I, the wizard, the foolish Buddha.

When Roland went out, there were already quite a few people in the corridor. They were all Roland's classmates.

"Hey, Roland, I thought you'd skip the exam today too." These guys came over with grins as soon as they saw Roland come out of the room.

"Come on, Charlie, Lance." Roland rolled his eyes and said angrily, "Once I pass the test, I'll kick all of you freeloaders out of here!"

They're usually good friends, but Roland lost a lot of money playing cards yesterday. He suspects that Charlie and his buddies conspired to cheat him since he always wins. That's why he's a bit angry when he sees them.

At this moment, Joan also came out of the room. Many of the students' faces stiffened slightly. Most of them awkwardly greeted her as "senior" and then slunk away. Charlie and his group of four or five, leading the group, gave Joan a forced smile and then left as well.

Joan didn't give these guys a friendly look. He snorted as he watched their backs and said, "None of these guys from Black Abyss Academy are any good, especially Charlie and his group. They're into everything from eating and drinking to gambling and whoring. It's a good thing you didn't hang out with them too much, or you'd be hopeless."

Roland coughed, glancing at the door next door to change the subject: "Your junior seems to have arrived already? Aren't you going to say hello?"

“She’s not in her room. I saw her this morning when Sir Wallace took her around,” Joan said. “She’s probably already at the exam hall by now.”

Wallace came four years ago, or more precisely, with a couple.

According to Victor, he had originally invited a noble witch—whom he intended to introduce to Roland.

But the witch seemed unable to leave because of something. So, her father and mother brought Wallace over.

The couple got along very well with Roland, and together they traveled to the Brown Fern Forest with Victor and Valeria's adventure team.

And of course, there's Roland.

That place was incredibly dangerous, often spawning creatures from the abyss, but the group acted as if they were on a picnic—or rather, the creatures from the abyss avoided them.

Roland harbored great regret about his trip to the brown fern forest. He had hoped that some evil god might emerge from there.
The couple took a cup from the ruins of the brown fern forest and left.

However, Wallace stayed and became Victor's butler.

He was supposed to be Victor's butler, but the old man's favorite thing to do was to fawn over Roland.

In any case, after that, Baron Victor was officially appointed by His Majesty Leonard. Victor traveled to the northern capital and then to the south. After that, news of the ruins spread, and more and more visitors came to Valeria.

Those visitors were clearly not ordinary people; they seemed to be visiting Victor, an old friend, rather than coming for the ruins.

Miss Brianna was one of the visitors.

As the youngest yet most senior witch in the Council of Elders, Miss Brianna chose to retire at the peak of her career. Then, on the advice of His Majesty Leonard and at the invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Victor, she came to Valeria and opened a 'magic tutoring class'.

After word got out that Brianna was coming to Valeria to teach, more and more young people came to audit her classes.

Wizards began establishing academies in various places twenty years ago, and the work of popularizing magic literacy was already largely completed a few years ago.

Therefore, even in a remote area like Valeria, there are many free academies, and even the priests of the Dawn Chapels in various places have the responsibility to teach white magic. Thus, there is no situation where one has no way to learn.

Therefore, those who come to audit classes are not children with no other way to learn—most of these young people who come to audit classes are over sixteen years old and have extremely solid magical skills.

Clearly, these well-informed elite apprentices all regarded Valérie Adam as a tower for further study and advancement.

“Miss Brianna could not possibly have truly retired,” Joan said to Roland as they walked. “There must be something in those ruins that has drawn the attention of the higher wizards. She must have been sent by Princess Alexandra to establish the Alayer branch.”

"Sigh," Roland sighed, "Why are they all crowding here?"

"What do you know? That ruin must be related to the history of modern wizarding. But you wouldn't understand the affairs of wizards anyway."

“I don’t know anything about modern history,” Roland chuckled. “But I do know this place is suitable for growing grapes.”

Joan rolled her eyes, too lazy to talk to Roland anymore.

The written test was in the morning, and it was held in another part of the castle. The route involved passing through a courtyard and a small gallery.

