After class, Hulim Heyerar did not head to the dessert shop for her usual sugar fix—instead, she made her way toward the Grand Library.

  She silently calculated the credits she’d earned.

  “Finally met the requirement......”

  Manacos housed many precious treasures—and because they were so valuable, they weren’t freely available to every student. Hence the credit system:

  Students could exchange credits for what they wanted—private tutoring, magical items, even top-tier knowledge.

  There were multiple ways to earn credits: the academy issued a monthly credit allowance to each student, varying by class (for example, the elite class received far more than others). Academic performance also granted credits, but those were typically awarded at the end of the school year—Hulim couldn’t access them yet.

  Additionally, Manacos released various tasks: teaching assistant work, potion brewing, etc. Students who met the criteria could accept these tasks, with credits as rewards. Then there were teaching rewards—each professor had a quota of credits to award to outstanding students.

  After months of saving—her elite class base credits, teaching rewards, and earnings from a few tasks—Hulim had finally amassed the target number of credits.

  Before long, she arrived at the Grand Library.

  This time, she didn’t linger in the outer area; she went straight for the inner section.

  The Grand Library was divided into two parts: the outer area, where all materials were open and free for anyone to consult; and the inner area, which held highly important content—access or study required credit deductions.

  “Ding——!”

  She pressed her student ID against the sensing magic circle. The magic circle on the inner gate deactivated, and the gate slowly swung open.

  Hulim retrieved her ID and stepped inside.

  As soon as she entered, the gate closed behind her, and the deactivated magic circle reignited.

  Looking around, the inner area of the Grand Library was sparsely populated. A significant portion were academy faculty and staff; the remaining students were mostly upperclassmen. At that moment, all of them stood on floating disks, hovering in the library’s air.

  Hulim walked to the end of what looked like a broken bridge.

  Whoosh——!

  A floating disk glided to the front of the broken bridge.

  She stepped onto it, then input the command for her destination.

  Hum!

  The floating disk lifted her upward toward the sky.

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  The inner area of the Grand Library was entirely three-dimensional; materials were stored along the walls, accessible only by flying up to them.

  After passing several pillars made of stacked books, the disk beneath her feet stopped in front of a wall lined with books.

  Hulim pulled out her student ID and pressed it against the sensing area for this section.

  “Ding——!”

  The magic circle shrouding the area lit up with blue light, then deactivated—and all her credits were deducted in an instant.

  Hulim surveyed the books before her.

  “Which magic should I learn first......”

  “Hm, fire magic it is, then.”

  She reached directly for a book documenting Tier 4 Fire Magic.

  Having obtained the book she wanted, Hulim didn’t stay to read it there. The inner area had numerous study rooms—free of charge, with magic circles on the doors to prevent disturbances. She could choose one to read in peace.

  The floating disk moved again, and as Hulim departed, the magic circle for the Tier 4 Magic section reignited behind her.

  She didn’t need to worry about accessing the books here next time: once credits were deducted, the section remained open to her indefinitely. She could come to read whenever she wanted—though this only applied to the Tier 4 Magic section; other areas would require additional credit deductions.

  Furthermore, no books from the entire inner area could be taken outside......

  Hum——!

  The disk docked in front of a corridor bridge four stories above the ground.

  Hulim stepped off, and the disk, having completed its task, drifted away.

  Walking to the middle of the corridor bridge, she paused.

  Click, click, click......

  At that moment, the corridor bridge began to rotate, and after a short while, it shifted direction to connect with another corridor.

  Hulim walked forward—the nearest study room was just ahead.

  “......So what do you think, Dean, about the research project on that ruin?”

  “Professor Dez, you’re the expert on ancient ruins—you make the call......”

  “Speaking of which, do you have any more suggestions for the plan to elevate young teachers......”

  “Oh, about that—I do have a few ideas......”

  Ahead in the corridor, two men walked slowly, conversing as they went.

  “Good day, Dean Holstin and Professor Dez!”

  As she passed them, Hulim greeted them politely.

  “Oh, hello! It’s Miss Hulim, isn’t it? Are you here to study?”

  Professor Dez Swan immediately recognized her as a student from his Magic Circle class.

  “Yes—I’m on my way now.”

  “Hm, so diligent! Coming straight to the Grand Library right after class—excellent, excellent~!”

  Professor Dez Swan looked at Hulim with approval.

  At that moment, Holstin noticed the book in Hulim’s hand.

  “Ho...... Miss Hulim—have you already reached this stage? We were right about you back at the entrance exam......”

  Hearing Holstin’s words, Dez Swan also glanced at the book Hulim held.

  “Oh——! I see! Miss Hulim is preparing to step into Tier 4 already!? Truly our most prodigious student......”

  “Um......” Hulim was confused by their words. Why were they so certain she was preparing to break through to Tier 4? She might just want to study Tier 4 Magic in advance. “Dean Holstin, what do you mean by that?”

  At her question, Holstin and Dez Swan exchanged a smile.

  Then Holstin explained with a smile: “Miss Hulim, we’ve known since the entrance exam that your strength is already at the peak of C-rank.”

  Hulim was slightly surprised, but then it dawned on her.

  It was hardly surprising that her true level had been seen through back then. Irus and Charkin had easily discerned her strength—let alone Manacos, which boasted multiple A-rank powerhouses and numerous B-rank ones......

  “Truly remarkable......”

  Holstin stroked his long, white beard, his gaze toward Hulim filled with a hint of relief.

  “......Once, your ancestor, Olubet Heyerar, was just as brilliant. Who would have thought that over three hundred years later, we’d see such a similar descendant.”