My mother always told me that when I was still in grade school I was a genius. When I stepped into high school, I got lazy and started having bad grades. Honestly, I don’t even remember being genius.

***

“Young Master, it might be better if you go to school today. The Headmaster sent a message to you yesterday and it says that he will still accept you in the academy.”

Petal spoke to me while holding a feather duster on her hand.

Because of the fiasco during my ceremony two days ago, I found it hard to enter the academy because of two reasons: First, because I was one-sidedly called a heretic yesterday by the gods, literally. And second, because there’s a girl that hates my guts.

The feeling is mutual by the way.

“Isn’t it bad for his image to accept me? I don’t like troubling other people. It might be best that I stay here and learn by myself.”

Currently, I’m inside the library of the mansion. I have Petal with me right now to teach me the alphabet of Marzenthurian language. It’s not really hard to understand though.

“But sir, wouldn’t it be rude if you turn down such a good will?”

--you know, for an AI, you’re really smart and knowledgeable.

“I’ll think about it. For now, I need to learn this world’s language and literature. I can’t rely on my translation earing forever.”

“I’ll do what I can to support you young master.”

Since I averted the [go to the academy] topic magnificently, we proceeded with the lesson.

I’m reading the book I bought yesterday that has basic language and characters. It costs five silver coins, but I haggled it down to three which was a win. But I feel that it was too cheap.

“Ah, young master, this one on the book is spelled wrongly.”

--the reason which why it’s cheap is because there are many typo in here. Looks like typos exists in either worlds.

“Thanks Petal, good thing you know how to read.”

“It is part of my programming master. It’s basic for me.”

--How envious, I wish I can just program it too in my mind.

Right now, I can at memorize 26 characters out of 43. It’s quite hard, but it’s fun. They do say that learning new things is fun.

***

I spent half of the day in the library just learning the Marzenthurian characters. For now, I can read basic words and talk some of it when I take off the [Translation Earing]. I’m quite the smart guy if I do say myself.

“Haah… Petal, can you get me the sweets I bought yesterday? My throat feels kind of sore.”

“I would recommend sweet water. It’ll cure your sore throat.”

“Then please crush those and dilute it with water.”

After listening to my request, Petal left the library and went to the kitchen.

The sweets I’m talking about are neither a candy nor cake. It’s the same as sugar cane except its round like a fruit and very hard. The locals call it [Sweet Ball]. I bought it for only five copper coins.

Since I’m able to read most of the words of every book, I went to a shelf with a book that has been catching my sight since a while ago. It’s probably my imagination that I blinked to me.

I took the black covered book. Its design is quite unique, but its old compared to the other books. It doesn’t look like it’s cursed, so I opened it without hesitation.

“Hmm… I can’t read some of it, but I can still guess the words just by the rest of the sentences.”

While scanning through the pages, I was amazed on how well arranged the phrases of each parts. Of course, this book is a magic book.

Suddenly, a phrase on a page caught my attention just before I could flip it. It moved… it’s probably my imagination.

Since I’m already reading it, why not read it out loud?

“### #### ## ##### ### #### ### ### >”

The last part only stuck my head and I spoke it unconsciously. After that, I felt like my eyes stung a bit. After a few blinks, it disappeared.

“No way…”

I uttered out my thoughts.

I mean who wouldn’t? I can suddenly read and understand the mysterious characters that on the book that aren’t on the Marzenthurian alphabet.

Next, another page is letting out silvery glitters. I flipped the page to it, only to find another phrase that is attracting my eyes.

“# ##### #### ## ##### #### ### #### ##### #### #### ### >”

After invoking, the surrounding air swirled around me in an unnatural manner.

Next thing I knew, a female voice is calling out to me.

[Finally, you found the signs.]

“Huh! Who are you?”

I turned around to see if there was anyone with me inside the room. Unfortunately, there isn’t.

[I am the merciful God that protected you. Don’t tell me you forgot about it.]

--now that she mentions it, her voice does sound familiar.

“Are you the one that tried to seal me?”

[Weren’t you listening? I said I protected you. If I didn’t notice you during that time, you have been dead by now.]

--so it wasn’t seal but kill huh. Gods’ sure are unreasonable.

“So, why did you leave the signs? Do you have anything you want from me?”

[I do have one, but not this time. I only want to tell you about something dangerous that is approaching towards you.]

“What does it have to do with me?”

[Because you have something they want, and it will cost you your life.]

No frigging way. It hasn’t been a week since I arrived in this world and I’ll be clashing with some unknown things. I’m not some protagonist of a romantic fantasy—wait, I don’t have any romance here…

“Can’t you just intercept it yourself? You’re a god.”

[I’m afraid that I cannot intervene with the things on the mortal realm. My advice is to go to the academy to seek shelter and protection from the people inside.]

