It had been a month since Seneca had enrolled.

  Since then, the four of them – Seneca, Maiol, Gaia, and Prautia – had been training together every morning.

  Seneca stood in a clearing facing the forest, her mind focused on the sensations within. She sought out the feeling deep inside her chest, then sealed off a part of herself, like a well, cutting off the influence of her skill.

  This was the method for "cutting" the skill that Attalos had taught her. For some, it might be a door, or a window; for Seneca, it took the form of a well.

  Once she had cut off the skill, Seneca moved slowly, practicing her swordsmanship. First, she focused on body movement, and then on her sword swings.

  Maiol, on the other hand, began with archery before turning to her sword. The trees of the forest already bore deep dents from her arrows.

  Gaia was also practising with a sword, sticking to the basics with a simple, straight cut. Though not particurly powerful, her skill was undoubtedly solid. Her success in passing the Royal Adventurers School entrance exam proved that she possessed sufficient ability.

  Prautia was practising with a short sword, simir in size to a dagger. She maintained her agility while training with thrusts and reverse grips, continuously honing her technique.

  Without considering their skills, Maiol and Gaia were nearly equal in strength, with Prautia slightly weaker. However, in uneven terrain like the forest, Prautia had the edge, which created a dynamic bance among the four.

  After training, they would have breakfast before heading to their csses. Most lessons were concentrated in the first half of the week, leaving the tter half free for students to focus on training or adventurer activities.

  Seneca took practical csses like Introduction to Magical Theory and Introduction to Botany. Maiol, in addition to these, often attended lectures like Logistics and Tactics and Strategy to better prepare for the future.

  Attalos’s weekly lessons also continued. Each morning, the four of them would listen to his lecture and receive practical guidance. Then, each week, three of them would spar individually with Attalos and receive personalised advice.

  Seneca and Maiol’s turn had come, but since they kept their skills suppressed during the fight, they did not receive any notable feedback. On the other hand, Pulker, who possessed the [Thunder Spear Technique], seemed to have a better rapport with Attalos, receiving substantial guidance.

  Attalos was highly skilled in both swordsmanship and magic, making him a popur instructor.

  After lessons, they would once again practise their basics. Seneca banced her magical training with running drills and sword practice. Maiol and Gaia focused on archery and magic at the outdoor training grounds.

  On weekends, the four of them would engage in party activities.

  Near the royal capital y a rge forest, though it harboured no particurly dangerous enemies. Many S-Css adventurers, equipped with steel or copper-grade gear, would travel further afield to face stronger foes.

  Seneca, Maiol, Gaia, and Prautia, however, had decided to focus on steadily building up their achievements within the forest near the royal capital.

  When Maiol asked their homeroom teacher, Mitora, about their accomplishments, Mitora had advised that they didn’t need to perform fshy tasks in the first semester. Instead, they should focus on accomplishing manageable objectives to establish a solid foundation.

  Thus, they decided on a rather mundane task: Ecological and Geographical Survey of the Tinople Forest Belt.

  While maps of the forest, located beside the royal capital, already existed, there had been little research into how the forest's condition changed with the seasons.

  Therefore, every time they ventured into the forest, they made sure to record their observations.

  Seneca was responsible for studying animals and monsters, Maiol for measuring magical energy concentrations, Prautia for pnts, and Gaia, with her knowledge of geology, was tasked with examining the terrain and soil in great detail.

  With Attalos’s thorough approach to record-keeping and Gaia’s organisational skills, the group felt confident that their efforts would yield significant results.

  Typically, first-year S-Css students would focus on sying monsters or collecting rare materials, but inspired by Maiol and her companions’ methodical approach, several cssmates shifted their focus to simir research tasks. As a result, the school was likely to view them as diligent and competent students, capable of carrying out steady, ungmorous work.

  In the royal capital’s forest, Seneca and Maiol made a point of suppressing their skills as much as possible.

  Their group, too, had taken to rotating their formation rather than sticking to a fixed line.

  Seneca was learning scout techniques from Prautia, and her ability to identify pnts had also improved. Maiol, often deep in conversation with Gaia, was absorbing as much of her vast knowledge as possible.

  Thanks to their rigorous training sessions, Gaia and Prautia’s fundamental skills had greatly improved. While they made sure not to overwork themselves, they were steadily catching up to Seneca and Maiol.

  ...

