How in the blue hell was she supposed to know?
She couldn’t exactly confess that she was a transmigrated soul, a former adult man trapped in a noblewoman’s body inside an otome game designed for degenerates. Her dignity was already lingering in the negative double digits.
But if there was one interesting thing, the concept of mana turning toxic from atmospheric saturation was entirely new.
Never heard of that trope in a fantasy novel.
It sounded eerily like her old world’s real-life crises: resource exhaustion, industrial smog, or microplastics lingering in the ecosystem.
Maybe there was far more actual science governing this magic system than she gave it credit for.
If she could leverage her Suture Magic down to an atomic or molecular level, she might become an absolute menace. The only flaw in that brilliant plan was that she had been a business major, not a nuclear physicist.
Callista turned to face her maid, a sudden spark of inspiration striking her. "Do you want to enroll in the academy with me?"
It was a total impulse, but the logic was sound: if a hidden prodigy this ridiculously gifted received a formal education, she would make an elite ally.
’Surely she won’t say n—’
"No."
WTF?
"W-Why on earth not?!" Callista nearly bolted out of her chair.
"I am perfectly content reading books in peace and earning a quiet wage," Livia replied smoothly.
If Callista had to guess, Livia likely harbored deep-seated prejudice against high society. Then again, given how obnoxious the nobility acted, Callista couldn’t even blame her; she had plenty of her own bad preconceived notions.
"I’ll pay you double... no, triple your salary! And secure you a full scholarship."
"So I can slave away for both you and your family?" Livia looked at her with unadulterated disgust.
"I will personally give you complete freedom of choice!"
Livia didn’t even pause. "Make it four times my rate."
"Fine!"
Seriously, where did this girl get the sheer audacity? In her past life, Callista had spent years aggressively brown-nosing terrible managers just to keep a baseline office job.
***
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: SUB-QUEST COMPLETED]
╔════════════════════════════════════════════╗
[SUB-QUEST: Remedial Lore & Mana Control]
────────────────────────────────────────────
Progress: [▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓] 100% (COMPLETE)
Focus Achieved:
• World History & Faction Dynamics: 100%
• Fundamental Mana Circulation: 100%
• Nobility Etiquette & Survival: 100%
Rewards Claimed:
+100 EXP
+16 Mana Capacity
Livia’s Favorability Increased (+10)
╚════════════════════════════════════════════╝
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: STATUS UPDATE]
╔════════════════════════════════════════════╗
Name: Callista von Astride
Age: 18
Status: Official Student (West Trinity Academy)
Rank: Beginner (F-Tier)
Magic: Suture Magic
Mana Type: Volatile / Unrefined
Level: 8 [▲3]
═══ CORE ATTRIBUTES ═══
Intelligence: 140
Sensitivity: 111 [▲13]
Efficiency: 220 [▲5]
Resilience: 121 [▲3]
Mental Discipline: 164 [▼8]
Mana Capacity: 44 [▲16]
╚════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Three agonizing days of grueling academic torture later, Callista finally grasped the bare minimum of this world’s history and mechanics.
Was it a comprehensive education?
Absolutely not.
But it was just enough for her to nod along, fake it till she made it, and bluff her way through the academy doors.