Chapter Three: The Black Cat

In the plaza before the Wizard’s Tower, Andy was stopped by a group. Three young women dressed in noble attire stood before him, with several attendants waiting nearby within sight.

Andy surveyed the girls and asked, “May I inquire what business brings you here, ladies?”

If Andy had asked a girl that way on Earth, the reply would surely have been, “Lady? You’re the lady! Your whole family are ladies! And business? I’ll show you some business!” But in this world, “lady” was the proper address for an unmarried noble girl. Thus, the young women showed no particular reaction to his question.

Upon hearing him, a long-legged girl abruptly pushed the smallest among them in front of Andy. “Lucy, you tell him.”

The petite girl named Lucy, startled by the push, opened her mouth nervously, “Excuse me… excuse me…”

As she spoke, her cheeks gradually flushed.

“Oh, how hopeless you are!” The long-legged girl pulled Lucy back behind her and, chin raised, addressed Andy, “Hey, are you an apprentice from the Wizard’s Tower?”

Andy couldn’t help but smile, guessing she must be a girl curious about the arcane arts, perhaps drawn in by his apprentice robes and hoping for a demonstration to satisfy her curiosity.

“I study wizardry inside, but I haven’t mastered my first spell yet, so I’m not considered a formal apprentice,” Andy replied. At present, he merely possessed the spirit strength of a novice apprentice; to become a true novice wizard apprentice, he had to construct his first zero-level spell.

Strictly speaking, Andy wasn’t even entitled to wear the apprentice robes. However, Stein had shown him favor, allowing Andy to enjoy better treatment than many formal apprentices. Andy’s memories included more than a few disgruntled apprentices because of this.

“Oh, so you haven’t learned a single spell?” The girl’s scornful gaze was so blatant that Andy found himself at a loss for words.

“Don’t feel bad. There are plenty who don’t become apprentices until they’re old!” She hurried to comfort him, seeing his mood, though her words only made it worse.

“You study inside—do you know Edward? Edward Colin?” she asked, blinking nervously.

“Genius Edward? Of course. He possesses first-class spirit talent, began studying wizardry at ten, and now at fifteen is already an advanced wizard apprentice.”

“Yes, yes, Edward is certainly a genius! Since you know him, can you do me a favor?” The girl’s voice faltered, and she showed a hint of shyness.

“Oh! Just give this letter to him!” Before Andy could answer, she thrust a pink envelope into his hand. Then, turning to Lucy, she said, “Yours, hand it over!”

Lucy hung her head, twisting her fingers into her dress, silent.

“Shall I resort to torture?” The long-legged girl began tickling Lucy.

“No, please!” Lucy dodged and finally produced an identical envelope, which was promptly snatched and delivered to Andy.

At that moment, the quiet, graceful girl who had been silent stepped forward, and Andy noticed her striking deep blue eyes for the first time.

“And mine as well,” she said, placing her own letter in Andy’s hand. Her movements were elegant, her lace-gloved arms slender and white, making her fingers seem even longer. She winked at Andy, her eyes like a blue lake, nearly drowning his soul.

“Hurry up, Linda! If you stay any longer, you’ll turn the apprentice into a fool,” the long-legged girl urged, and the three girls and their attendants departed.

After they left, Andy gazed at the three envelopes in his hand and sighed, “Three fine cabbages…”

He picked out Linda’s envelope and tucked it into his inner pocket.

“Okay, now there are only two left.”

Unbeknownst to Andy, lingering outside the Wizard’s Tower had already caught the attention of those with ulterior motives. As he absentmindedly walked into the tower’s main hall, he suddenly felt his foot slip.

As he was about to fall, Andy’s excellent coordination allowed him to swiftly shift his center of gravity, stepping back to steady himself. Yet his foot slipped again, and Andy finally lost his balance, tumbling toward the ground. It was only then that he noticed two fresh patches of oil on the floor.

Level 1 spell—“Grease!”

Realizing what had happened, Andy could have braced himself with his hands to avoid a bad fall. But considering the envelopes in his hand and the oil on the floor, he quietly sighed and quickly wrapped the two girls’ love letters in his robe’s sleeve, letting himself fall solidly to the ground.

Andy landed hard, pain shooting through his body, but it was only a fleeting ache. His body was even stronger than he’d imagined. In fact, with the physique of a knight candidate, not only would a slip like this be harmless—even a fall from a galloping horse would rarely cause injury.

He had barely gotten up when a sharp voice rang out.

“Well, well, isn’t that Brother Andy? I heard you went into seclusion. So you’re out now? Have you mastered your magical skills? About to dominate, are you? What move was that—was it the level 10 spell ‘Dog Eats Dirt’? Hahahaha!”

