The next morning, in front of the Imperial Capital Magic Academy’s teaching building.
Classes hadn’t officially started yet, but the usually quiet building was lively today. New students lined up under the guidance of Student Council members, waiting for the Entrance Test.
Since uniforms hadn’t been distributed yet, the students around wore varied outfits. Those in luxurious clothes chatting animatedly were clearly from noble families, while some plainly dressed and slightly nervous newcomers were obviously commoners who got in on merit.
Ximo blended into the crowd, still wearing her proper maid outfit. She didn’t pay much attention to the people around her but craned her neck curiously to watch those ahead taking the Entrance Test.
Fine, Xiliya was right—this Entrance Test was just lining up to use a fancy-looking Magitool for a quick check. The scene even reminded Ximo of her school’s physical exams from her past life.
Xiliya wasn’t with Ximo because the tests were done in batches. Instead, Mira unluckily ended up right in front of her.
The arrogant noble lady really changed outfits every day. Ximo glanced at Mira’s gorgeous long skirt, recalling that every time she’d seen her, Mira wore something different.
Still, thinking they would be roommates soon, Ximo greeted her first out of a desire for friendly relations.
“Good morning.”
“Hmph… Good morning!” Mira’s attitude was still a bit awkward. “Why do you always wear that kind of outfit in public?”
“I think the maid outfit is cute. Don’t you?”
Ximo smiled in response. Even after leaving the Camberlan Family, she still wore maid outfits, as if it had become a habit.
But that wasn’t entirely true. In reality, Ximo had discovered that maid outfits were surprisingly practical… Fine, Ximo admitted she’d picked up quite a few Assassin habits at some point.
The skirt hem was long enough to hide plenty of things, and compared to those equally long but ornate dresses, it was much easier to move in.
This world’s maid outfits weren’t the eye-candy cute styles from anime but leaned traditional—simple, neat, and practical for work.
And lastly, maid outfits had the effect of misleading enemies. After all, who would suspect that the sweet little maid passing by obediently one second would pull ten throwing knives from her skirt hem the next to give you a heart-chilling stab?
“…Fine, you’re right.”
As a noble lady, Mira was domineering but not mean. Though she didn’t understand Ximo’s fondness for servant attire, she respected it even if she didn’t get it.
The Entrance Test process was simple, so the seemingly long line moved quickly until it was almost Ximo’s turn. Looking at the Magitool used to detect magic aptitude not far away, Ximo felt a bit excited.
Heh heh heh, with all those System rewards, she refused to believe the results would be the same as last time.
One day you’re on top, the next you’re at the bottom!
“But speaking of which, what’s the point of giving me these System rewards?” Ximo asked in her mind. “No matter how strong I get, I still have to complete those doormat plot tasks, right?”
If her transmigration identity was correct, as “Xiliya,” she definitely had to follow the plot tasks normally. So even with a bunch of golden fingers from the System, what was the use? What was the point of these rewards?
“I don’t know either, sweetie. I’m just a little customer service rep…”
System was clueless as always, but Ximo didn’t press her because it was almost her turn for the test.
Mira had just finished ahead of her, and Ximo had sneakily watched the process: place your hand in the Magitool, and within seconds, the Magic Crystal embedded at the top would react. The results went straight to the Student Terminal.
“Elementary Upper Grade. Decent magic aptitude—not bad.”
The teacher in charge gave a flat evaluation, and Mira left proudly. Elementary Upper Grade was above average for new students; even the arrogant noble lady had good talent.
“Next—”
Ximo let out a mental “heh heh heh,” stepping forward expectantly.
“Authenticate your Student Terminal on the Magitool first.”
The teacher mechanically instructed her. After Ximo authenticated her Student Terminal on the Magitool, she slowly placed her hand inside.
This looks just like a blood pressure machine… Ximo silently complained inwardly. Soon, she felt the magic elements in her body surging uncontrollably—a completely new sensation.
Last time she’d tested with a Magic Crystal, Ximo had no magic aptitude at all. Now, she could see the Magic Crystal on the Magitool trembling faintly, as if sensing some enormous energy.
Even the bored teacher from the repetitive work widened her eyes. Such a strong reaction—could it be…
…
At that moment, in an office in the teaching building, two people watched the Entrance Test from the window overlooking the scene.
“Instructor Shasta, what do you think of this year’s new students?”
An elderly man in a dark Mage’s robe, with a long white beard, stood by the window with hands behind his back. His appearance perfectly matched Ximo’s stereotype of a “profound old wizard.”
In the shadows nearby huddled a petite figure—a girl who looked not even of age. Even indoors, she wore oversized sunglasses, making one doubt if she could see the test outside clearly.
“Mm, they’re fine. Pretty good.”
Though called “Teacher,” Shasta seemed utterly uninterested in the students below. She just quietly pushed her hot tea farther away. Her sense of taste differed from humans’, and the tea the Principal had specially brewed only made her tongue feel bitter.
“In that case, Instructor Shasta, are you interested in taking one or two outstanding new students as Assistant Students?”
Assistant Students, as the name implied, were helpers selected by teachers of assistant lecturer rank or above in the Imperial Capital Magic Academy—essentially like closed-door disciples in wuxia novels, getting special training and real skills.
