Back at Valarest, the Academy classes had been suspended. Troops were being mobilized to prepare in case of enemy attacks.

From what I gathered, it had been almost a century since the last time demons lead an attack against human settlements. People were afraid the flames of war would spark again.

Everyone was in a fell mood.

Elaida and Lena came to pay a visit. I gave them enough money for booking a room at an inn, at least until the situation calms down. I offered Elaida work in one of my restaurants and talked her about giving Lena reading and writing lessons, so she could secure a better future.

That done, I used my cold magic to prepare a bowl of ice cream. It took forever, it wasn't very good due to the lack of processed sugar and I almost destroyed my arms with the churning process. But when I offered a cup to Lena I stole her a smile.

I decided to pay a visit to the Adventurer's Guild. I could feel the agitation in the air.

「Allen Skullcrusher!」

Hnnng, they keep calling me that. I kept a serene expression trying not to punch these guys in the face.

People cheered me. And forced me to tell the story.

It's true I have a knack for crushing skulls, but... whatever. Once I become a powerful wizard no one will remember that nickname. For some reason, I wasn't sure about that.

Erne's village was not the only one that had been attacked. Other farms and fields had been laid to waste in a similar fashion. This was no coincidence, it was a deliberate plan to weaken the kingdom.

「This is bad. If they keep destroying our farms winter will be hard on us」

I sat at a table inside the Adventurer's Guild, I was hoping to meet my friends.

「Demon bastards!」

「I knew people from that village... I hope they're among the survivors...」

I wasted some time listening to the gossip. The internet was much more efficient, I thought, sighing inwardly.

I took a look at the billboard but I wasn't in the mood for "adventuring", so in the end, I stood up and walked outside.

It's been a while since I have eaten a pizza, I guess I'm sufficiently detoxified. I entered in my restaurant and waved hello to Corgas.

「Corgas: Allen!」

He beamed at me.

「Allen: Hello Corgas.」

I smiled in return.

「Corgas: I'm sorry, I heard all about Berel and the village!」

My smile faded away.

「Allen: ...」

I sat down at a table. I didn't feel like talking about sad things, so I kept silent.

Corgas frowned a little and slammed one of his burly hands against my shoulder.

「Corgas: Do you want to order something?」

I appreciated he didn't press the issue. I made eye contact.

「Allen: Yeah, bring me a pizza Margarita, please.」

He nodded and left.

Corgas came by a little later with a freshly cooked pizza. It smelled good.

「Allen: Thanks. Has Elaida taken the job?」

I asked while stuffing my mouth. If she joined our little enterprise I would be able to make sure nothing bad happened to her and Lena.

「Corgas: Ah, yes. We sent her to the other place. She already knew a few things about cooking, so she caught on pretty quickly.」

Corgas smiled and gave me a thumbs-up.

「Allen: Good...」

I kept munching my pizza.

What am I going to do now? The academy has suspended the classes until further notice, but maybe I can still access to the library. Oh, there was also Violet that said we'd have a discussion back at the academy, although, I don't think she's back yet.

I might do magic exercises or fiddle around with my silver cube.

There's also my abandoned attempt at building a dynamo, but with magic around I don't know how much that would be worth. Maybe another day.

I should breach into the upper-class businesses. With all my modern knowledge there's gotta be something lucrative I can bring to the table. Of course, as I am now I don't have much chance. I need more connections. And I must be wary of corporate espionage.

Lord Radenrouge came to mind and I narrowed my eyes. What an ass, he could have involved me instead of pulling such underhanded tactics. And for what, just the fucking pizza recipe. No way I'm ever going to share my other recipes with him. He can get fucked.

I didn't really feel like doing anything. I just wanted to sulk.

I got back at the inn and threw myself at the bed.

Fuck everything.

I spent two days like this, being unproductive. Well, I tried projecting illusions around me for *fun*. Sadly all my illusions were deformed mockeries of the human shape. The original plan was to entertain myself with sexy illusions.

I need much more practice to get my dose of ass and tits. I thought about Violet. The illusion took a shape vaguely resembling her, or better, the nightmare anatomically-incorrect version of her. I shivered.

I let the illusion dissipate.

Why is it so hard?

It's difficult to keep track of my progress, too bad there's no skill system thing. I would feel motivated by the gratification gained from increasing numbers.

Hmmm.

That's it... I might roll my own system! With magic, I should be able to access information about myself. It would be just a matter of understanding how to interpret it. I could keep track of my health, mana, skills... I need to think it over.

I began mentally visualizing a design document, which functions would I add, how to modularize the components. Just my kind of thing.

My thoughts were interrupted by a string of knocks at the door.

「Allen: Come in!」

I said with a hint of irritation. I hate being interrupted when I'm thinking about *important* stuff.

I was still lying on the bed I so I just inclined my head a little to see who it was. An unfamiliar face popped in. It was the face of a random irrelevant guy. I forgot it the moment I took my eyes off him.

「Man: Apologies, could you be master Allen?」

Then points for not having called me Skullcrusher.

「Allen: Yes, who asks?」

I raised an eyebrow.

「Man: I'm a messenger, I've been tasked to deliver you this note.」

I stood up and received a rolled sealed paper in my hands.

「Allen: Huh... thanks. Do I have to give you a tip or something?」

He shook his head.