Andy looked at the speaker—a blond, or rather, a yellow-haired youth with a flashy style. In Andy’s memory, he was Bill, a mid-level wizard apprentice. Bill stood with one hand on his hip, gesticulating wildly. Beside him, a boy and a girl from the tower, Compson and Elena, approached Andy.

“Sorry, Andy. The two of them were just discussing spell casting and accidentally demonstrated it. We never expected someone to walk in right then,” Elena said as she cast “Cleanse” on the oil stains, smiling as she spoke. Though her words were apologetic, her face was openly mocking and disdainful.

“I heard you were in seclusion, Andy, trying to break through to wizard apprentice. Did you succeed?” Despite the widespread rumor of Andy’s failed attempt, Compson feigned ignorance, wearing just the right expression of concern.

Before Andy could reply, Bill’s shrill voice cut in again, “Why ask? Of course he succeeded! Six years of calming herb, every single day—feed that to a pig and it’d turn into a low-tier magical beast! Maybe Andy awakened a legendary soul talent and shot up three levels, now an esteemed wizard himself!”

Bill then changed his tone, imitating Andy’s accent, “Ha, wizard lord—are you all afraid? All of you who insulted, despised, and mocked me, every—single—one—must—die…” Bill turned and pointed at the empty air as if addressing a crowd.

Suddenly, he clutched his heart dramatically, “Oh, I’m so scared… uh… boohoo!”

He didn’t get another word out—a powerful hand clamped his neck. It was Andy. Normally, Andy, who had crossed from another world, took such taunts with detachment, as if watching monkeys perform. But time was short; he needed to meet Wizard Stein and sound out Sally, so his patience finally snapped.

He hoisted Bill like a radish, letting him flail wildly before tossing him to the ground, landing him squarely in the classic “dog eats dirt” pose.

Andy said calmly, “You were blocking my way, junior.”

He strode toward the stairs.

“Smack!” Andy had barely taken a step when his arm was seized, a powerful force pulling him back.

He turned to see Compson’s smiling face.

“It’s just a joke among classmates—no need to get physical,” Compson said, appearing the righteous mediator, as if the “Grease” spell incident at the entrance had never happened.

Andy said nothing, pulled his arm free with a burst of strength, and walked up the stairs with a blank expression.

“Damn, so arrogant!” Bill grumbled, beginning to chant a spell, apparently planning to teach Andy a lesson with something powerful.

But Compson quickly covered Bill’s mouth.

“Don’t be rash. Even with my strength spell, I couldn’t hold him—he’s at least a high-level knight candidate. If it comes to a real fight, you might not be his match. Besides, if the teachers find out, they definitely won’t side with you.”

As he spoke, Compson gently rubbed the fingers of his left hand, which had already swollen from grabbing Andy’s arm.

“What, a high-tier knight candidate? So, all brawn, no brains. Hmph—so what if he’s a knight? He can’t compare to a noble wizard.”

Sensing that the magical energy behind him had dissipated, Andy relaxed his muscles and climbed the stairs.

In truth, Bill wasn’t wrong. In this world, novice and intermediate wizard apprentices mastered only level 0 and level 1 spells—mostly supportive, and even the offensive ones had little power, unable to threaten knight candidates whose strength, agility, and reaction far surpassed ordinary adults.

But once an apprentice advanced to senior level and mastered level 2 spells, they could stand toe-to-toe with knights.

And should one become a wizard—even the lowest, a bronze wizard—they could crush even an advanced knight.

This was a world belonging to wizards. Only by becoming a wizard could one glimpse the world’s truths. In Andy’s memory, his mentor Stein had said he was merely a bronze wizard, the most basic rank; above were silver wizards, and above them, gold wizards. Beyond gold lay mysterious, unknown realms.

Each step up in wizard rank meant mastering a higher level of spell; Stein controlled level 3 spells.

Thinking of the mysterious world of wizards, Andy’s heart blazed. The discomfort upon arriving from another world, the terror at discovering hidden enemies, the flutter stirred by beautiful girls—all faded before his yearning for that boundless, magnificent world.

“What does it matter if my talent is lacking? What if enemies lurk in the shadows? I, Andy from Earth, will leave my mark in this world of wizards.”

With infinite longing, Andy ascended to the second floor. Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed in his ears. A black shadow launched itself at him.

It was a black cat, baring its mouth at Andy—wider and wider, until it reached the size of a basin. Like the maw of a serpent, stretched so far its head seemed to vanish.

All Andy could see were rows of crocodile-like fangs, blood dripping between them, and the vague traces of flesh!