"Ms. No. 77, please use your strongest magic to attack the target ahead. You have three attack opportunities—your final class placement will be determined based on your performance."

  The instructor at the first assessment station explained the rules to Hulim Heyerar.

  "When you’re ready, you may begin!"

  At the instructor’s signal, Hulim Heyerar raised her wand and aimed at the target twenty meters away.

  All previous students had only used Second-Rank Magic. She didn’t know if anyone later would unleash Third-Rank, but Hulim Heyerar had no desire to stand out—especially with the Empire’s Ninth Princess, such a high-profile figure, enrolling this year. Being too noticeable might bring unexpected trouble.

  "Second-Rank Magic should be enough......"

  Still, she didn’t need to hold back her power.

  "【???????????????????????????????】"

  "Fireball——!"

  A blazing fireball shot toward the target at top speed, triggering a violent explosion upon impact.

  After the explosion, the target’s surface was not only charred but also crisscrossed with cracks. Seeing this, the instructor beside her froze in shock.

  How could a student’s Fireball be this powerful?

  Not only this instructor—even the professors on the jury platform paused for a moment before launching into heated discussions.

  But most people’s attention was on the Ninth Princess right now, so few noticed what had happened at the assessment station.

  "Two more left. Let’s finish this quickly......"

  "【?????????????????????????????????????】"

  "Fire Arrow!"

  "Fire Arrow!"

  Two Fire Arrows shot in succession. The first hit the target, blowing a gap in its center. The second hit, completely shattering the target into pieces.

  "How is this possible?! This target can withstand Third-Rank Magic! A normal Second-Rank spell would barely leave a mark...... and now it’s been blown to bits——?"

  The instructor beside her stared in stunned disbelief.

  "Sir, may I leave now?"

  "Ah——?! Oh...... yes, yes. You may proceed to the next station."

  Only when Hulim Heyerar spoke up did the instructor snap out of his daze.

  With permission, Hulim Heyerar walked toward the next assessment station.

  Behind her, the instructor looked troubled as he stared at the shattered target.

  "This thing is quite expensive......"

  The targets used for the test were no ordinary objects—they were magic tools capable of measuring the casting time and exact attack power of each spell. Using this data, the staff could determine the student’s current magic proficiency, and combined with their age, assess their talent range.

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  On the jury platform, the professors stared in silence at the data feedback from the magic tool. Only two sets of data were received—there was no third set, as the target had been destroyed.

  The professors exchanged glances, then all wrote down Hulim Heyerar’s score—an identical score across the board......

  The second station.

  "【????????????????????????】"

  "Reinforce!"

  A white glow lit up around her body.

  Sensing the trajectory of the incoming attacks, Hulim Heyerar stood her ground, not taking a single step, and easily dodged all of them.

  Even as the attacks grew faster and more unpredictable later on, Hulim Heyerar only quickened her dodge speed—her feet never left the same spot.

  "Beep——!"

  By the time the test ended signal sounded, not a single attack had hit her. Her breathing remained steady.

  "May I leave now?"

  "Uh...... o-of course you may......"

  The instructor in charge of the assessment looked at Hulim Heyerar’s score on the magic tool, then up at her, and replied with a stiff smile.

  The scoring professors were similarly silent as they reviewed the feedback data.

  "【Ms. No. 77:

  Hits Taken: 0

  Blocks: 0

  Dodges: 300

  Total Score: 100】"

  "......"

  After completing the assessment, Hulim Heyerar didn’t linger and prepared to leave No. 1 Training Ground directly.

  "Ms. Heyerar!"

  Several staff members were working at the exit. When they saw her coming out, they called out immediately.

  "Please come here!"

  Hulim Heyerar walked over.

  "You’re Ms. Hulim Heyerar, right? Please wait a moment—we’ll be done soon."

  Beep~! Beep~! Beep~!

  As the staff spoke, the magic tool beside him was busy processing something.

  Soon, a student ID with anti-counterfeiting measures and her name engraved on it was ready.

  The staff handed her the ID and smiled:

  "Welcome to Manacos Academy, Ms. Hulim Heyerar! From now on, you are an official student of Manacos Magic Academy! Please keep this ID safe—replacing a lost ID costs 10,000 Kohl."

  Due to the enrollment system, Manacos only officially registers students after they pass the admission assessment. This ensures that no one without qualifications can sneak in under a false identity.

  "Thank you, I understand!"

  Hulim Heyerar put away her student ID and thanked the staff.

  "You’re welcome~! You can now move into the on-campus student dormitories. Your dormitory has been arranged—details are in this document."

  The staff handed her another piece of paperwork.

  "The dormitory manager will provide your key. This document contains important enrollment information and campus rules. Please read it later to avoid missing any key orientation events."

  "Thank you very much!"

  Hulim Heyerar put away the document and left No. 1 Training Ground. On the way, she checked her dormitory’s location.

  It was quite far, and her luggage was still at the hotel.

  "I’ll go check out of the hotel first, then come back to move in."

  ......

  By the time Hulim Heyerar checked out of the hotel and returned to Manacos with her luggage, it was already afternoon.

  "Yes, that’s correct. Ms. Hulim Heyerar, here’s your room key."

  The dormitory manager handed her a key.

  Hulim Heyerar took it and felt a faint magic aura emanating from it.

  Even the dormitory keys have anti-counterfeiting measures......

  "Our dormitories are double-occupancy by default. If you want a single room, you’ll need to pay an additional accommodation fee—it’s quite expensive, and scholarships cannot cover it. Would you like a single room?"

  The dorm manager added.

  Hulim Heyerar shook her head: "No, the double room is fine."

  Tuition at Manacos Magic Academy was exorbitant—ordinary students paid 200,000 Kohl per year just for tuition. That didn’t include accommodation, textbooks, or other miscellaneous fees, which added up to an even more staggering amount.

  Even well-off families in the Empire struggled to afford it, and it was a heavy burden for the Heyerar family, a rural noble. Moreover, Hulim Heyerar still owed money to the elf shopkeeper. She certainly couldn’t afford the luxury of a single room—those were usually reserved for nobles who cared deeply about their image and children from wealthy merchant families.

  Fortunately, Manacos’s scholarships were also generous. The top-performing students not only had their tuition fully waived but also their accommodation and other fees. They even received an additional annual stipend.

  "Well...... if I perform that well, I should be able to get the scholarship, right?"

  As she walked toward her dormitory, Hulim Heyerar thought to herself.