaned against a nearby tree—and then, suddenly, she turned her head toward a sound.
A song?
There was singing coming from deeper inside the grove.
Is someone in there?
She could have ignored it—it was just someone singing, after all—but something about the voice stirred her curiosity.
It wasn’t just the pleasant tone. There was an odd sense of familiarity, a déjà vu, almost.
It feels like... that same sensation I had when Professor Ludger gave me that book.
Her curiosity piqued, Rine found herself moving toward the source of the sound without realizing it.
I’ll just take a quick look.
There was still time before Ludger’s next class.
Following that instinct, she pushed farther into the woods.
Eventually, Rine came to a small clearing.
It didn’t seem like a natural formation—someone had clearly maintained it, as it was tidy and neat.
There was even a small flowerbed nearby.
Who did this? A gardener?
With that thought, she slowly stepped toward the center of the clearing.
The music had stopped.
Maybe the person had already left?
Just as that crossed her mind—
“Who are you? This isn’t exactly a place people come looking for.”
The voice came from behind her—from the air itself.
Rine spun around, startled.
A large tree stood at the edge of the clearing, and perched on one of its thick branches was a boy, looking down at her.
“W-who are you?”
“Hmm?”
The young man—who appeared to be the one maintaining the flowerbed—seemed puzzled by her reaction. Then he realized she must have stumbled in here by accident.
With a small laugh, he jumped down from the branch and landed lightly in front of her.
His movement was so swift and smooth that Rine’s eyes went wide in surprise.
“So, you just happened to wander in, huh?”
“Ah, um...”
Only then did Rine realize who he was.
His student badge read 2nd Year, and his dark bluish-black hair was unmistakable.
“F-Freuden... sunbae?”
Freuden Ulburk.
The eldest son of the Ulburk Ducal House—one of the three great ducal families of the Exilion Empire, symbolized by the wolf.
He was also the widely acknowledged leader of the noble faction at Seorn.
This... this flowerbed belongs to Freuden-sunbae?!
Rine realized she had just walked into a lion’s den.
The rumors about Freuden were widespread throughout the student body.
Especially among commoners—his infamy was unmatched.
After all, he led the noble faction known for openly scorning and harassing commoners.
And being the heir of the most powerful noble family outside the Imperial Family only amplified his authority.
That was why so many commoner students feared him.
Some even whispered that the reason noble students treated commoners poorly was because he told them to.
To them, Freuden Ulburk was practically the final boss—the one person to avoid at all costs.
And now, Rine had run into him alone, in a secluded grove.
I—I’m doomed.
She seriously considered turning and running away.