As Roland passed by the courtyard, looking at the crowd, he couldn't help but remark, "Why are there so many new faces?" "There must be a reason for the top three," Joan said, stroking her chin. "Miss Brianna didn't mention taking on any disciples. Could the rumors be true? Princess Alexandra is taking on disciples? Would she really come to a place like this?"

“Joan,” Roland suddenly asked, “you came here just to become Alexandra’s disciple? And for something else? I mean, this isn’t some arrangement by your father or mentor?”

“You are unaware of her power.” Joan paused for a moment, then said, “Our family has a pact with Heracles, stipulating that the women of our family, after the age of twenty-five, will serve her eternally. And she is the Queen of the Underworld.”
My father once appealed to His Majesty Leonard, and His Majesty offered a solution—a marriage alliance with Prince Alaye.”

Noticing Roland's strange expression, Joan quickly explained, "I mean, I have a sister. She doesn't want to marry that Prince Alaye."

Therefore, Alexandra's disciples became the last resort.

Alexandra is the most powerful witch in the world; she is even more powerful than His Majesty Leonard.

She and Heracles are mortal enemies, and as long as one becomes her disciple, she will surely be able to end that contract.

My sister won't be here for a few days, but I've already made arrangements with Miss Brianna. So when His Highness arrives, I'll pretend to be her to pay my respects. We look quite alike, which is why I've been secretly changing into women's clothes in my dorm.

"You're not the younger sister you're talking about, are you?!"

Joan: "."

Is she prettier than you?

Joan blushed slightly, puffed out her chest, and said, "My sister is definitely prettier than me. You should use the word 'handsome' to describe me."

“Alright. But wouldn’t it be better to marry a prince?” Roland asked with a strange expression. “I think you—I mean I think your sister should listen to His Majesty Leonard’s arrangements. That would save a lot of trouble.”

“Roland, not every girl wants to marry a prince, especially,” Joan said with some disgust, “especially since I heard that the prince even asked His Majesty Leonard to arrange ten wives for him!”

“Well, I don’t think the two of them communicated like that back then.” Roland’s expression was very unnatural. “These words must have changed as they were passed around.”

“There’s something that’s always struck me as odd,” Joan said, frowning at Roland. “You seem to be very protective of the Alaye royal family.”

"Well, I'm more curious about why the Aleye royal family even exists," Roland asked with a strange expression. "Did this royal family really exist in history?"

“You’re not going to pass this exam.” Joan was speechless. “You haven’t even read the ‘Alaye Dynasty,’ which His Majesty Leonard ordered to be compiled. There’s no way you’ll pass the exam.”

"Alright. The Alaya Dynasty it is then," Roland said, rubbing his forehead with a troubled expression. "By the way, Joan, are you sitting in front of me during the exam?"

"I despise cheating the most, and I won't help you cheat. First place will definitely be mine." Joan snorted, looking smug.

"You ungrateful wretch. When I carried you back home, you didn't treat me like this at all. Don't you think you should repay me properly?" Roland muttered under his breath.

“Okay. I’ll help you cheat.” Joan’s chest slumped. “But are you really sure you want to waste your time on an exam?”

"That makes sense." Roland stroked his chin and nodded, unable to resist glancing at his roommate's long legs.

Seeing the subtle look in Roland's eyes, Joan was shocked: "I treat you like a brother, you...you don't want me to dress up as a woman for you, do you?!"

"What are you saying! That's disgusting!" Roland exclaimed in shock. "I've been having nightmares ever since I saw it last time!"

People around them turned to look, and the two quickly lowered their voices.

"Ahem." Roland said in a low voice, his old face flushed, "Introduce your sister to me."

Joan blushed to her ears. After thinking for a moment, she said, "You're not allowed to lay a hand on her."

"What are you thinking? Do you think I'm that kind of person who would wear stockings?"

(PS: Actually, defeating the gods would have been the end, but the gods wanted to give Roland and the others a grand family party, so the ending was extended by a few chapters.) (End of Chapter)