So realms and stuff exists huh, can’t underestimate fantasy.

“So, what is this thing that’s approaching?”

She fell into a slight silence, after that, she replied in a carefree manner.

[There are two things, the first one is the one that would likely kill you, and the other one is slightly different from that. If things go smoothly, it might be good for you.]

--The hell, isn’t that being seriously vague? I thought that the vagueness of the gods is only in movies.

“Then what’s the point in telling me this?! If you are just going to make fun of me, just stay silent and watch over us, idiot god.”

[How rude! I’m not an idiot.]

Somehow, she sounded a little childish. Honestly, I find it cute.

Anyhow, it would be weird to Petal who is watching me on the door while holding a glass of juice with an expressionless face, to see me talking to myself.

“Anyhow, I’ll take back what I said if you give me the power to make spells chantless for me. If you do it, my image of you might get better.”

[Okay fine…]

She replied to me in a reluctant voice. Leaving that aside, I only said it jokingly. I wasn’t serious at all.

Before I managed to take back what I said, a ring of light suddenly appeared before me. It wrapped around my finger and slow fitted itself. I felt a little pain similar to the time I pierced my ear.

[I can’t give you the power to make spells chantless, but I can give you a power that allows you make shortcuts in making spells.]

--She really is an idiot. Doesn’t she realize that it’s the same?

“Even if my life is currently in danger, I can’t have this item.”

[Why not? Don’t magicians seek ways to use magic in a more convenient way?]

“I can understand that, however, I came from a world where cheats are very common. For me, having cheats is equal to boring. I easily get bored, so if there’s something new, I make it interesting for me. But if you intervene using a cheat, I’m afraid that I will get bored.”

[Guuu…]

-Is she sulking? No, she is sulking.

“But, I can let you grant me a power. However, make it something that doesn’t make me a cheat like character.”

She fell into silence. She’s probably thinking about it deeply. Wait, isn’t she a god? She’s supposed to be wise, isn’t she?

[Then, I’ll give you a power similar to the eyes of your mortal friend.]

I really don’t know what Sora’s magic eye is capable of, but I think it’s a little bit cool.

“If you really are a god, use you’re almighty brain to think about it.”

Somehow, I feel like I’m not myself. I can’t say it with proper words but, isn’t commanding a god weird?

“Before you grant it, I have a question to ask. Why am I targeted by the gods?”

I can feel that she’s thinking deeply about a reply judging from the silence.

[I’m not supposed to say it directly, but I’m a god. I cannot lie.]

--that explains their vagueness…

[You’re grandfather, the alchemist, stole the power of a god.]

Okay, okay, this one is on a new level of absurdness. Just what kind of person my grandfather was? Was he the reason why I’m a heretic?

“Explain, what power did he steal from the god?”

[Infinity, he stole the power of infinity from a god and fought the other gods.]

“Why did he do it?”

[Because of one person, He fought the gods for that one person. However, it was too late for that person and eventually, for him too.]

I can guess who this person is, but it makes me curious.

“Was my grandfather defeated?”

[Fortunately, yes.]

--Fortunately?

[After that person disappeared, he went into rampage because of the power he stole. The power of infinity is way beyond the human soul’s capacity and gets easily corrupted. Because of that, he tried to put the world into ruin.]

“I can understand that, but what does it have to do with me?”

The light on my index finger disappeared making a twink sound. After that, a ring with an unusually large gem that is as big as my finger is left.

[Your grandfather left you his power. In the eyes of the gods, you are no different from him.]

I see… that explains why I have so much mana. This is the power of infinity.

One the other hand, I’m getting annoyed by the god’s inconsiderate nature. Aren’t gods supposed to be merciful beings?

While I was giving that thought priority, she continued talking.

[Because of that, magicians who seek great power will target you from now on. They will try to steal the power you possess.]

I’m afraid to ask. Although I know the answer already, I just want to confirm it.

“If they manage to steal the power, will I die?”

[The power of infinity links with the soul, if it’s taken away, your body withers without your soul. After that, you will die and your soul will cease to exist.]

Oblivion huh… that sure is way worse than dying.

“Is there any safe way to remove the power?”

[None]

She immediately replied in a monotone voice, she probably expected this.

[Like I said earlier, you need to take shelter to the academy. There are capable and trustworthy souls in there. They will likely take your side.]

I can imagine Sora and the Headmaster after listening to her. Although Sora’s quite a shady type of guy, I trust him.

I feel like the effect of the magic I caster earlier is wearing off because of the acute pain pulsing in my head. I better make this quick.

“I’ll listen to your advice. I’d also like to ask about the ring.”

[Oh that? It’s called [Rune Grabber]. You can read and convert long magic formations into short runes with it. You can also shorten chants using it. Depending on what kind of spell, you may be able to use spells up to intermediate level chantlessly.]

