The Special Transfer Student and Class President Erika

"Heh heh, young friend... there's no need to be quite so tense."

The old man's good-natured chuckle, released as he stroked a long white beard that trailed down to his chest, was warm and gentle.

Yet the moment that one kindly voice split the air, the heavy atmosphere of the Arhen dimension rippled faintly and realigned itself. Mana belonging to a magical civilization built upon laws of staggering refinement and depth—on an entirely different order from the wild demonic energy of the Abyss—was finding and settling into its proper place of its own accord.

Yushin felt an instinctive shiver run down his spine.

The being standing before him was not suppressing his power by force. This was the transcendent ease that only an absolute powerhouse could radiate—someone who had climbed so impossibly high that he never even felt the need to project intimidation in the first place.

The confidence that had swelled through his whole body upon ascending to Dimensional Wanderer Rank D settled back down, replaced by a cool undercurrent of tension. This place, Arhen, was no ordinary hunting ground to simply pass through on the way up from the Abyss. From the very threshold of the dimension, without any warning, he had found himself face to face with the very summit of this world's order—a perilous encounter if there ever was one.

"Wanderer of another world, I welcome you sincerely. I am Ervain Walter, chief administrator and headmaster of this venerable institution, the Magic Academy Arhen."

As if hoping to ease Yushin's wariness, the old man who had named himself Ervain Walter drew back a single layer of the transcendent veil of mana that had wrapped his entire body. Then, leaning his frame slowly against a weathered staff carved from ancient wood, he offered a soft smile.

Yushin lightly gripped the Heukwol at his hip and pressed sharply.

"The fact that I'm a wanderer who crossed between dimensions... how on earth did you know from the very beginning?"

Ervain Walter narrowed his eyes and studied Yushin in silence, as though he had anticipated the question perfectly. There was no probing of an enemy in that gaze, no killing intent aimed at an intruder—only the deep composure of an observer who had watched countless causalities and variables unfold over hundreds of years.

"Heh heh... so it's the fundamental question that comes bursting out first, as expected."

The old man lightly tapped the cold marble floor with the tip of his staff. With a dull pulse of energy, the flow of mana around them spread outward in gentle concentric rings.

"In the very instant you tore through this dimension's barrier and set foot inside, the texture of the mana enveloping all of Arhen trembled, however faintly. Arhen is a world built, from its earliest days, upon the flow of magic itself. A foreigner who crosses that river ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of law inevitably leaves a trace upon their soul."

The old man lifted his head and met Yushin's deep eyes directly.

"Moreover, the mana a wanderer carries resembles this world's mana in form, yet differs from it in essence entirely. A harmony from another world—familiar, yet subtly discordant. That, my friend, is the proof of your existence."

A brief stillness settled between the two men. In that momentary silence, Yushin realized something. The man before him had not merely sensed his aura. This was the practiced bearing of someone who had crossed paths with Dimensional Wanderers like himself countless times before, and had watched their journeys unfold.

"So put your needless worries aside."

Ervain smiled warmly once more.

"Before I press you about why you've come here, let me say something with certainty first. Our Arhen never rejects or turns away a wanderer who crosses between dimensions. You are welcome. I offer you my sincere congratulations on your enrollment at the Magic Academy Arhen."

The moment that declaration ended, the surrounding air shimmered and rippled with glittering particles of golden mana. It was no mere verbal contract—it was a token that the laws of Arhen's magic themselves had accepted Yushin as a formal member.

Yushin waved his hands in flustered protest.

"Hold on, I never once said anything about enrolling—"

At Yurang-i's firm advice, Yushin swallowed the rest of his objection and reluctantly nodded.

"...Fine. I accept the enrollment."

The moment Yushin nodded and consented, a faint wisp of blue mana began to rise from the form of the white-haired old man standing before him.

Ssss—

The wrinkled silhouette of the old man wavered and sloughed away; the hunched back straightened, and the figure re-formed into the voluptuous silhouette of a breathtakingly beautiful woman. The weathered staff vanished in an instant, and in its place stood a captivating beauty draped in the highest ceremonial coat reserved for the headmaster alone, lavishly embroidered in deep navy and gold.

Long sky-blue hair flowing elegantly like a clear heavens, and deep, mysterious blue eyes. Though she was in truth a grand archmage hundreds of years old, magic had preserved her fresh, vibrant beauty flawlessly—she looked barely past twenty. This was the headmistress, Ervain Phileosia, radiating both the warmth of a mature older woman and the fatal allure of a grand sorceress with her entire being.

Yushin asked, his expression one of sheer incredulity.

"...Why on earth were you going around disguised as an old man?"

Phileosia shrugged and playfully stuck out the tip of her tongue.

"Fufu, it wasn't transformation magic—this is my true form, actually. I simply borrowed an old man's appearance to carry a bit of dignified authority. Sorry for deceiving you, young wanderer?"

She stepped closer with a gracious smile. A fresh fragrance of magical reagents brushed past the tip of his nose.

"Let me introduce myself properly once more. Ervain Phileosia—chief administrator and headmistress of the Magic Academy Arhen."

A short while later, the practical training classroom of Arhen Magic Academy, which Yushin entered under Phileosia's guidance, boasted the grandeur of antique stone architecture. Granite walls hardened by mana, and tiers of luxurious wooden seating arranged in ascending rows. Dozens of noble-born magical scholars were already seated inside, and faint pulses of mana threaded through the air with tense anticipation.

When the classroom door opened and Yushin, an unfamiliar foreigner, revealed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠himself, dozens of sharp gazes rained down on him all at once.

"As of today, one very special student joins this class."

Headmistress Phileosia's low voice pressed quietly down over the entire room. She made a point of not taking the lectern, instead standing at the doorway with her arms folded, regarding the students with an easy smile.

