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Chapter 5 The Wall of Reality and a Muddy Resolve
From then on, I spent every day practicing magic.
Since I didn’t have the money to enroll in academy, I had no choice but to start by studying on my own.
Fortunately, the mansion’s garden was unnecessarily spacious, making it the perfect place to practice without being disturbed.
“Light, little flame.”
I focused my attention on the tip of my right index finger and muttered the incantation I’d found in the ancient text, cutely yet earnestly.
I imagined concentrating the magical power within my body and sending it to my fingertips.
With a pop, a small fireball the size of a candle flame lit at my fingertips.
“Wow…!”
I couldn’t help but let out a cry at my first successful offensive spell.
This was one of the most basic spells in this world: the beginner-level fireball.
Well, it’s more like a fireball than a ball, though.
I gradually began to understand the workings of magic in this world, supplementing it with knowledge from my previous life.
Magic is clearly divided into ranks based on its power and complexity.
Beginner – for everyday use. Just enough for a small fire or light.
Intermediate – for actual combat. Professional attack and healing skills.
Advanced – Tactical. Area-wide magic wielded by court magicians.
Royal – Legendary. Exceptional power that can single-handedly change the course of battle.
Saint – The realm of myth. Magic of the gods, found only in history.
The alchemy I aim to master is completely different from this magical system; it’s a special skill tree, so to speak.
Rather than transforming magical power into fire or ice, it works on the substance itself to reconstruct it.
Due to its high level of specialization, there are few users, and depending on the level of proficiency, titles such as “Alchemist,” “Advanced Alchemist,” and, at the pinnacle, “Alchemist Meister” are apparently used.
My magical power is probably average for an eight-year-old, or perhaps slightly below.
However, my control of magical power was surprisingly high.
“Next, water.”
Facing my palms upward, I imagined the creation of water.
Gathering moisture from the air and binding it with magical power.
My palms slowly grew cold, and suddenly, a spherical mass of water sprang into being.
With this power, I might be able to do something.
Even simple physical labor could be made more efficient with magic.
Perhaps I could even find work, something like running errands.
With this faint hope in mind, I once again rummaged through my bookshelf.
I wanted more specific information on earning money.
As I rummaged through the dusty shelves, a book with an especially luxurious binding caught my eye.
The title, stamped in gold, read, “Royal Lapisford Academy Admissions Guide.”
“This is…”
The culprit that had shattered my hopes a few days ago.
But I wanted to double-check to make sure I hadn’t missed anything.
I turned the page, and beautiful illustrations lined the pages with a brilliant introduction to the academy.
A premier institution where the young people who will carry the kingdom of the future gather.
Knight Department, Magic Department, Liberal Arts Department…
And among them, there were words that captured my heart.
“–Alchemy Department”
There were photos of laboratories equipped with the latest technology and introductions to the renowned faculty.
Unraveling the laws of this world and creating unknown substances.
Just thinking about it made my heart beat faster.
But that excitement vanished like a bucket of cold water on the last page.
[Enrollment Fee: 50 gold coins]
[Annual Tuition: 100 gold coins]
These were hopeless figures.
The value of this world’s currency still isn’t accurately determined.
But considering the Avent family’s monthly living expenses amount to a few silver coins, it’s not hard to imagine how much a single gold coin would be worth.
And right now, our family doesn’t even have a single copper coin to spare.
“… You’re right. An aristocratic academy is just a dream.”
There was an option for a scholarship program, but the conditions were all unrealistic, like “chosen by the holy sword” and “recommended by the head of the royal court magicians.”
I quietly closed the pamphlet and sat alone in my room, looking up at the sky.
Give up?
No, absolutely not.
I’ve given up countless times in my previous life because of a lack of money.
I can’t bear to repeat the same experience in this world.
And I want to become an alchemist. That’s why I’m entering the academy.
Self-study will inevitably reach its limits.
Learn the basics, build connections, and gather information.
–To do that, I absolutely need a place like a school.
As I was thinking about this, I realized that the sun had completely set.
★ ★ ★
And then night came.
Sitting at the dinner table with a bowl of steaming soup in front of me, I steeled my resolve and spoke.
“Father, Mother. I want to go to school.”
The table fell silent.
Father and Mother both looked at me in surprise.
Soon, a fatherly smile appeared on Father’s face, delighted with his daughter’s growth.
Mother’s eyes narrowed in joy.
“I see, Eris. You’re old enough to think about things like that, too. I’m so glad.”
“Yes, truly. I can’t believe you’re thinking about the future…”
But that smile quickly turned into a complicated expression, a mixture of guilt and deep regret.
“Eris… I’m very grateful for that sentiment. But…”
Father couldn’t continue.
He clenched his fists and bowed deeply.
“I’m so sorry about our current family. I’m so sorry…”
Father’s strained voice echoed through the quiet dining room.
His appearance vividly overlapped with the image of him in my past life, bowing and getting my uncle to sign the guarantor section of my scholarship.
The uncle’s expression back then was like this.
I wanted to help, but there was nothing I could do.
His face was filled with helplessness and guilt.
My options, my future, were closing off before my eyes.
A shattering pain hit me deep in my chest.
No. Father wasn’t to blame.
The system of this world itself is to blame, having unjustly taken everything from us.
“… It’s okay, Father. I understand.”
I said, forcing a smile.
And I didn’t want to make these people look any more distressed than they already were.
◇◇◇
After dinner, I lay in bed in my room, quietly making a decision.
I was done waiting for someone to give me things.
No one, not the goddess, not the noble society, would help me.
So, I had no choice but to earn it myself.
Tuition, living expenses, even the money for the pet Ria wanted—I needed it all.
But there were only so many ways for an eight-year-old to earn a living in this world.
Naturally, there were no part-time job openings.
So there was only one answer.
A world where status and age didn’t matter. Only ability mattered.
And it was a lawless place where death was always close at hand.
“… Becoming an adventurer, huh?”
Adventuring is known as an extremely dangerous profession.
However, it seems that there are children around my age who are active in it.
The number of requests is high, and the earnings are fast.
With that in mind, I crawled into bed that night and quietly closed my eyes.
★ ★ ★
The next morning.
In the twilight, as the sky began to lighten, I quietly slipped out of the mansion, trying not to be noticed.
The creaking of the old door sounded awfully loud.
My destination was the Adventurer’s Guild, a den of roughnecks in the commercial district of the royal capital.
Would they really take me seriously? I was eight years old, the daughter of a “titular Earl”.
Honestly, I was filled with anxiety.
But there was no turning back.
I looked back at my home once, pursed my lips, and set off toward the center of the royal capital.
Even if I get covered in mud, I will definitely grab it.
A future for myself and my family.
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