Chapter 18: I’ve always wanted to see you like this.

CocoLiss’s hand was still suspended in mid-air.

But her expression now was somewhat subtle.

She had only wanted to go all out and create some big commotion to hit this old priest who had thrown his hands up and run away. Even if it couldn’t cause any real damage, at least it could vent her anger.

She had genuinely believed it wouldn’t cause any damage.

After all, she was just a half-baked amateur who had never systematically studied magic. She had only fumbled around by herself using the books left in the old church’s library. She still didn’t even know how to properly communicate with magic power, nor how to control the precision of spells.

The old priest himself had said that the black magic tool robe could defend against mid-rank magic and below for a short time. There was no way she could cast anything at the mid-rank level.

So CocoLiss came to one conclusion.

Could this guy be feeling guilty for abandoning his duties as a hands-off manager, so he deliberately gave her a high score during the entrance exam?

Very likely.

“This student has not only learned multiple types of magic, but can also combine and coordinate them. Most importantly, she has already taken a major leap forward.”

The old priest continued, “I’ll take this opportunity to explain some basic magic theory to everyone. Among all the magic we usually use, holy spirit magic is the most difficult to communicate with, yet it is the most effective against abyssal kin. Therefore, before reaching the level of advanced mage, it is common to mix easily accessible magic—such as basic elemental magic—with holy spirit magic to increase its power.”

“However, Student CocoLiss has already begun mixing holy spirit magic into basic magic before even incorporating it into foundational spells. In the academy’s history, only a handful of students have achieved this before graduation.”

The old priest looked delighted.

The students below, including CocoLiss, all wore expressions of shock.

Was this old thing making up such an elaborate reason just to give her full marks?

It seemed he had praised her a bit too much.

Look at Jiahao in the first row already gritting his teeth.

CocoLiss regretted it. She should have just rubbed out a tiny fireball and pressed it against the old priest. After all, there had been students earlier who couldn’t use magic at all. A small fireball wouldn’t have been too embarrassing.

And if she had just used a small fireball, this old thing wouldn’t have been able to make up such nonsense.

The gazes from the students in the seats below were varied.

CocoLiss couldn’t keep standing there like a monkey forever. Her delicate ear feathers were already fluttering, trying to cool her flushed cheeks.

“Then, teacher, I’ll go down first.”
She slightly lifted the sides of her skirt and bowed to the old priest.

Of course, before leaving, she still glared at the old priest.

Once the exam was over, she would definitely settle accounts with this old thing.

“Next student, please.”

The old priest unconsciously pressed a hand to his chest, his face showing a trace of weakness. “I got too excited and my old ailment is acting up.”

“Teacher, I don’t know any magic either.”

“Very good. You also fail.”

CocoLiss returned to her seat, smoothed her long skirt, and sat down stiffly under Noile’s sparkling gaze.

“CocoLiss dear…”

The little nun took a deep breath.

“What is it, Lady Noile?”
She still spoke with patience and gentleness.

“You’re so amazing, CocoLiss dear… You know so many spells, and you can even… um, that thing…”

“Holy spirit magic.”
CocoLiss felt that even someone who hadn’t paid attention in class knew more than Noile. “I only know some very simple little spells. Besides, the teacher definitely went easy during the entrance exam. As long as you give it your all, you can get a satisfactory score.”

“But CocoLiss dear, you got full marks! I don’t think anyone else in this classroom will get full marks.”

“Just luck.”
The little nun’s small ear feathers gently combed back the strands of hair by her temples that had been slightly disturbed by the magic fluctuations.

She also felt the old thing had gone way too far with his leniency.

Now she couldn’t even explain herself.

The airheaded girl beside her was looking at her with increasingly radiant eyes.

And where did she know any holy spirit magic? She had simply imitated Bishop Zain’s attack from that night and shaped something that looked roughly similar. Even managing to give it a decent form was already impressive, let alone making it actually offensive.

Even her aim was terrible. From such a close distance, she had aimed at his body but hit beside his face.

“So modest, CocoLiss dear. If I had your results, I’d already be jumping on that guy’s head to mock him. Unfortunately, I only got ‘Good’.”

Once again, her whisper was spoken without any volume control. The Second Prince in the front row clearly heard it, but he only turned back to glare at the little fox who was borrowing the tiger’s might before twisting his head away again.

“I’m not being modest. There will definitely be other full marks, and as long as Lady Noile studies hard from now on, you will definitely become even stronger than me.”
CocoLiss still wore a gentle smile.

Then that gentle smile grew increasingly stiff.

Among the remaining students, not to mention full marks, there weren’t even many “Excellent” or “Good” scores. About one-third of them only had magic talent and had never learned any actual magic at all.

CocoLiss really was the only one who got full marks.

“Students, today’s entrance adaptive assessment exam ends here. Remember to come for basic magic theory class this afternoon.”
The old priest pressed his chest again, took off the black magic tool robe, and straightened his purple robe—which seemed to represent his mage rank—while gathering his things to leave the classroom.

The students also left their seats one after another. Compared to the first day, there were many more discussions. It seemed that with time, even strangers had become somewhat familiar, and the entrance exam had become a common topic.

“CocoLiss dear, do you have any plans later?”

“I plan to go ask the teacher some questions.”

She planned to settle accounts with the old priest.

“You’re such a hardworking student, CocoLiss dear. But I think I’ll go eat first. My stomach is a bit hungry.”
Noile looked distressed. “How can I keep slacking off like this? No, no. Next time I’ll definitely go ask the teacher questions with you, CocoLiss dear.”

The airhead still chose to eat first.

CocoLiss smiled and waved goodbye to the lively fox-eared girl.

Then she noticed that the old priest on the platform had already disappeared.

Hm?

Did that old thing have such fast legs?

She chased all the way to the academy gate but still couldn’t find the runaway old priest.

She guessed he had fled because of his guilty conscience.

Fine. She would settle accounts with him during afternoon class.

She could only go home and sleep in for now.

However, on the way home, she seemed to see something unexpected.

It was a familiar figure walking slowly, carrying clear fatigue.

It was the blond Hero.

Since their residences were very close, it was normal for CocoLiss to see him.

But this was the first time she had seen Joshua looking so disheveled.