"He is not a student who passed the formal entrance examination. He entered without so much as a family letter of recommendation... a special transfer student."

At those words, a murmur began to spread through the classroom.

"A special transfer student...?"

"Has there ever been such a precedent in Arhen's history?"

"Then what happens to his class rank and status?"

The faces of the noble students twisted with displeasure. The geniuses gathered beneath Arhen's laws were extremely sensitive to their illustrious bloodlines and positions being encroached upon by a foreigner of unknown origin.

Phileosia chuckled softly and drove the wedge in deeper.

"No imperial status rank applies to this young man, nor any regular academic year. Because... he is a Wanderer who crossed between dimensions."

Wanderer.

The instant that legendary word echoed through the classroom, the students' eyes flooded with undisguised shock, jealousy, and cold hostility.

"A Wanderer...?"

"You mean the otherworldly monster from all the stories?"

"Tch, he looks about as sturdy as a wet noodle. What great power could he possibly have."

The arrogant noble scions whispered without even bothering to lower their voices, the chatter grating at his ears. Yushin, deeming them not worth a response, stood expressionless in the center of the classroom.

"Silence."

At Phileosia's single firm word, the room fell dead quiet in an instant. She looked slowly around at the students, then cast her gaze toward the front row.

"Class president."

"Yes, Headmistress."

At that clear, bell-like voice, the young woman seated in the center of the front row sprang to her feet. In that moment, Yushin's gaze locked onto her.

Sunlight-bright golden hair in long, lustrous waves, and clear emerald eyes. A large wizard's hat trimmed with a blue ribbon and golden tassel, worn at a tilt, atop a neatly pressed school blouse.

Though "neatly pressed" was perhaps generous—the fabric strained at her chest as though the buttons might fly off at any moment, a figure so dramatic it drew the eye before anything else did. Above a waist so slender it seemed made to be held in one hand, and beneath that pure, lovely face, Class President Erika carried a presence that made her the undeniable center of the room.

Phileosia looked at Erika and gave her instructions in an even tone.

"For the time being, you as class president will take charge of the Wanderer's adjustment and foundational instruction."

"Understood, Headmistress."

Erika bowed her head neatly and answered clearly. Phileosia then turned to the stern-faced practical instructor standing at the back of the room.

"Instructor Shuka. There is no need to grant the Wanderer any special treatment. Apply the existing standards to his practical training and evaluations with strict impartiality."

"I will keep that in mind, Headmistress."

With her business concluded, Phileosia turned and exited the classroom, and as the door closed, a suffocating silence settled over the room. The first to break that awkward stillness was none other than Class President Erika.

Pushing back her chair and rising, Erika glided gracefully toward Yushin. With every step closer, a sweet vanilla scent laced with the subtle perfume of magical blossoms washed over him.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Wanderer-nim. I'm Erika, the class president of this class."

Her emerald eyes sparkling, Erika beamed at him with an angelic smile purer than anyone else in the world—a greeting of welcome entirely free of prejudice or calculation of his standing.

Yushin caught himself staring blankly, swallowed a dry cough, and extended his hand.

"Ah... I'm Go Yushin. Looking forward to it, Class President."

At his somewhat dazed and clumsy greeting, Erika's eyes went round with surprise before she burst into laughter.

"Pfft... fufu! Ahaha...!"

Not even bothering to cover her mouth, Erika clutched her stomach and giggled, her harmless laughter filling the classroom.

"I'm sorry! When they said 'Wanderer,' I assumed you'd be some terrifying monster without ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a drop of mercy in you... but you're so much cuter and more approachable than I expected!"

Erika smiled with her eyes, the corners crinkling prettily. Every time her strained blouse bounced with her laughter, Yushin could hear the male students around the room swallowing hard.

But that was the exact moment it happened.

Crunch!

From the window seat at the very back of the classroom, murderous bloodlust drove into Yushin's spine like a dagger. The sound of fingernails raking across a wooden desk hard enough to splinter it.

"That bastard... daring to lay a hand on Erika... I'll kill him...!"

A male student glared at Yushin, gritting his teeth as though he might weep tears of blood. It was the childhood friend who had come up to the capital from a rural village alongside Erika and had nursed a desperate, one-sided love for her ever since.

Yurang-i's warning window flickered at the corner of his vision, but Yushin didn't bother turning around, sneering inwardly.

'Killing me, is it? How adorable, this green little rookie.'

Erika, entirely oblivious to the murderous undercurrent around her, tugged gently at Yushin's sleeve and asked kindly.

"Yushin-ssi, today's lessons are over since it's your first day... would you happen to have some free time?"

"Hm? I've got plenty of time. Why?"

"I'll show you the school library! As a special transfer student, you'll need to check the restricted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠archive section that ordinary students aren't allowed into."

"If you'd do that, I'd be genuinely grateful."

Yushin and Erika walked out of the classroom side by side and made their way down the stone corridor. Each time they walked shoulder to shoulder, the soft warmth of her presence brushed tantalizingly close to his arm, and the glimpse of fair, supple legs beneath her thin school skirt kept tugging at his gaze.

Before long, the two of them arrived at the depths of the Great Library, known as the very heart of Arhen Magic Academy. A mysterious space where tens of thousands of ancient grimoires lined the walls from floor to ceiling.

Erika pointed at a massive arched iron gate veiled in a faint blue barrier and whispered.

"This is the Forbidden Archive. Beyond that gate sleep the ultimate magical records—the ones sought by people like you, Yushin-nim, who travel between dimensions."

A heavy, profound pulse of mana wafted out from beyond the iron gate. In Arhen, a world of swords and sorcery, Yushin's new magical awakening—and his deepening bond with the lovely Erika—was only just beginning.