"You've also experienced this?" Kyle's eyes widened after hearing the old man's words.
Although they're probably not the same, since he has a system, he still felt delighted that he has a predecessor. It means that he really has a chance to continue living…
He couldn't help but feel excited as he asked the senior.
Mr. Heinz faintly smiled and nodded.
"Indeed. That was about fifty-three years ago when I met my master."
"Fifty-three years?"
'And you're still working here till now? Should you not be in a retirement home now? Furthermore, Dark Arts were only legalized 10 years ago… It means--' Kyle added inwardly as he was surprised after hearing this revelation.
Is he going to be like him? He started getting worried. Although it's good to be alive, wouldn't this be like a prison to him?
Mr. Heinz seemed to have read his thoughts and explained calmly. "My master's mission is to develop a new branch of Dark Arts. Five decades ago, all the practitioners of Dark Arts were being suppressed by other Arcane Paths… We don't have a place like this. We're all in hiding and trying to survive…"
Gurg… Gurg…
As Heinz was recollecting his past, which was filled with chaos and war, Kyle's stomach started grumbling again.
Well, he was previously nervous and was only thinking of how to survive in his situation. He met a scary Variant, he encountered the mysterious vice headmaster who took a part of his shadow, and he even thought that he would become the subject of an experiment because he had somehow survived even after being pronounced dead.
Now that he felt that his life was at least spared, his stomach finally remembered that he was starving.
Heinz looked at the empty plate on his desk, confirming that he didn't have a portion of food he could give to the poor young man.
"Endure for now. How old are you?"
Embarrassed, Kyle meekly replied, "I'm 13 years old. Sir Heinz. I'll be 14 on September 10."
According to the memories that fused with him, the Arcane Academies accept 13 to 16 years of age and he heard that they would normally graduate after ten years with a stable income.
This is what the previous Kyle was attracted to, and so, he immediately accepted the opportunity once the old watchmaker showed it to him.
Furthermore, the Academy of Knights, which he originally wanted to attend, can be completed in just six years. The rest of the four years was to simply experience the world outside before becoming an official knight. The old watchmaker also informed him that graduates of that Academy earn ten times more than those in the security companies or mercenary squads.
That was enticing for Kyle.
In addition to that, he knew that his father would have a hard time sending him to a secondary school and even to college, so he knew that he needed to attend one of the Arcane Academies since his daily expenses could be covered by the Academy. Besides, there are also ways of earning money inside the academy, according to the old watchmaker.
Lastly, although his father earns 40 zen every week, he's currently paying his debt because he was scammed by his previous co-worker. Right now, he's only getting 20 zen every week and barely enough for the two of them to pay their rent and daily living expenses.
If not for the old watchmaker, he wouldn't have money to pay half of the admission fee at all.
Mr. Heinz thought for a while as he tapped the desk a few times before asking Kyle.
"Mhmm… Do you know the facilitator that made you drink the potion?"
Kyle blinked for a moment at this sudden question. He can certainly remember that woman…
"It was Lesley."
He was infuriated with that woman who only looked at him with her cold and unconcerned eyes while he was in pain and dying. Although she's probably only doing her job, it was still a very cruel way.
Of course, he couldn't really blame her since he wanted to enter the Vermont Academy. If that was their way of finding suitable students, he could only blame his luck. He can only consider filing a complaint to the Association behind the twelve academies about the Vermont Academy's method of accepting students…
Kyle gritted his teeth after recalling the young woman.
He still felt that he was tricked by her into thinking that the potion was normal and safe to drink!
She had clearly said that it would only awaken his talent, and by the time they arrived at the academy, he'd become a talented student!
He doesn't have a hidden talent at all. Even if she can't change the fact that their admission exam is deadly, she should've been honest!
If he's not a transmigrator with a system, he would've sure died in the process.
Noticing Kyle's raging eyes, Mr. Heinz revealed a faint smile as he could guess what happened.
"Since it was Lesley, it's not good to send you to this year's batch. You can temporarily work here for a year. Since she'll be graduating this academic year, you'll be able to attend the academy safely at that time. In the meantime, you can learn a few things from me."
Kyle was confused… Of course, he didn't dislike the idea of learning from Mr. Heinz since he looked like a decent senior.
'But why does Lesley seem so special? Is she also graduating this year? How old is she anyway?' Kyle silently thought before giving a reply.
"I'll abide by your arrangements, Mr. Heinz. However, I'm curious why I have to be careful of Miss Lesley. According to your words, she seems to be a student as well. Won't the academy protect me from her? Why would she even want to deal with me? I'm sure that I didn't offend her."
'Isn't she the one who should be hiding from me after lying to me like that?' Kyle added inwardly. He wanted to curse, but he still recalls that he was in front of a senior who seemed to be acquainted with Lesley.
Mr. Heinz didn't mind his many questions, which he answered with a bitter laugh.
"Lesley has a deep background and is an outstanding student of the Dark Alchemy Department. Since you have a unique physique, you'll be a very good subject for her experiment. She might think of advancing her Tier 2 Variant to a Tier 3 with your participation."