"My lord Clark, all we need to do is to properly humiliate Niya in this competition and ensure she fails again, correct?"
In the chamber of Clark, several first-year magicians and warriors gathered, respectfully regarding him.
They were the individuals Clark had specifically recruited for targeting Niya in this examination. As first-year students, they couldn't confront Clark directly, hence he had to seek those with commendable combat prowess.
Initially, upon hearing that Clark, a leader among the fourth-years, wished to speak with them, they anticipated either a calamity or some auspicious event.
However, no one expected Clark to assign them the task of dealing with Niya. In the past, they might have readily accepted such an assignment, especially with Clark offering each of them a bonus of ten gold coins upon defeating Niya.
It didn't seem particularly challenging; Niya was merely a subpar student. However, the recent appearance of Yann made them reconsider. What if the undead warrior sought retribution afterward?
Facing an undead warrior capable of defeating even third-tier warriors with ease, engaging in combat with it would be akin to hitting a stone with an egg!
While many contemplated this and declined the task, there were still plenty who accepted. Not everyone could resist the allure of ten gold coins, equivalent to a substantial sum in Yann's former world.
"That's the plan. Even if we can't humiliate her, we must aim to inflict as much harm as possible. If you're concerned about repercussions from the undead warrior later, I'll take care of it. You just focus on your tasks," Clark asserted confidently.
Though they feared the undead warrior, Clark's assurance buoyed their spirits.
Clark grabbed a handful of coins from the nearby table and casually tossed them toward the door. "This is your down payment. Each of you, go and collect it."
Soon, a clamor erupted outside as they scrambled for the money.
Indeed, the power of money was formidable, irresistible to all.
Unbeknownst to Yann, a conspiracy was unfolding against him and his young companion. Presently, Yann was engrossed in his work!
Under the pitch-black night sky, a somewhat imperfect moon hung in the air, emitting a soft, gentle light that wasn't glaring. Moonlight filtered through the window glass, casting its glow into Niya's room.
In the moonlight, a girl, and a tentacled creature...
As Niya lay sleeping on her bed, she unconsciously let out a whimper, causing a ripple in Yann's focused work.
Yann held a spherical object in his tentacle, caressing it slowly and meticulously while keeping a vigilant eye on Niya, afraid his actions might wake her from her slumber.
Seeing that Niya had merely whimpered unintentionally, Yann resumed his work with reassurance.
His damp tentacles trailed along the edge of the bed, along the walls, one gripping the sphere, while the other held a piece of paper, softly scribbling upon it.
"What... are you doing?" Niya, half-awake, inquired as she observed Yann writing something.
"Ah..." Yann was startled by Niya's sudden remark.
He thought he had been careful with his movements, yet he inadvertently awakened Niya. It seemed he needed to exercise even more caution.
"I'm... compiling some materials," Yann replied, raising the spherical object - the Rule Pearl - in his hand. "I intend to craft a body for myself, and I'm contemplating which materials to use."
"Oh... I see..." Yawning, Niya glanced sleepily at Yann. "I thought you were up to something inappropriate. You startled me. I'll go back to sleep now. Carry on."
Niya was quite considerate, aware that she couldn't assist Yann and didn't bother with pleasantries.
Yann chuckled softly, offering no further response.
Everyone harbored their own duality; while Niya appeared timid in the presence of others, she was remarkably candid with Yann. Whether this was fortunate or unfortunate for Yann remained uncertain.
To unwittingly become someone else's loyal companion... no, pet. Truly tragic.
Yann had no need for sleep; his formidable mental prowess could sustain him indefinitely. After Niya slept for a while, Yann finally compiled a list of materials.
Considering the current resources in this land and his financial situation, the body Yann would create would only possess eighth-tier strength!
However, provided he could procure the necessary materials - dragon blood, dragon bones, elemental cores - the cost would amount to millions of gold coins!
Yet, for Yann, this was merely a matter of sketching a few magical diagrams.
If the alchemists specializing in this field within the continent's shops learned that Yann could effortlessly create eighth-tier constructs, they would undoubtedly be astounded!
It was a true miracle, albeit one only Yann could comprehend. Nevertheless, as long as he had the materials, he could mass-produce them!
In the days leading up to the exam, Yann guided Niya on the optimal usage of magic and how to maximize her power with minimal energy expenditure.
Niya's previously suppressed talent finally erupted under Yann's tutelage. She had now mastered all first-tier magic, though she had yet to develop a fixed elemental affinity as she hadn't reached the fourth tier.
Similar to warriors, reaching the fourth tier marked a pivotal moment for magicians, granting them mastery over their elemental affinities - be it fire, water, wind, or other attributes.
Before reaching the fourth tier, magicians needed to have a comprehensive understanding.
Bluntly put, Niya could now be considered the top first-year student! Well, discounting the magical power she obtained through cheating.
Meanwhile, Yann continued to gather information, searching for clues about materials to rebuild his physical form.
Yet, until now, Yann had no leads on those precious materials. The shops within the Sacred Heart City only offered commonplace ingredients.
Time passed swiftly, and before they knew it, the day of the exam had arrived."