On the evening of the sa day, the entire Blue Bismuth School gathered together. The largest gathering ground was filled with people.
After a week of separation from the rest, the participants of the Autumn Beast Hunt ca to stand before the eyes of students below and above them in power.
They huddled together in a small crowd, waiting together for the Magister to finally co and call out the results.
Half the students who went to the hunt have suffered wounds and were wearing visible bandages. A dozen didn’t co to the ceremony at all. Only one died, which was a good result for the year.
’If I didn’t take out that Singing Spider, there would’ve been more corpses. This beast is too dangerous one-on-one,’ Reynard mused.
He was standing next to Terence in the crowd. Chili was sitting in an inner pocket of his robe, exhaling clouds of smoke from ti to ti—Reynard had no one to leave it with right now.
Chili grunted, and a new cloud of smoke appeared from underneath Reynard’s robe. Another student nearby sniffed.
"Who farted? Reyanard, is that you? Even at the ceremony? Ew!" she snickered, moving away from Reynard. Several other students followed her example.
"H-hey! That’s—"
"Quiet!" soone hissed.
Magister Bartholow, as regal as ever, walked onto the square, followed by an assistant teacher, and took a place at a speaking tribune.
"I congratulate you on a successful return from the Autumn Beast Hunt, students. You have shown that you have not only the knowledge of magic and strong auras, but the wits to use them in a real adventure. But I’m sure you understand this already. The list, Georg."
The assistant passed Bartholow a scroll, which the Magister unfurled.
"Let everyone’s achievents be known this year. Or the lack of them. Darn Marince, zero points! Francessa Lescran, zero points! Terence Oiumann, zero points!"
Nobody among the students in the gathering grounds raised their heads. These unlucky people got knocked out of the competition before they could even bring a single beast cub or egg.
"Hans Restario, ten points! Ella Morion, ten points! Marien Canseliet, ten points!"
All heads on the square turned in one direction.
Marien, who was standing at the front of the returned students, and everybody kept a respectful distance away from her.
Now everybody had the sa question written in their eyes:
’The Princess of Blue Bismuth school had earned only ten points at Autumn Beast Hunt?! She, who’s so rich that her grandfather bought her a dinsional storage for her traveling gear, while others had to carry massive backpacks? She just... earned only ten points?!’
Marien raised her chin and glared at Bartholow. Her grandfather pinched his lips, but didn’t react otherwise. He continued to read the list as if nothing happened.
With each na that wasn’t his, Reynard shifted on his feet more.
Soon, the number of points went into three digits.
"Leone Barbaronn, five hundred and five points! Omiran Tardien, eight hundred and fifty points! Katarina Malevinn, eight hundred and ninety points! And finally... The winner of this year’s Autumn Beast Hunt..."
People’s faces were already turning toward Reynard. His was the only na not called out yet.
"Reynard Artemy, one thousand two hundred and fifty points! Approach and take your prize."
Despite all the expectations, there were still gasps coming from so people.
"You did it, mister!" Terence whispered. "This is aweso—you will have one of the best spells! And everybody will respect you... And respect , when they find out that I work for you!"
Reynard rolled his eyes and went toward Bartholow.
From a distance, the Magister was a picture of wisdom, calm, and a teacher’s pride. But when Reynard stepped up to look him in the face, it was impossible to see the malice in the old man’s gaze!
Reynard tensed, wondering if Bartholow would just forget all of his reservations and kill him on the spot.
Instead, Bartholow shoved a white book in Reynard’s hands. The binding was simple, but of high quality, and the leather cover was protected with so tempering magic.
"This week, you proved yourself to be truly an extraordinary person, Reynard Artemy," Bartholow said before Reynard could leave with the book. "Today, you will feel that you are on top of the world... Let remind you to be wise and rember that for each mountain, there’s a taller one. There are many other magic schools and orders in this world, and many other spells."
The words were spoken in a tone of friendly advice, and only the Magister’s glare showed that this wasn’t so.
Reynard understood this imdiately.
’The Magister won’t kill today... But he definitely didn’t go back on his idea! And the more I will anger him, the more likely he will just abandon all caution and deal with directly... The last thing I need is to irk him so much that he attacks himself!’
So Reynard bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Magister! I will use your gift, and your lesson, well!"
When he returned to the rest of the students, they were still giving Reynard curious looks. He bore them patiently while Magister read another speech for the hunt participants, and instructors stepped out to pass everyone the coins they earned during the hunt.
As soon as Reynard got his, he excused himself and slunk away to his dormitory room.
After a week of absence, it felt even less like his place than before.
’I could have rented a better place in the town long ago. I guess when I got money, I didn’t have the ti to go apartnt-hunting... Ah, screw it.’
Without unloading his backpack, Reynard just went to his personal garden. There was enough space for his personal tent.
The next two weeks would be days off from lessons for all participants of the Autumn Beast Hunt.
It was now or not in the next few months.
Reynard intended to spend this ti, his garden, and every gold coin he got from the Hunt, if necessary, to reach the Albedo stage!
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