Chapter 27: A Rainy Morning, Dragonfish, and Magical Education

Qing Yu awoke to a torrential downpour.

The sky, cloaked in layers of dark clouds, cast a somber gloom.

Trees lining the streets swayed violently in the wind.

Large, heavy raindrops furiously battered the windowpanes, creating a dull, rhythmic thud.

“Aldoran?” Qing Yu called out softly, rising from his bed and rubbing his sleep-laden eyes, addressing the indistinct figure by the window.

Aldoran turned her head.

“Are you awake?”

“Um, what time is it now?”

“It’s already noon,” Aldoran replied.

“Hurry and get dressed. I’ve already told Thrud to buy lunch.”

With a flick of Aldoran’s fingers, the clothes from the hanger instantly floated before Qing Yu.

Despite the raging storm outside, a peculiar warmth permeated the room.

“Um, Aldoran, when are we setting off again?” Qing Yu asked, having dressed but still sprawling listlessly on the bed.

“We’ll stay in this town for a few days to gather some information.”

“Mm,” Qing Yu responded languidly.

“In that case, can I sleep a little longer?”

Aldoran offered no further words, but just as Qing Yu closed his eyes, an untimely knock sounded at the door.

“Master, the food has been purchased,” Thrud announced respectfully after knocking.

“Come in.”

With a soft click, Thrud and Liliya entered the room, laden with an array of steaming dishes.

Only then did Qing Yu reluctantly sit up from his bed.

“All the dishes you requested have been bought. Please enjoy your meal.” Thrud set down the food and was about to withdraw when Aldoran called her back.

“You and Liliya should eat with us too. Qing Yu and I can’t possibly finish all this food.”

“But, but…”

“There’s no need for ‘buts.’ Come eat with us,” Aldoran reiterated, and this time, Thrud finally took a seat.

Liliya, however, didn’t overthink it; she plopped down onto a chair and began devouring the food with gusto.

“Oh, so much food,” Qing Yu murmured, approaching the dining table.

Upon seeing the colorful assortment of dishes, the enticing aroma made his mouth water uncontrollably.

“Try this,” Aldoran said, gently pulling Qing Yu to a seat and placing a piece of somewhat pale-looking meat onto his plate.

“This is the White Lily, the most widely farmed fish in the Midgard (TL Note: A realm in Norse cosmology, often translated as ‘Middle Earth’ or ‘human world’).” Aldoran explained, carefully deboning the fish for Qing Yu.

“Its body resembles a lily, entirely translucent white, and when mature, it looks like a blooming flower.”

“Um, Aldoran, perhaps you should let me handle deboning the fish myself,” Qing Yu suggested.

He often felt a slight unease with Aldoran’s overly meticulous care, making him feel somewhat pampered.

It wasn’t that he was dissatisfied; after all, if he could live a life of ease, what cause for complaint could Qing Yu possibly have?

Yet, Aldoran’s constant, attentive care always made him feel rather like an infant.

Aldoran said nothing more, simply stopping her actions after having removed the bones from a piece of fish.

“Try it,” she urged.

“The flesh is very delicate.”

Gazing at the faintly pale, tender, translucent, and glistening fish, Qing Yu took a tentative bite.

The pale fish tasted incredibly soft and tender, smoothly melting in his mouth, crispy on the outside and succulent within.

Each bite released a burst of fresh, delicious juice, its sweet and savory flavor spreading throughout Qing Yu’s palate.

“Mmm.”

‘So, so delicious.’

“How is it? Wonderful, isn’t it?” Aldoran asked, observing Qing Yu’s surprised expression and gently wiping a trace of oil from the corner of his mouth with her finger.

“I just love eating this!” Liliya exclaimed, praising the dish while stuffing large mouthfuls of food into her mouth.

“Every time I go hunting, I always catch a few White Lilies.”

“However, if we’re talking about taste, Dragonfish is undoubtedly the most delicious, wouldn’t you agree?” Thrud commented, delicately savoring her meal, completely oblivious to the rice grains clinging to the corners of her mouth.

“But those are incredibly hard to catch!” Liliya declared, gesticulating wildly.

“Every time we want to catch a Dragonfish, it takes ten of the most skilled and magically proficient hunters from our tribe to capture just one.”

“Still, the flesh of that fish is truly exquisite, and even the smallest one can be fifteen meters long, providing food for a long time,” Thrud conceded, unable to contain her enthusiasm when discussing the topic.