  A Month Later

  The weekend activities continued, but once a month, Prautia suggested taking a break to focus on personal matters. Rest, recreation, equipment maintenance, investigation of quests, and reviewing lessons were all pressing tasks, so everyone agreed to have a rest day.

  Prautia and Gaia, in particur, had to take more credits for their csses than Seneca and Maiol, making their workloads heavier.

  While Seneca and Maiol had spent their st break buying supplies and conducting investigations, they had pnned to meet Kito this time.

  Seneca had been restless for several days, but Maiol, who knew they would see each other after two months, gently reassured her.

  ...

  Meeting Kito

  The meeting pce was a café in the royal capital.

  The day before, the two had bought new clothes with Gaia’s help, so they wouldn’t look out of pce in the city.

  When they arrived, Kito was already there, waiting for them.

  "Seneca! Maiol! Long time no see!" Kito greeted, looking as lively as ever, which put Seneca at ease.

  "Kito! It's been so long! I’m gd to see you’re doing well," Seneca replied.

  After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they each ordered cake and drinks.

  "So, how’s things at the magic school?" Maiol asked without hesitation.

  "Hmm. I’ve been getting caught up in faction disputes and various things, so I levelled up. But now it’s a bit more peaceful," Kito responded in her usual tone.

  "What? You, who hesitated for so long, actually levelled up? I guess your prediction about being close to leveling was right after all. Oh, sorry, we should talk more quietly about levels," Maiol said, realising the implications.

  "It’s not something I should be announcing, but it’s fine. The word about levels has already spread in school, so it’s not that big a deal," Kito replied.

  "Why did this happen?" Seneca asked, intrigued.

  "Well, the magic academy is based on merit. But there are magicians, magic engineers, and pharmacists, all with different specialties, right?"

  Seneca and Maiol nodded.

  "When the fields are different, you can’t really gauge a person’s true ability. So, they sometimes rely on grades to measure skill, but since everyone’s still an apprentice, there isn’t much of a difference."

  "That sounds complicated," Maiol said.

  "Yes, it is. If everyone’s on the same level, it’s easy to respect and agree on that. But that’s not the case, and everyone wants to create distinctions."

  "Is it really all about grades?" Seneca asked.

  "Grades are important, but that’s not the whole story. The standards are all over the pce. Even though they tout meritocracy, there’s no clear benchmark, so things get chaotic," Kito expined.

  Seneca groaned in response.

  "Some believe that being a magician makes you superior because it’s a combat-reted profession, while others insist that bloodlines are what matter. And then there are those who argue that it’s non-magical skills that keep society running. In reality, there are two or three major factions, and these constant petty squabbles between factions are the norm in the magic school," Kito continued.

  "I see… But how does leveling up tie into all of this?" Maiol asked.

  "Well, imagine if someone with non-magical skills, a commoner, came in with a recommendation from the Magic Guild and joined the school," Kito expined.

  "Oh, that would make her a prime target for those factional struggles," Seneca realised.

  "Exactly. Of course, the factions have their positives too, like mutual support, which helps in many ways. But when you become the fg-bearer, it becomes a problem. I didn’t want to waste my time dealing with that," Kito said.

  Maiol seemed to understand immediately, while Seneca struggled to follow along.

  "Like I said, the magic school is supposed to be merit-based, but since there’s no clear way to distinguish between people, they fight over it. So, I decided to show my strength and prove I could stand on my own. Once I did that, no one said anything anymore. The best way to do that is through achievements and leveling up."

  "I see. So, you chose to level up," Maiol concluded.

  "Yes. Of course, there are second-year students who are at level two, but among the first years, there are only a few of us. If I keep gaining achievements, no one will say anything," Kito added.

  "What kind of world is that, the magic school?" Seneca asked.

  "That’s the world it is," Kito replied with a shrug.

  Maiol pced a hand on her head and chuckled.

  "So, Kito, you silenced them by showing your strength, just like an adventurer would, right?" Seneca said with a pyful grin.

  "Unfortunately, you’re right... I ended up spending a lot of money just to prove my level. Now I need to recover both the time and money I spent," Kito said with a slight frown.

  "I just know I wouldn’t survive in the magic school," Maiol commented.

  "Really? I think it would suit you," Kito replied, gncing at Seneca.

  "Yeah, I think it’d be perfect for you, Maiol. You’re the type who shuts people up with strength," Seneca teased.

  "Oi, what’s that supposed to mean!" Maiol retorted, crossing her arms, her face flushed with indignation.

  The three of them ughed and continued chatting happily in the café.