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“An anonymous benefactor? Who would want to sponsor me?”

“If I told you, they wouldn’t be anonymous anymore. If you choose not to accept the sponsorship, I can reveal their identity, but if you accept, we must respect the benefactor’s wish to remain anonymous. What will you do, Yuri?”

“I… I…”

Yuri’s lips trembled.

Anonymous benefactor. Full tuition support. Special admission.

It was an overwhelming string of words, ones he never thought would apply to him. His brain felt overloaded.

‘There’s no place better than the Imperial Magic Academy for systematic magic education…’

Would such an opportunity come again?

It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance, statistically speaking, a one-in-several-million opportunity.

Even just the common magic courses would far surpass the quality of any other magic education available.

His mind knew he had to accept this offer. But his heart was desperate to know the identity of this mysterious benefactor.

Who were they? Why?

Most importantly, how did they know about him?

How many people knew him?

The orphanage head, the slave trader with the severed arm, and… no one else.

It couldn’t be the head or the slave trader, could it?

Both hated him, and neither had the means to afford the Academy’s tuition.

‘Sound?’

The whirring gears in Yuri’s mind ground to a halt.

His sensitive ears picked up faint footsteps from afar.

Light but firm footsteps.

Educated, deliberate steps.

Yuri’s eyes sharpened.

“Headmaster, is the benefactor still in this building?”

“They left just a moment ag—”

Before the headmaster could finish, Yuri’s body flickered.

Using the mana control method he had self-taught, Yuri accelerated his body, burning mana as he chased the footsteps.

‘The sound came from the back corridor. If they left just now, those footsteps must be the benefactor’s…!’

Thanks to the headmaster’s slip, Yuri seized the opportunity.

He could find out!

Who was it, and why did they choose to sponsor him?

Yuri’s body darted through the door, light flooding in.

“…!?”

He found himself at a railing, almost tumbling over, but caught himself just in time.

He hadn’t realized the entrance was on the second floor, not the first.

‘That person!’

Below, he saw a man in a black suit and hat heading towards a carriage.

It was him! Yuri quickly calculated his next move.

Could he catch up if he went down now?

No, it was impossible.

Gritting his teeth, Yuri shouted in a high voice.

“Benefactor!”

“….”

The man only flinched at the loud call, not turning around.

Damn it! He should have called out something else instead of ‘benefactor.’

By the time Yuri realized his mistake, the man was already boarding the carriage, a plain one with no distinctive markings.

“Whoever you are, thank you!”

“….”

“I needed to get into this school to achieve my dream! Thanks to you, I can make it happen! Thank you so much!”

“….”

Only after hearing his words did the carriage finally depart.

Yuri watched it move away, unable to do anything more.

He felt powerless.

Behind him, the headmaster approached leisurely, clearing his throat.

“The anonymous benefactor vouched for you and is sponsoring your special admission. There are three conditions. First, you must successfully graduate. If you fail, all tuition paid will become your debt. Do you accept?”

“…I accept.”

“Second, you must maintain a grade of B or higher in all subjects each semester. This is evaluated at graduation. Lastly, you must not inquire about the benefactor’s identity.”

“But—”

“Do you accept?”

“No contact at all? What if I want to thank them?”

“You can give your messages to me, and I’ll pass them on. And one more thing. If you’re desperate to know, the benefactor agreed to meet you on graduation day, if you want.”

“…!”

This was tricky.

He had planned to learn just enough magic and then leave the Academy.

Now, if he didn’t graduate, he’d be in debt and wouldn’t find out who the benefactor was.

These conditions were both precise and frustrating.

“Do you accept?”

“I… accept…”

“Congratulations. You are now a student of the Imperial Magic Academy.”

“….”

His joy at being accepted was short-lived, soon overshadowed by curiosity about the benefactor’s identity.

Who knew him well enough and cared enough to sponsor him?

What did they see in him that made them invest such a large amount?

‘I will find out, no matter what.’

Yuri clenched his fists.

He couldn’t leave this kindness unreturned.

After achieving his dream—after avenging himself on the wretched Vermont family and rescuing Charlotte and Julia—he would thank his benefactor.

***

“Huff, huff… Huff…”

The moment the carriage successfully exited through the rear gate, the person inside let out a breath they had been holding, filling the carriage with hurried breaths.

Damn, that was close.

The sound of running footsteps growing nearer had been terrifying.

It felt like being prey hunted by a predator.

‘So, Yuri had already mastered mana manipulation by this point.’

That speed wasn’t normal for an average person.

While Julia and Charlotte hadn’t yet managed mana manipulation, Yuri had unconsciously achieved it.

Was it because he was a genius?

How fast would a genius progress with formal education?

‘Did I dig my own grave?’

Even now, I wasn’t sure if I had done the right thing.

I had secured the protagonist, Yuri, a special admission to the Empire’s top academy.

This would not only put him in my debt but also limit his actions.

To maintain a B grade or higher, he would have to focus on his studies and not waste time on useless endeavors.

And it also ensured he wouldn’t fall into dark paths.

Yuri probably thought Charlotte and Julia were being tortured at the Vermont mansion.

He would do anything to save them, even walk a dark path.

If he failed to get admitted here, he might have joined some shady group to gain power.

‘That was close. I almost lost him to the underworld…’

What if the protagonist’s talents fell into the hands of villains?

What if his immense talent was used for murder?

The mere thought sent shivers down my spine, making my heart race.

Just now, I was certain my decision was correct.

Better my own slow strangulation than Yuri becoming a human weapon.

Yes, that’s right.

What if he decides to find me on graduation day?

Or if he causes trouble before then?

Any major trouble would be on me since I vouched for him.

[The evil god, ‘Kali,’ looks at you with suspicion.]

Ah.

“Heh heh heh. This way, I’ve put a leash on the runaway. With the sponsorship as leverage, I can control him as I wish. Heheh.”

[The evil god, ‘Kali,’ is now at ease.]

I had almost forgotten to say that.

I had to be careful to keep our evil god from suspecting me.

It’s such a headache to keep acting like a villain.

“Huff…”

And one more thing.

In negotiating with the headmaster, I had pushed for special admission.

‘Special admission? Our academy values fairness above all. We do not have such a system. Look elsewhere.’

‘Oh dear. How much was the Vermont family’s donation again? If it stops, how many labs would have to shut down?’

‘Are you threatening me? Should I take it that way?’

‘Not a threat. Just hoping for some appreciation for our past investments.’

‘Investment? I thought it was a donation.’

‘Oh dear. Was it? Clearly, there was a communication error.’

‘Haa. Fine. This is the first and last time. Since you are vouching for Yuri, we will admit him under special conditions. But we have a requirement.’

‘Go ahead.’

‘The magic conference is hosted by our academy this year. We’d like you to give the keynote presentation…’

I was crazy to accept that.

The magic conference.

A yearly event where magicians from around the world present their research, the most prestigious in the magic community.

Being the keynote speaker is a huge deal.

A success would be a major triumph, but a failure would tarnish not just my reputation but the family’s as well.

All or nothing.

‘This would be a disaster if found out.’

I had gambled with the family’s honor.

And I had no research to present.

What would the family say if they found out…

As a headache began to throb, there was a sudden knock.

Bang, bang, bang!

The carriage door was flung open aggressively.

“Aslan, what are you doing?”

“….”

It was my sister, Irene Vermont.

She was furious.

The murderous look on her face made my body freeze.