I see. So it’s like a converter software function huh, pretty convenient. I’d like to test it as soon as possible.

[Moreover, you can just record the rune formation on it and use a trigger to instantly reuse it.]

-too convenient! It’s already a cheat item.

“Is there any drawbacks when I use it?”

[Good question, but it’s not a problem if it’s you. Because of the converting function of the ring, it will cause the spell to cost twice the amount of mana required in using the spell.]

Well, no matter how you look at it, you can’t find an end on the word infinite.

[Since the other gods would likely notice us if we continue our conversation, we have to end this small chat.]

It’s not exactly a small chat though…

After the pain disappeared in my head, so did her voice.

Sensing that my business is done, Petal walked to and gave me the sweet juice she was holding the whole time.

Because she never asked anything about what I was doing earlier, her expressionless face is slightly troubling me.

“Are you not going to ask me about it?”

“What do you mean, young master? Is it about you taking to God Lithius?”

I don’t exactly know if it was God Lithius (or whoever the hell that was) was the one I was conversing with, but let’s ride on it for now.

“Ah, I see. So you knew?”

“It’s not new to me. The late master does it most of the time when he uses the forbidden holy book. And by book, I mean the one you are holding now.”

So this book was a forbidden holy book. I never gave any thought about it before reading it.

***

A day has passed since I talked with God Lithius. Although I never got a chance to ask what her reason was, I got myself a lot of information about what is going to happen to me.

Heeding her advice, I went to Half Moon Academy in the morning.

I was thinking that I should have rode a horse towards the academy because it has some considerable distance, but since Petal said during her lecture to me on this world’s logic that ‘Nobles must not ride a horse alone because he might get targeted by thieves and bandits’ which is a bad thing so I didn’t, although she did advise me to hire a coachman and buy horses to put the carriage in the empty stable to good use.

I thought that it was going to be expensive. Turns out that the wage of the coachman is only two silver coins a day and the horses’ costs twenty silver coins or more depending on its age, I’ll go to the city guild office downtown to inquire.

Leaving that aside, I arrived in the academy by foot. I repeat. By foot!

Just when I was about to enter, a familiar voice called out to me.

“Oh, isn’t that you Key?”

“Ghena? What’s with that outfit?”

I’m quite surprised to see Ghena in a genuine maid outfit. Moreover, it’s black and white.

“This? It’s my work clothes. The Earl of the Goldenbloom household is going to visit the mistress. I have to present myself formally to the Earl if I don’t what to lose my job.”

“That’s pretty tiring.”

I can’t help but let out my words of pity. Though she didn’t mind it, I apologized since it felt rude for me.

“That reminds me. This is the first time I saw you come here in a while. I thought you entered the academy, but I didn’t see you. Are you in the Darkus fraction perhaps?”

“No, I’m not. But I’m not in the Helius fraction either.”

“Not in both fractions? That’s rare.”

The thing about me being a heretic was concealed?

Well, imagining how the gods reacted when they met me. How much more if their followers knew? Just thinking about it is already troublesome.

For now, I should make up some lie to get by.

“The Headmaster told me that I was an irregular. But I’m still allowed to join either class despite not being a part of any fraction.”

“I see. I guess it can’t be helped. If we get to be classmates in a class, I can teach you anything if you have any questions.”

I’m sorry Ghena, but my grandfather’s library has a lot of books so your goodwill might not be answered. I’ve already learned so much after reading one fourth of his collection for the past few days.

“I will. Let’s go.”

I urged Ghena to continue walking with me.

However, something is bugging me. Did she just say ‘Goldenbloom’ earlier? It sounds a bit familiar.

***

After arriving at the Headmasters office, I told him about what happened yesterday and about the God that I was conversing with. The moment I said Lithius, he made a complicated expression. However, I didn’t tell him about the [Rune Grabber] yet because there are other important-looking people inside the room and I might cause a huge uproar. After all, I hate annoying things.

“You spoke with God Lithius huh. This is pretty troubling.”

“What do you mean?”

Since the peanut gallery are whispering behind us, the headmaster faked a cough to silence them.

“God Lithius is the Guardian of the Void. According to the Ancient Scripture, she’s the youngest of all the gods and the most powerful one at most. However, she likes to intervene in the mortal realm and create chaos for her enjoyment.”

Hey, hey, hey! You’re supposed to tell me that sooner!

“Do you know what it means if God Lithius appears?”

Enlighten me.

“She will make havoc and put this world into chaos again. If that happens, I can’t image the fate of this world will take.”

That’s sure is some bad news.

I feel like I need to retort to that. Since I was talking with her yesterday, I can’t really say that she’s a bad entity. After all, she did give me a gift to assist me.

“But something is troubling me. Why did she tell you to come here to protect you?”

“How should I know?”

-End of Chapter 4-