Chapter 23: The Sun of Gondwana!

The front rows were mostly occupied by flashier, newly monied nobles. Although they held a certain disdain for commoners, they generally avoided major conflicts; the primary reason for this, however, was the submissive attitude of the commoner students.

These ordinary students, resting within the academy’s ivory tower, represented the future elite mages who possessed mental talents far exceeding those of normal people.

Yet, to achieve greater success in the field of magic, one required ample time for meditation, sufficient magical materials, and guidance from highly knowledgeable mentors—all of which demanded a deep foundation of wealth and connections to sustain.

Thus, for mages of common birth, the most crucial opportunity to realize their social value was during their time at the academy. Here, it was easiest for them to earn the favor of young nobles, laying a solid foundation for eventually joining or integrating into a noble’s retinue.

Once this opportunity passed, any hope of advancing further in magic relied on being scouted by a mentor—a probability so minuscule it was virtually negligible.

Of course, this didn’t mean they had absolutely no chance. Monsters were not uncommon in this world, and the Mage Guild and Mercenary Guild frequently posted various paid commissions. They could rely on these avenues to earn income, which they could then exchange for better weapons, equipment, and materials.

It was just that relying on oneself was clearly far less comfortable than finding a patron.

“Hello, Miss Su Na.”

The person sitting to Su Na’s left turned her head and whispered a greeting. Su Na glanced at her, responded softly, and then asked out of curiosity: “How do you know who I am?”

The girl had a round, fair face dotted with a few light freckles, which Su Na found quite cute. Her cheeks puffed slightly as she replied in a hushed tone: “My roommate told me. Also, your hair is so beautiful; it’s very recognizable.”

Su Na understood. In this world, distinguishing between commoners and nobles wasn’t particularly difficult. Broadly speaking, the hair colors of ordinary commoners tended toward duller, muted shades, while those with noble bloodlines could possess any manner of vibrant, unusual colors, which was also linked to the inheritance of magical affinity.

Consequently, newly elevated nobles were often ridiculed as uncouth parvenus by established houses, as their bloodlines had not yet reached the standard the old nobility deemed proper.

Kaibuli, in fact, had ordinary brown hair; Su Na had inherited Adelaide’s silver hair, along with her striking features and magical talent. From this, it was evident that Lady Adelaide’s family must be a long-standing, traditional noble house.

In other words, starting from Su Na’s generation, the Fafnir family could be considered to have moved past the parvenu label, allowing them to integrate into the established aristocratic circles.

As for whether this bloodline theory was correct, Su Na felt there was little point in debating it.

This wasn’t just because she was a beneficiary of the system, but also because she understood a fundamental truth: rules are written by the strong.

Until you possess the strength to oppose them, whatever you say is irrelevant, and no one will care.

You might be right, but you aren’t the one in charge.

While Su Na was whispering with her classmate, Yulia entered through the door. She scanned the classroom briefly before walking toward Su Na with a gentle smile.

Her black dress contrasted sharply with her skin, which was as fair as white jade. The simple yet sophisticated embroidery and the tiny red gemstones embedded in the fabric highlighted the luxury hidden beneath its understated exterior.

As she walked, the sheer black silk stockings on her calves were visible beneath her hem, serving as proof that many technologies were not impossible in this era—it was simply that ordinary people could not afford the price.

By the time Su Na turned her attention back to the round-faced girl on her left, the girl had already pulled her head back, not daring to continue whispering.

Yulia sat down gracefully beside Su Na, a faint smile on her cool face: “Nana, we meet again~”

Her tone carried a rising lilt, a blend of formality and playfulness that made Su Na’s eyelids twitch slightly.

Su Na shifted her rounded thighs uncomfortably. If she didn’t have to maintain her public image, she felt she would have sat with her legs tightly crossed; it felt far more secure that way.

Truth be told, Yulia was exceptionally beautiful. Her cold, noble temperament was a major asset, perfectly matching the queenly aura expected of her station.

Su Na’s appearance, conversely, leaned toward bright, striking, and assertive—the sort of look that often rubbed other girls the wrong way, making her the quintessential image of a temptress. She was the type who could instantly draw all the hostility in a room just by showing up.

In the original novel, aside from the plot dictates that led to her tragic end, her face had likely played a significant role in her misfortunes. Because of this, Su Na had never liked wearing overly elaborate or flashy gowns, at least not before she was fully grown.