「Man: That is not necessary.」

He bowed and walked out.

Well, he was polite.

Let's see what's inside. I broke the seal.

Your presence has been requested at the Arcane Academy grounds, leave this note to the guards outside to gain access - Violet Val Mariannet

Huh... I guess the time for the discussion has finally arrived. What's this about guards?

Well better not to make her wait. It would be a shame if an ice spear happened to impale me out of the blue.

I cleaned myself and put on my best clothes.

As I arrived at the Academy, the first thing I noticed was the presence of guards standing the entrances and perimeter.

What is it about? I wondered.

「Guard: Halt!」

A guard put a hand up and moved in my way.

「Allen: Greetings, I have been summoned by madam Violet.」

I said placing the note on his hands. The guard read it and nodded.

「Guard: Please, follow me」

I followed him, we walked upstairs, where I had never set foot yet, we walked along the corridor and he stopped in front of a door. He knocked.

「Guard: Madame Violet, a visitor for you.」

「Violet: Send him inside.」

The guard opened the door and gestured me to get in. I prepared myself mentally and walked inside.

Violet was sitting at a desk, a bunch of papers arrayed on it and a map underneath. Is that a map of this world? I hadn't seen one yet. It was too covered by papers for me to make out details.

「Violet: Sit down.」

She gestured at the chair.

「Allen: Yes, ma'am.」

She took out a small sphere of clear crystal and pushed it to my side of the desk. Her usual icy gaze pierced my eyes. I wonder if she's using some magic trick to make her eyes so piercing.

No matter. Through my corporate training, I had learned to keep a serene facade through despair and murder-killing rage, if I wanted to.

「Violet: Do you know what this is?」

She asked me pointing at the sphere. I shook my head negatively.

「Violet: This sphere will let me know if you're lying. So answer wisely to my questions.」

Huh, is this going to be an interrogation? Cold sweat.

「Allen: O-Okay.」

「Violet: Touch the sphere.」

I did so and─ *zap*─ I felt a jolt, like electricity, and retracted my hand. *Ouch!*

I wasn't expecting that.

「Violet: The sphere is now attuned to your spiritual body, we can begin.」

She announced as she placed her hands on the desk.

「Violet: What's your full name?」

「Allen: Allen Smith.」

「Violet: Are you conspiring against this country?」

Straight from asking my name to conspiracy suspicions?! My heart started pounding. I should have reamined on the damn bed.

「Allen: No.」

「Violet: Are you a spy?」

「Allen: No.」

She kept silent for a few seconds.

「Violet: How long have you been practicing magic?」

I couldn't read what she was thinking. She really betrays no expression. That somehow incited me to keep my poker face on.

「Allen: Since I enrolled in the basic magic course.」

Again the silence.

「Violet: I can't place your accent, where are you from.」

I answered her.

「Violet: I never heard of such a place...」

I shrugged in return.

I started sweating cold. Oh god! Is she gonna ask me until she figures out I came from another world?

I imagined Violet dissecting me while alive to find out how I worked. NOT FUN, NOT FUN AT ALL!

「Violet: Explain me in detail how you made that spell in the silver cube.」

「Allen: I... huh... okay.」

Thank god she changed the subject. I took a mental sigh of relief.

I began explaining, but she cut me half-way in.

「Violet: Enough! *Sey-pe-yu, processor, memory bus, program*... these words mean nothing to me, are you making all of this up?」

I glanced at the sphere and shrugged.

「Allen: No... it just that... it would take a year to explain all the t-theory behind it...」

She narrowed her eyes. Uh oh, did I anger her? My heart beat faster.

「Violet: Are you somehow interfering with the sphere's spell?」

「Allen: No.」

「Violet: Have you stared at my chest?」

「Allen: N-NO!」

The sphere glowed red. As did my face.

What followed was a long awkward silence. Violet stared at me imperturbed. I'm dead, it's been a good run, GG.

「Violet: I see...」

She began.

「Violet: Honestly, you're already past your prime...」

Past my prime?! I'm only 30! I've barely begun! My right brow twitched a little.

「Violet: To begin learning magic as such age is a great disadvantage... yet I can't deny that you've been achieving acceptable results in your studies...」

She started tapping the desk with her delicate fingers while he eyes wandered around the room.

「Violet: At first I thought you were a spy sent from another country, feigning skills below your level... but I see that's not the case... we also investigated your background and acquaintances, but we found no evidence of wrongdoing.」

I got a background check?! Is she intelligence or something?

「Violet: Listen well. We have a deal for you...」

I raised an eyebrow. A deal?

「Allen: Huh?」

No good, I had lost my corporate face. I took a breath and relaxed my face muscles.

「Violet: I see your interest in magic is genuine, and your peculiar knowledge could prove valuable...」

She continued.

「Violet: We could take care of all the costs regarding your tuition... on one condition... you'll undergo physical and magical military training. With the prospect of war on the horizon, we don't have time to coddle you. Most of all we need magicians able to fend for themselves.」

She leaned forward.

「Violet: Do you accept?」

She stared hard at me with her icy gaze.

No! Decline the offer! Decline the offer! It's a trap!

「Allen: Okay.」

FUCK!

Violet choose to ignore the red glow flashing from the sphere, her eyes fixedly pointed at me.