The Most Arbitrary Wizard

He didn’t forget to bring food back for Sean.

Elise feigned displeasure. "What’s this? You didn’t get enough to eat here, so you have to take some back? Really milking the rich guy, huh?"

Ryan explained, "It’s for Sean."

"Oh, it’s for Sean!" Elise’s expression immediately turned into a wide grin. "In that case, three dishes aren’t enough. Get some more, and add a soup."

Everyone: "..."

’Look at her, ditching her friends the moment a handsome guy is mentioned.’

But since he was in such a great mood, Teacher Tony refrained from making any of his usual sour, salty remarks. Right now, only one thought occupied his mind: ’There are so many Wizards in False Heaven. How many could possibly catch the eye of Mr. Scholar?’

’At the Table of Truth a month from now, he, Teacher Tony, would stun the world and vanquish all his rivals.’

’Including Sean!’

’He would show the two sisters exactly who the coolest guy on the team was!’

This had nothing to do with jealousy. The Eleanor Sisters were certainly beautiful and charming—especially the younger one, with her lively, energetic personality. But he wouldn’t go so far as to say he *liked* them yet. This was simply a matter of pure competitive spirit between two exceptional men.

’Mr. Scholar took the initiative to accept me as his student. Can an invitation from the Saintess to join the Knight Order be far behind?’

And that’s what led to the scene that just unfolded.

Tony and the others hummed little tunes all the way back.

As for why, even though he had already marveled at Mr. Scholar’s good judgment and his own Talent at the restaurant, he had to marvel all over again back at the dorm...

Well, it was to share the good news with everyone, of course!

Tony’s dorm was right next to Sean’s, but he made a point of "taking a wrong turn" to deliver the good news to Sean first.

He burst in the door with a dramatic, "Huh?"

"How did you know Mr. Scholar took the initiative to accept me as his student?"

Sean: "..."

’Who even asked you?!’

He pressed his lips together and remained silent.

’He was afraid that telling the truth would wound Teacher Tony’s pride, and then he’d have no one to do his hair.’

Ryan, thinking Sean was in disbelief, handed him the takeout containers and said, "It’s true. We’re all students of Mr. Scholar now."

Sean let out a flat "Oh." "Congratulations, then."

Tony noticed his dismissive attitude and huffed. "You don’t seem very happy about this."

Sean: "Don’t I?"

"You don’t have to say it. I get it." Tony said, looking him straight in the eye. "You’re feeling the pressure, aren’t you?"

Sean: "?"

He was about to speak when Tony interrupted him. "No need to explain."

"It’s no use explaining."

"I really do understand how you feel."

"After all, at the upcoming Table of Truth, you’ll be facing a rival more formidable than any you’ve ever known."

"If I were in your shoes, facing an opponent like me... yeah, I’d be feeling the pressure too."

"But!"

Tony raised his voice. "Objective reality does not bend to the will of man! Whether you feel pressured or not, whether you’re happy or not, you are destined to face defeat!"

"But don’t you worry."

Tony patted Sean’s shoulder. "At the end of the day, we’re friends, not true enemies. I’ll be sure to let you save some face. I won’t let you get too embarrassed in front of Her Highness the Saintess and everyone else."

"But don’t even think about getting a personal audience with Her Highness the Saintess."

"That’s going to be mine."

"Alright, I’m off. See you tomorrow!"

Tony went back to his room next door, humming a little tune.

Sean: "..."

He was silent for a long moment before he finally looked up and asked Ryan in all seriousness, "Has he always been this full of himself?"

Ryan shrugged. "Who knows."

He, like Sean, had only gotten to know Tony during this mission. Before, he had only seen him at the church without much interaction, so they couldn’t be called close. Still, after spending the last few days together, Ryan had to admit that Tony did seem pretty smart.

Take the art exhibit gala, for instance. Even though their attempt to get in failed and they had to be bailed out by Sean, the "Two-Way Scam" plan itself was actually quite brilliant. Most people wouldn’t have come up with it.

That was "Talent."

In terms of their training, the outcome of any single Meditation isn’t what matters, since they can afford to fail many times. What’s important is the thinking process, like with the "Two-Way Scam." Only by daring to think and daring to try can they achieve a deeper state of Meditation.