After all, before fate chose her to be a Valkyrie, she had made a living as a chef, and countless Dragonfish had been prepared as dishes under her skilled hands.

“However, because Dragonfish possess toxins, are enormous, and have a certain degree of magic resistance and magical abilities, catching them is quite challenging.”

“Yet, as their flesh aids magic practitioners in cultivating magic resistance, there are many who pay exorbitant prices for Dragonfish meat, and not a few individuals make a living solely by hunting them.”

“But only very strong people can pursue such a profession, right?” Qing Yu asked after listening to Thrud’s explanation.

“Precisely,” Aldoran affirmed.

“To obtain a Dragonfish hunting license, one must at least reach the third rank of low-tier, low-level magic.”

“That sounds rather simple,” Qing Yu remarked, enjoying his delicious meal.

“Lord Qing Yu,” Thrud began, a slight smile playing on her lips, “though it might not be polite to say, cultivating magic in Midgard is no easy feat.”

“Exactly, exactly!” Liliya interjected, unable to sit still.

Twisting in her seat, she voiced clear dissatisfaction.

“To get a certificate for the first rank of low-tier, low-level magic, you need to hunt a Sphinx alone and be able to destroy a small wooden hut within ten seconds.

What’s more, the difficulty of each advancement test doubles from the last!

Because of these requirements, I still haven’t gotten my certificate.”

“In truth, most ordinary people in Midgard only need to reach the basic entry level of magic,” Aldoran continued, further enlightening Qing Yu.

“To progress further, one must undertake extensive studies and rigorous training.”

Qing Yu nodded.

“However, different types of magic cultivation have different assessment methods; you’ll understand in due time.”

“Where are these assessments usually conducted?”

“It’s like the branch you lived on—no, rather, like the universe you lived in,” Aldoran explained, observing Qing Yu’s face, which clearly displayed his every curiosity, and sighing helplessly.

“Here, too, we have divisions akin to elementary school, middle school, and university, only the names differ from yours.”

Qing Yu was intensely curious about everything, often pressing Aldoran with a single question for a long time before he was satisfied.

“From autumn to winter each year is the period for the nationwide unified magic assessments, at least in the country we are currently in,” Aldoran elaborated.

“Students of primary academies take written exams, while those in secondary academies are assessed on simple, commonly used magic in daily life, followed by a written exam.

Generally, at this point, they can begin working.”

“However, if one is confident in their abilities, they can independently participate in the entrance tests for higher academies and will be admitted if they pass,” Thrud interjected.

“Higher academies teach more advanced magic and invest heavily in student development.

Typically, students graduating from a higher academy after five years can reach the fourth rank of low-tier, low-level magic.”

“If one wishes to study even higher-level magic, they can apply for advanced study qualifications.

Generally, after three years of advanced study, reaching the second rank of low-tier, mid-level magic poses no problem.”

“However, to apply for advanced study qualifications, one must submit a fifty-thousand-word thesis and undergo a defense with their mentors before approval is even possible,” Thrud chuckled, reaching this point.

“Thus, every year from autumn to winter, students find themselves in their busiest season.”

“And as for your big sister here,” she added playfully, “I ended up becoming a chef precisely because my thesis failed four years in a row, and I flunked every single exam!”

‘It seems students are a struggling lot, no matter the world.’

Qing Yu mused inwardly.

‘Fortunately, by following Aldoran, he could enjoy a life of ease without a single worry.’

“Well, different races possess varying magical aptitudes; the human race’s magical talent isn’t actually considered very high.”

‘Oh, so some people are naturally advantaged from the start.’

‘Compared to them, however, Qing Yu felt he was among those left far behind at the starting line.’

‘What a truly sorrowful tale.’

“Speaking of which, yesterday, while Liliya and I were looking for an inn, I spotted a primary magic academy,” Thrud suddenly interjected at this point.

“Lord Qing Yu, would you be interested in seeing it?”

“Really?” Qing Yu’s eyes widened instantly, an irrepressible excitement bubbling forth across his face.

“Since we’re going into town tomorrow anyway to inquire about Mimir, there’s no harm in going to see it,” Aldoran suggested.

“We can consider it part of gathering information.”

“Then Liliya and I can go explore other places,” Thrud offered, turning to Liliya to ask for her opinion.

“Liliya, what do you think?”

Liliya nodded vigorously, her hands never pausing as she continued to shovel large mouthfuls of food into her mouth.

With her boundless energy, she was always prone to hunger.

“Then, it’s settled!” Qing Yu cheered.