Astrid glanced around the hall, feeling drained.
The endless stream of congratulatory praises from Aetherion Empire’s nobles felt more like an insult than an honor.
They were praising her for second place?
This party… she had never asked for it.
Yet, her father, the Emperor, Decadien Aetherion insisted on it.
Everyone in this venue had completely forgotten the fact that there was someone who had placed above her.
A commoner, even.
“Ezra Kaelus….”
The name was a single reminder of her incompetence.
It was more so, hate for her inadequacy than for the person itself.
And she was being praised for that?
She wanted to be the best just like her ancestors.
To live up to her name as an Aetherion.
Yet reality washed over her like a tidal wave.
Astrid, who had always been the best in her academy years, was easily surpassed just like that.
If anything, she felt like she was simply a big fish in a small pond.
The world was vast, filled with talents everywhere she turned.
Of course, Astrid was eligible to attend the Silver University Tower.
Only the top 100 passers were eligible to attend Silver University Tower, after all.
Additionally, anyone who passed ESAT could attend any University Tower depending on their rankings.
Across the continent stood six prestigious University Towers, ranked in strict order: Silver, Viridian, Cerulean, Ember, Amethyst, and Umber.
Only the top 100 to 250 could attend any Tower except Silver.
Those ranked 251 to 500 lost access to Silver and Viridian.
By 500 to 1000, Silver, Viridian, and Cerulean were out of reach.
For ranks 1000 to 2000, only Ember, Amethyst, and Umber remained.
Beyond that, for ranks 2000 to 5000, Umber Tower was the sole choice—the entry point to magic for those lower on the hierarchy.
“Princess?”
Astrid blinked, pulled from her thoughts as a voice cut through.
Raising her head, fellow nobles stood in front of her, eager for her attention.
Some were familiar faces—former classmates from her academy years, others well-known names within noble circles.
“Congratulations on your exam, Princess!”
“Second place in the ESAT is remarkable!”
A punch to the gut.
“…Thank you.”
She forced a polite smile, though the words of praise and shallow congratulations began to blend into one another.
Astrid’s gaze lingered elsewhere. There were some more noblemen wanting to approach her.
However, what caught her attention was the woman with jet–black hair and amethyst eyes.
Of course, she knew who it was.
Charlotte Astrea, a Viscount ranked noble.
Due to the iffy rumors surrounding her family, she was often a target for bullying.
Though she lacked natural talent, Charlotte wasn’t incompetent. She was the kind of student who, despite harsh circumstances, lived quietly and studied diligently.
For that reason, Charlotte placed 99th.
But then again, they weren’t acquainted. The invitations were all automated, sent to every noble residing in the capital.
“Huh?”
Something caught Astrid’s eye.
A handsome man, who bore strikingly similar appearance to Charlotte.
There was no other person that crossed her mind beside one person.
“Vanitas Astrea….?”
A Professor at the Silver University Tower.
He, who was once hailed a genius in the past, due to how fast he could cast magic.
However, in the middle of his university years, Vanitas Astrea faced a limitation.
Soon, strange rumors began to circulate about him. But there was no hard evidence.
After hearing about him for quite a bit, Astrid wanted to gauge his personality.
“Princess?”
Astrid’s attention returned to the group of nobles.
“Yes?”
“Did you see the decorations?” one of the nobles asked. “Father says they imported everything from Celestine.”
Astrid nodded, glancing around. “It’s beautiful, but a bit much, don’t you think?”
Another noble laughed lightly. “Only the best for the Princess! Did you hear about the feast?”
“Oh, the feast!” A girl beside her clapped her hands. “I heard they brought in chefs from Zyphran!”
A boy nearby chimed in, “Have you tried the pastries? They’re like nothing else!”
It was a sheltered children’s conversation. Young aristocrats who were ignorant of the real world.
Professors even came to congratulate Astrid.
However, amidst the flow of conversation, she found her gaze lingering on the only Professor who had never approached her.
“…”
Before she realized it, he was nowhere to be seen, leaving his Sister eating alone at the table.
Was he up to no good?
***
“Shit, again!?”
Vanitas muttered as soon as he was alone.
He picked up speed, practically lunging into the bathroom and finding the nearest stall as he clutched his stomach.
Whatever Vanitas had eaten before his transmigration here was clearly not agreeing with him.
He had no idea how to cast purification magic at all.
So, Vanitas just took a desperate, satisfying dump.
As the sound water plopping echoed beneath him, Vanitas pondered.
‘Astrid, huh?’
‘She was definitely staring at me.’
Regardless of the player’s choices, Astrid was always involved in Vanitas Astrea’s apprehension.
‘She’s suspicious of me.’
And he had no idea of Vanitas’s past just yet.
“Ugh…!”
Seconds turned into minutes.
It just wouldn’t stop!
His stomach was still in pain!
A sudden thought struck his mind at that moment.
“Purification magic!”
He had no idea how to do that all.
But still, he had a stigmata for this kind of situation.
“God I hope this works.”
Vanitas clutched his stomach and closed his eyes.
「Silent Dominion」
◆ Allows spells to be cast purely through intent, with magic flowing directly from thought, silent and swift as an extension of will.
A faint warmth flickered, and for a split second, relief washed over him.
But then.
“Ugh… still hurts!”
He groaned, realizing that his attempt at purification magic had done little more than distract him.
Minutes dragged on, his mind desperately trying to summon anything resembling a purification spell.
‘Think, think!’
Finally, as if by sheer desperation, he whispered.
“Gaia and Aqua….!”
He closed his eyes, focusing on the symbols of Gaia and Aqua he remembered from the game.
The problem, though, was that symbols alone weren’t enough to shape a spell.
He knew he needed the right structure, like building blocks in an equation.
He envisioned the flow of energy, mentally arranging it like a formula, focusing on each “node” as if assigning values to variables.
‘Gaia for grounding, Aqua for cleansing.’
A slow, steady circuit forming, guided by a stable series of “functions” ran through his mind.
He had practically pictured his Professor during his university years, teaching arithmetic formulas.
His round belly, the glasses….
The allegations of sexual assault!
‘That Professor!’
A faint shimmer of energy pulsed through his body.
Just as he held onto that balance, the pain began to ease.
He exhaled in relief, muttering to himself.
“It’s like… setting the right coefficients. Who knew calculus taught by a sex offender would help me in a time like this!?”
Vanitas stepped outside the stall soon after and washed his hands.
He stared at his reflection for probably the sixth time or ninth time today.
After all, it was completely different to Chae Eun–woo’s face.
If anything, he seemed even more handsome now.
Or maybe it was the narcissist in him talking?
Vanitas narrowed his eyes, staring deep into his reflection’s amethyst gaze.
“Whatever happened here, no one will know.”