“They gather promising buds and educate them. Among the academy graduates, all the magic department graduates are supposed to join Horizon. Of course, assuming there are no special problems.”

“……Is it hard to get in?”

“The competition is fierce. They don’t take many.”

“I want to go see.”

Instead of answering, Gibnen reached out his hand. As soon as she touched it, he naturally wrapped his fingers around hers.

“If your legs hurt, you can use teleportation.”

“No, let’s walk. It’s like taking a walk, and I like it.”

At Riley’s response, he led her, satisfied.

“You’re the model answer. I was waiting for that response.”

(This is a time separator.)

The reactions of the academy students were somewhat different from those they had seen in the park.

Whispering. They exchanged whispers among themselves, but their curious eyes were focused on one place.

A tall young man with a striking appearance and a fairly prettyfaced woman walking side by side around the academy building were not a common sight.

Most of them, if not all, recognized Gibnen. Especially those who looked like older professors or students who seemed to have been at the academy for a long time.

They were so surprised that their eyes popped out, and those who did not recognize him were likely to be newcomers to the academy, judging by their youthful appearance.

The pouring stares could have been overwhelming, but a man who had been the subject of discussion all his life seemed accustomed to it as he continued his introduction to the campus.

“This classroom is where 1st division classes are held, mainly learning subjects unrelated to magic such as philosophy, logic, history, archaeology, geography.”

“I see. So they don’t just learn about magic?”

“The talent that Horizon seeks is someone with broad insight. If you concentrate on only one subject, your thinking will narrow.”

He said that various subjects were covered here.

Not only humanities but also science, engineering, agriculture, medicine, and various subjects were covered. Students could choose to take the subjects they wanted at their discretion. They also dealt with sports and art, making it an optimal environment for building scholarship in various ways.

The more Riley toured the academy, the more thoughtful she became.
The academy was a truly captivating place for her, a place where she could learn and master anything. Riley felt a longing deep inside her heart as she looked at the students who all seemed so smart, clever, and even sophisticated.

And Gibnen clearly saw Riley’s eyes sparkling.

“Do you want to learn?”

“Huh?”

“You have eyes burning with a thirst for knowledge.”

“Um… Honestly, I’m envious. I’ve never properly learned anything. I’ve never experienced academy life and lived in the mountains when I was young… After my father passed away, I lived only inside the Earldalin mansion.”

The only education she had received was a brief lesson in etiquette from Mrs. Bayricksid before coming here.

“Then you can learn.”

“…Me?”

“What can’t you do? If you want, I can help you go through the admission process here.”

“Here? But everyone here is erudite and remarkable. I’m not eligible for admission here.”

At Riley’s words, Gibnen’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“My sister is one of those people.”

“…That can’t be.”

“The admission exam of Horizon Academy, especially for the magical department, is very simple and fair. Take the exam. Then you’ll know.”

“…….”

“That’s good, you can study here and get magician management at the same time.”

Riley shook her head.

“I won’t even be able to step through the door here. I’ve never had a proper education. I know nothing, and I’m stupid.”

This was not said out of low selfesteem.

It was a judgment from a very realistic point of view.

Riley, the daughter of a mountain keeper, had never studied even when living in the mountains. Reading a few unknown books at home was all she had ever done. Moreover, after being registered in the household register with the lady, she had lived without receiving any basic education.

She hadn’t even attended the academy where everyone else went, didn’t know what they were learning, and learned about the world through the conversations of Claire and the servants.

It was absurd to receive education from the empire’s best higher education institution.

It was clear that she couldn’t even reach the threshold.

“You can’t be stupid.”

“…….”

“Intelligence is genetic. Especially for magicians, it is highly influenced by genes. It’s why magician families are obsessed with lineage. Don’t you realize that you are the daughter of a grand magician?”

“…I still can’t believe that my father was a grand magician from Horizon.”

“A grand magician of Ryston’s level wouldn’t leave his daughter without inheriting anything.”

“He didn’t leave me anything.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“Well, I don’t know about that.”

“…What do you mean?”

Gibnen shrugged his shoulders.

“He’s a man who thoroughly prepared in advance to entrust his daughter to his master. It’s hard to think that such a meticulous man didn’t prepare for you to be left alone in this world.”

“My father didn’t teach me anything.”

“He didn’t have to teach you.”

Riley couldn’t understand Gibnen’s words. Either way, Gibnen seemed to have concluded that Riley should enroll in the academy.

“I’ll prepare the admission papers; it’s a good time just before the start of the semester. The application period for the magician special exam is already over, but it won’t be a big problem to schedule an exam if you apply with a recommendation.”

“I can’t do it.”

“Try and then say that.”

“…….”

“You haven’t even tried, so how can you guarantee you can’t do it?”

“I know myself well.”

“Are you going to give up before trying, and live that life forever?”

Riley was left speechless at Gibnen’s sharp remark.

“Enjoy it when you can. Have fun when you can. Do it when you can. Don’t regret it later.”

“…….”

“You don’t know yourself very well.”

Gibnen smiled, thinking of his master’s wisdom.

“And I have a strong froglike nature.”

“?”

“I don’t listen to dirty words.”

Leaving a creature that should be killed alive, and on top of that…

“I’m curious about what it will be like when you can use magic freely. Couldn’t you become a grand magician surpassing Ryston?”

Raising a seed of disaster on his own.
‘Of course, the master might come out with a grand entrance.’

But what can be done, I’m curious.

Gibnen, if nothing else, was weak to curiosity.

“Go take a look, here at the academy.”

“……”

“I told you to think about what you want to do.”

“…….”

“If there’s something you want, I’m willing to support it, no matter what it is.”

The rich madman is doing mad things.

It’s like starting the timer of a time bomb that had been momentarily stopped.

“I’ll handle it, sister.”

I want to handle it, this woman.