“Even if you’re lucky enough to get an apprenticeship in Äußerst, won’t you be taken back to your village? You’re still a kid.”
 
“Taken back by who?”
 
“People from the village who were against it? And your family.”
 
“No one’s coming. My family… they’re all dead already.”
 
Schloss answered expressionlessly. But she could tell that painful emotions were seeping through his voice and the depths of his eyes. It was a sadness he was desperately trying to suppress, yet it was leaking out.
 
“I see.”
 
Übel replied nonchalantly, offering neither comfort nor encouragement. She didn’t think of herself as heartless. … Read the rest

In the back of the storeroom, she found a large cage. She felt the mana reaction from there.
 
When she peered inside—a boy was clutching his knees, looking terrified.
 
“W-Who are you…?”
 
Übel scratched her cheek.
 
—This might have turned into a bit of a pain.
 
“Hmph. So, you were kidnapped.”
 
Übel said, resting her chin on her hand as she watched the boy gnaw on some bread in the living room. She had cleaned up the table earlier—though “cleaning” just meant pushing everything on top of it onto the floor.
 
After letting the boy out of the cage, … Read the rest

Chapter 2: Blade and Needle

 
In a forest on the outskirts of a village, a single girl was crouching down.
 
She looked to be about six or seven years old. Her hair was tied to the side, and she wore a thin one-piece dress that looked easy to move in. Despite her active appearance, the girl remained as still as a bronze statue. She wasn’t sunbathing, nor was she in pain. She was simply staring intently at the ground.
 
At the end of her gaze lay the carcass of a mantis.
 
Swarming ants were gnawing away at the remains, forming … Read the rest

Outside, the sun was beginning to dip.
 
After leaving the workshop, Uff resumed her duties. She sorted through various documents and moved on to managing supplies. She walked around the facility, restocking what was missing and cleaning up any dust that had accumulated. It was nothing more than menial labor, but she had no complaints about her current job. She received a sufficient salary and got to hear precious stories from the mages.
 
Today, she had spoken with four First-Class Mages.
 
They each held different views on the title of First-Class Mage. Genau sought a cold-hearted strength … Read the rest

After parting with Sense, Uff decided to put her own work on hold and deliver the envelopes to Serie.
 
As she walked, she looked at the letters in her hand. A confirmation letter from the government, a letter from royalty, a report from a mage dispatched to the provinces… they all looked important. Belatedly, she grew anxious, wondering if she had accepted a job she shouldn’t have taken so lightly. Now that she had accepted, she had to ensure they were delivered.
 
Uff stopped at the end of the hallway and knocked on the door.
 
This was Serie’s office. But … Read the rest

After finishing her meal, Uff returned to the Northern Branch.
 
She passed through the grand gates and entered the facility. Another staff member had taken over the reception desk; Uff had different work for the afternoon: filing documents. She had to organize the papers regarding this year’s selection exam, sorting what went to storage and what went to her superiors. Even for a non-government building, few organizations managed information as strictly as this. It was a testament to the immense power held by the Continental Magic Association.
 
Uff walked down the hallway clutching a stack of papers. It was easy … Read the rest

Chapter 1: The Day Before the Exam

 
In the magical city of Äußerst, there lies the Northern Branch of the Continental Magic Association. It is home to an elite group of mages, led by none other than Serie—a great mage from the age of myth. These mages engage in various activities, sometimes traveling to distant lands for subjugation or escort missions, and at other times conducting certification exams for aspiring mages.
 
However, not everyone stationed there is a mage.
 
Take, for instance, a woman named Uff.
 
She is an ordinary person working as a receptionist for … Read the rest