[Previous Chapter]
Sam's mana level appeared shockingly low during the measurement, but the truth was, he had intentionally suppressed it before touching the mana meter.
[The Previous Day]
The day before the official measurement, Sam could barely contain his excitement. He couldn't wait for the ceremony, so he secretly visited the mana meter alone. The crystal sat in a secluded chamber, dimly lit by torches that cast flickering shadows on the walls. The room was quiet, save for the faint hum of magical energy that filled the air.
As Sam approached the meter, he felt a strange mix of anticipation and dread. This was the moment of truth—would his training and the knowledge from the ancient tome pay off? Taking a deep breath, he reached out and placed his hand on the crystal, feeling its cold surface against his skin. He focused, letting his mana flow freely, unrestricted by any conscious effort.
His breath caught in his throat as the crystal began to glow, the light intensifying with each passing second. When the number finally appeared, Sam stared at it in disbelief—99,999. It was an unimaginable amount, a level of power that defied logic.
Sam stepped back, his mind racing. "Could even the Wizard King have had this much mana?" he whispered to himself, recalling the legends of the most powerful mage in history, the one who had defeated the Great Shadow Dragon and sealed it away in the Abyssal Forest. The mere thought that he might possess similar power left him reeling.
It was then that Sam made a decision. He had to hide his true strength. Revealing such power would draw far too much attention, and in this world, power could be as dangerous as it was advantageous. The safety of his family depended on his discretion.
With a focused effort, he suppressed his mana, forcing it to retreat deep within him until only a fraction remained. When he touched the mana meter again, the crystal glowed weakly, displaying a much lower number. Satisfied, Sam left the chamber, his mind already calculating his next moves.
[Present Day]
Today is the day I finally attend school. Yes, it's a bit later than in my previous life, but here, that's the norm. Nobles don't start formal education until they're eighteen, spending their early years studying at home under private tutors. The most exciting part? School life here lasts only four years. It's a far cry from the twelve-year grind back on Earth. I'm enrolling at Lunaris Academy of Mystics and Knights, the most prestigious institution in the kingdom.
In this world, soldiers are divided into two main classes—Magicians and Knights. It's odd that they don't combine swordplay with magic, but that's none of my concern. What matters is where I stand.
And what's my rank at Lunaris? Dead last. The weakest magician in the entire academy.
But that's just what I wanted. If everyone believes I'm the weakest, no one will suspect how powerful I really am. After all…
The strong may rule, but the weak can manipulate others.
Not my words, just a line from a book I read recently. But the sentiment stuck with me.
[Lunaris Academy]
Lunaris Academy was a sprawling fortress of learning, its tall spires reaching toward the sky like the fingers of a giant. The academy was a place of both tradition and innovation, where the best and brightest of the kingdom came to hone their skills in magic and combat. The halls were lined with portraits of past graduates, legendary figures who had shaped the history of the realm.
As I stepped through the gates, the weight of the academy's legacy pressed down on me, but I welcomed it. This was the place where I would refine my abilities, where I would prepare myself for the challenges ahead.
The first person to catch my attention at Lunaris was… Sara? Her name hasn't changed, and she's the princess of this kingdom. Unbelievable. In my previous life, her father ran a modest bakery, and now he's ruling an entire nation. It's a stark reminder of how wildly different this world is. But no matter. My focus is elsewhere.
Sara looked just as she had in my previous life—kind, with a gentle smile that hid a sharp intellect. But here, she was surrounded by an entourage of nobles, all vying for her attention. I kept my distance, observing her quietly. There was a part of me that wanted to approach her, to reconnect, but I couldn't afford to be distracted.
As I took my seat in the classroom, a boy slung his arm around my shoulder, a wide grin on his face. "Hey, aren't you the weakest magician?"
I returned his smile with one of my own, just as bright. "That's right. I'm the weakest magician here. Although, some people call me Sam—I've never quite understood why."
He chuckled, clearly amused. "Don't worry, buddy. I'm weak too, so let's be friends."
His easygoing demeanor put me at ease, but I wasn't fooled. There was a sharpness in his eyes that told me he was testing me, probing for weaknesses. I saw no harm in agreeing to his friendship, for now. But as the class began, I quickly realized the truth. This 'weak' boy was ranked second in the entire academy. He had deceived me with such ease. If anything, this world was teaching me a valuable lesson—trust would be hard to come by.
[The First Lesson]
Our first lesson started, and the teacher droned on about concepts so basic, a child from my previous world could grasp them with ease. I pretended to pay attention, blending in with the others, though my mind was elsewhere. I had no intention of standing out, not yet.
But my peaceful pretense didn't last. As the lesson continued, I felt a strange sensation—a tingle at the base of my skull, like a faint alarm. I sensed a massive concentration of mana approaching the classroom, but it wasn't from a person. It was a gas, invisible yet potent. To my amazement, no one else seemed to notice.
Within moments, students began collapsing one by one, unconscious. The entire class fell asleep, their heads resting on their desks as if they had simply dozed off. But I knew better than to stand out. I let my head droop, pretending to sleep just like the others, my senses on high alert.
Minutes passed. Then, some of the students began to stir, slowly regaining consciousness. But something was off—everyone now had their mana levels displayed on their necks, glowing faintly like a brand. I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the window, and there it was, clear as day: Immeasurable.
Seriously? I thought, suppressing a groan.
But the real horror was yet to come. As the awakened students tried to use their magic, I watched in dread. Those with low mana reserves exhausted their energy quickly. And when their mana hit zero…
Boom.
A student's head exploded right in front of me, painting the classroom in crimson. It happened so suddenly that I barely had time to react. Panic rippled through the room as more students began to realize the deadly game they were now part of.
I kept my composure, continuing to feign unconsciousness. Whoever was behind this wanted something—wanted us—to act. But I wasn't going to play their game. Not yet.
The classroom was now a scene of chaos and bloodshed, the air thick with the scent of iron. Fear gripped the remaining students as they scrambled to control their mana, desperate to avoid the same fate as their fallen classmate.
I couldn't help but feel a twisted sense of satisfaction. Whoever was orchestrating this was underestimating me, treating me like a weak, insignificant player in their twisted game. But soon, they would learn that sometimes, the prey is far more dangerous than the predator.
In this twisted academy, the weakest have always been preyed upon. But soon, they'll learn that sometimes, the prey is far more dangerous than the predator.