Therefore, Ryan’s assessment of Tony was: "He’s got a couple of skills."

One was for the "Two-Way Scam."

The other was for Teacher Tony’s hairstyling techniques.

Sean smiled and shook his head. "Let’s hope so."

’If Teacher Tony could really master the Truth Technique within a month and defeat so many opponents, then as a judge and referee, he wouldn’t be stingy with his praise. He’d let Tony have his moment in the spotlight.’

’He was a fair person; he wouldn’t make things difficult for Teacher Tony just because of a few heated, provocative words.’

’He’d just mess with him a little, at most.’

’Or make Teacher Tony give him a few more haircuts.’

"I’m going to eat first."

Sean hadn’t eaten anything since noon and was getting hungry. He sat down at the table and opened the insulated bag.

He then discovered five full dishes, plus a bowl of soup.

"This much?" ’This is way too much,’ Sean thought. ’Who has a roommate this generous?’

Ryan was quick to clarify, "I only ordered three. Eleanor’s sister added the rest for you."

He paused, then added, "I get the feeling she kind of likes you."

Sean chuckled. "She’s just a kid. What does she know about ’liking’ someone?"

Ryan: "So you’re saying you’re the expert?"

Sean nodded. "That’s right. At most, she’s just after my body."

Ryan: "..."

Sean took out his phone and sent a text to Eleanor.

"Please thank Elise for me. The food is great."

He didn’t have Elise’s number yet, so he had to ask Eleanor to pass on the message.

Eleanor replied instantly: "You’re not allowed to hit on my sister!"

Sean: "?"

’Seriously? He was just saying thanks. How is that hitting on her?’

At a loss for words, he texted back, "Fine, can I thank *you* then?"

Eleanor: "You’re welcome. [cute emoji][cute emoji]"

Sean: "..."

’Hmph. Women.’

He didn’t chat much longer with Eleanor. While eating, he used his phone and new ID number to log onto the "intranet" of False Heaven.

The city had a dedicated local area network that could help him quickly learn about False Heaven.

Besides city news, academic discussions, and anonymous flame wars, it was also where important figures posted major announcements. The biggest news recently was the Table of Truth, scheduled in one month.

Many of the comments below were discussing Her Highness the Saintess.

Sean counted...

Never mind, there were too many to count.

It was pretty much all of them.

It seemed Elise was right. This generation’s Saintess seemed to have a magical allure, causing countless Wizards to admire her and fall head over heels. It was starting to make him a little curious, too.

Just how beautiful was the Saintess in person to make so many people unable to get her out of their minds?

’He’d have to get a good look for himself when the time came.’

Tony and the others didn’t return that night. Lying in bed waiting for a reply from Elvire, Sean’s thoughts drifted to the Saintess and this "New World." He even pulled out a map of the Ascension Continent to compare it once more against the map of the Real World in his head. He was now almost certain his initial theory was wrong. The New World and the Real World weren’t alike at all.

Other than the inexplicable fact that he could travel to the New World through a statue in the Void Technique Space, nothing else matched up. The era, the culture, the common knowledge of the populace—everything was worlds apart from the Real World.

Elvire still hadn’t replied, and Sean couldn’t find any more connections between the New World and the Real World. He could only reach a temporary conclusion—this was most likely just an "ordinary" fictional world. Any sense of familiarity was probably because it *was* the Consciousness Riverbed, or had been born from it.

’And since it was a fictional world, Sean didn’t intend to waste too much time here.’

’He had to get a private audience with the Saintess at this Table of Truth and get clear answers to his questions.’

’If the Saintess’s standards were too high, and she wasn’t impressed enough by his performance to grant him an audience, well, then he’d just have to force his way into her chambers.’

’That’s called trying diplomacy before force.’

’Oh... and one more thing.’

’According to the *Essex Chronicles*, Olivia built this city to protect a divine secret that he himself had left behind long ago. As Olivia’s successor, the current Saintess Diana was bound to know where that secret was hidden.’

’He had to figure out a way to make Her Highness the Saintess obediently hand over the secret, returning it to its rightful owner.’

’Anyway, he had lives to spare, and this was just an illusory world. He could be as reckless as he wanted.’

’If being gentle didn’t work, he’d get rough. He refused to believe he couldn’t conquer this Saintess. Heh heh.’

...

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